USA > New York > Schoharie County > A brief sketch of the first settlement of the county of Schoharie, by the Germans : being an answer to a circular letter addressed to the author by "The historical and philosophical society of the state of New York", > Part 3
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mentioned, the Lonenburg turnpike now follow- ing that same route. The Lonenburg turnpike con- tinues on to Wiserdorff through Schoharie, Co- bleskill and Sharon, until it intersects the Great Western turnpike in the town of Cherry Valley, in the county of Otsego.
The second, beginning at Albany, led over the Helleberg, which is the most northerly point, or the end of that notable hill called the Blue Moun- tains. Thence on westerly until it struck Fox- enkill, and thence down the stream into Scho- harie at Foxendorff. This was the road which the first settlers travelled when they moved up into Schoharie. On this route, with but very lit- tle variation, went the first Schoharie road to Al- bany. I did not however, learn that any wagon went through that way before the year 1750, or thereabout, when the farmers began, six, eight or ten together, and made one trip to Albany, with a wagon, in order to get their rum, pepper and tea for harvest. They had no other road for mar- ket until the year 1762, when a new road was opened from Foxendorff through Duanesburgh, intersecting the old Schenectady road at the half-
way house at Truax's. The third Indian foot- path beginning at Gerlachdorff,, leading through Duanesburgh to Schenectady lowland, whereof before is made mention of. So with that, they went sometimes twenty men, women and children
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in a drove, each a grist on his head or on his back, to Schenectady lowland to get ground.
The fourth took its start from Kniskernsdorff leading down the Schonarie creek to Fort Hun- ter. This was for the most part travelled but by the Indians for relationship of the Karighondonte family. They also sometimes travelled through Schoharie to the Susquehanna, to a place called by the Indians Awquawge, where the first Gospel was taught unto the Indians by one Elisha Gan.
The last also took its beginning at Kniskerns- dorff and led farther up the river into Canajo- harie, and struck just above Anthony's Nose in order to have a higher cut to the upper castle, at or near the Little Falls. This footpath has been much travelled by the Germans; in the summers for most part on barefoot; yet in my time, by the people of Schoharie and the people of the Ger- man Flats, on account of connections, friends and relations. This footpath continued in full use in the year 1762, at a time when Sir William John- son held a general review of the Schenectady Brigade of Militia at the upper castle and had there an ox roasted whole, the first I ever heard or saw.
1817. Now we have sufficient turnpikes in lieu of Indian roads going through the county of Schoharie, and very likely more of them than
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will be able to maintain themselves from the toll they will raise these many years.
THE COMMENT AND CONCLUSION.
For this, I shall now for the first, remark that there never was a philosophic institution but for the sole purpose of making men wiser, better and consequently more happy. A great argument that mankind is, and always was corrupt, and that there is a probability of mending; so far this is all very right, and a duty on all to pursue. But none brought it to anything like perfection; neither did any ever find perfect satisfaction therein even for himself at all, as the writ- ings of them, yea the very best of them, when considered, prove to a demonstration. But the philosophy of Jesus Christ, if I may so call it, or the religion of the Son of God, has in- finitely far overwent them all. His gospel plan has proved the only one wherein
perfect satisfaction ever was found. That word of the great I AM, his revealed will in the Gospel, has brought this to pass like a wonder, so that all the world is indebted that there is any such thing in it as perfect satisfaction at all.
The wise man Solomon has given us one rule, among a great many others, which, if well at- tended to, would gain us a very great march towards this perfect satisfaction. The rule is simply this: Teach a child in the way he must
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go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Simple and short as it is, it is of an infinite length, and extends to all governors and legislators, ru- lers, civil and ecclesiastical, officers of all kinds, parents, teachers and guardians; none are exempt from this rule. For the neglect and inattention of this rule, children grow up in raw nature, to- tally uncultivated, and from the next society, as surely they must. Well, if Solomon be correct, as we have no doubt but he is, from whence have we to expect, or ever have reason to expect, that future generations shall be better, or become more happy than the present ? Perhaps I might here get the answer of one of their blind philos- ophers, who wrote and said that the common law of the land was the perfect rule of happiness. Ay, but if the way the law should go or rather those that execute it, has never been brought to their sight, you will certainly fail ..
Well, say they then, we will go to the Gospel. Very right, Messrs. But do you know what the Gospel is, or where to find it, since you never learned nor cared about it ? Well, say you then, we shall go to our Gospel ministers, teachers,and school masters. Truly, very well, again; but should it prove true what the same wise man says in another place, to wit: The labour of the fool tired everybody, for he knoweth not himself the way to the city. Then it will be up with you
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again; up, say they, up, it is all over, up with you. I say no, no, go on; don't despair, you may yet mend your matter in your own way. You can neither read nor write, nor fit or useful for civil society, but just fit for a soldier, the machine of murder, and to follow drum and fife to victory. After victory perchance, take the cat on your naked back once in a while, be shot perhaps for a villian, then you have complete full satisfac- tion in your own way at last.
This altogether can proceed, and I have no doubt, but very often proceeds from the want and neglect of teaching a child the way he should go; just as much, and as many as similar instances occur, so many witnesses we have, that the position is true.
Well, if all this be in any way correct, how great must not then the obligation be, of all those whose duty it is in particular to see to it, that vonth may be taught that wisdom which is after Godliness, and is profitable in this life, and the life to come ;- and shocking must be the judg- ment that will fall on each head guilty of this neglect. A general evil cannot be averted, but must break in like a mighty flood, no aim to save nor eye to pity; for then there will be no peace to him that goeth out, nor to him that cometh in; but great vexations upon all the inhabitants of the countries, and nation will be destroyed of nation, and city of city, for the Lord will vex them with all adversity-says the prophet, by the word of the Lord our God.
THE END.
APPENDIX.
History is a record of events and conditions that are past; registered immediately, or later, com - piled from the memory of living witness, or handed down by tradition. The value of history depends upon correctness and completeness. Judge Brown wrote much of which he had per- sonal knowledge, and this would seem to be correct. There is some dispute with the Brown History as to the exact date upon which the Germans left their native land for America, and also as to the date of the Battle of Cobleskill- These disputed points we do not wish to dis- cuss, much less try to decide, but leave the subject for the pen of abler men who have investigated farther.
While the foregoing was in process of type- setting we made diligent search to find other rec- ords of local interest from the pen of Judge Brown, to incorporate in the work. Our efforts in that direction did not result as we wished and hoped. Learning that a Day Book of Judge Brown was extant, we sought it out, but even
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that did not vield the rich treasure expected. This Day Book, beside the wear incident to use at the time, bears the marks inflicted by a centu- ries flight, and a perusal of its pages requires the use of a magnifying glass. This book contains charges, among which is the following:
"1808, June 12: To one coffin made of my cherry boards for my wife, at £0.16.0. Account with Aaron Parkinson, Reyinbek." Births, mar- riages and deaths of the family are recorded, also a discription of a meteor. Beyond this there is nothing, for in a kind letter sent to us by the party who has the relic, the writer says: "I spent much time in looking over the old book and you would find nothing more I am sure."
Judge Brown's discription, just translated from the German in his Day Book, of a meteor he saw, is, we think, of sufficient interest for publication; at least we venture to print it.
GEORGE W. BELLINGER.
THE METEOR.
About the year 1790, on a clear Summer evening, I was sitting on the stoop playing the fiddle. About 9 o'clock in the evening a shine of light appeared and increased until it over- shone even the light of the meridan sun in some clear day, and enlightened my stoop in such a
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manner, that I might have picked up a pin in every corner. Then I heard a great roaring coming direct from the North, I started up and looked out from the stoop, and behold ! I saw a fiery meteor-or as the Germans call it a " mine droke" -- a dragon coming on and passing by at the distance of about 250 yards West of me, a distance of about 60 or 70 feet above the cleared ground. It kept along down through the hol- low, on the other side of the hollow it met with the rising of a hill covered with woods and tall trees, there it took a sudden rise and went just over the tall trees so as not to touch them, and on over a kind of flat or level ground, until it met with the foot of the noted hill-by the In- dians called "Owelus Sowless," then it ascended higher, ascending as the ground rose, and went over the hill where I could not watch it farther. I had had a view of it about a mile and a quar- ter. It moved about as fast as a common horse in a horse race. The meteor as I shall now call it, was about 300 yards long in a serpentine shape, excepting the head which resembled the root of a tree plucked up by force. It had no appear- ance of a neck, the body was thick as a bullock, tapering off like a serpent at the end of the tail. The appearance was similar to welding hot iron and sparkling like it. The immense heat warmed through my whole house, and left a stench like
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burning tar and sulphur, which was smelled all the next day. Traditions, superstitions and fab- ulus stories are often told of meteors, apparitions and ghosts, wherein I place- but small confidence for want of confirmation, but for the above, mine own eyes, and sound mind and body bear witness of the truth I have here related. As witness my hand,
Carlisle, August 23, 1823.
J. M. BROWN.
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