USA > New York > Rensselaer County > Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 1 > Part 51
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In 1881 the Valley Falls Water Power Co. built a new dam, this firm being the leading spirit in the enterprise. Further improvements in water power were made in 1886 by the firm building a new flume and making extensive rock excavations. In 1887 the old building was de- molished and a substantial brick structure erected. Previous to this the company had built a commodious storehouse along the line of the Fitchburg railroad. During 1894 the company acquired possession of the Valley Falls Paper Co, property on the north bank of the river. In 1895 the large brick structure was added to the mills to be devoted to the finishing of cotton goods. The mills are equipped with all modern improvements, including an automatic sprinkling system and electric lights. The present members of the firin are James Thomp- son of Valley Falls and Rosa B. Schoneman of New York, the latter being represented at the mills by Edwin Buehman.
The Eagle Mills operated by Hunter Bros, are another industry. Rye flour is manufactured and other grain is ground.
In the year 1866 District No. 11 of Pittstown and Distriet No. 4 of Schaghticoke were consolidated and a new distriet formed, embracing the territory contained in the aforesaid distriets, which was called Dis-
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JAMES THOMPSON.
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trict No. 11, Thomas Lape, E. A. Balch and A. Hunter being named as trustees. During this year the sum of $2,000 was voted to build and furnish a new frame school house. Lots were deeded by Thomas Lape free from all claims as long as used for school purposes. An effort was made at this time to establish a union free school system, but the plan failed. In February, 1893, it was voted to bond the dis- trict for $10,000 to build a new brick school house. The contract was awarded Easton, Rising & Worden of Hoosick Falls and the building was completed and accepted in November, 1893, at a total cost of $11, - 601. The board of trustees at this time consisted of G. W. Lohnes, John F. Cunningham and James Thompson, sr. June 9, 1894, it was decided to establish a union frec school system, the board of education elected at this time being C. J. Olds, James Thompson, John Kenyon, W. H. Shannon and J. W. Parker. In February, 1896, F. C. Church was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Olds. In November, 1895, application was made to place the school under the Board of Regents and form an academic department, which was ac- cepted and the charter was granted in March, 1896. The present board consists of James Thompson, president; John Kenyon, W. II. Shan- non, T. C. Church and Alden S. Hoyt. The present faculty consists of George S. Ellis, Mary J. Elmer, M. Blanche Sheldon, Lena Knapp and Emma Male. The new building is situated on Charles street.
Columbian Lodge No. 687, I. O. O. F., was instituted by Edwin F. Gaul, G. M .; Sidney F. Rowland, D. G. M .; Alfred A. Guthrie, G. W. ; and Charles Neher, G.T. The charter members were James Murphy, John F. Cunningham, Charles A. Clum, Charles II. Edmonds, John C. Gifford, W. A. Manley, Alfred J. Butler, C. C. Perey, C. A. Sproat, W. 11. Shannon, W. H. Sproat and Adam Lohnes. Meetings were held in Shannon's Hall until May 15, 1896, when they moved into their pres- ent quarters in Columbian hall, which was purchased by them March 1, 1896. The first officers of this lodge were: N. G., John F. Cunning- ham; V. G., Charles II. Edmonds; recording secretary, John S. Gifford; permanent secretary, D. Corbin.
Tomhannock was known in its early days as Reed's Hollow, being so named in honor of Joseph Reed, who, in 1805, built the second tavern there, and ten years later a grist mill, both of which flourished for many years. The first tavern in the hamlet was built before the year 1800. The earliest settlements made in this vicinity were at a spot which was known as Stoughtontown, a short distance east of the present site of
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the place. Otter creek, a branch of the Hoosick, runs through Tom- hannock and furnishes good water power. The post-office was estab- lished soon after the hamlet was and Jonathan Rouse was the first post- master. It is believed that the name of the office and the place was changed upon his recommendation.
Raymertown is located in the southern part of the town on the line of the old stage route from Troy to Bennington. It is a small village, or hamlet, and its principal industries are saw mills and grist mills, blacksmith shops and stores. The name is believed to have been de- rived from a family named Raymer, which settled at that point at an early date. The post-office was established in 1838 and the first post- master was Robert T. Cushman. The local lodge of Odd Fellows was organized June 7, 1893, with five charter members and these officers: N. G., Charles W. Snyder; V. G., William B. Yates; secretary, B. W. File; treasurer, Clarence H. Ryan.
The other hamlets are North Pittstown, originally called Millertown ; East Pittstown; Boyntonville, in the southeastern part of the town, named after a pioneer family bearing the name of Boynton. Charles M. Todd was the first postmaster and the office was established in 1873 or 1874. Pittstown Corners, and Cooksborough, located in the south- western part of the town, complete the list.
The first church established in Pittstown was the Reformed Dutch church, how early is not known. The first edifice was located near the centre of the town, and subsequently the congregation removed to Buskirk's Bridge. The legal certificate of the church bears date of March 25, 1800, but the society must have held religious services long before that time. The society ceased to exist about 1518 and most of the families became founders of the Presbyterian church at Tomhannock.
The second church established in the town apparently was that of the society of Friends, toward the close of the eighteenth century. The first meeting house was built about the time the society was founded and a second one was erected in 1819. It was repaired in 1874 and has served the society for many years. One of the earliest ministers was Mrs. Rose Eddy.
The Baptist Church of Christ in Pittstown was founded in 1784 or 1787, on which point authorities disagree. Two early pastors were the Rev. Amos Burrows and the Rev. Isaae Webb. Early meetings were held in the school house at Pittstown Corners, and the first regular house of worship was erected in 1789. The church was finally divided
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over questions of doctrine and in 1838 or 1839 part of the congregation withdrew and joined the Baptist church of Hoosick. The church prop- erty and records remained in the hands of the Baptist Church of Christ, and the old church practically ceased to exist.
The Second Baptist church at Pittstown was founded prior to or during 1797, when it was under the pastoral charge of Elder Stephen Ilunt. There is no record of the society after 1800.
The Disciples' Church of Christ was the outgrowth of the division of the old Baptist Church of Christ in 1838, when those members who did not withdraw and enter the Baptist church reorganized under the name of the Church of Christ. The society was incorporated in 1847 as " The Baptist Church in the town of Pittstown," and the first pastor was the Rev. Porter Thomas. It was in this church that President James A. Garfield preached when he was a student at Williams college. The old Baptist meeting house, the first property of the society, was re- modeled in 1860 and dedicated in the fall of that year.
The members of the old Baptist Church of Christ who withdrew and joined the Baptist church of Hoosick continued to hold meetings in the old meeting house in Pittstown, by permission of those in possession, until about 1816. The society was reorganized and constituted a new church December 25, 1846, the first minister being the Rev. D. S. Deane, The society died out about 1873.
The Presbyterian church of South Pittstown was located at what is now Raymertown and was organized in 1816. Two years later the first house of worship was erected. The Rev. John Coe, who was the prime mover in the establishment of the church, became its first pastor. Soon after 1535 the society died out, but it was reorganized and main- tained until 1868, when it ceased to exist and the church became the property of the Evangelical Lutheran church.
The Presbyterian church of Tomhannock was organized October 3, 1819, under the style of the " United Dutch and Presbyterian Society," and among its earliest preachers were the Revs. James G. Ogilvie, Mark Tucker, Jonas Coe and Lebbeus Armstrong, supplies. The house of worship was built about 1820, and remodeled in 1859. The first regular pastor was the Rev. Solomon Lyman, who served the South Presbyterian church conjointly with the Tomhannock church.
The Methodist Episcopal church at Tomhannock was organized in 1811. In 1850 the churches at Tomhannock and Schaghticoke were one charge, and may have been long before that time. The records
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are very indefinite. It is known, however, that meetings had been held at this point by the Methodists many years before the organiza- tion of the church.
About the year 1825 the first Methodist society was formed in Valley Falls. The house of worship was a school house now remodeled, then situated at the junction of the Tomhannock and old Troy turnpike in the vicinity of the residence now occupied by Daniel Stover. Some time after a shop on the Schaghticoke side of the Hoosick river near the present residence of Charles J. Starks was fitted up for Sunday school purposes. In 1839 a church was erected on Main street at a cost of $1,300. It was dedicated in October, 1839, by the Rev. Noah Leving, presiding elder of the Troy district. In 1854 the church was remodelled by the removal of the galleries, which at first covered the sides and ends, and by the addition of a lecture room in the rear. In 1874 the parsonage was built under the pastorate of Rev. A. McGilton. For several years the Valley Falls church was one of the churches com- prising the old Pittstown circuit, but in 1866 the congregation concluded to separate from Tomhannock, and E. Goss, at that time a supernume- rary, took charge as a supply. He served until 1866, when the Rev. J. K. Cheeseman, a local preacher of West Troy, was appointed and served one year. At the conference in 1868 Valley Falls was united with ITart's Falls and the Rev. W. J. Heath was appointed pastor. In 1882 the present church was built on Main street at a cost of $15,000. The corner stone was laid in 1883 and the church was dedicated April 3, 1884, the Rev. J. J. Eaton preaching in the morning and the Rev. T. A. Griffin in the evening. This edifice is a frame building of old colonial style, the extreme dimensions being 20 by 98 feet. The spire is 100 feet in height, supporting a 2,000 pound bell. In 1884 the old church was purchased by Albert Hunter and was removed to the op- posite side of the street, and transformed into dwellings.
The Methodist Episcopal church at Cooksborough dates from Jan- uary 20, 1815, though services had been held for several years previous to that date. A house of worship was also in use, having been dedi- cated before 1815. The trustees named in the certificate were William Hayner, Cornelius Filkins, John Freiot, Anthony Lockrow and Andrew Follett. The church was reincorporated March 17, 1821.
The Christian church of Pittstown was organized soon after 1835, though a certificate of incorporation was not filed until July 25, 1855. Elder John Spoor was first in charge of the services. The society
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worshipped in a school house in Pittstown until 1841, when the first church was opened for the regular meetings. The dedication occurred in February of that year. The first settled pastor was Elder Wilson Mosher.
The Pittstown Corners Methodist Episcopal church was incorporated September 5, 1843. It has always been connected with some other church as one charge, generally with Boyntonville and Potter Hill. There is a church edifice at each place, that at Boyntonville having been erected a few years after that at Pittstown Corners. The Boyn- tonville society was incorporated November 16, 1859.
The Evangelical Lutheran church at Raymertown was incorporated in April, 1853, though the society had been organized nearly thirteen years at that time, or since August 27, 1840. The Rev. Isaac Kimball was the first pastor. Soon after organization the society came into possession of the property formerly owned by the Raymertown Pres- byterian church. In 1870 the structure was rebuilt at a cost of nearly $9,000.
The Methodist Episcopal society organized May 18, 1835, in the southern part of the town, is extinct.
St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal church at Johnsonville was incorpo- rated November 4, 1872, and meetings were maintained for a few years in a chapel built soon after organization. The society finally dis- banded and sold its property to the Catholics of Johnsonville, who soon after began to hold regular services there under the supervision of the Catholic church of Schaghticoke.
The Johnsonville Presbyterian church was organized February 11, 1856, and soon after erected a house of worship near the centre of the village.
The Methodist Episcopal church located in the northern part of the town was incorporated April 8, 1851.
The church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Catholic, located in Val- ley Falls, was built during the pastorate of the Rev. Father Murphy, having been begun at the earnest solicitation of Father Gallagher, who held Sunday school in the school house every Sunday after his return from Pittstown. The ground upon which the church is erected was purchased from Mr. Hoey of Troy for $1,800. Ground was broken March 19, 1889, and the basement was dedicated August 28 of the same year. Services were held in the basement until May 4, 1890, when the building was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Bishop McNierney. The build-
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ing is of brick with granite facings, and the cost up to the time of the dedication $14, 172. By an accident supposed to be due to the powder mill explosion in 1891 the building was damaged. During the repair- ing of the church services were again held in the basement until July 21, 1895, when the church was again opened.
In 1×92 Rev. C. F. Stanley of Lansingburgh started a Baptist mis- sion in Spier's hall at Valley Falls. March 23, 1893, a church was organ- ized with nineteen members. The ecclesiastical council met May 11 of the same year and recognized it as a Baptist church. After the organiza- tion the Rev. A. M. Hendricks of Fultonville, N. Y., was called to as- sume the pastorate, holding the same from June 11, 1693, to October 1, 1895. In 1893 the present church was built, the corner stone being laid in October, 1893, and the building dedicated March 22, 1x94. The present pastor, Rev. L. Schemerhorn, assumed the pastorate Novem- ber 23, 1595. The principal benefactor and those to whom the establish- . ment of the church are due are James Thompson, sr., Lewis E. Gurley of Troy, John Allen, E. P. Chase, B. J. Holly of Lena, Ill., and J. E. Hoag of Easton, N. Y.
SUPERVISORS Of PHI-IVAN.
17-9, Israel Thompson ; 1700-1795, Benjamin Miles; 1796-1799, israel Thompson; 1800, Jonathan Brown : 1501. James L. Hogesoon : 1-02-150%, Jonathan Rosse, jr. ; 1804, John Thompson; 199. Jonathan Kouse. jr. ; 1"Mi-19. Israel Shepard; 15 9- 1510, Henry Warren; Je11-1812, Jonathan Rouse, jr. ; 1:13, Jonathan Rouse; 1-14- 1515, Simon Newcomb, jr. : 1-16, George Faze. Fr : 1917 Reppen Halsted; 1915. Simon Newcomb, ja: 1-10-1-20, Kebben Halsted; 1-21-1-29 Joseph Wadsworth; 1-20-1-91. Jacob P. Yates: 1-98, Charles Ilask: :: 159; Thomas TMuchas: 13 :- 146. Charles 11. Barry, 1-1, Joha P. Hall, 144-, David Not =; 199, Salih Her- rington : 1-50-1851. Samuel Douglass; 1-72-1-53, Ananas Crock; 1-54-1955. HUras Hoag: 1950-1-59, Samuel Douglass: 1-00, James W Halsted: 1-1. Christopher Snyder: 1862, Smith Herrington; 1:63-1:05. George W. Banker; 1990-1-6. Edwar1 Akin; 1803-1-70, John W. Campbell; 1971-1-72 Theodore C. Richmond - 1-78-1974. Charles W. Sayder: 1675-1966. Royal .Abbots: 1969, Abraham Herrington: 15%. Eli Perry: 1979-18-1, Jonathan Norton - 15:1-18:3. Charles W. Soyder: 1 :- 4-16-7. Jonathan Hoag; 1-55-1-4), George W. Lohces: 1-01-1600. Hiram Vile; 1:93-1-05 Charles W. Sayder; 1906- - , Joseph W. Parker.
TOWN CLERKS OF PITTSTOWN.
1759, Evans Humphrey ; 1790, Robert >. Bostwick : 1791-1794. Benjamin Hicks : 1735- 1796. Robert S. Bostwick; 1197-1709, Levy Stoughton ; 1790-1049 Jonathan Rosse.
TOWN OF PITTSTOWN. 481
1803-1809, Michael S. Vandercook; 1810-1812, Simon Newcomb, jr. ; 1813-1815, John Stitt; 1816-1818, William P. Haskin; 1819, Jacob P. Yates; 1820, Nathan Bostwick ; 1821, Lodovicus Viele; 1822, lliram P. Innt; 1823, Theodore May; 1824-1829, John B. Williams; 1830-1833, Charles Ranney; 1834-1835, Lodoviens Viele; 1836, Francis Benjamin; 1837, Peter B. Abbott; 1838, Job Andrew; 1839-1840, Royal Abbott, jr .; 1811-1816, David Norton; 1847, Jacob F. Ilall; 1848, Paul D. May; 18-19-1850, Hugh McChesney; 1851, William Boles; 1852, Royal Abbott, jr. ; 1853, Jacob F. Hall; 1854, Smith llerrington; 1855, De Witt C. Halsted; 1856-1857, Melanethon R. Tyler; 1858-1859, David Norton; 1860, Benjamin F. Currier; 1861-1866, Peter F. Abbott; 1867-1869, Charles May; 1870-1871, Peter B. Abbott; 1872-1876, William J. Ray; 1877-1878, Hulbert B. Welling; 1879, William J. Ray; 1880 -- 1881, Isaac N. Wiley; 1885-1892, William J. Ray; 1893 -- , John B. Cushman. 1
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE OF PITTSTOWN.
Lodoviens Viele, James Yates, Samuel S. Ilyde, sworn in February 22, 1823; James Mosher, February 23, 1823; Stephen Eldred, September 30, 1823; Jonathan Reed, December 19, 1827; James Mosher, December 31, 1827; James Yates, January 1, 1828; Abraham L. Viele, December 25, 1828; James Yates, January 1, 1830.
Elected at town meetings: 1830, Jonathan Read ; 1831, William L. Brown ; 1832, L. A. Viele; 1833, Gerardus How ; 1834, Perry Warren, jr. ; 1835, Charles H. Barry ; 1836, Timothy Banker; 1837, Christopher Suyder ; 1838, Perry Warren, jr. ; 1839, Charles II. Barry; 1810, Job Andrew; 1841, Jacob L. Van Woert; 1842. Perry Warren, jr. ; 1843, Charles H. Barry; 18-11, James Mosher; 1815, Jacob L. Van Woert; 1846, William Sturges; 1847, James N. Halsted; 1848, Job Andrew ; 1819, Jacob L. Van Woert ; 1850, Perry Warren ; 1851, James N. Halsted ; 1852, Job Andrew ; 1853, Justus II. Akin, jr. ; 1854, Royal Abbott, jr. ; 1855, Norman Baker; 1856, Nathaniel Brownell; 1857, Theo- dore C. Richmond; 1858, Libbeus Lamson, Christopher Snyder; 1859, Charles Il. Barry ; 1860, Edward McChesney ; 1861, Theodore C. Richmond; 1862, Royal Abbott, Royal Abbott (vacancy); 1863, Wilham Carr; 1864, Merritt Herrington, Merritt Her- rington (vacancy); 1865, Theodore C. Richmond; 1866, Ebenezer A. Balch : 1867, John E. Twogood; 1868, William Boynton : 1869, Theodore C. Richmond ; 1870, Edward F. Frost; 1871, John 12. Snyder; 1872, William Boynton; 1878, Theodore C. Richmond, Ebenezer A. Balch ; 18M4, Albert E. Hunter, Eli Perry ; 1875, Hiram File ; 1876, Charles Russell; 1877, E. N. Aiken, Charles Terry; 1878, Charles Terry; 1879, Ilarry Van Wert; 1880, William Boynton : 1881, Emmit N. Aiken, John Allen (short term); 1882, John Allen; 1883, Iliram File; 1881, William Boynton; 1885, Theodore C. Rich- mond; 1886, John Allen; 1887, Hiram File; 1888. Gilbert E. Chapman; 1889, Jonathan lloag; 1890, Albert Hunter; 1891, Clarenee E. Akin; 1892, William II. Rowland; 1893, Jonathan Iloag; 1891, Albert Iliter; 1895, Jay D. Van Wirt; 1896, William Boynton.
1 Mr. Cushman has rendered valuable service in the compilation of this chapter.
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CHAPTER XXIV.
TOWN OF BERLIN.
The town of Berlin is located near the centre of the eastern tier of towns. It is bounded on the north by the towns of Grafton and Peters- burgh, on the east by the State of Massachusetts, on the south by Stephentown and on the west by Poestenkill and Sand Lake. It is one of the largest towns in the county. The town was erected March 21, 1806, from Petersburgh, Schodack and Stephentown; and June 19, 1812, a part was taken off, on the west, to form Sand Lake.
The topography of the town does not differ greatly from those of its companions on the north and south-Petersburgh and Stephentown. It eonsists principally of a narrow valley-the Little Hoosick-running about north and south, which separates two ranges of high hills, parts of which are very preeipitous. As a rule the ground is fertile, espe- eially on the lowlands and the gently sloping hillsides. The principal stream beside the Little Hoosiek river is Kinderhook creek, the former flowing toward the north and the latter in a southerly direction.
Many of the towns of Rensselaer county were quite thiekly settled, particularly those on the west and north, when the wilderness of the site of Berlin was first permanently settled by white men. A number of the family of Jolin George Brimmer, 1 pioneer settlers of Petersburgh, subsequently took up their abode in Berlin, and as far as can be learned were its first permanent settlers. In 1765 Godfrey Brimmer, son of John G. Brimmer, journeyed southward through the valley of the Little IToosiek as far as the site of Berlin village, formerly called North Ber- lin. Finding the soil productive and easy of cultivation and the loca- tion highly desirable, he eleared a piece of land, creeted a log house and began life anew. In all probability he was the first white man to found a home within the limits of the town. If he was not already mar- ried at the time he took a wife soon after, and when the couple died at
I See history of the town of Petersburgh. Mr. Sylvester's account is a condensation of that appearing in Hall's History of Berlin,
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an old age they left four sons-Jacob, John, Henry and George-and two or more daughters.
Mr. Brimmer had been located in Berlin only two or three years when Reuben Bonesteel built a home near him. Soon after Peter Simmons located about three miles south of him, at what is now Centre Berlin; and about 1770 Daniel Hull, a Yankee, located on the site of Berlin. Reuben Bonesteel is said to have been a Tory during the War of the Revolution, sending all six of his sons to serve in the British army. Three of them subsequently deserted from the ranks and joined the patriot army, where they served for some time. At the close of the war Mr. Bonesteel refused to recognize his three sons who fought in opposition to his wishes. He died in 1793 and was buried on what is now the highway between Berlin and Petersburgh.
Colonel Caleb Bentley was another early settler, his home being a little more than a mile south of the site of the village of Berlin. He had three sons-Alexander, Melancthon and Rudolph. About the same time William O. Cropsey settled in the town. Others who came soon after were Hezekiah Hull, Paul Braman, Ebenezer Crandall, his son, Thomas Crandall, Thomas Sweet, James Dennison, Daniel Den- nison, Abraham Simmons, Nathaniel Niles, Joseph Green, Peleg Thomas, Simeon Himes ( Hyams?), Joshua Whitford, William Satterlee, Samuel Sweet, J. II. Wheaton, John Bly, Silas Jones and others. Among other prominent residents about 1805 were Thomas Babcock, Zephaniah Clark, James Mosher, Jesse Saunders, Phineas Stewart, James Young, Joshua Whitford, Ebenezer Weeks, Isaiah Hall, Joseph King, Stephen King, Joseph Reynolds, Samuel Shaw, Ebenezer Rhodes, Samuel Rhodes, Moses Hammond, Gideon Hall, Jonathan Hakes, Daniel Arnold, John Avlesworth, John Adsit, David Burdick, Ebenezer Bentley, Benjamin Bentley, Eliphalet Johnson, Benjamin Stillman, Augustus Sheldon, Arnold Davis, David Davis, Paul Maxon, Stephen Maxon, jr., Samuel Phelps, John Rathbone, John Ostrander, James Denison, John Green, Thomas Green, James Green, Jonathan Green, Samuel Green, Silas Jones, Daniel Gray, Joseph Taylor, Joseph Doty, Jonas Odell, James Main, John Westcott and David Kendall. These are but a few of the many householders in the town at that period.
Among the prominent later inhabitants of the town may be men- tioned a few: Alonzo G. Hammond was a son of Dr. Burton Hammond and practiced law in the town for some time. He subsequently re- moved to Brooklyn, became a lawyer of prominence and was elected
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to the State Legislature. Rensselaer Bentley was a son of Joshua Bentley and eventually became an author and publisher of school text books .. Samuel N. Sweet, who was born in 1805, became a prominent lawyer and politician, also an editor and publisher. In 1842 he was appointed professor of elocution in Auburn Female seminary and de- livered scientific lectures in various parts of the country. His lecture tours were continued up to his death in 1875 and were uniformly suc- cessful. Russell Griswold was born in 1808 and became a prominent physician at Lanesborough, Mass., and Stamford, Conn. William F. Taylor, who died in 1896, was a member of the State Legislature in 1875 and 1876. Other representative men have been John Reeve, Horace C. Gifford, Zadoe T. Bentley, Henry D. Barron, George T. Denison, and John Green. The town of Berlin has produced many men who have attained great prominence in the various walks of life.
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