USA > New York > Herkimer County > Gazetteer and business directory of Herkimer County, N.Y. for 1869-70 > Part 10
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General Nicholas Herkimer was a resident of this town at the time of his death. He was a son of Johan Jost Herkimer, one of the patentees of Burnetsfield. The General received a commission of Lieutenant in the company of Captain Wm. Woodworth, on the 5th of January, 1758. The commission was signed by "James DeLancey, Esq., His Majesty's Lieutenant Governor, and Com- mander-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York, and the Territories depending thereon in America." General Herkimer received a commission of Brigadier General, September 5th, 1776. In the disastrous battle at Oriskany he was wounded so severely as to make it necessary to amputate one of his legs. This was done in so unskillful a manner as to cause his death a few days after.
An inn was kept in this town in 1795, by Cornelius C. Van Alstyne, and a store by Peter Smith about the same time. An- drew Nellis built the first grist mill, near the mouth of Nowadaga Creek, in 1800.
The population of the town in 1865 was 1,343; its area is 17,- 337 acres.
FAIRFIELD was formed from Norway, February 19, 1796. A part of Newport was taken off in 1806 and a part of Lit- tle Falls in 1829. It lies in the interior of the County, near the
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center. Its surface is a hilly upland, the center rising into a ridge 800 to 1,000 feet above West Canada Creek. The streams are all small. West Canada Creek flows south, on the west border. The soil on the uplands is clayey and in the valleys it is gravelly with local drift deposits of sand. Several fine quarries of limestone are found in different parts. Near Middleville are found beautiful crystals of quartz, many of which are perfectly transparent. Some of them contain a few drops of water or small pieces of anthracite coal.
Fairfield (p. v.) is located near the center of the town and con- tains three churches, an academy, a saw mill, a cheese box factory and about 400 inhabitants.
Middleville, (p. v.) on the line of Newport, contains a Methodist church, a hotel, a tannery, several mechanic shops and about 300 inhabitants.
The settlement of this town was commenced in 1770, by three German families named Maltanner, Goodbrodt and Shaffer, about half a mile north-east of Fairfield village, upon the Royal Grant. In 1779 a party of Indians attacked the settlement, captured two of the Maltanners, killed a girl sixteen years old, a daughter of Mr. Shaffer, and burned all the buildings in the settlement. The fami- lies were loyal to the King and were living upon the land as tenants of Sir John Johnson. The captives were taken to St. Regis, where they were kept until 1782. This was only one of the instances where the savages attacked friend and foe alike, doubtless remind- ing the British authorities that the employment of savages was an uncertain mode of carrying on war. Near the Manheim town line was a settlement composed of several German families, among whom were the Kellers, Windeckers, Pickerts and others. In March, 1785, Mr. Cornelius Chatfield settled near the site of the village. He was the first New Englander who settled upon the Royal Grant after the war. Abijah Mann came in the same year and settled a little west of the village. There was a small Indian orchard near the residence of Mr. Mann, to which the Indians made their annual visits for several years after the war. In 1786 Josiah, David and Lester Johnson, came from Connecticut and settled south-westerly from the village; John Bucklin and Benj. Bowen, from Rhode Island ; John Eaton, Nathaniel and William Brown, from Massachusetts, and Samuel Low, came in and settled in 1787. During the next few years several other families from Massachu- setts and Rhode Island came in ; among them were David Bense- ley, Elisha, Wyman and Comfort Eaton, Jeremiah Ballard, Wil- liam Bucklin, Daniel Venner, Nathan Smith, Nahum Daniels, Amos and James Haile and - Arnold. Peter and Bela Ward, from Connecticut, and the Neeleys, came in soon after. Jeremiah
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Ballard located about two miles north-east of Fairfield village. He left his family the first winter after his settlement here and re- turned to Massachusetts, where he remained until spring. The family lived upon Indian corn and white rabbits when they were fortunate enough to catch them. Their corn was pounded in a mortar made by burning a cavity in a log.
The first store was kept by Smith & Daniels, in 1792-3. The first grist mill was built by - Empie, and the first saw mill by Samuel and Paul Green. William D. Gray taught a school in 1795, though it was not the first.
The first preacher (Presb.) was -- Fields, in 1791. Rev. Ca- leb Alexander, a missionary from Massachusetts, came through this County in 1801, and Rev. John Taylor, in the same capacity, made a similar tour in 1802. From their journals we learn something of the religious state of the country. Mr. Alexander says, under date of Nov. 11, 1801 : "Rainy and snowy, rode six miles south to Mr. Nathan Smiths, in Fairfield; very muddy, chilled with the storm and much fatigued. 12th, Rainy and snowy, pain in my limbs, kept house all day, visited by Capt. Griswold. By him I learned that religion is in a low state in this town. There is a Congregational Church but no officers and no meeting on the Sab- bath." On the 18th of the same month we find the following : " In Fairfield is a Congregational Church of 24 members, some at- tention to religion. This town contains 2,065 souls, no minister ; some Baptists, and some never attached themselves to any denomi- nation. The County of Herkimer contains 14,000 and no minis- ter, excepting illiterate Baptist preachers who are exerting every possible means to gain converts to their denomination."
Fairfield Academy was incorporated by the Regents of the Uni- versity, March 13, 1803. The first Board of Trustees consisted of Moses Mather, Thomas Manley, Nathan Smith, Samuel Giles, Westel Willoughby, Jr., William Griswold, Alvah Southworth, Cyrus M. Johnson, John Meyer, Jonathan Hallet, Abijah Mann, Mathias B. Tallmadge, Samuel Wright, William Smith, Benjamin Bowen, Charles Ward, .Clark Smith, Thomas Bennett, Moses Wheeler, Francis A. Bloodgood, Aaron Hackley, John Snell, John Herkimer and Henry Coffin. Rev. Caleb Alexander was the first Principal. In 1801 he visited the County as a missionary, preach- ing in several places, and the next year established a school which was the germ of the Academy. The building since known as the Old Chapel was the first erected, and for several years afforded all the accommodations available for the school. It not only served the purposes of an academy, but served also to accommodate the district school of the village, and was used for a church and a town hall also, no other building being available for these purposes. The pious villagers were called together to worship, not by the
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sound of the "church going bell," but by that of a tin horn or a conch shell. Success attended the labors of the Principal, and the number of students increased to such an extent that another build- ing became necessary. The liberality of the citizens was soon manifest and funds for the erection of a stone building, three stories high and containing twenty-four rooms for students, were raised in 1808-9, and the building completed and occupied soon after. About this time Dr. Josiah Noyes, of Dartmouth College, in New Hampshire, became connected with the Academy as a teacher of chemistry, and soon after a teacher of anatomy was employed in the school. The facilities thus afforded for acquiring a knowledge of medical studies attracted thither students who designed to enter upon the practice of medicine. This was the origin of the Fairfield Medical College. The Institution was at first under the super- vision of the Trustees of the Academy, but subsequently received a charter, and a separate Board of Trustees was appointed. While under the supervision of the Trustees of the Academy, it received an appropriation of $5,000 from the Legislature, and with this ap- propriation the first college edifice was erected in 1811. The Col- lege Charter bears date June 12, 1812, and was signed by Daniel D. Tompkins, Chancellor, and H. Bloodgood, Secretary. In 1813 the college buildings and the grounds on which they are located were conveyed by the Trustees of the Academy to the Trustees of " The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Western New York." The State made a further appropriation of $10,000, and a compe- tent corps of officers was appointed to take charge of the Institu- tion. The class of 1812-13 numbered eighteen medical students, and that of 1813-14 twenty-four. The number of students in- creased to such an extent that in 1827 it was found necessary to put up another building, and the one known as the south building, on the Academy green, was erected, containing thirty-two rooms. The number of students during the session of this year was 144, and the number continued to increase until 1833-4, when it amounted to 217. During several subsequent years the number was about 200 and the institution was the most prosperous of any outside of the great cities, except one in Kentucky. The organiza- tion of other medical colleges had the effect to diminish the num- ber of students, and in 1839-40 the last course of lectures was de- livered. The buildings have since been repaired and adapted to the use of the Fairfield Academy, which still continues to flourish. Among those who have attained a national reputation since their connection with the Institution may be named, Rev. Albert Barnes, Prof. Gray, of Harvard University, Prof. Hadley, of Yale College, and others.
The population of the town in 1865 was 1,649; its area is 25,127 acres.
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There are eleven school districts, employing the same number of teachers. The number of children of school age is 470; the num- ber attending school, 346; the average attendance, 155, and the amount expended for school purposes during the year ending Sep- tember 30, 1868, was $2,481.27.
FRANKFORT, named in honor of Lawrence Frank, an early settler, was formed from German Flats, February 5, 1796. In the formation of Oneida County, in 1798, it was divided and a part annexed to Deerfield. It lies on the west border of the County, south of the Mohawk. The surface is a broad intervale, rising into hills of moderate elevation on the south-west border, the highest points being about 500 feet above the river. The Mohawk flows south-east, on the north border. The streams are small brooks and creeks. The soil on the uplands is a clayey and slaty loam and on the flats an alluvial loam. In the south-west part are seve- ral limestone ledges, the most important of which is the Horsebone Ledge. The stone is whitish and makes excellent lime. Slate and calciferous sandstone are found in some places.
Frankfort, (p. v.) located in the north-east part, contains four churches, two hotels, a woolen factory, a grist mill, a saw mill, a distillery, a match factory, several carriage shops and the usual number of mechanic shops of various kinds, and about 1,000 inhab- itants.
The manufacture of friction matches is extensively carried on at this place. The main building is 56 by 58 feet and two and a half stories high. There are two other buildings, one 26 by 84 feet, the other 24 by 84 and two stories high. There are ten other buildings used for various purposes. The works are driven by water and give employment to about 300 hands, two-thirds of whom work in and about the shops, and the others at their homes. The lumber is all kiln dried, and there are used annually 700,000 feet of white pine, 250,000 feet of basswood and 50,000 feet of spruce. About 800. gross per day are manufactured, and about $300,000 per year are paid to the Government for stamps. The business was commenced by Mr. Wm. Gates, the proprietor, in 1847, but did not attain its present dimensions until 1862.
This town was settled previous to the Revolution, by German families, along the river. Jacob Folts was the first settler and lo- cated on lot 3, Burnetsfield Patent. Among the other early set- tlers were Conrad Folts, Andrew Piper, David Dederick, Aaron James, - Morgan, Evan Evans, Joseph Harris, John Morris, Moses Myers and Adam Webber. Several Welsh families settled about 1800.
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The first inn was kept by John Myers, in 1795; the first saw mill was built by John Hollister, in 1794, and the first grist mill by Adam J. Campbell, in 1808.
The Methodist Church was organized in 1849 with a member- ship of twenty; Rev. Jesse Penfield was the pastor. For several years previous to this, meetings had been held in the school house and in the public halls, but a small brick church was erected soon after the organization at a cost of $2,000. This house having be- come too small for the society, a new one was erected and dedicated June 8th, 1869. The size is 42 by 75 feet, including a small pro- jection for steeple, and cost $15,000. The number of members is 120. Rev. B. F. Barker is the present pastor.
The Universalist Society was formed under the occasional preaching of Rev. Dolphus Skinner, D. D., previous to 1844, when a framed church was erected at a cost of about $2,000. In 1849 Rev. Richard Eddy organized a Church. Since that time the " Church has had several different pastors, and at intervals no preach- ing. In 1866 Rev. D. Ballou reorganized the Church with forty- two members. The church edifice has since been repaired, and the Sabbath school and the membership of the Church have been con- siderably increased. Rev. Willis Harrison' Grigsby is the present pastor.
The population of the town in 1865 was 3,087; its area is 21,- 023 acres.
GERMAN FLATS, named from the German settlers who located upon the Mohawk flats at this place, was formed as a district of "Tryon County," March 24, 1772. Its name was ex- changed with the Kingsland District, March 8, 1773. It was reor- ganized as a town, March 7, 1788. In 1796 Frankfort, Litchfield and Warren were taken off, and a part of Little Falls in 1828. It lies upon the south bank of the Mohawk, south of the center of the County. A fine fertile intervale extends along the river, and from it the surface gradually rises to a hight of from 300 to 400 feet, and spreads out into an undulating upland. The valley of Ful- mer Creek divides this upland into two nearly equal parts. The other streams are small brooks. The soil is a clay and slaty loam upon the hills, and a gravelly loam and alluvium in the valleys.
Mohawk, (p. v.) situated in the north-west part of the town, on the canal, was incorporated April 16, 1844. It contains three churches, two hotels, a printing office, several stores, mechanic shops, &c., and about 200 inhabitants.
The Herkimer County News, a weekly newspaper, is published here by W. H. Williams and D. H. Perkins.
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The Cemetery, near the village, contains about five acres and is one of the most beautiful of its size in the State.
Broomhall's Malt House is 65 by 180 feet, and three stories high. It uses about 40,000 bushels annually.
Varley Hall is a fine, brick building, 43 by 123 feet, with a stage 43 by 25 feet, well fitted up for dramatic exhibitions. It was built in 1860 at a cost of $8,000, and will seat 1,000 persons.
Ilion, (p. v.) situated about one and a half miles west of Mo- hawk, on the Erie Canal, was incorporated in 1852, and contains three churches, two hotels, a bank, a newspaper printing office, an armory for the manufacture of Remington's rifles and about 3,000 inhabitants. The village contains many neat and comfortable resi- dences, indicating thrift rather than great wealth.
The Remington Armory has a reputation world wide, and has, during the last few years, furnished our own Government and seve- ral. of the European Governments some of the best arms in the world. The Vice-Roy of Egypt closed a contract for 60,000 rifles a few months since, which has recently been increased to 150,000. The machinery cost over half a million dollars, and when driven to its full extent is capable of turning out a finished breach-loading rifle every three minutes during the twenty-four hours.
The Agricultural Works are very extensive, and, with the Armory, give employment to a large number of the citizens of Ilion and the neighboring villages.
Ilion Public School occupies a fine three story building, under the charge of V. G. Curtis, Principal, and seven assistants. The number of pupils is about 400.
Fort Herkimer, two miles east of Mohawk, contains two churches, viz., Lutheran and Reformed ; a hotel, two groceries and about thirty dwellings.
There are several mills and cheese factories in various parts of the town.
Harrington's Mill, one mile south of Ilion, runs an upright and a circular saw, and cuts about 100,000 feet of lumber annually.
Vickerman's Mills, a mile and a half south of Ilion, turns out about 800 tons of plaster, 100 tons of feed and 50 tons of water lime annually.
Edick's Saw Mill, five miles south-east of Mohawk, on Fulmer's Creek, cuts about 100,000 feet annually.
Morts' Cheese Factory, four miles south-east of Mohawk, makes about 94,000 pounds annually.
Morts' Mill cuts 100,000 feet of lumber, makes 5,000 cheese boxes, and runs a planing mill and circular saw.
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Day's Saw Mill, four miles south-east of Mohawk, runs one up- right saw.
Ford's Saw Mill, five and a half miles south-east of Mohawk, cuts about 90,000 feet annually.
Pains Hollow Grist Mill contains two runs of stones, is a cus- tom mill.
Mohawk Valley Cheese Factory, three miles east of Mohawk, makes about 130,000 pounds annually.
Forel's Saw Mill, two miles south of Mohawk, on Fulmer's Creek, runs a circular and an upright saw and cuts 200,000 feet an- nually.
The first settlement of this town was made in 1722, by a colony of Palatinates, who had previously located upon the Hudson. The population increased quite rapidly until 1757, when the whole set- tlement was laid waste by a party of Canadians, French and In- dians. The following exaggerated account is given by the French : " On the 11th of November, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, M. de Belletre, preceded as was his custom by scouts, crossed the river Corlaer [Mohawk] with his detachment, partly swimming, partly in water up to the neck. He encamped at nightfall in the woods, a league and a half from the first of the five forts that covered the Palatine settlements. The 12th, at 3 o'clock in the morning, he gave his detachment the order of march and attack so as to sur- round the said five forts and the entire Palatine village, consisting of sixty houses. Though M. de Belletre knew that the English got notice the day preceding, yet that the courage of the Indians might not receive the least check, and to show them that he would not rashly expose them, he liberated an Indian of the Five Nations whom he had until then detained under suspicion. But this savage could not injure M. de Belletre, because he commenced at the same time to attack the five forts and the Palatines' houses. At sight of the first fort he decided to take it by assault. The enemy kept up a most active fire of musketry, but the intrepidity with which M. de Belletre, with all the officers and Canadians of his detachment, advanced, coupled with the war-whoop of the Indians, terrified the English to the degree that the Major of the village of the Palatines, who commanded the said fort, opened the doors and asked for quarter. M. de Belletre lost no time in repairing to the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth, which were not less intimidated than the first, by his intrepidity and the cries of the Indians. They all surrendered at discretion and were entirely burnt. During this time a party of Canadians and Indians ravaged and burnt the said sixty houses of the Palatines, their barns and other outbuildings, as well as the water mill. In all these expeditions about forty English perished, killed or drowned. The number of prisoners is
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'nearly one hundred and fifty men, women and children, among whom is the Mayor of the village, the surgeon and some militia officers. We had not a man killed ; but M. de Lorimer, officer, was wounded in the right side by a ball, and three or four savages slightly. The damage inflicted on the enemy is estimated, accord- ing to the representations of the English themselves, to wit: In grain of all sorts a much larger quantity than the island of Montreal has produced in years of abundance. The same of hogs; 3,000 horned cattle ; 3,000 sheep. All these articles were to be sent in a few days to Corlaer [Schenectady]; 1,500 horses, 300 of which were taken by the Indians, and the greater number consumed for the support of the detachment. The property in furniture, wear- ing apparel, merchandise and liquor, might form a capital of 1,500,- 000 livres [$277,500]. The Mayor of the village alone lost 400,- 000 [$74,000]. The French and Indians have acquired as rich a booty as they could carry off. They have in specie more than 100,000 livres [$18,000]. One Indian alone has as much as 30,- 000 [$5,550]. There was likewise plundered a quantity of wam- pum, silver bracelets, &c., scarlet cloth and other merchandise which would form a capital of 80,000 more."
In July, 1782, the German settlements in this town were de- stroyed by a party of about 600 Tories and Indians. They were first discovered by Peter Wolever and Augustinus Hess, who lived near the Fort. The families of both these men reached the Fort without any other casualty than the death of Hess, just as he was entering the gate. The few troops stationed here were not strong enough to act offensively, and the invaders burned all of the houses except that of George Herkimer, and drove off the cattle. Valen- tine Staring was taken prisoner and put to torture so near that his cries could be heard at the Fort. The loss of the Americans was four killed, and that of the enemy was supposed to be much greater. The wife of Mr. Henry Wetherstone, in the field at some distance off, was tomahawked, scalped and left for dead by the Indians. She however recovered and lived many years.
F. E. Spinner, United States Treasurer, whose autograph has become familiar to every person fortunate enough to possess a greenback, is a native of this town. He was born January 21, 1802, where the village of Mohawk now stands. He held various offices in the County, and in 1854 was elected to Congress, and was re-elected in 1856 and 1858. In 1861 he was appointed by Presi- dent Lincoln United States Treasurer, an office which he still holds. His father, Rev. John P. Spinner, emigrated from Germany and landed in New York, May 12, 1801. He was a highly educated gentleman and for several years previous to his immigration, a clergyman of the Romish Church, but in 1800 he embraced the Protestant faith and soon after come to this country as stated
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above. Soon after his arrival he was called to the pastorate of the German congregations at Herkimer and German Flats, and con- tinued to labor in that capacity about forty years. During this time he was a teacher in the High School at Utica for about a year and a half. His labors were not confined to the churches under his immediate charge, but he preached occasionally to the settlers in many of the adjacent towns. He died at his residence in Her- kimer, May 27, 1848, aged 80 years.
The population of this town in 1865 was 5,074; its area is 20,- 307 acres.
HERKIMER, named in honor of General Nicholas Her- kimer, was formed from Kingsland District, March 7, 1788. A part of Palatine, Montgomery County, was annexed in 1791. Nor- way and Schuyler were taken off in 1792, a part of Newport in 1806, and a part of Little Falls in 1829. A part was annexed to Schuyler in 1808, and re-annexed to Herkimer in 1811. It lies on the north bank of the Mohawk, near the center of the settled portion of the County. A fine broad intervale extends along the river, and from it the surface rises gradually to the north line of the town. West Canada Creek flows south, through near the cen- ter, dividing the uplands into two distinct ridges. The Hasen- clever Mountains, west of the Creek, are from 600 to 800 feet above the Mohawk. The soil upon the hills is a gravelly loam, and in the valleys a deep fertile alluvium.
Herkimer, (p. v.) originally called "Stone Ridge," is situated upon the Mohawk, west of the mouth of West Canada Creek. It was incorporated April 6, 1807, and contains three churches, viz., Methodist, Episcopal and Presbyterian; a newspaper office, a bank, four hotels, several mills and manufactories, and about. 3,000 inhabitants. The County buildings are located in this place.
Fox Hall is 40 by 80 feet and capable of seating 800 persons.
Herkimer Paper Mill is 100 by 200 feet and two stories high, employs thirty hands and manufactures about three tons of wall paper daily.
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