Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 56

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

USA > New York > Albany County > Landmarks of Albany County, New York > Part 56

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1833-38, James Reid; 1839-40, Aaron Van Schaick; 1841-44, William Murphy ; 1845-46, Coonrad Mathias; 1847-49, Robert Taylor; 1850-51, John McEwen ; 1852-53, John Mathias; 1854, William Van Allen; 1855-56, P. V. W. Brooks; 1857-58, James Slingerland; 1859, Samuel Rowe; 1860, James Slingerland; 1861, Henry Crounse ; 1862, James Slingerland ; 1863-64, John R. Taylor; 1865, David Callanan; 1866-67, Nicholas A. Delong; 1868, Samuel Patton ; 1869, Nicholas B. Houck ; 1870, Alonzo B. Voorhees; 1871-76, Robert Taylor; 1873, Tuenis Slingerland; 1874, Henry M. Meed: 1875, Teunis Slingerland; 1876-80, D. V. S. Raynsford; 1881, Henry H. Meed; 1882-83, Hiram Becker; 1884-85, Charles Wood; 1886-88, William J. Reid; 1889-92, Joseph Allen ; 1893, A. W. Witbeck; 1894-5 Albert Vanderpoel.

The village and post-office of New Salem is situated a little north- west of the center of New Scotland, at the foot of the Helderbergs on the old Beaverdam road, which later became the Albany and New Scotland plank road. The mountain just west of the village is 1,700 feet high, and over it the road passes into the town of Berne. Settle- ment was made on this site as early as 1770, about which date Seth Price, Christian Bradt, a family of Van Valkenbergs, and perhaps a few others came in These were soon followed by John Stalker, John Wamp (or Wemple), Obadiah Cooper, Benjamin Van Zandt, a family of Crouslers, and others. Alexander Stather built a large house in 1807 for a tavern, which is still standing, though unoccupied, and was owned for many years by Jacob Seger. Johannes Markle kept a pub-

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lic house a half mile south of New Salem as early as 1792. About 1806 the little village began to grow; new dwellings, a church, and a tannery, operated by Beriah Chesebrough, were built. When bark gave out the tannery was converted into a saw mill, with water power ; later a steam engine was put in and a feed mill added. The buildings were finally burned. About the year 1800 a saw mill was established on Spring Creek near the village on what was the Winne farm. About 1830 Aaron Van Schaack built a large store and tavern. The post- office was opened soon after the formation of the town and the former local name of Punkintown was dropped for the better one of New Salem. Aaron Van Schaack was the first postmaster. The building erected by him is now used as a temperance hotel by David O. Young. In 1839 David C. Segar built a store which was rented to Thomas D. Bennett, but which is now used as a harness shop. The store building of J. M. Erwin was erected in 1875. There is a steam saw mill and grist mill at Cold Spring built in 1887 by Peter Albright. The first grist mill of the Slingerlands has been mentioned; it was on the Onisquethau, east of Clarksville, and was probably the first one in this town. It was on the farm occupied in recent years by Conrad C. Crounse, where there is a fall of about forty feet in the stream. The mill was in operation, according to the best authority, about 1750 and probably stood many years ; it was long the only mill in the neighbor- hood and was used by the inhabitants of a wide area Another grist mill was built in early years on the Michael Slingerland farm, which in recent years has been superseded by a saw mill operated by Mr. Sling- erland. On Vly Creek, to the north of New Salem, a grist mill was built in 1831 by the La Granges and continued in operation down to recent years. A man named Grant had a carding mill in early years on a little stream south of the Andrew Allen place and north of the turnpike.

Clarksville is situated on the plateau in the southwest part of the town, and takes its name from Adam A. Clark, who settled there about 1822. Early settlers at this point were William Bose (or Bouse), Sam- uel Ingraham, who kept a tavern in the upper part of the village, and Joseph Bright, who kept a tavern where George Fuller now resides. At a later date Henry L. Mead settled there, became a prominent citi-

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zen, held the office of justice of the peace and was postmaster of the village. The name of the place was originally Bethlehem, when New Scotland was a part of that town. Not long after the year 1800 Har- manus Bogardus came from Feura Bush and settled at this place, erect- ed buildings and kept a public house, the dwelling now occupied by the widow of Michael Flansburgh having been built by him for Mr. Mead. A man named Jenkins kept another early tavern. After the charter of the Albany and Delaware Turnpike Company in 1805 and the improve- ment of the road, travel greatly increased from Rensselaerville, and as Clarksville was about half way between that place and Albany, it be- came a convenient and popular stopping place. About 1822 Mr. Bogardus sold his property to Adam A. Clark, who continued the business many years. The tavern is now owned and kept by John T. Smith. One of the early log school houses was in this place, and Francis Seger and a Mr. Taylor were among the early teachers. In 1841 Peter L. Houck built a saw mill on the Onisquethau, which he operated many years, and which has since become the property of Frederic R. Gardner. In 1845 Rushmore Bennett and John Murphy built a saw mill and flouring mill, run at first by water power, to which steam was afterwards added. It subsequently passed into the posses- sion of Robert McLaughlin, was burned and was rebuilt as a feed mill, which is still in his possession. There has always been a small mer- cantile business here, though much of this has gone to Albany and else- where since the opening of the railroad. A general store is kept by Clinton Bagley, and there is also a granger's store doing an active business. Besides the John T. Smith Hotel, others are kept by Arthur Houck and George Fuller.

New Scotland is a small hamlet and post-office in the northeastern part of the town. Its name, like that of the town itself, is derived from the many early Scotch settlers here. A post-office was opened here as early as 1765, with Adam Holliday, postmaster ; he was succeeded by Edmund Raynsford, who was a prominent citizen for fifty years. Some of the early settlers in this immediate vicinity were Jacob Moak, An- thony Wayne, Henrick Bouse and William McCulloch, who established a tannery near the plank roak. In common with most other hamlets that were settled at an early period in this region, when the mails were

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carried on horseback or by stages and merchandise and produce were carried to market in the same slow manner, numerous public houses were kept here, and men named Christie, Bellamy, Holliday, and Wayne were at different times engaged in this business. A hotel, the property of Mr. Raynsford, was kept in recent years by Mrs. George Reid and her son. The present hotel of the village is conducted by John Bensell. On the premises now owned by John Slingerland, Peter Rushmore es- tablished at an early date a tannery. The original log school house of the place was succeeded by one of better character which in turn was replaced in 1866 by the present one. A store has recently been built and is kept by J. M. Whitbeck, on the West Shore Railroad which passes near the village. Dr. John H. Fitch has long been and still continues the practice of medicine here.

Feura Bush is a small hamlet in the southeast part of the town, near the Bethlehem line The post office here was formerly named Jerusa - lem. It is a station on the West Shore Railroad, but has never had much business. Two stores are kept, one of them having recently been opened by George Rantoup. There is a considerable market here for hay and straw.

Unionville is a hamlet with a post- office, named Union Church, in the eastern part of the town near the Bethlehem line. Here taverns were opened in early years, one by Christian Houck, another by David Chesebro. The Bradt, Haller, Long, Wademan, Sigsbee, and Radley families were early settlers in the vicinity. Peter Stoner kept an early tavern on Stony Hill, and Dr. Dennick kept one between Unionville and Clarksville. The post office was discontinued some fifteen years ago, but later again opened. The hotel of the village is now kept by William Wemple.

Wolf Hill is a post-office about two miles west of New Salem, and up to 1896 another post- office was in existence on the Beaverdam road under the name of Helderberg.

Onisquethau, with the local title of Tarrytown, is a hamlet about one and a half miles south of Clarksville, It is said to have received its local appellation from the fact that there was once a large building known as " the Castle " in which was kept a tavern which became a resort of idle and dissolute persons who would " tarry " there until un-

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seemly hours. John Mead, David DeLong and one of the Lampheres were early settlers, of whom Mr. Mead kept a tavern. Robert Mayhew kept a store and tavern in the old castle, and it was he who dug the channel which drains Lawson's Lake. Other public houses were form- erly kept by John J. Hoogabome, Thomas Austin, and Solomon Russell. At the time of the construction of the Erie Canal, large quantities of stone were quarried near this point, which perhaps accounts for the un- usual number of public houses, as many workmen were employed at that time.

Callanan's Corners post-office is in this town in the extreme south- eastern part, a portion of the hamlet being in Bethlehem and a portion in Coeymans. It took its name from two brothers who were early settlers at this point. A store has been kept here for many years and a few shops.

The village of Voorheesville is situated centrally east and west near the northern boundary of the town at the junction of what are now the Albany and Susquehanna and the West Shore railroads. Its business importance has been chiefly attained since the opening of these roads. The village takes its name from Alonzo B. Voorhees, who built one of the first dwellings before the completion of the Albany and Susque- hanna Railroad. It is a pretentious residence, was subsequently owned by S. V. R. Hoes, and is now the property of Charlotta Coughtry. Peter Wormer built and kept the first store, and William Spore erected a fine residence south of the railroad. The post office was opened in 1868, with James A. Reid, postmaster. After the completion of the second railroad, making the junction at this point, Conrad Fryer built and opened a large hotel which is still in existence, while another pub- lic house is kept by Morris Harris. The mercantile interests of the place are represented by Joslin Brothers, hardware, etc., of whom E. D. Joslin is postmaster, J. B. Wands & Son, Cummings Brothers, Levi Wood & Co., L. S. Schell, Thomas Brewster, Crannell Brothers, and Frank Bloomingdale, who is a large dealer in hay and grain. A feed mill is operated by L. S. Schell, and Hotaling & Hicks formerly operated a steam saw mill which has, however, since gone to decay. A second one was built by W. S. Swift, but was burned in 1896. Mr. Swift also had a lumber yard which is now a part of the large business of the 70

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Crannell Brothers. The Empire Cider and Vinegar Works is another prosperous establishment and is under the able management of A. E. Corey. An excellent graded school which has two departments, is maintained in the village and is now under charge of E. H. Parker, as principal.

Among the earliest physicians resident in what is now New Scotland were Drs. Clark, Dennick, Day, and De Lamater. Dr. Clark died about 1814 and was buried with Masonic honors. Subsequently came Dr. Thomas Lloyd, and a little later Dr. Samuel Dickson, the latter being long a prominent citizen and being elected to Congress in 1854, while Dr. John H. Becker practiced in this town until his death. Dr. John H. Fitch, whose name has been mentioned, is a great-grandson of Will- iam Allen, who was a member of one of the Scotch families that set- tled early in this town. Dr. Milton B. Lamb came about 1855 and practiced until 1866. Dr. Valentine Dennick resided between Clarks- ville and Unionville, was an early postmaster, and also kept a tavern. Drs. Schermerhorn, Holmes, and Ingraham were settled at Clarksville. Later physicians were Drs. Conrad J. Crounce, M. S. Dayton, Israel Day, Henry Sager, G. V. Voorhees, A. Oliver, Hiram Crounse, and Dr. Fred Surbrie.

The many Scotch and Irish settlers in this town were bred in the Presbyterian faith and in their new homes in this strange land brought with them the religious beliefs of their ancestors. The earliest religious organization in New Scotland of which there is authentic record was that which became later the New Scotland Presbyterian church. About the year 1776 a Presbyterian missionary visited New Scotland village and held a service in the open air. While here he laid the foundations for the latter church, which was organized in 1787 by the Presbytery of Suffolk, afterward called the Presbytery of Long Island. In 1789 the church was transferred to the Presbytery of New York. In 1790 the Presbytery of Albany was established and held its first meeting No- vember 9, 1791. At that meeting New Scotland petitioned for sup- plies, and three ministers were named who should each give one Sab- bath. In 1792 Rev. Mr. Lindsley preached on eight Sundays, but from this date until March, 1795, there was no stated preacher. A call was then extended to Rev. Benjamin Judd and he was installed in Sep-

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tember, 1795. The Lord's Supper was celebrated for the first time on the second Sabbath in May, 1796, with twenty-two communicants, at which time David Allen and Michael Bruce were elders. The first board of trustees, chosen in February, 1791, were Thomas Burn- side, Peter Cutchen, James Henderson, John Jackson, John McCough- try, and John Vorns. In 1791 a house of worship was built and in 1795 the parsonage was occupied by Rev. Mr. Judd. He was soon dismissed and Rev. John Arnold was installed in November, 1798. He preached about three years, after which the church was without a pas- tor until October, 1807, when Rev. Thomas Holiday was called. The fourth pastor was Rev James McDonald, who was ordained and in- stalled in October, 1832 His successors were Revs. Robert Knell, a supply ; Reuben Sears, 1836-45 ; Gains Mills Blodgett, supply, 1846- 56; John James Cameron, 1857-60; Samuel L. Gamble, 1861-67 ; James William Edie, 1868-70; William G. Handy, 1871-74; James G. J. McClure, 1874-79 ; William H. Ford, 1880-82 ; Dewitt C Rocke- feller, 1884. During the pastorate of Mr. Blodgett in 1848 the old church cdifice was taken down and a new one erected, which was con- siderably enlarged in 1869, and in 1877-78 a basement was built for use as a chapel and for Sunday school. The real estate of this church was a gift from the Patroon, and consisted of about 156 acres of land. The land was part of the farm owned in recent years by Robert Moak, and being distant from the church, was exchanged with Jacob Moak, who owned 73 acres adjoining the original church lot. In June, 1795, the Patroon gave his consent to the transaction, and Jacob Moak took the church farm. On February 6, 1844, Stephen Van Rensselaer gave the trustees a quit claim deed for this farm, and on February 27, 1872, the remaining part of this property was sold to D. V. S. Raynsford. In September, 1877, the parsonage was burned and a more modern one erected.

Reformed churches in this town are situated at Feura Bush, New Salem, Clarksville, Union and Onisquethau. Although Dutch settlers were in this town as early as 1650, there are no existing records of an organized church among them until 1780. Previous to that year the inhabitants doubtless went to Albany to worship, and later perhaps to Schenectady. From 1780 to about 1785, services were probably held

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at Jerusalem, (Feura Bush), and records show that in 1786 Dirck Ro- meyn of Schenectady passed through the town, preaching and baptiz- ing, the people gathering together to hear him at Helderberg, Salem and Jerusalem, and after him came Rev. Harmanus Van Huysen in 1794. Meanwhile in 1790 an organization was perfected and a church built between Union and Jerusalem. With the incoming of a more intelli- gent class of farmers and the increase in the number of inhabitants, religious services were held with more regularity and were numerously attended. In course of time it was felt that a more central location was desirable, and a new church was erected in 1825 at Feura Bush, which has been used up to a recent date. Rev. Mr. Van Huysen died in 1833 and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The present house of worship at Jerusalem has been repaired and improved at various times. The Salem Reformed Church was intimately connected with the Feura church in its early life. There was probably an organization here as early as 1794, and the people received the ministrations of both Rev. Dirck Romeyn and Rev. Harmanus Van Huysen. In 1813 a perma- nent organization was made, with the following first officers : Benjamin Van Zandt, John Terwilliger, John Van Etten, Jacob I. Hallenbeck, Frederick Fuller, Jeremiah Cronssler, John A. Severson, and David Van Etten, and a church building was erected on land given by Stephen Van Rensselaer. This building was used until 1844, when it was taken down and a new one erected on the site, by Wilhelmus Young, Fred- eric Markle, Frederick Fuller, and Peter L. Houck, who were the building committee. This edifice served its purpose for about thirty years, when the present handsome church was built at a cost of about $10,000 in 1875. It stands on a new site, and the old church property was purchased by Abram Mann.

The Reformed church of Union was organized in 1825 from the Jerusalem and Salem congregations. The first pastor was Rev. Ira C. Boice, who preached also at Salem. The present church was built soon afterward, the property being valued at about $5,000. The Reformed church of Onisquethau is the successor of a Presbyterian society which was organized by the Presbytery of Albany in 1824, a church being built in the following year, when Rev. Thomas Holliday was pastor. In 1839 the church and property passed into possession of the con-

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sistory of the Reformed church and took the new name and government. The building was extensively improved in 1884.

The Reformed church of Clarksville was organized in 1853 by Rev. Staats Van Santvoord, with seven members, Rev. Jasper Middleton being the first pastor, and a house of worship was built in 1853 at a cost of $2,400, and is still in use.

The first Methodist preacher who labored in this town was Rev. Freeborn Garrison, an itinerant. Services were held by him and others at intervals until about the year 1820, when the first Methodist society was organized under the name of the Black Creek Methodist church, in the northwest part of the town. A house of worship was erected at about the same time and was used, with various improvements, until about 1890, when it was taken down and removed to Voorheesville and rebuilt in modern style, in which place a prosperous society had been previously organized.

The Methodist Episcopal church of New Salem was organized in 1850 and a house of worship erected in the same year on land purchased from Abram Mann in the north part of the village. Among the prom- inent workers in the early organization were Ebenezer A. Fitch, Alan- son Van Auken, and Andrew J. Smith.

The Methodist Episcopal church of Clarksville was organized in 1860 by Rev. S. S. Stillman, who was its first pastor, and the church was erected in the next year at an expense of $4,000. The society has had a prosperous existence ever since.

A Presbyterian church was organized in Voorheesville and the pres- ent handsome church edifice erected in 1886.

PART II.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

HAMILTON HARRIS.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

HAMILTON HARRIS.

No name is more conspicuously associated with the bar of Eastern New York than that of Hon. Hamilton Harris, of Albany, and few lawyers have brought to their profession a more energetic mind, a more fortunate combination of legal and scholarly acquirements, or stronger or more practical administrative abilities. Mr. Harris is of English and Scotch descent, his parents being natives of this State and pioneers of Preble, Cortland county, where he was born May 1, 1820. Receiving a good preliminary education in the common schools of his native town and at the Homer and Albany Academies, he was graduated from Union College in 1841, and while yet a student manifested a strong inclination for the law. His collegiate career marked him as a classical scholar, and he distinguished himself at the com- mencement exercises by a very able and admirably delivered address. Upon grad- uation he entered the law offices of his brother, Hon. Ira Harris, afterward one of the ablest and most eminent of the judiciary of the State and a United States sen- ator, of Albany. Mr. Harris was admitted to the bar in 1845 and immediately be- gan active practice in the capital city, where he has ever since resided. He rapidly acquired a high reputation as an able, accomplished lawyer, and for many years has been a leader of the Albany bar. In 1848 he formed a copartnership with Hon. Hooper C. Van Vorst, which was dissolved in 1853 by the latter's removal to New York city, where he became a judge of the Superior Court. Soon afterward he asso- ciated himself with Hon. Samuel G. Courtney. In 1857 he became a partner of Hon. Clark B. Cochrane and Hon. John H. Reynolds, both of whom were elected to Con- gress during this connection. This firm, which was one of the strongest legal co- partnerships that ever existed in Albany, ended with Mr. Cochrane's death in 1867, but Mr. Harris and Mr. Reynolds continued until the latter's death in 1875. Mr. Harris has now associated with him in practice his son Frederick, William P. Rudd, and Edmund C. Knickerbocker.

In the fall of 1853 Mr. Harris was elected district attorney of Albany county, and served until January 1, 1857. During his administration of that office he con- ducted a number of noted criminal trials, prominent among them being The People vs. Hendrickson, 10 N. Y. Reports, 13; McCann, 16 N. Y. Reports, 58; and those of Phelps, McCrossen, Dunningan, and Cummings. As a pleader Mr. Harris has won great distinction throughout the State. He masters every detail of fact, pays close attention to the conduct of a case, and though in manner

gruff, and, to a certain extent, dictatorial, is kind, dignified, quiet, and honest. He is earnest and powerful, imbued with the highest principles of the law, and possesses a winning personality. The numerous reported cases in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals, argued by him, show in some degree the extent and the magnitude of the legal business in which he has been engaged and the important questions of law which he has argued.

Early in life Mr. Harris became prominent in the Whig party in Albany county, advocating its measures on the platform and with his pen with such fidelity and ability that he soon was recognized as a leader in both county and State. In 1850 he was elected member of assembly, and was largely instrumental in securing the State Library and the improvement of the State Capitol. He was also, during that session, a member of the joint committee of six to call State conventions and con- struct a new party platform, which was one of the first steps in the formation of the Republican party, of which he has always been one of the strongest and ablest champions. From 1862 to 1870 he was a member and from 1864 to 1870 chairman of the Republican State Committee, and from 1862 to 1864 he was also chairman of its Executive Committee. A prominent writer has said of him: "His keen intuitions and his rare skill as an organizer, with a singular union of discretion with boldness, render him a natural leader of men." As a delegate to many State and National Conventions he was active and strongly influential in sustaining the measures of his party. Hon. James G. Blaine, in his "Twenty Years of Congress," after recount. ing the action of Mr. Harris in the National Convention of 1868, speaks of him as "a man of marked sagacity in political affairs." In 1865 Mr. Harris was elected president of a new Board of Capitol Commissioners and served until 1875 with abil- ity and success so marked that he has been frequently termed "the father" of that great measure which resulted in the erection of the present Capitol in Albany. A contemporary newspaper, in commenting upon the subject, said: "Let the people of Albany remember that to Hamilton Harris more than to any other man they are in- debted for the New Capitol from its inception in 1865 to its progress in 1879," while the Troy Daily Times editorially stated that he was "the father of this structure, which is to rank foremost among the majestic buildings of the world."

In 1875 Mr. Harris was elected to the State Senate, and as chairman of the Finance Committee, of the Committee on Joint Library, and of the Select Commit- tee on Apportionment his labors were useful and exhaustive. He always took a prominent part in the discussion of leading public questions. and his arguments never failed to command respect and attention. In 1877 he was re-elected State senator by a large majority, and two years later he declined a re-election. Among his senatorial addresses which have passed into history are those touching the New State Capitol, on the question of convict labor, on the Grand Army bill, on the question of historical societies holding real estate for preservation and monumental purposes, on higher education, on sectarian appropriations, and on taxation. In 1884 he ran as one of the Republican electors on the State ticket.

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Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 56

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