USA > New York > Herkimer County > History of Herkimer county, New York > Part 22
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" In 1875 the interior of the church building was remodeled at an ex- pense of about $7,000, and we owe it mainly to the enterprise and liberality of Mr. Consaul that the money for that purpose was obtained and the work accomplished which has ever since afforded so much com- fort and satisfaction to those who worship within these courts."1
The Reformed church is now in a prosperous condition, with a thriving Sunday school. Following is a list of its pastors with the dates showing their terms of service :
Rev. Abraham Rosekrants, 1765-96; Rev. D. Christian A. Pick, 1798-1800; Rev. John Peter Spinner, 1801-41; Rev. James Murphey, D. D., 1837-42 as colleague of Mr. Spinner, and 1843-49; Rev. Cornelius S. Mead, 1849-59; Rev. Hugh Brodie Gard- ner, 1860-64; Rev. Jeremiah Petrie, 1864-68, as stated supply ; Rev. Gansevoort D. W. Consaul, 1869-77; Rev. Ralph Watson Brokaw, 1877-82; Rev. Henry Miller Cox, 1882-91; Rev. John G. Gebhard, November, 1891.
Following are the officers of the church :
Elders, Henry Churchill, Clarence L. Avery, Abram S. Brush, Edwin B. Mitchell ; deacons, Clinton M. Batchelder, George Hessler, John Gettley, Charles H. Burrell, Charles B. Morris, George Henderson.
I Rev. Mr. Cox's history of the church.
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Methodist Episcopal Church .- Methodism in Herkimer dates back to 1827, when the first class was formed by Revs. John Ercanback and Calvin Hawley, who were then preaching in the Herkimer circuit. In September, 1832, a legal organization was effected by the election of Abijah Osborne (one of the first members), Warren Caswell and W. Usher, as trustees. The name was "The Methodist Episcopal Church in the Village of Herkimer." This name was changed in 1865 to " The First Methodist Episcopal Church in the Village of Herkimer." The first permanent church edifice was built in 1839, at a cost of $1,300, and served its purpose until 1872, when a larger church be- came a necessity. The old house, corner of Washington and Green streets, was sold to the Catholics, and a building committee was ap- pointed consisting of Hon. Warner Miller, chairman ; Zenas Green, secretary ; George P. Folts, Charles Barse, Elisha Washburne, Berth- waite Patrick, Aaron Snell, Spellman Falk, and Joseph Folts. Under their direction and through the generous liberality of the people the present beautiful brick church was erected at a cost of $39,000. The corner-stone was laid in June, 1873, and the church was dedicated April 23, 1874. The following pastors have served the church :
John Ercanback and Calvin Hawley, 1827 and 1828; Jonathan Worthing and D. II. Kingsley, 1829; Jonathan Worthing and Earl Fuller, 1830; Henry Halstead, 1831 : Allen H. Tilton and Darius Simons, 1832; J. Puffer, H. Chapin and B. Mason, 1833; H. Chapin, 1834: E. Wheeler, 1935 and 1836; E. Whipple, 1837 ; Charles Il. Austin, 1838 and 1839; Franklin Hawkins and Stephen H. Fenton, 1840; Eleazer Whipple and A. Blackman, 1841; George C. Woodruff, 1842 ; David Chidester and John Thomas, 1843; John Slee and R. Lewis, 1814; John Slee, 1845; Jesse Penfield, 1846 and 1847 ; James E. Downing, 1848 and 1849; Elijah Smith, 1850; Ward 1. Hunt, 1851; D. Barnard, 1852; J. II. Lamb, 1853 and 1854 ; J. Billings, 1855; C. H. Austin, 1856 and 1857 ; James Wells, 1858 and 1859; B. 1. Diefendorf, 1860; Daniel Fulford, 1861 and 1862; S. E. Brown, 1863 and 1864 ; Charles Baldwin, 1865 and 1866 ; William Jones, 1867-69; Charles T. Moss, 1870 and 1871 ; W. R. Cobb, 1872 and 1873; W. F. Mark- ham, 1874-76; S. O. Barnes, 1877 and 1878-9; W. Dempster Chase, 1880-82 ; Horace M. Danforth, 1882-85 ; Isaac S. Bingham, 1886-91; and Wm. C. Davidson, the present pastor. The church membership is nearly 500.
In connection with this may be properly mentioned the "George P. Folts Training School, for home and foreign mission work," which is to some extent an outgrowth of this church. Through a generous gift of George P. Folts this school is founded at a cost of $45,000, and a hand-
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some building erected in 1892, for the accommodation of about forty students, a matron, servants, etc., with conveniences for boarding all the inmates. The board of trustees is chosen by the Northern New York Conference, and the school is held by them in trust for the church. Tuition is free and members of any sect are admitted.
Protestant Episcopal Church .- On the 26th of January, 1833, a meet- ing was held in the school-house and articles of incorporation signed for the organization of an Episcopal church in Herkimer. Andrew A. Bartow and Frederick Bellinger were chosen wardens, and John Brown, Robert Shoemaker, Elias Root, Ira Backus, Flavel Clark, James B. Hunt, Simeon Ford and James Ferman, vestrymen. The name of " St. Luke's Church, German Flats," was adopted. A futile attempt was made to erect a church at the Flats, between the two villages, and the society finally united with others in building a union church at Mohawk, which was subsequently transferred to the Presbyterians. Services were then begun in Herkimer and a new organization was substituted for the old one. On the 23d of March, 1839, a meeting was held, articles of incorporation were signed and the following officers chosen :
Andrew A. Bartow and Matthew Myers, wardens; Charles Kathern, Erwin A. Mun- son, Bloomfield Usher, Theodore A. Griswold, Benjamin Harter, Homer Caswell, An- son Hall and Robert Ethridge, vestrymen.
The name adopted was " Christ's Church, Herkimer." Services were held for several years in the court-house, in the Methodist church and elsewhere. Land was secured and a beginning made to erect a church on the site of the Catholic church; but this was given up and a lot taken on the corner of Mary and Prospect streets. Here a corner- stone was laid by Bishop Onderdonk and a building partly erected ; but embarrassments again stopped the work. A new organization was effected February 20, 1854, at a meeting presided over by Rev. Owen P. Thackara. Byron Laflin and Samuel Earl were chosen wardens, and Hubbard H. Morgan, William Howell, jr., Benjamin F. Brooks, Beek- man Johnson, George W. Thompson, Jacob Spooner, Charles Kathern, and Elkanah T. Cleland, vestrymen. The former title was retained and ground was purchased for a building on July 10, 1854, corner of Main and German streets. A contract was made with Alexander Underwood for the building of a chapel. The building was consecrated on the 4th
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of October, 1855, by Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, bishop of the diocese of New York, During this period the parish was under charge of Rev. O. P. Thackara, a missionary for the section which embraced this locality. During the latter part of his charge he stationed Rev. I. N. Fairbanks over this parish. Mr. Thackara established a large boarding and day school, with several teachers. In October, 1857, he resigned his charge of this district and shortly afterwards Mr. Fairbanks withdrew. The Rev. Marcus N. Perry was then engaged as minister and remained un- til October 10, 1858. There were then only thirteen communicants. On the 29th of November, 1858, the Rev. J. M. Hedges was called to the rectorship and remained until 1861, when he was succeeded on the 17th of March by Rev. Edward Pidsley. He resigned in the latter part of 1862, and Rev. Mr. Hedges, who then lived in Herkimer, offici- ated once in two weeks. In September, 1864, Rev. Il. G. Wood became the rector and during his term of service a school house and a rectory were built adjoining the church. March 8, 1871, Rev. J. D. Morrison was called to the church, and was succeeded in August, 1875, by Rev. William Bogert Walker, who remained until October, 1884. The pres- ent rector, Rev. Charles C. Edwards, assumed charge of the parish January 1, 1885.
Soon after Mr. Edwards's installation a movement was started for the building of a new church. On the Ist of July, 1886, the lot on the corner of Main and Mary streets was purchased for $5,500. Active measures for raising funds were adopted and in August, 1888, the vestry ordered the erection of the present edifice after plans by R. W. Gibson, of New York. The corner-stone was laid October Ist, 1888, and the church was consecrated November 7, 1889. The rectory is a part of the church building. This is one of the finest small churches in Central New York and cost about $35,000, all of which has been paid. Its memorial windows are not surpassed anywhere, two of them costing about $2,500, while the interior arrangement of the building is a model of harmony and beauty.
St. Francis de Sales Church .- In October, 1874, the Roman Catho- lic families of the town, numbering about thirty, joined in the purchase of the church building on Washington street, formerly occupied by the Methodists. It was dedicated on the 9th of June, 1875, by Rev. Francis
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McNierney, bishop of Albany, and given its present name. An addi- tion was made of forty-two feet in the rear in 1888, for the accommo- dation of the growing membership, which is now about 140 families. The parsonage was purchased in 1890. The founder of the church was Rev. William Howard, then of Ilion, who remained and faithfully worked for the upbuilding of his church until 1885, when he was suc- ceeded by the present pastor, Rev. J. H. Halpin. Under his effective administration the church is flourishing.
First Baptist Church .- While for a great many years the Baptist sect was not numerous in Herkimer, yet there were representatives in the town who attended, as a rule, the church at Mohawk. In recent years the church at that village declined, which led to the organization of a society in Herkimer. This took place on the 17th of February, 1888, the persons organizing being Dr. E. G. Kern, Alonzo Rust, William Goodall, Edgar L. Jackson, and their wives, and Mrs. Mary Robinson and her daughter Electa. The first preaching was by George B. Lawson, as a supply, while he studied at Hamilton College. Nor- man Burd was ordained here and preached as the first regular pastor one year. The next pastor was Charles B. Alden, who preached one year, while continuing his college studies. The present pastor, Rev. W. D. Lukens, came to the church on the Ist of January, 1892. Pre- vious to the erection of the church the services were held in the court- house and the Y. M. C. A. rooms. The church was erected and dedi- cated on the 17th of February, 1890 Its value is about $5,000. The present deacons are A. Rust, William Goodall. Superintendent of the Sunday-school, E. G. Kern. The membership of the church is seventy- three.
Free Methodist Church .- This society was organized in 1881, the first pastor being Rev. George Storer. Pastors who have since supplied the church have been the Revs. L. H. Robinson, D. J. Santmyre, Mr. Carpenter, L. H. Robinson, Mr. Warren, M. S. Babcock, G. S. Coons and T. C. Givens. The church is situated on Liberty street, and was erected in 1885. The church membership is fifty-two.
Schools of Herkimer. - Little is known at the present time of the very early schools ; but intelligent readers are familiar with the general common school system of the State in early times, and the disad-
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vantages surrounding those who attempted to secure even a simple English education. The first school in the village of Herkimer is said to have been taught by a man named Robinson. In the year 1836 the meager school accommodations became insufficient, and to meet the difficulty a brick school-house was erected on Washington street on the site of the present commodious and beautiful Union school building. This building served its purpose until 1878, when the present building was erected, at a cost, with its appurtenances, of $17,500. Previous to 1865 the schools were common district schools, but in that year the union free school system came into operation. In 1878, when the new building was first occupied, a graded school was established.
Benjamin F. Miller was employed as principal, and the trustees were Zenas Green, Ward P. Munson, and Henry Churchill. Seward D. Allen was principal from January, 1880, until H. R. Jolley assumed the position in 1882. He was succeeded by Erastus Crosby in 1884, and the present principal, A. G. Miller, came in 1887.
In 1888 a new brick school building was erected in the south di- vision, corner of Smith and South Washington streets, at a cost of about $16,000. The first school was held there in September of that year. Two rooms are also leased in outside buildings for school purposes. The present board of trustees are, Ward P. Munson, president ; William Witherstine, and E B. Mitchell. Following are the names of the teachers for 1892 :
High School, A. G. Miller, principal; Jean Du Bois, first assistant; Jessie A. Beach, second assistant. Grammar School, Margaret Lynch, Finette Bigelow. Intermediate Schools-North Division, Alice Baldwin, Clorinda Otis; Sonth Division, Madge Tuger. Primary Schools-North Division, Nellie Enos, Mary E. Lynch, Nellie S. Kent ; South Division, Madge Burns, Emma Lansing, Lina O. Holmes. Sadie Littlejohn and Frances Wilson are also primary teachers employed by the board.
MANUFACTURES.
We have already alluded to some of the early mills, asheries, etc., of Herkimer. Besides the usual shops of the blacksmith, the wagonmaker, the shoemaker, and the tinner, who were for many years to be found in most hamlets, there was very little manufacturing in the county for a long time after its settlement, if we exclude the saw-mills and grist-
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mills. The West Canada Creek supplies excellent water power at Her- kimer village, and its current was utilized for mills at a comparatively early day. Soon after the War of 1812 a man named Price built a mill within the corporation limits, which was used exclusively for flouring purposes. It was afterwards burned and rebuilt, and for a time was operated by a Mr Van Horne. In the year 1811 a grist-mill with three runs of stone was built on the West Canada Creek about where the Cen- tral Railroad crosses it by Windsor Maynard and Simeon Ford ; con- nected with the mill was a distillery and saw-mill. This mill subse- quently passed to the possession of the Manhattan Company of New York, on a mortgage, and that company sold it to the Hydraulic and Manufacturing Co. It was subsequently abandoned, and in 1836, after the hydraulic canal was built, the mill now operated by E. Washburne and G. M. Helmer was erected by F. P. Bellinger. Mr. Washburne purchased this mill in 1866 and has continued to operate it ever since. It is used now principally for grinding corn.
A spirit of manufacturing enterprise was developed in Herkimer in 1833, which culminated in the organization of the Herkimer Manufact- uring and Hydraulic Company, and its incorporation with a capital of $100,000. The principal object of this company was the construction of a dam across the West Canada Creek for the production of available water power; they intended also to manufacture cotton and woolen goods, machinery, sell surplus power, etc. About $40,000 was ex- pended in this undertaking, and nearly the whole volume of the creek turned into a side canal at a point about two miles up the stream, thus gaining a head of thirty-seven feet of water. It was calculated by the engineer that this canal would produce power equivalent to what would be required to run 138 runs of fifty- four inch mill-stones. While it can scarcely be said that this project has met the expectations of its more sanguine projectors, yet it has been of great importance to the village, and within the past ten years has been still more extensively utilized in supplying power to the numerous manufacturing enterprises that have been started, to the great benefit of the community.
On the site of the paper-mill J. B. Morse once carried on the manu- facture of hats ; but the property was transferred to A. H. Laffin, who changed it into a paper mill. In 1865 the property passed into the
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possession of Warner Miller & Co., the company being Henry Churchill, sen., and Charles Hutchinson. The establishment afterwards (1875) became the Herkimer Paper Company, limited, with Warner Miller as president, and Henry Churchill, secretary. The original building owned by Mr. Laflin was burned in 1867, and a part of the present mill erected. In 1868 Mr. Miller bought the interest of both his associates, and on the Ist of January, 1869, took in Henry Churchill, jr., the name of the company remaining the same. Within the past five years the capacity of the mill has been quadrupled and the buildings correspond- ingly enlarged. The product is almost wholly newspaper, and about sixty hands are employed.
The Mark Manufacturing Company .- This is the largest industry in Herkimer and manufactures all kinds of knit goods. The original building on the canal near the railroad was erected as a hoop skirt factory in 1870. About two years later the mauufacture of knit goods was begun on a very small scale by Mark & Elias. The business grew rapidly and in 1878 additions were made to the buildings. In 1883 Mr. Mark bought his partner's interest, paying for it a price that indi- cated the great value of the industry. He carried on the business alone until 1889, when a stock company was formed with Morris Mark, president; Robert Earl, vice president; A. K. Marsh, secretary. In December, 1891, Mr. Mark purchased Marsh's interest, and James G. Johnson became secretary and treasurer, Judge Earl still remaining vice president. About 300 hands are now employed in this factory, and it is a source of great benefit to the place.
On the site of the Standard Furniture Company was formerly the sash and blind factory of E. C. Munson. It had still earlier been a broomhandle factory and a cheese-box factory. The Standard Com- pany began business here in 1886 for the manufacture of typewriter cabinets for the Remington people, and roller-top desks. The business has grown enormously, with the increase of sales in the typewriter works, while at the same time the desk business has been pushed with energy and success. The buildings have been greatly enlarged. The members of the company are William Horrocks, president; M. Foley, vice-president ; F. T. Lathrop, treasurer. Water and steam power are used and 150 men employed, with 155 in a branch in Kentucky.
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The Gem Knitting Company was formed and began business in 1888, using water power, by H. A. Deimel, C. R. Snell, M. A. Deimel, and J. H. Evans. The product of the factory is ladies' underwear of cotton and wool and 150 hands are employed.
The Herkimer Manufacturing Company, also situated on the canal, was an offshoot of the Bedell Manufacturing Company, in 1881, and was started by Deimel & Snell, George E. Bedell, and M A. Deimel. Four years later M. A. Deimel and C. R. Snell took its control. Sub- sequently the interest of Mr. Bedell and H. A. Deimel was purchased by the other members of the company. Spring beds, mattresses, fancy chairs, etc., are made, and about forty hands employed.
The prominent woodworking establishments of the town are the sash, door and blind factories of Deimel & Snell, and W. D. Lyons.
In the spring of 1871 H. M. Quackenbush began the manufacture on Prospect street, in a small frame building, of toy air pistols under his own patents. The demand for his goods was prompt and large, and in the fall of that year he removed into a larger building and put in steam power. In the summer of 1874 he was forced to make another enlarge- ment, and a building was erected on the opposite side of the street. The first articles manufactured were followed by the Eureka scroll saw and in 1876 by the improved air rifle, both of which have an enormous sale. In 1877 he erected a two- story brick building and put in a thirty-horse engine. In 1890 he built his present factory, which is one of the most complete and convenient industrial buildings to be found anywhere. Eighty men are employed and a seventy-five -horse Corliss engine supplies the power. The safety cartridge rifle and an amateur lathe have been added, among other articles, to the output. It is one of the most thriving industries in Central New York
Charles A. Lee began making chairs under his own patents in 1889, in a small way, employing three men. His patents cover valuable im- provements in reclining and platform rockers. In 1891 he removed to his present factory and now employs twenty hands. His chairs are shipped throughout the country.
Banks .- Herkimer has suffered from several bank failures ; but they were not due to any financial stress of a general character. The county and the village being largely dependent upon agriculture as a
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source of wealth, the failures incident to mercantile and manufacturing operations have not been numerous ; while the communities have passed through the great periods of financial panic which caused wide- spread ruin in large commercial centers, almost unscathed. The first bank in Herkimer was called the Agricultural Bank, and began business in 1839, just after the panic of 1837-8, with Harvey Doolittle as presi- dent, and Gen. P. F. Bellinger cashier. In 1845 Mr. Bellinger left the bank and Benjamin Carver was made president; C. T. E. Van Horn, vice-president ; Harvey Doolittle, cashier. This bank failed in 1857, through causes that need not be explained here ; but some of the losses were grevious ones and resulted in prolonged litigation.
The Bellinger Bank carried on business a few years after the failure of the Agricultural. Peter F. Bellinger was president and H. Bellin- ger cashier. It closed its affairs in 1866. Then followed the Messinger Bank, which was one of several started by Hiram J. Messinger, then of New York ; it was organized in the fall of 1867, and went down in the general crash of all of Messinger's institutions in May, 1868.
Herkimer Bank .- This institution was established many years ago as a private bank, but was organized under a charter under the State banking laws in 1885. The present executive officers (1892) are as follow :
President, William Smith; vice-president, J. W. Vrooman ; cashier, W. I. Taber ; and Robert Earl 2d, assistant cashier. The board of directors consists of Messrs. William Smith, II. M. Quackenbush, C. W. Palmer. Hon. Robert Earl, W. W. Mosher, E. Washburn, Morris Mark, J. W. Vrooman, E. S. W. Thomson, C. E. Snyder, E. M. Burns, L. T. Du Bois, P. B. Myers.
The following summary giving an idea of the business is taken from the statement of March 19, 1892: Capital, $75,000 ; surplus, $10,000 ; deposits, $223,860.20; loans and discounts, $256,636.86, and total resources, $325, 104.10. The management has been character- ized by a conservative regard for the interest of its customers, which fact has gained for the bank a well founded faith in the financial strength and influence of its recognized vocation for usefulness.
First National Bank .- This bank was organized by H. G. Munger, Henry Churchill, P. M. Wood and others, in 1884. Among the stockholders are many of the leading business men and capitalists of this county. The capital stock is $50,000. Henry Churchill was chosen
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president of the bank upon its organization and has discharged the duties of the office to the entire satisfaction of the stockholders ever since. The same may be said of A. W. Haslehurst, who has been cashier of the bank from the beginning. The statement of the bank dated May 17, 1892, shows surplus and undivided profits of more than $20,000, and individual deposits of $224,211.29. The board of directors, 1892, is as follows: Henry Churchill, H. G. Munger, C. R. Snell, George P. Folts, R. H. Smith, G. H. Watson, A. W. Haslehurst. The bank was placed in its present handsome and convenient quarters on Main street in July, 1891.
The Herkimer Press .- The character of the press of any community is an indication of its intelligence and enterprise. The progressive vil- lage or city always gives its newspapers liberal support, and as a result, the papers are made, as a rule, worthy of such support. The first news- paper in Herkimer county was published at Herkimer village very early in the present century, and was called the Telescope ; its proprietor was Benjamin Cory, and it supported the Federal party. Mr. Cory sold out in 1805 to David Holt and J. R. Robins, who changed the name of the paper, or started a new one under the title of the Farmer's Monitor, which was discontinued in 1807. Mr. Cory started another paper in the interest of the Federal party, which he published until 1810.
In January, 1810, J. H. and H. Prentiss started the Herkimer Ameri- can, which was published by them several years, and until 1831 by other persons, William L. Stone being at one time a partner. In December, 1813, Thurlow Weed obtained employment in the office of this paper, being a "jealous Republican." (See page 33, Life of Thurlow Weed, Vol. 1.) Edward P. Seymour was its last publisher.
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