History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 73

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 73
USA > New York > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 73

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Ephratah." The consistory at that time was composed of James G. Van Voast, Peter (. Getman, and l'eter Putnam, elders; and James Yauney and James Edwards, deacons. Mr. Van Liew remained until 1856, and was followed the next year by Rev. John P. Westervelt, who continued till 1859, after which the church was without a pastor for five years, but was served occasionally by Revs. George H. Henlings, Miles G. Merwin, and James Abell. In 1864 the Rev. W. H. Smith took charge of the congrega- tion, being succeeded in 1868 by Rev. G. M. Compton. The present pastor, Rev. W. B. Van Benschoten, A.M., entered upon his labors May Ist, 1872. He is a native of Dutchess county, N. Y., and a graduate of Rutgers College. In 1876, under his ministrations, eighty-seven new mem- bers were added to the church. The present membership is 144. The Sabbath-school numbers 9; scholars. Present cousistory: W. B. Van Ben- schoten, pastor; James Getman, Oliver Suits, James E. Van Voast, and James H. Hager, elders; Hiram Lighthall, Benjamin F. Snell, John 1. Fraley, and Daniel Yauney, deacons. Board of trustees: John F. Emple, Solomon Gray, Peter Dockstader, John F. Putnam, and Philip Sponable.

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

ABRAM DURFEE, born in Rhode Island, July 8th, 1789, settled at Pleasant Valley in 1815, and the same year, in company with Ira Simmons, erected the first carding-mill at this place; shortly after, he bought the entire interest in this mill, and continued the business alone until his death, May roth, 1842. On February 27th, 1817, he married Jane McBeath, who was born in Perthshire, Scotland, June 27th, 1795, and died August 17th, 1874. Daniel M. Durfee, a son of Abram Durfee, was born in Pleasant Valley, Fulton county, N. Y., February 16th, 1831, and in 1852 succeeded his father in business. February 22d, 1866, he married Mary A., daughter of Judge J. L. Hutchinson, of Pleasant Valley. Mr. Durfee is at present engaged in the manufacture of gloves and mittens.

ELI DENNIS was a son of Joseph Dennis, who removed with his family from Saratoga county to Pleasant Valley in 1816. The same year he erected the first grist-mill at the place, and soon after built a saw-mill. He remained here, in active business, until his death in 1846, and was sue- ceeded by his son, Eli Dennis, who was born in Galway, Saratoga county, N. Y., November 7th, 1815, coming to this place with his father in 1816, where he resided nearly his entire life, an influential and respected citizen. He died March 26th, 1871. When it became necessary, in 1850, to change the name of Pleasant Valley, many of the inhabitants wished to call it " Dennisville," in honor of Eli Dennis and his father Joseph, but to this Mr. Dennis modestly objected, and proposed the name of Rockwood, which was afterwards adopted. On the 6th of May, 1844, he married Mary 1. Kennedy, who was born at Clifton Park, Saratoga county, N. Y., August roth, 1817. Mrs. Dennis, with her amiable and accomplished daughter. still resides at the old homestead. A view of their beautiful residence m.v be seen on another page of this work.

JOHN E. BURDICK, M.D., was born in the town of Johnstown, Fulton county, N. Y., October 29th, 1838. His rudimental education was oli- tained at the West Bush district school and Johnstown Academy. Alter teaching a few terms in his native town, he entered his name April 1st. 1858, as a medical student with his uncle, Dr. Burdick of Johnstown. and graduated from the Albany Medical College May 28th, 1863, when, after eleven months' service with his former tutor at Johnstown. he settled .it Rockwood in April, 1864, and began in earnest the practice of his protes. sion, where he still remains, the leading physician and surgeon of the place.

PHYSICAL FEATURES OF MAYFIELD-ITS FIRST INHABITANTS.

225

THE TOWN OF MAYFIELD.

Mayfield was set off as a town from Caughnawaga, March 12th, 1793. and became fully organized as such on the first day of April. 1794, when it elected its first officers, and set the wheels of town government in motion. The town of Wells, which is now a part of Hamilton county, was taken off from Mayfield in 1805, and in 1812 another portion was annexed to that town, and in 1842 a part of the south end was annexed to the town of Perth. The surface of Mayfield is very broken in the northern part by mountains rising, some of them to the height of nearly or quite 2,000 feet. The central and southern section is rolling and susceptible of cultivation, and has some very fine farms. Kennyetto creek runs through the south- east corner of the town, and Anthony creek from the west line to near the centre, where it empties into the Mayfield creek, which takes its rise in the northern part of the town, runs down through the centre, across the line, and empties into the Sacondaga Vlaie at Summer House Point. Stony creek runs through the northeast corner of the town, and Cranberry creek along the east line into the Vlaie. The Mayfield patent was granted June 27th, 1770, and from this the town derives its name. It contains a part of the Mayfield, Glen, Bleecker and Lansing. Kingsboro, Sacondaga. Kaya- drosseras, Claus and MeLeod patents. The town contains a little over 38,000 acres of land.

The principal products of the town are lime, buckwheat, potatoes, hay and lumber. The limestone quarries are owned by a few individuals, and the lime produced from them is said to be equal in value to any in the State. From fifteen to twenty thousand dollars is about the annual average receipts for this product. Large quantities of buckwheat are annually sold to flour dealers outside of the town. Hay is shipped in considerable quantities to New York and elsewhere each year. Potatoes are raised to quite an extent, and raisers find ready sale at good prices in the large villages to the southwest. The lumber business is not as extensive as it has been in years past, yet it furnishes employment and support for a large number of men and their families.

This town has no battle fields, forts, legends, or Indian mementoes. other than the trails which led through the town, and along which the first white settlers located. There were two main trails, one from Johns- town, leading through Riceville to Dennte Hullow, Cranberry Creek, and so on north to the upper Sacondaga ; and the other crossing the town a little south of its center, and known afterwards as the Sacondaga road, over which Sir William Johnson traveled from Johnstown to Summer House Point. During the Revolutionary war, many depredations were committed by Indians and tories along these roads, causing women and children to suffer the penalty for a loyal husband and father defending his country.

SETTLING THE TOWN.

The first settlement was made about 1760, under Sir William Johnson, on the old road from Tribes Hill to the Sacondaga, and was then called Philadelphia Bush-one or more of the carfiest mbalntants having come from Philadelphia or vicinity. The names of some of the first white set- tlers in the town are Dunham. Woodworth, Bishop, Grover, Romeyn, Mr.Nitt. Hosmer, Wells, Williamson, M Quein, Green. Par-ell, Dovenor, Christie and Denme. Some of these were from scotland, and some from Connecticut. The inhabitants after the war were descendants of the above-numed, together with families of Courtney, Brown, Ander-on-, Shadder ks, Dulyses, Me Kmlays. Seymour, Hurry Newtons, Van Burens, Galors, Jon ksons, Vails, Bemaves, Me Dougals. Knapps, and others. Most of the settlers were farmers, but some were more or less

accustomed to different trades, and were enabled to accommodate their farmer neighbors. In most instances, the deeds given to early settlers are lost, or they never had any. Few can be found, and in the days of the settlers but very few deeds were recorded as at the present day. The oldest deed accessible relates to the lands sold by the State, and was given by the Commissioners of Forfeiture to Gershom Woodworth, in 1786. It is the deed of the farm first occupied by Truman Christie, and now owned by H. H. Woodworth, where also the first log house was built, as well as the first orchard set out by Christie. Tradition says this is one of the earliest settled farms in the town, it being upon one of the Indian trails. Col. A. J. Banks, living a mile and a half north of May- field village, owns another that was on the same trail, and then occupied by Nicholas Dennie. Micah Hegeman owns another farm, just north of the village, which was on the same trail, and was occupied by Mr. Dun- ham. where the Indians and tories committed some of their most cowardly and inhuman outrages.

Malcom Stewart early opened a tailor's shop in the upper part of the building known as Titcomb's row, in Mayfield village. Malcom was a jolly Scotchman, fond of hunting, fishing, and trying to see himself in the bottom of a drinking cup.

The first land grant or patent lying in this town, was a tract of 14,000 acres granted to Achilles Preston and others, a portion of which is the farm now owned and occupied by Francis Bishop, about two miles northi of the village of Mayfield. This tract was granted on the roth day of June, 1770, and surveyed by Alexander Colden, surveyor-general. Nov. 8th, 1806, this Bishop farm was deeded by James Reynolds, of Columbia coun- ty, N. Y., to Luke Woodworth, of Mayfield. Nov. 15th, 1796, Cyrenus Woodworth and wife gave a deed to Luke Woodworth of the farm now owned by P. N. Gray, supposed to be a part of the above 14,000 acre tract, as it adjoins the Bishop farm.

Solomon Woodworth was born in the State of Connecticut in 1730, or two or three years later. He came to Mayfield with his brother Selah, and purchased a tract of land southeast of what is now the village of Mayfield, which contained the farms now owned by Jefferson Brooks and B. B. Van- denburgh. His brother, finding the Indians and tories a little too trouble- some for his quiet nature, tried to get Solomon to return with him to Con- necticut until the war was over. But Solomon was not to be driven away so easily. He located his residence on the Brooks farm, and on the other, but a short distance from his house, he built a log stockade for defence, into which himself and wife retired when threatened by the enemy. He was soon known as the leader of the little band of patriots that gathered around him, and his bravery won for him the most intense hatred of the tories in this town, as well as the ardent esteem of the few who loved free- dom more than British gold. The allies of British oppression soon became quite troublesome, and Mr. Woodworth took the precaution to stay in his httle fort during the night time. Here in the winter of 1780 he was at- tucked by a party of Indians. He was likely to run short of bullets, and his faithful wife laid her little child by the fire, and with the spirit that characterized heroines of that time, ran bullets as fast as her husband coukl shoot. The result was the retreat of the Indians and tories with one wounded. Early in the morning Capt. Woodworth rallied a few of his band, followed the retreating party for three days, and at length surprised and killed there al.

Immediately itter this successful expedition, Woodworth was appointed lieutenant in a company of nine months men. At the expiration of this term, in the year 178t, he was appointed captain for the purpose of form- ing a company of Rangers to explore the woods. He at once raised a

226

THE HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.

company of able-bodied soldiers, all well armed and equipped. From Fort Dayton-now the village of Herkimer-he started, at the head of his little band, in a northerly direction to range the woods and make discov- eries. But he had been out only a few hours when one of his foremost men discovered an Indian in ambush, and fired upon him. They instantly found themselves surrounded by a band of redskins, outnumbering them two to one. A short but bloody and decisive conflict ensued. Captain Woodworth was killed, and out of the 41 men only 15 escaped; all the rest were either killed or taken prisoners. Mr. Dunham, who then lived where Mr. Hagaman now lives, was one of Woodworth's men who escaped. He lived many years after to tell of " the times that tried men's souls."

The first brick building erected in this town is the one in which Alex- ander Mckinlay has always lived. It was built by his father, John McKiolay, in 1805, and is still as good as new.

Wheat was first raised in the town on the farm now occupied by Francis Wells, Esq., on the south side of the village of Mayfield, on the hill in the rear of Mr. S. B. Mercer's place, and tradition says that this was one of the first clearings in the town. Wheat, corn, beans and potatoes were the principal crops in the days of Sir William Johnson.

Agricultural implements were scarce and poor. Wooden plows, har- rows of wood, teeth and all, and a wood sled, were the outfit of a well-to- do farmer in those days. Very soon after the war, when farmers were no longer afraid of tories and Indians, they began to improve their farms and stock, and have at the present day as good stock and implements as any in the State.

FIRST TOWN MEETING.

The following officers were chosen at the first town meeting in the town of Mayfield, held at the log meeting-house about three miles south of Mayfield village, on the first Tuesday, being the first day, of April, 1794: Supervisor, Selah Woodworth ; assessors, John Grover, Robert Jackson and Joseph Newton ; collector, Caleb Woodworth ; constables, Caleb Woodworth and Adamn Backer.

ROADS AND BRIDGES.

The first survey of roads was made on the 15th day of April, 1794, and sanctioned by the commissioners of highways on the 7th of May.

Bridges were also built during 1794, and previous to that, one was built across the Mayfield creek at what is now Shawville, and one at Vail's Mills.

Luke Woodworth was the first resident surveyor in this town, and was employed, soon after coming to Mayfield, hy its officers in the survey of roads and town boundaries. He was, about that time, employed by the State as deputy surveyor under Simeon De Witt, surveyor-general.

GRAVEYARDS.

There are about fifty burial grounds in Mayfield, many of which show evidence of having been occupied in the early history of the town ; the oldest is on the farm owned and occupied by W. D. Woodworth, at Wood- worth's Cornets. There is but one cemetery in the town organized under the lawsof New York for 1847. It is known as the " Union Rural Cemetery " and located just south of the village of Mayfield. The officers of the ass- ciation are elected annually. The first officers were chosen on the 14th day of thetober, 1872. as follows : President, Rev. Jeremiah Wand ; Vice- president, Jame- Denne ; treasurer, John ( . Titcomb : secretary, Will.im 1. Shaw ; trustees, Alonso ] Banks, William Jackson, Jeremiah Wood, James Denne : John C. Fitcomb and William H shaw.

SCHOOLS.

The schools of this town previous to 1991 were but few and scattering. Only three school-houses are mentioned in the town records of that duit. One wayon the farm now occupied by Mr-, Patterson, near the center of the town, and another somewhere in the southern part. The third was situated at or near what is now known as Woodworth's Corner,, and the school was taught by AAllen Fraser about the year 179. Some of the

pupils attending this school were, Sarah Woodworth, Eliza Romyne, John Romyne and Rosannah Woodworth. The last named is the only survivor. Soon after, other district schools were established, and there are now seventeen districts in the town. In 1797, July 5, the school money allotted by the county of Montgomery was $167.57, while in 1877 it was nearly $1,800. The early school-houses were made of logs, notched together at the corner of the building, with a door in the middle of one side, a small window in each end, and the cracks between the logs filled in with mud. The school-houses of Mayfield village at the present day compare favorably with those of other towns of its size in the State.

SUNDRY BUSINESS BEGINNINGS.

The earliest grist or four mill erected in this town, according to old records and tradition of reliable character, was on the site now occupied by Edward A. Elphie's grist-mill. It was erected in 1773 by Sir William Johnson, and during the war it was no doubt burned. The mill property was confiscated during the war, and sold at its close to a son of Rev. Dr. Romeyn, who rebuilt the mill and put it in operation. It was known as Romeyn's mills, on the Romeyn creek, as late as 1795, about which time the property passed into the hands of one Bogert, who kept it a number of years, and from him to one Zule, then to a Mr. Stanley, then to Sidney Chase, and from him to the present owner. This mill has two run of stone, one bolt, and all the latest improvements for making a first quality of flour, meal and feed. It is located near the center of the town, on Mayfield creek, at what is now known as Shawville, half a mile south of the village of Mayfield.

Each of three saw-mills is claimed to have been the first in the town : Hathaway's, at Shawville; Vail's, at Vail's Mills, and one formerly standing at Woodworth's Corners. Records of road districts in [796, or thereabout .. as well as tradition, indicate the first named as the earliest.

Oliver Rice was the first to build a clothier's mill in this town. It was at Riceville, where he lived, located on the Mayfield creek and built in or about the year 1795. Mr. Rice conducted the business until about 1830. when it was given up by him and the property went to decay. No other mill of the kind has been built in the town.

Josiah Wood built and operated a foundry at Riceville in 1815. He did quite a large business ; he was an active, energetic man, not easily daunted by obstacles. Mr. Wood also built a grist-mill at the same time and place, together with a saw-mill, over all of which he had a personal oversight. But at last he had to succumb to the terrible financial and business crash caused by the litigations between Messrs. Clark and Clan- cey, owners of most of the property at Riceville in their time.

There was also a skin mill there at the same time with the establishment> mentioned, and for several years later, but it finally went to deray. In 1866 or 1867 Moses Kinney Imilt a skin mill on the site nf the old clothier's mill. About 1868 or 1869 Mr. Genrge C. Allen built a skin mill on the site of the first mentioned, south of the highway. Each mill has two set ut double stocks. They are operated by their respective owners, and are du- ing a prosperous business.

Flavel Bartlett is acknowledged by all to have been the first to start the tanning business in this town. His little tannery was on the lot now ownol by Mr .. Elizabeth Bartlett in the village of Mayfield. It was built about the year 1795. and discontinued about 1825. From that little beginnin _. larger establishments have grown up and had their day. Jackson Summit tannery has been closed for two years, as well as the one at Vail's Mill- Both there have done a large business. There are but two in operation . : present, William Kennadas, in the northeast part of the town, and kent & Co's at Woolworth's Corners. In 1850 Josiah M. Danforth built a tan- nery at Woodworth's Corner for tanning upper leather. He soon wald i to Witham Wallace, who after running it two years sold to Kassen and Johnson, and they after a year or more to Kent & Stevens, who tanned! 9.000 Jaren sheep skin by a new process, and in one year sold to Kent & Co., who are still operating the concern.

The first store was opened in this town about the year 1800, by Wilh.m Mcconnell, some two miles southwest of Mayfield, at Wilkins Corners. in the house now occupied by John J. Wilkins. Mh Connell kept quite an assortiment of goods for those days, and of course the ever-present whichis played an important part. Soon after Mr. Otis started a store at the v I lage of Mayfield, as it is now called. McConnell kept up his store until

Res. of JAMES, and A.M. INTYRE STEWART, Pormer Rest of JOHN STEWART, DECEASED). TOWN OF JOHNSTOWN, FULTON CO. N. Y.

RES. OP. CAPT: W. H. SHAW, SHAWVILLE, TOWN OF MAYFIELD, FULTON; CO., N.Y.

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"MOUNT HALCROW" Res. of WH HALL near Fonda N. Y.

RES. OF MICAH HEGEMAN, TOWN OF MAYFIELD, FULTON CO., N. Y.

227 €

INDUSTRIAL BEGINNINGS IN MAYFIELD-VILLAGES OF THE TOWN.

about 1830. Previous to its opening the inhabitants were obliged to go to Johnstown for all their trade. mostly on foot, or horseback, as there was no road but Indian and tory trails.

At the present time there are nine stores in the town, all doing a pros- perous business.

In the early settlement of this town, taverns were unknown as a place for the accommodation of the pubhe, and not until the year isos do we find any record of such an institution. In that year the town meeting was held at the inn of William Van Buren Tradition, which seems to be reli- able, says that Ebenezer Woodworth kept the first tavern in the town, in the building now occupied by David Getman, Esq., in the village of May- field. Elisha Stone kept a tavern near the centre of the town for several years, but it was closed about 1863. There are at present two hotels in the town, one at Mayfield Corners and the other at Vail's Mills.

John Mckinlay was the first blacksmith of whom there is any authentic record. He came from Scotland in 1783, and commenced business imme- diately. In a few years after, William Williams worked at the trade at Wilkins Corners. Edward Kinnicutt came into Mayfield, from Pittstown, N. Y., in 1801, and opened a blacksmith shop about a mile and a half north of the village. Among the early blacksmiths were the firm of Smith & Billingham, who carried on quite an extensive business at Mayfield vil- lage, and such was the physique of Billingham that he was named by the earlier settlers and known through life a> " Old Vulcan." There are now three blacksmiths in the town.

The first and only distillery ever erected in this town was built in or about the year 1805, at Riceville, by Clark & . Clancey, who did a large business for a few years, buying up all the grain used in their business in this and adjoining towns. At that time all the wheat and corn needed for home use was raised on the spot, while at present nearly or quite all the four used is imported. Clark & Clancey's distillery went to decay, sharing the fate of other property in Riceville at that time.

Weaving in early times was mostly done by the "gude housewife" and the grown-up daughters; but in 1800 a Mr. Snyder came into the town, whose wife, Eveline, was a professional weaver, and could pily the shuttle a little better than the best. She soon had all the work she could do, and in this way supported a large family, as her husband was unable to contribute any - thing for their support. They lived on the hill south of Anthonyville.

The first physician who settled in the town was Lazarus Tucker. He came from Connecticut about 1;90, and located on the place where John Laird now lives, in the village of Mayfield. He was of the old school, as. in those days, science had not developed any thing better. His successors have been quite numerous, and at present Mayfield boasts of three well- known M.D.'s-Johnston, Vanderpool and Drake

Of early lawyers, there were David and William Kennedy. John stewart and William ( White. The first two, who are brothers, still live near where they were born, in the south end of the town.

POST OFFICES AND ROUTES

A post route was established in 1819 between Maxfield and Broadalbin. Collin, Odell was appointed postmaster, and carried the mails tor the first two years, on horseback, between the two plices, for fifty cents per week Soon after a post office was established at Cranberry Creek, with Samuel A. Gilbert postmaster, and then the route ran trom Broadalbin to Fish House, Cranberry Creek, Mayfield village, and across again to Broadathin Previous to this time, the mail head-quarters was at Squire Vi C'onnell's store, and the neighbor- would take turns going to Johnstown after the mail. When Il. H Woodworth reached twelve years of age, he had to go in ji,we of lu- tather He went on foot, nie miles, following du Indian trail, as no wagon road was built at that time and the region was wilder- new most of the way. A post office was afterwards established at Rice- ville, but soon removed to Mayfield Comer- On the igth of july. 1861. a post office was established at Las kon Sament, with WHI Show post- master-the mail to be carried between that place and Mayfield Corners twice a week, without compensation. The office was discontinued about the close of the war. in 1865.

The Gloversville and Northville Railroad runs through the center of the town It has but one station, half a mile south of Mayfield village, at Shawville. I'rom this station the mails are delivered to contractors, and taken to Mayfield village twelve times per week, also to Broadalbin, Vail',

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History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 73

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