Gazetteer and business directory of Schoharie County, N.Y. for 1872-3, Part 11

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1872
Publisher: Syracuse : Printed at the Journal office
Number of Pages: 252


USA > New York > Schoharie County > Gazetteer and business directory of Schoharie County, N.Y. for 1872-3 > Part 11


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).


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At the close of the Revolution, some of the Tories from this town returned, to the great disgust of patriotic citizens. Among these was one named Beacraft, who boasted of his deeds of barbarity until they could no longer be endured. He was taken by about a dozen whigs, stripped, bound and punished with fifty lashes with hickory withes, the executioner telling him at every ten strokes, for what crime they were in- flicted. He was then released and disappeared forever from this town.


The Methodist Church of North Blenheim was organized about 1801 by Revs. Heman and Nathan Bangs, with about 20 members. About the year 1828 a house of worship was erected ; it will seat 500 and is valued at $2,500. The parsonage is valued at $1,000. Rev. Wm. W. Taylor is the present pastor.


The Methodist Church of Blenheim Hill, erected a house of worship in 1854, at an expense of $1,500, and capable of seat- ing 300. The present membership is 60 and the pastor is Rev. Wm. W. Taylor.


The Methodist Church of Eminence has a membership of 271; their house of worship will seat 600, and is valued at $1,200; the parsonage is valued at $1,000. Rev. Geo. W. Martin is the pastor.


The Reformed Church of North Blenheim was organized in 1852, by Rev. Jacob Van Woert, the first pastor, with 31 mem- bers. Their house of worship was erected in 1853 and cost originally $2,100. The present value of church and lot is


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$3,000, and that of the parsonage $1,700 ; their house of wor- ship will seat 300; their membership is 34.


The population of the town in 1870 was 1,437, and its area 25,966 acres.


The number of school districts is 12, employing 23 teachers. The number of children of school age is 481; the average at- tendance, 165 ; the amount expended for teachers' wages during the year ending September 30, 1871, was $2,488.32; other ex- penses, $575,31.


BROOME, named in honor of Lieut. Governor John Broome, was formed March 17, 1797, as Bristol. Its name was changed April 6, 1808. A part of Conesville was taken off in 1836, a part of Gilboa in 1848, and parts of Middleburgh were annexed Feb. 9, and October 5, 1849. It lies upon the east bor- der of the County, south of the center. The surface is a hilly upland, broken by the deep ravines of the streams. The high- est summits are from 350 to 500 feet above the valleys. Cats- kill Creek takes its rise in the north part, and several branches of the Schoharie Creek drain the north and west portions. The soil is a gravelly and clayey loam.


Livingstonville, (p. v.) in the east part, south of the center, contains two churches, a store, a hotel, a grocery, two black- smith shops, a wagon shop, a shoe shop and about twenty dwel- lings.


Franklinton, (p. v.) in the east part, contains a church, a store, a sash and blind shop, a wagon shop, two blacksmith shops and about a dozen dwellings.


Smithton is a hamlet on the south border.


The first settlements were made before the Revolution. Among the early settlers, some of whom came in after the close of the Revolution, were Derick Van Dyck, John Robbins, a half- breed named Guillem, Allen Leet, Joshua and Asa Bushnell, George and Hezekiah Watson, Ebenezer Wickham, George Burt- wick, Timothy Kelsey, John Gillet and Ezra Chapman, all of whom came in previous to 1796. The first birth in the town, so far as known, was that of Francis Kelsey, in April 1794; the first death was that of Ezra Chapman, August 1794. In 1794, Griswold, Carden & Wells began the erection of a saw mill, and the next season a grist mill.


David Elerson, distinguished among the riflemen of the Re- volution, settled in this town in 1793. Previous to the Revo- lution he was engaged in the Indian wars of Virginia, during which he received a bullet through his left shoulder. He was


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in the battle of Monmouth, under Col. Morgan. Col. M. hung upon the rear of the retreating army for some distance. Arriv- ing near Middletown, Elerson, Murphy, Wilbur and Tuffts, all of whom were afterwards on duty in Schoharie, obtained per- mission to leave the ranks and pursue the enemy to Raritan Bay. At length Elerson became separated from his compan- ions and found himself in sight of his foes. The army had ef- fected a landing on Staten Island, under the cover of the fleet in the bay, leaving nothing on the Middletown shore but some horses, wagons and a phaeton, supposed to belong to Sir Henry Clinton. This property was guarded by only two sentinels,one of whom stood on the beach near the water. Elerson ap- proached unperceived within a few yards of them, one of whom was a mounted trooper, and leveling his rifle ordered them to surrender. The soldier on foot was so surprised that he drop- ped his gun into the water, wetting the powder. The dragoon attempted to swim his horse to the island, but the tide was too strong and he was compelled to return. In the mean time Elerson ordered the other man to harness a pair of good horses to the carriage. By this time the dragoon had returned and, drawing a pistol on Elerson, the latter sent a bullet from his trusty rifle through the heart of his foe. This called the at- tention of the enemy, who immediately directed their artillery towards the point. Elerson reloaded his rifle, and just as the sec- ond ball struck near him, leaped into the carriage and compelled his prisoner to drive him to the American camp. Elerson sold his horses and carriage for $187.50, and sent the money to his father in Virginia. Elerson died in 1838 or '39.


David Williams, one of the captors of Major Andre, removed to this town in 1805 and settled near Livingstonville, on a farm previously owned by Gen. Shay, the leader of what has since been known in the history of Massachusetts, as Shay's Rebell- ion. John Paulding and Isaac Van Wart were the other two who captured Andre. As a reward for their services, Congress gave each an annual pension of $200, in specie, and a silver med- al, inscribed on one side "Fidelity," and"on the other "Vincit Amor Patria." In addition to this, each of the captors was allowed the privilege of locating any confiscated lands in West -*. chester County, to the value of $1,250 or receive the same sum in cash. In the fall of 1830, the corporation of the city of New York sent an invitation to Mr. Williams to be present at the celebration of the French Revolution. Mr. Williams and three other soldiers of the Revolution were drawn in a carriage at the head of the procession. He visited the public schools and other places of interest, and at one of the schools a silver cup was presented to him, and at another, a silver headed cane.


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The Mayor also presented to him an elegant horse, harness and carriage. He died August 2, 1831, aged 77. He was buried with military honors at Livingstonville, August 4, in the pre- sence of a large concourse who had assembled to pay the last tribute of respect to the distinguished patriot.


The Presbyterian Church of Livingstonville was organized in 1777, with seven members. Their house of worship was erect- ed in 1831. The present membership is 30.


The Methodist Church of Franklinton was organized in 1828, by C. S. Duncan, the first pastor, with three members. Their house of worship was erected in 1845 ; it will seat 300 and cost- $1,000. The present value of church property is $2,000; the present membership is 115, and the pastor is Rev. J. Cowen.


The Christian Church of Smithton was organized by Rev. Mr. Roberts, and a house of worship was erected in 1859 at a cost of $600 and capable of seating 200. The present value of church property is about $1,000; the membership is 40, and the pastor is Rev. Leonard Thorn.


The New School Baptist Church, located in the north-east part of the town, erected a house of worship in 1844 at a cost of $600, and capable of seating 250. The present membership is 40, and the pastor is Rev. Leonard Smith.


The Union Church was erected in 1864, in the north-east part of the town. It is occupied by different denominations. It will seat 250 and is valued at $2,000.


The population in 1870 was 1,836, and its area 26,998 acres.


The whole number of school districts is 18, employing 34 teachers. The number of children of school age. is 642; the average attendance, 236; the amount expended for teachers' wages during the year ending September 30, 1871, was $3,313.35 ; other expenses, $325.68.


CARLISLE was formed from Cobleskill and Sharon, March 31, 1807. It is a central town upon the north border of the County. The surface consists principally of an immense ridge, lying between the valleys of the Mohawk and Cobleskill, the summit of which is 800 to 1000 feet above the former stream. This ridge descends to the north by a series of terraces, formed by the different geological strata, and the south by gradual slopes, following the general dip of the rocks. A conical eleva- tion near the south line, early known as Owaeresouere, is one of the highest points in the County, and may be seen from Hamil- ton County, fifty miles distant. The streams are small brooks. The soil is chiefly a clay loam. Hops are extensively cultivat-


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ed. Several caves are found in the limestone regions in various parts of the town. The principal of these are known as Young's and Selkirk's Caves. Near Carlisle village is a small cavern, in which it is supposed the Indians found shelter during the Re- volution. Fibrous sulphate of barytes, fibrous carbonate of lime and arragonite, are found near Grovenor's Corners.


Carlisle (p. o.) is situated in the north part of the town, on the Western Turnpike, and contains a church, a hotel, two stores, a foundry, a tannery, two blacksmith shops, a carriage shop, two shoe shops and 28 dwellings. Grove Seminary was built in a beautiful grove, a little south of the center of the vil- lage, in 1853, at a cost of $24,500. It was finally closed and re- moved in 1865. Mr. John Van Liew was the first principal, and Mr. J. P. Lansing the last one. There is a good public school in the village, under the direction of Mr. A. S. Griffin. The district propose soon to erect a new school house, commensu- rate with the wants of the school, at a cost of $2,000.


Argusville, (p. v.) in the north-west part of the town, and named from the Albany Argus, the principal paper taken there, lies partly in Sharon, and contains two churches, two stores, a hotel, a tin shop, two shoe shops, two carriage shops, two blacksmith shops, a saw mill, a school house, 38 dwellings and 175 inhabitants.


Grovenor's Corners, (p. v.) in the south-east part of the town, contains a church, a store, a blacksmith shop, two shoe shops, an insurance office, an undertaker's shop, a school house and a dozen dwellings. It was named in honor of Moses Grovenor and two sons, who were the first settlers in this place.


Carlisle Center, (p. v.) in the south part of the town, two and a half miles from Grovenor's Corners, contains a store, a harness shop, a shoe shop, a carriage shop, a school house and half a dozen dwellings. The post office was established here in 1871.


Near this place is a cave, the entrance to which is on a lot owned by Ira Young, whose father, John Young, discovered it, by having a horse fall into an opening in the surface above it. The cave has been explored to a distance of about three miles. A few years since, while a party were engaged in making explo- rations in the cave, Mr. A. B. McFail, while ascending by means of a rope, fell and was injured so that he died in about five hours, since which no further explorations have taken place.


Little York, on the turnpike in the west part of the town, con- tains a church, a district school, a hotel and a half dozen dwel- lings.


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This town embraces portions of New Dorlach, Becker, Liv- ingston's, Van Rensselaer's, Machin's and the Stone Heap Patents.


The first settlement was made in 1760, in the south-west part of the town, by Andrew Loucks, Conradt Engle, Philip Hooker and Peter Young. These families came from Rhinebeck. Among the other early settlers were John C. McNeill, Wm. Caldwell, John Sweetman, Aaron Howard, Teunis Van Camp, Mathias Cass and Lodowyck Primer. Judge Brown, author of ' History of Schoharie,' was an early settler of this town and the first justice of the peace. Benjamin Johnson was the first constable. The first grist mill was erected by John Brown, in the north-east part of the town, about a mile and a half from Grovenor's Corners. It was nick-named "Samp Mortar." The first saw mill was erected at what is now Becker's Corners, by Thomas Kinyon. The first school house was erected at Gro- venor's Corners. There is only one grist mill in the town ; this is located near Argusville and is owned by Schermerhorn & Dey.


The Presbyterian Church was organized in the town, by Dr. Simon Hosack, in 1803 or '4. . The number of members at its organization was 23. The first house of worship was erected in 1813; the present house was erected in 1848; it will seat 500. The present value of church property is $2,500. Rev. A. H. Seeley, the present pastor, has served the people acceptably for about twelve years.


The Methodist Church have an organization at Grovenor's Corners, with a membership of 94; Rev. E. Baker is the pastor. The society worship in the Union Church at this place, which has a seating capacity of 300 and is valued at $1,000.


The Baptist Church of Grovenor's Corners was organized in 1865 by Parley Grovenor, the first pastor, with a membership of 20. They worship in the Union Church. The present number of members is 27. Rev. D. Collins is the pastor.


The Lutheran Church of Little York was organized in 1851, by Rev. Marcus Kling, the first pastor, with 19 members. A house of worship was erected the same year at a cost of $1000 and seating 250. The first trustees were Peter Brown, Elias Page and Martin Tillapaugh. The present membership is 100; the pastor is Rev. Marcus Kling.


The Lutheran Church of Argusville was organized Feb. 12, 1837, by Rev. P. Wieting, the first pastor, with 28 members. The first house of worship was erected in 1838; the present house in 1855 ; it will seat 300 and is valued at $2,000; the present membership is 190.


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The Universalist Church of Argusville was organized by Rev. J. D. Hicks, the first pastor, with 27 members. Their house of worship was erected in 1852; it will seat 500 and is valued at $1,200. Rev. Wm. H. Waggoner is the present pas- tor.


The population of the town in 1870 was 1,731, and its area 20,855 acres.


There are 12 school districts, employing 12 male and 5 female teachers. The number of children of school age is 644; the number attending school, 525; the average attendance, 261; the value of school houses and sites, $5,290, and the whole amount expended for school purposes for the last year was $4,836.44.


COBLESKILL, named in honor of Cobel, who built a mill at Central Bridge at an early period, was formed from Schoharie, March 17, 1797. The line of Sharon was changed March 15, 1799. A part of Carlisle was taken off in 1807, a part of Summit in 1819, and Richmondville in 1845. It is an interior town, lying north of the center of the County. The surface is principally a hilly upland, broken by the deep valley of Cobleskill, which flows east through the center. The highest points on the north and south borders, are from 600 to 900 feet above the valley. The soil upon the hills is a sandy loam, and in the valley an alluvium.


Cobleskill, (p. v.) incorporated April 3, 1868, is in the west part, pleasantly situated on the creek of the same name, and is a station on the Albany & Susquehanna R. R., forty-five miles from Albany. The Sharon & Cherry. Valley R. R. con- nects this place with Sharon Springs and Cherry Valley in Otsego Co. It is well laid out, the streets are nicely shaded with trees, and the principal sidewalks well flagged. It already contains some fine business blocks, with more in prospect, many neat and comfortable, and some elegant residences. It contains three churches, a fine brick school-house, a bank, four hotels, a newspaper printing office, the Empire Agricultural Works, a steam planing mill, sash and blind manufactory, &c., two wagon shops, a grist mill, two saw mills, two marble shops, a large number of stores and mechanic shops of various kinds, and about 1,800 inhabitants.


The Empire Agricultural Works of Minard Harder, located in this village, were established in 1859 by R. & M. Harder. Like most great enterprises its beginnings were small and only a small number of machines were sold the first year, but the business has constantly increased until they give employment


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to about twenty-five hands and sell about $50,000 worth annually. Mr. Minard Harder, one of the original proprietors, is now the sole owner of these works and is manufacturing some of the best threshing machines in the country, as well as other im- plements. At the great National Implement Trial at Auburn, N. Y., in July 1866, a gold medal was awarded to Messrs. Har- der for the best Combined Thresher and Cleaner. The Com- mittee, in speaking of the Endless Chain Horse Powers made by Mr. Harder, say, that " It works more equably, more smooth- ly and with less waste of power than any machines that we have ever met with. The construction of this ma- chine is such as to produce a sufficient speed for threshing, by a very slow and easy movement of the horses," while the me- chanical execution of this power is deserving of the highest commendation. The best of materials and the best workman- ship are combined in all machines coming from Mr. Harder's establishment. The Combined Thresher and Cleaner has sev- eral new features, rendering it superior to any other in use. Mr. Harder is about to erect new works commensurate with the increasing demand for his machines.


Lawyersville, (p. v.) named in honor of Lawrence Lawyer, one of the first settlers of the town, is situated about two miles north-west of Cobleskill, and contains two churches, a school house, two saw mills, a blacksmith shop, a shoe shop and about twenty dwellings.


Barnerville, (p. v.) about three miles east of Cobleskill, con- tains a union church, a store, two blacksmith shops, a carding and cloth dressing mill, a grist mill, a carriage shop, a wagon shop, a manufactory of horse and hand rakes, bent felloes, chairs, broom handles and general turning, and about forty dwellings.


East Cobleskill, (p. v.) in the east part of the town, contains a church, a store, a grocery, a wagon shop, a blacksmith shop, a hotel and about a dozen dwellings.


Howe's Cave, (p. o.) in the east part of the town, is a station on the A. & S. R. R. and contains a store, a large hotel, a stone quarry and a manufactory of lime and cement.


The Howe's Cave Lime and Cement Company manufacture lime and cement, and carry on the business of quarrying and cutting stone for all purposes.


The place received its name from Lester Howe, who first ex- plored the remarkable Cave whose entrance is at this place. The Cave contains several large rooms connected by narrow passages, some of which require considerable stooping to pass


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through. A body of water occupies one portion of the Cave and must be crossed by a boat. Stalactites and other mineral formations are found here. The Cave extends for several miles and is visited by large numbers every summer.


Cobleskill Center (Mineral Springs p. o.) is a hamlet, a little south-west of the center.


The first settlement was made about 1750, along the flats bor- dering on the creek. Among the early settlers were families named Shafer, Bouck, Warner, Lawyer, Frimire, Borst, Brown, from Schoharie, and George Fester, from Pennsylvania, all of whom were of German origin. Capt. James Dana, from Con- necticut, and John Redington, were early settlers at Lawyers- ville. Capt. Dana was at the battle of Bunker Hill. On locating at Lawyersville he erected a good log house in which he resided during the remainder of his life. He received a commission of General from Gov. Lewis, on the organization of a brigade of infantry, being the first man in the County who held that office.


The first land grants were made about 1730. During the Re- volution most of the inhabitants were ardent supporters of the Colonists, and as a consequence were exposed to the incursions of Indians and Tories. At the outbreak of hostilities, there were twenty families located on the rich flats of the Cobleskill, within a distance of three miles. As they were all Whigs, they organized a militia company for their own defense, Christian Brown being Captain, and Jacob Borst, Lieutenant. In June 1778 a battle was fought in this town between Tories and In- dians under Brant, and provincial troops and militia under Cap- tains Patrick and Brown. The Americans were drawn into an ambuscade and defeated. Captain Patrick was killed. . The settlers in the vicinity, hearing the firing, fled to the forest for refuge, or towards the Fort at Schoharie, ten miles distant. Three of Patrick's and two of Brown's men took refuge in a house from which they fired upon the Indians. The latter stopped to dislodge them, thus giving the fleeing ones an oppor- tunity to escape. The house was set on fire and three of the soldiers were buried in the ruins, the other two were killed. The whole number killed in the engagement was twenty-two, more than half of the Americans engaged being either killed or wounded. The enemy consisted of about 350, under the com- mand of Joseph Brant. The loss of the enemy was supposed to equal if it did not exceed that of the Americans. Ten houses were burned on this occasion, and about the same number of barns.


Jonas Belknap, one of the soldiers engaged in this battle, was wounded in the hip and carried from the field by Lawrence Lawyer. He then crept into a hollow log where he remained


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until the next day, when he backed out, and seating himself upon a fence near by, saw two Indians approaching with their plunder. Unperceived by them he let himself down into a bunch of briars. The Indians halted near him and the dogs placed their feet upon the fence and growled. Taking a drink from a bottle, they then went on their way, to the great relief of Belknap. He then found his way to a house which had been deserted so hastily that food was left upon the table. Having satisfied the cravings of his appetite, he lay down to rest. In the afternoon he was conveyed to Schoharie Fort and properly cared for.


The day before the battle of Cobleskill, Lieut. Borst, his broth- er Joseph and a man named Freemire were on a scout several miles up the creek. The latter was some distance from his com- panions when two Indians sprang suddenly upon them with a savage yell, intended to intimidate them. A friendly salutation ensued, when Han Yerry, one of the Indians, approached Joseph Borst, seized his gun in a playful manner, threw open the pan, and, with a sudden jerk, spilled the priming, saying, "It is good if this be gone." Borst, seeing that the object of the Indian was to disarm him, dropped his own gun and siezing that of the Indian, wrenched the flint from the lock, saying " It is good if this is served so." The Indian dropped his gun and clinched Borst. While the struggle was going on, the other Indian approached the Lieutenant, ordering him to surrender. Instead of doing so he instantly shot him. Han Yerry freed himself from the grasp of Borst and fled, leaving his gun.


Captain Christian Brown, one of the early settlers of this town, erected a grist mill and a saw mill, previous to the Rev- olution, on a creek which flows into the Cobleskill near Barner- ville. These mills were not burned during the war, because a Tory named Sommer owned land near, and expected that Brown's place would be confiscated to the British Government and that he would then be able to obtain it. At the time the lower part of Cobleskill was plundered, Captain Brown hurried his family into the woods to protect them, and then returned to his house to secure some of his effects. While there, he saw from a window, a party of Indians approaching, and as he could not escape without being seen, he concealed himself, and after the Indians had plundered it, he sought his family and fled to a place of greater safety. While Brown was absent a wedding took place at his house. The parties were Brown's hired man and servant girl. The soldiers in the vicinity were invited guests, and all were abundantly served with pork and sour-crout, the best the house afforded. Brown's mills were erected on a stream a few rods from a deep pool from which the


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water issued. Some years after a saw mill was erected in Car- lisle on a stream which sank into the ground and disappeared near the mill. After this mill went into operation, sawdust appeared in the pool near Brown's mill, some three miles dis- tant.


The first Town Meeting of Cobleskill was held at the house of Lambert Lawyer in 1797, at which John H. Shaver was chosen, Supervisor; Jacob I. Cuyler, Clerk ; David Zea, David Schuyler, John Redington, Mathew Young, Henry Shaver, Assessors ; George Wright, George Warner, Ephraim Young, Commissioners of Highways; Jacob Bouck, Wm. Brown, Col- lectors ; Peter Shaver, Christian Brown, Overseers of the Poor; David Schuyler, Sylvester Nash, John Punk, Commissioners of Schools. At this meeting the town voted to pay Fence Viewers six shillings a day when engaged in the performance of the duties of the office. In 1800 the Board of Excise licensed the following persons : "Lambert Lawyer, Peter Bouck, William Snyder, Nicholas Rouse, Jacob Newton, Nicholas Smith, Wm. Baker, Caleb Lamb and Lambert Shaver, who appear to be of good moral character and are of sufficient abilities each to keep a public Inn or Tavern, and that each of them has accom- modations to entertain travelers, and that it appears to the said Board that it is necessary for the accommodation of travelers that a tavern be kept at their several places of abode in the said town of Cobleskill." In 1802 the town voted that " Hogs Run yoked, any person letting his hogs run and not yoked, if doing damage through a lawfull fence as aforesaid, shall be fined fifty cents per head over and above all damages, to be re- covered by an action of Dt by the Complainer." In 1802 they declared " 2 feet long a lawfull yoak." The same year they resolved that "a Stocks be built at the house of Lambert Lawyer at the expense of the town, unanimously carried." In 1806 voted a "Bounty on killing wolves 15 Dollars besides the usual Bounty allowed by law, and that no person shall be allowed the above bounty which is not an inhabitant of this town." In 1820 "Voted that the Paupers of the town of Cobleskill shall annually be sold at auction on the first Tues- day in May, where the licenses will be granted to retailers of strong and spirituous liquors."




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