Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 196

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 196

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Onisquethau Union Cemetery Association (lo- cated at Tarrytown) was organized in 1867, with the following officers : Rushmore Bennett, Presi- dent ; Jeremiah Mead, Vice-President ; Hiram Crounse, Secretary ; Hiram B. Mead, Treasurer. The cemetery ground is level, with an inclination to the east, and contains some very fine monuments. The present officers are : John Scott, President ; Henry Mead, Secretary ; Henry Bradt, Superin- tendent.

Jerusalem Cemetery Association, at Feura Bush, was organized in June, 1870, and the following officers elected : Henry Creble, President ; Gen. James Slingerland, * Vice-President ; Hiram Van- derzee, Treasurer ; A. C. Millspaugh, Secretary. The cemetery occupies six acres of land in a pleas- ant location, and is tastefully laid out. The pres- ent officers are : President, Henry Creble ; Vice- President, Isaac Van Allen ; Treasurer, Harman Van Derzee ; Secretary, John Van Allen ; Super- intendent, I. Van Allen.

New Scotland Cemetery Association, connected with the New Scotland Presbyterian Church, was organized, April 12, 1866. E. E. Wands, Presi- dent ; Thomas Bullock, Secretary and Treasurer ; D. V. S. Raynsford, John Witbeck, George Tay- lor, Albert La Grange, Lewis Hess, George W. Bender, Abram Ruso, directors. The cemetery ground is conveniently arranged, and includes the old burying place of the church, containing about four acres. The present officers are : E. E. Wands, President ; D. V. S. Raynsford, Treasurer and Secretary.

RECORD OF THE OFFICERS, SOLDIERS AND SEAMEN FURNISHED DURING THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

The town of New Scotland contributed its share of brave hearts and stalwart men in the period of our country's peril and the trial of a free govern- ment. When the call to arms was proclaimed, her quotas were always filled, and her soldier sons endured in the field till peace dismissed them to their homes. The several companies and regi- ments to which our soldiers belonged went through many arduous campaigns. They were exposed to dangers and privations from the unhealthful surroundings, which often brought on disease and

* Dead.

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

incapacitated them from immediate usefulness ; yet they were ready to obey commands and par- ticipated in some of the fiercest battles and assaults of the war.

Many of their achievements should have brought them honor and distinction, but the shadows of their superiors in office have obscured the deeds and daring of those men deserving of our grati- tude.

The record of volunteers from this township contains the names of many who were in the prime of youthful manhood, possessed of sterling char- acter, energy and patriotism, and their loyalty is well attested by the faithful performance of duty, the many sacrifices made, as well as inhuman cruelty endured by others in the horrible prisons to which they were consigned.

It can be said with credit that but few of the men deserted their post of duty and became refugees until after the close of the war.

The termination of hostilities brought new elements into consideration, and hundreds of brave men who periled their lives have been almost forgotten, as if they no longer had an existence, and the anxiety of the historian to especially favor men in high places has caused them to suppress many of the achievements originated and success- fully carried out by heroes whose names should be remembered by every youth in the land.

Victory-after many hard-fought battles and reverses-crowned our army with success, and the living band of self-sacrificing heroes were once more at liberty to lay down their arms and return to home and friends.

Heroism deserves recognition, bravery its re- ward ; but when men offer their lives in defense of their country and humanity, that all may enjoy the blessings of freedom, they deserve more than a re- ward-they claim our gratitude.

At the time and during the Revolutionary war New Scotland had few inhabitants. Many of these were adherents to the crown, or in sympathy with England; others belonged to that detestable class, Tories, who secretly aided the Indians in their stealthy raids of cruelty and carnage, and did not hesitate to plot the ruin or murder of neighbors and their families. A few names only are on rec- ord to our credit, and these will soon pass into oblivion. Among them were: William McCullock, Anthony Wayne, John Furbeck, John Wands, Robert Hilton, Albert Bradt, and some of the La Granges.

In the war of 1812 there went from what is now New Scotland a fair representation to teach England that we, although young in national life, were not to be intimidated or deterred from assert- ing our rights and protecting our citizens. These are some of the men who grace the record : Samuel Taylor, Samuel Moak, Francis Aernhout, Frederic Rowe, John Bush, James Jackson, Peter and Joseph Wands, Peter and Daniel Mc- Ewen, John Long, John Bradt, William R. Hilton, Thomas Wayne, Henry Moak, Samuel Warren, James W. Wands, John Eddington, and others. There is not living to-day one man who

participated in this war from the township of New Scotland.

The following names are taken from the town records, making a complete list of men who enlist- ed, were drafted or furnished substitutes, during the war of the rebellion.

David D. L. McCullock, William Van Atten, Oscar N. Slingerland, Isaac Van Atten, Alexander F. Patterson, Jacob Martin Erwin, John A. Ram- sey, Patrick Fowler, Solomon Luke, Wilhelm Buckar, Thomas Higgins, John W. Oliver, Daniel Van Deusen, Rensselaer Raynsford, Michael Kays, George Wayne, James Mathias, John H. Fitch, William Henry Fitch, John L. Winne, George Houghton, William Henry Van Alstyne, John McChesney, John Scott, Alexander F. Hart, John Ryall, George W. Jackson, Henry C. Reid, James Ryall, Eli H. Hart, Edmund Wells Raynsford, Alexander McMillen, Abram Van Densen, Peter H. Scutt, Joel Y. Bloomingdale, Alonzo Stalker, John Stalker, Henry Van Zandt, James Henry Nee- per, James J. Reid, William James Stalker, John A. Markle, James M. Wands, Abram M. Hays, Benjamin Pearl, John H. Flansburg, Garret W. Oliver, John Wood, Richard Wood, Robert J. Wands, Alexander H. Wands, Frederick Whiler, James E. Wands, Thomas Wands, Oliver Wands, John Walser, Abram Relyea, Henry Crounse, Mar- tin Talmadge, Barnard O'Neal, Amos L. Westfall, Andrew B. White, George Ferguson, Peter Pearl, Datus T. Cole, Garret G. Long, Philip Arnis, Cornelius Hotaling, John A. Sager, Jacob M. Dingman, John S. Loucks, William Henry Mosher, Isaac H. Van Wie, John Jackson, Prime Jackson, William H. Latta, Joel B. Cole, James H. Oliver, Garret Bradt, Levi Hallenbeck, John Henry Stalker, William H. Stalker, Henry Stalker, George Tompkins, John R. Bradt, David G. Hotaling, John Crooks, William Groesbeck, Levi W. Hallenbeck, John Wagoner, John W. Smith, Jacob Wheeler, Jacob Weidman, Abram B. Decker, Francis L. Brate, Henry Vroman, William Brady, Adam Bradt, Lewis H. Smith, Nelson W. Miller, Harvey Fletcher, Charles H. Shear, John D. Houch, Boltus De Long, Storm Long, Jacob H. De Long, Philip Latta, Walter Slingerland, Prime Tompson, James Pelton, William Carknard, Joel Carknard, Andrew Carknard, Jacob Wagoner, William B. De Long, Samuel Marsham, John Lewis Houck, William B. Hotaling, Franklin Hallenbeck, Henry W. Case, John Winston, Rosalro Pomeroy, Deevigna Pomeroy, Marshal Weaver, David Wheeler, William Zinck, Anthony Blanchard Seger, Cornelius Britton, William James Clapper, Warren Clapper, William Henry Miller, Richard Miller, Frank Miller, John Carknard, Van Zandt Bradt, Edward L. Wright, Lanson Devoe, William Seward Murphy, Henry Hotaling, Henry Bradt, Peter L. Houck, Jr., Thomas F. Ray, George H. Pladwell, Robert C. Salisbury, James McNab, L. A. Cooley, James Wm. Mann, Charles H. Falke, Alonzo Tenbroeck, J. C. Bridgman, - Frederick, Richard O. Warren, William J. Cook, N. M. Hawley, James Turner, Jr., Abram Grote, Jo- seph L. Chamberlain, Albert W. Taffe, Charles S.

907

THE TOWNSHIP OF NEW SCOTLAND.

Hermance, Conrad P. Gesler, John H. Bullock, J. P. Heath, William Snell, William G. Mink, Asa W. Dingman, Charles Eckhart, Francis Bradt, Thedore A. Carpenter, John F. Oliver, Lucius L. Houck, Alfred Flansburg, Hiram W. Hallenbeck, Charles H. Carknard, Isaac C. White, John Wagoner, Garret H. Van Denburg, William Wagoner, Isaac Van Alstyne, Jacob Bake, Abram F. Hotaling, Alexander Begs, Jacob Oliver, Barton Britton, Prime Jackson, Jacob Boice, William Slingerland, C. W. Witbeck, Peter Henry Scher- merhorn, William Burnside, Edgar Shear, Leonard Applebee, John F. Hallenbeck, Solomon Wilsey, Charles Wilson, David Murphy, John Spreadbury, Edward Johnson, Edward Lawrence, George Smith, Thomas Carroll, Dennis Sawyer, John Rickett, Isaac M. Manning, Philip Dailey, George W. Clowe, Sanford W. Cheesbro, Frederick Hal- lenbeck, Joseph Baricansky, Robert C. Salisbury, Capt. Charles McCullock.

TANNERIES.

The first tannery was built by William McCul- lock, in the year 1774, on the south side of the plank road, opposite Albertus Becker's house, and east of New Scotland. Here is a small flat, with a diminu- tive supply of water from a spring just above, which gave Mr. McCullock facilities for tanning leather. Another was constructed at New Salem by Beriah Chesebrough, which was used until 1855; one at New Scotland, built by Peter Rushmore; one in the Houck neighborhood, and one on the farm of Arnold Wood. All have been abandoned for several years, as the supply of bark failed.

MILLS.

There are some vestiges of Uziah Conger's saw and grist-mill, which was upon the Vly Kill, near Mrs. James McElroy's, and a few are still living who remember the carding mill at the same place.

Perhaps the first grist-mill was built by the Slingerlands on the Onisquethau Creek, cast of Clarksville, on the farm of Conrad C. Crounce. Here the water of the creek dashes down a rapid fall of forty feet, and passes through a gorge of slate rock, with sloping walls forty to sixty feet high. The mill was built on the bed of the creek, below the falls, and approached by a narrow road- way along the side of the wall, which was quite steep. Here the farmers for many miles distant came on horseback, with their grist of wheat or corn, to be ground into flour for bread, or into meal for mush or suppawn, to be eaten with milk. There are a few persons yet living who, when boys, came to this mill with grists; but none can give the year when it was built or when abandoned. The best authority gives the date 1750 to 1760. Another grist-mill was erected on the farm now owned by Michael Slingerland many years ago. A man by the name of Van Zandt was an carly set- tler on this farm. The grist-mill has disappeared, and in its place a saw-mill-with circular and up- right saws-owned by Mr. Slingerland. A grist-

mill was erected in 1831, in the northern part of the township, on the Vly Kill, by the La Granges; this mill has three run of stone, and connected with it is a saw-mill. It is largely patronized by farmers, and grinds many tons of buck wheat flour.

On a spring creek, south of Andrew Allen's and north of the turnpike road, there was once a carding-mill belonging to a man by the name of Grant. The spinning of wool or flax is an ac- complishment of the past, and mills for carding or dressing of cloth are no longer a necessity; the spinning wheel no longer anything but an orna- ment in the household.

PHYSICIANS.

Previous to 1800 there is no satisfactory evidence that physicians were resident in this town. When physicians were needed in extreme cases, they were called from Albany or some adjoining town. Many families resorted to domestic remedies, in the use of herbs, roots and salves, for the relief of the sick; and among the pretenders to skill were those who assumed to cure disease by the laying on of hands or repeating words in cabalistic form, which the superstitious patient would receive in faith as of divine origin.

Among the carliest physicians were Drs .. Clark, Dennick, Day, De Lamater. Dr. Clark practiced at New Scotland, died in 1813 or 1814, and was buried with Masonic honors. His remains are in the New Scotland Cemetery. Dr. Clark was suc- ceded by Thomas Lloyd, and soon after by Samuel Dickson. Dr. Lloyd was bold and experimental in his practice, and liberal in his opinions. Samuel Dickson was a son of one of the early Scotch settlers, possessing a kind, genial disposition, af- fable in his manners, conscientious as a physician, and highly esteemed by all. His intelligence com- manded respect and consideration among his townsmen, and he was elected in 1854 to Congress, to represent the Albany district. He died in 1858, and is buried in New Scotland cemetery. Dr. John H. Becker, a graduate of Albany Medical College, settled here, and continued the practice of medicine until his death.

John H. Fitch, now located at New Scotland, is a great-grandson of William Allen, a member of a Scotch family who were early settlers in the town. Fitch graduated from the Eclectic Medical Col- lege of New York City in 1868. He was adjunct professor and demonstrator of anatomy in this college for two years; practiced in New York three years, and came to New Scotland in 1873. Is now a practitioner of the homoeopathic school. Dr. Moak practiced at New Scotland for a short time about 1876.

Dr. Peter De Lamater lived and practiced at New Salem. He resided at the Spring, on the farm now owned by Isaac Albright. He moved to Duanesburgh about 1818. Two of his sons be- came physicians. From this date until 1855 there was no settled physician at this place, when Milton B. Lamb came and remained till 1866 ; then he disposed of his property and interest to Hiram

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Becker, of Central Bridge, who was a graduate of Albany Medical College.

Dr. Valentine Denick was located between Clarks- ville and Union; he was one of the first postmasters in the town, and kept tavern on the Delaware turnpike, on the premises now owned by Mrs. Vanderpool. He was a successful physician for the time, as the science of medicine then was not de- veloped, and afforded few facilities to the student. Drs. Schermerhorn, Holmes and Ingraham were settled at Clarksville. Succeeding them is Hiram Crounce, a graduate of " Castleton Medical Col- lege of Vermont " in 1847; practiced in Rotterdam one year, Knox seven years, Guilderland one year, and located in Clarksville in the year 1857.

Conrad J. Crounce graduated from Albany Medical College in 1845; first located in Knoxville, and came to Clarksville in 1862.

Dr. M. S. Dayton also located at Clarksville. Dr. Israel Day practiced medicine in the northern part of the town, at what is locally know as Black Creek. He was succeeded by Henry Sager, a grad- uate of Fairfield Medical College; he died in 1859.

Dr. G. V. Voorhees was located at Voorheesville in 1870. Dr. A. Oliver, now located at Voorhees- ville, is a graduate of Albany Medical College in 1876, and studied medicine with Dr. Hiram Becker.

INDIANS.

The township contains very little of interest in regard to its Indian history. The two most impor- tant events or transactions were the Van Baal deed, given by four Mohawk Chiefs, and the deed to Tunis Slingerland, signed by three Indians. In many localities the farmer throws up with the plow relics of Indian workmanship, as flint arrow-heads, implements of flint with sharp edges for cutting wood and skinning of animals, long round stones used in pounding corn, and other curiosities. In- dians were quite numerous through the town, and their trails extended from the Mohawk and Scho- harie valleys. They crossed the Helderbergs by means of trees felled against the precipitous rocks, which were called "Indian ladders," or by a few narrow defiles, yet used in gaining the summit. The Helderbergs afforded secret resorts and skulking places for the Indians and Tories, into which they could hide and thus elude discovery. They had camping grounds on the Tawasentha, or

Norman's Kill; in the valley along the Helderbergs; at Clarksville; on the Hotaling farms, extending all along the Onisquethau Creek, and the Slingerland flats. After 1800 they broke up and lived in small companies, building rude huts, which they would abandon, and then wander to some other locality, erect huts in the neighborhood of farmers, from whom they expected to live by begging or the sale of their handiwork, the proceeds of which were only too often squandered for whisky. Civilization is incongenial to their natures, and their intermixture with negroes lost to them their ethnological characteristics; they assumed habits and names of the whites. Harmanus, Isaac, Jerry, Davy, John, Shoppy, Ginny, Becky and Sarah were common. The last time the writer saw any of these half-breeds was in 1842.

ORCHARDS.

Apple trees were planted upon many farms, two 1

hundred years ago; whether by the Indians or whites is not known. In a few orchards some of these trees are yet standing. The farms south of New Salem were settled by Jan Braat, and on the farm now owned by R. Markle is one of these an- cient trees, which measures thirteen feet four inches in circumference. The writer has heard an old man, now dead, who was born in 1760, say these trees were as large around as a barrel when he could first remember seeing them; as his grand- father lived on these premises, the trees must be at least two hundred years old. Many other orchards in the town give evidence of great age.

GRAVE-YARDS.

It seems to have been the custom through the town for almost every family to have their dead buried upon their own farm or premises. There are yet upon many farms grave-stones or other monu- ments that mark the resting places of those who died beyond the recollection of any living; but few have any inscription from which to learn the date. Many of these burial places have passed from their original owners, and are cultivated with the ad- joining land. Soon not a vestige of them will re- main. Cemeteries are being substituted, of which there are four in the town, as more appropriate and enduring.

THE TOWNSHIP OF NEW SCOTLAND.

909

ALITILE.

HON. HIRAM BECKER, M. D.

Hon. HIRAM BECKER, M. D., was born in the town of Wright, Schoharie County, N. Y., January 22, 1840, and is now (1885) in his forty-sixth year. He attended the district schools of his neighborhood and afterward entered the old Gallupville Academy, where many other men of mark in this section were educated, wholly or in part. Later, he was a student for a time at the Schoharie Academy in 1857 and 1858. After completing his studies there he entered upon the study of medicine, passing the years 1862-64, until his graduation, at the Albany Medical Col- lege, in the meantime teaching school as occasion offered and his plans permitted. He soon estab- lished a medical practice both large and lucrative, locating in time at New Salem, and takes rank as one of the best read and most skillful physicians and surgeons in Albany County. Dr. Becker was reared in the Republican faith, politically, and has never departed from it. He has gained a promi- nent place in the counsels of his party, both in his town and county, though he is not and never has been an office-seeker ; but his abilities have been recognized by his repeated elections to the super-

visorship of New Scotland and his election, in 1883, to represent the Second Assembly District of Albany County (consisting of the Tenth, Eleventh, Fourteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth wards of the city of Albany, and the towns of Guilderland, Knox and New Scotland) in the Legislature. In the latter instance his popularity was attested by a majority of 707 over the vote cast for his opponent (Francis Freckleton, a Democrat), in spite of the fact that in the previous year (1882) the Democratic plurality in the district had been 324. In his legislative capacity Dr. Becker served with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents, both on the floor of the house and on several important committees. It is but his due to state that he was offered the nomination for re-election, but declined it in favor of the gentleman who became his suc- cessor, preferring to devote his time and energies to his increasing professional duties to longer taking active part in public affairs.

Dr. Becker is essentially a self-made man, for by his own exertions he has conquered those diffi- culties which cumber the pathway to success and won an enviable position in his profession and among his fellow men. He is a close student of passing events and takes a worthy and most in-

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ALITTLE.

Howram brownse

telligent interest in all things which in any manner affect the welfare of his town, county and country. His mind is of a liberal cast and his sympathies with mankind are broad and earnest. As a man and a citizen he commands undisputed respect from all classes, and in all of the relations of life he is just, zealous and helpful.

HIRAM CROUNSE, M. D.

Dr. HIRAM CROUNSE, now residing at Clarksville, Albany County, N. Y., was born in 1820, in the town of Sharon, Schoharie County, N. Y. In 1836 he moved to Albany County, and in 1847 he graduated in medicine from the Castleton (Ver- mont) Medical College, since which time he has continually practiced. His standing among the medical fraternity is deservedly high, and he has a large and successful practice. He takes first rank as a man and a citizen, and is one of the best known and most highly respected men in his sec- tion of the county.

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: Hiram Becker, A. G. Lansing, Jacob M. Erwin, Hiram Crounse, Leond. J. Applebee,

Henry H. Mead, Jno. B. Van Nattan, C. Slinger- land, Eph. Houghtaling, Peter Van Attan, John Le Bœuf, Jno. V. Leonard, Jas. H. Loucks, Henry Brate, Henry Creble, Edwin Vedder, Wm. South- ard, Michael Slingerland, Samuel Patton, Teunis Slingerland, Fredk. R. Gardner, D. D. L. Mc- Culloch, Hester Slingerland, James J. Arnold, Hiram Wiltsie, John Johnson, Cath. Van Der- poole, Vanderzee La Grange, Wm. I. Spore, Mrs. Mary Mead, Isaac Winston, Mary Bradt, John H. Scutt, Jno. A. Pangborn, Wm. B. Van Atten, D. V. S. Raynsford, Albert La Grange, Jno. H. Fitch, Peter J. Fuller, Albertus Becker, Alex. Reid, Al- mon Barton, J. J. Wademan, Elias M. Gallop, Andrew Johnson, F. B. La Grange, N. A. De Long, Frederick R. Gardner.

HENRY H. MEAD, a farmer, fifty years of age, re- siding at Onisquethau.

F. R. GARDNER is proprietor of saw-mill and lumber business; established in Clarksville since 1853.

LEONARD J. APPLEBY is a farmer, born in 1841; lives in a tenement house in the place he now owns; married in 1861 to Rachel M. Hallenbeck, daughter of A. F. Hallenbeck; has a family of eight children. His father was born in 1806; died 1857. His mother's maiden name was Nancy Swartwout.

911

THE TOWNSHIP OF RENSSELAERVILLE.

JOHN H. FITCH, M. D., physician and surgeon; established in New Scotland since 1873.

HIRAM WILTSIE is a farmer, and established in Coeymans since 1850. In 1847 he married Char- lotte E. Schoonmaker, daughter of Henry Y. Schoonmaker, of Bethlehem; they have six chil- dren. In 1863 they moved from Coeymans to Jerusalem, town of New Scotland, where they now reside. He is one of the largest farmers in the town.

JOHN H. SCUTT is a farmer in the south west cor- ner of the town of New Scotland. About the year 1790 his great-grandfather, Philip Scutt, settled on this farm, where he lived and died. He had two sons, John and Philip, who also died here.

SAMUEL PATTON-John, Robert, and William Pat- ton, brothers, were born in the north of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and came to Albany in 1825, and after four years removed to the town of New Scotland. Mr. Samuel Patton, son of Robert Pat- ton, inherits many of the higher qualities of his pa-

rents and Scotch ancestry. He has been called to rep- resent this town in the Board of Supervisors, one term, and refused to accept a re-election. He has served the town as clerk, and is the efficient secretary of the Town Insurance Association. He is an honorable, upright and highly respected citizen.

JACOB MARTIN ERWIN was born at New Salem, and is of Scotch-Irish and Holland descent. At the first sound of secession, in 1861, he was fired with youthful patriotism and zeal for the safety of his country, and in the autumn of 1861, he, with others of this village, enlisted as a private in the 9Ist Regiment, N. Y. V. After returning from the army, he resumed his business of shoemaking, for a short time, and then engaged in the mercantile business at New Salem, with Conrad Mathias, whose daughter, Amanda, he married, in 1867. He has never held any public office but that of postmaster, which he now fills ; is a stanch advo- cate of his party principles, and is respected by all classes as a citizen worthy of their confidence and esteem.

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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 196

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