History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 50

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 50
USA > New York > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 50

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).

a happy character, and Judge De Graff, after his marriage, made the old Visscher mansion his permanent home. He found occupation in the im- provement of a large estate, and became a prominent man in the society of the day. He died August 4, 1868, and was buried by the side of his wife in the new cemetery in Schenectady.

His children were four in number, their names being as follows : Susan, Charles Herman, Alfred and Isaac Howard. The first of these became the wife of Mr. William Farnham, of Troy. She was highly esteemed for domestie virtues, but was early removed by death, leaving a precious memory. Charles and Howard died early, and hence Mr. Alfred De Graff is the sole representative of the family. This gentleman now occupies the old Visscher estate, being the fifth generation of proprietorship. He has reconstructed and enlarged the mansion, adding the improvements of modern architecture, until it now presents a tasteful and imposing appear- ance. The out-buildings are all renewed in the same style, and thus a gen- eral harmony pervades the establishment. The spacious lawn is shaded with forest trees, and the effect is heightened by the deer which grace the grounds, and which seem so natural that one at first sight would hardly believe them to be the work of the artist. The Danoscara, dashing over its stony bed and skirting the mansion, adds a fine effect to the general view, which is one of rare beauty. It may be added that the interior is admir- ably adorned with pictures and other works of art, as well as with a choice and valuable library. Among the curious heir-looms which one meets in this ancestral mansion is a silver dollar which has been in the family for one hundred and fifty years. It is computed that if this sum had been placed at compound interest, carefully reckoned during the whole time, it would have reached the handsome amount of fifteen thousand dollars. Mr. Alfred De Graff married, October 14th, 1869. Miss Anna Phillips, only daughter of the late Cornelius Phillips of the town of Florida, a sketch of whose life ap- pears elsewhere in this volume. Three children adorn this union, Edith, Howard and Florence, who form the sixth generation connected with the estate settled by Harman Frederick Visscher, one hundred and twenty- seven years ago. As a feature in these family records it may be appropri- ately mentioned in this connection, that Isaac De Graff had two daughter". one of whom Nancy married Captain Philip R. Toll, of the same place This family have been occupants of a large estate near Schenectady for two centuries, and therefore need no farther reference. Philip Toll way bred a physician, but afterward entered service during the war of 1812. holding the rank of captain of artillery, in which he won the special con- fidence of General Hampton. Soon after the close of the war he moved west, his permanent residence being Fawn River, Michigan, where his son Isaac D) Toll has reached a distinction equalled by few public men in that important State. Mrs. Tollis still living, and is the cherished object of al- tection in a large domestic circle. Another daughter became Mr. Key Dr. Cuyler of Philadelphia, where she still resides, and though now past four« ore,. retains the use of her faculties, and is a remarkable instance of well-preserved as well as honored old age.

ALFRED DE GRAFF, FONDA SON OF

N . Y.

JESSE D DE GRAFF

MRS JESSE D DE GRAFF

HOWARD SON OF ALFRED

DE GRAFF

" Danoscara Place" Res of ALFRED DE GRAFF , Town of Mohawk, Montgomery Go. .

PALATINE AS IT IS AND WAS-VILLAGES OF THE TOWN.

149 q :

THE TOWN OF PALATINE.

On the 7th of March 1788, a town was formed from a large part of the Palatine district of Montgomery county, taking the same name, from if pioneers having been Palatines. Other towns were subsequently formed from portions of Palatine. Thus Salisbury, Herkimer county, was taken off in 1797, and Stratford, Fulton county, in 1805 ; also Oppenhein, Fulton county, which then embraced the town of St. Johnsville, in 1808. Again, in 1827, it was still farther reduced by the taking off of Ephratah, a small part of which was re-annexed in April, 1838. It is somewhat irregu- lar in shape, extending about eight miles and a half east and west, and weven miles north and south. It is bounded on the north by 'the towns of St. Johnsville and Ephratah, and on the east by the town of Mohawk, while the Mohawk river forms its western and southern boundaries.

The Garoga, in the northwest, and the Kanadarank. in the southeast, are its principal streams, while Fink's, Flat and Mill creeks, and several smaller rivulets flow in different directions through the town.

The surface is chiefly an upland, from 200 to 500 feet above the Mohawk, slightly undulating, broken occasionally by narrow ravines which descend irregularly toward the river. A rocky range of hills runs across the south- east corner of the town, terminating very abruptly at the river's edge in a high, narrow bluff, called the " Nose." The soil is principally a dark clayey loam, inclining to the gravelly order in some parts ; it is very fertile, well adapted to grazing, and, with proper cultivation, yields remu- nerative crops of most cereals.

Dairying is carried on to quite an extent by a majority of the inhabitants. There are, at present, nine cheese factories in the town, most of which are owned by stock companies, manufacturing from 750,000 ton 1,000,000 pounds of cheese annually. Dwight D. Smith, who became a resident of Palatine in 1839, erected a factory and commenced the manufacture of cheese in 1862. This is said to have been the first establishment of the kind in Montgomery county.

Palatine contains within its present limits an area of 22,893 acres, four- fifths of which are under improvement. The population in 1875 was 2,706. The number of taxable inhaltants in 1877 was 483 The assessed valua- tion of property in 1877, was: real estate, $617,881 : personal estate, $18,200.

PALATINE SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.

The "journal of the Rev. John Taylor on a mission through the Mohawk and Black river country, in the year 1802," contains the following entry :

" Palatine, west of Johnstown and Mayfield ; extent 15 by 12 miles. A plice called Stone Arabia is in this town and contains one lutheran Chh and one Dutch reformed Chh. Mr. Lubanch is minister of the latter and VIr. Crotz of the former. Four miles west of Stone Arabia, in the same town of Palatine is a reformed Lutheran chh to whom Mr. Crotz preaches part of the time. 4 miles west of this is a Dutch reformed chh or presby - terian congregation. The Rev'd Mr. Dozly, a German, pastor." In the course of additional remarks on this region, Mr. Taylor says :

"After leaving this town [ Johnstown] 1 passed about ten miles in a heavy timbered country, with but few inhabitants. The soil. however, ap- pears in general to be excellent-the country is a little more uneven than it is back in Amsterdam. After traveling about to miles in a tolerable road, I came to Stonearabe or Robby as the Dutch pronounce it . This is a parish of Palatine, and is composed principally of High Dutch, or Germans. Passing on 4 miles, came upon the river in another parish of

Palatine, a snug little village with a handsome stone chh. Having travel- ed a number of miles back of the river, I find that there is a great similar- ity in the soil, but some difference in the timber. From Johnstown to Stone Arabia, the timber is beech and maple, with some hemlock. In Stone Arabia the timber is walnut and butternut. The fields of wheat are numerous and the crop in general is excellent. In everything but wheat, the husbandry appears to be bad. The land for Indian corn, it is evident from appearance, is not properly plowed-they plow very shallow. Neither is the corn tended-it is in general full of weeds and grass and looks mis- erably. Rie is large. Flax does not appear to be good-whether this is owing to the season or the soil, I know not. Pease appear to flourish- so do oats ; but the soil, I believe, is too hard and clayey for potatoes- they look very sickly. I perceive, as yet, but one great defect in the morals of the people-they are too much addicted to drink. The back part of the county of Montgomery consists of some pine plains ; but in general the lumber is beach and maple. A good grass and wheat country."

VILLAGES.

PALATINE BRIDGE, situated on the north bank of the Mohawk, on the south line of the town, is the principal village. It consists of a store, a post office, a hotel, the cider mill and vinegar factory of Beach & Cory, and fifty or sixty dwellings. Some of the business men of Canajoharie, oppo- site, have residences here. It is made a station of importance on the Cen- tral Railroad, and is the home of Hon. Webster Wagner, the inventor and proprietor of the Wagner palace or drawing room cars. The first bridge across the Mohawk. west of Schenectady. was constructed here, about 1798, from which fact the village probably took its name.

STONE ARABIA, situated near the center of the town, contains two churches, German Lutheran and Reformed, two hotels, the cheese factory of Andrew Nellis, and about a dozen dwellings, principally of farmers.

NELLISTON, so called from the numerous families of Nellises located m the vicinity. is situated on the west line of the town, opposite Fort Plain It is comparatively a new village, having grown up within the last twelve or fifteen years. W'm. P Swan built the first store and hotel here in 1865. combining both branches of business in the same building. The place now contains two stores, three hotels, and about 400 inhabitants.

PALATINE CHURCH, a small hamlet in the northwestern part of the town, contains a church, a store, a grist-mill, and a few dwellings. When the Mohawk turnpike was constructed, in 1803-4, this was a place of consider- able importance, being the largest village in the town. Spafford's Gazetteer published in 1813, says of this place : " Palatine village has about 35 dwel- lings, some stores, &c., and a stone church."

CRANE'S LANDING. In the early part of the present century. Josiah Crane located at the mouth of Giaroga Creek, on the north bank of the Mohawk, near Palatine Church, and became a heavy dealer in lumber, establishing an immense lumber depot tor the northern country. From here it was rafted down the river to Albany and other points. This place came to be known as Crane's Landing, and from about 1814 to 1830 was 1 place of considerable importance. But little now remains to mark its ev istence.

EARLY TAVERN LICENSES.

The first official records of this town cannot be found, and without doubt were long ago destroyed, together with a large amount of worthley

150 ₺

THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

papers which had accumulated in the office of the town clerk. The earliest authentic record now in existence is that of a meeting of the commission- ers of excise, held May 3d, 1803, for the purpose of granting licenses to inn-keepers. The number thus licensed will give an idea of the amount of teaming and travel seventy-five years ago, before the days of railroads or canals, or even the completion of the Mohawk turnpike. The following is a copy of the oath of office, which the excise commissioners were required to take in those times :

"We, the commissioners of excise for the town of Palatine, in the county of Montgomery, do solemnly swear, in the presence of Almighty God, that we will not, on any account or pretense whatever, grant any license to any person within the said town of Palatine, for the purpose of keeping an inn or tavern, except when it shall appear to us to be alsolutely necessary for the benefit of travelers ; and that we will, in all cases, while acting as com- missioners of excise, do our duty, according to the best of our judgment and ability, without fear, favor or partiality, agreeable to law.

" JACOB ECKER, " HENRY BEEKMAN, "PETER C. Fox.

Com's. of excise."

"Sworn before me the above-named persons as commissioners of excise, this 3d day of May, A. D. 1803.

" JOHN ZEILLEY, Justice of Peace."

After receiving the applications of the candidates, and making the neces- sary inquiries in accordance with the foregoing obligation, the board make the following certificate :

" We, the commissioners of excise, have examined and find the here- under-named persons of good moral characters, and of sufficient ability to keep inns or taverns, and that inns or taverns are absolutely necessary at the several places where they now reside, for the accommodation of travelers,

" JACOB ECKER, " HENRY BEEKMAN, " PETER C. Fox.

/ Com's. of Excise."

Jost. Spraker, Henry Ccok, Andrew J. Dillenbeck, John F. Empie, Peter W. Nellis and forty-seven others were considered possessed of "sufficient ability to keep tavern," and were granted licences; the sum paid by each was from $5 to $6 50., according to the location, amounting in the aggregate for that year to $258.50.

EARLY TOWN OFFICERS.

Enough of the records of 1803 remains to show that Jacob Ecker was supervisor and Peter C. Fox town clerk for the year.

On April 3d, 1804, at a town meeting held at the house of Isaac N. Oot- hout, the following officers were elected, viz .: Peter Gramps, jr., supervisor; Peter C. Fox, town clerk ; John J. Nellis, Jost. Spraker, Peter N Smith, Henry Beekman and Martinus N. Nestle, assessors ; John Eisenlord, Rudolph Dygert and Michael W. Bander, commissioners of highway ; Jos- eph Wagner and Joseph G. Klock, overseers of the poor ; l'eter J. Nellis, collector ; Henry Cook, Henry Beekman, John 1 .. Bellinger, John J. Klock, Wm. Altenburg, Rudolph Dygert, Samuel Bently and John Dillenback, fence-viewers and pound-master> ; Peter J. Nellis, Jonas Reis, John J. Failing, Samuel Frame, John Fralick and Samuel Bliss, constables.

TOWN LAWS.

At this meeting were also enacted "laws for the town of Palatine," in the form of resolutions, to wit :

"Resolved, That a certain sum of money, not to exceed Sroo, be offered for the destruction of t rows and blacklurds." This fund was to be distributed among the magistrates, who, " upon satisfactory proof made to thein," were instructed to pay " for every crow killed in the town of Palatine, 6 cents ; and for every blacklard killed as aforesaid, 2 cents." In April, 1807, these bounties were increased to one shilling for every crow and 6 cents for every blackbird, and squirrels were added to the list, at the rate of 4 cents per capitum. A reward of Sto was also offered to any person killing a wolf within the town limits These bounties were to be paid "a> soon as money could be raised and collected from the inhabitants of said town, by tax or otherwise." For some cause unexplained-perhaps the sudden depletion of the treasury, or the frightful accumulation of unraised

1 taxes-a portion of the above rewards were soon after revoked, at 1 meeting held especially for that purpose. The following is the record :

" A special town meeting was held at the house of James V. Oothour, Aug. 4th, 1807, agreeable to notice given July 25th, 1807 ; present, John C. Nellis, town clerk. At which meeting it was resolved, that the town law passed at the last town meeting, giving i shilling for every crow and w cents for every blackbird killed in said town, he, and the same is hereby repealed.

" Recorded this 7th day of August, 1807, { by me, John C. Nellis, town clerk."

The reward for wolves seems to have remained, and in the spring of 1814 it was increased to 325 per head.

A COUNTY HOUSE RECOMMENDED.

The following, copied from the records, would seem to indicate that this town was foremost in recommending the establishment of a permanent home for the poor of the county :

"At a town meeting held at the house of James V. Oothout, in the town of Palatine, on the 7th of April, 1807, it was agreed by the inhabitants of said town that the acting supervisor of the town aforesaid shall, at the next meeting of the supervisors, propose to said board to purchase land, as near the centre of the county of Montgomery as possible, in order to build thereon a poor-house for the better support of the poor of said county, and to form such regulations as such Board of Supervisors may think fit."

RELICS OF SLAVERY.

The birth of colored children was made a matter of town record as late as 1825, and the offspring of colored mothers seem to have been considered as "goods and chatteis" even later. The following extracts from the records are given verbatim :

" A female negro child, named 'Ced,' is born this 12th day of Novem- ber, 1808, belonging to George Ecker. " Signed,) GEORGE ECKER.

" Recorded by me, JOHN EISENLORD, Town Clerk."

"Henry J. Frey's black woman 'Bet' was delivered of twin children Feb. 5th, 1810, a male and a female. The male's name is Philip, and the female's Nan.

" Recorded the above this 25th day of Sept., 1810, by me, JACOR HESS, Town Clerk."

"1, Andrew Van Wie, do hereby certify that Nancy, a female child of color, was born at my dwelling house, in the town of Palatine, of a female slave named Dienna, on the zd day of October, A. D. 1821. Said female is now, and was at the time of the birth of said Nancy, the property of the said Andrew Van Wie.

" Signed,) ANDREW VAN WIE "Subscribed and -worn to, this 26th day of Jan., 1824, before me, Jon" J. Cook, Justice of the l'eace.

" Recorded the above. Feb. 24th, 1824, by me, JOSEPH GEIMAN, Town Clerk."

Several instances of the manumission of slaves-sometimes " for a con- sideration " -- are also recorded. The following is one of the forms made use of in such cases :

"I, Christopher C. Fox, of l'alatine, in the county of Montgomery, do hereby certify that 'Vet,' a colored man who was formerly my slave. I free, he having been manumitted by me, in and by these presents.

" Signed, CHRISTOPHER C. FOX.

"Dated, Jan. 26th, 1824. " Witness : (. 1. Coop.R."

"We, the undersigned, overseers of the poor of the town of Palatine. do hereby certify that ' Vet,' a colored man, who was this day manumitted by his former owner, Christopher C. Fox, of said town, appears to be under the age of 45. and of sufficient ability to provide for himself, All of whu h we do hereby certify, according to the statute in such case made and pro- vided.

"CHARLES WAGNER, I " ;Overseers of the Poor.

"JOHN GRAY,

" Recorded, Feb. 23rd, 1824, by me, Jostru GFTMAN, Town Clerk "

Res.of CHARLES, W., FULLER, Town of Palatine; Montgomery Co., N Y.

QRes. of' ANDREW A. DILLENBECK, Town of Palatine, Montgomery Co, N.Y.

Res. of John Stafford, Palatine Bridge., N .Y.

COTTAGE HOTEL, C.H.ROBISON', CAN AJOHARIE, N. Y

Res. of JOSIAH SITTERLY,

Town of

Palatine,

Montgomery Co.

N. Y ..

Rest of W. S. STEWART; Town of Oppenheim, Fulton Co., N. Y.

"THE GAROGA APIARY."

R.es. of JOHN FLOYD, Town of Palatine, Montgomery Co, N. Y.

151

PATENTS AND FIRST SETTLEMENTS IN PALATINE

LAND GRANTS.

Harmanus Van Slyck obtained from King George I. a title to two thou- wand acres of land, Sept. ist. 1716. This was the first patent granted by the English government to lands in this town, and is called the Van Slyck paient. It lay along the north bank of the Mohawk, extended from the Nove, near the east line of the town, up the river a mile or more above l'alatine Bridge, and included the "Frey place." This tract was sur- veyed and laid out into sixteen lots, by Nicholas Schuyler, in September. 1723. when it was found to contain within its original boundaries nearly 0,000 acres. On July 9th, 1728, Van Slyck deeded eight of the lots to Col. Abraham De Peyster. Mr. Van Slyck settled on a portion of this land, and resided here for many years.

The Harrison patent embraced all the land in the town north of the Van Styck patent, between the river and the Stone Arabia patent. This tract was purchased from the Indians, in the King's name, March 8th, 1722, by Francis Harrison, Lewis Morris, jr., John Spratt. John Schuyler. Abraham Wendell and John Hascall. It contains 12,000 acres, and in- . ludes nearly all of the present town of St. Johnsville.

The Stone Arabia patent is located principally in this town, embracing all that part east of Harrison's, and north of Van Slyck's. This patent was granted October 19th, 1723, to John Christian Garlock, Elias Garlock, Andreas and Christian Fink, William Coppernoll, Jacob, John Jost and Johannes Schell, Heinrich Frey and eighteen others, nearly all of whom became actual settlers on different portions of the grant.

EARLY SETTLERS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS.

The earliest settlement in this town, and probably the first west of Schen- er tady, on the north side of the Mohawk, was made by Heinrich Frey, a native of Zurich, Switzerland, who. in 1688, left that city for America. hringing with him an open letter from the mayor, addressed "To whom it may concern." Upon his arrivai in New York, in 1689, he received from Gov. Dongan a "location ticket " for 100 acres of land on the Schoharie creck, but the Mohawk valley having more attractions for him, he soon removed thither, and settled just west of the present village of Palatine Bridge, where he erected a log cabin on a knoll, near a fine spring. Here he laid claim to a tract of 300 acres of land, his only title to it, aside from that of possession, being probably obtained from the Indians. This land was subsequently included in the patent issued to Van Slyck, from whom Frey procured a permanent title. The old homestead has always remained in the possession of the family, being now occupied by S. L. Frey, Esq., who represents the sixth generation. The first house was occupied until 1739, when a substantial stone dwelling was erected, which is still standing, in a good state of preservation. It has a row of port holes on all sides, and was stockaded and occupied by several companies of troops during the French war.

Heinrich Frey, jr., the oldest son of Heinrich Frey, was undoubtedly the first white child born in the Mohawk valley, west of Schenectady. He was one of the original proprietors of the Stone Arabia patent, and made the survey of the entire tract and divided it into lots. By frequent pur- · hases the landed estate of this family came to be one of vast proportions.

At the commencement of Revolutionary troubles, Hendrick and John Frey, sons of Heinrich, jr., were individuals of considerable prominence, having held positions of trust and responsibility under the colonial govern- ment. Col. Hendrick Frey, being the oldest son, had inherited all the real estate of his father. He had been educated at the school of Rev. Mr. Dunlap. of Cherry Valley, and had married a daughter of Gen. Herkimer. He had been a colonel of colonial troops, under Sir William Johnson, in the war · thi the French, and, with Col. Guy Johnson, had been the first to represent the county of Tryon in the General Assembly which convened Jan. 11th, 1773. He was also commissioned, jointly with Sir Wm. Johnson, to ad- minister the oath to all appointees to office in Tryon county. When war was finally declared between Great Britain and the colonies, Col. Frey at first attempted to maintain a neutral position, but at length openly avowed his Inyalty to the Crown, and was afterward engaged to some extent on the wle of the British.

Major John Frey was born about 1740; he was reared and always hved in the Mohawk valley. He was also educated at Cherry Valley, and after- ward married a niece of Gen. Herkimer. In 1756, when the English and

French were disputing for the supremacy in the Canadas, Maj. Frey, then a mere boy, yet animated with a patriotic zeal for his king and his own try, shouldered his musket and joined the expedition under Bradstreet ... take Fort Niagara, then in the possession of the French. He occupied the position of lieutenant, and. boy as he was, did his country service under the walls of that fortress. He was a justice upon the bench of A .. first Court of General Quarter Sessions for Tryon county, hell in Jolin- town, September 8th, 1772. He was a member of the Tryon County Com: mittee of Safety, both before and during the Revolution, and in the spi o_ of 1776 was elected its chairman. He was also the first sherif ot the county elected by the people In the memorable battle of Oriskany, M.r. Frey bore a conspicuous part, acting as brigade major, fighting by the yil .. of Gen. Herkimer, and barely escaping with his life. He was wounded m one arm, taken prisoner and carried to Canada, where he was kept for nearly two years. Subsequently to the Revolution, the New York Provin- cial Congress conferred upon him the honorable appointment of brigad. major. He was also elected a member of the convention that ratified the federal Constitution, and, at a still later period, held the office of senatur in the' Legislature of the State. He died in April, 1833, aged about y; years. His remains now repose in the family burying ground at Palatine Bridge. At the centennial anniversary of American independence, Mis grave was beautifully decorated with flowers by his worthy descendant. and grateful countrymen, in commemoration of his distinguished civil and military services.

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History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 50

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