History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 56

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 56
USA > New York > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 56

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Dr. Snow had a large and successful practice, being called frequently in adjacent towns. He was one of the most industrious and faithful of physi- cians. No matter how fatigued he might be, or how stormy and inclement the night, he was always ready, and visited the poor man's cottage with the same alacrity that he did the mansions of the rich. In his profession, as in

SIMEON SNOW, M. D.

his business life, he was eminently a cautions and careful practitioner, and although keeping in the very front rank of his profession by persistent study, he never risked rash experiments or haz- ardons chances; consequently he was unusually successful and acquired a reputation second to no physician's in the county.

From his first settlement in the county his su- perior education and attainments directed the at- tention of his neighbors and friends, more or less unlettered, to the importance of securing his ser- vices in the public business of the town. He al- ways interested himself in the education of the masses, and for a long time had the supervision of the district schools of the town as commissioner and town superintendent. He also was supervisor of his town, and served in the Senate of the State of New York during the years 1852 and 1853. He was a prominent member of the county and State medical societies, and was also vice-president of the National Spraker Bank at Canajoharie. In all these various positions of usefulness, trust and honor, in consultation with brother physicians in cases where life and death were fighting for the mastery, his sagacious, wise and practical coun- sels were always regarded with the greatest respect, and universally fol- lowed with safety and success. He was gifted with such rare good com- mon sense, and had so large an experience of men and their measures, that he rarely erred in judging of them or for them. Possessing a large fortune, of real and personal estate, made by his own industry, enhanced by the extensive property received with his wife, he so managed it as to be a blessing to the community in which he lived; no debtor of his was ever disturbed by compulsory process, and whether the debt was large or small. he was one of the most lenient and generous of creditors. He devoted his leisure hours, which were few enough, to overseeing and managing a large farm, and in addition to his other qualifications, was a most scientific and practical agriculturist. Having thus lived a long life of active usefulness, he began to think of retiring from the active duties of his profession. He proposed to travel, and spend the remaining years of his life in rational enjoyment. But "man proposes, God disposes;" at one fell swoop these plans were frustrated, and the fond hopes of his family dashed to the ground. Starting out on the beautiful morning of September 17th, 1865. to make some professional calls, his daughter riding with him, his horse became frightened and ran, dashing him to the ground, striking his head against a stone, and fracturing his skull: living about three days after, he never became conscious, dying at 10 p. m. on the 20th. Thus passed away a good and great man, a kind and loving husband and father, a firm friend. a conscientious and skillful physician, a patriotic and wise statesman. Il . funeral was attended by a large concourse of his townsmen, and friend. from all parts of the county, who mourn him as those only are mourned who live for humanity, and not for themselves.

CEMETERY

Res .. of JACOB DIEVENDORFF, Curry Town, Town of Root. Montgomery Co., N.Y.

)"RESIDENCE and GROUNDS of MR. JOHN SMITH, Minden. Montgomery Co., N. Y.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

169

JACOB DIEVENDORFF.

Jacob Dievendorff, the pioneer settler, was born in Corry's Town, (Cur- rytown), town of Root. county of Montgomery, September 23d, 1769. He was of German descent, his grand parents having emigrated from Germany early in the eighteenth century. His father, Jacob Dievendorff, with his family, was living in Corry's Town at the time of the invasion of this place, July 9th, 1781, by a party of tories and Indians under the com- mand of Captain John Dockstader. Jacob with others was captured by this party, and taken south into the town of Sharon, where on the follow- ing day, Dockstader's force having been overtaken by Colonel Willett and his men, they prepared for battle by killing and scalping their prisoners. Jacob was seated on a horse; looking back and seeing them kill and scalp his fellow prisoners, he placed his hands on the forehead of the horse, and leaped, striking on his feet on the ground. He ran a short distance, but was overtaken and knocked down by a blow from a tomahawk upon his right shoulder. Jumping upon him with his knees, the Indian who had struck him cut off his scalp and he was left for dead. When he returned to consciousness, bleeding, weak and trembling, he arose and tried to walk ; but finding his strength insufficient, he again lay down and partially cov- ered himself with leaves, expecting to die. Colonel Veeder and his men passing that way on the day after the battle, found Jacob lying across a tree, insensible, and took him to Fort Plain. There his wounds were dressed, and he was placed under the care of Doctor Faught of Stone Arabia, where he remained about five years, but the scalp never permanently healed over. He lived to a ripe old age, and toiled excessively in clearing up and pre- paring the virgin soil for the growth of the life sustaining cereals. Jacob Dievendorff was married to Margaret Bellinger May 12th, 1801, by whom he had six children, three of whom are now living, the only ones who separated from the parental home and had families-William B. the only surviving son, Mrs. Hannah Dockstader and Mrs. Margaret Snow. Jacob Dievendorff, with his denuded scalp, was a living monnment of the atro- cious cruelty practiced by the Indians upon the early white settlers, with and by the aid of the British and tories, as those of this country were called who espoused the cause of Great Britain during the Revolutionary war. Hle lived and amassed a large fortunc, including many hundred acres of land; died October 8th, 1859, being 85 years old, and was buried in the family hurying-ground. Thus passed away from earth an honest, upright and just man.

WILLIAM B. DIEVENDORFF.

William B. Dievendorff, son of Jacob Dievendorff of Revolutionary memory, was born in Corry's Town, town of Root, Montgomery county, August 30th, 1805. Of German descent, he truly inherited the traits of that most honest, upright and industrious people. The son of a wealthy agriculturist and large land owner, he naturally enough took to an agricul- tural occupation; and in addition to his raising the cereals, became a mani- facturer of cheese-one of the first to engage in cheese-making in this country. He has continued to follow the occupation of a dairyman-farmer in connection with his other business, to the present day, and having kept pace with the onward movements of the science of cheese-making, he now stands at the head of one of the largest associations for the manufacturing of cheese in this county. Mr. Dievendorff, by his personal position and standing in society, in connection with his large wealth, has often been called to occupy positions of trust and honor among his fellow townsinen. During the war of the great Rebellion, when such a multitude of bonds and securities were afloat, there was a seeming security in those to which his name could be found attached; and the positions of trust and the amount of stock which he held in two banks in the county, namely, the Spraker Bank at Canajoharie, and the Mohawk River Bank at Fonda. lend their aid in giving the people a confidence in those institutions. Mr. Dievendorff is the owner of a very large landed estate, second in extent to none in the county, which he so manages as to make it a source of aid and assistance and not of depression . to those depending upon him. Taught by his long life of practical financial business, he foresaw the evils that would arise from uur inflated currency, and the fictitious values placed on everything, and now, when many are sinking from their imaginary height of wealth, even to want, he passes along comparatively unharmed by the financial crisis.

17]

ST. JOHNSVILLE AND ITS REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.

THE TOWN OF ST. JOHNSVILLE.

St. Johasville was formed as a town at the division of Montgomery county, on April 18th, 1838. Previous to that time it formed a part of Oppenheim, Fulton county, which joins it on the north. Its organization was completed at a special town meeting held at the house of Christopher Klock, about one mile east of the village of St. Johnsville, on the ist day of May, 1838, at which its first officers were elected, "to fill the vacancies occasioned by the division of the county," as follows : Town clerk, Barney Becker ; justices of the peace, Peter Klock, Daniel Ayers, Josiah I.omis ; collector, Daniel C. Fox ; assessors, Peter Radley and Simeon Klock ; commissioners of highways, Joseph W. Nellis and John F. Bellinger. The number of votes polled was 271. The first regular town meeting was held at the same place on the 5th day of March, 1839, at which a complete list of officers were elected, as follows: Supervisor, John W. Riggs ; town clerk Jesse R. Curran ; justice, George Lake ; collector, Daniel Failing ; asses- sors, George Chaugo, Peter Radley, Simeon Klock ; commissioners of high- ways, Jacob H. Flander. Jonas Klock and Benjamin Groff ; commissioners of common schools, Andrew R. Groot, Chauncey Nellis and Martin Wal- rath ; overseers of the poor, John G. Klock and Joseph I. Klock ; school inspectors, John G. Edwards, John Wilson and Joseph Hawes ; constables, James Best, Christian Flander, Hiram Jennings, John P. Staring.

St. Johnsville is situated in the northwest corner of Montgomery county, on the north bank of the Mohawk. East Canada creek flows along its western border. The Crum, Klock, Zimmerman, Caldwell and Mother creeks all flow in a southerly direction across the town, and are absorbed by the Mohawk. Upon East Canada creek there is a succession of falls and rapids, descending seventy-five feet in as many rods. The surface of the town consists a broken upland, descending gradually to the south, and terminating in the broad river flats. The soil is a fine quality of gravelly loam, well adapted to grazing and farming, and very productive along the river. Three distinct mineral veins have been discovered near East Can- ada creek, in the western part of the town, known as the lower, middle and upper mines. The lower vein consists principally of lead, with a very small sprinkling of gold ; the middle vein is a mixture of copper, lead and vine ; and the upper vein is mostly copper.

The first settlement of this town probably begun as early as 1725, though the precise date is not known. Until ISOS it belonged to Patatine. The carly settlers were Germans, from whom many of the present inhabitants have descended. Among them were families named Hellebradt, Waters, Vietman, Van Kiepen, Walrath and Klock. The first settlement at the village of St. Johnsville was made in 1776, by Jacob Zimmerman, who built the first grist-mill in the town soon after. George Kkek built another in 1801. As early as 1756 a church was erected in the eastern part of the town, by Christian Klock. The Rev. Mr. Rosenkrantz was the first preacher, and John Henry Disland the second. A German school was tanght by Henry Hayes at an early day. Lot Ryan, an Irishman, taught the first English school in 1792. Christopher Nellis kept a tavern in 1783. and a store in 1801.

THE PEOPLE OF ';6.

During the Revolution the house of Christian Klock, which stood in the rastern part of the town, was stor kaded, and named " Fort House," in honor of Christian House, the builder. The house of Jacob /immerman was also stockaded Both of these forts repulsed repeated attu ks of the enemy, and they were never surrendered. Fort Hill, which was situated en an eminence in the western part of the town, was erected during the French war. It was repured and used during the Revolution.

This town was the scene of many incidents and events connected with the Revolution, and its inhabitants took their share of the hardship and suffering o casioned thereby. The battle between the torres of Sir John Johnson and the advance guard of Gen Van Rensselaer's arim, under Col. Dubois, was fought at " Klock's Fieid," near where Fort House stood, Oct. 18th, 1780.

A Mr. Crouse, grandfather of the present Peter Crouse, was for a time stationed at a house called Fort Klock. Looking one day at some British troops, who were passing within gunshot of the fort, he jestingly remarked, that he thought he could " hit one of those fellows on horseback ;" and suiting the action to the word, he drew up his gun and fired at one of the officers, who was seen to fall from his saddle. The horse came galloping up to the fort and surrendered itself to Mr. Crouse. Tied to the saddle was a bundle containing an old brass kettle, and other articles of camp life, which were kept for a long time by the family as relies of the Revolu- tion. The horse was traded off for a lumber wagon, which lasted till within the recollection of the present generation.

Henry Smith participated in the battle of Oriskany. During the battle an Indian had concealed himself in an excavation in the ground, from which he had been picking off our soldiers, one by one, with his rifle. Mr. Smith at length discovered his hiding place, and watching an opportunity, shot him just as he was raising his piece to fire. Running to the spot, he drew the tomahawk from the belt of the savage and buried it in his head. He took the Indian's gun and powder horn, which trophies still remain in the possession ot his grand-children.

The Bellinger girls were living, during the Revolution, with their father, Philip Bellinger, on the farm now occupied by Menzo Smith. Philip Helmer had been paying his addresses to one of these girls, but on account of his tory tendencies the suit was not favored by the young lady's parents. In the spring of 1780, young Helmer deserted to the enemy, and at once formed a plot to kidnap the sisters. Organizing a small band of Indians for the purpose, he led them toward the house of the Bellingers ; but re- penting of his plot, he managed, upon some pretence, to get in advance of his party, and going to fort Nellis, he informed the people there of the design. A small company of volunteers was at once collected, an ambus- cade formed, and Helmer's whole party would have been killed or captured, had it not been for the indix retton of one of the volunteers, who upon their approach, yelled out at the ton of his voice "Lord God Almighty, boys, here they are !" The Indians fed with the loss of one. It is said that Helmer afterward married the girl.

Leonard Panter was captured by the Indians, when only eight years ok!, and taken to Canada. After a year's captivity he was exchanged and sent with others to Schenectady. His father, hearing of the release of a number of boys, and ascertaining their destination, sent an older son on hor eb.nek in search of the lost one. On reaching Schenectady he found a number of boys drawn up in line, waiting to be claimed. The brothers failed to recognize each other, but Leonard seeing the old horse, knew it and was thus made known to his brother.

Col. Jacob Klock, an active and zealous patriot, at whose house the Pala- tine committee of safety met, June 10th, 1775, lived where his grand- daughter, Mrs. Jonas Snell, now resides, nearly a mile below the village of St. Johnsville. He was a member of the Tryon Co. Committee of Stlety, and in September, 1775, was appointed colonel of the end battalion of Tryon county mihua, which position he bell till the close of the war

Andrew Helmbold, while plowing near where East Creek depot now stands, was surprised by the Indians, and killed in a hand-to-hand fight. He is sarl to have dispatched two of the savages with a paddle which he carried on bis plow, before he succumbed to tomahawks and knives.

Capt. Christian House was an earnest and devoted patriot of the Kovo- lution. He was hung at that time near the west hoe of St. Johnsville He converted his house into a fort, and store kaded it at his own expense ('ipt. House served his country long and faithtully, neither asking for nor re- verving any remuneration therefor He chied soon after the war, and ho remains were deposited in an old burial place, which is still in existence, near the former site of Fort House, and where repose the ashes of many gallant soldier of the Revolution.

172

THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

THE VILLAGE OF ST. JOHNSVILLE.

The village of St. Johnsville is situated on the north bank of the Mo- hawk, near the month of Zimmerman creek, and near the center of the town, east and west. It is a station of considerable importance on the New York Central Railroad and Erie Canal. The Mohawk turnpike also runs through it.

Some authorities assert that the village derived its name " from St. John's Church, erected there at an early day." This is incorrect, as no St. John's or any other church had ever existed here at the time the name s applied to the place. The nearest was a Dutch Reformed church never called St. John's) built about 1756, nearly a mile below, which, about 1818, was torn down, and the present Reformed church erected in its stead. The name originated in this wise : On the 4th of April, ISri, an act was passed to " lay out a new turnpike road from the house of Henry Gross, in Johns- town, to the house of John C. Nellis, in the town of Oppenheim," terminat- ing in the Mohawk turnpike near St Johnsville. The commissioners named in the act were " John Mclntyre, of Broadalbin ; Alexander St. John, of Northampton ; and Wm. Newton, of Mayfield." St. John was a surveyor of good repute. He not only surveyed the road, but, as commissioner. took almost the entire charge of its construction, and being much at " Tim- merman's "-as St. Johnsville was then called-he became familiarly and favorably known to the leading citizens. When, subsequently, a post office came to be established at this place, through the instrumentality of Henry Lloyd and Christian Graff, jr., then merchants here, the name of St. Johns- ville was given to it, in honor of Alex, St. John, the surveyor and commis- sioner.

The place was incorporated as a village Ang. Ist, 1857, and its organiz- ation completed at an election of officers held at the " Franklin House " Aug. 29th, 1857, which resulted as follows : Board of trustees, Wm. Kings- bury, Elisha Fox, Absalom Thumb, Gordon Hough, and Truman Tabor ; president, Storm R. Haight : clerk, Peter Heleger ; assessors, Daniel Yon- ker, Matthew F. Wilson, and George Adams ; collector, John B. Church- ill ; treasurer, John B. Fisher. The whole number of inhabitants at that time within the corporate limits of the village was 720. The present pop- ulation is about 1,500. St. Johnsville contains 3 churches. 3 hotels, a grist- mill, a woolen and a cheese factory, a bank, 3 dry goods, 2 hardware. 2 drug. 3 furniture, 2 clothing, 2 boot and shoe, and to grocery stores, and a proportionate number of other stores, shops, offices, occupations and pro- fessions.

MILLS AND MANUFACTORIES.

Over one hundred years ago Jacob Zimmerman commenced the first set- tlement and laid the foundation for a village, by erecting a grist-mill near the creek which still bears his name. In 1801, Gentge Klock built another, and David Quackenbush erected the third grist-mill in iso and operated it until 1832, when it was closed. Six years after, it was converted into an iron foundry by Adam Thumb and others. It was subsequently re-modeled into a saw and planing-mill by Thumb & Flanders, who own and operate it as such at present. In 1825, James Averill built a stone grist-mill and distillery. These were twice burned and rebuilt, and continued to be oper- ated as at first by Mr. Averil and his successors for twenty - twoyears, after which the mill was abandoned and the whole establishment used for dis- tilling purposes. It was thus run at trregular intervals for nineteen year -. Messis. A. Neil. Nagel, D. C. Cov, and Start following the busmess in the order named. The property latterly fell into the hands of 11 il Heals, and was afterward converted into a paper-indl by D. C. Cox, who stillcon- tinues the business of manufacturing board paper for boves

The St. Johnsville Woolen Mills are located on Zimmerman creek, in the northwest part of the village. They were erected in 1840 by Hough, Riggs & Adams, and afterward leased and operated In Winegar & Yonker. In 1857 the were pare hatsed by Sidney South, the present proprietor, who is actively engaged in the manufacture of a variety of woolen goods, et- clusively for the home market.

The St. Johnsville Agricultural Works are owned by M. Williams & Co. who commenced the manufacture of threshers and horse-powers in (86 ;. This establishment also turns out a variety of other implements useful to the farmer. M. Walrath, jr, is the business manager.

Upper St. Johnsville, situated on Klock's creek, about one mile west of St. Johnsville, contains the three-story stone flonring and custom mill ut Beekman Brothers.

In 1870 Conover & Kent commenced the manufacture of fifth wheel for carriages at St. Johnsville, continuing till 1876, when Chas. W. Send- der & Co. purchased their factory and succeeded them in the business The firm is at present manufacturing this one article to the amount of $12,000 worth annually, employing eleven men, and using seventy tons of American and Norway iron. This is the only establishment of the kind in the county, and there are but few others in the United States.

JOURNALISM-BANKING-MASONRY.

On the 14th of July, 1875. The Interior New Yorker, edited and pub lished by Wm. L. Palmer, made its first appearance. Mr Paimer was succeeded, at the end of six months, by Wheeler & Haslett, who finished the first volume, when it was discontinued. The Weekly Portrait soon after sprung up, phoenix-like, from the ashes of the New Yorker, witi. Thomas J. Haslett as editor and proprietor, who still publishes it succes. fully.

The First National Bank of St. Johnsville was organized in June, 1863. with D. C. Cox president, and A. Zimmerman cashier. Upon the death of Mr. Zimmerman in 1873, J. W. Cronkhite became president and b) ( Cox cashier. Mr. Cox was succeeded in 1876 by N. G. Dodge.

The Masonic Lodge, No. 611, of St. Johnsville, was organized in post. with Charles Buckingham as master, which position he still hold -. The present membership is 85. Regular meetings are held on the first att third Thursdays of each month.

CHURCHES.

The "Christian" church was organized in 1874, by the Rev CI Peake, who is its present pastor. The membership, which was but thirt. originally, now numbers sixty persons. The Sunday-school connect with this church was organized in 1873 by C. M Knox. It now ha- 12: scholar- in regular attendance, and a library of 500 volumes. M Willow- is the superintendent.

The Union church was built in 1849, principally by the Luther.in . Methodist denominations. The grounds were generously donated In Hongh, with the condition that the edifice, when completed, shouh! " open and free to the use and occupation of all moral, christian and re ions denominations." The first trustees were Adam 1. Klock. Vel Ho - No bolas J. Smith, Leonard Winegar, Enesch Snell, Nelson Kim hd and James 11 Ragan. The dedication services took place February ;t 1850, Rev. H. 1. Dr Lutheran officiating

PERSONAL SKETCH

ALSO A SANDERS was born in Minden. Montgomery county. \ \ July 11. 1846. That town was also the natal place of his father .med . father In 1867 be removed to St. Johnsville, and embarked in the me cantile lasiness with I. C. Kau kerbaker, In March, 1872, the urm dissolved, Mr. Sanders continuing the business alone. In March. 1 he suffered almost a total loss of his stock by fire, but, nothing .La .. he immediately purchased a fresh sterk and began business anew. the time using his barn as a store. He at once began the erection of a i. . two-story store on Mam street, which on the first of May following: " ready for occupation. Here Me Sanders has built up an extensive phone clos hery and lumber trade, also dealing largely in agricultural unplena ? and here farmers can always find a ready cash market for their but. . eggs, and other farm prodlue e.

RESIDENCE OF EDWARD BATES , TOWN OF ST JOHNSVILLE, MONTGOMERY CO., N .Y.

RES. OF AUGUSTUS SMITH AND SON, TOWN OF ST JOHNSVILLE, MONTGOMERY CO ., N.Y.

RES. OF MENZO SMITH, TOWN OF ST JOHNSVILLE MONTGOMERY GO , NY

THE FORMATION OF FULTON COUNTY-ASSEMBLYMEN AND SHERIFFS.

THE HISTORY

FULTON COUNTY.

CHAPTER I.

CAUSES LEADING TO THE CREATION OF THE COUNTY-THE SUCCESSION OF OFFICERS-SUNDRY COUNTY INSTITUTIONS.

The record of events in what is now Fulton county, up to the time of its comparatively recent formation from Montgomery, is a part of the his- tory of the latter, and as such it was necessary to relate it in an earlier portion of the work. The experience of Fulton county has been one of peace, and the occurrences of such a period-the improvement of the country and the development of population and industry-though of transcendent importance, make less show in the pages of the historian than the destructive operations of war. The history of the territory em- braced in the county, however, like that of all this part of the State, is long and eventful. To trace its earlier stages, the reader need but turn to other pages of the work, on which the relations and connection of the events to be narrated made it necessary to record them.

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History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 56

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