USA > New York > Delaware County > Delaware County, New York, history of the century, 1797-1897, centennial celebration, June 9 and 10, 1897 > Part 37
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CHURCHES.
The first builling to be used in town for religious purposes was built about 1798. It was a union meeting house, not denominational. The money. $550, to build this meeting house was raised by popular subscription. Among the original subscribers were Thomas Rickie. Douglas MeIntyre, James Pud- ney, Nehemiah Whitney, Ralph Newell and Thomas Montgomery.
The second church built in the town was St. Peter's Episcopal in Hobart. The frame was raised on July 4, 1801. It was a noted edifice for that early period, a picture of which appears on page 53. The organization of this church society dates from December 8, 1794, when members of the Episco- palian church at Stamford, Kortright and Harpersfield met and elected Tru- man Beers, Augustus Bates, Ebenezer Sturgis, Gershom Hanford, Andrew Beers, Herman Bradford, Stephen Bartow, Elijah Baldwin and Moses Sack- rider trustees. A parsonage, costing $529,66, was built in the fall of Is00. The money to build it was Joaned by the corporation of Trinity Church of New York, and the building is still in use. The Rev. Philander Chase was the first rector of the parish and the Rev. Benjamin T. Trego is now in charge.
The third church was built in the Township valley in 1823 by the Moth- odist society, the framing and construction of the building being superintended by Peter Grant. The building was not heated and for seats loose boards were thrown across supports.
The fourth church in town was built as a Union Church in the village of Stamford in 1833. On June 21, 1:31, the Presbyterians withdrew from the Harpersfield church and organized a church society. The Rev. Fordice Har- rington was the first pastor. While Rev. Warren Mayo was pastor, in 1855. money was raised by subscription and a new edifice was built in the village of Stamford. The present structure is a very attractive one, and the pastor is the Rev. Leonard E. Richards.
The Methodist society, which is believed to have been the fifth church organization in the town, was organized about 1832. The Rov. John Bangs was the first pastor. The Methodists were the last to use the old Union meeting house, the Baptist society having withdrawn and in loff they Imilt a more modern structure. The Rev. F. D. Abrams is the present pastor.
The Baptist church society was originally organized in the town of Jeffer- son. Schoharie county, but the church building stood in Harpersfeld, about two miles northwest of Stamford village. In 1863 the society was reorganized and the present building created on Main street between the Methodist and Presbyterian churches. Some years ago the church was rebuilt. The church
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
was dedicated November 8. 1866. The Rev. J. B. Van Hoesen was pastor of this church for many years. The present pastor is the Rev. R. G. Sibley.
The seventh church in town was built in Hobart by the Presbyterian society in 1854, which has not had a pastor regularly.
The Methodists also built a church at the head of Roses Brook which was the eighth church built in the town.
William Trotter, esq., had much to do with the organization of the Re- formed Presbyterian church of Hobart, which was effected in that village in 1853. The following year the present edifice was built at a cost of $3,200. Mr. Trotter died before the church was completed. The church was dedicated in 1855 by the Rev. Andrew Johnston, the newly installed pastor. Later the society changed its name to that of First Presbyterian Church of Hobart, which it still retains. The present pastor is the Rov. Charles M. Horriek.
As a result of revival services in Hobart held in January, 1834, by the Rev. Bezaleel Howe, the Methodist Church Society was organized. The present church edifice was built in 1835 and in 1854 it was extensively repaired, and several years afterwards the society built a parsonage adjoining the church, costing $1,500. The present pastor is the Rev. A. A. Walker.
Grace Episcopal Chapel was organized in Stamford village as a mission of St. Peter's church in the fall of 1883. The establishment of a mission was the ·ontgrowth of the efforts of Mr. James McLean of South Kortright and New York, Miss M. R. Treadwell, Mrs. I. H. Maynard, Mrs. Ingraham, Mrs. H. S. Wood, Mrs. B. H. Foote, Mrs. R. C. Simpson and other ladies of the Episcopal faith living in Stamford. The chapel cost about $3,000 and was built on a lot donated by Dr. H. S. Wood for that purpose. When the chapel was conse- erated some years later the society was set apart as an independent mission and it has since been self supporting. The present rector is the Rev. Olin Hallock.
The Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart, of which the Rev. Pat- rick Livingstone is pastor, was built in 1870 on Harper street. The structure is a frame building and cost about $4.000. The dedication of the church took place on Oct. 25. 1870, the Rt. Rev. J. J. Conroy, Bishop of Albany, officiating. It is a mission church and under the pastorate of the Father Livingstone has grown so as to occupy an important position among the mission churches of the Catholic diocese.
Besides the churches mentioned above, the one at Almeda, or South Kort- right, is probably the oldest church organization in town.
The Associate Reformed Presbyterian church was organized by Rev. Wil- liam MeAuley in the year 1790, at South Kortright. In 1833 the society built a second church, which has been remodeled in recent years. During the first ninety years of the existence of this congregation there were but three pas- tors: Roy. Wm. MeAuley, Rey. Robert Forrest and Rev. John D. Gibson. The membership of this church extended over a very large territory in the early days. In 1858 the name was changed to United Presbyterian, the Assu- ciate and Associate Reformed organizations in the United States having been merged into one body. This church is still prosperous after an existence of more than a century, and Rov. W. L. Martin is the pastor.
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Village of Walton.
Walton.
By Hon. T. Sanderson.
I HAVE undertaken the task to collect and arrange in as orderly a manner as the brief period of time assigned to me will permit, some of the principal events which have transpired within the limits of the town of Walton within the past one hundred years.
The year 1784 marks the period of the first permanent settk- ment within the bounds of the present town of Walton. A glance at that date recalls the fact that the war of independence had been brought to a successful issue, and the mother country had been compelled to relinquish her claim upon the thirteen colonies, and that henceforth they were to carve out for themselves the form of a government and lay the foundations of a permanent republic. The great state of New York, even at that early period, began to give evidence of that supremacy among the sisterhood of states which she has easily maintained for more than half a century. From the landing of the Dutch on Manhattan Island in 1609, until the transfer of the colonial government of the colony to the English in 1761, the principles of Dutch freedom became implanted in the governmental policy of the inhabitants.
In 1683 the state of New York was divided into ten counties. Albany, Dutchess, Kings, New York, Orange, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk, Ulster and Westchester.
At that date the territory that is now embraced within the limits of the county of Delaware was included in the counties of Albany and Ulster. That portion of the county north of the West branch of the Delaware, or what was then called the Fishkill, was within the boundaries of AAlbany county, and that portion fying on the south of the aforesaid branch was included in the county of Ulster.
29
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
On March 12th, 1772, the county of Tryon was organized front the county of Albany, so named from Tryon, the colonial governor who during the Revolution became so zealous in the cause of the king that he wantonly sent out parties to burn and destroy all the property of the inoffensive colonists, declaring that he would give twenty dollars for every acting committeeman who should be deliv- ered to the King's troops.
The year succeeding the close of the Revolution, the name of Tryon county was changed to Montgomery. This county included that portion of the county north of the West branch of the river.
February 16th, Otsego was erected into a county, including within its boundaries the northern portion of the county of Dela- ware. Upon the erection of the present county of Delaware, on March 10, 1797, the southern portion of Otsego county included between the Susquehanna and the West branch of the Delaware, and that portion of Ulster south of the West branch and extending to the northern boundaries of the present county of Sullivan, was erected into the county of Delaware.
['pon the formation of the county, six towns were included within its limits, to wit: Colchester, Middletown, Franklin, Har- persfield, Kortright and Stamford.
The town of Colchester was originally organized April 10th. 1792, and was carved out of the town of Middletown, which had been organized March 31st, 1789, as a town of Ulster county. The territory of this town was taken from the towns of Rochester and Woodstock in Ulster county.
The town of Franklin was organized April 10th, 1792, from the town of Harpersfield, which was organized March 7th, 1788, as a town of Montgomery county.
Kortright was organized March 12th, 1793, from the town of Harpersfield. Stamford was organized April 10th, 1792.
Seven days after the organization of Delaware county the town of Walton was organized. As originally organized the upper or northern boundary line was the fine of White's patent, just above
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TOWN OF WALTON.
Delhi village, running westerly through the town of Franklin and what is now the town of Masouville to the line of Broome county, thenee southerly to the Delaware river at Deposit. The West branch of the Delaware was the southerly boundary of the town. Upon the formation of the town of Delhi in 1798, the upper line of Livingston's patent was the northerly boundary. That line was the upper line of the Robert Murray farm. In 1812 the town line was mowed up to Arthur Shaw's line, being the upper line of Bedding- ton's patent. In 1825, upon the erection of the town of Hamden, the town line was moved to its present location.
The town derives its name from William Walton, who obtained a grant of twenty thousand acres of land from the King of England in 1770. This grant extended from the Delaware to the Susque- hanna river and was about two miles in width. The upper line of the patent was located about one mile above Walton village, near the farm formerly owned by Stephen Berray and the lower line about a mile below the village.
The topography of the town may be deseribed as a mixture of mountain, hill and valley. Through the southeastern portion runs the West branch of the Delaware river. Along that portion of the river in the northern part of the town are wide, fertile flats. Below the village the flats become narrower, and the mountains approach almost to the river banks. That portion of the town north of the river is traversed by the East, West and Third brooks, which empty into the river through the plain upon which the village of Walton is now situated. The valleys of these various streams form some of the best farming lands in the county.
The first permanent settlement was made in the town in the year 1784. Prior to that time hunters and prospectors had undoubtedly passed through the unknown forests which then stood as sentinels. Although but little more than one hundred years have passed, many of the events of those early days have faded into tradition, tradition into myth, and myth into fable. It is said that some of the carly settlers from the region of the Susquehanna
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
valley made incursions into these regions, allured by the plentiful- ness of the game.
At this period Dr. Platt Townsend, a resident of Long Island, purchased of William Walton a traet of five thousand acres from the south end of the Walton patent. A portion of the purchase price was to be paid in surveying the tract, the doctor being a practical surveyor. Seventeen hundred of the five thousand acres was paid for in this work.
Of the original settlers who came from Long Island with Dr. Townsend, twenty in number, were the following persons: The doctor's two sons, William and Isaae; Robert North, wife and infant son, Benjamin; Gabriel North, wife and two daughters, Hannah and Deborah; William Furman, wife and two children; Joshua Pin: and sons, John, Joshua and Daniel, and daughters, Nellie and Mollie.
They left Long Island in the month of March of that year and ascended the Hudson in a sloop to what was then called Esopus. Leaving their families at Marbletown the men of the party made the journey from that point to Walton on foot, traversing the almost unknown wilderness. No one of the number has left a detailed account of that interesting journey. Their route, no doubt, touched at the early settlement made at Pakataken, near the present village of Margaretville, and Pepacton on the East branch of the Delaware just above Downsville. When they arrived at the end of their journey they found that some timber pirates had preceded them up the river the year previous, and had cut from Pine Hill a quantity of the pine which covered it in great abundance from base to summit, and from which the hill had its name, and had attempted to raft it down the river for the Philadelphia market; but being unacquainted with the river the fruits of their piracy was strewn along the banks, the rafts not being sufficiently strong to stand the racking resulting from unskillful pilotage. These people had built a log hut or cabin for their temporary use, which Mr. Townsend and his party were not slow to appropriate and occupy. Though
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TOWN OF WALTON.
rude, no doubt, it was a palace of rest for the weary pioneers at the end of their long and perilous journey. The exact location of this cabin in the wilderness is somewhat in doubt, but the weight of authority seems to place it somewhere near the mouth of the East Brook, near what was formerly the residence of Damon Hull.
Robert North, one of the pioneers, built a log house on the spot where, a few years later, in 1799, he built a frame residence, proba- bly the first erected in the town, and which stood until replaced a few years since by the modern mansion of the North sisters.
The early summer was spent in clearing the land and making a shelter for their families, and in the latter part of June they rotraced their steps over the mountains and up the valleys to Kingston, and made preparations to move their families to their new homes. It is said that a large portion of their belongings were taken down the East branch in boats or canoes to the junetion below Hancock, and from there up the West branch to Walton. The teams and wagons wore, however, brought through the forests, a road being eut as they advanced.
The star of empire moved slower in those days than in later years; the only sounds which broke the stillness of the forests were the woodman's axe, the crack of the ritle, the howl of the wolf and the ery of the panther. It is said that Mrs. Robert North made the journey from Kingston on horseback, carrying in her arms her infant son, Benjamin, while strapped behind her upon the back of the horse was her bedding and some household furniture.
Once settled in their new homes, and the fame of the new locality reaching friends upon Long Island and in Connecticut, they soon found congenial spirits, anxious to brave the hardships of frontier life, and make for themselves and posterity a home in the wilderness. In the year immediately following, new settlers swarmed in from Long Island and Connecticut.
At this early day there were no mills for grinding grain nearer than Schoharie, and to that place, on horseback or on foot, the early settler carried his grist when he desired something more
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
palatable than the product which he obtained from pounding the grain in a hollow mortar made of stone or wood.
It must also be remembered that there were no mail facilities in those early days; no electric telegraph spanning the continent, or cable resting upon the ocean bed. The grist carrier became a news carrier, and upon his coming from the mill, was besieged by the whole neighborhood to learn what had transpired at the Schoharie settlement, and what he had learned of the outside world. The first regular mail facilities were not established until about fifteen years after the first settlement. At that time, about the year 1800, a mail line was established between Kingston and Jericho, not the city whose walls were demolished by the blast from a ram's horn, but the place now known as Bainbridge, Chenango county. One mail weekly; from the east Fridays, and from the west ou Satur- days, abundantly satisfied the then wants of the community.
In the year immediately following the advent of the first settlers, the fame of the new country and its fertility having spread abroad, many were anxious to avail themselves of the privileges which the well watered and well wooded hills and the fertile valleys offered for permanent homes. The love of adventure and the excitement incident to clearing up the land and hunting and destroying the wild beasts of prey of which the forest abounded brought many from the states of Connecticut and Massachusetts and from the more recent settlements along the Hudson. There was something in the pioneer's life that seemed to charm them and it required only a few years for the settlement to become too densely populated and too civilized for their restless spirit and they were anxious to advance to new fields and forests.
As stated before, the fifteen years following the first advent brought many new settlers so that upon the organization of the town in 1797, March 17th, the population of the new town was not far from 1,200 inhabitants. The town then included the town of Tompkins and a large part of the town of Hamden.
From the old tax roll of 1799, now in the possession of the Pine
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TOWN OF WALTON.
family, the taxable inhabitants within the present limits of the town numbered ninety-two. Allowing five inhabitants to each taxpayer, the estimated population at that time would be 460. The following is the number of taxpayers in the town and the estimated popula- tion for the following years:
In 1803, taxpayers 114; estimated inhabitants 570; assessed property, real and personal, $880,55.
In 1810, taxpayers 172; estimated population 860; assessed val- uation $103,801.
In 1815, taxpayers 190; estimated population 950; valuation $186,256.
Walton village in the year 1815 contained 33 taxpayers ; estimated population 165.
In 1820. taxpayers 198: estimated population 990: assessed valuation $173,396.
In 1825, taxpayers 222; estimated population 1,110, assessed valuation $145,533.
In 1830, taxpayers 256; estimated population 1,280; assessed valuation $134,876.
In 1835, taxpayers 361; census population 1,754; assessed valuation $157,350.
In 1840, taxpayers 337; census population 1,846; assessed valu- ation $182,870.
In 1845, taxpayers 379; census population 2,704 ; assessed valuation $192,250.
In 1850, taxpayers 419: census population 2,277 ; assessed valuation $212,190.
In 1855, taxpayers 497; census population 2,401.
In 1860, taxpayers 550; census population 2,740; assessed valu- ation $541,340.
In 1865, taxpayers 611 : consus population 2,926 ; assessed valuation $584, 200.
In 1870, census population 3,578; assessed valuation $812, 222.
574
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
The first grist mill was built by Michael Goodrich on East Brook, about a mile from the village, upon the site now occupied by the Howland mill. From the best information obtainable the date of its crection is 1792. The site has been used for that purpose continuously since that time. The second grist mill was built about two and one-half miles up the river from the village by Thomas W. Griswold about the year 1798. This mill has long since fallen into decay, and not a vestige is left to mark even the site. The third grist mill was erected in 1802 by Daniel Rob- inson in what is known as the Den, upon the farm now occupied by Jolm Northcott.
In 1806 William and Isaac Townsend built the fourth mill, which is still in existence and is owned by A. A. Haverly. This mill is located just above the village on the river. These early mills were very crude in construction, with only one run of stone, and these were brought a great distance, probably from Schoharie or Albany. They were brought by wagon or cart to the head of the river, two canoes were lashed together and the stones placed upon them and thus floated to their destination.
Several of the early settlers had a crude contrivance or vat for tanning their own leather. The first tannery was built by Nathaniel Steele on East Brook on the premises occupied by Pol- lock Howland. This was built in 1803. Alan Mead a few years later established a tannery on Mt. Pleasant near the Franklin road. In 1810 John and Nathaniel Steele erected a tannery at what is now the corner of Delaware and North streets, upon the site now occupied by the Lyon building and the wagon shop of J. B. Eells & Son. This tannery was soon after purchased by Alan Mead, who abandoned the one on the hill. At this time the bark for tannery nses was ground by a very rude process. A few years later, about 1815, a more perfected machine was used for grinding bark. In 1842 Joli and Gabriel Mead built an extensive tannery on West Brook. This was burned in 1857 and rebuilt in the fol- lowing year, and passed to the firm of Mead, North & Co. in 1863.
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Village of Walton
577
TOWN OF WALTON.
In 1872 it was purchased by Tobey & Warner. Mr. Warner died in 1895 and the business is now carried on by Mr. Tobey.
In 1876 the Novelty works were started by W. C. Gould: for a time they were run by Wood & Gould, and then by Peake & Barlow. Mr. Peake bought out Mr. Barlow's interest in 1891,. and in 1895 a corporation was formed with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars. About one hundred and fifty men are employed in its various departments. It is now the principal manufacturing industry of the town.
Two foundries are in operation; one owned by N. O. Flint, and one by L. E. Hoyt & Co. These are located at West End near the O. & W. depot. L. E. Hoyt & Co. employs about twenty men and the Flint foundry a less number.
The manufacture of potash was one of the early industries of the town, commeneing about the year 1800. One potash manu- factory was located on East Brook and was discontinued about 1823. In 1836 one was established near the present depot by Niles Berray, and still later an extensive one was established by William Ogden and Henry Smith, where the Novelty works are now located on Delaware street. These establishments have long since disappeared.
Briek kilns were established as early as 1815. One was located on the farm now owned by James Patterson on East Brook. 1828 Ezra Benedict operated a kil on East Brook.
The clothing of the early settlers was largely made by hand, to use a common phrase. The wool from the backs of the sheep was washed and carded by hand into rolls. These were spun into yarn npon a spinning wheel, from which it was taken upon a reel. The hand loom was put into operation and the shuttle was sens back and forth with cach downward motion of the treadles. Some of the housewives were very expert as weavers, and several yards per day of good solid woolen eloth was the result. Flax was quite extensively cultivated, and the hand process from the break- ing to the weaving was want to produce a good portion of the
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
wearing apparel of both male and female for the summer months. A carding machine was first put into operation in the saw-mill of the Ogden's above Walton village, early in the history of the town. Afterwards, Isaac and William Ogden put in a fulling mill about the year 1800, near the present residence of William Hall, tormerly the Stephen Berray place. In 1807 Mr Townsend erected the second mill near where the Haverly grist mill now stands. Quartus Merrick built a third mill up East Brook, near the Cyrus St. Johin place, now occupied by Henry A. St. John. During the Monroe administration these mills received medals for the excellence of the cloth produced. The mills have all passed out of existence long since.
Among the early industries that of distilling must not be left out, for at that early date the necessity of "a little wine for the stomach's sake" was fully recognized; nor was the appetite always satisfied with wine. The product of the rye and wheat seemed to be in great demand. As early as 1795, John Eells established a distillery on the hill. Later Fletcher Gardiner erected one further up East Brook. About 1798 Selick St. John established the third and last one up East Brook. In the year 1810 the county of Delaware produced nineteen thousand gallons of spirituous liquors. It was used on all occasions; the logging bee and the church raising alike felt its stimulus. But it would be a mistake to suppose that there were not ardent advocates of temperance among those who made daily use of it. Prominent among the organizers of the first temperance society in Delaware county in the town of Meredith were the owners of two distilleries. The legislation of that period too, had its peculiarities. For instance, one of the provisions of the law of IS29, was that no person who did not have a license to sell intoxicants should put up a tavern sign under a penalty of $1.25 per day. What harm could have come from a tavern sign where no intoxicants were sold is a question which would bear investigation by a student of sociology.
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