USA > New York > Herkimer County > History of Herkimer county, New York > Part 21
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Before the War of the Revolution Dr. William Petry2 purchased lot No. 11, lowland and upland. On the southerly end of the upland stands the Samuel Earl homestead, which is still in possession of the family. William Smith, also, still occupies the home of his ancestors. Members of the Smith and Shell families occupied until recent years the farms on
I Samuel Earl's papers.
2 For sketch of Dr. Petry see Chapter on the Medical Profession.
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TOWN OF HERKIMER.
the east side of the West Canada Creek where their ancestors lived and died.
The original Jacob Wever drew lot No. 10 in the Burnetsfield assign- ment ; the upland lot, upon which he settled and lived, is at the head of Main street, in the village. After his death it passed to his sons, Peter and George Jacob, the latter getting the western half. This land remained with members of the family until recent years.
The emigration into the county after the Revolution took place chiefly between 1785 and 1800, and consisted largely of shrewd New Eng- landers. Between this Yankee element and the German settlers there was considerable rivalry and antagonism for some years, but ultimately the former became dominant, and the Germans gradually relinquished the conduct of affairs and supremacy in manufacturing and commercial matters. Brief sketches of a few of the settlers follow :
Henry Ellison came into Herkimer soon after the county was created and settled on the West Canada Creek, some miles north of the village, where he engaged in farming and tanning. He was an intelligent, pro- gressive man and occupied several positions of trust ; was presidential elector in 1836, and held minor offices. He died at his home leaving an ample estate to his posterity.
Dan Chapman was a native of Connecticut and came into the county at an early period, settling at the Stone Ridge in the village, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits and afterwards adopted the legal pro- fession He was admitted to the bar previous to 1804, was appointed surrogate in 1803, re-appointed in 1808, and held the office until 1816. He removed to Oneida county about 1820.
Joab Griswold settled at Herkimer village, coming from Connecticut, his native State, early in the history of this county. He was an active politician and for his services in the Federal party was given the office of county clerk in March, 1798, which he held six years. Although a lawyer by profession, Mr. Griswold followed farming while he lived at Herkimer. Some of his descendants lived in Herkimer many years after the death of their ancestor.
Elihu Griswold was a member of the medical profession, but did not follow it after he settled in Herkimer before the beginning of the pres- ent century. He was appointed county clerk in April, 1804, and held
220
HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
the office six years; was superseded, but reappointed in 1811 and held the office until his death in 1812. He was succeeded by his son-in - law, Aaron Hackley, jr. Mr. Griswold was born in Herkimer August 17, 1756, and died here January 12, 1812. He was educated and accon- plished ; a man of energy of character, courteous, generous and social.
Philo M. Hackley was a native of Connecticut, and came with his father, Aaron Hackley, to the town of Salisbury in 1795. Philo re- moved within a few years to Herkimer village and engaged in mercan- tile operations, which he continued nearly twenty years. He was an honorable and high-minded man ; was a Federalist in politics and be- longed to that energetic and " talented body of men who early estab- lished themselves at the county seat, and during several years exerted a potent influence in the county." I He was appointed surrogate of the county in 1807, but a political revolution displaced him in the following year; was appointed sheriff in 1810, but another change re- moved him from that office. At the spring election of 1819 he was chosen member of Assembly, with James Orton and Jacob Markell, "three old fashioned and highly respected Federalists." Mr. Hackley lived several years in Little Falls and died in Michigan, whither he had removed.
Henry Hopkins was one of the early merchants of Herkimer. He came hither at an early day ; was appointed sheriff in 1813, held the office two years, and in 1815 was elected to the Assembly; was a can- didate in 1816, but was defeated. He died at Herkimer in 1827.
Michael Myers has been mentioned in connection with the history of this town. He was a native of New Jersey, and of German descent. He was not of the original Palatine emigrants, but his ancestors may have been among those who came here in 1722. He was wounded at Johnstown in 1781, and was then about twenty-eight years of age. Upon the organization of the county courts he was appointed one of the judges and a justice of the peace in February, 1791, and was sev- eral times reappointed; was elected the first member of Assembly after the erection of the county and re-elected the following year. He was elected to the Senate in 1795 and served four years, and was for many years a prominent and influential politician in Herkimer county.
1 Judge Benton's writings.
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TOWN OF HERKIMER.
He was a man of great energy and acquired a large fortune. He died at Herkimer February 17, 1814, at the age of sixty-one years, leaving numerous descendants. Peter M. Myers, appointed county clerk in 1810, was a son, and he also left descendants in the county.
Ephraim Snow lived and died at Herkimer village. He came from Connecticut some time before 1800; was appointed sheriff in 1806 and held the office only one year. He was a respected citizen.
Chauncey Woodruff was a Herkimer merchant for many years. He was appointed sheriff of the county after its erection, under date of March 19, 1798, and held the office by reappointment until 1802. He died in Herkimer in 1810.
Sketches of many other residents of the town will be found in chap- ters relating to the legal and medical professions.
For a few years succeeding the opening of the Erie Canal the out- look for growth in the village and town of Herkimer was not very promising ; but a few years later, when the Utica and Schenectady Railroad passed directly through the village, and the construction of the hydraulic canal was consummated, Herkimer seemed destined to take its proper place as one of the leading towns of Central New York. The farming community promptly and energetically entered upon the dairy industry and soon placed the town well up among the foremost in the manufacture of cheese and butter.
The opening of the Herkimer and Poland Narrow Gauge Railroad in 1881 brought down to the village a considerable volume of northern trade, adding its strength to the welfare of the village; and this road, now just transformed into a first class railroad, extending directly across the northern part of the State, is surely destined to add greatly to the wealth and growth of this town and village.
Following is a list of supervisors of Herkimer, with date of their incumbency :
Henry Staring, 1789, '90; John Porteous, 1791-95 ; Chauncey Woodruff, 1796, '97; Jacob Griswold, 1798; John Meyer, 1799, 1800 ; Matthias B. Talmadge, 1801 ; Evans Wharry, 1802, '03 ; Ellihu Griswold, 1804. '05; Jost D. Petrie, 1806-09, 1816; Eben Britton, 1810; John McCombs, 1811-13; Winsor lanard, 1814, '15; Philo M. Hack- ley, 1817-19; Jacob Small, 1820-25 ; Jacob N. Petrie, 1826, '27; Frederick P. Bell- inger, 1828-32, 1835, 1848 ; James B. Hunt, 1833, '34; Aaron Hackley, 1836, '37; Nicholas Smith, 1838; Frederick Dockstader, 1839; Ezra Graves, 1840, '41; Alex-
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HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
ander M. Gray, 1812, 43, 1862-66 ; Peter C. Helmer, 1844 ; Robert Ethridge, 1845, 46; E. H. Williams, 1847; Robert Earl, 1849, 1861 ; Frederick A. Helmer, 1850, '51; Peter Countryman, 1852; John D. Spinner, 1853 ; Charles Spinner, 1854-58; Marcus W. Rasbach, 1869, 1881-83, 1891 : James A. Suiter, 1860, 1872; William Smith, 1867, 68; C. C. Witherstine, 1869-71, 1878; Erwin A. Munson, 1873; George P. Folts, 1874; Clinton Beckwith, 1875: George W. Smith, 1876; Joab Small, 1877; Henry A. Deimel, 1879, '80, 1885 ; J. Horatio Huyck, 1884; Lewis B. Jones, 1886, '87 ; Adam J. Smith, 1888, '89: William B. Howell, 1890; William Horrocks, 1892.
THE VILLAGE OF HERKIMER.
The village of Herkimer is the oldest in the county, and was incor- porated April 6, 1807, Geneva, Cooperstown and Utica then being the only villages west of Herkimer, and the two former antedated Herki- mer by only a few days. The population at the date of incorporation was probably about 300. In 1820 it was 547; in 1872, 2,000, and at the present time about 4,000.
The village records as they exist at present begin at the year 1841, since which time the following presidents have been chosen :
18.41-44, C. Kathern; 1845, Ezra Graves ; 1846, Peter F. Bellinger ; 18-17, Christian F. Spinner ; 1848-50, C. A. Borton; 1851, '52, A. H. Laflin; 1853, Charles Spinner ; 1854, J. D. Spinner ; 1855, A. M. Gray : 1856-8, George W. Pine ; 1859, Samuel Earl ; 1860, George W. Pine; 1861. Byron Laffin ; 1862, '63, Wm. H. Harter ; 1864, B. Laflin : 1865, Robert Earl; 1866, William Smith; 1867, Jeremiah L. Haner; 1868, D. J. Curtiss: 1869, George W. Pine; 1870, J. G. Bellinger; 1871, George P. Folts; 1872, J. D. Spinner ; 1873. William Smith ; 1871, D. M. Devendorf ; 1875. A. T. Freeman ; 1876, J. D. Henderson : 1877, Clinton Beckwith ; 1878, 79, H. M. P. Uhlee ; 1880, C. R. Snell; 1881, Clinton Beckwith: 1882, J. H. IInyck ; 1883, J. D. Henderson ; 1884, '89, Harvey Iluyck; 1886, John D. Moore; 1887, Wm. B. Howell; 1888, Charles G. Grosve- nor ; 1889, L. B. Jones; 1890, 91, A. B. Steele; 1892, William Witherstine.
In the year 1841 the village was small and few improvements had been made. There were no sidewalks, or almost none, except gravel, and the streets were mere graded roads. In that year $11.50 was paid for rental of the lot on which the engine-house stood. But the village had a brass band in those days, and a subscription paper is on record in 1842, showing that more than $150 was subscribed for the purchase of instruments. From about 1850 onward improvements in streets and sidewalks and the opening of new streets progressed rapidly.
The usual provisions were made in early years for protection from fire, in which all citizens were required to share ; but it was not until
223
TOWN OF HERKIMER.
one or two destructive fires occurred that thorough effort was made for the organization and eqiupment of a company. Those fires were the one of 1834, which destroyed the old Reformed church, the court- house and other structures, and that in 1838, which burned nearly all of the north half of the block where now stands the Waverly Hotel and the opera-house. In early years all owners of buildings were re- quired to keep a certain number of buckets on their premises, the num- ber based upon the size and height of the buildings. It is not now known just when the first engine was provided ; but a new one was purchased on June 1, 1841, and among those who soon afterward were made firemen were the following :
James Trumbly, Henry Clark, David Weber, Asa G. Kelsey, William Howell, jr., Michael Schaffner, jr., Gideon Dodge. Albert Webb, James A. Suiter, David P. Crosby, Philander A. Ford, Jeremiah Petrie and Charles W. Swift.
A few months later the following were constituted Fire Company No. I :
George Lake, Harvey Huyck, Gaylord Griswold, Philander A Ford, Charles H. Hopkins, Gideon Dodge, Thomas Fetterly, Henry Clark, James Trumbly, Christian F. Spinner, Asa G. Kelsey, John P. De Graff, Warren Caswell, jr., Benjamin Harter, Jeremiah Petrie, William Look, David Weber, William F. Hayes, Franklin Draper, Charles W. Swift, William Howell, jr., Alonzo B. Benedict, William F. Smith and Humphrey Williams, jr.
At the next meeting of the trustees the following persons were ap- pointed firemen to Engine Company No. 2, viz. :
Alexander M. Gray, Charles Spinner, James Hoffman, Peter I. Lepper, Hubbard H. Morgan, Smith Colyer, Grant Davis, Albert S. Howell, Alonzo Hall, Henry Shaw, James Dolan, Hiram Campbell, George M. Harter, Charles Smith, David Bowers, John Bowers, Samuel Earl, Harvey H. Lewis, William Weber
Late in the same year a hook and ladder company was formed, of which the first members were :
Nathan Esterbrooks, Joseph Bowers, Kellogg Hubbard, Willard A. Gray, Alfred P. Peck, Frederick A. Helmer, William A. Caswell, Peter F. Bellinger, John Vincent, Mark Batchelder, and William B. Houghton.
There was a reorganization of the department in 1866, and $300 were raised "for equipping the late reorganized fire department." Under the stimulus of a destructive fire in 1875, the department was again re- organized and steps taken to purchase a steam fire engine. Previous
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HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
to this time and for many years, the "Conqueror " engine and com- pany had served the village and was the only company here. After the great fire this company was reorganized with the other changes, and it continued in active service until a few years since, when the completion of the public water works rendered it comparatively useless, and the company was disbanded.
The steamer purchased in 1876 was of the Button make and has proved in the efficient hands of the company one of the most powerful machines ever built. It is called Fort Dayton Steamer No. 2. The first officers of the company were :
Isaac Mason, foreman ; Joseph Palmer, first assistant foreman ; W. H. Wilson, sec- ond assistant foreman ; L. A. Lawton, secretary ; H. A. Marckres, treasurer ; H. M. Quackenbush, engineer.
This steamer has for three years past held the state championship. The present officers of the company are as follow :
Byron D. Small, foreman ; Charles P. Warburton, first assistant foreman ; Jacob Ackler, second assistant foreman ; Edward Small, president; Thomas H. Allen, vice- president ; Albert Putnam, secretary ; Albert Ertman, treasurer.
Active Hook and Ladder company (now Excelsior) was first organ- ized July 28, 1874, with the following charter members :
W. C. Stewart, J. V. Mallery, Charles A. Paul, Wilham W. Barse, Jolin H. Dresher, M. M. Draper, Howard C. Harter, James A. Clark, and John D. Moore. The officers werc: Charles A. Paul, foreman ; John II. Dresher, first assistant; Howard C. Harter, second assistant; W. C. Stewart, secretary ; John D. Moore, treasurer.
After organization the company removed to the old Conqueror (now Fort Dayton) engine-house and took charge of the old hand engine, continuing in that capacity until 1875, when they dropped the name of Active Engine Company No. 2, and took the name of Active Hose Company. In June, 1877, a hook and ladder truck was purchased and placed in their charge. The present officers of the company are :
President, William Witherstine; vice-president, William H. Whitmore ; foreman, Jolin D. Moore ; first assistant foreman, George W. Nellis, jr .; second assistant fore- man, John Bowman ; secretary, Thomas A. Byrnes ; financial secretary, Irving Lynch ; treasurer, William G. Smith.
Fort Dayton Hose Company No. 2 was organized September 22, 1875, when the steamer was purchased, and was incorporated Decem- ber 7, 1875. The first officers were :
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TOWN OF HERKIMER.
Foreman, George Susholz; first assistant, E. A. Brown; second assistant, A. B. Steele; secretary, W. C. Prescott; treasurer, W. C. Stewart.
The company now consists of twenty-eight members, and has the following officers :
Thomas W. Grosvenor, foreman ; W. H. Benchley, first assistant; M. A. Deimel, second assistant ; Charles W. Prescott, secretary ; Glen P. Munson, treasurer.
The public supply of water to the village is owned and controlled by the village authorities and consists (1892) of fifty-two driven wells, from which pure and wholesome water is pumped and supplied in pipes by the Holly system. The supply was installed in 1888, at a cost of over $60,000. The money was raised on bonds of the village.
For a considerable period after the close of the late war Herkimer village was especially progressive. New streets were rapidly opened, sidewalks multiplied, the fire department, as before explained, was in- creased, and general extension and prosperity prevailed. In 1875 the village adopted the act of 1870 for the incorporation of villages, giving the authorities broader powers. The police force as at present consti- tuted was organized in 1887, with Sylvester Wilson as chief. He was succeeded by the present official, John T. Manion. There are two uni- formed patrolmen.
The receipts from the various funds for the year ending March 1, 1892, were as follows: Ordinary fund, $8,013.73 ; highway fund, $6,159.42 ; electric light (on hand February 18), $1,885 11 ; police and fire, $5,721.78-a total of $21,780.04. The village has no debt, ex- cepting the bonds for water and lights.
Following are the village officers for 1892: President, William Witherstine ; trustees, J. D. Moore, Lewis Turnier, Jacob G. Bellinger, James H. Walrad, Robert Earl 2d, C. D. West. Police Justice, E. B. Mitchell. Marshal Rice, chief of fire department. Police and Fire Commissioners, Charles Bell, Dr. Cyrus Kay, W. P. Munson, C. R. Snell. C. C. Spinner is secretary, and W. I. Taber, treasurer of the Light and Water Commis- sion.
THE CHURCHES OF HERKIMER.
It is not known precisely when the first church was built on the north side of the river in the limits of this county ; but it was previous to 1757. The stone church on the south side was already erected, as
29
226
IIISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
appears in the history of the town of German Flats. "Although at that time the inhabitants in this valley were few and could not have ex- ceeded eight or ten hundred on both sides of the river, yet there were good reasons for having two church edifices. At times, and especially in the spring of the year, it was impossible for the people to go from one side of the river to the other, on account of the floods, and as the people were a church- going people, there was a necessity for a place of worship on both sides, so that at such times as they could not all meet at one place, they could meet in separate places for worship. And in the absence of their clergyman, some one of the congregation would read service. Dr. William Petry was often called upon to do this, and so was John Christian Shell, the hero of Shell's Bush and the Chevalier Bayard among the people. In the absence of the clergyman it is said that Dr. Petry published his own bans. He was married in 1766." 1 The ample evidence of the existence of the church on the north side of the river, and where the present Reformed church now stands, on Main street, exists in the following old German document (translated by the late John P. Spinner) which reads as follows :
" GERMANFLATS, August 20, 1770.
I, on the end undersigned, testify hereby that I have given an acre of land for a High Dutch Reformed church on the stone ridge ; but whereas, the church, with all its writings, in the devastation of this place by the Indians anno 1757, in an unfortunate manner has been burned away; and whereas, I have this land wherein this acre lies transferred to my son, Dietrich, and the same likewise did precede me to eternity, I John Jost Petrie, testify that the oldest son of the deceased Dietrich must give other writings as soon as the same comes to his years, and a new church, with my consent, on the same acre of land build again. Such do I attest with my own hand and seal.
his JOHN JOST X PETRIE. [L. S.]
mark
In presence
MARCUS PETRIE.
This first church in the village was burned in 1757 and another built on the same site.2 The latter was burned in 1834, and the present brick edifice erected on the site.
' Samuel Earl's writings, 1876.
2 The great difference between the social habits of that early period and those of the present are shown in the following account rendered by a committee appointed by the church to go to Albany and transact some business in 1747 :
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TOWN OF HERKIMER.
Important changes took place in this church during the ministry of Rev. John P. Spinner (1801-1841), owing largely to the gradual acces- sions to the Yankee element in the population. "The New England influence was asserting itself, and presently a style of doctrine and a form of worship were required that should be more in accord with New England, or perhaps we should say, with American ideas. To the descendants of the Puritans and to those in general who came of English stock, and who were beginning now to settle here and else- where throughout the county in considerable numbers, the German service and the prevailing customs and usages of the German people were not at all congenial. Besides, the English language was coming more and more into general use, so that some change in the manage- ment or at least in the mode of conducting ecclesiastical affairs, was rendered necessary by the changed condition of the church and of the community. Add to this the fact of Mr. Spinner's opposition to new men and measures and the feeling of estrangement which had sprung up to some extent from other causes, even among his old German parishioners, and the result may be easily accounted for. In 1827 the old pastor was led through stress of circumstances to abandon his pul- pit for a time and maintain himself in some other way than by the ministrations of the gospel."1 Mr. Spinner's absence at length attracted the attention of the classis, and he was cited before that body, where he was exonerated from blame in the matter. The resolutions of the classis were accompanied by wholesome advice to both pastor and people, and the church work was soon resumed. But strange to say it was soon afterwards resolved by the consistory that a subscription paper be cir-
1797. Feb'y 7-To liquors at different places,. 4 0
8 Paid John Fonday for 3 sup., 3 quarts cider, 3 lodgings & 1, gill gin IO 6
9 Paid Johnson, Schenectady, I grog, I lodging, I supper, 1 glass bitters, 7 1 6 and stage to Albany 8 1 0 15
To and in Albany, 2 dinners, I glass punch 0
9
To cash paid Barber the printer. 3
3
To cash paid Myers for getting the papers from New York O
8
0 From roth to 16th included, to sundries in liquors. 8
To 7% day's boarding and liquors at Crane's, in Albany, as per receipt. 5 II
To bread and cheese for on the way home, 2 1. Liquors to Schenectady C
4 6 At Alsoher's, Schenectady, for liquors and lodgings. 3
C To expenses in liquors from Schenectady to home. 7
O
1 History of the Reformed church at Herkimer, by Rev. H. M. Cox.
0
2228
HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
culated for the support, not only of Rev. Mr. Spinner, but also of the Rev. Henry M. Suyder. (Mr. Snyder had preached in the pulpit dur- ing part of the absence of Mr. Spinner, and was not in favor with the latter.) In other words, an effort was to be made to unite the German and the English speaking elements in one congregation. This action was taken in 1830. Prior to that, however, a second Reformed church had been organized, with the view of meeting the needs of that portion of the community that could not understand the German tongue. It was incorpo- rated August 21, 1824, un- der the title of " The Uni- ted Dutch Church of Herki- mer and German Flats." This society existed until 1833, and was served during that period by Revs. Sam- uel Center, Isaac S. Ketch- um, J. Boyd, J. Morris and J H. Pitcher.
After the burning of the church in 1834 the congre- IL. L. gation worshiped about a E year in the village school- house, while the present building was in course of erection. The first sale of pews in the new church oc- CHURCH ERECTED 1804, BURNED JAN. 25, 1834- curred on February 5, 1835 ; but the church soon found itself in straitened circumstances, while the old controversies which had led to the organization of the second church continued to come to the surface. This led to a kind of reorganization and active efforts to re- lieve and preserve the church. Many members of the disbanded society
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TOWN OF HERKIMER.
pledged their co-operation to the new movement, which included a provision for employing a second minister to preach in the English language. The result was the engagement of Rev. James Murphy, then of Manheim, who remained as colleague of Mr. Spinner from 1837 to 1842. During his pastorate, which continued alone after 1842 until 1849, the church was furnished, a bell purchased, and other improve- ments made. In 1838 the church officers resolved to erect a consist- ory house to cost $250. This amount proving insufficient, $400 were expended for the purpose and the building was erected.
After four years of experience with the two pastors it was seen that the expense was more than the members could bear, and steps were taken to make a change. This was opposed by Mr. Spinner. At the same time negotiations were opened for a dissolution of the relations which had so long existed between the churches at Herkimer and German Flats, which was accomplished on the 26th of April, 1841. After that date Mr. Spinner confined his attention almost wholly to the church at Fort Herkimer.
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