Schoharie County NYGenWeb Site

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- 1713 -

HISTORY

OF

Schoharie County,

NEW YORK,

WITH

Illustrations and Biographical Sketches

OF

SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.

By WILLIAM E. ROSCOE

Published by D. MASON & CO.,

SYRACUSE, N.Y.

- 1882. -

INTRODUCTION

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. -
The Germans - Cause of their Leaving Germany - Palatine Tenants - Kocherthal's Petition - First Immigration Agents sent to Germany - Hunter's Petition - Report of Board of Trade Favorable to Immigration - Robert Hunter Appointed Superintendent of Immigration - His Letter of Arrival at New York - Appointed Governor - Action of the City Council - German Children Apprenticed - Settlement at the "Camps" - Number of Settlers - Trouble Experienced - Discontent of Germans - Meetings Held - Lord Clarendon's Letter - Expedition to Canada - Germans Petition to the King . . . . . 9

CHAPTER II. -
The Foregoing Chapter Reviewed - Expense of the Germans - Located at Schorie - Their Hardships - Judge Brown's Account - Fight - Indians of what Tribe - Hunting Grounds - Ka-rig-hon-don-tee the Chief - Sale of Lands by Gov. Hunter - Schuyler and Coeymans' Purchase - Gov. Hunter's Defense to the Board of Trade - Bayard's Visit to Schoharie - Resumed Lands - Sherriff Adams - Adam Vroman - The Germans Trespass upon Him - His Letter to Gov. Hunter - Weiser in England - Confined in the Tower - Clark's Letter - Jeremy Long's Council for the Germans - Purchase of Lands in 1719 - Location of Weiser's Dorf - Other Dorfs - Spread of Settlements - Mode of Living - Implements - Negro Slaves and Customs - Indians - Their Petition - Number of them in Schoharie - Military Affairs - Division of Albany County - Early Officials . . . . . 21

CHAPTER III. -
Loyalty of Germans to Britain - Sacredness of their Oath - Mohawks and Tomahawks - First Committee of Safety - Military District and Officers - Events of 1777 - Division of Schoharie - McDonald's Invasion - The Harpers - Adam Crysler - Skirmish at Oriskany - Bemis Heights - Building of Forts - Battle of Cobleskill - Morgan's Corps - Johnson and Brant's Invasion at Middle Fort - Lower Fort - Incidents - Brave Women - colonel Vroman's March to Mohawk - Seths Henry at "Turloch" - Dockstader at Currytown and Sharon - Willett - Seths Henry at Fox's Creek - Crysler at Vromansland in 1781 - Captain Hager's Fight at the Lake - Campbell's and Simms' Labors - Returned tories and Indians - Muster Roll of 1777 - Schoharie Supplies - Division of Albany County - Inundation of the Schoharie River . . . . . 35

CHAPTER IV. -
Formation of County - The Name of Schoharie - Population - Boundaries - Surface - The Schoharie and Tributaries - Inundations - Lakes - Formation of Towns - First County Officers - First Court House - Poor-house - Paupers - County's Progress - War of 1812 - Delegates to State Convention - Governor Bouck's Message - Sourkrout Message - Anti-Rent War - Railroads - Plank Roads - Seminary Mania - Susquehanna Railroad - Schoharie Valley - Sharon and Cherry Valley - Howe's Cave Enterprise - Mineral Springs - Education - Religion - Temperance - Sabbath School Societies - Bible Society - Masconic Lodges - Agricultural and Medical Societies - Telephone Lines - Newspapers - Criminal List - Summary of Facts - Population by Census of 1880 . . . . . 56

CHAPTER V. -
Civil War - The Year 1861 - Captain Snyder - Volunteers first Recruiting - Colonel Mix and Comrades - The 76th Regiment - Members - 134th - Members of Companies - The 44th - Members - Members of other Regiments - Colored Volunteers - Hero Martyrs . . . . . 86

CHAPTER VI. -
Schoharie County Civil List - Judges of Common Pleas - Assistant Judges - Session Justices - Surrogates - District Attorneys - County Clerks - Sheriffs - Treasurers - Superintendents of Poor - School Commissioners - Loan Commissioners - Excise - Inspectors - Governor - Treasurers - Adjutant General - Canal Commissioners - Canal Appraisers -Curator of State Library - Legisature - Senators - Congress - Presidential Electors - Consuls . . . . . . 102

CHAPTER VII. -
History of the Town of Gilboa - Town Formed - First Town Officers - Board of Inspectors - Division into Districts - Town Meeting of 1849 - Anti-Rent Difficulties - Sheriff's Posse of Soldiers - First Settlers and Mills - John Dise - Archibald Croswell - Tannery - Tuttle & Osorne Tannery - Grist Mill Purchased by Platt, Potter & Co. - Cotton Factory - Luman Reed - First Tavern - Gilboa Bridge - Furnace - Churches - Merchants - Broome Centre - Henry Tibbetts - McKeys Corners - David Ellerson - His Narrative - Official List - supervisors - District Attorney - County Clerk - Assemly - State Senator - Boundaries . . . . . 119

CHAPTER VIII. -
History of the Town of Conesville - Scenery - Manorkill Falls - Stryker Brothers' Tannery - Stevens' Mill - Colby Reed - The First Store - Hunting Grounds - Indian Relics - Dise Purchase of Land - Ury Richtmyer - The Dise Sons - Litigation - Peter Richtmyer - His Capture by Indians - Escape - Rebuilding of His House - He Opens an Inn - Humphrey's - Additional Settlers - Dairying - Prominent Settlers - Town Formed - Boundaries - Jonathan Cone - Town Records . . . . . 129

CHAPTER IX. -
History of the Town of Broome - When Formed - Name Changed - Catskill Creek - Indian Trail - General Aspect - First Settlers - Daniel Shays - His Life - Rebellion and Death - David Williams - His Life - Incidents Relating to Capture of Andre - Livingstonville - Asa Starkweather - His Argument in Convention - Death - Adam Mattice - Presbyterian Church - Methodist Church - Draft of 1813 - Smithton - Hubbard's - The Vly - Supervisors - Bounds . . . . . 133

CHAPTER X. -
History of the Town of Jefferson - When Settled - By Whom - Interest in Education - First Town Meeting - Effort to Change the Name of Town - Herman Hickok - Jefferson Academy - Donators - Stephen Judd's Donation of Farm - Teachers in Academy - Present School - Tanneries - Presbyterian Church - Merchants - Physicians - Judd Family - Societies - Masonic - Grand Army Repblic - Methodist Church - West Kill Methodist Church - Galt's History of the Methodist Society of the Town - Revolutionary Incidents - Smith Street - Tory Clawson - Taken Prisoner - Smith Family - Battle at Lake - Official - Supervisors - General Appearance of Town - The Lake - Tryon County Line - Rebellion - Amount of town Bonds Issued - Boundaries . . . . . 142

CHAPTER XI. -
History of the Town of Summit - Hon. Seymour Boughton - The Lake - Johnson and Brant's Halt - Early Settlers - Brown and Other Business Men - Charlotte Valley - Service Tragedy - Murphy's Own Statement - Murphy's Purchase - Act of 1777 - Abraham Becker - Suit Gained - Service's Affair Contemplated - Settlement of the Western Part of the Town - Seminary - Its History - Faculty, etc. - Dairy Interest - Elisha Brown - Assemblymen - Sherriffs - John Lawyer - S. J. Lake - Isaac W. Beard - John H. Coons - Churches - First Baptist Church - Second Baptist Church - Reformed Church of Eminence - Methodist - Free Methodist - Lutheran of Lutheranville - Lutheran of Beard's Hollow - Town Volunteers - Medical Fraternity - First Town Meeting - Resolutions - Report of 1880 - Officials - Eminence . . . . . 153

The original book contains no Chapter XII

CHAPTER XIII. -
History of the Town of Fulton - First Purchase of Land by Adam Vroman - adam Vroman and Family - Indian Deeds - Captain Vroman - Indian Castle - Colonel Peter Vroman - Swart Family - Peter Swart - His Manuscript - Death - Crysler Family - Mrs. John Bouck - Henry Hager - In McDonald's Camp - Captain Hager at Bemis Heights - Upper Fort - Exempt Volunteers - Invasion by Crysler - Murder by Beacraft - Prisoners - Crysler's Invasion - Murder near the Fort - Engagement with Captain Hager - Richard Hagadorn Wounded - Conflict at the Lake - Johnson's and Brant's Invasion - Mary Hagadorn - Bouck Family and Island - Wm. C. Bouck - His Life - Inhabitants of 1788 - Timothy Murphy - His Life and Historical Incidents - Town Formed - Patriotism of 1812 - Petersburgh - Breakabeen - First Lands Settled - Fultonham - Charles Watson - West Fulton - Churches - Polly Hollow - Reformed Church - Physician - Supervisors - Boundaries . . . . . 166

CHAPTER XIV. -
History of the Town of Middleburgh - Weiser's Dorf - Conrad Weiser - His Daughter - John Peter G. Muhlenberg - Conrad Weiser, Jr. - Settlers of the Dorf - Relics of the Past - Reformed Church - Its Early History - Ed..ice Reuilt in 1785 - Petition to Assembly - Pastors' Reformed Church - Lutheran Church - Methodist - Episcopal - The True Reformed Church - Middle Fort - Description - Zielie Family - Colonel Zielie - His Children - jPeter Swart - Low Dutch Beckers - Borst Family - Grist Mills - Louck's Family - Eckerson's - First Merchant - Grist Mill - Bellinger Family - Hartman's Dorf - Richtmyer Family - Alexander Boyd - J.M. Scribner - John Hinman - Nathan Hinman - Jonathan Danforth - Atchinson House - Freemire House - Merchants - Freeman Stanter - John P. Bellinger - D. D. Dodge - General Danforth - Physicians - Legal Fraternity - Hon. Lyman Sanford - National Bank - masonic Lodge - I.O.G.T. - G.A.R. Post - Incorporation - Hunter's Land - Supervisors - Boundaries . . . . . 196

CHAPTER XV. -
History of the Town of Sharon - Formation of New Dorlach - Sharon - Dorlach Grant - First Settlers - Later Settlers - Peter Sommers - Mereness Brothers - William Beekman - Battle of Sharon - Colonel Marinus Willett - Leem and Hopper Families - Maria Leem - Capture of Myndert and Others - William kneiskern - Rev. Peter N. Sommers - St. John's Church - Reformed Church - Turnpikes - Taverns - Beekman's Corners - Peter A. Hilton - Robdrt Eldredge - Eldredge Family - Dr. Palmer - Engle's Mill - Leesville - Dormant Villages - Leesville Lutheran Church - Leesville Baptist Church - Cemetery - Rockville - Sharon Springs - Public Houses - Analysis of Water - Merchants - Roman Catholic Church - Sharon Centre - John Beakley - Sharon Hill and Hollow - E.S. Wales - Zachariah Keyes - Killing of Van Schaik - Johannes Loucks - William Davenport - Lemuel Cross - Kling Settlement - Slate Hill cemetery - Bellenger Family - Van Valkenburghs - Gilbert's Corners - Reformed Church of Sharon - Masonic Lodge - Officials - Boundaries . . . . . 226

CHAPTER XVI. -
History of the Town of Blenheim . . . . . 249

CHAPTER XVII. -
History of the Town of Seward - Town Formed - Peter Hynds - Henry Haines - First Grist Mill - Capture of the Hynds Family - The Crysler Brothers - Invasion of Seths Henry - Murder of Michael Merckley - Murder of Catharine and Sebastian France - Frederick Merckley's Family - France Family - John Rice - First Meeting House - Murder of Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman - Rhinebeck Church - Henry Moeller and Other Pastors - First Settlers of Rhinebeck - Strobeck - Hyndsville - Seward Valley - Seward Station - Gardnersville - Rev. Philip Wieting - Colonel Willett's Raids - Mills - Business Interests - Churches - Dairy Interests - Physicians - Town Bonds - Supervisors - Boundaries . . . . . 268

CHAPTER XVIII. -
History of the Town of Richmondville - Formation of Town - First Settlement - George Warner - John Zea and Family - Captain Snyder - His Life - Snyder Family - Warnerville - George Mann - Warnerville Methodist Church - Christian Church - Seminary - First Tavern - John Warner - First Justice of the Peace - Hon. John Westover - Physicians - Churches - Methodist, Lutheran and Christian - Seminary - Richmondville Bank - Newspapers - School at West Richmondville - Supervisors - Present Business of Town . . . . . 283

CHAPTER XIX. -
History of the Town of Carlisle - First Settlers - Dorlach Grant - New Rhinebeck - Mrs. Philip Karker - Judge Brown - George William Brown - Young Family - John C. McNeill - Settlement of Grovenor's Corners - Joseph Taylor - Benjamin Young - Squire John's Place - Carlisle Centre - First School House - Merchants of Grovenor's Corners - Settlement upon the Turnpike - Carlisle Formed - First Officers - P.I. Cromwell - D.W. Seeley - Sloan's Tavern - Huntington Tavern - Carlisle Church - Henry M. Brown - Killing of Keller - First Store - Merchants of Carlisle Village - Argusville - Physicians - Mercantile Firms - The Bear Swamp - Carlisle Seminary - Robbery of Peter Becker - J. H. Angle - First Mills - Selleck's Cave - Churches - Valuation of Town - Supervisors - Boundaries of Town . . . . . 301

CHAPTER XX. - -
History of the Town of Esperance - Location of Esperance Village - Purchase of the Lands by TenEyck - By General North - Turnpike - Bridge - Daniel Hare - His Inn - Other Inns - Calvin Wright - J.C. Wright - Isaac H. Tiffany - Other Lawyers - Presbyterian Church - Methodist Church - Physicians - Storrs Messenger - Judge Briggs - Merchants - Village Corporation - Stage House and Route - Academy - Feathers House - Judge Fletcher - Peck's Inn - First Gate Keeper - Sloansville - Van Valkenburgh Settlement - Brown Brothers' Settlement - Sloan Family - Other settlers - Stores - Stone Heap - Rev. Hawley's narrative - Foster Mill - Kneiskern's Dorf - Kneiskern Family - Enders Family - First Grist Mill - Johnson's Invasion - Encampment - Town Formed - First Officers - General Brown - Anti-Rent Troubles - Assemblymen - Supervisors - Baptist - First Newspaper - Quotations from it - Land Patents . . . . . 320

CHAPTER XXI. -
History of the Town of Wright - Town Formed - First Settlement - Becker Family - Becker Land Grant - First Saw Mill - Hon Yost Becker - John Dominick and Family - Events of 1782 - Burning of Zimmer's Buildings - Becker Murdered - Advance Upon Major Becker's House - Snyder and Mann Captured - Traditionary Tale of Seths Henry's Death - Major Becker's Death - Stone Store at Shutter's Corners - Henry Becker - Founding of School - Hunting Family - Gallupville - Churches - Reformed Church, Methodist and Lutheran - New Village - Wagon Making - Dutch Settlement - Weidman's - Hiram Walden - Supervisors - Valuation - Merchants and Physicians - Boundaries . . . . . 341

CHAPTER XXII. -
History of the Town of Schoharie - First Settlers of Brunnendorf - Schaeffer Family and Name - Lutheran Church and Parsonage - Dominie Sommers, and other Pastors - Doctor Lintner - Reformed Dutch Church - Church Converted into a Fort - Doctor Budd - "Post Mix" - Peter Mix - Doctor Brigham - Physicians of Schoharie - Captain Mann - Captain Snyder - Taverns - Present Hotels - Fox's Dorf - Dietz Family - Colonel William Dietz - William Fox and Settlers of Fox's Dorf - Smith's Dorf - Court House - George Tiffany - Lawyer Family - Garlock's Dorf - Jacob Vroman - Samuel Smith - O.H. Williams - J. G. Caryl - Strubach Mill - Village at Depot - First Grist Mill - Carding Mill - Distillery - Business of 1810 - Engagement at Fort - John Ingold - Bouck House, and other Buildings - Burning of Court House - Great Fires - Fountain Town School House - Schoharie Academy - Methodist Church - African Church - Gebbard's Cave - Schoharie Bridge - Formation of Town - First Officers - Supervisors - Lutheran Cemetery - Commodore Harding . . . . . 354

CHAPTER XXIII. -
History of the Town of Cobleskill - First Settlement - Brown's Mill and Stream - Cobleskill Militia - Building a Fort - Invasion by Indians and Tories - First Schoolhouse - Lambert Lawyer - Jacob L. Lawyer - Chas. Courter - Augustus C. Smith - Hotels - and Inns - Early Merchants - Churches - Mrs. Borst - The Schaeffer of Shafer Family - Van Dresser Farm - Richtmyer Family - Captain Brown - Henry Shafer - Berner Settlement - Doctor Werner - Kilmer Settlement - Wetsel Family - Brayman's Mill - Howe's Cave - Mineral Springs - Paul Shank - Methodist Church of Mineral Springs - Lawyersville - First Settlers - Angle Family - Young Family - General Dana - John Redington - William Elmandorf - Jared Goodyear - Isaac H. Tiffany - Thomas Lawyer - Jedediah Miller - Doctor Shepherd - Shutts Family - Thomas Smith - Henry Smith - J. H. Ramsey - William H. Young - Cemetery - Wakeman Family - reformed Church - Lutheran Church - Early Merchants - Physicians - Legal Fraternity - Manufacturing Interest - Masonic Society - Good Templars - F.A.R. Post - National Bank - Formation of the Town - First Officers - Supervisors - Efforts to Remove the Court House - Boundaries . . . . . . 386

APPENDIX . . . . . 449

Names of Citizens Who Assisted and Contributed Toward the Publication of the History of Schoharie
County, With Personal Statistics

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