History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 63

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 63
USA > New York > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 63

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Another of the early hotels was the Holland tavern, which stood on the southeast corner of Main and Market streets across Main street from the Cady mansion. It is said to have been kept by Joseph Balch, a soldier in the Revolution grandfather of Mr. Chester H Case , and later by Vlen Case.

CHURCHES.

ST. JOHN'S FPIN OPAL.

Services of the English church are believed to have been held in Johns- town from the time of Sir William's removal to the place. There is known to have been a church edifice prior to 1 ;; 1, on the ground which is now the old graveyard on Green street There the earlier missionaries must have officiated. The Baronet wrote of this first church in 1771, that it was " small and very ill built," and that he was " ] repararg stone and materials for erecting one much stronger and larger, that would accommodate near one thousand souls."

The church which took shaye from the Baronet's " stone and materials " in 1771, stood on the site of the present St. John's, but with its side to the street and fronting northward. This was the building referred to by the Kes. John Taylor in the journal of his missionary tour as "an elegant stone church with organs."

The original organ in this church, though youthful compared with its elder sister in the little chapel at Fort Hunter 'erected in 1710), must have been among the very earliest, probably, in the State west of Albany. It was imposing in size ; the case of handsome mahogany had by time beconie beautifully dark and rich in color, and its clusters of finely gilt front pip. added the beauty of contrast, and the harmony of color. It had but one manuale, with perhaps ten registers, but its full, sweet, solemn tones, it- mellow waves of harmony, its jubilant swell of flute like notes, made all the air tremulous and vocal with solemn praise. It had the reputation among judges in such matters of being a fine instrument. The bellow, were external, filling a large space at one end of the organ loft ; they were perhaps three by nine feet each, and their levers stout joists extending some feet beyond, upon which the blower sat down ; the supreme delight of budding boyhood was to be permitted to throw its small weight upon those rising and falling beams. The old organ's " Gloria " and " Benedic Anima," are stilled ; " Devises " and " York " and "Bridgewater " and " St Ann's " have nearly passed to the oblivion of the old organ. Bits of opera and sonata have now their places, themselves, it is hoped, soon to yield to some other phase of the music of the future.

Under date of May 18, 1772, Mr. John Cottgrave, of Johnstown, wrote to Sir William suggesting several steps that, in his opinion, should be taken for the improvement of affairs in the village, since it had just become a county seat. "The first of which is, for the immediate finishing of the church ; for as the church now remains, your Honour and family can not have the satisfaction which you otherwise would have, if the church was finished, the children for instance, mix with the aged, for the want of a Gallary ;- and for the want of seats, many of the Grown people are very troublesome-The next thing I consider of the utmost importance to the General wellfare of this Patent, is the Clothing of the Poor Children, with something low priced for a suitable uniform, to be worn at no other Time but on the Sabbath-this would encourage and Command the Childrens at- tendance, and engage their parents : and when Care is taken of the Chil- drens Cloathes, the expense of Clothing them will be inconsiderable. what a pitty is it therefore, to see, so great, and so good a thing as this is not to take place ; when a Boy, to ride post from the Hall (who perhaps like too many others live in idleness) would more than pay the sum whn h the before recommended Charity will require." Mr. Collgrave closes with an offer of {10 for "Cloathes."

In November, 1772, Rev. Richard Mosely arrived in Johnstown, and took the pastoral charge of the church. He came from Litchfield, Con' . leaving that place because he had been fined fzo for marrying a coupic. when he had no other license to act as a clergyman " than what he had t ceived from the Bishop of london, whose authority the Court determined did not extend to Connectient, which was a chartered government Thirty families of dissenters emigrated at the same time with Mr Muse ... and settled within fifteen miles of him.

In a letter reporting the arrival of Mr. Mosely, Sir William says : " l'jer this occasion I ought to observe that the Missions established at 2 : . Ster. p Ann., are found by Experience inadequate to the present a. Some of these in the old Settlements, near the Sea, where the Citer. stances and Inclinations of the People are more favorable, many enaik Missionary to live tolerably well, but here where the People who are 1 . of the Low Dutch Communion are New Settlers, & poor, the contra! tions are as trifling as they are uncertain ; This has occasioned the Key Mr. Andrews at Schenectady, to have recourse to the keeping a stra . with which addition to his income, as he writes me he is not alde to t. . care of his Family. In short the state of this part of the Country : : thoroughly known in Europe. It is an Extensive and most wanted . Tract in which the majority of the Settlements and the Church of I :. land are in their Infancy, but such an Infancy as affords the most Itt. ing hopes If properly nourished and improved for a httle time "

Ill health obliged Mr. Mosely to resign in 1974 For some years late and after this date, Rev. John Stewart, missionary at Fort Hunter, ou sionally officiated at Johnstown.

In erecting the new church, Sir William gave the two-acre lot on why " it stood, and also a glebe of forty acres on the southeast side of the vu lage. Ile seems, however, never to have conveyed the title to the piri erty ; and at his sudden death, in 1774, it reverted to his son Sir Jol t. In the confusion of the Revolutionary period, after the confiscation of th .. John on estate, indInding this property, the Presbyterians occupied lux . the church and the globe. The Episcopahans obtained possession of 1's .

ANMOISNHOF JOUMOL WYDAW (MORE JO SA

Res, Mill, & Warerooms of ELI WEMPLE, Sammomsville, Fulton Co. N.Y.

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TIN 83015

Pes of BARNEY WEMPLE, Town of Mohawk, Montgomery Co . N.Y.

195

CHURCHES OF JOHNSTOWN VILLAGE

church years after with difficulty, but the Presbyterians were confirmed by the Legislature in the possession of the glebe. That body, however, so far respected the claim of St. John's Church as to vote it a little over $2,000 indemnity for its loss. When the church was recovered, by the exertions of the rector, Rev. John Urquahart, who at times read the ser- vice from the desk while the Presbyterian minister was trying to preach from the pulpit, there remained with it but one acre of land. The society had an interest in a body of land at Fort Hunter, which had been con- veyed by the Mohawks to Dr. Barclay ; but, like the real estate at Johns- town, it seems to have been captured by other parties, and was only re- covered, in 1797 and 1799, by the aid of Trinity Church, New York, which ten years later also advanced $400 for repairs to St. John's Church. For many years the business transactions of the vestry related chiefly to this Fort Hunter land, including a petition, in 1815, to Trinity Church for per- mission to sell it and invest the proceeds otherwise. The amount realized was about $1,500.

What clergyman, if any, was rector of St. John's in the closing years of the last century, cannot be ascertained. In 1802, Rev. John Urquahart held the position. His congregation was small. He was followed in 1806 by Rev. Jonathan Judd, and he in 1815 by Rev. Eli Wheeler. He resigned in Feb. 1818, on account of ill health, and in the following November, Rev. Alexis P. Proal was called to the rectorship, which he resigned in M. . 1821, and removed to Schenectady. It was part of the contract between rector and people that either might dissolve the connection at six months notice. In June, 1821, Rev. Parker Adams was invited to become rector, and held the position until January, 1829. From July in that year, until November, 1832, the Rev. Mr. Treadway was rector, and from May, 1833, to October, 1835, Rev. U. M. Wheeler, who was succeeded in July, 1836, by Rev. Jo- seph Ransom.

During 1836 the church was burned, but with the insurance and funds collected in the parish and in New York, the present building was erected in its place, being consecrated by Bishop onderoonk, Oct. 15, 1837. In April, 1839, Mr. Ransom resigned the rectorship, and in that year, or the next, the Rev. Dr. Wheaton assumed it, holding the position until April, 1844. In June of that year, Rev. Chas. Jones became rector, and remained such for seven years, being succeeded in July, 1851, by Rev. Geo. Slight, who held the place for two years. Rev. Louis P. Clover was the next in- cumbent, holding the rectorship with acceptability from Sept., 1853, to Oct., 1857. From November, 1858, to April, 1860, Rev. Wm. H. Williams was rector, and from March, 1861, to October, 1864, Rev. Chas. H. Kellogg. His successor, Rev. James Byron Murray, was called to the rector hip in February, 1865. During his incumbency, which extended to July, 1870, the church was attached to the Diocese of Albany at its formation from the Diocese of New York. After Mr. Murray's resignation, the church was thoroughly repaired and some alterations made, including the removal of the old-fashioned pews, and of the clock from the tower. From May, 1872, to July, 1875. Rev. Jas. W. Stewart had charge of the parish. He was succeeded in September, 1875, by the present rector, Rev. Chas. C. Edmunds. For the first half of the present century, the parish did little more than hold its own, but since 1853 it has been developing in strength and self-reliance.

ST. PAUL'S LUTHERAN.

The earliest population of Johnstown included a good number of Lutherans, subscribers to the creed called the Augsburg Confession. Some of them may have come direct from Germany, but the majority were from Schoharie and the settlements along the Hudson. Sir William Johnson, with wise liberality, gave his Lutheran neighbors fifty acres of land. This property has always been known as the "glebe lot." Upon it formerly stood an old church and a school-house, and part of it is still occupied by an ancient burial-ground. The church sold its land in 1857 to Mr. John N. Gross, and from his hands it passed into those of the present owner, Mr. Henry Gross.

It is not definitely known when this church was organized. The first instrument of incorporation is dated February 4, 1801. The name therein given to the society was "The Reformed Protestant German Lutheran Church, or Congregation of the Western Allotment of Kingsborough." The first trustees were Jacob Hillebrandt, Adam Plank, and Charles Roth. The congregation was then without a pastor.

The church has been three times re-incorporated since 18or. The first

of these occasions was Dec. 16, 1810, when the name was changed to " The German Lutheran Church of Johnstown." Michael Moore, Peter Plantz, and Christian Wert were at this time elected trustees, Rev. Peter Wilhelm Domier, a learned divine, had pastoral charge of this congrega- tion, together with those of Minden, Palatine, and Stone Arabia. Services were held by him in the Episcopal church, which his congregation was permitted to occupy four Sundays in a year until they erected a building of their own.

The narrative of the building and management of the first church edifice of the society has the smack of primitive times. On the 21st of October, 1815, Michael Moore, Michael Swobe, Christian Wert, David Algyre, and Adam Plank, trustees, entered into a contract with builders for the erec- tion of a church. The builders were required, among other things, to copy the Presbyterian church in the item of " Venetian windows," while the steeple was to be like that of the Episcopal church. The superstruc- ture was to cost $3.000, and be completed during the year 1816. When the church was finished services were held in it once a month. The mem- bers of the congregation lived in the two settlements of Albany Bush and Johnson's Bush, and each section had its own part of the church in which to worship, the people entering by the eastern or western door, according to which Bush they hailed from. They were equally particular in apportion- ing the expenses of the church, the Albany Bush people, as the more numerous wing, paying three-fifths, and the other end of the church two- fifths.

On Christmas day, 1821, the society was again reincorporated under the title of "The Dutch Lutheran Church of Johnstown." The trustees at that time were Michael Moore, David Algyre and Christian Wert. The final reincorporation, conferring the present name of "St. Paul's Church of Johnstown," occurred on Dec. 11, 1826. Rev. John Peter Goertner was the pastor, and the following officers were chosen ; Trustees-Frederick Plank, Michael Hallenbeck and Michael B. Heagle ; elders-Michael Moore, Frederick Plank, David Algyre and Michael Swobe ; deacons -- Baltus Hallenbeck, Frederick M. Moore, John Argersinger and Abram Neifer. At a meeting of the congregation May 10, 1827, the committee on a constitution reported, and the constitution by which the church had been governed for half a century was then formally adopted.

The Rev. Mr. Goertner's health failing, he resigned, to the great regret of his people. He was the first pastor to conduct the service in the Eng- lish tongue. Rev. Thomas Lape was called to supply the place of the retiring minister, and on the death of the latter became pastor, in which relation he served the church faithfully for six years. His successor was the Rev. David Eyster, who began a successful pastorate of twenty-one years in 1834. After his retirement, the church was without a pastor for a year, when Rev. J. B. Senderling assumed the charge in May. 1856. In that year the Sunday-school was organized. Previously most of the con- gregation lived in the country, where they had Sunday-schools in their own districts. The original number of scholars was twenty-one : the member ship is now 264. John Plante was the first superintendent : B. Vos- burgh now holds that office. The library contains about four hundred volumes.

Dr. Senderling's pastorate continued for about eleven years, and he was followed in 1867 by Rev. Marcus Kling. His successor was the present pastor, Rev. P. Felts, who was called to the charge in March, 1870, but not installed until May 30, 1872, the day of the consecration of the present church, which is 56 by 96 feet, with a spire 146 feet high, and 645 sittings, and cost $33,000. It is furnished with a $3,000 organ.

The present membership of the church is 273. From its fold five worthy laborers have gone forth to preach the gospel, viz .: David Swobe. John Selmser, James Lefler, Nicholas Wert and Joseph Wert.

PRESBYTERIAN.

The Presbyterian church of Johnstown was formally chartered in 1785, having probably been in existence for the previous twenty years. This church was one of two to which Sir Wiiham Johnson gave fifty acres of land apiece. In 1787 it was received under the care of the Presbytery of New York, and for some time thereafter Rev. James Thompson occupied the pulpit. In 1790 Kev Simon Hosack became pastor, and continued in that relation until his death in 1833. In 1799 the old church was built, the communicants at that time numbering 18o. In 1790 the Presbytery of Albany was formed, and this church was attached to it, In 1826 the

196

THE HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.

pastor was given the Rev. Gilbert Morgan as colleague. During his two years' connection with the church the " old session house " was built, and Watts'.version of the Psalms was substituted for the old version of Mr. Rouse, which had previously been "lined out," as was customary in those days. Rev. Hugh Mair was called as a colleague to the pastor in 1831, and succeeded to the pastorate on the death of Dr. Hosack in 1833. Rev. Hugh N. MeLaren supplied the pulpit somewhat less than two years be- fore November, 1845, from which time to June, 1852, it was occupied by Rev. James Otterson. Rev. James P. Fisher was the preacher for seven years from July, 1853; Rev. Daniel Stewart, D. D., stated supply from April, 1861, to April, 1869; and Rev. Charles H. Baldwin pastor from July, 1869, to April, 1873. Rev. M. F. Dunham, the present pastor, began his pastorate in August, 1873.

The church edifice of the society was built in 1865, at a cost of $33,000. It is a fine brick structure, 60 by 110 feet, and 133 to the top of the spire, and contains an excellent organ. The present membership is about 425. The Sunday-school was organized in 1828.

BAPTIST.

About 1795, a few Baptists, some of them from England, held prayer- meetings at the house of a Mr. Hardy from London, on William street, and at the house of a Methodist gentleman, named Brewster, opposite the Dutch Reformed church. From about 1803, Elders Finch, Troop and Lathrop occasionally preached in the Methodist church, Dr. Reed's barn, and elsewhere. Most of their hearers, however, removed to Kingsboro, and in 1819 Mrs. Lydia Wells was the only Baptist in Johnstown. Others came about this time, and from 1821 to 1835 occasional meetings were held by traveling preachers.

In April, 1834, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Leaton came to Johnstown from New York, and Mr. Leaton worked zealously for Baptist interests. In the fall of 1836, Elders J. I. Whitman, Hutchins and W. Groome were ap- pointed by the State Baptist Convention to work as missionaries in Glov- ersville, Johnstown, Amsterdam, Fort Plain, and the neighboring villages. Several conversions resulted from a four days' meeting held at Johnstown by Elder Whitman. Prayer-meetings were maintained until 1841, in which year and the next Rev. David Corwin, of Gloversville, preached occasion- ally in the court-house and Methodist church, holding in 1841 a ten weeks' protracted meeting, from which several conversions resulted.

Sept. 11, 1842, Rev. Lewis Raymond, of Cooperstown, arrived in re- sponse to repeated calls, and numbers were converted under his preaching. On Nov. 3, 1842, a council of delegates from the Baptist churches of An- sterdam, Gloversville, Pleasant Valley and Broadalbin, met at Johnstown and established a church with appropriate religious services. The number of members was about 60, and eleven more were baptized and received two days later. J. H. Murray was chosen church clerk, and Abel L. Leaton treasurer. Two weeks after, the Sunday-school was opened.

The Rev. Mr. Joslyn preached during the last two months in 1842. The church was received into the Baptist body at the semi-annual sitting of the Saratoga Association at Gloversville, Jan. 4, 1843. Rev. John Duncan was settled as pastor Jan. 25. Under his labors the church grew and pros- pered spiritually. Feb. 21. the first deacons were elected-Williams, Pot- ter, Hedden and Leaton. Elder Duncan resigned in June, and the church was without a pastor, except for two or three periods of a few weeks, until Feb., 1854, when it was disbanded, and the church edifice, which had been built in 185r 'meetings having previously been held in the court-house). was put into the hands of the Saratoga Association. In Oct., 1864, the Rev. Mr. Fisher went to work at Johnstown and gathered a good congre- gation, from which the church was reorganized in June, 1865. Mr. Fisher continued a successful pastorate until 1870, when he was succeeded by Rev. W. H. Hawley, whose three years' ministrations added some seventy members to the church. The present pastor, Rev. Roland D. Grant, took charge of the society in October, 1876. Twenty-seven persons joined at the last communion.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL ..

The exact date of the organization of the first Methodist Episcopal so- ciety in Johnstown cannot be determined, but as early as 1814 it formed a part of what was known as Montgomery Circuit. comprising fourteen towns lying between the Mohawk and Sacondaga rivers.

The first church edifice stood on the north side of Main street, between Market and Perry, but it was sold, and the society soon after disbanded The present church organization was formed August 31, 1829, and the original of the present church edifice was built during the same year It has since been rebuilt four times, and now furnishes about 400 sittings

The following clergymen have served the society in the order named : John D. Moriarty, Merrit Bates, J. B. Houghtaling, Samuel Covell, Win. D. Stead, James Quinlan, John Haslam, Elias Crawford, Albert Champ- lin, Henry I .. Starks, Dillan Stevens, - Smith, - Radley, James II. Taylor, Thomas B. Piersons, Wm. Griffin, Richard T. Wade, Stephen Parks, Albert R. Spear, Myron White, Peter M. Hitchcock, Benjamin Pomeroy, Hiram Chase, Wm. F. Hurd, Wm. R. Brown Robert R. Thomp- son, H. C. H. Dudley, Tobias Spicer, Wm. Tisdale, Merrit B. Meade, Henry T. Johns, Robert Patterson, Wm. H. Maker, Lorenzo Marshall, N G. Spaulding, James G. Perkins, Isaac C. Fenton, Aaron D. Heaxt, Win. Clark, L. S. Walker and T. C. Potter, the last the present pastor.

Unlike other churches in the village, that were old and strong when the Methodist Episcopal church was planted, and not aided as they were by grants of land from Sir William Johnson, this church has been supported solely by its members, few of whom have been men of large means. It is, however, unencumbered and has a membership of 292.

ST. PATRICK'S ROMAN CATHOLIC.

This society worshiped for many years in an old frame building, the services being conducted by various priests from neighboring towns. The first resident pastor was Rev. Bernard McManus, under whom the present brick edifice at the corner of Clinton and Glebe streets was built in 1869. Rev. J. F. Lowery succeeded to the pastorate in March, 1875, and now holds that relation.

The membership includes one hundred families, and the Sunday-school is attended by about 100 children. Wm. Holwell is the superintendent.

The church seats comfortably 500 persons. The first mass in Johns. town was performed at the house of Mr. John O'Neil, now a resident o! the village.

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN.

The United Presbyterian church of Johnstown was organized in March, 1828, with twenty-three members. Publie worship was at first held in the court-house or academy. In 1830, a frame building was put up in Marke: street. The second edifice was built in 1869.

The pastors have been : Revs. J. G. Swart, from 1830 to 1837 ; Ales ander Gordon, 1844 to 1845 ; Andrew Thomas, 1858 to 1863 ; and J. 1 Williamson, from 1864 to the present.

SCHOOLS.

Sir William Johnson's well known interest in the cause of educata was one of the most conspicuous elements in the statesmanlike char.n " . of that eminent man. It could not be expected that he, who interested himself so strongly in the mental wants of his Mohawk wards, should i- indifferent to the educational facilities of his tenants and neighbors a: Johnstown, and, accordingly, we find him the patron of learning, as we as of industry, in the new village. In 1767 he endeavored, unsuccessful's. to procure the removal of the Moor Charity School from Lebanon, d'une . to his vicinity. In 1771 he advertised in the newspapers of New Y ... and Philadelphia for a person "proficient in reading, writing and ar !! metie," to teach a free school he was about opening in the village il teacher engaged was an Irishman, named Wall.

"He spared not the rod, and he kept the old rule," except with !! Baronet's children, who were greatly favored and indulged. Simms rolib . that this original pedagogue exacted the utmost deference from his '- happy pupils. Any of them wishing to leave the house, must come let ... the master and execute an obsequious bow, accompanied by a back war 3 wave of the right hand and a backward scrape of the right foot on tr floor, saying at the same time, " I'lease, master, may I go out ?" On !: turning, the child had to repeat the bowing and scraping, and say, " Thank you, sir."

The school-house was an oblong yellow wooden building, standing the south-east corner of Main and William streets. In the street In tut

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197

SCHOOLS AND MASONIC LODGES OF JOHNSTOWN VILLAGE.

stood the public stocks and whipping-post, in the former of which the de- linquent scholars sometimes figured.

Among the forty or fifty children who attended Sir William's school were three of his own by Molly Brant and those of Mr. Godfrey Shew, who lived for some time a mile west of the Hall. Some of Mr. Shew's neighbors also sent to this school. The children were sometimes fright- ened by the Indians, who were commonly lounging about the Hall ; but Sir William stopped this by reporting it to a chief.

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History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 63

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