USA > New York > Schoharie County > History of Schoharie County, New York : with illusustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 26
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"Fortwenty-seven years meetings were held in dwelling-houses, school-houses and barns.
"The minutes of the Rensselaerville Associa- tion say that the Jefferson church was a mem- ber of that body up to 1818.
"The Summit church belonged to that Asso- ciation in 1820.
"The town of Summit was formed from Jef. ferson and Cobleskill in 1819.
"Probably, therefore, the old Jefferson church took the name of Summit church immediately after the organization of the township."
In a foot-note they say :-
" Thirty-nine members were dismissed from the Summit church to join the new constituted church in Jefferson." In another foot-note they say :- "The Jefferson church joined the Association this session," (1828). So the old Jefferson church was the parent of the Summit church, and the Summit church the parent of the present Jefferson church, inasmuch as thirty-nine of her constituent members were from the Summit church.
"April 15, 1826, a council was called to ordain James Ingals.
"The Summit church was a member of the Worcester Association in incipient organization, October 14, 1830.
"Incorporated under the name of the First Baptist Church of Summit. Recorded in County Clerk's book, at page 1 of Religious Corporations, December 14, 1831.
"In 1832 the nieeting-house was erected, and a general meeting was appointed for its opening the third Wednesday in November.
"Reckoning 1840 as the first decade the smallest number of members were fifty-seven; largest, one hundred and seven ; average, eighty-nine.
"The following were the pastors :-
J. Smith,
E. Spafford,
A. Butler,
I. Powers.
"The following served as Deacons :-
Joseph Lincoln, J. S. Martin.
"The following served as Clerks :-
E. Osborn,
E. Northrup.
"The first Licentiate :-
Harvey Cornell, July, 1837.
"Second decade from 1840 to 1850 :-
"Our history is incomplete. The largest num- ber ascertained is one hundred and twenty-one in 1843. In 1844 a notable difficulty occurred which sorely tried the lovers of Zion. Church action began in January and continued to August, 1845.
"In 1850 voted that we raise $100 to paint and repair our house.
"The following were the pastors :-
I. Powers,
H. Maine,
C. Preston,
C. Purrett.
"The following served as Deacons :-
H. Van Buren,
J. S. Martin.
"The following served as Clerks :-
E. Northrup,
D. L. Rider.
"In 1845, December 10th, C. Preston was or- dained.
"Third decade, from 1850 to 1860 :-
"Our information is meager. The number reached one hundred and twenty-seven ; aver- age, ninety-five.
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HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
"The following were pastors :-
F. Jones, E. Spafford, W. Covey, R. H. Spafford, H. Cornell.
"The following served as Deacons :- J. S. Martin, H. Van Buren.
"The following served as Clerks :---
D. L. Rider, A. Fancher,
H. Lincoln.
L. J. Lincoln was licensed, July 25, 1855.
"Fourth decade, from 1860 to 1870 :--
"The church gained in numbers and in- fluence. Average, one hundred and nine.
"The following were the pastors :-
H. Cornell,
J. Lyon,
D. Corwin,
W. M. Hallock.
"The following served as Deacons :-
L. H. Robbins,
A. Fancher.
"The following served as Clerks :-
H. Lincoln,
D. G. Mann, B. F. Wilcox.
"From 1870 to 1879 :-
"The following were the pastors :
W. M. Hallock,
J. Smith,
I. Powers.
"The following served as Deacons :-
L. H. Robbins,
B. W. Gage.
"The following served as Clerks :- B. F. Wilcox, W. C. Hicks.
"Meeting-house rebuilt in1878, and dedicated November 27th, same year. Present pastor,
-
I. Powers. Present number, one hundred and thirty-one; average, one hundred and twenty. Whole expense of building, $2,500.
"Her dead outnumber her living. Of the pioneers on this field (clergy and laity) not one remains. Of twenty original names on present record, one only (E. Osborn) is known to be living. Of the forty-seven baptized here between 1840 and 1843, twenty-seven only are living. Twenty gone to swell the chorus of the skies. On this field they struggled for the right, fought for the true, have won and wear the crown.
" Not lost, but gone before; The Bible was their guide; They toiled, they watched, in faith they pray'd- . They're safe for evermore, Safe on the other side."
The Second Baptist Church was located at Summit village, and was organized in 1839 with twenty members, principally resident members of the Jefferson or parent church. The now deserted edifice was built in 1840, and regu- lar meetings were there held for several years, but the society becoming small, in 1878 they were discontinued. But very few of the original members are now living. The first pastor was Rev. Ingraham Powers, who was thereafter con- nected in pastorate with the First Baptist Church of Charlotteville.
The Reformed Church of Eminence .- This society was organized by the classis of Scho- harie in 1831, and re-organized January 30, 1855, under the pastorate of Rev. W. G. E. See. The church edifice was commenced in 1833 by the Reformed Society, and for its com- pletion and interest on the debt incurred it was sold to the Methodists, by whom it was finished, and occupied by both societies until 1854. At that time the Methodists built a new one across the street in Blenheim, and the Presbyterians repaired the old building and have occupied it since. The first pastor was Rev. William Sals- bury, of Jefferson, and was followed by Revs. Lee, Shaver and Miller.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Summit. is a spirited organization, but we have been un- able to procure a historical sketch of the same, from the fact that upon each visit the records
1 1
163
TOWN OF SUMMIT.
were not accessible, owing to absence of the official in whose keeping they were placed, and the forgetfulness of those who were entrusted with the task of giving the points of history.
The Free Methodist Church of Charlotteville. -This society has the honor of being the first organization of the kind in the County. The first meeting for the election of trustees was held March 16, 1878, and the following were chosen :-
D. L. Rider,
George Berner, William N. Eckerson, Sylvester Truax.
William A. Hawks was the first pastor, and was succeeded by the present incumbent, Rev. R. M. Snyder.
The edifice was built the same year of the organization, and is a neat structure that adds much to the appearance of the place. It is to be hoped that the societies of this order will exert such an influence over other denominations as to cause their church seats to become free, that all the poor as well as the rich, may enter the house of God and sit to worship without paying " tribute to Cæsar," inasmuch as that Christian idea is the ground-work of their or- ganization.
The Lutheran Church of Summit .- The edi- fice in which this society worships is at Luther- anville in the west part of the town, in the midst of an industrious and prosperous com- munity. The organization was effected in 1823 through the labors of its first pastor, the worthy George Lintner. In 1836 the church building was erected and remodeled in 1858, and will seat three hundred and fifty. The first officers were from the Neer, Lape, Fredindal and Mor- rison families, the first settlers of the neighbor- hood. The pastors were as follows :-
Rev. George Lintner,
P. G. Cole, - Slimser, Nicholas Van Alstine, Benjamin Diefendorf, (eighteen years), Samuel Bruce, J. S. Paul,
S. W. Young, at present officiating.
The Lutheran Church of Beard's Hollow .- This church is under the Frankean Synod, and was organized May 6, 1865. The edifice was built in 1862, by the Baptists and Lutherans in union, but was purchased by the latter Febru- ary 16, 1867. The first deacons were David Dox and George Lape, and at the time of the purchase of the property, Samuel Hodson, Robert S. Fuller and David Dox, were trustees. The only regular pastors that have performed service here were Samuel Bruce and Jacob S. Paul. Other pastors have occasionally preached as supply.
BEARD'S HOLLOW.
While here, we will refer to this place, as having been the first settled in the eastern part of the town. Killian Ritter we are assured set- tled here as early as 1794, and was soon followed by Jacob Beard, who settled in that portion of the valley, now lying in the town of Richmond- ville. We will speak of the whole in connec- tion with Summit.
Jacob Beard was a German and settled upon the farm now occupied by Hiram Mann about the year 1795. Here he reared a family of four sons, John, Andrew, Jacob and Philip, and it was from this family the valley derived its name. In 1802 Michael, the father of the present David Dox and progenitor of the different families found in the hollow, settled, being a son of George Dox, Sr., who settled at Richmondville, as stated in that chapter of this work.
In 1800 an extensive business was carried on in the manufacture of grindstones upon the hills east of the hollow, which were taken to all parts of the country. The enterprise slackened and but little was done for several years, when it was again revived and as late as 1825, large numbers were manufactured, but the business was at last abandoned as the immedi- ate country was supplied and they were too heavy to cart to distant points for profit.
LUTHERANVILLE.
This hamlet was for a long term of years called "Tar Hollow." We are assured by Jacob Wilcox and others, although we have no official proof of the fact, that a Deputy Sheriff
164
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
by the name of Whittaker, during the anti-rent troubles of 1844 and 1845 was here taken by the anti-rent settlers, while in the performance of official duties. in the collection of a debt, and treated to a good coat of tar and feathers. Our informants assure us, the tar and feathers were placed upon a stone-boat and taken to a convenient place, where the deputy was strip- ped of his clothing and besmeared with the tar, from head to foot, and then covered with feath- ers. We believe it was the only instance in the County, where such measures were taken and carried out. Since those exciting times, no place can be found, where more law-abiding citizens reside, than throughout this neighbor- hood.
TOWN VOLUNTEERS.
.
During the late Rebellion, eighty-two enlisted in the Union cause, mostly in the 44th and 46th Regiments, and braved the hardships of camp and field, with but eight desertions, mostly to re-enlist and draw the heavy bounties, that were given to induce a speedy repletion of the volun- teer ranks. Many fell in battle but more by the destructive typhoid fever that continually lurked around the encampments, and caused four-fold more deaths, than were reported by gun and sword.
MEDICAL FRATERNITY.
We have groped somewhat in the dark in obtaining an accurate list of the physi- cians that have settled and practiced with- in the limits of the town, and find none previous to Doctor Birch who was here in 1830. He was succeeded by Doctors Eastman, Hynds, Loucks and Miner, who we believe was contemporary with Dr. C. W. Havens, who settled in 1840 and still continues to practice. After Miner, came Dr. Cornell who was follow- ed by Dr. Spaulding and the present acting Dr. Beard, while Dr. Tibbetts is located at Emin- ence. While Summit village or "Four corners," as it was for a long time known, stood thus in- dependent of sister towns and villages, in the medical profession, yet at Charlotteville, Dr. Wm. Lamont settled in 1825 or 1830, and in connection with Dr. Van Alstine of Richmond- ville often encroached upon the territory, right-
fully belonging to the above, and carried away the palm in many intricate cases. Doctors Near and Smith, during Dr. Lamont's residence, were also located at that place and were succeeded by the present Dr. George Berner and Dr. Sperbeck.
EMINENCE.
'The early settlers of this locality were of Dutch descent, and their Yankee neighbors distinguished it as "Dutch Hill," by which it was known until the postoffice was established in 1851, when it was named "Eminence."
Peter Harder was one of the first settlers and was the father of the present Harders of the County, whose enterprise as successful business men places them in the front rank, Reuben and Minard Harder commenced the mercantile business here when they were young men. The latter was appointed the first postmaster.
Harder brothers sold their stock in trade to J. M. Cornell, who sold to Wood & Curtis. Curtis purchased Wood's interest, and in 1866 sold to J. L. Burrows, the present occupant of the "lower " or north store. It was the only store up to the year 1869 or 1870, when T. O. Burnet commenced the upper one and was in trade for a while, and closed out, leaving but one again to furnish goods for a large territory. James A. Burnett purchased the property and still remains, keeping a general assortment, as does Mr. Burrows, of goods usually found in a country store.
Upon the formation of Summit, the road passing through the hamlet from north to south was taken as the east line at this point, and thought to be near the old Tryon and Albany county line.
FIRST TOWN MEETING .- The first town meeting was held at the house of Martin Hoff- man, in March, 1820.
It was resolved, "That sheep shall not be free. commoners and if rams are allowed to ramble at large between the first of September and the first of December, they shall be forfeit- ed." A bounty was voted for the killing of bears and wolves, ranging from five to ten dol- lars per head. By the vote of the people, we find upon a schedule of the town's indebtedness
165
TOWN OF SUMMIT.
bearing date 1821, the sum of twenty dollars was raised for the support of the poor. Fence viewers and school inspectors received twenty- five cents per day for actual service, and we suppose were then docked, for time wasted.
We will here give the schedule of taxes for the year 1880, which will undoubtedly be as amusing to the tax-payers sixty years from now. as the foregoing of sixty years ago is to us. We copy from the Supervisors report of 1880.
Dr.
To amount raised for roads and bridges, $ 150.00
To amount raised for support of poor . 250.00
To amount audited by
board of town auditors $543.99.
To amount audited by board of Supervisors. 248.60.
To amount dog tax 90.50.
Total 883.09.
Supervisor's fees 8.84.
To amount payable to Su- pervisors 891.93.
To amount state tax. . 1,252.88.
To amount school tax . . 10.45. Toamount county tax. . .. 1,720.48.
To amount due poor de-
partment 43.80.
Dr. To County Treasurer .. 9.94.
Total. 3,043.55.
Total amount payable to County Treasurer 3.043.55.
Grand total
$4.335.48.
No. names on tax list, 372.
SEWARD GALLUP, Collector."
SUPERVISORS.
The early records of the town are not access- ible, having been carelessly "lent out" and not returned, therefore we can only trace the list as follows :-
1831-Jacob Hoffman. 1832-Jacob Hoffman.
1833-Seymour Boughton, Sen.
1834-Seymour Boughton, Sen.
1835-Letolia Bruce.
1836-Seymour Boughton, Sen.
1837-Daniel Baldwin. 1838-Edmond Northrup.
1839-John Loucks, Jun.
1840-Thomas W. Lamont.
1841-Thomas W. Lamont.
1842-Isaac W. Beard.
1843-Isaac W. Beard. 1844-Jacob Hoffman.
1845-Jacob Hoffman.
1846-Hiram T. Comstock.
1847-Parley Brown.
1848-Parley Brown,
1849-Joseph S. Wood.
1850-Joseph S. Wood.
1851-Robert Crapser.
1852-Minard Harder.
1853-Seymour Boughton, Sen.
1854-David L. Rider.
1855-John H. Coons.
1856-James Barger. 1857-Jaines Barger. 1858-Samuel Near.
1859-David C. Jackson.
1860-Samuel R. Griggs.
1861 -- William Lamont.
1 862-Elisha Brown. 1863-Charles W. Havens. 1864-Miles Hartwell.
1865-Parley Brown.
1866-Parley Brown.
1867-James Terpenning.
1868-Howland Baker.
J 869-James Barger. 1870-James Barger.
1871-William Lamont.
1872-William Lamont.
1873-James H. Brown.
1874-James H. Brown. 1875-James H. Brown.
1876-James H. Brown. 1877-Stephen Stilwell.
1878-Seymour Boughton, Jun.
1879-Seymour Boughton, Jun.
1880-David Crowe.
1881-David Crowe. 1882-F. P. Beard.
I66
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XIII.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF FULTON.
FIRST PURCHASE OF LAND BY ADAM VROMAN- ADAM VROMAN AND FAMILY-INDIAN DEEDS -CAPTAIN VROMAN-INDIAN CASTLE-COL- . ONEL PETER VROMAN-SWART FAMILY -- PETER SWART - HIS MANUSCRIPT-DEATH-CRYS- LER FAMILY-MRS. JOHN BOUCK -HENRY HA- GER-IN MCDONALD'S CAMP-CAPTAIN HA- GER AT BEMIS HEIGHTS-UPPER FORT-Ex- EMPT VOLUNTEERS-INYASION BY CRYSLER -- MURDER BY BEACRAFT-PRISONERS-BURN- ING OF CRYSLER'S MILL-SAD DAY OF 1780- RELEASE OF PRISONERS-OTHERS TAKEN TO - NIAGARA AND MONTREAL-RETURN HOME- BRANT'S COURSE THROUGH CHERRY VALLEY -- CONSENT TO WRITE A LETTER - MESSEN . GER DISPATCHED WITH IT-CRYSLER'S INYA- SION -- MURDER NEAR THE FORT-ENGAGE- MENT WITH CAPTAIN HAGER - RICHARD HAGADORN WOUNDED-CONFLICT AT THE LAKE -- JOHNSON'S AND BRANT'S INYASION- MARY HAGADORN-THE INDIANS VISIT THE SETTLEMENT AGAIN-NO INJURY-TORIES' LOSS-BOUCK FAMILY AND ISLAND-WM. C. BOUCK - HIS LIFE - INCIDENT FROM NEW YORK DAILY NEWS-THE GOVERNOR'S CHIL- DREN - TREMAIN'S TRIBUTE - INHABITANTS OF 1788-TIMOTHY MURPHY-HIS LIFE AND HISTORICAL INCIDENTS -- CHILDREN-DEATH -- EXTRACT FROM ATLANTIC MONTHLY-TOWN FORMED-PATRIOTISM OF 1812 - PETERS- BURGH - BREAKABEEN-FIRST LANDS SET- TLED - FULTONHAM - CHARLES WATSON- WEST FULTON -- CHURCHES-POLLY HOLLOW -REFORMED CHURCH-PHYSICIANS-SUPER- VISORS-BOUNDARIES.
HAT portion of the town known as Vro- mansland was the first settled, and is the best land in the County. Adam Vroman, as before stated, purchased it of the Indians in
171 I, for one hundred gallons of rum and a few blankets, and estimated the tract to contain four hundred acres. In 1715 Vroman came to the valley to settle his son, Peter, but by threatenings to kill him and the bold demolition of his house by the Germans of Weisersdorf, he was frightened away, and the settlement was delayed till the season following. Adam Vroman descended from a prominent family of Holland, and was a son of Hendrick Meese Vroman, who was killed in the Schenectady massacre of 1690. He was born in Holland in 1649. Rev. R. Randall Hoes, of New Rochelle, N. Y., a descendant, says :-
"He was naturalized in the province of New York in 1715."
His will is dated September 12, 1729, and was proved June 13, 1730. He died on his farm in Schoharie, (Vromansland,) February 25, 1730, and was buried in Schenectady, and it was thought upon at least fair authority, that his first wife was Engeltie Bloom, probably of Long Island. His second wife was Gristje Ryckman, widow of Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck, in 1691. His third wife was Grietje Takelse Heemstreet, married January 13, 1697, in Albany. His children numbered thirteen.
They were as follows, from the manuscript of of R. R. Hoes :-
Barent baptized in 1679; married daughter of Takelse Heemstraat, 1699.
Wouter, born in 1680; married daughter of Isaac C. Hallenbeck, of Albany, 1707.
Pieter, born May, 1684 ; married Griesje Van Alstine, of Albany, February, 1706.
Christina; baptized October 18, 1685 ; mar- ried Teunis Swart, October, 1710.
Hendrick, born in 1687 ; married first --- , second, Maria Wemp; was high constable in Albany in 1705.
Johannes, baptized May 30, 1697, in Al- bany.
Maria, born September 1, 1699; married Douw Foda.
Bartholomew, born blind ; married Catharina Slingerland, widow of Hendrick Van Slyck.
Timotheus, born November 8, 1702.
Seth, married first, Geertney Van Patten ; second, Eva De Graff.
167
TOWN OF FULTON.
Jacob Meese, married Sara Meyndertsen, October 30, 1742, daughter of the Patroon. Eta, married Joachim Ketelhuyn, January 25, 1730.
Janetje, married Harmon Van Slyck, and we think after, Johannes Lawyer.
Rev. Hoes also gives us Adam's third son's children. As from Peter came the different families bearing the name in the valley at the present time, we give them as follows :-
Adam, Barent, Cornelius, Engeltie, (Mrs. David Zielie,) Abraham, Jannetie, Pieter, Meese, Isaac, Geerting, (Mrs. Josias Swart,) Lidia.
Adam Vroman had a deal of trouble with the Germans, who, he complained to the Governor of the province several times, "set the Indians up against him." The Germans apprised the Indians of the fact that Vroman had cheated them in the number of acres, and he again bought the tract in 1714, (April 30,) and called it eleven hundred acres, and in the following August obtained a royal grant for the whole. There is no doubt that Weiser and his followers had an eye to the land, and committed all manner of depredations, and influenced the Indians against him, at least the Indians were not yet satisfied, and the matter was not settled until the 30th of March, 1726, when he re- purchased the whole tract, and to make a sure transaction the conveyance was given " in be- half of all the Mohaugs Indians," and after giving the boundaries, it said "let there be as much as there will, more or less, for we are no surveyors." All deeds given by the Indians of the valley were executed by the three tribes of the Mohawk, whose ensigns were a turtle, wolf, and bear, the former sometimes holding a toma- hawk in its claws. The Germans learned by experience that Vroman could not be frustrated in his designs, and after the exit of Weiser to Pennsylvania they began to cultivate a friendly feeling towards each other. How many of Adam's children settled upon the land we are unable to learn, but we know at least of three, Peter, Wouter and Christina. Wouter or Wal- ter, seemed to be the favorite son, as he re- ceived more than the others.
Where David Vroinan now resides, Adam
intended to reside, and upon the west of him Wouter was located, his land running from the mountain to and across the "Dovegatt."" All the land east of Wouter's was called the Bowery, and was conveyed to him on the 12th of February, 1731.
Each of these had sons, and perhaps other brothers' sons came, as in a few years quite a number of the family were here. Author Simms refers to four sons of Peter,-Cornelius, Samuel, Peter and Isaac,-that were noted for their strength. Having a saw mill, he states two of them could easily carry a good sized log on the carriage. Cornelius being the strongest, upon a wager of strength, drew twelve heavy men in a sleigh upon bare ground, one and one-half feet, and drew by the end of the tongue. It will be seen that Peter did not have a son named Samuel, and as Isaac was born in November, 1722, if such did show their strength, they were children of another Vroman,-perhaps Adam's brother. As will be seen, Christina, a daughter of Adam, married Teunis Swart, and his son, Jacob, the father of Judge Swart, followed him, in the pos- session of the farm given to him by Adam, as did the Judge, who afterwards removed to Schoharie. The Swarts settled a few years after the Vronians, and were connected with them in all enterprises for many years. During the French wars those families took an active part, especially the Vromans, and held promi- nent positions in the militia ranks. Peter, the son of Adam, was commissioned Ensign in 1731, and was promoted to Captain between that date and 1739. The, original commission is now in the possession of A. G. Richmond, of Canajoharie. His grandson, Peter, (son of Barent) was commissioned Captain sometime in 1754 or 1755, and was highly recommended by Sir William Johnson to Governor Colden, to be promoted to Major in Colonel Jacob Sternburgh's regiment, as before stated. The latter officer to distinguish himself from other Peter Vromans of that day, usually wrote his name Peter B., conveying the idea of, son of
* The Dovegatt is the Dutch name given to a minia- ture bay that runs from the main stream into the inter- vale in the shape of the Roman letter L.
168
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
Barent. When the Revolution commenced he was commissioned as " Colonel Peter Vroman." The grandfather, Peter, (Ensign and Captain) having died in 1771, Colonel Peter dropped the " B." Perhaps he did so to shield himself from being recognized by the British Government as the former commissioned Captain. In case of his being taken prisoner under his former full name, he would have been treated as a deserter.
A nephew of Adam made himself promi- nent as a Surveyor, and purchaser of large tracts of land. His name was Isaac, and he surveyed the "Dorlach grant" in Seward and Sharon in 1730, and drew a very concise map of the same which is now in the hands of Tiffany Lawyer.
During the anticipated trouble with the French a castle was built in Vromansland by the orders of Sir William Johnson, and called a "fort." It was built in 1753,* and stood upon lands now occupied by David Vroman, east of the stem of the Dovegatt, and in the convey- ance of lands from the Indians to Vroman and from him to his son Walter, the site was reserv- ed as also was a narrow strip along the back- water, opposite the fort. The latter was for a burial ground.
There were three castles or forts in the val- ley, but this was the largest and most impreg- nable, owing, undoubtedly, to the fact that the greatest number of Indians and whites were located in this vicinity. At the time these forts were built, there were also others constructed for the Onondaga, Oneida and Seneca tribes, and upon the back of the statement, made, of the fact of their being built, by Sir William Johnson, to the Board of Trade, there was a memorandum of dimensions which was, with- out doubt, that of the forts, (unquestionably they were all built alike,) which we will here copy verbatim :-
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