Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 52

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374

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factory and at last about fifteen years ago was transformed into a grist mill, which was operated by both steam and horse power. It was burned down but soon rebuilt and passed from the ownership of Truman Lawton to Leslie Allen, and from him to Mr. Hochstrasser.

A mill was built at South Berne in 1855 and rebuilt by Elias Zeh in 1884; it was burned in 1895. The foundry conducted in former years by Henry Engle was afterwards used for a tannery in which John Rossiter, Jacob D. Settle and Oscar Tyler carried on business. It was next used as a furniture factory and finally as a saw mill, and is now owned by Watson Chesebro. It is located at Berne village.

In the history of the town of Watervliet and Cohoes is found an ac- count of the axe factory of Daniel Simmons after it was removed from Berne. Mr. Simmons settled in Berne as a blacksmith in 1831, com- ing from Bethlehem. He began business in the shop of Henry Engle, but soon turned his attention to the making of axes on his anvil, ham- mering them out by hand. He made them so superior to others then obtainable that he soon acquired an extended reputation. He gained the confidence of responsible men, among whom were Jacob Settle, Malachi Whipple, Jacob Weidman, Moses Patten, Johan Jost Deitz and William Schnell, who supplied him with capital to establish a large concern. A large building was erected in 1825 on the north side of the creek, a trip hammer put in and a prosperous business started. A second build- ing for a tempering shop extended across the stream, and a third, which ultimately became the lower grist mill, was the place where the grinding and polishing was done. A fourth structure, one hundred feet long was erected in 1830, which contained a trip hammer, forges, etc. Twenty- one forges were at one time in operation, and two hundred men were employed. Large quantities of charcoal were used, giving employment and a source of income to many of the inhabitants. In the height of his business here Mr. Simmons purchased the Fischer farm and occu- pied it, with his brothers, Baltus and Jonas. He also erected the build- ing once used by E. M. Shultes as a tavern. The Simmons axes found ready sale over a wide extent of territory, some of them being shipped as far away as Africa and Asia. But the transportation problem was a serious one, and the larger the business grew, the more onerous was the burden ; the firm became heavily involved and in 1833 made an

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assignment to Moses Patten, and Simmons soon moved to Cohoes, where he died in 1881. Many of the best men of the village were left almost penniless by the failure. The firm of Coates & Smith, merchants, abandoned their store after the failure.

The character of agriculture in this town has not materially changed from early times. Mixed farming is the rule. About twenty years ago there was some effort made to establish dairying and especially cheese- making, on a more extensive basis. A cheese factory was built in 1878 on the farm of Thomas J. Wood, near Berne village. The busi - ness was promoted by James W. Hart, who had followed it in Madison county. This factory was successful and is still in operation. A second factory was built at East Berne in 1884, for the manufacture of both cheese and butter and was for some time in charge of Mr. Hart ; but it was abandoned.

The village of Berne is situated on the old Weidman mill property, which consisted of thirty acres in the northern part of the town, and was known as Beaverdam for some years after the first settlement. In 1817 Henry Engle opened a tavern here west of the site of the Walter Whipple residence. This house was called Corporation Inn and was long a popular resort. The village was also known for a time as Cor- poration. The name Berne was given when the post-office was estab- lished in 1825 Jacob Settle established a store here in 1817, and the business descended to Theodore Settle, who still conducts it. Charles E. Deitz's store was started by Moses Patten in 1828, and for many years was conducted by Moses and James Patten and came into the hands of the present owner in 1859. The store of Shultes & Adams was built for a hotel by Daniel Simmons in 1824, and was kept in recent years by E. M. Shultes, who took it in 1859; the property is owned by Mrs. Ira Fairlee. The store now occupied by J. W. Hart & Son was built for a grocery by Oscar Tyler in 1840. He was succeed ed by Samuel H. Davis, who continued in trade until his death in 1874. The property was soon leased to Rhinehart & Hochstrasser, who were followed by the present proprietors On the site occupied by a fur hat factory in early years, conducted by Conrad Truax, a tailor shop was later established with which a mercantile business was afterwards connected. William Ball carried on the business in recent years, but it

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was finally closed up. Rhinehart & Shultes's store was erected in 1872 by Joseph Wilsey, who had a saloon there and was succeeded by N. H. Dayton and Edwin Wilsey in the grocery trade. The present proprietors bought the property and in 1878 began trade in boots and shoes, clothing, and watches and jewelry. The store of George Hallen- beck was built by Daniel Wright in 1838, who had a furniture store and did undertaking. Isaac Hallenbeck continued the business from 1852 to 1872; the building was burned down but rebuilt by the present pro- prietor. Ira Witter is the sole hotel keeper of Berne. There is another hotel, which is now empty, that was built by Z. A. Dyer, whose son, James B, was its last proprietor, running it down to 1895.

Other business men of this village were : blacksmiths, Uriah G. Davis, 1865-85 ; Sylvanus Weidman, 1882-85; and Anthony Carey from 1885. John Hochstrasser, stoves and tin ware, 1865-85 ; saddlery and harness, Esli Whipple and his son, Walter, from 1840; E. V. Filkins attorney, 1851-55 ; John D. White, from 1881; physicians, Isaac S. Becker, 1857; Wallace E. Deitz, from 1883.

The hamlet of West Berne is situated on the Lower Beaverdam in the northwestern part of the town and near the site of Post's mill It was formerly called Mechanicsville, about 1830-35, from the numerous me- chanics residing there. It then took the name of Peoria, given it by Paul Settle, the miller, who owned property in Peoria, Ill. When the post office was established it was given the name of West Berne. The oldest residence in the place is that of John D. Haverly, which was built by William Shultes about 1800. Levi Ewings manufactured hats here in 1850, on the site of the present harness shop. The grocery of William Posson was established in 1824 by Peter Settle, and that of the Wool- ford Brothers by Paul I. Cannaday in 1854. Charles Blade kept a store here for some years. Taverns are kept by Joseph Lee and G. W. Steiner. Albert Becker keeps a grocery and is postmaster.

The village of East Berne is situated on the Foxenkill, a little northeast of the center of the town. It first bore the name of Warner's Mills and took its present name when the post- office was opened in 1825. Locally it has been called Philley, a name given it by Elnathan Stafford who kept a tavern in 1820 and sent to Philadel- phia for his liquors. Nathaniel, Albert and Benjamin Gallup began a

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mercantile business here in 1825, and in opposition Stephen Willes be- gan trading on the opposite side of the street. Albert Gallup bought out Willes soon afterward and formed the firm of Seabury & Gallup, who continued trade until 1842, when they were succeeded by Adam J. Warner, who kept a store and hotel together. This business is still fol- lowed and has been for many years in the Willsey hotel, kept by E. B. Willsey. The business of Nathaniel and Benjamin Gallup passed through several changes in ownership and finally to Z. A. Dyer in 1857; from him it passed to his son-in-law, Frank Strevell, in 1871. The lat- ter still keeps a store, as also does Justin Dyer, who is postmaster. Z. A. Dyer was in the practice of law here many years from 1854.

South Berne is a small hamlet in the southern part of the town on the site of the old mill property of Asa Culver. These mill buildings were burned a few years ago. This place was called Centreville previous to 1825, and also has the local name of Mud Hollow, from the swampy nature of the soil in that vicinity. John P. Snyder began a grocery business here in 1817, and Daniel Lounsberry carried on a tannery. In 1882 Alexander McKinley, previously a wagon maker, opened a tavern. A little later Zebulon Holdridge opened a blacksmith shop and Ebene- zer Denison had a grocery and an ashery. Henry H. Lawson began trade here in 1828 and James Babcock in the next year. Moses Barber built a carding mill in company with James Parish, in 1830, and manu- factured satinet cloth. The store conducted in recent years by North- rop & Ball was built in 1866 by Joseph Deitz for a wheelwright shop. The store conducted by J. Swarthout was built in 1835. There is very little present business here ; George Sellick and Elias Zeh have small stores.

The hamlet of Reidsville is situated in the extreme southeastern part of the town, and took its name from Alexander Reid, who settled there in 1828, and opened the first tavern. About the same time Frederick Ward and James Anderson established a store, the firm afterwards be- coming Ward & Conger. Alfred Hungerford kept a store in later years.

In common with other towns in this county the records of early schools are of the most meagre description. It is known, of course, that there were early schools of primitive character taught in various parts

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of the town, generally in log buildings for a number of years, when the first frame school buildings took their place. One of the old log school houses stood near the site of the old Lutheran church. Another was remembered by old residents as being built of unpeeled hemlock logs with a roof slanting only one way and made of bark. The changes in the character of school officers in early years has been described in an earlier chapter. In 1812 a resolution was adopted in this town that " there shall be five hundred dollars raised in the town of Berne for the use of common schools in said town, to be appropriated to regular men's schools that will bear the inspection of a school committee." This was very liberal and progressive action for that early period. Changes were made as needed in the number of school districts; but for many years it has remained practically stationary. There were twenty one districts in 1813 and the number was the same in 1860 ; at the pres- ent time there are twenty with school houses. In 1813 only $300 were appropriated for the town schools, and in 1816, when there were thirty districts, only $494 were appropriated. This amount has gradually increased to about $2,000. The record embraces, of course, Berne and Knox until the latter was erected as a town.

The establishment of the great Simmons axe factory led the inhabit- ants to look for a bright future for their town, one of the results of which was the founding of an academy in 1833 ; but the failure of the factory led to the abandonment of the plans after the timber for the building was on the ground. A select school was organized in 1882 which was placed under control of the following trustees: E. V. Filkins, president ; Thomas J. Wood, George H. Reinhart, Charles E. Deitz, Peter S. Ball, and Edwin M. Shultes. A room for the school was fitted up over the store of Theodore Settle and it was placed in successful operation under Elmer G. Story, principal.

The first religious organization in this town was the Reformed church of Beaverdam, which was formed in 1763, under the ministry of Rev. Johannes Schuyler, who was then in charge of the Schoharie church. The first consistory were : Adam Deitz, Jacob Ball, Jacob Weidman, and Caspar Stiner, elders; Johannes Deitz, Caspar Stiner, Hendrick Ball, and Roedolph Casman, deacons. A small log church was built in 1765, on the site of Pine Grove cemetery, which stood until 1786,

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when it was superseded by a frame structure. This was used until 1830, when it was taken down and the material divided between the two con- gregations at Berne and Beaverdam. This was wholly missionary ground until 1821. Rev. Mr. Schuyler occupied it for thirteen years until 1779, after whom came Rev. George W. Schneyder, who continued until 1790. Other missionaries followed until 1821, when Rev. Cornelius Bogardus, the first regular pastor, was called. During his ministry the church farm was greatly improved. During the pastorate of Rev. J. H. Van Wagenen, 1826-1831, two churches were erected, and not long after- ward the two congregations, Beaverdam and Berne village, were sep- arated and with two consistories held the farm in common. Pastors fol- lowing Rev. Mr. Van Wagenen were Abram H. Myers, R. D. Van Kleek, William Demarest, Edwin Vedder, John C. Van Liew, Edward Miller, during the pastorate of the latter of whom the Beaverdam church was repaired at a cost of over $1,000. On January 1, 1857, the parson- age in Berne was purchased, the church there paying $1,200, and that at Beaverdam, $300. The membership of the united churches is 250.

The Lutheran church was organized about 1790, and a house of worship was soon afterward built on a farm midway between East Berne and Berne villages ; this farm was deeded to the congregation by the Patroon in 1797. The original trustees of the church property were Christian Zeh, Frederick Wormer, and Christian Zandt. The services and the records were in German until 1802, when English was adopted. The first missionary pastor was Rev. August Frederick Meier. Other missionaries succeeded until 1828, when this church and one in Guilderland were united and a call was given to Rev. Adam Crounse ; he accepted and served the congregation for nineteen years. Under his ministry the present brick church was built. During the pastorate of Rev. S. Curtis, 1836-1850, the parsonage was purchased. During the ministry of Rev. James Lefler, 1868-1876, a separate house of worship was erected in East Berne and dedicated in 1872. Two other churches have grown from this one-St. John's at East Berne, and the Lutheran church at Gallupville in Schoharie county.

The Second Reformed church at Berne was organized March 15, 1826, by a committee appointed by the Albany Classis. Twenty-three members were then received by certificate from the church at New

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Salem, and the following officers were ordained : Elders, Jacobus Van Deusen and John Shafer ; deacons, Cornelius Secor and Peter B. Winne. Until 1838 the church was served wholly by missionaries; in that year Rev. Hart E. Waring was called, and under him forty- one were re- ceived into fellowship. At a meeting held about this time a resolution was adopted uniting the two churches, the Second Berne and the Onis- quethau, and the combined congregations called Rev. Staats Van Sant- voord. The connection between the two societies was broken in 1841, and a union formed between the Berne church and the Presbyterian so- ciety at Knox. A joint call was then made upon Rev. Joseph Knies- kern, who served four years. This society is locally called the Secor church from its having been organized in the dwelling of Daniel Secor, and from the number of families of that name in the vicinity.

The Methodist Episcopal church of South Berne was organized about 1812, as the result of camp meeting revivals. Rev. Mr. Stead was the first pastor and supplied this church and one at Rensselaerville. The first house of worship was built a little south of Zeh's grist mill and was in use until 1870, when a new building was erected, which is the one used at the present time.

There was a Methodist church at Reidsville which was organized in 1830 and had a feeble existence. The Methodist church at Berne village was organized July 11, 1845, and the house of worship erected soon afterward. The first trustees were Thomas Miller, Datus E. Tyler, Oscar Tyler, George Possing, Franklin Smith and Abram Ball. The society was actively promoted in its early years by Dr. H. K. Willard and Abram Ball, who acted alternately as president and secretary of the society until 1862. After that the church was maintained largely through the work of George E Shultes. The society has not been in active existence for some years.

The First Christian church of this town is situated in Reidsville and was organized December 26, 1821, with fifteen members. In 1823 through a revival there were forty- nine members added. After a period of decline the congregation was again enlarged with thirty - seven mem- bers through a revival in 1832. In the following year the present church was built. About 1840, under the pastorate of Elder James Conkling, jr., another revival added sixty-four to the membership. In 1841 a

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new confession of faith was signed by 156 members, taking the title, "Christian" as their only name and the Holy Scriptures as their only written rule of faith and practice. The society has ever since main- tained an active existence and now numbers nearly one hundred members.

The Second Christian church was organized September 13, 1836, through the efforts of Elder A. L. Taylor. Meetings were held in school houses until the present church edifice was built; it was dedicated Oc- tober 15, 1836, and has since been extensively remodeled and im- proved. The church is situated in the extreme southwest part of the town, owns a parsonage and has more than one hundred members.

The Christian church of South Berne was organized in the Friends meeting house, east of the village, February 16, 1854, with twenty-four members, under the ministry of Elder Calvin Southwick. In the following year the old store north of the James Cornell building was purchased by four of the church members and services were there held until the completion of the present church edifice in 1864. Under the ministry of Elder D. P. Warner, 1856-1869, the society prospered, but in the past ten years it has declined.

The supervisors of this town from its organization to the present time have been as follows :

Jacob Hochstrasser, 1795, 1799: Amos Jones, 1796; Johan Jost Deitz, 1997, 1798, 1801-1807, 1812, 1813, 1818; Benjamin Fowler, 1800; Abel Hinckley, 1808, 1809; Joshua Gallup, 1810, 1811; Malichi Whipple, 1814-1817, 1821, 1831, 1832; Gideon Taber, 1819, 1820; Jesse Wood, 1822, 1823; Stephen Willes, 1824 ; James D. Gard- ner, 1825, 1826, 1835; Chester Willes, 1827; Henry H. Lawson, 1828, 1830; Albert Gallup, 1829; Daniel Simmons, 1833; Lawrence Van Deusen, 1834; Moses Patten, 1836-1838; John Warner, 1839; Jacob Settle, 1840, 1841; Henry I. Devoe, 1842, 1843, 1860, 1861; Oscar Tyler, 1844, 1845; Samuel H. Davis, 1846, 1847, 1856, 1857; John I. Bogardus 1848; Daniel G. Fisher, 1849; Henry A. Van Wie, 1850, 1851; Jackson King, 1852, 1853; Silas Wright. 1854, 1855; Z. A. Dyer, 1858, 1859; David Conger, 1862, 1864, 1866; William D. Strevell, 1863; David S. Dyer, 1865; Adam J. Warner, 1867; James A. Reamer, 1868; Alfred Hungeford, 1869, 1870; William Zeh, 1871- 1873; George H. Reinhart, 1874, 1875; Frederick W. Conger, 1877-1881; Thomas J. Wood, 1876, 1882-1887; Isaac White, 1888, 1889; Thomas J. Wood, 1890, 1891, 1892: Calvin S. Dyer, 1893-95; Wallace A. Peasley, 1896-present time.

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CHAPTER XXIII.

THE TOWN OF GUILDERLAND.

Guilderland is the central of the three northern border towns of Albany county, and was formed from the town of Watervliet on February 26, 1803, and contains about 33,000 acres, nearly 30,000 of which are im- proved. The surface of this town is greatly diversified. In the west- ern part the Helderbergs rise to a height of eight hundred feet above the valley levels, their walls in places being very precipitous. In the central part the surface is undulating, while in the eastern part there are the sand ridges that characterize all that region. The principal streams are the Norman's Kill and its branches, the Bozen Kill (a name derived from "Boos," angry, because of its rapids and falls), Black Creek, Wildehause Kill. and Hunger Kill. The lower course of the Norman's Kill in this town is through a narrow ravine, with steep clay banks. The soil of the town is light and sandy in the eastern part, and gravelly loam mixed with clay in the western part.

In accordance with the law erecting the town the first town meeting was held on April 5, 1803, at the house of Henry Apple, and the fol lowing officers were elected :

Supervisor, Nicholas V. Mynderse ; town clerk, Peter C. Veeder; assessors, Isaac Van Aernam, Abraham Veeder, Peter Relyea; commissioners of highways, David Ogsbury, Frederick Crounce, Charles Shaver; overseers of the poor, Jacob Van Aernam, Simeon Relyea; collector, Henry Ostrander; constables. Frederick Seger, Asa Hutchinson, Peter Tarpenning, Jasper Hilton ; poundmaster, Volkert Jacobson ; fence viewers, Nicholas Van Patten, Asa Hutchinson, Peter Traber, Robert Grey ; overseers of highways, Jacob La Grange, Peter La Grange, Thomas Mesick, Nicho- las Van Patten, John Groat, Peter Traber, Amos Goodfellow, James M. La Grange, Isaac Van Aernam, Benjamin Wilbore, James Platt, John Murray, Walter Vrooman, Adam Hilton, Matthias Hallenbeck, Peter Bowman, George Brown, Abraham Veeder, Ezra Spalding.

The usual regulations were adopted at that meeting for the simple town government. Fence viewers were voted $1.25 per day, and $30

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bounty was voted for killing wolves. The election of senators and assemblymen in the town took place on April 26-28 of that year ; the records show that for senator 72 votes were given for John Tayler ; 67 for John Woodworth; 67 for Simon Veeder; 67 for Edward Savage ; 67 for Thomas Treadwell ; 46 for Stephen Lusk ; 47 for Moses Vail ; 47 for Daniel Paris; 47 for Ebenezer Clark ; 44 for William Bailey.

In the vote for assemblymen 66 were given for James Emmott; 66 for M. Schermerhorn ; 66 for John Beekman, jr .; 66 for John Jost Deitz ; 66 for Peter S. Schuyler ; 66 for Moses Smith; I for Nathan Stanton ; 3 for John' Jackson ; 96 for Peter Gansevoort, jr .; 97 for Henry Quackenbush ; 96 for Nathan Dayton ; 94 for John Jackson, jr .; 96 for Nathaniel Gallup ; 97 for Isaac D. Ver Plank ; I for Nathan Gallup, and I for Peter Gansevoort.

Settlement in this town was considerably advanced previous to the Revolutionary war, at which time there had come in families named Crounce, Van Wormer, Severson, Van Aernam, Fredericks, Van Pat- ten, Groat, Livingston, Winne, Becker, Ogsbury, Truax, Van Alstine, Van Valkenburg, Henderson, Hart, Barckley, Hilton, Fryer, and others. Many of these names are familiar ones in the town at the present time. By the beginning of the present century the territory in this section was well populated and mills and stores, schools and churches, and the clustering hamlets that later became villages had been established. As will be seen by the character of the names of early residents, most of the settlers were Dutch, from whom came the great majority of the pioneers of the county. The following list gives the names of all residents of this town in 1803 who were qualified to serve as jurors, and of course includes almost or quite all of the male mature residents, of whom all those not otherwise designated were farmers :

Job Earls, Abraham Bartlett, Abraham Van Wie, Simon Relyea, Leva Relyea, Isaac W. Fryer, David Relyea, jr., George Brown, Peter Veeder, Christian Truax, jr. (innkeeper), Lawrence Van Kleeck, Abraham Turk, John Banker, John Joice, James La Grange, John Van Schaick, Jonas Smith, Petrus Van Patten, Abraham Kelder, Jelles Truax, Albert Van Heusen, Abraham Spoor, Andrew Murray, Ezra Spalding, Frederick Mynderse, Robert Dollar, James Irwin, Reuben Earls, Peter La Grange, John Devoe, David Bogardus (carpenter), Jacob C. Truax, John Beebe, William Davis, Peter Wurmer, John Fryer, Aaron Wurmer, Isaac A. Wurmer, Amos Goodfellow, Michael Van Schaick, Peter MeDougall, Christopher Batterman

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(innkeeper), Peter Becker, Henry Shaver, Nicholson Severson, John Shoudy (black- smith), George Van Arnum, Henry Van Arnum, Frederick Crounce, Conrad Crounce, John Crounce, Martin Blessing, Matthias Hallenbeck, Nicholas Winne, John Mann, Garret Long (carpenter), Nicholas V. Mynderse (merchant), Henry Jacobson, Peter I. Livingston, Michael S. Frederick, Matthias Frederick, Jacob Rel- yea, John Bloemendall, Jacob La Grange, Samuel Covenhoven, Peter Van Aucken, Cornelius Van Valkenburgh, Barent Van Waggoner, David Ogsbury, Henry Apple, Peter Traber, Charles Traber, Henry Shoudy, Volkert Jacobson, Adam A. Vrooman, Nicholas A. Sixby, Thomas Beebe, John Weaver, jr., Philip Schell, Henry Van Schoonhoven, John N. Clute James Platto, Jacob N. Clute, Evert Van Arnum, George Scrapper, Andrew Spaarbeck, William Snyder, James Ray Charles Shaver, Martin Spearbeck, Isaac J. Van Arnum, Jacob Sitterly, Benjamin Wilbore, David Wilbore, James Shaw, Robert Grey, John Douglas. Simeon Lanehart, Henry Lane- hart, Thomas Van Arnum, John Jacob Van Arnum, John Lanehart, Obediah Cooper, Jacob M. De Forest, Garret O. Lansing, John M. Van Der Pool, Henry Van Auken, Levy Van Auken, John Howard, Adam Hilton, George Severson, John Hilton, Daniel Wolford, Henry I. Schoonmaker, Henry Van Beuren, Charles H. Huner, Peter N. Van Patten (merchant), Michael Barclay, James McKee, Nicholas Beyer (innkeeper), William Hilton (carpenter), Philip Fetterly, John Whetsell, Benjamin Walker, Thomas Beaver, Vincent Springer, Benjamin Howe, Benjamin Howe, jr., John F. Quackenbush, Abraham P. Truax, John Ramsay, Frederick Ramsay, Philip Ram- say. Richard Ward, Christian Caley, jr., Bartholomew Sharp, John Sharp, John Waggoner, John Vine, Nathan Fitch, Thomas Mezeck, John Schell, William Von Arnum, Isaac Hallenbeck, Jacob Totten, John Ward, Silas Hotan, Peter Relyea, George Van Nest and Stephen Pankburn.

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Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 52

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1374

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374