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 34
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The three that came across the ocean, were brothers and young men, and in after years, we find these Mohawk and Sharon Bellingers inter- married.
David, John I., and William J., living upon the east side of the creek, are sons of John M., and the lands upon which they reside, have been in the possession of the family at least one hundred and sixty-eight years.
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TOWN OF MIDDLEBURGH.
The day Johnson was before the "middle fort" trying to gain admittance, Marcus Bel- linger was on his way from the "lower" to the "middle fort" with a bag of powder upon his back, and when he gained his residence, which stood near the present one, he saw the smoke rising from the burning buildings above, and concluded he would be unable to reach the fort. He ran to the woods at the foot of the mountain and secreted himself until the enemy had passed down the valley. They burned his residence and barracks, which stood near, and one of the burnt posts still remains as sound as if but re- cently set.
Among the interesting relics of the past held by the family is a cannon ball, picked up upon the farm, that weighs over sixteen pounds. It must have been one left by Johnson and Brant, as the patriots had no use for such a projectile, from the fact that their guns were too small to carry it. Another "grim monster" of devastation and death may be seen at this place in the shape of an Indian tomahawk, that has the bowl of a pipe upon the back and a hole through the handle, to perform a double duty. After peace was proclaimed, Marcus Bellinger built the present residence, and for many years kept a tavern, as did his son, John M. The ball-room is overhead, and the well-worn floor tells us it was used much by the youngsters of those days, who took special pains to "hoe it down" with- out any regard to such grace and dignity as are implied in the poet's ideal dance when they "tripped the light fantastic toe."
Referring to relics, there are many still in the valley that date back to the first settlers, and are treasured, as they should be, by the de- scendants of the bold pioneers.
But a short distance from the old middle fort, Mr. Zeh, the present owner, dug a well, a few years ago, and at the depth of fourteen feet, came upon a thick layer of leaves in per- fect form, but upon being exposed to the air, they crumbled to dust. Among the leaves were butternuts, that looked as sound as if they had lain but a season in water. Many arrow heads and Indian trinkets have been found near the fort, from time to time, especially upon the side- hill, to the east, which are treasured up by the citizens as sacred relics of Revolutionary days.
Among those that occupy the lands of Hart- man's dorf, and perhaps 'purchased of the first settlers were the Richtmyer family.
The Richtmyer Family .- Three brothers, Pe- ter, George and Christian, came from Germany together, about the year 1745 and settled at Hartman's dorf, upon the farm now owned and occupied by George Richtmyer. At a later date Peter settled in the present town of Conesville, and the two brothers divided the farm, George taking the south side of the brook and Christian the north. During the Revolution these fami- lies were staunch patriots, performing the trust of scout when not in service elsewhere. George received a Captain's commission in October, 1775, of the third company, and was at Bemis Heights and in every engagement that occurred in the valley. Christian was the most trusted scout, and was a special friend of Murphy and Tuffs, with whom many daring exploits were performed. He assumed the character of a spy and entered the British lines at Saratoga under the guise of a Hessian and accomplished his trust with safety and success. Perhaps there was not another one in the Schoharie valley that performed more hazardous duties than did Christian Richtmyer, and we are, by careful searching, assured none have been less referred to. Being quiet and reserved he did the work while others gained the praise, and soon after peace was proclaimed, ere he fairly breathed the pure air of freedom and rested his jaded limbs, disease, contracted by exposures, laid him in his grave. Two of his sons, Conrad and William, settled in Cobleskill in 1794, as stated in that chapter.
Captain George Richtmyer re-built his resi- dence at the close of the war, and reared a large family, as follows :- David, who settled upon the Mohawk, Abram, in the Kilmer neighbor- hood of Cobleskill, Conradt and Henry, near Carlisle Centre, Mrs. David Becker, of Fox's creek, Mrs. John Jost Warner, of Schoharie, and George, Jr., who retained the old place, and was followed by his son, Peter, who kept a tavern for many years after John M. Bellinger closed his. George, the son of Peter, now occupies the place, and is the fourth generation in which the farm has been in their possession.
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HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
Mrs. Christian Richtmyer was in the "middle fort" the day of Johnson's invasion, and feeling indisposed-undoubtedly through fear-she lay upon one of her feather-beds that was taken there for safety-in the attic. As the bombs flew over the house she became frightened, and while descending the stairs, the bomb that hustled Rickard out of his retreat also tore open the bed she had just left, and scattered the feathers around the room. The sanie bed is now in the Loucks family, and through a machine renovation but a short time since, was made as "good as new."
Rebuilding of the village .- Having referred to settlers and matters of dates before and during the war, let us consider the re-building of the village, and the changes made by the onward march of intelligence.
As we have already stated, the people were made poor by the war, we may say with pro- priety, except in land. That remained, unin- jured, but stripped of all improvements, and still theirs by title, yet they were poor, as a class, not having anything with which to bear the ex- penses of re-building. The Eckersons re-built a mansion and store. The store was abandoned and the "Inn" only, continued by the family. In 1811, one Watkins was the proprietor, and was followed successively by Dewitt & Knowl- ton. The building was chiefly built of the brick that was in the first storehouse that stood upon Dr. Linas Wells' grounds, and was burnt by John- son. Many of the same were used in the con- struction of Dr. Henry Wells' present resi- dence, and the Zielie's, the present store-house near the site of the old village. The Low Dutch being in control of the Reformed church, they superintended the erection of the edifice and placed it upon the grounds purchased by them in 1737, for the support of the "Low Dutch church of Middletown and Schoharie." Having thus erected the church near the creek, the settlement naturally drew towards it and in a few years quite a village was formed around it.
Michael Borst built an inn to the north of the church, that was for many years a terror to the moral part of the community. The present residence of Mrs. John M. Scribner was built soon after 1790 by Michael Borst, as a first class
residence, and still stands as a creditable relic of the marchi, progress made, after peace and freedom spread their exhilarating influences over the valley. Immediately after the war closed, Alexander Boyd came to the place and engaged in business and proved to be a very energetic and useful man. He was born in Philadelphia, of Irish parentage, and while a young man lo- cated in Albany and came fromn that city to this place. He labored for the Eckerson's on the mill for a while, and about the year 1800, built a mill where William and Peter Borst's mill now stands. The old building yet stands and is used as a wagon house by the Borst Brothers.
Mr. Boyd was quite a politician, as we find him in 1813 to 1815 in Congress, and at differ- ent times holding local offices, and we may here mention the fact that during the campaign of General Jackson's second election, Mr. Boyd was considered the most obstinate man in the County. Colonel William Dietz, of Schioharie, was upon the Electoral ticket and the County endeavored to give the largest majority, accord- ing to numbers, of any county in the State. Middleburgh was to do her best and upon election day gave every vote cast in the town for Dietz, with but one exception. Alcxander Boyd refused to desert his Federal principles for etiquette, and cast his ballot for Henry Clay. Among papers in the possession of Henry Cady we find the following, penned by Boyd, bearing date March 5, 1822 :-
" For value received I promise to deliver unto Peter Vrooman a Good new Iron Shod two horse wagon on or before the first of August next as witnessed my hand
ALEXANDER BOYD."
Wagons at that time for farm use were made with and without a tire. The first "iron shod" wagon wheels were made by bolting the tire on in sections instead of being welded together as now. He built the grist-mill at Cobleskill in 1830 and engaged in all kinds of business in which profit was to be gained. The wife of Jehiel Larkin, of Sloansville, is a daughter of Mr. Boyd and we believe the only member of the family in the County. Mr. Boyd hired work- men to manufacture wagons and did a heavy business for those times. But very few light
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TOWN OF MIDDLEBURGH.
wagons were made, especially buggies, and if it were possible for him to appear before the re- pository of McGraw & Barney and examine the workmanship of those mechanics, he would consider their slender work as but "reeds in the wind."
J. M. Scribner purchased the Boyd mill property and built a large grist and paper mill in 1855. In justice to worth, we cannot pass by without giving notice of Mr. Scribner as he was as talented a business man as the County ever claimed. He was born in the town of Washington, Orange county, Vermont, in 1805, and graduated at Union College in 1833. He studied for the ministry and attended the New Brunswick Theological Seminary, from which he graduated in 1836. His first charge was at the Schoharie Reformed church and Gallup- ville, where he labored from 1836 to 1839. He removed to Walden, Orange county, in the latter year and remained three years. F nding a broad field for usefulness which was more con- genial to his health and taste, he took charge of the Auburn Female Seminary, and after, of the Rochester Female School and returned to Middleburgh in 1845, and engaged his mind upon Mathematics, in which branch of science he proved himself without a superior. His work on " Mensuration," the "Ready Reckon- er," "Scribner's Engineers' and Mechanics' Companion," " Engineers' Pocket Table-book," and other mathematical works, have gained for him an enviable and enduring reputation as a superior mathematician. The first edition of his " Engineers' and Mechanics' Companion," appeared in 1845, and to give an idea of the value of the work we will here state that the fourteenth edition was published in 1866. Mr. Scribner was a thorough business man possess- ing the qualities to originate and drive an en- terprise to the advantage of the community. He was a terse writer, active and practical thinker, and in all his relations with the business world he based every act upon principles of right and honesty. During his last years he was engaged in the manufacture of straw paper, having leased the " Richmondville mill" for a term of years, and carried the enterprise on with success. He was one of the originators
of the Schoharie Valley Railroad and long a director of the same. His death occurred December 20, 1880, after a short illness. The Classis of Schoharie held a meeting at Middle- burgh on the 22d of December, and passed appropriate resolutions expressive of his worth, and the loss of the church and community in his death.
John Hinman .- A short distance above "Bull's Head," there lived for many years John Hinman who was a Yankee, and as com- petent to build a house, threshing machine, or plead a case in a justice court, as to make a wagon and iron it. He left his parents, then living in Lebanon, Conn., when but a lad, to seek his fortune in the western wilds, and after drifting here and there, settled in this village about the year 1816. After being absent from home three years, he wrote to his mother, say- ing : "Mother, I have thirteen linen shirts," which was his entire stock of worldly goods. In answer, which was equally as laconic, she wrote : "John, you have done well." In the course of time he married a daughter of Frederick Paus- ley, and settled down to business. He made the first threshing machines manufactured in the County, which were his own invention. The power was a "sweep," and driven by one horse, which will be remembered by those whose memories carry theni back fifty years ago. Upon the opening of John O'Brien's law office, Hinman began to read law and fitted himself to try civil cases. Upon the decease of Mrs. Hinman, he married her sister who became the mother of Nathan P. and Chauncey W. Hin- man, whose connection with the bar of the County has been conspicuous. The education of those two gentlemen was undoubtedly as meager as any of the present bar, not having any better opportunities than were offered by the district school of the village, which was at that time of very low grade. It is with charac- teristic humor they both refer to their "school- ing" as being "baked," from the fact that it was one of the common modes of punishment for the mischievous, to compel them to lie down upon the floor and put the head beneath the box-stove and remain there in a scorching heat, until the teacher felt disposed to release
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HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
them. The venerable H. H. Marsellus, upon taking the school, was more humane and handed his name down in grateful remembrance by adopting the "toe the crack and stoop over" penalty.
Nathan P. Hinman was born in the village and entered the law office of William H. Engle, and after that of Sanford & Danforth. Upon being admitted to the bar he formed a connec- tion with Major Houck, at Schoharie village, which ceased upon the death of that gentleman. He remained alone until his brother was ad- mitted, when a co-partnership was formed and continued to the year 1872, when Nathan with- drew and removed to Albany City, where he is now located. Mr. Hinman beside being well read in law and possessing a keen perception, is without doubt the most natural orator that has graced the Schoharie County bar. His language is plain, free from inflated expression, and comes with such unusual ease and fluency as to win interest, and with such fervency as to excite, which, coupled with sagacious reasoning through a pleasing voice, makes him a force before a jury or audience that brother professionals find hard to overcome.
BUILDING OF THE MIDDLEBURGH BRIDGE.
Upon the building of the bridge in 1813, the village that was in two parts began to connect by the erection of a portion of the present Atchinson House and others, whose ancient appearance bespeak the date of their erection. Stores and inns occupied the open space, and as each year rolled around we find additions were made until the ancient High Dutch and more youthful Low Dutch villages were united. By an act of the Legislature in 1813, William C. Bouck, Thomas P. Danforth, Peter Swart, John Gebhard, Peter Swart, Jr., and Peter Shafer, Jr., were made a corporate body for the building of the bridge. During that season the work was commenced but the structure was not finished until the year 1819. Thomas P. Danforth became the owner and his heirs still hold the property, from which a paying dividend is yearly realized.
The turnpike known as the "Loonenbergh road," running through the village, and built by
legislative act of 1802, was built by issuing stock certificates, of which Mr. Danforth pur- chased the controlling influence. For long years the turnpike was called "Paine Dan- forth's road," and over its bed a vast amount of business has been done. The old bridge, and other structures that span the stream, are monuments of honest workmanship. Sixty-eight years of constant use have passed away-many rushing floods passed through its arches, with the power and strength equalled only by the hand of the Omnipotent that ruled them, and yet, we find the old bridge still firm as a rock.
Danforth .- About the year 1793, Jonathan Danforth, from Connecticut, settled here after a short sojourn in the city of Albany. Upon the formation of the County in 1795, he was ap- pointed one of the Judges of the Court of Com- mon Pleas. He had two sons, George and Thomas Paine. The former studied law and after a successful practice, died in Savannah, Ga. The late General George E. Danforth and ex-Judge Peter S., were sons. Thomas P. Danforth was appointed Assistant Judge of Common Pleas in 1823, and was father of the Dr. Volney Danforth and John J., who removed to Anisterdam and died without heirs, in the year 1830.
Engle .- Martinus Engle settled upon the Bouck Brothers' present farm soon after the Revolution, and was succeeded by Anthony Engle, of Berne, Albany county, who was the progenitor of the present Engle family of the town with the exception of William H. Engle, who is a nephew of Anthony.
Atchinson House .- Immediately after business began to be brisk upon the road, Daniel Dodge built an inn which is a portion of the Atchin- son House. Mr. Dodge dying, the property was occupied by Cyrus Smith, who was afterwards elected Sheriff of the County(1840) and removed in 1842, when it was run by Mrs. Dodge and her son, (the late Daniel D. Dodge,) upon the son be- coming capable of assisting in the management. They were followed by John Foland, James Mc- Donald, Judge N. T. Rossetter, John Shafer, - Lowe, S. S. Mitchel, and the present proprietor, E. D. Atchinson, who took possession in the spring of 1863.
217
TOWN OF MIDDLEBURGH.
Freemire House .- The present hotel familiarly called the Freemire House, was built by Peter Farran, who was for some years a merchant, after the year 1830. William M. Holton fol- lowed and vacated the premises upon his elec- tion as County Clerk. - Demarrah suc- ceeded, who gave place to Nicholas Snyder. E. D. Atchinson "became the proprietor and vacated for the present host, A. J. Freemire, in 1863.
These two hotels are spacious and have be- come summer resorts for people living in the city. The custom of depending entirely upon the proceeds of the bar for support, and allow- ing a motley squad of intemperate loungers the freedom of the premises, as of early days, has been abandoned, and quiet, home-like hospi- tality adopted.
Merchants .- As we have already stated, Thomas and Cornelius Eckerson were without doubt the first resident merchants of the town, and the business was continued by some portion of the family up to the year 1800. Many small dealers from that time to the present have located here and passed on in a short time to other fields, whom we will not mention. The leading substantial tradesmen, we are informed, from time to time, have been :-
l'eter Farran.
Freeman Stanton. Daniel D. Dodge. Peyton N. Ferrell. John P. Bellinger.
Jacob Becker, who was followed by his sons, David and Hamilton.
James Dexter, flour, feed, hay, straw, etc.
The business men at the present time are as follows :-
Dodge & France, (George W. Dodge and Austin France,) general merchants, suc- cessors to D. D. Dodge.
J. Neville & Co., (J. Neville and Jacob L. Engle,) general merchants, successors to David Becker & Neville.
William E. Bassler, general merchant. G. N. Frisbee, general merchant. M. Geurnsey, general merchant. A. Wortheim, clothier.
L. S. Rivenburgh, clothier. Jehial Brazee, grocer. William Dunn, merchant tailor.
Hamilton Becker, grocer. Joseph Becker, grocer. F. D. Schermerhorn, grocer. John H. Cornell, grocer.
J. B. Badgley, druggist. John T. Dunn, druggist. S. Hutchings, hardware. Frank Durham, hardware. George Pechtle, jeweler.
H. J. Stevenson, jeweler. J. Souer, furniture. Frank Straub, barber. George E. Borst, harness dealer.
James Becker, harness dealer.
Barney & Dennison, carriage manufac- turers, successors to Barney & McGraw.
J. M. Roney, carriage manufacturer.
A. M. Smith, carriage manufacturer. Tompkins Bros., foundrymen. Hadley Snyder, dentist.
M. Borst, dentist.
J. C. Blodgett, tanner. - Williams, tanner.
George Rockerfellow, planing mill.
S. Requeå, general agent and manager, Middleburgh Blue Stone Company.
The Middleburgh Paper Mill was built by Dr. S. B. Wells and Renelo D. Chase, in 1853, and has been a successful affair, especially under the present proprietors, Franklin Krum and J. O. Williams, of Schoharie C. H.
Among the many worthy men engaged in business in this place, none was superior in ability and honor to Freeman Stanton, who died in 1871. The Albany Argus thus notices his life :-
"He was born on the 11th of March, 1796, in Montgomery county, and was the son of John Stanton, who left nine children. By the death of the subject of this sketch, the last of that large family of children has gone down to the grave. Mr. Stanton, in his boyhood, re- ceived for those early days what was called a good common school education, and became a clerk in the village store of George Smith, Esq., at Minaville. It was here that Mr. Stanton
218
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
.
made the acquaintance of General Jay Cady and the late Judge Paige. That acquaintance ripened into friendship, and for over half a century General Cady and Mr. Stanton have been as brothers. Soon after Mr. Stanton be- came of age, he removed to Middleburgh, and commenced mercantile business, in which he continued for over thirty years, when he retired to his farm about one mile out of the village of Middleburgh. He married soon after he com- menced business, the daughter of Abram Law- yer. Mrs. Stanton died about a year since. In 1824 he was elected a member of the State Legislature, and immediately attracted the at- tention of the sagacious statesman at Albany, as a young man of sound judgment, and more than ordinary sagacity ; and such men as Marcy, Flagg, Hoffman, Bouck and Crosswell, have sought his counsel and advice. The writer of this obituary remembers well a most interesting interview at which he was present, between Mr. Stanton and Governor Marcy, a short time before the National Democratic Convention, held at Baltimore, in 1852. When the late Governor Bouck received the appointment of Assistant Treasurer at New York City, from the President, he would not accept the position unless Mr. Stanton would agree to go with him and take the place of cashier, giving to Mr. Stanton the privilege of selecting his assistant. On this condition Mr. Stanton accepted the appointment, and most faithfully did he perform the work assigned to him. Mr. Stanton, by his amiable disposition, his kindness of heart, and his many liberal acts, made ardent admirers and devoted friends. He has gone to his grave, it is believed, without an enemy. The entire community feel that a good citizen and a kind neighbor has passed away and will fondly cherish his memory. To his large family of children he has left a rich legacy, for it can be truly said Freeman Stanton was an 'honest man, the noblest work of God.'"
John P. Bellinger .- Contemporary with Stan- ton and Dodge, was John P. Bellinger, who re- moved from Cobleskill about the year 1838, and built the store-house now occupied by his successor, M. Geurnsey. Mr. Bellinger was in trade in Cobleskill for several years, and repre-
sented that town in the Board of Supervisors five terms. He was a very successful business man and highly respected as a man of integrity and vim, with broad views and energy sufficient to carry them out with success. He was a son of Peter Bellinger, and grandson of Marcus, the Revolutionary Supervisor. After a number of years of pleasant retirement, he died at a good old age, in August, 1878.
Daniel D. Dodge was a son of Daniel D. Dodge, a former landlord of the "Atchinson House," and a very enterprising man for the day in which he lived. The former early in life engaged in trade, and was for a long term of years one of the substantial business men of the town and County. Upon his death, which oc- curred in 1878, the Schoharie Republican said : "In the death of Daniel D. Dodge the village of Middleburgh loses one of its most enterpris- ing citizens. His memory will be gratefully and lovingly cherished. He was for many years a successful merchant, and for sixteen years an acting magistrate of the town, discharging the duties of the office with rare ability. He repre- sented his County in the Assembly of the State in 1850, and for some eight years was President of the Middleburgh & Schoharie Railroad."
The Tanning Interest .- Nearly opposite the Methodist church, at an early day, was a small tannery, perhaps the first one that made a regular business in the place, and which was purchased by the father of the late Zodac Pratt, of Greene county. It was here that the veteran tanner, dairyman and agriculturist was born and received his first instruction in those branches of enterprise in which he afterwards engaged, and which made him one of the prominent men of his day. He early removed to the old time named place " Schoharie Hill," and by his energy established one of the largest tanneries to be found in the State. The busi- ness he established drew around him a large force of laborers and tradesmen, causing a thrifty village to spring up, and in honor of its founder it was called Prattsville. Other small tanneries have from time to time succeeded the old one near the church, which it is useless to mention. We will only refer to the large establishments that "were, but are not," that
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