History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 72

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 72
USA > New York > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 72

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Lumbering was formerly carried on to quite an extent in connection with farming, but this branch of industry has ceased to be remunerative, and the inhabitants in the agricultural distru ts are now principally engaged in the dairy business, the soil being better adapted to grazing than the rais- 'ing of cereals.

This town has an area of 21,286 acres, a large proportion of which is im- proved, except in the northeast. It is divided into 41 road districts for highway purposes, and 12 school districts for educational purposes, with 12 school-houses within its borders, and 777 scholars between the ages of 5 and 21 years. The population in 1875 was 2,102. The number of tax- able inhabitants in 1876 was 423. The assessed valuation of real estate was $207,569 ; of personal property $41,010.

FIRST SETTLERS.

The first land grant in this town was the Stone Arabia patent, which in- cluded nearly all the land south of Garoga and Sponable creeks. Settle- ments were begun in the southern part of the present town about 1720, by Frederick Getman, Johannes Bearman, Frederick Empie, John Shoemaker, Johannes Schell and Honnas Reed, who came from Germany. Among those who followed them and settled in other parts of the town previous to the Revolutionary war were Jacob Frey, Gerrit Marcelle, Michze! Strayer, Christian Blopper, Nicholas Rector, Lodowick Herring. John Herdick, Philip Kreitzer, William Cool, Henry Hart, Zechariah Tripp. John Casselman, Peter Schutt, Nicholas and Henry Smith, John Sponable, Richard Young, Richard Coppernoll and William Duesler.

Frederick Getman at that time written Kittman and Johannes Bear- man together bought, in 1743, from Hendrick Sic, lots 92, 94. 96 and 98 of the Stone Arabia patent. Mr. Getman subsequently purchased Bear- man's interest in the property. He had four sons born here-Frederick. jr., George, John and Christian, all of whom participated in the French war previous to 1757. Christian Getman was also captain of a company ot Rangers in the Revolutionary war. George Getman succeeded his father. Frederick, in possession of the homestead. He raised five sons. all ot whom served the patriot cause during the Revolution. One of them. George, jr., held a lientenant's commission and was under C'ol. Wilk u. He inherited the old farm. His five sons were all soldiers in the war of 1812. One of them, Frederick, is now living on the homestead, where he was born eighty-six years ago, and is still active and vigorous in body and mind. He is the father of ex-Sheriff Oliver Getman, of Ephratah village There is yet growing on the old farm a noble maple tree, shown in the engraving of the place, from which Frederick Getman made sugar me years ago, and which has since yielded its sweet, to the successive genera- tinns of the family. It is eighteen feet in circuinference, and produced sixty-seven gallons of sap in the spring of 1877.

Frederick Empie settled in 1743 on lots 86 and $8 of the Stone Arala patent. This farm has passed from father to son, having been always owned by a member of the Empie family. It is now in the possession ot John F. Empie, who was born here in 1821. His grandfather. John Empie, was a soldier in the Revolution. Philip Empie was taken prisoner by the Indians, who started with him for Canada. At night he was bound with a rope and made to he down with a row of the savages, those on either side of him lying on the ends of the rope. Notwithstanding their precautions he succeeded in loosening his cords without awaking his caji- tor, and made his escape.

Nicholas Rector settled just north of Garoga village, on the farm now owned by Sanford Snell. He was a captain of molitia during the Revolu- tion. He and his family were at one time att.te ked by Indians, and a man named Eberly was shot and scalped. A son, who had been at work in the sugar bush, ignorant of the presence of the savages, returned to the house and was also killed. Mr. Rector received a gunshot wound in the wrist,

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THE HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.

but escaped without further injury. His wife, after being wounded in the leg, got away and walked to the fort near Stone Arabia. On her way thither she found the body of a man whom the same party had killed and scalped, and taking off his shoes, wore them to the fort. Mr. Eberly, be- fore his death, succeeded in killing one of the Indians, who was afterwards buried under a spruce tree opposite the house.

Henry Herring located where Benjamin Snell lives. Philip Kreitzer and William Cool settled about two miles northwest, and Henry Hart about two miles northeast of Ephratah village. Nicholas Smith settled where Wallace Mclaughlin lives, and Henry, his brother, where Daniel Smith re- sides. Both were soldiers of the Revolution. John Sponable located where A. Fical now lives. Ile was in the Revolutionary war, and for a time a prisoner in Canada. Richard Young settled on the farm now occu- pied by Hiram Lighthall, and Richard Coppernoll where Stephen Gray lives. They both participated in the Revolution.

Francis Lighthall, grandfather of Hiram Lighthall, was in the battle of Oriskany. He was captured by the Indians, taken to Canada, and remained a prisoner three years. Richard Putnam, the grandfather of John P. Put- nam, was first lieutenant under Captain Davis. He stood by the side of that officer when he was killed at the battle of Oriskany, and avenged his death by killing the Indian who fired the fatal shot. Henry Saltsman, grandfather of Benjamin Saltsman, and James Keith, grandfather ut George Keith, both served in the war of the Revolution.

Sir William Johnson owned a large tract of land lying south of Garoga and Sprite creeks, and as early as 1770 built a stone grist-mill at what is now Ephratah village, on the site occupied by Wade's tannery. During the Revolution this mill was attacked by Indians and tories and burned. William Cool, who was at the mill at the time, was killed and scalped. The miller, Ozias Krep, was taken prisoner and carried to Canada. Pre- vious to his capture, he had concealed a quantity of specie in the stone walls of the mill. After the war he returned, and, in company with George Getman, repaired to the ruins and recovered his hidden treasure, an amount sufficient to support him the remainder of his life, which he spent in this neighborhood.

Johannes Winkle settled on the farm now owned by James Yauney. He erected a grist-mill prior to the Revolution on the present site of Yau- ney's woolen mills. This grist-mill was burned during the war, afterwards rebuilt by a Mr. Shull, and subsequently purchased by Henry Yauney.

William Duesler was a carpenter by trade. A barn built by him previ- ous to the Revolution is still standing on the farm of James Yauney.

Isaac Everest, a native of Connecticut, settled in 1794 about two and a half miles south of Garoga, on the farm now owned by Andrew Chrisman. His son, David C. Everest, who came with him, remained on this place till 1856. A man by the name of Flander made the first settlement at what is now Lassellsville, some time before the Revolution. He was subsequently followed by Daniel and Henry Phye.

John Argersinger, a farmer of Ephratah, was about seventeen years of age at the time of the Revolution, in which he took a part. He was en- gaged in the fight near Johnson Hall with Ross and Butler, and was slightly wounded in the hand by a sliver struck from the fence by a bullet. He died about 1830.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first survey for a road was made with a pocket compass, by Chris- tian Getman, under the direction of sir William Johnson. The road ran from near Johnson Hall, westward through the central part of the town to Lassell-ville.

The first store in the town was kept by Johannes Winkle, at what is now Ephratah village. An inventory of his effects, taken after his death, is now in the possession of Oliver Getiman, and bear- the date 1789 John Empre kept the first tavern, where his son, John F. Empre, now resides. The old, unique sign which then allured the weary traveler to this place of enter- tainment is still in existence, ind a date on it shows it to have been exe- cuted in sSog. The first post route established in the town was from Can- ajoharie, Montgomery county, to Ephratah village, Christopher Getman being the first postmaster. The first German school in the town was taught by Honnas Moot, about a mile south of Ephratah village. A man by the name of Me Lean kept the first English « hool.

Among the early marriages, if not the first in this town, was that of Christian Getman to Anna Timmerman, a widow lady, who, previous to her

marriage with Getman, had been shot and scalped by the Indians during the French war, but survived her wounds and raised a family of four athletic sons. The first lumber mills were built by John Snell and Geo. Getman, on Krum Kil Creek.

VILLAGES OF THE TOWN.

In 1803, Henry Yauney, who then owned and was operating a grist-mill on Garoga creek, purchased one hundred acres of land adjoining, and hand a portion of it platted into small lots, thus laying the foundation for the present village of EPHRATAH. In 1808 he built a saw-mill here, and in 1832, having previously removed his grist-mill, be created a wooden-mill on the same site. He was a captain in the war of 1812, and had command of the " Tillaborough Company " of about eighty men. He was afterward- major of New York State militia.

In IS10 Thos. A. Benedict built a store here and began the mercantile business. In 1812 Geo. Getman and Stephen Cogswell erected a distillery and also opened a store. Peter Schram built the first inn at the village, in 1815. The first tannery in the town was built here, at an early date, by Nicholas Gray. John Gray built the first blacksmith shop. This village now contains two churches-Methodist and Reformed-a hotel, a woolen- mill, a saw-mill, four stores, a tannery, a cheese factory, and about 400 in- habitants.

The woolen-mill of L. & D. Yauney is a large stone structure, 40 by 80 feet and 4 stories high, with a dye-house attached, 38 by 40 feet. It was erected in 1865 by the present proprietors, who commenced the manufar- ture of woolen goods the following year. The building is conveniently arranged, the first floor being used as a finishing department, the second for warping and weaving, the third for carding, and the fourth for spinning. It is furnished with three sets of cards. 920 spindles, and all other m.t- chinery in due proportion. It is run by water power and heated by stean.

The Ephratah Cheese Factory, located on the east border of the village, was erected in 1870 by a stock company, and was operated by them for about three years, when it became the individual property of Darius Gut- man. In 1876 it was purchased by the present proprietor, Ralph Sexton, who, during the season of 1877, manufactured over 130,000 lhs. of cheese. using the milk from an average of 420 cows, producing one pound of cheese for every ten pounds of milk, and receiving an average of about Sre per cwt. for his product. The building is 30 by 70 feet, two stories high .und covered with a tin roof. It contains two vats of the O'Neil patent, and twenty screw-power presses, with a capacity of making twenty cheese, of 65 pounds each, per day.

ROCKWOOD, situated on Garoga creek, near the east line of the town. has a population of about 300, and contains two churches-Methodist and union ; three stores, the principal one being owned by A. 1 .. Benjamin, who is also deputy-postmaster ; an unusually large and commodious hutel. kept by A, P'. Loomer ; the paper mill of Stahl & Young, who manuf.n . ture strawboard exclusively ; two saw -mills, a peg factory, a tannery and a glove factory. This place was formerly called Pleasant Valley, but upon the establishment of a post office here in 1850, the name was changed to Rockwood.

The first settlers in this immediate vicinity were families named l'etit. Herrington, Garfield and Nicloy, who located as early as too. Amon_ those who came in soon after were persons of the name of Orton, Simnion -. Halsted, Potter, Phillips, Dyc, Durfee and Dennis.

Mr. Halsted built the first saw mill at this village, about 1805. Mor.un Durfee and Ira Simmons erected the first carding mill, in 1815. Joseph Dennis built the first grist-mill, in 1816. Azel Hough opened the first store about 1826, and Thomas Simmons built and kept the first hotel 1831. Dr. Whitney was the first physician in this part of the town, has di. settled a mile or more southwest of Pleasant Valley in 1807.

Esserewant is situated near the west line of the town, and contains three stores, two churches-Methodist and union-a hotel. acheese f. t 41 and about two hundred inhalatants.

GYROGA is a small village located in the eastern part of the town. un Garoga creek, from which it took its name. It contains three small store - a hotel, a first class grist-mill, owned by 1. M. Everest, a saw-mill. a cheese far tory and about a dozen dwelling.

In the spring of 1875. Francis O. Porn purchased a large building which had been occupied as a hotel, converted it into a cheese factory, and com- menced the manufacture of cheese. He made the first year but 42,000

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HISTORY OF THE EPHRATAH CHURCH.

pounds; in 1876 the product reached 61,000 pounds, and for the season of 1877 the amount produced was over 90,000 pounds, requiring the milk from an'average number of 246 cows. In 1876, 10.15 pounds of milk made on an average one pound of cheese, and dairymen patronizing this factory realized a trifle over Si for each 100 pounds of milk.

About a mile southwest of Garoga, on the same creek, in a romantic spot called Jenks's Hollow, stands the paper-mill of Alonzo D. Trumbull. Mr. Jenks first built a paper-mill here in 1857, which was purchased by Mr. Trumbull in 1871, who, in 1873, erected a new mill and is now exten- sively engaged in the manufacture of strawboard paper, producing on an average 100 tons annually. Mr. Trumbull also owns and operates a saw- mill at this place.

CHURCH HISTORY.

THE TILLABOROUGH CHURCH LOT.

About two miles north of Ephratah village lies a lot of one hundred acres, known as the "Tillaborough church Int." This name is a cor- ruption of " Dillenburgh," a place in Germany from whence most of the early settlers are said to have. come. This lot (No. 13 of Magi-'s pur- chase was given by "Rev. John Ogilvie, clerk, and Isaae Lowe, merchant, both of the City of New York," by deed in trust, to Johannes Winkle, Jury Frey, Hendrick Herring and Philip Cool, for church and school pur- poses, Sept. 1st, 1757. on condition that "a church edifice be erected thereon within seventy years, for the worship of God according to the usage of any of. the reformed Protestant denominations in Europe or these provinces;" otherwise the land was to revert to the heirs of the donors.

On April 7th, 1823, a meeting was held at a school-house which had previously been erected on this lot, at which a religious society was formed, under the title of "The United Reformed Dutch and Lutheran Church of Tillaborough, in the Town of Palatine." Nicholas Smith, Philip Cool, Jacob Cool, Jacob Duesler and Peter Smith were elected trustees. In 1827 a small church was built on the lot, which, through neglect, is now in ruins. For the first few years this society was supplied by the Lutheran and Re- formed ministers of Stone Arabia. From about 1830 to 1840 Rev. John J. Wack preached to them and had the rentals of the land, but at the end of that time he was ejected, and for years the church was used but little, and the rents amounted to nothing. Trustees, however, were elected every year by the people of the neighborhood. On Feb. 1st, 1866-the original society having become inactive-a new united Lutheran and Reformed Church was organized, which attempted to take the control of these lands from the former elected trustees. This produced a lawsuit, which resulted in the trustees holding the lot, and the new church soon after died out a> an organization. On March 13th, 1876, the trustees obtained a permit from the Supreme Court of this State to sell the lands, invest the proceeds. and expend the interest therefrom for religious services in the school-houses in distriets number 4 and 11 of the town of Ephratah. The lot is not yet sold, but the income from rents, is used to support preaching in the above named school-houses. Trustees continued to be elected annually, on the second Tuesday in April. The present board consists of Benj. and Edward Duesler, Henry Cretser, Philip Cool and Wallace MeLaughlin. Treasurer, Soloman Gray ; clerk, Nathaniel Chrisman.

THE " SIX PRINCH'LE BAPTIST " SOCIETY.

Probably the first organization of a religious character within the present limits of the town of Ephratah was that of a sect known as the " Si Principle Baptists," where creed was the wis things named in Hebrew . vi. 1-2, viz .: Repentance from dead works, tanith toward God, the doctrine of baptisms, of repentance, fire and suffering; laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead. and eternail judgment. They originated in Rhode Island about the year 1700. At one time they had thirty-nie churches in thi country five in S. ) . but in 1867 they reported only eighteen churches. and 3.000 members, and are still more redineed at the present time. . 1 society of this persuasion, composed of thirty-one members, was formed at Pleasant Valley now Rockwood May 2d, 1828, as the " Palatine Branch " of a church of like faith at Amsterdam; and for several years was tami- tered to, at intervals only, by Res. Ezra Allen, Rev. James T. Joslin, and

Rev. William Groom. On the toth of June, 1830, they were re-organized as an independent church, having thirty-nine members, under the title of " The Six Principle Baptist Church of Christ." The Rev. William Thomp- son became their first regular pastor January 29th, 1831.

It appears that soon after this many of the members of this society begin to entertain the views of, and grow into sympathy with, the regular Baptist denomination; for upon the formation of the Otsego Baptist Association, on March 20th, 1834, the Six Principle Baptist church of Pleasant Valley almost unanimously (there being but two dissenters joined that body, changing their name, creed, and articles of faith in conformity therewith. The society has since been known as

THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF PLEASANT VALLEY.

In December, 1835, Erastus Miner was ordained and installed as the first pastor of this new church. The following is a complete list of the different pastors, with the date of their coming, from Rev. Mr. Miner's time to the present: Rev. Daniel Robinson, April, 1839; Rev. Jame- S. McCollum, May ist, 1842; Rev. E. G. R. Joslin supply , August 5th, 1843; Rev. Jos. K. Barry, March 3d, 1844; Rev. Homer Clark, May ist, 1845; Rev. E. D. Towner, August 10th, 1846; Rev. George W. Abrams, May ist. 1861; Rev. Hezekiah West, August tst, 1863; Rev. William Brown, May Ist, 1867; Rev. Roswell Collins, May ist, 1870; Rev. R. D. Pierce, April 5th. 1872; Rev. David Peck. July 6th, 1874; Rev. George W. Abrams, November 3d, 1877. This society occupied the Union church building, alternating with the Methodist society, until 1842, since which time it has been kept in repair, improved, and occupied exclusively by the Baptists. The present membership is 70.

THE UNION SOCIETY OF PLEASANT VALLEY.

This society was organized January 24th, 1834, by the election of Joseph Dennis, Rouse Simmons, Dutee Joslin, Robert Weaver, Chauncey Orton and Azel Hough as a board of trustees, and was soon after incorporated under the above title. The religious denominations represented in this union were the "Six Principle Baptist," Methodist Episcopal, Bapti-t regular and Presbyterian. In 1833 the present Union church of Rock- wood was erected by this society, and the records of that date show .mn amicable allotment of time, whereby the Six Principle Baptists were to have the privilege of occupying the building every Sunday forenoon; the balance of the time meaning Sunday afternoon being apportioned as tul- lows: to the M. E. society, 22 Sundays; to the Baptist, 18; and to the Presbyterian, 12 Sundays in the year. This arrangement, however, be- came inoperative years ago, as the Presbyterian society ceased to evil, the Methodists built a church of their own and the Six Principle Baptist, merged into the regular Baptists. The title to the church property te- mains unchanged, but the building is at present occupied exclusively by the Baptists, there being no other church organization in the place except the Methodist.

THE M. E. CHURCH OF ROCK WOOD.

The history of this church is, to a great extent. identical with that of the M. E. church of Ephratah village, both having always been under the same charge; in other words, they are but two branches of the same church. At an early day the people throughout the town, adhering to the tenets of this denomination, were accustomed to assemble on the sabbath in private dwellings for religious worship, and ministers from johnstown and Gloversville preached to them at irregular intervals until 1833 In that year the Union church at Pleasant Valley was built, after which to _ 1- lar services were held here in connection with the church at Johnstown Their first pastor was Kes. Stephen Parks, who also filled appointments at Ephratah village, Keck's Center, Garoga Lake and North Bush

On the 24th of January. 1842, a complete and permanent organization was effected, with a membership of 45. The following persons web. It the same time, elected as trustees: George Jeffers, Giles > Day, Peber Simmons and Peter R. Simmons, This society was immediately mentper- ated as " The Methodist Episcopal Church of Pleasant Valley " It at ane commenced the erection of a church edifice, which was completed the

224

THE HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.

same year and consecrated by the Rev. S. L. Stillinan of Albany. The first pastor of the new church was Rev. James Connor, who was followed successively by Dillon Stevens, M. Townsend, J. Quinlan, A. Mosher, B. Isbell, O. E. Spicer, Henry Williams, James Tubbs, C. A. Anderson, N. Whitman, L. Warner, J. C. Walker, A. Robins, T. F. Hannah, E. E. Tay- lor, William J. Sands, Henry White. Milton Taylor, M. D. Jump, H. Har- ris, Joel Hall, Legrand Jones and D. M. C. Shell, the present incumbent. This circuit retained the name of " Pleasant Valley " until the erection, in 1861, of the M. E. church edifice at Ephratah village, when it was changed to the "Rockwood and Ephratah Charge."

THE LASSELLSVILLE M. E. CHURCH.

The M. E. church at Lassellsville was built in 1839. Services are held here once in two weeks by Rev. Mr. Van Valkenburg, of St. Johnsville, to which circuit this church belongs.

LASSELLSVILLE UNION CHURCH.

The Union church of Lassellsville was erected, in 1839, by the united efforts of the Presbyterian, Lutheran, Dutch Reformed, Baptist . 1 Uni- versalist societies, and dedicated January 11th, 1840. It is at present occupied exclusively by the "Christian " denomination.

THE REFORMED CHURCH OF EPHRATAH.

The beginning of this church was the organization of a religious society March 17th, 1823, at the school-house in District No. 9 of the town of Palatine, by the election of the following trustees: Peter G. Getman, Thos. Davies. James Getman, Philip Kring, William Lassell, Jonathan Selter, Timothy Riggs, Chauncey Hutchinson and Caleb Johnson; clerk, James W. Johnson. This society was duly incorporated, one week later, under the name of "The First Presbyterian Church and Society of the Town of Palatine." The Rev. Elisha Yale, of Kingsboro, who had been the prime mover in its formation, preached to the congregation occasionally for the first year. Rev. Caleb Knight became their first regular pastor, June 20th, 1824 His first meeting was held in the school-house at Lassellsville. His stipend was fixed at $275 per annum for three-fourths of the time; the highest subscription to which was Sto; the lowest, a bushel of rye. He remained two years, preaching in the various school-houses. Upon his removal the society became inactive, and at length the meetings ceased entirely, the last one being held in September, 1827. In 1829 Dr. Solomon Cummings, the last clerk and a leading member of the late society, together with a few others, commenced the erection of a church edifice at Ephratah village.

On July 2d, 1832, a new organization-composed largely of members of the former society-was effected, under the title of " The Presbyterian and Reformed Dutch Church of Ephratah." John S Lasher, John Jacob Snell and Christian Suits were elected elders; and Peter Putnam and Moses Suits deacons. Rev. Isaac $ Ketcham. of Stone Arabia, became their first pastor, preaching every Sunday afternoon. He remained till September, 1836, and was followed in 1837 by Rev. B. B. Westfall, who officiated one year only. Rev. John Robb came next, in 1841, and con- tinned about eighteen months. In 1844 Rev. Charles Jukes was called to the charge, in conjunction with the Stone Arabia church He was suc- ceeded in 1850 by Rev. John C. Van Liew. In April of that year this society was incorporated as " The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of

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History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 72

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