History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 44

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 44
USA > New York > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 44

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).

EARLY TRADERS IN MINDEN.

The first German settlers came into this town between 1720 and 1725, and probably no local tradesman was found among them for the next twenty or more years ; the merchandise they must of necessity have being procured at Schenectady, when not brought to their doors by Indian traders and pack-venders. Their wants, however, were few, and luxuries were unknown among this honest, hospitable, and from necessity, illiterate people ; for the reader must know that as yet they had no schools, few books and no newspapers. To every kind of luxurious indulgence they were strangers, and as for envy, they could hardly have known the mean- ing of the word ; for their fashions were not looked for from either Paris or London. They were almost strangers to Asiatic tea and coffee, but they did substitute for the latter beverage roasted peas, sweetened with sugar the forest maple afforded them. They spun and wove their own flax and wool, and made their own clothing principally, bringing into liberal requisition deer skins and other peltries. Native genius, with them as with the Indians, cnabled them to bridge over many of the ruts which are found in fashion's pathway. And yet who shall say these people were not happy ? for they had neither the care of accruing interest on government bonds to re-invest, nor the fear of a sheriff's attachment on either a baby carriage or a mortgaged piano to keep them awake nights -- saying nothing about the bedraggled condition of several yards of trailing silk.

The first store in the town of which we have any positive knowledge, was established near the Sand Hill church, by William Seeber, a German, at the place where for years Adam Lipe has resided. His store was opened about 1750, and he traded here during the French war. He was a majur of militia in the Oriskany battle, where he received a wound, of which he died one hundred and twenty-six days after, at his own home. Two of his sons were also in that conflict, Andolph, who was slain there, and Capt Jacob W., who fell with a broken leg, and died shortly after the limb was amputated at Fort Herkimer.

Isaac Paris, a brother-in-law of Washington Irving, was the first mer- chant in the town after the Revolution. In 1786 he erected a large house, In which he resided and traded for several years, boating his goods up the Mohawk. This building, which was heavily timbered, is still standing in Fort Plain, and has long been known as the Bleecker house. It had four large chimneys, and one of them, in which no fires are made, is the sum. mer residence of great numbers of chimney swallows ; their hovering over and entrance to it at night-fall being an interesting spectacle. Mr. Paris was a very fair, as well as a very extensive dealer, and his kindness became proverbial. Says Spafford in his Gazetteer ot 1824, speaking of the town of Paris, Oneida county, evidently in the language of a correspondent: "This town was named in honor of a Mr. Paris, at the request of the in- habitants. In 1789, ' the year of scarcity.' which some of us well remem- ber, when the settlements in this quarter were in a feeble, infant state, Isaac Paris, then a merchant at Fort Plain, on the Mohawk, supplied the in- habitants with Virginia corn on a liberal credit, and took of us in payment, ginseng, and anything we could get, supplying our necessities in the kindest manner, for which in gratitude, when the town was erected, we requested to have it named Paris." " Traits of this character," added Spafford, " 1 love to record." Ginseng, a medicinal root indigenous to this country, at that period entered largely into our foreign exports ; indeed, great quanti- ties of it before the Revolution were procured by the Indians, which, with furs, they bartered with early traders.

Conrad Gansevoort was the next Minden merchant. He came from Schenectady, as believed, before 1790 ; as we suppose him to have been established here in business prior to his marriage, which took place Nov. 12, 1791. He was then married to Elizabeth, a daughter of John Rose- boom, Esq., who had previously moved from Schenectady , and settled on the late Abram N. Van Alstine's place, below Canajoharie. Gansevoort erected a dwelling with a store in it on a knoll at the foot of Sand Hill The building stood on the present farm of Seeber Lipe ; and within a few years has been moved further back from the road, and converted into .. double dwelling. After nearly twenty years of successful trading, Ganse- voort, who was a man much respected in the township, retired from larsi ness and returned to Schenectady.

Three Oothout brothers, Garret, Jonas, and Volkert, came from Schen- ectady near the advent of Gansevoort, some say just before and others just after ; and on their arrival they erected a large two-story building some fifty feet long for a store, with a dwelling in its easterly end. It stood on the lower side of the river road, about a mile and a quarter west of the vil. lage of Fort Plain, near the present residence of James Polluck ; one cor ner of it being afterwards undermined by the construction of the canal Of the Oothout firm, it is remembered that Garret, the oldest, and who was a bachelor, was blind, but remarkably shrewd, with a sense of feeling su keen that he could readily distinguish silver coins, so that no one could pass a ten cent piece on him for a shilling, or a pistareen for the quarter of a dollar. For a number of years Gansevoort and the Oothouts had quite a large trade, the latter firm wholesaleing to some extent. Both of these firms purchased considerable wheat, as no doubt their neighbor Paris did while in trade, which they sent to Albany, much of it, we conclude, going down the river to Schenectady in their own boats. Jonas Oothout, who lived in the store building, and who married Maria Fox, had two daughters, Lydia and Maria. The latter died young, but the former, who was born in that building in 1801, was married in it in 1823, to Peter J. Wagner, Esq. Her father had died a year or two before. Mrs. Wagner is remembered as a most estimable lady. After her death, Mr. Wagner married Margaret Oothout, daughter of Abram Oothout, whose wife wi Garena De Graff. Abram Oothout was a younger brother of the trade- men and settled on the farm adjoining their store, and in the now Pollo A dwelling, his daughter Margaret was born in 18n This it happened thal the cousins whom Mr. Wagner married chanced to be born in adjoining dwellings.

Res. and ^rist. Mill of I. M . EVEREST, Garoga, N .Y.

House & Grounds of Mr. REUBEN WALTS, Minden, Montgomery. Co., N.Y ...

Residence and Grounds of MR.JOHN. G. BAUDER, Minden, Montgomery Co., N.Y.,

. Res.of Mrs.M. A. DENNIS, Rockwood, Town of Ephratah, Fulton Co. N .Y.

RESIDENCE & GROUNDS of MR. JOSIAH ROOF, Minden, Montgomery Co., N. Y.

FAMILY CEMETERY

HOUSE & GROUNDS of MR. ROBERT HALL, Minden, Montgomery Co., N. Y.

RESIDENCE & GROUNDS of MR. MOSES SMITH, Minden, Montgomery Co., N. Y.

131

MINDEN'S EARLY BUSINESS MEN-OLD-TIME PUNISHMENTS.

Robert McFarlan is said to have been the next Minden merchant, and to have come into the town from Paulet, Vt., about the year 1798. He was a remarkably smart business man, and established himself in trade on the «punite side of the road. a few rods from the Sand Hill Reformed Dutch Church. He married a daughter of Major Hause, of the neighborhood. which proved a stroke of good policy, since he not only got a good wife, but also the trade of her host of relatives and friends. He is said to have run an ashery near Hallsville, in connection with his business. He at once became an active member of society, filling the position of justice of the peace, as also that of colonel of militia ; and he is said to have been not only a fine looking, but a very efficient officer. At a general parade he «Is one of his captains a little distance from his men, and said to him. "('aptain, go to your post !" Not exactly comprehending the nature of the order, he walked to his company and stated to some of his men in Ger- man the colonel's command, which was in English, wondering, as he said, what the latter meant. The reply of his men was, "Go to the head of your company !" As he is still remembered by the aged, perhaps no man was ever more highly esteemed and respected in the community, than was Col. MeFarlan. On a marble slab in the old graveyard attached to the Sand Hill church may yet be seen-although it is half down-the following in- scription : " In memory of Robert McFarlan, Esq., who departed this life July 14. 1813, in the 49th year of his age."

About the year 1808, Conrad Gansevoort returned to Schenectady, when Henry N. Bleecker, a young man from Albany, who had long been his clerk, succeeded him in trade, doing, as believed, his share of business At the end of a few years he retired from business, went to Canajoharie, and there married Betsey, a daughter of Philip R. Frey, and grand-daugh- ter of Col. Hendrick Frey. She is said to have been the prettiest of three fine-looking sisters. Bleecker, after his marriage, remained on the Col. Frey farm, where he died at an early age. His widow married, for her second husband. John Cumming, Esq., then of Esperance, N. Y.

David Lipe and Rufus Firman succeeded Bleecker in trade. but how long they were in business we cannot tell, though it is believed it was not very long. They are supposed to have been the last merchants to occupy the Gansevoort store.

A year or two after the death of McFarlan, say about the year 1815, John A. I.ipe and Abraham Dievendortf began to trade in the McFarlan build- ing ; but, not harmonizing, they soon separated, when Henry Dievendorff joined his brother in trade at that store, and Lipe fitted up a store on the same side of the street, though a little nearer the church, which was occu- pied by his son Conrad, for whom it was erected, until about the year 1819. when he died. John A. Lipe continued to do business here for some time after his son's death. About the year 1820 the Dievendorff Brothers, Henry and Abram, erected a store near the ranal, then being constructed, to which they removed, hoping to be benefited thereby. This building stood near the present premises of William Clark, Esq., and will be remembered hy old people as a long, yellow, two-story building, the upper floor being used for a public hall. Preaching was heard in this room, and so were the tones of a violin, for in it was held many a social dance. One such affair was in honor of the marriage of Peter J. Wagner, Esq .. in 1823 In connection with their business, the Dievendorffs ran a distillery. They finally failed in trade, and were succeeded by David Dievendorff, a son of Henry, who had long been a clerk for his father and uncle. He was in trade for several years, but his business, like that of his predecessors, finally proved disastrous. About the year 1828, as the business part of the young village was destined to be lower down, the Thevendorff building was re- moved to the present site of the brick stores of the Dillenbeck Brothers and Walrath & Dunckel.

John R. Dygert and John Roth succeeded the Dievendorff Brothers on Sand Hill, and after a little time Solomon H Moyer bought out Roth. A few

years later Dygert & Moyer removed to a store erected by Dygert, where Wood, Clark & Co. are now in trade, at the canal bridge. This firm finally failed.

John Warner came into Freysbush as a successful Yankee school-master, and after a while, about 18to, he opened a store. In 1825 he erected the store now occupied by Walrath & Dievendorff, the second dry goods store erected in what is now the village proper, Henry P. Voorhees having built the first the year before on the bank of the creek, in the rear of the Peter G. Webster block, in which is the crockery store of the Lipe Brothers. Boats from the canal could then load and unload merchandise and grain at the Voorhees store.

Robert Hall, one of the earliest settlers of the town of Minden, was born in 1777; moved from Argyle, Washington county, N. Y., about the year 1800, and followed the occupation of a pack-pedlar through the Mohawk valley. He settled about 1810 in the place, now a post office, named, after him, Hallsville. With limited means he, in company with John White - and a man named Cooper, built a store and tavern. After a few years Hall purchased the business of his partners, and continued alone. During his residence in this place he had an extensive business, at one time having four stores running in the county, besides a brewery, an ash- ery and a distillery; he also owned a grist-mill in Herkimer county. Gen- eral trainings were frequently held at this place, and elections were held at the old tavern. Hall served in the war of 1812 as captain, and was stationed at Sackett's Harbor during the war. He also served one term in the State Legislature, and was one of the chief movers in the establishment of the Fort Plain Bank and one of the heaviest stockholders. During the earlier part of 1800, bands of Mohawk Indians were frequently camped at this place. Hall died December 7, 1841, at Hallsville.

WHIPPING POSTS AND STOCKS.

These disciplinary institutions were not only to be seen in nearly or quite every town in New England at the beginning of this century, but also in all the older settlements of New York. They were designed to punish petty thefts, for which from ten to fifty lashes were inflicted, accord- ing to the magnitude of the crime and its attending circumstances. Just how many there were in Montgomery county at that period is unknown. They were probably in use at Amsterdam, Caughnawaga, Stone Arabia and Herkimer, and we have successfully traced them to Johnstown, Fort Hunter, Freysbush and the Canajoharie church above Fort Plain. The last two named were long situated on the division of Canajoharie town- ship; one in that town and the other in Minden, until Freysbush was set off to Minden. Tradition has carefully preserved one of the last punish- ments of this kind inflicted at the Freysbush post, which stood where William Dunckel's cheese factory now stands. Here Jacob Cramer, for stealing a wash of clothing, was sentenced to thirty-nine lashes upon his bare back, which were inflicted by a constable for the then town of Cana- joharie, named John Rice. This seemingly barbarous custom has loog since become generally obsolete, hut there seemed to have been times when immediate punishment for petty offences saved a bill of expense, if it did not actually lessen crime.

MINDEN'S CIVIL. WAR RECORD.

The town of Minden furnished during the rebellion 518 men, at an ex- pense, beside the county bounty, of $154,143.67-a significant hint at the expenditure of life and treasure incurred in the suppression of the rebel- lion, and at the spirit in which the needed sacrifice was met.

132

THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

FORT PLAIN.

About the year 1738, George Clarke, Governor of the colony of Nes York from 1736 to 1743, built in a solitary forest, on the site of A. J. Wagner's dwelling. the first house within the village of Fort P'lain. It was a two-story edifice, with a hall passing through the centre and large square room, on either side. The second floor was reached by a broad stairway, with white oak bannisters and easy steps of the same material. The house had a frontage of nearly forty feet, and its walls were built of a slaty stone taken from the bed of the neighboring creek. I. had four chim- nies of the same material. The steps to the front door are remembered as having also been of slate, but a limestone step used at one of the doors still serves its purpose. Mr. Wagner's house was built on the cellar of the Clarke mansion, by Col. Robert Crouse. The latter was, for its time, a structure of no mean pretensions. It is said to have been erected by Governor Clarke for two sons of fast proclivities, to remove them from city associations. For a time the family resided here, in a commanding position, having a force of slaves to do their bidding. Tradition says that at the river's bank Governor Clarke had a good landing for his pleasure boats, in which it may be supposed he made an occasional trip to Schenectady, or a visit to some distinguished family along the river, such as the Herkimer», Foxes and Freys, or the Episcopal clergyman at Fort Hunter. Clarke brought to his new home several goats, then a novelty in the region, and on some occasion they strayed away and were lost. They were finally found on the high ground several miles southwest of Fort Plain, which from this circumstance has since been called Geissenberg-goat hill. The Clarke family could not be contented in the wilderness-perhaps Mrs. Clarke did not like the Indian surroundings of her border home ; and at the end of a few years they abandoned their romantic situation and returned to New York. The house then acquired the reputation of being haunted, and was allowed to stand empty and decay. Not only did children give it a wide berth in their play, but many a man and woman hastened their steps in passing it, lest they should see or hear something supernatural. In 1807 Dr. Joshua Webster and Jonathan Stickney, enterprising New Englanders, built a tannery across the creek from the material in this old mansion, and its elves and ghouls were ousted.

About the middle of the last century, George Crouse came from Ger- many, settled on the lot adjoining the Clarke property on the north, and built a log house, which was burned by Brant in 1780. The Clarke farm came into the possession of Isaac Paris, jr., the famous trader, and was sold by him to Gen. Crouse, jr. It is said the place was to be paid for in wheat at eighteen cents per skipple (three pecks) at which rate Crouse was advised to buy it by Col. Willett, who was boarding with him. The next lot north of the elder Crouse's was owned by Peter Young, and the next by Johannes Lipe.

Another neighboring estate was owned by a German named John Abeel, an early Indian trader, which term implied a speculator in goods that were bartered for furs with the Indians. After being thus engaged for a time, not only among the Mohawks, but with all of the Six Nations, he settled just west of Fort Plain, as it is thought, about 1757 or the next year. He married the daughter of an early German settler named Knouts. as recorded in a "book of marriages," at Albany, pursuant to the legal requirements of the time. The famous chief Cornplanter was the son of Abeel by a Seneca princess. In a historical address at Fort Plain, in 1860, P. G. Webster, Esq., alluded to Abeel's settling in this vicinity; his trading excursions among the Indians ; his capture in 1780, near home, by the warriors of Brant and Cornplanter ; and his release by the latter, who af- terward visited his parent at Fort l'lain and later at Albany, where the

trader recognized him, and would have given him valuable presents, but tor the natural objections of his German wife.

Joseph Wagner, who settled in 1805 on a farm occupying a large part of the site ot Fort Plain, is regarded as one of the founders of the village There were but few buildings on the spot prior to his arrival. Among them was a small tavern kept by Isaac Soule, as early as 1804. In 1806 Mr. Wagner put up a small public house, which was kept as such until 1850, when it became a private residence. The building is still standing and is owned by Andrew Dunn. John C. Lipe opened a store in the old tavern building of Isaac Soule about 1808 ; there was then also a tailor', shop in the building.

The first post office. called the Fort Plain post office, was established in 1816, on Sand Hill, then the business portion of the village. Conrad Jipe was the first postmaster. The place was incorporated in 1828, taking it> name from the local fortification

The earliest physician of the village was Joshua Webster, from Scarboro, Maine, who settled here in 1797. The first established lawyer was Peter J. Wagner, a gentleman of ability, who once represented old Montgomery county in Congress. The first hatter in the place was Wm. A. Haslet, who began business in 1826 Harvey E. Williams opened the first tin and hard ware store in 1827. Numerous other professional and business men estab- lished themselves in Fort Plain in the five years after the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825.

THE CHURCHES OF FORT PLAIN.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL.

The first Methodist class in Fort Plain was formed June 24, 1832, by Rev. Jonas Diefendorf, assistant pastor, Rev. Eleazur Whipple beiny pastor in charge of what was then known as the Canajoharie circuit, and Rev. George Harmon presiding elder of the district to which it belonged Thirteen members composed the class, including Solomon Countryman, the leader, and his wife : Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Wendell, and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Davis. In September, 1835, the class had thirty members, of whom Peter A. Brumfield was leader. After the two clergymen above-named, the following officiated, two at a time, on the Canajoharie circuit, which in- cluded Fort Plain, Freysbush, and other places : James Kelsey, Abraham Diefendorf, Milton French, Peter Dedrick, James P. Backus, Isaac Grant, Lewis G. Weaver, Alvin Torry, Edwin Dennison, John Padham, and Ben- jamin Diefendorf. The last two had charge of the circuit in 1838 and 1839 ; and from that time for two years Fort Plain formed a charge with Palatine Bridge under the same pastor, and for the next three years with Canajoharie, after the dedication of a Methodist church there in 1841. In 1844, Fort Plain became a separate charge with a resident pastor. From 1839 to 1852, inclusive, the following clergymen were the pastors for about equal periods : Joseph Eames, Cyrus Mecker, Clark Fuller, Chas. C. Gil- bert, Thomas Armitage, Bishop Isbell, Asa F. Fenton, and Hiram Chase In 1852 Fort Plain was transferred from the Troy to the Oneida Conference, which action was reversed in 1860. From :852 to the present, the pastor- have been : Robert Fox, John P Newman. J. T. Wright, L. Bowdish, Selah Stocking, Isaac Parks, Homer Eaton, Witham Bedell, Bostwick Hawley, W'm. H. Hughes, T. Dwight Walker, William Ryan and I. C. Fenton

In early times the Methodist preachers occasionally officiated in the church that formerly stood on Sand Hill, but more frequently in the second

MRS. JOHN A. ZOLLER

JOHN A. ZOLLER

RESIDENCE OF MR. JOHN A. ZOLLER, FORT PLAIN, MONTGOMERY CO. N .Y

FORT PLAIN TANNERY. MR. JOHN WINNING PROPRIETOR. FORT PLAIN, MONTGOMERY CO. N.Y.

RES.ANDGROUNDS OF MR. WILLIAM. CROUSE.PROSPECT ST. FORT PLAIN. MONTGOMERY CO. N. Y. 1

RES. OF 1. UNDERWOOD. TOWN OF EPHRATA, FULTON CO. N. Y.

PALATINE EVAN. LUTHERAN CHURCH ERECTED

A.D 1770

133

CHURCHES AND NEWSPAPERS OF FORT PLAIN.

story of a building near Mr. William Clark's present residence, and in the same room after the building was moved to a spot a few feet north of the brick building at the corner of Canal and Main streets ; then for several years before 1842 in what was until that time the district school-house, which occupied the site of the present one, but stood much nearer the road. The first Methodist church was dedicated Feb. 20, 1845. In 1854 it was enlarged and re-dedicated.

UNIVERSALIST.

The first Universalist society of Minden, located at Fort Plain, was or- ganized April 6, 1833. Jacob Hand. Daniel Gros, John Lighthall, Henry Cook and Henry S. Mover were elected trustees, Solomon Sanders clerk, and Jacob Hand treasurer. The church edifice was dedicated December 25 of the same year. With the usual fluctuations attending the growth of a religious body, the society has continued to the present time, under the pastoral teaching of the following clergymen: Job Potter, W. Bullard, Jesse Bushnell, I .. C. Browne. H. Belding, H. Lyon, J. D. Hicks, H. B. Soule, A. C. Barry, H. L. Hayward, G. W. Gage, A B. Grosh, C. E. Hews. H. H Baker, Adolphus Skinner, D. D., B. L. Bennett, D. Ballou and E. W. Fuller, the present pastor.

The church building has been twice remodeled, once in 1855, and again In 1874, on December 30 of which year it was re-dedicated. It is a very pretty and convenient edifice, having a fine session or Sunday-school room on the ground floor, and an auditorium seating four hundred, with frescoed walls and ceiling. The society has no debt.

The Sunday-school was organized soon after the church, and has now one hundred and forty pupils, and a library of two hundred and fifty vol- umes. The pastor has generally been the superintendent.

THE REFORMED CHURCH.

After the village had grown to some size, the Reformed church on Sand Hill, which has been elsewhere treated of, being nearly a mile away, that « ongregation, in 1834, erected another within the village limits; but scarce- ly was it completed when, from some defect in carrying a stovepipe through a wall, it took fire one Saturday night and was burned down. Upon its site the next season a brick structure was reared, which was enlarged and repaired in 1872, at an expense of over $13,000, and now seats about five hundred persons. While the present church was being built, the congre- gation used the old one on Sand Hill, but on the completion of the new building it was demolished. The following ministers have served as pas- tor- of the Fort Plain Reformed Church: N. Bogardus, 1834-5 : Arthur Burtis, 1835-6; John Page Pepper, 1836-40; S. Van Vechten, 1841-4; C. (i. Mclean, 1844-52; M. 1 .. Schenck, 1853-7; J. G. Hall, 1858-64. From 1864 to 1868 the pulpit was supplied by Rev. G. D. Consaul, and by Rev. W. Whittaker, a Presbyterian minister. Rev. Alexander B. Biggs took · harge of the church in July, 1870, and remained until April, 1876. Rev. Samuel J. Rogers, the present pastor, immediately succeeded him.

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History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 44

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