USA > New York > Fulton County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 28
USA > New York > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 28
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Reuben S. Wright, Johnstown. Died at Hilton Head.
Reuben T. Wells, Mansfield. Joseph Wood, Ephratah. Died at Hilton Head, Ang. 7, 1863.
James Welch. Died at Olustee, Florida.
COMPANY G.
PRIVATES.
Michael Maloney, Amsterdam. Wounded at Olustee. R. S. Quillett, Amsterdanı.
William Van Slyke, Amsterdam. William H. Wiley, Amsterdam. Wounded and died in rebel prison.
COMPANY H.
PRIVATES.
Lyman Brown, Minden. Michael Dean, Minden.
Patrick Egan, Minden.
Michael Flanagan, Minden.
John Hart, Minden. William H. Kellogg, Florida.
Jacob Onderkirk, Amsterdam. Dennis Ray. Minden. James Richards, Fonda.
Jacob Smith, Minden.
Geo. Thorn, Amsterdam. J. J. Vosburgh, Amsterdam. Francis Williamson, Amsterdam
10
82
THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
COMPANY I.
OFFICERS.
Captain, Ezra E. Walrath, Syracuse.
Ist. Lieutenant, David M. Kettle, Canajoharie. Promoted to captain, May 1864
ust Sergeant, Jeremiah Bovee, Canajoharie.
and Sergeant, George O. Smith, Canajoharie, Promoted and Lieuten- ant, January 27, 1864
3nd Sergeant, James M. Young, Fonda. Died at home. 5th Sergeant, George Maxon, Canajoharie.
2d Corporal, Frederick C. Winsman, Canajoharie. Died at Chicago.
PRIVATES.
Henry Billington, Canajoharie. Wounded at Deep Bottom, Ang 16, 1864.
Henry W. Babcock, Canajoharie.
B. C. Christansen, Canajoharie. Died in New Jersey.
Martin Carver, Canajoharie.
R. Crandall, Canajoharie. Died at Andersonville.
John W. Crosby, Fonda.
Ezra Coleman, St. Johnsville. Died of wounds at Fortress Monroe Nov. 11, 1864.
. Thomas Clark, Minden. William Disbrow, Glen. Died of disease at Portsmouth, Va. Livingston Derrick, Canajoharie. Morgan M. Flint, Canajoharie. Killed at Drury's Bluff, Va., Jan. 14,
1864.
Simon Faulkner, Canajoharie. James Gardner, Canajoharie.
Chauncey Goodbread, Palatine.
Patrick Hanvey, Minden.
Alexander Kershuckey, Canajoharie. Died of disease in N. Y. city. Frederick W. Keaner, Palatine.
John Kelly, Canajoharie. R. B. Kelley, Fonda.
Nicholas B. Lewis, Canajoharie.
Sylvanus Moyer, Canajoharie. Killed at Chesterfield Heights, Va., May 7, 1864. John McKoy, Canajoharie.
Michael Miller, Glen. Died at Beaufort.
Donald MeMartin, John,town.
Barney McGuire. Glen. Died of disease at Annapolis.
Patrick North, Canajoharie.
John Pettit, Mohawk. Martin Price, Canajoharie.
Augustus Price, Canajoharie.
Daniel Peeler, Palatine. Died in rebel prison, June 22, 1864.
George Rolf, Canajoharie.
Jeremiah Rightmoyer, Palatine.
Peter N. Rightmoyer, Palatine.
Frank F. Rich, Ront.
P. Sullivan. Killed a: Petersburgh.
A. G. Snyder, Amsterdam. Died at l'eter burgh.
Charles W. Sharff. Canajoharie. Wounded at Olustee
Thomas J. Stephens, Canajoharie
Aaron R. Snell, Fonda. Abijah Smith, Fonda.
Horatio Sinith, Fonda. Died of disease at Chicago, in 1862.
Noah Suits, Palatine.
Clark Southwick, St. Johnsville. Died in hospital, at Beaufort, of wounds, February 26, 1864. Benjamin Truman. Lucas Van Evera, Canajoharie. Died at Norfolk, Va., July 1864. Theo:lore Whitford, Canajoharie. James E. Walrath, St. Johnsville. Francis Wilmerson, Amsterdam.
COMPANY K.
OFFICERS.
Captain, Wm. Smith, Amsterdam. Wounded at Maryland Heights. Ist Lieutenant, Ralf Sexton, Caroga. Discharged May 25, 1863. ist Sergeant, Henry P. McMaster, Caroga.
2nd Sergeant, Jas. M. Hill, Broadalbin. Promoted 2nd lieutenant; in 1863 to ist lieutenant. Transferred to 47th N. Y. 3/ Sergeant, Jas. O. Fox, Broadalbin. Died at Petersburgh. 4th Sergeant, Archibald Buchanan, Broadalbin.
5th Sergeant, Caleb Olmstead, Broadalbin.
ist Corporal, James A. Swan, Caroga. 2nd Corporal, Lorenzo E. Bradt, Caroga.
4th Corporal, John Park, Broadalbin. Died at Beaufort, S. C.
6th Corporal, Samuel Burr, Broadalbin. Promoted to sergeant. 7th Corporal, Eli Smith, Caroga.
8th Corporal, Henry Luly, Broadalbin. Musician, Samuel Hurd, Caroga. Musician, Joshua W. Ripley, Broadalbin.
Musician, Melville W. Cole, Broadalbin.
H'agoner, Jas. Carmichael, Johnstown.
PRIVATES.
J. M. Amstead. Died at Deep Bottom, Va.
David Anderson, Broadalbin.
Geo. H. Ackley, Johnstown.
Wm. Bailey. Wounded at Olustee.
Milligham Bump, Mohawk.
Peter Bratt, Caroga. Died after being discharged.
Abram Backnyre, Palatine. Died at Fortress Monroe.
Edward Bratt, Palatine.
Marcus Banta, Broadalbin. Burnt to death at Amsterdam, N. Y., Aug. 29, 1862.
Chas. H. Bradt, Johnstown. Killed at Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20, 1864 Promoted to sergeant.
John Cole, Caroga. Wounded at Olustee.
Norman M. Cool, Oppenheim.
John R. Clark, Broadalbin. Died at Petersburg, Va.
Joseph Carpenter, Broadalbin.
Francis Cole, Johnstown. Died at Chicago, Oct. 31, 1862.
Michael A. Dorm, Caroga. Wounded at Olustee.
Peter Dingman, Broadalbin.
Edgar D. Demerest, Broadallin. Promoted to sergeant in 1865.
William H. Dingman, Broadalbin.
John H. Day, Mayfield.
John Demore, Amsterdam.
James De Graff, Palatine.
Philip Erkenbrack, Caroga. Wounded at Olustee.
Ebenezer Failing, Caroga.
Martin Frederick, Caroga.
David Failing, Caroga. Wounded at Olustee. William L. Frederick, Mohawk.
Peter Fry, Broadalbin.
William M Fox, Broadalbin. Discharged for disability.
Daniel Fosmire, Broadalbin.
James R. Gage, Caroga.
A. Hardell. Died at Raleigh.
l'eter Hanahan, Carog ..
W. A. Iloneywell, Broadalbin.
A. P'. Hart, Broadalbin.
Grote Honeywell, Johnstown.
James Hunter. Wounded at Olustee.
Benjamin Hammond, Broalalbin Promoted to corporal in 1863
G. G. Honeywell, Broadalbin. Wounded at Drury's Bluff and Win- chester.
William Hillie, Caroga. Died of disease June, 1865.
Charles W. Johnson. Wounded at Olustee.
George S. Jones, Mohawk. Thomas Kelly, Broadalbin.
83
COMPANIES OE MONTGOMERY AND FULTON MEN.
Francis Kirsh, Glen. Died at Hilton Head, June 21, 1863. Franklin E. Lamb, Caroga.
Frank Limer, Caroga.
Charles Lamb, Caroga Died of wounds, January 16, 1865. Henry Luloy, Broadalbin. Died at Hilton Head.
Nathan Layton, Palatine.
Norman W. Lyford, Broadalbin. Wounded at Chesterfield Heights ; died May 7. 1864.
Abram Massey, Caroga.
Charles Moak, Caroga. Died of measles at Washington, Jan. 2, 1863. Charles M. Marcellus, Broadalbin. Promoted to sergeant.
Isaac Manchester, Broadalbin. Wounded at Chesterfield. Alex. Monroe, Broadalbin. Died at Hilton Head, October 10, 1863. Melvin Miller, Ephratah. Died at Johnstown, N. Y., March 5, 1865. Barney McGuire, Amsterdam.
Michael Miller, Glen. Died of disease at Beaufort, January 15, 1864. Barney Naughton, Ephratah.
Cyrus Near, Caroga.
Levi Pettit, Broadalbin. Killed at Olustee, February 20, 1864.
William H. Peck, Broadalbin. Wounded at Olustee.
William Pedrick, Caroga. Wounded at Olustee.
William A. Peek, Broadalbin.
Elijah A. Rose, Broadalbin. Engaged at Maryland Heights, and Har- per's Ferry.
William Rowley, Broadalbin. Discharged for disability in 1864.
William D. Rice, Broadalbin.
Abram Rockmeyer, Palatine.
Warren J. Sexton, Caroga.
Adam Stearns, Caroga.
Henry Seeley, Broadalbin. Died June 19, 1863.
Obediate Sprung, Broadalbin. Died of wounds in rebel hospital, May II, 1865,
Albert Solomon, Broadalbin.
Richard A. Thorp. Broadalbin. Wounded at Olustee.
Stephen S. Treper, Broadalbin. Wounded at Olustee.
Joseph Vanderpool, Caroga. Wounded at Olustee ; died in rebel prison, March 10, 1864. Andrew J. Van Skiver, Johnstown.
George W. Wait, Caroga.
James H. Williams, Caroga. Wounded at Olustee.
Jos. Wistar. Died at Staten Island.
Aaron Ward, Broadalbin. James Young, Johnstown.
Wm. S. Young, Amsterdam. Wounded at Olustee. Joseph Younger, Amsterdam.
Hospital Steward J. Countryman, of St. Johnsville, killed at Fort Fisher, N. C., and Sergeant Major E. R. Fonda, of Cohoes, killed at Chesterfield, Va., were also members of the 115th.
While the 115th Regiment included more of the nation's defenders from Montgomery county than any other organization, the patriots of the county also swelled the ranks of other regiments, as follows :
COMPANY E, 43D INFANTRY; ENROLLED AT CANAJOHARIE.
OFFICERS.
Captain, Jacob Wilson. Ist. Lieutenant, Hiram A. Winslow zd Sergeant, Thomas Avery. 3d Sergeant, Frank Shurburt. 4th Sergeant, J. W Hagadorne. 5th Sergeant, Jackson Davis. rst Corporal, John D. Dain. zd Corporal, William F. Ward. 3d Corpora', Cornelius Van Alstyne. 5th Corporal, Christopher Richards. 6th Corporal, Marlin O'Brien. Musician, Charle, Marcy Musician, William Flint.
PRIVATES.
George M. Algier.
Peter Lynch.
Samuel Allen.
Chas. Luckin.
Isaac Bandu.
John McBahen.
James Barry.
Theodore Martin.
John Conrad.
Chas. Miller.
James Cary.
Peter McNinny.
James Connor.
John McCabe.
James Dwyer.
Daniel McMann.
William Drake.
W'm. Meagher.
Charles Drake.
John Murphy.
George Eicher.
Ellis Moyer.
John Farrell.
Orvillar Mann.
John Fralick.
John Neil.
James Farlan.
Harrison Plank.
Henry Fero.
Peter H. Reynolds. David Race.
Lewis Hartley.
Henry Henneman.
Jonas Race.
Jerome Hill.
Henry Showdy.
Richard Hardin.
Chas. Shultz.
Richard Handy.
Thomas Smith.
William Hillebrant.
Chas. Smith.
J. Hammersmith.
Stephen Socks. Albert Taylor.
Frank Jolly.
M. Van Brocklin.
Geo. Jackson.
A. A. Van Valkenburg.
John Karg.
Frederick Willick.
John Kiernan. :
Abel Weaver.
Thomas Lynch.
James Young.
COMPANY K, ist ARTILLERY. ENROLLED AT FORT PLAIN.
OFFICERS.
Captain, Lorenzo Crounse. Ist Lieutenant, S. Walter Stocking. 2nd Lieutenant, Angell Mathewson.
ist Sergeant, Geo. W. Fox.
Q. M. Sergeant, Wm. J. Canfield. Sergeant, Mosher Marion. Sergeant, Charles Keller. Ist Corporal, Phelps Conover.
. 3rd Corporal, Aden G. Voorhees. 4th Corporal, Gottlieb Ludwig. 6th Corporal, Wm. E. Smith. 7th Corporal, Horatio Fox. 8th Corporal, Henry Tabor.
Bugler, Geo. W. Beardsley. Artificer, Clark Burtiss. Wagoner, Martin Sitts.
PRIVATES.
Bennett, Peter. Bennett, Jesse.
Ellsworth, John B.
Bennett, Elisha D. Edick, Geo.
Billington, Geo. H. Enghauser, Edward.
Baziel, l'eter. Fricke, Henry.
Burtiss, Albert.
Fort, Geo. W.
Brown, Hiram Goodbread, Solomon.
Brownrigg, William. Green, Loren A. Gallup, Rufus.
Carter, Myron. Henniger, John.
Coine, James,
Hanley, James.
Dyslin, Ambrose.
Holmes, Jeremiah.
Dyslin, Azariah. Johnson, Francis H.
Drum, Wm. H.
Johnson, Delos M.
.
.
Christman, Geo. W.
Dievendorff, John H
John Jolly.
84
THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
Knieskern, Lyman P. Kaufmann, Jacob. Kelsey, Francis. Kelley, John. Litner, John. Monk, Philo. Mattice, John. Nestell, Wm. H. Nellis, Azariah.
Parr, Robert. Rogers, Russell W. Reynolds, Wm. J.
Rockerfellow, Josiah.
Stevens, John.
Smith, George. Shannon, Richard. Trickey, John. Walrath, Geo., M.D.
Nestell, W'm.
Waterman, Alexander. White, Matthew.
16th REGIMENT ARTILLERY.
COMPANY F.
Allen, Abraham J. Canajoharie.
Barlow, Julius.
Barlow, John D.
Bennett, Samuel F.
Bowman, Erastus W.
Campbell, Cornelius E. "
Dyslin, Allen T. St. Johnsville.
Fuller, Charles H. Canajoharie.
Hibbard, Daniel W. St. Johnsville.
Hess, Daniel.
Hall, Lorenzo B
Knickerbocker, Sam.
Nolan, Thomas. Canajoharie.
Rodgers, Jas. 1 .. St. Johnsville.
Riderick, Peter H. Canajoharir.
Smith, Wm. H. St. Johnsville.
Southerland, Clark E. :
Sheffer, John W.
COMPANY H.
Billings, Lyman. Oftenherm.
Brown, Jonas D.
Canan, Dennis P. Minden.
Churchell, John B. St. Johnsville.
Clemans, Daniel. Oppenheim.
Cunningham, Daniel.
Dilanbeck, Benj. P. Canajoharte.
Dilanbeck, John V.
Fullen, John. St. Johnsville.
Hagadorn, Chas. T. Minden.
Hagadorn, W'nı. Minden.
Hall, Geo. W. Camtjoharte.
Keck. Jacob. Oppenheim.
Keller, Henry H Minden.
Kelly, John A. St. Johnwville.
Klock. Dewitt. Lousby, Stephen.
J.yke. Peter F. Minden.
Moyer, John. Canajoharie.
Real, Jacob.
Ryan, Michael B.
Seevy, Andrew.
Seevy, Michael.
Smith, Michael. Oppenheim.
Stlby ney, Earnest. Strobuck, John.
The following smaller representations in various regiments and com- panies close our record of the brave men from Montgomery who fought and suffered to keep the nation whole : N. Wormuth. Fort Plain, Co. E., 6th Regt. Cavalry
W. Stanton, Fultonville, L., 15th
P. Winn, Minden, M., 20th 44
J. Shiel, Palatine, A., ..
J. Benning, Root. B.,
C. Neall, Palatine,
J. Coutant, Root,
S. McNiel, 44
H. Broadstreet, Amsterdam, 44 B., 2nd Regt. Vet. Cav.
W. McCowart,
C. Marsh,
..
..
4.
..
44 .4
F. H. Stiles,
G. J. Van Schaick, Co. E., ist Regt. Mounted Rifles.
John Dunn, Canajoharie, Co. K, 76th Infantry.
John Maicos,
J. Bleek, Amsterdam, Battery 12 Independent Artillery.
J. A. Dawson,
J. Davis,
R. Dixon, ..
G. Finn,
..
..
Geo. E. Lewis, ..
J. Bartley, Ft. Plain, 4.
2.4
..
44
J. Billingham, Johnstown.
E. Burlingame, St. Johnsville, Co. C., 121st Regiment. A. Jennings, Stratford, H.
1 .. P. Ballard. Florida, B. 124th
A. J. Messenger, ..
..
..
46
W. Storms, ..
..
..
=
D., :
16
44. 14
W. C. Putman.
D. Sikes, ..
14
4. 4
=
..
44
85 -
NATURAL FEATURES OF AMSTERDAM-ITS FIRST SETTLERS.
--
TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
THE TOWN OF AMSTERDAM.
The present town of Amsterdam was originally included in the town of Caughnawaga, a territory that embraced all that part of Montgomery county north of the Mohawk river and east of the bold hill spurs known as "The Noses." Formed in 1788, the comparatively young town of Caughnawaga was, five years after, itself subdivided into, or rather merged in, the new towns of Johnstown, Mayfield, Broadalbin and Amsterdam. Thus the formation of Amsterdam occurred on the 12th of March, 1793. At that date, no village of importance was within its bounds. Embryo set- tlements had come into being much earlier in the adjacent town of Florida -formerly Warrensbush: while Caughnawaga had its substantial stone church-built in 1763-and surrounding hamlet, and Johnstown, the shire town of Montgomery county, as it had been of Tryon county, was a village of considerable importance. The creation nf Fulton county caused a division of this town, and the northern portion was set off April 18th, 1838, to form the town of Perth Fulton county , which bounds it on the north. It is bounded east by Schenectady county, south by the Mohawk river, and west by the town of Mohawk. It contains 20,054 acres, three-fourths of which are under cultivation.
The soil of the Mohawk river fats and islands is exceedingly rich, and produces large and valuable crops, among which broom corn is, perhaps, the most important and remunerative. North of the bluffs and slopes that hem the river, the soil is of a lighter character, yellowish loam, yet afford- ing fair returns to a varied agriculture, and is well adapted to grazing and the raising of most cereals.
:
No mountains rear their summits in the town, but the land is pleasantly undulating from the river to its northern bounds, affording many a land- scape of quiet, pastoral beauty. Great ledges of gray limestone lie along the bluffs on the margin of the river; quarries of it are worked to a con- siderable extent in several localities, even some miles back from the gen- eral ridge, from which stone of most excellent quality is obtained for local use, which is also in good demand for canal locks, bridges, etc. A large quantity was furnished for the railroad bridge, and the new Capitol building at Albany.
The principal stream of the town is the Churtenunda, which weds the Mohawk at Amsterdam village. The name is regarded as purely Indian Que-te-nun-da in olden records , and said to mean "twin sisters," in allu- sion to a stream of similar volume and the same name emptying into the river on the opposite shore, the mouths being but a few rods apart. The northern Chuctenunda is traceable some fifteen miles, several small brooks falling into its channel. Its descent is rapid, and it has allured about ifteen manufacturing establishments to its banks. The supply of water being too limited and inconstant, a reservoir, covering one hundred acres or more, was constructed in 1860, about ten miles from the village, for the purpose of keeping up the supply. The increasing number of mills and factories on this stream necessarily increased the demand for water, and, in 1876, the enterprising mill-owners enlarged this reservoir, or rather con- Mructed a new and more substantial one in the same locality, covering about seven hundred acres, which has proved a valuable adjunct in main- taining a regular and sufficient flow of water. The reservoir is in places
1
1
over thirty feet deep. It has an outlet tube three feet in diameter, and cost about $25,000. It is soon to be in telegraphic communication with the village. East of the Chuetenunda two other streams, not considerable or constant, fall into the Mohawk; while the Fort Johnson creek 'formerly Kayaderosseras , a large and valuable stream, flow, across the western part of the town and murmurs close by the substantial walls of Fort John- son. Evas Kil creek, flowing into the Mohawk at Cranesville, took its name from Mrs. Eva Van Alstyne, who was wounded and sealped by the Indians in 1755, while crossing this stream on her way from Johnstown to Schenectady.
EARLY PATENTS.
The first settlements in the town are supposed to have been commenced as early as 1710 or 1712, the pioneers being German Palatines, who were sent here under the patronage of Queen Anne of England, and Holland Dutch, from Schenectady and other parts, who settled along the Mohawk about the same time. But little, however, is known of them in connection with this town at that early period. The title to twenty acres of land ly- ing in Amsterdam was issued to Geraldus Camfort, April 22d, 1703. This is probably the first patent granted by the English Colonial Government within the present limits of Montgomery county. Another patent was granted to Ebenezer Wilson and John Abeel, "one half to each," called the Chatsandackte Patent, which bears date February 22d, 1706; but there is no evidence that any of the patentees or their representatives settled on their lands at that early date. In 1716, Philip Groat, of Rotterdam, ar- quired the title, direct from the Indians, to a strip of land in the eastern part of the town. This was, without doubt, the earliest grant obtained from the dusky lords of the forest. It embraced the present site of Cranesville, and conveyed "all the land between the creeks " .about one mile , as far north from the Mohawk as the grantee might desire. When removing hither Groat was drowned in the Mohawk, near Schenectady, by breaking through the ice. He was in a sleigh, accompanied by a woman, who was also drowned. His widow and three sons, Simon, Jacob and lewis, the latter being then only four years old, with several domestics, made the intended settlement. In 1730 the Groat brothers erected a grist- mill at what is now Cranesville. This was the first mill of the kind erected on the north side of the Mohawk, and for a time served the settlement at German Flats, fifty miles beyond. The first bolting-cloth in this mill w.s put in by John Burns, a German, in 1772. In the summer of 1755, Lewis Grnat was taken prisoner by three hostile Indians, a father and sons, be- longing to the Owenagunga tribe, who conveyed him to their settlement in Canada, where he was forced to run the gauntlet. He was soon after sold to a French Canadian, named Louis de Snow, with whom he remained as a servant until the declaration of war between Great Britain and France. when he was claimed as a British prisoner, and for six months imprisoned in St. Francis Way, near Montreal. He was finally liberated, and returned home after an absence of four years and four months.
86
THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
FORT JOHNSON.
Sir William Johnson, in the year 1742, purchased a lot of land on the Kayaderosseras (now Fort Johnson , creek, about three miles north-west from the mouth of the Chuctenunda, in the town of Amsterdam, "for the purpose," as he asserts, "of securing a valuable water-power, on which he proposed to erect a saw-mill, that would be certain to yield a profit of full forty pounds per annum." He soon after moved from Warrensbush, across the Mohawk, to his new possessions. In 1744 he erected a valuable flour- ing mill upon the brisk stream, and also built an elegant stone mansion for his own residence, conferring upon the estate the name of Fort John- son. This massive stone structure, still standing, is 35 feet deep by 60 feet front, and two stories high, with lofty attic, and large dormer windows. It was elegantly finished for that period, as is evinced by the richly orna_ mented carvings of oak and mahogany, paneled wainscoting, spacious halls and staircase. Standing, as it does, on the main thoroughfare from the East to the far West, on low grounds close by the creek, the hills rising abruptly in the rear, it bids fair, for many years, to be an interesting relic of earliest civilization. Here, after Sir William had built the "Hall" at Johnstown, and removed thither in 1763, his son (afterwards Sir John Johnson), continned to reside.
One mile east of Fort Johnson was the residence of Colonel Daniel Claus, a son-in-law of Sir William. This dwelling was subsequently burned and never rebuilt.
[The accompanying engraving of Fort Johnson was taken from Lossing's "Field Book of the Revolution," by permission of Harper Brothers, the publishers of that excellent and highly interest- ing work.]
FURT JUHWSUN.
Rev. Gideon Hawley made a journey, in 1753, from Albany to Oghkwaga (now Windsor, Broome Co.), by way of the Mohawk valley. Forty years later he wrote a narrative of the trip, from which we take the following :
"At sunset we were politely received at Colonel Johnson's gate, by himself in person. Here we lodged. His mansion was stately, and situ- ate a little distance from the river, on rising ground, and adjacent to a stream which turned his mill. This gentleman was well known in his civil military and private character. He was the first civil character in the county of Albany at that day; and after this, by means of the war which commenced in 1755, and his connection with the Indians, of whom he was appointed- sole superintendent for that part of the continent, he arose to great eminence. In 1756 he was made a baronet. It was favourable to our mission to have his patronage, which I never lost. In the year 1765 1 found him at another mansion about eight miles from this, and four from the river. This last was a very superb and elegant edifice, surrounded with little buildings for the accommodation of the Indians when down upon treaties or conferences with him. Mr. Woodbridge and I took our leave of him in the morning, rode up to the ford and crossed the river, and came over to the south side, and rode to what was called the Mohawk castle, near which was a stone chapel and village of Indians, situate on Scoharry creek, not far from the place where it discharges its waters into the Mo- hawk."
1
-- i
GUY PARK.
Still another mile east-each domain a mile square-was the low, two- story, strongly-built stone mansion called, with the surrounding estate, Guy Park, where the nephew, as well as son-in-law, of Sir William John- son, Guy Johnson, resided. The house continued to wear its stern, semi- prison appearance till 1846, when it passed into the hands of James Stew- art, by whom it was considerably enlarged, its roof nused, and the whole building remodeled and converted into a handsome dwelling, still bearing the name of Guy Park.
These places were abandoned soon after the breaking out of the Revo- lutionary War, and were subsequently declared forfeited and confiscated by the Federal Government, and soll to other parties. E. Akin is now in possession of Fort Johnson, where he has resided for several years. . 1 portion of the mile square originally belonging with it was first purchased by ------ Kyler, and afterwards transferred, successively, to Schuyler, Van Schoick, Maxwell, Smith, and, lastly, in 1840, to Lansing W. Sweet, the present occupant. Another portion, after passing through numerous
hands, became the property of Joshua Wilde in 1845, and from him it passed, in 1854, to his son, James L. Wilde, who continues to occupy it. Still another part, now owned by Abram Lingenfelder, was first settled by Nathan Wells, and afterwards owned successively by Alphenbreck Putnam and Benj. Turney, who, in 1863, sold it to its present owner.
The glove factory of Jame, Finchout and the skin mill of Coughnet and Moore are also located on this square, near Fort Johnson. A grist-mill, the third in order, now occupies the site of the one erected by Sir William, the two former having burned down.
THE PIONEERS OF AMSTERDAM.
The farm at present owned by D. W. Ecker and I. Collins was first settled by Geo. Shuler, before or during the Revolution For a long time Mr. Shuler kept the valuables and spare clothing of the family in an iron bound chest, secreted in a large stone pile, to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Indians and Tories.
Peter Van Wormer was among the first to settle in the valley. He lo- cated on lot No 3, Kayaderosseras patent. Cornelius Dodds settled in 1793, on the farm now owned by his grand-son, C. Dodds. He was a soldier in the war of 1812.
The farm upon which Wilson Putnam is now located, was originally set- tled by Victor Putnam, some time previous to the Revolution. During the war Mr. P. often took his family across the river to Fort Hunter, for safety. He was at one time stationed there for the purpose of arousing the neighborhood, upon the approach of the enemy, by firing an alarm gun.
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