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 56
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Article 3d. Nine members shall constitute a quorum to enact any by-laws for the better reg- ulation of the society, not repugnant to this constitution.
Article 4th. Whenever a school meeting is called and amended, they shall proceed regular- ly to choose one chairman, and one secretary- the chairman to have no vote on any question, unless the house is equally divided. The busi- ness of the secretary shall be to keep a record of the proceedings in that meeting, to enter them in a book kept for the purpose, and to transmit them together with the book to his successor in office ; likewise to read, if required, all, or any part of the antecedent proceedings of the Society.
Article 5th. Whenever two or more members shall feel themselves aggrieved, either by the teacher or the officers of the society, they shall
apply to the Trustees, who shall call a school meeting, in order to adjust the difficulty. And if this constitution shall appear on trial to operate harder on some than others, two-thirds of the signers shall have power to amend it, or add a new clause, and three-fourths of the members shall have power to abolish it.
Signed by
Joseph Dennis, John Wess, (by mark.) Jehiel Babcock, Henry Sloot, William W. Zimmer,
Isaac Barber, Robert Hurst, Jr., Isaac Lounsbury,
Joseph Hunting,
David Seabury,
Enoch Potter,
John Dominick, Jr.,
O. Scranton, Henry Little."
A lease of the school-house lot, bearing date the Ist day of November, 1812, is with the records, and stating the consideration to be five pepper- corns yearly, for the rent of the lot. At a meeting held in the school-house on the second day of November, the same year, pursuant to notice previously given, Isaac Lounsbury was chair- man, and Isaac Barber, secretary. John Dom- inick, Jr., and Joseph Hunting, were chosen trustees, and William W. Zimmer, and Isaac Barber, censors. The secretary was ordered, by a resolution, to purchase a book for records, and receive his pay.
On April 1, 1837, a meeting was held and a resolution was passed to build a new school- house, twenty by twenty-five feet, "the wall to be two feet and one-half underground, and one foot above ground on the lowest corner of the wall, to be quarry-stone of Schoolcraft's quarry ;" also
" Resolved it to be built in a workmanlike manner, and there be two hundred dollars raised for purpose of building a school-house."
It is needless to remark here, that the char- acter of that neighborhood is easily understood, and that those men were, among the settlers of
350
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
that day, exceptions to the common class. While other schools were formed, yet none with the care and weight of interest as shown in the foregoing articles. It was more like the found- ing of a college than a simple common school.
.
In the foregoing list of signers to the school proceedings, we find Joseph Hunting, who was the progenitor of the present Hunting family of the town. He settled here upon the farm now occupied by his grandson, Ambrose Hunt- ing, about the year 1785, and reared four sons, John, Ira, Joseph, and Asa, who have been identified with the interests of the town for many years. Upon the list of supervisors we find John Hunting in 1853, 1854, 1855, and Ambrose R., in 1864, 1866, 1881, 1882, beside, in the official list of the County the important position of school commissioner was conferred upon the latter two terms, whose successful administration was undoubtedly an outgrowth of the " school society" in which the grand- father took such a deep interest.
GALLUPVILLE.
This village was named after the Gallup family, that purchased the land npon which it stands, about the year 1817. The Gallup family were among the first settlers of Massachusetts, in fact, of the "Pilgrim band," and according to "Trumbull's History," were prominent members of the Old Colony, (especially during King Philip's war,) in a military point of view. As the cry of " Westward ho!" began, after the Revolutionary struggle, two families settled in this part of the country-Nathan at Beaver Dam, Albany county, (the father of William H. Gallup, formerly editor of the Schoharie Repub- lican, and Almerin, ex-County clerk,) and Ezra Gallup, Sr., at a later date, upon the farm now owned by Benjamin Gallup. Ezra, Jr., a son, purchased the village land and built a grist-mill about the year 1819, where the present one stands. He was a merchant and an energetic man, and at once invited tradesmen to settle upon his land, and gave them rare chances to become successful. He would not allow two of the same occupation to settle here, unless it became strictly necessary. Not, at least, to cause opposition, or a conflict in prices.
In 1825 the postoffice was established and he received the appointment as Deputy, and was that year elected Justice of the Peace, whichi office he held to the year 1849. Owing to his extended business, John Wheeler became a partner in the mill, and it has been a valuable property since its erection.
It has four run of stone which are driven by a powerful wheel of seventy-five horse power, and under the management of Alfred Zeh, the present owner, is not excelled by a like enter- prise in the County.
The first and only inn in the village was kept by Paul Suttle. The present one was built in 1872 by Weidman Dominick, and rented yearly upto the present season, when it was pur- chased by Peter Cullings.
Tannery .- The energy of Squire Gallup soon brought Samuel Curren, a tanner and currier, who established the present tannery about the year 1825. He was succeeded by several in turn among whom where Whipple & Mor- gan, G. Conklin, Gordon & Lawrence, and in 1850 by Mathew Lampson. While the property belonged to Conklin in 1840, the old building was burned and the present one or a part of it was built by him the season following. Mr. Lampson carried on the business with the greatest success of any of the proprietors that preceded him. He was a very careful, sub- stantial business man and amassed a fortune with which he did a vast amount of good, and endeared himself to all with whom he transacted business, by his honest and unselfish demeanor. The enterprise has added much to the business of the village, and consequently to its growth, especially the latter, under the management of Charles Gorden, who built nearly all of the houses upon Mill street, beside several others, and caused the street to be laid out in place of the old one, that ran near the creek.
Churches and Schools .- Business being estab- lished upon a firm basis and a village assured, efforts were made for the erection of a house of worship. There being several denominations represented in the place, it was first proposed to erect a Union church, but the proposition did not meet with favor.
351
TOWN OF WRIGHT.
The Reformed Church was organized on the 5th of August, 1844, with the following offi- cers :-
Elders :- John W. Zimmer, Robert Forsyth, Abraham Martin and John G. Zimmer.
Deacons :- Robert Coats, Jacob I. Devoe, Adam Z. Settle and Henry Mattice.
The edifice was constructed of brick the year following, with a stone basement, which part was intended for an Academy.
The records of this organization are not com- plete, a portion being lost which debars us from giving a more extended account of the Society.
The pastors of this Society were : ---
Paul Weidman,
E. S. Hammond,
N. Bogardus,
Lane,
J. M. Compton,
E. Vedder, J. H. Kershaw,
William H. Carr.
At the present time it has no settled pastor.
The Methodist Society held meetings in school houses for many years previous to the building of the church edifice at the village, but at what time the organization was effected we are un- able to learn. It is an early outgrowth of the Knox church, and a monument of the religious zeal of John Dominick, the bewitched victim. It was removed to the village in June, 1844, under the pastorate of E. Osborn. All of the Methodist churches were supplied by circuit preachers at that time, the circuit embracing nearly the whole of the County-or at least as much territory-running many times into other counties, which made it laborious for the pastors, and the meetings irregular. The pastors that have officiated here are as follows : -
E. Osborn,
Ezra Strong, Hiram Chase, Manley Witherel,
C. E. Giddings,
J. W. Belknap,
A. McGilton, G. C. Simmons,
W. Little,
W. R. Brown,
A. W. Garvin,
S. S. Ford,
W. H. L. Starks,
M. D. Mead,
D. T. Elliott,
H. Blanchard,
William H. L. Starks,
R. T. Wade,
H. Wright,
E. E. Taylor,
D. Brough,
S. W. Clemons,
J. Goodins,
T. D. Walker.
Evangelical Lutheran Church .- The records of this society are in better condition than those of others in the town, and we find the organization was effected by Rev. G. A. Lint- ner, May 6, 1854, although a preliminary organization was made nearly two years previous, and their house of worship erected in 1853. At a meeting of the Brothers, held on the 6th of May, 1854, when John Shafer was chairman, and Ezra Brownell, secretary, it was
Resolved, That the society shall be known as the "Evangelical Church of Gallupville."
The following were elected officers :-
Trustees :- Peter Schoolcraft, Ira Zeh, and Ezra Brownell.
Elders :- John Shafer, John Miller, P. J. Livingston.
Deacons :-- P. J. Zeh, J. F. Schoolcraft, John J. Shafer.
Treasurer :- Peter J. Zeh.
Clerk :- Egbert M. Gaige.
It was also
Resolved, That we call Rev. L. Swackhamer, of Berne, as pastor.
The first Communion was celebrated on the 12th of August, 1854, with Rev. L. Swack- hamer, officiating.
The following pastors have officiated :- Rev. L. Swackhamer, 1854. Rev. A. P. Ludding, 1855-1867. Rev. Henry Keller, 1868-1872.
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HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
Rev. William P. Davis, 1872-1877. Rev. J. R. Sikes, 1877, and present.
On the 29th of September, 1867, the con- nection with the Berne society was annulled, and since, it has been self-sustaining.
Temperance Society .- We find upon the Methodist book of records, the preamble and resolutions of a temperance society organized at this place February 27, 1830, which is the only old society that has left its records, that have been accessible to us, and we find the strictures to which the members were bound, did not argue total abstinence, as now, as will be seen in the following resolution, which is a fair specimen of the by-laws :-
Resolved, That those members of this society who use wine, cider, or beer to excess, shall be dealt with in the same manner as if they were ardent spirits.
A long litigation existed between this society and the Reformed Church in regard to the use of the church basement, which aroused a bitter spirit among the members of each, that years have not yet erased.
School .- As we have already mentioned, the basement of the Reformed church was used as an academy for several years, yet it was an acad- emy only in name, and not by incorporation. It was more of a select school, than now-for a few years the enterprise was dormant but through the energy of Dr. Houghtaling, Weidman Dominick and others it was again revived and has been under the tutorage of C. E. Markman, of the town of Fulton for the past two years, and is one of the first schools of the County.
Upon the building of the Albany and Scho- harie plank road, it not passing through the old village, a new one was started upon its line, which has become connected with the old by the building of residences, making a fine ad- dition and improvement in the place. The Wright House was erected by Austin Becker for the accommodation of the traveling commu- nity and during the gala days of the road did a lucrative business.
Peter Feek the veteran wagon and carriage maker carried on a large business here for many
years in the manufacture of those articles, and was succeeded by John J. Dominick, who, in turn was followed by the present occupant John Spate- holts. This shop has the reputation of making the best of work and has, since it was estab- lished, manufactured a very large number of carriages and sleighs yearly that find ready sale.
The south line of this town runs through a neighborhood that has been for a long term of years known as the "Dutch settlement," not particularly because the settlers were Dutch more than Germans but as they were both, the people for the last fifty years have been-not rightly-styled "Dutch." While "Dutch" are Hollanders, the Germans are "High Dutch," and the latter were referred to in that way by the old settlers merely through the language they used. Chief among the ancient families of this place were the Hallenbecks who removed from the "Camps" at a later date than the first settlers of Schoharie. There were three sets of Hallenbecks-one upon the Mohawk, one at Weiser's dorf and the third here which extended partly into Albany county. Undoubtedly the three progenitors were related-perhaps broth- ers.
We will here remark that several of the old families of Middleburgh, Schoharie and Wright were connected by marriage with the Weidmans a very old and substantial family, from a place called Berneswitzer in Germany and who settled in Berne, Albany county and gave the name of their paternal home to their settlement. Many of the families of this town, removed from Beaver Dam, once a very prominent settlement of that town.
Hiram Walden .- We cannot pass without referring to Hiram Walden, one of the most prominent men of the town for many years, al- though a quiet and unpretending man.
In 1836 he represented the County in the Assembly with Alvin Wilkins, of Gilboa; and the Twenty-first Congressional District, which comprised Otsego and Schoharie, in Congress in 1849 and 1851, also the town upon the board of Supervisors four terms, being the first elected in the town of Wright. But few men were better qualified than Mr. Walden for official
353
TOWN OF WRIGHT.
business or gained the confidence of his constit- uents to a greater degree. He was many years connected with the State militia and re- ceived the appointment of Major-General of the Sixteenth Division in May 1839, and proved a very efficient officer. "Right" was his watch- word in all transactions and whatever was en- trusted to him was acted upon faithfully without leaving a reproach. After a useful life he died in June, 1880, at the age of eighty-one.
SUPERVISORS.
1846-Hiram Walden.
1847-Hiram Walden.
1848-Hiram Walden.
1849-Henry D. Rosekrans.
1850-Henry D. Rosekrans.
1851-Simeon Morgan.
1852-Simeon Morgan.
1853-John Hunting.
1854-John Hunting.
1855-John Hunting.
1856-Peter Dominick.
1857-Weidman Dominick.
1858-Weidman Dominick.
1859-Weidman Dominick. 1860-Weidman Dominick.
1861-James Plank. 1862-Austin Becker.
1863-Austin Becker. 1864-Ambrose R. Hunting.
1865-John J. Dominick.
1866-A. R. Hunting.
1867-Peter Weidman.
1868-Hiram Walden.
1869-Henry D. Rosekrans.
1870-Henry D. Rosekrans.
1871-Ira Zeh, resigned and John J. Dom- inick appointed to fill vacancy. 1872-John J. Dominick.
1873-John J. Dominick. 1874-John J. Dominick.
1875-Peter Weidman.
1876-Peter Weidman. 1877-Chester Posson.
1878-Samuel Davidson. 1879-Samuel Davidson. 1880-John J. Dominick. 1881-Ambrose R. Hunting. 1882-Ambrose R. Hunting.
Statement of the aggregate valuation of the town and amount of taxes levied and assessed in 1880.
Assessed value of real estate. . $368,619.00 Assessed value of personal property. 69,500.00
Corrected value of real and
personal. 488,475.00
Amount of town tax 1, 165.85
County tax on town 2,665.83
State tax for schools 903.67
Amount State tax. .
921.15
Aggregate taxation 5,655.63
The tax rate in the town was .0125
The area of the town is 17,211 acres and the number of names on the tax list three hund- red and fifteen.
Merchants .- Upon the retirement of Ezra Gallup from the mercantile business, George Dominick succeeded him, whose contem- porary for a while was a Mr. Lawrence ; John Schoolcraft followed, and for several years did a lucrative business, but at last removed to Schoharie, C. H., and engaged in a hotel where he died at an advanced age, and was known far and near as "Uncle Johnny." From time to time others located here, among whom were Da- vid Zimmer, Sanford Marsellas, David Hilts, Peter Becker & Son, and Wright & Giddings, although they may not have followed in the order given. The present merchants are, Jacob Kelsh and O. F. Plank, the latter the present postmaster, and the former acting justice of the peace.
Physicians .- Upon the founding of the village, Dr. Slade located here but removed and left a vacancy which was filled by Doctors Van Dyke and Foster of Schoharie, the two leading pro- fessionals of this part of the County at that day.
Dr. Darius Coy came about the year 1832 and was followed in a few years by Ira Zeh, who formed a copartnership with his student the present practicing, John Houghtaling, who upon the dissolution of the connection, remained as the only professional of the town, until two years ago, when Dr. O. A. Snyder located, and still remains.
354
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXII.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCHOHARIE.
FIRST SETTLERS OF BRUNNENDORF-SCHAEFFER FAMILY AND NAME-RELICS FOUND -- LUTHER- AN CHURCH AND PARSONAGE-DOMINIE SOM- MERS, AND OTHER PASTORS-DOCTOR LINT- NER-REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH-BAPTISM OF GERSINA-CHURCH CONVERTED INTO A FORT-DOCTOR BUDD -- COLONEL VROMAN'S GRAVE-DAVID WILLIAMS' MONUMENT -- SIMON HOOSICK MIX-" POST MIX"-PETER MIX-FIRST CLERK OF THE COUNTY-DR. BRIGHAM-PHYSICIANS OF SCHOHARIE-CAP- TAIN MANN-CAPTAIN SNYDER-TAVERNS- PRESENT HOTELS -- FOX'S DORF-DIETZ FAM- ILY-COLONEL WILLIAM DIETZ -- WILLIAM FOX AND SETTLERS OF FOX's DORF- SMITH'S DORF -.. COURT HOUSE-GEORGE TIFFANY-JACOB, JOHN, AND JOHN, Jr., GEB- HARD-LAWYERS OF SCHOHARIE -- LAWYER FAMILV-GARLOCK'S DORF -- JACOB VRO- MAN-DUANESBURGH TURNPIKE-SAMUEL SMITH- - O. H. WILLIAMS ---- J. G. CARVL- STRUBACH MILL -- VILLAGE AT DEPOT -- FIRST GRIST-MILL-CARDING MILL -DIS- TILLERV-HUB FACTORY- WAGON MAKERS -MARBLE WORKS -- BUSINESS OF 1810 -- ENGAGEMENT AT FORT-SCHAEFFER HOUSE AND FAMILY-INCIDENT AT GRIST-MILL- JOHN INGOLD-BOUCK HOUSE, AND OTHER BUILDINGS-BURNING OF COURT HOUSE- GREAT FIRES-FOUNTAIN TOWN SCHOOL HOUSE-SCHOHARIE ACADEMY-METHODIST CHURCH-AFRICAN CHURCH --- GEBHARD'S CAVE-SCHOHARIE BRIDGE-FORMATION OF TOWN-FIRST OFFICERS-SUPERVISORS -- LUTHERAN CEMETERV- COMMODORE HARD- ING.
T HERE are spots upon which we may stand and let our thoughts take freeer scope and revert with greater ease and fondness back upon the scenes of other days, as history and tradition
have painted them upon the retina of our minds. Here beneath the refreshing shade of these pines of the old Lutheran cemetery, we will dwell upon the scenes of many years ago, when giant oaks and pines covered nearly the whole view before us, where those whose ashes lie beneath us, and whose requiem the mourning evergreens have so long sang, came in their honest simplicity, to rear homes for themselves and children, free from regal authority and exactions. Year after year passed away ere their vigorous strokes conquered the mighty forest, and these broad flats and lofty hills yielded to them their virginity, and revealed a richness that vied with nature's best.
Hendrick Schaeffer, Johannes Lawyer and two sons, Johannes Jr., and Jacob Frederick, Hendrick Conradt, Johannes Ingold, Hendrick Haynes, Germans, mostly of the Palatine order, settled here near the ledge of rocks about the year 1718. Purchasing the land together, a division was not made until the year 1753.
In three of the original " dorfs" the settlers were in number seven. They first drew an article of agreement for their lands, and then received the deed, and after holding their pos- session, perhaps until it became necessary to divide with the children, a general division was made, each individual deed receiving the signa- tures of the whole. This settlement was dis- tinguished from those above as " Brunnen- dorf " or "Fountain Town," which (both German and English) name was derived from the springs that issue from the ledge, and es- pecially from the one near the parsonage, whose crystal fount still bubbles refreshing waters for our use, as it did for those hardy pioneers, one hundred and sixty years ago.
The dwelling lots were all to the west of the cemetery, extending as far as the present farm of Martin L. Schaeffer, that was settled by Hen- drick Schaeffer. Hewas one of seven emigrants of that name from Germany in 1710. Two of them, Hendrick and Johannes, settled here and the remainder upon the Hudson and Mohawk. The name was originally written Schaeffer and Schaffer. At the present time, it is written in various ways, according to the fancy of the family.
355
TOWN OF SCHOHARIE.
Two families, whose children settled in Cobleskill many years after this settlement, froin the Hudson, although cousins, varied in the orthoepy of the name, by writing it Shafer and Shaver, as will be seen by consulting the next chapter.
But a few years ago Martin L. Schaeffer was plowing a short distance back of his farm buildings and turned up a portion of a fireplace which was without doubt the spot upon which the first Schaeffer settler's residence stood. Not far from the fireplace was a small head stone, with the initials and date,
ANO 1744 M. E. E.
From this Schaeffer family sprang those of Breakabeen, Carlisle and Sharon.
By a map of " Fountain Town" bearing date 1753, now in possession of Henry Cady, we find that the most easterly building in this dorf was the Lutheran Church, a blue limestone structure, the corner stone of which was laid on the 10th of May, 1750, and on the 6th of May following, was dedicated. It stood upon the ground now occupied as burial lots of Dr. George A. Lintner and John Gebhard, the former hav- ing been a resident pastor of the organization for the term of thirty years, long after its found- ers had crumbled to dust. At what time the or- ganization was effected, the records do not show, but undoubtedly soon after the settlement of the valley was made, and before this little ' dorf" was begun. The first vestry meeting was held June 8, 1743, under the following officers :- Abram Berg, elder ; Hendrick Schaeffer and Peter Lowenstien, deacons. It was resolved to erect a parsonage for the minister, and a place of worship for the congregation.
On the 3d of July, following, sacrament was administered to one hundred communicants, and on the 12th of September, following, servi- ces were held for the first time in the parsonage and continued to be until the erection of the church. The building still stands in the south- west corner of the cemetery, in good repair, and is the oldest one in the County.
Would that a reflection of the scene might again be witnessed that here presented itself one hundred and thirty-eight years ago, as Peter N.
Sommers and his uncouth yet sincere flock gath- ered and knelt for the first time within those walls before the throne of Him whom they so anxiously desired to adore ; but that passed on to the heart of their God to swell the effulgence of his love.
" Previous to the building of the parsonage," Dr. Lintner says in the Lutheran Magazine of 1827, of which he was the editor, "the pioneers of these settlements performed services by one of their number reading approved sermons, and occasionally Dominie Berkemeier, of Loonen- burgh (Athens-on-the-Hudson) preached to them as they assembled in the most spacious dwellings."
The records of the church have been care- fully preserved, and were written originally in High Dutch. The late Dr. Lintner translated them to English, and upon the first page we read :-
" In the name of the Holy Trinity."
" I, Peter Nicholas Sommers, from the city of Hamburgh, received on the 7th day of the month September, in the year 1742 the call as Ev. Luth. Preacher in the congregation at Scho- harie, authorized by the consistory at St. Tuni- tatis at. London and ordained by the Rev. Jo- hann George Palm for taking charge of said congregation.
" I started from Hamburgh for London and under God's almighty protection I arrived at London on the 25th of Oct. Circumstances prevented my setting out for New York and the 27th I started for Albany where I remained un- till the 25th May. Then I went to Schoharie where I on the first Sunday of Tunitatis preached my introductory sermon. The Lord our God be furthermore with me and my beloved congre- gation that the great end of my arduous office may be accomplished that the name of the Lord may be glorified. Amen."
Sommers' field of labor was wide, as he preached in the Lutheran settlements of Stone Arabia, Little Falls, Canajoharie, New Rhine- beck, The Camps, Claverack, Loonenburgh, Hoosick, Albany, Helleburgh, and as the coun- try became cleared and settlements made, in Cobleskill and Sharon. He was married to
356
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
Maria Keyser, of Stone Arabia, on the 26th of May, 1744, by Dominie Berkemeier, and the fruits of the marriage were ten children, among whom were two pairs of twins. In the year 1768 he was taken suddenly blind and remained so to the close of 1789, when one morning as he awoke, his sight was restored. Upon calling his faithful wife to his bedside, he exclaimed, “ I can see !" "What can you see ?" she asked. " I can see the trees, you and everything." And to the close of his life his sight was retained.
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