History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 29

Author: Beers, F.W., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: New York : F.W. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 664

USA > New York > Fulton County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 29
USA > New York > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 29

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

James Allen settled in 1792, where J. C. Chalmers resides. His original purchase also included the farm of James Donnan.

In the year 1794, Isaac and Simael Jones, cousins, from Orange, N. J., purchased lands in the eastern part of the town. A small settlement had previously been commenced in this portion of Amsterdam, and five fami- lies were already located in as many log cabins near each other. Their names were Robison, Ellis, Glass, Allen and Olmsted. Isaac Jones, the same year, moved his family and settled here. In the following year, Sam- uel Jones came on with his family and located where his grand-son, J. V. Jones, now resides. A year or two later, John Jones, the father of Isaac, moved in and bought out Mr. Rnbison, and Joseph Baldwin, a relative of the Joneses by marriage, purchased and settled on the farm of Mr. Oim - stead. Samuel B. Jones, a native of Massachusetts, settled in 1797, where his grand-son, Samuel Jones, now resides. The first school-house erected in this part of the town stood on "Olmstead Hill," near the present resi- dence of A. Van Vrankin, and Samnel Jones was among the first who taught in it.

The farm now occupied by M. W. Clizbe, was originally owned by a Mr. Kennedy, who settled on it some time previous to 1800. He was an enter- prising fruit grower and nurseryman, producing several new varieties of fruit, hitherto unknown. "The Kennedy farm" was purchased in 1807, hy Joseph Clizbe, grandfather of the present owner.

Joseph HEgam in mide the first settlement at Hagaman's Mills, as early as 1777. He came from Dutchess Co., N. Y., and was the son of Henry Hagaman, a native of Holland. He was the first to locate in the northern part of the town, having previously purchased four hundred acres of land, as follows : one hundred arres from Mr. Vischer, of Schagticoke, for $5 per acre, and three hundred acres of White and Palmer, of Saratoga Co., for 82.75 per acre. The corantry at thit time was very sparsely settled At Vedder's mills there were only the grist and saw mills and a blacksmith shop, with small dwelling, for each. The only road north of Manny's Cor- ner-, was an opening, cut through the forest, just wide enough to allow the passage of a wagon. Mr. Hagaman at once commenced improvements on his new homesend, the erection of a saw mill being among the first made It is related that here the name of "Amsterdam" was first adopted for thi part of the then birge district of Caughnawaga. The scattered settlers had assembled for the purpose of raising the frame of Mr. Hagaman's saw mill, when it was proposed to give a name to this section, whereby it might be known and more definitely distinguished. \ vote was taken, and " Am- sterdam " was almost unanimously agreed upon, the name being retained at its organization as an independent town.

A relic of those early times, now in the possession of David Cady, Esq, Cashier of the First National Bank of Amsterdam, reminds one of the days when negro slavery existed by constitutional right even in free and

MINOR VILLAGES OF THE TOWN OF AMSTERDAM.

independent New York, and the barter and sale of a human being was a legitimate transaction. It is a deed executed Aug. 13th, 1791, by Samuel D. Wenner to David Cady, grandfather of the present David Cady , which, "in consideration of 50 pounds, current money." conveys the "negro wench named 'Cate ' aged 25." The grantor also affirms "said wench to be honest and sober."

It is reported that in 1802 there were "five mills upon the Chucte- nunda," (Amsterdam at that time included West Galway ;. Eleven years later, it is recorded that, upon the same stream "there are in all 5 grain and 4 saw mills, 2 carding machines, 2 fulling machines, 2 oil mills and a trip hammer," besides "the extensive iron manufactory of S. & A. Waters, wbere mill-saws, mill-irons and grass scythes are annually manufactured and sold to the amount of 8,000 to 10,000 dollars. This establishment cost $6,000, and its enterprising proprietors have obtained a high reputation for their wares. They sell about 6,000 grass scythes annually."

MINOR VILLAGES OF THE TOWN.

HAGAMAN'S MIL.Ls is a small village situated on Chuctenunda creek, in the northern part of the town, about four miles north-east of the village of Amsterdam. Besides the "Star Hosiery Mills," it contains a post- office, two churches-Methodist and Reformed-a grist mill and saw mill, and two stores, Various other industries are also represented. M. V. Herrick became proprietor of the grist and saw mills in 1875 He is a native of this State, and has lived in the town since 1840.

The Star Hosiery Mills of H. Pawling & Son., is the oldest establish- ment of the kind in the county. The hosiery business was commenced in 1857, by Pawling & Jackson, on a small scale at first, in connection with wool carding and the manufacture of woolen goods. The business subse- quently merged into knit goods exclusively, under the firm name of H. Pawling & Son, who are at present running four sets of machinery, giving employment to eighty hands, turning out sixty dozen shirts and drawers daily, manufacturing about $150,000 worth of goods annually.

TRIBES HIL.I. is located on the western border of the town, just north of the N. Y. Central Railroad, on the brow of a considerable elevation. A portion of the village lies in the town of Mohawk. It received its name from the circumstance that. upon this elevation, the various Indian tribes were accustomed to assemble. The place contains a post-office, a Metho- list and a Roman Catholic church, a store, school-house, and the usual number of shops, with a population of about 200. At the railroad station near the village, a suspension bridge spans the Mohawk, connecting it with Fort Hunter. The bridge was built by a stock company in 1852-3, at a cost of $17,500. It is 536 feet between abutments and is supported by six cables, each three inches in diameter. The towers are constructed of heavy oak timbers, and the bridge will support a weight of 5,000 pounds per foot.

Rev. John Taylor, in the journal of his missionary tour through this region in 1802, made the following entry :

" July 23rd .- Tripes alias Tribes Hill, in the town of Amsterdam, county of Montgomery. * * * This place appears to be a perfect Babel

as to language. But very few of the people, I believe, would be able to pronounce Shibboleth. The articulation even of New England people, is injured by their being intermingled with the Dutch, Irish and Scotch, The character of the Dutch people, even on first acquaintance, appears to be that of kindness and justice. As to religion, they know but little about it, and are extremely superstitious. They are influenced very much by dreams, and apparitions. The most intelligent of them seem to be under the influence of fear from that cause. The High Dutch have some singu- lar customs with regard to their dead. When a person dies, nothing will influence ye connections, nor any other person, unless essentially neces- sary, to touch the body. When the funeral is appointed, none attend but such as are invited. When the corpse is placed in the street, a tune is sung by a choir of persons appointed for the purpose-and continue sing- ing until they arrive at the grave ; and after the body is deposited, they have some remarks made-return to ye house and in general get drunk. 12 men are bearers-or carriers-and they have no relief. No will is opened, nor debt paid, under six weeks from ye time of death."

It may as well be remarked here that funerals were not the only occa- sions on which the ancient Amsterdamers and their neighbors in general got drunk. Christmas festivities were equally thirsty work ; witness the following extract from a journal kept by the missionary Kirkland in 1789:

"The manner in wch. ye ppl. in yse parts keep Xmas day in commem- or'g of the Birth of ye Saviour, as ya pretend is very affect'g and strik'g. They generally assemble for read'g prayers, or Divine service-but after, they eat, drink and make merry. They allow of no work or servile labour on ye day and ye following-their servants are free-but drinking swearing fighting and frolic'g are not only allowed, but seem to be essential to ye joy of ye day."

CRANESVILLE, situated on the north bank of the Mchawk, about three miles east of Amsterdam village, is a small station on the N. Y. Central Railroad, containing a church, hotel, store, saw mill, a post office, and a cluster of comfortable dwellings, mainly of farmers. It was named in honor of David Crane, who settled there in 1804, and kept a hotel for many years.

Rock City, situated one and a half miles north-east of Amsterdam, con- tains the Amity knitting mills of John Maxwell. In 1857 Mr. Maxwell formed a copartnership with Adamn W. Kline, and the firm, converting a small saw mill at this place into a hosiery mill, commenced the manufac- ture of knit goods, with one set of machinery, to which was subsequently added the second set. In 1860 their mill was burned, after which Mr. Maxwell purchased the entire interest, erected a new mill, and in 1862 commenced manufacturing again with one set of machinery. He soon after added another set, operating them successfully till 1872, when this mill, also, was destroyed by fire. It was, however, rebuilt the same year, on a much larger scale. Mr. Maxwell is at present running four sets of machinery, with a capacity of eighty dozen shirts and drawers per day. He employs about sixty operators, and manufactures for the market about $75,000 worth of goods annually. The stone quarry and lime kiln of D. C. and N. Hewett, are located at this place, where is cut and carved an endless variety of stone for building purposes, walks, bridges, etc.

THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

THE VILLAGE OF AMSTERDAM.

FORGE ECT

AMSTERDAM

VEODER'S

LAID DOWN FROM A

SCALE OF TWO CHAINS TO AN INCH

AUG 12 th 1807. BY

FULLING MILL E

JAS GUSHNEY.

S.WATER'S

N.VEDD ER'S HOOSE

SAW

MILL DI

LAND BELONGING TO

S.& A. WATERS

CRIST MILL

HAR'S VEDDER'S LAND

ST.

HAR'S VEDDER'S LAND

PLEASANT ST.

ST.

NORTH

PUBLIC

SQUARE

LOT

FORGE

GREEN

OND

HOTEL

SQUARE

ROSEBOOM

NOUSE

PRESB.

MAIN

BARNSO

MILES&

FERRY ST .

VEDDER

ST.

AOJOINING

C. HOS

WILBUR ERLADE

LIME ST

TULLUCK

DE FOREST

DGWNS

VEDDEA

RIVER

HAR'S VEDDER'S LANO THE

RIVER

MOHAWK

Albert (or Aaron) Vedder settled near the mouth of the Chuctenunda creek during the Revolutionary war, and then and there laid the founda- tion of the present thriving village of Amsterdam, by erecting a saw -mill and a grist-mill. The latter stood on the ground now occupied by the Chuctenunda knitting-mills of Schuyler and Blood: the saw-mill long since gave way to other buildings.

As the settlement began. to grow and the inhabitants to increase around " Vedder's mills." the place hegan, naturally enough, to be called "Veddersburg." which name, by common consent, it retained for many years. Mr. Vedder was at one time taken prisoner hy the Inchians and carried to Fort Johnson, where his captors proposed to tarry till the next day, and tied him to a tree for safe keeping. During the night one of their number, with whom Mr. Vedder had previously formed an de quaint- ance, cut the cords, released him, and allowed him to escape. Among the first to follow Mr. Vedder. at Vedder's mills, were K. E. De Graff, Nichola, Wilcox and Wm. Kline.

At the beginning of the present century the population of the town of Amsterdam was pretty equally divided between Holland Dutch and the descendants of the early German Palatines on one side, and those from New England and New York on the other. The Dutch, revering the name of Amsterdam, were desirons of calling their present village after the metropolis nf their mother country. This desire culminated in the spring of 1804, when, at a town meeting, the question of changing the name Veddersburg to Amsterdam was submitted to a vote, which resulted

in a tie. James Allen, being president of the meeting, had the casting vote, and, out of modest courtesy to the Dutch element, decided upon the name "Amsterdam." Thus the name "Veddersburg" was discarded. to be eventually forgotten, and to-day exists only in history.

The village of Amsterdam is thus described by one writing in 1813 : "On the Mohawk turnpike, near the mouth of the Chuctenunda creek, is a small collection of houses called Amsterdam or Veddersburg, where is a post-office, a Presbyterian church, a school-house, 25 dwellings and some stores, mechanics' shops, mills, &c.," with a population which probably did not exceed 150. Although its geographical position remains the same, its boundaries have been considerably enlarged. The " Mohawk turnpike "- at that time the most important thoroughfare west from Albany-has been, long since, reduced to the rank of an ordinary road; while to take its place have come, first, the Erie Canal, and later, the N. Y. Central Railroad, with its quadruple track. The village now extends along the north bank of the Mohawk river for nearly two miles. It has grown to be the largest and most important village in the county, containing a population of nearly 7,000. The principal streets are well paved, and lighted with gas, and street-cars traverse the village to its utmost limits, east and west.

Possessing, as it does, the splendid water power afforded by the rapidly descending Chuctenunda, Amsterdam has become an important center for vanous manufacturing interests. It contains, within 'its corporate limits. nine knitting or hosiery mills, all in active operation, with an aggregate of sixty sets of machinery, which alone give employment to over 1.000 persons of both sexes, and produce $1,500,000 worth of knit goods annually. There are two extensive carpet manufactories, a steel spring factory, a burial case and coffin manufactory, a large foundry and machine shop; steam boiler works, two broom factories, linseed oil works, a boot and shoe manufactory, paper mills, a kerosene oil refinery, a paper box factory, and a large number of smaller factories and shops. Fully one-third of the population of the village is employed in these factories, a large proportion of them being females.

On the 2d of April. 1830, a charter was granted for the incorporation of Amsterdam, but no action seems to have been taken under that act. The following year, however, the enactment was renewed, the organization completed by the election of officers, and the place became an incorpor- ated village. By the original charter, the trustees were made elective and the president was chosen by them from among their own members. In 1854 very important changes were made, and greatly enlarged corporate privileges were conferred by amendments to this charter. The president also became elective.

THE FERRY.

Among the first buildings of any pretentions erected in this village wa- one but recently destroyed. It stood on the margin of the river at the foot of Pearl street, and was the original ferry house of the once import. ant ferry across the Mohawk to the Florida shore. This ferry early obtained the right of way across the river, which franchise has never been relinquished, but has compelled the maintenance of a viaduct under the railroad, as well as the open arch beneath the building, No. 129 Mai street.

THE BRIDGE.

Not until 1821 was a bridge erected across the Mohawk, at this place This bridge originally contemplated but two spans, but a portion of it

HAR'S VEDDERS

WATERS

MAIDEN LANE

STREET.

ST.

OCH.

THOMAS

OJUMILLO

SOUTH

RIVER .

A NEVER FAILING STREAM

TJOUGHTENOONDA CREEK

LAND

WATTERS)

MERIDIAN

900

HOSIERY MILL AND RESIDENCE OF JOHN MAXWELL ESQ. AMSTERDAM, N. Y.

CRYSTAL

100

Residence and Grounds of MR D. W. ECKER, AMSTERDAM, N. Y.

Gur PARK. Res. of MRS. M.I. STEWART, AMSTERDAM N. Y

INSTITUTIONS OF AMSTERDAM VILLAGE.

falling before completion, the plan was changed and an additional pter created. It did good service till 1839, when an unusual flood destroyed it. Its successor met a similar fate in 1842. The third one stood firm until 1865, when the northern span was torn away by an ice flood. It was repitted by a light, but strong, iron arch: but, in 1876, the major part was again swept away, and, the same year, the present substantial structure was completed, at a cost of about $25,000.

CEMETERIES.

The first burial place for public use was located immediately west of Bridge street, between Main and the river. Many tombstones were stand- ing there when the Central railroad was built, but encroaching buikiings have long since obliterated all trace of their existence. The second grave- yard crowned the hill, upon Market and Prospect streets. This came to be well peopled, and ceased to afford proper facilities for interments within its limits. In November, 1857, an association was organized, and in the spring of 1858 a tract of fourteen acres was purchased, and Green Hill Cemetery located on an eminence on the north side of the village. The grounds, possessing a natural beauty, have been artistically platted, and beautifully ornamented with forest trees and evergreens; gracefully winding carriage drives, underlaid with stone, make every pa accessible at all seasons of the year. It has a commodious receiving vault, built of undressed, blue limestone, and conveniently located for use in winter. A few years have wrought this spot into one of rare loveliness, and many a visitor is daily attracted to this "city of the dead." Anthony Holmes, a native of England, is the present superintendent, having had charge of the grounds since 1858.

SCHOOLS.

The first public school house, built previous to 1800, stood upon the site of the present Ward school No. 1, near Liberty street. Daniel Shep- und was the first to teach in it. This red school house, later, had a second story added, and was, for some time, under the charge of a Mr. S.Il. It was burned in 1856, but was immediately followed by a new brick build- ing, which, in 1876, was enlarged to over twice its original size. liorace sprague once taught in the first school building. as he did also in the stone building No. 5 Church street. He afterward erected a building near No. 8 Grove street, and occupied it as a private academy. It was subse- 'quently converted into a dwelling, but was long known as the "old acad- emy." Mrs. Fisk once occupied part of the Van Wyck house on Church street for a young ladies' seminary, which attained a considerable reputa- tion. In 1839, the ad ward stone school house was built on Division street. It was enlarged in 1865, and in 1877 a handsome and commodious three-story edifice was added.

Amsterdam Academy was first incorporated by the Legislature March auth. 1839, and the Regents of the University February 16th, 1841, under the name of Amsterdam Female Semmary. The Globe Hotel, situated in the central part of the village, was purchased for its location. A boarding department attached was for ladies only; its day department, for both wexes. Dr. Sterling, its first principal, was followed successively In Rev. Gilbert Morgan, William Mclaren, D. H. Crittenden, M. T. Cavert, Rev. William Howell, M. T. Cavert 2d term, O. E. Hovey and William Aumock, reaching down to 1865. On April 27th of that year, a new char- trt was obtained, and its name changed to AAmsterdam Academy. The old building was sold, and the present substantial and commodious one or. Academy Hill was erected, and fitted up with all the modern improve- ments, at a rost of $40.000. The boarding department, as formerly, is for 1. her, while the day school is for both sexes. The first Board of Trustees under the new charter were: Hon. Stephen Sanford, M. C., president; Hin S Pulver Heath, secretary; D. W Shuler, treasurer; Hon Samuel Behling. Hon. Adam W. Kline, Abram V. Morris, S. McElwain, Hon. lohn Kellogg, John Mc Donnell, Leonard V. Gardner and Chandler Bartlett Dr. C. C. Wetsell was the first principal, and was followed by W B Sits. The present incumbent is W. W. Thompson, who is assisted by a competent board of teachers.

PUBLIC LIBRARY.

As early as 1820, Amsterdam had established quite a respectable public Mr. William Reid, for a long time a resident of this place, was

to faithful custodian. Frank E. Spinner, late ireassurer of the United? States, then resided here, and is said to have read every volunn .n that library.

SOCIETIES.

MASONIC LODGE.

Artisans' Indge, No. 84, received its charter from the Grand lonige id the State in 1824, and completed its organization, through the active zea! of W. U. Chase. It held its meetings in the second story of the stone shop, erected by Mr. Chase in 1823, on the bank of the river at the tout of Pearl street, until, through the decline of interest in Masonry, 1 ber .mme defunct. In 1854 it was resuscitated, and soon thereafter was enabird to regain its forfeited No., 84, which it now wears, occupying handsome rooms on Chuctenunda street.

Y. M. C. A.

The Young Men's Christian Association was organized June 11th. 1858. as the result of a happy revival of religion in that year. It has ever siner maintained an existence, occupying various localities until establishing itself in its present quarters. It now occupies the whole upper floor over the First National Bank building, corner of Main and Chuctenunda streets The annual election of president and trustees occurs on the last Tuesday of June. The regular meetings of the Board of Trustees occur on the first Tuesday of each month. The first president elected was James HI Bronson. The present presiding officer is N. J. De Graff.

TEMPERANCE ORGANIZATION.

St. Mary's Total Abstinence and Catholic Benevolent Society was or- ganized Jan. 4th, 1874. The first officers were : John Kennedy. P'res : John Kavanaugh, Treas., and John McNally, Sec. It meets at Sanfonit's Hall, on the ist and 3d Tuesdays in each month, and numbers &c mprin- bers. The present officers are: Pres., Jas. E. Dolan ; Treas., J. H. Bergen ; Sec. John Donahoe.

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.

E. S. Young Post No. 33. G. A. R., was organized April toth, 18;5 with E. S. Young and twenty others as charter members. The present membership numbers 53. It meets every Tuesday evening, at Houd !- quarters, Harmony Hall. Since the organization this Post has expended several hundred dollars for charitable purposes. Considerable time aturl attention has been given by its members to searching for the naines nf those soldiers of the late war who were killed and left no record len names have thus far been rescued from oblivion, and engraved on stories placed near the soldiers' monument in Green Hill Cemetery.

THE PRESS OF AMSTERDAM

The first newspaper published in Amsterdam was called The Mehaut- Herald. Its first appearance was in Dec. 1820. It was issued weekh. bv Darius Wells, editor and proprietor. While here Mr. Wells commented the manufacture of wood type. In 1824, he removed to Paterson, \ F. and the Herald passed into the hands of Philip Reynolds, who moved the office to Johnstown, Fulton county, where the paper was published by him till 1834, under the title of The Johnstown Herald.

In 1833. the publication of The Mohawk Gazette was commenced in Joseph Noonan In 1834. it became the Intelligencer, and under the proprietorship successively of Wing & Davis, Jas. Riggs, and 1. H Nichols, it continued to be published till 1836, when it beram. the prop- erty of Simeon B Marsh, who retained the position of editor and proprie. tor for eighteen years. In 1854, the Intelligencer was purchased by Xeno- phon Haywood, who changed its name to the Recorder, and published it as such till 1868, when it was sold to A. Z. Neff, by whom it has since been continued under the same title.

THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

In 1860, Winegar & Van Allen were induced to try the experiment of publishing a daily paper. It was called The Daily Dispatch, and was ed- ited by C. P. Winegar. It made its appearance regularly for about stx months, when it was changed to a weekly, and continued as such till Nov. 1864, at which time it ceased to exist.

The Amsterdam Democrat was started Oct. 14, 1870, by Geo O. Smith and Walter B. Matthewson. In about three months Mr. Smith sold his share of the concern to Angell Matthewson, of Fort Plain, who in March, 1871, turned it over to Mr. John E. . \she, and went west. Mr. Ashe, who graduated at U'nion College, in 1866, was nominated for the Assembly by a Democratic convention, at Fonda, in the autumn of 1872, but was beaten in the ensuing election. His partnership in the Democrat establishment lasted until August, 1873. The concern was subsequently purchased by Mr. W. J. Kline, of Fultonville, who as editor and proprietor of the paper still manages it.

CORPORATIONS OF AMSTERDAM.

AQUEDUCT COMPANY.

In 1820, a charter was granted by the Legislature of this State . . Marcus T. Reynolds, Benedict Arnold, and Welcome U. Chase, under the corpor- ate title of the " Amsterdam Aqueduct Company." An organization was effected and the work commenced for supplying the village with water for domestic purposes. A spring was secured and pipes laid for that portion of the village west of the creek. Subsequently additional springs were purchased and a like work undertaken for the village east of the Chucte- nunda, availing itself of the original " Aqueduct " charter. These works have done good service in their day, but neither the source nor conduits are at all adequate to the present needs of the village.

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History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 29

Author: Beers, F.W., & co., New York, pub Publication date: 1878 Publisher: New York : F.W. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 664

Author: Beers, F.W., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: New York : F.W. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 664