History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 31

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 31
USA > New York > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 31

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).

In 1834, Mr. Simeon B. Marsh, (editor of the Intelligencer for 18 years trum 1836) set up in this church a small organ, mainly of his own con- «rue tion, which did service after its fashion, for several years, and was the first organ used in the town. He played it, as also, later, his daughter, an & complished musician, who became Mrs. J. Watts Van Deveer. Apropos to the subject, the first piano brought to this town was that of Mrs. Wir us T. Reynolds, 1824, and it was an object of no little curiosity to the many who had never seen an instrument of the kind., Mr. Marsh had been for several years a teacher of music, establishing and maintaining the unal country singing schools, in many villages of this vicinity. He origi- nated infant singing classes, in which he was most successful, as well as highly popular in his adult schools. He was a good singer and teacher, anıl a respectable performer upon violin and organ. For several years he w.is leader of the singing in the Presbyterian church of this village. He also possessed considerable ability as a composer, and published many tunes of real merit, one of which has since girdled the earth, and to-day is, perhaps, oftener sung in christian worship than any other tune. Ages may pass before the simple melody and sweet harmony of "Martyn " will . ease to charm, expressing, as it does, the deep emotion of christian hearts. This tune was composed on horseback, took there its concrete form, and w Js soon given to his various schools on the black-board. It won its sweet way, found place in singing books and papers, and has now its niche firm and sure in the popular heart.

The last religious services held in the brick church built in 1832 of- . urted May 9th, 1869, immediately after which the structure was razed, and the erection of the present edifice commenced on the same site, the corner stone of which was laid with appropriate ceremonies, July 22nd following. A box deposited within this stone contains many souremrs, witch as books, newspapers, a map of the village, United States flag, coins, winds of business houses, catalogue of church members, village officers, "" . etr. The building was completed at a cost of over $40,000, and dedi- , Ated June rst, 1870. It is constructed of brick, with gray limestone "! namental trimmings, in the Romanesque style of architecture. Its di- Honsinns are 66 by to4 feet, and, with the galleries, it has a capacity for seat- 'hiz one thousand persons. It is elaborately finished and furnished inside, . .. contains a large organ and a ponderous bell. Annexed to the church, un Grove street, is a chapel, which will accommodate 250 people, and is ' ad for weekly services, and the infant branch of the Sunday school. Hit south of the church, on the same lot, stands the pleasant and com- tto dumus brick parsonage. In November, 1870, Kev. Dr. Goodale was . . ted pastor emeritus, and on the 21st of December following Rev. Henry I Teller was installed pastor in charge, who still continues in that . purity.

In February, 1781, by direction of the presbytery, upon application, the · hurch at Manny's Corners was designated as the " First " and the village . surch as the " Second Presbyterian Church of Amsterdam." The present membership number> 470. It> Sabbath school has an enrollment of 300 ". hular, constituting two departments. It> session now consists of Rev. H 1. Teller, Moderator; Chandler Bartlett, Jas. H. Bronson, Jas, A. Mil- . r. David Cady, Dan'1. 1. McMartin, Gardiner Blood, Henry Herrick and ! ! Van Deveer, Elders ; Josiah Sharpley, Thos. S. Stanley and Nicholas ! De Graff, Deacons. The officers have been as follows :

1832-Elders : Joseph Clizbee, Israel Collins, Thomas Allen, Luther stiles. Barney Stiles, Chandler Bartlett. Deacons : Chas. Stiles, John Jenne, John Efner, John Freemyre.

1838 -- Ellers : Jeremiah Warring, Ellis Clicbee. Deacons : Geo. W. Bronson, W. H. Hull.

1842-Ekler: Samuel l.efferts.

1449-Elders: John J. Schuyler, John Sanford Deacons. Wm. H. Young, Haram Pardee.

1557-Elders: John E. Hawley, Maley C. Young, Xenophon Haywood 1864 -- Elders: George W. Striker, James C. Duell, James Il. Bronson.

1869 -- Elders: Joseph 11. Sturtevant, James A. Miller, Daviu Caos. C. C. Wetsell, T. Romeyn Bunn. Deacons: Thomas S. Stanley, Joshua Sharpley.

1875 -- Elders: Daniel 1. MeMartin, Henry Herrick, Gardiner Blood, John J. Van Deveer. Deacon: Nicholas J. De Graff.

The Reformed Church of Cranesville was organized June 24th, 1871, by delegates from the classis of Schenectady, with eleven members; H. P' I'. Chute and H. J. Swart were elected elders, and Geo. A. Brewster and Geo. Combs deacons. The church edifice was erected in 1870-1, at a cost of nearly $4,000. The present membership is forty-eight.

The church at Manny's Corners, enfeebled by the withdrawal of its pas- tor and one hundred and four of its members, was by no means discouraged, and January Ist, 1833, called and settled the Rev. Charles Jenks. The session then consisted of Nicholas Marcellus, Abraham Hoagland, Joseph Hagaman and N. Hendrick. In 1835 the church building at Hagaman's Mills was erected in connection with this church, and for fourteen years services were held alternately in the two houses, they being denominated respectively the North church and the South church. Thus began a growth and development on the north such as had already taken place on the west. In April, 1838, Mr. Jenks resigned, and was followed by Mr. Stewart now the Rev. Dr. Stewart of Minneapolis, Minn.), who was or- dained and installed February 20th, 1839, remaining, however, but little over a year. The records now show the peculiar fact that during the in- terim that the church was without a pastor thirty-six members were added to it at a meeting presided over by Rev. James Arnold. The next pastor was Alex. Proudfit, ordained and installed February 16th, 1841. In March, 1842, Manning Marcellus, Thomas P. Johnson and Francis Hagaman were elected elders. Rev. Mr. Proudfit was succeeded by Rev. Charles Milne, September 13th, 1848, whose labors with the church terminated in January, 1850, at which time a separation took place between the north and south branches, thus diminishing the membership of the mother church by sixty- eight. Nicholas and Manning Marcellus were now the only remaining elders. In January, 1852, Sylvester Judson, and in June, 1854, Dr Pruyn and John C. Marcellus were elected elders. After the withdrawal of the north branch a succession of ministers followed in the order named. Rev. Messrs. Proudfit, Ingalls, James B. Eastman, Morey, James Frothingham and Snyder, down to 1863. On November ist of that year, Rev. W. J. Blain assumed the pastorate of this church, which he has held to the pres- ent, a period of fourteen years. The old church building, the first in the town, still remains in good repair. The present elders are T P. Johnson, J. C. Marcellus and Alexander Scott.

The Reformed Church of Flagaman's Mills was organized January 21st. 1850, with sixty-eight members, and first known as the "Presbyterian Church of Hagaman's Mills." It was, however, independent of the P'tes- bytery and General Assembly. In October. 1855, it was, by application. taken under the care of the Classis of Montgomery, and was afterward known as the " Protestant Dutch Church." In 1867, the General synod of the denomination dropped the word Dutch, and from that true this church has been known as the "Reformed Church of Hagaman's Mills." Rev. Charles Milne, who assisted in its organization, became it> first pastor. He was followed successively by Revs. Kellogg, Amos W. Seely, J. Lanning Pearce and E. Slingerland. In the fall of 1863. the Rev. A. J. Hagaman accepted the pastorate, and still continues in that capacity.

ST. ANN'S EPISCOPAL.

This church is a lineal destendant of Queen Anne's chapel, built at Fort Hunter in 1712 see Church History of Florida , and named in honor of its benefactress, Queen Anne of England. That edifice was used as a place of worship until 1820, when it was destroyed to make way for the Erie canal. From its ashes sprung St. Ann's Church of Port Jackson. opposite Amsterd.un. This church was organized December zed. 1835 A building was erected in 1836, and completed and consecrated in 183; It soon became apparent. however, that the location of the church edifire at this place was disadvantageous to the growth and maintenance ot the parish, and it was resolved to sell the building, which was disposed of June 19th, 1849, for $2. 400. At this time the officers were: Dr. Abraham l'ull- ing and Henry Elder, wardens; and George Warnick, Charles Devendort. Jubal Livermore, William H Hill, James Kiggs, Henry A. Hindle, Cyrus B. Chase and Francis Newkirk, vestrymen. The last rector of St. Ann's

THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

of Port Jackson, the Rev. A. N. Littlejohn, had resigned April 15th, 1849, and the Rev. Thomas L. Franklin-now the Rev. Dr Franklin of Phila- delphia-was called as rector, November 14th, 1849, remaining till Decem- ber ist, 1853. During his rectorship, the new names of H. N. Hadley and S. R. Voorhees appear as vestrymen; and the present St. Ann's of Amster- dam was erected on Division street, and consecrated June 15th, 1851, by Bishop De Lancy of Western New York. The tower of the church, how- ever, was not completed till 1863. The Rev. William H. Trapnell was rector from January 27th, 1854, to April 24th, 1857; followed, August 26th, 1858, by Rev. J. A. Robinson, who remained five or six years. Then came the Rev. Porter Thomas, from 1864 to 1869. On November 14th, 1869, Rev. Thomas G. Clemson was elected rector; he resigned December loth, 1870, and was succeeded in April, 1871, by the Rev. Howard T. Widdemer, who remained till January ist, 1875. During his ministry here a new organ was bought, the house and lot adjoining the church on the west purchased for a rectory, and a new iron fence for the church. Rev. J. C. Hewett became rector in 1875, and remained fourteen months. The present rector, Rev. William N. Irish, took charge of the parish July ist. 1876. The present officers are: Wardens-W. Max Reid, John J. Hand. Vestrymen-Cyrus B. Chase, D. Carmichael, George S. Devendorf, Abram V. Morris, William Ryland, James T. Sugden, I .. S. Strang, John K. War- nick. Clerk-F .. H. Finlayson. This church is supported by the contri- butions made at the Sunday offertories. The seats are free. Connected with it is a prosperous Sunday school; L. S. Strang, superintendent.

"A most interesting, though unusual, service was held in this church on the evening of July 3d, 1876. The singing was very appropriate and excellent. After a short service, and remarks by the rector, at 11:55 at night, the whole congregation joined with devout reverence in silent prayer, and at the hour of twelve, amid profound silence, the signal was given that the nation had entered upon its Centennial year. The ringing of bells, the hiring of cannon, the general illumination-for there was, in an instant, light in all the dwellings-and the glare of fireworks, proclaimed the joy without, while the voices of a grateful congregation within, rising from their knees, added solemnity to a scene never to be forgotten, by singing the Te Deum ; and the whole congregation then joined heartily in the national anthem:

'God bless our native land ! Firm may she ever stand Thro' storm and night.'"'

BAPTIST.

The first formal organization of a Baptist church in this village seems to have been about 1825. Four years thereafter the congregation erected a brick church building on Main street, now occupied as a private residence, No. 198. It was occupied by the society till 1842, when the present edi- fice was built on Market street. This was enlarged in 1870, and has the distinction of containing a fire-alarm bell and the only town clock in the village. [Repeated efforts and solicitations have been made to obtain a more complete history of this church, but without success .- Publishers. ]

ROMAN CATHOLIC.

The first Catholic services of a public character in Amsterdam were held in 1837, by Rev. Father Beauchamp, of Rome, N. Y. The building secured for the occasion was then a Universalist church, now the grocery store of T. F. Kennedy, corner of Main and Market streets. The first formal organization of a church in this vicinity occurred in 1844. A build- ing standing near the canal bank, in the town of Florida, about a mile and a half east of the village, was rented and converted into a temporary place of worship, and the Rey Father Mccluskey, of Schenectady, ministered to the wants of the congregation as a part of his extensive mission. In 1847 Father Cull, also of Schenectady, located here and assumed charge of the church. Encouraged by the number and liberahty of his congregation, he was enabled, June 19th, 1849, to purchase the Episcopal church property at l'ort Jackson. He was, soon after this transaction, induced to resign, and was succeeded, in 1850, by Rev. Father Mc Callion, after whom came successively Fathers Shechan. M. Gue, O'Sullivan and Furlong, the latter

of whom, while here, secured of Isaac Jackson a location in Amsterdam, preparatory to the erection of a new church, which, however, was soon lost. Father Furlong was followed in 1855 by Rev. J. P. Fitzpatrick, who, after a pastorate of five years, was succeeded by Rev. Father Carroll for a short time. In 1862 the congregation was favored with the services of Rev. F. P. Clark, through whose instrumentality, and the co-operation of the peo- ple. the church was released from an old debt, and the present site of St. Mary's again purchased and paid for. Failing in health, he was forced to resign, and was followed, in 1866, by Rev. Philip Keveney, now of St. Peter's church, Troy, N. Y., who remained until the close of 1874. In 1869 the present St. Mary's church edifice, on Main street, was erected. It is built of brick, with gray limestone ornamental facings, in the Roman- esque style of architecture. Its dimensions are 60 hy 130 feet, and 174 feet to the top of the spire, which is surmounted by a large gilt cross. At its completion an organ costing over $3,500 was bought and placed in po- sition. Immediately after the walls of the structure were erected, the en- tire west side tumbled down, severely injuring two workmen and causing considerable delay and additional expense. The parochial residence, built the same year, is a two story brick building, 30 by 40 feet, with a wing and piazzas. In 1875 the present pastor, Rev. W B. Hannett, assumed charge of the parish, which had previously been reduced to the villages and virin ities of Amsterdam, Port Jackson, Tribe's Hill and Fort Hunter. Since that time he has added to the church a beautiful wooden altar, at a cost of $1,500, besides a ponderous bell, weighing nearly 3,000 pounds. In Sept., 1875, the Rev. John F. Hyland was called as assistant pastor. In Feb., 1876, during a funeral service, a hurricane blew down the spire and tower of the church, which, in falling, demolished the roof of, and otherwise seri- ously damaged the priest's house. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and in repairing the damage several improvements were made, both to the resi- dence and church. There are in connection with this church a number of auxiliary societies, besides a large Sunday-school, numbering 500 pupils, under the superintendency of John Kavanaugh.

The presence of two priests in this parish induced the Hon James Shanahan, of Tribes Hill-assisted by a few of his neighbors-to purchase an unoccupied church, located on Main street, in that village, which was enlarged, remodeled, tastily finished and furnished, and presented to the bishop of the diocese, and where services are now regularly held.

LUTHERAN.

The German Lutheran Church of Amsterdam was formally organized by Rev. Mr. Peterson, in Sept., 1866, although a society of this persuasion had been in existence since Nov., 1863, which was formed at that time by a Mr. Hauch. The meetings were at first held in private dwellings, afterwards in the Presbyterian session-room. Rev Mr. Peterson was succeeded. in 1868. by the Rev. Mr. Matchart, during whose pastorate, which lasted but little over a year, the corner-stone of a church was laid, and a parsonage built; but this property was afterward sold, and the money appropriated to other uses. In 1869 a church edifice was erected, and on Jan. 11th, 1870, it was dedicated by the Rev. Dr. Pholman, of Albany, under the name of "Deutsche Evangelische Lutherische Dreieinigkeits Kirche." In March. 1870, the present pastor, Rey J. P. Krechting, was duly installed, and un- der his ministrations the number of communicant members has increased from 20 to 311. There are in connection with this church a growing Sun- day-school and a young people's literary society.

METHODIST FPISCOPAL.

The " West Amsterdam M. E. Church" was organized about 1810. The present church building was erected in 1860, and is located on Fort John- son creek, about four miles north-west of Amsterdam village.

The old " Dutch Reformed Church of Veddersburg," built in Soo, was. upon the erection of the brick church, in 1832, sold to the M. E. society. and by them removed up Main street to what is now the corner of Wall street. where it stood, devoid of its steeple, until 1845, when it was again removed to Market street, where it still remains, a part of the present Methodist , hurt h building.

RESIDENCE & of MR. JOHN KELLOGG, AMSTERDAM, N. Y.

GROUNDS

RESIDENCE & GROUNDS OF MR. JAMES A. MILLER, AMSTERDAM, N. Y.

AMSTERDAM LINSEED OIL CO.

CA KELLOGG & MILLER'S LINSEED OIL WORKS, AMSTERDAM, N. Y. COM

ORIGIN OF THE NAME CANAJOHARIE-FORTIFIED DWELLINGS.

THE TOWN OF CANAJOHARIE.

This town has an aboriginal name, which was first given by the Mohawks to the creek flowing through it. That stream was so named from a remark- able natural phenomenon connected with it. Nearly three-fourths of a mile from the junction of the creek with the Mohawk river there is in the runky bed of the former a hole averaging over twenty feet in diameter, with a depth when cleared of about ten feet, though it now contains several feet of sand and rubbish deposited by the current of the stream. This cavity, which resembles a large cistern, was formerly nearly round with ver-

tical walls, but within the last quarter of a century its rim has become much broken, and the side toward the current of the creek somewhat elongated. This singular excavation, made in the course of ages by the action of the water and rolling stones, some of which, worn into globular shape, have been found in it, was called by the Indians Can-a-jo-ha-rie, which, as inter- . preted by the notorious chieftain Brant, meant " the pot that washes it- self." It is situated at the lower end of a mountain gorge, opposite a bold elevation on the eastern bank of the creek, and scarcely half-a-dozen rods above the termination of the stream's rocky bottom at that point. There are smaller pot-holes to be seen in the rocks near by. Spafford, in his State Gazeteer of 1824, speaking of this freak of nature, says: "The name was first applied to a whirlpool at the foot of one of the falls of the creek that now bears this name;" and subsequent writers, copying from him, have fallen into the same error. There is a beautiful cascade in the creek, perhaps a quarter of a mile above this Indians' dinner-pot, where the water in a little distance falls forty or fifty feet; but the significant Can-a-jo-ha- rie is quite at the lower end of the gorge in which the falls are situated. They are formed by an outcrop of the hardest kind of slate rock, as the veteran historian, Simms, tells us he "learned with blistered hands over forty years ago," when he and a friend "determined, with gush- ing zeal-with crowbar and pickaxe-to make a flight of steps from the ' reek's hed to the summit of the hill beside the falls. If," says Mr. simms, "a trace of our labor is still visible on the east side of the stream, it probably will not now give secure- fnoting for the paw of a dog. Standing beside it, our conjecture was that this hole was mainly formed at a period when the falls were directly above it, the hill, in the lapse of ages, having gradually receded nearly one-quarter ot a mile. The lofty wall, one hundred feet high, upon the west side of the gorge, still shows what physical energies of nature have been called into action."

Among the aborigines the name Canajoharie attached to the territory on the south side of the Mohawk from the spur of the Mayfield moun- tam which crosses the river at Spraker's Basin to the mountain elevation known as Fall Hill, the General Herkimer mansion two miles east of Little Falls being included in the Canajoharie district ; hence when the Mo- hawks located their upper castle near the mouth of the Nowadaga in the present town of Danube. they distinguished it as the Canajoharie castle. At the advent of the whites a small body of Mohawks lived on the site of Canajoharie, their wigwams extending up the creek to where Arkell and Smith's sack factory stands. The islands in the river a mile and a half above and a mile below the mouth of the creek, together with the adjacent flats, were then cultivated by the Indians, who raised on them corn, beans. squashes and tobacco. Along the hillsides above and below Canajoharie rreek, the first fur traders found old apple trees in abundance, but not set out in any order.

There is a legend that a great many winters ago the Mohawks and the Oswegatchie half tribe which is said to have lived three miles and a half north-east of Canajoharie at a place called Knockerork Falls, near Charles Miller's,) appointed a great feast to take place four miles east of Canajo-

---

harie under the eastern brow of a mountain. There large numbers en- camped for the great occasion. The full moon was high in the heavens. A white dog had been roasted and the feast was in preparation. Already the medicine man had gone through his incantations, and the war dance had begun, when a rumbling sound was heard, the mountain trembled and quaked, and in a moment its whole summit parted asunder, and an ava- lanche of rocks, trees and earth was precipitated upon the throng. few of whom escaped.

A document dated 1794 records the laying out of a road from an oak post in front of Cornelius Van Alstine's hotel, westerly along the south side of the Mohawk, nearly to the present limits of Canajoharie village, thence through a " dug-way." and up the creek to the falls, and on through Freys- bush to Cherry Valley.

In 1798. Canajoharie, which extended along the river nearly twenty miles, was divided, the westerly portion taking the name of Minden. In 1823 it also contributed to the formation of Root, while a further inroad was made upon its territory in 1849. by annexing the fine agricultural dis- trict known as Freyshush to Minden. As at present constituted, Canajo- harie has a front of about five miles on the Mohawk, from which it extends eight miles southerly to the Otsego county line. The town is a remarkably good one for farming purposes, having not only a productive soil but very little untillable land, considering its irregular surface. It can not be shown with any satisfaction who were the first settlers of this town, or when they came into it.

REVOLUTIONARY STRONGHOLDS.

All pioneer settlements, not abandoned in the Revolution, made some provision for their security in the hour ot peril. This usually consisted of a palisaded dwelling, a stone one being preferred if favorably located. Such defences were dignified by the title of forts. There were several m this town, the most prominent of which is still standing on the east side of the creek in Canajoharie. This was of stone, and was during the Revolution known as the Philip Van Alstine, and fifty years later as the John H Moyer place. It became known when fortified as Fort Kens- selaer.

A mile or two southeast from this, on the Mapletown road, and a mile from the creek, resided John Ehle, whose house was palisaded and called Fort Ehle. A little distance from this place, in 1780, or 1781, a party of the enemy under Brant surprised and killed Adam Eights and captured Nathan Foster and Conrad Fritcher, who were taken as prisoners to Canada, enduring their share of suffering. Lieut. Cornelius Van Evera and ensign John Van Evera were on duty in and around Fort Ehle.

French's Gazetteer of the State says that a fort one hundred feet square was erected at Canajoharie at an early day as one of the chain of fortifica- tions guarding the route to Oswego. This is an error. The fort referred to was at the upper or Canajoharie castle of the Mohawks, in Danube. Herkimer county. It had an English garrison during the wars with the French, and was sometimes called Fort Hendrick, after the famous chief- lain who dwelt near it.

Johannes, or John Roof, who had located at Fort Stanwix, now Rome, in 1760. left that place by the advice of Col. Gansevoort, when it was threatened by the enemy. in 1777, leaving his buildings to be burned by Gansevoort's order to prevent their occupancy by the enemy ; and drop- ping down the valley to Canajoharic, bought a farm upon which Henry Schremling, an early settler, had built a stone dwelling. It stood directly back of the present Eldridge or Lovett House until about the year 1840,

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 31

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