USA > New York > Fulton County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 67
USA > New York > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 67
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
In this connection, though not strictly in place, may be mentioned D. B. Judson and O. Brown & Son, of Kingsboro, the former of whom began the manufacture of gloves in 1850, and is now the most extensive manufac- turer in the United States, employing in his shops about one hundred per- sons, and giving work to twice as many outsiders, and turning out an an- nual product of 20,000 dozen.
The most extensive manufacturers of glovers' materials are Kent & Co. James Kent, the head of the firm, was born in England. He came to Gloversville in 1866, and after fifteen months in business with S. Dodge & Sons, set up for himself. With different parties he has since pursued the manufacture of leather and the sale of glovers' materials, enlarging his establishment until it is the leading one in its line. It employs about a hundred men, and does an annual business of about $500,000. The mann- factory proper is a four-story brick building 42 by 56 feet, with a three- story wing 32 by 64. There is also a salesroom, storehouse and office building of brick, 46 by 62 feet ; and a wooden dryhouse and storeroom, 22 by 125 feet. The firm have also a tannery at Mayfield, and have in- vested altogether in buildings and stock about $300,000. They are the sole manufacturers of kangaroo shoe kid, and make a specialty of African chinchilla and antelope. They make as fine goods as are to be found in the country. W'm. Ancock & Co., corner of Spring and West streets, are also kid dressers and finishers ; and John M. De Ronde is engaged in pre- paring buckskin. Day & Steele are in the kid line, and Barnum & Fry, and half a dozen other concerns, furnish glovers' materials.
Gloves are laid off by steam by L. P. Davis & Co., No. 5 Bleecker street, and several other finishing establishments might be named.
E. P. Newton adds the manufacture of glove-cutting machines to that of gloves. Mr. Newton has taken a number of first premiums at State and county fairs, and one at the Centennial Exhibition.
There are five or six firms and individuals employed in the business of hair dressers and dealers.
Among the leading groceries of Gloversville is that of the seven Cohen brothers-Isaac, Simon, David, Sidney, Charles, Alonzo and Fred-who have stores also in Troy and Albany. They opened business in Glovers- ville in 186;, and in a few years bought the old Methodist church, at the corner of Main and Church street>, for 822,000, and established themselves on the site. Their stock is complete, their methods enterprising and their trade-mark-" Happy Home "-is very widely known. Other leading gro- cer- are: George R. Bauder, proprietor of America's Centennial Bazaar, No SS Main street; Getman & Olmstead, No. 17 Bleecker street; Kent & Co, Washburn street; Mrs. George M. Pursell, 193 1-2 Main street; Sey- mour Sexton, wholesale and retail, 97 Main street; Warren P. Sweet, 86 Main street, and A. B. Washbarn & Co. More than a dozen others might be enumerated. Among them is Henry M. Ward, who is also a paper-box manufacturer.
The Fulton County Bank, the first institution of its kind in the village, was established in 1832 with a capital of $100,000. The first board of directors were James W. Miller, F. W. Miller, John Mc Laren, jr., R. P. Clark, W. N. Clark, Joseph Blur, Fay smith, Daniel Chrisae, Daniel l'ot- ter. Duncan Me Martin, D 1. MeMartin, John Mc Nab, Manson Judson, Henry Churchill, and Alanson Hosmer. Isaac Lefevre was the first pres- ident, F. W. Miller, vice-president, and John McLaren, cashier. In 1853 the capital stock was increased to $150,000. There is now a surplus of $100,000. Henry Churchill was elected president in 1858. In 1865 the establishment was changed from a State to a national bank, with the title of the National Fulton County Bank. John Me Nab was elected president in 1867. W. D. West was appointed cashier in 1872. These gentlemen still hold the places named. D. B. Judson is vice-president, and Charles
206
THE HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
J. Mills, teller. The directurs are: John McNab, D. B. Judson, A. Jud- son, C. Sexton, H. C. Thomas, D. G. Heacock, \. C. Churchill, H. Z. Kasson, J. R. Berry, C. M. Ballantine, John Mclaren, I. V. Place, F. M. Young and W. 1). West. The National Bank of Gloversville was organ- ized in 1872, with a capital of $150,000. It was suspended in March, 1877, but started again in the following May, with a capital of $100,000. Howard Burr is president, and G. W. Fay, cashier.
The leading hotels of Gloversville are the Mason House and the Alvord House. The former was built in 1856-7 by S. S. Mills, and kept by him for a year as a temperance hotel, with the title of the Mills House, J. C. Holmes being the actual manager. In the second year Mr. Holmes began the sale of liquor. This was interfered with hy the temperance crusade of 1859, and since then the hotel has changed hands several times. In 1866 it was purchased by J. J. Mason, the present proprietor, who gave it his name. It is a first-class establishment. The Alvord House is a handsome four-story brick building, erected in 1866-7 by its present proprietor, and opened to the public in the latter year. It is a first-class house, contain- ing sixty guests' rooms. A livery stable is attached. There are several minor public houses in the village.
Among dry goods dealers E. A. M. Smith, in the Veeder Block, Main street, maintains a large stock and has an extensive and well deserved pat- ronage. 1 .. R. Van Ness & Co., 108 Fulton street, deal heavily in fancy and staple dry goods of all descriptions. Ten or twelve other dealers might be named.
The leading sewing machine makers all have agencies in Gloversville, selling largely to the glove manufactories as well as to individuals. The first machine used on gloves was a Singer, bought in 1851 by A. C. Churchill & Co. The Singer agency was established the next year, and has main- tained an increasing sale to the present. It is at 103 Main street, in charge of Mr. E. D. Cummings, and employs a capital of $45,000. The Wheeler & Wilson company sells annually at its salesrooms, No. 115 Main street, under the management of Mr. W. T. Lintner, about 375 machines. Jan. 1, 1877, this agency took the management of the Cayadutta shirt manufac- tory, which was started in the preceding October. It employs about 100 hands and turns out roo dozen shirts per week.
The leading druggists are : Furbeck & Van Auken, 125 Main street ; J. J. Mason, 117 Main street ; J. B. Stone, 107 W. Fulton street, and Warren P. Sweet, 86 Main street.
Clothing, hats, caps, &c., are sold by Bellinger & Johnson, merchant tailors, 121 Main street ; G. W. Fay & Co., 119 Main street, and two or three others.
C. R. Bellows & Son, 86 Main street, manufacture and deal in furniture, of which they maintain a large and well patronized stock. The business was started in 1851. Bellows & Son are also undertakers, and as such kept the first hearse in the village.
D. F. Cowles & Co., 112 Main street, are dealers in books, stationery, wall papers, window shades, pictures, frames, &c.
Barney Ehle, 206 Main street ; W'm. Lake Judson, below Fulton street, and some fifteen others are carpenters and builders.
George Naylor, corner Main and N. Elm streets ; and Wm. Smith, Forest street, are carriage makers and blacksmiths. There are nine or ten others in the business.
Livery stables are kept by M. R. Van Sickler, at 92 Main street ; B. F. Washburn, 21 Middle street, and two or three other parties,
The principal hardware dealer- are J. J. Hanson, 131 Main street, man- nfacturer of and dealer in stoves, tin, sheet-iron and glass ware and all other hardware ; and Sexton & Co.
George W. Fay & Co., 119 Main street, and four or five other parties represent the boot and shoe trade.
A. IL. Avery, importer of and wholesale dealer in china, glass, crockery, &c., has at rio Main street the first, and what is said to be now the only complete store of its kind in the county. He began the business in 1869.
William Muddle's book-bindery was established in February, 1871- the first in the county.
A. D. Norton, 109 Main street, and four or five others, deal in watches and jewelry.
H. A. Kasson has an insurance and real estate agency over the National Bank, Main street. There are several others in the village.
Meat markets are kept by W. H. Miller, and by Michael McDonough, Itt Main street. There are also a number of others.
John B. Pool is a farmer, and engaged in supplying the village with milk. Egbert Ilowe is in the same business.
Robert Gaingell manufactures harness at 143 Main street, and two or three others at different places. Among them is Mr. Henry C. Thomas, who is also in the glove business. Mr. Thomas was elected sergeant of militia, under Col. P. H. Funda, in 1838. He has been a deacon in the Baptist church thirty-nine years, and a director of the Fulton County Bank twenty-six years. He was one of the originators of the Cemetery Associa- tion, of which he has been a trustee, as also of his church and of the free school; of the latter he was treasurer for nine years. He has also been a trustee and president of the village corporation.
George L. Wood, 19 E. Fulton street, is the proprietor of marble and granite works.
The lumber trade is represented by William Lake & Son, who are also builders, and proprietors of saw and planing mills in Montgomery street. Two or three others carry on a similar business.
Nelson Van Vranken, corner of W. Fulton and Cayadutta streets, is one of some half-dozen painters.
One of the manufactures connected with that of gloves is that of paper boxes. Itis carried on by E. H. Mills, at 59 Main street, and by four or five others elsewhere.
The cigar-makers and tobacconists of the village include A. McCall, 4 and 6 Bleecker street, and three others.
The legal and medical professions are well represented. Among the leading members of the former are: A. D. L. Baker, corner of Main and Fulton streets; Ralph Glasgow, over the Fulton County National Bank; H. S. Parkhurst, corner Main and Fulton streets; and Edgar A. Spencer, 117 W. Fulton street.
Prominent physicians are: Dr. P. R. Furbeck, a graduate of Union Col- lege in 1854, who settled in Gloversville in 1865, and has his residence and office at 157 Main street; and Dr. Eugene Beach, who graduated at the Long Island Hospital College in 1866, and has since practiced at Glovers- ville.
Bayard McGuire's foundry, opposite the F. J. & G. depot, where he manu- factures stoves, sinks, caps and sills, &c., was established in 1874, being the first in the county, except one at Northville, where plows are made.
Among business places not already enumerated are two bakeries, two dentists' offices, a glue factory, steam dye-works, an American Express office, three flour and feed stores, a plumbing and gas-fitting concern, a steam laundry, an office of Dun's mercantile agency, photograph gallery, two or three restaurants, and a music store.
HON. JOHN J. HANSON.
Hon. John J. Hanson was born on his father's farm, near Tribes Hill, Montgomery county, N. V., September 4th, 1835. His ancestor, Nichol.is Hanson, a prominent man in his day, was the first settler at Tribes Hill, having emigrated thither with his family from Albany about the year 1725 The family originally came from Holland. During the Revolutionary con- Alict several of the Hansons served in the continental army, and Peter Hanson, the grand-father of the subject of this sketch, was taken captive by the Indians and carried to Canada, where he was confined as a prisoner for three years. The father of_Mr. Hanson reared a large family, of whom John J. was the eldest son. Until he had attained the age of eighteen, young Hanson was brought up on the homestead farm. His opportunity . for education were restricted to the common school, which he attended tor the most part only during the winter terms ; but by earnest application to the common branches of study within his reach, he laid a solid found.itt in for the attainment of that practical business knowledge he has so thoroughly acquired, and which is characteristic of him as a man. He came to Gloversville in 1853, having just attained his eighteenth year. Soon after his arrival here he engaged as an apprentice at the tinner's trade with Messrs. H. G. & J. Phelps. He remained with the Messrs. Phelps f =. years, and then removed to Johnstown, where he staid one year, work !! at his trade. From Johnstown he went to Albany and worked a year, and then returning to Gloversville, set up in the tin and sheet-iron manufactura business for himself, at the establishment of his former employers. In the course of a few years he purchased the Messrs. Phelps' warehouse and 1. 1. and subsequently other real estate in the village.
Politically, Mr. Hanson has ever been an earnest and consistent De m. crat. Ile was elected to the Assembly in the fall of 1875 by a handsome majority. His course as a legislator received the unqualified commend tion of his constituents.
1
-
- Res. of NICHOLAS DORN , Town of Johnstown.
Res . of ELI J. DORN ESQ., Town of Johnstown.
207
LEADING MEN OF GLOVERSVILLE-ALFRED B. WASHBURN AND HENRY C. THOMAS.
Mr. Hanson has by persevering industry and strict integrity established a large and prosperous business. Though a sufferer by the conflagration that devastated Gloversville in 1877, he has since erected the massive and handsome brick warehouse with tower on the site of his old establishment, corner of Main and Church streets, and has built on Church street the sub- stantial brick edifice which he now occupies as his place of business. He is noted for his genial good humor and unassuming benevolence. No citizen of Gloversville has a larger number of sincere personal friends, or is more respected and esteemed by people at large.
ALFRED B. WASHBURN.
Eliphalet Washburn was born in Hardwick, Mass., in June 1799, where he resided until about 18 years of age, when his father, Rufus Washburn, with his family, emigrated westward, and became one of the pioneer set- tlers in the town of Hope, Hamilton county, N. Y. Here Eliphalet in the course of time married Parmelia, a daughter of William Hall of that place, by whom he had eight children, viz : William, Lucy, Maria, Reuel, Alfred B., Catharine M., Calvin and Mary.
Alfred B. Washburn was born in the town of Hope (now Benson), Hamilton county, New York, August 19th, 1834, where his minority was passed with his father's family, the youth receiving such education as the advantages of a country district school afforded. In the spring of 1856 he parted with home and friends and went to Minnesota, where he worked by the month for a short time. In the following autumn he went to Wino- na City, where, with a cash capital of only $40, but an abundance of energy and enterprise, he formed a co-partnership with a Mr. Sherman from Con- necticut, purchased the furniture and lease of a hotel, and at once began hotel keeping. This, his first business venture, proved very successful. At the end of three years he became sole proprietor, continuing the business alone for nearly two years, when his building was destroyed by fire, together with a large portion of the city. He was next engaged in buying wheat from wagons and shipping cast, Winona City being at that time the princi- pal wheat market for a large section of country. After an absence of nine years he returned to his native State, and located in Gloversville in 1865, where he has ever since been engaged in the grocery and provision trade.
In 1872 he purchased a location on Main street, erected a frame building for his accommodation, and thither moved his stock. Here he again suttered a heavy loss by fire in June, 1877. But, nothing daunted, he at once com- menced the erection of a fine three-story brick block, which was completed in December following. The structure, which is 40 by 70 feet in size, - tains two high and airy basements, the rear of which is entirely above ground. On the first floor are two large, light and convenient stores, finished off in ash and black walnut, with all the necessary conveniences; the second floor is divided into light, high and roomy offices ; on the third floor is a spacious opera hall, finished in the most modern style, seated with chairs and lighted with gas, the gorgeous chandeliers and fixtures for which were made to order by Thackara, Buck & Co., of Philadelphia. The build- ing is known as "Washburn's Opera House Block." Mr. Washburn now occupies the south store for his mercantile business.
On the 12th of Dec., 1859, Mr. Washburn united in marriage with Lucy A. Nation, a native of London, England, but at that time a resident of Wino- na county, Minn. This union has been blessed with seven children, to wit : Neoka, born in Minnesota, Sept. 20th, 1860 ; Lyona, born Dec. 10th, 1862, died Jan. 16th, 1863 ; Ettie A., born Jan. 25th, 1865 ; Walter E, born Dec. 16th, 1867 ; Alfred B., jr., born May 14th, 1870 ; Lura L., born Feb. 9th, 1872 ; Lena T., born June 7th, 1874.
HENRY C. THOMAS, ESQ.,
was born in New Haven, Conn., Jan. 6th, 1814. His father, Cornelius Thomas, was lost at sea the same year. The son passed most of his boy- hood and early youth in the family of his uncle, Elisha Cotton, at Broad.il- bin, N. Y. In 1835 he came to Kingsboro, where he married Mary B. Johnson, Jan. 3d, 1838, who bore him a daughter, Sarah H. Thomas, born Dec. 5th, 1839. In 1847 he located in Gloversville, where he still resides. He has been prominently identified with many of the public en- terprises of the place. To the interests of education he has always given his efficient support and influence, and he has ever been a warm and zeal- ous advocate of temperance and religion. His many good qualities have won for him the respect and esteem of all his acquaintances.
208
THE HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
THE TOWN OF JOHNSTOWN.
The history of this town properly dates back to a time when its present territory was but a spot in the vast hunting ground of the Mohawks, when its bills were clothed with the unbroken forest, and its streams wound their way through its shady valleys unvexed by human devices. But a century and a quarter have rolled away since then, and in that time much of the material that would be demanded for a complete history of the town has been lost. The earliest pioneers have been in their graves a hundred years, and the stirring tales they had to tell of toils and perils on the savage frontier, while they wrought out farms from the forests and pla ... ed mills on the woodland streams, have faded from the memories of men. A few of their descendants cherish the traditions of the past, and to them the historian is chiefly indebted for his knowledge of civilization's struggle with savagery on the territory now smiling under careful cultivation, and thickly dotted with happy homes.
The land bounded by the present outlines of Johnstown consisted prior to its settlement of parts of four great properties-the Stone Arabia Patent, 12,700 acres, granted to John Christian Garlock and twenty-six others, Oct. 19, 1823 ; Butler's Patent 4,000 acres, granted to Walter Butier and three others, Dec. 31, 1735 ; the Sacondaga Patent, 28,000 acres, granted. to Lendert Gansevoort and others, Dec. 2, 1741 ; and the Kingsborough Patent, 20,000 acres, granted to Arent Stevens and others, June 23, 1753. The last covered the larger part of the present town, the others occupying an irregular territory in the southern part. From the proprietors of these grants, Sir William Johnson bought his possessions in what is now Fulton county.
Montgomery county was, by legislative enactment, divided into towns March 7, 1788. The law to that effect specified that " all that part of the county of Montgomery bounded northerly by the north boundary of this State ; easterly by the counties of Clinton, Washington and Albany ; south- erly by the Mohawk river, and westerly by a line running from the hill called 'Anthony's Nose,' north to the north bounds of the State, be and hereby is erected into a town by the name of Caughnawaga." The western boundary of the immense town thus defined must have furnished also the western line of Johnstown, when, on March 12, 1793, the latter, together with Amsterdam, Mayfield and Broadalbin, was formed from Caughnawaga. These new towns occupied the entire southern part of the original Caugh- nawaga, and if, as one authority states, Cuighnawaga was wholly divided among the four new towns of Amsterdam, Johnstown. Mayfield and Broad- albin, the last three must have extended northward to the Canadian line. and they continued to do so until Feb. 16, 1791, when the formation of Herkimer county gave Montgomery the present northern limit of Fulton. Bleecker was formed from the northern part of johnstown April 4, 1831, part of it, however, being re-anneved to the latter ten years later. . Is none of the towns to the east of Johnstown drew upon its territory for their formation, its eastern line must have remained undisturbed from 1793. Its southern boundary was then the Mohawk, but the town of that name was taken from Johnstown in 1837, leaving the latter in its present form.
1
The town is highly favored in its natural features. A lofty range of hills occupies the northern part and another the western, delighting the eye with picturesque scenery, and the remainder of the town is of a rolling surface and full of pleasant landscapes. Prominent points command noble views of mountain slopes and summits in neighboring counties Cayadutta creek flows south westwardly through the eastern and southern part of the town. and Garvga creek passes through its northwestern corner. The soil, a clayey and sandy loam, responds readily to the careful . ultivation bestowed upon it by its thrifty owners, and their prosperity is apparent in their broad smooth field, and excellent buildings.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The first settlers of any number in the town were doubtless those whom Sir William Johnson had attracted to his lands in the neighborhood of the Hall in the years prior to the building of that edifice. They would seem to have come largely from the German element that peopled the banks of the Mohawk, but included also a body of Scotch, who settled in the north- ern part of the town, which was from the Revolutionary period until after the war of 1812 called Kingsboro ; and the settlement was constantly re- inforced by emigration from Massachusetts and Connecticut.
One of the first settlers was John Hollenbeck, grandfather of Mr. Philip Hollenbeck. It is claimed that he was the first man to fell a tree in his part of the town.
Three acres of the farm, three quarters of a mile from Sammonsville, now occupied by William Wert, and originally by his great grandfather, Johannes Wert, were the first land cleared in that section of the town.
John Boshart bought from Sir William Johnson a farm on what is now the Fonda plank road. At his death he bequeathed the property to hi, son jacob, and he in turn to his son of the same name, who now owns it. Mr. Boshart has the musket that his grandfather used in the Revolution- ary war. It was made at Dublin Castle.
Henry Gross was another very early settler. On his arrival from Ger- many in his youth he was bound out to pay for his passage, as the custom once was. On becoming of age, he began to sell Yankee notions. In this mercantile pursuit he was very successful, and accumulated a large pro- perty. He was a grandfather of IIenry Gross.
Douw Wemple, grandfather of Mr. William Wemple and Mr. W. Ruport. was one of the pioneers of the town. He served in the Revolutionary war, and was the owner of one of the first grist-mills in the county. It was burned by the Indians.
Nathan, father of James Burr, removed from West Hartford, Conn , about 1783, and settled on a farm at Kingsboro, where he lived until his death in 1822. Having much mechanical ingenuity he made his own wagons, sleighs, etc., shod his own and his neighbors' horses, and built and carried on one of the first saw-mills in the county, about 1785, where Day & Steele's mill now stands. His children were Horace, Bissel, Elijah. Nathan, James and Levi.
Jacob Hartshorn, whose remains rest in Prospect Hill Cemetery, at Gloversville, was a private soldier in the Revolution. He was a native of Rhode Island, where, at the close of the war, he married Lucy Larcher, . daughter of Capt. John Larcher, a naval officer under the celebrated l'aul Jones. Soon after his marriage he enugrated with his wife to a farm neat Kingsboro, where he lived until his death, in 1835, at the age of 75.
Daniel Mecker, a native of New Jersey, settled, in 1795, about a mile and a half west of the present village of Gloversville. There is said to have been a battle fought on the Meeker farm, about the same time with the engagement near Johnson IIall. Mr. Meeker, when sixty years old. planted the seeds from which grew what is claimed to have been the fir -: orchard in that part of the country. He lived to see a wagon load gathered from a single trec.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.