History of Herkimer county, New York, Part 23

Author: Hardin, George Anson, 1832-1900, ed; Willard, F. H. (Frank Hallett), b. 1852, joint ed
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & co.
Number of Pages: 1028

USA > New York > Herkimer County > History of Herkimer county, New York > Part 23

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A paper called the Bunker Hill was commenced some time in 1810, with G. G. Phinney at its helm. Mr. Phinney also published a paper called the The Honest American about the year 1812. Both of these journals died before 1821.

In 1828 the Herkimer Herald made its appearance under direction of John Carpenter, and was devoted to the interest of General Jackson and his policy. Then followed the Republican Farmer's Free Press, an anti- Masonic paper, printed by David Holt and edited by B. B. Hotchkin. Its life was not much longer than its name.

240

HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.

The Herkimer County Journal was started in December, 1837, as a Whig organ. It was owned by a company, and at first was edited at Herkimer by J. C. Underwood and printed by Edward P. Seymour. About a year later O. A. Bowe took charge of the paper and published it six years. During various periods it was edited by R. U. Sherman, G. W. Smith, and A. H. Prescott. In 1849 Orlando Squires took charge of the paper and removed it to Little Falls.

In the fall of 1842, J. M. Lyon and W. B. Holmes started the Frank- fort Democrat, at Frankfort, which was afterwards removed to Herkimer village. In 1848 Judge Earl became the sole proprietor and editor of the paper. In 1850 C. C. Witherstine acquired an interest in the estab- lishment, and in March, 1854, became its sole proprietor. In Septem- ber of the same year Jacob Hayes was associated with Mr. Witherstine. and the firm was Witherstine & Hayes until the death of the latter in 1856. In June, 1859, the paper passed from possession of Mr. Wither- stine to Henry G. Crouch, who continued to publish it until 1864, Mr. Witherstine in the interim being engaged in the West. In the year last named Mr. Witherstine returned and again became the owner of the establishment. In May, 1856, the Little Falls Gasette was merged with the Democrat and the name changed to the Herkimer Democrat and Little Falls Gasette, until the fall of 1876, when the clumsy title was changed back as before to the Herkimer Democrat. In October, 1875, H. P. Witherstine was given an interest in the establishment and in 1880 the firm name was changed to H. P. Witherstine & Co., the same per- sons constituting the firm. January 4, 1892, C. C. Witherstine sold his interest to John M. Comings, who, with H. P. Witherstine, still publishes the paper. With the exception noted, C. C. Witherstine was connected with this journal for fifty years and is one of the oldest journalists, in point of continuous service, in Central New York. His son has devel- oped a peculiar aptitude for the publishing business, while his partner has already acquired valuable experience in the same direction as editor of the Penn Yan Democrat. Under their management the Democrat wields a large influence among the intelligent people of this and ad- joining counties.

The Herkimer Citizen was started September 30, 1884, by George IV. Weaver and Charles S. Munger. This continued until January 1,

6. Vithrusting.

241

TOWN OF HERKIMER.

1889, when A. T. Smith and F. E. Easton purchased Mr. Weaver's interest in the Ilion Citisen and Herkimer Citizen, and they, with C. S. Munger, formed the Citizen Publishing Company. The papers are both printed at Ilion, with a job printing office at Herkimer. The paper is Republican in politics and is an excellent journal. Mr. Munger had experience in the office of the Camden Journal, where he succeeded his father. Messrs. Easton and Smith left the county clerk's office after many years' service, to take up the publishing business. (See history of Ilion.)

The Herkimer County Record is a new paper started in 1888, by its present publisher, George W. Nellis, jr. The Record is an enterprising paper, independent in politics, and has attained a good circulation.

Hotels .- In the old staging days hotels in country villages, and along the turnpikes, possessed a degree of importance to traveling men that can hardly be accorded them at the present time. In these days, if every hotel in half a dozen villages on the line of a railroad were simul- taneously burned, the traveler could still stay another hour in the train and reach a farther station where he would find accommodations. Such a calamity happening when the stage or the canal was the best mode of travel, would have caused great inconvenience.

One of the important houses on the old Mohawk turnpike is still re- membered as the Talcott House in Herkimer, which at first was built of logs, and stood near the site of the present paper-mill. Good au- thority credits this with being the first public hotel in Herkimer county. When the original house became too small to accommodate the in- creasing number of guests, the proprietor built a more commodious structure at a point where the bridge crosses the canal below the paper- mill. When this site eventually became inconvenient, the proprietor built another house on Main street, which now constitutes the south end of the Mansion House (long known as the Popper House). The Mansion House is now kept by F. W. Eckle.

The Waverly House on Main street, now kept by H. Edick, for- merly of the Edick House, near the Central Railroad station, stands on the site of an old tavern. What was long known as the Tower House, stands across from the railroad station, and received its name from J. C. Tower who long kept it. It was afterwards called the Edick House 31

242

HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.

and was bought in 1892 by John Nelson, who has greatly improved it. A short distance east of this hotel stands the Allman House, of brick, kept by Theodore Allman. Mr. Allman built this house in 1875. It stands also on the site of a former hotel.

In 1891 the Palmer House was erected by C. W. Palmer. It is not only one of the handsomest structures in the village of Herkimer, but is admirably designed on modern ideas for a first-class hotel. It is kept by George A. May, and is thoroughly well managed.

Herkimer Post-office .- John A. Rasbach was one of the early post- masters at Herkimer, and was succeeded by Harvey Doolittle in 1840. Mr. Rasbach had the office another term and was succeeded by James A. Suiter, who served under General Taylor's administration. Mr. Suiter was succeeded by H. H. Morgan, who held the office eight years, and was succeeded in 1861 by Warren Caswell. He held the office un- til the appointment of F. A. Gray, who for two years preceded the present incumbent, S. W. Stimson, who assumed the office July 1, 1889.

CHAPTER XII.

THE TOWN OF LITTLE FALLS.

T HE town of Little Falls was set off from the towns of Herkimer, Fairfield, and German Flats in pursuance to an act of the Legislature, passed February 16, 1829. On account of its comparatively recent formation, therefore, the history of the town organization must neces- sarily be brief and relatively unimportant. The town embraces parts of Glen's purchase, Staley's first tract, Guy Johnson's tract, Vaughn's and Fall Hill patents, six lots in Burnetsfield, and small triangular pieces of L'Hommedieu's and Lindsay's patents. The town was sur- veyed by William De Wolf, of the town of Columbia, and the follow- ing described boundaries given to it : "Beginning on the middle or base line of Glen's purchase, at a point where the line between lots numbers five and six in said purchase unites with said base or middle line, and running thence south along said line to its southern termina-

243

TOWN OF LITTLE FALLS.

tion ; thence on the same course continued to the south bounds of the town of German Flats; thence along the south bounds of said town to the southeast corner thereof ; thence along the eastern bounds of the towns of German Flats and Herkimer to the southeast corner of the town of Fairfield; and from thence by a straight line to the place of beginning."

In common with other portions of the Mohawk valley in Herkimer county, this town was first settled by Germans long previous to the Revolution. Mr. Benton says: "There were German inhabitants in nearly every direction around the present village [of Little Falls] be- fore the Revolution, but only one habitable dwelling and a grist-mill within the present corporation limits." (See map.) The dwelling men- tioned stood on the west side of Furnace street and near Elizabeth street, north of the old canal. It was occupied in early years by John Porteous, the Scotch pioneer. It was removed by the late William I. Skinner and converted into an ice-house. Most of these early Ger- man settlers have been sufficiently noticed in the preceding general history, and in the histories of the towns from which Little Falls was formed ; and others will be mentioned a little further on in the history of the village.

The first town meeting was held at the house of Robert Hinchman, on the site of the present Hardin & Wheeler block, on the south side of Main street, in 1829, and the following officers were elected :

George Petrie, supervisor; Richard N. Casler, town clerk; Gardens Deyor, Jolın Klock, Leonard Eaton and Richard M. Casler, assessors; James T. Rankins, Jacob Petrie and Parley Eaton, commissioners of highways; Thomas Smith, overseer of poor; Calvin G. Carpenter, Solomon Petrie and Bernard I. Wager, commissioners of common schools ; Walter H. Ward, Calvin W. Smith and Jacob Guywitts, inspectors of common schools; John McMitchell, collector ; Richard Winsor, John Phillips, John McMitchell, Daniel Dygert, Joseph Eysaman, John Eaton, Peter Van Vost, Shired Vincent and Jacob Osburn, constables ; Martin Easterbrook, Adam Petrie, Bernard I. Wager, William Sponenburg, and John I. Bellinger, poundkeepers.

The commissioners of highways appointed the following overseers of highways :

John Casler, John C. Bellinger, Jeremiah Pulver, Cornelius Skinkle, Nathan Russ, Melchert Rankins, John Christman, John I. Bellinger, Thomas Rankins, Samuel S. Boyce, Jacob Bellinger, John Bort, Robert Johns, Morgan E. Case, Charles Smith, An- drew G. Weatherwax, Benjamin P. Churchill, John Tucker, William Bucklin, Benja- min C. Weatherwax and George Harter.

244

HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.

These lists contain the names of many of the early families of the town.

On the 5th day of May, 1829, the following persons made applica- tion for license to keep public houses in this town, nearly or quite all of them being in the village: Thomas S. Willard, Peter Walrath, Robert linchman, Isaac Churchill, Leonard Eaton, and William Sponenburg. The commissioners of excise were George Petrie, C. P. Bellinger, and William Brooks.

The principal occupation of the farming community, particularly during the past fifty years, has been dairying, which finally resulted in the establishment of the celebrated market at Little Falls village, now one of the most important interior markets for the sale of dairy products in the world. As a cheese producing district Little Falls ranks among the best in the country, and the fact that this industry found its local center here was largely due to a resident of this town, the late X. A. Willard, whose writings on the subject have a national reputation. Sketches of many of the leading farmers and others of the town are given in a later department of this volume.

The surface of this town is broken upland, divided by the deep, nar- row gorge of the Mohawk River. A range of hills extends north and south from the village, rocky and precipitous near the river, but less rugged on the north and south borders. The soil is a sandy and grav- elly loam, is well watered, and quite well adapted to grazing.

In connection with the agricultural interests of this town, the Little Falls Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, should receive due credit. It was organized in December, 1889, with thirty- five charter members, and is now the largest grange in the county, numbering about two hundred members. Its object is the general advancement of agriculture in all its branches ; the social, fraternal and educational uplifting of its mem- bers, and the uniting and harmonizing of the agricultural classes. The officers of the grange are : Philo WV. Casler, master; Richard L. Ran- kins, overseer ; Joseph Rice, lecturer ; George H. Bradford, secretary.

Following is the list of supervisors of Little Falls from the organiza- tion of the town to the present time :

George Petrie, 1829, '30; Solomon Petrie, 1831,'32; Peter B. Casler, 1833, '34 ; George H. Feeter, 1835, '36 ; Abraham G. Rosecrantz, 1837, '38; Jacob Petrie, 1839,

245

TOWN OF LITTLE FALLS.

'40; William I. Skinner, 1841, '42; Charles Delong, 1843, '44; Richard N. Casler, 1845, '46; Joram Petrie, 1847; James Moyer, 1848; Harvey D. Colvin, 1849-54 ; Henry Thompson, 1855; Edmund G. Chapman, 1856; Sylvenus J. Waters, 1857-59; Leonard Boy. r. 1860-62; Zenas C. Priest, 1863-66; George Keller, 1867-69; Peter A. Star- ing, 1870-72; Albert Story, 1873; John P. Sharer, 1874-81 ; Rugene Walrath, 1882- 88; Hadley Jones, 1889; Joseph W. Baker, 1890, '91; Benton I. Cooper, 1892.

THE VILLAGE OF LITTLE FALLS.

The lands on the south side of the Mohawk River on the site of Lit- tle Falls village are a part of the patent granted in 1752 to Jchan Joost Herchkeimer (as spelled in the records) and one other person, and known

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LITTLE FALLS IN 1802.

as the Fall Hill patent. The lands on the north side of the river are embraced in Burnetsfield patent granted in 1725 to Johan Joost Petrie and other Palatines, while those lands farther back in the town are cov- ered by the patents before mentioned.

The site of the village was evidently not adapted by nature for the purpose to which it has been devoted by man, unless we consider it solely from an æsthetic standpoint. The Mohawk River breaking through

246

HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.

what was once a mountainous barrier of rock, has created a deep gorge with precipitous sides, at the bottom of which the clear waters of the historic stream rush and tumble over rapids, the power of which has been utilized to turn scores of wheels and which have really led to the founding of the village in such a romantic spot. As a consequence of this unfavorable natural condition, the village has been forced to expend a vast amount of money and energy in the creation of streets, bridges, and other public improvements ; but these obstacles have been boldly met by the inhabitants, and through their well-directed efforts the village has grown into one of large proportions and picturesque beauty not often found.

Of the first days of the village Mr. Benton wrote as follows :

" The grist-mill destroyed during the Revolution was located on the river near the bed of the old canal, and was fed by Furnace Creek and the river. The dwelling house (mentioned below) was occupied by John Porteons, proprietor of the mill, and his assistants, and probably afterward by persons occupied at the carrying-place. The road or path used for taking boats and their cargoes by the river falls was located very nearly on the site of the old canal. The red grist-mill, to supply the place of the one destroyed, was erected in 1789, and the old yellow house west of Furnace Creek and near the north bank of the old canal, was built a short time before that period. John Porteous came to this place in 1790 and established himself in mercantile business. He occupied the yellow house, then the only dwelling within the present village limits."

The old octagon church, a description of which is given a little further on, was erected in 1796.

The destruction of the little settlement at Little Falls in June, 1782, was caused by a party of Indians and tories, and was of the same wanton and fiendish character which marked many other similar out- rages committed in the valley. The mill was of great importance, not only to the immediate vicinity, but to the garrisons at Forts Herkimer and Dayton. The enemy fell upon the mill in the night and found in the building Peter Wolleaver, Christian Edick, Frederick Getman, Marks Rasbach, Thomas Shoemaker, Lawrence Hatter, Jacob Petri, Daniel Petri (who was killed), and Peter Orendorff; Gershom Skinner and F. Cox, who were millers; and a sergeant and six men from Cap- tain McGregor's company. Two of the soldiers escaped and five were taken prisoners. There does not seem to have been much resistance

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ANCIENT MAP OF LITTLE FALLS - MADE PROBABLY ABOUT 1790-

No. I. Mohawk River

2. Lock Island.

3. Loomis Island.

.. 4. Seeley Island.

5. Moss Island. (An island only at high water.

" 6. Utica and Schnectady Turnpike.

7. Carry or Portage around the Falls

No. 8. Road to Fairfield and Newport. 9. Road to Salisbury. 10. Furnace Creek.

IT. Arnold Creek.

" 12. Creek at Gulf Bridge.

13. Drummond House.

.. 14 and 15. Mills.

16 John Griffing.

No. 17. Barn.

.. 18. Esic Arnold.

.. 19. Clay House, one-story stone. "Yellow

20. John Porteous, House."

21. Robert Hinchman Barn.

No. 24. Toll Bridge.

22. Robert Hinchman House.

.. 23. Moralee Creek.

248

HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.

offered to the assault. In the few shots fired, Daniel Petri was killed. When the Indians entered the mill the occupants made their best efforts to escape. Cox and Skinner secreted themselves in the raceway, under the water wheel, and thus escaped captivity and probably death. Christian Edick and Frederick Getman jumped into the raceway, but the light from the burning mill disclosed their hiding place and they were captured.

Among the persons who settled at Little Falls between 1790 and 1810 and remained permanently were, John Porteous, William Alex- ander, Richard Phillips, Thomas Smith, Joel Lankton, Richard Winsor, William Carr, William Moralee, Washington Britton, Alpheus Park- hurst, John Drummond, Eben Britton, and Josiah Skinner. In this connection the accompanying map and explanation are of deep interest. The map is the property of Watts T. Loomis, and the references were furnished by him after much research.

The accompanying map, left among the papers of John Porteous, the pioneer of Little Falls (now in possession of William G. Milligan), shows the lands acquired by Mr. Porteous, and other interesting feat- ures. Other documents left by him show that he came from Perth, Scotland, in 1761. He passed about ten years in the Indian trade in the vicinity of Detroit, and later was in business in New York until 1783. He then went to Nova Scotia, where he had acquired land, and in 1784 returned to Scotland. A year later he came again to New York, went again to Nova Scotia and soon after became connected with Alexander Ellice and settled at Little Falls about 1790. Here he built the red mill on the site of the first mill, and other structures, was active in the construction of the first canal and in making early roads and bridges. He was supervisor of the town of Herkimer in 1791-96 and conspicuous in all affairs of that period. He was grandfather of Mrs. William G. Milligan. Mr. Milligan placed in the hands of the late Dudley Burwell some years ago a mass of the papers of Mr. Porteous, for his investigation. In 1873 Mr. Burwell reported to Mr. Milligan what he had found of interest He said among other things : "I think he [Mr. Porteous] was somewhat musical, as he had a violin. He seemed to have read many books and to have profited by them. From the letters addressed to him, one judges that he was very amiable. He

249

TOWN OF LITTLE FALLS.

dressed genteelly, judging from his wardrobe - swore terrifically - en- tertained itinerant preachers, drank toddies, etc. He died the 20th of

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March, 1799" He left a will appointing Colonel Hendrick Frey and William Alexander (who married his daughter) his executors.

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250

HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.

William Alexander was a native of Schenectady and settled at Little Falls soon after Mr. Porteous, at whose instance he became a clerk, and was several years connected with him in business. He was an intelli- gent and honorable merchant and labored for the growth of the place. He married a daughter of Mr. Porteous, a highly educated and accom- plished young lady, and died January 13, 1813. William Alexander left a daughter, Mary Porteous Alexander, who married first a Mr. Bowen, and second Robert Lockwood, of Little Falls. William's son, Ilenry P., was a merchant and president of the Herkimer County Bank. He was a partner of William Girvan several years, and died February 22, 1867. His son Porteous was drowned young, and William second died many years ago. His daughter, Jane G., married Jesse C. Dann ; Catharine M. married Frederick Lansing, of Little Falls, who was a prominent merchant and at one period agent of the Ellice property.

Following William Alexander, came here his brothers, Robert, John and James. Robert was a farmer of the town of Fairfield, and father of Robert, William, Samuel H. and James, and had two daughters, Jane and Catharine. Descendants of this branch still live in Little Falls.

John Alexander had a son Thomas. The former was a merchant on the site of the Cronkhite Opera House. He died in Little Falls. James Alexander removed west and became wealthy.

William Girvan, early a prominent citizen of Little Falls, married the widow of William Alexander, He was a native of Scotland and came here as clerk for William Alexander, who was his cousin. After the death of Mr. Alexander (1813) Mr. Girvan carried on mercantile business in Little Falls for many years. His children by the widow of Mr. Alexander were Charles A., deceased ; Elizabeth Ann, who became the wife of William G. Milligan and is deceased. Mr. Girvan married second Mrs. Mary Milligan, widow of William Kerr Milligan, father of William G. Milligan and they had children : Mary, living and un- married; George Frederick, living in Little Falls; Edward, living in Lowville, N. Y .; Agnes, married Charles E. Teal, of Little Falls ; and Catharine, married George Hlewison, of New York.

Eben and Washington Britton were brothers and came from West- moreland, N. H. Eben settled here in 1792, was a tanner for many years and died August 28, 1832, leaving him surviving : Mary, who

251

TOWN OF LITTLE FALLS.

intermarried with a Mr. Hannas; Sarah, married Judge N. S. Benton ; another daughter, who became the wife of Judge Elisha P. Hurlbut ; Rebecca, married Harmon Ten Eyck and is living in Albany ; Susan, married Henry McKay, an early merchant of Little Falls. Mr. Britton was owner of the Girvan House site, Skinner Opera House site, the Milligan & Wheeler block site and other lands, which were devised to his children. Washington Britton died many years earlier.

William Feeter (formerly Veeder) was one of a family who, with the exception of himself, followed Sir John Johnson to Canada. He was an ardent patriot in the Revolution, soon after which he settled in Little Falls, cleared a large farm and successfully cultivated it more than fifty years. He had a family of five sons and seven daughters and his descendants are still residents of the town and county. He died May 5, 1844.

Down to the year 1800 the village of Little Falls had shown little prog- ress. Rev. Caleb Alexander made a missionary tour through the State in 1801 and here is what he wrote of this place :

November, 1801 .- Monday 23d, set out from Fairfield on my journey homewards. Cold weather. Rode south seven miles to the Little Falls with a view of taking a boat at falls down the river to Schenectady. Found the river covered with ice ; then rode up the river seven miles to German Flats to take the stage. Finding that the stage did not run until to-morrow I crossed the Mohawk to Herkimer Court-house, two miles. Around the Little Falls the country is hilly and very rocky near the river. On the northern bank are seven locks and a canal for the conveyance of boats. Here is a vil- lage of forty houses, several merchant stores, mechanical shops and a new meeting- house of hexagonal construction. The people are principally English and they seldom have preaching. The place abounds in vice, especially profanity. Since my arrival on the river I have heard more cursing and swearing, horrid oaths and imprecations than in ten years past. They fell chiefly from the lips of boatmen [on the river]. In some taverns were English and Dutch farmers drinking and swearing, and the English appeared to be the most abandoned. They regard not the presence of a clergyman, for the dominie drinks and swears as much as the common people.

It is proper at this point to speak of the titles to real property in Lit- tle Falls, which were for many years in a peculiar and somewhat un- fortunate condition. Alexander Ellice, a Scotch merchant, who had been friendly with Sir William Johnson, obtained a patent, through the influence of the baronet, to two of the four Burnetsfield lots on the north side of the river, and to the whole of Vaughn's patent, granted to Col.

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History of Herkimer county, New York, Part 23

Author: Hardin, George Anson, 1832-1900, ed; Willard, F. H. (Frank Hallett), b. 1852, joint ed Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & co. Number of Pages: 1028

Author: Hardin, George Anson, 1832-1900, ed; Willard, F. H. (Frank Hallett), b. 1852, joint ed
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & co.
Number of Pages: 1028