Gazetteer and business directory of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. for 1869-70, Part 25

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1870
Publisher: Syracuse : Printed at the Journal office
Number of Pages: 644


USA > New York > Fulton County > Gazetteer and business directory of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. for 1869-70 > Part 25
USA > New York > Montgomery County > Gazetteer and business directory of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. for 1869-70 > Part 25


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42


The Johnstown Herald was removed from Amsterdam in 1824 by Philip Reynolds. It had been published there as the Mo- hawk Herald. In 1834 it was removed to Fonda and published as the Fonda Herald.


The Montgomery Freeman was published at Johnstown by Yates & Co.


The Northern Banner was commenced at Union Mills, Broad- albin, by John Clark. It was removed in a few months to Johnstown and published as


The Northern Banner and Montgomery Democrat. In 1837 its name was changed to


The Montgomery Republican. It was soon after sold to Win. S. Hawley who changed its name in 1838 to


THE FULTON COUNTY DEMOCRAT. It was published for a time by A. T. Norton, and in 1842 it passed into the hands of Walter N. Clark, who has continued its publication to the present time.


The Christian Palladium was a semi-monthly published in 1836 by Joseph Badger. It was removed to Albany about 1840.


The Fulton County Republican was commenced at Johnstown in 1838 by Darius Wells. In 1840 Alexander U. Wells became proprietor, and in 1842 he sold to George Henry, who continued its publication until 1860, when the paper was discontinued.


The Garland was a semi-monthly, published at Union Mills by William Clark. It was afterwards issued for a short time at Johnstown.


The Literary Journal was published at Kingsborough in 1813 by S. R. Sweet.


The Johnstown American was commenced at Johnstown in January 1856, by N. J. Johnson. In February 1857, it was sold to J. D. Houghtaling, who changed its name to


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FULTON COUNTY.


THE JOHNSTOWN INDEPENDENT, and continued its publication until March 1869, when it passed into the hands of George W. Heaton, the present publisher.


THE GLOVERSVILLE STANDARD was commenced in December 1856, by W. H. Case. In March 1860, it passed into the hands of A. Pierson, who continued its publication until January 1861, when it passed into the hands of Geo. W. Hea- tou, the present publisher. It is now the official paper of Ful- ton County.


THE GLOVERSVILLE INTELLIGENCER was started in 1861 by the citizens of Gloversville, C. N. Kelly, editor. In about six months it was purchased by George M. Thompson, the present editor and proprietor.


THE GLOVERSVILLE DEMOCRAT is published by A. S. Botsford.


The settlement of this County was commenced about 160, under the auspices of Sir William Johnson, with whose life the history of the County is so intimately connected that a brief sketch will not be deemed out of place. He was born in Ireland about the year 1714, and when about twenty-one years of age came to this country to take charge of a large tract of land which his uncle, Sir Peter Warren, had purchased in the Mo- hawk Valley. Through the influence of his uncle he was ap- wanted agent of Indian affairs, and by learning their language, Hopting their dress and customs when the occasion seemed to domanil it. and by his fair dealing with them, he acquired great Amence over them. which continued until his death. He had lang been a resident of the Mohawk Valley before he ob- wal the title to a tract of land north of the river, in the pres- ·uit town of Amsterdam, and erected a stone house for his resi- nve, which was afterwards fortified and called Fort Johnson. Hle continued to add to his landed property until he became one of the Inrgest landholders who have ever been in this country. As a general he commanded the forces sent against the French at lake George, and received as a reward the honor of Knight- hotel. In 199 he erected a residence near the present village of Jobsown, which is still standing and known as Johnson Hall. Be had a large number of tenants, who were attached to hi- fiterests, and the future prospects of the family were very Catering. On the approach of the troubles which subsequently readed in the Revolution and the independence of the Colo- nies, he is supposed to have been liberally inclined. While his duty to his Government, whose offices he held, seemed to forbid his taking an active part in the cause of the Colonies, his at-


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tachment to his neighbors rendered the thought of any meas- ures tending to their ruin extremely painful to his feelings. He was accustomed to receive large numbers of Indians and hold councils with them at the Hall. On the 7th of July, 17:4. about 600 Indians assembled for a council, but Sir William was too unwell to attend to its duties, though the Indians requested that the conference be no longer deferred. The next day a pre- liminary conference was held, and on the 9th the conference was opened in due form, when the Indians set forth their grievances. The principal speaker was a Seneca Chief, followed by a Cayuga. The next day being the Sabbath, Sir William de. ferred his reply until Monday. His speech was delivered in the burning sun and occupied two hours, at the close of which pipes and tobacco were distributed among the Indians and they adjourned to prepare a reply. Sir William was immediately at- tacked with dysentery and was conducted to his library, where he died the same evening. There appears to be no real found :- tion for the report that he committed suicide. The funeral was attended on the 13th. . The remains were deposited in the vault under the altar of the stone church in the village of Johnstown. The Indians attended the funeral in a body and exhibited the most lively marks of sorrow. The next day they performed the rites of condolence.


His will was dated Jan. 27, 1774, and in it he gave partienlar directions for his burial. He directed mourning for his hons .- keeper, Mary Brant, and for the children, and his servants and slaves. The sachems of both Mohawk villages were to be invit- ed to his funeral and to receive each a stroud, blanket, crape and gloves, which they were to receive and wear as mourners next after his family. The whole expense of the funeral was not to exceed 300 pounds sterling. The funeral expenses Were to be first paid by Sir John out of his three per cent. consolida !- ed annuities, within six months. He bequeathed to Peter. # son of Mary Brant, three hundred pounds, and to each of her other children, seven in number, one hundred pounds, the in- terest to be expended in their education. To young Brant, alia: Keighneghtaga, and William, alias Tagcheunto, two Mohawk lets. one hundred pounds each in New York currency. After payin .: the foregoing he gives one half of the remainder to Sir John. and to. Daniel Claus and Guy Johnson, his sons-in-law. . . one half of the remainder. He then gives his library and the certain portions excepted, together with one fourth of his 2 and cattle, to Sir John, and the remaining three fourths to ) .. daughters and the children of Mary Brant. His landed is divided between his children and friends. designating the por that each shall receive, and especially enjoining upon his ch'.


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dren not to sell or alienate any portion of the Royal Grant, as he had received it as a free gift from the King. The legatees of his land were Sir John and Guy Johnson, Daniel Claus, each of the children of Mary Brant, and her brothers, Joseph and William, Mary M. Grah, John and Warren Johnson, his broth- ers, and Dease, Sterling, Plunket and Fitzimons, his sisters, and John Dease, his nephew. He gave to. Robert Adams, Joseph Chew and William Byrne, old friends, and Patrick Daly, a ser- vant, the free use for life of certain lands. He provided further for the division of his estate in case Sir John died without issue. The executors of his will were Sir John and Guy Johnson, Dan- iel Claus, his brothers, John and Warren Johnson, Daniel Camp- bell, John Butler, Jellis Fonda, Capt. James Stevenson, Robert Adams, Samuel Stringer, Dr. John Dease, Henry Frey and Jo- seph Chew, or any six of them. John Dease, Jellis Fonda, John Butler, James Stevenson, Henry Frey and Joseph Chew were appointed guardians of the children of Mary Brant. Three hundred pounds were appropriated to the purchase of rings for his executors and the guardians of his children.


Sir William is said by some to have had two wives, though they were not made such until they had lived with him for some time. His first wife was a German girl, who, according to the custom of the times, had been sold to a man by the name of Phillips, to pay her passage to the captain of the emigrant ship in which she came to this country. She was a handsome girl and attracted considerable attention. A neighbor of Sir Wil- liam, who had heard him express a determination never to marry, asked him why he did not take the pretty German girl for a house-keeper. The suggestion was favorably received. Not long after, the neighbor called on Phillips and asked where the High Dutch girl was. Phillips replied, "Johnson, that tamned Irishman, came tother day and offered me five pounds for her, threatening to horsewhip me and steal her if I would not sell her. I thought tive pounds petter than a flogging, and took it, and he's got the gal." She was the mother of Sir John and two daughters, who became respectively the wives of Guy Johnson and of Daniel Claus. These two daughters, who were left by their dying mother to the care of a friend, were brought up and educated almost in solitude. That friend was the widow of an officer who was killed in battle. Retiring from the world, she devoted her whole tine to the care of these children. They were carefully instructed in religious duties and in various kinds of needle-work, but were kept entirely from society. At the age of sixteen they had never seen a lady except their mother and her friend, or any gentleman except Sir William, who visited them daily. After their marriage they soon acquired the habits


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of society and made excellent wives. When upon her death-bed, the mother of these children was married to Sir William to legiti- mate the children. After her death, Molly Brant, sister of the famous Mohawk Chief, succeeded to her place. It is said by some that Sir William married her also, but he speaks of her in his will as his house-keeper. Sir William's first interview and acquaintance with her, as related by Mr. Stone, was quite ro- mantic. She was a very sprightly and beautiful girl of sixteen when he first saw her at a militia muster. One of the field offi- cers riding upon a fine horse came near her, and by way of ban- ter she asked permission to mount behind. Not supposing she could perform the feat, he assented. At the word she leaped upon the crupper with the greatest agility. The horse sprang off at full speed, and clinging to the officer, her blanket flying and her dark hair streaming in the wind, she was borne about the parade ground with the speed of the race-horse. Sir Wil- liam, who was a witness of the exhibition, admiring the spirit of the young squaw, and becoming enamored of her person, took her home as his wife. This, according to the Indian custom, made her really his wife. Colden, in speaking of the customs of the Six Nations, says: " They carried their hospitality so far as to allow distinguished strangers the choice of a young squaw from among the prettiest in the neighborhood, washed clean and dressed in her best apparel, as a companion during his so- journ with them." Sir William availed himself of the customs prevalent among the Indians, who considered it an honor to have their wives and daughters intimate with him. The result was a large posterity scattered among the Indian tribes in differ- ent parts of the country.


From the commencement of the difficulties between the Colo- nies and the King, Sir John Johnson, who had succeeded to the estate of his father, became an active and zealous advocate of the rights of the Crown. He fortified Johnson Hall in 1225, armed the Scotch Highlanders on the Kingsborough Patent. and used his influence to spread discontent among the Indian tribes under his control. Such conduct could not be tolerated, and General Schuyler, with a small force, came into Tryon County for the purpose of arresting Sir John or of entering into some kind of an arrangement whereby he should at least remain neutral. General Herkimer ordered out the militia and the whole forte paraded on the ice, on the Mohawk River, in January 1:3%. Major Fonda was sent as a messenger to Sir John, and a corr .. pondence was carried on for two or three days. The result was that he surrendered himself a prisoner, disarmed his tenan'y and was finally released on his parole. This for a time quieted the fears of the inhabitants, but in the following May, his in-


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trigues continuing, Col. Dayton was sent with a force to arrest him. Receiving intelligence of the movement, he hastily col- lected his dependents and tenants, left his family plate, money and other valuables to be buried by a faithful slave, and took his departure through the forest to Canada. There be raised a regiment of Tories, called "Johnson's Greens," with which he made several raids upon the inhabitants as already described in the history of Montgomery County. By an act of the Legisla- ture of New York, the large estates of Sir John and other To- ries were confiscated. Inspired with feelings of revenge, he waged a most inhuman and barbarous warfare upon his old friends and neighbors. About midnight on the 21st of May, 1780, Sir John, with a force of five hundred Tories and Indians, with which he had penetrated the wilderness from Crown Point to the Sacondaga, appeared at Johnstown. He divided his force into two parties, one of which was to strike the Mohawk at Tribes Hill, thence proceed up the river, destroying all in their course, and forma junction with the other division at the mouth of the Cayadutta Creek. With the latter division Sir John pro- ceeded through the village of Johnstown, umperceived by the sentinels of the small picketed fort there, and before daylight appeared before the Hall, once his own, where he secured two prisoners. On his way to join the other division at the mouth of the Cayadutta, he passed the residence of Sampson Sammons, who with bis family, were among the most active patriots of the County. Sir John had always respected Mr. Sammons, but de- termined on this occasion to carry him and his family away prisoners, and thus lessen the number of his more influential enemies in the Mohawk Valley. It was scarcely light when a Tory named Sunderland, with a resolute band, surrounded the house of Mr. Sammons and arrested Thomas. the youngest son, as he stepped to the door to observe the weather. This was the first intimation of danger. The father and two other sons were immediately made prisoners without any opportunity for de- fense, but the females were left undisturbed, after plundering the house of all valuables. The marauders then proceeded to the mouth of the erek and up the river, plundering and burn- ing as they went. Within a few miles, nine aged men, four of whom were upwards of eighty years of age, were murdered and scalped. In the afternoon Sir John returned to the Hall, where he secured the date and other valuables, which filled two bar- rels. It was then distributed among forty soldiers, who placed it in their knapsacks. the Quarter-Master making a memoran- dum of the name of each with the articles intrusted to him, and in this way it was carried to Montreal. Towards night the militia began to collet, and Sir John having obtained posses-


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sion of about twenty slaves, among whom was the one who buried the treasure, he took his departure for Canada. So com- pletely panic-stricken were the inhabitants that he was allowed to escape unmolested in his retreat, and reached St. John's in safety. While halting the next day after leaving Johnstown, old Mr. Sammons requested an interview with Sir John, which was granted. He asked to be released, but the Baronet hesitat- ed. The old man then recurred to former times when he and Sir John were friends and neighbors. "See what you have dong, Sir John," he said, " You have taken myself and my sons prisoners, burned my dwelling to ashes, and left the helpless members of my family with no covering but the heavens above, and no prospect but desolation around them. Did we treat you in this manner when you were in the power of the Tryon Coun- ty Committee? Do you remember when you were consulted by General Schuyler, and you agreed to surrender your arms? Do you not remember that you then agreed to remain neutral, and that upon that condition General Schuyler left you at liberty on your parole ? Those conditions you violated. You went off to Canada ; enrolled yourself in the service of the King; raised a regiment of the disaffected who abandoned the country with you ; and you have now returned to wage a cruel war against us, by burning our dwellings and robbing us of our property. I was your friend in the Committee of Safety, and exerted my- self to save your person from injury. And how am I requited ? Your Indians have murdered and scalped old Mr. Fonda. at the age of eighty years, a man who, I have heard your father sav, was like a father to him when he settled in Johnstown and Kingsborough. You cannot succeed, Sir John, in such a war- fare, and you will never enjoy your property more." The ap- peal had its effect. The old gentleman was released and a span of his horses restored to him. A Tory named Doxtader was sven upon one of the old man's horses and refused to give it up, saying it belonged to an Indian. After the war he returned to the neighborhood, when Mr. Sammons had him arrested, and he was obliged to pay the full value of the animal.


In the fall of the same year Sir John made another raid upon Tryon County, plundering and burning in the usual manner. In October 1781, Major Ross and Walter Butler invaded the County and encamped a short distance north of Johnson Hall. Here he was attacked by a small force under Col. Willett, which gave way on the first fire and retreated to the stone church at the village, where they were again rallied, and by the aid of fe- inforcements that had come up, Butler's force was defeated an l forced to retreat. He was followed by Willett along the north bank of the Mohawk for some distance, thence northerly along


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the West Canada Creek. Some skirmishing ensued and several of the Indians were killed and others taken prisoners. There is considerable diversity in the accounts given of this expedition, but its results were favorable and the infamous Tory, Butler, was killed. It is conceded that he was shot by an Oneida In- dian upon the opposite side of the creek. The Oneida plunged into the creek, and on reaching the opposite bank, found Butler not dead but writhing in great agony. He cried for quarter while the glittering tomahawk of the Oneida was raised over his head. "Me give you Sherry Valley quarters," replied the In- dian, and buried the hatchet in the Tory's head. Stripping off his scalp the pursuit was continued while Butler's body was left to the beasts and birds of the forest. This was the last incur- sion of the enemy into the valley of the Mohawk. Indeed there was no object for another raid even if the war had continued. The whole valley had been swept as with the besom of destruc- tion, until there was scarcely anything left except the land, which the peaceful pursuits of agriculture soon made fruitful again. New and enterprising settlers came in, and in a few years scarcely a trace of the former raids were to be found.


At the outbreak of the Rebellion the citizens of Fulton County were engaged in the peaceable pursuits of agriculture and manufacturing; but when the first note of alarm was sounded and a call made for volunteers to rally in defense of the Union, the citizens of the County left their farms and their workshops and all the endearing associations of home, for the camp and the battle-field, and with patriotic zeal continued their efforts until every traitorous organization was disbanded. and the Stars and Stripes floated over every fort and in every State in the Union. The census reports of 1865 are too meager and too unreliable data upon which to base an estimate of the number who volunteered from this County. It is believed how- ever that, in common with the other counties of the State, Ful- ton bore her full share in this great contest.


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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.


GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.


BLEECKER, named in honor of Rutger Bleecker, a patentee of the town, was formed from Johnstown, April 4, 1831. A part was re-annexed to that town in 1841, and a part of Caroga was taken off in 1842. It is the central town upon the north border of the County. Its surface is a hilly and mountainous upland, the highest summits upon the north bor- der rising to the hight of 2,000 feet above tide. The streams are head branches of West Stony and Garoga Creeks. There are several small lakes in the valleys, the principal of which are Chase's Lake in the north, and Woodworth Lake and Peck's Pond on the south border. The soil is light and thin and the surface is very stony. The leading pursuits are lumbering and tanning.


Bleecker, (p. v.) in the. south part, contains a Presbyterian church, a brewery, two tanneries, two saw mills, several me- chanic shops and stores, and about 200 inhabitants.


There are in the town four churches, viz., Presbyterian, Meth- odist, Lutheran and Roman Catholic; four stores, five hotels. three tanneries, thirteen saw mills and one grist mill. Pine Tannery is in the north-east corner of the town, Smith's Tannery is in the east part, about six miles north of the village, and l'eck's Tannery is about one mile west of the village. The saw mills in various parts of the town do a large business.


The first settlements of this town were commenced about 1800 by emigrants from New England, among whom were James Morse, William Rood, Ephraim Lindsley, James Landon, Samuel Shaffer, William Eglan, Frederick Mills, George Hamil- ton and - Goodwell. William Chase, the patentee of a large tract of land in the town, erected a grist mill on the north branch of Stony Creek in 1804-5.


The first school house was built in 1824, chiefly through !!: . influence of Joseph Eastman. The first school in district No. 3 was taught by Nancy Foot, and the first in No. 4 by Asen th Greenfield.


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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.


The population of the town in 1865 was 993, and its area 35,715 acres.


BROADALBIN was formed from Caughnawaga, March 12, 1793. Northampton was taken off in 1799, and a part of Perth in 1842. It is the central town on the east border of the County. Its surface is rolling and most of it is susceptible of cultivation. Chuctenunda Creek flows through the south-east corner. Kennito Creek flows west, through near the center, Mayfield Creek through the north-west corner, and French- man's Creek flows north-west through the north part. The coil is chiefly of the drift formation and inclines to sand. The north part extends into the great Sacondaga Marsh, which is annually overflowed and in which the soil is alluvium.


Fondus Bush, (Broadalbin p. o.) on Kennito Creek, in the south-west part, was incorporated April 17, 1815, as Rawson- ville. It contains three churches, viz., Congregational, Metho- dist and Baptist; two hotels, a printing office, several mills and manufactories and about 1200 inhabitants.


Benedict's Corners, in the north part, contains a Christian church and about a dozen houses.


North Broadalbin (p. o.) and


Union Mills (p. o.) are hamlets.


Vantranken Corners, in the south-east corner, on the line of Saratoga County, contains a grist mill and about a dozen daellings.


There are five saw mills, one grist mill and three paper mills in the town.


The town was named from a place in Scotland, by James Mfc- Intyre, one of the early settlers. It comprises parts of Sacon- daga. Kavaderosseras and Stone's Patents. The first settler in this town was Henry Stoner, father of Nicholas Stoner, the re- awwad trapper and hunter so widely known through all this region for many years. He located at Fondas Bush previous to thir Bowlation. Within a few miles of him, Joseph Scott, Ben- jamin DeLine. Philip Helmer, Andrew Bowman, Herman Sal- Asbury, John Putnam, Joseph Desilver, John Homan, Charles C'ady and Samuel Brown settled, previous to the Revolution. Jak : Melisr. Nathan Brockway, Alexander Murray, Alex- ander Oliver and Daniel Melntyre, from Scotland; Peter Dein- arest and Derrick Banta, from New Jersey; Aaron Manchester, Reuben Burr and Eroch Cromwell, from New England, settled soon after the Revolution.


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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.


Summer House Point is a knoll of land in the north-west part of the town, extending into the vlaie, or swamp, and so named from the fact that Sir William Johnson erected a summer house upon the point in 1772, and from that time until his death was accustomed to spend a portion of every summer at this place. This cottage is described by Simms as a tasty one story building, fronting the south, with a piazza, supported by square columns, extending around the sides and east end, with a promenade upon the top, nearly as high as the eaves. Sir William had a large garden, well cultivated, at this point, and set out fruit trees, some of which remained for many years. He kept a fine boat at this place and entertained his visitors in the best man- ner the surroundings would permit. The fall and spring were the best times for hunting; when the marsh was flooded a boat would easily pass over it and thousands of ducks and wild geese might be seen floating upon its surface. No traces of the build- ings now remain.




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