Xl'.- CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY oiin ^ ^924 028 834 541 Overs Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028834541 COURT HOUSE, SOHOHARIE, N. Y. f^ Ir* — "t^ -^ — "*i). -OF- rltohari^ CH^triintn, NEW YORK, 5-e=>WITHi=^J |[Un»ii|»tton^ at)^d |^t0gi|a^ltk»l ^Wkl^j^s <-€=0F SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS. By WILLIAM E. ROSCOE. Published by D. MASON & CO., SYRACUSE, N. Y. ^ —1882.-- ^ ^.» ^^^ ei. -i^-^' &«^. SYIU5.DIISE, N, Y,/ TRUiilR, SMITH & BRUCE, PRIWTEHS iUNrn BINDERS, 1BB2, CONTENTS. PAGE. CHAPTER I.— The Geraians — Cause of their Leaving Germany — Palatine Tenants — Kocherthal's Petition — First Immigra- tion Agents sent to Geimany — Hunter's Petition — Report of Board of Trade Favorable to Immigration — Robert Hunter Appointed Superintendent of Immigration — His Letter of Arrival at New York — Appointed Governor — Ac- tion of the City Council — German Chil- dren Apprenticed — Settlement at the " Camps " — Number of Settlers — Trou- ble Experienced — Discontent of Ger- mans — Meetings Held — Lord Claren- don's Letter — Expedition to Canada — Germans Petition to the King g CHAPTER II. — The Foregoing Chapter Re- viewed — Expense of the Germans — Located at Schorie — Their Hardships — Judge Brown's Account — Fight — In- dians of what Tribe — Hunting Grounds — Ka-rig-hon-don-tee the Chief — Sale of Lands by Gov Hunter — Schuyler and Coeymans' Purchase— Gov. Hun- ter's Defense to the Board of Trade — Bayard's Visit to Schoharie — Resumed Lands — Sheriff Adams — Adam Vroman — The Germans Trespass upon Him — His Letter lo Gov. Hunter — Weiser in England — Confined in the Tower — Clark's Letter — Jeremy Long's Council for the Germans — Purchase of Lands in 1719 — Location of Weiser's Dorf — Other Dorfs — .Spread of .Settlements — Mode of Living — Implements — Negro Slaves and Customs — Indians — Their Petition — Number of them in Schoharie — Military Affairs — Division of Albany County — Early Officials 21 CHAPTER III. — Loyalty of Germans to Britain — Sacredness of their Oath — Mohawks and Tomahawks— First Committee of Safety — Military District and Officers — Events of 1777 — Division of Schoharie — McDonald's Invasion — The Harpers — Adam Crysler — Skirmish at Oriskany — Bemis Heights — Building of Forts — Battle of Cobleskill — Morgan's Corps — Johnson and Brant's Invasion at Middle Fort — Lower Fort — Incidents — Brave Women— Colonel Vroman's March CHAPTER III— Continued. page. to Mohawk — Seths Henry at "Turloch" — Dockstader at Currytown and Sharon — Willett — Seths Henry at Fox'sCreek— Crysler at Vromansland in 1781 — Cap- tain Hager's Fight at the Lake — Camp- bell's and Simms' Labors — Returned Tories and Indians — Muster Roll of 1777 — Schoharie Supplies Division of Albany County — Inundation of the Schoharie River 35 CHAPTER IV. — Formation of County — The Name of Schoharie — Population — Boundaries — Surface — The Schoharie and Tributaries — Inundations — Lakes — Formation of Towns — First County Officers — First Court House — Poor- house — Paupers — County's Progress — War of i8l2 — Delegates to State Con- vention — Governor Bouck's Message — Sourkrout Message — Anti-Rent War — Railroads — Plank Roads — Seminary Mania — Susquehanna Railroad — Scho- harie Valley — Sharon and Cherry Valley — Howe's Cave Enterprises — Mineral Springs — Education — Religion — Tem- perance — Sabbath School Societies — Bible Society — Masonic Lodges — Agri- cultural and Medical Societies — Tele- phone Lines — Newspapers — Criminal List — Summary of Facts — Population by Census of 1880 56 CHAPTER V. — Civil War— The Year 1861— Captain Snyder — Volunteers first Re- cruiting — Colonel Mix and Comrades — The 76th Regiment — Members — 134th —Members of Companies — The 44th — Members — M embers of other Regiments — Colored Volunteers — Hero Martyrs... 86 CHAPTER VI.— Schoharie County Civil List- Judges of Common Pleas — Assistant Judges — Session Justices — Surrogates — District Attorneys— County Clerks— Sher- iffs— Treasurers-Superintendents of Poor —School Commissioners— Loan Commis- sioners—Excise — Inspectors — Governor — Treasurers — A d jutant General — Canal Commissioners — Canal Appraisers — Curator of State Library — Legislature — Senators— Congress — Presidential Elect- ors — Consuls 102 CONTENTS. PAGE. CHAPTER VII.-History of the Town of &lboa —Town Formed— First Town Officers —Board of Inspectors— Division into Districts — Town Meeting of 1849— Anti-Rent Difficulties - Sheriff s Posse of Soldiers-First Settlers and Mills— Tohn Dise— Archibald Croswell— 1 an- nerv-Tuttle & Osborne Tannery — Grist Mill Purchased by Piatt, Potter & Co —Cotton Factory — Luman Reed- First Tavern— Gilboa Bridge— Furnace —Churches— Merchants— Broome Cen- tre—Henry Tibbetts— McKeys Corners — David Ellerson— His Narrative— Offi- cial List— Supervisors— District Attor- ney—County Clerk— Assembly — State Senator— Boundaries "9 CHAPTER Vin. — History of the Town of Cones- viUe— Scenery— Manorkill Falls— Stry- ker Brothers' Tannery — Stevens' Mill- Colby Reed— The First Store— Hunting Grounds— Indian Relics— Dise Purchase of Land— Ury Richtmyer — The Dise Sons— Litigation — Peter Richtmyer— His Capture by Indians— Escape— Re- building of His House— He Opens an Inn— Humphrey's— Additional Settlers Dairying — Prominent Settlers— Town Formed — Boundaries — Jonathan Cone —Town Records '■ 129 CHAPTER IX. — History of the Town of Broome — When Formed — Name Changed — Catskill Creek— Indian Trail — General Aspect— First Settlers— Daniel Shays— His Life— Rebellion and Death— David Williams— His Life— Incidents Rela- ting to Capture of Andre — Livings- tonville— Asa Starkweather— His Argu- ment in Convention — Death — Adam Mattice— Presbyterian Church— Meth- odist Church— Draft of 1813— Smithton —Hubbard's— The "Vly— Supervisors- Bounds 133 CHAPTER X— History of the Town of Jeffer- son—When Settled— By Whom — Inter- est in Education — First Town Meeting — Effort to Change the Name of Town — Heman Hickok — Jefferson Academy — Donators — Stephen Judd's Donation of Farm— Teachers in Academy — Pres- ent School — Tanneries — Presbyterian Church — Merchants — Physicians— Judd Family — Societies — M asonic Grand Army Republic — Methodist Church — West Kill Methodist Church — Gait's History of the Methodist Society of the Town — Revolutionary Incidents — Smith Street— Tory Clawson— Taken Prisoner — Smith Family — Battle at Lake — Official — Supervisors — General Appearance of Town — The Lake — Tryon County Line — Rebellion — Amount of Town Bonds Issued — Boundaries - 142 CHAPTER XI— History of the Town of Summit — Hon. Seymour Boughton — The Lake — Johnson and Brant's Halt — Early Set- tlers — Brown and Other Business Men — Charlotte Valley— Service Tragedy — „ PAGE. CHAPTER XI— Continued. J Murphy's Own Statement- Murphy s Purchase -Act of 1777 — Abraham Becker— Suit Gained— Service s Attair Contemplated— Settlement of the West- ern Part of the Town— Seminary— Its History— Faculty, etc— Dairy Interest Elisha Brown— Assemblymen— Sher- iffs-John Lawyer— S. J. Lake-Isaac W Beard— John H. Coons— Churches —First Baptist Church— Second Baptist Church— Reformed Church of Eminence —Methodist — Free Methodist — Luth- eran of Lutheranville — Lutheran of Beard's Hollow— Town Volunteers — Medical Fraternity— First Town Meet- ing — Resolutions — Report of 1880— Officials— Eminence I53 CHAPTER XIII— History of the Town of Ful- ton—First Purchase of Land by Adam Vroman — Adam Vroman and Family- Indian Deeds — Captain Vroman — In- dian Castle— Colonel Peter Vroman— Swart Family— Peter Swart- His Man- uscript— Death— Crysler Family— Mrs. John Bouck — Henry Hager — In Mc- Donald's Camp — Captain Hager at Bemis Heights— Upper Fort— Exempt Volunteers — Invasion by Crysler — Mur- der by Beaciaft— Prisoners— Crysler's Invasion — Murder near the Fort — En- gagement with Captain Hager— Richard Hagadorn Wounded — Conflict at the Lake — Johnson's and Brant's Invasion — Mary Hagadorn — Bouck Family and Island— Wm. C. Bouck— His Life- Inhabitants of 1788— Timothy Muiphy — His Life and Historical Incidents- Town Formed— Patriotism of 1812 — Petersburgh—Breakabeen— First Lands Settled — Fultonham — Charles Watson —West Fulton— Churches— Polly Hol- low — Reformed Church — Physicians — Supervisors — Boundaries 166 CHAPTER XIV. — History of the Town of Middleburgh — Weiser's Dorf— Conrad Weiser — His Daughter — John Peter G. Muhlenberg — Conrad Weiser, Jr — Settlers of the Dorf — Relics of the Past — Reformed Church — Its Early History — Edifice Rebuilt in 1785 — Petition to Assembly — Pastors' Reformed Church — Lutheran Church — Methodist — Epis- copal — The True Reformed Church — Middle Fort — Description — Zielie Fam- ily — Colonel Zielie — His i. hildren — Peter Swart — Ln« Dutch Beckers — Borst Family — Grist Mills — Louck's Family — Eckerson's — First Merchant — Grist Mill — Bellinger Family — Hart- man's Dorf — Richtmyer Family— Alex- ander Boyd — J. M. Scribner — John Hinman — Nathan Hinman — Jonathan Danforth — Atchinson House — Freemire House — Merchants — Freeman Stanton —John P. Bellinger— D. D. Dodge- General Danforth — Physicians — Legal Fraternity — Hon. Lyman Sanford — National Bank — Masonic Lodge — I. O. G. T — G. A. R. Post — Incoiporatioii — Hunter's Land — Supervisors — Bounda- ries 196 CONTENTS. S PAGE. CHAPTER XV.— Histoiy of the Town of Sharon — Formation of New Dorlach — .Sharon — Dorlach Grant— First Settlers— Later Settlers — Peter Sommers — Mereness Brothers — William Beekman — Battle of Sharon— Colonel Marinus Willett—Leem and Hopper Families — Maria Leem — Capture of Myndert and Others — Will- iam Kneiskern — Rev. Peter N. Som- mers — St. John's Church — Reformed Church — Turnpikes — Taverns — Beek- man's Corners — Peter A. Hilton — Robert Eldredge^Eldredge Family — Dr. Palmer — Engle's Mill — I,eesville— Dormant Villages — Leesville Lutheran Church — Leesville Baptist Church — Cemetery — Rockville — Sharon Springs — Public Houses — Analysis of Water — Merchants — Roman Catholic Church — Sharon Centre — John Beakley — Sharon Hill and Hollow— E. S. Wales Zach- ariah Keyes — Killing of Van Schaik — Johannes Loucks — William Davenport — Lemuel Cross — Kling Settlement — Slate Hill Cemetery — Bellenger Family — Van Valkenburghs — Gilbert's Cor- ners — Reformed Church of Sharon — Masonic Lodge — Officials — Boundaries 226 CHAPTER XVI.— Histoi7 of the Town of Blen- heim 249 CHAPTER XVII. — History of the Town of Seward — Town Formed — Peter Hynds — Henry Haines — First Grist Mill — Capture of the Hynds Family — The Crysler Brothers — Invasion of Seths Henry — Murder of Michael Merckley — Murder of Catharine and Sebastian France — Frederick Merckley's Family — France Family — John Rice — First Meeting House — Murder of Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman — Rhinebeck Church — Henry Moeller and Other Pastors — First Settlers of Rhinebeck — ^Strobeck — Hyndsville — Seward Valley — Seward Station — Gardnersville — Rev. Philip Wieting — Colonel Willett's Raids — Mills — Business Interests — Churches — Dairy Interests — Physicians — Town Bonds — Supervisors — Boundaries 268 CHAPTER XVIII.— History of the Town of u' Richmondville — Formation of Town — First Settlement — George Warner — John Zea and Family — Captain Snyder — fiis Life — Snyder Family — Warner- ville— George Mann— Warnerville Meth- odist Church — Christian Church — Sem- inary — First Tavern — John Warner — First Justice of the Peace — Hon. John Westover — Physicians — Churches — Methodist, Lutheran and Christian — Seminary — Richmondville Bank — Newspapers — .School at West Rich- mondville — Supervisors — Present Busi- ness of Town 283 CHAPTER XIX.— History of the Town of Car- lisle — First Settlers — Dorlach Grant — New Rhinebeck — Mrs. Philip Karker — Judge Brown — George William Brown Young Family — John C. McNeill — Set- tlement of Grovenor's Corners — Joseph CHAPTER XIX.— (Continued.) page. Taylor — Benjamin Young — Squire John's Place — Carlisle Centre — First School House — Merchants of Grove- nor's Corners — Settlement upon the Turnpike — Carlisle Formed — First Officers— P. I. Cromwell— D. W. Seeley — Sloan's Tavern — Huntington Tavern — Carlisle Church — Henry M. Brown — Killing of Keller— First Store— Mer- chants of Carlisle Village — Argusville — Physicians — M ercantile Firms — The Bear Swamp — Carlisle Seminary — Rob- bery of Peter Becker — J. H. Angle — First Mills— Selleck's Cave — Churches — Valuation of Town — Supervisors- Boundaries of Town 301 CHAPER XX.— History of the Town of Esperance — Location of Esperance Village — Pur- chase of the Lands by TenEyck — By General North — Turnpike — Bridge — Daniel Hare — His Inn — Other Inns — Calvin Wright— J. C. Wright — Isaac H. Tiffany — Other Lawyers — Presbyterian Church — Methodist Church — Physicians — Storrs Messenger — Judge Briggs — Merchants — Village Corporation — Stage House and Route — Academy — Feathers House — Judge Fletcher — Peck's Inn — First Gate Keeper — Sloansville — Van- Valkenburgh Settlement — Brown Broth- ers' Settlement — Sloan Family — Other Settlers — Stores — Stone Heap — Rev. Hawley's Narrative — Foster Mill — Kneiskern's Dorf — Kneiskern Family — Enders Family — First Grist Mill — Johnson's Invasion — Encampment — Town Formed — First Officers — General Brown — A nti-Rent Troubles — Assem- blymen — Supervisors — Baptists — First Newspaper — Quotations from it — Land Patents 320 CHAPTER XXL— History of the Town of Wright — Town Formed — First Settlement — Becker Family — Becker Land Grant — First Saw Mill— Hon Yost Becker — John Dominick and Family — Events of 1782 — Burning of Zimmer's Buildings — Becker Murdered — Advance Upon Major Becker's House — Snyder and Mann Captured- — Traditionary Tale of Seths Henry's Death — Major Becker's Death — Stone Store at Shutter's Corners — Henry Becker — Founding of School — Hunting Family ■ — Gallupville — Churches — Reformed Church, Metho- dist and Lutheran — New Village — Wagon Making — Dutch Settlement — Weidman's — Hiram Walden — Super- visors—Valuation — Merchants and Phy- sicians — Boundaries 341 I CHAPTER XXII— History of the Town of Scho- " harie — First Settlers of Brunnendorf — Schaefler Family and Name — Lutheran Church and Parsonage — Dominie Som- mers, and other Pastors — Doctor Lint- ner — Reformed Dutch Church — Church Converted into a Fort — Doctor Budd — "Post Mix" — Peter Mix — Doctor Brig- ham — Physicians of Schoharie — Captain Mann — Captain Snyder — Taverns — CONTENTS. CIIArXER XXII— (Continued.) page. Present Hotels — Fox's Dorf — Dietz Family— Colonel William Dietz— Will- iam Fox and Settlers of Fox's Dorf — Smith's Dorf — Court House— George Tiffany — Lawyer Family — Oarlock's Dorf — Jacob Vroman — Samuel Smith O. H. Williams— J. G. Caryl— Strubach Mill— Village at Depot— First Grist- M ill— Carding Mill— Distillery— Busi- ness of I Sio— Engagement at Fort — John Ingold — Bouck House, and other Buildings— Burning of Court House — Great Fires — Fountain Town School House — Schoharie Academy — Metho- dist Church-African Church-Gebhard's Cave — Schoharie Bridge — Formation of Town — First Officers — Supervisors — Lutheran Cemetery — Commodore Hard- ing 354 CHAPTER XXIII.— History of the Town of Cobleskill — First Settlement — Brown's Mill and Stream— Cobleskill Militia- Building a Fort— Invasion by Indians and Tories — First Schoolhouse — Lam- bert Lawyer — Jacob L. Lawyer — Chas. Courter — Augustus C. Smith — Hotels and Inns — Early Merchants — Churches — Mrs. Borst — The Schaeffer or Shafer Family — Van Dresser Farm — Richt- myer Family — Captain Brown — Henry Shafer — Berner Settlement — Doctor Werner — Kilmer Settlement — Wetsel Family — Brayman's Mill— Howe's Cave — Mineral Springs — Paul Shank — Methodist Church of Mineral Springs — Lawyersville — First Settlers — Angle Family— Young Family — General Dana — John Redington — William Elman- dorf — Jared Goodyear — Isaac H. Tif- fany — Thomas Lawyer — Jedediah Mil- ler — Doctor Shepherd — Shutts Family — Thomas Smith — Henry Smith — J. H. Ramsey — William H . Young — Ceme- tery — Wakeman Family — Reformed Church — Lutheran Church — Early Mer- chants — Physicians — Legal Fraternity — Manufacturing Interest — Masonic Society — Good Templars — G. A. R. Post — i National Bank — Formation of ■ the Town — First Officers — Supervisors — Efforts to Remove the Court House — Boundaries 386 APPENDIX 449 ILLUSTRATIONS. Bouck Governor William C, Fulton, portrait facing 176 Bouck lion. Charles, Fulton, portrait facing 176 Bergh Philip, Fulton, portrait igo Becker Sarah E., Sharon, view of residence . facing 239 Best Benjamin, Fulton, portrait facing 177 Couchman Hon. Peter, Conesville, portrait.. facing 132 Clark Hon. William S., Esperance, portrait.. facing 337 PAGE. Colby Thomas, Gilboa, view of residence. ...facing 128 Courter Charles, Cobleskill, portrait, (steel) facmg 444 ^ ,, frontis Court House Freemire John, Jr., Fulton, portrait • ■• 193 Holmes Judge Charles, Cobleskill, portrait (steel) facing 431 Howe's'cave, Cobleskill, view of Cave House 407 Howe's Cave, Cobleskill, view of Crystal Lake 409 Keyser Barent and wife, Blenheim, portraits 266 Kilts Wesley H., Sharon, view of residence.. facing 228 Lawyer General Thomas, Cobleskill, portrait, (steel) facing 441 Mattice, Adam L., Fulton, portrait X94 Murphy Peter, Fulton, portrait 191 Mayham Hon. Stephen L., Schoharie, portrait 384 Miller Jedediah, Cobleskill, portrait 434 Norwood Dr. J. E., Schoharie, portrait facing 363 Old Brick Lutheran Church, Cobleskill 398 Ramsey Hon. Joseph H., Cobleskill, portrait (steel) facing 435 Shafer Jacob L., Blenheim, portrait 267 Swart, Dr. Peter S., Schoharie, portrait 385 Sanford, Hon. Lyman, Middleburgh, portrait (steel) between 222-223 Stone Fort, Schoharie 360 Tanner James, Cobleskill, portrait (steel).... facing 445 Vroman Ephraim B., Fulton, portrait 195 Wieting Rev. Philip, Cobleskill, portrait 448 Westover Hon. John, Richmond ville, portrait (steel) facing 299 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES Bergh Philip, Fulton 190 Best Benjamin, Fulton facing 177 Bouck Governor William C. , Fulton 176 Bouck Hon. Charles, Fulton facing 176 Clark Hon. William S., Esperance 337 Colby Thomas, Gilboa between 128-129 Couchman Hon, Peter, Conesville 132 Courter Charles, Cobleskill , 444 Freemire John Jr., Fulton 193 Holmes Judge Charles, Cobleskill 431 Keyser Barent, Blenheim 265 Lawyer General Thomas, Cobleskill 441 Mattice Adam L., Fulton 194 Mayham Hon. Stephen L., Schoharie 383 Miller Jedediah, Cobleskill 433 Murphy Peter, Fulton 191 Ramsey Hon. Joseph H., Cobleskill 435 Sanford Hon. Lyman, Middleburgh... between 222—223 Shafer, Jacob L., Blenheim 267 Swart Peter S., M. D., Schoharie 385 Tanner James, Cobleskill 445 Vroman Ephraim B., Fulton igj Westover Hon. John, Richniondville 299 Wieting Rev. Philip, Cobleskill 447 INTRODUCTION. In compiling the facts chronicled in the following pages, the Author has not been led by an idea of. financial gain or literary glory, but by a sense of the worthi- ness of Schoharie's history being published by itself, and not in connection with that of other localities. In this County he has a pride. It is the " land of his birth ! " He glories in her beauty and grandeur. Whether it be among her fossiliferous rocks, within her winding caverns, or upon the romantic surface, he feels that it is home ; full of instruction, pleasing associations and wonders, such as few sections can boast. Prompted by such motives, and the solicitations of those earnest in interest, the Author was induced, many years ago, to garner the harvest of events connected with the County, which he here presents for the instruction and pleasure of the youth of Schoharie, with the hope that a presentation of the struggles of their fore- fathers and mothers, in esta.hlishing peace/u/ homes, and their triumphs through sac- rifice of life, fortunes and personal pleasures, in obtaining the rich blessings of free- dom, may animate them to a just appreciation of the priceless inheritance bequeathed to them. Others with more pleasing pens, have traced our early history previously in connection with other border settlements, and brought to light many facts that would have been lost, or marred by ruthless tradition but for these labors at the time ; yet the inveterate animosity created by antagonistical interest through the settlement of the Palatines, and later through the Revolutionary war, has not died away, and much that was chronicled has been proved through more recent discoveries of documents, to have been exaggerations, dictated by those " bitterest of feelings." The settlement of the Germans, and incidents connected with their pioneer life, was based entirely upon tradition, leaving important facts in doubt, and dates open to conjecture. The only work upon that event was by the late Judge John M. Brown, in his " Brief Sketch of the First Settlement of Schoharie," published in 1823, when he had arrived at the advanced age of seventy-eight. The work was founded upon INTRODUCTION. tradition, with the exception of such events as came under his personal observation, and proves to be incorrect, yet it is an interesting and amusing work, with too few pages to satisfy the reader, upon such an interesting subject. Campbell, in his " Annals of Tryon County," and Jeptha R. Simms, in his " Border Wars," have traced the same line of events through tradition, and brought their conclusions be- fore the reader in nearly parallel lines. They were better acquainted with the in- cidents connected with the Revolution, through many of the actors in that strife, with whom they were intimate, and to them we are indebted for many authentic facts that make up the general history of that eventful period. Revolutionary facts thus handed down, coupled with those collected in the forepart of the century by the Author's parent, who was conversant with many of the old patriots, together with rusty documents of late brought to light and never before published or con- sulted, assure the authenticity of this work, from the first settlement of the County to the close of the war, which part of our history has hitherto proved unsatisfactory. In collecting facts relating to the time intervening between the last event and the present day, the writer has spared neither time nor expense, and has traveled thousands of miles, repeatedly visiting each neighborhood to consult persons, records, and public archives, and feels that his labors have been in the main, fruitful in interest and accuracy. The latter has been a pleasing portion of the task, as it has brought him in close acquaintance with the people of the County, from whom he has received the kindest hospitality, assistance and encouragement in the work, and given birth to many associations that will be treasured with pleasing remembrances and jealous care. Among the many visited, were aged ones— the silver rays of Schoharie's heroic days-who have cleared the portals of seventy, eighty, and even ninety-five, with lobust forms and active minds, and to them the writer has many times been indebt- ed for explanations and the information necessary to a correct filling out of records carelessly kept. Those who have aided and encouraged in the work, have been almost " Legion " and to all such the writer extends his grateful thanks, and hopes his efforts to pre- sent a truthful history, will not prove fruitless, but that it may be a mile-stone of events reared upon our County's century course, and read by our youth and posterity with profit, and by their true patriotism, industry and frugality, be enabled to add as worthy a record of their day and generation, as the fathers of the County have here transcribed through the author WI LLIAM E. ROSCOE. HISTORY O F Schoharie County. CHAPTER I. The Germans — Cause of Leaving Germany — Palatine Tenants — Kocherthal's Pe- tition — First Immigration Agents Sent to Germany — Hunter's Petition — Re- port OF Board of Trade Favorable to Immigration — Robert Hunter Appointed Superintendent of Immigration — His Let- ter OF Arrival at New York — Appointed Governor— Action of the City Council — Feeling of Enmity — German Children Apprenticed — Settlement at the "Camps" — Number of Settlers — Trouble Experi- enced — Discontent of Germans — Meet- ings Held — Lord Clarendon's Letter — Expedition to Canada — Germans Petition TO THE King. TV FTER wandering through the picturesque £\_ valleys and over the noble hills of Schoharie County, visiting the many places made historic by the scenes and incidents enacted in the " days that tried men's souls, " and after glean- ing from family records, official documents, public and private journals, and archives in gen- eral, we find ourselves upon a mountain of facts, from which we can look over the whole territory. From this position let us look back beyond the advent here of the first pioneers, and satisfy ourselves as to whom they were, and the causes that induced them to brave old ocean's calms and storms ; and also at what time they came. Let us not forget, however, that we are tread- ing upon tender ground that has been gleaned by others of riper age and greater ability, nor the natural propensity to condemn where ideas disagree. From this " mountain of facts " we find, regardless of the differences of opinion in relation to the time and the causes which led to the first settlement of Schoharie, that all writers agree as to the nationality of those settlers, and ascribe to them those commendable character- istics — Honesty, Frugality and Industry. Many sections of our country have been the asy- lums of the religiously and politically oppressed — of those who fled from their homes in the Old World, to enjoy the privileges that conscience craves of the one, and free thought and speech of the other, even if it could only be granted in an unknown wilderness, infested by savages and wild beasts. It has been conjectured that the Germans who settled at Schoharie fled from their homes to avoid religious persecution ; but those who have advanced this idea have been content to 10 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. follow in the path marked out by imaginary tra- ditions and self-satisfied conjectures, without taking pains to explore archives that concealed documents left by those sturdy ones to enlight- en us. It is a singular fact, that history is more truthful after the lapse of a century or more from the time the events transpired, than at a nearer date, as all personal animosities, self- interests, jealousies, and all other monitors of fictitious chronicles die out, leaving the field open for the impartial to glean facts as they were, without distrust of disapprobation by factions, cliques or communities. The first settlers of this County were Pala- tine tenants from the lower part of Germany. They were called " Palatines " from the fact that the lands which they occupied were owned and ruled by officers under the Crown, called " Palatines," and the country over which they presided, as governors, were " Palatinates. " By studying the history of that time, we find that the poorer class — the tenants of those of- ficials — were ground down by crown, state and church taxation, so much so that they barely made a living. Yet, the church requirements were more obligatory through choice than com- pulsion, as the people had long been free from the Popish grasp, and, as a mass, were followers of L'uther. In order to give an idea of the cause of the German immigration to this country, we will draw the attention of the reader to a letter,* writ- ten by one Joshua Kocherthal, a minister to the Board of Trade in London in 1 708. He petitions, " in behalf of himself and the poor Lutherans, to be transported to some of ye Ma'e» plantations in America." " We humbly take leave to repre- sent that they are, in number, forty-one — ten men, ten women and twenty-one children ; that they are very necessitous and in the utmost want, not having at present anything to subsist themselves ; that they have been-rendered to this by the ravages committed by the French in the Lower Falatinat, where they lost all they had." f This small band, on the 29th of June, 1709, was settled upon Quasek Creek J in Ulster * London Documents, ■j- Documentary History. X Now Chambers Creek. County, and was the first German immigration to America. By referring to European history, the reader will find that in 1702, England, Hollatid and Germany declared war against France, in sup- port of Charles, Archduke of Austria, to the Spanish throne. Charles the Second of Spain died in 1700, and Louis the Fourteenth of France, wishing to make Spain an ally, trumped up a candidate for the throne in the person of Philip of Anjou. The war lasted until the year 17 13. During the years 1708, '09 the French carried hostilities upon German soil, and devastated the Lower Country, as stated by Kocherthal in his petition. England, possessing a goodly portion of Ameri- ca and receiving but meager supplies from her, embraced the opportunity (as she was but thinly inhabited) of peopling her possessions with the homeless Palatines ; and, according to Brown's Pamphlet History, sent agents throughout the Palatinates to induce them to immigrate here; as we of to-day find our Western railroad companies that received large bounties in land from the government sending agents throughout Europe, to induce immigration, that their claims may become settled and produce a revenue. A goodly portion of the Western States, through such agencies, have been peopled, and numberless poor, delving, tenants of the Old World have be- come landlords here, under the influence of our generous laws. We trust they will continue to come by thousands, as in them we find indus- trious, energetic and law-abiding citizens. Seeing the opportunity offered of peopling the American possessions, Robert Hunter, a man of official ambition, conceived the idea of immigrating a large colony of the Germans, and petitioned the London Board of Trade to that eff'ect. The board made the following report "To the Queen's Most Gracious Majesty," on the sth of December, 1709, which was approved January 7th, 17 10. From this second immigration came the pioneers of Schoharie County. As we shall be under the necessity of referring, in several points, to the above mentioned report, we will copy a portion of it, leaving out that which will be of no service to us, it being too monotonous for the matter-of-fact American reader : — ROBERT HUNTER'S PETITION. n " May It Please Your Majesty : " In obe- dience to your Majesty's commands, signified to us by the Right Honbi'the Earl of Sunderland, we have considered the proposals made to us by Colonel Hunter, for settling 3,000 Palatines at New York and Employing them in the Pro- duction of Naval Stores, and thereupon humbly Represent to your Majesty — "That the Province of New York being the most advanced Frontier of Your Majesty's Plantations on the Continent of America, the Defence apd Preservation of that place is of the utmost importance to the security of all the Rest ; and if the said Palatines were seated, they would be an additional strength and security to that Province, not only with regard to the French of Canada, But against any Insurrection of the scattered Nations of Indians upon that Conti- nent, and, therefore, we humbly propose that they be sent thither. " By the best Information we can gett, the most proper Places for the seating them in that Province, so as they may be of benefit to this Kingdom by the Production of Naval Stores, are on the Mohaques River and on the Hud- sons Rivers, where are very great numbers of Pines fit for Production of Turpentine and Tar, out of which Rosin and Pitch are made. "First — In relation to the Mohaques River: Your Majesty was pleased, by your order in Council of the 26th June, 1708, to confirm an Act, passed at New York, the 2nd of March, 169I foir vacating several Extravagant Grants, whereby large Tracts of Land are returned to your Majesty, and among the rest. " A Tract of Land lying on the Mohaques River, containing about 50 miles in length and four miles in breadth, and a Tract of land lying upon a creek which runs into the said River, which contains between 24 and 30 miles in Length. This last mentioned Land, of which Your Majesty has the possession, is claimed by the Mohaques, but that claim may be satisfyed on very easy terms. " The Objection that may be made to the seating of the Palatines, on the fore-mentioned Mohaques River, is the Falls that are on the said River between Schenectady and Albany, which will be an interruption in the Water Carriage, but as that may be easily helped by a short land carriage of about 3 miles at the west, we do not See that this objection will be any hindrance to the seating of them there. In Case there be not an opportunity of doing it more convenientlyin some other part of that Province. " We therefore humbly offer that the Gover- nor or Commander in Chief be Directed upon their Arrival to Seat them all, either in a Boddy or in different Settlements, upon those or other Lands as he shall Find most proper and that they be Encouraged to settle and work in Part- nership, that is, 5 or more families to unite and work in common. " That the Governor be hkewise Directed to grant, under the Seal of that Province, without fee or Reward, 40 acres per head to each family, after they shall have repaid, by the pro- duce of their Labour, the charges the publick shall be at in settling and subsisting them there, in the manner as hereinafter proposed: To have and to hold the said Lands, to them and their heirs forever, under the usual Quit-Rent, to commence and be payable after seven years from the date of Each respective Grant ; and further, that in every such grant there be an ex- press Proviso that the Lands so granted shall be seated and planted within a reasonable time, to be therein prefixed, or, on failure thereof, such Grant to be void and to revert to the Crown. And for the better preventing those people from falling upon the Woollen Manufac- tures, it will be proper that in every such grant, a Clause be inserted, declaring the said Grant to be void, if such Grantee shall apply himself to the making of Woollen or such hke manu- facture. "As these people are very necessitous, they will not be able to maintain themselves there till they can reap the benefit of their labour, which will not be till after one year at the soonest. We therefore humbly offer, that they be subsisted, the men and women at the rate of 6'' sterling a head p"" day, and the children under the age of 10 years, at 4"^ Sterhngpr day, which as we are informed, will be sufficient. " When their houses shall be built and the ground cleared for making their settlements, they may then be Employed in the making of HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Turpentine Rozin Tar and Pitch, and that this will be beneficial not only to the said Palatines, but to this Kingdom. ***** " As these Palatines are ignorant in the Pro- duction of those Stores, it will be necessary that three or four persons well skilled in the doing thereof (if to be had) be sent from hence, to in- struct the said Palatines there, and that they be allowed ;^2oo, New York money, per an- num each, during their being employed in this work. " In case no such persons can be found here, then We propose that Mr. Bridges, Surveyor- General of Your Majesty's Woods on the Con- tinent of America, who was sent 4 or 5 years ago to New England to instruct the People there, be Directed to go to New York for that purpose, and that he bring with him 3 or 4 other persons, the most skilfull he can get, who may assist him in the instructing the said Palatines, and for their pains therein have a Salary of ;^ioo p'' annum during such their employ and stay at New York. " It will be likewise necessary that there be Supervisors appointed to reside among the said Palatines to over see and keep them at work, with a Salary of ^^loo per annum each. As to the number of the said supervisors we humbly conceive it cannot well be regulated here, for that will Depend in a great measure upon the number of the Palatines settlements, and On the Distance they may be one from the other. Therefore we are of opinion that this be left to the Discretion of Your Majesty's Governor after his arrival there. ***** "And we further offer that the Premium given by an Act made in the 3d and 4th year of Your Majesty's Reign to encourage the Im- portation of Naval Stores from Your Majesty's Plantations in America, be paid to such factor or Agent to and for the sole Benefit of such Palatines, who were the Manufacturers of such Stores, in like manner as Premiums are allowed to other Importers of Naval Stores from those parts. " Lastly, we humbly offer that the said Pala- tines, upon their arrival there, be Naturalized without fee or leeward, that they may enjoy all such privileges and advantages as are Enjoyei by the present Inhabitants of that Province." While the Palatines were in London, Brig adier Robert Hunter was appointed to superin tend the transportation of them by Quee: Anne. They set sail some time between th^ approving of the report (January 7th, 1710) an( the 14th of June following. After their arrival Hunter addressed the following letter to thi board of trade in London : — New York,* July 24th, 1710. " My Lords: By a small vessel bound for Lisbon, I gav( your Lordships notice of our arrival here (Jun( 14th). Since that time all the Palatine ships separated by the weather, are arrived safe, ex cept the Herbert Frigat, where our Tents an( Arms are. She was cast away on the East enc of Long Island, on the 7th of July, the men ar( safe, but goods much damaged. We still wan the Berkley Castle, which we left at Portsmouth The poor people have been mighty sickly, bu recover apace. We have lost above 470 of ou: number. " Soon after our arrival, I sent the surveyor ' with some skillful men to survey the land ox the Mohaks river, particularly the Skohare, tc which the Indians had no pretense — being Col Bayard's grant — they however, by the instiga tion of some ill-intentioned men, at first refusec to suffer it to be surveyed, upon pretense of its having returned to them, after the resumption but have been better advised since. So at this time he is actually surveying of it. These lands however, I beheve will be no ways fit for the design in hand, being very good Lands which bears no Pines and lyes verry remote. I shal however be able to carry it on elsewhere, foi there is no want of Pines, but the Pine land being good for nothing, the difficulty will lye in finding such a situation as will afford good land for their settlements near the Pine lands, I am in terms with some who have lands on the Hudsons River fitt for that purpose, which ] * London Documents, XVIII. f Augustus Graham was the surveyor that was sent tc Schoharie to survey the land, and his bill — now in thf office of the Secretary of State — amounted to £\1\. being employed one hundred and twenty days at twentj shillings per day. SECOND IMMIGRATION OF PALATINES IN 1710. 13 intend to view next week in company with Dr. Bridges, who is now with me, and gives me good encouragement." On the same day of Hunter's arrival at New York (June 14th,) he was appointed Governor of the " Province of New York and its depen- dencies.'' Thus we find this the second immi- gration of Germans arriving at New York in June and July, 1 7 10. We find that the city council had the fact of the arrival brought before them, by Mr. Beek- man, its President, on the 13th of June and " desirredthe council to give their opinion what measures are proper to be taken with respect to them," and " that the mayor of ye city having petitioned to the board from himself and the corporation, setting forth that there is just cause to beheve that there are many contagious dis- tempers among them, which they are apprehen- sive, will endanger the health of the inhabitants of the citty if they be landed, in any part there- of," etc. In council, June i6th, it was ordered that certain officials "doe draw upp a Scheme, for ye Ordering, RuUng, and Government of ye Palantines, and that it is the opinion of this board, that Nutten Island (now Governors) is the properest place to put the Palantines," etc. Huts were constructed, and the Germans kept upon the Island until other provisions could be made for them. New York city at that time, was mostly Holland or Low Dutch, yet under English government. They were not on the best of terms with the Germans, or High Dutch. Whether enmity had existed towards each other at home, as a people, or was an off- spring of selfish commercial dealing here, we are unable to say ; but by preserved letters of business transactions between the two branches of Dutch, which it is unnecessary to copy, we find that their early intercourse at New York was marked by ill feeling ; and from the tenor of their communications, we are led to think that the Germans were very distrustful of the honesty of their neighbor Hollanders. Among the Germans at Nutten Island were many children, quite a number of whom were orphans, made so, no doubt, by the sea voyage, as stated by Hunter. The Government having the whole in charge, to provision etc., we find that the council ordered, (so as to retrench ex- penses) on the 20th of June, the following: — "There having been severall Proposalls made for the taking many of the Palantines children for a Term of years, and there being many Or- phans who are unable to take care of them- selves to work and many who by sickness are Rendered incapable of doing any service for some time & in that condition would be a great expense and there being noe prospect of Set- tling them this summer by reason its soe much advanced. His Excellency does appoint Doctor Staats and Mr. Van Dam or either of them to take such Proposals for Placing out the orphans and other children whose Parents have a nu- merous Family, entering into an Instrument in Writeing, to Cloathe, Victual and use them well, and to deliver them to the Government when called for."* We find that the boys were apprenticed until the age of seventeen, and the girls until fifteen years of age. Thirty-four were bound out in 1 7 10 — twenty-five in 17 11 — three in 17 12 — and one in 1714. Here we are led to think, undue advantage was taken of the poor Germans by Govern- ment officials. We cannot believe that they would have immigrated under the protection of a foreign government, unless great inducements were offered for doing so. If they had not been assured of their little effects and families being retained, and also their freedom granted to sup- port and maintain them, we do not believe they would have listened to England's entreaties. Apprenticing the orphans was right, as they had no one to care for them ; but taking children away from their able-bodied parents, was inhur man, and uncalled for. The Government knew their situation and the expense likely to occur from transporting and settling the Palatines, and if they did not wish to support the children, they ought not to have taken them nor their parents under its protection. By a petition to the Crown in 1720, to which we will draw the reader's attention hereafter, this act of appren- ticing children, is spoken of among a long list of grievances, and also the promise- made to them of "forty acres of land to each person," * Historical Documents, M HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. with necessary utensils, etc., upon their arrival; but after being huddled together upon Nutten Island until November, Hunter wrote to the Board of Trade, that he had purchased a tract of 6,000 acres of Robert Livingston "for the settlement of the Palantines," and upon the 14th of November, 17 10, he wrote to the same : — " I have now settled the Palantines upon good lands upon both sides of the Hudson's River, about one hundred miles up, adjacent to the Pines. I have planted them in five Villages, three upon the East side of the River upon 6,000 acres I have purchased of Mr. Livingston about two miles from Row Lof Jansens Kill. The other two on the West side near Sawyer's Creek, as your Lordships will observe by the inclosed sketch No 10 com- pared with your maps. "The lands on the West side belong to the Queen. Each family hath a sufficient Lot of good arable land, and ships of 15 foot draught of water can sail upp as far as the Plantations. They have already built themselves huts, and are now imployed in clearing off the grounds. In the Spring I shall set them to work preparing the Trees, according to Mr. Bridges direction."* Thus it will be seen by the foregoing letter, that the Germans were settled at Livingston's Manor, in November 17 10, in five villages or en- campments, which originated in the place being called " the Camps." Livingston was a man of large means, for those days. He owned a mill and brew-house, and made a contract with Gov. Hunter to supply "the camps" with provisions at the Governments' expense. Such supplies were to consist of " For each person of them, each day, the quantity of Bread, equal to one- third of a Loaf of bread of such sort and assize which is comonly at the prise of four pence half penny in the city of New York, and one quart of Beer such as is usually called Ships beer, of the Prise of three pounds for each Tun, All which is to be delivered to the commissary of the Palentines." The first account, for the sub- sistence of the Palatines, shows that the first arrival at "the camps" was Oct. 6th, 17 10, and *Documentary History. the number of persons 213. "On Jan. ist, 1711, they numbered 1,434. In June i7"> there were, upon the east tide of the river, four villages — called ' dorfs' — namely — Hunters- town, Queensbury, Annsbury, and Haysbury, containing 1,189 Palentines." On the west side, there were three, Elizabethtown, Georgetown, and Newtown, with 614, making 1,803 Palatines at "the camps." Over each of these villages, or " dorfs ", was placed one of their number, to keep a correct account of their condition, wants, etc., and was required to make a report to the commissary, at the beginning of each month. Those overseers or head men were called " List- masters,'' and were, in the order of the villages, just mentioned — "John Peter Kneiskern, John Conrad Weiser, Hartman Windecker, John Christopher Tucks, John Christopher Gerlach, Jacob Manch and Philip Peter Granberger." In the spring of 17 11, the Germans became dissatisfied with the lands upon which they were located, and asked to be taken to those which they had been promised — namely — Schoharie — or — as called by them " Schorie.'' Here, it will be observed, that the Germans first speak of a " promise " to be taken to " Schorie." During their discontentment at the " camps " they were firmly determined to leave them, and go to "Schorie," stating that the Governor and other officials had deceived them, by promising them while in England, to locate them in Schoharie, and to give to each forty acres of land, with necessary implements, etc. The oflScials denied making such a promise, but as to the forty acres of land, admitted, that they were to have it after paying for it, together with the expense the Government had been to for transportation, in tar and pitch. But the Governor and council of New York had made arrangements to begin the manufacture of tar and pitch at this time, yet upon attempting to set them to work, the overseers found the Palatines " resolute in dis- obeying orders," in fact, mutinized. Secretary Clarke, in writing to the London Board of Trade says : — "About a fortnight ago his Excel'"^- hav- ing received information from their Over- seers and other Officers that these people had taken a Resolution neither to work in making Pitch and Tarr nor to remain on the land they SECRETARY CLARKE'S LETTER TO THE LONDON BOARD OF TRADE. 15 are settled upon for that purpose, but even by force, If they could not otherwise effect it to remove to Schohary (a tract of resumed lands) and that they had actually hindered the Sur- veyor from laying out more Lots to them " also " By their deputies they returned for answer that when the surveyors came to lay out more land, the People called them out, told them 'twas worth nothing, they would have no more, so that 'twas needless to survey it and that they would have the land at Schohary which the Queen had ordered them by their contract. ******* " His Excellency replyed. That as to the lands at Schorie, its the malace of those who would have them for their slaves that put them on demanding it, fqr that those lands the In- dians had not yet parted with, nor were they fit for their labor, no pine being within Twenty miles of it, that it would be impossible to sub- sist them there, or defend them against ye French and French Indians & besides they had obhged themselves to settle on such lands as he should assign them and then desired their final answer, which was, that they would have the lands appointed them by the Queen. " Whereupon his Excellency in writing told them that since neither their duty or allegience or regard to Her Maj'^ unparalled Charity in goodness in taking them up and providing for them when they were starving, and abandoned by the world beside, had been of any force to keep you within the bounds of their duty, and since they had no regard to a solemn contract signed by them, he was come to require & en- force the execution of it, Copies and Transla- tions of which they had in their own language, and that they must give their final answer the next day at four in the evening. "A few minutes after the deputies were gone, His Excellency was informed that a body of three or four Hundred of them were then pass- ing the brook, the Deputies, among whom were the Captains, returned to him, and in appear- ance seemed softened, and then went to the peo- ple who were drawn up on the hill above the house, towards whom his Excell'^y- marching with his detachment. "One of the commisary's who had been with them told him they had come to pay their com- pliments to him, so his Excellency walked up to them, and asked them what they meant by ap- pearing in arms, they told him what they told the Commisary. " Thereupon his Excellency ordered them home to their habitations and being gone about a mile they discharged all their firelocks. " But their saying they came to pay their com- pliments was only a pretence, for they told two of their officers, as they were going home, that they came to relieve their Deputies in case they had been confined. The next day the Dep- uties came according to order with their an- swers which begins indeed with a desire that his Excellency would assist them, that they might be settled in the lands of Schohary, but they soon forgot their humble style and told his Excel- lency that they had rather lose their lives im- mediately, than remain where they are, that they are cheated by the contract, it not being the same that was read in England there, they say it runs thus, ' that seven years after they had forty acres a head a piece given them, they were to repay the Queen by Hemp, Mast trees, Tarr and Pitch, or anything else, so that it may be ho damage to any man in his family.' Upon these terms they will perform the contract, but to be forced by any other contract to remain upon the lands all their lives and work for her Majesty for the ship use, that they will never consent to doe. What does it signify, they say, to promise them this land that they shall make pitch and Tarr. They will be obedient to the Queen, but they will have the promise kept that Mr. Cast read to them in High Dutch in Eng- land, and upon that land which was promised them they will be there, and if they cannot they desire three or four men may goe for England and lay their case before the Queen. They say hke- wise there are a great many things promised them — Clothing, household goods and working tools wch they desire to have." "They say further their people dye for want of care and proper remedyes and desire money to subsist themselves and lastly they say Mr. Cast told them he'd make them slaves and therefore desire his Excellen'^y- to appoint another in his room. "Whilst his Excellen'^y- was talking to the Deputies he received information that there was a great body of men in arms on the other side of ^ i6 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. the brook and having by that time a re-enforce- ment of seventy men more, he marched the de- tachment immediately and passed the brook,the Palentines were run home to their houses. His Excellency marched to the first village and ordered them to bring in all their arms, which they did immediately except a few. He could goe no further that night, but the next morning marched to ye other three villages on the same side of the river and disarmed them all and then returning to Mr. Livingston, sent orders to the villages on the other side to bring in their arms that day to the storehouse to be transport- ed to him, which I believe they have done."* The letter is lengthy, and having given an idea of the Germans discontent and the extent of the mutiny, we will not copy the remainder, as the writer, in substance, " wonders how a people can be so ungrateful to the Queen,'' and that "Its hardly creditable that men who reap so great a benefit as they doe by these people — not only by the consumption of their provisions, but by the increase of strength, should be so malicious to possess them with notions so inju- rious to themselves and prejudicial to Her Majesty's Interest but yet it is so.'' Whom those were that "possessed" the Ger- mans we are unable to tell, but we are satisfied that John Conrad Weiser, the List-master over Queensbury, urged their disobedience, as we find he was a very " malicious " man, in the officials' estimation after removing to " Schorie." Without doubt, great advantage was taken by the officials over the Germans, especially by Mr. Livingston, in furnishing the supplies; as he was a shrewd, money-making man, and as more modern "government contractors " do, stinted in quality if not in quantity, to the detriment of the stomachs of the Palatines. Various in- terested men wrote to the London Board of Trade in regard to the "maliciousness" of the Germans, and without doubt that honorable body had discussed the matter. Being aware, how- ever,of the temptations held out for money-mak- ing, a portion, at least, of that body, took a fair view of the matter and one in particular, Lord Clarendon, wrote to Lord Dartmouth in regard to Mr. Livingston, as follows : — " I think it is unhappy that Col. Hunter at * London Documents. his first arrival in his Government fell into so ill hands, for this Livingston has been known for many years in that province, for a very ill man. , He formerly victualed the forces at Albany, in which he was guilty of most notorious frauds, by which he greatly improved his estate. He has a Mill and a Brew-house upon his lajid, and if he can get the victualing of those Palentines, who are so conveniently posted for his purpose, he will make a very good addition to his estate, and I am persuaded, the hopes he has of such a Subsistence to be allowed by Her Majesty, were the chief, if not the only Inducements, that pre- vailed with him to propose to Gov. Hunter, to settle them upon his land, which is not the best Place for Pine Trees. The borders of Hud- son's River above Albany, and the Mohawk River, Schenectady, are well known to be the best places for Pines of all sorts, both for num- bers, and largeness of Trees. * * My Lord, upon the whole matter, I am of the opinion, that if the Subsistence proposed, be allowed, the consequence will be, that Livings- ton and some others will get Estates, and the Palentines will not be richer.'"" The Germans became convinced, no doubt, that they had been deceived, either by their misunderstanding the contract in England or the dishonesty of those who read it to them, and resolved to keep quiet, at least until after the contemplated campaign against Canada. In June of 1711, a secret expedition was started from New York city, both by sea and land, to take Quebec from the French. A land force was to form a junction with the fleet before the city, and capture the fortress. In July, Gen. Nicholson started with the land force, and was joined at the "Camps" by 300 of the Palatines, under the command of Capt. John Peter Kneiskern, Conrad Weiser, Hartman Windecker and J. Christopher Tucks. The vessels encountered a heavy storm and were driven back, and a few of them were wrecked and failed to reach Quebec. The land force waited impatiently for the vessels and at last decided to return, which they did in the lat- ter part of the August following. They found that their families had been poorly provided for and were upon the verge of starvation which * London Documents, XVIIL PETITION OF THE PALATINES TO KING GEORGE. 17 again aroused them to a sense of the injustice with which they were dealt, and a deeper desire to remove from the " Camps." Some of them became " unwary," and settled upon lands be- longing to others, and "ye justices" were or- dered to cause them to return to their own set- tlements, and in May, 17 12, a detachment of troops was ordered among them, as they " will not obey orders without compulsion." Upon the 6th of September, 1712, the Gov- ernor wrote a letter * to Mr. Cast, one of the commissioners, the substance of which we will here give ; and we desire its special notice, as reference will be given to it again. He says : — " I have at length exhausted all of my credit I was master of, for the support of the Palen tines; and have thereby, I assure you, embar- rassed myself with difficulties, which I know not how to surmount, if my bills of exchange be not paid. » » » * "When you call the people together, and communicate together the present state of my affairs, you will tell them, that I wish they would accept any employment they may get from farmers, and others in this Province, and New Jersey, for their own, and their families support, until they are recalled by Proclamation or other public notice." * * * * Upon learning the situation of affairs from Mr. Cast, the discontent became greater, and since they were obliged to seek employment elsewhere, and that, too, at the close of the year, they concluded to embrace the opportunity of seeking the " promised land Schorie," and after years of " dhrouble " even in that imaginary paradise, they sent a petition to King George — as their devoted Queen Anne had gone to her rest — laying their grievances before his Majesty, which we will here copy as it gives us the true dates, to verify, in a measure that which we have already noticed. " The Condition, Greivances and oppressions of the Germans In His Majesty's Province of New York In America, 1720: — "In the year 1709 was her late Majesty Queen Anne most graciously pleased to send a body of between 3 and 4000 Germans to New York under the Inspection and Care of Robert ♦Documentary History. Hunter, then Governor there, with particular Orders & Instructions to settle them upon lands belonging to the Crown, and such as was most proper for raising Tarr & Pitch and other Naval stores. " Before they left England they were promis'd 5 pounds in money pr. head, of which they have received nothing at all. It was likewise promis'd that on their arrival there. Each of them should receive Cloaths, Utensils, tools and other Con- veniency's belonging to Husbandry, all which were sent with them from England for their use but of these they have received but little. "They were moreover to have a grant of 40 acres of land to each person but it was never perform'd. " On their landing at New York they were quartered in tents on the comon & divided in six companies over each of which was a Cap- tain appointed to Command them, (of which number John Conrad Weiser arrived here in London 1718) with an allowance of ;^is per annum each but not one farthing has been hitherto paid to them. "About the same time took the Govern'' without & against their consent many children from them and bound them to several of the In- habitants of that province till they should arrive to the age of 2 1 years, particularly two Sons from Captain Weiser, one of twelve and another of 13 years of age by which means they were deprived of the comfort of their Childrens Com- pany and Education as well as the assistance 6 Support they might in a small way have reasonably expected from them. " In the fall of that year, those that were liv- ing [then it must be observed that during their voyage thither and after their landing a great number of them died] were removed to a tract of land belonging to one Mr. Livingston where they liv'd in houses, erected by themselves, till the Spring following, when they were ordered to the woods to make Tarr & Pitch and continued there nearly two years, but as the land was im- propper to raise any sort of naval stores in any Considerable Quantity their labors turn'd to a different account and the profits of building & Improving the lands fell to a private person, they not being able to make more than 200 barrels of Pitch and tarr. The small prospect they had HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. \ of being in a Capacity to serve the nation, who had so generously & Charitably advanc'd very great sums of money for their relief & Support and the Impossibility there was of raising Corn, Cattle & other provisions for their subsistence on such ordinary & allmost barren land oblig'd them to petition the aforesaid Governor that they might be put in possession & settle on the land Call'd Schorie which the Indians had given to the late Queen Anne for their use, he answered that tho the lands was theirs he could nor would not take it from them, neither could he settle them there, because it would oblige him to maintain to many Garrisons. "The said Governor thought fitt sometime after to visit all the villages, where they were settled and view the people there, who with one Consent apply'd to him again, humbly praying they might go and inhabit the above promis'd land, upon which he in a passion stamped upon the ground & said, here is your land (mean- ing the almost barren rocks) where you must live and die. " The second year after our arrival were or- ders sent to them to detach 300 able men to serve on the late unfortunate expedition against Canada, which they willingly & Cheerfully did, and on their return, were their arms taken from them, tho all that went on the expedition should have kept them by her late Majesty's particular Order without paying them any wages or Sallery, (notwithstanding they were put on the Estab- lishment of New York and New Jersey or both, & the money received by the said Governor) they marched home, where they found their family's allmost starved, no provisions having been given them during their absence. " The Winter following did the Inhabitants of the frontier Town of Albany desire the Gov- ernor that they might have (being fearfull) the assistance of some of them to strengthen ye Garrison of that town from Invasion of the In- dians in Conjunction with the French of Cana- dy, which the Governor agreeing to, they went accordingly, but were never paid. " In the second year of their abode at Living- ston's on the pitch wood, three of their people were sent down to Col. Hunter, Petitioning that he would be pleased to order them their full allowance of provisions, which they never hitherto had, to which he answered that they should return home & he wou'd send orders after them, and about 8 days after came this surprising message from him, that he had not received any subsistance for them from England, & therefore every one of them must shift for himself, but not out of the province. " This was the latter end of the year and winter just at hand which is very severe, there being no provisions to be had, & the people bare of Cloaths, which occasioned a terrible Consternation amongst them & particuUy from the women and children, the most pityful Cryes and lamentations that have perhaps ever been heard from any person under the most wretched and miserable circumstances, so that they were at last much against their wills, put under the hard & greeting necessity of seeking releif from the Indians. Upon which some of their Chiefs were suddenly dispatch'd away to the Indians by whom they were kindly received, & to whom they open'd their miserable condition & that being wholly cast off by the sd Governor, & left destituted of the means of living elsewhere, they intreated them to give 'em permission to settle on the tract of land call'd Schorie which they immediately granted, saying, they had formerly given the sd land to Queen Anne for them to possess and that nobody should hinder them of it, and they would assist them as farr as they were able. Whereupon these chiefs returned to the people acquainting them of the Indians favorable disposition. " This put the people in some heart & find- ing it absolutely necessary to embrace that opportunity so providently bestowed on them all hands fell to work and in 2 weeks Clear'd a way thr' the woods of 15 miles long with the utmost toyle and labor, tho almost starved & without bread. Which being effected 5 o fam ily's were immediately sent to Schorie when being arrived & allmost settled they there received orders from the Governor, not to goe upon that land & he who did so shou'd be declared a Rebell. " This message sounded hke thunder in their ears, and surprised them beyond expression, but having seriously weighed matters amongst themselves & finding no manner of likelyhood of subsisting Elsewhere but a ceftainty of perish- PETITION OF THE PALATINES TO KING GEORGE. 19 ing by hunger, Cold, etc., if they returned, they found themselves under the fatal necessity of hazzarding the Gov'ts Resentment, that being to all more Eligible than Starving. "In the same year in March did the remain- der of the people (tho treated by the Governor as Pharao treated the Israelites) proceed on their journey & by Gods assistance, travell'd in fourtnight with sledges tho the snow which there covered the ground above 3 foot deep, Cold & Hunger, Joyn'd their friends and Coun- tryman in the promised land Schorie. " The number of Germans who came hither to search for bread for themselves, their wifes and children, were more than the land already granted them by the Indians cou'd supply with settlements & some of the people of Albany endeavoring to purchase the land around em from the Indians on purpose to close them up, and deprive them of any rang for their Cattel, they were obliged to solicit all the Indian Kings there adjoining for more land, which they wiUingly granted 'em & sold 'em the rest of the land at Schorie being woods Rocks and pastaridg for 300 pieces of Eight. " No sooner had Governor Hunter notice of their settlement and agreement with the Indians but he ordered one Adam Vroman to endeavor to pursuade the Indians to break the agreement made. " Upon the first settlement of this land the misery's of those poor & almost famished Creatures underwent were incredable, & had it not been for the Charity of the Indians, who shew'd them where to gather some eatable roots and herbs, must inevitably have perished, every soul of them, but what God said in Anger to Adam was in mercy fulfilled viz Thou shalt eat the herbs of the fields, when they continued about one year on this land, build small houses and huts and made other Improvements thereon, with their bloody sweat & labor and under the most greivous hardships & dayly hazard of their lives from the French & Indian Enemy's, as well as from those more dreadful ones. Cold & Hunger, severall Gentlemen Came to them from Albany, declaring they had bought that land of Gov. Hunter & if they intentioned to live thereon they must agree with them, to which demand these poor people answered. That the land was the Kings and that they were the Kings subjects and had no power to agree to anything about his Majesty's lands without his special order, upon which these Gentleman said. Wee are Kings of this land, but the Germans reply'd that their King was in England, & that the land shou'd not be taken from them without his Majesty's particular order. "Sometime after did these gentleman send the Sheriff with some others upon the land and to take the sd Captain -by force, dead or alive, but he having timely notice of it was on his Guard so they were prevented. "These Gentleman finding the Inhabitants resolut in keeping possession of the lands, they had thus improved and from whence they drew the only support to themselves and familys fell on an other project which was Clandestinely and basely to endeavor to sew Enmity betwixt them and the Indians and if possible to pur- suade them (for Money or Rumm) to put them in possession of the land and declare them right- ful owners thereof, but in this they also fail'd, tho not without great trouble & charge to those poor people who were forced to put themselves on the mercy of the Indians by giving them out of their nothing and begg of them, that since they had so long suckled them at their breast, not to ween them so soon and cast them off". " In the spring of 1 7 1 5 the Gentleman from Albany sent a man to affix some papers on the land, Containing in Substance t];iat whoever of the Inhabitants shou'd see those papers must either agree with them or leave the land. " This with their threatenings being done in the Spring, the best planting time for Indian corn (the chief of their subsistance) damp'd the spirits of these poor people — slackened their Industry & did 'em great damage. "In the year 1717 came the Governor to Al- bany and sent orders to the Inhabitants of the land Schorie that 3 men of every village shou'd appear before him on a day appointed and par- ticularly the above mentioned Captain Weiser. " When they appeared before him, he said that he would hang J ohn Conrad Weiser and or- dered them to answer him the 3 following ques- tions viz : — " ist, Why they went to inhabit the land Schorie without his order ? HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. "2d. Why they would not agree with the people of Albany ? " 3d. Why they concerned themselves so much with the Indians ? " Their answer to the first question was, that his Exceir<=y had ordered them to shift for them- selves & denied them further subsistance, the utmost necessity and poverty forced them to remove thither to earn their bread for the main- tainance of their wifes and children and that they continued their settlement on the same motives in expectation of His Majesty's Grace and His Exceir-^y favor. " When they mentioned his Majesty the Gov- ernor in a passion said What Great Britian & Mr. Leivingston added, here is yr King, mean- ing the Governor. Whereupon they beg'd his pardon, and that he would forgive them their Ignorance and Inadvertency. " To the second question they returned their answer that the people were so many, the land so small and the wages so bad, that it was im- possible to agree with the gentleman on their extravagant terms, especially after the vast ex- pense and labor they had had, not mentioning, that the Indians had given it to the Crown for their use and that there was no direction imedi- ately from his Majesty to confirm it to them, they being sent over with a promise of so much land pr head and if they served any body it must be the King and not a privat person. " They answered to the 3d point, that because they lived on the borders of the French as a Frontier & were liable to their dayly insults against whom they could scarcely stand, they were obliged to keep fair with the friendly In- dians amongst whom they dwelt, which was the only way to be protected and live in peace. "Governor, Hunter then ordered that those who wou'd not agree with or turn tenants to those Gentleman from Albany, to whom he had sold the land for 1500 pistoles shou'd remove from their habitations and Improvements & that they should make two lists, one of those that wou'd agree the other of those that wou'd not agree with the Gentleman & and that he soon expected an order from England to trans- plant them to another place, but no such thing was performed. ^' They then most submissively^ remonstrated with the Gov. how hard it would be to leave & abandon their houses, lands and Improvements for nothing beside that they were indebted for other necessary's, thereupon Gov. Hunter an- swered, that he would send 12 men to examine their works and Improvements and give them money to pay their debts but it was never per- formed. " The winter following they sent 3 men to New York to the Governor humbly beseaching him to grant them liberty to plough the lands or otherwise take care of them, but he answered, What is said is said, meaning the Prohibition of plowing at Albany "This was a thunder clap in the ears of their wifes & children and the lamentations of all the people increased to such a hight and their necessity's grew so great, that they were forc'd for their own preservation to transgress those orders and sew some Summer Corn and fruits or Else they must have starv'd. " These Gentleman have thrown one of their women in Prison at Albany, who still continues there also a man for ploughing the land and will not release him till he gives One Hundred Crown's security, the same has also happened to others. " The Governor sent orders, that all the Germans should take their oaths of being faith- ful and withal to pay 8 shillings pr head, which they willingly agreed to, in hopes of a settle- ment, but this with all the promices formally made, unto them was in vain." [Endorsed] " Greivances of the Palentins in New York Rd Aug 20th 1722." CHAPTER II. The Foregoing Chapter Reviewed — Ex- pense OF Germans — Review of the Ger- man Movements — Located at Schorie — Their Hardships Judge Brown's Ac- count — Fight — Indians of What Tribe — Hunting Grounds — Ka-rig-hon-don-tee The Chief — Sale of Lands by Gov. Hun- ter — Schuyler and Coeyman's Purchase — Gov. Hunter's Defense to the Board OF Trade — Bayard's Visit to Schoharie REVIEW OF THE EARLY PALATINE SETTLEMENTS. 21 — Resumed Lands — Sheriff Adams Adam Vroman — The Germans Trespass Upon Him — His Letter to Gov. Hunter —The Fourth of July Spirit — Official Corruption — Hunter's Order of Arrest — Weiser in England— Confined in the Tower — Clark's Letter — Jeremy Long's Council for Germans Purchase of Lands in 17 19 — Location of Weiser's DoRF — Other Dorfs — Spread of Settle- ments — Mode of Living — Implements — Negro Slaves and Customs — Indians — Their Petition — Number of Them in Schoharie— Military Affairs— Division of Albany County — Early Officials. PERHAPS we have drawn too freely upon doc- umentary history to be pleasing, as it is con- sidered by the general reader to be uninteresting. But we are aware that our County's history has been written — its life and character drawn, and long years ago its fac-simile impressed upon the minds of her people in a different light from that which the foregoing chapter casts, and to make such contrary assertions without proof, would be useless. Therefore, we produce these copies raked from dtisty archives to prove the facts, and from them we glean much that must change the impressions that conjecture and tra- dition have made, however much we have been content with the well told and pleasing tale. It will be seen that it was the intention of Gov. Hunter to settle the Germans at " Schorie " upon their landing at New York, as by his let- ter to the Board of Trade, he had sent the sur- veyors there to lay out their lots — also through the petition, that the Indians had given the land for that purpose. It was so understood by the Palatines while in England, and we have not a doubt but they were made to believe that they were to have forty acres each with necessary utensils, immediately after landing, or they would not in their honest simplicity have so persistently petitioned to the Governor and King to that end. But the officials required them to pay the ex- pense their immigration had incurred, in pitch and tar, before any farther movements were made. Hunter's sole excuse for not settling them in the " promised land Schorie," was that it " would incur too great expense to maintain a garrison for their protection from the invasion of ye French and French Indians " — while he kept them at the camps at an expense to the govern- ment of from eight to twelve hundred pounds each month. After they came to Schoharie they did not cost the government a single farth- ing for their subsistence. The fact was, as Lord Clarendon wrote, that " Gov. Hunter fell in very ill hands " when he concurred in Mr. Liv- ingston's scheme to employ and subsist the Ger- mans, and His Lordship's words proved true that " Livingston and some others will get es- tates and the Palatines will not be the richer." There was a speculation in the labors and sub- sistence of the Germans, and they knew it, and for their persistent efforts to obtain a recom- pense for their labors in desirable homes for their families and a plentiful amount of eatables, they were stigmatized by the officials as ignorant and willfully obstinate. In reviewing the peti- tion of 1720 and letters which we have copied, we learn that they landed in New York in June, £710, and were taken to Livingston's manor in the fall of that year. In the spring of 17 11 they commenced making tar and pitch, and in June following, three hundred of them joined the Canadian expedition. Here we will state that John Con- rad Weiser, Hartman Windecker and others, whom all writers agree were among the first settlers in the Schoharie valley — were on that expedition from June to October, which con- futes the statement of the Schoharie settle- ments being made in 17 11. During the winter of 17 11 and 17 12 many were sent to Albany to strengthen the garrison, while others were working "in the pines," where they remained " nearly two years " from the spring of 1711. That " nearly two years " extended to the winter of 1712 and 17 13, when Gov. Hunter's supplies gave out as seen by his letter to Mr. Cast, of September, 17 12, granting them permission to work for farmers, and inter- preted by the Germans in the petition to "shift for themselves." The sending of their "chiefs" (List-masters,) to treat with the Indians, must have been in HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. the fall, ^d the arrival of the first party in the Schoharie valley must have been after the ist day of January, 1713, as we find, that "the same year in March, did the remainder of the ist people proceed on their journey," showing con- clusively, that all arrived in the same year, and not at an earlier date, than between the ist of January and April, 17 13. Then, we find the List-masters named here, at the Schoharie valley, where Middleburgh now stands, and then known as " Weisersdorf " The number that came is not known, but the fifty families that first sought the valley would number one hundred and seventy-five, according to the average of the whole, at the camps. But how many families came a short time after, or how many the "remainder that came in March" numbered, we are unable to say. In 1 7 18 a census was taken to obtain the number of inhabitants in the province of New York, and Joshua Kocherthal and John Fred- erick Hager were commissioned to report the number found along the Hudson, Mohawk and Schoharie. They reported seven villages or "dorfs" at Schoharie " consisting of 170 fam- ihes, containing six hundred and eighty souls."* Being located at "Schorie, the promised land," in the midst of winter, we cannot conceive the amount of hardships they were compelled to endure. Their petition expresses in a manner their deep troubles, but words, we know, were inadequate to "tell the tale." Arriving, as they did when there were three feet of snow upon the ground, without shelter or food and undoubt- edly with but little clothing, in a desolate and unknown wilderness, with none to aid but a few half-starved savages, we, who enjoy ourselves so luxuriantly upon the broad acres they regen- erated from the wilderness, are unable to im- agine their critical condition. But with deter- mined purposes, they overcame all obstacles. They hved upon roots and herbs, found so plen- tifully near the Indian encampment. But when warm, and gentle spring came, melting the snow and ice from the hills and valleys, with what heart- felt gratitude they must have returned thanks to the Divine Head for their deliverance from the frosty chains of unmerciful winter ! Immediately they commenced planting,and the * Consult Chapter 16. richness of the soil soon furnished them with an abundance of eatables. Brown, in his Pamph- let History, says that the first settlers came from the camps, by way of Albany, and upon arriv- ing at the Helleberg, and enjoying ablutions by a creek, the lice washed off from their bodies floating down the stream, gave it the appella- tion of " Louse Creek." He also tells us of a free fight from some unknown cause between those pioneers. We do not wish to contradict so good an authority as Judge Brown nor will we deny that such proceedings were enacted ; but it does not look reasonable, that the settlers whom we have followed from the camps in the depth of winter would have come by the way of Albany as at that time there was a road upon the east side of the river from New York to Albany, which would have made it useless for them to have cut a road through the woods as the petition states. Besides, at the time these settlers " proceeded on their journey, with snow three feet deep," and nearly starved, we cannot think they would stop to take an out-door bath on the summit of the Helleberg. While we are perfectly willing, indeed anxious, to accord to every object, whether man, beast,_or louse, all credit due for acts, especially endurance, we cannot think that either the Germans or lice, could "stand the test" upon that mountain, in mid-winter. Without doubt, some of the Germans that were sent to Albany to strengthen the garrison, joined their countrymen at Weisers in the spring of 1713 or '14, and being disappointed in not having an opportunity of displaying their "mar- tial spirits" at the garrison by a conflict with "ye French and French Indians," concluded to have a private rough and tumble upon the mountain, and leave a mark of their "inroads," if not upon trees, stones and earth — upon ribs, shins and noses. There was an Indian path leading to the Schoharie valley from the Hudson river near Catskill, over which the Stockbridge and Mohe- gan hunters and visitors travelled, that the first German settlers, no doubt, followed; as we believe they came direct from the camps, over hills and along valleys, without making the cir- cuitous route by the way of Albany, and the " three weeks cutting a way through the wil- THE SCHOHARIE TRIBE OF INDIANS. 23 demess," was in making a road to intersect the Indian path at the nearest point from the camps. Upon the advent of the whites, a small tribe of Indians occupied the Schoharie valley, but at what particular time they congregated, as a dis- tinct tribe, or branch of the Mohawks, is not known. We can only conjecture and indefi- nitely date their organization from the time those tribes from which they came began to disband by the progressive march of the whites upon their possessions, or through repeated wars. The " Schoharie Tribe " was a mongrel one, made up of different tribes, and numbering, ac- cording to Brown, about three hundred warriors. The Mohegans, of the Thames and Yantic of Connecticut, were stationed in considerable numbers, near the present Middleburgh village. The native tribe once numbered thousands, but by numerous wars with the Mohawks and Narragan setts, were reduced to a few hundreds. At the death of Uncas, their venerated chief, in 1683, quite a number left the tribe and with- out doubt sought a. home among the Mohawks, and were placed by them in the Schoharie valley. Oweneco, the son of Uncas, succeeded his father as chief and with a few followers remained near the graves of their fathers, living upon the charity of the English, to whom their camps and hunting grounds were sold. In 17 10, Oweneco died, and another scattering was made, and perhaps another addition to the Schoharie tribe. A band of Stockbridge Indians, also, was here but could not have come as early as the Mohegans, unless they were refugees from the native tribe for misconduct or crimes, from the fact that the tribe remained nearly intact up to, or near, the year 1700. Asquadof Tuscaroras, too, united with them, but at what time, tra- dition does not tell. In 17 12, the Tuscaroras united with the Five Nations, but by a letter we read several years ago, written by an Indian trader in 171 1, the tribe was represented in the valley at that time. There being a few of the Delaware Indians here mingled with the whole, perhaps the Tuscaroras came with them, led by the fascinating hunting-grounds, unless they were refugees from the council fires. When we look over the hills and valleys of Schoharie, we cannot imagine but that they were once noble hunting and fishing grounds that would excite the envy of any Nimrod or Walton whether he were savage or civilized ; and pre- vious to theformationof the Schoharie tribe, we believe they were trodden by the Mohawk and Delaware hunters in quest of the abundance of deer, bears, foxes and panthers that were found here. For lovers of such sports to have built their wigwams upon such grounds, would not seem strange, but on the contrary very consis- tent. These different squads, with different dialects and perhaps customs, settled separately, but were subjects of Ka-rig-hon-don-tee, whom the Mohawks placed here as their chief. Tra- dition tells us that he was a captive Canadian Indian chief, and married a Mohawk squaw. Brown says, his " father-in-law sent him there, and gave him land, for fear that the Mohawks would kill him when they got drunk, as they bore a great enmity to the French." Allowing that the Mohegans came in 1683, the Stock- bridges, in 1700, and the Tuscaroras a few years later, we can but see that the "make up" of the tribe was but a few years previous to the settlement of the whites. Various places through the County bear the marks of Indian encampments and burial places, that would lead us to think were far back of those dates. Un- doubtedly the whole territory of the present County, was occupied by the confederate tribes and the Delawares, Stockbridges, Mohegans, Narragan setts, and many others, as hunting- grounds as far back as any other portion of the country. When the whites settled along the Schoharie valley the Indians were marked as being a revengeful, murderous set, which gives us the impression that they were the scum, as it were, of the tribes from which they came. The Mohegans, as a tribe, were ever friends to the whites, but much to the discredit of the whites they many times proved traitors to the Indians' confidence in them. The Stockbridge tribe, also, were a quiet and friendly people when used by the English with any degree of kindness and fairness, and the friendship of the Tuscaroras towards our strug- gling forefathers, through the Revolution, should suffice for us to think well of them. 24 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. In comparing the general characters of each tribe with their representatives in the valley, we cannot but believe that they were the out- casts from each, or, as termed by the white man's code, criminals. To follow up traditionary tales of noble In- dian tribes is a pleasing and interesting task and to the competent, doubly pleasing it must be to reverberate, to after ages, their heroic deeds and valorous exploits. But to chronicle the characters and acts of the Schoharie tribe would prove to be no embellishment to the meagre history of the ■' untutored savage." We have before us a deed dated Oct. 7, 1722, given by Adam Vroman to his son John, conveying a piece of land upon a part of which the chief resided. The writing states that, " I (Adam Vroman,) promised to several scachams when I bought thelandof them, that Ca-ree-ah-dun-kah should be allowed to hve where he now Uves, as long as he chooses, and reserve for his use, where he lives." The land was sold for " twen- ty morgans of land," and without doubt was that lying by the " Dovegatt," in Vromansland where the castle was built. The writer of the deed was an excellent penman, and to judge by the lan- guage used, a fair scholar, that would be apt to write the chief's name as pronounced by the In- dians with whom he was conversant, with more accuracy than Judge Brown who came at a much later date, and wrote when at an advanced age. After the Germans had been settled over one year and received many threatenings from the Governor and in fact had a few of their num- ber imprisoned, Gov. Hunter sold to Myndert Schuyler and others the land upon each side of the river from a point above Middleburgh down the stream, to one on the same river between the old ferry opposite Sloansville and Esperance bridge. It was intended to take in all the " flats " but the stream being very crooked below Jacob Vro- man's — along the Lendrum farm and those ad- joining, the lines ran over the hill, instead of keeping with the stream, (the points of com- pass not being changed.) The hne bore con- siderably to the east of north and if continued on in the same course would have met the stream again below Esperance, but at a point upon the hill back of Lendrum's the course was changed nearly to the northwest, and ran to the river as before mentioned. From the point the course was changed upon the hill to the Schoharie stream or con- fluence of the Cobleskill, a wide space was left unclaimed. Simms says : " Morris and Coey- mans were sent to survey this tract, purchased by Schuyler and others, and finding this space not included in the grant, purchased the same themselves." But we find they did not take the whole of that space, but A. Van Cortlandt in 1753 upon a careful survey, found a tract lying between Schuyler's and Coeymans' not disposed of and purchased it.* Hunter, knowing the fact of the promise of these lands in England to the Germans and that they were upon it and doing well — without cost to the government and it being unoccupied land, showed himself to be a very unjust and obstinate official. * There appears to have been fourteen purchasers of the lands at Schoharie, among whom were several officials then acting, whose names did not appear in some of their transactions. We found an unpublished document in the office of the Secretary of State, under the charge of Mr. B. Fernow, (to whom we are in- debted for many favors,) which we here copy, and which determines at what time the troubles were brought to a close : — •'New York, Sept. 23d, 1722. Gentlemen : Mr. Van Dam informs us that you want our accounts concerning Schohare, it may be so, but is it not as reasonable that we should have yours. We are of the opinion with you that the affair should be bro« to a con- clusion, And the Lands Divided. We know no better way to do it, than for you to come down and bring all your accounts, yours * * * interchangably delivered we may then finish that affair if there be Power from you all so to do. We consent to a division of the Lands in 14 Equal shares that James Livingston to be surveyor appointed to that work on the terms already agreed on with him, that he or you may hire chain Bearers but that if any of you think to be present it must be at his or your own expense. That when the Survey to be made and the place of division be furnished, it to be sent to us and when any of you come to York on your Private affairs we will then draw lots for we are desirous to Save Expense as much as possible. Lett the Chain bearers be some of the Inhabitants of Schohare of good undei'Standing whom you may hire cheaper than it will be to cary thera from Albany To We are Gentleman W. Wasseners Your Humble Serv Myndert Schuyler Rip Van Dam RoBT Livingston George Clark P. O. Benyar Phil Livingston " John Schuyler NICHOLAS BAYARD'S VISIT TO SCHOHARIE. 25 In after years when questioned in regard to this act by the London Board of Trade, he wrote, "They went and took possession of the Lands, granted to several persons at New York and Albany, against repeated orders." While they "took possession of these lands against repeated orders," they were not sold to the New York and Albany gentlemen until the 3d of November, 17 14; and he says — "in compassion to the innocent women and chil- dren, I prevailed with the proprietors of these lands to make them an offer of the lands free from all rent, or an acknowledgment for ten years, and ever after, at a very moderate quit- rent." It was these gentlemen, of whom the petition speaks, as trying to induce them to become tenants here, as they were at home, in Germany. But the Germans were not to be moved by sweet songs of selfish sirens, or en- trapped by quit-rents for all time to come. It was a short time previous to the sale of these lands that the Bayard, of whom Brown and Simms speak, came to offer free titles to all who would appear before his august presence with an ear of corn. Had such an offer been made, we think Gov. Hunter would have so stated to the Board of Trade, when he so faintly defended himself against the accusations brought forward by his enemies, as he called them. If Bayard did appear in the valley offering free titles, we believe he came without Royal Authority. In Hunter's letter of July 24, 17 10, we find that the surveyors were sent upon lands in Schorie, they being "resumed lands of Col. Bayard's grant." To explain the last quoted paragraph, we shall be obliged to call the atten- tion of the reader to the "Report of the Board of Trade to Her Majesty in Council," as copied in Chapter I, which says : — " Your Majesty was pleased by your orders in Council of the 26th of June, 1708, to con- firm an act passed at New York the 2nd of March, 1693 and 'g, for vacating several ex- travagant Grants, Whereby large tracts of Land have returned to your Majesty." Farther on it speaks of lands " lying along the creek running into the Mohawk (Schoharie) which contains between 24 and 30 miles in length." This extravagant grant was given to Colonel Nicholas Bayard, and taken from him, regardless of his official services, and un- doubtedly his feelings were not very charitable towards the Government for so doing, and thought that by giving the Palatines free titles they would cause the Government trouble in their removal. He must have come for himself and not the Government, and the shame that Judge Brown felt in writing the account of the affair might have been saved, had he searched records instead of listening to the plausible story of the Colonel's descendants. Many such family traditions are related to show the ances- tor's prominence, which, when stripped of the probabilities with which they are enwrapped, prove to be mere magic skeletons, "without form and voice." Not long after the purchase of the lands by Schuyler and others, Sheriff Adams of Albany was sent to dispossess the Germans and was rudely received and waited upon by the sturdy women of the settlements, as told by Brown in too plain English to be pub- lished here. In 1711, Adam Vroman, an Indian trader living at Schenectady, upon one of his expeditions purchased a tract of land of the na- tives now called " Vroman's Land." Not having the proper utensils for surveying it, he paced off the tract and called it four hundred acres, for which he gave one hundred and ten gallons of rum and a few blankets. When the Germans came in I7r3, they ac- quainted the Indians with the fact that the tract contained a larger number of acres, and that they had been cheated by Vroman. This caused them to possess an enmity towards him and to refuse to barter with him for his goods. For this act Vroman complained to the Gover- nor in a very plaintive manner, and "desired him to attende to the seditious Palentines." He also applied for and obtained a grant of the land to him in 1714. Instead of its being but four hundred acres, the grant gives the same tract an acreage of eleven hundred. In after years Vroman pro- cured another title from the Indians, perhaps to satisfy them of his honest intentions. In 17 15 Vroman commenced building a house upon his land, and the Germans being jealous of his purchase, or, in truth beUeving he was sent to "hem them in," as they stated in the petition, 26 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. took the responsibility of trespassing upon his domains in a very riotous manner ; as will be seen by Vroman's letter, written from Schenec- tady to Gov. Hunter bearing the date of " the 9th day of July, 1715." " May it please Your Excellericy — "As in duty bound by my last to you, I give your Exc'y an acct How the Palintines threatened In a RebeUious manner, If I should build or manure the land at Schore that your Exceir<:y- was pleased to Grant me a Patent for, and it Please your Excellency, I have manured a great part of the land, and sowed Consider- able grain thereon ; they still drove their horses on it by night. I then hired my sons to go with me, and build me a house. I was there and was making a stone house 23 foot squar, and had so high so that I had Layd the Beames for the Chamber. I, having at the same time an Indian house about 200 yards off, for myself, workmen, and negroe to sleep in, but on the 4th day of this Instant, In ye night, following, they had a contryvance to tie bells about horses necks, and drive them too and fro, In which time they pulled my House, Stones and all to the Ground, the next day I spok with some of them, and they used such Rebellious Expressions, that was never heard off; but they told me before now, when they done all they would run among the Indians. John Conradus Wiser has been the ring leader of all factions, for he has had his son some time to Live among the Indians, and now he is turned their Interpreter, so that this Wiser and his son talk with the Indians very often, and have made treates for them, and have been busy to buy land at many places, which is Con- trary to your Excellency's Proclamation, and has made the Indians drunk to that degree to go and mark off Land with them ; and I am no wayse secure of my life their, for after I came away, they went and pulled my son off of the waggon, and beat him, and said they would kill him, or his father or any body else that came their ; so that my son was forced to come away. Likewise they say they care for nobody. John Conradus Wiser, and 2 or 3 more has made their escape by way of Boston, and have said they would go for England, but has left his Son, which is their Interpreter, to the Indians, and every day tells the Indians many lies, whereby much mischeife may Ensue, more than we now think off, and is much to be feared, for the time I have been their, I have made a diligent scru- tiny into all their actions, but I dont find a great many Concerned with this Wiser and his Son, in their disobedient, unlawful and Rebel- lious Proceedings. I am well Informed who are their cheifes ; for those that are good subjects among them, and will not Joyn with them, are afraid the others will burn their houses down by their threatening words. And please you I could Enlarge much more of their misdemeanors but for fear of trobling yr Excellency too much, I shall beg your Excellency's pardon all this time, and Ever Remain your Excellenc/s most Hum- ble and Obedient Servant to Command. ^ J T 1 \ Adam Vroman. Schenectady, July ^ the 9th day 1715 In haste." By this letter of Vroman's, we find him ac- cusing the Palatines of getting the Indians drunk, which was an accusation brought against Vroman in the petition. Much obstinacy, as well as ignorance, is shown in such acts, for which we are not apt to have much compassion. But in their case we must remember, that they believed that the Queen had given " Schorie " to them, and that by machinations they had been deprived of their rights, and that an attempt was being made by Vroman's settlement near by, to take advantage in some way of them, Vroman acting for others. We have the story of both parties but we will let the reader decide for himself as to which was in the right. We know that Vroman had this advantage — any request of his to Gov. Hunter, would be granted while the Palatines petitioned to that dignitary in vain. Knowing this they took the matter in their own hands, and upon the night of the ever memorable Fourth of July, " Rebelliously pulled the house down, and trampled upon the grain." Some spirit of " Rebellion " partial to the glorious Fourth seems to have been implanted in the Anglo-Saxon heart, years and years ago, that with just or unjust cause has given to monarchy — whether individually or collectively — a para- lytic stroke, that will, in a few more years, cause its whitened and brittle bones to be laid away in WEISER CONFINED IN THE TOWER OF LONDON. 27 the seething pit which its avarice and cruelty have been constructing for ages to receive. Living in these days of " official corruption, that stalks forth defiantly, even at noon's broad light," fearless of condemnation, as in its num- berless friends is its strength and security and knowing the conspiracies, formed by such, to control and obtain the "Almighty dollar,'' we can but think, that a speculation in the labors of the Palatines, at the camps, was fostered by the officials, and engendered by Robert Living- ston ; and when they could no longer hold them at that place, measures were taken to make them a poor tenantry at Schoharie. They believed this, and in order to avoid it, acted ac- cordingly, and when the "Council of His Ma- jesty " received the petition, they also believed it, as one of them had given his views to that effect, over six years before. Passing on to the 22nd of July, the same month in which the tres- passes were committed, the Governor having had ample time to receive Vroman's letter, issued the following warrant to arrest Conrad Weiser : — " Gentlemen : — I am informed that one John Conradus Wiser, Covenanted Servant of His Majesty, who has been Guilty of Several Mutinous, Riotous, and other disobedient and Illegal practices, is now skulking in your county, to avoid punishment, you are therefore on sight, thereof, to issue your Warrant, for the Appre- hending the said Wiser, and to cause him to be sent down in safe Custody, to the City of New York, that he may be proceeded against, as the nature of his Crimes shall require, hereof fail not. " To the Justices of the Peace of the Co. of Albany, or any of them. To the Justices of the Peace of the Co. of Dutchess, or any of them." Vroman thought Weiser had " gone for Eng- land," but, expecting that his arrest would be made, he kept secreted, no doubt, and did not go there until the year 17 18. As soon as he arrived and made himself known, they found he was just the man they wanted, "the ring-leader of all Rebellious and illegal practices," and of course locked him up in the town. We have no proof that he was caught and required to pay a fine, or imprisoned for trespasses, before that time. We think he had escaped all. But what a long list of " Crimes " was brought against him, all at once ! Weiser had time enough, now, to ponder, and be Wiser, still. Sitting within those massive walls that had once held the great and mighty, his case was a lone one and perhaps it was well that he \Vas uneducated, and ignorant of the fate of his predecessors, as headless ghosts of Kings, Queens and other high officials, would certainly have made his confinement hideous. While Weiser was perhaps cogitating upon the ills of human life, and sighing for the "re- union of friends" around the Schoharie hearth- stone, though humble — the petition we have copied was laid before the council. Hunter was removed, and William Burnet appointed in his place as governor. Hunter, to prove that he had subsisted the Palatines, pursuant to the Queen's orders, sent a certificate to Secretary Clarke, requesting him to get them to sign it. Clarke put it in the hands of the governor and others, who told them, that unless they signed it, they should not have the lands promised them. The majority of them refused, and as Secretary Clarke wrote to Mr. Walpole, Nov. 27, 1722, " purchased land in Pennsylvania, and are de- termined 10 go thither, thus the Brigadier (Hun- ter) is baulked, and this province deprived of a good frontier of a hardy and Laborious people." The petition was before "His Majesty's Com- missioners for Trade and Plantations " on the 6th of September, 1720, and "Jeremy Long appeared in behalf of the Palatines " and exam- ined General Nicholson in regard to the prom- ises made the Germans. He stated that he only knew " that he had three hundred of them on the Expedition to Montreal " and were sub- sisted while there, and as to the arms then used " he knew of no direction " in regard to them. Mr. Long being unable to make proof of any of the particulars set forth in the Petition, he was made acquainted that copies of the several papers relating to them would be transmitted to Mr. Burnet, Governor of New York Province, and it was observed to Mr. Long that it seemed " that several of the Palatins had behaved themselves very undutifuUy to his Majesty and his late Governor of that province." Weiser was released, and as soon as he re- 28 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. turned, sometime in 1722 or '23, with several of his followers he immigrated to Pennsylvania upon the lands referred to by Secretary Clarke. We have herein laid before the reader the circumstances connected with the first settle- ment of Schoharie, and given such facts as are of interest, relating to the difficulties the Ger- mans experienced from their landing in Amer- ica, to Weiser's grand retirement from the "promised land." Their troubles have been accorded to their ignorance, but we think too well of them and believe they knew too much for the scheming officials that were placed over them, to be trapped by their snares. The lands were purchased for a nominal sum in 17 19 and '20, and a " spreading out " was made, and by the year 1730 they were settled in seven differ- ent hamlets, called "dorfs;" an appellation given in Germany to farm villages. Upon lo- cating in the valley in the winter of 17 13, it cannot fairly be supposed that they settled each of the seven dorfs during the same season, as tradition has intimated, as they were too desti- tute and uncertain of their lands. The first settlement was made where the beautiful village of Middleburgh now stands, and was named after the " ringleader of Rebellious practices," and known as " Weiser's Dorf." The time from their arrival to the opening of spring undoubtedly, was occupied in building huts, and while they were being constructed they and their families were the " guests " of their Indian friends. If they had been located by Governmental agents or had been acquainted with the country we should not consider it strange if all of the seven dorfs had been estab- lished in one season, but being fugitives, un- acquainted with the valley and destitute of the necessaries of life, each depending on the other for protection from the Savages and assistance to build etc., we cannot think that they did oth- erwise than to begin at Weiser's, clear up build- ing spots, erect huts, and all turn in to make a surety of raising eatables the season following and guard against another winter of " root diet." The fear of French Indian invasions, which had been an argument brought up by the Governor and his friends after peace had been proclaimed between France and England, to influence them not to think of settling here. would naturally have caused them to keep to- gether for mutual protection. Possibly those that came over in March were the followers of Hartman Windecker, and there being too many to live comfortably together established " Hart- man's dorf" in the spring and obliged them to "solicit more lands of the Indian Kings." An- other settlement was made about the year 17 17 or '18 where Schoharie village now stands and was called " Brunnen dorf" also "Fountain- town." All records of this dorf with the ex- ception of a bond and a few deeds are lost, or are in the dusty tills of distant families yet to be discovered. They were more of a business class* taken as a whole, especially the Lawyer and Schaeffer families, and to judge by their quahfication as business men in after years, we do not believe they would have settled upon the disputed ter- ritory upon uncertainties. There were seven settlers at this dorf within a distance of three- fourths of a mile whose enterprise made the " dorf" the business centre of all others and laid the foundation of the county seat. A short distance below seven other German families formed a settlement which was distinguished as "Smith's Dorf," but at what time the settlement was made we are unable to tell. Undoubtedly as the Germans came from time to time from the Camps, New York City and the Mohawk they established "dorfs" or settlements and this, with the three below. Fox's and Gerlach or Garlock and Kneiskern were made or formed in that way. The papers relating to both Smith's and Fox's dorf are not to be found. We only know when Fox sold his possessions and moved away, but at what time he purchased or settled we cannot tell. Fox's dorf was pleasantly situated upon the low ground east and north of the Stone fort and was in existence in 1728, as then the "High dutch Reformed church'' was here formed. It was the first church organization in the County, whose history is interesting in the extreme, and may be found in Chapter XVIII. The Germans were a very religious people, and it cannot be supposed that they lived very long at this place without religious ceremonies. We may place Fox's and Gar- lock's settlements in the year 17 18, and have LOCATION OF THE VARIOUS "DORFS." 29 them full early enough, to correspond with their individual members' presence at other places. " Kneiskern's dorf " was the most northerly settlement, and was at the confluence of the Cobleskill creek with the Schoharie river. While the three last settlements' history is wrapped somewhat in darkness, the papers relating to this, are in a good state of preserva- tion. John Peter Kneiskern, a list-master at The Camps and Captain in the Canadian Ex- pedition of 171 1, was the head man, and after whom the "dorf" was named. In 1728, an article of agreement was executed by Myndert Schuyler, attorney for George Clarke, Secretary of the Province of New York, Philip Livingston and others for the lands, and in the year following (1729) a deed was given to, and received by the seven settlers ; namely, John Peter Kneiskern, Godfrit Kneis- kern, Philip Berg, Hendrick Houck, Hendrick Strubrach, Johannes Merkle, and Lambert Sternberger, (at present Sternbergh). A map and description of the lots was drawn in 1728, and signed by " Ed. Collins, Dept. Sup." The deed describes seven homestead or building lots ranging from forty to fifty acres each; seven wood lots and an equal number of "low land or meadow lots." Thus, each homestead had a wood and meadow lot. The whole extended from the original Sternbergh farm (William Hallenbeck's) on the south, down to and taking in a portion of the island below the old Ferry, including the rich flats and some of the high land upon each side of the river. If this land had been settled by those purchasers at a previous date and a final settle- ment had just been made, instead of the home- stead lots being marked with numbers and "Homestead" written, the names of those living upon each lot would have been put upon the map, as we have found it invariably to be in other localities. In 1753 an article was executed by each of the seven settlers agreeing to " divide with and release each other of their possessions." Up to that date the whole was owned in common, and as they made the division, each one received a deed from the rest of that which they occupied and designated the same by the number upon the map and occupant, and as " one-seventh of the Kneiskern dorf." In 1759, '" t^he presence of Johannes Lawyer and John Newberger, an agreement was made " to stand together and make satisfaction in land, or otherwise, to him or her, that shall lose any part of their land by law,'' — which gives us the idea of their anticipating troubles in regard to titles. A farther history of this dorf and the de- scendants of the first settlers, with incidents connected, may be seen in Chapter XII. The seven "dorfs" of which we have made mention, were the first German settlements in the present territory of the County. Addi- tions were made from time to time by immi- gration from Germany and other German settlements in America. In 1722, the third immigration of Palatines was made to our shores, and from it were some of the settlers of Stone Arabia, German Flats, and Schoharie. Owing to some unknown cause, for several years, they were not allowed to land at New York City, and were obliged to sail to Philadelphia, from whence many traveled to the Camps, Schoharie and Mohawk valleys, on foot, to seek friends and relatives who had preceded them to the new world, and found a land of plenty but much "droubble.'' Thus, in a few years, various other settlements were made, and from each an increase by births, as is very common among the Dutch, both high and low, and they "spread out" to rear homes for them- selves, and ere many years we find that the " woodman's axe " had made several inroads upon the wilderness, principally along the valleys. The southeastern part of the County along the Schoharie river, was settled about 1750, while the valley of the Cobleskill and its branch the Westkill, was first settled in 1752 and 1754. The higher lands each side of the valleys were taken soon after ; but those in the central part of the County not until after the close of the Revolution. During the land troubles from 1713 to 1722 but little was done to improve their possessions, and after they were settled the Germans must have labored hard, as at the commencement of the Revolution the whole valley from above 3° HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Breakabeen down to and below " Kneiskern's dorf," beside a goodly portion along Fox's creek and Cobleskill was cleared and dotted here and there with large barns and com- modious houses. Even the hills of Sharon, Carlisle, and Blenheim teemed with luxuriant growths of grain and grasses. A vast amount of labor it required to make all of those im- provements, and when we consider the difficul- ties under which they labored for the want of utensils and many common necessaries of life, we must give them praise for possessing the most indomitable wills and energies, such as had but few equals. When the poor Germans first came to Scho- harie their milling was done at Schenectady, and the grain carried upon their backs. It being a wearisome task, they devised the Indian mode of pounding the grain. A large stump was con- caved to hold a peck or one-half bushel, into which the corn was placed, and a large stone or heavy wooden pestle fastened to the top of a bent sapUng, was churned up and down to crack the kernels. The grain thus treated was mostly Indian corn, for the production of which the Schoharie valley cannot be excelled. It was the Germans' chief article of food, and by drying it thoroughly, this mode would pulverize it nearly as fine as the grinding process of more modern times. It is not to be supposed that they de- sired to make it the fineness of our bolted meal, for sugared Johnny-cakes and spiced puddings, but simply to crack the kernel in three or four pieces and boil until soft, as we do "samp." Many of the "children" that commenced house-keeping in Cobleskill, Sharon and Car- hsle, did so with very limited means. One fam- ily that we have in mind, built a log house, leav- ing a large maple stump in the center for a table. The top was made as smooth as possible with an axe, and the sides hewn down so the base would allow a near approach, and a large round dish was cut out, similar to a butter-bowl, in the center of it. There was but the man and wife, and it was only necessary to make a similar dish for each, only smaller, from which they ate their food which consisted of Indian pudding in the morning, potatoes at noon, and pudding and potatoes for supper. In that case the individ- ual dishes or cavities, in the course of time and high Dutch dexterity numbered thirteen forming a circle around the center dish, before the rude table was dispensed with for a movable one and a new house built. The improved tables were usually round tops, having hinges near the center upon the under side, attached to a square box serving for a base. When not in use, this piece of furniture was moved to the side of the room and turned up upon the hinges against the wall, thereby taking but lit- tle room. The box base was used for table lin- en, needle work, or odds and ends usually found in a careful housekeeper's work-basket at the present day. All cooking was done by a fire- place, the dimensions of which were, in most cases, large enough to use wood four feet in length and deep enough to receive a large log and one quarter of a cord of wood. The first bread was baked in a "bake kettle'' having a cover, which was placed in the fire and covered with ashes and coals. The bread thus baked far ex- celled any of the modern baking, as all the virtue of the material of which such food was composed, was retained. The " improvement " upon the mode of bak- ing, was in building stone and mud ovens, in which a fire was kept until a bed of coals was made, upon which the " baking" was placed in stone or iron dishes. While the house-wife's ingenuity was taxed to devise modes and means to do her work, and add to the comfort of her laboring family, for the want of proper cuUnary and other domestic utensils, the husband also was embarrassed to perform his work for the want of proper imple- ments. Ease was a stranger to him, as every- thing must be done by hard manual labor. The writer has a plow that was used nearly seventy years ago, and made as all were at and before that time. A wooden block hewn smooth, two feet in length and five inches in width, was taken as a base, to form the point of mould- board, attach a share and handle. One end of the block was brought to a point and sharp edge by cutting from the upper right hand edge, di- agonally, and somewhat concaved. A hard wood stick was flattened and fitted to the con- cave, to form the mouldboard, and ran in line with the diagonal cut, with a spread of ten inches from the handle. A wrought-iron share with a NEGRO SLAVERY IN SCHOHARIE. 31 steel point was fitted to the point of the block with bolts. An " improvement " was made by covering the arm or mouldboard also, with sheet iron. Ten inches from the point, a standard, fifteen inches in length, was placed to support the beam, and six inches back of the standard, a single handle was mortised into the block, and run up four feet, to which the end of the beam was attached, fifteen inches from the block. The implement cannot do much better work than a single cultivator tooth of the present day. Many young married couples started in life upon a heavy timbered farm, with nothing but an axe, bake-kettle and bed, and whatever was added to the stock in furniture or utensils, for many years following, was such only as they rudely manufactured themselves. It may seem incredulous, but nevertheless it is true, the Indian corrf was planted by making a hole in the ground that had been previously burnt over, with an axe or sharp stick, in which the kernels were dropped, or the wheat was sown broadcast, and in the place of a harrow, brush was drawn over the ground to bury the grain. When the grains were to be harvested, a sickle was used to cut them, a flail to thresh, and winnowing was the only mode to separate the grain from the chaff. Soon horses and cattle were used to thresh, and fanning-mills manu- factured to clean the grain. We saw one that was used a short time after the Revolution, which was in itself a curiosity, and was capable of cleaning twenty bushels per day. The grain cradle soon took the place of the sickle, and in a few years, that will be laid aside to give place to our life-like reapers, as the flail and horse threshing have, to our modern threshers and cleaners. At an early day negro slavery was introduced into the Schoharie settlements by the Vroman family, and slaves were kept by the Low Dutch for sometime before the Germans were able to purchase them. While we are loth to admit that the curse of slavery ever polluted our honored soil, yet we rejoice that its stain was not deep- ened by acts of brutality towards the enslaved, as is usually represented, but quite to the contrary. The negroes of both sexes were admitted into the family to which they belonged, upon equal footing with the white members. They were chiefly the true African blood, — "black and shiny,'' and appreciated the kindness shown to them by their masters. It was the custom of the farmers to send them to market with grain, and away upon other bus- iness, regardless of the amount of money en- trusted to them. When the act for the abolition of slavery was passed by the legislature of New York in i8j^, many of the slaves refused to be freed, and were kept by their masters, as long as they lived, receiving the same treatment as the rest of the " boys and girls." The act liberated only the children of slaves as they became of age, but in 1828, a final abolition act was passed, which released all from bondage, and threw them upon their own exertions for support, which proved very meagre in most cases as they possessed a natural dislike to labor. Many of the former owners of the negroes, purchased lots and built small houses for the aged, especially at and near Schoharie, upon which their children may be found to-day. We are unable to give the num- ber of slaves in the County when the "institu- tion " was in full " blast," but by the census of 1820, there were three hundred and two slaves, and two hundred and sixty-four free blacks. At present a greater number we believe of negroes may be found in the towns of Schoharie and Middleburgh than those figures show. To give an idea of the value of a slave in early times, we will copy a " bill of sale " now in the posses- sion of Henry Cady : — "Huntersfield, July the fifteent Day,one Thou- sent. Seven hundred and Tharty sex. Then Bouth of Storm Becker a negor man, and the said Storm Becker Grant the Said negor unto Peter Vroman for his one lawful saruantfore forty two pount Corrant Lawful money of the provance of new York. Wetness my hand and the pres- ent of Storm Becker. Cornelius Vroman, Martines Vroman. July IS, 1736. then Received of Peter Vroman the Just and ful sum of twenty pounds one shilling, Corrant Lawful money was received by me. Storm Becker." 32 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Each member of the family was allowed one pair of shoes in a year, the leather of which was usually tanned by the people themselves in a large trough filled with pounded oak and hem- lock bark with a sufficient quantity of water to cover the hides. During the boy and girlhood of many now living the process was practiced and a clear recollection is had of being com- pelled to soak their bruised and chapped feet each night before retiring in the liquid thus made, to heal and harden them. Upon attend- ing church, old and young, male and female, usually carried their shoes to within a short dis- tance of the church or place of holding meet- ings and then stop to put them on, regardless we presume of the ankle showing a variety of colors that the different kinds of dirt upon them would give ; the daily wearing of stockings, to use the word of an old patriot, being of " mod- ern invention" among the Dutch and German settlers, particularly the male portion. Cider, butter and loppered milk were unsparingly used, especially at logging and stone bees. A large quantity of maple sugar was manufactured by the farmers, and by grating or shaving it fine and sprinkling it over the surface of loppered milk, a desirable dish was produced which was greedily devoured by three or four that would surround the pan or wooden bowl with pewter and wooden spoons and skim the sugar off with such a quantity of thick milk as the taste de- sired. When all of the sugar had disappeared more was sprinkled on until the contents of the dish were annihilated. Much sport was enjoyed by the hardy settlers through the deprivations which they were forced to endure, and it is questionable whether we of to-day with all our modern conveniences enjoy life any better than did they. Many ludicrous incidents might be repeated that actually occurred which shows their simplicity and ignorance and which caused a vast amount of amusement. As we before stated the number of Indians that were in the valley of Schoharie when the Germans came is not known, but they were con- sidered by the white settlers as being the true owners of the soil and a brisk trade was kept up between them and traders from Schenectady and Albany. Blankets, trinkets and rum were the chief articles of trade on the part of the whites, and land, fur and roots on that of the Indians. The rum trade became very annoying to the Provincial officials as well as to the head sachems of the diffisrent tribes. Sir William Johnson's attention was drawn to the subject at various times by the Indians themselves and he referred the matter to Lieutenant-Governor Delanceyin June of 1755. He says: — "Sir Seth the head sachem of the Indians living near Shohary, and the leading sachems of the upper and lower Mohock Castles have made heavy complaints to me of the white people in those parts selling Rum to the Indians, repre- sented the ill consequences thereof, and prayed that it may be prevented. Your honor I per- suade myself is sensible, this Selling of Rum to the Indians has been ever attended with fatal consequences to the publick Interest with them, and at this Juncture, must be more than com- monly detrimental. If an act of the Legislature cannot be obtained to prohibit this Sale of Rum to the Indians without any Limitation of Time, I do in the most earnest manner request your Honor, that you will apply to the assembly to form an act, with such Pains & penalties, against this Sale of Rum to the Indians, during the present situation of publick" affairs, as may be (so far as possible) effectual to prevent it. Un- less such a law is made, and the observance of it secured in the strongest manner, the General Interest in my humble opinion, will infallibly suffer, and those measures now in agitation for the Honor of his Majesty's Crown, and the Security & Welfare of his Subjects in these parts, be greatly embarrassed. "P. S. There should be a clause in the act to prevent Peoples buying their Arms Amunition Cloathing &c or Exchanging." * " Those measures now in agitation " referred to, were in gaining the Indians' consent to assist in opposing the invasion of a French army that was threatened upon the Mohawk. Ever since the white man set his foot upon the American soil, every advantage has been taken of the Indians by them in trafficing worthless trash for such com- modities as were peculiar to the race, and which sold readily at high prices in the civilized world. * Documentary History. TREATMENT OF INDIANS. 33 When the Indian could not be pursuaded to bargain with the tradesman, rum was freely given him and while under its potent influence, whatever he possessed was easily obtained. Many of the finest tracts of land upon the Mohawk and Schoharie rivers were obtained from them for a mere trifle in that way and by the commencement of the Revolution, scarcely sixty years after his acquaintance with the whites, his hunting-grounds and even the soil upon which stood his wigwam were in possession of the white man. The same treatment we find meted to them to-day, throughout the West, even under the knowledge of the government to which they look up as their Father. When they resist in their weakness, the encroachments upon their promised rights, the glittering bayonets of an army of annihilation, drive them to submit to every imposition that traders and agents feel disposed to inflict upon them. Allowing that the majority of the Schoharie tribe were refugees from the council fires of old tribes, it was no excuse for taking undue advantage of them. After the Mohawks learned a few of the white man's tricks, they often proved themselves equal to hke emergencies and as often showed a dis- position to do right. We found a petition in the Secretary's office that was forwarded to Gov. Hardy in September, 1755, to aright a transac- tion in which they were interested as business men, without the power to settle the matter themselves. It is as follows : — "To his Excellency The Honorable Sir Charles Hardy Esq., Captain-General & Governor in Chief in, and over his Majesties Province of New York & Territories Thereunto belonging Vice Admiral & Chancellor of the same. " The Humble petition of the Mohawk In- dians Living in Schohare his Majesties Loyal Subjects & Soldiers Whose names are hereunto subscribed most Submissively Sheweth That your Honors ree Sold some pasture Land to Johannes Lawyer of Schoharry That lay Con- tigus to two farms he had, one of said farms bounded with the land of Nickolas Mattice & the pasture and wood land Joining to said Mat- tice farm ye pet" Excepted out of the sale made to Lawyer, having covenanted with Nickolus Mattise for that part that lay convenient to him. & when said Lawyer brought the Surveyor- General's Deputy to lay out the land ye Excel- lency's Pet' by noe means suffer the Surveyor to lay out that land covenanted with Mattice, for a song with Lawyer. Except for Mattice use & then agreed upon, it should be for the use of Mattice. The Land was laid out, under one which made the coarse the easier for the Surveyor to run, all this very well known to the Surveyor and some of the principle men of Scoharry who are men of credit & veracity. " Now Lawyer have gott a patent by which, he says takes all the land as well as Mattice as what we sold him & if so it is by folse & Injust Insinuation to the Secretary. Lawyer absolute- ly refuses to let Mattice have the land we re- served to him Except he bot it at a Extravagant prise, he also sent for us the other day to pay for the land and desired we should give him a Receit in full in order to have to Shew he had a right for Mattice as well as his own in order to cloak his Injust dealings, which we refused, Either to take the money or give a receit. May it therefore please your Excellency to Consider the premises, with the many agrivating Cir- cumstances & that your wonted Probity & Justice may be herein manifested by Rectify- ing the Injury done to y« Excell^ pet= & that Nicholas Mattice have his part of the land ac- cording to our Covenant & for ye Excellency long life & prosperity yr Pet' as in duty bound will Ever pray Lowes Careke Dumte Seth Careke Dumte Seth Careke Dumte Junior Hans Vre Careke Dumte Margret Careke Dumte Mary Careke Dumte Cathren Careke Dumte " The above were Mohawk Indians, and a like exhibition of fairness in their dealings, was made at Johnson Hall on the gth of April, 1767, as published in the Documentary History of New York, in a speech by Abraham, one of the Sachems, before Sir William Johnson. He said : — " Brother Gorah Warraghiiyagey " We are come to acquaint you with a very extraordinary affair which we were yesterday made acquainted with by some of our Neigh- 34 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. bors of Scoharee, and as it concerns us, We would be glad to hear from you the reason of such doings. " It is concerning the Lands we sold when the Governor was at your house last fall, for the use of Hannis Lawyer & his associates, from whom we then received the full considera- tion for which we agreed, and now we under- stand that Lawyer and his friends, are to have but half of it — To us such doings appear strange, and I believe You would think hard of us were We to act so. " We cannot therefore in Justice to these people (who have been long about that Tract, and at a good deal of expense beside the pur- chase money) allow the Land to be Surveyed for People with whom we are not ac- quainted neither did we hear of the least inten- tion they had in purchasing them Lands, and if they had appHed, we could not think of leting them, or any other sett of People have the Land which we had so long ago promised to the pur- chasers, which you may remember Brother, we' declared to the Governor at the time the Deed lay on your Table ready to be signed, & gave our reason then for it, which together with the careful! manner everything was then done, we imagined there never could be any the least squabble about it hereafter, but in short Brother, we are sorry to see that the While People (who have more sense than we) will for the sake of getting land wrong one another, since that is the case, what are we Indians to expect from you. " Brother, We have no more to say to the sub- ject but to request you will let us know if you can, the reason for such doings. If you cannot, we would beg of you to Enquire of the Gov- enor, who no doubt is acquainted with every thing relative to the affair, as it was transacted in his presence." Writers variously estimate the number of In- dians supposed to be residents of the valley from time to time, ranging from three to six hundred, but we do not think they ever numbered over the former, if as many. The " Memorial Concerning the Iriquois," by the Rev. Chas. Inglis, written in 1770, and dic- tated by Sir Wm. Johnson, says at that date, " The Mohawks have three villages, Schoare,' Fort Hunter, and Canajoharie, they are all within the English settlement and contain 420 souls." The Schoharie tribe being much the smaller of the three, quite probably their num- bers would not at that time number one hun- dred. The settlers of Schoharie were chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits. Yet every able- bodied male over eighteen and under forty-five, was enrolled as a soldier. Sir Wm Johnson was in command over all regiments north of the highlands, as Major-General. Schoharie furnished a regimen t that numbered, as far as we can learn, nearly three hundred, over which Jacob Sternbergh was colonel. Peter B. Vroman and Jacob Hager, were captains of companies several years, and did service under the Crown at Oswego, Niagara and Fort George. It appears that the former captain wasamihtary man, and did but Httle else than perform mili- tary duty. Sir Wm. Johnson must have thought highly of him, as when a vacancy of a major in the regiment occurred in 1769. he repeatedly insisted to Governor Colden, upon his promo- tion to that position, and Vroman was honored by the appointment in 1770. Previous to March 12, 1772, the whole terri- tory of Schoharie was in Albany county, and at that date a line was established which gave the western part of the present county to Tryon, and the eastern to Albany. A Hne was drawn from St. Regis upon the St. Lawrence river, to a point upon the south bank of the Mohawk, some distance west of Schenectady, it being the northeast corner of a lot of land granted to WilHam Crosby, Jr., in 1735, running from thence to the Indian stone heap upon Bowen's tract, (near Sloansville,) and from thence to a pine tree, now a stump, in the Bear Swamp of Carlisle, which is the northeast cor- ner of the " Dorlach " purchase, thence to Lake Utsayantho, in the town of Jefferson, and from thence following the Delaware river to the south bounds of the Province. All west of this line was Tryon county. The present towns of Sharon, Seward, Richmondville, and a greater portion of Summit and Jefferson, were in Tryon, and continued so up to the year 1784, when Tryon was changed to Montgomery, in honor of the patriot who fell at Quebec. Previous to 1765 all civil officers of authority SCHOHARIE AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE REVOLUTION. 35 over the Schoharie district were chosen from Albany, and the supervisor was to be chosen from the corporation. The people had no re- dress except by petitions which were frequently indited to the Governor, for his influence in their behalf. Who was the scribe we are unable to say. Each writing denotes a fair scholar, and nearly all seems to have been written by the same person. The Lawyer family were business men, but there was a resemblance in their hand-writing, which was unlike the documents to which we refer. The omission of words by wear and fading of ink, renders all, with but one excep- tion, useless to copy. After the year above mentioned, the Supervisor and Justices were chosen from Schoharie. Marcus Bellinger was Supervisor for several years but who, if any, officiated beside, we have been unable to learn. CHAPTER IIL Loyalty of Germans to Britain^ — Sacredness OF Oath— Mohawks and Tomahawks— Inde- cision OF Many— Roused to Action— Secret Meeting and Resolution — First Commit- tee OF Safety — Military District and Officers — Events of 1777 — Division of Schoharie — McDonald's Invasion — ■ The Harpers — Adam Crysler — Skirmish at Oriskany — Bemis Heights — Building of Ports — Battle at Cobleskill — Morgan's Corps —Crysler at Turloch and at Vro- mansland — Johnson and Brant's Invasion AT Middle Fort — Lovi'er Fort — Incidents — Brave Women — ^Col. Vroman's March to Mohawk — Seth Henry at "Turloch" — Dockstader at Currytown and Sharon — WiLLET — Seth Henry at Fox's Creek — ■ Crysler at Vromansland in 1781 — Capt. Hager's Fight at the Lake — Campbell's AND SiMMs' Labors — Returned Tories AND Indians — Muster Roll of 1777 — Schoharie Supplies — Division of Albany County — Inundation of Schoharie River — False Stories, Etc. THE settlements of Schoharie, which in- cluded those along the Schoharie Creek and its tributaries and the sparse ones of Sew- ard and Sharon, (old Dorlach) up to the com- mencement of the Revolutionary struggle had been quiet and progressive. Occasional fears were aroused by the British officers as to the imagined invasion of the French and French Indians during hostilities between the English and French Governments. During all the wars from the time the Germans came across the ocean up to the Revolution, they and their descendants proved true to the English Government. Quite a number from this isolated section, as before stated, took an active part in the contests at Fort George, Oswego and Niagara, where they did signal service. All of the companies were equipped with guns and the necessary ac- coutrements and drilled in a rude way, which proved to be a schooling for them in the use of arms when they needed such disciphne in their struggle for hberty. It must be borne in mind that both classes of Dutch, high and low, found in these settlements, were very conscientious as a mass, in their duty to God and to each other. One characteristic was more prominently displayed perhaps than any other; that of the sacredness of their word, especially an oath, and we find many who held military positions and had taken the oath of al- legiance as is required by all governments, at the commencement of the war for Independence, refused to desert the Crown and make a stand against it on conscientious scruples, deeming that the oath was life-long and not to be forfeited. When friends and neighbors expostulated and when the excitement became great and led to threatenings, some removed to Canada and were quiet but others returned as invaders, while a few remained here until they were compelled to leave. The descendants of those who remained loyal and sought safety upon Canadian soil may still be found living to the west of Niagara and near 36 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Toronto. Those going from the Mohawk and Schoharie settlements and not taking an active part were called "Mohawks," while those who did return to murder and plunder were called "Tomahawks." As we find families divided upon political questions to-day, so also many were divided upon the great issue at stake at that day. But very few families existed but that some member or branch adhered to the Crown and much to the detriment of the character of the belligerents, the most heinous crimes were com- mitted by such, especially upon their kinsmen. We do not like to chronicle upon the whitened page bloody deeds of more than demons, of fathers and mothers falling beneath the toma- hawk of disguised sons, and brothers bathing their hands in fraternal blood. Oh no, we wish to pass them by, their stain is hard to erase, but such as chill the blood without creating a spirit of devotion to country and pride of brotherhood, should be cast out of the emerald pages which the American Revolution caused to be written. It should be enou^ for us to know of the dan- gers, hardships and privations our noble fore- fathers experienced in the attainment of our liberties, to animate us to a just appreciation of them, and enough to give birth in us to a just pride in those patriots and homage to their spirit and principle by observing their unyield- ing devotion to country and unflinching patriotic endurance, under the most withering circum- stances. Many upon the extreme frontier, conceiving their numbers so few, and those of England and her Indian allies so great, thought it a foohsh and ignorant step to undertake to cope with them. They were placed far from help, surrounded by Indians and enthusiastic loyal- ists, whom they believed would exterminate them if they chose the Colonial cause, and con- sequently were led to countenance British rule and aggression, when within their hearts a burning hatred existed. When the tide of events began to roll the almost wrecked ship of Independence nearer and nearer to the harbor of success, they began to feel a thrill of patriotic joy, and ere peace was proclaimed proved themselves active and staunch adherents to the new order of things. Each one as now had a right to a choice, and we cannot condemn those whose sympathies were with the mother country, only in the manner in which the majority of them espoused the cause and mode of warfare. We cannot but give homage to one that stands up man- fully and defends oppression, dictated by a true sense of its being just and right, as well as to him who does the same in what we consider a m.ore just cause. But the one that clothes himself in the garb of deceit and sneakingly defends his cause and employs the most coward- ly means to attain the end, and ruthlessly de- stroys the innocent and helpless, should be, and is condemned by all. There were many such during the war, and their acts were heartless crimes that would make demons blush and we wish we might be privileged to pass them by. While actual hostilities were going on in other secdons of the country, the enemy to political rights did not pollute Schoharie soil with martial tread until the year 1777. But the people were not inactive. When the mes- senger traversed the winding road from Lexing- ton to Concord, making the old granite hills of Massachusetts echo to the clarion notes of the bugle, "To arms!" and the noble few that faced the British regulars upon Lexington com- mons, poured their hearts-blood upon the altar of Liberty and Independence these yeoman were not spectators to the scene. But as the notes of the bugle and groans of the dying patriots sent their echo from hill to hill, through valley and over plain, it aroused the sturdy ones to active and more determined purposes. Though weak in numbers and distant from the field of action, a deep anxiety pervaded every heart and each weighed the matter well. Citi- zens gathered here and there to discuss aflfairs and it cannot be supposed it was long before each knew of the others decision. It was at this auspicious moment that the patriots of Schoharie chose two delegates to attend a meedng to be held in Albany, to determine upon the actions of the future. The meeting was secret and held at the house of Richard Cartwright, "inn holder," on the 24th of January, 1775, with Abraham Yates in the chair, and Daniel Budd and Peter Becker SECRET MEETING AND RESOLUTION. 37 as delegates from Schoharie. They drew up the following resolution : — " Persuaded that the Salvation of the rights and liberties of America depends under God on the firm union of its Inhabitants, in a vigorous prosecution of the measures necessary for its safety, & convinced of the necessity of Preventing the anarchy and confusion which attend a dissolution of the Powers of Govern- ment, We the Freemen, Freeholders & In- habitants of the city and county of Albany being greatly alarmed at the avowed design of the Ministry to raise a revenue in America & shocked by the bloody scene now acting in the Massachusetts Bay, Do in the most solemn manner Resolve never to become slaves & do associate under all the ties of Religion, Honor & Love to our country, to adopt & endeavor to carry into execution whatever measures may be recommended by the Continental Congress, or Resolved upon by our Provincial Convention for the purpose of Preserving our constitution & opposing the Execution of the several ar- bitrary and oppressive acts of the British Par- liament until a reconciliation between Great Britain & America on Constitutional Principles [which we most ardently desire] can be obtained & that we will in all things follow the advise of our General Committee respecting the purposes aforesaid, the Preservation of Peace & Good Order & the safety of Individuals and Private property." The foregoing was drawn by a committee and signed by sixty-eight, among whom were the delegates from Schoharie. The afternoon meeting of that day was attended by Adam Vroman, in addition as delegate of Schoharie. Frequent meetings of committees and del- egates were held at the same place and called the "Committee of Correspondence." They communicated with each other on the state of feeling with the provincial assembly, and Con- tinental Congress, and on the 21st of March fol- lowing, ordered donations of wheat, corn, etc., for the distressed citizens of Boston. A messen- ger was dispatched on horseback to that city to inform the patriots of Albany county's Resolves, and encourage them to remain staunch in oppo- sition to British aggression. On the 29th of April a " Committee of Safety" was appointed in each district who reported in person on the loth of May, which was the first Committee of Safety in the county, and gave to the association formed on the 24th of January, the name of "Committee of Correspondence and Committee of Safety of Albany City and County." The same extended their powers and duties and were called in addition " Committee of Protection." Those first appointed in Scho- harie were, Peter Vroman, Jacob Zimmer, Daniel Budd, Peter W. Zeilie, Thomas Ecker- son and Johannes Ball. The latter was chosen chairman and filled the position to the close of the war. The second board was appointed on the 7th of November, 1775, and consisted of William Dietz, Lawrence Schoolcraft, Jost Borst, Peter W. Zeilie, Peter Becker, Peter Vro- man and Johannes Ball. Associated with them from time to time, to the close of hostilities, were Samuel Vroman, Joseph Becker, Joseph Zimmer, Nicholas Sternbergh, George Warner and Peter Swart. Deputations from Committees also from Con- gress and the Crown, besieged the Mohawk and Oneida camps to take decisive steps, and when it became known that the greater share of the Indian tribes, to whom the wilds of Schoharie were familiar haunts, espoused the royal cause, many hearts quailed, but there were men and women whose patriotism fainted not and who at once took decisive steps. The duty of the Board was to gather all the information they could of the movements of the enemy, to prepare for the defense of the settle- ments and obtain supphes. Their meetings were held in secret and it is unfortunate that their proceedings were not kept. The counties of the province were divided into districts from which a regiment or more was expected, but the population of the frontier districts being very small and many clinging to the Crown, some of the regiments comprised but a few companies. Schoharie was attached to Duanesburgh to form amiHtary district and by the records in the Adju- tant-General's office at Albany, we find that the fifteenth regiment of miUtia was formed by order of General Schuyler, and consisted, upon the date of the commissions, of only three compa- nies. The commissions bear date of October 38 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 20, 1775, and were given to the following per- sons : — Peter Vroman, Colonel. Peter W. Zeilie, Lieutenant-Colonel. Thomas Eckerson, Jun., ist Major. Jacob Becker, 2d Major. Lawrence Schoolcraft, Adjutant. Peter Ball, Quarter-Master. Co. I. Geo. Mann, Captain; Christian Stru- bach, ist Lieutenant ; John Dominick, 2d Lieu- tenant ; Jacob Snyder, Ensign. Co. 2. Jacob Hager, Captain ; Martinus Van- Slyck, ist Lieutenant ; Johannes W. Bouck, 2d Lieutenant ; Johannes Lawyer, Ensign. Co. 3. Geo. Richtmeyer, Captain ; Johannes I. Lawyer, ist Lieutenant; Martinus W. Zeilie, 2d Lieutenant ; Johannes Lawyer Bellenger, Ensign. The first company was organized at the lower part of the valley, at and near the present village of Schoharie. The Captain, George Mann, proved disloyal by aiding in organizing a loyal company. He was captured and incarcerated as a prisoner of war until the close of the con- test, when he was released and not proving a very bitter adversary, his property was not con- fiscated. His command was filled by Lieu- tenant Strubach, who was-promoted to a Major at the close of the war. The second company was from the upper part of Vromansland, and the third, at and near Middleburgh. Another company was after- wards formed in Vromansland, at whose head was Tunis Vroman. After Vroman's massacre, Peter Snyder, living near the lower fort received the command. At Cobleskill, also, a company was formed in 1777, with Christian Brown as captain, and Jacob Borst of the same place as heutenant. The northwestern part of the County was in Tryon county until the year 1784, and a com- pany was formed in 1778, at Rhinebeck, as " Tryon County Militia," of which John Ma- thias Brown, afterwards Judge of the county, was captain. But their number being few and sur- rounded by Tories, the company was disbanded and its members acted as scouts from the mid- dle and lower forts, watching the movements of the enemy and taking disaffected ones to secure places. Captain Brown, late judge, was lame in one knee, and was employed at the forts in doing general business for which his qualifications were well fitted. During the years 1775 and '76, and the fore- part of '77, these companies were employed at Fort Edward, Johnstown, and along the Mo- hawk, but did not leave the Schoharie valley without protection, as invasions were expected. In the fall of 1776, an invasion was expected upon the Mohawk, from Oswego, and measures were at once taken to oppose it by the Commit- tee of Safety. On the 9th of October of that year, the colonial committee convened at Fish- kill, and appointed a committee " to co-operate with General Schuyler on devising and carrying into execution all such measures as they shall deem most effectual for repelling the invasion of the enemy's army on the northern and west- ern frontier." The committee met at Albany on the 27th of the same m6nth, " and had in- formation of an invasion, and resolved to detach troops for the defense of the western frontier."* Captain Jacob Hager was at Albany with a de- tachment of fifty-five Schoharie militia, and on the 29th, the committee resolved that they " should return to Schoharry and hold them- selves in readiness at a moment's warning, to march to the defense of the western frontier, whenever they shall receive orders from Col. Van Schaick, that they may contribute with the rest of their fellow subjects, who are now in arms, to the utmost of their power, in defense of the Rights and Liberty's of their Country." The company was called to Fort Stanwix, but not being employed, returned to Schoharie, where we are led to believe they remained dur- ing the winter, excepting at such times as they were acting as scouts and arresting disaffected ones, or those imbued with Tory sentiments. During 1776, the Brirish were encouraged by the success of their arms upon Long Island — New York City— Fort Washington, and Lee, and to break the chain of defense upon the northern frontier, would embarrass the colonists, and have a tendency to stop hostihties. A grand move- ment, therefore, was conceived and to be made in August of 1777, from various points. Gen. Burgoyne was to march at the head of the best * Records Committee of Safety. MEASURES FOR PROTECTION AND DEFENSE. 39 drilled and equipped army upon the continent, down Lake Champlain, while ' St. Leger was to devastate the Mohawk, from Oswego, at the head of a motley crew of Indians and Tories, whose knives and tomahawks were whetted for the most atrocious crimes, and whose ambition was fired by the royalty upon scalps that the British officers promised. The movement was well calculated to dis- courage the stoutest hearts, and unless the greatest wisdom and prudence, besides patriot- ism had engineered the northern department, it would have proved a success. With these pros- pects before them, the Schoharie militia were divided. Some were to be sent to Gate's re- lief, others were expected to join Gansevoort or Herkimer. The valley had been in a measure put under a state of defense and watch, by dividing it into sections and appointing men to oversee the ar- rangements. An order to that effect was made by the Committee of Safety as follows : — "Schoharie July 7th, 1777, in committee chamber first resolved that all the persons be- tween the ages of sixteen and fifty years, from the dweUing house of Christian Shaffer to north- ward in Schoharie are to bring their arms and accoutrements when they come to the meeting at either of the two churches in Fountain town to Fox's town on Sunday or any other day when kept, and if any of them shall neglect in bring- ing their arms and accoutrements to either of the churches, shall forfeit and pay the sum of three shillings New York currency into the hands of Johannes Ball, for the use of paying the cost for the district of Schoharie, or if any person shall not pay the said sum aforesaid, it shall be lawful for Mr. Johannes Ball to give a warrant directed to a sergeant or corporal, and levy the same on the offender's goods and chat- tels, and also the cost thereof "And all the persons inhabiting from the dwell- ing of Baltus Krysler to the said Christian Shaf- fer are to bring their arms etc., to the church at Weiser's town, as they are ordered to in Fox's town and if neglected to pay the same to Jo- hannes Becker and be put in execution by him- as ordered by Mr. Ball aforesaid. "And any person southward from Baltus Krysler's are to be armed when they come to any meeting that may be kept in Breakabeen and if neglected, to pay the fines to Mr. Wm. Zim- mer, and to be put by him in execution as be- fore mentioned, and for the use as aforesaid. "N. B. Their resolve in Fountain Town Church is to be paid to Mr. Johannes Lawyer, and to be put by him in execution as within mentioned, and for the use as aforesaid, and George Warner is appointed to see that the in- habitants of Cobleskill bring their arms when they come to meeting there, and put their resolve in execution as within mentioned, and for the use aforesaid. " Secondly Resolved that four watchers are to be kept in Schoharie every night from this time constant, the first to be kept at the dwelling house of Capt. George Mann, and under his command, and in his absence the next in com- mand, the inhabitants from Christian Shaffer's dwelling house, and to northward are to be un- der Capt. Mann's command for the watch to consist of eight men. The second is to be kept at the dweUing house of Mr. Hendrick P. Becker, and under the command of Capt. George Richtmeyer, and in his absence the next officer in command. The inhabitants from Hendrick Jansen's house and so northward to Christian Schafifer's are under the command of this second watch, and to consist of six men. The third is to be kept at the dwelling house of Mr. Johannes Feak, and under the command of Lieutenant Martymus VanSlyck, and in his absence the next officer in command. The inhabitants from Baltus Krysler's dwelling house and so north- ward to Hendrick Jansen's are under the com- mand of this third watch and to consist of six men. And the fourth is be kept by the inhabi- tants from Baltus Krysler's and so southward to the dwelHng house of Hendrick Hager, under the command of Capt. Jacob Hager, in his ab- sence the next officer in commmd at this watch is to consist of six men. Every person or per- sons neglecting to serve on such or either of such watches aforementioned, shall for every neglect pay and forfeit the sum of twelve shil- hngs for the use of the district of Schoharie." All arrangements were known and understood on the part of the colonists, and a few had left to join Gates, when the valley was aroused by the knowledge of an army of invaders, but a 40 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. few miles up the valley, bent on sweeping down with fire and blade to meet with Burgoyne, St. Leger and Clinton, at the Whig city of Albany, to bask in the sunshine of success at the grand union of human vultures. The invasion was a surprise, and in the great excitement the enemy's numbers were greatly exaggerated. The Schoharie militia could not be recalled, and efforts were made to procure aid from Albany. Colonel Peter Vroman, says Simms, dis- patched two messengers on foot on the nth, and fearing they would be captured, Captain Hager and Henry Becker were sent the next morning on the same mission. Colonel John Har- per* arrived the same day in the valley, and being fearful of the messenger's ability to procure as- sistance, at once set out on horse, but proceed- ed only to the present village of Schoharie, and * The following is extracted from Campbell's "Annals of Tryon County ;" — " In 1768, William, John, Alexander and Joseph Harper, with eighteen other individuals, obtained a patent for twenty-two thousand acres of land lying in the now county of Delaware. The Harpers removed from Cherry valley soon after,and made a settlement there which was called Harpersfield. This settlement began to flourish at the commencement of the war. Col. John Harper had the command of the forts at Schoharie, in 1777 and '78. The following account of a successful enterprise of Col. John Harper, was furnished by the Rev. Mr. Fenn, who received the information from him : — " He informed me that in the year 1777, he had the command of the fort in Schoharie, and of all the frontier stations in this region. He left the fort in Schoharie, and came out through the woods to Harpersfield, in the time of sugar making, and from thence laid his course to Cherry Valley, to investigate the state of things there, and as he was pursuing a blind kind of Indian trail, and was ascending what are now called Decatur Hills, he cast his eye forward and saw a company of men coming directly towards him, who had the appearance of Indi- ans. He knew that if he attempted to flee from them, they would shoot him down ; he resolved to advance right up to them, and make the best shift for himself that he could. As soon as he came near enough to discern the white of their eyes, he knew the head man and several others; the head man's name was Peter, an Indian with whom Colonel Harper had often traded at Oquago, before the Revolution began. The Colonel had his great coat on, so that his regimentals were concealed, and he was not recognized; the first word of address of Col. Harper's was, ■ How do you do, brothers?' The reply was, ' Well— how do you do, brother? Which way are you bound, brother ? ' ' On a secret expedi- tion,' said Harper. ' Which way are you bound, broth- ers ? ' ' Down the Susquehannah to cut off the Johns- ton settlement,' they answered. (Parson Johnston and a number of Scotch families had settled down the Susque- hannah, at what is now called Sidney Plains, and these were the people whom they were about to destroy). Says the Colonel, ' Where do you lodge to-night ? ' 'At the mouth of Schenevus creek,' was the reply. Then shaking hands with them, he bid them good speed, and proceeded on his journey. remained over night. The Tories in the neigh- borhood, especially at "and around Fox's creek, were jubilant over the prospect of affairs, and made an attempt to arrest the Colonel at his lodgings. Being a brave and resolute man, their cowardly spirits quailed before his stern address, and retired. As day dawned, he con- tinued his journey, but was followed for several miles by two Indians, whose courage proved too weak for an attack upon him. He arrived at Albany in safety, and procured a company of cavalry, under the command of Major Wyn- koop, and arrived in Schoharie on the next day (14th). Stopping at Captain Mann's residence, they de- manded his presence, but being on the alert, he was not to be found. Taking with them an In- dian as prisoner from Mann's, who in attempt- ing to escape was killed, the companyproceeded "He had gone but a little way from them, before he took a circuit through the woods, a distance of eight or ten miles, on to the head of Charlotte river, where were a number of men making sugar; ordered them to take their arms, two day's provisions, 9. canteen of rum, and a rope, and meet him down the Charlotte at a small clearing called Evan's place, at a certain hour that after- noon; then rode with all speed through the woods to Harpersfield, collected all the men who were there, and being armed and victualled, each man with his rope laid his course for Charlotte; when he arrived at Evan's place, he found the Charlotte men there in good spirits, and when he mustered his men, there were fifteen, in- cluding himself, exactly the numljer as there were of the enemy. Then the Colonel made his men acquainted with his enterprise. They marched down the river a lit- tle distance, and then bent their course across the hill to the mouth of Schenevus creek. When they arrived at the brow of the hill where they could look over the val- ley, they cast their eyes down upon the flat, and discov- ered the fire around which the enemy lay encamped. ' There they are,' said Colonel Harper. They descended with great stillness, forded the creek, which was breast high to a man. After advancing a few hundred yards, they took some refreshments, and then prepared for the contest — daylight was just appearing in the East. When they came to the enemy, they lay in a circle with their feet towards the fire, in a deep sleep. Their arms and all their implements of death, were all stacked up ac- cording to the Indian custom when they lay themselves down for the night. These the i-olonel secured by car- rying them oft a distance, and laying them down, then each man taking a rope in his hand, placed himself by his fellow. 'The Colonel rapped his man softly and said, ' Come it is time for men of business to be on their way,' and then each one sprang on his man, and after a most severe struggle, they secured the whole of the en- emy. After they were all safely bound and the morning had so far advanced that they could discover objects dis- tinctly, says the Indian Peter, ' Ha! Colonel Harper, now I know thee ; why did I not know thee yesterday ?' 'Some policy in war, Peter.' • A me find em so now.' The Colonel marched the men to Albany, delivered them up to the commanding officer, and by his bold and well executed feat of valor, he saved the whole Scotch settlement from a wanton destruction." ADAM CRYSLER. 41 up the valley and met the Schoharie militia at the stone dweUing of John Becker, which they had barricaded with rails and timber, for a for- tress. Here we will leave the first troops that visited the valley, expecting them to be admired by the uncouth yeomanry, as well as to be re- galed by a few social mugs of " reviving spirits,'' such as the hospitality of every household, in those days presented, while we will reconnoi- tre the enemy's position, aim and strength. At the upper part of Vroman's land lived one, Adam Crysler, upon the farm now occupied by Mrs. John S. Lawyer. He was a farmer who owned a large tract of land, and was a shrewd business man. He was commissioned Ensign on the 14th day of October, 1768, in a company of militia of which Isaac Vroman was cap- tain. In the year 1781 he made an official report to the British Government, which has lain in obscurity among his descendants in Canada, until quite recently, which we here copy in part as far as regards the invasion upon which we are dwelling. The report says : — " I thought it my duty to get as many men and Indians for government as laid in my power, which will be seen as follows, and my proceedings. "In March [1777] I had to maintain all the Indians which were at Schoharie in number 25, until the loth of August. In the meanwhile I recruited all the men for Government that laid in my power being in number 70. In June I received a letter from Brant who desired me to remain at Schoharie in readiness until he came to me. On the 9th of August, Captain Mc- Donald joined us with 28 men from Charlotte creek & I found them all in Provision for one day and night & from thence we went down the river about 4 miles to the lower end of Vro- man's land where we remained one day & night & where we were informed the rebels had got a reinforcement and we thought it proper to re- treat, until we saw a convenient place to make a stand, which was at my house ; from whence I detached 35 men to intercept the Rebels at Breakabeen if they should take that route. In the meanwhile the Rebels advanced until they came to the place where we laid in ambush waiting for them, when we gave them a volley, killed and wounded three men and nine of their light horse. At the same time we were informed they were 400 strong and we retreated back in the woods which was on the 14th of August, where we held a consultation and con- cluded, that with the small number of men we had, it would be needless to attack their in- creasing numbers which was already four to one, but colle<;t all together and proceed to Oswego to the army, for which purpose Mr. David Brass (now Lieutenant in Corps of Rangers) went in search of the 35 men which were de- tached to Breakabeen, on his return he in- formed me they were all dispersed." It will be seen by Crysler's report that his and McDonald's force numbered but one hun- dred and twenty-eight if he had the whole force of recruits and Indians, but the patriots accord- ing to tradition estimated it to be between four and five hundred. The cavalry and militia having rested and having become acquainted with each other and the manner of attack, proceeded to give battle to the invaders. Not having any authentic account of the skirmish except the one already copied, we cannot give any plainer facts. As the Colonists over- estimated the strength of the invaders, so also did the invaders over-estimate that of the Colonists, as it could not have been in numbers to exceed one hundred. The stand made by Crysler was upon the rise of ground near the house, and lasted but a few moments. After the volley was given by Crysler's party the cavalry made a grand rush upon them and . scattered their forces, which were not collected to renew an attack. According to Simms, whose informants were in the fight, the patriots' loss was "David Wirt, a lieutenant of cavalry, and two privates wounded, — one Rose, mortally, — who died three days after." Farther on, the excellent author says truly " David Wirt was the first man that fell in Schoharie defending the principles of free government." The small and weary force returned to the rude fortress having the key of the gate to the valley safely in their grasp. The Tories that were so jubilant in the morning were silent, and those who through trembling, nervous fear, were led to join McDonald's and Crysler's clan, repented of their choice 44 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. as the patriots placed an iron heel upon them, and forced them to do duty. Col. Vroman proceeded in the track of the invaders a few days after and found many that were returning to their homes, stating they were forced to follow them. While the Schoharie settlements were in the greatest consternation upon the Mohawk, St. Leger had found his progress im- peded by as brave patriots as the world has ever known. Brave Gansevoort held Fort Schuyler, while determined Herkimer at Oriskany, with gallant Willet's timely aid, and Arnold's cunning message, put to flight the barbarous clan. Many of the " bravest of the brave " fell upon that historical day. They " Fought eye to eye and hand to hand, Alas ! 'twas but to die ; In vain the rifle's deadly flash Scorched eagle plume and wampum sash, The hatchet hiss'd on high, And down they fell in crimson heaps Like the ripe corn the sickle reaps." The Mohawk valley was saved and another army less to exult at the anticipated junction. Burgoyne laid down his arms upon the 17th and joy reigned supreme in the American camp. The gloom that pervaded every patriotic heart but a few days before, was now dispelled, and all felt gratitude to the God of battles. All honor to the brave Herkimer, Gansevoort, and Willet. All glory to Arnold and Schuyler, whose laurels were plucked by Gates, and all reverence to the sturdy ones that stood before the exultant, well-fed foe — like the oak before the blast — unyielding, unflinching. " O few and weak their number^ were A handful of brave men. But to their God they gave their prayers, And rushed to battle then. They left the plowshare in the mold. Their flocks and herds without the fold. The sickle in the unshorn grain, The corn half garnered on the plain. And muster'd in their simple dress, For wrongs, to seek a stern redress. To right those wrongs, come weal, come woe. To perish or o'ercome the foe.'' The reverses with which the British arms met at Oriskany, Breakabeen, Bemis Heights and down the Hudson, at once satisfied the most intelligent and far-seeing of the loyalists, that it was useless to continue the struggle by force of arms to conquer the patriots in the Northern Department, and that it could only be done, if done at all, by cutting off supplies from the already poorly clad and fed army, and carry hostilities upon Southern fields. Therefore it was conceived by those in command to make invasions and devastate those sections from which large supplies were procured. The fact was known by all the Tories, and boasts were made by them that nothing should be allowed to grow or be gathered, and their vigilant eyes were turned to the productive vales of the Mohawk, Schoharie, Susquehanna and even to the Wyoming, The patriots know- ing their intentions, kept on the alert at every avenue leading to those sections. The Schoharie valley being open, without any place but the forest for the people to flee for protection. Colonel Samuel Campbell of Cherry Valley, personally appeared before General La Fayette while at Johnstown attending an Indian Council, and petitioned for the building of three forts in the valley, each to be manned with. a company of regular soldiers and a field piece. Accordingly engineers were sent out to locate and superintend their structure in the month of November, 1777. The stone house already barricaded was sur- rounded by a moat and enclosed by pickets, and was called the " middle fort." About four miles above at the upper end of " Vro- man's land," upon the west side of the river, another house was barricaded and a block- house erected, which was called the "upper fort." The stone church near Schoharie village was enclosed, two block-houses built, at diagonal corners, the same as the upper and middle forts. These three were nearly an equal dis- tance apart and were well arranged for the people of the surrounding settlements to remove their valuables for safety and to find protection from the prowling enemies. Each was furnished with two small cannon and with such facilities as to warrant safety and comfort, yet would prove very inadequate at the present day to withstand the projectiles that would be brought to bear upon them by our well-disciplined and equipped soldiers. Within the pickets of each SCENES AND INCIDENTS DURING THE WINTER AND SPRING OF 1777-78. 43 fort the citizens built rude huts to which they resorted for safety each night from many miles around, deeming it hazardous to risk their hves upon their own hearthstones, as the prowling demons were at all times upon the watch to capture or kill the patriots after the battle of Breakabeen down to the close of the struggle. Nothing more of importance (aside from the building of the forts) of a warlike nature oc- curred in the valley during the year 1777. It is well known by every one that the winter of 1777 was indeed a trying time to the provincial army. Washington lay at Valley Forge with his nearly starved and frozen army and the army of Gates at Bemis Heights, with meagre supplies. The citizens of Schoharie furnished them with grains from their well filled granaries and assisted in transporting cannon, powder, and all other army necessaries for the campaign of 1778. In the latter part of May of that year, when the earth began to teem with luxuriant grains and grasses such as are peculiar to the Schoharie valleys, the enemy was found lurking in the vicinity of Cobleskill. Captain Christian Brown knowing his force was too weak to cope with any considerable numbers, dispatched a messenger to the lower fort for assistance. Captain Patrick, with a company of forty regu- lars responded, and upon the first day of June he marched them together with the Cobleskill militia, only seventeen in number, about two miles and one half to the west of the present village of Cobleskill, to the " George Warner house." While tarrying for a few moments and enjoying the hospitality of that "committee- man," a few Indians made their appearance a short distance to the west. The small force pressed forward and was drawn into an ambus- cade planned by the sagacious Brant. The battle raged furiously for but a few mo- ments as it was discerned that the Indians were surrounding them with untold numbers. Cap- tain Brown ordered a retreat as it was found that Patrick had fallen, mortally wounded. In their flight, they passed the Warner house— in which a few noble ones sought shelter to retard the advance of the blood-thirsty foe. After burning the house and inmates the inva- ders passed down the valley, leaving houses, barns, and stacks of hay in ashes, and such stock as they found they either killed or drove along. Women and children sought safety in the forest and wandered to the Schoharie or lower fort. The patriots' loss was twenty-two killed and two made prisoners from their force of fifty-seven. The enemy's strength according to official ac- counts was about two hundred. Their loss is not known. This invasion cast a deep gloom over the Cobleskill settlement and caused the inhabitants to seek and remain at the Lower fort. The men cautiously returned each morn- ing to do their work some time after, and walked the distance of ten miles back in the evening. During the year rumors were afloat many times, of the Indians' appearance to devastate, and the military officers at Albany were repeatedly called upon to send a force to Schoharie. We have the pay roll of a company under Captain Marselus of Colonel Lansing's regiment of militia that was sent in August, and was at the lower fort from the isth to the 31st. They num- bered, officers and men, forty-four. Others were here from time to time, beside the home guards and militia belonging to the district, which gave the inhabitants an assurance of pro- tection, and which undoubtedly restrained the Tories and Indians from making another unholy visit. It was in July of that year the terrible massacre was made at Wyoming which chills the heart blood and which presented scenes that devils incarnate should be ashamed to own. It may be interesting to know the fiend in hu- man form whose report we copied in relation to the invasion of McDonald, was present upon that occasion. We did not intend to diverge from the County's history, but being fortunate to ob- tain a copy of so valuable a document as there- port of Adam Crysler, which has loomed up as a guilty conscience — to acknowledge deeds that had been placed against others and not being before published, we will repeat for history's sake what he acknowledges in regard to the affair : — "In May, 1778, I received [Crysler was at Unadilla] orders from Colonel Butler to come to Canatasago, accordingly I did and brought nineteen men with me (who are with Colonel Butler's rangers now) at which time he made me a Lieutenant — and from there I went under the command of Colonel Butler to Wayomen where 44 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. we had an engagement and killed about 460 of the enemy and from there we went to Aughqua- gy." Also we find he was at the destruction of Cherry Valley, and says : — " In November I went under the command of Captain Butler (Walter Butler) to Cherry Valley and destroyed that whole settlement and returned to Niagara in December." Hearing of such invasions and massacres it is not to be wondered that the people of Scho- harie felt fearful and insisted upon the presence of soldiers. Through the year 1779, also, the three forts were well supplied with soldiers, while the militia belonging to the settlements were busy scouting and foraging for the subsistence of the garri- sons. During that season several despicable Tories were captured or killed by them, among whom was one Service, living upon the Char- lotte who was in the engagement at Cobleskill and who furnished the invaders with provision. [See Summit.] It was in August of that year that Lieutenant-Colonel William Butler of a Pennsylvania regiment and a company of rifle- men from Morgan's corps came to the valley and took command of the middle fof t. Among the riflemen were the brave Tim Murphy and David Elerson whose strategy and courage won the ad- miration of the people, and who permanently set- tled in the County. Other equally as brave men came with them but did not either have an opportunity of displaying that characteristic, or had not the tact to impress it upon the mind of the people as forcibly. They were Thomas Boyd (who was ruthlessly butchered while on the Invasion of the Indian country under SuUi- van in 1779, and whose ashes lie in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Rochester, as one of " liberty's mar- tyrs,") William Leek,Wm. Lloyd, John Wilber, Frederick Ullman, (who afterwards joined Wil- let's force at Fort Plain,) Elijah Hendricks, Philip Hoever, Richard Tufts, Derrick Haga- dorn, Joseph Evans and others whose names have been lost. It is supposed all of the regu- lars that were stationed in the valley in 1778 and '79 joined, Chnton's force to form a junc- tion with Sullivan at Tioga for the destruction of the Indian towns to the west and north-west of that place. The Indians hung upon the rear of the army and among them were Captain Mc- Donald and Lieutenant Crysler. The report of the Tatter says: — "Went to Shemung where we faced the whole army of the Rebels and was forced to retreat to Oyenyange (now Elmira,) where we attacked them again and from whence we retreated again to Niagara." At the close of the campaign, Colonel Wm. Butler, with his followers, returned to Schoharie, where they remained during the winter, and which no doubt they appreciated as they were in a section, in which plenty and hospitality abounded. Winter passed away with all its pleasures and hostile quietude, and the spring of 1780 came. The farmers planted and sowed bountifully as their countrymen in arms were to be fed and clothed, and were looking to their spacious fields for a share of their subsistence. Already had large amounts been furnished by the unselfish patriots for such uses, without recompense, ex- cept the worthless currency that the distressed government had in good faith issued, and the slow but sure success of the cause of Inde- pendence. Liberty was the object, and their products, labors, privations and endurances the beaconage. Burning under the chastisement Sullivan gave to them the summer previous, and acting under the command to devastate all points that gave the Colonial armies supplies, the Indians and Tories under their inhuman comman- ders, made several advances. The first upon Schoharie, was in July, under Adam Crysler, who appeared in Turloch (New Dorlach, now Seward,) and took nine prisoners, [see Sew- ard,] besides horses and household goods. Crysler's report says : — "On the 25th of May, 1780, I received Colonel Johnson's instructions to proceed to the Indian country, and collect all the Indians that laid in my power, and to join Captain Mc- Donald, with a party of Rangers, to go to Scho- harie. We proceeded as far as Oneida, where we had a consultation with the Oneidas, and brought of the Oneidas as far as Canas- sarago (Canajoharie,) where I turned back with seven Indians, and proceeded to Turlough, where I took nine prisoners, and returned to Niagara." INVASION OF SCHOHARIE BY JOHNSON AND BRANT. 45 What caused the force to divide and not come in full, we are unable to tell. Crysler had a brother living near the scene of the "Turloch" transaction, who was a true "congenial spirit" in the unholy cause, and near him lived a staunch patriot, Sebastian France, whose cap- ture was designed, but not being at home, they took the Hynds family instead. Had France been at home, undoubtedly what few colonists there were in the neighborhood would have been taken or killed, and their property de- stroyed. But they left this time, without doing so, to return in the future. In August, of the same year, when the peo- ple of Schoharie Valley were busy upon their lands, and but few men were in the forts, there appeared a band of Indians, supposed to have been led by Brant, in the central part of Vro- man's land, and fell upon the Vroman neigh- borhood, without notice, and killed five men, women and children, among whom were Capt. Tunis Vroman and wife. We do not think Brant was in this invasion, as Crysler would have so mentioned, had he been. We find, when a superior officer was in company with him, Crysler invariably makes mention of it. He says, in his report referring to this massacre : — "June 7, 1780, Rec'"!- Colonel Johnson's in- structions to proceed with a party of Aughqua- gas, &c., to Schoharie, where I had a skirmish with the Rebels, took five scalps, two prisoners, and burnt some houses and barns, lost one man and one wounded, from thence returned to Ni- agara." Instead of only two prisoners being taken Simms says the number was about thirty. The old report of Crysler's was in a very bad state, dim and much torn, and a mistake might have been made in copying. It would be supposed that Crysler would make out as many as con- sistent that he might receive the pat of his su- periors and the encouraging words " well done thou good and faithful servant." For further information in regard to this invasion the reader is referred to Fulton. Scarcely had the embers ceased to glow where stood the prosperous Vroman settlement and the abundant harvest been safely secured from inclement weather in bains, barracks and stacks, than the shadow of destruction was drawn over the valley and happy hearthstones destroyed. Colonel John Johnson and Brant, the much vaunted Mohawk chief, entered the valley in the early part of October following the invasion referred to, at the head of nearly one thousand British Regulars, Tories and Indians, bent on the despoliation of the valley. It was very fortunate for the patriots' cause in the Schoharie valley that this invasion was not made at the beginning of the struggle, when so many were undecided which cause ta advocate. Nearly all really were in favor of free government, yet they truly believed it was an impossibility to establish one owing to the superior strength of the mother government, and in rebelling they would forfeit their property and citizenship. The victory over Burgoyne, St. Leger and McDon- ald was the most fortunate affair of the whole war. It encouraged the firm, strengthened the weak and determined the majority of the unde- cided. It is a fact not to be denied that then, as ever before and since, and for all time to come, the majority of the people have, and will have, an especial eye to the security of their personal effects, above their political privileges, unless they are bound down to excessive bond- age. There are exceptions it is true and es- pecially during the Revolution. That of Han- cock of Boston who urged the burning of the city and his entire property, if it would advan- tage the cause of Independence. Also of Mrs. Rebecca Motte of South Carolina, of Adams, Frankhn, Washington, and others of less note. But we are speaking of the majority elsewhere as well as here in the valley, where dwelt a few whose patriotism could not be excelled. The enemy encamped above the upper fort and appeared opposite of it after daylight on the 17th of October. The garrison was commanded by Captain Jacob Hager, whose bravery upon all oc- casions was truly meritorious. The fort contained only about one hundred citizen soldiers, mihtia and regulars. Had Johnson known that it was so feebly defended he would undoubtedly have besieged it, but supposing it to be well strength- ened and knowing its stubborn commander, be- sides it being the most impregnable against an armed force of either fort in the valley, they passed on to the middle fort, as they supposed, 46 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. without being noticed. Their rear was discov- ered and an alarm given from the fort by firing the cannon, which was heard at the middle fort and its occupants began to make ready to re- ceive them. The middle fort's construction was the weakest of the three and Johnson there- fore made an attack upon it, thinking that if either could be taken his chances were better on that, besides Colonel Vroman, the superior offi- cer was within it, and if he surrendered the other two would be easily compelled to. It is Tery doubtful whether either Captain Hager or Major Becker would have done so if such had been the case, as they were men of pluck and energy, with the same characters to assist them. The supply of powder at the middle fort was very Hmited, and perhaps the enemy was ap- prised of the fact through some pretended friends of the patriots. The garrison to which Johnson bent his steps consisted of two hun- dred Continental troops and about one hundred and fifty miUtia. The fortress was commanded by a Continental Major by the name of Wool- sey, but he was either a coward or traitor, as he insisted upon giving admittance to the flag of truce, upon which Col. Vroman took command and made a bold and determined defense. As soon as the signal was heard from the gun at the upper fort, that of the middle re- sponded, and soon the echo of the ever-ready "grass-hopper," as Johnson called it, came from the lower fort as if to answer "aye !" to the roll- call. Those sounds, too, were the signals for destruction to the yeoman's well-filled barns stacks and hearth- stones. As soon as they knew they were discovered they applied the torch, and the flames soon began to lap the precious fruits of faithful labor, as if jubilant to assist in the devastation. A scout was sent from the middle fort to learn the cause of alarm andmet the foe near the present village of Mid- dleburgh. A few shots were exchanged by the daring party and they returned to the fort with quick step to receive their visitor "outside the gate." The force passed the fort to the east and made a stand upon an eminence to the northeast. The Indians carried on the work of burning and plundering along the flats while Johnson's regulars made preparation for a bom- bardment. In relation to the siege, we will copy from "Simms' Border Wars/' as that au- thor was fortunate in being personally acquaint- ed with several of the actors in the conflict : — " Col, Johnson had with him a small mortar and a field piece — the latter a brass six-pounder. The carriage for the cannon was carried in parts and required screwing together. They were made ready to fire at the stand he had chosen at Becker's Orchard, and a cannonading and bombardment commenced, while a constant firing was kept up with small arms, but gener- ally at too great a distance for the latter to take effect. Three shells were well thrown from this position by the enemy at the fort, and many cannon-shot were fired but with less pre- cision, the most ofthem passing entirely over the destined object. The first shell fired, sung in the air like a pigeon, and exploded directly over the house, and as its fragments fell upon the roof, Mrs. Richtmyer, an old lady, then in an upper room, who had been an invalid and unable to rise alone from her bed for a long time, was so frightened that she sprang from it and went be- low, surviving the eff'ect but a short time. The second shell fell within the pickets near the well, and while the fuse was burning off and the ball dancing in a mud hole, every person ex- posed to its explosion had ample time to gain a respectful distance, and it scattered its frag- ments without injuring anyone. The third shell fell through the roof of the main building, and lodging on a pile of feather beds in the cham- ber, which were deposited upon several chests of bedding. It exploded tearing the beds in pieces, doing little other mischief, except that of frightening Christian Rickard, an old bach- elor, who chanced to be in the room, almost to death. The explosion completely filled the room with feathers, and groping his way down stairs, Rickard made his appearance below, where many of the women and children were, covered with feathers, and spitting down from his mouth, which sudden fear had caused him to open too widely for such an atmosphere. When asked what had happened, he replied in Low Dutch : ' I think the Devil is in the chamber, for the feathers fly around so I cannot see.' The beds were set on fire but were easily extinguish- ed, as water had been provided for such an emergency. BATTLE AT THE " MIDDLE FORT." 47 " After the firing had been continued for some time by the enemy and several shells thrown, it suddenly ceased, and a white flag was seen to leave the British ranks and advance to- ward the fort. The flag-bearer was accom- panied on his right by an officer in green uni- form, and on his left by a fifer playing Yankee Doodle. When the flag was discovered ap- proaching, Major Woolsey gave orders to have it admitted, but not another officer in the fort, to their credit be it said, was in favor of its admission ; and Murphy and Elerson, who conjectured what their fate might be should the enemy learn the actual strength of the garrison and succeed in its capture, determined, so the latter informed the author, that before the ffag should enter the fort one or the other of them, would shoot Woolsey himself. * * * * "When Murphy fired on the flag Major Woolsey was not present, having visited his quarters to prepare himself to enforce submission to his commands, for soon after he returned pistol in hand and demanded who had dared to disobey his orders ? ' I fired on the flag,' said Murphy. Major Woolsey then threatened the brave soldier with instant death if he repeated the act ; and the latter, who believed the will- ingness of the commandant to admit the flag proceeded from cowardice alone, retorted with warrnth : ' Sooner than see that flag enter the fort will I send a bullet through your heart.' Seeing an evident disposition in all the officers present to sustain Murphy, for they rallied round him to a man, the Major walked towards the house. In this time the flag attended as before, had again advanced, and Major Woolsey had not proceeded two rods when Murphy again fired, and its bearer faced about and retired. " During this parley the firing on both sides had ceased with the exception stated, and was not resumed until after Colonel Johnson from his great desire to get a flag into the fort, dis- patched it by the same party a third time. It is possible that from his position he had, with a spy-glass, observed the movement of Major Woolsey. They had proceeded as far as at first however, when a third bullet from Murphy's rifle passed ovei" their heads, saying in eftect, 'thus far, but no farther,' and they returned to the ranks. The firing was then renewed." While death stared the little band of patriots in the face and would have been a certainty to every one of them if the British force had been commanded by a brave and ingenious officer, that heroism was displayed by men and women that has been the admiration of the world for ages. Our own national orators and poets fondly, too fondly look back beyond our borders and far beyond our time to find commendable patriots. The history of Sparta and Athens is scoured to find examples to please the fastidious and radical minds, while among the common yeomanry of our country may be found ex- amples that have not been excelled by any countryman, and which would have long since been enshrined upon public memorials if supe- rior positions had been their lot. During the siege at the middle fort was displayed unflinch- ing patriotism and bravery by the weaker sex that deserved mention and which add lustre to that memorable day. Angelica and Susannah Vroman's names may well be classed among- the pure heroines of our country, whose chastity linked with their fidelity and activity in the cause of freedom, were as diamonds placed with sapphires in the crown of their characters- During the siege they moulded the bullets that kept at bay the blood-thirsty enemy, and bravely stood by the side of their patriotic brothers, to repel an attack, and by voice and example encouraged them in their firmness. Another one, on that day, at the upper fort, when preparations were being made to repel the invaders if they returned from the middle fort, stood boldly before the captain who command- ed the women to seek safety in the cellar, and declared, "/ shall not go into that cellar! Should the enemy come, I will take a spear, which lean use as well as any man, and help de- fend the fort !" Mary Hagadorn took a spear and stood at the pickets until it was known that the enemy had marched on to the lower fort, and danger had passed. When Woolsey was so boldly overruled by the riflemen, he sought freedom from the jeers of the women, as the same author says elsewhere : — " The cellar under the kitchen part of the dwelling, was occupied as a magazine, and Colonel Vroman, to conceal the deficiency of powder, brought it himself, when wanted. As 48 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. powder was needed, the Colonel laid down his gun and sword, and went to get it. Near the , cellar door he encountered Major Woolsey, who had just left the presence of the women, as may be supposed, in not very good humor. ' Major Woolsey, is this your place, who are placed here to defend the fort ? ' interrogated the brave Colonel. He replied, half dead through fear : ' Colonel Vronian, the men will not obey me, and I give up the command to you.' " The bombardment continued only for a short time, and the little garrison answered only at intervals, as their stock of powder was very limited. About three o'clock the enemy resumed their march down the valley to attack the lower fort, burning everything along the route, excepting two houses and the church and parsonage at Foun- taintown, of which a more definite account may be seen in the chapter upon " Schoharie." During the presence of the enemy in the orchard, several scouts went out from the fort, to defend buildings and other property, but were only successful in returning. The patriots were very fortunate through the day, as but two were mortally, and one slightly wounded. Those that were known to be at the middle fort, were Major Woolsey,Colonel Peter Vroman, Mattice Ball, Peter Becker, Timothy Murphy, David Elerson, Christian Rickard, Samuel Reynolds, of New Jersey, (mortally wounded^) Jeremiah Loucks, (slightly wounded,) Doctor John King, (surgeon,) Nicholas Loughter, Lieu- tenant Martinus Zeihe, John Wilbur, Jacob Win- ne, (commissary), Samuel VanVechten, Douw Fonda, Captain Miller, of a company of Clave- rack militia. Major Ecker, Sergeant Lloyd, Richard Hanson, Peter VanSlyck, Martin Zei- lie, Joachim Folluck, Adam Shell, Philip Hoever, Tufts and Leek. A short time previous to the appearance of the enemy before the mid- dle fort, Major Becker's messenger from the lower fort arrived with a bag of powder, which was opportune, and perhaps enabled the besieged to impress the abiHty to cope with upon the in- vaders. With the force that Colonel Johnson had under his command, he could have sur- rounded the garrison and forced a capitulation, or an entrance within the pickets, and why he did not is another one of the unexplained mili- tary acts of that feather example of royal pom- posity. The main force kept near the river through Fountaintown, while small parties of Indians and Tories applied the torch to the dwellings, until they reached the present Schoharie Rail- road station, when they divided 'to pass to the east and west of the stone fort, undoubtedly to burn the few dwellings that stood near. Upon their arrival opposite that fortress, they were re- ceived with that warmth which such braves as Major Becker are capable of exhibiting when required. Having only two small cannon, they were brought into service, especially the one upon the northwest block house. Trusty rifle- men were placed in the belfry, and work began in earnest. The day before, this garrison re- ceived a supply of powder from Albany, from which a bag-full was sent to the middle fort. A few shots with small arms were exchanged, when Johnson's Regulars drew in view an object which the yeomen thought was a " peeled log," as a feint, but which, when arranged, proved to be a brass cannon. Shot after shot was made, but with what effect upon the enemy is not known, but upon the patriots the most pleasing. " The peeled log " lodged one ball partly in the plate, and partly in a rafter that rested upon the plate of the building. The hole may yet be seen, and is the only mark left commemorative of the invasion. Major Joseph Becker, Captain Peter Snyder, Captain Christian Strubach, Ensign Jacob Law- yer, Jacob VanDyck, John Ingold, Senior and Junior, Jacob H. Shafer, Hendricus Schaefifer, Wilhelmus Entis, Anthony Broutner, Barney Cadugney, George Snyder, John Hutt, Jacob Becker, John Van Wart, Jacob Enders, John Kneiskern, John Rickard, George Merenes, Christopher France, John Merckley and Wm. Kniskern, were in the lower fort upon that day, besides a company of Normanskill militia and Valley Associate Exempts, making a force of about one hundred and seventy men. There were several women from the neighbor- hood, who sought safety in the fort, and whose courage was undaunted, — here as at the other, two, — among whom was the wife of Captain Snyder, whose assistance and encouragement were worthy to receive homage from the de- MASSACRE OF MICHAEL MERCKLEY. 49 scendants of that noble band that none can re- flect upon but with patriotic admiration. Although the invasion we have noticed was terrible in the extreme in destruction of prop- erty, laying the labors of years in ashes, yet the loss of life was small. Owing to the numbers engaged, a more modern military observer would think but little of the transaction, but when we consider the position in which the patriots, were placed and the circumstances attending their position, their discouraging supplies, weakness in force, future prospects, etc., we cannot but think that, on their part, a stabiHty of purpose, undaunted endurance, and determined patriot- ism, was exhibited that made the day memor- able, their names immortal, and the occasion important. The enemy encamped near Sloansville for the night, having laid over three hundred buildings in ashes, besides an innumerable number of stacks of both hay and grain. The Indians were guided by the famous Brant, and regard- less of the eloquent defense of his character by his historian, the people of Schoharie, for this and other heartless crimes, hold his name in contempt. The very people that had extended to him brotherly hospitality, he robbed of their homes, and silently consented to deprive of their scalps. Blood, torture, devastation and ruin marked his course, if not at Wyoming, truly in the vale of the Mohawk, Schoharie and Cobleskill. At the latter place, especially, knowing that the aroused passions of his fol- lowers could be calmed by his orders, as a ven- erated chief, when such cruelties as those practiced upon the body of the gallant patriot, whose bowels were opened, and entrails wound around a tree, had he possessed a heart less hardened than a demon, he would have ignored such an act and forbidden it. The following day Colonel Vroman collected all the troops that dared to be spared from the forts, and followed the enemy to the Mohawk. Upon arriving there they were united with the force of Robert VanRensselaer, whose dis- loyalty or cowardice restrained his army from gaining complete victory over the invaders near Stone Arabia, where the brave Colonel Brown fell. VanRensselaer's conduct upon that mission was, and should have been a subject of censure, as by his dilatory maneuvers, the murderous clan was privileged to pass off to their rendez- vous to gloat over their deeds and enjoy their spoils, and be encouraged to again invade the happy and prosperous homes of struggling patriots. On the day following the invasion of the Schoharie valley — while the soldiers were skir- mishing with the rear of Johnson's force, a party of Indians and Tories led by Seth's Henry, a Schoharie Indian, and Philip Crysler, a brother of Adam, appeared along the West-kill, in the present town of Seward, and after bathing their hands in the blood of Michael Merckley, his niece Catharine, besides two boys, they burned several buildings and led in captivity several inoffensive persons and passed off to follow the Charlotte trail to Niagara. A more minute account of this act may be seen in the events chronicled in the chapter upon the town of Seward, and which was but another lesson of the perfidy of the unprincipled de- mons that continually lurked around the pa- triots' homes through the days that truly " tried men's souls." While we have poorly delineated the cause of the distress and anguish experienced, we cannot but feel our blood boil for revenge, and willingly excuse the hatred felt by the old veterans to- wards their tormentors. These trials whisper to our better judgments to prize more highly our political privileges, as well as our domestic safety and happiness. The personal anguish cannot be told. The hearts that were pierced by those tragical acts only could tell in their painful beatings. Yet they are transcribed upon the "book of life" by the finger of the true God, which the pen of man cannot erase or excuse, and for which, trembling souls of tyrants must answer before the bar of the knowing Judge. Not content, another demon in human form emerged from the Mohawk valley, like a vul- ture, with a horde of nearly five hundred In- dians and Tories and pounced upon the settle- ment of Currytown, in Montgomery County on the I oth of July, 1 7 8 1 , under Captain John Dock- stader. After their usual depredations of murder- ing, burning and plundering, they resumed their march and encamped for the night near Sharon so HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Centre. The gallant Willet of Oriskany fame becoming apprised by scouts of the enemy's presence at once set out with a much smaller force and gained a position at their front, with- out their knowledge. Arousing the Indian camp.early in the morn- ing of the I ith, by sending a scout to intimidate them, they were led into an ingenious trap and from all sides received a volley that told upon their numbers. The superior military skill of Willet over Dockstader, and the unequalled bravery of his men, after a fight of two hours, put the enemy to flight. Willet and his men, thoroughly aroused, fol- lowed them a distance of three miles with con- tinued firing and caused many of them to make sudden departures to the spirit land. His own loss was but five killed, that of the enemy over sixty. Unfortunate would it have been for Johnson and Brant the year before, if Willet had VanRensselaer's command. Beside the invasions already alluded to, small bands of Indians usually led by Tories, from time to time appeared here and there, and took many prisoners. George Warner Jun., son of the " committee man," of Cobleskill, was taken in July, 1782, by Crysler, and his father and brother Nicholas, in December following by Seth's Henry and several Indians. Also the day before the capture of George Warner, Jun., the same band appeared upon Fox's creek, in the present town of Wright, and burned the resi- dence and other buildings of Jacob Zimmer, killed his son Jacob, and one Hoever, beside taking John Snyder, and Henry Becker pris- oners. Early in the year 1 7 8 r , the inhabitants of Scho- harie and Cobleskill that were living some dis- tance from either of the three forts— for their bet- ter protection erected three block-houses, where they might resort each night for safety, with- out traveling several miles and being exposed to murder or capture. The first was built a short distance east of Cobleskill, the second at Kneis- kern's dorf; and the third at Hartman's, equal distances from the middle and lower forts. Each was enclosed by pickets, within which huts were built by private families, as at the main forts. The one at Cobleskill was built under the instruction of Colonel Deboise, a regular. in command at the lower fort, and was named after him. In November, 1781, a party came to the valley of Schoharie by the Southern route, and was supposed to be led by Brant, for the pur- pose of assisting the family of Adam Crysler to remove to Canada. But we are satisfied that it was not the intention of the invaders and that they were not commanded by Brant. Crys- ler made his report in December, 1781, and this invasion is the last one of which he speaks. It says : — " Sep. 28 received Col. Johnson's instructions to proceed with a party of Aughquagas &c con- sisting of 28 men to Schohaire on the loth of November when we came to Schohary we killed one man near the fort and drove off 50 head horned cattle a number of horses and burnt two houses. On our retreat the Rebels turned out with a party consisting of 30 men in pursuit of us. They overtook us about four miles from the fort and began to fire on us, upon which we returned the fire and killed one of their men on which they retreated and I went on with the cattle. The next morning the Rebels turned out the second time with 150 men and overtook us about twenty-three miles from the fort, upon which we had another skirmish and killed four of their men and some wounded, they retreated at the same time. We lost all the cattle, up- on which I had a consultation with the In- dians and they concluded not to pursue the Rebels since we were all safe and they too strong for us but make the best of our way to Niagara where we arrived on the nth Decem- ber and have since that time done the duties ordered me with satisfaction and spirit." The object of the invasion, by the foregoing would seem to be for supplies to subsist the army upon. At all other invasions, the cattle were not driven away, but a few killed and a portion of their meat taken. The report agrees with the author Simms' account of the invasion as far as regards the skirmishes. The man that was killed near the fort was Isaac Vroman, father of Peter. Seth's Henry was also in this party, and as Simms says, "dispatched his victim with a war-club, cut his throat, and with the bloody knife added another notch on the club, to the INVASION OF 1781. 51 record of the many scalps he had taken in the war, after which he laid it on the body of the murdered man and left him.'' " This Schoharie chief" continues the same author, "left a war club in the same neighborhood some time be- fore, which recorded a most startling account of his prowess and cruelty.'' The first skirmish was upon Bouck's Island and Richard Haggidorn was mortally wounded, and one of the Tories also was found near a few days after, supposed to have been killed at that time. The pursuing party returned to the fort and " Col. Vroman dispatched Cap. Ha- ger " says Simms, " with fifteen or twenty Scho- harie rangers, and a company of eastern troops, numbering about Sixty men under Capt. Hale. The command of the Americans was given to Capt. Hager, who, taking two or three days provisions moved up the river. The enemy as was afterwards ascertained, numbered between Sixty and Seventy, Indians and tories, under the command of Brant and Crysler." The enemy was pursued to and found at or near the lake in the town of Jefferson, and as the same author says " on arriving at the lake, the road which was little more than an Indian footpath, ran along its margin. A ridge of land extended nearly to the lake where the Ameri- cans were approaching, and as they were rising the eminence, the enemy who were concealed near its summit, discharged upon them a volley of balls. The instant they fired, Capt. Hager commanded Hale who was marching in the rear to ' Flank to the right and march on.' Hager intended to bring the enemy between his com- mand and the lake, but Hale instead of obey- ing the order, faced to the right about, and fol- lowed by his men with but one noble exception retreated in double quick time. " Brant and his destructives seeing the cow- ardly retreat of Hale and his men advanced to meet Hager, who was left with less than twenty men to resist a force more than triple his own. The little band had taken to trees and were be- ginning to return the enemy's fire at the time Hale retreated, but seeing that they must soon be entirely surrounded if they attempted to maintain their position, their brave leader or- dered a retreat. On leaving the ground they were necessarily exposed to the fire of the ene- my and Sacket, a Bostonian (the exception to Hale's men) sealed his bravery with his blood, as did Joachim VanValkenburgh, one of Capt. Imager's followers. Joseph, a brother of Cap. Hager was also wounded severely in the right shoulder, but the ball was extracted and he subsequently recovered. " Capt. Hager with Murphy still at his side then ran to overtake the cowardly Hale, and after a chase of about five hundred yards over- took him ; as both of them gained his front they placed the muzzles of their rifles at his breast and the Captain in a voice of thunder exclaimed ''Attempt to run another step and you are a dead man,' ***** " Having restored order and infused a share of his own fearless spirit in his ranks Capt. Hager was about to renew the pursuit as Col. Vro- man arrived upon the ground with forty men drawn from the lower fort. After a short con- sultation the chase was continued, but still in ignorance as to the enemy's numbers. After proceeding about two miles and losing all trace of their footsteps, they having left the usual jjath for some unknown route, the pursuit was abandoned and the troops returned to Schoha- rie.'' Various scouts were sent out from time to time and other small invasions made, but to speak of them here would but draw the interest from individual town history. The main incur- sions affecting the greatest numbers, casting a gloom over the greatest extent of territory we have drawn from Crysler's report and our local historian — ^Simms' " Border Wars." It was that author's fortune to communicate with many of the actors of the Revolution, themselves and the country's fortune that he embraced those opportunities of learning facts relating to that struggle that would have been lost forever. One regret we harbor however, that the au- thor was not equally a master of the pencil as well as of the pen, to sketch the portraits of those sturdy ones ere they passed away and crumbled to dust. They would have been precious mementoes to hand down to future generations, as well as to embellish their history's pages. But we will not complain. Their patriotism we have recorded, for which all futurity is indebted to that author's 52 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. foresight. With a few individual encounters within the County, hostiUties closed and peace was proclaimed in 1783. Many of the Tories and Indians returned to their former homes, but the patriots' ire was aroused at the sight of them, and many mys- teriously disappeared, especially Indians. Seth's Henry, the most venomous of the race, whose tomahawk and knife had done greater service in their unholy work, than any other, it was thought, felt the stinging power of an unerrmg bullet, while others were quietly wafted away by more unexplained accidental causes. Many of the Tories, whose bloody trail could be dis- cerned, were victims of abuses in the form of whippings and other feeling rebuffs. The property of that class was confiscated, which comprised whole neighborhoods in a few instances. Many sought Canada again, while a few remained to receive the jeerings of the peo- ple, and lived to be shunned by all. We were fortunate to find in the possession of Henry Cady, (a descendant of Colonel Peter Vroman,) the well preserved muster-roll, bearing the date of 1782, which we here copy. Many of those whose names are upon it, were active loyalists through the war, and why they were retained upon the list, we are unable to tell. It includes all that were liable to military duty in the whole Schoharie settlement, and will give an idea of the sparse population of the territory. It will be observed that the name of Becker is spelled differently in the roll, as Becker and Backer. The former were of High, and the lat- ter of Low Dutch ancestry, although we believe a mistake was made in giving more Backers than there were in the valley. Quite probably the writer was Low Dutch, and spelled the name as he pronounced it. In regard to the Low Dutch branch, the reader is referred more par- ticularly to the chapter upon events of " Middle- burgh," as they located in that town, while the High Dutch settled in the present town of Wright. No. I.— Mathice Schults, Lieutenant, Jacob Schultes, William Schultes, Mathice Schultes, Jun., Stophel Warner, Stophel Warner, Jun., Mathice Warner, Jun., Jost SchefFer, Rudolph Cassman, Richard Schelmedien, Christian Buck- en, Jury Pestshals, Peter Engel, Jacob Engel, Jacob Post, Phillip Steinbergh. JSfo. 2. — William Zimmer, Peter Witeman, WilHam Witeman, Jacob Witeman, Jun., Adem Witeman, Isaac Larrawey, Jacob Larrawey, Hendrick Dalle, Peter Zimmer, William Ball, William Snyder, Hendrick Ball, Jury Schribner, Christian Sant, Johannis Delrig, John Low. No. 3. — Jacobus Deitz, Adem Deitz, Adem Deitz, Jun., Hendryck Deitz, Jury Ball, Hen- drick Crosspile, Counrate Swarts, William Be- craft, Jun., Francis Becraft, Johannis Eker, Nicolas Eker, Johannis Cher, Jun., Peter Sny- der, John Tomson, Charles Heflig, Jacob Heflig. No. 4. — Jacob Heger, Captain, Hendrick He- ger, Jun., Johannis Heger, Peter Heger, Dre- drick Becker, William Bouck, Christian W. Bouck, William W. Bouck, Hendrick Bouck, Michel Brown, Pieter J. Vroman, Adem J. Vro- man, Harmanus Barnhart, Phillip Barnhart, Johannis I. Bouck. No. 5. — Cornelius Feak, Lieutenant, Jacob Feak, Nicolas Feak, Johannes Feak, Peter Feek, Timothe Murphy, Hendrick Hagedorn, Barthelmeus Hagedorn, Johannis Hagedorn, Samuel Hagedorn, Adem Hagedorn, Abrahem J. Becker, Adem Brown, Jacob I. Becraft, Coun- rate Mathice, Hendrick Mathice. No. 6. — Peter Swart, Ensign, Martines Van Slyck, Lawrance Swart, John Whiliber, William Bouck, Jr., Nicelas Bouck, La\vrance Bouck, Frederick Mathice, Nicelas I. Mattice, George Mathice, Johannis Lawyer, Johannis Mathice, Adem Mathice, Peter A. Vroman, Johannis Tingmier. No. 7. — Christian Stubrach, Captain, John Grenadier, Johannis Richter, Jacob Merkel, Nickelos Merkel, Jost Falk, Jost Sidney, Hen- drick Sidney, Peter Sidney, Harmanus Sidney, Hendrick Stubrach, Barent Stubrach, Jacob Hil- singer, Jacob Granedier. No. 8. — ^Johannis Dietz, Lieutenant, William Dietz, John Jost Dietz, Nicelas Sternbergh, Lambert Sternbergh, Jun., Davit Sternbergh, Abrahem Sternbergh, Jacob Sternbergh, Lode- wick Breemer, George Phillip Snyder, William Ecker, Thomas J. Eckerson, John" Kniskern, Jacob Kniskern, John Russway. No. 9. — Peter Ball, Quarter-master, Johannis Ball, Mathice Ball, Harek Braymen, Hendriek Houck, Jun., Hendrick Houck, George Bien- hart, Hendrick Merkel, Johannis Merkel, Jacob SCHOHARIE COUNTY MUSTER-ROLL. S3 Enders, Peter Enders, Johannis Enders, Hen- drick Werth, Jacob Van Uyck, John Hess. No. 10. — John Enders, Ensign, Jacob Enders, William Enders, Jun., Major Jost Becker, Jo- hannis Hott, George Schelman, Johannis Becker, Jacob Becker, William Becker, Jacob Zimmer, , Jacob Schoolcraft, George Becker, Adem Zimmer, Hendrick Hitsman, Johannis Hitsman. No. II. — Peter Snyder, Jun., Lieutenant, Lambert Sternbergh, Jury Snyder, Michel Hil- singer, Johannis Hilsinger, Michel Hilsinger, Jun., WiOiam Enders, Peter Enders, Johannis Finck, Peter Finck, William Finck, Peter Hil- singer, Peter Mann, William Mann, John Dom- inick. No. 12. — Jacob Snyder, Lieutenant, Phillip Bergli, Abrahem Bergh, Phillip Bergh, Jun., Adem Vroman, Peter Vroman, Jun., Johannis Eckessen, Cornelius J. Eckerson, Joseph Van- Ingen, Jury Ecker, Jost Kniskern, Phillip Schkyler, John Schyler, Simeon Schuyler, Col- onel Peter Vroman. No. 13. — Laurance Schoolcraft, A. D., Peter Schoolcraft, Teunis Swart, Jacob Money, Phil- lip Van Alen, John Jacob Werth, Johannes Worth, Peter Snyder, Johannis Snyder, Hen- drick Scheneman, George Hills, Stophel Hills, Johannis Rickerd, Marcus Rickerd. 7V^. i^. — ^Johannis J. Lawyer, Lieutenant, Johannis Lawyer, Jacob Lawyer, Jun., Abra- hem Lawyer, Peter Lawyer, Lambert Lawyer, Casper Storet, Johannes Lawyer, Jun., Jacob F. Lawyer, Jacob Lawyer, Nicholas Lawyer, Davit Lawyer, Hendrick Hanes, Jacob Hanes, Hendrick Hanes, Jr. No. 15 — George Richtmier, Captain, Coun- rate Brown, Stophel Redich, Davit Lee, Sto- phel Warner, Johannis Enpolt, Teunis Schefifer, Johannes T. Schefifer, Marcus Schefifer, Philip Borst, Nicholas Rickerd, Jury Rickerd, Thomas Booth, Jost.Schell, Christian Schell, Henry Counrate, Jun., Hendricus Schefifer. No. 16.— Johannis L. Belleger, Ensign, Jost Lee, Antony Brentner, Jacob Jacobse, Johan- nis Borst, Martines Borst, Wilham Loucks, Jurimy Loucks, Andries Loucks, Johannes Bouck, Thomas Bouck, Davit Bouck, Nicelas Bouck, Cornelius Bouck, Jost Ecker, Counrate Counrate. No. 17. — Martines N. Zielle, Lieutenant, Thomas Eckessen, Cornelius Eckessen, Major Thomas Eckesson, Jr., Teunis Eckessen, Jr., John Eckessen, Jun., Teunis Eckessen, John T. Eckensen, Joseph Barner, William Lake, Col. Peter N. Zielle, Peter VanSlyke, Barrent Vro- man, Johannis Janekson, Hendrich Janekson. No. iS.^Albertus Becker, Jun., Johannis S. Becker, Harmanuus Becker, Abrahem Becker, Johannis A. Becker, Storm Becker, Jun., Cor- nehus Van Dyck, John Van Dyck, Johannis Borst, jun., Martines Pick, Peter U. Zielle, Jun., Peter U. P. Zielle, Peter Becker, Johan- nis D. Becker, Hendrick Courate. No. 19. — Martines Vroman, Lieutenant, Al- burtus Becker, Johannes Alb Becker, Johan- nis Becker, Johannis J. Becker, Davit Becker, Jr., Jacob Borst, Jun., Marcus Belleger, Johan- nis M. Belinger, Lawrance Lawyer, Abrahem Lawyer, Conrate Ingmier, Hendrick Borst, Jo- hannis Bellinger, Marcus BeUinger, Jun. No. 20. — Nicelas Warner, Ensign, Christian Brown, Captain, Peter Schefifer, Lendert Chur- sigh, Jacob Schefifer, William Brown, Johannis Bouck, Jr., Jacob Bouck, Peter Bouck, Jost Schefifer, Davatt Schefifer, Adem Schefifer, Hen- drick Schefifer, Jun., Michel Huningh, Stophel Huningh, Johannis Huningh. JSfo. 21. — Hendrick Borst, Lieutenant, Baltus Borst, Jost Borst, Johannis Borst, Hendrick Schefifer, Lawrance Lawyer, Jr., Peter Schefifer, Jr., Lambert Schefifer, Johannis Schefifer, Michel Borst, Jacob Foster, Adem Schefifer, William Snyder, Michel Frymier, Davet Frymier, Phillip Lergher. No. 22. — John Myers, Lieutenant, Daniel McColme, John Couch, EUexander McColme, Michel B^ichter, Nicelas Richter, Hendryck Richter, Lodenick Snyder, PhilHp Snyder, Hen- dryck Snyder, Davit Carsson, John Humphry, Benjamen Humphrey, Peter Kniskern, Parent Kniskern, Alexander McDayle, Relph Wertley. No. 23. — John Casade, Sergeant, George Hat- sel, Johannis Backer, Abraham Brewer, Peter Brewer, James Morran, James Humphrey, Peter Young, Andrew Young, Phillip Sneyder, Jr., William McCatrick, Michel Hittser, Charles Werhley, Daniel Vanathwerp, John Vanantwep, Andrew Young, Jr., Peter Vanantwerp, William Ricket. 54 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. As we have made mention, large quantities of grain, chiefly wheat, were sent from the Scho- harie settlements to the army for its subsistence. The Committee of Safety superintended its transportation, which was accomplished with wagons and sleighs. Several teams would be sent to Albany at a time and if other means were not at hand to send the produce on to different points where needed, the same teams were employed to carry it on, and it was not uncommon for them to draw produce to Fort George, Fort Edward, Fishkill and Newburgh. Washington once wrote after Johnson's invasion, "The settle- ments of Schoharie which alone was able to fur- nish Eighty thousand bushels of grain for pubhc use," which seems incredible considering the small part of the territory that was under culti- vation. The fact became well known throughout the army and the Eastern States, of the adaptability of the soil to wheat growing and led many of the veterans and others to settle within the ter- ritory immediately after peace was proclaimed. The greatest influx was from 1781 to 1800, principally from Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey, who turned their labors and inge- nuity to estabhsh homes for themselves. When the dark, pall-like cloud that had hung over the country so long was removed, the exul- tation of the people in these frontier settlements must have been great. No longer were they compelled to guard each step with the expecta- tion that the coming hour or moment would find them mangled corpses or tortured prisoners, or fearful of witnessing their homes fall by the torch of the maddened enemy. Peace must have been a sweet angel to them as she spread her pinjons over the land. Prosperity followed in her train, making the very hills and valleys resound with her exultant shouts. Forests once more began to fall before the sturdy and deter- mined strokes of the pioneers. Order and con- tentment reigned where confusion and fear had damped the progress of every thing. The present territory of Schoharie County from 1772 to 1791 was included in Albany and Tryon or Montgomery counties, but upon the formation of Otsego in the latter year that portion which belonged to Montgomery was added to it. Those counties being large it be- came necessary to subdivide them and the Eighteenth Legislature while setting in the city of New York formed the present Schoharie County. Many blood-curdhng tales have been told and written of incidents that occurred during the Revolution, that we are led to beheve were fabrications. That acts were committed by the blood-thirsty Tories too heinous to be charged to human beings we have ample proof, but many such were highly overdrawn by differ- ent chroniclers, and even by the Tories them- selves, after the war closed. The majority of that class were intemperate, and in their drunk- en sprees often boasted of infernal acts, but not without public castigations from the vic- torious patriots whose anger and hatred were instantly aroused at their recital. One story was often repeated by various ones, intimating that they themselves were the actors in the fiendish drama. A party of Indians and one Tory entered a house and murdered the husband and father, and an Indian approached the cradle in which lay an infant, for the purpose of kilHng it, but the babe saw the glistening tomahawk and smiled, which so softened the Indian's heart that he relented and left it unhurt. The Tory saw the Indian's timidity and stepped up to the cradle, and with his bayonet picked it up as if the little body were an inanimate mass. With an exulting laugh he held the Httle form — strug- gling in its death throes — before its mother's eyes, and exclaimed to his companions, as she cried out in anguish, " See the old cow bellow for its calf!" This story was often repeated by WiUiam Monk and by the Caselman family of the Mohawk valle)', and various other ones, each claiming the honor(?) of being the fiend. We have traced each family's story and find they are fabrications. The story is an old one, repeated during and after the old French war. Several years ago we found an old print, nearly ruined, in which was a picture representing the cruel deed of the Tory, with a long, harrowing article following, which began by stating it oc- curred " during the French war." Various other tales of like character have been sent afloat as Revolutionary reminiscences without LOCAL INCIDENTS. 55 any more foundation than the one noticed, and we can but love to think they are untrue, and would that none such stained our history with innocent blood drawn by incarnate fiends, much less that such acts stand against our race. When the upper fort was being built and made secure to hold prisoners, Martines Vro- man and Lawrence Mattice, both boys, asked the privilege of Captain Hager, to bring one of the Cryslers as the first prisoner to the fort. Hager was fearful they would prove too weak to be successful and proffered aid, but they de- clined and reached the Crysler house about an hour before day. Creeping slyly within a. few rods of the door they waited patiently for some member of the family to make their appearance. Soon Mrs. Crysler walked out and looked around as if to prophesy the weather, and was about to close the kitchen door, when the scouts rushed in with muskets cocked and demanded Baltus Crysler to surrender or they would shoot him. Seeing they were determined, he com- plied and was taken to the upper fort as the first prisoner incarcerated there. He was after- wards taken to Albany with several of his neigh- bors who gave " aid and comfort to the ene- my."— [^. L. M.} When Bartholomew Vroman and brother Jo- sias were taken prisoners from Vromansland, the former was but twelve years of age and the latter six. When they arrived upon the Dela- ware, the prisoners and Tories who left the val- ley, numbered about sixty and until there had marched together, without order, but mixed up promiscuously. They were then separated, by requiring the Tories to sit upon a fallen tree together, and the patriots to stand opposite. Bartholomew whispered to his brother and told him they had better go and sit upon the log as Tories, and perhaps they would be passed over, as such, and escape ill treatment. They did so and undoubtedly began to feel secure, when one of their neighbors in whom the patriots had re- posed confidence as a brother in the cause, came behind them and pushed them off exclaim- ing, " What are you doing here you damned Rebels ?" They were rudely handled and sent into the patriots' ro^.—\_Ephriam B. Vrornan.] The secret doings of the committee of safety and protection alluded to in the fore part of this chapter were occasionally whispered to the enemy, a strict watch was kept by the true patriots to find the source from which it came, but they failed in so doing. Each member was then sworn (1777) and required to enforce every resident of their district to swear allegiance to the Continental Congress or quit the territory. In case either order was not obeyed, they were arrested as "enemies to their country" and in- carcerated as prisoners of war. What eatables they had were also taken for their and the patriots support* In the Schoharie valley the order was enforced immediately after McDon- ald's retreat. The iron heel was placed upon the faltering ones and they were forced to sub- mit to Colonial orders through the stern address of Captain Hager. One of his near neighbors, with whom he had lived many years in friend- ship, showed the "white feather" in some trivial affair, and the fact being made known to the Captain, he sent an order for him to appear at the fort. Instead of so doing he secreted himself upon the opposite side of the creek. Hager kept a close watch upon the family movements and found that the Tory returned to his residence early in the morning, and upon a given signal he was admitted by the family. Hager was passing from his house to the fort one morning before day, and concluded to give his neighbor an opportunity to redeem his character. He approached the door yard cau- tiously and gave a whistle with the thumb and forefinger, imitating the Tory. The wife im- mediately came out and Hager asked where her husband was. She rephed he was not at home and would not be for a long time. The Cap- tain then said he knew of his whereabouts and would give him six hours to appear at the fort. " If he did do so, a hair of his head should not be harmed, but if he did not, they wCiuld pro- claim him a Tory, hunt him down and hang him to the first tree." The Tory appeared and was kept under watch at the fort and made to perform the duty of a patriot. — [Z*. W. Hager.] After the flight of McDonald and his force. Captain Hager with a few of the mihtia that chanced to be at home, immediately joined Gates' army and was in the battle of Bemis Heights. John Merckley was a private under * Committee's Proceedings. 56 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. the Captain, and when Arnold was ordered to relieve Gansevoort, he was drawn to serve under him. When passing over the Oriskany battle-ground the dead in their mangled con- dition presented a sickening sight, and so ap- palled the soldiers that not a word was spoken by them, but they marched carefully over them, each deep in solemn thought. — [jF. M.^ CHAPTER TV. Formation of County — The Name of Scho- harie — Population — Boundaries — Sur- face — The Schoharie and Tributaries — Inundations — Lakes — Formation of Towns — First County Officers — First Court House — Poorhouse — Paupers — County's Progress — War of 1812 — Dele- gates to State Convention — Political — Schoharie Democratic — Gov. Bouck's Message — Sourkrout Message — Anti- Rent War — Railroads — Plank Roads — Seminary Mania — Susquehanna Rail- road — Schoharie Valley — Sharon and Cherry Valley — Howe's Cave Enter- prises — Mineral Springs — Education — Religion — Temperance — Sabbath School Societies — Bible Society— Masonic Lodges — Agricultural and Medical Societies — Telephone Lines — Newspapers — Criminal List — Summary of Facts — Population by Census of 1880. SCHOHARIE County was formed on the 6th of April 1795 ^''oi^ Albany and Otsego counties, and named Schoharie after the princi- pal stream that runs through the territory of which it is comprised. Schoharie is an Indian name, and signifies, F/ocd Wood, according to the late Judge John M. Brown, who was the author of "A brief sketch of the first Settlement of Schoharie County," and to whom we are in- debted for transmitting to us much that would otherwise have been lost. We find the word Schoharie, written in vari- ous waySjViz : Skochalie, Schorie, Shore, (proba- bly pronounced Sho-ree,) Schohare, Schoharry, Scorie and Schohary, and called by the Dutch, Shuck-ha-ry. The Act of the Legislature in forming the County, gave to it the present orthoepy — Scho- har-ie, which we must adopt as the name of the County, a town and village — whose associa- tions are historical from the first tread of fhe white man upon the virgin soil, down to the present time, and with which are mingled the most glorious examples of patriotic devotion and endurance that adorn the annals of any history. By an act passed April 3, 1801, to divide the State into counties, the boundaries of Schoharie were thus defined : — "The county of Schoharie to contain all that part of the State bounded easterly by the county of Albany, northerly by part of the south bounds of the county of Montgomery, as hereafter described, westerly by a line beginning at the southwest corner of a tract of land formerly granted to John Lyne, and run- ning thence the following courses and distances as marked by order of the Surveyor General, south twenty-one degrees and forty-eight minutes west, two hundred and nineteen chains to the place where Joshua Tucker formerly resided, thence south seven degrees and forty-eight minutes west one hundred and ninety-three chains to the eastermost line of a tract of land known by the name of Belvidere Patent, thence south nine degrees east, six hundred and ninety- five chains to a certain hill, known by the name of Grover's hill, therice with a direct line from the rnost northwesterly corner of Stroughburgh Patent, thence with a direct hne to the most northerly corner of Harpersfield, on the Char- lotte or Adegatangie branch of the Susquehan- nah river, thence southeastly along the north bounds of Harpersfield to the said lake Utsa- yantho and southerly by a line formerly run from the head of Kaater's creek, where the same issues out of the southerly side or end of a cer- tain lake or pond lying in the Blue Mountains to the said lake Utsayantho, and by part of the north bounds of the county of Greene." In 1836 a portion of Greene county was an- GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS. 57 nexed and at the present time the County con- sists of three hundred and seventy-five thousand, three hundred and thirty-five acres of land, and containing, according to the census of 1880, thirty-two thousand, nine hundred and thirty- nine inhabitants. The surface is an upland, broken by a northerly branch of the Catskills in the southern, and by hills of lime fock for- mation chiefly, in the central and northern parts. The rocks are those which belong to the Hud- son River, Clinton, Hamilton, Chemung, Onon- daga and Catskill groujls and the Helleberg se- ries. Among them are found many caverns in which mineralogists find interesting specimens, such as sulphate and carbonate of strontia, car- bonates of iron and arragonite, calcite, satin spar, stalactites — translucent and solid, sulphate of barytes, black oxide of manganese, calstron- baryte, agarie, mineral and bog ore, besides an endless variety of fossils pecuHar to the forma- tioiis. The Schoharie river flows a little to the east of the center of the County and empties in the Mohawk at Fort Hunter. Its tributaries are Fox's creek. Stony brook. Little Schoharie, Keyser's creek, Platner's and Manor Kill from the east, and Cripplebush, Cobleskill, Lime, Panther, West and Mine Kill from the west. The Cobleskill is the largest and rises in the town of Worcester, Otsego county. The pond from which it flows is on the height of land be- tween the Hudson and Susquehanna rivers, which is fourteen hundred and seventy-five feet above tide. The Schenevus, a tributary of the Susquehanna, also flows from the same source to the west, thereby joining the valleys of the , two great rivers by a grade, of which the genius of enterprise has taken advantage and laid the "iron rails" along the waters' paths and opened a line of transportation, long desired by the ag- riculturists of western Schoharie, southern Otse- go, Delaware and Chenango counties, besides giving the products of the coal fields of Penn- sylvania another and more direct outlet to the Eastern States, northern New York and the lower provinces of Canada. The Schoharie river makes a somewhat cir- cuitous course. It flows from a small pond in the town of Hunter, Greene county, about twelve miles west of the Hudson, and taking a western course enters the northeastern corner of Delaware county and turns to the northwest, where it finds an opening between the hills of Gilboa, and runs nearly north through Blen- heim, Fulton and Middleburgh. Passing on through Schoharie in an east-northeast direc- tion, it takes a sudden turn to the north and enters the town of Esperance where it again turns to the east-northeast and breaks through the southern watershed of the Mohawk and bears to the north to unite with the waters of that stream about nine miles from the county hne, making a circuit of over one hundred miles, to swell the waters of the Hudson. From many elevations along its course the stream presents a picturesque appearance. Coming down from the lofty Catskills with rapid pace, winding aroun d the base of giant mountains, gorging deep ravines in the sides of rocky hills and plunging over shelving rocks to deeper paths it appears at last in the broad openings of Schoharie County. Then again its serpentine trail may be traced among the evergreen hills that many times seem to be placed as barriers to its on- ward course, but finding a winding path it pushes on to emerge again in broad intervals, whose beauty and productiveness are rarely equaled. The river and tributaries have many times overflowed the flats along their courses and done a vast amount of damage in the destruction of crops, land and buildings. The first of which we have any definite knowledge was in the spring of 1784, the year following the Revolu- tion. The damage was so great the people pe- titioned to the Legislature to be exempt from taxation. The petition says : — " The heavy rains caused the river to be stop- ped up with cakes of ice to the top of the banks which caused the river to flow over the flats and spoiled whole farms thereon." Farther on it continues : — " If you Don't believe us that we have suffered we pray your Honorable houses to send men who you may perhaps place confidence in, than in us, to take a View of our situation." To make the petition more effective they re- fer to their losses in the war as follows : — "Your petitioners have long endured the burden of a distressed war and are of the great- I est sufferers in the State of New York. By s8 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. reason of living in the very frontier of the State, open to the Dayly incursions of a cruel enemy, & are destroyed to the utmost degree. The most of us not left with a building to go in to keep them and families dry from weather, and no money to erect buildings again. The In- habitants of Tryon county are exempted from paying taxes. We think it Right. But at the same time We claim an Equal right with them and Rather more." The next great overflow was in the spring of 1858, when houses and hay stacks were carried away, and broad flats cut up by the strong cur- rent. In the fall of 1869 another overflow did a great amount of damage, but was followed in the spring of 1870 by one of greater proportions, that did an immense damage in the destruction of farms, especially in the towns of Fulton and Blenheim. Other lesser floods have occurred which in individual cases proved disastrous, but those through which the valleys suffered the worst, as a whole, were in the years given. Perched upon the hills of Summit, is a placid sheet of water, covering nearly one hundred acres, at an altitude of two thousand feet above tide. A similar pond that can hardly bear the name of lake, lies upon the southern bounds of the County, bearing the Aboriginal appellation of " Utsayantha." Near the former, the Charlotte creek, a tri- butary of the Susquehanna rises, while from the latter, the west or main branch of the Dela- ware river takes its rise. Throughout the lime rock districts,' subter- raneous streams are numerous, which appear at the surface, and after running a short distance disappear to emerge again at some distant point. Upon the formation of the County it was divided into six towns, namely : Schoharie, Mid- dletown, Bristol, Blenheim, Cobleskill and Sharon. In 1801 Middletown was changed to Middleburgh, and in i8o8, Bristolto Broome, in honor of Lieutenant-Governor Broome. There are at present, sixteen towns in the County, the names of which, with the date of their formation, together with the towns from which each was taken are as follows :— Schoharie, formed March 17, 1797, from Schoharie, Albany county. Broome as Bristol, formed MarCh 17, 1797, from Schoharie. Middleburgh, formed March 17, 1797, from Schoharie. Blenheim, formed March 17, 1767, from Schoharie. Cobleskill, formed March 17, 1797, from Schoharie. Sharon, formed March 17, 1797, from Dor- loch, Otsego county. Jefferson, formed February 12, 1803, from Blenheim. Carlisle, formed March 31, 1807, from Sharon and Cobleskill. Summit, formed April 13, 1819, from Jeffer- son and Cobleskill. Fulton, formed April 15, 1828, from Mid- dleburgh. Conesville, formed March 3, 1836, from Broome and Durham, Greene county. Seward, formed February 11, 1840, from Sharon. Wright, formed April 4, 1846, from Scho- harie. Esperance, formed April 4, 1846, from Scho- harie. Richmondville, formed April n, 1849, from Cobleskill and Seward. The council of appointment, by whom nearly all oflicers were appointed, convened upon the sixth day of June, 1795, and appointed the fol- lowing as county officers : — Joachim G. Staats, Clerk. Jacob Lawyer, Jun., Sheriff. Stephen A. Becker, Surrogate. William Beekman, First Judge. Adam B. Vroman, ] John M. Brown, I Assistant Judges. David Sternburgh, [ Jonathan Danforth, J Being established as a separate county, and not having any public buildings, according to the records, the first Court of General Sessions " was held at the house of Johannes Ingold, inn keeper" upon the 31st day of May, 1796. Upon the opening of the same, thirty-two rules were adopted and afterwards printed, which may be found in the County Library. The following presided upon their adoption : — His Honor Wra. Beekman, First Judge. FIRST COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER. 59 Adam B. Vroman, "I Jonathan Danforth, ! Assistant Judges. Peter Swart, | Marcus Bellinger, J John Bauch, 1 John Ries, }■ Assistant Justices. Peter Snyder, J Upon the opening of the court the following Assistant Justices were added and an adjourn- ment made : — Joseph Borst, Jun., George Richtmyer, Ja- cob Mann, Josias Swart and Storm A. Becker. The first Court of Oyer and Terminer was held at the same place, the proceedings of which we will copy verbatim from the records : — " Court of Oyer and Terminer held in the house of Johannes Ingold Inn holder on the 26th day of June 1796 Present His Honor Mr. Justice Lansing. "Adam B. Vroman ] Jonathan Danforth | Peter Swart j- Judges John M. Brown , | Marcus Bellinger J "John Rie 1 Peter Snyder V Ass't Justices Martines Zielie J "10 ock A. M. Proclamation made and court opened. Proclamation made for the Sheriff to return, &c. Returns Precept to sum- mons Jurors. Gran Jurors summoned and sworn, viz : "Josias Swart Foreman, George Warner, Peter Shafer, Lambert Lawyer, Henry Weaver, Jr., Wardwell Green, Abraham Becker, Ichabod Griffin, Henry S. Haper, Peter Bouck, Silas Grey, Geo. Richtmyer, Walter Briggs, Nicholas Lawyer, David Bauch, Wm. Simmons, Abra- ham Lawyer, Jr. Grand Jury charged by his honor Judge Lansing. "Proclamation made and constables called — Constables, Justices and defaulters excused by court from any fines at this time for their non- attendance. "Proclamation made and Coroner called, appeared John Ingold, Jun., one of the Cor- oners. Returns an Inquisition dated 27th June 1796 by which it is found that Henry Parsons was found dead and came to his death by mis- chance by the act of God. " The grand Jury returned into court and Indicted for Grand Larceny presented the following bill of Indictment to wit : — "The People vs James a negro man slave " Prisoner arraigned. Pleads to the Indict- ment not guilty. On motion of Mr. Joseph C. Yates, on behalf of Mr. Van Veghten assistant attorney general, Ordered that the Sheriff re- turn the precept. The Sheriff returned the precept with a pannel annexed and the follow- ing Pettit jurors appeared and were sworn to wit: — "John I. Lawyer Foreman, Jacob Becker, John Schafer, George Hiltz, Jacob Lawyer, Wm. Mann, Jeremiah Brown, George Snyder, Peter P. N. Zeilie, Hendrick Schaeffer, Abraham Bergh, and Henry Bellinger. " Witnesses for the people Jacob Lawyer Jun. Josias Clark. " The prosecutors fail in proof of the fact. Jury charged to find the prisoner Not Guilty. They withdraw, and return and say, ' That the prisoner at the bar is not guilty of the felony, whereof he stands-indicted.' " In December of 1796, the Judges and Super- visors held a meeting to consider the building and location of a court-house and jail, but no legalized steps were taken until the Legislature by an act passed the 4th of April, 1798, authorized the Supervisors of the several towns ■' to raise by tax on the Freeholders and In- habitants of the said county the sum of two thousand dollars for the purpose of building a court house and Gaol in said county with the additional sum of four cents in the dollar for collecting the same." It was also further enacted — "That Jacob Lawyer Jun. Jost Borst Jun. Peter Snyder, John H. Shafer and Wm. Thrall shall be commissioned to superintend the build- ing the court house and gaol." Something of a controversy arose as to the location of the buildings, many chose the present site, while others were anxious to have them placed nearly two miles up the valley. The Legislature appointed Abraham A. Post of On- tario, Alex. H. Buell of Herkimer, and William Duer of Oswego, as committee to locate and 6o HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. who were influenced to decide upon the present site. The appropriation not being sufficient to carry out the designs of the commissioners and Supervisors, an act of April 4, 1800, author- ized the latter to raise the sum of one thousand, five hundred dollars to complete the work. The same act required that — " It shall be the duty of the Sheriff of the County of Albany to deliver over to the Sheriff ol the said County of Schoharie, all prisoners in his custody belonging to said County of Scho- harie, whenever it shall be certified by the ma- jor part of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Schoharie, that the gaol is in a fit condition for their confinement." The fall of 1800 found the building occupied, but not completed, and an act was passed on the 2ist of March, 1801, authorizing the further sum of one thousand, five hundred dollars to be raised for '' completing the court house and gaol," making the total cost of the structure five thousand dollars. In 1845 the building was burned by George Burton, a prisoner, and was replaced by a more commodious structure the year following, which was also burned in the month of January, 1870. The present building was erected the same year, and is calculated to be fire-proof It is constructed of blue Hmestone, having galvanized cornices and pinacles, and a more neat and sub- stantial court-house, but few interior counties can pride themselves upon possessing. The jail is in the rear and was built in the fall of 1846, and escaped the conflagration of 1870. In addition to the public buildings already mentioned, is the Poor House, a brick and stone structure, located nearly six miles to the south, upon the west side of the Schoharie river. In 1830 a farm of one hundred acres was purchased, and the building then standing upon it, though inferior, was used as the " Poor House." The present edifice was built in 1838, under the su- perintendence of the building committee, Cyrus Smith and Peter I. Borst. Soon after the purchase of this farm, a por- tion of it was sold, and the proceeds of the sale invested in a wood lot, which leaves but a trifle over sixty acres of tillable land, which greatly assists in the subsistence of the inmates. The first keeper was Joseph Beck, under the dictation of three superintendents, appointed yearly by the Board of Supervisors. At the present time it is under the management of but one Superintendent, elected by the people trien- nially. The average number of paupers, for the last five years, has been sixty-two, many of whom were once energetic business men with ample means, and well bred and affable women by whom fate has dealt harshly. While the ma- jority of the remainder are those who belong to a class, to use the parlance of the people, known as " Sloughters," whose morality was lost long years ago, and not inheriting any principle, they have failed to find it, and instead, are content to eke out a miserable existence in hcentious habits, until the winter returns, or their physical condition is such as to make them objects of care. The country having dearly felt the bitter of contention truly enjoyed the sweets of peace and made an onward progression which far ex- ceeded the expectation of the people of our own as well as those of foreign lands. Large acces- sions were made from Eastern States and Euro- pean countries and each gladly united to ad- vance and uphold the pleasing political and religious privileges they could here enjoy. The tide of immigration caused the borders to re- cede and far back in the wilderness and upon the broad prairies of the West the curling smoke of the enterprising pioneers' firesides shot up- ward as signals to lead others on to homes of peace, plenty and happiness. Within the hmits of Schoharie County the same progression char- acterized every neighborhood in the beginning of the present century. Jealous of their free- dom, every male inhabitant between the ages of eighteen and forty-five was considered a soldier of the country and was required to meet his re- spective military officers at such times and places as designated by them to drill in the use of arms and military tactics, that in case of war the country would be in readiness. Perhaps a people could not be found that bore a greater, or as great a hatred to England, as the people of the Schoharie settlements, as a mass. The price set upon their scalps by the officers of that government forever alienated SCHOHARIE PATRIOTS IN THE WAR OF 1812. 61 them from recognizing a single redeeming qual- ity in the nation, and when she dared to over- haul our vessels upon free waters in 1811 and '12 and beneath the stars and stripes that had been bathed in the sweat and blood of their fathers for an existence, and take our citizens and force them to vindicate the British banner upon foreign shores, it but rekindled their hatred and each act against the supremacy of the Gov- ernment was taken as an insult upon them as individuals. When the call was made to resist the English forces upon our Northern borders. Colonel Ef- ner's regiment was summoned to report at Schoharie and upon reading the proclamation of the President quite a controversy arose as to who would go, and when the roll was called and draft made from it, many that were not included stepped forward to take the places of those that were drafted. The record or muster-roll is very inaccurate, as it does not give the additions that were afterwards made to the regiment by enlist- ing as hostihties progressed. Lieutenant William Elmandorf, as will be more deiinitely mentioned in Cobleskill, en- Usted a company of artillery from Sharon, Cobleskill and Carlisle under Captain Josias Kellogg, and united with companies from Mont- gomery county, under Colonel Forsyth. They were at Oswego, Sackett's Harbor and Ogdens- burgh, and remained in service until the close of the war, returning with nearly all their num- ber, but bearing m.any wounds. They assisted in the destruction of British stores at Ganano- que in Canada, and repulsed the British forces at Ogdensburgh on the 2d of October, 181 2, being in numbers only four hundred against a force of one thousand disciplined troops. Be- sides this engagement. Lieutenant Elmandorf's biographer mentions others in number ten as above referred. The company's enrollment is lost, but as far as we have been able to glean, the following were the volunteers: — Josias Kellogg, Captain, Wm. Elmandorf, Lieutenant, Jacob L. Lawyer, Corporal, David Lawyer, Marcus Warner, John Mickel, William Young, John Hyney, Joshua Ward, David Fraats, John Fox, Daniel Brown, EUas and Aaron Malick, Charles Gordon, Ma- thias Young. In the season of 1813 Deidrick VanVeghten, editor of the Schoharie Herald, being clothed with a captain's commission, recruited a com- pany at Schoharie village, and during the winter of that year was stationed at Schenectady to guard army supplies that were there stored. In the following spring, he joined Gen. VanRens- selaer's regiment and was promoted to Major. In an engagement upon the border he was sent forward with his company, by the General, to make an attack upon the enemy with the assur- ance of relief. But after a bloody fight the Major and force were taken prisoners without any eifort upon the part of VanRensselaer to send relief. He and his men were incarcerated at Chambly in a stone building, whose windows were too high to be reached by the men, and after lying there a few months an escape was effected. VanVeghten being a tall man, or- dered each of his men to climb upon his shoul- ders and escape through the window. They did so leaving only himself in prison. Many of the soldiers from Schoharie died Ijy the epidemic that prevailed in 18 13 and 1814, especially while in camp at Plattsburgh and Sackett's Harbor. At one time the ranks of Efner's regiment were nearly broken by sickness and had it not been for the vigor of the men, the disease would have made a most lamentable havoc in their numbers. But few were killed, al- though they participated in several engagements. When peace was proclaimed, quiet was restored and the people settled down to labor and enterprise, knowing that their strength made them invincible from any source their enemies might direct against them. Experi- ence soon taught them of many defects, which their good, honest judgments led them to aright. The Constitution of the State made and adopt- ed in 1777, proved to be defective, and on the 28th of August, 182 1, the " Second Constitu- tional Convention " met in Albany and framed a new instrument, known as the " Second Constitution." Judge Olney Briggs of Esper- ance, Jacob Sutherland of Blenheim, and Asa Starkweather of Broome, were chosen by the people of the County as delegates. They were three men of marked abilities, as their debates before the convention show, and who performed their duties with honesty and faithfulness. 62 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. A free government, giving each an equal opportunity to aspire to prominent positions and allowing free thought and expression upon all subjects and occasions, naturally leads the ambition of many to mingle in the political arena, from which are brought official honors that are extremely tempting to the majority of the people. Contrary opinions are entertained by different individuals as to the manner certain results may be brought about. Each opinion becomes a " Platform " so called, with numer- ous advocates according to its practicability or the shrewdness and ingenuity of the leaders and thus forming "parties.'' While the American heart is upon the perpetuity of our political institutions, there are opposite ideas in regard to the means of so doing. When the question of the disfranchisement of the Tory element which was so firmly and persistently advocated by George Clinton, who had safely engineered the province of New York through the Revolutionary struggle, be- came the leading topic in political circles and passed the Assembly in 1784, the people (or a majority of them) of Schoharie were Chnton's staunch adherents, and they in their excitement and hatred of the Tories, accused those who advocated their cause, of being such. Even Hamilton, whose magnanimity in Freedom's cause was inferior to none, had the epithet cast upon him beside others, whose course through the war condemned such charges. The dis- franchisement act was repealed in 1787 through the indefatigable labors of Hamilton and Schuy- ler, and we believe after a more careful reflec- tion upon the privileges our government in- tended to accord to her citizens, Clinton with- drew his objection to it. But still, the people of Schoharie branded many of the advocates of franchisement that had been unswerving patriots as Tories, and the odium is occasionally breathed afresh and kept in circulation, without the slightest degree of truth to substantiate it. Such is one of the evils our existing political periods fan into life to bring disgrace and defeat to political op- ponents, without weighing, by calm reflection, their untruthfulness, or considering the im- practical theory the sentiment is likely to trans- mit to posterity, and in fostering a hatred that is detrimental to our political happiness as a people. Being supporters of Clinton when the County was formed, her people adhered to the party, and Schoharie became a Democratic * County giving only an occasional opposite majority in individual cases. When Andrew Jackson stepped upon the po- litical stage, and with his unflinching ambition caused the political firmament to rumble with his thunderings, Wm. C. Bouck and Colonel Wm. Dietz, were the leaders of the Democrats in the County. They were two men that pos- sessed the unbounded confidence of the people, as in all positions in which they had been placed, (and they were many,) they proved themselves honest and true. Politics ran to fever heat dur- ing the years of the twenties and thirties in the the County, and culminated in the election of Wm. C. Bouck, as Governor, in the fall of 1842. Two years before he was nominated against Wm. H. Seward, but was defeated. At the time of Bouck's election, there were three candidates in the field, Seward and Alvan Stew- art, over whom was obtained a majority of 14,- 718. In justice to our only Gubernatorial offi- cial, and also to recall an article that created considerable political gossip and curiosity, we here insert the chief points of the Governor's first message, hoping it may be pleasing to his old friends and admirers, as well as exhibit the acme of progression that the " Empire State " had reached thirty-eight years ago : — "To the Legislature of ihe State of NewYork.— "Fellow Citizens: The Constitution makes it the duty of the Governor to communicate by message to the legislature, at every session, the condition of the State, and recommend such matter as he shall judge expedient, and take care that the laws are faithfully executed. "I have entered upon the discharge of the responsible duties of the Executive department of the government, with a proper regard, as I trust, for the important obligations imposed up- on me. " For the first time since the organization of ♦After peace, in 1783, the political parties were Republicans and Federalists, later Democrats and Whigs ; at present Democrats and Republicans— the Democrats of to-day being the Republicans of 1800. GOVERNOR BOUCK'S MESSAGE. 63 the government, the chief magistrate has been selected from the agricultural portion of the community. " Whatever distrust I may feel in taking up- on myself an untried station of so much im- portance and difficulty, I repose with confidence on the guidance of the Almighty ! on the co- operation of every department of the govern- ment, and on the indulgence of a generous peo- ple, who are always ready to overlook uninten- tional errors. " To you as the immediate representatives of the people, belongs the duty of making ample provision to enforce a strict compliance with the constitution and laws ; to simphfy, expedite, and cheapen all the proceedings of the courts of law and equity ; to place every department of the Government under a rigid accountability upon principles of economy ; to see that the public faith is sacredly maintained, and the credit of the State kept unimpaired ; to lessen as far as practicable the burdens of taxation in all its ramifications ; to give the greatest possi- ble efficiency to our system of internal improve- ments, having reference to principles of public utility, and a careful regard for the interest of every portion of the State ; to faciUtate the use of the roads and canals already constructed ; to see that our penitentiary system answers the great ends of preventing critnes and punishing and reclaiming offenders, against the laws, upon principles of humanity; to see that all our charitable and benevolent institutions of a public character, are made to accomplish the object for which they were designed; to see that the banking institutions are placed upon a basis that will enable them with an honest adminis- tration of their affairs to command public con- fidence and subserve the legitimate objects of their creation ; to give the utmost efficiency to the several departments of education; to pro- tect and promote the interest of the agricultural, mechanical and laboring portion of the com- munity ; to restrain corporate bodies from all abuses of power ; to take care of the public health, and to maintain the elective franchise in its purity. ***** "Were it not for the great excesses previous to 1837 when agriculture was neglected, when extravagance and an inordinate desire for wealth prevailed, and the whole nation was deluded by a fictitious prosperity, the people would now be comparatively happy in the full enjoyment of ease and plenty. "Although the country is in possession of an uncommon surplus of the products of labor, yet business is depressed and the people are em- barrassed in all their monied transactions. "This should doubtless be charged to the fact that fictitious prices and an inordinate de- sire for wealth have led to the contracting of debts which the products of the country at the present low prices do not furnish the means of paying. " But I am confident that this state of things is gradually undergoing a salutary change. The people doubtless see the necessity of more economy in all their affairs and the evil con- sequences of a systerri of credit altogether too much extended, I am also confident that they will not again be so easily misled by the fallacy of artificial means to make them prosperous, and that they have become con- vinced that substantial wealth can only be derived from productive labor. " There is no nation so highly favored as the people of the United States ; and if they pro- perly improve the advantages they possess, time will show that in point of greatness they are, as yet, in their infancy. "There have been repeated instances in the history of the administration of the Federal government when powers of legislation have been assumed derogatory to State rights. " While the States should yield a ready obe- dience to the rightful authority of the Federal government, they cannot be too watchful of their sovereignty, and no encroachment should be permitted to pass unnoticed. "Within the last two years, there have, in my judgment, been several unwarrantable as- sumptions of power on the part of the Federal government. The right to collect money from the people in any form, for the purpose of dis- tributing the same among the States, has not been delegated to the General Government. " So long as the whole revenue of the United States is required for the purpose of carrying on the operations of the Government, it matters 64 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. not what particular monies are taken from the Treasury for the purpose of distribution. " Whether it be the proceeds of the sale of the public lands, or the same amount of money collected from imports or by direct taxation, it is nothing less than collecting money from the people for the purpose of returning a portion of it to them in another form. And as it must come back diminished in amount by the ex- penses and losses incident to the collection and redistribution, the project is highly objectiona- ble when viewed as a mere question of finance. •'But as an assumption of power which the States have not delegated to the General Gov- ernment, it is of dangerous tendency, and hke all other encroachments of power ought to be promptly met and firmly resisted. " The Union can only be maintained and our free institutions transmitted unimpaired to pos- terity, by upholding the sovereignty of the States in all the Rights which they have not yielded to the Federal Government. " Under a power to ' make or alter ' regula- tions in relation to the times, places and manner of holding elections for representatives in Con- gress, the present Congress has passed a law which in effect requires the several states to legislate in a particular manner in relation to the choice of representatives. " However unlimited may be the power of the National Legislature to ' alter ' the existing reg- ulations of the States, or to ' make ' those which are entirely new, it is impossible upon any fair construction to maintain that the power to 'make or alter' includes the power to act upon the State Legislatures and compel them to make any particular law on the subject. " As a question of mere expediency this ques- tion was not called for. No State has ever omitted to make the necessary regulations for the choice of representatives in Congress. But as an unauthorized exercise of power it was like aU other encroachments by the General Government highly dangerous to the stability of the Union. ***** " It cannot be denied that there has always been a class of men in the United States who have been disposed to give to the Government a strong tendency towards consolidation. " While I would not impugn their motives, I cannot withhold the expression of my deliberate opinion that they labor under a great and dan- gerous error. " Nothing can be gained to the Federal Gov- ernment by exercising powers which have not been plainly delegated to it. On the contrary, I am firmly persuaded that nothing short of the complete sovereignty of the States in all matters where they have not clearly surrendered their rights to the General Government can give strength and stability to the Union and secure in perpetuity the blessings which we so richly enjoy, and as I love the Union, I would firmly resist every usurpation of power on the part of the National Government. " While we are thus careful to watch and de- fend our own rights, we are bound honestly and faithfully to discharge our obligations to the General Government and to the several States with whom we are associated. By the compact under which the Union exists, the States have made themselves a name among the nations of the earth ! they have reared a bulwark for the defense of free institutions and secured to the people advantages of the highest value, which could not have been maintained by separate, and perhaps rival States. " As we cherish the Union, we ought care- fully to abstain from all encroachments upon the legitimate powers of the Federal Govern- ment, and scrupulously fulfill our obligations to the other States. So long as we remain in and reap the advantages of the Union, we are bound by every consideration of honor and good faith to yield to others what we demand for our- selves, an honest fulfillment of the compact by which for many purposes we are made one people. * » * * » « * "I will not discuss the question, of Slavery. The abstract right to hold any rnan in bondage is a question upon which, in this State, there is no diversity of opinion. "We have happily reUeved ourselves from the evil of Slavery. But we have no right to interfere with that institution as it exists in other Stales. We have virtually agreed that it shall not be done, and until we are prepared to break up the national compact, and take the GOVERNOR BOUCK'S MESSAGE. 6S hazard of a civil war, our obligations to the other States should be faithfully discharged. * * « * * « * " A public debt is under all circumstances objectionable and should never be incurred except upon the most weighty considerations. And in every instance where a debt is author- ized, adequate means and resources should be provided to pay the interest, and the power to liquidate the debt should be placed beyond the reach of contingency. As long as the rule is observed, the credit of the State will be pre- served, and the public faith maintained. Ex- penditures for roads and canals should not be based on revenue to be derived from indis- criminate taxation. Such a system I regard as liable to very serious objections. " Few if any public works can now be under- taken and constructed, that are not local in their advantages. A tax imposed directly upon the people for such an object, would operate unequally and be contrary to the genius of our government, which recognizes no such principle. In all our legislation we cannot too frequently recur to those first principles which lie at the foundation of our institutions, the adherence to which constitutes our surest hope for their stability. The State has constructed and put in operation about seven hundred miles of canal, and have in progress the enlargement of the Erie ; the construction of the Black river and Genesee Valley canal ; the improvement of the Oneida river, and has purchased the Oneida Lake canal. " In addition to this, the State has loaned its credit to the following incorporated companies : Delaware & Hudson Canal Co $ 800,000 New York & Erie Railroad Co 3,000,000 Ithaca & Oswego Railroad Co. . . 315,700 Catskill & Canajoharie Railroad Co. 200,000 Auburn & Syracuse Railroad Co. . . 200,000 Auburn & Rochester Railroad Co... 200,000 Hudson & Berkshire Railroad Co... 150,000 Tonawanda Railroad Co 100,000 Long Island Railroad Co 100,000 Schenectady Railroad Co 100,000 Tioga Coal & Iron Mining and Manu- facturing Co 70,000 Total $5,235,700 I " The New York & Erie, the Ithaca & Os- wego, and the Catskill & Canajoharie Railroad Companies have failed to pay the interest on their loans from the State, and the two latter roads have been sold at auction, and the sale of the former is postponed until the first Tues- day in May next. " The New York & Erie Railroad Company has completed forty-five miles of its road from the Hudson river to Goshen in Orange county. Between this point and Binghamton there has comparatively but little work been done.. " From the latter place to Lake Erie, almost the entire hue of the road is under contract, and it is understood that upon portions of it a large amount of labor has been expended. * * * » * « # " It is, I think, very much to be regretted that the company did not confine its expendi- tures to sections of the road and between points promising the largest accommodations by its use. * * * * * * * " It is hoped that the friends of this improve- ment will see in the exhibit of our financial con- dition, that there are no means that would justify new engagements on the part of the State. " I recommend a further sale of this road and the enactment of a law yielding the prior lien of the State mortgage to such encumbrance as may hereafter be created by the company for the purpose of completing the roads or sections of it. The lien of the State mortgage should not be discharged until the Canal Board shall certify that the entire road, or such parts of it as may be designated in the act be completed. To enable the canal board to act understandingly, they should be authorized to appoint an agent at the expense of the company to examine the work as it progresses. « * * * "The Catskill & Canajoharie Railroad Com- pany have in operation twenty-six miles and a half of road. If about eleven miles were added to this distance, which it is estimated can be constructed for about the sum of $110,000, the road would be extended to the Vly Summit, a few miles from the rich valley of the Schoharie creek. I cannot but hope that this entire road, from Catskill to Canajoharie, will eventually be completed. 66 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. " In granting acts of Incorporation for the construction of roads or other purposes, the Leg- islature should reserve such control over the operation of the company, as will ensure to the pubUc the benefit proposed to be realized. « * « « « * * " The work under contract for the enlarge- ment and improvement of the Erie canal, in- cluding that which has been completed as esti- mated at contract price amounts to $13,026,919.92 The work under contract for the construction of the Gene- see Valley canal including that which has been complet- ed as estimated at contract price is 4,223,305.68 Work completed and under contract etc., upon the Black River canal amounts to 1,760,046.12 On Oneida River 70,122.56 * # » * * « » " The policy of arresting large expenditures and providing for the prompt payment of the interest, and a gradual diminution of the State debt, has exerted a salutary influence in reviv- ing our credit. » * « * » " On the first day of July last there were in this State 10,785 school districts; and the num- ber of children taught the past year was 598,901. The number of volumes in the district libraries on the first of January, 1842, was 811,461, and at this time probably exceeds 1,000,000. "The amount of disbursements for common schools during the last year is as follows : — To teachers from the public money $588,466.54 To teachers from contributions on rate bills 468,727.27 Payment for libraries 98,226.09 Total $1,155,419.90 " The subject of education in all its depart- ments merits your most attentive consideration. It is in my opinion quite proper that in relation to a subject of so much importance, the Legis- lature should annually satisfy themselves that the common school and hterature funds are safely invested, and rendered as productive as practicable. "The embarrassed state of the treasury and the severity of the times, demand that every department of the public service should be placed on the most rigid principle of economy. No expenditure should now be incurred that is not called for by the public necessity and good economy in reference to existing engagements. " Every species of labor is depressed, the prices of all the agricultural productions are un- commonly low, and the necessaries of life cheap. Under such circumstances it is proper that there should be a corresponding reduction in the ex- penses of the Government. An effort should be made to encourage a return to the indus- trious and- frugal habits of our forefathers. It would be quite appropriate that the Legislature should, by a prompt application to business, and a short session, set an example of public economy. ***** "There have been 1,417 convictions for crimi- nal offences by the courts of record, since the first of January last, returned to the office of Secretary of State by the clerks of such courts ; of which 544 were convictions for felonies, in- cluding five cases of murder, to- wit : two in New York, one in Niagara, one in Sullivan and one in Tompkins. It is estimated that if the num- ber of convictions by courts of records, from which returns have not been received, are the same as last year, it would swell the aggregate to 1,585 ; of this number 602 were for felonies. The number of convictions by courts of Special Sessions is 3,278 which added to the number al- ready stated will make 3,695, as the whole num- ber of convictions returned to the Secretary's I office. Our fellow citizens who are engaged in various mechanical pursuits, have on several occasions presented to the consideration of the Legislature, alleged grievances in consequence of State prison competition. The act of 1842 will, probably, in -its operation, lessen to some extent, the cause of complaint. It is proper to encourage the industry and enterprise of the citizen mechanic, so as to direct the labor of con- victs as not to come in competition with them. But humanity requires that these unfortunate beings should be engaged in some exercise con- ducive to health, and it is also essential that the labor should be rendered productive. * * THE "SOUR KROUT" MESSAGE. 67 "The banking institutions should at all times be subject to the control of the Legislature, who cannot well be too watchful in checking their natural tendency to partiality and inflated issues. Every institution that diverts its means from the legitimate purposes of banking should be promptly deprived of its charter. Every institu- tion that faithfully fulfills its duties to the public, should be sustained and protected. ^tf ■5ft Ifr i|£- J(£ ■Sf ^It "The repudiation of a public debt is a heresy that I trust is no where seriously entertained. I am confident that the people of every State in the Union would reject the idea of such dis- honor and that they possess a partisan and pub- lic spirit that would induce them to submit to any burden rather than incur the approbation of such foul disgrace. « * « « " I indulge the cheerful hope that the time is not far distant when most if not all the States will find means to resuscitate their credit and finish their public works. The State of New York should cherish the hope that such expec- tations will be realized. " Her natural position in reference to inland commerce, enables her to furnish the channels of communication for a trade that, in no very distant period of time, will be unsurpassed in magnitude. ^lt * * * * * * " A concurrent resolution was adopted at the last session of the Legislature, requesting our Senators and Representatives in Congress to make use of their best efforts to procure the passage of a law refunding from the public Treasury the fine inflicted upon, and paid by General Jackson. " Since that time the President of the United States has in a just and magnanimous spirit, commended the subject to the attention of Congress. . "Although the sentiment of the people of the State was expressed through your predeces- sors, yet it will be highly proper that it should again be heard through you, until mingHng with the voices of the people of the whole Union, the National Legislature shall feel constrained to consummate this act of Justice. Wm. C. Bouck." Jan. 3d, 1843. Great excitement prevailed during the two elections of 1840 and '42, and many humorous songs were composed and sung and many epi- thets cast upon each side. Those against Gov- ernor Bouck were the " Dutch Governor," " Krout Eater," "Cabbage head," etc. A hu- morous article appeared in the Albany Micro- scope, a paper in the interest of the Whig party, called the Sour Krout Message, which created no Httle merriment and was the best adapted to the occasion of any article that had appeared. We notice the author in Chapter XX, and will here insert a portion of his second effort, the first one being lost. It must be remembered that it is written in low Dutch brogue, and the English " e " whether long or short, should be pronounced as English " a." " Alpany Chanuary du Segond 18 tousant, 100, 4 & 44 "Veller Shitizens De yahr has coom rount acain, and you haf meet in gounsel in dis capital of de lant of de coot olt Derrick Knickerbacker, for to settle de pisiness of de unifarce. Op dish auspicious og- gasion I dake mit bleasure du jance for shpeak in your eairs mine gint wishes for your gesoudeit and your fokes, and to wish you all habby new years and blenty of oley cookies. " I shall pye and pye shake hants mit you all ofera thousant ells of leverworcht, anda botash Kettle full of hot schnapps, py the site of zwei hay stags of prown pretzels. We have vrighten all man kint into beace mit us, du zeason hasd pe very vruitful, die hucleperries hash brotuce by tousants, and die Krout wash nefer more apuntant. Gommerse hash vlourish poundival- ly, maar it ish mit pidder crief dat I lament dat your honoraple poty tit not bass de dariff pill, vor de prodegtion of the many Dutche mens engaged in dee manufacture of worsht, roelstjes and Sour Krout, ash I recgommentet in mine lasht animal messitch op your honoraple poty lasht winder. Maar it ish no wonter, if, ash I have, mine Sour Krout messicht was only red in der firsd house. I regomment thot a special choint gommittee be ajJpointed py bote pranges of die shtate lechislature, to inguire into des tirdy pisness, mit bower to side bersons and ba- bers, ant teal out blixen to der gilty. Your axacutif pardly in liees lumper waccon, ant 68 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. pardly up his pedder half, du olt gray horse, has fisid mouch of der state der bast zeason, ant many goundies haf pe well recoort vor de tim- mygradic dicket * * - * * * " I woot fudder regomment dat in orter to brefent anoder sech scrabe, dere pe none but Deutschen officers appint py der shtate brisons, ant none freed Deutschers electit brisoners, so dat dey can one anoder vershty when dey talks Deutsch, oder Yankee. Your axacutif has pecure for to mofe in dis madder, py abbinting one vrint to an office of Sing Sing, wat put hees name on a ferry coot deutsch electioneering ledder a yahr aco lasht vail. » * » " We pe in beace mit all mangint. We receife bromishes of coot will and brotection vrom all de ground hets in de worlt. We haf hope of a fisit from fader Mattewanddat vine old chendle- man der bope of Room. » * * * " Veller shitizens, I vas elactit . pegaus I vas ein Deutschman. Ise pe shtill ein Deutschman. Dish ish ein strong glaim of die tear peebles, Ein Deutscher moost, py coorse, make a coot cooferner. "Maar ash dat, I wash elactet pegauSe I was auch ien varnier. An I pe shoost zo mooch ein varmer now ash I usht to was. I haf blow, und trag und sow, and mow choost so mooch since I haf pin coofener ash pefore, and choost so mooch winder ash zummer, (pedween you ant me ant die old woman on top of Shtate house,) Dish ish anoder shtrong glaime of dee beeples. Oh, dee beeples ! dee tear beeples ! der coot, wise und safferin beeples. "More ash all dish, I was elactit pegause I tit nefer shteal any of der beeble's money.* It ish drue, die sazzy wicks tid tenie all dis. Maar, we zoon vount out a way to zilence de minority, dey goud nelting brofe, ant any mon ish always innozend dill broof Gildy. I pe so clat tat I pe noch innozend, vor 1 dere py shtant a nople * The author says, " This claim was never seriously disputed. It was only a decided claim for a negative virtue. And it is no insignificant commentary on the subsequent progress of political morality, to ask which of the actors on the public stage since, can claim as much? Let the authentic history of the past few years answer the question. It is but too often true, that the outs are impatiently laboring to oust the ins, that they may retrench and reform after the pattern of Reho- boam. See II Chron. a, io." jance for a re-election ter next vail. Dish glaime pe choost so coot est efer, and of dis crount any one of you dat out lifs me and mine poys, gansrun for cofernor, if he nefer shtole any of der beeples money. »***♦«« "I haf long aco, mein Schoharie vrients,bromish dat iv elactet, I would to sometings vor die rail roat, so vor at leasht as de Vly Zummit, ant py way of vulvilling dat bromish, I woult here zay dat next to vurnishing blendy of offishes vor mein vamily, nothing lie so near mein pelly to, ash der Vly Zummit." Amid the political excitement of 1840 to 1845, the sheriff of the County was frequently resisted in collecting executions that were ob- tained by due process of law, for rents upon lands owned in the southern part of the County by the Livingstons. Large tracts were owned by those heirs, which were divided into small farms and leased for a stated term of years or an uncertain period, during the life of one or more of the family of the lessee at a yearly rental. Those yearly rentals the tenants refused to pay for their supposed illegality, and wherever leased land existed, more particularly in Greene and Delaware counties, a resistance was . made to the officials in their attempts to collect, and every neighborhood was thrown into the great- est excitement over the prospect of an anti- rent war. Greene, Delaware, Rensselaer, Albany, Mont- gomery and Schoharie counties were the seats of expected hostilities, but such extremes were not resorted to, only in Delaware, Albany and Schoharie. Osmer N. Steele, a deputy sheriff of Delaware, while acting in his official capacity, was killed, and the brightest prospects of blood- shed existed in Schoharie. John S. Brown was sheriff, and being so stubbornly resisted in the enforcement of the law and duty ; threatened with death, tar and feathers, and every con- ceivable and inconceivable torture, he called upon the State for arms and ammunition and enlisted one hundred men to enforce order and obedience to law. The force was raised in the month of March, 1845, and was marched through Middleburgh, Fulton, Blenheim and THE ANTI-RENT TROUBLES. 69 Broome to Gilboa, making, no doubt, the very hills tremble by their martial tread, and the Anti's quail before the glittering bayonets. Judg- ments in the hands of the sheriff were collected, and peace began to loom up over the ragged precipice of despair, while the tax-payers' grum- bling disturbed the political waters and threat- ened to upset the seemingly safe causes in which many were sailing up the stream of distinction and healthy emoluments. While the force lay • at Gilboa with' " victory " depicted upon each countenance, the sheriff and his deputy, Tobias Bouck, started from Schoharie to join them. While stopping at " Fink's Tavern " in North Blenheim, they were surprised to find them- selves surrounded by nearly three hundred anti- renters, many of them in full costumes of Indian warriors, and one of modern experience may imagine army contractors, sutlers and carpet- baggers. The belligerents were armed, and like Knickerbocker's company of Dutch, were "brimful of wrath and cabbage." An escape was impossible, and after much parleying and threatening the officials were taken to "Bald- win Heights " for the purpose of being present- ed with a respectable coat of tar and feathers. The fact of their capturing the officials spread throughout the neighborhood, and a few living at some distance mounted horses and hastened to witness the " presentation.'' There was a heavy crust upon the snow, and as the horses made considerable noise, especially in galloping over a bridge not far distant, the Anti's not being able to discern the cause of it by "occu- lar demonstration,'' listened to the whisperings of cautious imagination and fled precipitately, with the belief that the sheriff's posse of one hundred men was upon their heels. Brown and Bouck stood " alone in their glory,'' " sole monarchs of all they surveyed," without receiving the belligerents' testimonials of their contempt. Soon the dark clouds of war passed away, quiet was restored and the posse disbanded, with the happy thought " nobody hurt." Over three thousand dollars were expended to collect in the neighborhood of three hundred. Brown was censured by many, for taking the steps he did but he was an official, and was resist- ed in the execution of his duties. If force is used to resist, force must be used to obey. The law must be obeyed regardless of the expenditure to enforce it; that should be secondary if con- sidered at all. It was believed by those who were acquainted with the state of affairs at that time, that if the sheriff had not taken the steps he did in the beginning of the troubles, the affair would have proved serious. Those that were implicated in the matter, now hving, look back upon the " Anti-Rent war " with a smile, as upon amusing incidents of younger days, with "mahce towards none" as true patriots will do after an exciting campaign. During the political and rental excitements that agitated the people, which we have noticed, progressive minds were active in bring- ing the County up to the height of improve- ments that characterized a few of the adjoining counties. The Catskill & Canajoharie Railroad Company was chartered on the 19th of April, 1830, the capital stock was subscribed, and the road, as will be seen by Governor Bouck's message, built within a few miles of the Scho- harie creek. The business men of Albany city saw the project would be detrimental to their interest, purchased the stock and let the enter, prise fail. Another railroad was contemplated, and an act passed on the 9th of May, 1836, to incor- porate the same as the Unadilla & Schoharie Railroad Company. The road was to be con- structed from a " point in the county of Otsego, near the mouth of the Unadilla river, and thence extending up the valleys of the Susque- hanna river and the Schenevus creek and down the Cobleskill valley to a point near the Scho- harie creek, with leave also to extend the said railroad from the southern termination above mentioned to the New York & Erie Railroad." John P. Bellinger, Isaac Hayes, Thaddeus R. Austin, Wm. Angle, Peter Colher, Jesse Rose, Schuyler Crippen, Arvine Clark and Peter W. Snyder were commissioned to "open books to receive subscriptions to the capital stock." The project was abandoned and the parties that were interested living in the County be- came attached to the Catskill road, and bent their energies to a speedy completion of it. An act also was passed on the 2Sth of April, r832, to incorporate the Schoharie & Otsego Rail- 70 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. road Company. Peter Collier, Eliakim R. Ford, Jesse Rose, Leonard Caryl, Thomas B. Van Alstyne, John Westover, Peter W. Snyder, Abraham L. Lawyer, Peter Shafer, Jr., and Philip Mann, were the "body corporate and politic." The capital stock was $300,000, divided into shares of $50 each. The sub- scription committee were Eben E. Morehouse, Peter CoUier, Jared Goodyear, Jr., Harvey W. Babcock, Schuyler Crippen, Jesse Rose, Thomas Lawyer, John P. Bellinger, Henry Hamilton, Wm. Mann and Freeman Stanton. This enter- prise also was dropped. Sharon made several attempts to connect the Spa with the New York Central Railroad but all proved failures. The first was in 1838 when the Canajoharie & Catskill R. R. was being built. An act was passed by the Legislature on the i8th of April of that year " To provide for the construction of the Sharon & Root Railroad." It was to connect with the Catskill Road at some point in the town of Root, Montgomery county. The capital stock was fifty thousand dollars with the privilege of increasing the same to a sum not to exceed seventy thousand, which should be divided into shares of fifty dollars each. John Hyney, John Beakly, Adam Empie, George F. Fox, Aaron Malick, John Crounse, Jun., A. Smith Knight and Joseph H. Ramsey were the subscription committee. The next object that absorbed the public mind throughout the County, as in other sec- tions of the State, was the building of plank roads. It was not supposed possible to connect Schoharie with the outside world by " iron ties '' after so many efforts had proved failures, and the next best improvement was plank roads, in which large amounts of hard earned dollars were invested, to be trampled upon and slivered up without returning very flattering dividends. One was built from Middleburgh, through Schoharie and Gallupville, to intersect the Western Turnpike nine miles from Albany, and one also from Schoharie to Richmondville, through Mineral Springs and Warnerville, also from Richmondville to Summit and Charlotte- sville. The road leading from Central Bridge to Schoharie was planked to intersect the Albany road at Fox's Creek. These roads were of the best when newly laid, but upon becoming worn were rough and uneven, making it wearisome for teams. Not being very durable, replacing the plank and other natural expenditures made a continual expense, which the low tolls were insufficient to meet and which caused their abandonment in a few years. Covering the worn planks with pounded stone and gravel made excellent roads until the frost raised the planks to the surface, but the expense of keeping them in order satis- fied capitalists of their inability to obtain paying dividends. About the same time (1850 and after) that plank roads excited capitalists, another financial enterprise loomed up, in which many engaged to the detriment of their monetary prosperity, and which we can only style as the Seminary Mania. The first was built at Charlotte vi He, costing about thirty thousand dollars. By careful finan- ciering on imaginary results the enterprise fig- ured a large dividend, which was so exhorbitant that the envy of capitalists was excited and other institutions of the kind were organized at different places with increased facilities and ex- pense. The citizens of the pleasant Cobleskill valley formed a stock company and built the Richmondville Collegiate Seminary in the sum- mer of 1852, at an expense of thirty-two thous- and dollars, having accommodations for three hundred pupils. The school opened with very flattering success, which was keenly watched by the ambition of people of other sections, and before its existence proved either a success or failure, a company consisting principally of far- mers, organized and built the Carlisle Seminary at Carlisle village. The fall of 1853 found the building, at a cost of thirty-three thousand dol- lars, ready to accommodate three hundred scholars. Scarcely was the school commenced before the deluded farmers of Warnerville were at- tacked with the mania to such an extent that twenty-five thousand of their hard earned dollars were exhausted in a similar structure called the Warnerville Collegiate Institute. It is the only building left standing and has been unoccupied for many years. Incendiary fires and the im- practicable method adopted in their management SEMINARIES — RAILROADS. 71 made serious failures, as they proved ruinous to those of moderate means, who were induced to invest, and many happy homes were sacrificed by the losses which were incurred. These schools were for the education of both male and female, with all the necessary conveniences for board- ing within the buildings, together with the teach- ers and required help. They gave a thorough course in all branches. The rates of tuition were low, also board, which made it an object for those seeking an education, with Umited means. Good board, including furnished rooms, washing and iron- ing, three meals each day, with all the privileges accorded to a member of a well regulated fam- ily, were obtained for the low price of three dollars per week, which any one of practical ob- servance will plainly see, was far less than could be afforded. For several years an idea was entertained by enterprising business men of Albany City, Cobleskill, Schenevus and Susquehanna valleys, of building a railroad to connect the Hudson at Albany, with the Erie road at Binghamton, but did not receive any direct action until the year 1854. A company was formed, and Civil "En- gineer Chas. W. Wentz was employed to sur- vey the route, which was found practicable, and renewed efforts were made by issuing stock cer- tificates and obtaining the right of way along the line, besides inviting towns through which it passed, to issue bonds to aid in its construction. Passing through the County from east to west, and opening a rapid transit to the best markets in the world, to those who were from thirty to sixty miles distant, the people took a lively in- terest in the enterprise, regardless of their losses in former projects. Joseph H. Ramsey, of Law- yersville, turned his energies in behalf of the road, and was sent to the Assembly in the year 1855, for the purpose of advocating " State aid." In all of the improvements made in other sections of the State, in which State aid was granted, Schoharie County had borne her share of the burden of taxation, and had not received any aid for herself, and had been but little, if any, benefitted by such projects. In fact, nearly the whole territory through which the road passed, had been exempt from receiving any as- sistance in internal improvements. Mr. Ramsey was sent to the Senate the two following years, but was unsuccessful. A bill was passed in 1858, giving aid to the road, in the sum of one million dollars, after the road was completed to Schoharie creek. Ed- win D. Morgan was then governor, and upon some technicality he withheld his signature. Again, the bill obtained by Mr. Ramsey, in the Senate, of i860, was placed before that official after his second election, but it received his second veto. The year 1862 placed Horatio Seymour in the Gubernatorial chair, and found Mr. Ramsey in the Senate, and Wm. C. La- ment in the Assembly. Strenuous efforts were made by those gentlemen for the passage of the third bill. It began to roll through, breaking down every barrier, and at last culminated in its passage and received the signature of the gov- ernor. Renewed efforts were made in the build- ing of the road and in the year 1863 it was completed to the Schoharie creek, and in 1865, the cars passed through the County. On the 24th of February, 1870, the road was leased for the term of ninety-nine years, to the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. Like all other successful enterprises, this one gave birth and vigor to others. The Schoharie Valley Railroad was built in 1867, at a cost of one hundred thousand dol- lars, to connect with the Susquehanna, east of Central Bridge station. Middleburgh also, desir- ing to be connected with the rest of the world by "iron ties," built a road from the ancient " dorf," to intersect the Schoharie Valley Road, at the village of Schoharie, in the year 1868, at a cost of one hundred and five thousand dollars. The two roads make a continuous hne of 10.13 miles and are managed by two separate boards of directors. [See Schoharie and Middleburgh.J For years the business portion of Cherry Valley, and especially Sharon Spa, ' felt the need of a railroad, as they were respectively twelve and ten miles from the New York Cen- tral. Sharon, being a summer resort, was forced to struggle against other watering places, under the disadvantage of being distant from public thoroughfares, since the greatest number resort to such places for pleasure instead of the effects of the medicinal properties found in the' water. 72 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. When the Susquehanna road was completed a project was started to connect the two places with it at Cobleskill. Mr. Bates, of Cherry Valley, was at the head of the enterprise and induced the towns along the line to issue bonds for its construction. The road was opened on the i6th of June, 1870, at a total cost of six hundred thousand dollars, being 20.91 miles in length. The " Delaware & Hudson Canal Company," in the year 1871, leased the Sus- quehanna road and this branch for the term of ninety-nine years.- The transaction was a wise one, as the lessor company is a heavy coal mining association, possessing inexhaustible mines and will make these roads the arteries through which their products will flow with a certainty for the term of their lease, at least. Upon the building of the railroad through Cob- leskill another enterprise received its birth, at Howe's Cave, which each returning season proves to be of more marked proportions. The road runs nearly one hundred feet from the Ijed of the creek at this point, upon the side of the lime rock hill, in which Nature has placed treasures which the genius of man requires to aid in the construction of his enterprises, as well as to in- struct that ambitious spirit of the wisdom and power of the divine Godhead. From the sur- face of this hill is obtained limestone which produces lime of a superior quality, to the depth of forty feet, beneath which lies a strata of cement to the depth of ten feet, which proves equal to any, as is testified by railroad, canal and pubhc building officials. The cement strata hes upon. a limestone of a harder forma- tion which is used for building and is capable of receiving a very fine polish equal to any black marble. The " marble " stratum is about twenty feet in thickness and is underlaid by one of gypsum to the depth of ten feet, The whole lies upon a very hard blue limestone similar to the stratum between the cement and gypsum. Two companies were formed upon the comple- tion of the railroad at this place for the purpose of manufacturing lime, cement and plaster, which are now in progress, and considering the dullness of the times for the last few years have increased their facilities and business be- yond expectations. Howe's Cave Association is a stock company, and under the management of the treasurer Joseph H. Ramsey. During the stagnant busi- ness year of 1878 the sales of cement were over 13,000 barrels, and that of lime 19,000 bushels, besides a large quantity of plaster, building, rough and dressed stone, the amount of which we are unable to give. This company has one draw kiln for lime, and three pits for the burning of cement, with a mill, driven by steam for the grinding of the same. Another firm company, of which Hon. John Westover, of Richmondville, is president, under the name of Howe's Cave Lime &• Cement Co., with a capital of $100,000, possesses nearly the same facilities for the production of stone pro- ducts. The business of the company is con- ducted by Eli Rose, its treasurer, and the sales for the same year (1878) were 10,000 barrels of cement, 20,000 bushels of prime lime and several thousand of a second class article, beside a large quantity of rough and dressed stone. It is a few feet above the cement stratum, in that of the lime rock proper, that the world-famed Howe's Cave is found, of which particular mention is made in Chapter X of this work. The quarries of the County are the finest of the State for building purposes, monuments, bases, curbs and every other purpose for which solid and easily wrought stone is used. A gray sandstone is found near Warnerville, that bids fair to be of great value in the build- ing of monuments and fronting residences, owing to its beauty of color and solidity. The stone works of Middleburgh are producing su- perior flagging, which is being shipped to all parts of the country. It is a fact that the quar- ries of the County are inexhaustible, and in them lies untold wealth, waiting for the strong arm of capital and labor to develop them. Throughout the lime rock sections mineral springs issue from the fissures of the rock, which are justly celebrated for their curative properties in rheumatic and cutaneous diseases, of which Sharon Springs is the chief, and where many thousand resort for relief and pleasure. A sulphur spring issues from a rocky bank, of such strength as to impregnate the atmosphere at some distance with sulphuretted hydrogen and MINERAL SPRINGS. 73 incrustate the bed of the brook in which it flows. A short distance from the sulphur is the attrac- tive water, and called the Magnesia Spring as it contains a greater amount of magnesium and lime and but little sulphur, which makes it more palatable than the former. The analysis of this water may be found in the chapter on Sharon, together with a history of the village. A chalybeate vein appears a short distance above but during dry seasons it fails to perform its office to supply, and but little dependence can be placed upon it. Nearly five miles east of Sharon, at Moak's Hollow, other sulphurous waters flow from the side of a hill, which many, that have expe- rience in their effects, think excels Sharon, but which are little known, as efforts have never been taken to bring them te the notice of the pubUc. Upon the south side of the Cobleskill creek at a small hamlet known for many years as France's Corners and Cobleskill Centre, a sul- phurous spring rises from the rocks that is nearly of the composition of the Moak's Hollow spring. Efforts were made from time to time to bring the attention of the pubHc to their curative properties, but were met with but little encouragement. Several other mineral springs, chiefly sulphur, appear in different sections of the County, of less virtue, to which it is un- necessary to refer. A few mild salt springs also appear, from which the Indians of long ago and the early settlers manufactured salt, and around which many relics of their day and use have been found. The early settlers, especially the late Judge Brown, were induced to think that coal abounded in many of the hills from the fact that a substance resembling anthracite was frequently found near their base. Not being instructed in the geologi- cal formation of the earth, they believed that at a considerable depth it would be found inferior to none and in great abundance, and a spas- modic coal fever would occasionally attack some strong believers and lead them to expend a few dollars in opening the treasure boxes. While industry has wrought a great change in the surface of Schoharie and swelled the volume of production, the people have not been un- mindful of the importance of educational in- terests. As each neighborhood was settled, schools were established, and as each genera- tion "returneth," a more advanced improve- ment has been noticed in the interest taken by the construction of school buildings and their apparatus, course of studies and required ability of teachers. In the annual report of John H. Salsbury, County Superintendent of Common Schools, made on the first of January, 1845, he says : — " The number of teachers hcensed by me during the past year is twenty-four, ten of whom received special certificates for one year." There are at present two hundred and six- teen school districts, employing three hundred and ninety-two teachers. The average ex- pense for all school purposes for the last three years was nearly sixty -four thousand dollars. Several of the village districts have adopted the academic system, employing a corps of teachers, and possess all the facilities for giving the student a thorough course of in- struction. The County is divided into two dis- tricts, over each of which is elected a school commissioner, that unite annually and hold a convention of teachers, under the name of "County Institute," for the purpose of the exam- ination of teachers, introduction of systems of instruction, and a general conference of teachers to awaken a livelier interest in the cause. For- merly each town elected a Superintendent of Schools, who granted licenses, visited the schools and m^ade a report to the Secretary of State through the county clerk, but the system not being considered thorough, a law was passed April 17, 1843, for the appointment by the Boards of Supervisors of County Superintend- ents. For unknown reasons the office was abolished in 1847, and town superintendents were again elected to the year 1856, when a law was passed creating the present office of Commissioner. Under the administration of superintendents a County Teachers' Associa- tion was formed and held annual meetings. Among the members were the veterans Jenkins, John C. Selleck, A. Smith Knight,, D. CUnton Dow, David H. Morris, Bartholomew Becker, Spenser, Ezra Smith, John H. Salsbury, S. Ann Guffin, Walter Cross and William Snyder. 74 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Hand in hand with education has been the march of rehgion. The first church in the County was organized in, or a short time pre- vious to 1728, and at the commencement of the Revolution but four buildings had been erected for divine worship. There are at present seventy-five organizations with an equal number of churches, a general history of which may be found in the towns' history to which they belong. The Methodist persuasion pre- dominates in numbers, they being thirty-one ; of the Lutheran there are fourteen ; of the Re- formed thirteen ; of the Baptist nine ; and the remainder are Presbyterian, Christian, Episco- pal, Roman CathoHc and UniversaHst. Many of the churches are expensive structures and costly furnished, but in general, they are plainly but substantially built at an average cost of thirty-five hundred dollars. Nearly all the or- ganizations sustain Sabbath schools and a Bible class, and furnish service in school-houses dis- tant from churches. The temperance question has engaged the attention of the people for many years and cre- ated a distinctive change in the customs and habits of the people, in influencing the mass to refrain from using intoxicating liquors, to which they became habitually accustomed in the early part of the century. While several convulsive excitements were experienced in behalf of the cause in previous years, the first effective stroke in the County was made in the year 1844 by the societies organized under the name of " Washingtonians.'' Various other organizations have done much in suppressing the evil, under different names and plans of influence from time to time, and have done well in their efforts. The chief orders of the present time are " Murphyites," " Good Templars," "Juvenile Templars," and "Band of Hope," a notice of which may be found in the chapters upon each town in which the organizations exist. The County Sabbath School Society was formed in 1854 by Albert Brown of Schoharie, who was appointed the first secretary by the State Sabbath School Association, to organize branch societies. It was upon the wane at one time, but again revived and holds yearly con- ventions in different parts of the County, for the purpose of discussing and adopting uniform methods for the best interest of the cause. To awaken a livelier interest, town organiza- tions have been effected as branches, which prove successful in bringing the whole work down to a business system. Long years ago the veteran "servants of the Master" of this County and Delaware called a convention in the Schoharie courthouse for the purpose of organizing a Bible Society. They met on the 7th of September, 1813, and formed the Schoharie and Delaware Bible Society which in truth preceded the American Bible Society. From a historical discourse delivered before the Society at its Semi-Centennial meet- ing in the Lutheran church,- of Schoharie, on the 6th of October, 1863, by the Rev. George A. Lintner, D. D., President of the Society, we extract : — " Rev. Dr. Augustus Wackenhagen, who was then Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran church of Schoharie presided at the convention and was chosen first President of the Society. " Dr. Wackenhagen was succeeded by the Rev. Henry Moeller, of Sharon, in 181 4. On the 31st of January, 1816, the connection be- tween the counties of Schoharie and Delaware, in this society was dissolved, and to awaken a livelier interest in the cause and render their labors more efiicient, each county formed a sep- arate association. This society then assumed the title of The Schoharie County Bible Society, and soon after became an auxiliary to the American Bible Society, which was formed in the same year. "Rev. John Molther, who had succeeded Dr. Wackenhagen in the pastoral charge of the Lutheran church at Schoharie, was chosen Pres- ident of the Society in 1817. In 1818, Jacob Gebhard was elected by the society to fill the office of president, the duties of which he dis- charged for two years with his characteristic zeal and fidelity to every trust that was com- mitted to his hands. In 1822, Henry Becker became president, who performed the duties of the office in the true spirit of the Gospel, with which he was thoroughly imbued. The next president was Rev. John F. Schermerhorn, who was the pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church of Middleburgh. He preached his first sermon SOCIETIES. 75 before the society, which was printed and circu- lated as an appeal from the society to the friends of the Bible, for their support and co-operation in the new enterprise in which they had en- gaged. "In 1828 the Rev. Mr. Salsbury was succeed- ed by the present incumbent. Dr. Lintner, who was elected in 1835, which office he has now held for twenty-eight years, during which time he has had frequent occasions to feel thankful for the satisfaction and pleasure he has derived from his official intercourse with the officers and members of the society who have labored with him in the cause.'' Dr. Lintner's " satisfaction and pleasure " was longer extended, as he held the position un- til his death, which occurred December 22, 1 87 1, giving to him the long term of thirty-six years as President of the society. Since the death of Dr. Lintner, with the exception of a short term, Peter S. Danforth, son-in-law of Dr. Lintner, has filled the position. We are indebted to author Simrns for infor- mation in regard to one of the first Masonic lodges in the County. Captain Thomas Machin settled about the year 1797, in the present town of Charleston, near the county line, and being a Mason, was appointed Master to install offi- cers of a lodge at Schoharie, called Afnes Mark Lodge. Silas Grey was appointed S. W., and Johannes Dietz, J. W., of the same. We have no further information in regard to it, but find in the Masonic Registry, of 1805, mention of two lodges, which we will here notice: — The Schoharie Union Lodge, at Schoharie, had a membership of eighty-five, and the officers were Ralph R. Phelps, M. ; Storm A. Becker, S. W.; David Swart, J. W. ; Peter Vroman, Jr., Tr. ; Richard Fishback, Sec. ; Wm. Estelstine, S. D.; Nicholas Delavergne, J. D. ; Isaac Sim monds and Lawrence Chambers, Stewards ; Joseph Efnor, Tiler. The date of this organi- zation is not given. Sharon Felicity Lodge numbered thirty-five members, and the officers were: Dr. Zenas Pinneo, M. ; Enock Kelsey, S. W. ; Joseph Al- exander, J. W. ; John Beakley, Tr. ; Reubin Parkinson, Sec. ; Joel Rodgers, S. D. ; David Cowden, J. D. ; John Johnson, Jr., and Peter Ripson, Tiler. A lodge was formed at Middleburgh village, about the years 1825 or '30, but we cannot give any facts relating to the order, excepting the anti-masonic excitements of the thirties, causing its abandoment. There are six organizations of the ancient order, in the County, a notice of which may be found in following chapters of this work. By an Act of Legislature passed April 1 2, i860, Chas. Goodyear, John G. Gebhard, Jr., Jacob Vroman, Peter S. Swart, Jonas Kilmer, Hobart Krum, David Dietz, Eli P. Garder, Wm. H. Davis, William Winter, Tobias Bouck, Treat Durand, and Augustus B. F. Pond, of the town of Schoharie; Lyman Sanford and George Manning, of Middleburgh ; Charles Courter, and Marcus Borst, of Cobleskill; Joseph I. Brown, and Chas. G. Kenyon, of Carlisle ; Asa- hel Billings, and Mark W. Stevens, of Esperance, and Weidman Dominick, Austin Becker and Ira Zeh, of Wright, were constituted a body corporate by the name of the Schoharie Valley Stock Groovers' Association. The society leased fifteen acres at Schoharie village, for exhibition grounds, erected sub- stantial buildings, and graded a one-half mile track for the exhibition of speed. At the present time the association owns the grounds, being in debt but one thousand dollars. Premiums upon farm products and stock are given yearly, ranging from twelve to fifteen hundred dollars. The officers of 1881 were : — Trustees— Walter Ferris, Robert N. Stafford, Marshall N. DeNoyelles, Darius B. Scott, Thomas B. Borst, Isaac C. VanTuyl, Hiram Schoolcraft, F. Wood, Wm. B. Murphy, Z. J. Brown, Schoharie ; Wm. H. Mitchell, G. L. Haines, Wm. H. Freemyer, Fulton; Nathaniel Manning, David Zeh, Middleburgh ; A. B. Lar- kin, Richmondville ; W. Dominick, Gallupville ; Jacob Angle, Cobleskill. President— Nath. Manning. ist Vice-President— Jacob Angle. 2d Vice-President— Z. J. Brown. 3d Vice-President— I. C. VanTuyl. Treasurer — M. N. DeNoyelles. Secretary — Robert N. Stafford. Executive Committee— Walter Ferris, D. B. Scott, I. C. VanTuyl. 76 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Finance Committee— Hiram Schoolcraft, Z. J. Brown, Weidman Dominick. Cobleskill Agricultural Society was organ- ized in the spring of 1876. The yearly pre- miums range from $1,000 to $1,200, and the exhibitions have been well attended, chiefly by the inhabitants of Carlisle, Sharon, Seward, Richmondville, Summit, Fulton and Cobleskill. The first officers were W. C. Lamont, President, George Bellinger, Secretary, and Morris Cohn, Treasurer. Unparalleled exertions are being made for the fifth annual exhibition under the management of the following energetic officers : President — -Hon. W. C. Lamont. Vice Presidents — Stanton P. Osterhout, P. A. Angle, W. L. Hawes, Theodore Owen, W. S. Clark, Isaac Hawes, Minard Proper, Abram Osterhout, John Patrie, W. W. Proper, Peter Conro, Ralph Hyde, Abram Freeman, R. Shel- mandine, Hiram Schoolcraft, Frank Wood, D. S. Mann, J. A. Warner, Wellington Shafer, Phihp Zeh, Dr. Leonard, Orlando Mace, Orson Spickerman, H. F. Han nay, George Shaler, John Snyder, Geo. VanDyck, Douglas Thorpe. Treasurer — Martin D. Borst. Secretary — George W. BeUinger. General Superintendent — William H. Mcin- tosh. Dep't Superintendents — Horse Dep't — Mar- cus Angle, Thompson Perrine; Cattle, Sheep and Swine Dep't — Jared VanWaganen, D. H. Osterhout, Madison L. Shafer; Fruit and Veg- etable Dep't — H. VanDreeser, Daniel Malick ; Farm Implement Dep't — David Lawyer, P. P. Karker; Poultry Dep't— Peter E. Borst; Ladies' Dep't— J. Henry Hoffman. Directors— Marcus Angle, Thompson Perrine, S. D. Karker, Peter Tingue, John O. Ried, G. W. Dana, Clinton Nethaway, David Lawyer, Wm. Farquher, J. J. Dickinson. The First Annual Exhibition of the Schoharie County Poultry and Pet Stock Association was held at Cobleskill village in February from the ist to the 4th, 1881. The enterprise proved a success and renewed efforts are to be made for its future prosperity, and certainty of its existence. The following are the officers : — President— C. L. Griggs, Cobleskill, N. Y. Vice Presidents— George Boughton, Hynds- ville; Seneca Sands, Central Bridge; W. L. Morrison, Schoharie; Geo. Boom, Jefferson; Hubbard Elhs, Livingston ville ; Perry E. Mc- Master, Sloansville ; H. W. Champlain, North Blenheim. Secretary — D. A. Hitchman, Schoharie, N.Y. Treasurer— L. T. Fox, Cobleskill, N. Y. Executive Committee — Rev. J. G. Gooding, Schoharie; James Gale, Barnerville ; A. H. Sexton, Hyndsville; C. S. Swart, Howe's Cave ; P. E. Borst, Cobleskill. General Superintendent — Peter E. Borst, Cobleskill, N. Y. Assistant Superintendent — Charles Limmer, Cobleskill, N. Y. Judge — I. K. Felch, Natick, Mass. In the beginning of the present century a medical society was formed, but at what date is not definitely known, but supposed to have been in 1808. For some reason the order was aban- doned for a while. Not having any records of the same, we are unable to give a correct list of its members. There were but few regular pro- fessionals in the County, and they had a hard service to perform, and but small pay. The chief physicians were, Jesse Shepherd, and ■ Gannon, of Cobleskill ; Zenas Pinneo, of Sharon ; his student George Fox, followed in i82r, and J. B. Roscoe, of Carhsle ; Prentiss Leonard, of Es- perance; Origin Brigham, Cornelius VanDyck, Jas. VanGaasbeck, of Middleburgh ; P. S. Swart, of Schoharie ; Dr. Shepherd was a delegate to the State Association in i8og and '10. The organizations now in order are com- posed of those adhering to the allopathic and eclectic schools, and the following are the offi- cers and members of the former which was re- organized in 1857 under the following officers, S. B. Wells, President; P. S. Swart, Vice-Presi- dent; C. C. VanDyck. Secretary; John Pin- dar, Treasurer : P. S. Swart, Volney Danforth, Isaac Flint, Philip Werner, ■ • Ruland, Censors. The annual meeting is held on the first Tues- day in June, and the semi-annual, the second Tuesday in October. The officers of 1880 and '81 were David Norwood, President. E. O. Bruce, Vice-President. H. F. Kingsley, Secretary. David Frasier, Treasurer. PHYSICIANS. 77 The members are : — Beard E. P., Summit. Brown J. R., Seward. Bruce E. O., Hyndsville. Burnett C. S., Blenheim. Cross Lemuel, Cobleskill. Dickerson C, Seward. Dockstader J. A., Sharon Spa. Frasier D., Cobleskill. Frasier C. K., Cobleskill. Green J., Sharon Spa. Havens C. H., Summit. Hotaling John, Gallupville. Jackson Geo., Huntersland. Kingsley H. F., Schoharie. Lawyer Ezra, Cobleskill. Lawyer Jas., Middleburgh. Layman W. S., Schoharie. Leonard D. M., Broome Centre. Lowell J. S., Argusville. Marsh Edward, Sloansville. McCullock Charles, Central Bridge. Norwood D., Esperance. Roscoe R. J., Carlisle. Terwilliger R. W., Carlisle. Scott I. S., Grosvenor's Corners. Spurbeck H., Charlotteville. VanAlstine S. M., Richmondville. Wells Henry D., Middleburgh. The Eclectic School of Physicians, organized by Senatorial districts, making a larger organi- zation than if divided by counties. This fra- ternity numbers fifty-one members in this the twenty-third district of which fifteen are resi- dents of this County. The society meets annu- ally on the 2d Wednesday and Thursday of June, at such places as the adjourning meeting desig- nates. The County members are as follows : — Allen P. A., Lawyersville. Chase Jared, Warnerville. Snyder J. D., Sharon Spa. VanValkenburgh Jacob, Sharon Hill. Myres Henry A., Seward. Ackley John S., West Fulton. Beard Frank P., Summit. Chapman P. L., Richmondville. Nellis J. , Schoharie. Kilmer Thomas K., Schoharie. Rossman John, Middleburgh. Hubbell R., Jefferson, President. Benson J. H., South Valley, Vice-President. Best C. S., Middleburgh, Secretary. Chase Jared, Treasurer. Physicians. — The following is a complete list of all the physicians and surgeons in the County of Schoharie who have registered to October 13, 1880, and contains the name of the physician and surgeon, his postoffice address, his authority, whether by diploma or license, the date of the same, and the name of the medical college or medical society by whom it was granted or given, as required by an act of the Legislature of the State of New York, (Chapter 513, Laws 1880,) entitled "An Act to regulate the Li- censing of Physicians and Surgeons,'' passed May 29, 1880: — H. F. Kingsley, Schoharie C. H.; N. Y.; diploma; February 17, 1874; University City of New York, N. Y. Christopher S. Best, Jr., Middleburgh, N. Y.; diploma; February 6, 1876, (coUegenot given.) Edward Marsh, Sloansville, N. Y.; diploma; October i, 1874; Bellevue Hospital Medical College, N. Y. Isaac J. Scott, Grovenor's Corners, N. Y. ; diploma; November 27, 1848; Castleton Medi- cal College, Vt. Jacob VanValkenburgh, Sharon, N. Y.; diplo- ma; January 22, 1862 ; Eclectic Medical College of Philadelphia, Pa.; also diploma, March 1,1877; Eclectic Medical College of the City of New York, N. Y. W. S. Layman, Schoharie C. H., N. Y.; di- ploma; December 22, 1857; Albany Medical College, N. Y. Peter L. Chapman, Richmondville, N. Y.; license; August 11, 1874; Eclectic Medical Society of the 23d Senatorial District, N. Y. James Lawyer, Middleburgh, N. Y.; diploma ; March 4, 1862 ; University City of New York, N. Y. S. M. Van Alstine, Richmondville, N. Y.; di- ploma; June 13, 1854; Albany Medical Col- lege, N. Y. WiUiam Hagadorn, Gilboa, N. Y. ; diploma; February, 1873 ; University City of New York, N. Y. Charles K. Frazier, Cobleskill, N. Y. ; di- ploma; January 20, 1874; Medical Depart- ment Union University, N. Y. 78 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Charles McCulIock, Central Bridge, N. Y. ; diploma; February, 1877; Albany Medical College, N. Y. John Rossman, Middleburgh, N. Y. ; diplo- ma; February, 1868; University of Medicine and Surgery of Philadelphia, Pa. Jacob E. Norwood, Blenheim, N. Y. ; diplo- ma ; November, 1864 ; Berkshire Medical Col- lege, Pittsfield, Mass. Jacob A. Dockstader, Sharon Springs, N. Y.; diploma; January, 1845; Albany Medical College, N. Y. Rufus Coons, Broome Centre, N. Y.; diplo- ma; January 22, 1862; College of Medicine and Surgery, Philadelphia, Pa. George A. Williams, Sharon Springs, N. Y.; diploma; March 12, 1879; University City of New York, N. Y. J. S. Akeley, West Fulton, N. Y.; diploma; March, 1870; Pennsylvania University, Pa.; also license; August 10, 1874; Eclectic Medi- cal Society of the 23d Senatorial District, N. Y. Olin A. Snyder, Gallupville, N. Y.; diploma ; March 7, 1879; Eclectic College City of New York, N. Y. Henry D. Wells, Middleburgh, N. Y.; diplo- ma ; December 22, 1857; Albany Medical College, N. Y. R. Grant Havens, Jefferson, N. Y.; diploma; December 22, 1874; Albany Medical College N. Y. F. P. Beard, Summit, N. Y.; diploma ; De- cember 23, 1875 ; Albany Medical College, N. Y. H. L. Gale, West Fulton, N. Y.; diploma ; Dec. 27, 1873 ; University of Philadelphia, Pa. ' John Hotaling, Gallupville, N. Y.; diploma; May 28, 1863 ; Albany Medical College, N. Y. J. R. Anderson, Esperance, N. Y.; license ■ January 13, 1880; Montgomery County Home- opathic Medical Society, N. Y. John Green, Sharon Springs, N. Y.; diploma; June 17, 1846; Castleton Medical College. Vt! James I. Hard, Sharon Springs, N. Y.; diplo- ma; February 27, 1877; Albany Medical Col- lege, N. Y. David Frazier, CobleskiU, N. Y.; diploma; January 27, 1847 ; Albany Medical College, N. y! Peter A. Allen, Lawyersvijle, N. Y.; diploma- January 22, 1862 ; Eclectic Medical College of Philadelphia, Pa. I. S. Lowell, Argusville, N. Y.; diploma; December 26, 187 1; Albany Medical College' N. Y. ■ Hamilton A. White, Argusville, N. Y.- di- ploma; March 3, 1880; Albany Medical Col- lege, N. Y. Clark D. Welch, CobleskiU, N. Y.; diploma; March 8, 1877 ; New York Homeopathic Medi- cal College, N. Y. George Haner, Conesville, N. Y.; diploma; February 20, 1877; University City of New York, N. Y. Philip J. Zeh, Fulton, N. Y.; diploma; De- cember 24, 1869 ; Albany Medical College, N. Y. George Jackson, Huntersland, N. Y.; diplo- ma; March 9, 1871; University City of New York, N. Y. Richtmyer Hubbell, Jefferson, N. Y.; diplo- ma; February 21, 1866; Philadelphia Univer- sity of Medicine and Surgery, Pa. Charles S. Burnett, North Blenheim, N.Y.; di- ploma ; February i, 1879 ; Albany Medical College, N. Y. Valentine M. Lawyer, Fultonham, N. Y; (no authority, date, or college given.) David Decker, Broome Centre, N. Y; June 30, 1870; American University of Medicine and Surgery, Pa.; diploma. I Lemuel Cross, CobleskiU, N. Y.; diploma ■ February 23, 1856; Albany Medical College' N. Y. ^ ' James D. Snyder, Sharon Springs, N. Y- license ; August 10, 1874; Eclectic Medical Society of 23d Senatorial District, N. Y. Jared Chase, Warnerville, N. Y.; license; Au- gust 10, 1874; Eclectic Medical Society of 23d Senatorial District, N. Y. L. S. Wells, Middleburgh, N. Y.; diploma; November, 20, 1833; Castleton Medical Col- lege, Vt. S. F. Fonda, Sharon Springs, N. Y.; diploma; February 24, 1841 ; Albany Medical CoUeee N. Y. Ezra Lawyer, CobleskiU, N. Y.; diploma; November 22, 1854; Castleton Medical Col- lege, Vermont. Isaac W. Ferris, Middleburgh, N. Y.; di- ploma; March 7, 1867; University City of New York, N. Y. E. O. Bruce, HyndsviUe, N. Y.; diploma; PHYSICIANS — NEWSPAPERS. 79 November, 22, 1858; Castleton Medical Col- lege, Vt. Thomas K. Kilmer, Schoharie C. H., N. Y.; diploma; January 28, 1875; Eclectic Medical College of the City of New York, N. Y. D. Norwood, Esperance, N. Y.; diploma; December, 24, 1857 ; Albany Medical College, N. Y. Menzo Barkman, Gallupville, N. Y.; diploma; January, 1879; Albany Medical College, N. Y. D. M. Leonard, Broome Centre, N. Y.; di- ploma ; November, 1867; Castleton Medical' College, Vt. H. Sperbeck, Charlotteville, N. Y.; diploma; December, 22, 1857 ; Albany Medical College, N. Y. Nancy J. Langley, Mineral Springs, N. Y.; license; (no date given) Eclectic Medical So- ciety, 23d Senatorial District, N. Y. Joseph R. Brown, Seward, N. Y.; diploma ; December 25, 1868; Albany Medical College, N. Y. Charles W. Havens, Summit, N. Y.; license ; August 21, 1838; Schoharie County Censors of the Eclectic Medical Society. Philip P. Werner, Barnerville, N. Y.; diplo- ma; June, 1845; Castleton, Vermont, Medi- cal College. Henry A. Myer, Gardnersville, N. Y.; diplo- ma; February 16, 1833; Syracuse Medical College, N. Y.; also license, August 11, T874; Eclectic Medical Society of the 23d Senatorial District, N. Y. Doctor Brayman, Livingstonville, N. Y.; di- ploma; February i, 1880; University of City of New York, Medical Department. R. J. Roscoe, Carlisle, N. Y.; diploma; March, 1852, College of Physicians State -of Vermont, at Castleton. Charles Dickerson, Seward, N. Y.; diploma ; i860; Albany Medical College, N. Y. R. W. Terwilliger, CarHsle, N. Y.; diploma ; March, 1881 ; Albany Medical College, N. Y. The first Telephone Line in the County was between Schoharie and Middleburgh, and was opened for communication in August, 1880. There were upon the first day of July, 1881, at least one hundred miles in successful operation, and other lines will soon be established until the County is made a net-work of the simple, yet wonderful invention. Mr. Charles Kromer became interested in the enterprise and through his energy and manage- ment the hnes were established. They have thus far been built by issuing certificates of shares of stock, each share being five dollars, privileging each stockholder to have the free use of the line with which he is connected. While the principle upon which the telephone is worked was long known, yet to Edison are we indebted for an apparatus that brings the prin- ciple to practice, and with such simplicity as to abash the inventive genius of the past. Yet we are not unmindful of the claims of Science upon improvement and must expect that a few years hence greater improvements and inventions, or other principles will become animated and made to out-strip the inventions of our day. Newspapers. — The first newspaper published in the County was the American Herald, pubHshed by Derick VanVeghten. It was a small sheet and appeared in June, 1809, and some time in the year 1812, it was changed to the Schoharie Herald, but upon VanVeghten's enlisting in the volunteer ser- vice, the paper was discontinued. It would hardly be just to pass by without giving the hero notice, as a more patriotic and brave man could not be found. He came to Schoharie after serv- ing an apprenticeship at Schenectady, and met with unexpected success in his enterprise, but when his country called her sons to oppose her enemy's encroachments, he answered by enroll- ing himself, and raising a company of which he was commissioned captain. During the winter and early summer of 1813 and '14, he was stationed at Schenectady to guard army stores, and in the fall of the latter year, returned to Schoharie and opened a re- cruiting station. Having raised another com- pany, he joined General VanRensselaer's regi- ment as Major, upon the frontier, and through a rash move, in making a sortie upon the enemy's flank — expecting to receive aid from his general — he, with his entire force, were taken prisoners, as before stated. At the close of the war, he returned to Schoharie, and in 1817 com- menced the publication of the Schoharie Budget, and continued the same until 1819, when 8o HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. he changed it to the Schoharie Republua7i. He soon disposed of his interest in the paper, and followed various branches of business, and in a financial point of view, succeeded in none. He was a tall muscular man, of sKm build, active, yet rash in his movements and unconcerned as to results. He died at the house of Colonel Wilkins, at Spraker's Basin, on the 21st of March, r844, of dropsy, and was buried near. Major VanVeghten was a bold writer, given to paroxysms of cutting sarcasm against those who dared to brave his views. Yet through his literary efforts, a large heart, good intentions, and progressive spirit could be detected, which gained for him the honor due an honest man. In December, 1809, Thomas M. Tillman commenced the True American, but like VanVeghten, discontinued the sheet in 181 3. He also joined the array, but of his subsequent life, we are not informed. Returning to the Schoharie Republican, we find a long list of editors, whose terms of service have been successful, and we find the sheet still continued and progressive after braving the changing currents of sixty-two years. Major Van Veghten was successfully succeeded by Peter Keyser, Lemuel Cuthbert, A. A. Keyser, and Wm. H. Underwood, who, each in turn, kept up the dignity and spirit of the sheet, but events were not excitable enough to make the pubhc consider a paper a necessity, neither had the people been educated to that thought, in a literary point of view, and consequently, double duties were imposed upon the struggling pub- lishers, for which their financial gains were dis- couraging. When Wm. H. Gallup succeeded Mr. Un- derwood, the political firmament began to rumble in earnest. Politics ran to fever heat, and that gentleman standing upon the firm, and growing firmer. Democratic platform, with his pubhcation, success was assured, and when Mr. Gallup retired, the Schoharie Republican was looked upon as the Democratic organ of the County, which character it still assumes. Mr. Gallup was a careful, conscientious writer modest to assume and direct, but when aroused bold and forcible. He was succeeded by P. D. Lawyer, who kept the sheet in the even " tenor of its way" during the following political campaign. Mr. Lawyer was an independent writer, brief and forcible. Ex-Judge Nathan T. Rossiter followed, whose smooth pen tended to cool political flames, and court pleasing, hterary effusions. However, the political status of the sheet was maintained under the Judge's term of editorship, and its first introduction made into many households as a " family paper." Next came J. B. Hall, a live, educated "paper man," whose glib and cutting pen shook lip the dry bones of contention and made them laugh at themselves. His exclamation points and quotation dots gave evidence of firmness and faithful reading. Not to speak disparagingly of his predecessors' efforts and abiUiy to enlarge the business of the enterprise, yet Mr. Hall in- creased the circulation of the paper nearly double to what it had been and infused a spirit within it, more in accordance with the day and age, than any before him. He was a worker, physically and mentally, and when the concern passed from his hands in i860, it stood inferior to no country paper in the State. Mr. Hall removed to Catskill and assumed the manage- ment of the Catskill Recorder, where he again labored hard, beyond the strength of his frail constitution, which soon brought him to an early grave. J. C. Campbell, with declining heakh, fol- lowed Mr. Hall in the office of the Republican, but ere one year passed, death claimed its vic- tim and he passed away, lamented by a host of friends. A. B. F. Pond redressed the sheet as he fol- lowed Campbell, and the excitement of a threatened civil war, coupled with the known ability of Mr. Pond as a writer and manager, the paper enjoyed one of the most successful seasons it ever experienced. Mr. Pond was a terse, forcible writer, and dealt all subjects with his pen with a prompt business spirit. He was the son of Benjamin Pond and born in the village of Schoharie, where he received an academic education. He disposed of his in- terest in the paper to Sleight & Hunt, in 1865, and removed to New Jersey where he now resides. The latter firm continued as one until January i, 1869, when the interest of Sleight NEWSPAPERS. 8i was purchased by A. A. Hunt, under whose pro- prietorship it still continues. Mr. Hunt is a native of Sag Harbor, L. I., and has been con- nected with the press from a youth. As a writer, he is quick and perceptive, original in thought, with easy and smooth expression, which has won for him a reputation as a writer that few obtain. In 1818, a periodical was started at Schoharie C. H., called the Observer, but by whom we can- not learn. In 1820 it passed into the hands of Solomon Baker & Fish, and in 1822 Baker purchased the interest of Fish, but soon dis- continued the sheet. Not being fortunate in obtaining a copy and having no knowledge of proprietors, we cannot speak farther of the en- terprise. Rev. George A. Lintner being one of the foremost workers in the cause of religion, a true, conscientious laborer, united his able efforts with those of Lemuel Cuthbert, and on January, 1824, issued the first number of the Evangelical Luminary, devoted to the in- terest of churches and religious societies. Of Mr. Lintner, we need not here make mention, as in connection with other causes we give such notice of him as our feebleness admits. Ixmuel Cuthbert was a young man of promise, deeply interested in all reUgious causes and imbued with a true spirit of fidelity to duty. He took a lively interest in politics, but at an early age he passed to the grave, and as Dr. Lintner once wrote, " he sleeps in his silent bed where convulsions and troubles of poUtical life can no more reach him." The Lutheran Magazine of which Dr. Lint- ner was editor for many years, was commenced by the " Western Conference of Lutheran min- isters in 1827, and printed by Cuthbert. The Schoharie Free Press, by Duncan Mc- Donald was originally published in Johnstown, Fulton county, as the Montgomery Monitor and removed to Fonda, Montgomery county, in 1828, thence to Canajoharie, and in 1830 to Schoharie. Being of a roving disposition, it was removed to Esperance and published as the Esperance Sen- tinel and Schoharie and Montgomery Recorder. It was discontinued in 1836 after a fierce war against the Albany Regency. It was ably edited. A notice of its connections may be seen in the chapter on Esperance. The Gem a small sheet written by students of the Academy, appeared in 1837 but it sparkled for a day and lost its luster. The first number of the Schoharie Patriot was issued February 13, 1838, by Peter Mix, and it became under the control of Mr. Mix and his son S. H. Mix, in after years, a substantial sheet in the interest of the Whig party. Mr. Mix was from Johnstown, Fulton county, and was con- nected with the Montgomery Republican from 1825 to 1834, when the office and type were burned. He revived the paper, but in 1836 he was again burned out, when he removed to Scho- harie. He labored hard for years to turn the pohtical sentiment of the County but what was " born in the bone" proved to be "bred in the flesh " in that respect at least, yet Mr. Mix drew around him a host of friends and proved himself to be a firm unflinching advocate of that, which he considered right. He ably conducted his journal, and handed it over to S. H. Mix with an honorable record. Growing in years, he retired from business, and died at the age of seventy-two. [For notice of S. H. Mix, see Chapter on Schoharie.] Upon Mr. S. H. Mix entering the army his interest in the Patriot passed into the hands of Henry E. Abel and changed to the Schoharie Union. Mr. Abel was an energetic worker, and plain, ready writer, with a tendency to sarcasm, yet the spirit and success of his paper kept its status, as a party organ. In 1867 Charles C. Kromer purchased the property and continues to be the proprietor. Mr. Kromer passed through the civil war in the " 3rd Cavalry" as Captain and returned home unharmed, but upon the accidental dis- charge of a pistol his right hand was shattered which compelled an amputation at the wrist. Mr. Kromer merits honor as a self-made man and patriot, and deserves sympathy in his mis- fortune. The Union adheres to the principles of Republicanism in politics, though not radically. Mr. Kromer is a careful yet bold writer, with original thought and expression that leave a tendency to mirth. His articles are always short and embody much meaning without exaggera- tion. Two small sheets The Star and The Sun were commenced in 1838, the former by S. H. 82 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Mix and the latter by D. L. Underwood, two school boys, and after a years' existence were discontinued. The excitable times of 1840 called out a campaign sheet The Huge Paw, by William H. Gallup, that was published from August to November of that year, and in 1841 as the Anti-Rent troubles began to shake the earth, especially that portion of its formation known as the "Helleberg Series," Mr. Gallup again put forth a sheet entitled The Helderbergh Ad- vocate, which name seemed to be too local, and in 1843 was changed to The Guardian of the Soil. Assuming too much in those " war-Mke " days it ceased its great labors after a years' ex- perience. A semi-monthly enterprise was pub- lished by the students of the academy in 1855 called The Oasis, and was a spicy little sheet, the composition of which was highly commend- able, in thought and expression. All of the foregoing have been published at Schoharie Court House. In 1847, Mr. J. D. Lawyer commenced a paper at Leesville assum- ing the name of The Americati Christian, but was soon discontinued. Mr. Lawyer was a min- ister of the gospel, and the sheet was in the in- terest of religious matters. The Schoharie County Sentinel was com- menced at Cobleskill January 22, 1852, by Hi- ram C. Paige, now of the Brooklyn Era. Mr. Paige was succeeded by Charles Cleveland, and he by Wadhams & Kniskern, who sold the es- tablishment to J. B. Hall, of the Schoharie Re- publican, into whicli it was merged. It was a wide-awake sheet, full of spirit and commanded the respect and patronage of a large circle of friends. Furman & Brown, of Charlotteville, com- menced the pubhcation of a small sheet at that village in 1854, called the Charlotteville Journal. In the year following Furman sold his interest to John Brown, who removed the press to Co- bleskill village and changed the name of the paper to The Cobleskill Journal, and published it as such but a short time when it was discon- tinued. The Cobleskill Jeffersonian was commenced at Cobleskill in 1859, by Matthew Freeman, in the interest of the RepuWican party, to revolu- tionize the political sentiment of the County. Mr. Freeman was a very plain and forcible writer and speaker, and exerted his faculties to " make a mark," but became mixed up in sar- castic imbroglios with other periodicals, which proved disastrous, as usual, to his paper's influ- ence, and consequently its existence was short, being stopped some time in 1862. Mr. Free- man's paper was followed at Cobleskill village in the year 1865, by the Cobleskill Itidex, under the proprietorship of William H. Weeks. Mr. Weeks made it an independent sheet, devoted chiefly to local matters, and it gained a firm footing in the western towns of the County as a family paper. In 1874, Mr. George W. Bel- linger purchased the establishment by whom it is at present managed. During the Centennial year it was made a poHtical organ, in the advo- cacy of Democratic principles, to which it has firmly adhered and become one of the staunch organs of those principles, and is now wielding a flattering influence. On November 5, 1870, was started at Rich- mondville, the Schoharie County Democrjt, by J. J. and J. L. Multer of the Schenevus Monitor. After a flattering patronage the "Multer Brothers " sold the establishment to J. B. 01m- stead, who changed the title to Richmondville Democrat It is a small sheet but outspoken and substantial, and does credit to its youthful editor. The Middleburgh Gazette- was commenced in October, 187 1, at Middleburgh, by O. B. Ireland, and was soon purchased by J. E. Young, the present proprietor and editor. This sheet has been a firm advocate of administrative honesty and bold to expose pohtical scheniing and selfish power. Mr. Young has been suc- cessful in making his sheet reliable and attrac- tive as a local paper, and gained many warm friends of the press and in the ancient dorf in which he is located. ^'^^ Jeffersonian is published at Jefferson, being started as the Jeffersonian by A. W. Clark as editor and publisher, on March i, r872, and December, 1880, was purchased by Jones & Holmes, who changed the name to Jefferson Courier. It is a wide-awake, spicy, independ- ent and rehable sheet, and receives a flattering patronage from the surrounding towns. The first sheet was 18 by 24 and enlarged to 21 by 28. NEWSPAPERS — CRIMINAL RECORD. 83 Charlotte Valley News, of Charlotteville, was started by Morris & Shafer, and enlarged to a double sheet, but after a short term was re- moved to Davenport, Delaware county. After its enlargement it published serial stories, and was, we believe, the first and only one of the kind ever printed in the County. It is now published as above by E. O. Conner. Sharon Springs Gazette was established by John Sawyer of the Cherry Valley Gazette, in 1874, and was well managed and ably edited by the veteran publisher, but the enterprise proved non-paying and was discontinued in February, 1 88 1, and removed to Cooperstown and pub- lished as the Livitig Issue, the temperance organ of the State. Mr. Sawyer is an able writer, of clear, honest views, and gained as he justly deserved, a high regard among the County fraternity. The Charlotteville Pluenix was begun in November, 1879, by S. G. Shafer, as an advo- cate of reform and independent in politics. The "hot grape" and "shells" that are found in its columns have been thrown promiscuously to the right and left, but the inevitable results are to be seen. The attacks upon officials and their organs have been bold and exacting, but attempting to create a counter current in swift running streams, requires a triple force, which only disturbs without satisfactory results. The sheet is well arranged and full of local and cur- rent news. The Cobleskill Herald was commenced in 1877, by Johnson & Roberts, of Oneonta, in the interest of the Republican party. In 1880 Mr. Graham purchased the sheet and still edits the same. It is a firm and honest ex- ponent of Republican principles, and receives a very flattering patronage. Mr. Graham is a careful, earnest worker and forcible writer. The Gilboa Monitor is a small sheet pub- lished at Gilboa, by Myron Dings. It was commenced in 1878, and holds its own in pat- ronage as well as in the discussions of events of the day. Mr. Dings is an industrious worker and careful, honest writer, and makes his sheet spicy and attractive. Criminal.— T)Mx\-a% the County's growth- re- gardless of the efforts of the philanthropic to better the morality of the people, crimes have been committed of various degrees that have startled communities, to which we are loth to refer, as around them there is a halo of ignorance and brutality that is far beneath the intellect of man, and which casts a shadow over the bright picture our County presents. Tradition tells us, through author Simms and the Vroman family, of a capital offense being committed in the early days of the settlement of Vroman's land by a negro and white accomplice by the name of Moore, in the murder of one Truax. Circumstances led to the behef in the guilt of the negro and his wife, who were servants in the family of Peter Vroman as was also the murdered man. They were taken to Albany, tried and con- victed, and placed upon a pile of fagots and burned. In after years through the bed con- fession of Moore, the fact was revealed that the negress was innocent of the crime and had no knowledge of it, as she protested during the trial and upon the pile of fagots. Farther than that awful crime, except minor offences such as incendiaries, theft and trespass- ing nothing occurred that was brought to the pubHc notice until after the war of 18 12. Im- mediately after its close a vast quantity of spu- rious Spanish coins flooded the country that were raanufactufed in Canada and brought here to palm off upon the farming community. The coins were principally of the denomination of "two shilhng," and led, in a few years to a greater speculation in counterfeiting paper money. The bills were upon various banks, and the men whose reputation for honesty was the best were lured away by the prospect of making riches, and procured dies and manufac- tured large quantities in secret. Stringent laws were passed but few of the guilty suffered. Va- rious were the strategies of the guilty to punish the innocent, since the law demanded subjects to punish. It is a notable fact that the founda- tion of some families' fortunes was laid by being expert in the making and " shoving off" of the spurious. As the excitement of the spurious money be- gan the people were shocked by the premedi- tated poisoning of a lady by her inhuman hus- band, while stopping at an "inn " in the town of Middleburgh. An act of that kind was un- 84 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. usual in those days and created a great excite- ment not only in the immediate neighborhood in which the crime was committed, but far and wide. Abraham Casler, a resident of the Mohawk, married a Miss Spraker with whom he lived upon very unpleasant terms, owing to his immorality and love for another woman. He left home upon the pretext of going West to reside, and after being away some time returned, pretended penitent, and stated he had purchased a place and was desirous of his wife accompanying him to hve upon it in peace and harmony. They started in a wagon and traveled through Sharon and Cobleskill and stopped at an inn kept by one Best, on the road leading from Punchkill to Middleburgh. Mrs. Casler complained of not feeling well, and her husband was very attentive, procuring medicine in which he added opium and arsenic alternately, till death reUeved her of her troubled life. The remains were buried without the relatives being made acquainted of her decease, and upon Casler's sudden exit from the locality, suspicion was aroused and the re- mains exhumed. Upon examination, opium and arsenic were found, Casler arrested and upon the testimony of Mrs. Best was convicted before Judge Yates, and hung in May, 1818, upon the hill east of the court-house. The gallows were left stand- ing as a solemn admonition of the penalty such crimes demand, and before another year rolled round, one, who witnessed the execution of Cas- ler, and who boasted upon leaving the scene, " they will never hang me," stood beneath the beam and forfeited his life in consequence of an ungovernable passion. John VanAlstine, a farmer living in Sharon, becoming implicated in legal affairs, murdered a deputy sheriff, William Huddleston, while in the performance of his official duties, upon the former's farm on the 19th of October, 181 8. Upon the impulse of the moment he struck the officer with a club with such force as to kill him. VanAlstine buried the body of the murdered man in a plowed field near the barn, and in the course of a day or two he mounted the officer's horse and fled to Canada. Upon suspicion of his being guilty of the crime a reward for his apprehension was declared by the sheriff, and also the Governor of the State. He embarked upon a vessel at Black Rock, for Detroit, but a strong gale arising, the vessel was driven back to its moorings and a fellow passenger having suspicion of his being the advertised murderer, caused his arrest. He was tried before Chief Justice Spenser at a special court of Oyer and Terminer in February, 1819, and found guilty. On the 19th of March he was publicly executed as before stated, beneath the beam under which Casler suffered less than a year before. The next and last crime of that character that occurred to the knowledge of the public was in the month of March, 1845. John Burnett murdered George Sornberger in the present town of Broome, by nearly sever- ing the head from the body and stabbing hinK in the abdomen and chest, on the 24th of March, 1 845. They were residents of Broome, and it was supposed Sornberger was the pos- sessor of a considerable sum of money, as a payment was to have been made to him upon that day. It proved otherwise, as the total sum thus fiendishly procured was but three shillings and nine pence. The crime was committed while the Court house lay in ashes, and the prisoner was taken to Schoharie village to be tried and to Schenectady to be hung. The exe- cution took place in that city on the nth day' of July, 1846. The three that have paid the penalty upon the gallows made full confessions of their crimes and the justness of their sen- tences, which relieves us of fears that the inno- cent have suffered in their cases, as many times they do when circumstantial evidence only is taken. Three cases of manslaughter have been tried in the County for which the criminals were sent to State's prison for a long term of years. We do not wish to give the particulars or the parties committed, but let their names be dropped. A few cases have been brought to the Coun- ty to be tried from adjoining counties, where juries could not agree, but the criminal record for capital offences of our county closes with the dying agonies of Burnett, and let us willing- ly draw a veil over this part of our County's history, hoping that long, long years may pass STATISTICS. 85 ere, if ever, another occasion requires the death penalty. Statistics. — By the census of 1810, the total population of the County was 18,945, as fol- lows : — Cobleskill, 2,494 Carlisle, 1,231 Schoharie, 3,232 Middleburgh, 3,236 Sharon, 3,751 Jefferson, 1,74° Blenheim, 1,319 Broome, 1,942 The following is taken from the Census Re- port of 1880: — Blenheim town, including village of Blenheim, 1,191 *Blenheim village, 221 Broome town, including the following villages, 1,636 *Franklinton village, 77 *Livingstonville village, 97 Carlisle town, including the following villages, 1,722 'Carlisle village, 128 Grosvenor's Corners village, 60 Cobleskill town, including village of Cobleskill, 3,37 1 Cobleskill village, 1,222 Conesville town, 1,127 Esperance town, including the follow- ing villages, i,373 *Esperance village, 341 *Sloansville village, 200 Fulton town, 2,709 Gilboa town, including the following villages, 2,040 *Gilboa village, 203 •South Gilboa village, 50 Jefferson town, 1,636 Middleburgh town, including the fol- lowing villages, 3,376 •Hunter's Land village, 172 •Middleburgh village, 1,123 Richmondville town, including the following villages, 2,082 •Richmondville village, 653 •Warnerville village, 263 Schoharie town, including the follow- ing villages, 3>35° ♦Central Bridge village, 195 Schoharie village, 1,188 Seward town, including the following villages, 1,734 •Hyndsville village, 129 •Seward Valley, village, 141 Sharon town, including village of Sharon Springs, 2,591 Sharon Springs village, 627 Summit town, including the follow- ing villages, 1,405 * Charlotte ville village, 126 •Summit village, 121 Wright town including village of Gal- lupville, 1,591 •Gallupville village, 258 The villages marked with an asterisk (*) are unincorporated, and their population is given only approximately, as their limits cannot be sharply defined. The following miscellaneous statistics are from the census of 1880 : — Number of inhabitants, 32,939 " Males, 16,438 " Females 16,501 " Natives, 32,199 " Foreign, 740 " White, 32,458 Colored, 481 " Indians, 20 Number of houses, 6,686 " Frame, 6,488 Brick, 57 " Stone, 16 Log, 125 Milch cows kept, 20,185 Sheep, 29,293 Horses of two years and over, 8,559 Working oxen and steers, (pairs,) 1,762 Acres plowed in 1875, 72,5^2 Acres pastured in 1875, . 92,800 Acres mowed, in 1875, 97,524 Butter made in families in 1875', lbs. 2,507,970 Number of pounds cheese made by families and factories, in 1875, r77,774 Number of gallons milk sold in market, 43,036 Value of hops raised in 1875, $1,495,329 Value of poultry sold " $17,608 Value of eggs " " $42,761 Value of poultry owned, " $48,940 ■86 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. CHAPTER V. Civil War— The Year i86i— Threatenings OF War — Vengeance — Captain Snyder— Volunteers first Recruiting — Colonel Mix and Comrades — The 76TH Regiment — Members — 1 34TH — Members of Compa- nies — The 44TH — Members — Members of OTHER Regiments — Colored Volunteers — Hero Martyrs. DURING the unparalleled prosperity of the Nation the fearful hydra-headed demon of civil war chilled the country's heart-blood and made the year 1861 ever memorable upon the pages of history. Over the Southern fields that once reared such noble, patriotic sons as Washington, Marion, the Pinkneys and Ran- dolphs, the torch of hatred was lit, and, em- blazoned upon the ramparts of the Nation's outposts, were the infernal pencilings of dis- union. Though from the rostrum of the politi- cal schemer and even the pulpit of reverend divines both North and South came the threat- enings of war, devastation and death, yet the people — the power of the Government — were negligent of duty and awoke not to a sense of it until the tide of fanaticism had swept nearly over and undermined the temple of American liberty. The Southern heart burst with vengeance against the walls of Sumter, in which was one of Schoharie's gallant sons, Captain George Snyder. The booming of cannon was answered from the plow, workshop and counting-room, of the East, North and West, under the folds of the "stars and stripes." Father met son, and son met brother, in deadly strife, and from every part, the moaning of mothers, widows and or- phans rent the air, while the roaringof musketry and the shrieks and groans of the dying arose from many hard fought battlefields. Avarice, ever awake to selfish ends, took advantage of the tumult, and plied her energies to unholy specula- tion, while justice seemed to be paralyzed and her mandates of reason unheeded. From fanat- ical recesses came the bowlings of Pharisaical braggadocios against the loyalty of Schoharie County. Epithets and anathemas were sent afloat to swell the volume of fraternal rage, while her sons, true to the spirits of their fathers at Plattsburgh, Oswego and Niagara, and their grandsires at Saratoga, Monmouth, and the wilds of Tryon and Albany counties, were gal- lantly struggling, not to avenge, but subdue the maddening spirit upon Southern soil,. and guard Freedom's standard upon the citadel of the Nation, that it might bear the glorious banner of our country, for after generations to bless and protect. We are unable to give a correct list of all that volunteered from the County, as many early did so, in distant regiments, and were credited to those counties and States in which they en- listed. As near as we are enabled to ascertain, Hiram A. Blodgett, of Cherry Valley, after- wards Captain in the 76th regiment of N. Y. S. Volunteers, was the first that enlisted recruits in the County. The ball being put in motion, meetings were called throughout the County, and several, with enlisting papers, procured many, of whom we cannot obtain a perfect list. Peter E. Borst, of Cobleskill, was the first to enlist in the County, and afterwards joined the 3d Cavalry, as will be seen. S. Hoosick Mix, of Schoharie, organized the 3d New York Cavalry, in which the following enUsted from the County: — Lieutenant-Colonel, Hoosick Mix, promoted to Colonel, killed; Captain C. C. Kromer, Cap- tain Briar L. Wilber ; Lieutenant Peter E. Borst, wounded ; Lieutenant Alphonso Bab- cock, Lieutenant Charles Pansier ; Corporal C. E. Foot, wounded, Nathaniel Rickard, killed, Henry Spilter, Ira Zeh, Henry Roberts, John M. Freeman, Rensselaer Kinney, Daniel Her- ron, Warren Giles. The regiment was mus- tered into service, August 12, 1861. The 76th N. Y. S. V. was organized at Cherry Valley and was mustered into service. The following were from Schoharie County and the list may be imperfect by not being able to procure the names of those who joined after, the regiment was mustered into service: — Company I. Cook John E., Captain. ROSTER OF THE 76™ REGIMENT, N. Y. S. V. 87 Blodgett H. A., First Lieutenant, promot- ed Captain. Clark Peter S., Second Sergeant, promot- ed Captain. Liddle Wm. J., Third Sergeant. Warner Lyman, Fourth Sergeant. Rifenburgh Lewis, Fifth Sergeant. Pitts Weller, Corporal. Propper D. M., do Slater John M., do Smith Hezekiah, do Smith Silas, do Clark Coons, Wagoner. Smith Nelson B., Musician. Billings Charles H., Piivate. Brown Wm. H., do Murphey Chas., do Rorick John, do Schermehorn Francis, do Ottman Abram, do Alger Chas., do Barton Darius B., do Becker E. H., do Bice Henry, do Bice John J., do Boom W. H. H., do Borst J. L., do Borst Martin, do Bouck Chris, do Brazee Abram, do Cater John D., do Champnoy H., do Clark E. A., do Coons James E., do Coons J. W., do Dimond John, do Duel David H., do Dutcher T., do Eckerson John, do Edwards M., do Efner E. J., do EUer R., do Geurnsey C. H., do Hammond J. H., do Hayward Aaron, do Herron Daniel, do HiUsley J. J., do Ives Hiram R., do Lawyer Nelson, do Lawyer Wm. H., do Lockwood Jeremiah, Lynes David, Mann George D., Mann Thomas J., Manning Adam, Manschaeffer Jacob, Mattice Joseph H., Moon Lewis, Nelson Holmes K., Olover Gideon, Parslow Jacob, Parslow Wm. H., Pierce Ralph, Redmond Thomas, Ruland Amos, Shufelt Orison, Stever Abram, Sullivan John, Teater Henry, Thompkins Moses, Traver Calvin, Tygert G. W., VanPatten George, Vosburgh A., Waggoner H., Warner Ira, Warner John, Weidman Paul, Wright Charles H., Wright Fletcher, Yanson Joseph, Ives Hiram R., Brazee Samuel, Private, do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do 134TH Regt. N. Y. S. V. Jhe regiment was raised from Schoharie and Schenectady counties, and rendezvoused upon the fair-grounds at Schoharie C. H., in the months of September and October, 1862. In the fore part of November, it was taken to Washington, where Col. Geo. Dan forth as a State officer was relieved of command by U. S. Col- onel, D. S. A. Grede, who led them to Fairfax, where they were brigaded November sad, in the Second Brigade (Second Division) nth Army Corps, under the command of General Van- Steinweir. Charles R. Costar was appointed Colonel of the regiment while at Fairfax, which com- 88 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. mand he held during service, and which closed with the war. The regiment participated in the actions at Chancellorsville,Gettysburgh, Missionary Ridge, Knoxville, Alanta, Resaca, Dallas, Pine Knob, Lost Mountain, Peachtree Creek, Savannah and Goldsborough. They were unfortunate in a few of the engagements, especially at Petersburgh, where many of the brave lads fell in the thickest of the fight. Typhoid fevercarriedmany of them away, a list of which may be cousulted in the latter part of this number. The following are the names of the members credited to Schoharie County as they appear in the " Muster-in-roU " with promotions as far as we are able to learn, also officers, from both counties : — James M. Walkins, Captain, Company A. First Lieutenant. Henry Y. Bradt, Henry I. Palmer, Benjamin B. Bice, Garrett Horsefall, Joseph Shaw, E. VanDanDyck, Andrew A. Kelly, Joseph McGraw, James Scott, William H. Cain, Peter S. Palmer, John Brothers, Frank Robinson, James A. TuUock, William H. Dean, Henry King, H. C. McDonald, Alsdorf Morgan, Armstrong James, Auer Frederick, Arnold P. J., Brewer Richard, Barber James W., Bond Walter D., Becker John B. Babcock William, Bebee Calvin H., Bradt John, Baringer Jacob, Cain Isaac, Chapman Lionel, Chapman George, Chapman George H., Second Lieutenant. First Sergeant. Second Sergeant. Third Sergeant. Fourth Sergeant. Fifth Sergeant. First Corporal. Second Corporal Third Corporal. Fourth Corporal. Fifth Corporal. Sixth Corporal. Seventh Corporal. Eighth Corporal. Bugler. Musician. Private, do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do Clute Nicholas, Clute C. H., Dunbar F. H., Diefenahl Garard, Dillon Horatio P., Ernest L. P., Erhart Fred. L., Gage Wesson, Gage Alonzo, Gage Hiram C, Green Aaron, Hedding Oliver, Hubner William, Hays Dennis, Hindly Thomas, Hienaman C H., Kittle James E., Kittle Solomon, Kimball Carlton, Landers John V., McGraw Isaac, McMurrin W. J., Marcelus Nicholas, Marcelus Thomas, Moore William H., Montanney J. W., McCann James, Markel Hurbert A., Nicholas George, Neverman Henry, Nichols Nelson, Ostrander George, Osborn George C, Osing Andrew, Polch Henry, Peasly George A., Palmer George W., Rickerman Antoine, Rummius Charles, Rosekrans Charles, Spangler Joseph, Swits John C, Stevens George E., Smith Fred., Simpson Thomas, Schauber H. V., Scheck Andrew, Tallock John K., Tiffany George, Tolls John A., Private, do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do ROSTER OF THE 134TH REGIMENT, N. Y. S. V. 89 Tolls Cicero, Private. Towndly Caleb W., do VanPatten Silas, do Veir George H., do VanAernam Park, do VanBencotten Jerome, do VanVoast Andrew, do Ward James, do Wessel Harman, do Wilbur Silas G., do West John, do Wohnlich Christian, do Tubler Rudolph, do Young Daniel D., do Company B. David H. Hamhn, Captain Solomon G. Hamlin, First Lieutenant Solomon C. Wilson, Second Lieutenant Company C. John Materhaghan, Captain. Jas. Glenn, First Lieutenant. Perry E. McMaster, First Lieutenant, pro- moted Captain Company K., Brev. Col. N. M. VanAntwert, Sergeant. Peter Haley, do James Burke, do Alonzo McKee, do Wm. H. Wilson, do Otis Guffin, Corporal, promoted to Cap- tain, Brev. Col. Geo. H. Warner, Walter Stocker, Orin Warner, Jno. D. Gardner, Peter W. Keyser, Levi Moore, S. D. Lyons, John Taggart, George Kniskern, Allen Chas. B., Borst Cornelius, Borst Hiram, Borst David S., Brown Stephen M.. Brown Harvey, Becker David S., Borst William, Corporal, do do do do do do Drummer. Fifer. Private, do do do do do do do Bradt Joseph, Bailey Stillman. Bradt Clark, Cook Daniel S., Cassidy Martin, Cady Alonzo, Cornell Schuyler, Cornell Wm. H., Clark Peter D., Clark Abram D., Cartwright G. W., Clute John, Clute Henry, Clute Charles, Coonradt Abram D., Coonradt Peter, Dykman Jas. M., Dings Truman, Devoe Wm. A., Duell George, Dey Benjamin, Esmy Jedediah, Gunther Charles, Gardner Riley S„ Private, do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do Gorden Henry W., promotedCorporal. Groot Adam, Guffin Cyrus, Gage Hiram M., Gardnier Wm. I., Holmes John H., Haley Martin, Hayner Austin, Hyney Daniel, Hyney John L., Hyney Charles, Keyser Jacob H., Kuhn Conrad, McMillenWm. H., Mickel Weston G., regt. Color Bearer. Mutter Joseph, do Morris George H., do Marsh John Y., do Manchester John A., do Nelson Sylvanus H., do Nelson Wm. H., do Polmyteer Jacob, do Pindar Jacob, do Rose Wm., do Ryfenbark Ebenezer, do Rowly Elias S., do do do do do do do do do do do do do do 90 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Rasue Leonard, Rowe Jas. B., Snyder J. M., Spawn Wm., Stillwell W. T., Stillwell S. J., Stillwell D. H., Smeaton Albert, Sagendorf John, Swarthout Jas. H., Taggart James, Tyrrell Sam'l., Talmage Oliver, Towero Wm., Underbill Washington L, Van Guilder Geo. W., Van Dyck C. R., Van Slyke CorneUus R., Van Dyck Edward, Van DeGrift John S., Wit beck Pelet, Woodsworth Lansing, Warner Isaac, Warner David A., Weaver Charles H., Weaver Benj. F., Wood Abram R., Wood Lewis M., White David C, Wolford Minor, Welton Wm. H., Shafer Edward, Bellinger Conrad, Company D. Private, do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do A. H. Southwell, S. L. Mitchell, C. W. Hinman, Alonzo Parslow, Geo. W. Bishop, A. J. Dickinson, C. B. Barnhart, Abrm. C. Conklin, Peter H. Zeh, Stephen Hillsinger, Harvey J. Tiffany, W. H. Brane, Levi O. Fox, James Best, Addison Corn well, Captain. First Lieutenant. Second Lieutenant. First Sergeant. Second Sergeant. Third Sergeant. Fourth Sergeant First Corporal. Second Corporal. Third Corporal. Fourth Corporal. Fifth Corporal. Sixth Corporal. Seventh Corporal. Eighth Corporal. Isaac Van Kleek, Musician. Hamilton B. Bouck, Musician. Orin M. Duncan, Teamster. Alvernon Wm. B., Private. Allen Charles, do Allen David C, do Armlin Wm., do Borst Merrit J., do Brown John, do Bergen Michael, do Bachus William, do Blodgett J. H., do Bevens William, do Brownell Jonathan, do Babcock John, do Burnett Wesley A., do Burnett Isaac, do Brooks John H., do Coons M. W., do Cosgrove Chas., do Chichester Albert, do Cleveland John C, do Cartwright Wm., do Curtis Abram, do Clark Mortimer, do Coons Jacob, do Cartwright Alonzo, do Cain Reuben, do Dibble Jesse, do Doney Benjamin, do Doney David, do Deman Henry, do Decker Chas. L., do Donovan Clinton I., do Gifford Johnson, do Hallenbeck H., do Ham Robert, do Hagerdorn Christopher, do Haskin Henry, do Hittsley John, do Keyser Ephriam H., do Kelsey William P., do Kelsey Albert M., do Keyser Jonas, do Meeker Henry W., do Mattice Henry M., do Perry Solomon, do Plough Ephraim, do Parslow Adam, do Parslow Anthony, do ROSTER OF THE 134TH REGIMENT, N. Y. S. V. 91 Palmer William H., Private. T. S. Vroman, Eighth Corporal. Reynolds Edgar, do 0. B. Curtis, Drummer. Reinhart Jacob, do Armstrong Alfred, Private. Smith Chas. C, do Brown Albert, do Scram John, do Becker William A., do Sitzor Seth, do Birchard Joseph, do Shafer Deverue, do Burnett Oswald, do Stafford Reuben H., do Barry Jeremiah, do Sweet Sylvanus, do Berchard L. D., do Scram George H., do Baker J. W., do Shafelt Peter, do Cammer John H., do Styner Jacob, do Crapser Jesse A., do Schell Jacob, Jun., do Craighton Henry, do Teater Daniel, do Craighton D. W., do Teater Heleam, do Champlin Stanton, do Thurston Thomas, do Craw George, do Traver Charles, do Champlin George W., do Traver Erastus, do Driggs C. A., do Treman Oscar I., do Dingman Reuben, do Whitnig John H., do Dudley Addison, do Wereley Reuben, do Dany Philip, do Winewright George H •J do EUeason Charles, do Weidman Septemas, do Eggenor W. W., do Watson John I., do EUet Peleg, do Wheeler George, do Eglerston J. D., do Warner Wm. H., do Eglerston Miles, do Wood Chas. N., do Farrington A. L., do Whilsing George, do Finch William H., do Weidman George D., do Gavett Leander, do Livingston Sylvester, do Hughs J. S., . do Weidman James, Private, promoted Hay James D., do Corporal. Happy J. W., Hubbard Michael, do do Company E. Hallock N., do John B. Vroman, Captain. Harm A., do S. H. Newcomb, First Lieutenant. Inghram E., do Peter Deoy, Second Lieutenant. Jackson D., do Joel Warner, First Sergeant. Jackson Jeremiah, do Wm. W. Jackson, Second Sergeant. Judd George. do C. G. Tyler, Third Sergeant. Jump William, do G. R. Payne, Fourth Sergeant, promoted Lockwood Alexander, do Lieutenant. Layman Charles A., do Jerome Simpson, Fifth Sergeant. Monroe A., do Jas. M. Dart, First Corporal. Mclntyre A., do Jas. Driscol, Second Corporal. Martin Charles, do Oscar Spickerman, Third Corporal. Mattice H. C, do L F. Mabee, Fourth Corporal. Murphy James, do J. C. Starkins, Fifth Corporal. Nichols Isaac P., do Stephen E. Beller, Sixth Corporal. Porter R. S., do Robert Veley, Seventh Corporal. Reed William L., do 92 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Reed Ellis, Private. John Secombe, Second Sergeant. Reed David, do James H. Foland, Third Sergeant. Reed William, do George W. Guernsey, Fourth Sergeant. Robinson F., do Martin Jones, Fifth Sergeant. Roe J. P., do Thompson Underbill, First Corporal. Rull Leiman, do William W. Herron, Second Corporal. Smith William R., do G. L. Brewster, Third Corporal Sloat S., do Charles Mayer, Fourth Corporal. Stoker C. M., do Jarvis Swift, Fifth Corporal. Sprague Alonzo, do James Brownler, Sixth Corporal. Sommers S. B., do G. W. Douglas, Seventh Corporal. Shelmandine L., do Robert Vaughn, Eighth Corporal. Sagendorf A., do Brown Sovereign, Private. Sager Jacob, do Bice Asher D., do Sharff Henry, do Beaver George R., do Shilmandine John, do Brandenstine Jacob, do Shelmandine E. B., do Batchelor L., do Simpson John, do Boughton Lendon E., do Thomas Elias, do Boughton J. B., do Thome William, do Bullis Charles, do Thomas John, do Beh John, do Vanlan Dewit, do Clute J. P., do Vanloan 0. D., do Campbell Peter, do Vroman J. W., do Campbell Duncan, do Vroman A. L., do Campbell James, do WilberP. C, do Cleveland H. M., do Wilber Hiram, do Cleveland Alexander, do Widman J. D., do Drum P. H., do Weed J. M., do Donovan John, do Winters Frank, do Driggs Alonzo, do Witbeck G. H., do Dingman J. A., do Wederman John, do Earls William W., do Winne Lafayette, do Fuller Rodman S., do Warner Alvah, do Guffin James, do Yanson Peter, do Gillbourne D., do Yoemans H. A., do Hummel R. S., Haner David, do do Company F. Jerrolman Jacob, do G. D. Kennedy, Captain. King Stephen, do G. A. TurnbuU, First Lieutenant. King Peter, do CUnton C. Brown, Second Lieutenant. Kater A. D., do Wilham H. Rowe, First Sergeant. King J. H., do J. W. Kennedy, Seconc 1 Sergeant. King Lawrence, Loucks Ira, do do Company G. Lake M. S., do Henry C. Cook, Captain, (resigned). Lehman D. W., do Henry Parsons, First Lieutenant. Maddock E., do Wilber F. Ramsey, Second Lieutenant. Moak N. D., do C. W. Taylor, First Sergeant, promoted Mann George D., do Captain, Brevet Major. Morris G. H., do ROSTER OF THE 13+TH REGIMENT, N. Y. S. V. 93 Near S. D., Private. O'Gorraan William, do Ouderkirk H., do Perry N. S., do Pitcher Conrad, do Parmlee John, do Palraatier Daniel, do Palmatier Willis, do Palmatier David, do Paris Charles, do Parson Alx., do Pitcher A. A., do Paris Levi, do Roney Barney, do Richtmyer, H., do Slater William, do Schermerhom Alx., do Sperbeck Orlando, do Scripture N. R., do Straight Alonzo, do Smith Andrew, do Stanton Lorin T., do Van Kleeck Hugo, do Wightman C. B., do Walters A. L., do Winne James, do Wilday Albert, do Watson D. A., do Young Nelson S., do Zeh Martin G., do Zeh David, do Brown S., do Michael Geo., do Brown John, do Rhin chart Jacob, do Sager Jacob, do Sagendorf Andrew, do King Wm. H., do Company H. Austin A. Yates, Captain. Gerardus Carley, First Lieutenant. Marcus A. Herrick, Second Lieutenant. A. W. Barry, First Sergeant. W. H. Mickel, Second Sergeant. Wm. E. Rockwell, Third Sergeant. A. W. Degolyer, Fourth Sergeant. R. S. Smith, Fifth Sergeant. Wm. Johnson, First Corporal. E. W. Bo wen. Second Corporal. T. G. Liddle, Robt. Seaman, H. G. Teller, E. J. Mockrie, C. W.Austin, Jas. Waddell, Ackley E. S., Acker Adam, Abdls J. W., Brown E. P., Brown I. R., Barrows Daniel, Barrows C. D., Burbank H. H., Bradt George, Bradt Olvon, Bradt A. D., Bradt Aaron, Bennet Geo., Barkhuff Jas. H., Brigner Andrew, Beckler John, Brumagin Peter, Burke James H., Corl Robert, Countermine Chas., Countermine Wm., Campbell Lewis, Chamberlin J. P., Chilson Lorin, Cotton Wm., Cotton Daniel, Connell John, Davis C. O., Douglas J. E., Dougall R. C, Earles W. W., Fields S. S., Fredericks D., Fredericks E., Filkins Benj. C, Hughs David, Jones John C, Kenneday Jas., Kohn Lewis, Kughts Michall, Kagner T., Lester Alanson, Lester John, Lester M., Third Corporal. Fourth Corporal. Fifth Sergeant. Sixth Sergeant. Seventh Sergeant. Eighth Sergeant. Private, do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do 94 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Levey W. T., Private Murphy Jerry, do Miller James, do Mesech H. G., do Mackey Wm., do Myers Henry, do Oudekirk P., do Preston Henry, do Padley Wm. N., do Palmer H., do Rockwell Henry, do Rockwell Jay, do Reagles Geo. M., do Russell Jerry, do Stebbins John, do Sherman Borton, do Sharpe Abram, do Squires Geo., do Starks Peter, do Smith Wm., do Somes H. M., do Tymeson Peter, do Truax Peter, do Trip Henry, do Vanhuysen John, do Valkman John, do VanWormer J. H., do VanAntwert Peter, do Walters Chas., do Wood Chas., do Wasson A. J., do Wilsey A. J., do Company I. Frank Fletcher, Captain and Chaplain. Albert G. Washburne, First Lieutenant. Wm. F. Baldwin, Second Lieutenant. Charles Ahreets, Wm. E. Teller, C. T. Hunter, Wesley Little, W. O. Beach, Jarvis Moore, Wm. Countermine, John Cornell, N. Nichols, C. VanAernam, Thomas Mann, E. Dennison, E. Patterson, First Sergeant. Second Sergeant. Third Sergeant. Fourth Sergeant. Fifth Sergeant. First Corporal. Second Corporal. Third Corporal. Fourth Corporal. Fifth Corporal. Sixth Corporal. Seventh Corporal. Eighth Corporal. Bevins M. M., Bellenger H., Burnett G. G., Brand A. L., Burger Peter, Brotherton J., Barry James, Bakeman Charles, Barrows Daniel, Coons Jacob, Cator Janus, Curtis Lorenzo, Clow Wm., Cator J. H. D., Contyne Joseph, Connelly Patrick, Driggs Emery, Duel J. F., Duncan Ora, Earl Wilbur N., Follensbee George, Friend Peter, Fitzpatrick Ed., Goodfellow H., Goodspeed Wm., Hough tailing E., Houghtaihng S., Houghtaihng A., Houghtaihng P., Hassong Leopold, Ham John J., Husner John, Hitsley Jacob, Jones LeGrande, Joslin John, Jenner Charles, Jennings James, Kniskern George, Livingston H., Layman Wallace, Larribee Thomas, Myer Henry, Mace Jefferson, Merenees Wm., Mereness Jacob, Plue Peter, Pratt George, Quinn Thomas, Rider Reuben, Rooker Ira, Private. do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do ROSTER OF THE 134TH REGIMENT, N. Y. S. V. 95 Slater Ira, Private. Klutz Charles, Private. Spoor Marcellus, do Kunst Frederick, do Scrum Jacob, do Keller John, do Salsbury Amasa, do Lasumea T., do Spoor John E., do Link Peter, do Stock Christian, do Marion John, do Smith George W., do Murphy John, do Tallerday Wm. H., do Rode John, do Turner John G., do Rheinisch John, do TenEyck Hiram, do Schellkopf John, do Taggart J. A, do Schuster Anton, do Vrooman Wm., do Schmidt Joseph, do Wayman David, do Schmidt Thomas, do Weightman Wm., do Uglitz Charles, do Young Grosvenor, do Wagner John, do Wiltsey Wm., do Wilbeck Abram, do Shafer Levi, do Watchtell Philip, do Germond George, do Wurster Philip, do West Zadok, do Van Able John, do Palmateer Jacob, do Myer Henry, do Still well S. G., do Fitzgerald Wm., do StiUwell D. H., do Ball C. L. S., do Tyrell Samuel, do Tyall Anthony, do Borst Wm., do Feathers Samuel, do Company K. Bunge Chas., Van DeBogart Geo., do do Perry E. McMaster, Captain, promoted to Truan Theodore, do Lieutenant-Colonel. White John C, do Henry Frederick, First Lieutenant. Schneider Fred, do J. Wm. Burkhart, Second Lieutenant. Hedden Olover, do Chas. Gartland, First Sergeant. O'Ring Andrew, do Frederick Neuber, Second Sergeant. Backer Wm., do Beck Wm., Private. Travis Stephen, do Bellenger Jacob. do Williams Geo. H., do Blum Christ., do Weaver Samuel, do Blesser Frank, do Cater Wm., . do Breithaupt Jacob, do Undyk John, do Burk Simon, do Palmateer G. H., do Burk James, do Tidger George, do Bermbeck Conrad, do Schwarzman Adam, do Benz Christian, do Cornelius Davis, do Clement John, do Boiler John G., do Eisenmenger Fred, do Stooker Charles, do Devoe Hiram, do Stopper John, do ■ Geiser Jacob, do Groope David, do Gernsmer Ferdinand, do Scharff Henry, do Haflinger JohTi, do Winters Frank, do Horn Valentine, do Barry Jeremiah, do Herrman Phil., do Johnson Peter, do Holmes Edwin, do Happy J. W., do 96 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Beaver Peter, Private Judd George, do Van DeBogart I., do Martin Wm., do. Ashton George, do Zessut Jacob, or Joseph, do Bellinger Conrad, do Welton Wm. H., do Wolford Minor, do Zunest William, do Smith Wm. R., do Balders Chas., do 44TH Reg't. N. Y. S. Vols. We regret exceedingly our inability to obtain a correct list of the brave boys that enlisted in the 44th, from the County. The regiment rendez- voused at Cooperstown and was mustered in the U. S. service at Washington in 1862. Robt. W. Gardner, Corporal. Norman Ottman, Private. Martin Stewart, do John F. Chase, do David Claus, do' Wm. Eckerson, Jun., do Emery A. Shaver, do Rufus Esmay, do Theodore Garnsey, do Aaron H. Esmay, do Scattering. The following names and regiments to which they belonged we have been fortunate in find- ing, and being scattered throughout the State we will place them as follows: — Archer John H., Private, 6ist Regiment, In- fantry, N. Y. S. V. Bice Henry, Private, 91st Heavy Artillery, N. Y. S. V. Brown Charles, Private, 91st Heavy Artillery, N. Y. S. V. Becker Vinton, Corporal, 3d Heavy Artillery, N. Y. S. V. Budg Daniel, Private, 7 th Heavy Artillery N. Y. S. V. Bowie James, Private, io2d Regiment Infant- ry, N. Y. S. V. Bevins John, Private, 7th Regiment Heavy Artillery, N. Y. S. V. Bevins Dennis, Private, 7th Regiment Heavy Artillery, N. Y. S. V. Duel George H., Private, 93d Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Duel Levi, Private, 7th Heavy Artillery, N. Y. S. V. Ensign Frederick, Private, 4th Heavy Artil- lery, U. S. Regulars. Fox Samuel W., Sergeant, 175th Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Funk Simeon, Private, 34th Art'y, N. Y. S. V. Grovenor Perry, Private, unknown. Gorden William H., Private, 25th, promoted to Captain, 6istN. Y. S. V. Hanson Nicholas, Lieutenant, 3d Heavy Ar- tillery, N. Y. S. V. Hyney John H., Corporal, 90th Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Huested William, Private, i42d Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Hillsinger John H., Private, 5th Infantry, Iowa. Hurst Robert, Private, 6ist Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Hemstreet Charles, Corporal, Heavy Artil- lery, N. Y. S. V. King Peter, Private, 7th Heavy Artillery, N. Y. S. V. Lane Stanton, Private, io2d Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Little Loren L., Private, 6ist Infantry N. Y. S. V. Mead Ephraim, Private, 90th Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Mattice Spenser, Private, 81st Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Moyer Sylvanus, Private, iisih Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Marble George, Private, 7th Heavy Artillery, N. Y. S. V. Marshall Thomas, Private, 7 th Heavy Artil- lery, N. Y. S. V. Ostrander John, Private, 87th Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Pitcher Jerry D., Private, ist Artillery, N. Y. S. V. Pichet Peter, Private, 7th Heavy Artillery, N. Y. S. V. Relyea John, Private, 91st Heavy Artillery, N. Y. S. V. Salsbury George, Private, 91st Heavy Artil- lery, N. Y. S. V. MISCELLANEOUS ENLISTMENTS— COLORED VOLUNTEERS 97 Shaver George A., Private, gist Heavy Ar- tillery, N. Y. S. V. Stanton John H., Private, 43d Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Shaver WilHam, Corporal, 177th Infantry, N. Y. S. V. VanWormer Isaac, Private, 7 th Heavy Artil- lery, N. Y. S. V. VanWormer J. H., Private, 7th Heavy Artil- lery, N. Y. S. V. Van Wagoner James, Private, 7th Heavy Ar- tillery, N. Y. S. V. Witbeck Martin, Lieutenant, 51st Infantry, N. Y. S. V. White Stephen P., Private, S7th Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Tillapaugh Washington, Private, in a West-, em Regiment. Herrick John, Private, 91st Infantry, N.Y.S.V. Benjamin W. Gilbourne, Private, — Heavy Artillery, N. Y. S. V. Perry Grovenor, Private, — Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Barney Higgins, Private, U. S. Infantry. R. G. Havens, Surgeon, 139th Regiment. N. Y. S. V. J. M. Esmy, Private, loist Regiment, N. Y. S. V. P. E. Moore, Private, 4th Heavy Artillery, N. Y. S. V. Charles Bothwick, Private, 53d Heavy Artil- lery,, N. Y. S. V. H. H. Woolford, Private, 17 th Battery, N. Y. S. V. William Hogan, Private, 93d Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Peter Towers, Private, 8th Heavy Artillery, N. Y. S. V. John R. Meek, Private, 91st Infantry, N. Y. S. V. George W. Clement, Private, 78th Infantry, N. Y. S. V. George W. Boorne, Private, 121st Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Walter A. Dingman, Private, 23d Battery, N. Y. S. V. Oswal Burnet, Private, 12th Battery, N. Y. S. V. Cyrus W. Ryder, Private, 133d Infantry, N. Y. S V, M. Rockerfeller, Private, 91st Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Frank Phaniff, Private, 50th Infantry, N. Y. S. V. William Kennedy, Private, 91st Infantry, N. Y. S. V. P. S. Taber, Private, 91st Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Harrison Propper, Private, 120th Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Benjamin Rennolds, Private, 144th Infantry, N. Y. S. V. John P. Lambert, Private, 80th Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Edwin Bruce, Private, 80th Infantry, N. Y. S. V. George W. Evens, Private, ist M. F. Eng., N. Y. S. V. Joseph S. Perry, Private, 2d Heavy Artillery, N. Y. S. V. Wesley Spore, Private, 91st Infantry, N. Y. S. V. Stephen S. King, Private, 7th Heavy Artil- lery, N. Y. S. V. Judson Sprong, Private, 15 2d N. Y. Artil- lery, N. Y. S. V. John Thrall, Private, Ellsworth Revengers. Philip H. Michaels, Priyate, 3d Heavy Artil- lery, N. Y. S. V. Colored Volunteers. Berg Henry, Private , 20th Regt. U. S. C. T. Becker John, do do do do Burhans George, do do do do Cain David, do do do do Charlton Jacob, do do do do Dewit Henry T. do do do do Enders Samuel, do do do do Hoyt Richard, do 26th do do Hoyt Samuel, do 20th do do Jackson Arch., do nth do R. I. C. T. Kilmer James H., do nth do H.A.N. Y.V Keyser Abraham, do 26th doU.S.Col'dT. Keyser Zachariah do do do do Larkin Thomas, do 20th do do Larkin Adam, do nth do R. I. H. A. Lewis John, do do do do Lawyer Peter, do 20th doU.S.Col'dT. Lauts Jerry, do do do do 98 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 2oth do do do do do nth do R. I. H. A 31st do U. S. C. V do do do 26th do do do do do do do do 20th do do nth do R.I.H.Art do do do 26th do U.S.C.Vol •do do do do do do 31st do do nth do R. I. H. A 26th do U. S. C. V enlisted in white regi- ment in 1 86 1, killed Mitchell William, Private, 3istRegt. U. S. C. T. Murphy Charles, do Murphy Samuel, do Ray John, do Smoke WiUiam, do Schermerhorn John, do Sternberg Henry, do Smoke Josiah, do Sternbergh Lorenzo,do Teaboat George, do Teaboat William, do Teaboat Jacob, do Tompson William, do Tompson Lysander,do Teabout Harry, do Teabout Richard H., do Vroman Harrison, do Vroman Daniel, do Sees Thomas, do Schoharie's Honored Dead. Since we have chronicled the names of those who went forth to battle for their country as far as we have been able to glean from promiscu- ous lists, let us turn to those who laid their lives upon our country's altar as a sacrifice to her greatness, independence and liberty, and a seal to their loyalty. Through the kindness of Mr. H. H. Johnson, a literary gentleman of Hyndsville, we are able to furnish a list of the soldiers from Schoharie County, who died in service during the Rebell- ion, with their birthplace, date of enlistment and death, being extracts from articles written by Mr. Johnson, and published in the Cobkskill Herald, entitled " Hero Martyrs of Schoharie County." George W. Snyder. [See Cobleskill.] Simon Hoosick Mix. [See Schoharie.] David Haner, private. Company G, 134th Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols.; born in the town of Sharon, March 1 6, 1 843; enlisted in August, 1862. Participated in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburgh. Not found after the latter battle and supposed to have been taken prisoner and died in a rebel prison. John F. Duel, private, Company 1, 134th Regi- ment, N. Y. S. Vols.; bom in the town of Scho- harie about the year 1811; enlisted September 4, 1862. Died at Fairfax Court House, Va., December 3, 1862. WiUiam H. Cornell, private. Company — , 134th Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols.; was born in Lisle, Broome county, March 5, 1840; enlisted August 14, 1862. Fought in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburgh, and was killed by a railroad collision July 15, 1864. Jesse Albert Crasper, private of Company E, 134th Regiment N. Y. S. Vols.; was bom in the town of Summit, in 1843 ; enlisted in 1862 ; was taken prisoner at Gettysburgh, and confined in " Libby Prison," at Richmond, Va., where he died. Wm. T. Stillwell, private. Company C, 134th Regiment N. Y. S. Vols.; was born at Pratts- ville, Greene county, from whence he removed, at an early age, to Summit, Schoharie County ; enhsted, September 23, 1862; died with spotted fever, December 23, 1862, at Fredericks- burgh, Va. David H. Stilwell, private. Company C, 134th Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols.; was born in the town of Summit, March 14, 1844 ; enlisted Sep- tember 23, 1862 ; fought at Gettysburgh and other battles, and died at Murfreesborough, Tenn., April 4, 186.;. Jacob Mereness, private. Company I, 134th Regiment N. Y. S. Vols.; was born in the town of Sharon, January 24, 1834; enlisted in August, 1862, and died near Fredericksburgh, Va., of chronic diarrhea, December 22, 1862. Cornelius R. VanSlyke, private. Company C, 134th Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols. Born in the town of Seward, June 4, 1 84c ; enlisted in Sep- tember, 1862, and was killed at the battle of Gettysburgh. Corporal Henry W. Gordon, Company C, 134th Regiment, N. Y. S.Vols.; was born in the town of Carlisle, June 22, 1837 ; enlisted August II, 1862; died of inflamation of. the lungs, in the summer of 1863. Wm. H. Clute, private. Company C, 134th Regiment, N. Y. S.Vols.; was born at Spraker's Basin, Montgomery county, August 28, 1837, from whence he removed to Schoharie County ; enlisted August 11, 1862, and died June 14, 1863, from the effects of a kick received from a mule, at Germantown. SCHOHARIE'S HONORED DEAD. 99 Lieutenant George R. Payne, of Company E, 134th Regiment; was born in the town of Ful- ton, in the year 1840 ; enlisted in August, 1862. He fought at the battles of Chancellors- viUe and Gettysburgh. AVas captured in the latter, by the Rebels, but was re-taken by the federal troops, and was killed by a bullet at the battle of Rocky Face. Corporal James Weidman, of Company D, 134th Regiment, N. Y. S.Vols.; was born in the town of Jefferson ; enlisted in the summer of 1862; fought at Chancellorsville, Missionary Ridge, Rocky Face, Resaca, Lost Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, and Atlanta. At the last mentioned place, he was mortally wounded, and died the next day. James Guffin, private. Company G, 134th Regiment; was born in the town of Carlisle, Feb- ruary 22, 1832 ; enlisted in September, 1862 ; fought at Chancellorsville, Gettysburgh, and was killed by a cannon ball at Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864. Levi Duel, private, Company K, 7th N. Y. Heavy Artillery ; born in the town of Schoharie, in 1841 ; enlisted August 4, 1862; was captured during the battle in front of Petersburgh, and died in Andersonville prison, August 15, 1864. Corporal George H. Duel, 93d Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols.; was born in the town of Wright, March 3, 1841, enlisted in the autumn of 1861 ; fought in several battles, and died from con- sumption, in October, 1864, broiight on by ex- haustion in the battle of the Wilderness. Spencer Mattice, was a private in Com- pany D, 8ist Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols.; was born in the town of Wright, July 3, 1848 ; en- listed March 31, 1864, and died of typhoid fever at Hampton Hospital, August 2, 1864. John Jost Hillsby, private, Company I, 76th Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols.; was born in the town of Cobleskill, in the year 1821 ; enhsted in the autumn of 1 861, and died of fever near Fred- ericksburgh, August 9, 1862. John Ostrander, private, 87th Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols.; born in the town of Jefferson, December 18, 1842; enlisted October 17, 186 1 ; fought in the following battles : Williamsburgh, James River, Hanover Court House, Fair Oaks, and the seven days battle before Richmond, when he was wounded and his regiment all killed or taken prisoners, except four, of which number John was one. After recovering from his wounds, he fought at Ihe battles of Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburgh,' Gettys- burgh, and the battle of the Wilderness, where he was killed by a bullet. John H. Stanton, private, 43d Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols.; was born in the town of Fulton ; en- hsted in February, 1862. Fought at the battle of Williamsburgh and died of fever, June 25, 1862. Norman Ottman, private, 44th Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols.; was born in the town of Sharon, April I, 1825 ; enlisted September 18, 1862. He fought at the battles of Fredericksburgh and Chancellorsville. In the latter conflict he was killed by a piece of shell. Martin Stewart, a private in the 44th Regi- ment, N. Y. S. Vols.; was born in the town of Fulton, March 12, 1839; enlisted August 22, 1861. He died at the hospital of Fort Wood, in New York Harbor, of fever, June 8, 1862. John F. Chase, private, Company D, 44th Regiment ; born in Bennington, Vt., whence at an early age he removed to the town of Fulton, Schoharie County; enhsted in the month of September, 1861. Fought at Yorktown ; died of typhoid fever, in a hospital in New York City, May 15, 1862. Corporal Charles W. Hemstreet, was born in the town of Carlisle, July 8, 1840; enlisted December 6, 1861. Was taken prisoner at Manassas Junction, but was afterwards ex- changed and died in 1863 from typhoid fever, contracted during his imprisonment. David Claus, private, 44th Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols.; born in the town of Scriba, Oswego county, N. Y., in the year 1840. In the early part of the year 1862 he removed to the town of Seward, Schoharie County ; enhsted Septem- ber 10, 1862. He fought in all the battles in which the 44th was engaged until his death ; he was mortally wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, May 8, 1864, and died at Fred- ericksburgh two" days after. William Eckerson, Jr., private, Company I, 44th Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols.; was born in the town of Canajoharie, Montgomery county, N. Y., June 28, 1S34; enlisted October 9, 1861, loo tllSTORY OF SCHOttARlE COUNTY. and passed through all the battles in which that regiment was engaged. Was wounded in the leg at the second battle of Bull Run and taken prisoner, but released again. Re-enlisted .as a veteran December 28, 1863, and was killed while on picket at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. Stanton Lane, private in the i02d Regiment, Van Buren's Light Infantry; born in the town of Canajoharie, Montgomery county, N. Y., from whence he removed to Sharon, and en- listed in October, 1861. Fought in the battles of Cedar Mountain, Chatall's, White Sulphur Springs and Antietam ; was killed by a shell at the latter place. Sylvanus Moyer, private, Company D, 115th Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols.; was born in the town of Sharon, August 27, 1815; enlisted August 4, 1 86 1. He fought in the battles at Olista Station and Chesterfield Court House, and was struck by a minnie ball in the head and killed at the latter place. Corporal John H. Hyney, of the 90th Regi- ment, N. Y. S. Vols.; was born in the town of Carlisle, in October, 1838; enlisted November 10, 1861. He fought in the battles of Savage Station and Fair Oaks, where he was wounded in the thigh by the bursting of a shell. He was afterwards engaged in the battles at Swift Creek, Drury's Bluff, Cold Harbor and Petersburgh; was mortally wounded at the last named battle, and died August 15, 1864. Robert N. Hurst, private, Company F, 6ist Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols.; born in the town of New Scotland, Albany county, September 12, 1842, and removed to Carlisle, Schoharie Coun- ty; enlisted September 12, 1861. He fought in the battle of Fair Oaks and before Rich- mond, and was run over at the latter place by a piece of artillery and killed. Erastus Picket, private. Company E, 175th Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols.; born in Schoharie about the year 1820; enlisted in the summer of 1864. Fought at the battle of Cedar Creek, and died of fever at Winchester, Va., November 20, 1864. Sergeant Samuel W. Fox,of Company E,i75th Regiment, was born in the town of Richmond- ville. May 21, 1831, and enlisted August 21, 1864. He participated in the battle of Cedar Creek, and died at Winchester, Va., of typhoid fever, November 22, 1854. Henry Bice, a private of the 91st Regiment, N. Y. Heavy Artillery, was born at Rensselaer- ville, Albany county, from whence he removed to Schoharie County, and enlisted in September, 1864. He fought at the battle of Hatch's Run, where he was wounded and afterwards died in the hospital at Washington, May i, 1865. Lieutenant Martin Wetbeck, of Company I, 51st Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols.; was born De- cember 4, 1841, and enhsted from Schoharie October 7, 1861 ; about the ist of January, 1864, was promoted to First Lieutenant. Fought at Newbern, Roanoke, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Fredericks- burgh and Petersburgh; was taken prisoner and died at Danville prison, January 30, 1865. Anthony Marshall, private, was born in 1810, and enlisted January i, 1862 ; he died by disease at Armory Square Hospital, September 6, 1862. Loren L. Little, private, of Company F, 6ist Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols., was born in Charleston, Montgomery county, January 31, 1840, and removed to Sloansville, Schoharie County, and enlisted September, 25, 1861 ; was offered a commission but declined and was killed at the battle of Fair Oaks. John A. Archer, was a private in the 6ist Regiment, N. Y. Vols,, and born in Albany county, November 30, 1836 ; he removed to Sloansville, Schoharie County, and enlisted. Fought at the battles of Fair Oaks, Savage Sta- tion, Edsell's Hill, Antietam, Charlestown, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburgh, Gettysburgh, Hanover Court House, Bull Run, Cedar Moun- tain and Pine Plains, and many more, making thirty-one battles in all ; was taken prisoner at Pine Plains, and died in a Rebel prison, August 25, 1864, George A. Shafer, private. Company G, 91st Regiment, was born in the town of Wright, May 6, 1836, and enlisted November 11, 1861; he died by disease in Virginia, May i, 1862. John Relyea, a private of Company D, 91st Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols.; was born in^arlisle, March 28, 1841, and enlisted in October, 186 1 ; he died of typhoid fever at Key West^ May 16, SCHOHARIE'S HONORED DEAD. Corporal Robert W. Gardener, of Company E, 44th Regiment, was born in the town of Sew- ard, June ist, 183T ; he enhsted September 18, 1862, and fought at Fredericksburgh, ist and 2d battles, Chancellorsville, Gettysburgh, Rappa- hannock Station, and the battle of the Wilder- ness. On the third day of the last named bat- tle he was taken prisoner and died in Libby prison, in July, 1864. Emery A. Shafer, was a private in the 44th, and born in the town of Seward, April 11, 1832; enlisted September 15, 1861 and died of jaun- dice at Philadelphia, in March, 1862. Ephraim Mead, a private in the 90th Regi- ment, N. Y. S. Vols.; was born in the town of Jefferson, October 5, 1842, and enlisted Sep- tember, 1864; he fought and was wounded at Cedar Creek and died in a Philadelphia hos- pital. May 5, 1865. Simeon Funk, of the 34th Regiment, N. Y. Artillery, was born in the town of Wright, March 26, 1822 ; was drafted in the summer of 1869; fought in the battles before Petersburgh, and died of dropsy at Harewood hospital, Wash- ington, January 7, 1865. Stephen P. White, private of Company B, S7th Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols.; was born in the town of Carlisle, August 16, 7840, and enlisted October 3, 1861. He died of disease at Camp Cahfornia, Va., January 14, 1862. Rufus Esmay, of the 44th Regiment, was a private of Company K, and was born in Seward, February 12, 1841. He fought through Mc- Clellan's peninsular campaign up to the siege of Yorktown. Here he was taken sick with typhoid fever and died May i, 1862. Corporal Theodore Guernsey, of Company G, 44th Regiment ; was born in Cobleskill, Oc- tober 12, 1833, and enlisted in September, i86r. Was killed by a bullet in the head at the battle of Hanover Court House, May 27, 1862. Jeremiah D. Pitcher, a private of Battery C, N. Y. Artillery; was born in the town of Sharon in the year 1820, and enlisted September 16, 1864. He died of typhoid fever at Point Look- out, Md., February 22, 1865. William Huested was a private in the i42d Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols., and born in the town of Carlisle, March 4, 1 846. He enlisted August 20, 1864, and was wounded October 27, 1864, at the fight on the Darbytown road, and died from the effects of the wound, November 15, 1864. John M. Hillsinger was born in the town of Carlisle," and enlisted as a private of Compan) B, of the 5th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, and died of disease in hospital, at St. Louis, October 18, 1862. James Bowie, private of io2d Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols.; was born in Scotland in 1842. In 1858 he came to Sharon to reside, and enlisted in the autumn of 1861. Fought in several bat- tles and was killed by a shot from a rebel sharp- shooter, just after the battle of Antietani. Jacob Van Wagonen, was born in Columbia county, from whence he removed to Barnerville, N. Y., and enlisted January 4, 1864, as a pri- vate in the 7th N. Y. H. Artillery. Fought at the battles of the Wilderness and Cold Harbor. Was wounded at the latter place, and died from the effects of the wound, July 7, 1874. George Salsbury, private. Company D, 91st Regiment, N. Y. Vols.; was born in the town of Wright in the year 1820 and enlisted in the autumn of 1861. He fought in several battles, and at the expiration of his term of enlistment re-enlisted as a veteran, and died of disease at Albany hospital, August 15, 1864. Charles Brown was a private in the 91st Reg- iment, N. Y. S. Vols., was born in the town of Jefferson and enlisted in the fall of 1861. He died of disease at Key West, Florida, in 1864. Harvey Brown, a brother, was a private of Company C, 134th Regiment, and born in the town of Jefferson; enlisted in September, 1862, and was killed at the battle of Gettysburgh. Sovereign Brown, brotlier of the two preced- ing, was a private in Company G, of the 134th Regiment, and was born in the town of Jeffer- son. He enlisted in September, 1862, and died at Alexandria from the effects of a gun- shot wound, in the summer of 1863. Corporal William Shaver, of Company C, 177th Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols., was born in the town of Fulton, February 4, 1841, and enlisted October 14, 1862. He died in Louisana of yellow fever, April 7, 1863. Corporal Uriah Hallenbeck, of the 177th Regiment, was born in Albany County in 1835, HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. and removed to Fulton, Schoharie County, where he enlisted in November, 1862, and died in Cairo of cholera morbus. Corporal Vinton Becker was born in the town of Sharon, February 9, 1844, and enlisted in the 69th Regiment, at Cherry Valley, in Octo- ber, 186 f, but was transferred to the 3d N. Y. Heavy Artillery, Battery M, and died of fever, April 29, 1862. John H. VanWormer, private, 7th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, was born at Carlisle in 1841, and was wounded at Petersburgh on the 27th of Octo- ber, 1864, and died from the effects in the hos- pital. Thomas Sees was a (colored) private in a white regiment organized in 1861'. He was killed at the battle of South Mountain, Md. Corporal G. Washington Tillapaugh was born in the town of Cariisle on the 3d of June, 1841, and enlisted in the' 151st Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols., at Lockport in August, 1862. He was wounded in battle, and after the amputation of a limb, gangrene set in and he died the 21st of June, 1864. Wm. H. McMillen was born in the town of New Scotland, Albany county, and removed to Carlisle, from whence he enlisted in Company C, 134th Regiment, September 8, 1862, and died near Fairfax with the fever. He went out with the regiment and participated in all en- gagements up to his death. CHAPTER VI. Schoharie County County Civil List. Judges of Common Pleas- Assistant Judges —Session Justices-Surrogates— District Attorneys — County Clerks— Sheriffs- Treasurers— Superintendents of Poor- School Commissioners— Loan Commission- ers — Excise —Inspectors — Governor— Treasurers— Adjutant General— Canal Commissioners— Canal Appraisers— Cura- tor OF State Library — ^^Legislature-- Senators — Congress — Presidential Elec- tors — Consuls. THE Court of Common Pleas was continued from the Colonial period, and under the first Constitution of the State the number of Judges and Assistant Justices in the various counties differed widely, in some there being as many as twelve of each. By an act passed March 29, 18 18, the office of Assistant Justices was abolished and the number of Judges was limited to five, including the First Judge. First Judges. WilHara Beekman, appointed June 10, 1795. John C. Wright, do April 18, 1833. Charles Goodyear, do Febr'y 9, 1843. Demosthenes Lawyer, elected November, 1847. Lyman Sanford, do November, 1855. William C. Lamont, do November, 1863. Charles Holmes,* do November, 187 1. Assistant Judges. The Assistant Judges received their appoint- ment from the council of appointment, and we do not think they numbered at any time less than four or more than five. The council having such powers conferred upon them, selfish motives and partisanship led them to use it without stint. The volumes of appoint- ments are almost numberless, and at one time being limited, we cannot give the date of the appointment but only the year in which they presided as given by court record : — Adam B. Vroman, of Schoharie, John M. Brown, of CarKsle, David Sternbergh, of Broome, and Jonathan Danforth, of Middle- burgh, were of the first bench, and received their appointment June 10, 1795. Peter Swart, of Schoharie, 1795. John Bauch, (Bouck), of Middleburgh, 1796. Marcus BeUinger, of Middleburgh, 1796. John Ries, of Schoharie, 1797; Peter Sny- der, 1797. Lawrence Lawyer, Jr., 1798; Henry Schaef- fer, 1798. * Re-elected November, 1877. SCHOHARIE COUNTY CIVIL LIST. 103 Peter Vroman, Jun., 1799; Harmonus Bouck, 1799. Joseph Borst, 1800. Jesse Shepherd, 1804. Olney Briggs, 1816; Henry Hager, 1816. Isaac Hall Tiffany, 1820. John Brewster, 1819; John Reynolds, 1819; Henry Becker, 181 9. Elias Holliday, 1820; N. P. Tyler, 1820. Marvin Judd, 1823 ; Thomas P. Danforth, 1823. WiUiarn Mann, 1830. Robert Eldridge, 1837. Harvey Watson, 1838; John Westover, 1838. Jonas Krum, 1840. Martines Mattice, 1843. Nathan T. Rosseter, 1845. Session Justices. The Constitution of 1846 provided for the election of nearly all offices by the people. In the place of Assistant Judges, two Justices of the Peace were associated with the Judge to hold Courts of Sessions, with such criminal jurisdiction as the Legislature shall prescribe and perform such other duties as may be re- quired by law. The associates are termed Session Justices. Sejmour Sornberger and Daniel McGarry, 1847. Charles Watson and John E. Moore, 1850. Hiram Sexton and John F. Shaver, 1851, and to fill vacancy, Henry P. Mattice. Henry I. Moak, Hiram Sexton, Ralph Brewster,* 1852. William H. Crowe, John S. Van Sternbergh, 1853- Ehsh Case and Nathan Gallup, 1854. Seymour Sornberger, Robert Crespen, 1856. Henry Loucks, WilHam E. Sprong, 1857. F. P. Martin, Elisha Case, 1858. G. G. Hynds, Tiffany Lawyer, 1859. Lyman Baker, Tiffany Lawyer, r86o. James R. Baldwin, John W. Gibbs, 1861. Tiffany Lawyer, John W. Gibbs, 1862. Jacob U. Zimmer, W. E. Sprong, 1863. S. B. Richmond, Abraham Spickerman, 1 864. Freegift P. Martin, Alfred Isham, 1865. ♦Appointed. James Swarthout, Alfred H. Isham, 1866. Stephen J. Tyler, Seymour Sornberger, 1867. Alfred H. Isham, S. J. Tyler, i868. Elish Case, John H. Mattice, 1869-70. James Swarthout, 1871. S. Diefendorf, G. H. Furguson, 1872. Asa Tinklepaugh, S. Diefendorf, 1873. Phihp Humphrey, O. D. Young, 1874. WilHam H. Brayman, C. A. Hinman, 1875. E. Willard Bois, Aaron Stevens, 1876. Gideon Kling, SpenserBurnett, 1877. J. C. Smith, Spenser Burnett, 1878. M. C. Teller, Edgar Akeley, 1879. Spenser Burnett, J. C. Smith, 1880. J. L. Beard, Edward L. Snyder, 1881. Surrogates. *Under the first constitution, surrogates were appointed by the council for an unlimited period. By the second, they were appointed by the Gov- ernor and Senate for four years, and by the third the office was abolished in counties, not to exceed foity thousand population, and devolved its duties upon the County Judge. Storm A. Becker, appointed June 10, 1795. John Gebhard, do Feb. 26, 181 1. Storm A. Becker, do March 9, 1813. John Gebhard, do Feb. 28, 1815. WiUiam Mann, do Feb. 4, 1822. Henry Hamilton, do March 2, 1832. Thomas Smith, do March 26, 1840. Demosthenes Lawyer, do March 26, 1844. District Attorneys. By an act passed April 21, i8i8, each county was erected into a separate district for the pur- pose of this office, and during the existence of the second constitution, it was filled by appoint- ment of the Court of General Sessions in each county. By the law of 1846, the attorney is elected by the people. At present the salary is established by the board of supervisors, and is $700.00. Henry Hamilton, of Schoharie, appointed June II, 1818. David F. Sacia, of JVIiddleburgh, appointed February 13, 1821. * Civil list. 104 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Thomas Lawyer, of Cobleskill, appointed February 4, 1822. Jacob Houck, Jun., of Schoharie, appointed October n, 1831. Robert McClellan, of Middleburgh, appointed June 7, 1836. Benonai Spafford, of Middleburgh, appointed June 8, 1837. William A. Sternbergh, of Middleburgh, ap- pointed October 12, 1844. Peter S. Danforth, of Middleburgh, appointed June 5, 1845. William H. Engle, of Middleburgh, elected June, 1847. Joseph Mackey, of Gilboa, elected Novem- ber, 1850. John B. Strain, of Richmondville, elected November, 1853. Nathan P. Hinman, of Schoharie, elected November, 1856. Stephen L. Mayham, of Blenheim, elected November, 1859. William H. Young, of Cobleskill, elected No- vember, 1862. Henry C. Cook, of Richmondville, elected November, 1868. Albert Baker, of Cobleskill, elected Novem- ber, 1869. William H. Baldwin, of Gilboa, elected No- vember, 1874. WilUam E. Thome, of Middleburgh, elected November 1877. Alonzo B. Coons, of Sharon, elected Novem- ber, 1880. County Clerks. Besides keeping the County records, the clerk's duty is to act as clerk of the courts. Like nearly all other offices, under the first constitu- tion this was filled by appointment and under the second by election. The official term is three years. Joachim G. Staats, appointed June lo, 1795. Isaac Marcellus, do Dec. 31, 1801. Wm. W. Enders, do July 6, 1815. John Swart, do Mar. 27, 1819. John D. Lawyer, do Feb. 13, 1821. John D. Lawyer, elected Nov. 1822. Alex. H. Marcellus, do Nov., 1825. John Gebhard, Jun., elected Nov., 1828. Abraham A. Keyser, do Nov., 1834. Wm. A. Hoton, do Nov., 1837- Thomas McArthur, do Nov., 1840. Stephen Mayhan, do Nov., 1846. Loring Andrews, do Nov., 1849. Almerin Gallup, do Nov., 1852. John F. Shafer, do Nov., 1855. Henry Kingsley, do Nov., i86r. John H. Coons, do Nov., 1867. John Morrison, do Nov., 1870. Thomas Zeh, Jun., do Nov., 1873- Wm. B. Murphy, do Nov., 1876. Wm. B. Murphy, do Nov., 1879. Sheriffs. Under the first constitution, sheriffs were ap- pointed annually by the "Council," and no person could hold I he office for more than four successive years. He could hold no other office, and must be a free-holder in the county in which he was appointed. By the second the office became elective for the term of three years, ineligible to election for the next succeeding term. Jacob Lawyer, Jun., appointed June 10, Jackson Lawrence, do Feb. 23, Jacob Mann, do Mar. 4, Peter Vrooman, Jun., do Aug. 8, Barent Vrooman, do Oct. 29, Stephen Lawrence, do Feb. 5, Gideon Wilber, do Feb. 24, Peter Swart, Jun., do Feb. 16, Stephen Lawrence, do Feb. 21, Wm. C. Bouck, do Mar. lo, Peter Swart, Jun., do Mar. 9, Adam P. Becker, do April 18, Abraham Keyser, Jun., do Feb. 28, Giles H. Hubbard, do Feb. 9, Constant Brown, do Feb. 12, Constant Brown, elected Nov., E. Van Home, do Nov., Jacob L. Lawyer, do Nov., Peter Osterhout, do Nov., Adam Mattice, do Nov., Daniel Larkin, do Nov., Cyrus Smith, (removed,) do Nov., Henry Mann, Jr., appointed July i, John L. Brown, elected Nov., Tobias Bouck, do Nov., 179s 1796. 1797. 1801. 180T. 1805. 1808. 1810. 1811. 1812. 1813. 1814. 1815. 1819. 1821. 1822. 1825. 1828. 1 83 1. 1834. 1837- 1840. 1842. 1842. 1845. SCHOHARIE COUNTY CIVIL LIST. 105 Treat Durand, elected Nov., 1848. John V. Stryker, do Nov., 1851. David D. L. McCulloch, do Nov., 1854. Frederick Rowley, do Nov., 1857. John R. Moran, do Nov., i860. Peter W. Ferris, do Nov., 1863. Thos. H. Knickerbocker, do Nov., i866. Jacob Angle, do Nov., 1869. John F. Sawyer, do Nov., 1872. Jehiel Brazee, do Nov., 1875. Orson Root, do Nov., 1878. EzraMitchell, do Nov., 1881. County Treasurers. Previous to 1846 the Treasurer was appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Since the expira- tion of the term of the officer then holding, it has been an elective one, the term being three years. elected do do do appointed elected do Ralph Brewster, David Becker, Peter S. Swart, John Binder, James O. Williams, ' James O. WiUiams, John J. Dickinson, James O. Williams, t appointed James O. Williams, elected Nov., 1848 Nov., 1854, Nov., 1857 Nov., 1863 Oct., 1869 Nov., 1869. Nov., 187s Dec, 1879 Nov., 1880. Superintendents of the Poor. By legislative act of 1827, the office of Super- intendent was created and consisted of three in number, appointed yearly by the Board of Su- pervisors. Previous to 1830, each town took charge of its own poor, and usually sold by auction, their support to the lowest bidder. In 1846 the office became elective. Term, three years. Harmonus Bouck, appointed Oct., 1830. Ralph Manning, do Nov., 1830. Jacob Crounse, do Oct., 1830. Ralph Manning, do Oct., 1831. Thomas Butler, do Oct., 1831. Peter Osterhout, do Oct., 1831. Thomas Butler, do Oct. 3, 1832. Chester Laselle, do Oct. 3, 1832. ♦Vice Pinder. f Vice Dickinson. Ralph Manning, appointed John Van Gaasbeck, do Jacob Crounse, do Harvey Watson, do Harmon Becker, do William Dietz, do Harvey Watson, do Philip Mann, do Harvey Watson, do Hezekiah Manning, do Harmonus Vroman, do Hezekiah Manning, do Wm. I. Borst, do Hezekiah Manning,* do Wm. I. Borst,* do Harmonus Vroman,* do Wm. I. Borst, do Harmonus Vroman, do Marcy Sternbergh, do Charles Watson, elected, Orson Root, do Martin A. Watson, appointed, M. A. Watson, elected, Chas. Watson, do Wm. I. Borst, do Richard F. Noxen, do David P. StevenSj do Martin L. Borst,* do D. C. Hager, do David Zeh, do John M. DeGrafT, do J. M. DeGrafT, do Oct. 3, Oct. 4. Oct. 4, Oct. 14 Oct. 14, Oct. 14 Oct. 6, Oct. 6 Oct. 5, Oct. 5 Oct. 2 Oct. 4, Oct. 4, Oct. I Oct. I Oct. I Oct. 18 Oct. 18 Oct. 12 Nov. 17 Nov. Jan. Nov. : Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. 17 3 7: 3 1832 1833 1833 1834 1834. 1834. 183s 1835 183s 1836, 1838 1838 1838 1839 1839 1839, 184s 1845 1846 1848, 1848, 1849 1849, 1850, 1852 1858 1861 1864 1870, 1873 1876 1879 County Superintendents of Schools. By an Act passed April 17, 1843, the Board of Supervisors of the several counties were di- rected to appoint County Superintendents of Common Schools. In 1812 the office of State Superintendent was created and continued un- til 1821, when it was abolished, and the duties devolved upon the Secretary of State, who ap- pointed a deputy to take charge of the depart- ment. The towns elected a Superintendent dur- ing the time, who reported the condition and progress of the schools to the County Clerk, who [n turn, reported to the State Department. In 1841, Samuel S. Randall, the Deputy State Su- perintendent, whose interest in educational mat- *Appointed and re-elected each subsequent terra. io6 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. ters knows no bounds, in advance of the law of 1843, appointed County Superintendents. The law was made in accordance with his theory, ex- cepting the Board of Supervisors made the ap- pointments. Ezra Smith, appointed, 184T. John H. Salisbury, do 1843. Luther F. Hart well, do 1845. Bartholomew Becker, do 1847. Those officers reported direct to the State Department, after receiving those of the town commissioners. During Mr. Becker's term of office, March 13, 1847, the office was abolished, but the town commissioners remained, or con- tinued, as by Act of 1843. In 1856 the system was changed, and County School Commissioners were created, and the first election, under the law, was held in November, 1857 ; the year previous the Board of Supervisors appointed. The County was divided into two districts — eastern and western. Nelson Rust, appointed Nov., 1856. Reuben Shelmandine, do Nov., 1856. Bartholomew Becker, elected Nov., 1857. Augustus C. Smith, do Nov., 1857. Bartholomew Becker, do Nov., i860. Augustus C. Smith, do Nov., i860. Bartholomew Becker, do Nov., 1863. Augustus C. Smith, do Nov., 1863. John Van Voris, do Nov., 1866. Ambrose R. Hunting, do Nov., r866. J. Van Voris, do Nov., 1869. A. R. Hunting, do Nov., 1869. John VanSchaick, do Nov., 1872. John S. Mayhan, do Nov., 1872. John VanSchaick, do Nov., 1875. John S. Mayhan, do Nov., 1875. Wm. H. Albro, do Nov., 1878. Geo. D. Ostrom, do Nov., 1878. Jacob H. Mann, do Nov., 188 1. Legrand VanTuyl, do Nov., 1881. Loan Commissioners. The office was created by an act passed the 14th of March, 1792, for the purpose of loaning United States' surplus moneys. The list is as perfect as can be obtained, and gives only the year the oath of office was taken : J. O'Brien, oath taken. 1831 H. Manning, do 1831 H. Manning, do 1833- Jacob Becker, do 1833- H. Manning, do 1835- Jacob Becker, do 1835- H. Manning, do 1838. J. Becker, do 1838. H. Manning, do 1843. J. Becker, do 1843. Robert F. Queal, do 1855- John S. Frost, do 1855- Jas. Parsons, do 1857. G. B. Badgley, do 1857- Jas. Parsons, do 1859- G. B. Badgley do 1859- W. Dominic do i86r. R. Merchant, do 1861. Sylvanus Sweet, do 1863. John H. Walker, do 1865. Sylvanus Sweet, do 1865. M. Van B. Hager, do 1870. Jas. A. Bouck, do 1870. Albines Hess, do 1873- Philip Deyo, do •873- Commissioners of Excise. Commissioners of Excise were appointed by the County Judge and two associate Justices, and were to meet annually to grant licenses for selling liquors and keeping inns. The office was created April 16, 1857. Seymour Boughton, appointed 1857. Peter Hynds, do 1857 Rassellas EUis, do 1857 Wm. S. Clark, do 1862 Wm. Snyder, do 1862 Ira Twitchell, do 1862 Wm. Snyder, do 1866 Merenes Frasier, do i868 Inspectors of Turnpike Roads. The duty of the Inspectors was to attend to complaints made against the condition of the turnpikes, with power to condemn either road or bridges and close toll-gates if the roads were not kept in order. In short, to compel the companies to act according to their char- ters. They were : — SCHOHARIE COUNTY CIVIL LIST. 107 Henry Shafer, P. M. Snyder, David Lawton, Joseph Bouck, Ira Dewey, Henry Shafer, John D. Butler, Ira Dewey, John StoU, William B. Wood, James D. Butler, Ira Dewey, S. Bortle, E. VanHorne, W. B. Wood, Olney Briggs, Martin Haman, Olney Briggs, W. B. Wood, S. Bortle, D. S. Howard, Jacob Feek, Jacob Feek, Ira Dewey, John B. Morehouse, Joseph Scofield, William Simpson, Peter Swart, Jr., Nicholas Russel, Stephen Badgley, Peter Z. Swart, Nicholas Russel, Ira HuUan, John F. Hiller, John Shaver, David Bergh, James Shaver, Munson Morehouse, Peter Swart, Jr., M. R. Boughton, O. Root, Jerome Dwelly, M. R. Boughton, John Badgley, John C. Moeller, Peter Z. Swart, Peter VanPatten, John V. Stryker, Fred B. Shaver, Stephen Merenes, 1827. 1827. 1828. 1828. 1829. 1829. 1830. 1830. 1831. 1831. 1832. 1832. 1833- 1833- 1833- 1833. 1834. 1834. 1835- 1835- 1836. 1836. 1837- 1837- 1839. 1839. 1840. 1840. 1841. i84r. 1842. 1842. 1843. 1844. 1845- 1845. 1846. 1847. 1847. 1847. 1848. 1848. 1848. 1848. 1849. 1849. 1850. 1850. 1850. 1851. Peter Z. Swart, i85r. James M. Hazzard, 1851. Plank Road Inspectors. Their duties were similar to those of Turn- ike Inspectors. Elijah H. Crawford, 1850 Peter W. Enders, 1850 James Plank, 1851 Peter W. Enders, 1851 Auctioneers. Licensed by the County as by Act of April, 1826: George Lawrence, July I St 1826 do do 1829 do do 1830 do do 1831. do do 1832. do do 1833 Daniel Adams, 1831 James W. Mellan, 1831 Peter W. Enders, 1837 State Officers. The following residents of Schoharie County have held positions in the State government : Governor.— ^va. C. Bouck, elected Novem- ber, 1842. Treasurer. — Abraham Keyser, appointed, 1826 to 1838. Adjutant- General.— Lyma.n Sanford, appoint- ed, 1843. Canal Commissioner.— Wm. C. Bouck, ap- pointed, 182 1 to 1841. Canal Aj>J>raiser.—Wi\\\sim Mann, appoint- ed, 1836. Jiegents of University.— ]o\m Keyes Paige, appointed, 1829; Wm. C. Bouck, appointed, 1845. Delegates to Constitutional Conventions. — 2d, 182 r, Olney Briggs, Asa Starkweather, Jacob Sutherland; 3d, 1846, Wm. C. Bouck, John Gebhard, Jr.; 4th, 1868, Hobert Krum. Curator of the State Cabinet.— ]ohr\ Gebhard, Jr., appointed June 5th, 1849 to 1856, re-ap- pointed November, 1880. io8 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Commissioner of Boundary Lines between New York and Connecticut, Jacob Vroman, iippointed, August 21, 1859. Legislature.— Tt^t County was represented by one member from its formation to the year 1802, when it was allowed two representatives to the year 1816. From the latter year to 1822, three. In 1823 the number was changed to two, and in 1858 it reverted again to one. From the first to the eighteenth session (1777 to 1795) one member from Schoharie represented Albany as follows : — Peter Vroman, 1777 do 1778, do 1779. do 1786 do 1787 Isaac Vrooman, 17 79 do 1780. do 1781 do 1782 Cornelius VanDyck, 1788, do 1789 The members from Schoharie County alone were as follows : — John Rice, 1796. do I797- do 1798. Peter Swart, 1798. do 1799- Storm A. Becker, 1800. Joseph Borst, Jr., 1800. do 1801. Lawrence Lawyer, Jr., 1802. do 1803. Henry Becker, 1803. do 1804. do 1805. do 1811. Freegift Patchin, 1804. do 1805. do 1820. do 1821. do 1822, Henry Bellinger, Henry Shafer, do do Peter Swart, Jun., 1806. 1806. 1807. 1808. 1807. Peter Swart, Jun., 1808. do 1 81 9. do 1820. John Ingold, Jun., 1809. do 1810. Henry Hager, 181 1. do 1812. John Redington, 18 12. Heman Hickok, 181 2. do 1813. do 1820. Peter A. Hilton, 181 7. do 1813. do 1816. do 1817. William C. Bouck, 1814. do 1815. do 1816. do 1818. William Dietz, 1813. do 1814. do 1815. do 1823. Thomas Lawyer, 181 6. Isaac Barber, 1816. do 1817. Aaron Hubbard, 18 16. do 1817. do 1819. George H. Mann, 1818. Jedediah Miller, 1819. do 1820. do 1832. do 1838. Barnabas Eldredge, 1820. do 1821. Abraham Keyser, Jun., 1820. do 1821. do 1822. Harvey Watson, 1822. Marvin Judd, 1824. John Stryker, 1824. Joseph I. Borst, 1825. Freeman Stanton, 1825. Robert Eldredge, 1826. do 1831. Martinus Mattice, 1826. do 1833. Samuel Baldwin, 1827. William Mann, 1827. SCHOHARIE COUNTY CIVIL LIST. 109 Henry Devereaux, 1828. James S. Wood, 1854. James Sweetman, 1828. Joseph H. Ramsey, 1855- Valentine Efner, 1829. Wilkeson Willsey, 1855- Peter Hynds, 1829. John Lovett, 1856. Abraham L. Lawyer, 1830. Charles Holmes, 1856. do 1831. Tobias Bouck, 1857. Charles Watson, 1830. William H. Crowe, 1857- Daniel Hager, Jun., 1831. John H. Salisbury, 1858. Alexander Crookshanks, 1832. William C. Lamont, 1859. Jacob L. Lawyer, 1833- do 1862. Watson Orr, 1834. John W. Couchman, i860. John G. Young, 1834. Joseph Buckbee, 1861. John F. Hiller, 1835- Stephen L. Mayham, 1863. Jonas Krum, 1835- Peter P. Schoolcraft, 1864. Hiram Walden, 1836. Edward Eldredge, 1865. Alvin Wilkins, 1836. Benjamin E. Smith, 1866. Philip Mann, 1837- David Shaver,* 1867. Reuben Merchant, 1837- William S. Clark,t 1867. Mitchell Sanford, 1838. do 1868. Harvey Bliss, 1839. Peter R. Dyckman, 1869. George F. Fox, 1839. Silas Sweet, 1870. Seymour Boughton, 1840. do 1871. Charles Goodyear, 1840. Peter Couchman, 1872. Nicholas Beekman, 1841. do 1873- Jacob C. Skillman, 1841. John B. Hoag, 1874. George Wright, 1842. John M. Roscoe, 1875- WilUam Fink, 1842. do 1876. Abraham Richtmyer, 1843. James H. Brown, 1877. John Osterhout, 1843. Charles Bouck, T878. John Spickerman, 1844. Duryea Beekman, 1879. Seth Eldredge, 1844. R. Grant Havens, 1880. Henry Tibbits, 1845. John J. Dominic, 1881. Seymour Boughton, 1845. Edwin Hager, 1882. Thomas Lawyer, Thomas Smith, 1846. 1846. Senators. do 1847. William Beekman, 1798. Elisha Hammond, 1847. do 1800. Adam M attice. 1848. do 180I. James Parsons, 1848. do 1802. David B. Danforth, 1849. George Tiffany, 1803. Austin Sexton, 1849. do 1804. D. D. Dodge, 1850. do 1805. John Avery, 1850. do 1806. Lewis Rockwell, 1851. Jacob Gebhard, 1807. Abraham L. Lawyer, 1851. do 1808. James Osterhout, 1852. do 1809. Seymour Sornberger, Luman Reed, 1852. 1853- do 1810. John Westover, 1853- *Died before taking seat. Jacob J. Barton, 1854. \ Fill vacancy of '67. no HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Henry Hager, 1813. do 1814. do 1815. do 1816. Peter Swart, 1817. do r8i8. do 1819. do 1820. William C. Bouck, i82r. do 1822. Jacob Sutherland, 1823. William Dietz, 1830. do 1831. do 1832. do 1833- Abraham L. Lawyer, 1835- do 1836. do 1837- do 1838. John C. Wright, 1843. do 1844. do 1845. do 1846. Sidney Tuttle, 1850. do 18.S1. Peter S. Danforth, 1854. do 1855- Joseph H. Ramsey, 1856. do 1857- do ■ i860. do 1862. do 1863. William C. Lamont, 1875- do 1876. do 1877. do 1878. Justice Supreme Court. Peter S. Danforth, appointed September 24, 1872. Members of Congress. Peter Swart, elected 1807-09. Alexander Boyd, do 1813-15. Thomas Lawyer, do 1817-19. John Gebhard, do 1821-23. William Dietz, do 1825-27. Peter I. Borst, do 1829-31. Valentine Efner, do 1835-37. Robert McClellan, elected 1837-39 Jacob Houck, Jun., do 1841-43 Charles Goodyear, do 1845-47 do do i865-'67 Hiram Walden, do 1849-51 Stephen L. Mayham, do 1869-71 Presidential Electors. Adam B. Vroman, appointed November 7, 1808, Madison's election. Henry Becker, appointed November 8, 1816, Monroe's election. Thomas Lawyer, appointed November, 1824, Adams' election. William Dietz, elected November, 1832, Jack- son's election. Harvey Watson, elected November, 1840, Harrison's election. Daniel Larkin, elected November, 1848, Tay- lor's election. Minard Harder, elected November, 1872, Grant's election. Consular. John F. Hazleton, Consul to Italy, 1881. County Bar. 1877 to William H. Albro was born in Huntersland, in the town of Middleburgh, September 8, 1840. After attending the district school he finished his education at Fort Edward Institute and Union College. He studied law in the office of WiUiam H. Engle, and upon being admitted to the bar he settled in Middleburgh village. In 1878 he received the nomination upon the Re- publican ticket for School Commissioner in the eastern district, and was elected by a flattering majority although the district was Democratic. Mr. Albro proved to be a faithful and judicious official in the discharge of his duties, and ele- vated the status of the schools under his charge. As a lawyer he seems better adapted to the duties of a counselor and jurist than a pleader at the bar, as he lacks that confidence in self that is necessary to make a forcible and winning advocate. Mr. Albro is a well-read, sound and practical attorney, an unassuming and generous gentleman, and fully merits the confidence placed in him by a large circle of patrons. THE COUNTY BAR. Ill Warren W. Allen has but just entered his' professional course, having been admitted in May, 1 88 1. Mr. Allen was born in the town ef Summit on the 4th day of November, 1850, and received his education at the "New York Conference Seminary," and entered the office of John S. Finder, in 1877. Mr. Allen's close application to his studies and quick per- ception, assures us of his earnestness and suc- cess in gaining the confidence of the people. Nathan L. F. Bachman was born at Butler's plantation, the family residence, near Kingsport, Tenn., April 3, 1848, of German parentage. During the late war he participated in the "lost cause" and came to New York in 1867. He was graduated as A. M., from Hamilton College in 1872, and the following year located at Scho- harie as principal of the academy. In 1876 he was graduated from the Columbia College Law School as LL.D., and again located at Scho- harie. Mr. Bachman was elected as Justice of the Peace in 1876, and gives evidence of pos- sessing judicial abihties to a marked degree. He is a fluent speaker, and has taken a hvely in- terest in political affairs during each campaign as a Democratic speaker, drawing large audiences and awakening a deep interest. But few are better qualified for official positions than the subject of this sketch. Ralph Brewster has practiced law since 1839, and is the oldest member of the County bar. He is a lineal descendant of Elder William Brewster, who landed at Plymouth from the Mayflower in 1620, and was born in Berne, Albany county, N. Y., May 31, 1814. After receiving an academic education at Jefferson Academy, Clinton Institute, and Fairfield Acad- emy, he entered Hamilton & Goodyear's law office, and was admitted to the bar as before stated in 1839. He located in Schoharie vil- lage in 1841, and was appointed County Treasurer by the Board of Supervisors in the fall of that year and each subsequent term until the Constitution of 1846 took effect, making the office an elective one. He was then elected (1848) as the first Treasurer chosen by the people direct, and held the office two terms, making a period of thirteen years in which he held the position and the confidence of the people in his ability and integrity. He also held the office of Inspector of Common Schools four years, Inspector of Election four. years, Justice of the Peace twenty years, and Super- visor four terms, bestowed upon him, the duties of which he performed with such precision and profit to the people as to rank among the best officials of the country. As a lawyer, Mr. Brewster is very careful, and has drawn around him a large circle of clients engaged in the conveyance and settlement of estates, for which his ability seems peculiarly adapted. Not pos- sessing oratorical powers or the gift of easy pubhc speaking, it is seldom he is found in argum.ent before the courts, but in council is considered one of the best in the County, and no one is sought more by the troubled than Mr. Brewster. Cornelius L. Bailey was born in the town of Jefferson, in 1837, and attended the Jef- ferson Academy. He read law with Jacob Houck, Jun., and Nathan P. Hinman, of the firm of Houck & Hinman, at Schoharie C. H., and was admitted to practice in 1858. His practice has been in Schoharie and Albany coun- ties and has been lucrative up to the year 1880, when he was appointed Deputy County Clerk, under Wm'. B. Murphy. Mr. Bailey is a careful business man, well-read, and has a clear conception of the principles of law, and has been successful in his pleadings. Albert Baker, at present a resident of Cobles- kill village, was born in the town of Berne, Al- bany county, in October, 1845. He attended the district school of the neighborhood and taught a few years, when he entered the office of Folman & Bigham, of Albany City. He was admitted to the bar in r866, and settled at Cobleskill. There being an opening at Sharon Springs he removed there in 1868, but soon after again re- moved to Cobleskill. Mr. Baker has held the office of Police Justice of the corporation, and also District, Attorney of the County from 187 1 to r874, and is at present Secretary of the Board of Education of Cobleskill. In 1876 he formed a co-partnership with his brother under the name of "Baker Bros.," and the firm enjoys a lucrative business that promises a successful future. 112 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Merritt A. Baker was born in the town of Berne, Albany county, on the 28th of February, 1855, and after attending the district school of the place entered Nassau Academy and Starkey Seminary, and in 1872 read law in the office of his brother, Albert. He was admitted in Jan- uary, 1876, and immediately formed a co-part- nership with his brother. In the fall of the lat- ter year he was elected by the Board of Super- visors as clerk, and has held the position since, much to the satisfaction of that body and to the credit of their records. Wm. H. Baldwin, of Gilboa, was born in Greenville, Greene county, in 1835. His parents soon after settled in the town of Conesville. After attending the district school of the neigh- borhood he entered tlie Union Academy, of Harpersfield, Delaware county, where he finished a course of practical studies and entered the office of Mattice & Winans, of Durham, to study law, which course he completed in " Ad- ams' office," Gloversville, in the summer of 1855. In the latter part of that year he was admitted, and located in Gilboa village. Mr. Baldwin is a careful and practical worker, and has won the confidence of the public through his honorable advocacy of law. That confidence was fully demonstrated in 1874, when the people- elected him to the office of District Attorney, which position he filled with marked abihty and promptness as a faithful guardian of law and order. Laivrence IV. Baxter was born in the town of Sharon on the 12th of January, 1852. His educational advantages were dihgently im- proved to prepare himself for the bar. At an early age he attended the Clinton Liberal Insti- tute, and graduated at the head of his class, with the first prize in oratory as a trophy of the event. He then entered Hamilton College, from which he graduated with distinguished honors in 1879, and again in 1880, from the Law School of that institution. Mr. Baxter located at Cobleskill where he is now practicing, and meets with a very flattering success. He IS earnest in the' profession he has chosen, care- ful in the execution of its requirements and honorable, in his practice. He is a fluent speaker and ingenious reasoner, which, coupled with his known integrity in principle, places him in the front rank of the young members of the bar and gives us an assurance of his future success. William S. Clark was the son of William Clark, a farmer of Carlisle, and was born in that town the 19th of August, 1826. He at- tended the district school until his fifteenth year, when he entered the Esperance Acad- emy, from whence he went to Schoharie, and finally to Hamilton Academy, Madison county. Mr. Clark entered the Law School at Poughkeepsie, and afterwards the Law depart- ment at Union College, from which he was grad- uated as LL.D., and was admitted to practice in the State courts in February, 1858, and to the U. S. Court in 1864. Upon the decease of Hon. David Shafer, in 1866, Mr. Clark was appointed to fill his place in the Assembly and was elected to that body the year following. He has held but few pub- lic positions, and to them he has brought honor and dignity as a scholar, gentleman, and honest man. Upon the election of Wm. B. Murphy as County Clerk, Mr. Clark was honored as Clerk of the Courts, and has acted in that capacity at each subsequent session. Added to his superior educational quali- ties, but few men possess that genuine spirit of kindness towards others that is daily shown by him, and which has gained for him the friendship of all. Alonzo B. Coons was born in the town of Canajoharie, Montgomery county, on the 3d of September, 1841. After mastering the com- mon English branches in the school of the neighborhood he entered Ames Academy and afterward the New York Conference Seminary, of Charlotteville. In the spring of 1861, he commenced read- ing law in the oflSce of J. H. Salisbury, at Sharon Springs, finished his studies in the office of L. H. Jackson, and was admitted to practice in May, 1863. He did not open an office until May of 1 868, as he engaged in teaching school in which he was successful. During the latter year he located at Sharon Springs and was elected District Attorney in November, 1880, THE COUNTY BAR. 113 which official trust he fills with dignity and proves a faithful guardian of law and order. Peter S. Danforth was born in the village of Middleburgh in 1816, and studied law in the office of George Danforth, his father, and that of Marcus T. Reynolds, of Albany. He was admitted to the bar in May, 1840. Mr. Dan- forth has always possessed the confidence of his townsmen and held many official positions within their gift, chief among which was school commissioner — the first political position of his life. He was appointed Master and Examiner in Chancery in 1844, and elected District At- torney in 1845, and to the State Senate in 1854. Upon the death of Henry Hogeboom, Judge of the Supreme Court, Mr. Danforth was appoint- ed by Governor Hoffman to fill the vacancy. Beside the political and legal cares that Judge Danforth has had pressed upon him, he has taken a deep interest in religious affairs, and at present is the president of the County Bible Society, filling the position satisfactorily to the society, that his father-in-law, Rev. George A. Lintner, so long occupied. He has also been identified with the County Sabbath School As- sociation since its organization. Mr. Danforth is a careful lawyer, fluent speaker and politic reason er. George S. Danforth is a son of Hon. Peter S. Danforth, and was born in the village of Middleburgh on the 19th of July, 1844. He attended the village school and Schoharie Academy to master the elementary branches, and to prepare for college studied two years under John M. Scribner, Jr. He entered Rut- ger College, from which he was graduated in 1 863, and immediately commenced the study of law in earnest in his fathers office. However, he had been a student with that aim from his youth. He was admitted in 1865 and located in his father's office. Mr. Danforth is yet young in the profession, and brought to it a finished education and pride that carries him above low bickerings and the abuse of the true principles of law in employing them for such purposes. His success thus far has been very flattering as an attorney and counselor, and by the brotherhood he is held in high esteem for his gentlemanly bearing and as a genial, earnest co-worker. William H. Engle was born in the town of Berne, Albany county, on the 23d of January, 1817. His educational advantages were mostly of the common schools, having attended the Knox Academy but a short time. He entered the office of Benoni Spafford, of Middleburgh, in 1840, and finished his studies in the office of J. J. Warner, of Berne, in 1844, when he was admitted. He settled at Middleburgh (where he still resides) upon the death of Lawyer Spaf- ford in 1845. In November, 1847, he was elected District Attorney, it being the only county office he has filled, from the fact that Mr. Engle's political sentiments are contrary to those of the majority of county electors. However, his fellow par- tisans have repeatedly honored him with nomi- nations for various positions, and been success- ful in making a "lively run." He received the appointment of deputy collector in the second division of the 14th U. S. Revenue district in April, 1 868, and held the same to the year 187 1. Upon the removal of Mr. Hazleton (who suc- ceeded him) to Europe as Consul in 1878, Mr. Engle was again appointed to the position and still holds the same, making a thorough, careful and prompt official. He enjoys the confidence of a large com- munity in the settling of estates, and intricate cases arising from land grants and divisions for which his talents seem adapted. Having a partner in the office the firm is Engle & Stevens. Henry C. Getter was born in Middleburgh on the i6th of June, 1855, and received a com- mon school education. He entered the law office of Sanford & Thome, in 1878, to qualify himself for the bar to which he was admitted in the spring of 1881. Having just started in the legal course, it is hard to determine his future success. Possessing an active mind and being well tutored in the mazes of the law, it but requires a close appHcation to business and study to warrant a brilliant future. George H. Hiller, of Cobleskill, is a son of the late ex-Assemblyman John F. Hiller, of Sharon, and was born in that town on the 13th of October, 1844. He attended the district 114 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. school only and entered the office of the late William H. Young in 1872, and afterwards that of his brother-in-law, John S. Pindar. Mr. Hiller was admitted to the bar in Janu- ary, 1876, and established at once a reputation as an earnest student and reliable advocate, with a just aspiration to become proficient in his calling. He is reserved and unassuming, a careful worker and logical reasoner, and we can but predict for him a successful career, as his in- creasing practice ensures the fact. Mr. Hiller was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace in 1876 and again in 1880. Chauncey W. Hinman, of Schoharie village, son of the late John Hmman, was born in Mid- dleburgh, June 4, 1834. He received his edu- cation at the district school and upon the for- mation of the 134th Regiment of N. Y. S. V., he enlisted as Second Lieutenant and was soon promoted to First. He was in all the engage- ments in which the regiment participated up to the retreat of Hood, when he was taken prisoner and thrust in Andersonville prison. There he subsisted upon the scanty fare of one-fourth of a pint of corn meal and the same measure of beans, daily, with the exception of an occasional " mite " obtained from the guards or fellow- prisoners by bartering with small buckets which his ingenuity allowed him to manufacture with an old case-knife. After six months confine- ment, the war closed and Mr. Hinman was the last of several thousand, discharged from the prison field. Weak and emaciated he returned to his home unfit for laborious duties and en- tered his brother's law office in 1866, from which he was admitted to practice in 1868. He formed a co-partnership with his brother which was broken upon Nathan P. removing to Albany City in 1872. Mr. Hinman is a well read and practical lawyer with a sagacious perception of technical points, with which he ingeniously out- fla:nks his adversaries, and makes his practice a success. His "briefs" are drawn with care and precision denoting deep searching, earnestness and practical principles of law. Hon. Charles Holmes, was born in the town of Fulton, on the 26th day of March, 1826. He ^arly attended the district school, and completed his studies at the time-honored Jefierson Acad- emy. As many other young men of the country, struggling to gain an education, without the means to obtain it, he taught school and en- gaged in other employment to bear the neces- sary expenses, and became self-sustaining. In 1850 he entered the law office of the late Judge Lawyer, and was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1853, and located in the village of Cobleskill. The Democracy of the County elected him to the Assembly in the fall of 1855, where he bent his energies in behalf of the Susquehanna Railroad, and gave such promise of a legislator, that he was chosen as the party nominee for State Senator in 1858, against Joseph H.Ramsey, but the district being anti-democratic, his oppo- nent was elected, but by a largely reduced ma- jority. After his defeat, Mr. Holmes applied him- self strictly to his profession, and gained as high status before the legal tribunals as any lawyer in Central New York. Upon the retirement of his townsman, Wm. C. Lament, from the County Judgeship, in 1871, Mr. Holmes was elected to that position by an overwhelming majority, and re-elected in the fall of '78, The precision and ability with which he performed the duties of the office, have placed him among the ablest jurists, and gained for him the reputation of being a practical, just and substantial defender of the law. In the performance of his duties as Surrogate, no better satisfaction has been given than by Judge Holmes, in the settlement of estates, protection of orphans, and watchful care over others, whose affairs have been brought before him for adjustment. Being an active and influential Democrat of the Jeffersonian school, he was placed upon the Democratic State Committee, by the Convention of 1881, and proves a sagacious pohtician. Lewis C. Holmes, second son of Hon. Charles Holmes, was born in Cobleskill, in Novem- ber, 1848, and was educated at the village school and studied law with his father. He was ad- mitted to the bar in September, 1879. Upon the election of the father as Surrogate, Lewis was appointed Surrogate's Clerk, which position he still holds creditably to himself and faithful to the office. Mr. Holmes possesses a well THE COUNTY BAR. "5 balanced mind and promises to make an un- assuming, methodical and substantial lawyer, that will win the confidence of all classes and add dignity to the profession. Charles H. Holmes is the third son of Hon. Charles Holmes, and was born in the village of Cobleskill, December 25, 1852, and received his education at the " Cobleskill Union School.'' He studied law in his father's office and was admitted in May, 1879, and located at Cobles- kill. But just starting m his legal course, being chiefly engaged in office work, it is hardly possi- ble to predict the mark Mr. Holmes will make in the legal race. If quick perception and gift of language will warrant success before the bar, it will be soon gained, as few are his equal even among those of more mature age and greater experience. By a strict application of his nat- ural genius to argument and studious confidence of language, Mr. Holmes may stand as the " Harry Clay " of the young legal gentlemen of Schoharie. Lyman Sanford Holmes is a son of Hon. Charles Holmes, and was born in Cobleskill in January, 1856. He attended the village school and prepared himself for Union College, from which he was graduated in 1878. After studying law in his father's office for a while he completed his studies in that of Bemis & Benton, of Hor- nellsville, N. Y.,in November, i88o. He located in Chicago and soon after in New York City, but an opening being made in the office of San- ford & Thorne, of Middleburgh, by the decease of the former, Mr. Holmes formed a connection with Mr. Thorne in the spring of 1882. But few young men become more attached to their profession than Mr. Holmes, and possessing a quick perception of the principles of jurispru- dence and a steady judgment which, coupled with his nobler attributes of manhood that win friends among all classes, we cannot but predict a successful future for him. John I. Jackson, of Gilboa, was born at Cairo, Greene county, N. Y., August 30, 1815, and settled with his parents in Gilboa, Schoharie County, in 1823. ' He received a common school education and was early elected Justice of the Peace, which office he held fourteen years. During this official period he studied law in his own office and practiced in the Jus- tice court until the 4th of September, 1855, when he was admitted to the Supreme bar. Mr. Jackson represented the town upon the board of Supervisors in 1866, and enjoys the confidence of a large community as a counselor and man of honor. L. H. Jackson, of Sharon Springs, was born in the town of Summit, on the 4th of April, 1836, and attended the New York Con- ference Seminary of that town. After a classi- cal course, he attended Prof. Fowler's law school at Poughkeepsie, two years, and then entered the law office of John H. Salisbury, in the fall of 1 86 1, and was admitted in May of the following year. He located at the Spa, and continued in practice to the year 1879, when he removed to Binghamton, where he resided until April, 1881. Since that date, Mr. Jackson has again located at the Springs, where he meets with the old-time confidence that his earnest and dihgent labors gained in the first years of his profession. He was appointed postmaster, in 1861, and held the position until his removal to Binghamton, when he resigned. Krum &= Grant,. — Hobart Krum, son of the late Judge Jonas Krum, and John B. Grant, a native of Blenheim, comprise the firm of Krum & Grant. Hobart Krum stands at the head of the County bar. If nature ever makes a choice for a particular avocation, Mr. Krum was indeed chosen for the bar, as he is especially gifted with such abilities and pride as are necessary to make the profession a success. He has been from his first entrance into the law office the most studious in the principles of law, looking critically into the reason of every principle and their application to causes. While he makes no pretension to oratory, yet as a pleader he is successful and highly interesting. He places himself squarely upon equity, through ingenious reasoning, and arranges the facts of the case in the order of their legal value, and then arouses such earnestness as to be pleasing and forcibly effective, and if not to win the contest, leave a dubious impression as to the justness of the ver- dict. Mr. Krum was chosen as a delegate to ii6 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. the State Constitutional Convention of 1867, and was one of the leaders of that body of able men. He proved himself to be also a student of political economy in all its branches, as his able arguments show, which gave him pre- eminence as a legislator, and to the citizens of the County a pride in their representative. Mr. Grant, although comparatively a young man, with a tireless industry, shrewd perception and a mind well versed in jurisprudence, adds much to the firm's popularity, which has spread over many counties, and ensures a lucrative success that but few country firms attain. Wm. C. Lament. — It is seldom we find in the rushing, jostling throng of legal aspirants, so unassuming a man that has made a more prom- inent and pleasing mark, than the subject of this sketch. Mr. Lamont was born in Char- lotteville, on the 25th of November, 1827 and obtained a practical education at the time- honored academies at Schoharie and Jefferson, from whence he entered the law office of Abra- ham Becker, of South Worcester, Otsego Co. Being admitted to practice in due course of time, he settled at his native village, and by assiduous industry, he estabHshed a reputation as a careful and successful lawyer. In 1859, he was elected to the Assembly, and served upon the judiciary committee, and made, as usual, a very creditable record. His energies were bent in behalf of the bill then pending for State aid in the construction of the Albany & ' Susquehanna Railroad, and his arguments in that issue were marked with plain, forcible reasoning, and awoke a brighter hope for the passage of the bill, and final consummation of the enterprise. His practice becoming more ex- tended, he removed to Richmond ville, and in the fall of 1863, was elected County Judge, which office he held to January, 1872. Removing to Cobleskill village, his legal business increased, and he became one of the leaders of the Coun- ty bar. In 1875 he was elected to the State Sen- ate, and served upon the following committees : — Roads and Bridges, Erection and Division of Towns and Counties, also Manufacture. What- ever position Mr. Lamont has filled, his labors have been earnest to perform his duties faithfully and profitably to his constituents. Watson Lamont, is a brother of ex-Judge La- mont, and was born in the town of Middleburgh, on the 13th of July, 1852. He received his edu- cational advantages at the "New York Con- ference" and " Starkey" seminaries and settled at Cobleskill village in 1869. In November, i87i,he entered the office of his brother and received his certificate to practice in the State Courts in January, 1876. He has held the of- fice of police justice two years and is now acting upon the second term of town justice of the peace. Mr. Lament's close application to study and quick perception of legal points and technicalities have earned for him a business that bids fair to increase with his years and place him in the front rank of his profession. John H. Mattice was the son of Zachariah Mat- tice, of Middleburgh, and was born April i, 1 839. He attended the district school and fitted himself for teaching, which he followed for seven years when he learned the shoemaker's trade, and studied law at his boarding place nights and while working on the bench. Through a long, but earnest period of study, he was ad- mitted to the bar on the 9th of December, 1869, and settled at Livingstonville, where he enjoys a lucrative practice. Mr. Mattice is a self-made man, having been forced to work his way through life, unaided, except by an untiring will. He represented the town upon the Board of Supervisors in 1877, creditably to himself and profitably to the people. But few men possess the love of study as does Mr. Mattice, and where labor is not spared in the apphcation of knowledge obtained, pleasing results will inevitably follow. The industry, earnestness and ambition of the subject of this sketch, can but lead us to predict for him a bright and prosperous future. Stephen L Mayham was born in the town of Blenheim, on the 8th of October, 1825, and after attending the district school of the neighborhood he studiously prepared himself for teaching, the avails of which were judiciously applied for an academic education. Following the natural bent of his mind, he entered the office of Love & Frear, of Ithaca, there studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1848. He located at North Blenheim village, and after a few years THE COUNTY BAR. 117 formed a connection with lawyer George Dier, under the name of Mayham & Dier. While here Mr. Mayham gained a fine practice, and solidified the confidence of his boyhood neigh- bors and friends in his honesty as a man and ability as a lawyer, which placed him high in their estimation, where he still stands. Four times he was representative in the Board of Supervisors, and was honored by the people of the County with the election of District Attor- ney in 1859, and that of Assemblyman in 1863. Removing to Schoharie C. H. in 1865, his practice became extended and he soon formed a co-partnership with Hobart Krum, under the name of Krum & Mayham, which connection made the most impregnable firm in Central New York, and was so considered by the courts. Upon Mr. Mayham's son being admitted, the firm of Krum & Mayham was dissolved, and one was formed by the father and son as S. L. & F. M. Mayham, as now existing. Mr. Mayham's popu- larity and ability drew the choice of the Congres- sional Convention of 1869 to the nomination of him to the Forty-first Congress, which was ratified by the people in a large majority for the district, which comprised Albany and Scho- harie counties. He served upon the Com- mittee of Expenditures of the State Depart- ment, that of the District of Columbia, and that of sub-committee of the whole, in the Forty-fifth Congress, to which he was elected by a flattering majority of the electors of Schoharie, Greene and Ulster counties in the fall of 1874, to which position a re-election was proffered by the latter counties, but Mr. Mayham's declina- tion for the opportunities of others, retired him from Congressional duties in 1879. He identi- fied him.self with the educational interests of Schoharie upon his removal there, and is one of the leading props of the time-honored Schoharie Academy, as well as all other local and public enterprises. Mr. Mayham is a bold, yet not forward or hazardous advocate and a practical thinker, and one whose appearance upon the rostrum at once demands the respect and con- fidence of his auditors, while his fluency, and plain, unpretending language impress without weariness. F. L. Mayham is a son of Stephen L. May- ham, and was born in North Blenheim on the 2ist of August, 1850. Acquiring the first rudi- ments of a practical education at that village school, he entered the Roxbury Academy and finished an academic course at Schoharie. He commenced reading law in the office of May- ham & Krum in 1868, and was admitted Sep- tember 5, 1871, and shortly after the dissolution of the firm of Mayham & Krum occurred when that of S. L. & F. M. Mayham was formed, and is a leading one of the County. Mr. Mayham is a well-read young lawyer, having taken hold of the task with a natural taste, and in counsel proves that the deep principles of jurisprudence have been his study, which are ingeniously brought to practice in his briefs and pleadings without being marred with irrelevancy and sarcasm. John S. Pindar, now of Cobleskill, was born in the town of Sharon in 1835. After attend- ing the district school he entered the "Rich- mondville Literary Institute" in 1853, and upon the closing of the school returned to the farm. In 1862 he entered the law office of Ramsey & Young, and was admitted to the State courts in 1865, and that of the United States in 1872. Mr. Pindar has practiced con- tinually since 1867, and was the first Police Justice in the corporation of Cobleskill. He was chosen chairman of the Democratic County Committee in 1877, and still holds that posi- tion creditably to himself and satisfactorily to the party. Mr. Pindar is known as one of the hardest legal workers in the County which has gained for him a successful business. O. C. Stevens, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Greenville, Greene county, and was born on the 30th of August, 1850. He early attended the Greenville Academy and closed his educational advantages at Hamilton College, but not as a graduate. In 1869 he entered the law office of Sanford & Thome, and was admitted in the spring of 1872. He formed a connection with WiUiam E. Leet, then District Attorney of Greene county, which continued about two years, when he withdrew and became a partner of his father-in-law, Wm. H. Engle, with whom he is at the present time. Mr. Stevens is a well-read professional and ii8 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. genial gentleman, and possesses the confidence of those with whom he mingles as a most honorable and earnest worker. E. L. Snyder, of Richmondville, is a graduate of Union College of the class of 1861, and was born in Columbia county, N. Y., on the 19th of June, 1839. Mr. Snyder studied law with M. H. Dorr, of Hillsdale, Columbia county, and was admitted to the bar at Albany, May 5, 1864. He located at Richmondville, and as a mark of the confidence the people have in his ability and integrity they elected him to the office of Justice of the Peace in the spring of 1881. His superior education, gentlemanly bearing and studious application to business, have drawn around him a host of friends, and given to him a very flattering practice. Frank Snyder was born in the village of Middleburgh on the 13th of January, 1855. His educational advantages were of the village school and at the Wainwright Institute. He studied law in the office of Peter S. Danforth, and was admitted as counselor in 1878, and as attorney and counselor in the year following. By the request of his legal tutor he located in his office, and the success with which he meets in legal business is highly creditable to himself as a lawyer and the office from which he was admitted. Wilfred P. Thomas was born in Albany, N. Y., March 24, 1856, and fitted himself for col- lege at the Schoharie Academy. He graduated from Union College in 1872, and that year entered the law office of Mayham & Krum from which he entered that of James F. Crawford, of Cohoes, N. Y., and finished his studies. He was admitted in April, 1876, and located at Schoharie village, where he is now in practice in company with Chauncey W. Hinman. Mr. Thomas has worked up a flattering practice, and coming to the profession with a fine education and a desire to succeed, he can but be success- ful. Wm. E. Thome was born at Athens, Greene county, on the 2rst of July, 1840. He attend- ed the district school and Knox Academy, and afterwards studied mathematics and the lan- guages with Dr. Charles Abrams, of Hyndsville. After teaching school a few years, he entered the law office of S. L. Mayham, then of Blen- heim, (1863) and removed with that gentleman to Schoharie in the spring of 1865, and was ad- mitted in December of that year. On the ist day of January, 1866, he formed a co-partnership with Lyman Sanford, of Mid- dleburgh, which continued until the decease of that gentleman. In 1877, he was elected Dis- trict Attorney and proved an able official. The firm's business was extensive, especially as relates to the settlement of estates, for which no firm enjoyed a better, and but few an equal, reputation. John Van Schaick was born in the town of Sharon, on the 29th day of July, 1840. After an elementary course in the district school he attended Williams College. Like most farmer's sons that are ambitious to obtain an education, he did so by teaching school a portion of the year. He studied in the office of John H. Sahs- bury while located at Sharon Springs, and after- wards in that of Wm. H. Youngs, and after passing a course at the Albany law school he was admitted in 1864. Counselor Van Schaick was elected to the office of School Commis- sioner in the second district in 187 1^ and re- elected in 1874. He established an office at Cobleskill after his admittance, where he still continues and receives his share of the public patronage in legal affairs. Le Grand Van 7«y/ is a young man who has but just stepped upon the legal path and his future honor or disgrace depend upon the bent of his moral qualities and not his intellectual, as of the latter, nature has blessed him exceedingly, which he has wisely chosen to direct and sup- port him through his legal adventure. May he prove one with firm stability of purpose. He is the son of Isaac Van Tuyl, of Schoharie, and was born in that town on the 9th of April, 1857. He received a thorough Academic education at the Schoharie academy and entered the law office of Krum & Grant, from which he was ad- mitted in January, 1881. He was elected School Commissioner of the second district in the fall of 1 88 1 without opposition, and located in the village of North Blenheim. TOWN OF GILBOA. 119 Moses S. Wilcox, of Jefferson village, is a na- tive of Harpersfield, Delaware county, and was born in that town in March, 1836, and received an academic education at the Harpersfield Acade- my, from which he emerged as a school teacher. For two years while thus employed he read law and entered the office of Abraham Becker, of South Worcester in 1858, and was admitted in May, 1 860. In the fall of that year he formed a co-partnership with Robert Parker, and located at Delhi, and remained so connected until 1865 when he returned to his father's farm, and spent two years in agricultural pursuits. At the expiration of that time, he located at Jefferson, where he still resides and enjoys a flattering practice through his earnest and prac- tical labors, and the confidence of the people in his ability and integrity. Regardless of his legal taste, we find Mr. Wil- cox interests himself in agriculture and the breed- ing of superior stock for which he has become noted among the practical farmers of the country. Mr. Wilcox is well read, and keeps up with the times, and does not, as is too often the case, af- ter a few years practice, settle down to fogyism without an effort to advance. He is an easy and plain speaker, sound and apt reasoner, which, coupled with his honest fervency, holds attention in his arguments, and gives a pleasing satisfaction to his listeners. Isaac W. Winne. — Mr. Winne was born in the town of Sharon, March 29, 1834, and is the son of Francis Winne, whose father moved from Albany county and settled in the town of Cherrv Valley, in the fore part of the century. After attending the district school, he entered the "Ames Academy" from which he returned to the homestead and engaged in agricultural pur- suits, until the spring of 187 1, when he com- menced studying law in the office of Albert Baker, then located at Sharon Springs. Mr. Winne was admitted to practice in June, 1875, and at once located at Rockville, where he still remains, enjoying a flattering practice. CHAPTER VII. History of The Town of Gilboa. Town Formed— First Town Officers— Board of Inspectors — Division Into Districts — Town Meeting of 1849 — Anti-Rent Diffi- culties — Sheriff's Posse of Soldiers — First Settlers and Mills — John Dise — Archibald Croswell — Tannery — Tuttle & Osborne Tannery — Grist Mill Pur- chased BY Platt, Potter & Co — Cotton Factory — Luman Reed — John Reed — First Tavern — Gilboa Bridge — Furnace — Churches — Merchants — Broome Cen- tre — Henry Tibbetts — McKeys Corners — David Ellerson — His Narrative — Offi- cial List — Supervisors — District Attor- ney County Clerk — Assembly — State Senator — -Boundaries. BLENHEIM and Broome were two very large towns, making it inconvenient, in various ways, and to remedy the evils, the people pe- titioned to the Seventy-first Legislature to divide the territory, and form a new town. Adam Mattice, of Livingstonville, and James Parson, of Sharon, were in the Assembly, to whom the petition was entrusted, and through whose la- bors a bill to that effect was passed, on the i6th of March, 1848. Broome, previous to that date, bordered on the west, on the Schoharie creek, while Blenheim took in all the territory of Gil- boa, that lies upon the west of that stream. Gilboa village had for a long time been an ex- tensive manufacturing seat and business center, and being the main and only village upon the territory, the town was named after it. First Town Meeting : — On the 20th day of April following the organization of the town, the first town meeting was held, and elected the following officers : — For Supervisor, Colby Reed; Town Clerk, Paige Croswell ; Justices, Samuel More, David E. Chichester, Hiram Fridenburgh and John HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Chichester; Assessors, Elisha Griffin, for one year, Philo Johnson, two years, and John Hoagland, three years; Commissioners of Highways, Archibald Croswell, one year, David S. Howard, two years, and Ransom Allerson, three years ; Overseers of Poor^ Benj. E. Smith, and Nicholas L. Mattice ; Collector, Elam Rich- mond ; Constables, Lewis T. Davis, Solomon D. Mackey, Jacob Mclntyre, and Reynolds Al- len ; Town Superintendent of Schools, Joseph Schofield, for full term, and vacancy ; Sealer of Weights and Measures, Abram Mudge. Town house at Lawrence & Kibbes. The first Board of Inspectors appointed for the town meeting, was Luman Reed, James G. Hackey and Hiram Fridenburgh. It was voted at that meeting to raise three hundred dollars for the support of the poor. On the 13th of May following, the road commissioner and clerk appointed sixty-nine overseers for that number of road districts then created. In September the assessors divided the town into three election districts, pursuant to the statute, as follows : — " District number one consists of all that part of the town of Gilboa lying west of a line com- mencing at the south line of the town and run- ning thence north along the west line of Lot No. 5, occupied by John V. Hoagland, thence north to the east line of the lot owned by Peter Mattice, lately occupied by William Stevens, thence north along the east hne of said lot, and north to the north line of the town." " District number two consists of the central part of the town, bounded on the west by the eastern bounds of District number one, on the south by the south line of the town, thence northeast along the line between the towns of Gilboa and Conesville to the line between School Districts No. z and 3, thence west along the Hne between said school districts to the end of said line, thence in a direct line to the corner of the east and south lines of Clark's patent thence along the south line of Clark's patent to Ihe Schoharie creek, thence along the north line of the town of Gilboa to the place of be- ginning." " District number three consists of all that part of the town of Gilboa lying north of District number three as described above." At the town meeting held the 20th of Febru- ary, 1849, no choice of Supervisor was made, owing to the two candidates, Luman Reed and Henry Tibbetts running a tie. Elisha Griffin was appointed to fill the vacancy. The political sentiments of the people of this town are so nearly equally divided that it requires strategy upon the part of the candidates to gain an election. The Anti-Rent troubles of the '40's were ex- perienced in this section to an alarming extent, but no real serious coHision between the op- ponents took place, with the exception of the "Injuns" overtaking a deputy while on his way to serve the papers upon a belligerent tenant. He was a citizen of the village and respected, but without ceremony was taken upon the hill west of the bridge, and threatened with a tar and feather garment if he would not promise not to serve the papers. He did so and was hberated. In conversation with a gentleman of the place who freelj admitted he was a "big Injun" through those times, we learn that nearly all the people of this locality were Anti's, and were not organized with any real intention of defying the law and creating a rebellion, but more to make pretentions and frighten the landlords. " If," said our inform- ant, "we had any such intentions, we had plenty of opportunities even to kill as well as tar and feather, and not be caught. Many of us joined for fun, being young and venture- some, and we had plenty of it too." Political aspirants took advantage of the troubles and did much towards the " blowing of the flames " which made unusual lively pohtical canvasses. Sheriff Brown's posse of soldiers lay at this village for some time and was here, while that officer and deputy were upon Bald- win's Heights in the hands of the Anti's. They were one hundred in number, " armed to the teeth," and looked, our informant tells us, " ferocious enough to eat a biled Injun for each breakfast;" but said he, "when the boys gave war-whoops in the night through the streets and upon the hills, the soldiers hugged their guns and looked tame." TOWN OF GILBOA. First Settlers and Mills. — Who were the first settlers of this town is unknown for a certainty but supposed to be the Dise family about the year 1760. After their losses as stated in the Conesville chapter of this work, they settled upon the Plattenkill, and John Dise, a son of one of the partners, located near the present iron bridge. He built a grist-mill some time between the years 1790 arid 1800, near where Luman Reed's present grist-mill now stands. As the country became quiet and prosperous in the beginning of the century the well watered hills and fine mill privileges attracted the attention of the Yankees of New England and drew to this place men of energy and ingenuity that soon laid the foundation for a manufacturing town. Among the number was Archibald Croswell, a very active man, such as every town requires, to create and push enterprises that give em- ployment and add to the production of the country. He came from Connecticut and set- tled where Luman Reed's residence now stands, about the year 1800. He purchased the Dise mill property and soon rebuilt a stone structure for the same purpose, which stood for several years when the walls cracked and fell, obhging him to again rebuild. The second time he placed the mill above the present bridge. In 1 82 1 Mr. Croswell built a fuUingmill upon the west side of the river which was changed to a store and a new mill of larger capacity built be- low. In 1 8 10 Jonas Soper commenced a tan- nery which did a fair business. The quantity of hemlock bark that was accessible at a trifling cost led Mr. Croswell to build a factory to ex- tract from the bark the tanning qualities found therein, which he shipped in large quantities to Europe. Requiring a vast number of barrels he immediately started a cooperage which not only furnished himself with necessary shipping barrels, but the surrounding country with every thing it required in that line. In the year 1831 the extract factory was burned, and having a large quantity of bark on hand Mr. Croswell built a tannery. About the same time another was erected by Tuttle & Osboriie, which soon was owned and managed by Sidney Tuttle & Sons. Besides the grist-mill, fulling-mill, coop- erage, store and extract establishment, all in operation at one time, that gentleman built a pottery, manufactured potash, managed a saw- mill, giving employment to numberless workmen, but he became financially entangled and made an assignment to his brother, Dr. Croswell, of Catskill, and Brace, who continued the different branches of business for a while and then closed. If it were possible to make the people beheve it would be to the interest of the country for them to hold such business men up when they get in close financial quarters, in- stead of pouncing upon them as vultures, it would be to their best interests. With such a business man as Mr. Croswell, Gilboa with her unsurpassed water privileges might soon be made the largest manufacturing center in Cen- tral New York and number thousands of inhab- itants. Mr. Croswell after an active life passed away, leaving five children, Paige, John Keyes, Able Brace, Mrs. Wm. Wicks and Kellogg, the latter the only one remaining in the place. Piatt, Potter & Co., of Schenectady purchased the grist-mill above the bridge of Croswell & Brace, and became owners of other valuable property at this place. Cotton Factory. — ^ About the year 1840, a company was formed with a capital of $50,000, called the " Gilboa Cotton Mill Co." for the purpose of building a cotton mill. Sidney Tut- tle was at the head of the concern as President, and it became a prosperous establishment, with one hundred looms, employing about eighty hands. B. G. Morss and Luman Reed became the owners, and while in their possession, the flood of October, 1869, destroyed the whole, entaihng a heavy loss. Thus we find to-day the most active business interests that have adorned this romantic spot, have ceased to exist, have passed away as many of those whose brains were the grand motive power. Luman Reed, one of the busy men of " years gone by " still remains, and is still identified with the enterprises of the place. In 1879 he built the present grist-mill but a short distance from the site of the first one, which he con- tinues to manage, together with a general assort- ment of merchandise, the latter in connection with A. H. Bartley. Mr. Reed is a son of 122 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Colby Reed, who removed from Vermont in 1806, and commenced a small " store" at Stry- kersville, and removed to " Blenheim Hill," or South Gilboa where he continued the business about thirty years, when he retired from busi- ness and was followed by his son Philetus Reed. He died in i860 at the age of eighty, highly respected as a citizen and business man. Lu- man Reed has been elected as Supervisor of the town eleven terms and from the eastern assem- bly district in the Legislature in 1853 as a col- league of Hon. John Westover, of Richmond- ville. From the fact Mr. Reed's political prin- ciples being adverse to the majority of the voters of the County, his election to that position is evidence of his popularity as a social and busi- ness man. John Reed, a brother was for many years an active businessman of the town and held several local offices, and was supervisor five terms. He is at present a resident of Syracuse engaged in the insurance business. First Tavern.— The first " tavern" or hotel built in the place was to the west of the present " Gilboa House." It was built against the bank, the stone basement of which still stands. It was built about the year 1797, and was a small afifair conducted by Wm. Edwards. When the Catskill & Ithaca turnpike was built bringing travel, additions were put on from time to time, until it was at least seventy-five feet long. Here the first pioneers assembled to talk matters over and indulge in toddy and flip, and built air castles upon "the thousand hills" from which they might look down upon the land-holders with contempt. Gilboa Bridge.— Upon the advent of Archi- bald Croswell a trestle bridge was built across the creek which was carried away by high water and replaced by a lattice one when the turnpike was built, that was also carried away in Octo- ber, 1869, and the present iron structure, the finest one in the County, took its place at a cost of nearly thirteen thousand dollars. Furnace.— A. H. Jackson built the first fur- nace in 1832, which was in operation a few years and closed, and succeeded by the present one in 1876, built by M. Gilberts & Co. Churches — Reformed Church of Gilboa. — Upon the fly-leaf of the records of this church we find written in a bold hand : — " Record of the Baptisms, marriages and members of the church of Schoharie Kill under the ministerial labors of the Rev. Cornelius D., Schermerhorn, which labors he discontinued in the year 1813. May the Great King of his church supply this flock with the regular admin- istration of his word and ordinances." Below the above we find recorded : — "This is to certify that the Rev. Winslow Paige, A. M., V. D. M., became the pastor of the united congregation of the Reformed Dutch Church in the towns of Broome, Windham and Blenheim, on the ist day of April, 1820." As near as can be ascertained the organiza- tion was eff'ected about 1802, at which time Rev. Schermerhorn commenced his pastoral care. The society built an edifice nearly three miles to the east, in the present town of Cones- ville, about the year 1805 or 1806, and becom- ing old and needing repairs, and this village being then in its growing glory, the society resolved to remove it to Gilboa village, which was done in the year 1836. The church for many years was known as the "Church of Disc's Manor," and "Manor Church," for reasons stated in the Conesville chapter. This organization has always been a popular one, comprising the best citizens and attend, ance, and has maintained a very prominent list of pastors. Rev. Winslow Paige has been fol- lowed by Cornehus Bogardus, 1838 to 1843 ; L. H. Van Dyck, 1843 to 1852 j Samuel Lock- wood, 1852 to 1854; R. B. Welsh, 1854 to 1856; William G. E. See, 1857 to 1861; W. W. Letson, 1865 to 1868; William S. Moore, 1869 to 1873 ; J. A. Ball, 1874 to 1876; Edward Cornet, 1876 to 1880; B. C. Miller, present supply. Rev. Winslow Paige was in charge seventeen years and retired from the ministry. His chil- dren, J. Keyes, Alonzo, and Mrs. Judge Potter, became eminent personages. The former was appointed as a Regent of the University the 3 1 st of March, 1 8 2 9, and held the office until his death, which occurred in 1858. TOWN OF GILBOA. 123 He removed from this County to Albany where he was elected Mayor of the city in 1845. Alonzo was elected Judge of the Supreme Court in the Fourth District, in 1847 and 1 855, and was honored as one of the purest minded and most competent Judges upon the bench. Mrs. Potter's free heart and other christian graces endeared her to a large circle of friends, especially the unfortunate, who have been the recipients of her charity. Methodist Episcopal Church of Gilboa. — The records of this class were not to be found upon our several visits for them. Mr. J. M. Hazzard, however, informed us that a class was here as early as 1842, and thinks it was formed about that year, and that the edifice was commenced in 1844 and completed in 1845. The pulpit has been supplied by circuit preachers under the orders of the New York Conference. The society is prosperous and energetic in the re- ligious cause, not sparing time or labor in its furtherance. Flat Creek Baptist Church. — Rev. John Ormsbee with thirteen members organized this society on the 2d of January, 1831. They held their meetings in private houses for several years and built a house of worship in 1843. The present commodious structure was erected in 1865 at a cost of $3,300. Merchants of Gilboa Village. — Through Mr. Hazzard and Luman Reed we find that Samuel Bortles and Archibald Croswell commenced the mercantile business together about the year 1823 and were followed by Ozias Stevens in 1828, and Allen H. Jackson in 1832. The year after, S. Tuttle & Sons established and did a fine business up to the year 1850, and were contemporary with Piatt, Potter & Co. in the first years of business, and with Luman Reed from 1840. The present merchants are Reed & Baldwin, F. A. Haggidorn, Freidenburgh & Thomas and James M. Hazzard. Broome Centre. This place was first settled by Job Tibbetts whose son, Henry Tibbetts, possessed an am- bition similar to Archibald Croswell to drive , business. Upon the building of the road from Potter's Hollow to Gilboa (1850) Henry Tib- betts built the present hotel and storehouse and for several years did a large business. Being the builder of the hamlet, it was called for a long time as " Tibbetts," and, in fact, is known only as such by residents within a few miles. Being belated in reaching the place upon our first visit, to a late hour in the night, we became fearful of not being upon the right road, and awoke three farmers to learn the truth of our situation. Upon asking for Broome Centre and its distance we were told that the road "ran to Tibbetts," but did not remember how far it was to Broome Centre. The third call brought a live lass of eleven sum- mers to our aid, who gave the desired informa- tion with intelligence and grace. Henry Tib- betts was an active man. He was elected to the Legislature in 1845, and to the Board of Supervisors in i860, in which positions he served with commendable credit to himself and the County. He died in March, 1877. The early settlers of this locality were EHsha Griffin, Calvin Case and the Chichester family. But a short distance from Mackey's Cornersi upon the farm of David Elerson, lies, in a neg- lected grave, one of Schoharie's adopted sons, who braved the hardships peculiar to the strug- gle along the border for freedom. David Elerson was a comrade of Timothy Murphy, Richard Tufts, John Wilber and Lieu- tenant Boyd, who came to Schoharie after the battle of Monmouth, under Colonel Butler, as before stated. When he settled here the terri- tory was in the town of Broome, but by the division of 1848 it belongs to Gilboa. Some time toward the close of the patriot's life, some writer, unknown to us, published a pamphlet in which is recorded a few of the hero's exploits, said to be dictated by himself. It was entitled, "The Extraordinary Feats and Escapes of David Elerson in the Revolutionary war." In justice to the patriot we herewith copy the arti- cle, hoping that its perusal may excite the reader to a deeper sense of the purchase price of American Uberty, and present another exam- ple of true fidelity to country worthy to imitate and noble to honor. "This veteran of the Revolution now lives in Broome, Schoharie County, on the Plattenkill, 124 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. and is a respectful and valuable citizen, a mem- ber of the Baptist church, on which account we rely on his statements as being true. These the publisher received from his own lips, and are now for the first time offered to the pubHc. "Elerson is a Virginian by birth, whose exterior appearance although far advanced in years, denotes that in the prime of his youth strength nerved his arm ; and the kindling of his eye at the recital of the sanguinary tale evinced the deep hold the Revolution has still of his affec- tions; as well as that he possessed the decision of character necessary for the prompt achieve- ment of fearful deeds. "He states that he entered in service in 1776, under Colonel Morgan, the well-known ' old Wagoner' as the British called him; and that in 1778, he was in the Monmouth battle, in the State of New Jersey, but escaped unhurt. He was also with Lord Dunmore in his war with the Indians in Virginia, where he received a dangerous wound from a shot of the enemy, the bullet entering at the top of his right shoulder, came out at his left breast, the scar of which is dismal to look at. It happened as follows : — A body of Indians had hidden themselves behind a fallen tree which had been blown down by the winds, over which they were shooting with horrible effect among the soldiers of Dunmore. Elerson being of a daring spirit determined at the risk of his life, to oust them if possible, from this skulking place. In order to do this he dropped down upon the ground, with his rifle in his hand, and crept on his belly towards the roots of a tree, which was loaded with earth cleaving to its roots, behind which he intended to secrete himself, in order to get a shot or two through the opening of the roots at the savages shrouded by its trunk. This he effected, not- withstanding before he reached the spot, a ball, which was probably a random shot, struck him on the shoulder as already stated. A few days after the battle of Monmouth, Colonel Morgan with a detachment of two or three companies of his riflemen, followed the retreating army of General CHnton as far as Middleton, where the British had halted a short time. At this place Elerson requested of Morgan for himself and three others, by name Murphy, (the same who was afterwards so fatal to the Indians in old Scho- harie,) Wilber and Tufts, liberty to follow on after them towards Sandy Hook, where the army of Clinton was supposed to be in the act of crossing over to Staten Island. The request was granted, but not without an earnest charge by Morgan to take care of themselves. They had gone but a little way on the route when they came to a deserted house and stopped to look about and reconnoiter the premises. Eler- son said to his companions that if they would remain at the house and keep a good look out, he would would go a little distance where there were some horses belonging to the British and examine them. He did so ; but on his return his companions were all missing. On passing a little farther he found the road parted two ways; he took one and pursued it, hoping to overtake them, as he supposed they were gone in one of these roads, but he had taken the wrong one and missed them. In a few minutes, however, he came within sight of the operations of Clin- ton's army, and found they had effected a safe landing on Staten Island by making a bridge of boats, and that the British fleet lay before him. There was nothing remaining which they had not carried over except forty or fifty horses and a number of wagons ; but among the mass of baggage and lumber of war, he discovered a coach or phaeton, which he supposed -belonged to General Clinton. " Now it flashed across his mind that he would make a prize of this phaeton, and a pair of horses to draw it with, although he perceived it was under the protection of two sentinels. He now darted out of the road, under the cover of the thick foUage which grew along the shore, in this way secreting himself from the view of the sentinels, till within about twenty yards of them, when he shouted to them to surrender in a moment, or they were dead men, at the same time bringing his rifle to his face, readyto guide a bullet through the heart of one at least. At sight of his dreadful instrument, one of the sen- tinels let fall his gun into the water, from mere fright, as he stood exactly on the edge of the beach. On seeing this he felt assured that his gun was incapacitated to do him harm, as its charge was now wet. The other man, on see- ing what had happened, plunged into the water with his horse, but the current of the tides proved TOWN OF GILBOA. 125 too strong and soon forced him to return. By this time he had taken the other sentinel into custody, and ordered him forthwith to harness a good pair of horses as was among them, to the phaeton, or he would shoot him, on which account the command went speedily into execution. Now the other sentinel made rapidly towards him, till within a short distance, then wheeled abruptly off, riding quite around the wagons, coach and all, which maneuver was supposed a mere preamble, till a convenient moment might be seized upon to shoot Elerson, as the trooper appeared to make several sly attempts to draw a pistol from a side pocket, situated in his bosom. All this time he had been warned to go quite away, or give himself up, unless he wished to be shot ; but he either did not understand, or did not fear the threats of Elerson, notwith- standing his rifle was leveled constantly at him, he continued to evince a determination to try his pistol. Our hero did not like to fire upon him, on his own account, as the report would certainly arouse the attention of the whole British army and fleet, which were in full view, and their cannon was what he dreaded. However the sentinel persisted, and when in the very act of drawing the pistol from his pocket, received the blazing bullet of Elerson through his presump- tuous heart ; he tumbled headlong to the earth, and struggled out his hfe on the sand. The sharp, shrill report of the rifle echoed up and down the shores of the channel and struck the ear of some artilleryman, who, ere he was aware of it, planted a cannon shot near his feet, but fortunately did not injure him. In a moment or two a flash admonished him he had better dodge, as another pelter mnst be on its way ; this passed over him, and struck between two wagons, and settled in the ground, as it was a sandy soil. "By this time the vehicle was ready, when he sprang into it, and rode away, coach, prisoner and all, amid the roar of old England's blazes, which had no power to touch the intrepid Vir- ginian, whose day's work amounted to several hundred dollars. Two companies of Morgan's riflemen were now sent to the westward, as far as Albany, in which Elerson and his three com- panipns, above named, were included under the command of Captain Long. From Albany they were sent to Schoharie, where the Indians and Tories were devastating, murdering and carry- ing off, in concert, captives to Canada. Here they joined Colonel Butler of the Pennsylvania line, as rangers. The first service on which they were sent, was to take, dead or alive,. a person strongly suspected of Toryism, living on the Charlotte river, by the name of Service, who was not only Torified in principle, but was an active agent of the British in aiding, victualing, and secreting the enemies of the Revolution. While prosecuting their way through the woods, when not far from the place now called Gilboa, a dole- ful region of gulfs and precipices, lying along on either side of the Schoharie creek, towards its head, they surprised, and took prisoner, a man who, on examination, was found in possession of a letter from a Captain Smith, who was a Tory, to the very man on the Charlotte, whom they had started in pursuit of, namely Service. This Smith had raised his company about Catskill and along the North River, and was then on his way to Niagara, and had sent this man forward to apprise the Tory that he must be in readiness to furnish his men with such refreshments as he could, and to aid them with provisions for the journey. They now altered their course, being determined, if possible to fall in with, and cut to pieces, this Smith and his company, enquir- ing of the prisoner what way they would proba- bly come, who from fear dare not deceive him. "They now hastened up the stream as secretly as possible, and had come to the flats where the bridge now crosses the Schoharie, on the Patan- via road. Elerson and his fellow-riflemen were on the east side of the creek, where from a cer- tain spot, they discovered the party on the op- posite side of the flat. Elerson and his cap- tain happened to be close together, when they dropped on their knees behind a tree, the rest of the company might probably have made some noise by treading on dry brush, which it is like- ly Smith might have heard, as he came out in an open space, looking here and there, wholly exposing his person, when Captain Long and Elerson both aimed their rifles at his breast. A flash, a groan, and he weltered in his blood, a victim of that justice which watched over the fortunes of the Revolution. " Several of the party were now wounded, the HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. rest fled in consternation to their houses. Thus were the machinations of a deluded set of men dissipated by the untiring vigilance of a small band of our patriotic forefathers. This work finished, Captain Long and his men changed their course for the Charlotte, in pursuance of their first in- tention, where they arrived and silently sur- rounded the house of the person sought for, gathering closer and closer, till at length two or three entered the room where he was, before they were discovered. He instantly stepped out of the door with them, when he was informed that they had orders to take him to the forts at Schoharie. He appeared somewhat alarmed, while he strenuously objected to the proposal, pleading innocence, etc., but in the meanwhile was evidently working his way along from the door to a heap of chips lying between Elerson and Murphy. The reason now appeared why he had so cautiously approached the chips, for on coming-to the spot, he seized in a moment a broad-ax, which lay there, and made a desper- ate stroke at Murphy, which, however, he eluded, as the keen eye of that veteran was not asleep, but the fruitless attempt rolled back in ven- geance on its author, as a bullet from the rifle of Murphy stretched him a lifeless corpse, with the ax in his hand. " The next year, in the month of July, Long's riflemen had orders to move under Colonel But- ler,in connection with other troops, in all amount- ing to seven hundred, to Springfield, at the head of Otsego lake, where they were to await the arrival of General Geo. CHnton and the troops expected with him, all of which, when there concentrated, were to pass down the Susquehanna, to form a junction with General Sullivan at Tioga point. The object of this arrangement was a destruc- tion of the Indian tribes on the Chemung and Genesee rivers ; who had so often been em- ployed in small parties by the policy of the Brit- ish, to distress, in a predatory manner, the in- habitants of the frontiers ; the leader of whom was generally Tayadanaga or, the Brant. Now, whilst the troops were stationed at Springfield Elerson on a certain day, thought he would go to a place where he had observed a quantity of mustard growing around a deserted old house, a small clearing having been made at this spot a year or. two before, his object being to gather a dinner of herbs forhimself andmen. Theplace was distant from the camp about a mile, where he had been busily employed till his haversack was nearly half full. Round about this house the weeds and sprouts had grown thick and high. As he was stooping to gather the mus- tard, he thought he heard a rustling in the weeds behind him, when, looking around, he saw ten or a dozen Indians just ready to spring upon him, and take him prisoner. That they chose to take him prisoner, rather than shoot him, he inferred from their not having done it, as the most ample opportunity had been afforded. The nearness of the fort might have detered them, or they may have wanted him alive as a victim of torture. As he sprang to seize his rifle, which stood against the house, their hatchets were hurled sufficiently swift and numerous to have cut him to pieces, if they had all hit him ; how- ever, he sustained no injury, except the middle finger of one hand, which was nearly cut off. " He secured his rifle and sprang off in the opposite direction with the speed of an arrow, leaving his haversack and greens behind. There lay between him and the woods an open space of ground which was thickly covered with sprouts and weeds, having once been cleared ; through this he had to run before he could reach the woods. On coming to the edge of this open space, he found his way obstructed by a hedge fence made of fallen trees, into which he plunged, strugghng and leaping to get through; at this awful moment he heard behind him a full volley of their rifles discharged at the same instant; bullets whizzed and pattered about him, among the old timber and trees, yet he escaped unhurt. It was about eleven o'clock of the forenoon ; he now had the start of the Indians, as they had yet to load their rifles and to scale the hedge fence ; having cleared all obstacles, he plunged into the woods straight forward, not knowing whither he was running. From eleven to three he had not slackened his pace more than compelled to do by the situa- tion of the ground over which he had run, when he perceived himself headed by an Indian. He stopped and drew up his rifle to shoot him, but he had disappeared, when, before his rifle was taken from his eye, a bullet from another direction had pierced his side, which proved TOWN OF GILBOA. 127 however only a flesh wound, as it passed just above the hip joint, between the cuticle and peritoneum, coming out near the spine. He was now convinced that he was surrounded, though by an invisible enemy. Again he re- newed his flight, till coming directly to the brow of a mountain, he descended it like a chased deer, but on reaching its foot found there a small brook, which in crossing, he scooped with his hand a little water to' his mouth, as his tongue was bloated and hung out from excessive heat and thirst. As he tasted the water he cast his eyes behind him, when he perceived an Indian alone, just breaking over the brow of the hill, in full spring after him ; he now darted out of the brook and up a shallow bank, hiding himself behind the dark shade of a monstrous hemlock. " Now, as a fair opportunity offered to shoot this Indian, he raised his rifle, but found it im- possible to take aim, as he shook very much from fatigue, perturbation of mind, and the anguish and bleeding of his wounds. " But dropping flat down he rested his piece on the root of the tree, having now no doubt but the moment he touched the trigger of his unerring rifle, the enemy would finish his course. So it turned out. He fired ; the Indian reeled and fell, tumbling headlong on the side of the declivity. He now reloaded ; returned the ramrod to its slide, and primed the faithful rifle, when at that instant the whole company of his pursuers burst over the hill, true to the scent ; but on coming where their expiring fellow wel- tered in his blood, a yell, horrible as shrill, tore the air, reverberating among the dense forest, in sign, as their custom is, of the presence of death. It was the death yell. He now gave up all as lost, as his pursuers were so near, but had calculated to fetch to the ground one or two more before they should seize him, but as he perceived they still lingered about their dying comrade, a thought crossed his mind that one struggle more and he might possibly escape. Again he sprang off"; but soon encountered the brook, whose dark, winding course overhung with a dense grove of low hemlock, offered a sure retreat, as also his tracks were lost in the oblivious waters. Having followed this stream some small distance he sprang into the thicket of hemlocks, where, finding a hollow tree which was fallen down, he crept into it, where he lay secure, as the Indians pursued him no further ; being it is likely, terrified at the death of their chief runner and warrior. Sleep soon over- powered him in his dreary bed, from which he awoke not till the next morning. When he backed out of the log he found it rained, and added to this, which greatly augmented the hor- ror of his situation, he was lost. Here he re- mained two days and nights in the tree, without food or dressing for his wounds, as the weather did not clear up; and besides he feared the Indians might still be lurking about. But on the third day from that on which the Indians surprised him, the sun rose clear, when he was able to shape his course, and came out at Brown's Mills, in Cobleskill, a distance from where he had lodged in the hollow tree, of only about three miles, having run from where he was gathering herbs at least twenty-five miles, from eleven in the morning till he entered the log pursued by a band of savages, who thirsted for his blood and to make his body a subject of torture. Official. Supervisors. 1848— Colby Reed. 1849 — Elisha Griffin. 1850 — Hiram Freidenburgh. 1 85 1 — Paige Croswell. 1852 — David E. Chichester. 1853 — Solomon Mackey. 1854— R. W. Ruliffson. 185 s — -John Reed. 1856— do 1857— do 1858— do 1859— do i860 — Henry Tibbetts. 1 86 1 — David E. Chichester. 1862 — do 1863 — Luman Reed. 1864 — Washington Mackey. 1865 — John I. Jackson. 1866 — Washington Mackey. 1867 — Luman Reed. 1868—- do 128 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 1869— Luman Reed. 1870— do 1871— do 1872— do 1873- do 1874- do 1875- do 1876— do 1877 — A. Hagadorn. 1878 — Addison H. Bartley. 1879 — do 1880 — Andrew G. Baldwin. 1881— do 1882 — A. Hagadorn. District Attorney. 1874— Wm. H. Baldwin. County Clerk. 1846 — Stephen Mayhan. Assembly. 1853 — Luman Reed. 1866 — Benjamin E. Smith. State Senate. 1850— Sidney Tuttle. 1851 — do By an Act passed March 16, 1841, entitled "An Act to erect the town of Gilboa from Broome and Blenheim,'' the following bounds are given in Laws of New York, Seventy-first Session, Chap- ter XCII :— " Sec. I. All that part of the towns of Broome and Blenheim in the County of Schoharie, that is included within the following described boundaries, shall be a town and shall be called Gilboa, beginning at the center of the Scho- harie creek, where the Manorkill empties in the same, thence along the north-westerly bounds of the town of Conesville to the extremity thereof, being the north-west corner of said town, thence easterly on the boundary line be- tween the towns of Broome and Conesville to the east hne of a lot of land owned and occu- pied by James Barlow as a farm, thence north- erly on the said east line of a farm now occu- pied by Alva HoUenbeck in a straight line to the east of Keyser's kill, commonly called Black brook, thence northerly along said Black brook and said Keyser's kill to the north Hne of the present town of Broome, thence easterly along and upon said north line to the division line between Broome and Blenheim, thence southerly along and upon such division hne till it comes to the center of the Schoharie creek, at the eastern extremity of the boundary line be- tween lots U and V in the Blenheim Patent, thence along said boundary line westerly to the west extremity thereof, thence in a north-west- erly direction on and along the boundary line between lots H and G one hundred and fifty- one and one hundred and fifty-two, one hun- dred and thirty-five and one hundred and thirty- six, one hundred and nineteen and one hundred and twenty, one hundred and three and one hundred and four, eighty-seven and eighty-eight, seventy-one and seventy-two, fifty-five and fifty- six, in said Blenheim Patent to the east line of the town of Jefferson, thence in a south-westerly direction along said east line to the south bounds of Schoharie county, thence in a south- west direction along said south boundary to the boundary line between the towns of Blenheim and Conesville, thence in a northerly direction along said boundary hne to the place of begin- ning. " Sec. 2. The first town meeting in said town shall be held on the twentieth day of April next, at the public house now kept and occupied by Stephen Briggs, and in each year thereafter the annual town meeting in the said town of Gilboa shall be held on the third Tuesday of February until the time be changed in the manner pre- scribed by law. " Sec. 3. Hiram Freidenburgh, James G.Mackey and Luman Reed shall preside at such first town meeting, and shall possess all powers rela- tive to the same that justices of the peace pos- sess at town meetings, and in case they or either of them shall refuse or neglect to serve, the said town meeting shall have power to sub- stitute some elector of said town for each one so refusing or neglecting to serve." w M b a o •^ W o m a o td M tJd o THOMAS COLBY. A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. In the early part of this century, there came from the State of New Hampshire, Nicholas Colby, who settled in the then town of Blenheim, [now Gilboa] Schoharie County, with his wife Sally or Sarah Howe. Here he reared a family of twelve children; The eldest, Eli H. Colby, married Elizabeth Mackey, and settled in the town of Roxbury, Delaware county. Eli's family consisted of eight children, the oldest of whom is Thomas Colby the subject of our pres- ent sketch. Thomas Colby was born in the town of Roxbury, Delaware county, on the 23d of March, 1833, and although he attended none but a common school, yet by perseverance he obtained a good education. At twenty-one he was without worldly means, save the energy and push which he so assidu- ously cultivated, fired with the zeal, enterprise and thrift so prominently developed later in life, and together with the woiking capital of a strong arm and determined heart, he decided as he expressed it, to strike out for himself. He bought the farm of 150 acres where he now lives, and soon after added another ico acres, all of which was in a very low state of cultiva- tion, at the time of his purchase, and would not keep over ten head of cattle. Mr. Colby has so improved it that it now keeps over sixty head, and is one of the best farms in the town of Gilboa. It is situated on the line of the Ulster & Delaware Railroad, which runs in the valley below, but a few hundred yards off. His residence is located in plain view of the Catskill mountains which give it a pleasant and picturesque appear- ance. He also owns another farm of about too acres situated one mile north of his residence, which he works in connection with the home farm. His farms are devoted strictly to dairy- ing, sending milk to the New York market in the winter season and the making of butter and raising of stock during the summer. Mr. Colby's stock is the Jersey, which he thinks is superior to any other for dairy purposes. He is pre- eminently a working man himself, and is always with his hired help, some of whom have been with him for years. In politics he is a Republican, and has been honored with several town offices. He meets his obligations promptly, is a man of few words, considers it beneath his dignity to hold argu- ment with any one, and belongs to no church. Mr. Colby has been twice married, his first wife was Julia S. Decker,by whom he was blessed with three children, all of whom died in infancy. By his second wife he has had two children, Thomas, Jr., and Emma. Mr. Colby is a very conscientious man ; his opinions are always fearless and honest, never hesitating to denounce what he believes to be wrong, because others favor it, and never court- ing popularity at the expense of his honor. TOWN OF CONESVILLE. 129 CHAPTER VIII. History of the Town of Conesville. Scenery — Manorkill Falls — Stryker Bro- thers' Tannery — Steven's Mill— Tolling A Grist — Colby Reed — First Store — Con- trast OF Scenery — Hunting Grounds — Indian Relics — Dise Purchase of Land — Ury Richtmyer — The Dise Sons — Liti- gation — Peter Richtmyer — His Capture BY Indians — Escape— Rebuilt his House — Opens an Inn — Humphrey's — Additional Settlers— Dairying — Prominent Settlers — Town Formed — Boundaries — Jonathan Cone — Town Records. TO the visitor approaching the town from the east, a mountainous surface presents itself, whose wildness impresses unfavorably either in a fertile or romantic point of view, but entering upon the western border with the wa- ters of the Manorkill leaping over the precip- itous ledge that Nature has so regularly laid as a barrier to the inundations of the Schoharie, a different impression is made. As the tumbling foam dashes from rock to rock with the deep thundering of greater falls, and sends its spray over the path it once followed, ages upon ages ago, our genius is at once lured to admire and find beauty, grandeur and even romance in each object that surrounds us. Upon the very point of the rocks, above a crumbling wall, stands the remnant of a once busy tanning enterprise, built by Barent and Peter M. Stryker, in 1830. It seems to have been a very singular location for such a business when so many more favora- ble ones were presented along the banks of the stream above. The progenitors of the Stryker family who are and have been so num- erous in this section of the County, were two brothers, Barent and Peter, who came from New Jersey about the year 1800. Thpy pur- chased the lands lying around the falls and east to the hamlet of Strykerville. Barent settled upon the farm occupied by Rev. Loren Cole, while Peter settled upon that of his grandson, George H. Stryker. One of Barent's daughters married Colby Reed, a native of Vermont, who engaged in the mercantile business at Stryker- ville in connection with John Stryker, about the year 1815. They were the first merchants. The co-partnership was dissolved a few years after, and Reed located at Blenheim Hill, while Stryker continued and was followed by Peter M., son of Peter, who built the tannery in connection with his cousin Barent. They also built a mill near. Gershom Stevens also built a mill where the Thomas mill stands, about the year 1835. Stevens was the object of a joke, such as millers are subject to hear, regardless of their degree of integrity. A farm- er brought a large grist to be ground, when three of his sons were working in the mill. The father coming in while the grist was in the hop- per, he asked one of the boys if he had " tolled the grist," to which he replied " he had." An- other son soon came round and was also asked if "he had tolled that grist?" Upon being an- swered in the affirmative the old gentleman passed out but soon returned 'and accosted the third son with the question, "Have you tolled that grist?" "Yes, sir," he replied, "I have." " Are you surejou did ?" asked the father, "Yes, sir, I am pretty sure I did." "Well, boys are so careless," said Stevens, "I will toll it myself and make sure of it ; boys are not always relia- ble." Considerable business was done in the ham- let of Strykerville for several years, but the en- terprise of Gilboa village proved a death stroke to the place. In following up the stream the fertile and well kept intervale is in deep con- trast to the mountain sides that are still cov- ered with the forest and present a striking idea of the country previous to its settlement by the whites. Here, we can imagine, were the hunt- ing grounds of the Delawares, Mohawks and the tribes along the Hudson, ere the stroke of enterprise resounded to annihilate the race and Nature's wildness. At various places along the creek, relics of the race, such as stone arrows, rough-hewn knives and hatchets were found by the early settlers, each bearing a different in- genuity, perhaps peculiar to the tribe to which they belonged. The lands of this town were chiefly pur- 130 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. chased by the Disc family and one Ury Richt- myer. Letters patent of the year 1754 were granted to the latter for two tracts, one lying in the western and the other in the eastern part of the town. He settled east of the stone bridge and died in 1769, and his was supposed to be the first death in the town. He was a German and became connected with several others in the purchase of land, chief among whom was John Dise, whose family became notorious as friends of the Crown in the Revolution. The father left a large property, and in his day was one of the leading business men of Rondout. The sons lived upon the land, and in their frequent visits to the Hudson surprised the frugal in- habitants by exhibiting their science in drinking rum and throwing silver coins in the river. They thereby became reduced financially, and whether honorably or dishonorably, to replenish their purses, they instituted suits against those who had purchased and leased lands of them, and also against Richtmyer. They were in Utigation many years in the Kings Court but were unsuccessful in the end, and were left with but little means. Ury Richtmyer was followed by a son John, whose family we believe to be extinct in the County. Mrs. Ury Richtmyer was taken to the middle fort upon commence- ment of hostilities in Schoharie, and died through fright, as stated in Chapter III of this work. Peter Richtmyer, one of three brothers who settled at Hartman's dorf wandered off to the Manorkill when but a young man, and settled with Ury. He built a log-house near where George Van Dyke's mansion stands and cleared quite a farm by the time the war began. While working upon the flat below the house one afternoon, he was surprised by a squad of Indians and a Tory and taken prisoner. The captors had been upon a raid near the Hudson and had a few prisoners that were bound with cords and compelled to carry the plunder they had obtained. Peter was driven along but his family escaped. The party followed the creek to the Schoharie and down that stream to the Patchin place, where they turned up the West- kill and encamped for the night near the saw- mill. Peter was not bound but watched closely, and when called upon to turn in for the night' he jumped to escape and was confronted by a Tory neighbor, with a musket pointed at his breast. Seeing the gun was his own, with a worthless flint, he pressed on past the Tory and was urged by the fruitless click ! click ! of the old gun. He returned to his house and after finding his family, pushed on that night for the Hudson where he left his wife, while he returned to the Upper fort and did duty under Hager to the close of the war. After that event he re- built, and in 1789 opened an inn, the first one in that part of the County, and began to accu- mulate a fine property. He was followed by his sons Abram, George and Daniel, who built the present Van Dyke mansion, and did a pay- ing business. Below " Richtmyer's " was an- other hotel long known as " Humphreys," and around those two houses the chief business at- tractions of the town clustered for many long years. After the war closed, quite a number of families from the eastern States and the older settled portions of the County located in the town, the Yankee climbing upon the hills while the Dutch and Germans settled in the valleys. The former true to his nature, adopted stock raising, which has culminated in dairying by all classes, and been the means of raising the standard of the town among other towns of the County in productiveness nearly fifty per cent within the period of twenty-five years. The prominent famihes that moved in the town in the fore part of the century, beside those already mentioned were :— Patrie, Shew, Scoville, Krinple, Hub- bard, Luring, Crane, Mattice and Allerton. Owing to the large territory of the town of Broome and the distance the people of a goodly portion of the town were compelled to go to transact town business, a petition was forwarded to the Legislature for the formation of a new town. On the 3d of March, 1836, an act was passed to divide the town of Broome and the town of Durham : — " Beginning at the centre of Schoharie Creek, m the County of Schoharie, where the Manor creek empties in the same ; thence north forty- six degrees east one hundred and seventy-six chams, to the northwest corner of a lot in Scott's patent known as the "Leming lot," thence east along the lines of lots in the said patent three hundred and twenty chains to the east line of TOWN OF CONESVlLLE. 131 said patent, thence south along the east line of the said patent twenty-one chains to the north line of Stringer's patent ; ihence east along the north line of the said mentioned patent, one hundred and seventy-six chains, to the east line of the County of Schoharie ; thence southerly along the said east line of the said County, to the north line of the County of Greene ; thence east- wardly along the north line of the said County of Greene, thirty-four chains : thence south two degrees east, one hundred and sixty-six chains to the dividing hne between the towns of Dur- ham and Windham ; thence westwardly and northwardly along the said dividing line and the dividing line between Durham and Prattsville, until it intersects the north line of the County of Greene, thence westwardly along the said Coun- ty hne, to the centre of the said Schoharie creek, and thence northwardly down the centre of the said creek to the place of beginning. "(Sec. 4). The first annual town meeting in the said new town of Conesville, shall be held on the third Tuesday of April next, (1837,) at the inn of Abraham Richtrayer therein, commencing at ten o'clock in the forenoon of that day. "Peter Stryker, Joshua Nowlen and Chancel- lor Spenser, or any two of them, may preside at, conduct and record the proceedings of the first annual town meeting, and shall have the like power for such purpose as are vested in the jus- tices of the peace and town clerk, by article second, title second of chapter eleven of the first part of the Revised Statutes ; and they or two of them, shall cause notices in writing of the time and place of holding such first annual town meeting to be posted at four or more of the most public places in the said new town at least eight days before the time of such meet- ing." The town was named after Rev. Jonathan Cone, a man whose Christian qualities endeared him to all classes throughout this part of the country. The earhest records of the town were lost, and we are therefore debarred from giving them, and favoring the reader with matter that usu- ally proves interesting. Town records, in gen- eral, are poorly kept and preserved, although more care is taken at the present time than formerly. Too much attention has been given to nominate officers that would make an elec- tion sure, instead of looking for necessary quali- fications, but at present all classes receiving some educational advantages, it is hard to find one who is so deficient as to be incompetent, and hence a more methodical record is kept. The following have been elected supervisors with the years of service : 1836 — Abram Richtmyer. 1837 — Joshua Nowlen. 1838— do T839 — Parent Stryker. 1840 — Peter Stryker. i84r — Chancellor Spenser. 1842 — Ira Nowlen. 1 843 — Joshua Nowlen. 1844 — Chancellor Spenser. 1845 — Elisha Hammond. 1846 — do 1847 — Lewis P. Mattice. 1848 — Wilhara Lamont. 1849 — do 1850 — do 1 85 1 — Wilham Lee. 1852 — Orluff M. Humphrey. 1853 — Loren P. Cole. 1854— James Hay. 1855 — Erastus Case. 1856 — Lewis P. Mattice. 1857 — J. D. Newell, r 85 8— Newel Day. 1859 — Loren P. Cole. i860 — Lewis P. Mattice. 1861 — Ira D. Humphrey. T862 — Peter H. Richtmyer. 1863 — Lewis P. Mattice. 1864 — Loren P. Cole. 1865 — Peter Couchman. 1866— do 1867— do 1868— do i86g — do r87o — do 1871 — do 1872 — do 1873 — Stephen J. Hitchcock. 1874— D. H. Miller. 132 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 1875— D. B. Thorpe. 1876— do 1877 — George VanDyke. 1878— do 1879 — Loren P. Cole. 1880 — Peter Couchman. 1881 — Alexander W. Patrie. 1882— G. Gaylord. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. HON. PETER COUCHMAN. Peter Couchman was born in the town of Broome, July 28, 1833, and traces his an- cestry back to Germany. His great-grandfather came to this country about the year 1780, and settled in Duchess county. Philip Couchman, his father, lived in Canada a number of years, and was living there at the outbreak of the war between England and the United States in 1812. He was a Whig in pohtics, and would have probably remained so had he not become disgusted with the actions of the Whigs who Hved as neighbors to him while in Canada; and expressed their sympathies for Great Britain while the Democrats were espousing the cause of their country. He left the party then and there. The subject of our sketch is the son of Philip Couchman and Zilpha Winans, of Albany county ; he is the youngest of a family of ten children, eight of whom are now living. Mr. Couchman lived at home until his father's death in 1857. He attended the district schools of his native town; and in 1862 was united in marriage to Mary Bloodgood, of Conesville. He first entered the political field as a candidate for Supervisor of the town of Conesville, in 1865, when he was elected by a handsome majority. As a proof of his popularity we need only say that he was re-elected for eight con- secutive terms; and again he came before the people in 1871 as a candidate for Member of Assembly, when he was elected, running far ahead of his ticket ; he was re-elected the fol- lowing year. Being a Democrat, in a Legis- lature largely Repubhcan, the heavy committee work naturally fell to the party in power. Dur- ing his first term he served on the Committee of Internal Affairs of Towns and Counties, and on Committee on Expenditures of the House. During his second term he served on the Com- mittee on Agriculture and the Committee on Charitable and Religious institutions. Mr. Couchman rendered good service to the people of his County in securing for them a deed to the lower Stone Fort in Scho- harie, a relic of the dark and bloody days that are connected with the history of the County. It had been purchased by the State years ago for an arsenal. Adjutant-General Rathbone recommended the sale of all the State arsenals, this one among the number, but through Ihe exertion and influence of Mr. Couchman it was deeded to Schoharie, free of cost. The building was used as a fort and church, and is in a remarkable state of pre- servation. The old building is an object of great interest, and is held more than dear by the descendants of the glorious old patriots that took shelter within its walls. In 1880 Mr. Couchman was repeatedly urged by many of the reUable Democrats to accept of the nomination for Congress from his dis- trict, which comprised Ulster, Greene and Schoharie counties. 'I'he nomination would have been equivalent to an election, as the district was strongly Democratic, yet Mr. Couchman refused the proposed honor, much against the wishes of his friends, owing to the fact that he perceived a growing feeling in the district against electing a Schoharie man to the office. The wisdom of his course became ap- parent, when, as the result of the election, the one who was nominated from Schoharie county was badly beaten, and owed his defeat to this one reason. Of Mr. Couchman's brothers, John W. served in the Legislature of i860; three brothers are ministers, Milo and John are Methodists, and Philip is a minister of the Christian Church. In connection with Mr. Couchman's public career we must mention the fact that the hand- some and commodious court-house at Scho- HOM. PETER COUCHMAH. TOWN OF BROOME. 133 harie was built while he was in the Board of Supervisors, and we simply write the truth when we say that but for the position taken by him and one or two of his associates, instead of the fine structure we now see, there would have been something decidedly inferior. Mr. Couchman is a farmer, and makes his business as such a sort of profession. A large part of his time at home is devoted to his library and the news of the day. His probity, ability, and geniality, have secured to him the confidence and esteem of the people of his dis- trict in a marked degree. Quickness of discern- ment, readiness of action and undoubted in- tegrity are among his most decided character- istics. He has been a Democratic wheel-horse in his town for years, and is well versed in general politics. CHAPTER IX. History of the Town of Broome. When Formed — Name Changed — Cat^kill Creek — Indian Trail — General Aspect — First Settlers — Tories' Route — Addi- tional Settlers — Daniel Shays — His Life — Rebellion and Death— David Williams— His Life — Incidents Relating to Cap- ture OF Andre—Comments on Williams and Andre — Their Principles Compared — Williams' Death — Burial — Son and Grandson — Mount Williams — Livingston- viLLE — Asa Starkweather — His Official Life — His Argument in Convention — Death — Adam Mattice — Presbyterian Church — Methodist Church — Draft of 1813 — Smithton — Hubbard's — The Vly — Supervisors — Bounds. THIS town was one of the original six that were formed March i, 1797, and bore the name of Bristol. Upon the 6th of April, 1808, for reasons unknown to the writer, the name was changed to Broome, in honor of the then acting Lieutenant Governor, John Broome, who was repeatedly elected with Daniel D. Tomp- kins, as Governor. Undoubtedly, had not death closed his successful and honored career in 1811, he would have retained the position to the close of Governor Tompkins admin- istration, at least, in 18 16, as he was so highly admired by the people. The Catskill creek takes its rise in this town, and was formerly fed by a large_ swamp, called the vlaie, (now pronounced vly,') now drained, which has been a marked locahty since the Aborigines of the country formed a path lead- ing from the Hudson River, near Catskill, to the Schoharie valley and the wigwams of the western tribes of the confederation. It was along this path following the Catskill creek, to the Vly, that the first German settlers of the Schoharie valley traversed (as noted in Chapter II,) in the wintertime of 17 13. Along this path also the Stockbridge and their more southern neighboring tribes passed, to reach the hunting grounds of Skochalie—ox her medicinal waters, long, long before the " remnant of tribes" formed one, along the course of her beautiful river. Perhaps along this path the Mohawk braves traveled to meet the vaHant Mohegans in deadly strife, for the supremacy of power, and again to pounce upon the weaker tribes of Man- hatten and Hackensack, to extort tribute and obedience to their King and councils. Of that primitive and well beaten path nothing is left but the rippling waters that so often slaked the thirst, and guided the steps of the bold athletic warriors through the mighty forest of giant tim- ber. Civihzation has marked a change. The forest has disappeared; along the romantic stream and upon the sides of the lofty hills — spacious fields now are seen whose luxuriant verdure are as smiles of Providence upon the labors of intelHgence and civilization. Instead of the war whoop or death yell of the savage, and the howling of wild beasts, that once awak- ened the echoes of the forest, peace is found in the grazing herds, and in the shouts of happy and prosperous yeomen, which are heard amid the clatter of farming implements, gathering the abundant harvest, which was made possible through the labors, anxieties, hopes, fears and 134 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. sacrifices of a noble race that drew inspiration of liberty from the teachings of holy writ. During the Revolution, but few settlers were found within the limits of the town. But one of whom we have any knowledge remained at home and braved the dangers that surrounded the border settlers. Derick Van Dyck passed through the troublesome times, with but an oc- casional stay at the Upper Fort, when an in- vasion was expected, and seemed to escape the trouble and suffering that those along the Scho- harie creek experienced. His residence was near the present village of Livingstonville, and was burned by Tories in the year 1781. He then removed to Albany and remained until the close of the war. The Tories of the Hud- son river that lived near Catskill, and the Indians of the Susquehanna, kept up a con- tinual communication with each other through this territory, and it was here that the scouts of the Middle and Upper Forts often came to in- tercept the loyahsts as they passed through, and caught many from time to time and con- veyed the royal adherents to Albany for investi- gation and imprisonment. Nothing of importance occurred within the town of a warlike nature during the war, as the settlement was too sparse to draw the enemy for murder and plunder. At the close of the war emigration commenced to flow in from the river counties and Schoharie valley, beside sev- eral from the Eastern States. Those from the latter were: — Asa Bushnell, Joshua Bushnell, Hezekiah Weston, George Watson, John Gillet, Ebenezer Wickham, George Burtwick, Ezra Chapman, Timothy Kelsey. Elisha Humphry, Lyman Burchard, James Ellis, Henry Rifenburgh. All of whose families are still to be found within the town. Daniel Shays. — Among the pioneers of this section was the notable Daniel Shays, the leader of " Shay's Rebellion" in 1786 and '87. He fled to this then isolated country and set- tled where the village of Preston Hollow now stands, having purchased a large tract of land, a considerable of which lay in the town of Broome. The General was a fine looking man and commanded the respect of all whom he met. His son Hiram studied law and removed to the western part of the State. The General died in Preston Hollow in 1821, where his remains lie beneath a plain head-stone, while his name is more endurably inscribed upon the pages of history as a staunch yet mistaken ad- vocate of liberty. He was a subaltern officer during the Revolution and made a mark as a brave and efficient soldier, which no doubt was the reason his brother veterans chose him to lead them in defiance of law or order to compel the general court of Massachusetts to redress the people's grievances which they claimed were brought on by heavy taxation through official in- competency to manage the Government. The facts of the case we here will state, they beingso closely connected with our former citizen it can but prove of interest to the reader. For a few years after peace was proclaimed the . Government was simply a Revolutionary confed • eration. Each State was a sovereignty in fact, by itself, and collected its own revenue, Con- gress not having power to levy duties nor means to carry on the public service only as their an- nual requisitions for money to the several States were honored. It was without power to issue bills of credit, make treaties or regulate com- merce on a permanent basis with foreign powers, or make loans. In fact it was a Congress only in name, as was the Government. The consequence was every thing was in confusion. Foreign commerce was annihilated and trade was embarrassed. Business of every descrip- tion became paralyzed, property depreciated and ruin stared the whole country in the face. Money was so scarce that when taxes were to be paid " any useful articles," says Goodrich, "were received in lieu of money." The people had passed through the fiery fur- nace of war and stood without a knowledge of the administration of National affairs, expecting TOWN OF BROOME. I3S that prosperity would follow without a system or head. The people of Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Massachusetts became openly discontented, especially in the latter State. They met in county conventions in 1786 and drew up addresses to the General Court of the Slate, made volumes of resolves in which they censured the Government officials and threatened open revolt. The veterans of the Revolution were still hot blooded and formed large armed companies and drew to- gether at Springfield in the winter of 1786, num- bering several thousands. They chose Daniel Shays as their leader and prepared to march to Boston and compel the court to redress the people's grievances, but concluded to encamp and petition to that body. During the insurrectionary movements of the discontented, the Governor ordered a force un- der General Lincoln to march against them, and while collecting his men and marching to the rebels' encampment a force with Shays at their head made an attack upon the arsenal at Springfield, in January, 1787. Upon General Shepard, the State officer in charge, firing upon them with a cannon they retreated in confusion and the whole force withdrew to Pelham. When Lincoln came up with his force several engage- ments occurred between small parties, each of which sickened the insurgents and made the leaders' spirits droop. Lincoln marched to Pelham to engage with Shays, while Shays marched backwards earnestly begging, through messengers, to negotiate for a pardon. But Lincoln was not to be trifled witli and de- manded a surrender. Shays retreated from one point to another until some time in February, when Lincoln suddenly pounced upon him at Petersham and put the whole force to rout. Shays made tracks for New York State as he was unable to make a stand against the State troops. The army of insurgents soon laid down their arms and peace once more dawned over the scene. General Shays received a par- don in 1788 and sought the quiet of this town to hide himself from the world. He possessed considerable of this world's goods and lived the hfe of a gentleman, undoubtedly well pleased with the leniency shown him by the austere government of old Massachusetts. Following Shays came one of America's no- blest patriots, David Williams. David Williams y^^js, one of the captors of Major Andre, and one whose name will resound to all futurity as a true and unswerving patriot. David Williams, Isaac Van Wart, John Pauld- ing ! At the mention of their names, what as- surances of fidelity to country, principle, and manly work, hft the student above the corrupt bickerings that fill the pages of our National histories, and arouse a pride in the integrity of the uncouth yeomen that battled against royalty and bequeathed to us our liberties. Coming to us from such sources and through such constancy and devotion, their value is en- hanced and honor unstained. Of him who honored our County by choosing Broome's ro- mantic hill-sides as his home, we extract from the Albany Daily Advertiser the biography, dictated by himself but a few months previous to his death, in which the circumstances of Andre's capture are related. " I was born in Tarrytown, then called Phifips Manor, Westchester county, N. Y., October 21, r754. I entered the army in 1775, at the age of 2r, and was under General Montgomery at the siege of Fort St. John, and afterwards on board the flat-bottomed boats to carry provision. Served out my time which was six months, and enlisted again in the spring of 1776, and con- tinued in the service by different enhstments, as a New York militiaman until 1779, ^tc. In 1778, when in Captain Acker's company of New York militia, at Tarrytown, I asked his permission to take a walk in company with WiUiam Van Wart, a boy sixteen or seven- teen years old and proceeded with him, to the cross-roads on Tompkins' ridge. We stood looking a few moments and saw five men com- ing, who had firearms ; we jumped over a stone fence and concealed ourselves in a corner of it, and observed that they were armed with two mus- kets and three pistols. They came so near that we recognized two of them, viz : Wm. Underbill and Wm. Mosher, who were Tories, and known to be of DeLancey's corps. When they came within proper distance, I said to my companion, 'Billy, neck or no joint !' I then said aloud, as if speaking to a number, with a view of intimidat- 136 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. ing them, ' Men make ready ?' They stopped immediately. I then told them to ground theii- arras, which they did. I then said, ' March away,' and they did so. I then jumped over the fence, secured their arms, and made them march before us to our quarters. I con- tinued in the service until a week or ten days before the year 1780. In December, 1779, Captain Daniel Williams, who was commander of our company, mounted us on horses, and he went to Morrisania, Westchester county. We swept all Morrisania clear, took probably $5,000 worth of property, and returned to Tarrytown and quartered at Young's house. My feet being frozen, my uncle Martinus Van Wart, took me to his house. I told Captain Williams that the enemy would soon be at Young's, and that if he remained there he would be on his way to Mor- risania before morning, but he paid no atten- tion to my remarks — he did not believe me. In the course of the night a woman came to my uncle's trying, 'Uncle Martinus! Uncle Mar- tinus !' The truth was, the British had sur- rounded Young's house, made prisoners of all the company except two, and burnt the barn. Having got well of my frozen feet, on the 3d of June, 1780, we were all driven from Tarry- town to the upper part of Westchester county, in the town of Salem. We belonged to no or- ganized company at all, were under no com- mand, and worked for our board ox johniiy-cake. -Isaac Van Wart, who was a cousin of mine [the father of WilHams and mother of VanWart were brother and sister,] Nicholas Storms and my- self went to Tarrytown on a visit. We carried our muskets with us, and on our way took a Quaker, who said he was going to New York after salt and other things. The Quaker was taken before the American authority and ac- quitted. In July or August a number of per- sons, of whom I was one, went on a visit to our friends in Tarrytown, and while on the way took ten head of cattle, which some refugees were driving to New York, and, on examina- tion before the authority, the cattle were restored to their right owners, as they pleaded innocence, saying they were stolen from them. I then returned to Salem, and worked with a Mr. Bene- dict for my board, until the 22d of September. It was about one o'clock p m., as I was standing in the door with Mr. Benedict's daughter (who was afterward my wife,) when I saw six men coming. She remarked, ' They have got guns.' I jumped over a board fence and met them. ' Boys,' said I, ' where are you going ? ' They answered ' we are going to Tarrytown.' I then said ' if you will wait until I get my gun I will go with you.' The names of the six persons were, Isaac VanWart, John Paulding, William Williams, John Yerks and James Romer, the name of the sixth I have forgotten. We pro- ceeded about fifteen miles that night, and slept in a hay barrack. In the morning we crossed Buttermilk hill, when John Paulding proposed to go to Isaac Reed's and get a pack of cards to divert ourselves with. After procuring them we went out to Davis' hill, where we separated, leaving four on the hill and three, viz: Van- Wart, Paulding and myself, proceeded on the Tarrytown road about one mile and concealed ourselves in the bushes on the west side of the road, and commenced playing cards three handed, that is, each one for himself. We had not been playing more than an hour, when we heard a horse galloping across a bridge but a few yards from us. Which of us spoke I do not remember, but one of us said, 'there comes a trader going to New York.' We stepped out from our concealment and stopped him. ' My lads,' said he, ' I hope you belong to our party.' We asked him ' what party ?' he replied, ' the lower party.' We told him we did. He then said, ' I am a British officer, have been up the coun- try on particular business, and would not wish to be detained a minute/ and as a token to con- vince us he was a gentleman, he pulled out and showed us his gold watch ; we then told him we were Americans. ' God bless my soul,' said he, ' a man must do any thing these times to get along,' and then showed us Arnold's pass. We told him it would not satisfy us without search- ing him. ' My lads,' said he, ' you will bring yourselves into trouble.' We answered, 'we did not fear it,' and conducted him about seventy rods into the woods. My comrades appointed me to search him ; commencing with his hat, I searched his person effectually, but found nothing until I pulled off his boot, when we dis- covered that something was concealed in his stocking. Paulding caught hold of his foot and TOWN OF BROOME. 137 exclaimed, ' by G — d, here it is !' I pulled off his stocking, and inside of it, next to the sole of his foot, found three half sheets of paper inclosed in another half sheet which was indorsed ' West Point ' ; and on pulling off the other boot and stocking, I found three like papers, inclosed and indorsed as the others. On reading thera, one of my companions said, ' by G — d, he is a spy /' We then asked him where he got those papers ? he told us, of a man at Pine's bridge,' but he said he ' did not, know his name.' He offered us his gold watch, his horse, saddle, bridle and 100 guineas, if we would let him go; we told him ' no, unless he would inform us where he got the papers.' He answered us as before, but increased his offer to 1,000 guineas, his horse, etc.; we told him again we would not let him go ; he then said, ' gentlemen, I will give you 10,000 guineas' [nearly $50,000] ' and as many dry goods as you will ask ; conceal me in any place of safety while you can send to New York with an order to Sir Henry Clinton from me, and the goods and money will be procured so that you can get them unmolested.' [Paulding then told him, as he' stated on the trial of Joshua H. Smith, a few days after the arrest] : ' No, by G — d, if you would give us 10,000 guineas you should not stir a step ; we are Americans, and above corruption, and go with us you must.' We then took him, about twelve miles, to Col. Jamieson's quarters at North Castle." The account of the capture is an old story in history but should be ever new to Americans and all lovers of manly principle. Mr. Williams and his honored comrades were chided by the emissaries of royalty as "roving renegades," and their motives* were questioned, while those of them captives were applauded by pen and tongue. We of to-day may look upon the com- rades as sturdy yeoman, clad in homely attire, burned by the exposure of sun and storms and with minds and forms untutored by scholastic advantages or courtly graces, while with Andre, his mind, body and aspirations were the off- spring of royal culture from the lap of luxury and pretended virtue. The three were on duty without pay to intercept " unlawful intercourse with the enemy," and boldly wandered here and *See Appendix. there without disguise or wantonness. Andre was on a mission degrading in the estimation of Christian soldiery, sneaking in disguise to the citadel of an honorable adversary and subtly winning a weak and unsteady heart, fired by a jeaUiUS and maddened brain, to betray all prin- ciples of honor and every characteristic of pa- triotism, for gold. And when the royal siren, through the admired affability of his address had accomplished his object, with assumed name and garments he bent his course to de- liver up to his commander that which he had so dishonorably obtained, and bask once more in luxury and the petted tamperings of the giddy society of New York. But " halt ! " is the com- mand, and when the three stepped forth and their demands and nationaUty were made known, then again the subtlety of the man so much ad- mired and honored was brought in requisition. But he had not met an Arnold this time, or men whose appearance or principles were as- sumed. " We are Americans ! " was their in- troduction, "what are you ? " Andre had already told, but not possessing that steadfast patriotism that filled the hearts of Williams, Van Wart and Paulding, he disowned his country and claimed allegiance to that, which the papers he hid in his boots, were to enslave. Again money, goods and undoubtedly British glory were offered for the corruption of their hearts, but again we say he had not met an Ar- nold ! The pall fell over the hopes of Clinton, treason of Arnold and the strategy and corpse of Andre, while veneration and the blessings of a grateful people and an immortal renown fell upon the three brave and steadfast patriotic yeomen ! Williams died on the 2nd of August, 1 83 1, at the age of seventy-seven, and was buried at Livingstonville with military honors, where his ashes lay until the 4th of March, 1876, when they were removed to Rensselaerville, and on the 19th of July following they were again dis- turbed and now he beneath an appropriate monument near the stone fort at Schoharie, particularly described in another portion of this work. Mr. Williams left an only son, David W. Williams, who retained the farm and who, with the father has passed away leaving two soris, WilUam C. and Daniel, to perpetuate the family name. The homestead is upon the mountain 138 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. north of Livingstonville and should give to the elevation the name of Mount Williams. Livingstonville. This small yet picturesque village is upon the Catskill creek and surrounded by giant hills, whose rough appearance denotes unproductive- ness. Yet, while the labor is greater in culti- vating, we find their productiveness copes very favorably with more level sections. The origi- nal settlers were chiefly Yankees, whose fascina- tion can only be satisfied by lofty hills, bubbling springs and rushing streams, with herds of cattle and sheep surrounding him and growing in value while he without fear of the return of another day enjoys the noon-day nap and the thoughts of others from his welcome newspaper or favorite book. This village contained but one house in 1812 and was not a center of business until about the year 1820. Previous to that date the "Fris- bee tavern" farther down the valley was the center where the people of the neighborhood met to hear and tell the news, obtain their mail and cogitate upon the unjust oppressions of their landlords, the Livingstons. That family, own- ing a large tract of land within the town and Albany county adjoining, stationed a relative, Asa Starkweather, here in 18 10 to look after their interests in the sale and leasing of land and collection of rents. Asa Starkiveather was a native of New Lon- don, Conn., and a mechanic. He began busi- ness in New York City but was unsuccessful and settled here at the age of thirty-seven. In 1820 he was appointed one of the dele- gates to the State Constitutional Conven- tion, in which he took an active part in de- bate, especially upon the appointing powers. In his speech the 5th of October, 1820, he said: — "The principle cause of complaint by the great body of yeomanry against the present council of appointment has not specifically been mentioned by any gentleman of the committee. It is not because the person appointed happened to be of different political principles ; nor be- cause members of the legislature interfere with the council and mingle their official duties with political considerations; but because bad men are sometimes appointed, who are in fact a ter- ror to those who do well. " The charity and good feeling of the farmers induce them to beheve that the respectable council did not know their private characters : consequently, the electors say, 'bring the ap- pointments to the people.' Sir, by this they do not mean to bring the appointments directly to the ballot boxes ; they do not wish additional confusion and turmoil there. But they want a Selection made, where the characters of the can- didates are known ; and if the selection is made by the Board of Supervisors, and Judges of the county court, they must know the character of every man they recommend, and they dare not recommend a bad man, the ghost of pubUc clamour would haunt them in their dreams ; and by this mode of selection the people would be safe ; it is the best plan that has been suggested and I shall vote for it. But let us for one mo- ment consider the plan of election. It is a fact that immoral men can bring more votes to the polls than any moral, good man ; and if they are not directly the candidates, they will have their friend for a candidate, and by using their influence and rallying their satellites, will lay him under obligations to favor them in his offi- cial capacity ; consequently a remedy for the evil would not be found here. The Gentleman from New York is opposed to the amendment, because it gives to the executive the appointing power, who is not responsible for the appoint- ments. " Sir, I am willing to give this power to the executive, because we ask no responsibility from him. He cannot do wrong unless he travels out of the two Hsts of candidates, and this he cannot do by the amendment proposed. Sir, it has been urged that no possible good could arise from having the Governor appoint and commission the Justices of the peace. In answer to this, as the executive is commander- in-chief of the militia, and whose official duty is to see that the laws are faithfully executed, it is highly proper that every commissioned officer should receive his authority from the chief mag- istrate, and to whom he should be accountable for the faithful performance of his duty." TOWN OF BROOME. 139 Mr. Starkweather was not placed upon any committee and his views upon the various sub- jects brought before the convention, did not receive the approval of the majority. He ap- peared to be strongly in favor of centralization, and giving the right of suffrage only to property owners, and men of lucrative positions. He died on the loth of August, 1846, at the age of sixty-three years and eight months, and was buried in the old cemetery. His wife was Mary Robinson, who died in April, 1862, in the sev- enty-ninth year of her age. Beside them lie Mrs. Starkweather's father and mother, James and Sarah Robinson, who passed several years with their daughter, in her secluded home. Adam Mattice. — In our rambles to the new cemetery, upon the hill-side, south of the vil- lage, we were led to the grave of one of Broome's representative men, Adam Mattice. Mr. Mattice was a careful business man and held various local offices in the town and gave universal satisfaction to his people who elected him to the office of supervisor in 1832 and '34, when he made himself prominent as an official, which gained for him the nomination and elec- tion of sheriff in 1834. During his term of office, considerable discontent was made mani- fest by the Livingston tenants in this portion of the County, but Mr. Mattice faithfully performed his duties without incurring the displeasure of his Anti-Rent neighbors. In 1848 he was elected to the State Legislature from the Eastern dis- trict with James Parsons, of Leesville, and in 1 86 1 was once more sent to the board of super- visors. Becoming an old man he retired from busi- ness and official cares, and died at his home on the loth of January, 1868, at the age of seventy- five. His wife, Nancy Win an s lived till De- cember, 18, 1874, when she followed her hus- band at the ripe old age of eighty-two. The Presbyterian Church of Livingstonville is the oldest religious organization in town, and upon its organization in 1817 as a Congre- gational church, was the only one of that denom- ination in the County. Their meetings were held in private residences and the school house until the year 1831, when the present edifice was erected. The year previous it was changed to a Pres- byterian organization. The first members were seven in number, as follows : — George Stimson and wife, Asa Bushnell and wife, Rhoda Clark, Sally Stimson, Asa Starkweather. The first elders were : — Asa Starkweather, Joshua Bushnell, Timothy Kelsey, Asa Bushnell. The present ones are : — Robert Bortwick, Arthur Bortwick, E.W. Dutton. Mr. Dutton to whom we are indebted for in- formation in regard to this church, and present clerk, states that S. R. Gray was the first pas- tor, and B. D. Wyckoff the present, but is un- able to give a list of those in the intervening time. Julius Dutton. — Among the early settlers of this section was Julius Dutton who died July 27, 1870, at the age of seventy-nine. Of him the Schoharie Republican of that date says : " Mr Dutton was eleven years of age when he settled in Broome, from Litchfield county, Connecticut. During a long and eventful fife he filled many responsible positions, always discharging the trusts reposed in him with sig- nal ability and fidelity. He was during a period of thirty-nine years a member of the Presby- terian church and thirty-eight years a deacon of the same. He was twice married and was the father of thirteen sons, eleven of whom, with his widow survive him. The Methodist Episcopal Church of this place was organized about the year 1824, by the Rev. John Bangs, long a circuit preacher and pre- siding elder in the New York conference. The records not being accessible, we are indebted to 140 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. the memory of Mr. R. Ellis, long a member of the society and the present class-leader. James Ellis, the father of our informant was one of the leading ones in the organization. The first trustees were : — EUsha Humphrey, Lyman Burchard Henry Rifenburgh. The first church building was erected down the valley about one half a mile, in a pine grove, and removed to the present site in 1845. The membership is forty and supports in con- nection a progressive Sabbath school. Draft of 1813. The first quota drawn in 181 2 for the defence of the Northern borders against British invasion, had become depleted by an epidemic that raged fearfully in the camps, and the enemy making extensive preparations for the campaign of 1813, the government was forced to call for more men, and ordered a draft from the ranks of the militia, requiring every fourth man. To Mr. Ellis we are indebted for the Ust drawn from this town. The militia company met at the " Frisbee house," and the following were drawn: — Joseph A. Rawley, Carly Robinson, Amos Series, Daniel Series, Heman Roe, Walter Winans, Jeremiah Reed, Bates Reed, Peter Bunker, William See, Blaisdel Dickinson. Peter Bunker was a deputy sheriff in 18 19, and while in office died at Schoharie. Smithtown. Aaron and Giles H. Hubbard settled at this place in the beginning of the century, and were two well educated and enterprising men. The latter was a graduate of Union College and fitted himself for the law, but was called upon to succeed Abrahain Keyser as Sheriff of the County. He received the appointment on the 9th of February, 18 19, and served until Febru- ary 12, 182 1. Aaron was elected to the Legislature in 1816 and '17, with Isaac Barber and Peter A. Hilton, and again in 1819 with Jedediah Miller and Peter Swart, Jr. Both of these gentlemen held local offices, but at what time we are unable to say as the early records of the town are not ac- cessible. Aaron exchanged his farm with Comfort Smith for four hundred acres of land in " New Connecticut " or Ohio, upon which he removed, where the city of Cleveland now stands. The exchange made the family im- mensely wealthy, as they continue to hold the title to a goodly share of the original farm which was divided into city lots. Smithtown was the name given to the hamlet after Mr. Smith became a resident. The Christian Church of this place was or- ganized, and a house of worship built in 1859, under the patronage of Rev. Mr. Roberts. The society are energetic and sincere in their liberal views of beUef, and call to their pulpit able men. Franklinton, or " The Vly." The Rev. Charles S. Duncan, an energetic and thorough Methodist preacher, organized the Methodist Episcopal Church at this place in 1828. At one time during Rev. Mr. Duncan's pastorate, the congregation assembled to listen to his sermon, when he became suddenly in- disposed and sent his two sons (at present Hving, Joel and William,) then mere lads, to give the people notice that there would not be any preaching. The boys considered them- selves capable of leading in the services and entered the house with the dignity of riper years, and requested the people to be seated. William led in a long prayer, and was followed by Joel with an exhortation, after which a hymn was sung and the congregation dismissed. The society built the present edifice in 1845, and it proved a nucleus around which the vil- lage has grown and become a center for the farming community to find mechanics and tradesmen for repairs and domestic supplies. TOWN OF BROOME. '41 The " Vly" was drained by the farmers owning portions of it nearly thirty years ago, which gave to them valuable land in too great contrast to the hill-sides that surround it. Here might be obtained the best water power in the County by building aqueducts at each outlet to hold the water, so abundantly supplied by springs. The enterprise and capital of the Eastern States would here create a business that would soon overbalance the whole town in value of produc- tion by establishing factories of different char- acters. Supervisors. The records of this town have not been kept with that care they should have received, and from time to time have been borrowed by piece- meal and not returned. Being one of the first towns formed, the early records could but be interesting and valuable. We copy the super- visors elected, from the earliest dates that could be found : — 1830— S. Bortle. 1831 — Barent Stryker. 1832— S. Bortle. 1833 — Adam Mattice. 1834 — do 1835 — ^Joseph Scofield. 1836 — W. J. Mackey. 1837 — Joseph Scofield. 1838— do 1839 — Daniel Jackson. 1840 — Henry Tibbetts. 1841— William W. Stewart. 1842— Hiram Mace. 1843 — A. Stanton. 1844 — Nelson Fanning. 1845 — Martin B. Thomas. 1846 — Philip Couchman. 1847 — Anson Clark. 1848 — Wilkeson Wilsey. 1849 — George Cheritree. 1850 — Wilkeson Wilsey. 1 85 1 — George Cheritree. 1852 — E. Benjamin. 1853— Lyman Hulburt. 1854 — Ogden Benjamin. 1855— James F. Connor. 1856 — Robert C. Leonard. 1857 — Ogden Benjamin. 1858 — Robert C. Leonard. 1859 — E. Benjamin. i860— E. A. Wightman. 1861 — Adam Mattice. 1862 — E. A. Wightman. 1863 — James F. Connor. 1864 — Andrew Graham. 1865 — Hiram Sornberger. 1866— George W. Ellis. 1867— do 1868 — R. Benjamin. 1869 — do 1870 — Nelson Rust. 1871 — do 1872 — Wilkeson Wilsey. 1873 — do 1874 — Ira Benjamin. 1875 — Nelson Rust. 1876 — George A. Dutton. 1877 — John H. Mattice. 1878 — Wesley Rifenburgh. 1879 — do 1880 — Erastus Almy. 1 88 1 — Myron Losee. 1882— do Members of Assembly. 1 816 — Aaron Hubbard. 1817 — do 1819 — do 1828 — Henry Devereaux. 1845 — Adam Mattice. 1852 — Seymour Sornberger. 185 s — Wilkeson Wilsey. i860 — John W. Couchman. Sheriffs. Giles H. Hubbard, appointed February 9, 1819. Adam Mattice, elected November, 1834. County School Commissioner. Nelson Rust, elected 1837. Boundaries. By the act of 18 13 the town of Broome was, after the towns of Blenheim, Middleburgh, Schoharie, Cobleskill, Carlisle and Sharon, thus defined : — 142 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. " And all that part of the said County of Schoharie bounded on the north by Middle- burgh, on the east and south by the bounds of the County, and on the west by Blenheim, shall be and continue a town by the name of Broome." CHAPTER X. History of the Town of Jefferson. When Settled — By Whom — Interest in Edu- cation — First Town Meeting — Effort to Change the Name of Town — Heman Hic- KOK — Jefferson Academy — Donators— Stephen Judd's Donation of Farm — Teachers in Academy — Present School — Tanneries — Presbyterian Church — Mer- chants — Physici ans — JuDD Family — So- cieties—Masonic—Grand Army Republic- Methodist Church — West Kill Method- ist Church — Galt's History of the Methodist Society of the Town — Revo- lutionary Incidents — Smith Street— Tory Clawson — Taken Prisoner — Smith Family — Battle at Lake — Official — Supervisors — General Appearance of Town — The Lake — Tryon County Line — Rebellion — Amount of Town Bonds Issued — Boun- daries. THE town of Jefferson was first settled by New England people in 1793 and 1794, whose energy made her lofty hills and winding valleys prototypes of the old Berkshires of Mas- sachusetts and the Lebanon hills of Connecticut. When Stephen Marvin, Erastus Judd, James McKenzie, Henry Shelmandine, Marvin and Stephen Judd, Ezra Beard, James Hubbard, and others of equal vim settled here, a spirit of progression unlike that attending the settlers of other towns, excepting the eastern part of Wright, made itself manifest in two features. that are to-day, and ever will be, the attractive ones of the town. The first is the lively interest in education, and the second the application of those advantages derived, to the systematic pro- gression of agriculture as shown in the general appearance of the town and total production. But a 'few years elapsed before others from New England and the Hudson river counties followed the Yankee pioneers and with them took measures in establishing a separate town, wherein their puritanic ideas of government might be adopted without an amalgamation of sentiment as when under the jurisdiction of Blenheim, which was controlled by the " Scho- harie Dutch," (so called). A petition was forwarded to the Legislature in January, 1803, for the formation of a new town and upon the 12th of the following month an act was passed to that effect and giving to the territory thus set off, the name of Jefferson. The First Town Meeting was held at the house of Stephen Judd, then an inn, on the 1st day of March and the following officers elected by ballot : — Supervisor — Ezra Beard. Clerk— William P. Hilton. Assessors — James Hubbard, Stephen Judd, Marcus Andrews. Collector — John P. North. Overseers of Poor — Stephen Judd, Andrew Beard. Commissioners of Highways — Joseph P. Nor- thrup, John H. Pratt, Stephen Judd. Constables — ^John Fletcher, Joseph P. Nor- thrup, Jacob Jones, Morris Kiff. Fence Viewers — Lewis M. Loud, Heman Hickok, Stephen Judd, Elam Gibbs, Conrad Snook. Pound Masters — William P. Hilton, William Carpenter. Path Masters — Joseph P. Northrup No. i, Stephen Judd, Isaac Hickok, James Hubbard, Joseph McKinsea, Stephen West, Asa Morse, Zadock Barrett, Benjamin Bruce, John Beach, Heman Hickok, Morris Kiff, Martemus B. Van- Buren, James Clark, Charles Near, William P. Hilton. TOWN OF JEFFERSON. 143 Several years after, an effort was made by the citizens of a village bearing the name of Jef- ferson, in the western part of the State, we think, now Watkihs, Chemung county, to change the name of this village and postoffice, as mail matter was forwarded to the one office, that was intended for the other, and caused no little trouble. Petitions were sent to the 'Legisla- ture and Post Office Department from the west- ern village, and counter ones were sent from this place, among which, was one drawn with a map attached, representing the village to be a respectable sized city, with a large park, and various public buildings, proving the western name-sake to be but a little hamlet by the side of it. A long list of petitioners, including male children, accompanied the whole. The case was decided at the Department in Washington, in favor of this place. Among the early settlers was HemanHickok, whom it will be seen was a prominent man upon the first ticket elected. He was the first school teacher and a very fine scholar, and took a deep interest in educational affairs. Through his influence the people were aroused at an early date to establish a first class school, which cul- minated in the Jefferson Academy. The Jefferson Academy :—T\ve. following sub- scription was drawn by Hickok, and presented to the leading families of the County to raise an amount of money, sufficient to build and establish a school, the year preceding the building, which was commenced m 1812. "We, whose names are hereunto subscribed for the encouragement of literature, the pros- perity of the rising generation, and the good of mankind, do enter into an agreement for the purpose of building an academy, which is to stand near, or on the ground known as the Mili- tary Square, in the town of Jefferson, and we do hereby form ourselves into a company, and our subscription is to be signed in shares of twenty-five dollars each, and each share entitled to a vote, and we do bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, to pay to a board of directors, or their agent, the several suras annexed to our names, according to the order or direction of the said board of directors, which directors shall be chosen by the stockholders when there are thirty shares subscribed, and there shall not be less than five or more than nine directors, and to hold their offices during the pleasure of the majority of the company; and the directors shall elect out of their num- ber a President ; and the president shall have full power to call a meeting of the company, by giving public notice ten days preceding the day of meeting, by an advertisement to be put on the door of the building, and it shall be the duty of the President to call a meeting of the com- pany by a written request of ten of the stock- holders. February 25, 181 2. Rev. William Salsbury, Stephen Judd, Erastus Judd, Asa Atwood, Philip A. Koon, Joseph L. Barnet, Peter Decker, Ezra Beard, Jacob Jones, Marvin Judd, Edward E. Davis, Grove Eggleston, Wm. Hanfield, John Daley, Joseph P. Northrup, Augustus Judd, Aaron Atchinson, Samuel Baker, Eph Potter, Eph Warner, Benjamin Mony, Charles Mason, Demas Judd, Freegift Patchin, David Wiltne, Isaac Martin, Isaac M. Martin, Abner Bissell, Jas. and Wm. Stewart, Stephen W. Judd, The building frame was erected in the latter part of 1812, and not having a sum sufficient to finish the structure, a subscription was taken to Schoharie and received the following signa- I share do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do $ 25.00 300.00 100.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 150.00 50.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 50.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 144 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. tures and the sums set opposite their names were subscribed and paid. Harmonus Bouck, IS-7S P^- $ 20.00 Wm. C. Bouck, X 15.00 Peter Swart, Esq., lo.oo pd 12.00 Isaac Marelen, Esq., X 5.00 Joseph Borst, Jun., X 8.00 John Gebhard, Esq., X 5.00 Henry Burke & Co., Esq., X 10.00 Henry Hager, Esq., X 12.00 Peter H. Hilton, Esq., X 5.00 Heman Hickok, Esq., X 12.00 Peter Vrooman, Esq., $2.00 pd. 4.00 Michael Borst, Esq., X 5.00 Henry Handle, 5.00 Jacob Feek, 2.00 Benjamin Miles, X 10.00 Abram Keyser, Jun., X 2.00 Peter Swart, Esq., X 5.00 Jabez W. Throop, X 5.00 William Dietz, Esq., pd 2.00 George Sherwood, X 2.00 Joseph Bouck, 3.00 John Hager, 500 feet pine boards. 5.00 Daniel Hager, X 2.00 Peter N. Javill, X 1. 00 Peter P. Snyder, X 2.00 Jacob Gebhard, X 5.00 John Ingold, X 10.00 Benjamin Waldren, X 2.00 Samuel Southworth, X 1. 00 John Woolcott, X 2.00 Henry Shafer, X 1. 00 Jonah Hager, X 1. 00 John Bouck, X 1. 00 General Adam Vrooman, 3.00 Thomas Lawyer, Esq., X 10.00 Stephen Lawrence, X 3.00 Barthomen Swart, 32cpd 2.00 Isaac Best, Esq., 1. 00 P. J. House, Esq., X 10.00 Asa Starkweather, X 2.00 Nicholas Feeck, X •50 George Danforth, Esq., X 1. 00 M. Olover, Esq., X 1. 00 Mr. Dow, X 1. 00 By degrees the building was erected, and first occupied by a school in 1817, although in the interim the Rev. Wra. Salsbury taught a select school at his residence. He was also the first Principal of the Academy. In 181 7 Stephen Judd gave a deed of one hun- dred and eight rods of land, (the present vil- lage green) to his brother, WiUiara Judd, for the use of the Academy, which, as the writing says, " was intended for the instruction and education of youth in the arts and sciences.'' The year previous Stephen Judd also made a will in which he gave to his wife the aforesaid mentioned one hundred and eight rods of land, with others, for her natural life, and after her death to become the property of the directors of the Academy for its support. Upon the 8th of June, 1821, the testator died and the wife became owner of the land and remained so until October, 1835, when she conveyed such land I0 the "trustees or directors and their successors in office." In November, 1824, Stephen W. Judd, nephew of the testator, petitioned to the Legislature for an act of cor- poration, "to the end and for the purpose, among other things, that it may take, hold, occupy and possess, the lands aforesaid according to the true intent and meaning of the last will and testament of the testator." The act was passed November 20, 1824, and said that " Marvin Judd, Ezra Beard, Jesse Brockway, Abner Bis- sell, Aaron Tyler, Jacob Jones, John Daley, Russel G. Beard, and also such other persons as now are, or shall hereafter become members of the society, shall be and are hereby ordained, constituted and declared to be a body corporate and politic, in fact and in name, by the name of the Jefferson Academy." The building when fully completed, which was about 1822, was forty-five feet square and three stories in height. It cost about four thousand dollars, and stood in front of the present Union school-house. Although the in- stitution was begun under very favorable cir- cumstances, yet it did not seem to prosper. At least, long intermissions would intervene with- out school, and the building did not receive needed repairs. While the school was in pro- gress it was one of the best, and for those early days well sustained in numbers of scholars. The following' list of teachers whom many will remember with the most pleasing associations, TOWN OF JEFFERSON. 145 conducted the school from time to time, but in what years we are unable to tell : — Rev. William Salsbury, a highly educated gentleman. Ethan Pratt. Hamilton Van Dyke, 1826. Thomas McArthur. R. R. Wells, and Miss — Norton, assistant. Horatio Waldo and wife. William Frazier and Miss — Norton assistant. John Wolcott. Bennett Boughton. Adam Craig. A. Reily. Samuel Kinney. Mr. Whittlesey. Nathaniel Pine and daughter. Rev. Charles Chapman. Hale Joseph, or Joseph Hale. Cornelius Ward. Charles Smith. Alfred Higby, and Miss Hotchkiss, assistant. Miss — Smith. Mr. Harper. C. Ward. Miss Christopher. Mary Rodgers, .the last teacher, whose school closed in May, 1851. In the will of Stephen Judd it was mentioned that the property should revert to the heirs of his brother, Freeman Judd, when the Academy was not used for school purposes. Joshua H. Judd, a grandson of Freeman, and son of Stephen W. Judd, commenced proceedings against the Jefferson Academy in November, 1851, for the recovery of the property devised for the benefit of the school, on the grounds that the trust imposed upon the trustees had been broken. A heavy suit was the conse- quence, in which the heir was the victor. An appeal from the decision was made before Hon. A. J. Parker, at the May Circuit Court of 1852, but the decision was affirmed and the old Jeffer- son Academy became a thing only in name. In its stead we find one of the most pleasant school buildings in the County, and within, a "Union School," formed in the spring of 1878, that is of the same degree, consisting of two departments under the supervision of first-class teachers. In front is the one hundred and eight rods of land that Stephen Judd early set off for training grounds and lastly for the Academy site. It is still the property of the Judd heirs, but as long as the villagers use the grounds as a park and they are not put to private use, a promise is given that .it will remain as it is.. It is the " Yankee feature " of the place, as in most of the villages of the New England States a pleasant green, filled with trees, many prodigious in size, with "branches broad, and shade most cooling " is to be seen, which to the passing stranger denotes liberality. Among the settlers that came to this town during the years from 1800 to 1812, (and there were many,) was Mrs. Sarah Minor, whose courage under adverse circumstances, led her to perform a task that is worthy of being noticed. Her husband was a truant one, and deserted his family, which numbered many children, leaving no means of support but one cow. They lived in Duchess county, and finding it useless to undertake to support her family in that old settled section and open a way for their future prosperity, she conceived the idea of taking "her all" and locating in some of the border settlements where land could be bought cheap, and paid for in small installments. She packed her small supply of clothing and started, leading the cow with a rope, and, as the song says, "children came tumbling after." She concluded to settle in the north part of the town, in a log-house that stood upon the place, and being something of a genius as well as perfect with the needle, she gave notice that " Tailoring done to order," would be her avocation. She " cut and fitted " as well as made all the gar- ments for the pioneers of the town for many years, and obtained a sumptuous living. The oldest children were girls, who embraced every opportunity of studying, and made themselves competent to teach school, which at once lightened the mother's labors in supporting the younger children. Each one of the children was early taught economy, and as they ad- vanced in growth and strength, they were care- fully put to work, and each grew to man and womanhood and became worthy of their mother's labor and care. 146 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Tanneries.— Khont the year 181 6 a tannery was constructed (but by whom we are unable to say) in the hollow, south of the main street, which, we are told by Mr. B. H. Avery, was purchased by Zodack Pratt, in 1820. The father of our informant, John Avery, then a work- man in the proprietor's shop at Prattsville, was sent there to manage the works, which he pur- chased in a few years and continued the business until the year 1845. Another establishment of the kind was in operation, during the same years, farther down the stream and conducted by Eli Jones, who was succeeded by his brother Chauncy, until about 1846, when that enterprise also faded from existence. First Presbyterian Church of Jefferson. — -It must not be thought that the strict Yankees of this town failed in establishing, upon their ad- vent here, churches, stores and other marks of civilization and conveniences, that have ever been indispensable to a true Yankee life. Preaching was performed by ministers sent by the Presbytery for several years, and after the usual prehminaries in the formation of a society, the people congregated and caused the following to be entered upon their records. "At a meeting regularly warned in the town of Jefferson, for the purpose of ascertaining • people's minds and views as to the formation of a church among them, and the meeting being opened by a solemn address to the Throne of Grace, the following persons whose names are underwritten, presented themselves for exami- nation, viz: — Thomas Merchant, Reuben Foot, Nathaniel Merrill, Joseph P. Northrup, William Judd, John Turner, Mary Merrill, Sarah Judd, Rachel Atwood, Sabra Agard, Bethiah Baker, Mary Wilson, Hannah Baker, Nancy Baker, Phebe Hurlburt, Siene Foot, Sally Atwood, Sylvia Foot, Judith Turner. The above were organized and pronounced a regular church of Christ, by Rev. Stephen Fenn and Rev. William Bull, on the 25th of June, 1809. The following have officiated as regular pas- tors, and present a list of accomplished scholars that have from time to time attracted the atten- tion of the public by their masterly sermons. William Salsbury, settled as the resident pas- tor in 1 8 10, and closed his services March 7, 1830. He was followed by Rev. Stephen Fenn, in the latter year, who died suddenly on the 26th of September, 1833, leaving the society without a pastor, until 1835. William Frasier, A. M., then was called and continued five years. Itwasdurmghis term that the church edifice was burned which was built about the year 181 1. The building stood upon the green in front of the present site. Through Rev. Frasier's business tact the present sub- stantial structure was built in the years 1836 and 1837. During the interim, services were held in the Academy. Nearly one year elapsed after the close of Frasier's pastoral duties, before another was set- tled, for the reason that the society were waiting for Rev. Salsbury, who had endeared himself to the people, to again become their leader. He officiated from 1841 to 1849. He was succeeeded by Wm. J. McCord, in 185 1, who remained four years. Rev. Phineas Robinson came in 1857 and closed in 1859, which left the church without a settled minister until 1862. A. S. Beard then was called and remained two years. During the space of time from the going and coming of the pastors, the pulpit was sup- plied nearly every Sabbath by students and re- tired ministers, under orders of the Presbytery. Four years passed after Rev. Beard left, before a resident preacher was settled, in whom was TOWN OF JEFFERSON. M? found Rev. A. Montgomery, who remained to the year 1872. He was immediately followed by Rev P. I. Abbott. Upon the close of the latter gentleman's ser- vices in 1875, Josiah Markle followed in the same year and closed in 1878. Two years passed, in which time, several occu- pied the pulpit, among whom was Irving White, a student, when the present pastor, David Her- ron, located. Merchants. — The first store was kept in a log house, but by whom is not known. Abner Bis- sell commenced the business about the year 1812, and was soon followed by one Schoelar, who was succeeded by Hezekiah Watson in 1825, who kept a general assortment of goods up to the year 1855, and identified himself with the best interests of the place. During the time Watson was in business, one Lyon was in trade, and Joseph Crane and E. B. Fenn formed a co-partnership which changed to " Crane & Pratt." Adam P. Mattice established a trade and associated Henry P. Mattice with him, and conducted a successful business for several years. G. W. Childs also embarked and soon connected himself with B. H. Avery, under the firm of Childs & Avery. After two years of such con- nection passed, Avery withdrew and soon formed the firm of B. H. & H. Avery, while Childs con- tinued the business alone, for a while and failed. At that time Charles Twitchel and W. S. Jones became associated and were soon followed by " Rugg & Merchant," who changed the firm to J. H. & B. B. Merchant. Twitchel & Jones dissolved, and Jones con- tinued the business alone for some time. The Avery firm also broke connection and B. H. Avery and Jones became partners, which was changed at the expiration of three years by Jones withdrawing and Avery stemming the tide alone, which he did successfully for many years, when his son William B. relieved the father and connected himself with T. O. Burnett. Young Avery died shortly after, and his place was taken by a brother, Benjamin H. Avery who purchased Burnett's interest, and conducted the business alone as at the present time. Af- ter the dissolution of Avery & Jones, the latter set up in trade alone, which he continues at the present time, with a general assortment of goods such as are usually found in a country store. The firm of J. H. & B. B. Merchant discon- tinued business and one was formed under the name of " Stevens & Shafer,'' and drifted to a "Union store" — about the year 1855 or '56 — un- der the management of G. W. Childs. Not prov- ing, as others of the kind, a successful enterprise, Childs purchased the stock in trade and formed the firm of " Childs & Olmstead," which was succeeded by the present substantial business manager, Ezra Mitchell. There may have been, from time to time, transient tradesmen whom we have not noticed, but the foregoing have been the leading merchants of the town, among whom, by consulting the civil list, will be found representative men, whose qualifications proved them to be inferior to none, as public officials, and worthy recipients of the confidence placed in them by the people, as well as of the educa- tional advantages founded by the early settlers. Physicians. — We do not know for a certainty who the first physician of the town was, but as far back as 1816 we are creditably informed, Dr. Davis and Dr. Burton were in practice, and were followed shortly after that date by Dr. Teunis Cooper. Eli Boice settled in 1820, and remained until 1854, when he removed to Warnerville, where he died in 1857. Drs. Alexander White and William A. Laurens came in 1850 or a short time before, and were suc- ceeded by Drs. Flint and Watson, the latter of Fultonhara. A. A. Wood purchased the prac- tice of Laurens in 1864, who in that year was made a contemporary of J. D. Havens, who located here. The present practicing physician, Dr. R. Grant Havens, came the year after, and was followed by. J. R. Mathew in 1872, who remained to the year 1874, when Dr. Bartlett followed. The latter soon removed to give place to Dr. R. Hubbell, who came in 1878 and still remains. Of the preceding list. Dr. Cooper was in practice the greatest number of years, having kept in the field until 1872, when he died at an advanced age. The Doctor when at the age of seventy-five met with an accident that deprived him of an arm, which it was feared 148 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. would prove fatal, having arrived at an age when the bones become brittle and obstinate in healing. Upon the 4th of July, 1865, a cele- bration was held in the village and a cannon was used upon the occasion, in front of which the Doctor passed as it was discharged. Having his arm thrown out, the gun's charge took it off below the elbow. Dr. J. D. Havens performed the amputation and it proved successful, as the stump became as sound as upon younger per- sons. We cannot pass on without referring to Dr. J. D. Havens, whose struggles in the pro- fession were dampened by ill health and its chilling adversities. He was born in this town in 1834 and studied medicine and surgery in the office of Dr. Alden March, of Albany, and graduated at the Albany Medical School in 1861. He located at Albany and removed to Jefferson in 1865, from whence he again settled in Blenheim, where he was taken sick and closed his life on the 14th of February, 1875, in the forty-first year of his age. But few young practitioners possessed the medical skill of Dr. Havens, and had he lived in the enjoy- ment of health, few would have been his super- iors in the profession. The Judd Family, — There were five brothers bearing that name who settled in this town, namely, Stephen, Freeman, Thomas, Erastus, and Eben, beside a cousin, Marvin Judd, who became one of the prominent men of the Coun- ty. The family previously came from New England, and a few of them settled in the present town of Harpersfield, years before they located here. Stephen, familiarly known as Cal Judd, for many years kept an "inn" at that place and became a large landholder, when he removed to this place and became the "lord" of the settlement. His brother. Freeman, as the story is told, was a peculiar personage, and un- doubtedly half-crazed, and spent a goodly por- tion of his time in wandering around making pretentions of- skill in various trades, especially in carpentry, also as a preacher, taking the book of Revelations as the foundation of his remarks, referring particularly to the "horses and their riders." We are told that he claimed to be the first white traveler in the neighbor- hood of the village, unless it be those that ac- companied the Indians from and to the valleys of the Schoharie and Susquehanna during the war. He claimed he passed the first night beneath a hemlock tree that stood upon the farm, later purchased by his brother Stephen. "Uncle Free," as everybody called him, says the manuscript of Peter R. Dyckman, a gentle- man who has made himself familiar with the early history of the town, used te measure timber for building by pacing, and using a hatchet to mark when he wished a mortise made, saying " make a mortise somewhere hereabouts." In some of his wanderings in a western county he built what was called a saw-mill. Some time after visiting that section, a farmer overtook " Free '' and invited him to ride. Being strangers to each other and in the vicinity of the mill Uncle Free asked " how does the mill go ?" The man rephed not knowing with whom he was talking, " It goes, curse my Maker, curse my Maker — c-u-r-s-e m-y m-a-k-e-r." "Aye," replied Free, "then it remembers its maker yet ?" Taking the original Judd settlers together, very few families possess the ability and energy that they displayed, and still less that make as proper use of them. There is a tradition in the family that Daniel Judd, an elder brother of Colonel Stephen's, was murdered by the Indians during the Revo- lution, and they carried his head to Canada upon a pole. The Jefferson Working Lodge No. 554, was instituted in June, 1864, and chartered the same month, 1865 with ten members, and is one of the active lodges of the County, number- ing at the present time sixty members. Soon after its organization, a large building was erected for lodge purposes, but the expenditure being too great for the society to overcome, the property was sold, and has since been rented by the order in connection with that of the G. A. R. The charter members were : — ■ O. D. Young, L. H. Brewster, S. L. Curtis, S. L. Mayham, Aaron Stevens, David Stevens, TOWN OF JEFFERSON. 149 Chas. Beard, E. G. Brockway, Joseph Merchant, John Stevens. G. A. R. — This organization was formed December 10, 1879, and named Tyler Post No. 131, in honor of a townsman that laid his hfe upon the " altar of his country." The charter members were : — Rev. C. H. Travis, William Kennedy, P. S. Tabor, Robert Veley, Benjamin Reynold, John Lambert, Edward Bruce, George W. Evans, Joseph S. Perry, Isaac P. Nichols, Wesley Spoor. Churches. — The Methodist Episcopal Church of West Jefferson is the oldest organization in the town, being formed in the fall of 1800, by "circuit riders" as traveling preachers were called. Services were held in private houses and the forest, until 18 16, when a special house for wor- ship was erected, but for many years was not lathed or plastered. The means of warming dwellings at that time was by fire-places, and not deeming it safe, the settlers' ingenuity was taxed to provide other means. An old potash kettle was obtained and set in masonry, inverted and a hole pierced through the bottom from which a stove pipe of their own invention and make, protruded, and formed a convenience similar to the modern box-stove. In 1850, the old house was deserted and the present one oc- cupied, being built in that year. The First Methodist Episcopal Society. — Through the kindness of Mr. Frank A. Gait and Mr. A. W. Clark, we present the following in regard to the First Methodist Episcopal Society and others of this section : — The First Methodist Episcopal Society was organized in 1800 at West Jefferson, with about twelve names. The first pastors were Zenas Covel and Daniel Ireland. The house of wor- ship was erected in 18 17. The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Jefferson Village was organized in 18 19, with thirteen members. Two years later the Jeffer- son Circuit was formed, this being set off from the Sharon Circuit. The following named places were included in the circuit, but have since been made into separate charges, viz: — Hunter, Lexington, East Jewett, Windham, Ashland, Prattsville, Gilboa, Livingstonville, North Blenheim, Jefferson, Stamford, Summit, Eminence, etc. The present appointments are Jefferson, West Jefferson, and North Harpersfield, the oldest being West JeffersoUj the i)ioneer church of this section. The first church which was built in 1844, was removed to the present location in 1859, and reconstructed in 1869, at a cost of $2,000. The church property is valued at $6,000. The pres- ent membership is one hundred and forty-eight. Pastors since separate organization : — 1821 — John Bangs and Henry Ames. 1822 — John Bangs and Roswell Kelley. 1823 — Jesse Pomeroy, Quartus Stewart and C. Pomeroy. 1824 — Daniel J. Wright and Quartus Stewart. 1825 — Daniel J. Wright and John Wait. 1826 — Friend W. Smith, D. Poor and John Finnegan. 1827 — Cyrus Silleman, Alexander Calderand John Finnegan. 1828 — Alexander Calder, Philo Ferris and John Finnegan. 1829 — Philo Ferris and John Bangs. 1830 — Eli Dennison and Paul R. Bronson. 183 1 — Eli Dennison and Paul R. Bronson. 1832 — Harvey Brown. 1833 — Harvey Brown. 1834 — Desivignia Starks and John Bangs. '5° HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 183s — Elbert Osborne, John Bangs and R. H. Bloomer. 1836 — Philip L. Hoyt and J. D. Bouton. 1837 — John Carver and Olif G. Hedstrom. 1838 — John Carver, Olif G. Hedstrom. 1839 — Aaron Rogers, Arad Lakin. 1840 — Aaron Rogers, Arad Lakin. 1 841 — Reuben H. Bloomer, Daniel Bullock. 1842 — Daniel Bullock. 1843— Eben S. Hibbard, W. F. Gould. 1844 — Eben S. Hibbard, Amos N. Mulnix. 1845 — Addi Lee and John Bangs. 1846 — Jason Wells. • 1847 — Jason Wells, Orrin P. Matthews. 1848 — -William Lull and Ezra S. Cook. 1849 — WiUiam B. Mitchell, Milo Couchman 1850— William B. Mitchell. 1851 — Edward S. Stout, James W. Smith. 1852 — Russell S. Scott, James W. Smith. 1853 — Zepaniah D. Scoby. 1854 — Orrin P. Matthews. 1855 — Orrin P. Matthews. 1856 — Asahel M. Hough. 1857 — Asahel M. Hough. 1858— Noble Lovett. 1859 — John F. Richmond, Noble Lovett, superannuated. i860 — John F. Richmond, Noble Lovett, superannuated. 1 86 1 — Charles Palmer. 1862— W. V. O. Brainard. 1863— W. V. O. Brainard. 1864— Orrin P. Dales. 1865— Orrin P. Dales. 1866 — Edwin P. Pierce. 1867 — Edwin P. Pierce. 1868— J. P. Burger. 1869— J. P. Burger. 1870 — J. P. Burger. 187 1— William D. Fiero. 1872 — William D. Fiero. 1873 — George Woodruff. 1874 — George Woodruff. 1875 — Lorenzo G. Niles. 1876 — Lorenzo G. Niles. 1877 — Lorenzo G. Niles. 1878— C. H. Travis. 1879 — C. H. Travis. 1880— C. H. Travis. 1 88 1— William Blake. The Presiding Elders since the organization of the Prattsville District are : — 1853 — Seymour Van Dusen. 1854 — Seymour Van Dusen. 1855 — Jarvis Y. Nichols. 1856— John R. Beach. 1857 — John R. Beach. 1858— John R. Beach. 1859 — John R. Beach. i860 — Paul R. Brown. 1861 — Paul R. Brown. 1862— Paul R. Brown. 1863— Paul R. Brown. 1864 — William Goss. 1865 — William Goss. 1866— William Goss. 1867 — William Goss. i868— Thomas W. Chadwick. T869 — Thomas W. Chadwick. 1870 — Thomas W. Chadwick. 1 87 1 — Thomas W. Chadwick. 1872 — Aaron R. Sanford. 1873 — Aaron K. Sanford. 1874 — Aaron K. Sanford. 1875 — Aaron K. Sanford. 1876 — John E. Gorse. 1877— John E. Gorse. 1878— John E. Gorse. 1879 — John E. Gorse. 1880 — Lucius H. King. 1 88 1 — Lucius H. King. The West Kill Methodist Church. — A class was formed in 1816, as a branch of the above church, and called The West Kill Methodist Episcopal church, under the preaching of Rev. Arnold ScoSeld, and held their meetings in pri- vate houses and the school house until 1854, when the present edifice was erected. The same clergyman, who was assisted in his pastoral labors by Rev. N. Bice, formed the Methodist church of Jefferson village, as before stated, in 1819. At a later date, as the country became more settled and for the convenience of residents that usually attended church service on foot for miles, each Sabbath, the neighborhood of Morse- ville in the northern part of the town organized a class as the " Methodist Episcopal Church of Morseville," under the labors of Rev. Harvey TOWN OF JEFFERSON. 151 Brown. The organization was effected some time in 1832, and during the following year a house of worship was begun and made ready for occupancy in 1834, at a cost of nearly $1,200. Revolutionary Incidents. — During the Revo- lution, there was not a single civilized white residence within the present territory of the town. But a short distance from the county Hne, in what is now called "Smith street,'' was located a family by the name of Clawson, upon lands now owned in pait by Henry Van Buren, Edward Dayton and Charles Lamb. ClawEon made himself obnoxious as an inveterate Tory. It was at his house, that Patchin and his brother captives were taken, as intimated in his narra- tive, elsewhere in this work. The prison- ers were jeered at by two buxom daughters of Clawson's who fancied they would be pleased to relieve them of their checkered lives, and in- sisted upon Brant's permission to allow them the honor. One of the prisoners named Chris John Richtmyer, escaped the following night and re- turned to the Schoharie valley and reported the events of that day, when a squad of scouts made the " affable" family a visit and "cleaned the house.'' At the close of the war the property was sold under the confiscation act and we believe was purchased by the Smith family. If not, it soon came in that family's possession and gave the name of "Smith Street" to the settlement. The sugar bush in which the captives were at work when taken, was but a short distance to the southeast. Skirmish with Tories and Indians. — It was upon the banks of the small lake on the south border of the town that Captain Hager with his militia force, and Captain Hale with a few eastern troops, overtook the Tory Crysler and his party that murdered Isaac Vroman near the upper fort. This skirmish was the only one which occurred during the war that was disgrace- ful on the part of the patriots within the borders of our County. And much to our regret, it occurred under the command of the best officer here in service. The enemy was overtaken early in the morning, a short distance from their encampment, but not without being apprised of the patriots' approach. They had stationed themselves upon the brow of a- knoll and formed a half circle, in the center of which Captain Hager and force were expected to march; but bearing to the left, he came in front of their right line, when they sent a volley of bullets that would have done fatal work bad they not been fired too high. Captain Hager instantly saw the enemy's position and ordered Captain Hale to flank to the right and charge, which would have turned the enemy's left, as they had not time to re-load and perhaps did not in- tend to, but retreat. Instead of obeying orders, being in the rear of Hager's company, Hale turned to the left (which brought him out of the range of the Indians' position) and made a retreat. The Indians saw the opportunity and quickly reloaded, but the keen eye of Hager saw his dangerous position, and he ordered his men to drop as the Indians fired the second time, but two of the brave patriots fell, not divining the order quick enough. Hager c rdered a retreat as the circle began to draw around them, and overtook Hale some distance below, and then made a great mistake in not ridding earth and the cause of freedom, of an inveterate coward. Getting in front of them he was ordered to halt, (and undoubtedly German invectives were pretty freely used in reprimanding the villain,) and to renew^ the charge. Without waiting to form in order, Hale carelessly turned about and would have marched into the jaws of death with his force, had not Hager seen the sprig's incom- petency and ordered him back. It was thought that Hale was incapacitated to act through fear. The patriots' force was formed in line at the camping grounds, (as they expected the In- dians saw their approach, retired to gain a position for defense,) and marched cautiously along the trail, but were fired upon unexpected- ly; which frightened the young captain out of his wits if he ever had any. The patriots came to- gether as ordered by Hager, and were consult- ing as to the next movement, when the crackling of dry sticks and rustling of disturbed leaves drew the attention of the party to the back trail, when the presence of Colonel Vroman with a force of nearly fifty men infused cheer in their hearts. A pursuit was decided upon, but the enemy could not be found. They had taken to the forest and eluded the search of the patriots. 152 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. After spending nearly the day in the vicinity, the force numbering about one hundred and twenty men according to historian Simms, re- turned to the upper fort with solemn tread, as two of their brave companions, Joachim Van Valkenburgh and James Sackett, were lifeless and bleeding corpses, the former of whom was known as one of Schoharie's bravest scouts. The facts relating to that engagement were taken from one Richtmyer and Pollock, who par- ticipated, and were kept in manuscript, which we are assured is a genuine statement of the affair. Official. Jtistices. — The first justice of the peace elected by the people at their annual town meeting was John Avery, in the spring of 1833. At that time there were eighty-six persons in the town "liable'' as the records say, to serve as petit jurors. From the well kept records we have drawn the names of the supervisors that have served, with the date of service, which are as follows : — 1803 — Ezra Beard. 1804 — Stephen Judd. 1805 — Heman Hickok. 1806— 1807 — 1808— 1809 — 1810— 1811— 1812— do do do do do do do 1813 — Marcus Andrews. 1814 — Marvin Judd. 1815 — do 1816 — Abner Bissell. 1817 — Ezra Beard. 1818— do 1819 — do 1820 — Marvin Judd. 1 82 1 — Abner Bissell. 1822 — Marvin Judd. 1823 — do 1824 — John Daley. 1825 — do 1826 — Isaac Buckingham. 1827 — do 1828— John Daley. 1829 — En OS Minor. 1830 — do 183 1 — Benjamin Bruce. 1832 — do 1833 — -Hiram Judd. 1834 — Ezekiel Gallup. 1835 — -Benjamin Hickok. 1836— do 1837 — Samuel E. Turner. 1838— do 1839 — Ezekiel Gallup. 1840 — Hezekiah Watson. 1841 — Levi Gallup, Jr. 1842 — do 1843 — Asahel Cowley. 1844 — David P. Stevens. 1845 — do 1846 — Levi Gallup, Jr. 1847 — do 1848— Clark Franklin. 1849— Alfred S. White. 1850 — David Young. 1 85 1 — Samuel R. Griggs. 1852 — Jesse Brockway. 1853 — Benjamin Smith. 1854 — John Ruland. 1855— David W. Gallup. 1856 — David Young. 1857— Alfred S. White. 1858— do 1859 — Elijah Danforth. i860 — Beriah H. Avery. 1 86 1 — William A. Loughran. 1862— James T. Treadwell. 1863 — William A. Loughran. 1864— John W. Gibbs. 1865— William S. Jones. 1866 — George Mattice, 1867— do 1868 — Charles Mayham. 1869 — George Mattice. 1870 — Charles Mayham. 1 87 1— Stephen J. Tyler. 1872 — do 1873 — Charles Mayham. 1874 — Beriah H. Avery. 1875— Ezra Twitchell. 1876— do 1877 — William S. Jones. 1878— do TOWN OF SUMMIT. 153 1879 — William S. Jones. 1880 — Ezra Twitchell. 1881— do 1882— Moses W. Wilcox. Ezra Twitchell resigned in 1881. The town was not represented at the annual meeting of the board. Moses W. Wilcox was appointed to fill vacancy and elected in the spring of 1882. The surface of the town is uneven, broken principally by the West-kill, the outlet of Sum- mit lake and a tributary of the Schoharie. Along this stream the Aborigines early formed a trail to reach the lake and Charlotte. Dur- ing the Revolution it was frequently traversed by them with captives, while at other times the Harpersfield course was taken to reach the Susquehanna. The sheet of water lying upon the south line still bears the Indian name Ut- syantha, and we trust a name will never be thought of that will be considered more appro- priate. At some point upon the northwest bank an angle was made in the Colonial line between old Tryon and Albany counties. The line ran from the northeast corner of Old Dor- lach patent in Carlisle to this point, giving the western part of the town to Tryon and the eastern to Albany. During the Southern Rebellion this town sent a large number of volunteers, and was prompt in filling its quota by bounty at each call for men by the President, and in con- tributing necessary articles for the comfort of the " Boys in Blue." The amount of bonds issued for bounty pur- poses during the war, as near as can be ascer- tained, was $29,811.39. The limits of this town have only been de- fined by the act of 18 13, and are as follows: — "And all that part of the said County of Scho- harie,beginning at a point in the northern bounds of Blenheim patent in the east line of the third range of lots in said patent, and running thence along the northerly bounds of said pa- tent to the northwest corner thereof, thence con- tinuing the same line to the bounds of the County, thence along the same southerly and easterly, until it intersects a Kne running south- erly from the place of beginning, between the third and fourth ranges of said lots, thence northerly along the said line so intersected to the place of beginning, shall be and continue a town by the name of Jefferson." CHAPTER XI. History of the Town of Summit. Beauty of Scenery— Signal Station— Weath- er Signal — Hon. Seymour Boughton — Tradition of the Lake — Johnson and Brant's Halt— Early Settlers-Brown and Other Business Men^ — Charlotte Valley —Service Tragedy — Murphy's Own State- ment — Murphy's Purchase — Act of 1777 — Controversy in Regard to the Service Farm — Abraham Becker — Suit Gained — Service's Affair Contemplated — Settle- ment of the Western Part of the Town — Seminary — Its History — Faculty Etc. — Dairy Interest — Elisha Brown — As- semblymen — Sheriffs — John Lawyer — S. J. Lake — Isaac W. Beard — John H. Coons — Churches — First Baptist Church — Second Baptist Church — Eeformed Church of Eminence — Methodist — Free Methodist— Lutheran of Lutheranville- Lutheran of Beard's Hollow — Town Volunteers — Medical Fraternity — First Town Meeting — Resolutions — Report of 1 880 — Officials — Eminence. I N reaching a point on the road from Rich- mondville to Summit village, the traveler may form an idea of the origin of the name given to the town by looking down upon the surrounding country that stretches a panorama of beauty and grandeur — before the eye, scarcely equalled. And when he ascends Mount Whar- ton, a little to the west, and gains the height 154 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. of twenty-two hundred feet above sea level, the hills in the distance, that seemed of prodigious heights and precipitous sides, as traversed, ap- pear to be miniature ones, of easy ascent, placed where they stand as obstacles, to vary the scene. Even the peak of Karker Mountain of Carlisle, from which, it was thought by the early settlers, nearly half of the hemisphere could be seen, vainly rears itself, like a small cone far below. The state surveying party under Horatio Sey- mour Jun., in the summer of 1880, placed a Stan Helio signal upon this mountain, and gave it the name of Mount Wharton, after the owner of the land— J. B.Wharton. Here, the clouds which to-day, seem to be at as great height above us, as when we stand in the valley below, often rest upon this mountain as a hazy veil, shutting from view its venerable peak, to those in the valleys below, who often catch a glimpse of it, to prophesy the future weather in the absence — perhaps of a barometer or Webster's Almanac, as tradition has told them, the appearance of the peak will tell with as much accuracy as that renowned pamphlet. Upon the very cheek of this mountain, in a little furrow, is found one of those sheets of water, whose beauty makes it a libel to call a pond, and which is too small in acreage, to claim that of lake. Pleasure and health seekers have found rare sport here in fishing and rowing seasons, as the water is kept lively by the finny tribe, and pleas- ure boats have been placed upon the. silvery sheet, which add much to the attraction of the place; as to " dip the oar " has a peculiar fas- cination by which but very few refuse to be allured. Our earliest recollection of this resort, is, when but ayouth, we sat beside the late " Squire" Boughton, and vainly tried to force the obsti- nate "bullheads" to bite after our patience was exhausted in coaxing, while he, with ease and grace swung out and lured the largest to his well-filled basket. The Squire's inward chuckle occasionally found vent, and upon one of those (to us) mortifying times, his boast rang out long and loud, that his basket would hold no more. But not content, he swung out again and his successful hook, fearful, perhaps, it could do no better, caught the handle of the basket, and to the joy of our crushed feelings, basket and fish were thrown rods from the shore and disappeared to the bot- tom, while the Squire, without a word, sought his home. Seymour Boughton was a venerable man. He removed to this place from Charlotteville, and represented the town in the Board of Supervisors in i833-'34-'36 and '53, and the western dis- trict in the Assembly in the years 1840 and '45. Serving many years as Justice of the Peace and desirous of being competent to perform the duties of the office intelligently, he studied law earnestly, and became quite proficient in trying civil cases, after his term of office expired. Many cases were hotly contested by the Squire and his neighbor, Thomas W. Furguson, Whose legal ability was nearly the same, which pro- duced a vast amount of fun, and attracted large crowds to witness. Mr. Boughton was a thorough business man, to whom one quickly became attached by his whole-souled hospitality and gentlemanly bear- ing. He was the youngest of nineteen children and removed with his father, Shubel Boughton, from Danbury, Connecticut, in the early part of the century, and settled at Charlotteville. The Squire built the present Van Buren house of that village as a " tavern'' and was engaged in the business many years. All the houses of that day in this section, were built of logs and upon putting up a frame building the Squire was cen- sured as being extravagant, and when he painted the same, his economical neighbors imagined he was bent on wasting his property. He ground the paint in a potash kettle with a large iron ball, and applied it to the building himself. It was the first framed house in the present territory of the town. Mr. Boughton died on the nth day of June, 1872, at the age of eighty-one, leaving but two sons Harvey and Seymour Jun., to per- petuate his family name. In referring to Mr. Furguson, in connection with Mr. Boughton's legal career, we are led to here state that the former, although not enjoying the advantages of the latter in an official point of view, was an apt adept in pettyfogging, and gave the legal fraternity many warm receptions. TOWN OF SUMMIT. iSS The family removed to this place from Cortland county, N. Y., at an early day, and were in- telligent and progessive citizens. Tradition of the Lake. — In turning our thoughts to the lake, which seems characteristic of all visitors at this place, an old legend is re- called that refers to the name of the body of v/ater. It is indeed, not only a " thrice told tale" but a thousand, and in giving its sub- stance we exceedingly regret that we do not possess that romance, which gives color and effect to the tale to make it interesting and im- pressive. It is said that Utsayantho was the name given to the miniature sheet, after an un- fortunate Indian maiden, "whose untutored mind" was suddenly surprised at the disappear- ance of her " family cares." At a time anterior to the advent of the whites, that maiden with stalwart frame and uncombed hair, through in- discretion, became a mother, upon the bank of the lake. A consultation of the several chiefs was held and the little innocent was thrown into the lake, which received the mother's name by order of the godly chiefs. Suchis the simple narrative. The lake upon the southern border of the County, and head of the west branch of the Delaware river, is spoken of in old maps and documents as Utsayantha, while this one is not referred to ; at least, not by the name of Utsayantho. Whether, in the In- dian tongue the two words are the same, we are unable to say. For a long time it was called " Jack's lake" but owing to its elevation and the town to which it belongs it is well for the plain to give it the appropriate name of " Summit Lake ; " while our modern " esthetes " now call it " Utsayantho" for the benefit of romance, and imagine Utsayantho, or the Jefferson lake, was named after the maiden's treacherous lover. Its outlet flows to the south and empties into the " West Kill," in the town of Jefferson. An Indian path from the Charlotte, led to the lake and followed its outlet to the Schoharie creek, along which the Indian traversed for time un- known. Upon the banks of the Summit lake, tradition tells us, Johnson and Brant halted, in their march in 1780, to devastate the Schoharie valley. As they appeared at Breakabeen early in the morning of October 17th, undoubtedly they were here upon the i6th, and enjoyed a repast of fresh fish, to strengthen them for the occasion. It was not until after the Revolution closed that this town was settled, and the eastern part a few years later than the western. Those set- tlers were mostly from the Hudson river coun- ties and the eastern States, verifying the truth, that while the Germans and Dutch choose the low lands, the Yankee climbs upon the hills, and " pitches his tent." One of the early settlers of this locality, was a Mr. Brown, from Connecti- cut ; who, while in his native town engaged in the manufacture of buttons. He was a shrewd busi- ness Yankee and turned his mind and hand to everything that had a tendency to gain money, and was called " Button Weaver Brown." In all local legal troubles he officiated as a petti- fogger and business man, which gave to him a precedence in note, over other settlers. He died at an early day and left in his stead, a son Harvey, who engaged in the mercantile business and was for many years Justice of the Peace, beside being a Captain in the Militia service. Dexter Brown, of another family, built a log house and kept the first " tavern," in which all law suits were held for many years, beside giv- ing " entertainment for man and beast " that strolled up the hills to replenish their stock of liquors. It must not be thought that those early settlers were content to delve daily among giant tree-stumps and stones without any other means of support, as they were too " Yankeefied." On the contrary, they engaged in other pursuits, such as making potash and whiskey. Who the first distiller was we are unable to learn, but Levi Ives did a large business in that branch as early as 1805. His customers were scattered over the country and drove the establishment to its utmost capacity, to meet their wants. An order from " Yankee Pete " Snyder was taken to Ives by his son, in 18 12 for a " load of his best whiskey" at two shillings per gallon. After Ives, followed Henry Rifenbark in the business, who came from Columbia county in t8o2. His son Hiram is still living, having passed three score years and ten, bearing the marks of a scald from hot mash, while manufacturing "fire water." Benjamin Rider soon followed iS6 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Brown in the inn business, upon the grounds now occupied by " Rider's Hotel." The first building was partly of logs and partly frame, the latter giving the establishment a superiority over Brown's. As the country became more thickly settled and business more brisk, the times demanded better accommodations, and from time to time the old log houses have disappeared and others at greater cost and convenience have taken their places. About the year 1840 a tavern was built upon the hill, in the west part of the village by Warner, and afterwards purchased by Wm. T. Moak, of Sharon, who continued until the year 1854, when the property changed hands, and was soon transformed into a private resi- dence, and at a later date divided and partly removed. The Charlotte Valley. — A short distance to the west of the village of Summit is a spring from which the Charlotte river proper takes its rise. Along its course several rivulets unite and form one of the main tributaries of the noble Susquehanna. The ancient Indian path to the Susquehanna from the Hudson and Schoharie rivers followed this stream and during the Revo- lution many hundred hearts, ladened with the deepest sorrow, were forced to follow it as cap- tives, on their journey to Niagara and Canada, not knowing but each moment they would fall victims to the savages' cupidity or Tories' ven- geance and knowing that each step was drawing them nearer and nearer the dreaded gauntlet and confinement. Nearly four miles down the valley from the County line, upon the farm, in part owned by Philip Mitchel, lived the man Service, against whom the patriots made the charge of being an agent of the Crown, and a dangerous enemy to the colonists. Service, with other families, settled there several years previous to the war, and were prosperous farmers. He owned a large tract of land, and when hostilities commenced he refused to take sides in the contest, fearful of losing his lands. The outspoken Whigs accused hiin of disloyalty to their cause, and a complaint to that effect was made by them to the Committee of Safety, sitting at Kingston, also to that of the Schoharie set- tlements. The British agents knew his inten- tion of neutrality and undoubtedly imposed cer- tain offices upon him to give a shade of loyalty to the crown. Being situated upon the trail, almost daily used, and at a point, where sup- plies for the subsistence of squads would prove convenient, he was called upon quite often to furnish them, by both the British and Patriots. But each faction was, as political parties are to-day, "delicate to a fault" and he, who by a single act or word, however trivial, displayed the least favor to their enemies, was at once con- demned, and scarcely any after act could at- tone for so doing. An order was given for his arrest and Captain Long, Murphy, Elerson and Tufts were entrusted to carry it into execution. Various stories have been related of the affair and published from time to time, but none of them were dictated by Murphy or his companions, and were simply reiterations of gossip subject to the usual ad- ditions that the imagination of the speaker and writer is disposed to make for the pleasure of his auditors. As we before intimated, Sigsby's pamphlet purporting to be the hfe of Murphy, was made up of erroneous statements, without doubt, supposed to be facts by the writer. Our informants, the children of Murphy, with minds as vigorous, at their advanced ages, as if but forty, assured the author that their father felt aggrieved at the erroneous tales that were re- lated of him, and many hundred times repeated the 'facts of the Charlotte tragedy to them, as we are about to relate them. To verify their statement, we have abundant proof, gleaned from other families that were daily conversant with both Murphy and Eler- son, of their truthfulness. Upon the arrival of the party at the house of Service, they at once made the object of their visit known, as he was standing beside his door. Service replied that the accusation was ill-founded and refused to •accompany them to Schoharie. They pro- duced a letter written to him that had been in- tercepted (it being an order for Service to pro- vide a party of Tories with bread upon a certain day,) to prove his disloyalty to the Con- tinental cause, and then assured him if he would give himself up and accompany TOWN OF SUMMIT. 1S7 them to Schoharie without any trouble, they would pledge themselves he would not be hurt. But their orders were to take him dead or alive, and they were going to do it. A parley of words followed, when Mrs. Service and two daughters rushed out and took an active part. Service caught up a broad-axe lying near and hurled it at the party who assured him they would shoot if he repeated the act. The women undoubtedly became fearful of such consequence, and caught hold of the men and exclaimed, " Run, father ! Run father ! " upon which he ran around the corner of the house towards the brook. Tufts and Murphy soon followed, and when in clear view of him assured him they would shoot if he did not return. Not heeding their warning, as he crossed the brook and was ascending the bank, Murphy and Tufts fired together, upon which he fell and soon ex- pired. They did not examine the body to see if both balls took effect, and consequently could not tell whether one or both caused his death. The case as thus recited, is very differ- ent from that of Sigsby's and others, as will be at once seen by those readers that are familiar with his pamphlet. As told by him, the shoot- ing of Service was but a cool murder, which in this day and age is condemned, and not con- sidered as adding heroism to our acts. Mr. Sigsby was a young man of promise, with in- tentions the most commendable, and chronicled the case as related by hundreds, but was im- posed upon, by many-tongued tradition in his efforts to perpetuate the valor of a worthy patriot. In theyeanySy, the lands of Service were con- fiscated and the property passed into other hands. It has been said and the impression seems to be firmly made, that Murphy received a portion of those lands for the shooting of Service, but it was a mistake. Murphy purchased a farm in after years in the Schenevus valley but it was not a part of the Service land. It will be noticed in the Fulton Chapter of this work that Murphy married a Feek, an only child, and that the family were in fair circumstances, financially, for those days, and upon the death of Mr. Feek, the sum of seven hundred dollars was left by him for his widow, as pocket money, to purchase small comforts that the care of the daughter and son-in-law might not apprehend. Mrs. Feek being one of the true daughters of economy and gain, as all were at that time, and solicitous for the future of her grandchildren, insisted upon Murphy taking the money and investing it in land for the children's benefit. The lands along the Schenevus being low in price and at- tractive to him, he made a purchase, and in af- ter years, settled his daughter, Mrs. Sands, upon the farm, with whom he lived at times. In the year 1777 the Continental Congress passed an act to the effect, that if an owner and occupant of land should prove disloyal to the colonial cause, by giving aid to the enemy and bear arms against the patriots and vacate such lands during the struggle, they should become the property of the government, but if posses- sion was retained, the owner should not be mo- lested in his title. Hence, we find many invet- erate Tories still held their lands after the war closed, while less active ones were stripped of their homes. Service was buried upon his land within a few feet of the boundary line, and in af- ter years, when the fact became known to the late Abraham Becker, of South Worcester, he instituted a suit for the recovery of the property, under the act of 1777, claiming, that possession was held by the burial of Service. After a long litigation the lands were recovered, and sold by the heirs of Service, who are of the best families of that section. As would naturally be sup- posed, the family smarted long under the oppro- brium of Tory given to Service, and looked upon the transaction as warrtferwithout.a cause. He was accused of being with Brant in the Coble- skill valley in 1778, and participating in other invasions, which the family from first to last de- nied and to many proved conclusively, to be false. But that he gave or sold supphes to invading forces and parties with prisoners going to Ni- agara cannot be denied, as the captives upon their return, verified the truth. Patriot .scouts, also, many times replenished their rude haversacks at his house in the fore part of the war, but were refused, as the troubles increased. There was perhaps a just reason for the latter act, as the scouts were destitute of money and seldom, if ever, paid for what they obtained. Service was is8 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. fearful of losing his lands like thousands of oth- ers, if he chose the colonial cause, and situated as he was, upon the trail daily traversed, he could, or dare not refuse the King's subjects, and without doubt was well paid for every morsel of eatables, as the British government was lavish with its gold where it would cast a shade of loyalty. He might have been honest in his intention of neutrahty in the beginning but, as we of to-day, he saw perhaps an opportunity of making riches, and step by step was led along in feedmg In- dians and Tories until orders were sent ahead for him to supply while the patriots watched him more and more, and at last reported him to the Committee of Safety. The times and situation of the border made stern meas- ures a necessity, and as the war progressed the border actors of both sides became less civilized — unused to the promptings of charita- ble, social etiquette, they often strangled mercy, under the plea of necessity, while their vul- gar passions were let loose to do brutal woik. Many times, no doubt, the patriots gave their enemies as much reason to look upon them with abhorrence, as did the Tories, as we find equally as harrowing tales told by their descendants, against the patriots. The western part of the town was settled by the Van Buren, Van Hosen and Boughton famiUes, about the year 1797, and previous to the formation of the town by act passed April 13, 1819, was a part of Jef- ferson. Nothing of importance occurred in this part until the year 1850, when the New York Methodist Conference erected by subscription and donations a large building for school pur- poses, to accommodate nearly three hundred boarding students, under Rev. Alonzo Flack, as Principal, and Miss Helen Flack, Preceptress, with eleven assistants. After two years of unparalleled success, an examining committee reported to the Confer- ence that "the institution has had a career of un- exampled prosperity." " Though it was opened only two years since, it had during the past term more than three hundred and fifty students in actual attendance." "The number would have been still greater if accommodations could have been furnished." " As a new building has just been erected, more than five hundred can be provided for next term." The building was placed upon the north side of the street, nearly in the center of the village, and was an oblong of three stories in height. Additions were built upon each end in 1852, running back, and were no sooner furnished than occupied by five hun- dred students. Being over-crowded and extremely prosper- ous, in the season 1855, a building four hundred and eighty feet in length, four stories in height, with basement, was erected upon the south side of the creek, upon the hill-side. The new structure was intended for a college, and at one time eight hundred students were in attend- ance in both buildings. The faculty in 1852 was increased to seven- teen teachers beside the principal and pre- ceptress. An incendiary laid the north build- ing in ashes in 1856, and in the year 1867, the south structure also was reduced to ashes. Not being daunted by misfortune, a large hotel was purchased and fitted conveniently for a school, under the management of Professor Solomon Sias and six associates. The school closed some time in 1875 and was not revived. Dr. William Lament during the last years of school was the principal. The question will naturally be asked years hence, as is frequently done now, " Why were structures for such purposes, built in back places, away from pubUc thoroughfares ? " The idea was prevalent that vice, such as lures away the youth, only existed along the thorough- fares ; and their catalogues and other advertise- ments made a special point to that effect, as- suring parents that their " children would be free from the evils that clustered along them." The first board of trustees was divided into three classes. Of the first were : — Jacob Hoffman, James S. Wood, Amos Smith, Hiram Van Buren, Abram Becker. TOWN OF SUMMIT. IS9 Of the second were : — James Howie, Peter H. Mitchell, Hiram Warner, Aaron Rifenburgh, Stephen Stillwell. Of the third were : — Thomas W. Lamont, M. D., Luther F. Hartwell, William H. Adams, John D. Multer, Araasa Dingman. The officers of the board were : — Thomas W. Lamont, President. Luther F. Hartwell, Secretary. Jacob Hoffman, Treasurer. James S. Wood, Steward. For many years the farmers of this town have been engaged extensively in dairying, and have supplied the markets with butter that will cope with any other. Upon the lofty hills, the most succulent grasses grow and from their sides are springs of the purest water, that add materially to the quality of the dairy products, while the dairymen spare neither pains nor expense to produce a choice article. For many years Elisha Brown of this town was a large dealer in such products, and gained the reputation in the New York market, of furnishing the best quality of butter, the year through, of any buyer in the State. Its keeping qualities were highly spoken of and it is said to improve, through the use of modern conveniences upon scientific principles. Mr. Brown was long known as " Butter Brown " and was considered one of the most expert judges of the article to be found. He removed from Connecticut to the town of Jefferson, and from thence to this place. Mr. Brown was Supervisor of the town in 1862, and held the office of Justice of the Peace for sev- eral years. He died highly respected as a Christian, and business man. Mr. Brown was followed by his son James as a produce dealer, who still holds the butter trade, which ex- ceeds that of any other place in the County. Mr. Brown represented the town in the Board of Supervisors in 1873, 1874, 1875 and 1876, and was elected to the assembly in 1877, which position he filled satisfactorily to his constituents, and creditably to himself as a legislator. Mr. Brown was preceded in that body by Samuel Baldwin in 1828, and Watson Orr, in 1834, Seymour Boughton, in 1840, and 1845, James S. Wood, in 1854, and William C. Lamont, in 1859 and 1862, from this town, each of whom were sagacious, yet honorable representatives, through whose political career, none spoke of guile. Beside furnishing such worthy representatives, the town has not been backward in adding to the list of officials such men as Treat Durand, John Moran, John Sawyer as sheriffs of the County, whom we remember as far back as 1850, as being the business and progressive men of Summit village. The former was a dealer in horses and real estate, while Mr. Moran was connected in the manufacture of wagons, with an old resident as "Jackson & Moran," and near by. Sheriff Sawyer made the anvil ring by his vigorous strokes. While we recall those days of honest labor, that made the village prosperous and pleasant, and wove a net of union and happiness around the hearthstones, the thought of the sudden death of Mr. Sawyer casts a gloom over the mind and chills the pleasant musings of "the times that were." While returning to his home in Richmondville, from a visit to the village with a sister, in May, 1879, in descending the hill a short distance below, the horse became unmanageable through a defect in the harness and ran off a steep bank, throwing Mr. Sawyer upon the ground with great violence, dislocating the spine and other- wise injuring him internally. He lived but a short time and was buried at Richmondville by the Masonic Brotherhood and a host of friends, with imposing marks of honor and respect. With Sawyer, have also gone two others that were prominent business men of the village at that time, S. J. Lake and Isaac W. Beard who were engaged in the mercantile business, the former at the corner and the latter, in the building oc- cupied as a wagon shop upon the hillside. Mr. Lake was in business for many years, and none enjoyed a better reputation as a strict, honest business man than he. He identified himself i6o HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. with the best interests of the place, and when he retired it was with the regret of the com- munity. Isaac W. Beard also kept a gen- eral assortment of merchandise, and did a large business. He was twice elected supervisor of the town beside holding other local offices and was a faithful official. The County Clerk's of- fice has also been officially supplied by Loring Andrews, generally considered to have been without a superior in the performance of the duties of that office, always courteous and sys- tematic, and who took especial pains in the collection and preservation of old documents. John H. Coons was also elected to that office from this town and proved a very efficient officer. Churches. — The oldest organization in the town is the First Baptist Church situated a short distance from Charlotteville. Through the kindness of Mr. W. C. Hicks, whose father was long an officer of this church, we were fur- nished with the following sketch, taken from the pubhshed " minutes of the forty-ninth anniver- sary of the Worcester Baptist Association," held on the nth and 12th of June, 1879. "The Baptist Church of Jefferson and the First Baptist Church of Summit occupied the same field and used the same church-book from 1805 until 1827. When it ceased to be called Jef- ferson and took the name of Summit the records do not say. " A council was called at the house, of Elam Northrup in Jefferson, by Baptist brethren of South Hill and Charlotte River to advise and counsel them in matters of importance, Septem- ber 26, 1805. "The delegates were as follows : — "From Kortright : — Elder Warner Lake, Elisha Sheldon, Samuel Grenell. "From Worcester : — Elder Miah French, Charles Round, Thomas Hudson, Joshua Woodsworth. "From Bristol : — Elder Levi Streeter, Edmund Richmond, John Hicks. " Organized by electing Elder W. Lake, moderator, and John Hicks, clerk. After ma- ture deliberation the council unanimously judged it for the honor and glory of God, and the con- venience of said brethren, to give them the hand of fellowship as a sister church. The arti- cles of faith were those of the Worcester church. " Extract from their Covenant : — We sol- emnly covenant, each one of us, m the presence of God, angels, and men, to give ourselves re- newedly to God without reserve. That we will do all that in us lies to oppose sin in ourselves and all others, viz., all evil whispering or back- biting, or taking up a reproach against any per- son, especially those who profess Christianity. Avoid all recreation, as spending your time idly at taverns or elsewhere." "Trustees elected Jan. 26, 1806. " The first names on the record are : — Carpenter, Brown, Lincoln, Braman, Fuller, Cleveland, Lavelly, Northrup, Knowlton. The following were the pastors: — J. French, — Carr. J. Winis, E. Crocker, J. Mead, J. Beaman, — Barrett, E. Spafford, J. Ingalls. "How long each one preached for the church is not known. Elder Mead was with them some time. TOWN OF SUMMIT. i6i "First mention of salary is in 1815— for Elder Mead, $50. ''The following served as Deacons : — Chase Hicks, Levi Lincoln. "The following served as Clerks : — ^ J. Carpenter, E. Northrup, H. Albert, S. Stillwell, M. Beaman, R. Lavelly, E. Osborn, Jr. "For twenty-seven years meetings were held in dwelling-houses, school-houses and barns. "The minutes of the Rensselaerville Associa- tion say that the Jefferson church was a mem- ber of that body up to 18 18. "The Summit church belonged to that Asso- ciation in 1820. "The town of Summit was formed from Jef- ferson and Cobleskill in 18 19. "Probably, therefore, the old Jefferson church took the name of Summit church immediately after the organization of the township." In a foot-note they say : — " Thirty-nine members were dismissed from the Summit church to join the new constituted church in Jefferson." In another foot-note they say: — "The Jefferson church joined the Association this session," (1828). So the old Jefferson church was the parent of the Summit church, and the Summit church the parent of the present Jefferson church, inasmuch as thirty -nine of her constituent members were from the Summit church. "April 15, 1826, a council was called to ordain James Ingals. "The Summit church was a member of the Worcester Association in incipient organization, October 14, 1830. "Incorporated under the name of the First Baptist Church of Summit. Recorded in County Clerk's book, at page i of Religious Corporations, December 14, 1831. "In 1832 the meeting-house was erected, and a general meeting was appointed for its opening the third Wednesday in November. "Reckoning 1840 as the first decade the smallest number of members were fifty-seven; largest, one hundred and seven ; average, eighty-nine. "The following were the pastors : — J. Smith, E. Spafford, A. Butler, I. Powers. "The following served as Deacons : — Joseph Lincoln, J. S. Martin. "The following served as Clerks : — E. Osborn, E. Northrup. "The first Licentiate :— Harvey Cornell, July, 1837. "Second decade from 1840 to 1850 : — "Our history is incomplete. The largest num- ber ascertained is one hundred and twenty-one in 1843. In 1844 a notable difficulty occurred which sorely tried the lovers of Zion. Church action began in January and continued to August, 1845. "In 1850 voted that we raise $100 to paint and repair our house. "The following were the pastors : — I. Powers, H. Maine, C. Preston, C. Purrett. "The following served as Deacons : — H. Van Buren, J. S. Martin. "The following served as Clerks : — E. Northrup, D. L. Rider. "In 1845, December loth.C. Preston was or- dained. "Third decade, from 1850 to i860 : — "Our information is meager. The number reached one hundred and twenty-seven ; aver- age, ninety-five. l62 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. "The following were pastors : — F. Jones, E. Spafford, W. Covey, R. H. Spafford, H. Cornell. "The following served as Deacons : — J. S. Martin, H. Van Buren. "The following served as Clerks :— D. L. Rider, A. Fancher, H. Lincoln. L. J. Lincoln was Ucensed, July 25, 1855. "Fourth decade, from i860 to 1870: — "The church gained in numbers and in- fluence. Average, one hundred and nine. "The following were the pastors : — H. Cornell, J. Lyon, D. Corwin, W. M. Hallock. "The following served as Deacons : — L. H. Robbins, A. Fancher. "The following served as Clerks : — H. Lincoln, D. G. Mann, B. F. Wilcox. "From 1870 to 1879: — "The following were the pastors : W. M. Hallock, J. Smith, I. Powers. "The following served as Deacons : — L. H. Robbins, B. W. Gage. "The following served as Clerks : — B. F. Wilcox, W. C. Hicks. "Meeting-house rebuilt ini878, and dedicated November 27th, same year. Present pastor. I. Powers. Present number, one hundred and thirty-one; average, one hundred and twenty. Whole expense of building, $2,500. "Her dead outnumber her living. Of the pioneers on this field (clergy and laity) not one remains. Of twenty original names on present record, one only (E. Osborn) is known to be living. Of the forty-seven baptized here between 1840 and 1843, twenty -seven only are living. Twenty gone to swell the chorus of the skies. On this field they struggled for the right, fought for the true, have won and wear the crown. " Not lost, but gone before; The Bible was their guide; They toiled, they watched, in faith they pray'd — They're safe for evermore, Safe on the other side." The Second Baptist Church was located at Summit village, and was organized in 1839 with twenty members, principally resident members of the Jefferson or parent church. The now deserted edifice was built in 1840, and regu- lar meetings were there held for several years, but the society becoming small, in 1878 they were discontinued. But very few of the original members are now living. The first pastor was Rev. Ingraham Powers, who was thereafter con- nected in pastorate with the First Baptist Church of Charlotteville. • The Reformed Church of Eminence. — This society was organized by the classis of Scho- harie in 1831, and re-organized January 30, 1855, under the pastorate of Rev. W. G. E. See. The church edifice was commenced in 1833 by the Reformed Society, and for its com- pletion and interest on the debt incurred it was sold to the Methodists, by whom it was finished, and occupied by both societies until 1854. At that time the Methodists built a new one across the street in Blenheim, and the Presbyterians repaired the old building and have occupied it since. The first pastor was Rev. William Sals- bury, of Jefferson, and was followed by Revs. Lee, Shaver and Miller. The Methodist Episcopal Church of Summit. is a spirited organization, but we have been un- able to procure a historical sketch of the same, from the fact that upon each visit the records TOWN Ot SUMMIT. 163 were not accessible, owing to absence of the official in whose keeping they were placed, and the forgetfulness of those who were entrusted with the task of giving the points of history. TAe Free Methodist Church of Charlotteville. — ^This society has the honor of being the first organization of the kind in the County. The first meeting for the election of trustees was held March 16, 1878, and the following were chosen : — D. L. Rider, George Earner, William N. Eckerson, Sylvester Truax. William A. Hawks was the first pastor, and was succeeded by the present incumbent, Rev. R. M. Snyder. The edifice was built the same year of the organization, and is a neat structure that adds much to the appearance of the place. It is to be hoped that the societies of this order will exert such an influence over other denominations as to cause their church seats to become free, that all the poor a's well as the rich, may enter the house of God and sit to worship without paying " tribute to Caesar," inasmuch as that Christian idea is the ground-work of their or- ganization. The Lutheran Church of Summit. — The edi- fice in which this society worships is at Luther- anville in the west part of the town, in the midst of an industrious and prosperous com- munity. The organization was effected in 1823 through the labors of its first pastor, the worthy George Lintner. In 1836 the church building was erected and remodeled in 1858, and v?ill seat three hundred and fifty. The first officers were from the Neer, Lape, Fredindal and Mor- rison families, the first settlers of the neighbor- hood. The pastors were as follows: — Rev. George Lintner, P. G. Cole, Slimser, Nicholas Van Alstine, Benjamin Diefendorf, (eighteen years), Samuel Bruce, J. S. Paul, S. W. Young, at present officiating. The Lutheran Church of Beard's Hollow^ — This church is under the Frankean Synod, and was organized May 6, 1865. The edifice was built in 1862, by the Baptists and Lutherans in union, but was purchased by the latter Febru- ary 16, 1867. The first deacons were David Dox and George Lape, and at the time of the purchase of the property, Samuel Hodson, Robert S. Fuller and David Dox, were trustees. The only regular pastors that have performed service here were Samuel Bruce and Jacob S. Paul. Other pastors have occasionally preached as supply. Beard's Hollow. While here, we will refer to this place, as having been the first settled in the eastern part of the town. Killian Ritter we are assured set- tled here as early as 1794, and was soon followed by Jacob Beard, who settled in that portion of the valley, now lying in the town of Richmond- ville. We will speak of the whole in connec- tion with Summit. Jacob Beard was a German and settled upon the farm now occupied by Hiram Mann about the year 1795. Here he reared a family of four sons, John, Andrew, Jacob and Philip, and it was from this family the valley derived its name. In 1802 Michael, the father of the present David Dox and progenitor of the different families found in the hollow, settled, being a son of George Dox, Sr., who settled at Richmondville, as stated in that chapter of this work. In 1800 an extensive business was carried on in the manufacture of grindstones upon the hills east of the hollow, which were taken to all parts of the country. The enterprise slackened and but little was done for several years, when it was again revived and as late as 1825, large numbers were manufactured, but the business was at last abandoned as the immedi- ate country was supplied and they were too heavy to cart to distant points for profit. LutheraNville. This hamlet was for a long term of years called "Tar Hollow." We are assured by Jacob Wilcox and others, although we have no official proof of the fact, that a Deputy Sheriff 164 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. by the name of Whittaker, during the anti-rent troubles of 1844 and 1845 was here taken by the anti-rent settlers, while in the performance of official duties, in the collection of a debt, and treated to a good coat of tar and feathers. Our informants assure us, the tar and feathers were placed upon a stone-boat and taken to a convenient place, where the deputy was strip- ped of his clothing and besmeared with the tar, from head to foot, and then covered with feath- ers. We believe it was the only instance in the County, where such measures were taken and carried out. Since those exciting times, no place can be found, where more law-abiding citizens reside, than throughout this neighbor- hood. Town Volunteers. During the late Rebellion, eighty-two enlisted in the Union cause, mostly in the 44th and 46th Regiments, and braved the hardships of camp and field, with but eight desertions, mostly to re-enlist and draw the heavy bounties, that were given to induce a speedy repletion of the volun- teer ranks. Many fell in battle but more by the destructive typhoid fever that continually lurked around the encampments, and caused four-fold more deaths, than were reported by gun and sword. Medical Fraternity. We have groped somewhat in the dark in obtaining an accurate list of the physi- cians that have settled and practiced with- in the limits of the town, and find none previous to Doctor Birch who was here in 1830. He was succeeded by Doctors Eastman, Hynds, Loucks and Miner, who we believe was contemporary with Dr. C. W. Havens, who settled in 1840 and still continues to practice. After Miner, came Dr. Cornell who was follow- ed by Dr. Spaulding and the present acting Dr. Beard, while Dr. Tibbetts is located at Emin- ence. While Summit village or "Four corners," as it was for a long time known, stood thus in- dependent of sister towns and villages, in the medical profession, yet at Charlotteville, Dr. Wm. Lamont settled in 1825 or 1830, and in connection with Dr. Van Alstine of Richmond- ville often encroached upon the territory, right- fully belonging to the above, and carried away the palm in many intricate cases. Doctors Near and Smith, during Dr. Lament's residence, were also located at that place and were succeeded by the present Dr. George Berner and Dr. Sperbeck. Eminence. The early settlers of this locality were of Dutch descent, and their Yankee neighbors distinguished it as " Dutch Hill," by which it was known until the postoffice was estabhshed in 1851, when it was named "Eminence.'' Peter Harder was one of the first settlers and was the father of the present Harders of the County, whose enterprise as successful business men places them in the front rank. Reuben and Minard Harder commenced the mercantile business here when they were young men. The latter was appointed the first postmaster. Harder brothers sold their stock in trade to J. M. Cornell, who sold to Wood & Curtis. Curtis purchased Wood's interest, and in 1866 sold to J. L. Burrows, the present occupant of the "lower" or north store. It was the only store up to the year 1869 or 1870, when T. O. Burnet commenced the upper one and was in trade for a while, and closed out, leaving but one again to furnish goods for a large territory. James A. Burnett .purchased the property and still remains, keeping a general assortment, as does Mr. Burrows, of goods usually found in a country store. Upon the formation of Summit, the road passing through the hamlet from north to south was taken as the east line at this point, and thought to be near the old Tryon and Albany county line. Itrst Town Meeting. — The first town meeting was held at the house of Martin Hoff- man, in March, 1820. It was resolved, " That sheep shall not be free commoners and if rams are allowed to ramble at large between the first of September and the first of December, they shall be forfeit- ed." A bounty was voted for the killing of bears and wolves, ranging from five to ten dol- lars per head. By the vote of the people, we find upon a schedule of the town's indebtedness TOWN OF SUMMIT. 165 bearing date 1821, the sum of twenty dollars was raised for the support of the poor. Fence viewers and school inspectors received twenty- five cents per day for actual service, and we suppose were then docked, for time wasted. We will here give the schedule of taxes for the year 1880, which will undoubtedly be as amusing to the tax-payers sixty years from now, as the foregoing of sixty years ago is to us. We copy from the Supervisors report of 1880. Dr. To amount raised for roads and bridges, $ 150.00 To amount raised for support of poor 250.00 To aniount audited by board of town auditors $543.99. To amount audited by board of Supervisors... 248.60. To amount dog tax 90.50. . Total 883.09. Supervisor's fees 8.84. To amount payable to Su- pervisors 89I-93- To amount state tax 1,252.88. To amount school tax.... 10.45. To amount county tax. . ..1,720.48. To amount due poor de- partment 43-8o. Dr. To County Treasurer.. 9.94. Total 3.°43-SS- Total amount payable to County Treasurer 3-043-S5' Grand total $4,335.48. No. names on tax list, 372. Seward Gallup, Collector." Supervisors. The early records of the town are not access- ible, having been carelessly "lent out" and not returned, therefore we can only trace the list as follows : — 1 83 1 — Jacob Hoifman. 1832 — Jacob Hoffman. 1833- 1834- 1835- 1836- 1837- 1838- 1839- 1840— 1841- 1842— 1843- 1844- 1845- 1846- 1847- 1848- 1849- 1850- 1851- 1852- 1853- 1854- 185s- 1856- 1857- 1858- 1859- 1860- 1861- 1862- 1863- 1864- 1865- 1866- 1867- 1868- 1869- 1870- 1871- 1872- 1873- 1874- 1875- 1876- 1877- 1878- 1879- 1880- 1881- 1882- -Seymour Boughton, Sen. -Seymour Boughton, Sen. ■Letolia Bruce. -Seymour Boughton, Sen. -Daniel Baldwin. -Edmond Northrup. -John Loucks, Jun. -Thomas W. Lamont. -Thomas W. Lamont. -Isaac W. Beard. -Isaac W. Beard. -Jacob Hoffman. -Jacob Hoffman. -Hiram T. Comstock. -Parley Brown. -Parley Brown, -Joseph S. Wood. -Joseph S. Wood. -Robert Crapser. -Minard Harder. -Seymour Boughton, Sen. -David L. Rider. -John H. Coons. -James Barger. -James Barger. -Samuel Near. -David C. Jackson. -Samuel R. Griggs. -William Lamont. -Elisha Brown. -Charles W. Havens. -Miles Hartwell. -Parley Brown. -Parley Brown. -James Terpenning. -Howland Baker. -James Barger. -James Barger. -William Lamont. -William Lamont. -James H. Brown. -James H. Brown. -James H. Brown. -James H. Brown. -Stephen Stilwell. -Seymour Boughton, Jun. -Seymour Boughton, Jun. -David Crowe. -David Crowe. -F. P. Beard. i66 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. CHAPTER XIII. History of The Town of Fulton. First Purchase of Land by Adam Vroman — Adam Vroman and Family — Indian Deeds — Captain Vroman — Indian Castle — Col- onel Peter.Vroman-Swart Family— Peter Swart — His Manuscript — Death — ^Crys- LER Family-Mrs. John Bouck —Henry Ha- ger — In McDonald's Camp — Captain Ha- GER at Bemis Heights — Upper Fort — Ex- empt Volunteers — Invasion by Crysler — Murder by Beacraft — Prisoners — Burn- ing of Crysler's Mill — Sad Day of 1780 — Release of Prisoners— Others Taken to Niagara and Montreal — Return Home Brant's Course through Cherry Valley Consent to Write a Letter — Messen- ger Dispatched with it— Crysler's Inva- sion — Murder Near the Fort— Engage- ment with Captain Hager — Richard Hagadorn Wounded — Conflict at the Lake— Johnson's and Brant's Invasion Mary Hagadorn— The Indians Visit the Settlement Again — No Injury— Tories' Loss — Bouck Family and Island Wm. C. Bouck — His Life — Incident from New York Daily News— The Governor's Chil- dren — Tremain's Tribute — Inhabitants OF 1788— Timothy Murphy— His Life and Historical Incidents—Children— Death- Extract FROM Atlantic Monthly— Town Formed — Patriotism of 1812 Peters- burgh — Breakabeen— First Lands Set- tled — Fultonham — Charles Watson- West Fulton— Churches— Polly Hollow —Reformed Church— Physicians— Super- visors — Boundaries. THAT portion of the town known as Vro- mansland was the first settled, and is the best land in the County. Adam' Vroman as before stated, purchased it of the Indians in 171 1, for one hundred gallons of rum and a few blankets, and estimated the tract to contain four hundred acres. In 17 15 Vroman came to the valley to settle his son, Peter, but by threatenings to kill him and the bold demolition of his house by the Germans of Weisersdorf, he was frightened away, and the settlement was delayed till the season following. Adam Vroman descended from a prominent family of Holland, and was a son of Hendrick Meese Vroman, who was killed in the Schenectady massacre of 1690. He was born in Holland in 1649. Rev. R. Randall Hoes, of New Rochelle, N. Y., a descendant, says: — "He was naturahzed in the province of New York in 17 15." His will is dated September 12, 1729, and was proved June 13, 1730. He died on his farm in Schoharie, (Vromansland,) February 2S> 173°, and was buried in Schenectady, and it was thought upon at least fair authority, that his first wife was Engeltie Bloom, probably of Long Island. His second wife was Gristje Ryckman, widow of Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck, in 1691. His third wife was Grietje Takelse Heemstreet, married January 13, 1697, in Albany. His children numbered thirteen. They were as follows, from the manuscript of of R. R. Hoes :— Barent baptized in 1679; married daughter of Takelse Heemstraat, 1699. Wouter, born in 1680; married daughter of Isaac C. Hallenbeck, of Albany, 1707. Pieter, born May, 1684; married Griesje Van Alstine, of Albany, February, 1706. Christina, baptized October 18, 1685 ; mar- ried Teunis Swart, October, 17 10. Hendrick, born in 1687 ; married first , second, Maria Wemp; was high constable in Albany in 1705. Johannes, baptized May 30, 1697, in Al- bany. Maria, born September i, 1699; married Douw Foda. Bartholomew, born blind ; married Catharina Slingerland, widow of Hendrick Van Slyck. Timotheus, born November 8, 1702. Seth, married first, Geertney Van Patten; second, Eva De Graff. TOWN OF FULTON. 167 Jacob Meese, married Sara Meyndertsen, October 30, 1742, daughter of the Patroon. Eta, married Joachim Ketelhuyn, January 25. i73°- Janet je, married Harmon Van Slyck, and we think after, Johannes Lawyer. Rev. Hoes also gives us Adam's third son's children. As from Peter came the different families bearing the name in the valley at the present time, we give them as follows : — Adam, Barent, Cornelius, Engeltie, (Mrs- David Zielie,) Abraham, Jannetie, Pieter, Meese, Isaac, Geerting, (Mrs. Josias Swart,) Lidia. Adam Vroman had a deal of trouble with the Germans, who, he complained to the Governor of the province several times, "set the Indians up against him." The Germans apprised the Indians of the fact that Vroman had cheated them in the number of acres, and he again bought the tract in 1714, (April 30,) and called it eleven hundred acres, and in the following August obtained a royal grant for the whole. . There is no doubt that Weiser and his followers had an eye to the land, and committed all manner of depredations, and influenced the Indians against him, at least the Indians were not yet satisfied, and the matter was not settled until the 30th of March, 1726, when he re- purchased the whole tract, and to make a sure transaction the conveyance was given " in be- half of all the Mohaugs Indians,'' and after giving the boundaries, it said "let there be as much as there will, more or less, for we are no surveyors.'' All deeds given by the Indians of the valley were executed, by the three tribes of the Mohawk, whose ensigns were a turtle, wolf, and bear, the former sometimes holding a toma- hawk in its claws. The Germans learned by experience that Vroman could not be frustrated in his designs, and after the exit of Weiser to Pennsylvania they began to cultivate a friendly feeling towards each other. How many of Adam's children settled upon the land we are unable to learn, but we know at least of three, Peter, Wouter and Christina. Wouter or Wal- ter, seemed to be the favorite son, as he re- ceived more than the others. Where David Vroman now resides, Adam intended to reside, and upon the west of him Wouter was located, his land running from the mountain to and across the "Dovegatt."* All the land east of Wouter's was called the Bowery, and was conveyed to him on the 12th of February, 1731. Each of these had sons, and perhaps other brothers' sons came, as in a few years quite a number of the family were here. Author Simms refers to four sons of Peter, — Cornelius, Samuel, Peter and Isaac, — that were noted for their strength. Having a saw-mill, he states two of them could easily carry a good sized log on the carriage. Cornelius being the strongest, upon a wager of strength, drew twelve heavy men in a sleigh upon bare ground, one and one-half feet, and drew by the end of the tongue. It will be seen that Peter did not have a son named Samuel, and as Isaac was born in November, 1722, if such did show their strength, they were children of another Vroman, — perhaps Adam's brother. As will be seen, Christina, a daughter of Adam, married Teunis Swart, and his son, Jacob, the father of Judge Swart, followed him, in the pos- session of the farm given to him by Adam, as did the Judge, who afterwards removed to Schoharie. The Swarts settled a few years after the Vromans, and were connected with them in all enterprises for many years. During the French wars those families took an active part, especially the Vromans, and held promi- nent positions in the mihtia ranks. Peter, the son of Adam, was commissioned Ensign in r73i, and was promoted to Captain between that date and 1739. The original commission is now in the possession of A. G. Richmond, of Canajoharie. His grandson, Peter, (son of Barent) was commissioned Captain sometime in 1754 or 1755, and was highly recommended by Sir William Johnson to Governor Colden, to be promoted to Major in Colonel Jacob Sternburgh's regiment, as before stated. The latter officer to distinguish himself from other Peter Vromans of that day, usually wrote his name Peter B., conveying the idea of, son of *The Dovegatt is the Dutch name given to a minia- ture bay that runs from the main stream into the inter- vale in the shape of the Roman letter L. i68 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Barent. When the Revolution commenced he was commissioned as " Colonel Peter Vroman." The grandfather, Peter, (Ensign and Captain) having died in 1771, Colonel Peter dropped the " B." Perhaps he did so to shield himself from being recognized by the British Government as the former commissioned Captain. In case of his being taken prisoner under his former full name, he would have been treated as a deserter. A nephew of Adam made himself promi- nent as a Surveyor, and purchaser of large tracts of land. His name was Isaac, and he surveyed the " Dorlach grant " in Seward and Sharon in 1730, and drew a very concise map of the same which is now in the hands of Tiffany Lawyer. During the anticipated trouble with the French a castle was built in Vromansland by the orders of Sir William Johnson, and called a "fort." It was built in 1753,* and stood upon lands now occupied by David Vroman, east of the stem of the Dovegatt, and in the convey- ance of lands from the Indians to Vroman and from him to his son Walter, the site was reserv- ed as also was a narrow strip along the back- water, opposite the fort. The latter was for a burial ground. There were three castles or forts in the val- ley, but this was the largest and most impreg- nable, owing, undoubtedly, to the fact that the greatest number of Indians and whites were located in this vicinity. At the time these forts were built, there were also others constructed for the Onondaga, Oneida and Seneca tribes, and upon the back of the statement, made, of the fact of their being built, by Sir William Johnson, to the Board of Trade, there was a memorandum of dimensions which was, with- out doubt, that of the forts, (unquestionably they were all built ahke,) which we will here copy verbatim : — " 100 ft. square the stockad^- P [pine] or O K [oak] 15 ft. long 3 of w* at least to be sunk in the ground well pounded and rammed & ye 2 touching sides square so as to lay close. Loop holes to be made 4 ft. dis' 2 Bl. H^^s 20 ft. sq. below & above to project i^ foot over y= Beams well roofed & shingled & a good Sentry Box * Doc. Hist. Vol. 2, of 4 Vols, page 422. on the top of each, a good Gate of 3 In": oak PI. & Iron hinges & a small Gate of Oak Plank of same thick^- "Endorsed, Fort Johnson, May 28th, 1756." Judge Brown in his "Brief sketch, &c., of Schoharie," of this Fort and Indians says : — "Here they (the Indians) all settled together the whole Karigh Ondonte tribe. Their chiefs that remained in my time (1757 he came to Schoharie) were Seth Hauzerry, Joseph Hanelir and Aggy Aweer, together with their squaws of the direct line of Karigh Ondonte, namely — Lisquet, Wawly and Caroline, who always pre- tended to have exclusive title to the soil and King George, I suppose, caused a Piquet Fort and some Barracks to be built thereon, which was done by one young Johannes Becker for the sum of eight pound. Here they gave names to three particular hills — namely Onisto Graw, Conegena and Mohegan, by which they continue to be named this day." From this fort. Captain Peter B. Vroman pro- ceeded with a body of militia to Os\vego in 1759, and was employed in building a road to the Three Rivers. Vromansland being the birthplace of Colonel Vroman and that historic groun d lying within this town, perhaps it would be well t^here give a few of the many prominent points of his hfe, beginning with the commence- ment of the Revolution. We find he represented the Schoharie district at the "Provincial Convention," to elect dele- gates to the Continental Congress in April, 1775, although the "New York Civil list" does not make mention of the fact. He was sent as a delegate to the Council of Safety many times, and was Member of Assembly during the four sessions of 1777 and 1779, also in 1786 and 1787. His prompt action under the most adverse circum- stances during the war as an officer, and the courage displayed upon the 17th of October, 1780, at the middle fort were characteristic of the man, and were worthy marks of a true pa- triot and unflinching soldier. The Colonel had but one heir, Angelica, who married a Peter Vroman, that held a commission as Major in the beginning of the century. He removed from Vromansland in the year 1777 to the middle TOWN OF FULTON. 169 fort, and after the invasion of 1780 he pur- chased the Eckerson mill near the lower fort and lived at that place until his death, which occurred on the 29th of December, 1793, at the early age of fifty-seven. The Swart family were descendants of a prom- inent family in Holland in an official and mon- etary point of view. The first that came to this country were two brothers, Frederick Cornelius, and Teunis Cornelius, some time prior to the year 1660. They were business men and held public positions in Albany and Schenectady for many years. The Judge was the most promi- nent member of the family in this County, and in order to give a correct idea of his public life we will copy from a manuscript left by him, now in the possession of our friend Rev. R. Randall Hoes :— " I was enrolled in the militia at sixteen years of age, (this was the lawful age for enrolling at that period) served as a private six months; then I was appointed a corporal, served in that capacity about one year, then I was appointed sergeant in Capt Hager's company; 1778 I was appointed Ensign in said company, in the room of John 1.. Lawyer; 1786 I was promoted to first Major of the regiment, in 1798 I was pro- moted to Lieut. -Colonel Com't. In 1784 I was appointed Justice of the Peace, without my knowledge. In 1796 I was appointed one of the Judges of the county, which office I have resigned ia 1818 : In 1798 I was elected mem- ber of Assembly, the next election I was solic- ited to stand again as a candidate which I utterly refused; 1806 I was elected a member of Congress. " I was afterwards again requested to stand as a candidate for Congress, which I refused, when John Gebhard, Judge Shepherd and Boyd (Thomas) were candidates. Gebhard and Shep- herd met with their friends at the court house for one of them to give way; no arrangement could be made: They both signed a written declaration to give way in case I would accept a nomination, which I also refused. 1816 I was elected a Senator. At the expiration of my time I was again requested to stand a can- didate for the Senate, which I also refused. I never craved or requested an office. " I was one of the first that signed the com- pact and association. 1776 I turned out to Stone Arabia to check the progress of the en- emy and Tories. In the fall of the same year I turned out to Albany, from thence to Fort Edward, from thence to Johnstown, to check the enemy. 1777, in the spring, I turned out to Harpersfield, from thence to the Delaware, to take up disaffected, from there home. Three days home, I went down the Helleburgh to take Tories. After we had together about twenty-five of them, went to Albany and de- livered them in jail. A few days after, went to Harpersfield, from thence to Charlotte river to take McDonald, and send him to jail. In Au- gust, 1777, was one of the thirty-two that made a stand to oppose McDonald and his party. I was one of the two that risked our fives to crowd through the Tories' guns to go to Al- bany for assistance ; was taken prisoner by the Indians and Tories, and the same evening made my escape. I was one of the six councillors that went from the stone house across Scho- harie Creek into the wood in a cave, to consult what measures to adopt— secrecy at that tirtie was the best policy. Did not McDonald and his party come down as far as my house, and there encamp till next day, and destroy every- thing ? I had left home. The same day Mc- Donald and his party were defeated and fled into the woods, and went off to Canada, and about twenty-six from Breakabeen went with him. What would have been the result if our small party had made no resistance, and had tamely submitted? McDonald would have marched through Schoharie, and in all proba- bility reached Albany. What was the conse- quence as far as he came down ? Was not the farm of Adam Crysler confiscated ? Also the farm of Adam Bouck and brothers ? Also the farm of Frederick Bouck ? Of Bastian Becker, John Brown, Hendrick Mattice, Nicholas Mat- tice and a number of others that were indicted ? And a number more that had joined McDon- ald and fired upon our men." Judge Swart was born January 13, 1752. He married Cornelia Becker (Low Dutch), by whom he had several sons and daughters, as follows: — Jacob, John, Peter, Martin, Maria, Mrs. Peter I. Hoes, Ann, Mrs. Jacob H. Hager, 170 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. afterwards Mrs. Nicholas Russell, of Cobleskill, and Nancy, Mrs. David Swart, of Orleans county, N. Y. He passed his last days upon the "Seller farm," near Schoharie village, and there died on the 3d of November, 1829. At some period before 1750, the Crysler family settled upon the farm now owned by Mrs. John S. Lawyer. The name has been differently spelled, as Kriesler, Krisler, Chryslir and Crysler. We will adopt the modern or lat- ter method. We are of the opinion that the head of the family was Geronimus, and at the beginning of the Revolution, he was dead and left four sons and at least one daughter, Mrs. John Bouck, of Schoharie village, also Adam Baltus, Philip, John, and William. Adam re- tained the old homestead and was the owner of a gristmill built several years before the Revo- lution. Geronimus became interested in a por- tion of the " Dorlach" grant and removed with Philip, John and William upon it, and the three latter were residents of it in 1777. The family at one time owned a large tract of land in this town, of which the Boucks became the owners. As the law passed by the Conti- nental Congress, was to the effect that those who remained loyal to the Crown, and left the property during hostilities to give aid to the colonists' enemies, should forfeit their lands, this property was seized and passed into other hands upon the close of the war. While Adam and brothers were demons in human form, through that struggle, yet the former was not a down- right Tory more than any other British officer, who had sworn allegiance to the government and enrolled himself in the army as a soldier, before the war commenced. Having thus done, his government was the crown, while a civilian must consider himself to be of that government that has absolute power over the State or prov- ince of which he is a member, and in opposing by force or giving aid to the enemy, gains the title or epithet of " Tory." It was otherwise with Crysler. He was a British officer, having received a commission in 1768. We have already in Chapter HI, given the movements of Captain Crysler and his brothers during the war, and it is therefore needless to repeat them here, as they are a stain upon our history that will overbalance anything that has been brought forward against other white savages of that memorable epoch. While they were participants and instigators of atrocious acts, the sister, Mrs. John Bouck, was one of those women whose Christian graces adorn society and win the love and admiration of their fellows. She lived to a good old age, and died about the year 1810, leaving a large circle of friends, whose children still refer to her Christian life. Beside the famihes already mentioned as being the first settlers of the town were the Peeks, Baxster, Youngs, Mattice, Larroways, Keysers, Beckers, Browns, Hagadorns, Vanloan, Henry Hager, and Boucks, although the latter at a much later date than the former. At the time the invasion was made by McDonald and Crys- ler, Henry Hager, then an aged man, was the only patriot left in the upper part of the settle- ment to communicate the fact of their presence to the people below. In starting out near sundown, to carry the news he walked within the enemy's lines, and upon finding out his situation, pretended to the sentinel to be in quest of the blacksmith. After giving an order for some piece of mechan- ism he was again allowed to pass the pickets on his pretended return home, but in reaching a bend in the road that hid him from the belliger- ents, he made a circuitous route and reached the house of John Becker, where were assembled his son and Captain Jacob Hager with a small company of militia. The Captain had marched to the relief of Schuyler, and had been ordered back for supplies, which seemed Providential at that time as the valley was defenseless, with none but the aged and women, of the patriots' side, to resist a foe. The two messengers first sent for assistance, were of this town, Peter Swart and Ephraim Vroman, who, ere the war closed, keenly felt the vengeance of the foe. Hager, with the very few patriots surrounding him, urged the citizens to turn out for defense but they showed their true colors, and refused to heed his orders, and finding it was useless to coax and still less to compel, other messengers were sent to the committee at Albany, until their call was answered as before stated. After the skirmish in Crysler's neighborhood with such fa- vorable success, the ire of Captain Hager was TOWN or FUI.TON. 171 aroused, and the weak-kneed were forced to a realizing sense of what they had to do, and were kept under strict surveillance as long as the war lasted. Many followed Crysler to Canada, outside of his force in action that day, while others re- turned after a few days march, pretended peni- tence, but were, as others, forced to do much against their wishes. Captain Hager was early in the field upon duty and remained in active service until the close of the war. Upon the retreat of McDonald, Capt. Hager returned to Saratoga with his force and was at the battle of Bemis Heights, and from thence, marched with a detachment of militia to the Delaware and Charlotte to arrest the disaffect- ed, that had been more bold upon the prospect of the success of British force, than before. At no time during the struggle were there as many arrested and confined or forced to give bail for their " good behavior towards the patriots," as immediately after the surrender of Burgoyne and retreat of St. Leger. The militia drove matters to a crisis with the timid, as well as the evil disposed, and during the Captain's whole military career we fail to find an instance where his passions gained control of his judgment, and led him to commit rash deeds, that were to his discredit as a soldier and a Christian gentle- man. His bravery and military skill were con- ceded by Johnson, Brant, McDonald and Crysler to be undaunting, as upon several occasions a conflict was evaded when it became known that the Captain was in command. The second com- pany which he commanded was the most active of any, and consisted of fifty-five all told, with Martinus VanSlyck as First Lieutenant, Johannes W. Bouck, Second Lieutenant and Pe- ter Swart. Ensign, and during the war, arrested, tradition says, two hundred and fifty Tories, and delivered them to the Colonial authorities. Upfer Fort. — As hostilities had actually com- menced in the valley and invasions were daily expected, the upper fort was built in the fall of 1777, as were the middle and lower, by the labors of citizens and soldiers. The summer of 1778 found them finished, and this one the most impregnable of the three, stood near the village of Fultonham, upon the present farm of Mrs. Lawyer Bouck, then owned by John Feek. Of its construction, Simms says : "One side of the inclosure was picketed in, while on its other sides a breast-work was thrown up of timbers and earth, some eight or ten feet high, and suf- ficiently thick to admit of drawing a wagon upon its top, with short pickets set in the out- side timbers of the breast-work. A ditch sur- rounded the parts thus constructed. Military barracks and small log huts were erected in the inclosure to accommodate the 'soldiers and citi- zens. Block-houses and sentry boxes were built in the northwest and southeast corners, each containing a small cannon to guard its sides. From its construction, this fortress probably better merited the name of fort than either of the others, although some have stated that a moat- partially surrounded the middle fort." The same author says, " In June of 1777 Congress resolved to establish a corps of invalids, consisting of eight companies, each to have one captain, two lieutenants, two ensigns, five sergeants, two drummers, two fifers and one hundred men, to be employed in garrison duty." A company of this kind was formed in Scho- harie in the fall of 1777, or early in 1778, of which Teunis Vroman, who had served in the French war, was Captain, Peter Snyder and Martinus Vroman, Lieutenants, and John L. Lawyer its Ensign. This company, which was mostly in the vicinity of the upper fort was called Associate Exempts. The most direful invasion of the whole of the Schoharie settlements up to the year 1780, was made in Vromans- land on the 9th of August of that year, by a party of Indians, supposed to be seventy-three and six Tories, led by the infamous Crysler, as will be seen by consulting his official report found in Chapter III. Of that affair Simms says, that Captain Hager sent a scout consist- ing of Coonradt Winne, Leek and Hoever to reconnoiter in the western part of this town with instructions not to fire upon the enemy if seen, but return immediately to the Fort. But when in the vicinity of " Sap bush," a white man, painted as a savage, was seen and being a tempting mark for Leek, he leveled his rifle and shot him, which brought the whole force in view and caused a precipitate flight of the scouts. They became divided, and only Leek reached the 172 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. fort, the others being chased to the south. Not arriving in time to give the alarm to the citi- zens, the savages pounced upon the Vroman settlement about ten o'clock in the morning, in three divisions. Captain Hager had gone to his farm (which lay in the present town of Blenheim as has been seen) to draw in some hay, leaving Captain Tennis Vroman of the 'Exempts' in command. The latter unfor- tunately also had returned to his house to draw in wheat accompanied by his family to do their housework. The command then devolved upon Lieuten- ant Ephraim Vroman who also, with his wife, four children and two slaves, went to his farm and left the garrison under Lieutenant William Harper, with less than a dozen men. All of these Vromans lived in the one neigh- borhood and were without doubt the most in- dependent of any in the whole valley. It was when all were busily engaged in their excellent harvest or general house-work that the demons, like vultures, pounced upon them. Captain Vro- man was unloading wheat at the time they made their appearance, and immediately descended from the load and was met by an Indian who cleft his skull with a tomahawk and "stood upon his shoulders while tearing off his scalp." Mrs. Vroman was washing in a narrow passage between the house and workhouse when she was surprised and stricken down, after two blows had been inflicted. Her scalp was rudely torn off and the torch applied to the house, barns, barracks and everything that fire could con- sume. The Captain and wife both had pre- sentiments that morning, that something dread- ful was about to occur, and ere noonday they lay mutilated victims of a civi/ized government's hired emissaries. The author was informed by Andrew Loucks, then in the fort, that Mrs. Vroman remarked when leaving the fort in the morning, "This is the last time I intend to go to my house to work." Peter, one of the sons, fled upon the first alarm and hid in the bushes, but one of the blacks betrayed him and he was taken prisoner. He was taken a short distance, and while crying to return, the notorious Beacraft caught him "and placing his legs between his own, bent him back and cut his throat, after which he scalped and hung him across the fence." This affair, the reader will remember. Captain Patchin refers to in his narrative, of which the Tory boasted. The division that entered the settlement at Colonel Vroman's residence was led by Brant himself, "who hoped to surprise the reM Colo- nel." That officer had removed to the middle fort in the early part of July together with his family and, there being no one upon the prem- ises, the invaders apphed the torch and passed on to Lieutenant Vroman's. His family (says the author) "consisted of himself and wife, his sons Bartholomew, Josias E., and daughters Janet — four years old, an infant — Christina, two Ger- mans, Cresihiboom and Hoffman, and several slaves. The latter, however, were at work near the river and escaped." Lieutenant Vroman ran to the house, caught up the infant and ran to the cornfield at the foot of the Ouistagrawa, followed by his wife leading the daughter. " He seated himself against a tree and his wife con- cealed herself a few rods from him in the thrifty corn." " His family would, without doubt, have remained undiscovered, had Mrs. Vroman con- tinued silent ; but not knowing where her hus- band was and becoming alarmed, she rose up and called to him in Low Dutch, 'Ephraim, Ephraim, where are you, have you got the child?' True to the love of a mother, her own safety was not thought of, but the deep, yearning solicitude for the child's safety triumphed, and gave the direction to the unerring "bullet from Seths Henry's rifle to l)ierce her body." " He then tomahawked and scalped her while the Tory. Beacraft, crushed the skull of the four year-old daughter with a stone and drew off her scalp." The historian says that as Seths Henry approached Mrs. Vroman to take her scalp, he said, "Now say — what these Indian's dogs do here?" repeating her own words, spoken after her marriage nuptials were performed, as Henry and other In- dians crowded into the kitchen and at which the wily warrior took offence. "While Mrs. Vro- man was being scalped, another Indian ap- proached the Lieutenant and thrust a spear at his body, which he parried, and the infant in his arms smiled, another thrust was made and par- ried which again caused the child to smile. At TOWN OF FULTON. 173 the third blow, which was also warded off, the little innocent, then only five months old, laughed aloud at the supposed sport, which awakened the s-ympathy of the savage, and he made Vroman a prisoner." The sons and German laborers were also captured and taken to Canada. John Vroman was also captured with his wife and children. The house was set on fire, but extinguished. Adam A. Vroman fled to the upper fort, three- fourths of a mile distant, after being twice fired upon by the enemy. He had a pistol, and when the Indians gained upon him, he pre- sented it, and they fell back, but renewed the chase when he set forward. He was pur- sued until protected by the fort. On his ar- rival he was asked how he had escaped. His answer was, " I pulled foot." From that day to his death, he was called "Pull Foot" Vroman. His wife was made a prisoner. Simon Vroman who resided above, was taken prisoner, as were his wife and son Jacob, a boy three years old. John Daly, aged over sixty, Thomas Mereness and James Turner, (young men), Albey Ehza Stowits, a girl of seventeen, the wife of Philip Hoever, the widow of Cor- nehus Vroman, and several slaves not mentioned, were also captured in Vromansland, making the number of prisoners in all, about thirty. The five persons mentioned were all that were killed at the time. Abraham Vroman, who happened to be in Vromansland with his wagon, on which was a hay-rack, when the alarm was given, drove through the valley and picked up several of the citizens. On arriving at the residence of the Swarts, who lived in the lower end of the valley, he reined up and called to Mrs. Swart, who was standing at an oven a little distance from the house : "CorneUa, jump into my wagon, the Indians are upon us ! " She ran into the house, snatched up her infant child (now Mrs. David Swart,) from the cradle, returned, and with her husband bounded into the wagon which started just before the enemy, tomahawk in hand, reached their dweUing. Vroman had a powerful team, and did not stop to open the gates that then obstructed the highway at each Une fence but drove against them and forced them open. He drove to the middle fort which also was fully garrisoned. " The destructives burnt at this place nine dwellings and the furniture they contained, with the barns and barracks, which were mostly filled with an abundant harvest. Ninety good horses were also driven with their owners into captiv- ity. Large slices of meat were cut from the carcasses of the cattle and hogs and strewn along the valley, or hung across the backs of some of the horses, to serve as provisions for the party on their way to Canada." Before Seths Henry left the settlement, he placed his war club, which he believed was known to some of the citizens, in a conspicuous place, and purposely left it. Notched upon it were evidences, as traced by the Indians on similar weapons, ol thirty -five scalps And. forty prisoners. We have thus been particular to copy author Simm's narrative of the massacre, as tradition has taken from the events of the day much of deepest interest, and intimated that many of the sufferers of that day were tinctured with Toryism. The author's authority was the best, it being from many of the captives at the time, and those whose patriotism could not be doubted, such as Teunis, son of Captain Teunis Vroman, Josias E. and Bartholomew E. Vroman, sons of Ephraim Vroman; Maria, daughter of John Vroman, and afterwards wife of Frederick Mattice; Henry Hager, Mrs. Susannah VanSlyck, daughter of Samuel Vro- man ; Lawrence Bouck, Lawrence Mattice and Angelica, daughter of Colonel Peter Vroman, the wife of Major Peter Vroman. We will continue the author's account of the day's events : — " On the arrival of Leek at the upper fort, after being so hotly pursued, John Hager, (son of Henry and brother of Capt. H — ,) then at work on his father's place, hearing the alarm-gun of the fort, mounted a horse and up and informed Captain Hager that the buildings were on fire in the valley below. The hay on his wagon, which was unloading in the barn, was quickly thrown off, and a few of the inhabitants of that vicinity that were taken into it were driven into the woods and concealed near Keyser's Kill. " The enemy on leaving Vromansland, pro- ceeded with their booty and prisoners directly up the river. A grist-mill, owned by Adam 174 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Crysler, and standing on the Lower Breakabeen creek, as called in old conveyances, which runs into the Schoharie, was sacked of the little flour it chanced to contain, and then set on fire, the Tories, with the enemy, declaring that the Whigs of Vromansland should not be longer benefited by said mill. The Indians on their arrival in that part of Breakabeen burned every- thing in their path within the present limits of the town. " Henry Mattice and Adam Brown, both Tories, accompanied the enemy from Breaka- been of their own accord. " The loth day of August, 1780, was one of sadness and mourning for the citizens of Vro- mansland, some of whom had lost near rela- tives among the slain, and al! among the cap- tives, either relatives or valued friends ; while the destruction of property to individuals was a loss, especially at that season of the year when too late to grow sustenance for their families, to be most keenly felt and deplored. " The burial of the dead took place the day after their massacre, on the farm of John Feek, near the fort, where their ashes now lie in neg- lected graves. The bodies of Captain Vroman, wife and son, were deposited in one grave, and that of Mrs. Ephraim Vroman and her daughter, in another. The remains of the former body presented a most horrid appearance. Left by her murderers between the burning buildings, her flesh was partly consumed, exposing her entrails. " When the dead body of Mrs. Ephraim Vroman was first discovered in the cornfield, it was evident that she had partially recovered, and had vainly endeavored to staunch the flow ing blood from the wound in her breast, first with her cap or some portion of her dress, and afterwards with earth, having dug quite a hole in the ground. " The destroyers of Vromansland proceeded on the afternoon of the same day about fifteen miles, and encamped for the night. The scalps of the slain were stretched upon hoops and dried in the presence of the relative prisoners, the oldest of whom were bound nights. As the party proceeded along the east bank of the Schoharie, in the afternoon of the first day, after journeying some six miles, Brant permitted the wife of John Vroman with her one infant, and that taken with Ephraim Vroman, to return back to the settlement. On the morning after the massacre the line of march was again re- sumed, and when about half way from the Patchin place to Harpersfield, Brant yielded to the repeated importunities of several of his fe- male captives, and perhaps to the seasonable interference of several Tory friends living near, and permitted all of them, except Mrs. Simon Vroman with several male children — nearly one half of the whole number of prisoners, to return to Schoharie. Brant led the liberated captives aside nearly half a mile to a place of conceal- ment, where he required them to remain until night. The female prisoners, when captured, were plundered of their bonnets, neckerchiefs, beads, earrings, etc , which articles, of course, they did not recover. Word having been sent to Schoharie that those prisoners had been lib- erated. Major Thomas Eckerson, Lieutenant Harper, and Schoharie John, a friendly Indian, who lived at Middleburgh during the war, met them not far from where Mrs. Vroman had been left the precedingafternoon, with several horses, and placing three persons on a horse, they con- veyed them to the upper fort where they arrived just at dusk." * * « » The greater part of the Schoharie prisoners were taken to Niagara, where they remained until November, when they proceeded in a ves- sel down Lake Ontario. " The prisoners were conveyed down the St. Lawrence in bateaux, and some of them suf- fered much for the want of suitable clothing, being barefooted, although the ground was cov- ered with snow where they encamped on shore over night. They arrived at Montreal about the first of December, from which place, after a few weeks stay, they were removed nine miles farther, to an old French post, called South Rakela, where they were confined until the summer following, and then exchanged for other prisoners. While confined at the latter place, their provisions consisted, for the most part, of salt beef and oatmeal, the latter being boiled into puddings and eaten with molasses. When an exchange was effected, most of the Scho- TOWN OF FULTON. 175 harie prisoners, with others, were sent on board a vessel at the head of Lake Champlain, where they were landed, and from which place they returned home on foot via Saratoga. They arrived at Schoharie on the 30th of August, af- ter an absence of a little more than a year. Mrs. Hager was gone about eighteen months." While the date of the foregoing massacre does not agree, as given by Simms, with that of Crys- ler, yet it must have been the same. Both agree upon the number of scalps taken (as ex- pressed by Crysler,) but not in number of pris- oners. We learn through the family of Ephraim Vroman, that the party, instead of going from Harpersfield, direct to the Susquehanna, pro- ceeded from the former place to Cherry Valley, and while there, Vroman asked the privilege of the officer, by whom he was held, to write a let- ter to his friends in Schoharie, about some busi- ness of importance. The officer refused, and Brant being at the place, and hearing his desire, obtained permission for the captive to do so, and when finished, sent a runner back to Vromans- land with it, for which act of kindness. Lieu- tenant Vroman always entertained a marked respect for the chieftain, much to the displeasure of his neighbors, who, in their unreasonable con- clusions, marked him as a Tory. While we will not deny but that Brant was of the invading- party, yet since Crysler has claimed the honor of being one also, we will give him the credit, and also be suspicious of his being the leader, and, in Indian disguise palming himself off for the warrior. Brant. At one other time, in the year following, an invasion of the same ground was made by Adam Crysler, but supposed by the inhabitants to be accompanied by Brant. In his report of the affair, he says : " It was on the loth of November lySr, and he at the head of twenty-eight 'Aughquagas' killed one man near the fort and drove off fifty head of cattle, a number of horses and burnt two houses, and in their retreat the Rebels turned out to the num- ber of thirty and overtook them about four miles from the fort. Being fired upon they returned the comphment and killed one man, when the Rebels retreated and pursued them the follow- ing morning with 150 men, and overtook them about twenty-three miles from the fort, when a skirmish occurred in which the ' Rebels ' lost ' four men and seven wounded.' " Author Simms disagrees with the Captain's report in the date and also in the number of men brought in action, which is not of great moment. Exaggerations were often made, and much that occurred upon each side was not told, as is the case in all warhke conflicts, as also in less serious moral, pohtical and religious skirmishes. The savages had been harbored near for several days, watching an opportunity to make a successful strike, and to find the fort left in a defenseless condition. Early in the morning, just at day, of either the 1st or loth of November 1781, they suddenly appeared and killed Isaac Vroman and after taking plunder from his son Peter's house — ^with whom Isaac was staying — they retreated up the valley. Peter escaped to the fort and apprised its in- mates, numbering only a few, of the invasion^ and after a few hours delay, a squad of militia followed on after the savages, and when near Governor Bouck'slate residence, were fired upon by them as they lay in ambush, mortally wound- ing one man as stated by Crysler and Simms. After returning the comphment, the militia re- treated, carrying their dying comrade — Richard Haggidorn— off the field, and to the upper fort. The same day, Colonel Vroman was made ac- quainted with the affair, and he dispatched from the middle fort, under Captain Hale," a company of sixty regulars that were there sta- tioned for the winter, and ordered Captain Hager of the upper fort to join Hale, with the force under him and proceed in pursuit of the Indians. Captain Hager, who was in command, marched up the stream and encamped for the night in the present town of Blenheim, and early the following morning overtook the enemy near the lake in Jefferson, where a skirmish occur- red. At the time Johnson and Brant invaded the Schoharie valley in October, 1780, but httle in- jury was done within the limits of the town for two reasons. They had slyly gained the valley opposite the "upper fort" early in the morn- ing and intended to approach the "middle" one, unobserved, and pass down without molest- ing property. But their coming was known by 176 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. the patriots, and vigilant watch kept up, and they no sooner passed the fort than one of the Feek family discovered their presence, while after his cows near the creek. They had gained nearly a mile north of the fortress, by the time Feek reported his discovery to Cap- tain Hager. No sooner did he learn the fact, than the small ten-pounders blazed forth from their sulphurous mouths the approach of devas- tation, crime and death, to the dwellers of the valley, who dared breathe a declaration of in- alienable right" to "Hfe, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." The other reason was that the invaders of the loth of August of the preceding year, had left but little for them to destroy. The harvest of 1780 had been mostly secreted in the woods upon the hillsides, and much escaped the torch. No sooner did the little cannons echo the doleful news, than the middle fort responded, "We are ready," and the pent-up hatred that filled the bosoms of the enemy, burst forth with flaming torches, and satanic whoops over the charred and bloody trail of a neighbor-kinsman and professed Christian, Adam Crysler, and finished the work of desolation, directly along the stream, with exultation, and poured down upon the quiet hamlet of Middleburgh, where they were received by as brave and determined a band of patriots as ever a nation boasted. With what excitement the force in the upper fort must have listened to the roar of musketry, from the con- flict below! But they were undaunted and prepared to defend their castle, to death or vic- tory ! Here, where now no mark is left to guide the visitor to the hallowed spot upon which the fortress stood, was, upon that eventful day, dis- played valor, not excelled in American history. Although we have referred to the act in Chapter III of this work, let us not forget, through displeasure of repetition, the example of Amer- ican female bravery in the bold stand of Mary Haggidorn, at the gate of the pickets, with spear in hand, to repel an attack. The garrison at that time did not contain many over one hun- dred, but they were a brave and unflinching, band, and under Hager, would have given the enemy a warmer reception than they received at the middle fort, we think, as the Captain was a plucky man and had the faculty of pushing busi- ness that was entrusted to him. The fort he commanded was also better adapted to such occasions than the middle one. The enemy, in small numbers, stealthily appeared in the neigh- borhood after the murder- of Isaac Vroman, but little was to be gained, as the few remaining in- habitants either st;iyed at the fort or removed to more populous sections until the war closed. No portion of Schoharie suffered during the war as did Vromansland, and no doubt the Tory settlers above looked upon those fine farms with a jealous eye, and expected their re- ward for their treachery in becoming the pos- sessors of them. But fortune's fickle goddess turned the scales and the poor deluded villains lost their own by confiscation, and were obliged to seek homes in a strange land, under the protection of the Crown for which they had forsaken manhood and principle. The descendants of those sufferers, that lin- ger upon the grounds made historical by their patriotic deeds, can but faintly appreciate the social and poHtical blessings they enjoy and the "Peace that smiles on all around." bequeathed to them by such noble fathers. May they consider each spot hallowed, and the priceless trusts confided to them, sacred. The Bouck Family. — The Bouck family came to this town at a very early date, William Bouck having been the first settler bearing the name. Christian, a Palatine immigrant of 17 10, was no doubt the progenitor of the family, and he may have settled with the Palatines in the valley in 1713, but it is doubtful. We believe one of his sons, William, to have been the first one of the family in Schoharie, the father going from the camps to Albany, where he settled. William was the progenitor of the family under notice. He, in company with Nicholas York and Jacob Fred Lawyer, pur- chased 2,945 acres of land, including the Island, in 1755. The lands were partitioned June 5, 1759, the island becoming the property of Bouck, who in course of time settled his three sons upon it. Christian received that part now occupied by Hon. Charles Bouck, John north of it, while William, Jr., settled upon HON. CHARLES BOUCK. GOY. WM. C. BOUCK. Charles Bouck son of the late ex-Governor Bouck, was born upon Bouck's island Septem- ber 7, 1829. In his youth he attended the district school, in which his distinguished parent was so punctual in attendance, and the Albany City academy where he passed an academic course of studies. Not aspiring to high life — but inheriting the natural charac- teristics of the family, he chose agricultural pursuits. He married a daughter of Benjamin Best and settled upon the old homestead and extensively engaged in such productions as are peculiar to the soil and climate. Mr. Bouck's choice of life was well made, as a more productive soil and romantic spot than the Bouck farm and its surroundings, is hard to find — particularly in the latter feature. Upon the wests tands the bold Panther mountain in all its primeval grandeur and appearance, with the Schoharie river running at its base — whose wa- ters after tumbling and tossing over craggy cas- cades and disturbing rapids — idly flow, as if reluctant to break the reverie in which nature seems to be enwrapped — and do honor to the associations that here cluster, so full of modesty and unassuming dignity. Around the island clings a halo of pleasing remembrances of a people's just and active chief magistrate--whose honesty and simpHcity of greatness that won reverence and renown were here infused from the heart of a humble and exemplary father and the yearning soul of a christian mother. Quiet and unostentation reign as they did in the active life of the Governor, while the genial hospital- ity of Mr. Bouck and family is truly refreshing to the many that yearly visit the Island House. Being thus content to pass his life, Mr. Bouck has but few times felt constrained to accept public positions. In 1859 and 1865, he was elected by his townsmen to the board of Super- visors by almost an unanimous vote. In 1878 he was sent to the Legislature and served upon several important committees. In each public position the performance of the duties attend- ing them were characterized by faithful and earnest regard for the people's interest, and free from scheming peculations for farther official promotions. BEHJAMIK BEST. Mr. Benjamin Best was for many years one of the leading business men of the County. He was born in Columbia county, N. Y., on the i6th of February, 1785, and was a son of Jacob Best, who, together with two brothers, emi- grated from Germany. One of the brothers remained in Columbia county; another set- tled in western New York, while Jacob located in Schoharie. The subject of this sketch early decided up- on an education, and embraced every oppor- tunity to improve himself, and prepare for a useful and active business Lfe. "When but a young man he formed an acquaintance with many of the leading public men of the day, among whom was Governor Morgan Lewis, who appointed him his sole agent in the superin- tendence of his landed property in the County, which position he held forty years. He was also receiving agent of the Alexander property, the same term of years, which covered the exciting Anti-Rent days. As proof of his sagacity as a business man, and honor as a gentleman, he engineered the business relating to the estates through without trouble or incurring the enmity of the landlords or tenants. He was a person of strict integrity, great precision of character, and commanded universal respect. At the age of forty he mar- ried Katy, daughter of Timothy Murphy, and settled upon the farm now occupied by Abram Spickerman, where he resided until the time of his decease. Mr. Best was a staunch Democrat, and held the office of Justice of the Peace, fifteen suc- cessive years, and rejected other positions of public trust proffered him. Among the many political friends and workers in the interest of Governor Bouck and his promotion, none were more firm and enthusiastic than Mr. Best. He died at the homestead, February 13, 1868, leaving a wife and four daughters : Mrs. Charles Bouck, Mrs. James Ferguson, Mrs. Abel S. Hall, and Mrs. Edwin Hoyt. TOWN OF FULTON. 177 the south. The lands were held by the family intact until 1795 or 1796, when John disposed of his part and removed to Schoharie Village, and became Assistant Judge of the County. William, Jr., famiHarly called Wilhelmus, reared a family as follows: William W., Frederick, Tobias, Mrs. Simon Hager, Maria and Mrs. Jeremy Berner. Christian remained upon his portion of the estate until 1836, when he died at the age of eighty-three, having Hved an event- ful life and reared a son who was to preside as the Chief Magistrate over his native State and perpetuate the family name by a long pohtical career free from ostentation and corruption. William, the progenitor, was an aged yet robust man during the Revolution and was taken pris- oner by a party of Indians under the command of Seths Henry in July, 1780. After the fact became known at the upper fort, Captain Hager sent a squad in pursuit and overtook . the party in the present town of Jefferson, the following day. The Indians, finding the patriots were greater in numbers than their own, fled precipitately, leaving their prisoners together with their booty in the hands of their pursuers. Those taken with Mr. Bouck were negro ser- vants who had accompanied him from the fort to the farm. The old gentleman was then a widower, his wife having died in 1770. Upon the hill near WiUiam Mitchell's residence stands an ancient tombstone, marking her resting place, and from it we learn she was born in Amsterdam, but the date, being so crumbled we were unable to decipher it. Judge Brown says, " Johannes Earhart, Wil- helmus Bouck and Elizabeth Lawyer were the first white children born in Schoharie." It may be possible, but we would have more faith in the assertion if he had said " the first German children born at the Camps," as we are yet to find proof of either the Lawyer or Bouck families coming to Schoharie before the year 1720 and 1730. To harbor the idea that the Germans lived here from 1713 to either of those dates, without issue, is acknowledging insanity or ignorance of their customs. From the first, the family has been a very prominent one of the County, especially in a political sense. William C. Bouck was born in the old family mansion, upon the Island, on the 7th of January, 1 786, and was baptized by the good old Dominie Wackenhager in August of the same year. He early labored upon the old homestead, but was not negligent of his studies. The first English school in the town was commenced in the neighborhood in 1795, which the coming Gov- ernor, at the age of nine years attended. We here copy the register of the school bearing date November 23, 1795, kindly furnished by our friend John Gebhard, Jun. The teacher was Isaac Bushnell, a New England "school master," whose wages were ";^io this quarter:" Elizabeth Bouck 17 days. Caty Bouck 36 do Benj. Best 53^ do Isaac Best 50 do WilUam W. Bouck 39 do Fred Bouck 37 do .William C. Bouck 59 do Joseph C. Bouck 4° do Cornehus Acker 55 do Polly Barnard 37 do Caty Whitney 48 do Betsy Vroman 55 do It will be seen that the future politician at- tended the greatest number of days. His first public position was clerk of the town, and next as supervisor of Schoharie, and after filling sev- eral such local offices he received the appoint- ment of sheriff of the County in 181 2, holding the same one year only, as the following season he was elected to the State assembly and re- elected ini8i5 and 1817. In 1821 and 1822, he was State Senator, where he became connected with the Chntonians in the interests of public improvements, especially the Erie Canal enter- prise and received the appointment by the Gov- ernor and Legislature as Canal Commissioner, March 29, 182 1, which office he held until 1840, when political influences led the Whig legislature to remove him and place one of that political sentiment in his stead. In the latter year he was the Democratic candidate for Governor, but was defeated by Wm. H. Seward, but upon being again nominated in 1842, he was elected, and made one of the most economical and watchful Governors the people have been fortu- nate to elect. A vast amount of humor was 178 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. indulged in during both campaigns, but nothing to disturb the confidence all parties reposed in his administration. Being brought up under the economical customs of the early settlers of the County he infused the principles in every de- partment over which he had control. His man- ner was plain and unpretending, yet dignified and graceful and won the confidence of every one he met. As we have referred to his economical habits, the message which may be found in Chapter IV, plainly shows that they were carried in his of- ficial life to the interest of the State. One of the chief characteristics of the man, was fear of setting a bad example, or one that would en- courage wastefulness, extravagance, and dishon- esty. The New York Daily News relates an incident in the life of Wm. C. Bouck, while dis- charging the duties of Governor of the State, ^nother periodical that copied the article, re- ferring to it says — " A perusal thereof cannot fail to impart a high degree of satisfaction to those who, residing in the same county prior and subsequent to his administration, know how genuinely characteristic they are of the ' good old man, now gone to his rest.' " Would that all men in office would be as careful not to set a bad example as was Gov- ernor William C. Bouck. The New York News says : The late Gover- nor Bouck, than whom a truer, better man never lived, said to a friend of ours, after he had dis- charged the duties of the Chief Magistracy of the State about one year: "When I first en- tered upon the office, I was so engaged in try- ing to reconcile conflicting opinions, produce harmony in the party, and please everybody, that I paid no attention to my household ex- penses. At the end of the first three months, my quarter's salary was paid and my bills due were presented. To my utter dismay, the lat- ter exceeded the former. During my entire hfe I had made it a point never to spend more in a quarter than I had received from my earnings. I believed that to be a good rule, and that, as Governor of the State, I should not transgress it and set a bad example, which might be the means of ruining thousands. I began to cast about, to see where I could cut down my ex- penses. The State officers had hired the house I occupied without consulting me, and the State paid the rent. I had nothing to say or do in that particular. The State officers who, because I was a country farmer, took particular pains to instruct me, told me I must bring my best span of horses and carriage from my farm in Scho- harie, and ride in it, or I would degrade the high office to which the people had elected me. They also said I must have a colored waiter to attend the door of my residence, and a head- cook and three or four assistants in the kitchen, and two or three chambermaids, besides a coach- man to drive my carriage. I remembered that during the entire quarter I had not found time to ride in the carriage with my family, except to church on Sundays, and then the coachman could not go to church, having to take care of the team. This I did not believe was doing ex- actly right, or setting a good example. I thought that myself and family could walk to church, as the distance was not great. We thereby would appear not to feel above others who walked, and, as the Governor's family, would be setting a better example than by riding. My wife also proposed to dismiss the chief cook and all the assistants but one, and she would superintend the cooking as she always had done on the farm ; and my daughters propof ed to dismiss the chambermaids, and they would dothecham- berwork. No sooner was this agreed on than accomplished. The large bays and carriage went back to the farm in Schoharie, and the ex- tra help were all dismissed. Everything worked like a charm. The colored door-man whom I retained assisted in waiting on the table. The State officers and my city friends did not observe but that all was as first arranged when they called. We walked to church, and greeted kindly all we met there, and enjoyed the servi- ces without thinking that the coachman could not attend them. We reduced our expenses to within my salary. I felt better immediately. I feel better now. I can discharge my duties better; and when my term of office expires and I return to private life, I shall feel that when I was Governor of the State I did not set an ex- ample of extravagance in any respect which might be the means of ruining any one." TOWN OF FULTON. 179 In 1846 he was elected a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, and the same year entered the Assistant Treasurer's office of New York City and held the position until the year 1849, when he retired to private life upon the Island. He married Catharine Lawyer, by whom he had eight children — Mrs. Lyman Sandford, Mrs. Erskine Danforth, and Mrs. George Danforth, of Middleburgh, Hon. Ga- briel Bouck, of Wisconsin, long a member of Congress from that State, and Hon. Charles Bouck, of this town, who retains the paternal homestead with all its pleasant surroundings, James of Schenectady, Joseph of New York, and Christian of Brooklyn. We cannot close without copying the tribute paid by the late Lyman Tremain, to the char- acter of Gov. Bouck, in an oration delivered by him at the dedication of the monument erected at Binghamton, in honor of the late Daniel S. Dickinson. He said : — " In 1842 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor upon the same ticket with Mr. Bouck, who was elected Governor. William C. Bouck — Daniel S. Dickinson ! How fragrant are the memories of these two men ! The misconceptions arising from political animosities have passed away- Differences of opinions are now forgotten, and we can do full justice to their great worth and spotless integrity ! Who would dare to think of peculation, dishonesty or corruption in connec- tion with these honored names ? Their repu- tation is the property of the State, and every true son of New York is entitled to share in the honor and lustre which such men reflect upon its good name. In the severity of their morals, the justice of their conduct and the unsullied purity of their private and public characters, they may be justly regarded as the Cato and the Aristides of the State." The Governor died at his residence in April, 1859, at the age of seventy-three. Inhabitants in 1 788. — It may be of interest to the reader to know who were the inhabitants of the town after the war closed, and prosperity again began to bloom. We here present a road warrant dated in 1788, which refers to the road leading from the Mid- dleburgh bridge to Bouck's Island, along which were settled nearly all of the inhabitants at that day. John Bouck, Christopher Bouck, John Crysler, Peter Feek, Michael Brown, Martinus I. Vroman, Peter A. Vroman, Jacob Sucraft, Jacob Feek, Johannes Feek, Martinus Van Slyke, Peter Swart, John Vroman, Jr., Ephraim Vroman, Bartholomew Hagadorn, Johannes Rickart, Jonas Vroman, Harmanus VanValkenburgh, Ganeson Becker, Nathan Becker. " Sirs — You are hereby ordered to warn and set to work the persons rated on the within list on the road or highway in your ward or beat whenever it wants Repairing. Given under our hand this 24th Day of May, 1788." Peter Zielie, ^ Com'rs John Myres, >- of John M. Dietz. ) High'ys. To Johannes Bouck, Overseer Highways. Timothy Murphy.— Oi this man much has been told and written that has had a tendency to give a false idea of his true character. Among the old families of Schoharie, with whom he was familiar, are the most erroneous stories of his exploits that can be imagined, which are repeated with the greatest confidence of their truthful- ness. While they regard him with veneration as a hero, yet the tales they tell make him nothing less than a cool, intrepid murderer, who escaped the censure of the people under the plea of ne- cessity in behalf of freedom. We have taken a deal of pains to learn his true character and exploits, and find that such was not the case, i8o HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. but that he was a kind-hearted man, and true patriot, and instead of being a "loud-mouthed Irishman " as insinuated by many, that he was reticent of his services, yet prompt in their exe- cution. From his children, three of whom are yet living in the full enjoyment of mental facul- ties, and others who were well acquainted with the hero, many long since dead, we obtained the facts of his life, which we will give without re- peating many small incidents that have been the ground-work of "thrilling tales" as told and pub- lished many times by his admirers and which are of no consequence in a rational view of his life. The mother of Murphy was an Englishwoman and married a Simms. He soon after died and the widow, then living in Ireland, in course of time married the father of our hero, and emi- grated to America. They settled in New Jer- sey, where Timothy was born, and when he was four years of age they removed to Wyoming, Pa. Murphy lived with a family until he was six- teen years of age, when he enlisted in the Co- lonial cause for five years and joined General Morgan's corps of riflemen. He was in all the engagements in which the corps participated, including that of Brandywine, after which he was ordered to the north to assist General Gates in the repulsion of Burgoyne, at Bemis Heights. It was upon that hotly contested ground that Murphy was called upon by Gen. Morgan to perform an act that the over moralists condemn, as a breach of chiv- alry, and uncalledfor murder. To the mind of Morgan the defeat of the British depended upon the capture or death of Gen. Fraser, against whose corps his own was contending. To cap- ture him. being impossible, he commanded Murphy and a few other riflemen to slay him, at the same time expressing his admiration of the man, and regret of the necessity of such an act. Murphy and another man climbed into a tree and took a careful aim. Fraser fell as Murphy's rifle was fired and no doubt his bullet did the fatal work. His command, seeing their gallant leader fall, soon broke in confusion and made a hasty re- treat, which gave to the patriots a glorious vic- tory. Morgan, as stated, was censured for the act, but since the death of one man, although he be clothed with epaulettes, saved the lives of hundreds and perhaps thousands, besides break- ing one of the strong Hnks in the chain of po- litical servitude, that was binding many thousand, we cannot see the enormity of the offence, more than in the shooting of a common private in bat- tle. After the surrender of Burgoyne, Murphyfol- lowed Morgan to the south and was engaged in the battle of Monmouth. Repeated appeals of the patriots of Tryon county and Schoharie valley, for assistance in repelling expected invasions, to the general government through the committee of safety, caused a detachment of Morgan's riflemen and a small regiment of Pennsylvania troops to be sent to Albany under the command of Col. Wm. Butler, and be assigned to different points, as most needed. In the fall of that year (1778) Butler was sent to Schoharie, for winter quarters, and with him came Timothy Murphy, who at once found plenty of work to do, and for which he was peculiarly adapted. He at once became a scout and with other brave patriots traversed the hills and valleys of the border, to arrest the disaffected and intercept communica- tions and forage for supplies. He was a superior marksman, fleet on foot, and cautious, yet courageous. He became in- timate with the leading militiamen of the valley, who understood Indian strategy and warfare, and with them proved a terror to the dusky war- riors. The situation of affairs throughout the border required promptness on the part of the patriots. But few were unshrinking and faithful in the cause of freedom compared with the many that wavered, and necessity required the few to be strict, firm and active. The time of coax- ing and arguments had passed, and stern force had to be employed. Murphy was used to strict military discipline and saw the necessity of it, or at least its rigid enforcement among the Tory element, which they construed as "bul- lying" brutal, and when brought in collision with the Indians, he studied their mode of warfare, and met them with their own cun- ning. Having a two-barrelled rifle, a thing un- known to them, they superstitiously thought he was a devil, capable of shooting as many times as he wished without loading. He accompanied Butler in 1779 to join Sulli- van at Tioga, to devastate the Indian country, TOWN OF FULTON. i8i and without doubt performed the greatest feat of his life in escaping from . the grasp of the maddened savages. When the main army was nearing the present village of Geneseo, then an Indian settlement, Thomas Boyd, a Lieutenant of the Pennsylvania regulars, sent to Schoharie the year before, was sent with a party of twenty- seven, in advance to reconnoitre, and upon their return to camp were intercepted by a force of one thousand British and Indians, within a few miles of Sullivan's advanced guard. The party was surrounded, and true to their valor, made an attempt to break through ihe enemy's lines. After repeated attempts, which laid many of the savages lifeless, and also seventeen of their own number, Murphy broke through, and with the fleetness of a deer bounded from his pursuers. Boyd and others made an at- tempt to follow, but were unable to run as fast as Murphy, and were taken captives. The greatest acts of cruelty were practiced upon them by the infuriated savages and demoniac Tories. But seven of Boyd's command returned to the camp. Murphy dodged his pursuers for a considerable distance, when he became tired and secreted himself in the tall brakes that cov- ered a low piece of ground he was to cross. While there he spied several Indians looking for him, but without success, and after becoming rested he again started for the camp but was surprised by an Indian when within a short distance of the American lines. They both took to trees, and after making several ineffectual attempts to get a shot at each other. Murphy placed his hat upon the end of his gun and held it one side of the tree, as if to get a glimpse of his antagonist, when the Indian fired and ran up to take Murphy's scalp, but the man was there himself unhurt, ready to receive him, and soon had his scalp in his pocket and was making tracks for the camp. Upon his return to Schoharie, he was again employed as a scout, and soon became ac- quainted with one of the valley girls, whose charms conquered his stubborn heart and laid the foundation of a romance that was as inter- esting as his tragedian life, and changed the garrisons' and residents' fear of savages to pleasure for a season. John Feek Hved upon the farm now owned in part by Mrs. Lawyer Bouck, and was a well-to-do farmer, possessing but one child — a daughter — of whom the par- ents were proud, and doted upon as their pro- tector and staff in their declining years. But Margaret, meeting with the notable Timothy, whose fame as a sagacious warrior was upon every one's lips, and whose general appearance was attractive, became favorably impressed, and allowed her warm heart to accede to her lover's appeals, much against the parents wishes. Murphy was denied the freedom of visiting her, which was known to the Middle garrison and residents, who became interested in the case and did everything to help their comrade and protector along in his new role of adventurer. The couple met clandestinely and agreed upon an elopement. Murphy was to meet Mar- garet upon a certain evening, on the opposite side of the river, and " take her captive " to the fort, from whence they were to proceed to some point to be married. Margaret upon the evening appointed, with cheery heart milked the cows, leaving one un- touched, and after carrying the milk to the house returned again to the yard to milk the stray one. But seeing the coast was clear, as desired, she passed down the lane to the river and crossed over where the " Murphy mill " was afterward built. Timothy was rather dilatory for the first time, she thought, and was not there, but soon appeared and crossing the river the couple crossed the mountain and gained the "Clauver" road and proceeded on foot to the middle fort, where the garrison was in waiting to receive them, ere the parents were aware of their daughter's absence. As the hearts of the occupants of the fort were jubilant in behalf of the couple's success, the protracted stay of Mar- garet excited the parents fears and cast a gloom over their hearthstone. The father and mother anxiously called for their daughter, but received no answer. Upon finding the milk-pail hanging upon the fence, they surmised the truth and hastily sent a messenger to the fort to learn of her safety, and if not there to obtain assistance in finding her. But naughty Margaret was there and refused to quit her " captor" to return, but anxiously awaited the marriage ceremony. The couple, in company with several others went to Schenectady and were married, and re- l82 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. turned to the fort where a general jubilation was enjoyed in honor of the event. When the parents found their daughter was married and her husband's intention of removing to Penn- sylvania, they concluded to forget, forgive, and receive Murphy as their son-in-law. Mur- phy had no idea of leaving the valley, but he knew it was one way of softening the parents hearts and bringing about an amicable settle- ment. After the war closed they settled upon the Feek farm, where Margaret died in 1807, at the early age of forty-four. She had nine chil- dren, three of whom are now living, in the full enjoyment of their mental faculties, at advanced ages. Catharine (Mrs. Benjamin Best) is now eighty-two, and is a type of the early settlers oi the valley in muscular vigor, mental tenacity and patriotic sentiment. She has been a widow several years and finds a home that makes her declining years full of pleasure, with her daugh- ter, Mrs. Charles Bouck, at the tiomestead of her father's early friend, the late Gov. Bouck. Elizabeth, an elder sister, widow of the late Benjamin Foster, resides with a son, Mr. Thomas Foster, at Gloversville, and is now seven- ty-nine years of age, full of the vigor of younger years. Mr. Peter Murphy, now of this town, is the only remaining son of the patriot, and like his sisters, exhibits a remarkable tenacity of fac- ulties. They retain a vivid recollection of the father's explanation of events, and deeply regret the erroneous statements made of the patriot's exploits. The remainder of the nine children were: John, Polly, (Mrs. Wm. Banks,) Thomas, Cornelius, Jacob and Jenny, (Mrs. Eben Fos- ter,) who have "laid their armor down" and joined the father and mother, afterlives crowned with usefulness and respectability. On the 27th of June, 1818, the patriot passed away at the age of sixty-seven, and was buried upon the "Murphy farm." In 1873 they were removed to the Middleburgh cemetery, and an effort is now being made to erect a monument over them, expressive of his worth, and the veneration of a grateful people. From a communication published in the Atlantic Monthly, we think, about the time of the corner-stone ceremonies at Bemis Heights, we extract the following in regard to the shoot- ing of General Eraser :—" Brigadier-General Fraser, who up' to this time had been stationed on the right, noticed the critical situation of the centre, and hurried to its succor with the. Twenty-fourth Regiment. Conspicuously mounted on an iron-gray horse, he was all ac- tivity and vigilance, riding from one part of the division to another, and animating the troops by his example. Perceiving that the fate of the day rested upon that officer, Morgan, who with his riflemen was immediately opposed to Era- ser's corps, took a few of his sharp-shooters aside, among whom was the celebrated marks- man Tim Murphy — men on whose precision of aim he could rely — and said to them, ' That gallant officer there is General Eraser. I admire and respect him, but it is necessary for our good that he should die. Take your station in that cluster of bushes and do your duty.' Within a few moments a rifie-ball cut the crup- per of Eraser's horse, and another passed through his horse's mane. Calling his attention to this, Eraser's aid said, ' It is evident that you are marked out for particular aim ; would it not be prudent for you to retire from this place ? ' Eraser replied, ' My duty forbids me to fly from danger.' The next moment he fell mortally wounded by a ball from the rifle of Murphy, and was carried off the field by two grenadiers. " Upon the fall of Eraser, dismay seized the British, while a corresponding elation took pos- session of the Americans, who, being re-enforced at this juncture by General TenBroeck, with three thousand NewYork militia, pressed forward with still greater vehemence. Up to this time Burgoyne had been in the thickest of the fight, and now, finding himself in danger of being sur- rounded, he abandoned his artillery and ordered a retreat to the ' Great Redoubt.' This retreat took place exactly fifty-two minutes after the first shot was fired, the enemy leaving all the cannon on the field, except the two howitzers, with a loss of more than four hundred men, and among them the flower of his officers, viz., Era- ser, Ackland, Williams, Sir Francis Clarke, and many others.'' The patriotism displayed in 1780, was renew- ed in i8r2 by the children of those heroes, and a goodly number entered the service upon the Canadian border. Among the few of such TOWN OF FULTON. 183 now remaining, is Harvey Efner, living at Fultonham at the age of eighty-eight, in the full possession of his physical and mental powers. Athough sixty-nint years have come and gone, working the great changes that our country so fully presents, and pleasing to us of to- day, yet the incidents and scenes of those distant years as recalled by the veteran, re-kin- dle the sparkle of the eye and animate the spirit to exclaim. " Those were the days and times.'' Mr. Efner vividly recalls his comrades who went forth with him, and relates many pleasing incidents connected with their soldier life. He was in Captain Philip Bartholomew's company of which Noah Dibble was Orderly Sergeant and Isaac Barber was Ensign, The fellow privates were Peter Saquendorf, David Schofer, Henry Herron and Cornelius Vroman. Valentine Efner was Major. The Efner family came over about the year 1760. They con- sisted of the father and four sons, three of whom, William, Joseph and Henry, settled in Schoharie, and John in Saratoga county. They were worthy men and their children like them were true patriots and have been useful in so- ciety as intelligent and honored citizens. Petersburgh. The lofty hills of Fulton were once covered with giant timbers of all kinds, peculiar to the county, but particularly with hemlock, that grew solid and straight-grained. After the giant pines had been extravagantly wasted, and become scarce, hemlock took its steid in the manufacture of lumber and shingles, and that which was found upon the hills, was sought for the latter purpose from far and near. Peters- burgh hill, was for a long time the center of the shingle trade, as they were manufactured there, and to such an extent that but little else was done by the settlers. They being the only product were called, ''■ Petersburgh Currency" The bark was sold to the tannery at Middle- burgh and the hill, and those near were soon stripped of their surplus timber and gave room for berry bushes to grow luxuriantly, to which for several years the people of adjoining towns resorted, in their season for their winter store. But industry made a bold strike and the grounds were soon cleared, and to-day present farms, that for productiveness, will cope with any other. Among them, are those of the Kings, Warren Cornell, Miles and Lansing Nobles, Caleb Hess, Jacob Scott, Lansing Sit- terly and others near. Breakabeen. The correct name of this locality is Braka- been, given by the Germans, owing to the broad flats being covered with brakes — a species of fern. The word has been somewhat changed, but not materially. The name was given in early times to a long stretch of the valley from Vromans- land to the south and not confined to one lo- cality as now. Without doubt the first settlement of Germans was made to the south of Vromans- land and very soon after Adam Vroman lemoved his son Peter upon his land. The Germans were jealous of his possession and he of theirs and with- out doubt the lands Vroman complained to Gov- ernor Hunter, that the Germans were buying of the Indians, were those to the south of his tract, at and near Crysler's Hook, and the upper hamlet of Fultonham. But we will refer more particu- larly to that settlement after we dispose of the present locahty known as Breakabeen. One of its early settlers was the Keyser family, the oldest representative 4iow Hving being Barent Keyser of Blenheim. In the commencement of the Revolution but three houses were to be found at this place, and the Keyser residence was one which stood near that now owned by Charles Mann. There were three sons living at home, Abram, Barent and John, and owing to the treachery of the Indians living near, the family removed to the upper fort. Barent was taken prisoner while on a scout and was taken to Canada where he died in captivity. John, then but fourteen years of £ge, was sent from the fort to get the cows and was taken captive by a party of Indians and hurried off to Canada from whence he re- turned at the close of the war. Abram was at that time still younger. He located in after years at Schoharie village and was the father of Abraham Keyser, once sheriff of the County, and State Treasurer from 1826 to 1838. There had been more than the three residents at this 184 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. place, but when Sir William Johnson examined the titles of the settlers in 1759, and declared those null that were obtained from the Indians, without a purchase from the Government, a few living here also quit their lands and removed elsewhere, not wishing to pass through another season of "land trouble." The most prominent family that settled at this place soon after the close of the Revolu- tion was Benjamin Waldrons. He came from Bethlehem, Albany county, as a mill-wright, and was first employed upon the building of the Peter Borst gristmill, now known as the " Davis Mill " of Middleburgh. He soon after married a sister of Peter Borst, " Tauty," and settled here in 1795 or 1796, and immediately built a gristmill where the Bergh mill now stands. The next settlers were Philip and Abram Bergh, of Kneiskern's dorf, Joseph Zeh and Michael Borst, of Middleburgh, who were full of enter- prise for those days, and founded the village. Philip Bergh purchased a half interest in the mill of Waldron, and in 1838 the whole, and rebuilt what is the present structure. In 1808, Wal- dron opened his house as a tavern which was the first in the place. A few years after, George Hilts engaged in the same business where the present Hilts family resides, farther up the creek. David Mattice also commenced to " entertain man and beast " about the year 1830, and was succeeded in a few years by Peter Burget, whose widow remains in the old stand. To close the hotels of the village we will refer to the present " Loucks House" that was first opened by Henry Parslow, about the year r85o. It has been occupied by several proprietors since that date, the last being George Loucks, who took possession in the spring of 1882. After a useful life as a miller and mechanic Benjamin Waldron passed away leaving the fol- lowing children who have also died and in their turn left prominent families who are now the actors in the business arena and remain to per- petuate the genius of the pioneer mechanic; Henry, Mrs. Abram Bergh, John B., and David. Michael Borst, long an "inn" keeper at Mid- dleburgh came here about the year 1815, and built a tannery near the present bridge which was removed by John B. Waldron in 1850, who built a foundry in its stead, which is still in op- eration and owned by his son Charles. This part of the valley being as thickly popu- lated as now, and the hamlet being a mechani- cal center, it was necessary for the convenience of the people to have a store, at which the com- mon necessities of the household could be sup- plied. The stores of that period were of small proportions as well as variety of goods, as the people's wants were few beyond what their labor could supply. Among the considered "real" necessaries were rum and whiskey, which were kept at all stores up to within the last thirty years, and from which as much "profit and loss" was derived as any other commercial commodity. The " loss " was usually attributed to that por- tion the proprietor individually used, the extent and amount of which was rated according to the bodily proportions attained and flush of countenance. Undoubtedly a consolation was found in the truth of the adage that " there is no loss in which there is no gain." One Breffle came about the year 1800, and opened a small store, and was followed by Pasco Noxin, and in connection with his tavern, Michael Borst succeeded the latter. Borst was followed by John Myers, and later by Peter W. Becker, who kept a larger stock and greater variety of goods. They in turn were succeeded by the following, who may not have been in business as here placed, but were located as merchants : — Peter Snyder and Brown, Becker & Mattice, Luther Empie, Sidney Bergh, William Jones, Stephen Nelson and John Mahan, the latter two being in business at the present time. We find Nicholas York was granted a tract of land in 1723, lying to the south of Vromans- land, taking in " Crysler's Hook," and running down the stream to the south bounds of Vro- man's Patent. There seem to have been others connected with him in the transaction, but men- TOWN OF FULTON. '8S tion was not made of them in the grant, we have been informed from good authority. Per- haps those living upon it at the time, were silent partners for some reason known only to them- selves, and were the Feeks, Mattices, Hagadorns Cryslers and others. The Crysler family possessed a fine property at this point, which was confiscated and passed into the hands of the Boucks. The Revolution- ary mill stood near the present site of the steam saw-mill, and was, without doubt, the first one built above Middleburgh, and did the grinding for Vromansland and other settlements near. Crysler burned the mill himself, that the rebels might not enjoy its use. After the war closed, another was erected upon the bank opposite of the " lockey," * and was fed by a race-way from the small stream above, but for some rea- son it was used but a short time, and John Bouck built the present structure in front of Mrs. Lawyer's house, as early at least, as 1795. By consulting Chapter III, it will be seen in his report to the government, that Crysler provided eatables for the Indians, and perhaps a few Tories, while waiting for the coming of Brant or some other assistance. His house stood at the foot of the mountain, west of the present buildings, and he could have kept the savages in the woods back of it, and not have been detected for a long time, particularly at that time when Crysler was not suspected and the people were busily employed between their mihtary duties and individual avocations. FULTONHAM. The locality referred to is now known as Ful- tonham, and is one of the historical spots of the valley, owing to the " Upper Fort " being located here, and undoubtedly was the site of a German settlement or "dorf'made between the year 1 7 14 and 1718, by additional settlers or some of the families that came with Weiser. Their purchase was from the Indians and it was the one of which Vroman complained to the Gov- ernor, as before stated. The settlement was more upon the intervale than now and the oc- casional pieces of pottery, kettles and other * Lockey is a name given by tlie Germans to a small swamp or pond fed by springs. equally as enduring articles of household use, that have been plowed up from time to time in various places are the relics of the old dorf. The fact is obvious that there were seven dorfs in the valley in 1718 as stated by John Freder- ick Eager and referred to in Chapter IL One of those dorfs was here located and iu giving the number of the inhabitants, for the census of 1 7 18, he counted in the Low Dutch Vroman family, with this settlement and called them all Germans. Here were the Hagadorn, Feek, Jonas, Laraway, Crysler, (at that time spelled Kries- ler). Van Loon, Hiltsinger, (Hilsinger,) and Mattice faraiUes with perhaps others. The de- scendants of these families with whom the writer has coaversed, trace their ancestors back to Breakabeen, at a very early date. By referring to the Chapter upon Middleburgh, the reader will find three other dorfs located, which, with this one in the writer's opinion, were the first "dorfs" in the valley, and formed in the year 17 13 and 1 7 14. At a later date— 1730 — there was quite a collection of families, and it was known as Breaka- been, and as early as 1750 and 1754, the settlers of Cobleskill, Sharon and Seward,obtained apple- trees, at this place, and transplanted them upon their lands. By the language of Rev. Gideon Hawley, we are led to believe the Low Dutch of Vromansland held religious meetings at this place, or near. He says in his narrative of 1753 : " We went and had a meeting at the Mohawk village, where I preached, &c. In the afternoon I went to the Dutch meeting in that vicinity." The Mohawk village was at that time at the Dovegatt, and " that vicinity" was Vromansland. We would not be surprised to learn it to be a fact, that they had a rude meetinghouse, in which missionaries of the "Low Dutch Reformed Faith " preached, years before the Schoharie or Middleburgh churches were organized. Hawley says: — "I have been at their meetings when the boys, through the service, and even at the celebration of the Lord's Supper, have been playing bat and ball the whole term, around the house of God" Fultonham is pleasantly situated in the center of a very rich farming community, and has been quite a business center. i86 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COITnTY. Charles Watson was a merchant at this place for many years, and the leading business man of the town. He was the first supervisor of the town of Fulton, and held the same position again in 1841. In 1830 he was in the State Assembly with Abraham L. Lawyer, of Cobleskill, and was elected justice of the peace soon after, which position he held many long years, and was the stepping stone to the judicial bench of the Com- mon Pleas Court, which he attained in 1838, and held till the Constitution of 1846 took effect. Other prominent positions he often held, but one, the perfect confidence of his townsmen, outweighed them all. After his death, which occurred January 29, 1872, the Canajoharie Radii said : — " Where is another man in any county, who has measured calico, weighed tea, and counted eggs for more than a half century, that has paid one hundred cents on a dollar, and never lost a customer ? " Charles Watson was a son of Charles Watson who came from Albany county in the beginning of the century, and engaged in the mercantile business in a small way, and kept an inn. His residence here and business gave to the im- mediate neighborhood the name of Watsonville. The father died when Charles was but a lad attending school, and Mrs. Watson engaged her brother-in-law, Harvey Watson, to superintend the business until young Charles attained age and education. Vroman Watson, a son, is the only one of the family living, and removed from the town and engaged in business elsewhere. Upon the death of Charles Watson, Alonzo and Charles Best, as " Best Brothers," suc- ceeded in the business, and were followed by Albert Rosecrans, the present proprietor. Henry Best, cousin of the "Best Brothers," was engaged in the upper or Fultonham store, for several years, and was followed by "Chamberland Brothers," Thomas Foster, Hiram Safiford, Charles Best, and the present occupant, Charles Borst. West Fulton. This settlement was for many years called Byrneville, after a heavy purchaser of lands lying here, but more familiarly known as Sap- bush Hollow, and generally represented to be one of the worst places within the range of many miles. Very fine maples originally were standing along the stream, to which many of the early residents of the surrounding country resorted in the season, to make sugar, hence the name of Sap-bush was given to the hollow, which it retained until the postoffice was estab- Ushed, when " West Fulton" was ordered to be engraved upon the stamp. In looking over the surrounding country with its lofty hills, deep ravines and rocky surface but little could have been seen in early days to have encouraged a settlement. But the supe- rior timber drew the poor but industrious pioneer to eke a living by making shingles, lum- ber and staves as well as burning coal, and be- times clearing small patches of land for neces- sary grains and grasses. Many that thus com- menced became discouraged, perhaps, and re- moved to more " genial climes." Others came in their stead, enlarged the clearings and soon owned large farms, principally through the manufacture and sale of shingles. To-day, after the lapse of eighty years from the first set- tlement, the valley presents a pleasing change, upon which the hillsides, seem to smile with their fields of waving grains and luxuriant grasses in their season. Peter Smith, the man always hungry for more land, purchased a por- tion of the Michael Byrne tract, and encour- aged settlements. In the course of time, being a "lover of the Lord," as well as land, he built a church for the people, in which he displayed that oddity for which he was noted. The edi- fice was constructed in the hollow in 1831, and the steeple upon the hill. The road at that time ran between the two, and from the steeple projected a board over the road upon which he caused to be written in large letters. " Time and Eternity, consider." Desiring none, but " orthodox" to enjoy the privilege of worship- ing within his church, he caused a board to be placed against the wall, in front of the audience, with the following, printed in plain letters upon it. " Reputable ministers of the Gospel of all denominations of Christians are invited to offic- iate in this house, dedicated to the service of Almighty God, until the exclusive use shall be given over to a Dutch Reformed Presbyterian or Congregational congregation." TOWN OF FULTON. 187 Mr. Edgar Akeley, at present a merchant of the place, gave to us the above " permit " from memory, and thinks it correct, at least in sub- stance. The Methodists formed a class here a few years previous to the erection of the church, and for many years held their meetings within it, as did other denominations. The church needing repairs and the donor being dead, the residents called upon his son, the late Gerritt Smith, to donate for that purpose. He respond- ed, by ordering the bell to be sold, (it being cracked,) and turning the proceeds towards it. The Baptists purchased the edifice, moved it to the present site, repaired it to their taste, and it compares favorably with other village churches. The stream called by the Indians Ke-ha-na- gwa-ra, upon which are Bouck's falls, forms the valley, and is here met by the " Hoose " a large stream, which should have been taken as the main, instead of a tributary. During high water these streams, flowing over the descent of ground, are rapid and angry, and present one of the finest sights at the falls, as they rush down the gorge, that can be imagined. The height of descent is about one hundred and twenty feet and by striking the shelving rocks, the water becomes a perfect milk-white foam, as if mad- dened by the obstructions mother nature has so majestically placed in its way. The stream is often called by the settlers, "Panther Creek/' after the mountain opposite of Bouck's Island, and below its junction with the Scho- harie. Polly Hollow. This locality, which for long years was con- sidered of but little importance, excepting in "berry time," became the subject of much talk during the late Rebellion. Many of the resi- dents early enlisted in the Union army, among whom were two that became weary of a soldier's life, and by obtaining furloughs, reached their homes and refused to return. They were de- clared deserters, and officers were dispatched for their arrest. Instead of sending those that were made brave by actual field service, two marshals, whose valor, for political effect, offended patriotism in guarding home under special pay, like thousands of other chosen ones, were equipped at "Scott's," in Albany, with guns, revolvers, and other warlike imple- ments, and hastened to Schoharie to obey orders. Upon their arrival at that village, they were joined by a number of braves, and set out in a sleigh to the deserters cottage. Arriving after dark, Polly Hollow was wrapped in slum- ber, but awoke to the martial tread of livery horses and jingling of sleigh bells. The house of a lonely widow was approached and admit- tance gained, ere its aged and only occupant could rise from her bed. Boisterously the house was searched, especially preserve and pickle jars, feather beds, and pottery, without finding the object of their search. Xh^ patriots having well considered the necessity of stimu- lants in their hazardous undertaking, drank freely, and left the widow, with " her mite " strewn promiscuously upon the floor — pickles and preserves not excepted. Another house was ordered to be searched, but ere the regulars and volunteer force could be brought in line to make a charge, the Polly Hollow militia horns were blown to awaken the mountain God of war, and resist the United States forces' invasion. The volunteers faced about and charged upon the sleigh, while the regulars, borne down with pickles and Schoharie "fluid" — in a zigzag march — gained the rear of the sleigh, and tumbled in, as the volunteers made a charge for home. They had scarcely passed the widow's pickets before Polly Hollow cavalry were upon them to the number of two, and dexterously gave the valiant regulars a charge of pigeon shot and curses, which drove them beneath the covert of their robes. On they dashed towards headquarters with Polly Hollow lancers and cavalry in their rear, amid the thunderings of their muskets and lashing of steeds. The " Hollow " horses being fed upon shingle shavings, were unable to endure the labor imposed upon them, which forced the militia to withdraw from action, and allow their enemies to escape, which they did, and reached the "Lower Fort" without a halt, even to "hook" a tug that became unfastened. Thus the isolated locality became famous in history as " Polly Hollow against the world." i88 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Churches of Breakabeen. The early settlers of the vicinity were di- vided in religious views, as Reformed, Presby- terians and Lutherans, and being too poor to build a house of worship for each, they joined together and built a Union Church, about the year 1815. It stood for several years without being plastered, and the pulpit was supplied chiefly by Rev. Paige, of Gilboa, after the year 1820. Through that earnest worker the edifice was completed and dedicated as the " Reformed Church of Breakabeen." A few years after it came under the charge of Rev. Lintner, who labored for, and successfully established a resi- dent pastor. Rev. Eggleston oflliciated as such, but how long, we were unable to learn. The records of this church do not extend further back than 1830, when it was in connec- tion with the Middleburgh Reformed, and re- mained so until the organization of the Reformed Church of North Blenheim in 1852, when they became connected in pastoral care with the following pastors : — 1852 — J. H. Van Woert. 1853 to 1859— W. G. E. See. 1859 to 1867 — L. L. Sharpe. 1867 to 1870 — A. Vanderwater. 1 87 1 — W. L. James. 1872— E. Miller. Following the above organization was the Evangelical Lutheran. Church of St. Matthew. — The first election of officers was held at the lecture room of Mr. Abraham Bergh, under the Hartwick Synod. The following were elected to serve as trustees : — Philip Bergh, John B. Waldron, Peter W. Becker, Samuel Mitchell. The certificate of organization was given January 30, 1844, by Jonas Krum, Judge of Schoharie County. On the 27th of December, 1845, the mem- bers of the church met pursuant to adjourn- ment to take measures in regard to the pur- chase of a parsonage at Middleburgh, as both societies were in connection. William C. Bouck presided as chairman. A few days after, the second election of officers was held, and William C. Bouck, Samuel Mitchell and Henry C. Shafer, were elected elders, and Nicholas L. Mattice, John Keyser, and Philip Shafer, dea- cons. John B. Waldron was the first secretary. The following have officiated as pastors : — James Lefler, Adam Crounse, Levi Sternbergh, Nathan H. Cornell, John D. English, Henry Keller, A. L. Bridgman, R. S. Porter. The latter closed his charge on the ist of April, 1 88 1, since which the pulpit has been filled by supply. The disconnection between this and the Middleburgh church was made under Rev. Henry Keller, in i860. Church of Fultonham. The Union church edifice of Fultonham, is occupied by the Reformed, Lutheran, Metho- dist and Baptist. The pulpit is supplied by the churches of Middleburgh, and the Baptist of West Fulton, of which each society is a branch. Physicians. Moses Lawyer, son of Jacob Lawyer, [Little Jacob] of Schoharie village, was the first resident physician in the town, of whom we have any direct knowledge. He was a graduate of the New York College of Medicine, after receiving a collegiate education at Schenectady. He settled in Watsonville in 1821, and the year fol- lowing married Elizabeth, daughter of Cornelius Vroman. Mr. Lawyer was of the Allopathic school of physicians, and gained an extensive practice, through his skill and attention to bus- iness, which continued till his death, in 1855. His place being vacant, his son, Valentine Law- yer, studied in his office and attended lectures at the New York City Medical College, and after but a few years vacancy, the old practice was resumed and continues with that success which care, ability and fondness of profession are TOWN OF FULTON. 189 sure to gain. The Doctors Lawyer were the only practitioners of the northeast part of the town, until the spring of 1882, when William W. Bur- get, a student of Doctor Layman, of Schoharie, settled at Fultonham. At Breakabeen many have settled, but none have remained for a long period of time. Chief among them was Doctor Baxster, who was fol- lowed by Dr. Schaeffer, who removed after a short term of practice, and placed Doctor Fosburgh in his stead. Doctor Schaeffer returned, and con- tinued two years, when his place was taken by Doctor Mathews, whose health failed him, and gave the position to Doctor Squires, who was followed by the present Doctor Weckell. At West Fulton, or Sapbush, Doctor Havens settled in 1838, but removed to Summit a short time after. Previous to that date Doctor James settled upon Rossman Hill, and after a year's practice, removed to his native neighborhood, in Albany county. Upon the removal of Doctor Havens, Doctor James settled in his place and successfully practiced for a number of years. Otherscame for awhile, and removed during the old Doctor's stay. After his exit, he was followed by the late Dr. John D.Wheeler, whose students. Dr. Allen, now of Lawyersville, and Dr. Ross- man, followed in turns. Doctors Akeley and John Wilber succeeded who were followed by Dr. H. S. Gale, a Philadelphia student in 1874, and who in the spring of 1880, removed to Warnerville, leaving Doctor J. S. Akeley, of the Eclectic school, the present successful practi- tioner. Supervisors. 1829 — Charles Watson. 1830 — John F. Mattice. 1 83 1 — Jonas Krum. 1832 — Eben G. Foster. 1833 — Homer Whitely. 1834 — Philip Bergh, Jun., 1835 — Harmon Vroman. 1836 — Robert W. Lamont. 1837 — Philip Bergh, Jun., 1838 — Moses Lawyer. 1839 — John Spickerman. 1840 — ^Joseph Becker. 1 841 — Charles Watson. 1842 — John Spickerman. 1843— Gideon D. Hilts. 1844 — Ephraim Vroman. 184s — Alston F. Mattice. 1846 — Philip Bergh, Jun., 1847 — Peter A. Borst. 1848 — David Gorse. 1849 — -Washington Bergh. 1850 — Peter Murphy. 185 1 — John Spickerman. 1852 — Joseph Becker. 1853— William Best. 1854 — John Spickerman. 1855 — Jonas Krum. 1856 — Roswell Driggs. 1857 — David Gorse. 1858— Gideon D. Hilts. 1859 — Charles Bouck. i860 — Riley Adams. 1 86 1 — Washington Bergh. 1862 — David J. Vroman. 1863— John D. Wheeler. 1864 — Wm. H. Freemire. 1865 — Charles Bouck. 1866 — John Spickerman. 1867 — Wm. H. Freemire. i868^Abram Haines, Jun., 1 86g — George Spickerman. 1870 — Washington Bergh. 1871— David J. Vroman, 1872 — Orson Spickerman. 1873— Washington Bergh. 1874 — Washington Bergh. 1875 — Washington Bergh. 1876 — John H. Mann. 1877 — John H. Mann. 1878 — Orson Spickerman. 1879— Orson Spickerman. 1880 — Orson Spickerman. 1 881 — Marcus Zeh. 1882 — Marcus Zeh. Boundaries. The boundaries of the town as surveyed, are not to be found among the town records, or in the Secretary of State's office. The forma- tion act was passed by the first session of the legislature of 1828, and not pubUshed, there- fore we have been unable to obtain the bounda- ries for publication but will take measures, as I go HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. we have in similar cases in the loss of writings, to procure and deposit them in the town clerk's and other offices, as the law directs, where they may be consulted. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. PHILIP BERGH. PhiUp Bergh was a grandson of Philip Bergh, one of the first settlers of " Kneiskerndorf." The old gentleman left but two sons, Abram and Phihp, to perpetuate the family name. The latter dying childless, the Berghs of to-day are the descendants of Abram Bergh. Philip, Jr., as he was familiarly known, was born upon the old homestead in October, 1794. His early days were passed as was the custom of that time, in laboring upon the farm. He was possessed of a good, common English edu- cation. In 1815 he was married to Catharine E. Sidney, of the same " dorf," who is still living at the age of eighty-nine, in the full possession of her mental faculties, and is, as her husband's portrait shows him to have been, a true type of the old stock. The year following their mar- riage they removed to Breakabeen, upon the farm still owned in part by the family. A few TOWN OF FULTON. 191 years afterward, he purchased a half interest in the grist-mill there, and in 1838, the entire property. That year he built the present structure now owned by his son, Washington Bergh. Mr. Bergh was a member of the Lutheran church, and for many years an elder, and was one of those sturdy,quiet, yet earnest Christians, in whom confidence might be placed without fear. In politics he was a Democrat, and was honored by his townsmen with an election to the office of supervisor for three terms, and various other offices. As a business man he was just, prompt, and accommodating, as many will testify, who found aid and comfort when in distress, through the generosity of Mr. Bergh. He was successful in his business and accumu- lated a large property. He died July 22, 1874, at the age of eighty years, leaving a community in which he was highly appreciated, and an honored family to mourn his death. His children were as follows: — Washington, David P., Mrs. David Zeh, Mrs. Henry W. Becker, Mrs. Stephen Nelson, Mrs. Jacob W. Zeh, Mrs. Washington Mackey, Mrs. Peter M. Becker, and Mrs. John J. Zeh. PETER MURPHY. But few of the near children of the heroic fathers of our County, left an imprint of their faces and forms, that we may have an idea of the physique of men brought up under the labors and frugal mode of living that were pe- culiar to their lives. Under the modern habits of living, great changes are wrought in the gen- eral physical appearance of families from one generation to another. They are to such an extent that the children of to-day are as much unlike their ancestors of one hundred years ago, as if they were of another nationality. The 192 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. pioneers of the County were a hardy, muscular people, and it was characteristic of their chil- dren, down to within fifty years, when their ac- cumulations of wealth and their lightened labors, permitted a more easy and extravagant mode of living, which grew upon them as the country made its advancement. We are pleased to present a true type of " the fathers" in the likeness of Peter Murphy. It is far more agreeable from the fact that he is a son of Timothy Murphy, the gallant hero of the border settlements, in the trying days of the Revolution, in which the patriots and ene- mies of our country, alike, surmised that Provi- dence or the Evil One, had instilled a magical spirit peculiar to the fabled heroes. We are told by those who were intimately acquainted with the father and the son, that the latter is a counterpart of the former in general appear- ance. The father died at the age of sixty- seven, and when Mr. Murphy had arrived at that age, the very close resemblance was noted by the aged people, and they looked upon him with nearly that degree of honor they did his father while he was among them. The subject of this sketch was born upon the old Feek farm, in 1794, and is still active yet bearing the marks of age. The outlines of a ruddy countenance, hardy form, and a bold, determined spirit, are easily traced, regardless of time's work with his " defacing fingers." Mr. Murphy inherits many other of his father's characteristics, not the least of which are frank- ness and honesty. He has followed agricul- tural pursuits, from his youth, working hard, early and late, and unlike many who aspire to positions, never urged official favors upon the strength of his parent's services and reputation. On the contrary he has always manifested a reluctance in accepting proffered positions, yet has been the recipient of many town honors, among which was that of Supervisor in 1850. He adheres zealously, as did his father to Demo- cratic principles and party without exceptions, never having cast a vote against a candidate for nomination, and has ever been present at the polls, regardless of obstacles. JOHN FREEMIRE, Jr. The father of the subject of this sketch was John, or as he was commonly called, Johannes Freemire, one of the first settlers of Cobleskill. He was the only one of the family that survived the conflict of 1778, particularly described in the Chapter relating to the town of Cobleskill, excepting a brother who fled to Canada with the unscrupulous Zea. At the close of 'the war, John removed to Breakabeen, and was married to a sister of Christian Bouck. John, Jr., was there born January 20, 1785, and was reared under the prevailing rules of those days, in industry and frugality, with but little if any educational ad- vantages, beyond those aiiforded by daily inter- course and dealings with neighbors in the inter- change of produce, etc. Mr. Freemire was united in marriage with Catherine Bartholomew in the year 1809 and lived upon the homestead farm, which he cleared of timber and which is now inherited and occu- pied by his son, William H., and there resided until his death, which occurred August 22, 1876. He was an earnest Democrat of the old school and a firm friend of his neighbor and townsman, William C. Bouck. The Governor's confidence in his honesty and strict adherence to systematic rules of performing duty, led to the appoint- ment of Mr. Freemire as Guard at the Sub- Treasury in New York City. He held that TOWN OF FULTON. 193 JOHN FREEMIRE, Jr. position of trust three years and returned to his home. Not aspiring to official positions, he was but once elected to office and then as Justice of the Peace, although repeatedly urged to accept that and other honors. His characteristic spirit of retirement led him to refuse a compliance with the earnest and oft repeated appeals of his townsmen. His married life was blessed in rearing a large family of children who have proven themselves useful and energetic citizens, such as reflect credit upon the wise counsels and examples of honest parents. They are Mrs. John B. Wal- dron, of Breakabeen ; John Freemver, of Cass- opolis, Mich. ; Mrs. Wm. Woolford, of Brook- lyn, N. Y. ; William H, of Breakabeen; and Abram, of Middleburgh. Mrs. Ephraira Pat- terson also was a daughter but died several years ago, as did her patriotic husband who re- ceived injuries that proved fatal while in the late Rebellion. The family name was originally spelled Fri- mire, but of late has been changed to Freemyer with the common consent of all branches of the family. 194 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. ADAM L. MATTICE. Adam L. Mattice is a worthy representative of the early settlers of the valley, and of one in particular, Nicholas Mattice who first located within the neighborhood of the " upper fort." At what time he immigrated is not known, but he there reared a large family, in which were three sons — Adam, Frederick, and Conradt. Adam early espoused the cause of the Crown and fled to Canada as a Mohawk, in 1777, and there his descendants still reside. Mrs. Burget, of Breakabeen, is the last of the direct heirs of Frederick, which fact leaves Con- radt the progenitor of those bearing the family name in the County. He resided upon the farm now occupied by Joseph Mattice, where he reared six children as follows : — Lawrence,David John, Henry, Mrs. John Brown, of Sharon, and Mrs. Garrett Hallenbeck, of Fulton. Adam L. is one of five children of Lawrence Mattice, and was born in Fulton, September 15, 1803. He has always lived upon a farm and has accumulated a property that bespeaks a steady judgment and practical business quali- fications. He has served the town in the capacity of road commissioner, assessor and other minor offices for many years, and is looked upon by his townsmen as an upright man in whom they have confidence to act with honor and precision. Although he has arrived at the advanced age of seventy-eight, yet the sturdy form is erect, the muscles strong and steady, and the mind clear and active, as are those of most of the children of pioneers of the County. He was united in marriage with Dinah, daughter of David Mat- tice, and to them have been born five children, TOWN OF FULTON. 195 James H., Lawrence A., Garret W., Dinah and Elizabeth. James H. died January i6, 1874. The business is at present being carried on by Garret W., and Lawrence A. Mattice. EPHRAIM B. YHOMAK Lieutenant Ephraim Vroman, of Revolution ary fame, was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. That patriot had four children that survived the Revolution : Bartholomew E., Josias E., Maria, (Mrs. Peter P. ZieUe) and Harmonus, a child by his second wife. Bar- tholomew and Josias married sisters, they being daughters of Colonel Peter Dietz, whose patri- otism made the name historic and his memory live as long as literature exists. Josias E. has but two sons at present living, Harmon and Ephraim, who have arrived at advanced ages. Our subject is the only living heir of Barthol- omew a,nd was born upon the old farm in Vro- mansland on the 1 8th of August, 1806. He was reared as a farmer and strictly adhered to that occupation till within a short time, when he re- tired. Mr. Vroman received but a meagre common school education, yet inheriting the natural characteristics of the two families from which he sprang, but few men possess equal business tact or a better practical judgment, as shown in his individual affairs and those of the pubhc in which he has from time to time been urged to transact. We are assured by those of greater age, who were personally acquainted with several of the old stock Vromans, that he is a true type of that sturdy race in form, features and general 196 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. appearance. He has five children as follows: Mrs. Alonzo Best, Mrs. Harmon Vroman, Mrs. Addison Cornell, George A., and Charles W., the latter two occupying the old farm that has been in the Vroman family since 171 1. Although Mr. Vroman is naturally reserved, yet he is firm in his convictions, and free in his expressions of right, and in the community in which he resides, as in his family, is looked up to as a wise counsellor, generous neighbor and an unflinching patriot. It' was Mr. Vroman's grandmother and youthful aunt that were mur- dered at the foot of the Onistagrawa by the In- dian Seths Henry and his accompUce, Beacraft, the demoniac Tory. His father also was made to feel the vengeance of the unmerciful foe, in being their prisoner and forced to endure insults and hardships, which planted a hatred of In- dians and Tories in the family breast that has been transmitted, and will be undoubtedly for several generations, and gave birth to a staunch patriotism that truly is undying. CHAPTER XIV. History of the Town of Middleburgh. Beauty of Scenery — The Mountains — Weis- er's Dorf — Conrad Weiser — His Daugh- ter — John Peter G. Muhlenberg — His Patriotism — Conrad Weiser, Jr. — Inter- preter — Settlers of the Dorf — Relics OF the Past — Reformed Church — Its Early History — Edifice Rebuilt in 1785 — Petition to Assembly — Other Papers — Pastors' Reformed Church — Lutheran Church — Methodist — Episcopal — The True Reformed Church — Middle Fort — Description — Firing Upon the Flag — Zielie Family — First Zielies in the Val- ley — Family Relic — Colonel Zielie — His Children — Peter Swart — Old Clock — Low Dutch Beckers — Borst Family — Grist Mills — Louck's Family — Eckerson's — First Merchant — Grist Mill — Bel- linger Family — Hartman's Dorf — Richt- myer Family — Rebuilding of the Village — Alexander Boyd — J. M. Scribner —John HiNMAN — Nathan Hinman — Building the Bridge —Jonathan Danforth — Atchinson House — Freemire House — Merchants — Freeman Stanton — John P. Bellinger — D. D. Dodge — Tanning — Danforth Fami- lies — General Danforth — Physicians — Legal Fraternity— Hon. Lyman Sanford — National Bank — Masonic Lodge — I. O. G. Templars — G. A. R. Post — Cornet Band — Incorporation — Hunter's Land — Supervisors — Boundaries. N approaching Middleburgh village from Schoharie by the valley road, one is not so much impressed with the beauty of the scenery as when passing over the hill from the Cobles- kill valley, by the way of the poorhouse, there is presented one of those placid land- scapes, for which Schoharie County is noted. The broad well kept flats that stretch from the giant evergreen hills upon the west, to the slop- ing ones and the cliff on the east, are dotted here and there with spacious residences and out- buildings that bespeak the wealth and prosperity of the occupants, and present a winning picture of plenty and contentment. Old Mohegontee* stands out boldly as a terminus of a chain of picturesque hills, while Ocongena and Onista- grawa, in romantic contrast, look down upon the quiet scene below and give to the whole, grandeur and sublimity such as mountains only can give to rural sceneries. Upon their lofty summits and along their sides, the Aborigines of the country wandered for the deer, fox and * Judge Brown, in his pamphlet histoiy, gives the fol- lowing names to the three mountains: Mohegan, Cone- gena and Onisto Giaw. I TOWN OF MIDDLEBURGH. 197 bear, while at their bases was reared the wig- wam, to which the first settlers of civilization in the valley, resorted for succor, in the winter of 1713, when they sought the "promised land " as refugees from the toils which selfish officials had woven to entrap them and make them un- willing servants to a monied aristocracy. Here where the pleasant village now stands, the "seditious" Conrad Weiser made a choice for his settlement, which alone was evidence enough that he was not as ignorant as tradition and royal officials have represented him to be. By consuhing the second chapter of this work, we find that during the land difficulties, Weiser and his followers left the valley and settled in Pennsylvania about the year 1722. There the old man died and was buried a few miles from Reading, within a plot of ground marked out by himself. He was a prominent man in his neighborhood, and much esteemed by all who knew him. His daughter, Anna Maria, married Henry Melchoir Muhlenberg, D. D., the foun- der of the Lutheran church in America. John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg was a son who gave to the world a glorious example of true patriotism. He was educated for the ministry and or- dained in the year 1768, and at the outbreak of the Revolution, was stationed at Woodstock, Virginia. Of him, Lossing in his Field-book of the Revolution, says : — "In 1774 he was chairman of the committee of safety in his county, and was also elected a member of the House of Burgesses. At the close of 1775, he was elected colonel of a Vir- ginia regiment when he laid aside his pastoral character. In concluding his farewell sermon, he said, that in the language of Holy Writ, 'There was a time for all things; a time to preach, and a time to pray, but those times had passed away,' and then, in a voice that echoed like a trumpet-blast through the church, he said ' that there was a time to fight, and that time had now come ! " Then laying aside his sacer- dotal gown, he stood before his flock in the full regimental dress of a Virginia Colonel. He ordered the drums to be beaten at the church door for recruits, and almost his entire male audience that were capable of bearing arms j oined his standard. Nearly three hundred men en- listed under his banner on that day. He was in the battle at Charlestown, in 1776, and served with fidelity in the Southern campaign that year. Congress promoted him to the rank of Brigadier-General, in February, 1777, and he was ordered to take charge of all the Continental troops of the Virginia line in that State. He joined the army of Washington, and was with him in all his movements until the year 1779. By the close of that year he was again or- dered to take command of the Virginia troops, and was active until the attack of Cornwallis at Yorktown. At the close of the war he was ele- vated to the rank of Major-General. He re- moved to Pennsylvania, and in various civil capacities served the State. He was a member of the first and third Congresses, and in 180 1 was elected a United States Senator. The same year he was appointed supervisor of the internal revenue of Pennsylvania, and in 1802 was made collector of the port of Philadelphia. He re- mained in that office until his death, which oc- curred at his country-seat near Philadelphia, on the first of October (his birthday), 1807, at the age of sixty-one years." John Conrad, Sr., was an Indian interpreter and agent and was succeeded by his son, John Conrad, whom it will be remembered was tutored as an interpreter while Hving here, for which Adam Vroman made a charge against his father to Governor Hunter in 1715. Young Weiser was employed by the government for many years as such, and was often in company with Washington in making treaties with the Indians. Tradition says that when Washington was en- route as President of the United States, to the city of New York, he traveled many miles out of his way to visit the grave of his much es- teemed friend. We find the descendants of the Weiser family quite numerous and occupying prominent posi- tions ; and when we look upon the life of Gen- eral Muhlenberg we cannot but believe that the spirit of Weiser was inherited by him, which was called " rebellious, seditious and obstinate, and an outgrowth of ignorance," when the family lived at the camps and in the Schoharie valley. It is to such spirits we are indebted for our po- 198 HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. litical and religious liberties, and upon which oppression has always tried to trample. We might with propriety here state that all of the descendants of the followers of Weiser, were true patriots in the Revolution without a single exception to our knowledge. There was one of the Beckers that removed with Weiser, whose last heir it has been sup- posed, died several years ago leaving a vast prop- erty which has remained without an ownership since, but it is a mistake, as the family now living near Philadelphia are more numerous than those of the Schoharie settlement to-day. The progenitor was of the High Dutch family and brother of Johannes, who settled on Fox's creek. When the Germans came to the valley there were a small number of Mohegans living to the north of the confluence of the Little Schoharie, with the main stream. There could not have been many, yet it must have been in their hos- pitable wigwams they found shelter after their dreary march through the deep snow, from Liv- ingston's manor. This portion of the Scho- harie tribe dwindled away to a few in number, and the land they occupied was taken by the Zielies and Eckersons as early as 1730, and perhaps earlier. The Indians gave way as the whites increased, and at last congregated at and near the castle in Vromansland where they were in 1750, with the exception of a few straggling ones, found here and there along the streams. Queen Anne had directed implements of all kinds to be sent from England with the Ger- mans, but it cannot be supposed Weiser and his followers were allowed to share in them since they mutinied and left the Camps, " against re- peated orders," but were forced to depend upon their ingenuity and that of the Indians in build- ing without them, and when spring came, to plant for a better subsistence than "roots and herbs." Although they were destitute for a while, it was not long before they managed to obtain the necessary utensils to till the ground and build their huts and from the tenor of Adam Vroman's letter to Governor Hunter, bearing date July, 1715, they had horses, and that they drove them upon his grain in the night, beside " tied bells upon their necks and drove them to and fro." Judge Brown tells us, "nine of them owned the first horse, which was a gray," but we find in little over two years after they settled here, they had "horses." Perhaps the Judge had not reference to Weiser and his clan, but to those who came after by the way of Albany and the Helleberg, and settled lower down the valley, but his dates correspond nearer to this settlement, yet in them he is inaccurate. Weiser located to the east of the present Methodist church, and we are fully convinced after a careful study of the matter, that another settlement was made by his immediate followers to the west, where the Reformed church now stands. It may and may not have been direct- ly under his charge as "list master " or business man, it matters not. There was a settlement made, but there being so many people upon a small space of ground the settlement broke up in a few years, as Hartman's dorf did, for broader fields, that each could ply their voca- tions as farmers, principally, more extensive. That together with Weiser's, proper, and Hart- man's, made three settlements within a distance of less than two miles, and contained at least one hundred and sixty families according to tra- dition and documents heretofore copied. Thus the practical reader will see at once that they could not subsist without great inconvenience, and would, as soon as possible, divide and settle upon farms. They did so, and by the year 1730 the whole valley was, as far down as the Island opposite of the present village of Sloansville, taken up by them and new comers, and under a fair state of cultivation. Many that came with the first parties, removed to the Mohawk, while others from there came here, especially during the land troubles. They were for the first few years a very uneasy people, and made it so for those around them. Not only for Adam Vroman, but for the Indians, and officials both district and colonial. They firmly believed they were to be entrapped by land sharks, and were not far from right, and finding they could not obtain a " redress of their grievances," many of them left the valley for ever, which satisfied the honorable government officials that it was bet ter to give way to many of their foibles, espe- cially than lose " so valuable an acquisition to the frontier," which was experienced by those TOWN OF MIDDLEBURGH. 199 that remained in the purchase of land at a nom- inal sum, with an assurance of peaceable pos- session. It is not to be imagined that Weiser's dorf was left tenantless upon the removal of the dis- couraged party, as we find the Dillebacks, (Dil- lenbecks,) Earharts, Zehs, Weavers, Casselmans, Segendorfs, Borsts, Schaeflfers, Loucks, Rick- ards, Ingolds and Conradt families remained and were joined a few years after by the Eck- ersons, Zielies, and at a later date by others, progenitors of those who were actors in the Revolutionary scenes living near, not above mentioned. The history of the village and valley from 1722 to the Revolutionary strug- gle has but little interest. The forest was felled and the productive fields became broader, the rude huts were replaced by com- fortable houses, large barns took the place of barracks and stacks, and prosperity and con- tentment marked its course and abode at every turn. The occupants of the hamlet for the first few years of their settlement owned plots of ground upon the interval from which they ob- tained their suppUes, but as their sons and daughters united to form other famiUes they in- creased their acreage by purchasing of those who at an early date took advantage of the prospect and purchased of Governor Hunter. Many of those farms have been handed down from one generation to another for the space of one hundred and fifty years, and judging by the temperate, economical habits and pride of fam- ily another generation will enjoy the fruits of their forefathers' labors without passing to other hands. There are but few relics now to be seen that time has spared, to link the early set- tlement of this place with the present. The Reformed church as an organization — and a portion of the building used during the struggle for Independence as a fort, are the only objects that we meet. The old stone house near the Methodist church is one that our nearer fathers reared after they passed through the fiery ordeal of a war made sacred in. the annals of history by their sacrifice of life, blood, and fortunes, upon the corner-stone of America's temple of Hberty ! It is as a footprint of the hunted patri- ots in the ashes of devastation, after they eluded the vengeance of a mercenary, blood-thirsty foe ! It has been spared to us as the corner-stone of the re-building or second settlement of Weiser's dorf, as it will be remembered that the walls of the old brick church were all that was left of the village after Johnson and Brant's exit from the valley. But before we consider the events of that day let us go back to earlier times and peer into the darkness of the past, between the removal gf Weiser and his followers, and the Revolution. In making the attempt, we regret exceed- ingly that the few records that are left of those days are indeed but feeble tapers to lead us ac- curately, without stumbling, through the changes that circumstances required the sturdy yeoman to make. We cannot but admit, as all evidence establishes the fact, that Weiser's dorf was the first white settlement in the County, and that it was made in 17 13, by High Dutch, while Vromans- land was settled by the Low Dutch in i7r4 or 1715. Reformed Dutch C*ar