Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 192

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452

USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations > Part 192

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Nathaniel Swan, who were operating previous to 1825, and Malachi Whipple, Daniel Cary and Mr. Vandecar, whose mills passed out of active ex- istence about 1840. Swart & Saddlemire were running a mill until a few years ago, and Frederick Bouler and Bemsley Williamson are the owners of small mills, which are operated from time to time, as the depth of water in the streams will permit. The supply of timber, once plentiful, is now nearly exhausted, only occasional patches of woodland remaining.

There was once a small grist-mill on a little stream in the north part of the town. For years the farmers of Knox have been compelled to take their grain to be ground outside of the borders of the town.

Gideon Taber, who was once a shoemaker and tanner and harness manufacturer in Knox, was at the same time the progenitor of one of the leading families of the town, and one of the best known men in Albany County. He was born in New London, Conn., in 1764, of a Quaker father and mother. Being a non-combatant, he went to Canada during the Revolution, to avoid being drawn into the American army and compelled to fight against his convictions, and for a time he commanded a vessel on Lake Champlain. Com- ing to Knox after peace was established, he went about among the farmers, "whipping the cat," as itinerant shoemaking and repairing was denomi- nated. Being a thrifty man, he prospered, and after a time established a small tannery, where he made leather, which he manufactured into shoes, saddles and harness, employing quite a number of men, and doing a large business for the time. He became a justice of the peace and represented his fellow citizens in the Assembly about 1818-20. His grandson, Charles Clute, now owns and lives on the old Taber homestead where his tannery and manufacturing operations were carried on.

In 1831 Alexander Crounse, who had moved into Knox from an adjoining town, put up a tan- nery building, 56 feet by 28, on the main road through the town west of Knoxville, and for many years did considerable in the manufacture of har- ness and upper-leather. The changes in the hide and leather trade during the last few years have contributed to render this business less profitable and important than it was formerly. About five years ago Mr. Crounse transferred the establish- ment to his son, Eugene G. A. Crounse. An ad- dition to the tannery building was erected in 1884, and improved machinery for the manufacture of horse feed was put in. This branch of industry

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THE TOWNSHIP OF KNOX.

Mr. Crounse carries on in connection with tan- ning, his father, Alexander Crounse, giving his personal attention to the supervision of the latter department.

Nathan Crary, father of Mr. John G. Crary, or- ganized the manufacture of pill-boxes in Knox about eighty years ago. Since his time the busi- ness has been more or less extensively carried on by John G. Crary and others. The manufacturers of Brandreth's and other pills obtain their supply of small wooden boxes here, and many of the citi- zens of Knoxville and vicinity find employment in the industry.

BURIAL GROUNDS.

In the earlier days of the history of the town, in- terments were made on the farms of the residents. Here and there may still be seen neatly kept family plots on gentle slopes not far distant from some of the finest farm-houses in Knox. About the time of the organization of the old Presbyterian church, the graveyard in Knoxville, which is still known as " the old Presbyterian burying ground," was open- ed. Occasional interments are made there still, and many of its quaint old headstones bear the names of those who were among the pioneers of the town.

The Whipple Cemetery, in the eastern part of the town, has long been much in use by the people of Knox. It occupies a commanding po- sition upon an abrupt elevation, and contains nu- merous interesting and quite a number of sightly

monuments. It has recently been improved and provided with a substantial inclosure and an at- tractive entrance. It is so known from the fact that it is located on a portion of the Whipple farm, and is maintained at the joint expense of the many families who bury their dead there.

The Knox Cemetery is a beautiful and sightly burial place, possessing many advantages. The Cemetery Company controlling it was organized in 1874, and the cemetery was dedicated by Rev. Mr. Robinson, August 18, that year. The body of Lieutenant Michael P. Barclay was the first one buried there. The officers of the company at its organization were David Van Auken, Amos Crary, Charles Clute, Henry Blackley, and one other. The present officers are as follows : Charles Gage, president ; Peter Schoonmaker, secretary and treas- urer ; William Van Auken, Nicholas Chesebro, W. Crary and Arthur Witter.

LOCAL INSURANCE.

Knox has a local mutual fire insurance com- pany, which has been in successful operation several years, with which Hon. Peter Schoonmaker and other prominent citizens have from time to time been officially connected. Its policies now aggre- gate about $400,000, and its assessable bonds amount to $ 16,000. Its officers in the fall of 1884 were : Ira Van Auken, president ; Elias Bassler, secretary ; William Sand, I. D. Haverly, James M. Chesebro, Nicholas Chesebro, Amos Saddlemire, Austin Gifford and Norman O. Bell (agent).

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

FLITTIE

Scher Schoonmaken

HON. PETER SCHOONMAKER.

Hon. PETER SCHOONMAKER is a son of Christian and Lydia (Warner) Schoonmaker, and was born in Knox, June 29, 1828. He was reared on his father's farm, and received his education in the public schools of his native town. He engaged in farming and became known as one of the most suc- cessful farmers and business man in his section of the county. He from time to time purchased sev- eral farms in Knox, and at his father's death in- herited the old Schoonmaker homestead, where he has lived all his life. For some time past he has been the most extensive real estate owner in the town.

In 1850 Mr. Schoonmaker married Miss Eme- line Wolford, a daughter of Henry Wolford, a farm- er of Knox. He has two sons-Winfield Scott Schoonmaker and Jay Schoonmaker, both of whom are married, live near their father, and are ranked among the most enterprising of the young business men of Knox.

An ardent Republican and an active worker for the advancement of the cause of his party, both at home and abroad, Mr. Schoonmaker has, since he grew to manhood, taken a deep interest in political affairs. He was elected assessor of the town of Knox in the spring of 1855, and re-elected each successive term until he resigned the position in 1866. In the last-mentioned year he was elected

supervisor. He was re-elected the six succeeding terms, five times without opposition. In 1872 he was the candidate of the Republican party for member of Assembly to represent the First Assem- bly District of Albany County. The district had for several years given a Democratic majority, and at the best could only be regarded as close by the Republicans. No better evidence of Mr. Schoonmak- er's personal popularity could be adduced than the fact that he was elected by 987 majority. Mr. Schoon- maker served on the committees on "Roads and Bridges," "Agriculture " and " Privileges and Elec- tions," and cast his vote for Hon. Roscoe Conk- ling for United States Senator. His service as As- semblyman was both creditable to himself and highly satisfactory to his constituents. He declined a re-election and has since refused to be a candi- date for any office, devoting himself to his business; but his interest in the Republican cause is so deep that he has at the same time been an active and in- fluential worker for the success of his party in his town, county and country. He has also devoted himself assiduously to the advancement of the in- terests of the town of Knox. He has been promi- nent in the conduct of its educational institutions, and is one of the leading spirits in the management of the well-known local insurance company of Knox. He and his wife are members of St. Paul's Lutheran Evangelical Church of Berne.

THE TOWNSHIP OF KNOX.

885

enson

DENISON CRARY.

Among the earliest settlers in Knox were the Crarys and Denisons, who came from Connecticut in 1798. Thomas Crary was born in Connecticut, October 12, 1744. He married Mehetabel Mason, January 9, 1772. They had nine children- Thomas, born in 1775; Mary, born in 1777; Mason, born in 1779; Eunice, born in 1782; Cynthia, born in 1786; Amos, born in 1788; Andrew, born in 1790; Ephraim, born in 1793; and Jabez, born in 1796. Amos Crary married Mary Denison in 1811, and had six children, named as follows in the order of their birth: Den- ison, Susan, Thomas, Horace, Sarah Ann and Esther. Susan removed to Iowa and died there. Thomas died in infancy. Horace removed, when a young man, to Schoharie County, and thence, in 1883, to Chicago. Sarah Ann also lives in Chi- cago. Esther lives in Iowa. The only one repre- senting the family in the town at the present time is Denison Crary, eldest child of Amos, who was born June 30, 1812. Captain Henry Denison served the cause of the colonies in the Revolution- ary war, and after coming to Knox was one of the most prominent early residents. He was one of the founders of the Old Knox Presbyterian Church,

of which he was also a deacon for many years. He had seven children, named Henry, Daniel, Gideon, Mary, Sally, Lois and Esther. Henry removed to Pennsylvania and died there. Daniel became a physician, and lived and died in Onondaga County, which he represented twice in the Assembly. Gideon died in Knox, at the age of thirty-three. Mary married Amos Crary, and died in 1840, aged fifty-one. Sally died unmarried. Lois and Esther married, and died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Denison Crary was reared on his father's farm, attending the public schools, and for a time the old Knox Academy. He has been a farmer all his life, except about three years, during which he was engaged upon the construction of the New York Central Railroad, between Schenectady and Utica and between Syracuse and Auburn, and of the Erie Railway, upon which he fulfilled two con- tracts, one for a mile of grade eastward out of Dunkirk, and another for a section in Orange County. In these contracts Anson H. Taylor, his uncle, was his partner. His home farm was pur- chased by his father about 1842, and Mr. Crary has owned and lived on it since 1862. Since that date he has purchased a small farm, partially timber land, located about a mile from his resi- dence.

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ALITTLE

& B Davenport

June 16, 1856, Mr. Crary married Miss Henri- etta M. Williams, of Knox, a granddaughter of Ebenezer Williams, who was another of the early settlers who came into Knox from Connecticut about the close of the last century. He has been a Republican since the organization of the Repub- lican party, and has voted for every Republican candidate for the Presidency from Fremont to Blaine. Previous to the organization of the Republican party he was a Whig. But it is not to be supposed that, while he is an ardent partisan, he is by any means an active politician. He has been too busy all his life to mingle much with public affairs. His attention to his own personal interests has been close and unremitting, and he is recognized as one of the most successful farmers in his section of the county. Mrs. Crary is a member and Mr. Crary is a regular attendant and liberal supporter of the Dutch Reformed Church of Knox. He also con- tributes generously to all worthy public objects, and is regarded as the friend and abettor of all needed improvements in the town. He has served

his fellow townsmen as Highway Commissioner and Town Clerk, but has usually refused to be a candi- date for any office whatever.

SAMUEL B. DAVENPORT.

SAMUEL B. DAVENPORT was born in Newcastle, Westchester County, N. Y. His father was Wil- liam Doty Davenport. His mother was Phebe C. Marshall (Davenport), who died February 3, 1869, aged seventy-three years. They were married Oc- tober 20, 1814. William Davenport, grandfather of Mr. Samuel B. Davenport, was born June 18, 1759, and married Elizabeth Doty, who was born February 10, 1763. Some time prior to the Rev- olutionary war he removed from Flushing, L. I., to Chappaqua, Westchester County. His farm lay between the British and American lines, as they were drawn at one time, and it was his ill fortune to twice fall into the hands of the English sol- diers. Upon the first occasion he made his escape unharmed; but upon the second, while endeavor-

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THE TOWNSHIP OF KNOX.

ing to hurry him away to a place of confinement, his captors, mounted on horseback and driving him on foot before them, pricked and injured him with their bayonets so seriously that he never en- tirely recovered from the wounds then received. He died July 23, 1826; his wife, July 23, 1846. Their children were Samuel, born February 28, 1785, and died December 27, 1792; Stephen, born October 4, 1786, and died April 24, 1853; Mary, born September 13, 1788, and died February 12, 1854; William Doty, born December 7, 1790, and died March 3, 1876; Phebe, born August 17, 1793, and died about ten years ago.

The children of William Doty Davenport and his wife were : David M., born November 12, 1815, who died October 3, 1871; Lydia C., born April 23, 1817, who died April 8, 1871; Marilla K., born May 16, 1822; Samuel B., born July 7, 1825; Mary, born March 23, 1829; Ira M., born Feb- rnary 23, 1831; Elizabeth, born August 20, 1883; Asa, born September 1, 1836, who died Septem- ber 9, 1839.

William Doty Davenport and his family removed to Knox in 1828, when Samnel B. was about three years old. The latter well remembers the crossing of the Hudson at Albany by the family and his fright at the boats plying about him. An attempt to rob Mr. Davenport by men who had known of his drawing his money from the bank in Westches- ter County, and followed him with that purpose in view, was frustrated in Duanesburgh, while the party were passing through a dense wood, by a faithful dog which the new-comer was bringing to his new home in Knox. Mr. Davenport also re- members when, at the age of six years, his father took him to Albany to witness the opening of the Albany and Schenectady Railroad, one of the first railroads of any importance opened in the country.

He was educated at the common schools at Quaker street, and brought up to a farmer's life. He has since resided in Knox, and has been a successful farmer and a highly respected citizen. He is a Republican in politics, and deeply interested in public affairs and those of the community in which he lives. He has served the town of Knox as assessor eleven years in succession, and has for many years been a trustee of Grove Cemetery As- sociation, proprietors of the Grove Cemetery at Quaker street. He married Miss Hannah Jane Powell, daughter of Elisha Powell, a Quaker, and for many years, till his death, a resident of Green- ville, Greene County, N. Y. Mrs. Davenport died August 20, 1874. He married Mrs. Caroline M. W. Baker, widow of Dr. Austin A. Baker, of Howard, Steuben County, N. Y., April 24, 1876. By his first marriage he had children as follows: Isabel, born July 17, 1851, who died April 8, 1860; Mary Marilla, born June 26, 1853, who married George Hallenbeck, of Knowersville, June 21, 1882, and Elisha H., born April 2, 1856, who married Miss Emily Baker upon the same date as that of his sister's marriage above mentioned, and has one son, named Baker L., who was born De- cember 22, 1883.

We take pleasure in making mention of the fol- lowing citizens, who, by their guaranteed support, have helped to insure the publication of this valua- ble work: E. G. A. Cronnse, Peter Schoonmaker, Chas. G. Frink, Denison Crary, Jacob Sholtes, Robert Schoonmaker, J. G. Lendrum, Dennis H. Colliton, A. Quay.

ALONZO QUAY, born in Knox, February 10, 1853; married Elizabeth E. Townsend, Novemer 15, 1856; farmer; Knox post-office.

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Charles

CHARLES G. FRINK.

Charles Frink came from Connecticut and set- tled in what is now Knox in 1797. He was the great-grandfather of Mr. Charles G. Frink, the present supervisor of the town. His son, Charles Frink, Jr., married into the Stark family of Con- necticut before he accompanied his father to Knox. He became a farmer in Knox, and had three chil- dren, two sons and a daughter. The sons were named Russel and Charles, the last mentioned of whom was the father of Mr. Charles G. Frink. Prudence, the daughter, married Oliver Forsyth, of Wright, Schoharie County. Russel married Rebecca Gallup and removed to Schoharie County, and thence to Belchertown, Mass., where he died. Charles married Maria Osterhout, of Knox. They had twelve children, of whom Charles G. Frink, born July 2, 1819, was the oldest. He attended the common school, and later was a student at the old Knox Academy for a time. He was reared by his grandfather, George Osterhout, and lived with him until he was about twenty years old, when his

grandfather removed to Fulton, Schoharie County. Later, Mr. Osterhout removed to Rotterdam, Schenectady County, where he died.

Mr. Frink learned the mason's trade and worked at it in connection with farming for abont seven years. January 20, 1844, he married Miss Mar- garet Schoonmaker, daughter of Christian Schoon- maker, of Knox. A few years afterward he turned his attention wholly to farming, and since his marriage has lived on the old Christian Schoon- maker homestead, which was inherited by Mrs. Frink. In 1861 he purchased the Osterhout farm, formerly owned by his grandfather. Later, he

bought the De Witt Schoonmaker farm. Mr. Frink has had six children, only three of whom are living. They were named, in the order of their birth, Seneca, Charles M., Lydia, Ida, Mary and Minnie. Lydia died July 27, 1860, aged 6 years; Mary died August 19, 1874, aged 13 years; Minnie died August 21, 1874, aged II years. Seneca married Emeline Quay, of Knox, and lives on the Osterhout farm. Charles M. married Euphemia Truax, of Knox, and lives with his

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THE TOWNSHIP OF NEW SCOTLAND.

father. Ida is still a member of her father's family.

Politically, Mr. Frink is not a strong partisan, but inclines to the principles of the Democratic party. He has not been active in politics and has never sought office of any kind, but he has been

elected to several minor town offices, and was chosen supervisor of Knox in 1883, and re-elected in 1885. Though not a church member, he has always been a liberal contributor to the support of Christianity in the town.

HISTORY OF NEW SCOTLAND.

By JACOB S. MARKLE.

AS this township was originally a part of Bethle- hem, and Bethlehem formed from Watervliet, their histories previous to 1833 are difficult of separation, and render the work more complicated, as the records are incomplete in their local connec- tion; and in collecting the material very little was obtained from public or private records, as they generally were disconnected in detail. So few family records having been found reliable, the writer was obliged to deduce an approximate date for general reference in the order of events.

The names and complete succession of the Roman Consuls and the victors of the Olympian games are facts of record, while many important events and data in the history and settlement of the township cannot be clearly determined in these days of modern progress. Few papers or records of value were found in families relating to early settlements, or bearing upon the history of neigh- borhoods. Many difficulties had to be overcome, and the author returns thanks to those who kindly contributed valuable information, and especially is he indebted to the Rev. James G. K. McClure for history of New Scotland Presbyterian Church, and many other facts taken from his "Centenary Ser- mon."

The design of the writer has been to compile general facts of history, and record events that shall possess valuable information for the reader and the public for future reference.

The township of New Scotland was formed from Bethlehem, April 25, 1832, and is the central town of the county, having an area of 61, 711 acres, and a population of 3, 253. There are no records of the commissioners or surveyors who located or es- tablished the boundary line, nor any minutes relat- ing to the same. The act of the Legislature de- fines the point of beginning as follows: "From and after the passage of this act, all that part of the

town of Bethlehem, in the County of Albany, lying west of a line beginning at a point six miles west of the Hudson River, in the south bounds of the town of Guilderland; thence on a southerly course, parallel with the Hudson River, to a point in the north bounds of the town of Cocymans, six miles west from the said Hudson River, and all lying west of said line, shall be a separate town, to be known by the name of New Scotland."

Of the trees marked by the surveyors as monu- ments in this division line many have been wantonly destroyed, and the few remaining will soon disappear.

The surface is broken by ridges and hills that rise from 400 to 800 feet high. The Helderberg Hills are a marked feature of this town, and have a great bearing on its physical structure, as they ex- tend through the western part, from south to north, forming the water-shed, and giving direction to the drainage, also contributing to the diversity of scenery and agricultural resources. The soil is clay and gravelly loam; the eastern and central parts are rolling, the southern undulating, and the western part, occupied by the Helderbergs, hilly. The principal streams are the Normanskill, in the northeast corner, and its tributary from this town is Vlye or Fly Creek, which takes its rise from the base of the Helderbergs; Vlaaman or Flaman's Creek, in the eastern central ; Onisquethau Creek, in the southern, with several small streams as tribu- taries, and Black Creek, in the northwest. Lawson's Lake, in the south, on the line of Coeymans, is a small sheet of water, the outlet of which falls into a deep cavity and flows for some distance into a sub- terranean cavern, in which are found beautiful stalactites and thousands of bats clinging to the walls. Bennett's Hill, at Clarksville, has a strong sulphur spring, and from the summit a fine land- scape lies before the visitor. At the foot of Cope-

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

land Hill are remarkable sink-holes, from five to eight feet in diameter, which extend through the soil and lime rock to the depth of ten or twenty feet. These cavities are connected by an under- ground passage, which has been explored and found to contain several rooms, while a stream of water forms the bottom of this passage. At Clarksville are two caves of considerable interest, frequented by visitors. Mount Pleasant, which is a series of hills east of New Salem, and the location of Mount Pleasant Cemetery, seems by nature to have been especially designated for the purpose, possessing an elevated situation, with diversity of surface, and an unbroken view in all directions for many miles.

The railroads that enter the town and contribute to the general prosperity are: The Albany and Susquehanna, which passes through the northeast corner, with a station at Vorheesville, and the New York, West Shore and Buffalo Railroad enters the town near Feura Bush, extends north, crossing the track of the Albany and Susquehanna road at Vor- heesville, which is an important station.

The physical feature of this town is the Helder- berg Hills, which form a very interesting group, as they extend from north to south in the western part and slope back to the adjoining towns. These ranges are outlying spurs of the Catskills, which are a northerly continuation of the Alleghany Mountains, and a part of the great Appalachian system. Their declivities are very steep, and some- times precipitous on the east, but slope more gradually toward the west.

The highest point of these hills is an elevation of 1, 823 feet above Governor's Island, mean tide, and is upon the farm of David Flansburg, in the western part of this town. Upon this summit the United States Coast Survey and the New York State Survey have a station, named "Helderberg."

There are several elevations from 1,000 to 1, 700 feet high, and the plateaus from 600 to 1, 000 feet.

From the summit of the Helderbergs, and along the Beaverdam road as it winds np the hill, many lovely prospects can be seen The range is extensive and the scenery varied in beauty, present- ing a charming panorama of the surrounding country. From the summit can be seen the vil- lages nestling in the valley beneath, and in the dis- tance the City of Albany, and new Capitol, West Albany, Greenbush, Troy; also, the Green Moun- tains of Vermont. Trains of cars upon several railroads are seen winding over the plains like small threads, and at night the electric lights of Albany illumine the sky like an aurora borealis.

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Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 192

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1452

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452