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 68
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The officers of 1882 are :- J. R. Herrick, President. D. C. Dow, Cashier. Archibald Kilmer, Teller.
The village of Cobleskill was incorporated by Legislative act passed April 3, 1868, with the following officers as Trustees :-
Charles Courter, William B. Calkins, David Frasier, Charles H. Shaver, William H. Young, Henry Smith.
A meeting was held on the 17th of April, of that year, when the following were elected offi- cers :-
Charles Courter, President.
S. J. Thatcher, Clerk. J. S. Pinder, Police Justice.
William Shafer, Treasurer. David Lawyer, Collector. James F. Blodgett, Street Commissioner.
John A. Segar, Police. Anson R. Bell, Police. Alonzo Douglass, Police.
The town of Cobleskill was formed at the same time as the County, but the limits were not defined until 1801. The first town meeting was held in May, 1795, when the ballots were deposited in a hat for the following officers :-
Supervisor :- John Shaver.
Clerk :-
Jacob I. Cuyler.
Assessors :-
David Zea, David Schuyler, John Reding- ton, Mathew Young, Henry Shafer.
Commissioners of Highways :- George Wright, George Warner, Ephraim Young.
Overseers of the Poor :- Christian Brown, Peter Shafer.
Collectors :- William Brown, Jacob Bouck.
Commissioners of Schools :- John Punk, Sylvester Nash, David Schuy- ler.
SUPERVISORS.
The following is a list of the supervisors, with the date of their elections :-
1797-John H. Shaver. 1798-John H. Shaver. 1799-John H. Shaver. 1800-William Ferris. 1801-William Ferris. 1802-Henry Shafer. 1803-Henry Shafer. 1804-Henry Shafer. 1805-Henry Shafer. 1806-Henry Shafer. 1807-Henry Shafer.
-
428
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
1808-Henry Shafer.
1809-Henry Shafer. 18to-Henry Shafer.
1811-Henry Shafer. 1812-George Mann. 1813-George Mann.
1814-Henry Shafer.
1815-Peter W. Snyder.
1816- Philip Van Sternbergh.
1817-Philip Van Sternbergh.
1818- Philip Van Sternbergh.
1819-Philip Van Sternbergh.
1820-Henry Shafer.
1821-Jonas Westover, Jr.
1822-Jonas Westover, Jr.
1823-Abram L. Lawyer.
1824-Abram L. Lawyer.
1825-Abram L. Lawyer.
1826-John P. Bellinger.
1827-John P. Bellinger.
1828-John P. Bellinger. 1829-Abram L. Lawyer.
1830-Henry Shafer.
1831-Henry Shafer.
1832-John P. Bellinger.
1833-John P. Bellinger.
1834-Thomas Lawyer.
1835-Peter W. Snyder. 1836-Peter W. Snyder.
1837-John H. Mumford. 1838-John H. Mumford.
1839-Thomas Smith.
1840-Thomas Smith.
1841-Charles Courter.
1842-Charles Courter.
1843-Jacob Russell.
1844-John Westover.
1845-John Westover.
1846-David W. Lawyer.
1847-Philip Mann.
1848-Philip Mann. 1849-John Brown. 1850-John Brown.
1851-Daniel Kilmer.
1852-Abram A. Osterhout.
1853-Abram A. Osterhout.
1854-Daniel Shafer.
1855-Daniel Shafer. 1856-H. L. Russell. 1857-Charles H. Shaver.
1858- Marcus Sternbergh. 1859-Teunis Slingerland.
1860-Asaph Roberts. 1861-Harmon Becker. 1862-Harmon Becker.
1863-John Brown. 1864-John Herron. 1865-Daniel Shafer.
1866-Daniel Shafer.
1867-David Frasier.
1868-David Frasier.
1869-David Frasier.
1870-Theodore Owen. 1871-Charles Ryder. 1872-Charles Ryder.
1873-David B. Lawyer.
1874-John J. Dickinson.
1875-John J. Dickinson.
1876-Peter Lawyer. 1877-Peter Lawyer .* 1878-David B. Lawyer.t
1879-Peter Tingue. 1880-William Shafer.
1881-William Shafer.
1882-William Shafer.
In 1846 when the County Court House was burned, the inhabitants of Cobleskill took active measures to remove the site to the village of Cob- leskill, and elected Hon. Thomas Smith to the Legislature to engineer a bill through the House to that effect. He was unsuccessful and the new building was placed on the old site. Upon the burning of the building in 1870, renewed efforts were made to accomplish the removal. The grounds upon which the Hotel Augustan stands, were then strewn with the debris of the conflagration of that year and the citizens of the village agreed to donate that as a site and also erect a court house at their own expense, without incurring any upon the County. The provisions of the statutes were such as to make a removal, yet the citizens of Schoharie village to ensure the buildings being placed there made a like offer of building without cost to the County and the Board of Supervisors voted to accept their proposals. Being thus foiled two times in an attempt to make Cobleskill the
* Deceased. + Elected at special election.
429
TOWN OF COBLESKILL.
county-seat, differences arose in the Board of Supervisors and the citizens of the several towns in the year 1881, on the equalization of towns, in which Schoharie and Esperance were the aggrieved parties. Another effort was made in that year to remove the site to Cobleskill and Middleburgh. A preamble and resolution was read before the board by William Shafer, the Supervisor of Cobleskill, which was as follows :--
WHEREAS, In the opinion and judgment of the Supervisors of the several towns composing the County of Schoharie, hereby expressed at the annual meeting and session of the " Board of Supervisors of Schoharie County," for the year 1881, that the public convenience, and best in- terests of a large majority of the citizens, and particularly of taxpayers of said County, and of the various towns of said County, will be best promoted and secured by a change of the pres- ent site and location of the County Court House, County Judge and Surrogate's Office, County Clerk's Office, and of the Common Jail of said County, from the village and town of Schoharie, elsewhere, therefore,
Resolved, That under the provisions, and in the proper exercise of the power conferred and vested in Boards of Supervisors by the provis- ions of Sections one, two and five, of Chapter 482, of the Laws of 1875, entitled "An act to confer on Boards of Supervisors further power of local legislation and administration, and to regulate the compensation of Supervisors, passed June 5th, 1875, the present site and location of the County buildings of the County of Scho- harie, being the County Court House, County Judge and Surrogate's Office, County Clerk's Office, and the Common Jail of Schoharie County is hereby removed from the village and town of Schoharie, in the County of Schoharie.
Resolved, That the village of Middleburgh, in the town of Middleburgh, and the village of Cobleskill, in the town of Cobleskill, in said County of Schoharie, be, and the same are here- by fixed, designated, and established as half- shire towns in said County of Schoharie, for the location and site of the County buildings of the County of Schoharie, being a County Court House, a County Judge and Surrogate's Office,
County Clerk's Office, and a Common Jail for the use of the County of Schoharie.
Resolved, 'That the present County buildings, known as the County Court House, in which is located and fixed the office of County Judge and Surrogate, and the office of the County Clerk, together with the Common Jail of Scho- harie County, with all the material composing the same, and all the fixtures, furniture and property therein belonging to said County, may be taken and removed from the village and town of Schoharie, into the village and town of Middleburgh, there to be re-erected and re- constructed into such buildings, and used there- in for the use of the County of Schoharie, but without charge, cost or expense to said County of Schoharie, or any of the towns of said County, or of the tax-payers therein, except such sums as shall be voluntarily contributed therefor.
Resolved, That the citizens of the village and town of Cobleskill, Schoharie County, are here- by authorized and empowered to erect and con- struct suitable and proper buildings to be used and appropriated to the free use of the County of Schoharie as a County Court House, a County Judge and Surrogate's Office, a County Clerk's Office, and a Common Jail for the County of Schoharie, upon the express condition that the same shall be without cost, charge or expense to said County, or of any of the towns of said County, or of the tax-payers of said town or county, except such sums as shall be volun- tarily contributed by them therefor.
Resolved, That for the purpose of carrying into effect the object and intention of the fore- going resolution, William Shafer, of Cobleskill, Hadley Snyder, of Middleburgh, Henry C. Lyker, of Sharon, Marcus Zeh, of Fulton, and Moses S. Wilcox, of Jefferson, be and they are hereby authorized, appointed and empowered a com- mittee to serve without expense to the County of Schoharie for such purpose.
Resolved, That Hon. Addison P. Jones, as Senator elect, and Hon. Edwin D. Hager, as Member of Assembly elect in the Legislature of 1882, be, and they each are hereby earnestly, yet respectfully requested and solicited, by all
430
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
proper methods and means of legislation, to favor and procure the passage of all needed and appropriate laws, if any are required, for the purpose of giving full force and effect to the provisions, object and intent of the foregoing preamble and resolutions.
Resolved, That the Clerk of this Board be, and he is hereby directed to prepare and furnish to our Senator and Member of the Assembly elect, a certified copy of the foregoing preamble and resolutions.
The resolution was passed by twelve voting for and three against, the latter being the repre- sentatives of Schoharie, Esperance and Wright.
The matter was to be left to the people, at the ensuing town meetings, but Middleburgh through a town meeting of her citizens, refused to raise the required amount to remove the building and the matter dropped entirely, and was chaffed by electors in general as being fool- ish and illegal.
In 1813 the Legislature described the boundaries of the town as follows :-
"And all that part of said county of Schoharie bounded by a line beginning at the north-west corner of the town of Jefferson, and running thence northerly along the bounds of the county until it intersects a line described in the following manner, viz :- Running from the westerly corner of the dwelling house of John Reddington in a direct line to the west- erly corner of the dwelling house now or late of Peter Bogardus, thence in a straight line to the northerly corner of the dwelling house now or late of Joseph Webb, thence in a direct line to the westerly corner of the dwelling house now or late of Nicholas Smith, thence southwesterly to the nearest point in the division line between the counties of Schoharie and Otsego, thence northeasterly along the line so intersected to the southwest corner of the town of Carlisle, thence along the south bounds of Carlisle to the west line of the town of Schoharie, thence along the west line of the town of Schoharie and Mid- dleburgh to the north bounds of the town of Jefferson, and thence along the said north bounds to the place of beginning, shall be and continue a town by the name of Cobelskill.
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that Holmes
BICESAPHIGAS
JUDGE
the subject of this triet sko h vas bien the town of Fulton, Shoharie ( y, March 26, 1826, then brug t wird, only surviving chill of it Que Which h Ismes Holmes, Jr. His pit nal med ti James Holmes, was a native of New jersey, a soldier in the War of the @ voluto fer the termination of which, le marr Miss Mercy Hunt, also & nativ About the year [821 th \ sett the h ion of d'e Umie church, on s " S. pbuh Hill," ir the ". od of which Judge H passed his childhood years His m re tors, Jo m Spickerman, and Mary (whose maiden name wa I ker,) of Colin bia county, in this Stam
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JUDGE CHARLES HOLMES.
The subject of this brief sketch was born in the town of Fulton, Schoharie County, N. Y., March 26, 1826, then being the third, but only surviving child of the late Hannah and James Holmes, Jr. His paternal grandfather, James Holmes, was a native of New Jersey, and a soldier in the War of the Revolution, after the termination of which, he married Miss Mercy Hunt, also a native of that State. About the year 1801 they settled near the loca- tion of the Union church, on what is still known as "Sapbush Hill," in the immediate neighbor- hood of which Judge Holmes was born and passed his childhood years. His maternal an- cestors, John Spickerman, and Mary, his wife, (whose maiden name was Decker,) were natives of Columbia county, in this State, and among the early settlers of that part of Fulton known as "Rossman Hill," near which many of their descendants still reside.
His grandfather Spickerman was also a sol- dier in the Revolutionary war, and his father a soldier in the War of 1812-1815, which may in some degree account for the martial spirit and passion for military excitement and display, which was a prominent characteristic of his younger days. At the early age of nineteen years he was elected and duly commissioned as
Captain of a militia company by Governor Silas Wright, and continued to serve as such until the re-organization of the military system of the State. He was afterwards selected, commis- sioned, and for several years served as Quarter- Master of the 108th Regiment of the " National Guard of the State of New York," on the staff of Colonels Wakefield and Ferguson, and until the Regiment was mustered out of service, by a re- duction of the National Guard.
His father died in 1837, leaving him as the eldest of six surviving children, under the super- vision of his excellent widowed mother, to assist in caring for and looking after their welfare, and the management of a small farm, left to them for support.
In early life he evinced an earnest desire and ambition for the acquisition of general knowl- edge, and more especially for the profession in which he afterwards became an active member, until his promotion to the Bench, in his native County. Being left an orphan at the early age of eleven years without patrimony or the means or facilities for obtaining a better, or more lib- eral education, he was compelled to content himself with self-improvement and the poor ad- vantages afforded by the common school of the neighborhood in which his early life was passed.
432
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
This was his Alma Mater, except for one term in the "Jefferson Academy," and another in a "Select School " at Richmondville, in his na- tive County, where he sought to improve and add to the little store of coveted knowledge, acquired by him under so many adverse and discouraging circumstances.
In 1846, he married Miss Sarah Baird, of Richmondville, daughter of Jacob, and Lydia Baird, nee Phillips. Of the fruit of such union, five children still survive, the youngest, Welling- ton J., having died when a little more than two years of age. Of the remaining children, the eldest, Demosthenes L. Holmes now resides in the city of New York, being married, and an Assistant Deputy of the County Clerk, which position he has satisfactorily filled, for more than five years. The maiden name of his wife was Carluta E. Coy, of New York City. The second, Lewis C. Holmes, an attorney and counselor at law, is present clerk in the Surrogate Court of Schoharie County, and resides in Cobleskill village, where he married his wife, Miss Helen Courter. The next, was their only daughter, Mary Adelaide, who married Dr. James E. Allen, of Schenectady, (now deceased) the issue of such marriage being the only surviving grand- child, Addie Emerson Allen, a sprightly, favor- ite pet of all who know her, now being in the fifth year of her age, and residing with her mother, at the parental home in Cobleskill vil- lage. The next is their son Charles H. Holmes, who is also an attorney and counselor at law, residing and practicing his profession in Cobles- kill, where he married Miss Hattie Ottman. The remaining, and youngest surviving child, Lyman S. Holmes, has also chosen the profes- sion of his father, is unmarried, and a member of the law firm of "Thorne & Holmes" at Mid- dleburgh, Schoharie County, as successors of "Sanford & Thorne."
Judge Holmes began the study of his pro- fession, subsequent to his marriage, at Cobles-
kill village. He entered the law office of the late Demosthenes Lawyer, then County Judge, and ex-officio Surrogate of Schoharie County, in January, 1849, and was admitted as an attorney and counselor at law, in September, 1852.
It was during the period of his clerkship in the office of his preceptor, Judge Lawyer, while a student, enjoying the advantages derived from his varied experience. in the formal proceedings and practical administration of the laws as ap- plicable to Surrogate Courts, that he became so eminently fitted for the correct and careful dis- charge of the difficult and responsible duties in- volved in this most important branch of our ju- dicial system.
In November, 1855, he was elected Member of Assembly from Schoharie County, and al- though less than thirty years of age, when he took his seat, he soon became an active and efficient member of that branch of the Legisla- ture. He was exceedingly popular among his associates, and acquitted himself with great credit, in the successful management, and in procuring the passage through the Assembly of the Albany & Susquehanna Railroad town bond- ing bill. Although with a single exception, he was the youngest member of the House, he was appointed a member of the Judiciary Committee, served on several special committees, and near the close of the session, without his previous knowledge or solicitation, was appointed a member of the "Select Committee," to perfect and forward all bills and measures, meriting and deserving special legislative action.
After the close of his legislative term, he resumed the practice of his profession at Cobles- kill village, in the various courts of this State, and upon his subsequent admission to practice as attorney and as counselor in the Circuit and District Courts of the United States, formed a special partnership with the late Willianı H. Young, of Cobleskill, in bankruptcy cases.
In the fall of 1871, he was unanimously
433
TOWN OF COBLESKILL.
nominated by the Democrats of Schoharie County, for the office of County Judge, who in this County is also ex-officio the Surrogate of the County, to which office he was elected by his full party majority. In the fall of 1877, he was unanimously renominated to the same position, and at the Republican County Con- vention held a few days subsequent to his re- nomination, a commendatory resolution of approval of his official course was adopted, accompanied by a resolution not to make any nomination for that position-which resulted in his unanimous re-election, by a vote largely in excess of the vote polled by his party at that election.
Politically, Judge Holmes has always been recognized at home and abroad, as one of the most firm and reliable members of the class of politicians who enjoy and rejoice in the proud appellation of "Schoharie Democrats."
Prior to his election to his present judicial position, he was an earnest, active, local poli- tician, was frequently a delegate to County and State Conventions; was for over ten years chairman of the County committee, and in 1881, was without his desire, elected a member of the Democratic State Committee, and by that body made a member of its executive committee.
Personally, he is known as frank and out- spoken in respect to all issues in which he feels and takes an interest, or becomes interested, either for himself or his friends, apparently being more zealous in serving others, than in doing for himself. He is bold and fearless in waging his contests, is never influenced by motives of policy alone, to court or receive public approval from superior numbers, against his sense of justice and right, in a war against injustice and wrong. He is apparently most happy in serving the indigent, oppressed, and defenceless, against the cupidity and rapacity of the covetous and avaricious, whose greed is for
gold. In short, he abhors and detests every one whose sycophantic servility makes them time-servers for personal preferment, or advan- tage, and turns with disgust and disdain from the hypocritical pretenders, who would sacrifice principle and betray friends, to accomplish per- sonal ends, and gain a temporary local popu- larity.
Socially, he is among the number who delight in contributing to the happiness and pleasure of all, instead of striving to monopolize all the homage and attentions that by the self-conceited are exacted as their exclusive privileges and prerogatives. To his friends, he is ever faithful and sincerely devoted, as well in adversity as in prosperity, and never fails to face his foes. He never displays a flag of truce while the contest is waged against him, or the friends, or cause for which he has enlisted. And finally, he has never yet been known to forsake a friend, or forget an enemy.
JEDEDIAH MILLER.
Jedediah Miller was born in the town of Mid- dleborough, Plymouth county, Mass., on the 16th day of June, 1782, and was a descendant in the line of his mother, (who was a Howland,) of the Pilgrims who landed from the May- flower.
Mr. Miller was a classmate of Daniel Web- ster in Dartmouth college, from which he gradu- ated in August, 1805. With the intention of beginning an active life, he started in May, 1806, for Geneva, N. Y., then considered a far off Western town. Reaching Schoharie village, and desiring to visit an old college associate, Isaac Hall Tiffany, he set out for Lawyersville. Arriving at the river west of the village, he was rowed across the stream by a negress and found
434
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
the road leading to Cobleskill obstructed by gates and bars, which undoubtedly gave to him a poor impression of the liberality of the people and of the freedom vouchsafed to
travelers, and which led him in after years to procure a reprimand from the Grand Jury. He arrived at Lawyersville in the month of May, and intended to spend but a few days with Judge
Jechiliah Miller
Tiffany, and then continue his journey. Tiffany and Miller were in college together, the former being a senior and the latter a freshman, and a strong attachment had arisen up between them that did not lessen as long as they lived.
Mr. Miller was induced to forego his journey and take charge of the school and commenced the study of law with Judge Tiffany. He was admitted to practice in 1809, and at once rose to the front rank in his profession, particularly as an advocate. He possessed talents of a high order, and during his long residence in the County, although a Yankee, he had a strong
hold in the confidence of the Germans as well as the entire community. In 1819 and 1820, he was elected to the Assembly as a Clintonian Democrat, at that time called 'Republican,' and earnestly advocated internal improvements by taxation, under strict rules of economy, and gave an exhibition of his broad ideas of govern- ment and its destined resources, in several speeches before those bodies. He was elected again in 1832 by the Whig party, and in 1838, when the formation of the town of Seward was in controversy, he became a candidate for this same position and was successful in his elec-
yours truly M. Ramsey
7
TOWN OF COBLE
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Win, but was unahl h . assed as his lage uppe us petitions bet e the b svin et out to carry hi the case of time, have in present name in hon r _ the 1or.
Mr. Miller avoided tal eijoved hin ef mne mo Blie hom . O Fim, MOT HI. F . Mr Maler in ha se Mibits ¿spects eccentric, but bi ; e rm in conversation khi sensive knowledge . ve nd agreeable compa da · rtel and enduri erate and eco umalin ha . .. le exhibited a lively tt &though weak and feeble quis a to publi: W t time before lie den wat the Southern Rebeil.o wb why the Union preserved, h n Motion, . God be plais
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435
TOWN OF COBLESKILL.
tion, but was unable to get his "Seward bill" passed, as his home opponents crowded numer- ous petitions before the body to defeat him, yet having set out to carry his point, he did so in the course of time, and gave to the territory its present name in honor of the then acting Gov- ernor.
Mr. Miller avoided political preferment and enjoyed himself most in the tranquility of his home. Of him, Mr. J. H. Ramsey says :- " Mr. Miller in his social habits was in some respects eccentric, but he possessed a peculiar charm in conversation and his varied and extensive knowledge, made him a very instruc- tive and agreeable companion. He was a warm- hearted and enduring friend and always tem- perate and economical in his habits. In public affairs he exhibited a lively interest to the last. Although weak and feeble he made frequent enquiries as to public matters, and when told a short time before his death, the prospect was that the Southern Rebellion would be put down and the Union preserved, he exclaimed with deep emotion, 'God be praised I can die in peace.'
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