HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY
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THE
HISTORY
OF
Montgomery Classis
R. C. A.
TO WHICH IS ADDED SKETCHES OF MOHAWK
VALLEY MEN AND EVENTS OF EARLY DAYS. THE
IROQUOIS, PALATINES, INDIAN MISSIONS, TRYON
COUNTY COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, SIR WM.
JOHNSON, JOSEPH BRANT, ARENDT VAN CURLER,
GEN. HERKIMER, REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERI-
CA, DOCTRINE AND PROGRESS, REVOLUTIONARY
RESIDENCES, ETC. :: :: :: ::
/q/G
(EmDracbt S^aafet Stf)adbt
THE VALUE OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH
History has been spoken of as a mere chain of
facts, which serve the purpose of comparing knowl-
edge, but this is the lesser half of the truth, for while
we need the guidance of established facts, systemati-
cally arranged, and their true connection with pre-
ceding and succeeding events, we submit that by far
the larger purpose of history is to unite ourselves
with these facts, to fix our personal responsibility
as heirs of the past, and to determine our present
duty to ourselves and to others, in the light of such knowledge.
If men and women were unrelated and individual units of
humanity we might review the past and forecast the future with
such pleasure as comes naturally from historical research, as we
weave into one body the warp and the woof of the story of the
centuries. But history, as we interpret it, is not knowledge merely,
but in a higher sense it is power, for it is inclusive of those fine
relationships that link men to their homes, their country and their
God. In recent years there has been a wholesome revival of histor-
ical study, which finds development in local and general celebrations,
in state and national expositions, in pageants and antique loans, in
translation and reprint of the church records, cemetery inscriptions,
and the papers preserved in the archives of state and nation. This
is not a work of vanity or of self-aggrandizement, but a wholesome
exercise of the mind and soul of the people, through which we
get life's true bearings, and gain courage and inspiration with which
to meet the days before us. Such study and research as may be
provoked by this Classis History cannot help but weave its influences
into our lives, and thus mould our character and direct our conduct.
Imagination takes us back along fascinating footsteps that lead to
history-making scenes in both church and state — to the first settlers
in the valley of the "Mohaque," indomitable in spirit and Protestant
in faith — to the church of our fathers, built before they reared their
homes, and built, too, better than their homes — to the kindred, and
friends, and childhood scenes — to the familiar woods with their blazed
trails — to the men and women, most of them asleep in unmarked
graves in God's Acres close by these churches, who lived to toil,
and fought and died, that they might hand down to us this glorious
heritage of a land swept by the spirit of liberty, where God dwells
continually in the midst of His people. Our purpose in these pages
is to record the incidents and facts of the churches of the Classis and
their environment. No attempt is made to consider the organic
development of the life of the communities in which they are
found, especially the churches and fields of a century ago. It is this
study of local history, the development of a passion for our countryside
and our church, this practical demonstration and administration of
God's kingdom in our midst that will put holy zest into our character,
and thereby equip us for life's highest duties. The environment of these
stories, the Valley of the Mohawk, is unsurpassed in the grandeur
of its picturesque scenery. Through it ran the old Indian trails,
which for two hundred years after the coming of the white man, were
the pathways for the armies. Then they were the roads by which
the hardy pioneers traveled westward, to return, later, with the
commerce of the western world. How rich with historic incident, with
legendary lore! No other section of our land is more replete with
romantic and tragic story than this valley. We have come to this
study and research in an honest attempt to give the reader the
vision splendid as we see it, of this wonderful heritage that God and
our fathers have conserved for us in these old Reformed churches
of this Classis, praying ever that the vision may lure us away from
any lower levels of contentment or indifference, unto the higher and
broader fields of opportunity for worship and service through the
church of God. In some such way we will be able to realize in the
character and conduct of our daily life the ideals and hopes of the
founders of these churches.
Methinks I hear the sound of lime, long past, still murmuring o'er
me and whispering thro most these pages, — like the lingering voices of
those who long within their graves have slept.
-Q
WO hundred years ago
there came into the vir-
gin valley of the Mo-
haque a company of
Christian settlers. £ In the wil-
derness, thro sorrow and suffering,
they toiled for civil and religious
liberty. £ Times changed; settle-
ments became thriving cities and
villages; stages and packets gave
place to 3team and electricity; can-
dle and oil were lo£t in the glare
of the mazdas; beautiful churches
were built; the wilderness of the
Mohaque was no more. £ Time
will come when those Chri^lain
settlers and their successors thro
the centuries in the Reformed
Dutch Church of America, and
their accomplished work, will be
but a fleeting memory. £ Now
to keep inviolate the £tory of this
service of two hundred years the
record has been transcribed in
these pages, -a task that has been
a labor of love.
/ Prefatory
II Introductory
III Montgomery Classis Churches
IV Churches Extinct and Independent
V Cayuga and Geneva Classes
VI Reformed Churches Listed
VII Montgomery Classis Ministers
VIII Reformed Church History
IX Mohawk Valley History
X Biography
XI Bibliography
Page
3
7
11
109
132
138
142
157
164
187
197
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
The Province of New York in 1771 included what is now Vermont,
and was further divided into the counties of Albany, Cumberland,
Dutchess, Kings, New York, Orange, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk,
Ulster, and Westchester. On March 12, 1772, Charlotte and Tryon
counties were set off from Albany. At the time the Province had a
population of 168,000 including 20,000 negroes. Charlotte county was
composed of the western half of Vermont, and included what is now
Clinton, Essex, Franklin and Washington counties. Tryon (Mont-
gomery) county included all west of Charlotte county to the St.
Lawrence river, and west of a line running nearly thro the centre
of Schoharie county to the Utsayantha Lake, the source of the west
branch of the Delaware river, thence down the west branch to the
Pennsylvania line.
Originally Tryon county included about a third of the State's
area, and was named after the royal governor of the Province, an
intimate friend and ardent admirer of Sir William Johnson, by
whom he was royally entertained at Johnson Hall. At the time
there were eight million acres in the county, but thro the
years this has been reduced unto its present size of some three
hundred thousand.
Governor William Tryon, after whom the county was originally
named, was popularly known in the Province as "Bloody Billy." He
was Governor of North Carolina prior to his appointment over New
York. In 1777 Tryon became almost a savage in his treatment of the
colonists. He charged Washington with burning a quarter of New York
and plotted to assassinate him and blow up the fort. His personality
was so intensely offensive to the patriots of the Mohawk valley,
who were to all intents the first "Independents" in the Colonies (cf
Note on Tryon Co. Com. Safety) that the name of the county was
changed April 2, 1784, to that of Montgomery, in honor of Gen.
Richard Montgomery, the brave American officer who had lost his
life in an attempt to capture Quebec. The history of Tryon county's
twelve years of existence would fill a volume whose pages are
largely carmined with the life blood of those Christian patriots who
for the most part were allied with the Dutch church. When the glad
tidings of peace were announced Tryon county was a desolate blood-
stained wilderness. Today the traveler, speeding along the old
Indian trail in palatial splendor, is entranced with the beautiful vista
of the valley of the Mohawk and is reminded on the journey at
Schenectady and Canajoharie of its Indian occupancy, while at Pala-
tine his thots go back to the Rhine of the Fatherland. But only in
the musty pages of forgotten tomes will one ever come upon the name
of Tryon. Herkimer and Otsego counties were formed from Mont-
gomery this same year (1784). In 1780 a state road was begun leading
from Schenectady to Utica, sixty-eight miles. There were toll gates
established at the terminals, and others at Cranesville, Canajoharie,
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Schenck's Hollow, Garoga Creek, St. Johnsville, East Creek Bridge,
Fink's Ferry, Herkimer, and Sterling. At this time Montgomery
county had a population of 15,057.
In 1788 Montgomery county was enlarged to take in the lands
of the Iroquois which extended from its west boundary line. On Nov.
5, 1768 the Iroquois had made with England the Treaty of Fort
Stanwix, receiving in lieu of certain lands $50,600. Later their rights
to these lands were declared forfeited by the Crown. In 1789 Ontario
county including all the land west of Seneca lake, two million acres,
was set off. In 1791 Hamilton and Tioga counties were formed.
Hamilton county was put back into Montgomery in 1797 but again
set off in 1817. In 1838 Fulton county was formed, its creation being
due to the effort to move the county seat from Johnstown to Fonda.
From Montgomery County have been carved the following New York
State counties, — Alleghany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautau-
qua, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton,
Genesee, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison,
Monroe, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego,
Otsego, St. Lawrence, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga,
Tompkins, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates.
GENERAL RICHARD MONTGOMERY
Maj. Gen. Montgomery
This distinguished patriot-
soldier, after whom the County
is named, was born in Dublin,
Ireland, December 2, 1736, en-
tering the army of Great Britain
at - the age of twenty, serving
seven years in the French and
Indian war. When the Regi-
ment to which Montgomery be-
longed was ordered to enforce
the Stamp Act he and others re-
signed, an act due, doubtless, to
the influence of Fox and Pitt,
with whom for some years he
had been intimate. He visited
England later, and sought cer-
tain honors, failing of which he
returned to America and went
to live in New York City. He
bought a large estate in Dutch-
ess county, facing the river and
soon afterwards (July, 1773)
married Janet Livingston, whom he had first met when he was a
captain in the British army. She was the sister of Chancellor
Livingston, one of the three men to organize Montgomery Classis
in 1880, and daughter of Robert R. Livingston, one of the judges of the
King's bench. Here he settled down to the peace and prosperity
of his quiet home. However, it was of short duration, for he soon
joined the ranks of the colonists, and enlisted in the army of General
Schuyler which was preparing for an attack on Quebec He parted
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
from his beloved Janet at Saratoga, never to see her again. In
1775 he was second in command with the rank of Brigadier. Illness
of Gen. Schuyler threw the entire command upon Montgomery. He
succeeded in taking St. John, Chambly, and Montreal. Congress
made him Major General. Forward thro the December snows he
pressed to join Arnold in the attack on Quebec. For three weeks
the city was besieged, and on the morning of Dec. 31, 1775, amid
the falling snow, an attempt was made to take it. Montgomery was
killed at the very beginning of the attack while leading a division
along the shores of the St. Lawrence beneath Cape Diamond. Arnold
also was wounded and the expedition failed.. Among the prisoners
taken at St. John was Capt. Andre who was later exchanged and
joined the English army under Gen. Clinton, and became Major
Andre. Major Andre had an intimate friendship with "Peggy"
Shippen, the daughter of the radical Tory of that name of Philadel-
phia, whom Benedict Arnold married as his second wife. For two
years prior to the West Point affair a correspondence was kept up
between Major Andre and Arnold and Mrs. Arnold.
For forty-three years the remains of Montgomery rested within
the walls of Quebec. When time for exhuming the body came,
one James Thompson, a man of eighty-nine, was found, who iiad
originally buried Montgomery, and also had the sword that Mont-
gomery wore when he was killed. In 1818 at the request of Janet
Montgomery, who had lived all these lonely years at the "Montgom-
ery Place" (Rhinebeck), thro action of the New York Legislature
the body was brot back to America and New York. It lay in
state at the Capitol, Albany, on Independence Day, 1818. On the
following day Mrs. Montgomery stood alone upon the broad piazza
of her home and for hours watched the funeral cortege wending its
way down the Hudson past the General's former dwelling. On
July 8, 1818, it was buried in St. Paul's churchyard beneath a mural
monument ordered by Benjamin Franklin and provided by Congress.
He was in his fortieth year when he died, tho the monument says
but thirty-seventh. His only original portrait reproduced here was
made at twenty-five when he first came to America.
THE CLASSIS OF MONTGOMERY
Among the churches of the Classis
of Montgomery of this day are or-
ganizations that carry us back to
the very first settlements of the
Mohawk valley, as Fort Herkimer
which was organized in 1723. Nearly
half of the present membership of the
Classis are churches which were
founded more than a hundred years
ago. Still the terms "old" and "new"
are relative and indefinite since what
may seem old to us is after all but new
Caughnawaga Church jn the Hght q{ Qther higtory And yet
we are proud of these old Dutch churches of the valley of the
"Mohaque," some of whose buildings take us back to the begin-
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
ning of things in this section of New York State, as the church at
Fort Herkimer whose foundations were laid before 1740, and whose
quaint architecture, bold and strong, has almost entirely escaped the
despoiling hand of the modern. These pages tell the romantic — often
tragic story, of the provisions made by these first settlers to supply
the religious needs of the community, and is worthy of repeated
telling, that the people of this day may know something of the price
paid for the heritage handed down to them.
Named after the County in which its churches were for the
most part originally situated the Classis of Montgomery was formed
on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1800, at the Caughnawaga (Fonda) Dutch
church. On Friday, June 13, 1800, General Synod had appointed a
committee of three, Rev. Dr. John Livingston (afterwards Chancel-
lor), Rev. Dr. Dirck Romeyn (pastor of the 1st Dutch church at
Schenectady, and founder of Union College), and Rev. Dr. Solomon
Froeligh (later organizer of the "Wyckofite" church), all three pro-
fessors in the Theological Seminary, to organize the Classis. At
this Synod there were seventy-two ministers and elders present,
thirty-one of whom were from the Classis of Albany. Among the
delegates were Rev. Conrad Ten Eyck (cf Owasco) and his elder,
Lowrens E. Van Nalen from the Veddersburgh (Amsterdam) church,
Rev. Abram Van Home and his elder from
the Caughnawaga church, and Rev. Dirck
Romeyn and his elder, Garret S. Veeder,
from the First Dutch church at Schenec-
tady. At this time the Reformed Protest-
ant Dutch Church of America had five
classes, Albany, Hackensack, Kingston,
New Brunswick, and New York. In 1800
General Synod divided the Classis of Al-
bany, Kingston and Hackensack into seven
classes, Montgomery being one of the
bodies set off from Albany, and containing
twenty-four churches. With Albany the
churches of the Classis of Rensselaer,
Montgomery, and Ulster formed in 1800
the original Particular Synod of Albany (formerly called the Circle
of Albany). This was made up of the churches of Albany, Charlotte,
Cumberland, Gloucester, Schenectady, and Schoharie counties.
Rev. Rynier Van Nest of Schoharie became the first President
of the Classis of Montgomery, and Rev. Abram Van Home of Caugh-
nawaga the First Stated Clerk. The churches forming the Classis at
its organization were the following: 1. Amsterdam (not present Am-
sterdam); 2. Andrustown (merged in Columbia); 3. Canajoharie
("Sand Hill"); 4. Charlestown (extinct); 5. Chenango (Presb. and
extinct); 6. ^fejfes+pqtf-^Florida^; 7. Coenradstown (merged in Colum-
bia); 8. Conewago (Caughnawaga i. e. Fonda); 9. Curriestown (Curry-
town); 10. Duanesborough (Presb. and extinct); 11. Fonda's Bush
(Presb.); 12. German Flatts (Fort Herkimer); 13. Herkimer; 14.
Lower Schoharie (Schoharie); 15. Mayfield (Presb.); 16. New Rhine-
beck (Lawyersville) ; 17. Owasco Lake (Owasco); 18. Remsens Bush
(Florida); 19. Sacondaga (extinct); 20. Schoharie Kill (extinct); 21.
Sharon (Schoharie Classis); 22. Snellsbush (Manheim); 23. Stone
Arabia; 24. Upper Schoharie (Middleburgh).
Rev. Dr. Livingston
l(i
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
AMSTERDAM: FIRST REFORMED CHURCH
3g
Originally the church
was the First Reformed
(Dutch) Church of Port
Jackson, and was organ-
ized in 1850. Religious
services had been con-
ducted in the school house
for some time during the
early part of 1850, and
before applying to Classis
for recognition the found-
ers of the church had se-
cured a lot upon which
they had already begun
the construction of the
building which cost about
$3,000.00.
The church had applied
to Classis on June 28, 1850,
and on Sept. 8, 1850, the
Rev. Douw Van Olinda of
the Caughnawaga church installed the first consistory, elders John
Freemyre, Don C. Bent, and Cornelius Phillips, and deacons William
McClumpha and Frederick Vedder. Later on Sept. 17 the church
was received into the Classis of Montgomery, but it was not until
Feb. 8, 1851, that the first service of communion was held, and the
charter members, of whom there were twenty-five (including the
consistory), were received.
The dedication of the new church was held on Dec. 19, 1850,
and at the same time the Rev. Garret L. Roof was installed. Mr.
Roof was a Union College man, and had been practicing law
for some years when he was called to the ministry, and had seen
four years service at Glen and Auriesville before coming to Amster-
dam. His ministry here ended April 10, 1855, and he served the
church of Watervliet for the following nine years. Then occurred
a ten year pastorate in the Lowville (N. Y.) Presbyterian church.
He died in Troy, N. Y., in 1891. Cornelius Gates was next called
(June 27, 1856) from the Classis of Philadelphia, but remained
only a year, serving later at Wolcott in the Geneva Classis and at
Minisink in the classis of Orange, where he died in February, 1863.
The church at this time numbered fifty with the Sunday school about
the same size, which was begun with the church in 1850. From
the close of the Gates pastorate the church had no settled minister
for six years, or until Henry Martin Voorhees was called, who began
his work August 1, 1863. During this interim the pulpit was
mainly supplied by Revs. Abram J. Swits and Isaac G.
11
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Duryee of Schenectady. Mr. Swits on graduation from New
Brunswick in 1820 had served as a Classical Missionary in
Montgomery for some time. For the last twenty-five years of his
life he lived retired at Schenectady, and for about three years supplied
the pulpit of the Port Jackson church (Aug., 1857-July, 1859, and
Nov., 1862-Aug., 1863). Mr. Swits died in 1878 at Schenectady. Rev.
Isaac G. Duryee while pursuing his college course at Union
showed his great courage in espousing the cause of the colored
folks, securing for them a house of worship (only recently torn down)
at Schenectady. He graduated at Andover in 1841 and for a year
following was at the Yale Divinity School. He preached first for
the Congregationalists. After a pastorate of six or seven years in
the Second Reformed church of Schenectady he became the supply at
Port Jackson, remaining nearly three and a half years at an annual
stipend of $400. He left the church to enlist in the war and became
the Chaplain of the 31st Regt. N. Y. Vols. He died soon after the
close of the war, Feb. 8, 1866, at Schenectady.
Rev. Henry Martin Voorhees was ordained, and installed over
the church on Oct. 27, 1863, having come to the work from New
Brunswick seminary. He brot to the organization the enthusiastic
and intelligent and permanent ministry that it greatly needed, and
was greatly blessed in his work, which continued for sixteen months.
Mr. Voorhees had several other pastorates, and died in 1895 at the
age of fifty-five. The pulpit was soon again filled. Rev. A. Messier
Quick, another New Brunswick senior being called, who was or-
dained, and installed over the church soon after his graduation in
May, 1865, and remained until November, 1869. Mr. Quick, after
leaving Port Jackson, had a nearly quarter-century pastorate in the
Franklin, N. J. church (Classis of Newark). He then went to Peek-
skill (1882-1885) and then to the Ocean Hill Reformed church of
Brooklyn (1885-1890). He is at present living in Brookyn, without
charge. He is a frequent contributor to the "Intelligencer."
After Mr. Quick's going the church was without a pastor for
three years and a half, or until the coming of Rev. Mr. Minor in May,
1873. During this time the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Mr. Pettengill
from July 1, 1870, to Oct. 1, 1872. John Minor had already served
the Reformed church for about thirty years when he was called to
the pastorate from the 1st church of Glenville. During his ministry
here of seven years and a half one hundred and forty-seven were
received in the church. He left the field in October, 1880, and spent
ten years longer in the classis ministering unto the smaller churches,
dying in 1890 while he was supplying at Fort Herkimer. On
January 6, 1881, Rev. Joshua R. Kyle, the present pastor, was
installed over what became the First Reformed church of Amster-
dam. He was formerly connected with the United Presbyterian
church, Monangahela, Pa. During his ministry besides liquidating
a debt of $4,000 the church was extensively repaired at a cost of
about $9,000, and a new organ was placed at a cost of $1,700. During
Dr. Kyle's long pastorate of a generation great changes have taken
place in the community and city, Port Jackson becoming a ward of
the city which has grown from Vedder's Mills to be one of the
greatest industrial centres of the Empire State. The late Luther L.
Dean was an elder in this church for forty years, while Jacob 'J.
Johnson has been choir leader and Sunday school superintendent for
12
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
thirty years. The present consistory is, William Servoss, John H.
DeGraff, Jonas D. Friderici, Jacob J. Johnson, and James H. Doak,
elders, and William J. Smith, John S. Sterling, Earl V. Servoss,
Francis J. Johnson, and Ralph A. Hallenbeck, deacons.
AMSTERDAM: TRINITY REFORMED CHURCH
In the year 1890 certain church workers of the Second Presby-
terian church recognized the fact that while the central portions of
Amsterdam were well churched there was no organization in either
the east end of the city or on what has come to be known as the
Market Hill section. But the second church did not see the need
for any similar organization in either of these sections, hence their
own workers were forced to turn for aid to another denomination,
which proved to be the Reformed church. Rev. J. H. Enders, the
Synodical Superintendent, came to the field at once, and with the
workers decided to establish a religious work in the east end of the
city. Here the work had hardly begun when the Methodist church
also initiated a work in the same community, and the Reformed
church workers moved out and upon the Market Hill section and
began services in the old Academy building, hired for the purpose.
Besides Rev. Enders, Edward O. Bartlett and Jacob J. Johnson,
the former a charter member of Trinity, the latter for more than a
quarter-century superintendent of the First Reformed church Sunday
school, were active in beginning the work. Jamas A. Smeallie and
H. S. Vossler, elders, and E. O. Bartlett and W. H. Carver, deacons,
were the first consistory. P. Henry Smeallie and N. W. Donnan
were also active at the starting of the work. In December, 1891, a
13
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Sunday school was started in the Academy,
where preaching services had been held for
some time, and in 1892, February, Rev. Jas.
A. Beattie of Pekin, 111., a Glasgow Uni-
versity man, was called to the field and re-
mained thro a part of 1894 when he en-
tered the mission work of the Reformed
church in Chittoor, India. It was dur-
ing his ministry that the chapel was
™ T^T u^c i built which served the congregation for
The Church Seal ,
A , , , . _,_.,,. some seventeen years, tho at the time
Adopted in 1910 . J '
of its building the plans called for
the completion of the church the following year. The formal
organization of the church took place April 5, 1892, and besides Mr.
Bartlett, H. S. and Mrs. Vossler are the remaining active charter mem-
bers. A fourth member is Mrs. Margaret Beattie of Chittoor, India.
Other charter members not mentioned above were Mrs. W. H. Carver,
Mrs. J. A. Smeallie, Mrs. P. H. Smeallie, and Mrs. N. W. Donnan.
The land and the building cost $9,500 of which sum the Board of
Domestic Missions loaned $5,000. Mr. Beattie was one of the thous-
and passengers lost when the Lusitania was destroyed off the English
coast on May 7, 1915.
The second pastor of the church was Rev. Evert J. Blekkink,
who had served the churches at Lishas Kill, Cobleskill and Lawyers-
ville, and who came to Amsterdam in 1894 and remained- thro most
of 1899, doing a splendid fundamental work in the field. Mr. Blek-
kink went next to Kalamazoo, Mich., from which place he was called
to Holland, Mich, in 1905, and after a brief pastorate here was made
Professor of Theology in the Western Theological Seminary at Hol-
land, Mich. Rev. Blekkink's son, Rev. Victor Blekkink is now pastor
of the Canajoharie church (cf). Rev. Charles W. Van Zee came to
the church from Freehold, N. J. in 1900, and after remaining a little
less than three years went to High Bridge, N. J. in which pastorate
he died, August 16, 1903. He was succeeded by Rev. Howard R.
Furbeck, son of Rev. Philip Furbeck (cf Fonda), who was ordained
by the Montgomery Classis and installed over the church in 1901.
He remained but a year and a little more, going next to Rensselaer,
and is now at Annandale, N. J.
The fifth pastor at Trinity was Rev. W. N. P. Dailey, who had
had pastorates at Albany 3d and Athens before coming to Amster-
dam. His first work had been as a missionary under the Presby-
terian church in Utah. In his years at Trinity the church grew by
bounds, the building was completed, the Board relieved from aiding
in pastor's salary, the several organizations perfected, and the various
work of the church established. Members of the consistory at the
time of building the church were, besides the pastor, elders Harvey
S. Vossler, Edward O. Bartlett, Levi M. Strong, H. O. Wilkie and
John H. Wilkie, and deacons Fred W. Rogge, Jas. Lindsay, Charles
McGovern, Wm. B. Greene, and Peter R. Van Valkenburgh. One
of the members of the church, Charles E. Fick was the contractor,
who wrought his best into the structure, an edifice of beauty and
stability. Fred W. Rogge who administered the finances of this
$25,000 addition deserves special mention. The cost of the addition
was four-fifths met at dedication. The church is one of the finest of
14
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
any denomination in the Mohawk valley, and its completion marked
the dawn of a new era in its history. After a pastorate of more than
eight years, the longest in the church to date, Mr. Dailey was per-
suaded to take up the Missionary work of the Montgomery Classis,
which he did in November, 1911, in which work he is still engaged.
His successor was Rev. J. Harvey Murphy of Philadelphia, Pa., who
came to the church in February, 1912, and has pushed forward the
work of the organization, until today Trinity is one of the strongest
of the churches of the Classis of Montgomery.
AURIESVILLE REFORMED CHURCH
Auriesville was for-
merly called "Auries
Creek," and there are
many references to the
place both in the coun-
ty records as well as in
the State's documents.
Tradition tells us that
the name is a corrup-
tion of the Indian word
"Ograckie," which is
found in the Fonda
records as a boundary
line in the Shucksburg
Patent of 10,000 acres
which was on both
sides of Auries Hill in
the town of Glen. We
are also told of an old
Indian, by name "Aurie," which is the Dutch for Adrien or Aaron,
who lived near the mouth of the creek, after whom the place was
called. In N. Y. Doc. History in a list of King's County assessments,
dated 1675, the name "Arie" appears as a Christian name six times,
and "Ariaen" once. Doubtless the name came from some settler
bearing the Christian name of "Arie," since changed to "Aurie" who
lived near the place about the beginning of the eighteenth century.
"Ograckie" has no meaning of itself, but is probably a corruption
of the word Osarakie, which means "at the beaver dam." The word
occurs in the John Scott Patent (IT:.':.') as a boundary point. Auries-
ville is the supposed site of the lower Mohawk Castle, which Domine
Megapolensis, in his visit in 1664 called, "Asseru," and which Father
J°gu&& called "Osseru." When Arent Van Corlaer visited the place
in 1635 he found the name of the ruling sachem to be "Adriochten."
The word Aurie or Arie is the Dutch for Adrien or Adrianus, the
meaning of which is the "sea." Here near Auriesville Father Jogues
was killed by the Indians in 1646. Gen. John S. Clark after an ex-
haustive study approved the location of this Papal shrine, but since
this approval the Arent Van Curler" Journal has come to light with
much data that might change this determination. At Auriesville the
Mohawks had their castle from 1635 thro 1666, at the close of the
latter year being driven out by the French and settling across the
15
•••: SUc^-rmn^^^//^ ^
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
river at Caughnawaga where they remained until 1693, when the
French again drove them away, the tribe going to the west side of
the mouth of the Schoharie creek.
The Reformed Protestant Dutch church of Auriesville was or-
ganized March 19, 1839, under the title of "The Second Reformed
Protestant Dutch Church in the town of Glen, Montgomery County."
The trustees elected on March 19 were John C. Servoss, Henry C.
Cady, David Wood, Erastus Holmes, and Abraham V. Putman.
Henry C. Cady gave the land for the church, adjoining the old ceme-
tery and the edifice was built by Peter Wiles. The Dutch church of
Albany gave a $100 toward this. The first consistory was John C.
Servoss and Erastus Holmes, elders, ordained by Rev. Jukes in No-
vember, 1839. The first pastor of the church was Rev. Chas. Jukes who
was born in England in 1788 and came to this country in 1830. His first
charges were in the Presbyterian churches of Edinburgh and the
Fish House, and, later, he was pastor for five years of the Presby-
terian church at Amsterdam. His first work in the Reformed church
was at Glen to which he came in 1839, the year of the organization.
He preached here for nearly five years, going in the latter part of
1844 to the collegiate pastorate of Ephratah and Stone Arabia, where
he remained until 1850, in which year he entered the work of the
Rotterdam church near Pattersonville, where he died in 1862. It was
during Jukes pastorate that the church was built which was burned
in 1876. Some of the descendants of Rev. Jukes are living in Fulton
county. From July, 1845, to October, 1846, the pulpit was supplied
by Rev. Douw Van Olinda, pastor at Fonda (cf).
The second pastor at Auriesville was Rev. Garret L. Roof, who
followed Jukes after an interim of a couple of years and was or-
dained and installed over the church December 1, 1846. Leaving
Auriesville in 1850 he became the first pastor of the newly organized
church at Port Jackson, now the First Reformed church of Amster-
dam. On the occasion of the fifty-sixth anniversary of the Battle of
Stone Arabia (October 19, 1780), and the erection of a monument
to the memory of Col. John Brown, who lost his life in that battle,
Mr. Roof made a brilliant oration. This was on October 19,
1836. His pastorate at Amsterdam ended in April, 1855, and
his next church was at West Troy (Watervliet) where he
remained from 1855 thro 1864, when he accepted a call to
the Lowville Presbyterian church which he served for ten years. He
now retired from the active ministry, residing at Troy, where he
died in 1891. The records speak of a Rev. I. P. Burnham being
called September 30, 1851. When called to the ministry Mr. Roof had
already been practicing law at Canajoharie for a decade or more.
Nothing further is known of him except that he came to the church
in some capacity. During his supply the church voted to quit the
denomination and join the "Old School Presbyterian Church of
Albany," but a later consistory repudiated this action. From 1854
thro 1855 Rev. Adam H. Van Vranken of Glen supplied the pulpit,
and from 1858 thro 1860 the Rev. Ransford Wells of Fultonville
did the same.
The next minister was Rev. John Nott, son of Rev. Dr. Nott
(President of Union College for sixty-three years). Mr. Nott taught
at Union for nearly a quarter of a century, and then, for more than
ten years served the 2d Rotterdam ("Cobblestone") church, after
16
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
which he spent some years in the south. Returning in 1861 he took
up his residence at Fonda and began a supply work at Auriesville
which lasted for upwards of seventeen years, or until 1878, the year
of his death. In 1875 Hon. John H. Starin of Fultonville gave the
church organ, and in 1876, when the church burned, be gave $500
toward rebuilding. The new church cost $3,180, and was dedicated
December 6, 1870. Rev. Joseph P. Dysart of the Glen church (cf )
began to supply the pulpit in September, 1878, continuing for three
months.
Rev. Francis M. Kip was the next supply (cf Fultonville), com-
ing in 1879 and remaining thro a part of 1883, serving for a while
after he had resigned his charge in Fultonville. His next and last
field of work was Harlingen, N. J., where he spent twenty years in
the active ministry. He died in 1911. Rev. John C. Boyd of the
Fonda church (cf) was the next supply. He began in 1884 and con-
tinued until 1899. He died October 12, 1901. Mr. J. Abrew Smith,
formerly at Fort Herkimer (cf) supplied the church in 1900, and Rev.
J. H. Enders (cf Chittenango) in 1901, and Rev. John P. Faber, who
had been a pastor at Stuyvesant Falls (1899-1901), and was pursuing
a course of medicine at Albany, supplied the pulpit in 1902, while
living at Auriesville. He is now a resident physician at Schenectady.
Rev. Peter A. Wessels began a supply in 1903 which continued till
1909 when Rev. E. J. Meeker of the Glen church began to fill the
pulpit and remained until November, 1914, when he accepted a call
to the Lodi church. Mr. Wessels' first work was in the western
missionary fields, followed by a two year pastorate at Columbia
(cf). Next he went to South Glens Falls and in 1903 took up the
work at Auriesville. W. H. Kroeger, a layman, now supplies.
CANAJOHARIE REFORMED CHURCH
The name of the town, often
found spelled "Canajohie," is In-
dian, and is said to mean "whirl-
ing stone" or "stone in the pot."
A writer of more than a half
century ago speaks of seeing deep
bowls at the foot of a cascade half
a mile from the village where large
stones were whirled around at a
rapid rate. Other Indian names as
Cayuga and Niagara are smoother
of pronunciation but even Canajo-
harie is preferable to Cato or
Homer or Manlius or Pompey.
The Dutch who clung to the In-
dian outwitted the Yankee who
copied the Roman and Greek. The
Indians called the hill on which the
Canajoharie castle was built, "Ta-
ragh-jo-res" ("hill of health"). The
village was incorporated in 1829
and was locally known as "Roof's
Village." At this time, and for
i;
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
many years, Judge Alfred Conkling (father of Senator Roscoe Conk-
ling) was the leading legal light of the community. He was a Rep-
resentative in the XVII Congress (1821-18:23). While Canajoharie
is not identical in any way with the old and former "Sand Hill"
church (1750-1838) still it may he rightfully regarded as a suc-
cessor to it. In the call to Rev. John Wack, the last of the "Sand
Hill" ministers that church is called "The Canajoharie Church." But
Canajoharie must share any such honor with Fort Plain, if, indeed,
we must not put the latter first in the line of direct descent, even
tho this church was organized a few years previously. The "Sand
Hill" church is treated of under the "extinct" churches of the Classis.
The first permanent religious work in this village was that of the
Dutch church. Rev. John J. Wack of the "Sand Hill" organization
raised funds with which to build what he called a "Union Church,"
but it was expressly stipulated {hat while all denominations might
use this building for worship the Methodists and Universalists were
forever debarred. Wack probably had some personal grudge against
these two non-union denominations. The church was built on what
is now the tow-path of the Erie Canal in the year 18<>8. Canajoharie
at the time was a community of half a hundred houses. A Rev.
George B. Miller, a school teacher in the village (afterwards a Hart-
wick Seminary professor) used to preach in this Union church. This
was during his residence here, from 1818 to 1827, tho Dominy Wack
of the Dutch church at "Sand Hill" and others also held forth tor
years before this.
When the Reformed church was organized in 1827 they began
to use this building. Items of cost of repairs to the same appear
in the records. The organization was effected at the house of Gerrit
A. Lansing who with Silas Stillwell, Henry Loucks, and John Cornue
were made the first consistory. Others present at the meeting were
Jacob Hees, John Cooper, John W. Wemple, and Jacob Gray. Mr.
Cornue soon after this left the village and Simeon H. Calhoun, who
later became a missionary at Mt. Lebanon, Syria, was elected in his
place. After using this "Union Church" for ten years, while likely
other denominations also used it, the Lutherans came into real posses-
sion of it, and the Reformed church found itself compelled to build,
as did likewise the Methodist church, both of whom built in 1841.
The church built by the Methodists, near the modern Beechnut plant,
was destroyed by fire January 2, 1915, and rebuilt the same year. The
Reformed church was dedicated on March 10, 1842, Rev. Dr. Wyckoff
of the Second Albany church preaching the sermon. The Sunday
school work was begun with the organization of the church. Later
there was a union Sunday school work carried on by the Dutch
church and that of the Methodists who, until 1841 were on the south
side of the river at Palatine Bridge.
The next record of incorporation is dated October 7, 1841, and
herein are the names of John Frey, John A. Ehle, and Elisha W. Bige-
low. John Frey was the grandson of Hendrick Frey, the first settler
on the north side of the Mohawk in Montgomery county and who
built a log house at Palatine Bridge in 1700. John A. Ehle was a
decendant of Rev. Ehle (Oel) the missionary to the Mohawks who
lived in what is now called Fort Ehle (near Fort Plain). The in-
corporation record states that "the church was organized, establish-
ed and in continuous operation since 1827."
18
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
It is interesting to note the apparent religious awakening (not
to say sectarian) about Canajoharie at this time, as evidenced in
church organizations. The county clerk's records show the follow-
ing incorporations, — "Second Methodist" (1838), "Methodist" (1840J,
"Dutch Reformed' and "English Lutheran" (1841), "German Luther-
an" (1844), and the "St. Polycarp P. E." (1852), later changed to the
"Good Shepherd." This was just prior to the erection of the stone
edifice (1841) while the church was pastorless. John Frey (father
of S. L. Frey) gave the land for the church. A third incorporation
is found, recorded September 24, 1867, this patterned after that of
the Second Dutch church of Albany, which a number of the churches
in the valley in those days followed. After the building of the par-
sonage by Rev. George Davis in 1912, a fourth incorporation was
effected. In other places of this record mention is made not only of
the old original Canajoharie church at "Sand Hill," but as well to the
Canajoharie Seceding church (1822-1842), and the Canajoharie Inde-
pendent church of 1816, which was finally merged into the "Wycko-
fite" church, and also to the "Wyckofite" or "True Reformed" church
which was incorporated May 26, 1825, and of the "Reformed Cal-
vinistic" church which was incorporated May 8, 1806.
The present Canajoharie church was organized in IS.'? when the
town embraced a large area on the south side of the river. The
church was gathered together by Rev. Douw Van Olinda (later pastor
at Caughnawaga) who was also preaching at the same time at Maple-
town and the original Sprakers church. He supplied Canajoharie
for four years. Van Olinda was born near by, in the town of Charles-
ton (18(70), and spent nearly his whole ministry in the Montgomery
Classis. After leaving Canajoharie he served New Paltz for a decade
or more, then returning to Caughnawaga (1844-1858) where he died
while pastor. In 1830 the Rev. Ransford Wells became the first pastor at
Canajoharie. In the first year sixty members were received. Wells was
called to the Nassau church in August, 1832, but declined, tho a year
later, in October, 1833, he left the field for Newark, N. J. After an
absence of a quarter of a century he returned to the Montgomery
Classis for a ten year ministry at Fultonville (cf). He died March
4, 1889. at the age of eighty-four. Dr. Wells' son, Theodore W.
Welles has been in the Reformed ministry for half a century, and is
now living at Paterson, N. J. He was licensed by this Classis.
The second pastor was Rev. Richard D. Van Kleek (1834-1836)
who had been a teacher for a few years, and after leaving this field
returned to this work for the rest of his life. He died in 1870 in
Jersey City, N. J. Rev. Samuel Robertson was his successor I
1839) who went next to Schoharie and spent the last twenty years
of his ministry in missionary work in the west. He died in L869.
At this time the village came into possible prominence thro the Cat-
skill and Canajoharie Railroad incorporated in 1830 and built as far
as Cooksburg at a cost of $400,000. But in 1842 it was abandoned
and the track taken up.
Rev. Edward Osborne Dunning came from the Rome Congrega-
tional church in 1842 and remained thro most of 1845. This with
Rome (1840-1841) were his only charges. Leaving this field he be-
gan a work of many years with the American Bible Society in the
Southern states. During the Civil War he was a chaplain stationed
at Cumberland, Md. During the last few years of his life he was
19
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSiS
interested in the exploration of ancient mounds in various parts of
the south. Since leaving Canajoharie he had always made New
Haven, Ct. (his birthplace), his residence. Here he died March
23, 1874. Rev. Jas. McFarlane of Rosendale was the next pastor (1845-
1848). After two other pastorates in the Reformed church he en-
tered the Presbyterian ministry. He died in 1871. The bell was
bought in 1846 but cracked with use, and in having it re-cast by the
Meneeleys they were directed to change its tone so it could be dis-
tinguished from the Lutheran or Methodist bell. Rev. John DeWitt
was next installed as pastor in 1848 and remained thro the following
year. On leaving here he went to Millstone, N. J., from which church
he was called to a professoriate at New Brunswick Seminary which
he held for .thirty years. He was a member of the Old Testament
Revision Committee.
Rev. Nathan F. Chapman came next (1850-1854), his first charge,
and went from this field to Plattekill. He died in 1893 at Saugerties.
He was followed in the pastorate by Rev. Eben S. Hammond who
served the church as stated supply during 1854 thro 1856 in which
latter year he went to the Columbia church for a few years (cf).
He died in 1873, May 24. In 1856 a U. S. dime was officially de-
clared the seal of the church. Rev. Alonzo Welton supplied the
pulpit from October, 1856, to February, 1857, and then was called, but
declined. Rev. Benj. F. Romaine who had been editor of the "American
Spectator" (Albany) for fifteen years began a supply of the pulpit
in 1857 and after a year or more accepted a call, was installed, and
continued with the church until October, 1862. His last work was
as secretary of the Colonization Society of Ohio. He died in 1874.
During Romaine's pastorate (1858) the church was renovated through-
out, the galleries removed, the pulpit changed from the south end
to the north and the seats reversed. The cloth covering the pulpit,
the gift of the North Dutch church of Albany (recently repaired)
was originally given to the latter church by the family of Patroon
Van Rensselaer. Venerable mantle! what theology, what sympathy,
what Gospel, it must have supported thro a century or more of use.
Following this pastorate of Romaine came Rev. Benjamin Van
Zandt who had served Presbyterian churches for a few years. His
mind seemed particuarly attuned to the letter of the constitution, and
Canajoharie was truly "disciplined" while he was pastor (1862-1869).
His next church was at Leeds, and the last seventeen years of his
life he spent at Catskill. He died in 1895 at the age of 86.
Rev. Richard R. Williams was the next pastor (1870-1883), one of
the few longest of the pastorates and one of the most successful. He
came from Union Seminary and was ordained by the Classis and in-
stalled over the church in 1870. He was forty-five years a member of
this Classis. Leaving the field he took up literary work, becoming editor,
as he was owner of Iron Age until his death in 1915. Rev. Dr. Pearse
united in 1873, making these men long termers in Montgomery. Rev.
John A. Lansing supplied the pulpit after Williams' leaving and until
his death in July, 1884. Rev. Francis S. Haines, another Union
Seminary man, was ordained by Montgomery Classis in 1884 and
served the church for eight years. During his ministry two hun-
dred and sixty-one members were received. Later Mr. Haines re-
entered the Presbyterian ministry. On leaving Canajoharie he be-
came pastor at Easton, Pa., and in 1903 began work at Goshen, N. Y.
20
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Rev. Mark A. Denraan came to Canajoharie in 1891 from the
Ganesvoort church and remained thro a part of 1896. For some years
Mr. Denman has been engaged in business at Springfield, Atass. On
leaving Canajoharie he became pastor of the Chatham church, then
went to a Brooklyn pastorate, and next to the Springfield Memorial
church. He has written an informing "History of the Republic of
Honduras." Rev. Joseph D. Peters was called in October, 1897, and
served the church for twelve years. Since leaving the field he has
done fine work in the First Hoboken church (N. J.). Rev. George
Davis came in 1911 and died while pastor, in March, 1914. Mr. Davis
is remembered as a faithful pastor and a prodigous student. Follow-
ing Mr. Davis, Rev. Victor J. Blekkink of Long Branch, N. J., came to
the church in October, 1914. Mr. Blekkink is the son of the Rev. Dr.
Blekkink, Professor of Theology in the Western Theological Semin-
ary (Holland, Mich.), a former pastor at Trinity of Amsterdam.
CICERO REFORMED CHURCH
The town of Cicero, which
is in Onondaga County, ten
miles from Syracuse, near
South Bay, was formed in
1807. A Presbyterian church
was organized here (1819) of
which Rev. Jas. Shepard was
the pastor and from which
at the inception of the Re-
formed Dutch church work,
members were received by
letter. The first religious
work done in the community
was probably by the Dutch
church, since Rev. Jacob
Sickles while the pastor
of the Kinder hook
church (1801-1 835) was sent
by the Domestic Board to this community to arrange for gospel
work. This was in September, 1803, and Sickles' destination was
Fort Brewerton, four miles to the north of Cicero (then called
"Cody's Corners"). But on the way he stopped at Trask's Tavern
and services were held in Aaron Bellows' cooper shop. This place
was about three miles south of Cicero. Services which resulted in
the formation of the Dutch church had been held for some time in
the village, the preaching being done by men of the Cayuga Classis
as Yates of Chittenango, and Evans of Owasco, and Abeel of
Geneva. Acting on the authority of Classis (Cayuga) the three
mentioned met on November 12, 1835 and organized the Reformed
Protestant Dutch Church of Cicero. There were thirty- one charter
members, and these chose for the first consistory. Lot Hamilton,
Peter Colyer, Henry Nobles, Elders, and Isaac Cody, Daniel Van
Hoesen, Peter Dominic, Asher Smith, deacons.
At the organization a church was already in process of construc-
tion for conveyance was given March 5, 1836. For sometime Rev.
21
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
William Evans supplied the pulpit, for which he was paid $35 month-
ly. His service was continued thro 1838. During 1839 a Rev. Oren
Hyde supplied the pulpit. He lived at Fayetteville for thirty years.
On November 29, 1840, Rev. Amos W. Seely, who later sup-
plied Frankfort, came from the Hillsdale, N. Y. Presbyterian church
to begin his pastorate, tho he was not installed until September 21,
1841. Mr. Seely did splendid work, his records being remarkable
for their neatness and care. He remained five years. He died
September 12, 1865, at Brooklyn, N. Y., after a retirement of ten years.
Rev. William E. Turner, the pastor at Arcadia, supplied the pulpit
and looked after the church during most of 1845. During 1846 and
1847, Rev. Truman Baldwin was the supply. At this time, tho the
Board of Domestic Missions had aided the church, there was a
movement to join the Onondaga Presbytery with the thot that a
closer touch with a denomination that was strong in the vicinity,
might relieve it of the financial distress. On the first Sunday of
August, 1848, the Rev. John Liddell, who had just finished a decade
of work in the Lodi church (cf), began to supply the pulpit and
continued thro 1849. He died is 1850.
In November, 1849, the Rev. N. DuBois Williamson came to the
church, remaining thro May, 1850. After a number of other brief
pastorates he became the pastor of the South Bend, Ind. church
where he remained for a quarter-century. It was the home church of
Vice-President Colfax. Mr. Willaimson died September 12, 1896.
Following him at Cicero was Rev. John DuBois (1850-1854) who
came in July. A house belonging to Dr. Van Dyke was bought for
a parsonage in 1851. Mr. DuBois died in 1884 while supplying Ma-
makating, N. Y. (cf Manheim). Rev. S. N. Robinson supplied the
pulpit for the last four months of 1854, declining a call to the church.
The pulpit was supplied thro 1856 by Mr. Robinson.
Rev. John Gray of Ghent was next called. He was a Scotchman,
but His ministry was mostly in America (Cohoes, Schodack). He
came to the church in the early part of 1856 and resigned after a
year. He died in August, 1865. His first wife was a sister of Robert
Morrison. Mr. and Mrs. Gray spent seven years in missionary work
in Tartary. Later he was associated for some years with Czar
Nicholas in educational work at St. Petersburg. On July 5, 1857, the
Rev. F. Hebard began a year's supply of the pulpit. During the war
there seems to have been no stated supply until Rev. G. W. Humpers-
ly came in April, 1863, and remained two years. After his going
another year of occasional supply ensues, when Rev. Levi Schell be-
gan to preach at Cicero, also serving Clay (Lutheran) nearby. The
consistory seems to have held meetings about this time biennially.
Rev. D. W. Lawrence supplied the pulpit for two years from April,
1874. No mention is made of the preacher after April, 1876, until
1879, when Rev. Jas. Edmondson (cf Mohawk) came and remained
thro 1881. During 1881 and 1882, Rev. Maltbie D. Babcock, a member
of the Syracuse Reformed church, who was pursuing his studies at
Auburn Seminary, supplied the pulpit.
Rev. H. A. Strail supplied the pulpit during 1883 and 1884, while
attending Auburn, and for several years Auburn students continued
to do the work at Cicero. He proved himself to be the right man
in this critical history of the church, and was of inestimable help to
the people. On October 5, 1882, the church was destroyed by fire. Rev.
22
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Evert Van Slyke, pastor of the Syracuse church, led in a movement
to help the people rebuild. In a week $1,500 had been raised, and
the church decided to build a $3,000 edifice. The Utica church gave
$100. The church Building Fund gave $1,000. Rev. Babcock gave $20.
The Building Fund also gave $300 toward the parsonage. In 1888
Rev. B. E. Fake (Lutheran) supplied.
Rev. J. H. Enders, Synodical. Missionary, began to look after the
enterprise. Rev. Elmer E. Smith (Butte, Mont.) a student, supplied
the church during 1890. During 1891 the church continued to be
supplied by students and by Mr. Enders. Rev. Frederick W. Ruhl
came to Cicero from Prattsville, N. Y. in 1891, toward the close of
the year, and resigned to go to Manheim (cf) in May, 1892. Rev.
A. J. Wilcox began now to supply the pulpit, and a Mr. Mason, after
him (students), to be followed by Rev. Dr. Emmons in June, 1897,
who remained until April, 1898. Rev. G. E. Harsh began a supply
in the Fall of 1899 and continued thro the Spring of 1900. He is
now a Lutheran pastor in Ohio.
Rev. Henry Smith was called in the Summer of 1901, and re-
mained until May 11, 1902. Rev. John Erler of Highlands, N. J. was
called in August, 1903, and served the church until the Fall of 1904.
He is now in the Lutheran church at Rockwood, Pa. From this time
on until the summer preaching of Mr. De Hollander in 1907, there was
occasional preaching. Richard V. Curnow (Meshoppen, Pa.) of
Auburn Seminary was asked to supply for a year, and was fol-
lowed by Mr. Rippey, another Auburn student, for a second year.
Mr. Spencer supplied during 1911. In the Fall of 1911, Rev. W. N. P.
Dailey, having been appointed Classical Missionary, went to the
field, supplied the pulpit for a while, and later the church called Rev.
John A. De Hollander of Annville, Ky., who came on the field in
June, 1912. Mr. De Hollander resigned April 1, 1915, and is in busi-
ness at Irondequoit. Garrett DeMotts (N. B. '16) supplied the pulpit
during the summer of 1915. Jos. M. Spalt, a lay evangelist began
work on the field November 1, 1915. Not far from Cicero is a settle-
ment called "Stone Arabia," the original settlers coming from Mont-
gomery County. An Onondaga county History refers to the "Stone
Arabia Reformed Dutch Church" in the town of Cicero.
COLUMBIA REFORMED CHURCH
The beginning of the
Columbia church takes us
back to July 8, 1798 when
Rev. Dedrick Christian
Andreas Pick, V. D. M.
(as he always signed his
name), who at the time
was pastor of the large
German Flatts congrega-
tion, ordained the first
Columbia church consis-
tory. A year later the
church was incorporated.
For several years the congregation used the barn of Coonrod Oren-
23
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
dorf (still standing) for a place of worship. In 1803 plans were laid
for a church building, which was completed, at least sufficiently for
worship, in the year 1806, tho it was not wholly finished until New
Years of 1810. It cost $4,000. On November 1, 1806, the first mem-
bers were received, fifty-five in number, the Rev. John J. Wack, at
the time the pastor of the old "Sand Hill" church (cf), conducting the
service. Rev. John P. Spinner, for nearly half a century pastor at
German Flatts, frequently preached at Columbia in its earliest days.
The settlement of the first pastor, Rev. John Bartlett occurred
in 1811, who remained three years. Rev. David De Voe began a four
years' supply in 1816 while pastor at St. Johnsville. Mr. De Voe was
an active pioneer in central New York, and organized several Re-
formed churches. After leaving Columbia he remained fifteen years
longer at St. Johnsville, and later returned to supply Columbia during
the years 1836-1839. He died in 1843. Rev. John Rawls was called
in 1819, and came to the church from New Brunswick Seminary,
where he had just graduated. He was ordained, and installed over
the church by the Classis of Montgomery, and remained two years.
Columbia seems to have been his only charge. Rev. Isaac S. Ketchum
(cf Stone Arabia) occasionally supplied the Columbia pulpit between
the pastorate of Rawls and that of Hangen, which began in 1826.
Rev. John Rawls was called in 1819, and came to the ~shurch from
Brunswick Seminary where he had just graduated. He was
ordamxL and installed over the church by\the Classis of Montgomery,
and remained two years. Columbia seems% to have, been his only
charge. Rev. Tsaac S. Ketchum (cf Stone Arabia) occasionally sup-
plied the Columbia^ptdpk between the pastorat^of Rawls and that
of-Hangen which began misa^.
Rev. Jacob W. Hangen came from the German Reformed church
to Columbia at the age of twenty-three and served the church for
six years, going to Mapletown and Currytown where he supplied for
five years (1832-1836). After several other pastorates, the last in
Trappe, Pa., Mr. Hangen died February 23, 1843, at the age of thirty-
eight. During Hangen's pastorate at Columbia a great revival took
place resulting in large accessions to the church. At this time a
colony from Columbia, nearly all of whom were Mr. Hangen's mem-
bers, under the leadership of Rev. George W. Gale (Union '14,
Auburn '17), Principal at the time of Oneida Institute, settled at
Galesburg, Illinois and founded Knox College. There were one
hundred and seventy members of the church at this time. During
1834 the Rev. David De Voe supplied both Columbia and the
church at Warren. In 1836 David De Voe returned to Columbia for
three er -fe#r years supply. Following De Voe was the Rev. George
W. Lewis a Lutheran minister who supplied the church one year.
Rev. John H. Ackerson on his graduation from New Brunswick was
called to Columbia, and ordained b}' the Classis of Montgomery and
installed over the church in December, 1839, remaining pastor until
1841. For the three years following he was pastor of the Schaghticoke
church, but in 1843 he was deposed from the ministry for unbecoming
conduct. He died in 1849. While Ackerson was pastor (1840) the
church was all but destroyed by a fierce wind storm, which occurred
during a service. The structure was taken down and at once rebuilt.
Deacon John Edick was killed in the reconstruction of the church. After
Ackerson the church was supplied for a while by Rev. Jedediah L.
24
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASS1S
jftff
Stark (1843— cf Mohawk), Rev. D. B. Hall (1844-) and Rev. W. L.
James (1852-1855).
Rev. Jedediah Lathrop Stark spent twenty years in Montgomery
Classis supplying and preaching at Columbia, Mohawk, German
Flatts, Frankfort, and Buel. His last service was at German Flatts.
He died in 1862 at Mohawk. David B. Hall came from the Congrega-
tional church to Columbia. He was a Princeton ('42) man, and was
supplying Columbia a couple of years when ordained an evangelist by
the Pawlet Cong. Asso. in 1846. T-bc only pa3toratc he ever had was
at-Clevolan-d— fefc). He died May 1, 1898 at Duanesburgh. He was a
virile preacher, evangelistic and optimistic (despite a domestic afflic-
tion), and served the church over half a century.
Rev. Mr. James died at Kingston, October 20, 1887, aged
seventy-six. The Particular Synod of Albany Minutes gives the name
of Rev. Jas. Murphy as the supply of Columbia during the years 1851
thro 1853, and the name of (Woodbridge) L. James as supply for 1855.
Rev. Dr. Murphy preached for the church in 1857, but in this
year the church became the owner of a large parsonage and Rev.
Eben S. Hammond who came to Columbia in 1857, was the first
pastor to occupy this manse at Columbia Centre. In the Synod
minutes of 1858 the church is credited with fifty families and seventy-
five members. The next pastor of the church was the Rev. Henry
Aurand who came from the German Reformed church, and began
his work in 1860, remaining thro 1863. He died in 1876. In order to
meet the salary of Mr. Aurand the parsonage was mortgaged, to be
later foreclosed, thus losing it to the church.
Rev. Andrew Parsons of the Richfield Springs Presbyterian
church supplied the pulpit during 1864. Rev. Matthew Bronson oc-
cupied the pulpit during the years 1865 thro 1867 (an Asahel Bronson
is on Record of Classis) and lived in the house next east to the
church. Columbia is reported "vacant" to Classis from 1864 to 1871.
In 1871 Rev. James M. Compton began a five years pastorate, during
which the church was extensively repaired. After preaching at
Sprakers and Mapletown, Mr. Compton returned to Columbia in 1888
and passed the rest of his days there. He died December 12, 1891,
and is buried with his wife in the church cemetery.
Rev. John W. Hammond supplied the pulpit during the winter
of 1875-1876, during which time a great revival took place and twenty-
seven united with the church. It was Mr. Hammond's last service
since he died, November 23, 1876. In July, 1876, Rev. Rufus M.
Stanbrough came to the field and remained thro 1881. The present
parsonage was secured in Mr. Stanbrough's pastorate, the church
and Sunday school showing decided gains. He had two other charges
after leaving Columbia and died at Newburgh in 1905.
In 1883 and 1884, Rev. Peter A. Wessels was the pastor, during
whose time the church sheds were built, the present parsonage and
barn erected, and the church re-incorporated. Mr. Wessels supplied
for a time at Auriesville but has lived at Amsterdam now for a num-
ber of years without any charge. After a lapse of a year Theodore
A Beekman became pastor in November, 1885, and remained two years.
He came from the seminary to the church and was ordained and in-
stalled by Montgomery Classis. Mr. Beekman is at present in the
Rosendale, N. Y. church. In 1888 Mr. Compton began his second
pastorate. During the summers of 1892 and 1893 the pulpit was supplied
25
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
by seminary students, Clinton W. Clowe, who is now pastor at
Schoharie and S. G. Parent who is pastor of the Presbyterian church
at Mariaville. Rev. William H. Shelland was called to the pastorate
in 1894 and remained thro 1896. Nothing further is known of him.
During the Summer and Fall oi 1897 the Rev. George Reynold, pastor
of the Richfield Springs Presbyterian church supplied the pulpit. The
last settled pastor was Rev. Fletcher V. W. Lehman who supplied
the summer of 1898 and who was ordained by the Classis of Mont-
gomery and installed over the church in 1899, on his graduation from
New Brunswick.
Since the year 1902 the church has had no regular services save
during the summer time when the pulpit has been supplied by students
from the seminary. The only other supplies have been the Synodical
Missionary and later, occasionally, the Classical Missionary. The
students who have supplied, and their present work, as far as we have
been able to obtain the information, are as follows: 190:2 — Henry Van
Woert, New Brunswick '04, now at Selkirk N. Y. 1903 — Frderick E.
Foerner, New Brunswick 'Or,, now at Pompton, N. J. 1904-1905 —
Henry K. Post, New Brunswick '06, now at Freehold, N. J. 1906 —
John A. De Hollander, New Brunswick '08, now at Irondequoit, N. Y.
1907 — William A. Worthington, New Brunswick '09, now at Annville,
Ky. 1908 — E. M. Gehr, a Union Seminary student Presbyterian) now
at New Hampton, N. Y. 1909 — Andrew Hansen, New Brunswick '13,
now at Millstone, N. J. 1910-1911— Allen F. Markley, Western Theo.
Sem. '14, now at Cleveland, Ohio. 1912 — Stephen W. Ryder, New
Brunswick '13, now at Aomori, Japan. 1913 — Frank Blanchard, New
Brunswick '16. 1914-15 — Rev. F. V. W. Lehman.
Originally the church owned two and a half acres of land, but
an acre or more was given to the cemetery, one of the best kept in
all the country-side. There is an endownment of $1,200 created by
the gift of Moses Isaman of $1,000 and the Myers-Oxner fund of
$200 (originally $400). In the County Clerk's office at Herkimer is
a record, of Incorporation filed May 23, 1877, and an election of
trustees recorded, June 27, 1877. Since its organization it is estimated
that some thirty other church societies have gone out of this one
church. The cemetery attached to the church contains the graves
of a great many revolutionary soldiers.
CORTLAND REFORMED CHURCH
The Reformed church of
Cortland grew out of a work
in 1906 on the East Side
which was originally begun
by the Congregational
church. There came a time
in this work when the Mis-
sion felt that it could support
itself, but the home church
insisted on managing the
work, which led most of the
workers to withdraw and form an independent church. A chapel was
secured and Charles W. Roeder, a Christian layman, now pastor of
26
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
the Flatlands church of Brooklyn, who had at first been in the em-
ploy of the Congregational Mission Board, assumed the leadership
of the new congregation. This movement was stoutly resisted by
the Congregationalists who claimed the whole East Side of Cortland
was their ecclesiastical field. After a most successful work for a
year, under Mr. Roeder's leadership, the church applied for member-
ship in the Montgomery Classis, being led to this move thro Rev.
Harvey Clements, then pastor of the Presbyterian church of Cort-
land. After many months of discussion, classical visitation of the
field, and hearing, also, much from the Congregational side, the
Classis received the church which had been in existence for more
than a year, thus disproving any infraction of church comity.
The church was organized March 18, 1908, and the following
consistory duly installed, Robert C. Colver, W. T. Linderman, M. G.
Spaulding, and M. J. Haynes, elders, and deacons Harry D. Cole,
Herman Baldwin, Harry E. Todd, and John W. Lee. The church
came into the Classis without asking any aid from the Board of
Domestic Missions and with a well-equipped chapel already for hold-
ing services, and lot on which to build the future church. However,
such were the conditions — local opposition on the part of the other
churches, and an evident lack of unity with the denomination to
which they had become attached (owing to continued agitation on
the part of a few men) that the work lacked a leader upwards of a
year, tho the people were enthusiastic, the audiences overflowed the
chapel, a large Sunday school gathered every Sunday and the usual
organizations of men and women, germane to the Reformed church,
were found doing splendid work.
Rev. Garrett D. L. DeGraff, who had been at Blue Mountain,
N. Y. ever since his graduation at New Brunswick in 1901, assumed
the pastorate on December 20, 1908. For a little while the work went
forward in bounds, but Mr. DeGraff's health, very poor for several
years, soon gave out and he died, after a few months illness, on No-
vember 23, 1910. Again the church was left to struggle on alone for
another year, or until November, 1911, when Rev. John E. Winne
began a year's supply. He was a member of the Schenectady Classis.
~=D
y* i ft
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
CRANESVILLE REFORMED CHURCH
The Indian name of the
places was "A d r i u c h a"
("Valiant"). It was also
called "Willigas" and Claas
Gravens. The name of
Cranes Village comes from
Daniel Crane who settled
here in 1804. The first settle-
ment in the town of Amster-
dam was made in 1804. The
first to settle at Cranes-
ville was the widow and four
sons (Simon, Jacob, Philip,
Lewis) of Philip Groot, the
latter having been drowned
in the Mohawk on his way
hither from Rotterdam in
1716. Philip Groot was the
son of Symon Groot who
came to New Amsterdam in
1640, and to Albany in 1650,
then to Schenectady in 1663.
In 1730 the Groot brothers
built a grist mill at what is
now Cranesville (ruins still
extant), the first to be erected
on the north side of the Mohawk, from which flour was sold to the
settlers along the river. In 1755 Lewis Groot was takn captive by
the Indians into Canada where he remained four years. John L.
Groot, a son by Philip Groot's second marriage, died in 1845, aged
ninety. Philip Groot's son, Peter, was in the Battle of Oriskany,
and supposed to have been killed, but thirty years later (1807)
he suddenly reappeared after his long Canadian captivity.
Claas Gravens Hoek was the first land settled upon west of Scotia,
and by Claas Andriese DeGraff, who died before 1697. He also prob-
ably bought Adriucha of the Indians before transferring it to
Hendrick Kyler who sold it to Carel Hansen Toll in 1699, for £180.
It was on this land, eighty acres, that Philip Groot's family settled,
his son Lewis succeeding him on his death in 1716, part of the place
still being in possession of descendants of the Groot family.
Under Amsterdam (extinct) we see how an early attempt was
made to organize a Reformed Dutch Church here. For religious
service the people depended on the Reformed church at Glenville
(organized in 1814), five miles over the hill, or else went to the
Mannys Corners Presbyterian church, or to Amsterdam. The Cranes-
ville Reformed church was organized June 25, 1871, the edifice
being already built. The charter members of the church
were H. V. V. Clute, Henry J. Swart, Elizabeth Swart, Mary
Ann Coombs, George and Mrs. Lydia Brewster, George Coombs,
Mrs. Maria Clute, Mrs. Charles Fancher, G. W. and Mrs.
Watkins. H. V. V. Clute and H. J. Swart, elders, -and
George Brewster and George Coombs, deacons formed the first
28
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
consistory. At first the church was in the Classis of Schenectady
but dismissed to Montgomery in the Fall of 1879. Among the sub-
scribers to the building of the church were, John Blood, Stephen
Sanford, Chas. Fancher, John Sanders (Scotia), Rev. W. P. Davis,
Henry J. Swart, George Coombs, and H. V. V. Clute. In 1892 the
church bought land adjoining on which they built the present Hall.
In 1884 Eleanor Veeder of Schenectady, gave the church $100 and
later Mrs. Magdalena DeGraff willed the church $300. Ida Robb
in 1915 gave $200. John G. and Mrs. DeGraff gave the church
bell. Cranesville has never had an installed pastor. The pulpit has
usually been supplied by near-by pastors, among whom were Revs.
Kyle, Minor, Blekkink, Rogers, Dailey, Weidner, Wurts, Nickerson,
Wilson (P. Q.) and Conant of the Reformed church. Others have
been Rev. T. C. Harwood, C. B. Perkins, W. H. Groat, Mr. Blaine,
Mr. Pershing, and Mr. Bell. Since 1913 Rev. Enoch Powell of Scotia
has supplied the pulpit. In recent years great improvements have
been made to the property, a Board of Trustees has administered
most successfully the temporalities of the church. Rev. Mr. Dailey,
Classical Missionary, has given considerable attention to the field
since 1911. John G. DeGraff has been an officer of the church for
forty years. The others of the consistory are, George S. Truax,
Francis Robb, and George W. Phillips.
CURRYTOWN REFORMED CHURCH
In November, 1737, the Crown granted a Patent of twenty-five
thousand acres of land to Wm. Corry, George Clark and others. This
land was in the present towns of Glen, Charleston, and Root( some
in Schoharie County). Corry sold his share which was later con-
fiscated by the State because the owners were Tories. The earliest
known settlers were Jacob Dievendorf, Sr., Rudolph Keller, David
and Fred Lewis, Jacob Tanner, John Lipe, and the Bellinger, Mowers
and Myers families.
As early as 1790 a church was
built at Westerlo, as Sprakers or
Spraker's Basin was at first
called. This was not agreeable
to the folks at Currytown (called
after William Corry a pat-
entee) who wanted the church
built nearer their hamlet. When
this was not done the Curry-
town people continued to wor-
ship as they had been doing for
some time, in the barn owned
1)}' Jacob Devendorf. Once a
month they were served by the
ministers at "Sand Hill," or
Caughnawaga, or Stone Arabia,
domines Wack. and Van Home,
and Pick.
/The Curry's Bush church or-
ganized in 1790, was given an
acre of kind October 25, 1792,
P-
ot land LArtober .25, 17
29
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
which deed is recorded at Fonda under date of June 5, 1794. Under
date of January 31, 1794, trustees were elected for the "Associate
Congregation of Currie's Bush and Remsen's Bush" (Florida or
Minaville). This church belonged to the Associate Reformed Synod
in which Re^.-JaSj/ Proudfit, of Salem, Rev. John Dunlap of Cam-
bridge (>a^a*©g6p-Ge.), and Rev. James Mairs of Galloway (Galway)
were members. It was probably these two churches that were ac-
customed to be supplied by the pastors of. the First Presbyterian
church of Schenectady. Rev. Alexander^la*Hli2y of Schenectady had
both Currie's Bush and Remsen's Bush as his charges as early as
1770 and thro 178L]
On July 9, 1781 "Currietown" was destroyed by a band of five
hundred Indians and Tories, the latter being commanded by John
Dockstader. As soon as Col. Willett heard the story he set out from
German Flatts in pursuit of the enemy, whom he scattered at Sharon,
captured the camp duffle and recovered the spoil taken in this raid. The
enemy had taken nine of the settlers prisoners, — Bellinger, Dieven-
dorf, Keller, Moyer, Stowitts, Myers, Suits and others. When Wil-
lett's forces drew near these prisoners were tomahawked. Later
they were buried but Jacob Dievendorf, tho scalped and supposedly
dead had enough vitality left to work himself out of his trench
grave and lived for many years. Currytown was again invaded on
October 24, 1781. This force was under Ross and Butler. At Fort
Hunter the British Regulars joined them, Col. Willett pursued, and
at Johnstown engaged them in battle October 25, 1781 (the last
battle of the Revolution). For thirty miles he pursued them as they
retreated until he had driven the remnant into the wilderness.
The Currytown Reformed church was formally organized in 1790,
and in 1806 three trustees were appointed a building committee who
had the frame of the church up in 1808, and completed the edifice
by September, 1809. The grounds for the church and parsonage
were given by Jacob Devendorf, Sr., and John Mount, each con-
tributing an acre. At one time this church marked the boundary
line between the towns of Charleston and Canajoharie. Since 1823
when the town of Root (named after. Erastus Root of Delaware
county) was formed, the church has been called the Root church,
and later the Currytown church (from the Curry patent). On Sep-
tember 9, 1809, the church was dedicated before an audience of a
thousand, Rev. John J. Wack preaching the morning sermon in
German, Rev. Peter Van Buren the afternoon sermon in English,
and Rev. Abram Van Home of Caughnawaga the evening sermon.
Rev. Van Buren of Glen (cf) had conducted services for a long time
before this in private houses.
In October, 1814, Rev. Jacob R. H. Hasbrough of Esopus was
called to the churches of Currytown and Glen. Originally this church
was in the Classis of Montgomery, but was put into the Classis of
Schoharie, and in 1831 was brot back again into the Montgomery
Classis. Mr. Hasbrouck finished his work here in 1829 having served
Currytown, Charlestown, Mapletown (Middletown), Glen, and Cana-
joharie during fifteen years. He was without charge for the last
twenty years of his life and died in 1854.
Early in 1830 the Rev. John Gray was installed and in a year
and a half received forty-one members. Rev. Jacob W. Hangen who
was the pastor at Columbia (cf) was installed March 1."), 1832, and
30
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASS1S
remained until 1837. Forty-eight members were received by him. A
parsonage was built in 1833 costing $700. Rev. Harrison Heer-
mance took up the work in 1837 and preached here thro
1840. As Chaplain of the 128th Regt. N. Y. V. Mr. Heermance con-
tracted a weakness that followed him for twenty later years. He
lost a son in the war, and he died in 1883, at Rhinebeck.
Rev. Thomas Frazer was pastor for the next four years (1840-
1843). He died in Montreal in 1884. Rev. Jasper Middlemas sup-
plied the pulpit during 1844 and thro 1847. He entered the Presby-
terian church, later coming into the Reformed, but returning in 1825
and for twenty-five years, or until he came to Currytown, remaining
in that denomination. He resigned in 1851 after a four years pas-
torate. Rev. William D. Buckelew came in 1851 from New Bruns-
wick, and was ordained by the Classis of Montgomery. His last
pastorate was in the Palisades church (1889-1893) in which field he
died in the later years. Including Buckelew's pastorate the Curry-
town church had been associated with the Mapletown church for
twenty-five years.
Rev. John J. Quick succeeded Buckelew, coming to Currytown
in 1855 and remaining thro a part of 1862, which was followed by a
two years at Mapletown. He also supplied Fort Herkimer in 1867
and 1868, while living at Canajoharie without charge.
Rev. R. M. Whitbeck supplied thro 1863 and 1864 until Rev. J.
M. Compton came the first time to preach here. Mr. Whitbeck while
preaching at Currytown also supplied the Presbyterian church at
Buel. After a four years pastorate in the Tyre church he entered
school work at Lenox, Mass. for a few years.
Mr. Compton's first work at Currytown was from 1864 thro 1868
while he was also preaching at Mapletown. Rev. D. K. Van Doren
followed in 1869 and remained five years, preaching also at Sprakers.
Mr. Van Doren had a number of other pastorates in the Dutch
church, besides spending a decade in the American Bible Society
work. He died in 1908.
Rev. Edward G. Ackerman took up the work during the holidays
of 1874, and continued until the Spring of 1879. He held several other
charges in the church and died while pastor of the Clover Hill, N. J.
church in 1899, December 1st. Mr. Compton again came to Curry-
town, spending three years this time, or until May, 1882, at the same
time supplying Sprakers, and for six months in 1882 supplying Maple-
town. Mr. Compton spent a number of years at Columbia (cf).
Following Compton came Rev. John Minor in November, 1882,
who supplied at first Mapletown, but for the last year or more
Sprakers in connection with this charge. During this pastorate the
old church, which had stood for seventy-four years, was taken down
and on May 1, 1884, the present edifice was dedicated free of debt. It
cost $7,000. Mr. Minor resigned May 1, 1885. Garret Wyckoff, now
of Red Bank, N. J., was here from February, 1886, to September,
1887. Rev. Henry Hudson Sangree began the work in February, 1888,
and remained until June, 1893, also preaching at Mapletown (cf).
Rev. Peter S. Beekman was installed on November 9, 1893, resigning
August 25, 1901. He has now for some years been pastor at Johns-
town.
Rev. Ephriam W. Florence was called and took up the work
here and at Sprakers on New Years day, 1902. From here he went
31
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
to the Philmont, N. Y., Reformed church, next going into the Canadian
Presbyterian church, and has now for some years been in the Episco-
pal church, for a while in Canada, then at Trinidad, California, and
now at Sidney, Nova Scotia.
Rev. James B. Campbell was the next installed pastor, this oc-
curring in February, 1905, in the Sprakers church. Mr. Campbell
resigned in April, 1907. Mr. Campbell spent forty years in the
ministry ere he died in 1911 while pastor of the 2d Port Jervis church,
— a man of great power in prayer and success in winning a great
multitude of souls to Christ.
From November, 1907, thro February, 1909, a Mr. E. L. Wade,
son of a Gloversville Lutheran minister, conducted services in the
church and at the Sprakers church. Rev. C. V. W. Bedford was the
next stated supply, serving the church from June 1909 until New
Years, 1912, when he took up the work of the Hagaman church. Mr.
Harry A. Eliason occasionally supplied during 1912, then regularly
thro 1913, and until July, 1914, when he was ordained to the ministry
and installed as pastor of the church, and of that at Sprakers.
EPHRATAH REFORMED CHURCH
The town of
Ephratah was form-
ed from the town of
Palatine on March
27, 1827. The first
settlers of the town
came in 1765. Be-
fore the Revolution
among the settlers
were, Fredk. Get-
man, Jacob Empie,
Jacob Snell (all liv-
ing near the village)
and Nickolas Rec-
tor, Henry Herring,
Wm. Smith, Philip
Kreitzer, John Cas-
sleman, Jacob Fry,
William Cool, Jo-
hannes W i n k 1 e,
Zachariah Tripp,
Henry Hart, Peter
S c h u t t, and Mr.
Dussler. Most of these men were Germans, and some of them came
from the Schoharie valley. Sir William Johnson erected the first
grist mill, near where Wood's tannery was located. This was burned
by the Tories during the war. William Cool was in the mill at the
time and was killed and scalped. The miller was taken a prisoner
and carried away captive. He had hidden his money in the walls of
the mill, and on his return foi
Johannes Winkle settled
Yauney later lived, and built a grist mill where Yauney's mill now
>und it.^»^^lAC.^<<r^^^w^^^>(Svy<rv«.cL
d before the Revolution where Ta-mes
32
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
is. When this mill was burned it was later rebuilt by Mr. Shulls
(Shults). Still later Henry Yauney bot it and built a woolen mill.
In 1808 Henry Yauney built a saw mill where Levi Yauney's
mill now is. Henry Yauney was a captain in the 1812 war and later
major of the New York militia. In 1803 he bot a 100 acres of land,
embracing the village site, and laid it out. Fredk. Empie settled
where John F. Empie later lived. In 1815 Peter Schram built the
first inn. In 1810 Thomas Benedict kept the store in Ephratah.
Richard Young and Richard Coppernoll, two soldiers of the Revolu-
tion settled down where later Hiram Lighthall lived. Aaron C.
Whitlock of Ephratah was a brigader-general in the New York
militia. He was also one of the three commissioners to locate -i /? ''
the Court House and jail at Fonda. / Aa_i^^_v^(
Nickolas Rector, a Revolutionary captain of militia, lived near '
where Chauncey Snell later lived. He and his family were attacked
by the Indians but all escaped alive. Mrs. Rector went toward
Stone Arabia. On the way she came across the body of a settler
who had been killed by the Indians. She removed his boots and
wore them the rest of the way. One boot it was said was almost
filled with blood when she got to Stone Arabia.
The first church of which we have any record at Ephratah was
a Presbyterian organization of 1823. On March 17th of that year
a number of persons living in the northern part of the town of
Palatine met in District No. 9 schoolhouse. William Lassels was the
chairman of meeting and Christopher Getman was the clerk. They
decided to call the society "The First Presbyterian Church and
Society of the Town of Palatine," and selected these trustees, Peter G.
Getman, Thomas Davies, Joseph Getman, Philip Kring, William
Lassells, Jonathan Selter, Timothy Riggs, Chauncey Hutchinson, and
Caleb Johnson. The record at Fonda is dated March 24, 1823.
Rev. Caleb Knight was the first supply of this church. It does
not appear from the minutes as if he was ever installed. He began
work on June 1, 1823 and continued till July 1, 1826. According to
the receipts recorded the salary ranged around $275 a year. The
last meeting (recorded) of this Board of Trustees was the annual
meeting September 25, 1826, but no business was transacted.
The next efforts toward an established church at Ephratah is
found in the county clerk's records at Fonda, where is recorded the
incorporation of "The Dutch Reformed and Presbyterian Church
of Ephratah." The record is dated June 1, 1829. At this time (1805-
1828) the Rev. John Wack was the supply at Stone Arabia, and,
without doubt, he looked after the religious work at Ephratah, when
there was no pastor there. A good many of the Ephratah folks
were in the habit of attending the Stone Arabia church, while a few
also went occasionally to the Tillaborough church (cf). The trus-
tees of this 1829 church at Ephratah were John Rickard, Philip
Kring, Harmanus Shaver, Christopher Getman and John Y. Ed-
wards. Notice that Christopher Getman was the clerk of the original
organization in 1823, and Philip Kring (whose name appears in con-
nection with the Tillaborough church in the Stone Arabia records)
was a trustee of the original church. Between the dates of 1835 and
1851 there are no minutes recorded of any election of trustees for
this church, and in 1859 it was formally disbanded. No name of any
33
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
minister is recorded in connection with this "Dutch Reformed and
Presbyterian Church."
Under date of February 10, 1831, there is a record at Fonda of
the Incorporation of "The St. John's Reformed Church of Ephratah,"
whose trustees were, Aaron C. Whitlock, Adam Hart, John Beck,
and Frederick Empie. Nothing further is known of this work. In
1832, according to the same records, a "Union Society" was formed
at Pleasant Valley (Rockwood) in the town of Ephratah. Rev.
William Thomson was the pastor, and the trustees elected were,
Joseph Deans, Rose Simmons, Dutec Joslin, Robert Weaver, Chaun-
cey Orton, and Azel Hough. It was at Ephratah and Oppenheim
that the first settlements were made in what is now Fulton county.
These were in 1724, while that of Johnstown was about 1764 when
J.ohnson Hall was built by Sir William Johnson. It was just beyond
Ephratah that the Battle of Johnstown was fought between seven
hundred Tories and Indians, commanded by Ross and Butler, and
the forces under Col. Marinus Willet. In this engagement Walter
Butler was killed by an Oneida Indian.
At a meeting of the Montgomery Classis held on July 2, 1832,
a "Reformed Protestant Dutch Church" was organized at Ephratah,
which was later incorporated (April 14, 1851). At this time and
thro the year 1840 the clerk of the consistory frequently refers to
the "Dutch Reformed and Presbyterian Church," and calls the con-
sistory meetings "sessions," but all this is manifestly wrong be-
cause Rev. Isaac S. Ketchum was called in 1833 and Rev. Benj. B.
Westfall in 1837, — both Reformed Dutch ministers, and at the time
preaching in the Dutch church at Stone Arabia.
Altho the church at Ephratah was organized in 1832 the first
record of any members uniting with the church is made in November,
1841, when Ashbel Loomis was received by Rev. John Robb, the
stated supply. On May 21, 1842, Josiah and Mrs. Elisabeth Wil-
liamson were received, and this is the last record until January, 1845,
when twenty were received on confession. However, we find the
names of fifty-two members in the register under date of 1845. In
the rear of the old record book is a long list of the names of those
who were pew renters or other subscribers to the church expense,
but this is not a complete list. The date of this record begins in
1834 and runs thro 1837.
The first installed minister at Ephratah was Rev. Isaac Ketchum
(1833-1836), who was also, pastor at Stone Arabia (cf). The second
pastor was Rev. Benjamin B. Westfall (1837-1838) who was also at
Stone Arabia (cf). The pulpit seems to have been supplied for
several years, the Rev. John Robb's service extending from 1841
thro 1843, following which another vacancy occurs for a year, tho
it is likely that the pastor at Stone Arabia looked after the field.
Rev. Charles Jukes was the pastor from 1841/^ thro a part of 1850,
for whose history see Stone Arabia, where he was a pastor at the
same time. There is not much of record concerning the first pas-
torates of the Ephratah church, the work being tributary to the
older and stronger organization at Stone Arabia, in whose records
there is much recorded concerning the churches at Ephratah and
Tillaborough.
Rev. John C. Van Liew began his pastoral work in 1851 and
remained thro 1856 (cf Stone Arabia). He was followed by Rev.
34
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
John P. Westervelt who was a licentiate of the "Wyckofite" church,
stationed thro 1845-1855 in the Independent churches of Mayfield
" .id Johnstown at the close of which pastorate he became a Pres-
byterian, and for two years (1858-1859), he supplied Ephratah. Mr.
Westervelt died in 1879. Westervelt not only knew Greek and
Hebrew and Latin, but could speak fluently in German, French and
Dutch. Rev. George Hewlings supplied the pulpit during 1861, and
Rev. Miles T. Merwin, a Presbyterian minister, thro 186:2. Mr.
Hewlings died in 1872 and Mr. Merwin in 1865.
Rev. William H. Smith became pastor in 1866, remaining two
years. He also preached at Tillaborough occasionally. Rev. Smith
was a Union College '63 man, who had allied himself at first with
the Methodist church. Examined at Ephratah for ordination in the
Reformed church, the classis vote stood, — For: Two ministers and
five elders; against: Five ministers — thus evidencing the power of
the eldership. Leaving the Ephratah church in 1868 Smith entered
the Presbyterian ministry. He died in *8#§/fjf<?
Rev. James M. Compton came in 1868 and remained two years,
tho he continued at Stone Arabia two years longer. He was suc-
ceeded by Rev. William B. Van Benschoten, who also preached at
Stone Arabia (cf) while acting as pastor at Ephratah (187:2-1878).
In 1877 eighty-seven members were added at one communion. Rev.
Peter Quick Wilson was the next pastor, coming from a stated
supply of Blue Mountain where just prior to leaving he received
seventy-five persons into the church, remaining from 1882 thro
1885. His first charge was at East Greenbush (1861-1866), while his
last work was at Cranesville. A good deal of his ministry was spent
in supplying Presbyterian and Reformed churches. He died at
Easton, February 26, 1902. Rev. Rufus M. Stanbrough, who had been
at Manheim in 1861 and at Columbia in 1876, supplied Ephratah
during 1881-1884. Next came Rev. William W. Whitney, who
served the Ephratah church four years (1886-1889). He also
preached some at the Tillaborough church. He came into the Classis
from the Methodist church. He had other pastorates after leaving
Ephratah and died at Eminence, Schoharie county, in 1903. Rev.
Charles L. Palmer assumed the joint congregation of Ephratah and
Stone Arabia in 1896 and staid with the congregation thro 1899,
going to Shokan on leaving this church, and in 1903 to Kingston.
Mr. Palmer's present charge is at Marlboro, N. J.
Mr. Palmer was the last settled pastor that either Ephratah or
Stone Arabia had until the coming of Rev. Royal A. Stanton to these
churches in 1914. Mr. Stanton had supplied these fields during the
three previous summers, when a student in the Western Theological
Seminary, and came to the fields to take up the work of reviving
and strengthening the work, which he has done in a most successful
way. During the long interval between the pastorates of Rev. Palmer
and that of Rev. Stanton the church at Ephratah was supplied for
longer or shorter periods by a few men, as Charles S. Lewis who
was nearly three years with the congregation. Nothing is known
of his ecclesiastical connections. Rev. E. J. Meeker was here
for a year's supply. Then during certain summers the
students from the seminary supplied the pulpit. In 1911 the Classis
having appointed a Classical Missionary, Rev. W. N. P. Dailey, the
work of preparing for a new pastorate was begun. At first preach-
35
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
ing services were conducted, then the church repaired, and, finally,
the way was opened for a pastorate over these two churches. The
first printed report of the Ephratah church is in the Minutes of
Particular Synod of Albany, 1835, which gives 225 families, 105 mem-
bers, and a congregation of 1,200. Rev. Ketchum must have taken
in the whole town of Ephratah and part of Palatine to get such a
congregation.
The first church was built in 1833. This was extensively re-
paired in 1890-1891 at a cost of $1,000, which included new pews,
pulpit, and carpet. In 1901 the church was moved down from the
top of "Church Hill" where it had been built in 1833, to its present
site in the village. In 1913 the church was again given a thorough
renovation, at a cost of about $1,700, which included new ceiling,
electroilers, heater, windows, pulpit rails, side walls, etc. This last
work was undertaken by the Ladies' Aid Society and Young People,
under the direction of the Classical Missionary, Rev. W. N. P. Dailey.
The cost was almost entirely raised at the re-dedication in Febru-
ary, 1914. Since Mr. Stanton's coming the church dining room has
been built and furnished. The present consistory is, Daniel Burdick,
Daniel Duesler, Charles Gray, Elmer Lighthall and Alpha Christman,
elders, and Clark Dockstader, Seymour Snell, Adam Swartz, John
J. Saltsman and Frank F. Tittle, deacons. The trustees are, James
H. Yauney, Norman Saltsman, and Jacob I. Christman. Levi
Yauney gave to the church in 1911 thro his will, $500. Daniel Duesler
has been the chorister since 1875 and Mrs. Ella Christman
Lighthall the church organist since 1895.
FLORIDA REFORMED CHURCH
The Reformed Church of Florida is situated at Minaville in the
town of Florida, hence its name. When Classis was formed in 1800, it
3(5
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Trhukonot church.
was called the X-hukonot" church, ™pH tn bn n rorru-pti^n fnr thn Tn-
Hi-in term, "f'h nr t-g mui rln " -n n A wViinh mnqna "itnnn hniiro" HowCVCC,
thg TniiilT1 tQrrn "<~l-iii1rn«n+" mgnnr "plgpp r»f |tig tnmnrnnlr" Miliaville
in those early days was also called "Yankee Street" and not far
away was i'Remsen's Bush," where a Reformed church had been
established^1»oforc' the — Chukonert — ctrm*e44 — was n^a'TiH In 1769
Lawrence Shuler settled about a mile east of the present site
of the village. It was on a part of his farm of three hundred acres
that the first church was built. The district in which the church
was situated was called Caughnawaga, and was one of the eight
districts of Tryon county, which in 1784 became Montgomery county.
When the Montgomery Classis was formed in 1800, two churches
in— what is now Minavillc, wore included -among the twenty-four or.-
gini-ntinnn) nniiii 1j i/^hnilrnnnt and Remsen's Bush, %hc latter being
+h-e — first — • * " ^<^^fq^^^hr^T^hr,^a^ 0f worship was near the old
burying ground, one of whose stones bears the burial date of 1786,
and which building stood until 1849, — an unpainted, barn-like struc-
ture, with galleries, high pulpit, and sounding board.
The Remsen's Bush Reformed Protestant Dutch church, as its
title reads in the incorporation, and which bears date of February
9, 1789, was very likely organized soon after the settlement by
Lawrence Shuler perhaps as early as 1784, the date usually assigned to
it, tho we should give it an earlier date. The records at the County
Clerk's office, after the one mentioned above are as follows, No-
vember 20, 1806, the .Florida Reformed Dutch church incorporated
and the act was recorded January 22, 1807. The present consistory
are, J. F. Ernest, John McClumpha, Charles Patterson, and William
Kelly, elders, and
Van Home, and Ric
The oldest consistorial record extant bears date of June 2, 1808*
which states the action whereby the Remsen's Bush and the Florida
<£€3fote>4i»#? churches were united into one body. This body was
incorporated, according to the county clerk's record on June 6, 1808,
tho it was not put on file till January 13, 1810. The elders were,
Christian Servoss, Isaac Vedder, and Jacob Sharpentine; the deacons
were Ruloff Covenhoven, Jacob Staley, John Davenpack, and John
Van Derveer, with Winslow Paige, V. D. M., and Jacob Sharpentine,
trustees. The first church of the united congregation was erected in
1808, with the usual tall spire without and the three galleries within,
square pews, high pulpit and sounding board. In course of time it
was considerably changed, but lasted the congregation for seventy-
two years, when, in 1880 and 1881 a new building was erected at a
cost of $5,000. In 1858 a parsonage was bought and repaired at a
cost of about $2,000, but this was burned in 1886 and the present
house then erected at a cost of $2,500. The church has $2,300 in in-
vested bonds. In 1882 Rev. J. H. Enders, for many years Synodical
Superintendent, erected a chapel for the church in memory of his wife,
which chapel, together with the church, was burned in 1912, and a
fourth church building was then built in 1913. The earliest
known preacher in this section was Rev. James Maier, as
early as 1794, while the ministers at Schenectady and Al-
bany, also, doubtless ministered here. The first settled pastor was
Rev. Thomas Romeyn (1800-1806), who was born at Caughnawaga,
37
juiiii ivj.c v_i uiiipua, v^iidiica ;i auciaun, diiu vv uiiaiii
d Arthur Luke, Elbert Van Derveeg? Schuyler ,>.
Richard De Forest, deacons.^^j^^^jj^-^^/^^^f^^—
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
the son of Thomas Romeyn, Sr., pastor there during 1772-1794. For
a score of years he was pastor at Niskayuna. Ill health compelled
him to give up the ministry in 18:37, tho he lived until 1857. The
trustees elected were, Nathan Stanton, Ruloff Covenhoven (Conover),
John DeGraff, Samuel Jackson, Isaac Vedder, John Van Derveer,
John Shuler, Hendrick Van Derveer and Tunis Hubbard. Successors
to Mr. Romeyn in the Florida pulpit were, Winslow Paige
(1808-1820), who died in 1838; Peter P. Rouse (1822-1828), who died
in 1832; James Stevenson (1829-1854), who died in 1864 and lies
buried at Minaville; John Clancy (1855-1860), in whose pastorate the
parsonage was built and sheds secured; on leaving Minaville he gave
up the active ministry and removed to Schenectady where he spent
the rest of his life; Josephus Krum (1861-1865) ordained by the
Classis, who went into the Presbyterian ministry, lattp becoming an
Episcopalian, and is now preaching at Ottawa, Kansas; Gilbert Lane
(1860-1873), who had been a chaplain in the army, and who died in
lS&tfTRev. Richard A. Pearse came to the church in 1873 on his gradua-
tion from New Brunswick, and has already passed the forty year
mark of a single pastorate. (A classmate, C. E. Lasher, has had the
same experience at Guilford, N. Y.). The Rev. Sheldon Jackson,
the noted Alaskan missionary, was born and spent his youth under
the shadow of the old church at Minaville, and lies buried in its
beautiful cemetery along with his wife, and children, and parents, and
grandparents, and the parents and grandparents of his wife, his
brothers and sisters, — a multitude of kindred. Col. Samuel Jackson,
his grandfather, was stationed at Plattsburgh during the war of 1812.
Rev. Dr. Jackson was present at the centennial of the formation of
the church in 1908 and delivered an historical address.
FONDA REFORMED CHURCH
waga
white
lily
The village was named
after Douw Fonda who
came from Schenectady
and settled here in 1751.
The former name for
the village of Fonda
was "Caughnawaga,"
the meaning of which
is "stone in the water"
or "at the rapids." The
Caughnawagas of
Tribes Hill were a
family of the Wolf
Tribe of the Mohawks,
to which tribe Brant's
mother belonged. In
1669 the Jesuits built a
chapel here, called St.
Peter's of logs on the
Sand Flats of Caughna-
Fonda. Here in 1676 the Iroquois maiden, Te-ga-wi-ta, the
of the Mohawk, the now canonized saint of the Romanists,
38
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
was baptised by James de Lamberville. The town of Caughnawaga
originally embraced all that part of Montgomery county lying north
of the Mohawk and east of a line extending from the "Nose" to
Canada. In 1793 it was divided into Amsterdam, Broadalbin, Johns-
town and Mayfield. As early as 1659 Arent Van Curler held a con-
ference with the Mohawks at Caughnawaga, renewing the treaty of
1643. Qouw-FoTida came into this section in 1751, and after him thc-
■nillagrp was mmaH When Fonda had come to his eightieth year, on
Alay 22, 1780, he was killed at his home, and two of his sons, John
and Adam, were taken captives to Canada. There is a story current
that the renegade Tory, Walter Butler, killed the old man who had
been a great friend of Sir William Johnson.
The Reformed Protestant Dutch church of Caughnawaga, its
title until 18f|, when the term "Dutch" was dropped (Caughnawaga
being changed to Fonda in 1872), was organized in 1758 by a Low
Dutch element, the first building being erected of stone in 1763, to
which was added a steeple in 1795. In the destruction of the village
by the Johnsons in 1780 the church was about the only unburned
building and this was due to the fact that it was built on the Butler
estate land and was supposed to belong to the Butler family. This
church was in what was called East Fonda and was used up to 1842,
when, at the close of Rev. Fonda's pastorate, the old church and par-
sonage, the glebe lands, the old bell, and all were sold, the congrega-
tion going into the village and erecting a new church which was
dedicated in 1843. Then the old church was transformed into a dwell-
ing house, parlors, bedrooms, and kitchen taking the place of pulpit,
pews, and aisles. There was a small wooden church erected near the
Uppjjer Mohawk Castle, where the Fort Hunter (Queene Anne's
chapel) missionary preached at times. The bell of this church, similar
to that on Queene Anne's chapel, was stolen by the Indians and
carried away into Canada. At first the church was supplied by the
pastor of the old Dutch church at Schenectady, the Rev. Barent
Vrooman. From the year 1772, when the first settled pastorate be-
gan, the church at Fonda had had but twelve pastors. Excepting the
twelve supplies, who served altogether about eight years, the pastor-
ates have averaged twelve years, that of the Rev. Van Home being
the longest, thirty-eight years. Then, Romeyn twenty-two years and
De Baun seventeen years. The preaching in Dutch ceased with Van
Home, who had had a record of twenty-three hundred baptisms and
fifteen hundred marriages. The Classis of Montgomery was organized
in the old Caughnawaga church on Wednesday, September 2, 1800
(cf Note), and the pastor of this church, Rev. Thomas Romeyn, Sr.,
became the first Stated Clerk of Classis, as he was the first in-
stalled pastor of the church. He died while pastor in 1794. A parch-
ment subscription list, dated July 24, 1790, refers to Romeyn's failing
strength and calls for an assistant pastor. Eighty-eight names are
on the list (pub. in Fonda "Democrat" of January 21, 1915). His son,
Thomas, a member of the first class at Union College (1797) was a
pastor at Florida (cf). There have been ten members of the Romeyn
family in the ministry of the Reformed church. A brother of this
first pastor, Dr. Dirck Romeyn, while pastor of the Dutch church in
Schenectady, founded Union College. He died in 1794 while pastor,
aged sixty-five (cf DeBaun's Mem. Address in "Democrat" of Novem-
ber 22, 1894). A writer in the "Christian Intelligencer" (August 14,
39
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
1859), describes the "old church as made of rough limestone, gable-
roofed, two windows on the end, and two more on the east, with
the door between, all having the Norman arch above." The spire
put on in 1795 had disappeared by this time (1859), leaving but a
remnant of a tower. In 1868 this old stone church was demolished,
most of the stone being used in the wall enclosure of the Mills' place
at Fonda. Its only bell was from the confiscated sale of Sir John
Johnson's property, held at Tribes Hill, and was formerly Sir Wil-
liam's dinner bell. It weighed a hundred pounds and has on it the
inscription, "Sir William Johnson, Baronet, 1774, made by Miller and
Rosa in Eliz. Town." After the sale of the church the bell began its
old work of calling the hungry to eat on the farm of Mr. Shull at
Stone Arabia. It has been recast and the owner added his name to
the inscription. Over the door of the old church was a stone tablet
containing these words, "Komt laett ons op gaen to den Bergh
desfeern, to den hmyse des Godes Jacobs, op dat by ous leere van
syne wegen, eu dat my wand ele in syne paden." Micah 4.2.
In 1854 the Rev. Douw Van Olinda who was pastor at Caughna-
waga from 1844 thro 1858 conducted the Fonda Academy in the old
building, Jacob A. Hardenburgh, a Rutgers man was the principal.
He was New York Senator for two terms (1870-1873).
The successor to Romeyn was Rev. Abraham Van Home (1795-
1833). The consistory elected April 15, 1801, was Henry B. Vrooman,
James Lansing, Cornelius Smith, and John Prentiss, elders, and John
Dockstader, Barent Martin, John C. Davis, and John Stauring,
deacons. During the last two years of Van Homes pastorate the
pulpit was supplied by Rev. Isaac S. Ketchum (cf Stone Arabia). The
father of Van Home was a commissary in the American army and
when he resigned in 1783 the son was appointed in his place. Rev.
Van Home preached in both Dutch and English. He died in 1840,
aged seventy-five. Rev. Robert A. Quinn was the third pastor (1833-
1835). He died at Snug Harbor in 1863 while serving his eleventh
year as chaplain of the sailors' work there. Rev. Jacob D. Fonda came
in 1835 and remained thro 1842. After several other pastorates he
died in 1856 while pastor at Schaghticoke. Jeptha R. Simms, the
historian, was active in the church at this time, playing a flute in the
choir. During the years 1842 and 1843 the pulpit was supplied by Rev.
Andrew Yates of Union College, Schenectady (cf Chittenango). Dr.
Yates died in 1844 and is buried at Schenectady.
The new church building, dedicated in October, 1843, cost $3,500.
It was located on the corner of Railroad avenue and Centre street.
During Rev. Boyd's pastorate (1866) this building was moved from
that site to its present location, and eleven thousand dollars spent
in repairs and improvements. On the dedicatory program were Revs.
I. N. Wyckoff of Albany, Stevenson of Florida, and Robb of Canajo-
harie. In 1844 Rev. Douw Van Olinda came to the church and re-
mained here until 1858, the year of his death. Van Olinda spent more
than twenty years in the Montgomery Classis (Auriesville, Canajoharie,
etc.). Rev. Philip Furbeck (father of Revs. George and Howard Fur-
beck) was the next pastor (1859-1862). Mr. Furbeck had an active
ministry of forty years in the Reformed church, another charge in
this Classis being at St. Johnsville. He died in 1899. Rev. Wash-
ington Frothingham, a retired Presbyterian minister living at Fonda,
supplied the pulpit during 1863 and 1864. He died in 1914. He was
40
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
popularly known in the literary world as "The Hermit of New
York," an eccentric man of fine character and noble attain-
ments. Rev. John C. Boyd came in 1865 and remained thro 1870
when he entered the Presbyterian church. He spent his last years,
however, at Fonda, supplying for a number of years the church at
Auriesville (cf). He died in 1901. He was admitted to the bar in
1857 and practiced law a few years. The pastorate of Rev. Thomas W.
Jones was from 1870 thro a part of 1882. A great revival marked
this ministry at Fonda. During this pastorate also a parsonage was
secured and $10,000 spent on organ, repairs, etc. On February 10,
1863, the Board of Trustees of the church was incorporated, patterned
after the incorporation of the Madison Avenue Reformed church of
Albany. After two short pastorates in the west and a long one at
Bedminster, N. J., Mr. Jones died at Brooklyn in 1909. He supplied
his old pulpit during 1900 and 1901. Rev. John A. DeBaun was with
the church from 1883 thro a part of 1900 and died on the field. He
was tendered a professorship at Hope College while pastor here, but
declined the same in favor of the church. Rev. J. C. Boyd filled the
pulpit for a while after Dr. De Baun's death. Rev. J. Collings Caton
spent three years on the field (1902-1904) going next to the 12th St.
Church of Brooklyn and in 1915 becoming pastor of the First Pater-
son (N. J.) Church. Rev. Wm. J. Lonsdale followed Rev. Caton
and remained until 1910. He is now pastor of the Second Paterson
(N. J.) Church. Pev. Henry C. Cussler, the present pastor, was
formerly of Buffalo.
FORT PLAIN REFORMED CHURCH
The village of Fort Plain
goes back beyond Revolution-
ry times, the place undoubt-
edly taking its name from
Fort Plain which was built in
1776 about a third of a mile
north-east of the "Sand Hill"
church, which church was
built about a mile above the
present site of the village.
Some have thot it derived its
name from Fort Plank, built
toward the close of the war
and which was two and a half
miles west of Fort Plain and
a quarter of a mile from the
river. The story of the "Sand
Hill" church ought to be read
in connection with this of
Fort Plain, because of the
close relationship of the two,
Fort Plain being an outgrowth of the old church on the hill. The
present church at Fort Plain was organized in 1831. The church at
"Sand Hill" had about outlived its usefulness, but under the influence
of Rev. Wack (cf "Sand Hill") who had been dropped by Classis,
it was endeavoring to defeat the aim of the younger congregation,
41
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
whose work was more opportune to the changed conditions of the
community. Already the present village folk of Canajoharie had
withdrawn from the hill church and the families at Fort Plain felt
the distance too great to continue to go there. Accordingly a com-
mittee of Classis, Revs. Welles and Gray, visited the field, looked
carefully into the situation and reported back to Classis on February
7, 1832, about as follows, — "that the 'Sand Hill' church was domin-
ated by Rev. John J. Wack, no consistory had been elected for a
decade, the property was fast falling into ruin, the members were
scattered, and the church defunct. On the other hand Montgomery
Classis and the Domestic Board had organized this new (Fort Plain)
church and it was deserving of the hearty support of all in that com-
munity, and amply sufficient to supply their needs." The men be-
hind the movement for this new church were Revs. Douw Van Olinda
(cf Fonda) and Cornelius Van Cleef (classmate of Rev. Bethune at
Utica). These men at the time were looking after the work of the
Classis at Johnstown, Mayfield, Canajoharie, Palatine, Mapletown,
Sprakers, Fort Plain, etc. In June, 1833, both the Reformed and
Universalists began to build their edifices. 'Henry and Abram I. Fail-
ing were the Reformed church builders. There was a great rivalry
to see which would first raise the frame. The Reformed church
builders won out while the carelessness of the others caused an
accident which injured several men, one of whom died.
Rev. Nanning Bogardus was the first installed pastor of whom
we have any definite record. He was to have been installed on
December 26, 1833, and Rev. Bethune was to preach the sermon, but
on the night of December 25, the church decorated for the occasion,
was burned and Bogardus was not installed until April 15, 1834.
Rev. Demarest (pastor 1884-1890) thinks Rev. John H. Pitcher was
the first pastor because he was ordained at Fort Plain. Corwin's
Manual places Pitcher at Herkimer and German Flatts during 1831-
1833, but this is an error since Domine Spinner was then pastor and
for ten years longer. The Minutes of the Albany Part. Synod speak
of him as a missionary at Fort Plain in 1831. We know, also, that
Pitcher at this time was in the Second church of Herkimer, merged
into the First church in 1836. The new church to take the place of
the one burned was built in 1834. Mr. Bogardus remained with the
enterprise but a little over four months. Later he spent ten years
in the Classis as pastor of the churches at Canastota and Sprakers
(cf). He died in 1868.
During 1835-1836 the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Arthur Burtis,
a member of the Oxford Presbytery, who went to the Little Falls
Presbyterian church on leaving Fort Plain, and, later, became Pro-
fessor of Greek in Miami University. He was ordained to the
ministry by the Classis of Montgomery (1835). He died in 1867.
The church was incorporated at this time, February 2, 1836, the
names of David Diefendorf and James Post (elders) and Abraham
I. Failing (deacons) appearing on the record; also that of Rev. A.
Burtis. Rev. John P. Pepper succeeded Burtis, remaining four
years (1837-1840), and had another pastorate in the Classis at Warren
(Herkimer county). He died in 1883, being without charge for thirty
years. Rev. Samuel Van Vechten was the next pastor (1841-1844)
and tho he broke down physically here he lived forty years more.
42
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
He also served in the Classis at Mapletown, Johnstown, and al
Union. He died in 1882.
Rev. Charles G. McLean (1844-1852) came to the church from
the Newcastle Presbytery (Pa.) and entered educational work on
leaving this field. The church greatly depreciated during his pas-
torate owing to internal trouble. For three years McLean was on
trial before the Classis and Synods. Rev. Martin L. Schenck (1853- a-'"'*-/^
1857) succeeded McLean and proved to be a great conciliator who"'^^1^*^
harmonized the various elements in the church. He had three pastor- ' 7~ ,e7
ates after leaving Fort Plain (Rocky Hill, White Hall, Plattekill).
He died in 1873. Rev. John G. Hall was the next pastor, coming in
June, 1858 (1858-1864), and remained seven years, a fine character,
a most helpful preacher and pastor. But this prosperous pastorate
was followed by a seven years famine, a divided house, — only the
name of a church, — and Classis seemingly unable to bring the prayed
for peace to its Jerusalem. In the interim of the pastorate the pulpit
was frequently supplied by Rev. G. D. Consaul (cf Herkimer) and
Rev. Whittaker, a Presbyterian minister. Finally, by invitation of
the Classis, Rev. Vermilye of the Utica church, and Revs. Clark and
Elmendorf of the Albany churches mediated the matter with the
congregation and again peace and prosperity ensued. Rev. Alexander
B. Riggs was called and came to this, his first pastorate (1870-1876),
and brot the church back to its former glory and efficiency. He was
ordained by Montgomery Classis.
During this pastorate the building was remodeled at a cost of
$13,000. A great revival conducted by Riggs swept over the com-
munity and not only increased the membership of the church but
gave spiritual tone to the whole work. Mr. Riggs next went to
the West Troy (Watervliet) Presbyterian church. For many years
he has been Professor Emeritus at the Lane Theological Seminary.
A Board of seven Trustees was incorporated on February 24, 1S67.
to manage with the consistory the temporalities of the church. There
is also a record at Fonda of a meeting of these trustees, August 19,
1869, at which D. S. Kellog presided and G. J. Pettit was the clerk.
During the years when the church was without a settled pastor the
pulpit was supplied for at least four years by Rev. Ganesvoort D.
W. Consaul (1864-1868), a licentiate of the Schenectady Classis.
Seven years later he was received into the Classis, ordained and in-
stalled over the church at Mohawk (cf Herkimer). In 1879 he de-
mitted the ministry. Rev. Mr. Whittaker also supplied the pulpit for
about two years (1866-1868).
The successor to Dr. Riggs was Rev. Samuel J. Rogers (1876-
1879) who had been a pastor at Geneva (cf) for eight years, and
came to Fort Plain from Port Jervis. On leaving the fjeld he entered
the Congregational body, serving it in Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa.
He died May 3, 1910, having been for a decade the Secretary of the
Minnesota Congregational Association. Rev. Denis Wortman came
to the church from the old First church of Schenectady, in 1S80,
and resigned in 1883 to take up work at Saugerties. For a great
many years he has most efficiently served the denomination as Secre-
tary of their Ministerial Board of Relief. Rev. James Demarest be-
came pastor in 1884, remaining seven years. His last work was in
the Bethany church of Brooklyn. He died in 1913. Rev. Edward A.
McCullum was the next to occupy the pulpit (1890-1900). Air.
43
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
McCullum has recently resigned his pastorate at Fishkill-on-Hudson
to take up the work at Castleton. Rev. Arthur Dougall was called
to the pastorate in 1900 and remained about three years. He next
entered the Elmira Presbyterian church and died while pastor there
in 1909. The present pastor at Fort Plain is Rev. Henry C. Willough-
by who came on the field in 1904.
FORT HERKIMER REFORMED CHURCH
The corporate title
of this church is
"The Reformed Pro-
testant Dutch church
of German Flatts."
The beginning of its
history goes back to
the settlement of the
country in the years
1722 and 1723 when
the Palatines came
into the valley of
the Mohawk from
Schoharie. Of these
Palatines and their
migration to Ameri-
ca and to this valley
we have spoken in
detail in the Notes.
The Burnettsfield
Patent of 9,186 acres,
dated April 30, 1725, was given to ninety-two persons, one-fourth of
whom were women. Their names can be found in Simms' "Frontier-
men." The history of this church is linked with the work at Herkimer
since from the start the people of the latter place depended upon the
German Flatts preacher for services, and for half a century or up
to 1841 there was an established dual pastorate in the two fields.
The initial church building at German Flatts was a lo^g structure
in the woods, erected, doubtless, as the Palatines were wont to do,
as one of the very first buildings, as early as 1723. This was their
House of God .for ftKasryears, s&sce in 1734 we find one Nicholas
Feller, in a t*^« onC^fe- owned by the Oneida Historical Society
(Utica), granting his pew in the German Flatts church to his son-in-
law, Han Nicholas Chrisman. The deeds for the land on which the church
stands are two in number, one dated September 24, 1730 (4*©w- owned
by— -Mrsr-Afl-drew -Paeon of-Mohawk-T-Nr-yQ and another dated April
26, 17*33. Undoubtedly with the granting of the first land the German
Flatts church, the one now standing, was begun. About 1860 the
holders of the Glebe lands refused to pay rent. Court of Chancery,
Utica, decided against them. Over the original entrance on the river,
or north side of the edifice one sees cut into the stone "J. H. Esq.
1767," — referring to Johanns Herkimer, Esquire, the father of the
conqueror on the Battle Field of Oriskany, Nicholas Herkimer. -But
the will quoted above, and deeds of land for church building, and old
44
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
subscription lists still extant, and the old books of the treasurer, and
appeals to Governor Clinton for permission to raise funds for com-
pleting the church (-l'rao, J.71G, 1£51, ct n-k) are abundant evidence that
the date, 1767, does not refer to the beginning of the building of the
church, but rather its completion. History also records how the
settlers long before this date used the stone church as a means of
refuge in times of Indian depredation. Johann Jost Herkimer built
a stone house for himself in 17j|, later called "Konin" ("bear") *B*d
General ITfrWitncr^.hnilr a_brick— koas^, evidencing the reasonableness
of believing the stone church was begun soon after the settlement.
Among the names of those who are found on the lists and in the
books as subscribing toward the building of the church are eight
each of Becker, Veeder and Vrooman. Others of note are, Yoost
Werner, Heinrich Riemenschneider, Ludwig Rickert, Joseph R. Yates,
Annaatzie Ziele, Birch Hagedoorn, Storm Becker, Johannes Schuyler
(Rev.), Barent Kysley Meinert Wemp (Wemple), Reyer Baxter,
Sanders Glen, Plantina Vrooman, Wilhelm Braun, Peter Man, God-
fried Knieskern, Jacob Borst, Johannes Snal, Phillip Rily, Arent
Bratt (some of these of Schenectady and Schoharie).
The German Flatts church is one of the very few oldest churches
in the country. Originally it was forty-eight by fifty-eight and
seventeen feet high, but in 1812 it was made eight feet higher, a
gallery put in on three sides, the entrance changed from the north
to the west side, and the high pulpit, with sounding board, placed*
in the east or opposite end. These repairs cost $4,359, and William ^zJb^- ff
Clapsaddle was the chairman of the building committee. On June
1, 1813, the German Flatts consistory met in the "new church" of
Herkimer, and decided to hold services in the barn of Squire Fox
till the church repairs were completed. At this time the inventory of
the church (recorded at Herkimer, Bk. 67, P 115) included thirteen
hundred and seventy-seven acres of land, the rent of which was $235.
Also one acre in the church site and cemetery.
The Herkimer family, numerous and influential, perhaps second
to the Johnson family in importance in the valley, all belonged to
this church, and lie buried either in its acre or under the shadow of
the old church. General Nicholas Herkimer (dec. August, 1777) and
his four brothers and eight sisters, one of whom married Rev. Abra-
ham Rosencrantz, pastor (1752-1796) were, with their numerous de-
cendants, allied with the old church. George Rosencrantz, son of
the domine, was active in the church from 17fl4 to 1838. The parents
of the General are buried at the rear of the old stone church —
close to the original entrance of the church. The name is various-
ly spelled, as here, also Herchkeimer, Erghemar, Harkamar. The
true German was Ergemon.
Two of the pastors of the church, the Rosencrantz brothers, were
buried under the pulpit (when in the south end). Indeed part of the
sub-cellar was used as a burial ground, and has some graves, each
marked with a rude unlettered stone. This custom may have been
the result of the scalp hunting Indians who were looking for the
bounty offered by the English and who regarded this settlement as
privileged ground for their trade. When extensive repairs were made
to the building in 1887 two long fluted pillars of cedar, originally
painted white, were found beneath the floor, and parts of the first
pulpit that stood in the south end of the church. Along with these
45
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
repairs a new bell was put in, a lower platform erected under the
high pulpit, and an arch built up over the gallery, concealing it. It
is hoped that some day these innovations will be removed and this
grand old edifice put back to its pristine conditions, — a standing
monument of the valor and vigor of the German settlers of the Mo-
hawk valley.
Fifty rods west of the church was built Fort Herkimer. Original-
ly this was a stone dwelling house, built (178») by the father of the
General and where Nicholas the eldest son spent his boyhood. The
father, Johann Jost Herkimer, deeded several hundred acres of land
to the young man on his first marriage to Miss Petrie and he went from
this old homevto the town of Danube, three miles east, and built the
brick hou&e( to which he was brought after the Battle of Oriskany and
where he died, surrounded by his family, to whom he read the thirty-
seventh Psalm. The first home built by Johan Jost Herkimer was
about half a mile east of the church, and in this home General
Herkimer was born. Neither this building nor the old Fort are
standing, the stones of the latter having been used to enlarge the
locks of the Erie canal near-by when its capacity was doubled about
1840. Bronze tablets, erected by the Daughters of the American
Revolution mark many of the spots of historic interest hereabouts.
The fort was called by the French, Fort Kouari. In the Summer of
1783 Washington visited the place and the fort was provisioned for
five hundred men for ten months, and Col. Marinus Willett put in
command.
On September 6, 1756 Governor Hardy of New York ordered
Sir William Johnson to send two hundred and fifty more soldiers
(making five hundred in all) to German Flatts, and to go himself,
if need be, to protect the settlement. Thrice was the village assailed
'.G^-cIa. by the Indians,^!/ 1757 when it was burned with the gathered crops,
forty of the people killed, and a hundred and fifty taken prisoners,
and sixty houses burned (Canadian records). In September, 1756,
a breast work was built about the Jc^tlrch.. On April 30, 1758, a
cfCxJ-O- —Jtcon'id- raid occurred, when the Indians, with the help of the French
killed thirty. & settlement acemo to- have been alao on the north.
-twtr^nf rhr riwrr ninrn it is tnlrl ns that in 17^g th" Vi'ilrilnfl ni <"1lp
coming of the — savages,— Lh£ — settlers — wou44 not believe the — friendly
f-ftd-nrosr When at last these came the minister (Rosencrantz) and
some others sought safety in the old stone church. In 1782 Brant
with a hundred and fifty-two Indians and three hundred Tories again
laid waste the settlement. August Hess lost his life. A hundred and
twenty houses and barns were burned and six hundred head of cattle
stolen.
Lieutenant Colonel John Brown (cf Note on Battle of Stone
Arabia) was stationed here for thirteen months beginning April 1,
1776. Four years later he was killed at the Battle of Stone Arabia,
October 19, 1780. Here also General Benedict Arnold, the only
officer in Schuyler's command who would dare the journey, tarried
for a few days on his way to the relief of Fort SrarTwff^near the
Oriskany Battle Field (Rome) and where the Stars and Stripes were
for the first time in this country^ flung to the breeze. Arnold had
twelve hundred men here, a»d jf om German Flatts he started out
the half-witted youth to strike, terror into the hearts of St. Leger's
Indians, still investing Fort StS&ja*^" and which caused them to beat
^°^1 J^W A*^-
ft >4Tr S-A^-h 46
'7
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
a precipitate retreat with loss of nearly all their camp equipment.
It was to German Flatts, also, that the renegade Tory, Walter
Butler, came, after the Oriskany battle, with fourteen Tories and as
many Indians, seeking to influence the settlers against Independence.
He was apprehended, convicted as a spy, and sentenced to death.
Thro the influence of his family connection he was imprisoned at
Albany, from which confine he soon escaped, to wreak his diabolical
vengeance on the men, women and children of the Mohawk valley.
Two great councils of the Indians were held at German Flatts, one
by Tarbot Francis et al on June 28, 1775, when the Oneidas and
Tuscaroras agreed to remain neutral; and another council on August
16, 1775, from which a large delegation of the Indians was sent to a
still larger council at Albany. On June 28, 1785 at a treaty conducted
here the Oneidas and Tuscaroras (always friendly to the colonists),
sold to the State all the land between the Unadilla and the Chenango
rivers.
It was from German Flatts that Col. Charles Clinton (father of
Governor George Clinton and grandfather of DeWitt Clinton)
marched in the summer of 1758 to the capture of Fort Frontenac
from the French. One of the first Liberty Poles erected in the
country was at German Flatts. Sheriff White of Tryon county brot
a large body of militia from Johnson and cut it down. In 1772,
Gov. Tryon was here on an inspection of the troops.
German Flatts was formed as a district of Tryon county on
March 24, 1772. In some of the older histories, and on some of the
older church records, the place is called "Burnettsfield," because one
of the English governors of that name owned most of the land
originally. When the settlement was made at German Flatts the
place was in Albany county, then in 1772 in Tryon county,
then in 1784 taken from Montgomery county and made a part of
Herkimer county. The village now has a population of a little more
than a hundred, and is easily reached from Herkimer, from which it
is distant about two miles, east.
The first known TOimctm- at German Flatts was the Rev. Johannes
Schuyler, who was pastor at Stone Arabia and Schoharie. Among
the names of the first subscribers to the building fund of the church
we-find the name of this minister. He had married in 1743 Annatje
Veeder of Schenectady and was forty years in the Schoharie church
(cf Stone Arabia). Mr. Schuyler supplied German Flatts until the
coming of Rev. George Michael Weiss who was the first permanent
pastor in the field. Rev. Weiss came to this field in 1736 from
Coxsackie and remained here ten years. This is the first mention
we have ever noticed of either of these two men in connection with
this church. In a letter sent to the Classis of Amsterdam (Holland),
April 24, 1738, Rev. Weiss signs himself, "Reformed pastor at Bur-
netsfield (German Flatts) in the county of Albany." Another letter
of Weiss bears date of December 16, 1744 (cf Stone Arabia also in
re to Weiss). The name of "Burnettsfield" was a temporary designa-
tion, resulting from the original ownership of the land, Governor
William Burnett.
Between Weiss' pastorate and the coming of Rev. Abraham
Rosencrantz in 1752 was the brother of the latter (given name un-
known). Abraham Rosencrantz^ j«fc»3 to hie predecessor's being
his brother, while Rev. John A. Wernig who supplied Stone Arabia
47
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
(1751-1753), attributes his coming to America to the influence of this
brother, and further states that this brother had just died (1752),
and that Abraham Rosencrantz -had taken up his work, which also
included a sort of itinerant missionary work among the German
families scattered along the Mohawk between Schoharie and Utica.
Excepting a two year pastorate in the German Reformed church of
New York (1758-1759) Rosencrantz was at German Flatts (includ-
ing his itinerant preaching at Canajoharie, Stone Arabia, etc.) from
1752 to the time of his death in 1796, a period of forty-four years.
Rosencrantz was a graduate of a German University and during his
time here was justly regarded as the foremost and most learned
divine west of Schenectady. The Stone Arabia records show that he
served that church at least twelve years, and we are inclined to think
many more. From 1760 to 1766 he preached at Middleburgh and
Schoharie. From 1765 to 1796 his permanent residence was at
German Flatts. His wife was Anna M. Herkimer, a sister of the
General, to whose influence it is said that he owed his life, since he
was suspected of having Tory feelings. Rev. Rosencrantz had four
sons and some daughters. The names of his sons were Henricus J.,
Georgius, and John Jost Hergheimer, and Nicholas. Nicholas' son
Henry had a son, Nicholas, whose daughter, Mrs. Josephine Rosen-
crantz is living (1915) at Ogdensburg, N. Y., aged eighty. During
the last year or two of the Rosencrantz pastorate, and tmtil the
coming of Rev. Pick, the pulpit was supplied by the Rewriflrh,
Rom£edi s$ Qst&id%.'QRev. D. C.A. Pick was the pastor of German
Flatts for four years rt^Ow' i C&H-. Before he became pastor, Pick
visited the church and ordained the consistory (1796) for which he
received four pounds and sixteen shilling, plus six shilling for re-
cording the same. Rev. Caleb Alexander, who visited the valley in
1801 (November), refers to the stone chapel and its Dutch clergyman,
who preached every other Sunday (cf Stone Arabia for Pick). At
this time Philip Peter Cowder was the schoolmaster and also chorister
at the church. From 1798 thro 1803 the name of the church is
omitted from the General Synod Minutes.
In the year 1802 the Rev. John P. Spinner assumed the pastorate
of German Flatts and continued thho forty-six years. Excepting
for the brief stay of Pick this church had had but two pastors in a
century. Spinner was born at Werbach, Germany, January 18, 1768,
and at twenty-one became a priest in the Roman Catholic church,
which office he held for eleven years. He left the Papal church in
1800 and in the following year came to America. Thro the influence
of John Jacob Astor he came to German Flatts where for nearly a
half century he proved to be the most commanding figure in the
community. During Spinner's earlier years the membership of the
church was around four hundred (in 1813 he reported three hundred
and sixteen), his congregation numbered a thousand, but with changed
conditions at Herkimer and other contiguous places the audiences
fell off until in the early forties he reports but a few over a hundred.
Spinner filled three large books with statistics, aside from the con-
sistorial records, Mteassi&9&J&&i*. In 1815 Spinner offered himself
to the Domestic Board for Canadian missionary work, but was not
accepted owing to his inabiltiy to preach English fluently. The
church was almost always in debt to him, and the minutes show
constant friction ensuing. In 1836 the church owed him $1,324.10, —
48
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
so exactingly calculating were the financiers of those days, and this
indebtedness was minutely detailed showing a pitiable unconcern for
the minister's comfort which spirit, is prevalent today in too many
churches. The domine offered to donate half of the debt if they
would but pay the rest. They gladly accepted his offer and paid him
the rest out of the sale of lands that were deeded to the church for
the sole support of the ministry. Toward the end of his ministry,
so oppressed was he, that he took up outside work, as, for instance
he taught German in the Utica High school for a year and a half.
He was the father of F. E. Spinner who was the treasurer of the
United States under Lincoln, a statue of whom is in the Herkimer Park.
Spinner died at Herkimer in 1848 (cf Herkimer in re Spinner). In
addition to Fort Herkimer and Herkimer, Spinner often looked after
work at Indian Castle, Columbia, Warren, Manheim, Schuyler, Deer-
field, Manlius, etc.
For some years after Spinner's death the pulpit was supplied by
Rev. Jedediah L. Stark of the Mohawk church (cf), who became
the pastor in 1862 and died in 186.3. He had already regularly sup-
plied the church thro the years 184^-1853, after which it was vacant
for nearly four years. He was the last resident pastor over German
Flatts. An old subscription shows that Stark gave his salary for
one year (1861) to the repairs of the church, which thing was later
done by both Revs. Brandow and Kinney. The income of the church
glebe lands could not be diverted from the pulpit but the financiers
at German Flatts were keen on administering the ministers' salary.
The men who have been in the pulpits of Mohawk, Herkimer,
Canajoharie and Columbia have thro most of the years since Stark's
pastorate kept the church going. Among these men have been Rev.
Jeremiah Petrie of Herkimer (cf) 1864-1865, the Rev. John J. Quick
(1867-1868), who had been at Currytown (cf) and Mapletown; Rev.
'Gansevoort D. W. Consaul of Mohawk and, later, of Herkimer (cf);
Rev. Wm. N. Todd, who became a Presbyterian in 189:2. Dr. Todd is
now at McAlistersville, Pa.; William H. Hoffman, a student of New
Brunswick for the summer of 1874, who is now in the Deckerville
(Mich.) Presbyterian church; and William Johns who supplied dur-
ing 1873-1875 and who died 18$5. After this and for five years, only
summer services were attempted. During the summers of 18S0 thro
1885, the Rev. Daniel Lord supplied the pulpit, driving over from the
Henderson church. Dr. Lord was at Henderson and Jordanville for
nearly thirty years of his life (1851-1856; 1860-1864; 1878-1899). He
died September 10, 1899. He was a grandson, third removed of Rev.
Dr. Benj. Lord, who was for sixty-seven years pastor of the Nor-
wich (Cong.), Ct. church. He pursued a course of medicine in order
to increase his usefulness among the people of his parishes. Rev.
John H. Brandow of Mohawk supplied thro 1886 and 1887, and Rev.
Albert D. Minor was pastor from 1888 thro 1891. Rev. Ira Van Allen
(cf Mohawk) from 1892 to 1896, and Mr. J. Abrew Smith, a layman, from
1896 thro 1899. Rev. E. J. Meeker supplied from June, 1900 to
1903, and Rev. J. Dyke of Herkimer (cf) for a year or more from
June, 1905. Rev. C. W. Kinney of .Mohawk (cf^from 1909 to 1911.
In 1912, following work done by the Classical Missionary, Rev.
W. N. P. Dailey, the church property came into the possession of
the Classis of Montgomery, since which time it has been supplied
by the Missionary and also by Rev. O. E. Beckes of the Mohawk
49
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
church. The Rev. J. H. Brinckerhoff and the Missionary also un-
dertook to restore the rights of the church in the glebe rentals and
have been successful in the main. For more than a century the church
has depended altogether for the pulpit support on the income of the
glebe rents, that is, the perpetual liens on lands sold many years ago.
At first this revenue could not have been far from $500, but thro
mismanagement the profits now will not reach more than $150. The
membership records of the church are extant from 1763 (excepting
the years 1865-1885). There are some financial books, and papers,
etc., all of which are in the keeping of the Herkimer church. The
oldest ministerial signature extant follows:
V^'V' T^^^W^^ y^&. -r-*-~ est*.,*. j/^-i&JrJZZ^i
1761 the first of April have received from reverend consistory for half year's salary 3l£
FULTONVILLE REFORMED CHURCH
In Revolutionary days the
place was known as "Van
Epps Swamp." From the
establishment of the inn in
1795 by John Starin the place
began to develop. The Re-
formed Dutch church of Ful-
tonville (named after Robert
Fulton) was organized No-
vember 24, 1838, eight mem-
bers of the Caughnawaga
church being among the
charter members. The Rev.
James B. Stevenson, at the
time pastor of the Florida
church, presided at the or-
ganization and installed the
first officers. The first build-
ing was erected in 1839, Rev.
Charles Jukes of the Glen
church conducting the dedi-
catory exercises. This build-
ing was burned in 1852, and
for four years the congregation had no place of worship. A solu-
tion of the problem was found in the election of a Board of Trustees,
who set to work and built a structure, which was dedicated in 1856,
50
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Rev. Isaac N. Wyckoff of Albany preaching the sermon. The par-
sonage had been built in 1844, during the pastorate of John M.
Van Buren. In 1882 it was enlarged. At the incorporation in 1838,
the trustees were, Evert Yates, Isaiah DePuy, Adam Bell, William
A. Smith. The first pastor of the church was Rev. David Dyer
(1841-1843), of whom nothing further is known. Kis successors
were, Rev. John M. Van Buren (1842-1851), who next went to Xew
Lots for a twenty years' service, afterwards retiring from the active
ministry, he wrote for the religious press, and died at Nyack, N. Y.,
May 12, 1892. Mr. Van Buren united with the Kinderhook church
in 1831. He aided Simms in the preparation of his Schoharie County
History. He married a sister of Rev. J. C. F. Hoes (cf). (A son,
Peter Van Buren, born at Fultonville, graduated from New York
University in 1864, and from New Brunswick in 1867, but died in
July of the same year). Rev. Ransford Wells (1857-1868), who had
been Canajoharie's first pastor (cf); Rev. Henry L. Teller, a Presby-
terian minister, who supplied for half of the year, 1868; Rev. Francis
M. Kip who came in December, 1869, and remained twelve years,
going to Harlingen, N. J., where he spent twenty years, and died at
Neshanic, N. J. in 1911; Rev. Francis V. Van Yranken, the fifth
pastor of the church who came in 1882 and remained thro 1892, and
is now retired at Albany, N. Y.; Rev. Wm. Schmitz, who was pastor
for nine years, or until 1901, and is now at work in Pennsylvania; Rev.
Isaac Van Hee (1901-1905), who is at present doing social work in
the Ford factories in Detroit, Mich.; Rev. James Edward Grant, who
began work in 1906 and completed a pastorate of six years on
January 1, 1913. Rev. Edward B. Irish came from the seminary to
the church in the Spring of 1913, and was ordained and installed
by the Classis of Montgomery.
CLEN REFORMED CHURCH
The village was first called
"Voorhistown," and, later,
and until 1860, "Voorhees-
ville." Its present name came
from Jacob S. Glen, who
owned most of the land where
the village is now situated.
In 1740 Sir William Johnson
brot eighteen Irish families
to settle at Glen, but they
remained only a short time,
returning to their native
land. The first permanent
s e t tl e r s were from New
Jersey, and were Hollanders
or of Holland descent.
Originally the church stood
in a dense forest. The earliest
consistory or congregational record is dated July 5, 1794, while the
first consistorial book was begun in 1804. In those early days one
reads often the names of Conover, Ostrom, Mount, Van Derveer,
Hoff, Voorhees, Edwards, Vrooman, Vedder, Pruyn, Wood, Enders,
51
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Putman, etc. It is difficult to decide on the date of the organiza-
tion of the Glen church, but inasmuch as a congregation existed as
early as July, 1794, and on February 6, 1795, it was agreed to buy an
acre of land for the church of Daniel Lane, it would seem as if we
might put the organization of the church as early as 1793, tho we
are disposed to think that the New Jersey folks who settled here,
especially being of Holland extraction, did not long wait to organize
their church. On July 15, 1797, the consistory appointed a committee to
meet with another committee appointed by the villagers to arrange for
a new church building, thus evidencing the fact that a congregation
and church had already had a long time existed if it required a new
building. The church committee consisted of Pearly Brown, Timothy
Hutton, and John^B^aJia-rd. After a brief time the committee were
scectin-g. a nev
successful in erectTn-g anew edifice at a cost of Sf^SfljIr which served Z-,^3*
the congregation for seventy years. There is a record that on March
15, 1806, John and Mrs. Ann Ostrom deeded the land on which the
church stood to the organization, which deed is recorded at Fonda,
November 28, 1839. Ezekiel Belding's survey of this church lot,
which was a part of Lot No. 14 of the Glen Patent, and, contained
an acre and a half, is dated, Charleston November 18, 1800, and it
is specified on this survey as the lot that John Ostrom and his wife,
Nancy, have deed to the church. A parsonage was soon added to
the church property, built sometime prior to 1814 when repairs were
made to the same. The church, too, was repaired in 1814. The
first pastor of the Glen church was Rev. Henry V. Wyck-
off (1799-1803) who, later, became interested in the "Wyckofite"
movement, or "True Dutch Reformed Church" as those who seceded
from the Dutch church styled themselves. One of the Notes gives
a brief history of this defection from the denomination. Following
Wyckoff, who went to the newly organized Second Charleston
church, came Rev. Peter Van Buren (1804-1814), who at the same
time was preaching in the First Reformed church of Charleston (cf).
He was ordained by Montgomery Classis and was installed over
Glen, February 19, 1805. He remained more than ten years, going to
Schodack in 1814. He died in 1832. The next to occupy the pulpit
was Rev. J. R. H. Hasbrouck (1814-1826), who was, also, the supply
of the First Charleston congregation, and what was known as the
Canajoharie field which embraced Mapletown and Westerlo (Sprak-
ers). Revs. Hasbrouck and Wyckoff in time went to extremes over
their varying opinions and this resulted in weakening both the
churches at Charleston and the Glen church. From Glen Rev. Has-
brouck went to the Root (Currytown) church (1826-1830). For ten
years the church felt the influence of this enmity between Has-
brouck and Wyckoff. Hasbrouck died in 1854.
Rev. Jonathan F. Morris whose name is frequently met with
in the annals of the Classis of Montgomery was the Classical Mis-
sionary for his day, serving in this capacity the churches of Ovid,
Fayette, Poultneyville, Amsterdam, Stone Arabia, Ephratah, Asquach,
Herkimer, and for two or three years the Glen church (1827-1829).
He died July 11, 1886, aged eighty-five. He was followed in this
work by Rev. Alanson B. Chittenden (1831-1834), who had previously
supplied the Glen church occasionally. Chittenden's last pastorate
was at Sharon. He died in 1853 at Schenectady. During 1836 the
pulpit was supplied by Rev. Adam M. Leckner, of whom we know
5?
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
nothing further. Rev. Charles Jukes followed (1838-1844), going
next to Stone Arabia (cf) and Ephratah. Rev. Jas. P. Fisher, a
Union Seminary man, supplied the pulpit during 1845 and 1846. Mr.
Fisher died in 1865.
It was during Rev. Juke's pastorate that the sheds were built
and extensive repairs made on the old church. The entrance faced
the highway, and in the vestibule were stairs leading to the galleries,
extending round the three sides of the auditorium. The west gallery
was for the older youth of the church. In the eastern gallery were
reservations for the colored folks. In the west gallery behind parted
scarlet curtains were the choir and chorister, the music of which was
led by a bass viol for which the church had paid $18. Box family
pews with doors were on the three sides, and so built that a portion
of the family had their backs to the preacher during the services. A
central section of pews was built higher than the others. The pulpit
was built for one person, reached with a long flight of steps. Original-
ly there was a sounding board over the pulpit, as in the German
Flatts church of today.
Rev. Garret L. Roof was the next settled pastor at Glen. He
had been a practicing attorney at Canajoharie before entering the
ministry. This was Roof's first charge, to which he came in Decem-
ber, 1846, and remained thro October, 1850, when he accepted a call
to the recently organized church at Port Jackson (Amsterdam). He
was followed by the Rev. Adam H. Van Vranken (October, 1851-
1865), who was ordained by the Classis when installed over this
church. After another pastorate of equal length at Centreville, Mich.,
Mr. Van Vranken died in 1880. A brother of the pastor, Rev. Francis
V. Van Vranken next took up the work in January, 1866, and re-
mained thro a part of 1874. He, later, became pastor at Fultonville
(cf), and is at present living at Albany, N. Y. It was during this pas-
torate that a village lot was bot for $500, and a new church, the present
one, was built at a cost of $13,000. The frame of the 1795 church
is being used as a wagon house. Mr. Van Vranken was followed by
Rev. Joseph P. Dysart who was a United Presbyterian minister, and
who was installed at Glen, November 11, 1874, remaining on the
field until June 1, 1879, when he entered the Troy Presbytery. Rev.
Richard L. Schoonmaker succeeded Dysart (1880-188:2). He was the
son of Rev. Jacob Schoonmaker (1777-1852) and grandson of Rev.
Henricus Schoonmaker (1739-1820), two of the most renowned min-
isters of the Dutch church. Richard L. Schoonmaker died while
pastor at Glen in 1882. Rev. Sydney O. Lawsing became pastor in
January, 1883, and staid thro 1888. Mr. Lawsing was born in Am-
sterdam. He has been pastor of the Kiskatom church since 1910.
After Mr. Lawsing came Rev. Joseph B. Thyne, who supplied
the pulpit from December, 1888, thro May, 1894. Mr. Thyne spent
his last years at Broadalbin where he died November 10, 1910. Rev.
Jasper S. Hogan, now of New Brunswick, N. J., was called to the
pastorate in 1894, and was ordained and installed over the church by
the Classis. Here he remained for three years, going next to Pomp-
ton Plains, N. J. and later to the Lafayette church in Jersey City,
N. J. Rev. Hogan published a history of the church in 1905,
one chapter of which gives a succinct account of the "Wyckofite"
movement, which still clings to the Glen field. Rev. Raymond A.
Lansing was ordained by the Classis and installed over the church
53
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
in 1897. He died in 1903. Rev. Henry Smith came to Glen in Sep-
tember, 1901, and resigned in November, 1903. Rev. Louis F. Sauer-
brunn was installed pastor (1904-1905), going to Ghent in October,
1905, then to Schodack Landing in May, 1908, and in December, 1902,
to the Presbyterian church of Chester, N. J. Rev. Edward J. Meeker
was installed in May, 1910, and resigned in November, 1914, to enter
the work at Lodi (cf). During the interval between Rev. Sauerbrunn
and Rev. Meeker, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Chas. A. Conant of
Schenectady (November, 1905-April, 1909). After Mr. Meeker the
pulpit was occasionally supplied by the Classical Missionary, Rev.
W. N. P. Dailey, and Rev. Henry G. Dean (Presb.) of Schenectady.
MAG AM AN REFORMED CHURCH
The Reformed Pro-
testant Dutch Church
of Hagaman's Mills (as
the village was at first
called) was received
into the Montgomery
C 1 a s s i s in October,
1855, though organized
five years previously as
an Independent Pres-
byterian church. A por-
tion of the congrega-
tion of the 1st Presby-
terian church of Am-
sterdam asked the
Presbytery of Sarato-
ga to divide the church,
giving to them the
right to be known as
the Amsterdam Pres-
byterian church. Tho
a majority of the mem-
bers opposed the me-
morial, still the Presbytery yielded to the minority. Two-thirds of
the congregation withdrew and formed the United and Independent
Presbyterian Church of Hagaman's Mills. The village was first
settled by Joseph Hagaman in 1770, who came from Dutchess county,
and was of Holland descent. It is interesting to note that the session
of the original church became the first session of the Independent
Church,- — Aaron Marcellus, Gilbert Conner, Joseph Hageman, Francis
M. Hageman, and Myndert Pauling being the elders, and Jeremiah
W. Hageman and Henry Rowe being the deacons. The act of Pres-
bytery was the first Tuesday of January in 1850, but before the month
was out the other church was formed, David W. Candee being the
moderator, and John W. Thatcher the clerk of the meeting. There
were a hundred members at the start. The church called Rev. Charles
Milne to become their pastor. He was the pastor of the church lie-
fore the division. This church was independent of the Saratoga
Presbytery. In February, 1855, the congregation voted to change
54
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
their name to the Hagaman Reformed Protestant Dutch Church,
and a committee was appointed to go to Classis with such petition
which was favorably acted upon. In its first report to Classis the
church numbered fifty families and sixty-one members.
The first pastor of the Hagaman church was Rev. J. Lansing
Pearse (uncle of Rev. R. A. Pearse of Minaville, cf), who was
ordained, and installed over the church in the latter part of 1856,
by the Classis of Montgomery. After leaving this field in November,
1859, Mr. Pearse went to the Delmar church, which he served for
about forty years, dying there in the pastorate in 1908. For tlv.j
most of this time he was the. stated clerk of the Classis of Albany.
Rev. Elbert Slingerland, who had previously held pastorates at Chit-
tenango and Mohawk (cf) was installed in August. 18G0, and re-
mained thro most of 1862. He was the sixth pastor at Scotia, N. Y.
(1857-1860). Later he was pastor at Mohawk for the second time
for several years before his death which occurred in 1876. The next
pastorate was the longest in the history of the church (1863-1887),
and was ably filled by Rev. Andrew J. Hageman, who was ordained
by the Montgomery Classis in this church. After another
pastorate at St. Thomas, D. W. I. (1887-1890), Mr. Hageman de-
veloped a throat trouble which kept him for a quarter-century out
of the active work of the pastorate, tho he occasionally supplied
pulpits until his death in 1912, at Somerville, N. J.
Rev. Maurice G. Hansen succeeded Hageman at Hagaman in
1887 and remained here thro 1893. This was his last pastorate. He
died in 1904. Mr. Hansen was a voluminous writer for the religious
press, and also translated much from the Dutch, especially of the
old prints and documents of the church at its foundation in America.
Rev. William A. Wurts followed Rev. Hansen in 1893 and staid thro
1901. Mr. Wurts had already been in the Canastota church for eight
years, and also at Lysander (cf) for six years. After leaving
Hagaman he took up work at Sharon, N. Y., in which field he spent
about eight years, next supplying the church at Lawyersville, N. Y.
for a few years. He is now living at Sharon Springs and occasional-
ly supplies vacant churches.
Rev. David C. Weidner was the third pastor at Hagaman to lie
ordained in the church by the Classis of Montgomery. This was in
1902, and Rev. Weidner remained about four years, going next to
Schuylerville, N. Y., from which field he went to the Park church
of Jersey City in 1913. Rev. George G. Seibert came to Hagaman
from the Helderbergh church at Guilderland Centre in 1906, and
resigned in 1911 to take up the important work at the Owasco field.
Mr. Seibert was followed in the pastorate by the present pastor, Rev.
Charles V. W. Bedford, who had already had charges in the Classis
at Johnstown, Currytown and Sprakers. During Mr. Seibert's pas-
torate the church was extensively repaired, and during the present
pastorate a new chapel has been erected, the gift of one of the mem-
bers of the church, Mrs. Caroline Yates.
55
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
HERKIMER REFORMED CHURCH
■
Ill ,&*fih(
Ik - fe%
r ' ., **
J v. _ _ * -.-|L
"*"*"*,*^«SS?
The history of the
Herkimer church and
that of Fort Herkimer
("German Flatts") is
to be read together,
at least from about
the coming of Abram
Rosencrantz to the
field in 1752 down to
1841, the time of the
cessation of the dual
pastorate. Some
thirty years ago Rev.
Henry M. Cox, then
pastor of the Herki-
mer church wrote
a n interesting his-
tory of Herkimer
and of the Palatine
migration to this
country, of which .we
speak in detail in
a separate chapter herein. The number, however, who came
with Rev. Joshua Kochertal in 1708 numbered fifty-one — not forty,
as Cox writes. In our story of Fort Herkimer we show, also, that
the date 1767, found roughly cut in a stone on the west side is not,
necessarily, the date of the building of the church, as Cox says,
since record books still extant show that the subscriptions were be-
gun as early as 1740, and the building was started as early as this,
if not earlier, and while a second appeal was made in 1746 for more
funds, the entire sum sufficient was raised and the church was used
for services (as well as a means of refuge by the settlers) as early
as 1751. Mr. Cox says that there is no record of any sort to show
the religious condition of the community (Herkimer, originally called
"Stone Ridge"), until 1757. He refers to a will made by Nicholas
Feller in 1734 in which a bequest is made of the testator's seat in his
church, — but whether this church was in what is now Herkimer or
was at Fort Herkimer, Mr. Cox cannot say, tho he is inclined to
think it was in the church of which he was the pastor at Herkimer.
However, the name of the legatee, Han Nicholas Crisman, is among
the pew holders and members of the German Flatts congregation.
We have shown in our Fort Herkimer history that Rev. George M.
Weiss was the first known pastor at German Flatts, being there
as early as 1736. Mr. Cox makes no mention of Weiss but refers
to a Lutheran minister as the first pastor at Herkimer. Weiss came
to America about 1720, and then returned to the Palatinate on the
Rhine, to come back for permanent residence here in 1727. But he
was a "Minister of the Reformed Palatinate Church" (as he signed
himself) and not a Lutheran. Undoubtedly Weiss often supplied
the Herkimer congregation, if, indeed, there was any congregation
during the decade (1736-1746) that he was settled at German Flatts.
56
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
It is not known when the original church was built at Herkimer,
which was burned in 1757 by the French, but it is represented on an
old sketch as being octagonal in form with the traditional rooster
as a weather vane and throughout of typical Dutch architecture. It
is also not known when the church was rebuilt or the services re-
sumed, but on the return of Johan Jost Petri, who had been carried
a captive into Canada, at the time of the French-Indian raid in 1757,
he took steps to re-deed the land to the church for a new building.
This was in 1770, but it is not at all likely that the church was rebuilt
until some years after this, since the Indian depredations continued
for a decade or more.
To turn now to the ministry of the Flerkimer church, we again
refer to the pastorate of George Michael Weiss at German Flatts
(1736-1746, cf), with the natural supposition that he also supplied any
congregation at Herkimer, and then, to the coming of Abram Rosen-
crantz' brother to the field, which date (1750) we have from the
correspondence of Rev. Wernig of Stone Arabia with the Coetus of the
Dutch church and with the Classis of Holland. Rev. Abram Rosencrantz'
ministry at German Flatts began immediately upon the death of his
brother (1752). A receipt for salary is shown under Fort Herkimer, bear-
ing date of April 10, 1761, signed by Rosencrantz. Both men were buried
under the pulpit of the German Flatts church. Of Rosencrantz we
have spoken in the Fort Herkimer church record and also in that of
Stone Arabia, where he also preached for some years. Rosencrantz
took up a permanent residence at German Flatts in 1765 and at the
same time supplied the "Sand Hill" (Canajoharie) church. The
work at Herkimer, owing to the unsettled conditions of the country,
was very small, but whatever attention was needed was given by
Rosencrantz to it. He lived until 1796, but in the kistjew vears of
his ministry he was aided in his pulpit work by Rev. FifiriMKomofeff*
of Oneida* who, doubtless, also preached during these yea£s to the
congregaton at Herkimer. The statistical records of the church dur-
ing these years were well kept by Rosencrantz, as well as the financial
and consistorial minute books. In the old register are to be seen
the names of many who were conspicuous in the work of the church
in those- days as well of note in the civic and military service of the
state.
Rev. "D. Christian Andreas Pick, V. D. M." (so he signed his
name) succeeded Rosencrantz in the ministry both at Herkimer and
German Flatts, between which churches a formal contract was now
entered into for a dual pastorate, which prevailed until 1841, or over
a period of forty years. Pick was to preach alternately in these two
fields. His ministry, however, was brief (1798-1801). We have spok-
en in detail of his work under Stone Arabia (cf). Rev. John P.
Spinner came to the church at Herkimer (and also of German Flatts)
in 1801 and remained for forty-four years. Excepting the brief stay
of Pick these two fields had had but two pastors in about a century,
a most remarkable record. The call was moderated by Rev. Isaac
Labagh, at the time preaching at Stone Arabia and Canajoharie. At
the beginning of Spinner's ministry (1804), a large church was built
on the original site — probably the first substantial church building
since the burning of the other in 1757. Another church had been
built to take the place of the one destroyed in 1757, since the call to
57
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Pick refers to both the German Flatts and Herkimer church building,
while Rev. Taylor's Journal of 1802 speaks of the "new meeting house
which lacked all improvements." In these days Herkimer was a
German settlement, and the preaching was in German, though the
pastor kept his records in Latin, and it is said he could speak five
languages fluently, and knew quite a bit about three more. The
church built in 1804 was burned in 1834, and in 1835 was replaced by
the present brick edifice which has now been used as a house of
worship continuously for four score years. In 1813 Spinner reported
three hundred and sixty-four members, about fifty more than at
German Flatts.
With the coming into the village of many English speaking
families a desire for English service was urged. This caused a
division in the church with the result that a Second Herkimer church
was organized in 1824 (cf under extinct churches) and ran along for
some twelve years, when it was merged into the original church.
Neither church prospered during these years, but with the building
of the new structure, Rev. Spinner continued to preach in the German
and Rev. James Murphey, who at the time was pastor at Manheim,
began his work in the Herkimer church, preaching in the English
language. In 1841 Spinner resigned from the Herkimer church, giving
the rest of his ministry to the church at German Flatts. Rev. James
Murphey began his work, as we have said, at Herkimer in 1836, fol-
lowing an eight year pastorate at Scotia, N. Y. On Spinner's resig-
nation he became the pastor, and continued so until 1842, at the time
supplying the churches at Frankfort and Mohawk, which he or-
ganized. In 1842 he resigned the field and went to Coeymans, but
was recalled to the Herkimer church for a seven year pastorate (1843-
1849). It was during this last pastorate that a revival occurred in
the church which resulted in the addition of great numbers to the
church. Mr. Murpli^ on resigning from this pastorate in 1849, sup-
plied the churches at Frankfort and Columbia. He died in 1857.
Rev. Cornelius S. Mead was the next pastor coming from the
1st Rotterdam church and spending a decade in the Herkimer church
(18^0-1859). He had one other pastorate at Chatham, N. Y. During
the last years of his life he supplied the churches of Ghent, Stuyvesant
Falls, New Concord, etc. He died June 26, 1879, at Chatham, N. Y.,
and was there buried. Rev. Hugh B. Gardiner next came to the
church in 1860 from Coeyman's and New Baltimore, and was here
for four or five years (1860-1864). He re-entered the Presbyterian
ministry and died July 23, 1874, at Brooklyn. He was succeeded in the
latter part of 1864, by Rev. Jeremiah Petrie, a native of Herkimer,
and a Presbyterian pastor, who supplied the pulpit for several years
(1864-1868), preaching also at Ilion, which church was organized at
this time and he is the only known pastor. He died in 1910 in his
85th year. He compiled an excellent record of the Petrie family.
The next pastor of the church was Rev. Ganesvoort Consaul, who
tho licensed by the Schenectady Classis in 1861, did not receive or-
dination from the Montgomery Classis until June 23, 1868, after he
had supplied Fort Plain several years, and while preaching at Mo-
hawk. His ministry at Herkimer began in 1869 and ran thro 1877.
While traveling abroad, where for a year he supplied the American
church at Geneva, he was allowed to demit the ministry, April 15, 1879.
It was during his ministry that the interior of the church received its
58
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
handsome decoration of black walnut, and the imported English
windows were put in. For a number of years Mr. Consaul was en-
gaged in mercantile business in Watertown, N. Y. On August 30,
1898, he was accidentally and fatally shot while on a hunting ex-
pedition. Following Consaul the Rev. Ralph W. Brokaw was
called to the pastorate and was ordained by the Classis of Mont-
gomery in 1877, and remained with the church for five years,
going in 188:2 to the Springfield (Mass.) Congregational church,
for a pastorate of similar length. In 1898 he became the
pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Utica where he
still abides in his strength. Rev. Henry M. Cox succeeded
Brokaw in 1882 and resigned in 1890. Leaving Herkimer he spent
twenty years in two pastorates in New York City, and since 1911 has
been in the Harrington Park, N. J. church. Rev. John G. Gebhard
next came to the church and served it for nine years (1891-1900).
During this pastorate a commodious stone chapel was built in 1894.
On leaving Herkimer Mr. Gebhard became the Secretary of the
Board of Education of the Reformed Church which he has most
acceptably filled ever since. Three short pastorates next ensued.
Rev. Chalmers P. Dyke (1900-1903), who went from Herkimer to
the Hamilton Grange church of New York City for a four year
pastorate, since which time he has been in the Lowell (Mass.) Congre-
gational church. Following in the work at Herkimer Rev. Jacob Dyke
(brother of his predecessor), was pastor for thirteen months (De-
cember, 1903-1905), having come to the field after a few years in
the Episcopal church of Iowa and South Dakota, tho he came into
the Classis from the Congregational church. On leaving Herki-
mer he supplied the Mayfield Presbyterian church for a couple of
years, and, later, was in the pulpit of the New Salem Reformed
church, tho a member of the Presbyterian body. At present he is
serving the East Moriches (L. I.) Presbyterian field. Rev. Charles F.
Taylor who had been a Presbyterian missionary in New Mexico, and
for a couple years previous to coming to this field was engaged in
special evangelistic work, was the pastor during 1905 and 1906, go-
ing next, after a year's interim, to his present pastorate in the Westv
port (Ct.) Congregational church, and since 1913 has been pastor of
the Greenwich, Ct. Congregational church.
Rev. B. E. Fake, who has frequently supplied churches in our
Classis, a Lutheran minister, supplied the Herkimer pulpit from
June, 1907, to September, 1908. The present pastor, Rev. J. Howard
Brinckerhoff, after supplying the pulpit for two months, was ordained
by the Classis and installed over the church in February, 1909. Dur-
ing this pastorate most extensive interior improvements have been
made, a new organ secured, and the church has been greatly strength-
ened along all its lines of work.
INTERLAKEN REFORMED CHURCH
This church was formerly known as the "Farmer Village Re-
formed Dutch Church" and was incorporated in 1830. On October
28, 1830, pursuant to a resolution passed by the Consistory of the
Lodi Reformed church (cf), a meeting of the citizens of the place
was held and the following chosen as the first consistory of the
59
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
church: Peter Rappleye, John Kelly and Joseph Smith, elders, and
Jacob Voorhees and Peter Ditmars, deacons. These were installed by
Rev. Asa Bennett, pastor of the Lodi church, on November :?|th,
1830. Bennett's call to the Lodi church provided that he should
spend one-fourth of his time at Farmer Village. For several months
after the organization these men were the only members of the new
church. The church building was dedicated September 28, 1831, the
Rev. J. F. Schermerhorn preaching the sermon. On June 8, 1831,
a call was extended to Oscar H. Gregory of New Brunswick Seminary,
which was accepted, and on August 11 following, he was ordained
and installed pastor of the church. At the time there were thirty-
one members, but within two weeks thereafter twenty-five united
with the church. The first Sunday school was organized in 1832.
Isaac Covert was chosen superintendent, served one year, and was
succeeded by James C. Knight, who held the position thirty-nine
years. Also during this pastorate the first parsonage was built on
the spot where the present one now stands, on land given by Peter
Rappleye, who had" also given the land for the church building. This
pastorate closed, with great regret among the people, after a period
of six j^ears and eight months. Later Dr. Gregory was pastor of the
North church at Watervliet (1848-1870). He was President of General
Synod in 1860. Union College gave him the degree of D. D. in 1853.
He died December "11, 1885, at Watervliet.
Rev. Benjamin Bassler was the next pastor, commencing work
September 1, 1838, and continuing until his death twenty-seven years
later (1866). Mr. Bassler came to the church from Sharon and
60
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Cobleskill. He was a Swiss by birth. He began his ministry
under the most favorable circumstances; the church was prosper-
ous, out of debt, the congregation increased in strength and num-
bers. The parsonage was repaired at a expense of several hundred
dollars in 1842. In 1850 a session house was built at a cost of
$604. In the year 1857 the church building was extensively repaired
at a cost of $3,000; an addition of nineteen feet was made. The
galleries running around three sides of the auditorium were taken
down, and the pulpit removed from the west to the east end of the
room. On September 6, 1857, the church was rededicated, the Rev.
O. H. Gregory preaching. The parsonage was again repaired in
1860, at a cost of $450, and a new organ costing $1,000 was purchased
in 1861. More than two hundred and fifty were received into the
church during Mr. Bassler's ministry. Rev. Wm. W. Brush succeeded
Bassler, coming to the church from the New Brunswick Seminary
in 1866, being ordained and installed in June of that year. Twenty-
three were added to the church during his pastorate. Leaving in April,
1868, he went next to Marbletown (Ulster Co.), and, later, to Geneva.
He died in 1878. Rev. Albert A. Zabriskie followed, coming also from
New Brunswick, and was ordained by the Geneva Classis and in-
stalled over the church July 29, 1868, resigning November 1, 1869.
Twenty-six were added to the church in this pastorate. After ten
pastorates in New York and New Jersey, Mr. Zabriskie became pastor
of the Bloomington, N. Y. church, his present field.
The Rev. J. C. Forsythe succeeded Rev. Mr. Zabriskie, com-
mencing his labors in May, 1870. The parsonage was again repaired
at a cost of about $450, and thirty were added to the church during
the five years of his ministry here. Leaving Interlaken he entered
the Presbyterian church. He died in 1898. In November, 1875, Rev.
Philip Furbeck was called and his pastorate continued until October,
1881. Fifty were added to the membership of the church under his
ministry. In 1877 the interior of the church was extensively repaired
at a cost of about $2,500. Mr. Furbeck had a four year pastorate at
Fonda (cf). He went next to Little Falls, N. J. for a six year pas-
torate, then returned to the Montgomery Classis and was at St.
Johnsville for five years (1888-1892). He died after a pastorate at
Taghkanick, July 23, 1899. After Mr. Furbeck, Rev. Wm. H. Nas-
holds was called, and installed March 1, 1882. During his service the
old parsonage was sold and removed and the present one built on the
old site. The total cost for building the new parsonage and repair-
ing the barn was $2,800. Thirty-seven were admitted to the church
during his pastorate, which terminated October 1st, 1887. Mr. Nas-
holds had come to Interlaken from Geneva (cf). Since 1905 he has
been in the Second Church of Rotterdam. In May, 1888, the Rev.
F. W. Palmer accepted a call from the church and was installed July
19th, continuing to serve until February 15, 1893. During this period
the church grew rapidly in membership and in power, and enjoyed
great prosperity. One hundred and forty members were admitted
into the church, and the membership numbered about two hundred
and sixty. The old session house was taken down and an addition
was built on to the church, comprising parlors, dining hall, and
kitchen at a cost of $1,200, in 1889. At the April communion in 1890,
thirty-eight were received. Mr. Palmer also organized the Christian
Endeavor, King's Daughters and Young Ladies' Missionary Society.
61
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Mr. Palmer entered the Presbyterian ministry and has served for
many years in Auburn as pastor of the Central Presbyterian church.
The present pastor, Rev. E. B. Van Arsdale, was ordained and
installed in this his first pastorate on the 8th day of August, 1893.
During these years about one hundred and eighty-five have been re-
ceived into the church. In the Fall of 1904 the church building was
thoroughly renovated at an expense of $3,000. The church was re-
dedicated January 12, 1905, the sermon being given by Rev. F. W.
Palmer of Auburn, a former pastor. This church, now in its eighty-
fifth year, has had a record of steady growth in numbers, of whole-
some, spiritual development, of prosperous, financial administration,
is thoroughly organized and active in all departments of its life, and
is today a leading influence in community affairs, and a loyal sup-
porter of the interests of the denomination and the kingdom.
JOHNSTOWN REFORMED CHURCH
When Sir Wm. Johnson settled here in 1762 he called the place
after his son, Johns-town. The old jail and Johnson Hall built at
this time are well preserved buildings to this date. Under the extinct
churches it will be noted that many efforts were made in other days
to establish a Reformed Dutch church at Johnstown. Churches were
organized at Kingsborough, Mayfield, Fondas Bush and other near
by places. Here at Johnstown, tho preaching services were regularly
conducted by the pastors at Fonda and Amsterdam (Ten Eyck and
Van Home), and an organization was incorporated under the title of the
"Kingsborough Reformed Church." still the church of longest duration
was the "True Reformed" or "Wyckofite" church which was begun in
1821 and ended in 1855. A church building, erected in 1838, is still
standing and occasionally used by the Glen preacher. The present Re-
62
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
formed church of Johnstown was organized in 1894. Rev. J. H. Enders,
Synod Missionary and Rev. Wm. Schmitz of Fultonville conducted the
initial services in the Fire Engine House near the Fair grounds in 1893.
During the Summer of 1894 Rev. H. C. Willoughby gathered the
nucleus of a church. On October 10, 1894,' the organization was ef-
fected with seventeen members. Ground was secured and a Christian
Endeavor church (No. 3) was erected. The dedication took place
February 6, 1895. The first consistory was, Peter Fox, Wm. C. Van
Alstyne, elders, and T. W. Van Slyke and Wm. Topp, deacons. The
first pastor was Rev. John Van Burk who came to it from the dual
pastorate of Clarksville and New Salem. After eight years Mr. Van
Burk resigned to accept the pastorate of the Athens church, where
he remained upwards of five years, going in 1910 to the Congregation-
al church of Monterey, Mass. He is now supplying the Congrega-
tional church of Swanton, Vt. Succeeding Mr. Van Burk was Rev.
Chas. V. W. Bedford who was ordained by the Montgomery Classis
and came to the field in 1902, and remained thro 1909, going next
to a three years stated supply of the Currytown-Sprakers field, and
in 1912 taking up work at Hagaman where he is at present pastor.
During this pastorate, in 1904, the Hillside Park chapel was bot and
added to the rear of the church.. Following Mr. Bedford came Rev.
Peter S. Beekman, who had already been a member of the Classis
(Currytown, 1893-1901). Mr. Beekman began his work at Johns-
town in 1909 and is the present pastor. In 1909 the present par-
sonage was built. In 1915 eighty-five members were received.
The men of the consistory are V. J. Lasher, Nicholas Glenar,
Frank Billington, and W. J. Sprakers, elders, and Henry Edwards,
George Person, Fred J. Vosburgh and George Pedrick, deacons. In
connection with the Johnstown work a Union work is kept up at
Sammonsville. Formerly, especially in Rev. Boyd's day, the Fonda
church looked after this work. This movement is a half century old
and the services are held in the public school building. During a
recent evangelistic campaign in Johnstown, eighty-five members were
added to the roll.
LODI REFORMED CHURCH
The first church in Lodi (Seneca county) was Presbyterian, or-
ganized in 1800 by the Rev. John Lindsay who remained with the
church until 1805. The town of Lodi was formed in 1826. While the
church was called the "First Presbyterian Church of Ovid," it is not
to be confounded with the later organization in Ovid village in 1803,
which was organized by Rev. Jedediah Chapman. The 1800 organiza-
tion, changed in denominational name, and, later, in location, is to-
day the "Reformed Church of Lodi." During Lindsay's pastorate
the first building was erected, but after his going there was no other
Presbyterian minister, the church becoming Dutch Reformed in 180$:
In the interim services were, however, occasionally held, among the
preachers being Revs. John Stuart, Lewis Williams, M. Misner (Bapt.)
and Rev. Wm. Clark. These men also preached in the churches of
Ovid village, Lodi, and Hector. The 1803 organization erected a
primitive log church in 1804 on ground donated by Judge Silas
Halsey who had come into the country from Long Island in 1792.
63
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
It stood with its gable end toward the road, the entrance from the
south, and the pulpit in the north. The building was never com-
pleted, yet it served for twenty-five years. It was organized in Hal-
sey's barn which served as the house of worship until the hewn-log
church was built. The ministers mentioned in connection with the
1800 organization (which worshipped for several years in the court
house) also served this church, which was made up largely of per-
sons at variance with the other church. From 1804 to 1806 Rev.
John Stuart supplied the pulpit, and in 1828 when the Reformed Dutch
church of Lodi village was erected.
In the Presbyterian record book (1800 church) under date of
February 27, 1809 is a record of the election of elders and deacons in
the new "Protestant Reformed Low Dutch Church of Ovid." Stephen
Voorhees, Tunis Covert, John Groenendike and Joshua Covert were
made elders, and James Vanliew, Nicholas Huff, Daniel Bassett, and
Peter Rappleye were made deacons. This consistory was installed
by Rev. Abraham Brokaw (cf Glen), who was installed pastor of the
church in 1809 by Rev. Conrad Ten Eyck of Mayfield (Montgomery
county). Originally Lodi belonged to Montgomery, then to Cayuga,
then to Geneva, and came back into the fold of the Montgomery
Classis a century after its organization. Under Brokaw's ministry the
church grew until in 1822 it numbered some two hundred members.
This was the year that the "Wyckofite" or "True Reformed Church"
(cf) was organized and Brokaw was one of the malcontents who
joined the secession movement. As a result, locally, a majority of
the consistory, but a minority of the membership, went with their
minister (already suspended by the Classis) and organized another
church which he served until 1838 when he was succeeded by Rev.
Archibald McNeil who continued in the field until 1865, after which
time there was occasional preaching until 1873 when it ceased al-
together and the building erected by the secessionists was taken down
in 1876. Rev. Brokaw died July 17, 1846, and is buried in the cemetery
attached to the old church in which he ministered. He was eighty-
six years old. On his grave stone is the data — "Born in Somersett
county, N. J., April 23, 1760. Ordained in the Reformed Dutch church
in 1798. Seceeded in 1822."
64
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
After the secession the new consistory elected were, John Kelly,
John I. Sebring, Falkord Sebring, and Ruloph Voorhees, elders, and
Cornelius Wyckofl, Stephen C. McCoy, Joseph W. Smith, and Joseph
Stull, deacons. These were installed by Rev. Jacob R. H. Hasbrouck
(cf Mapletown). The litigation caused by this division was at last
settled in favor of the Reformed Dutch church but it cost the total
value of the property to defend the title. During these days of
trouble the congregation was frequently preached to by missionaries
of the Reformed church, among them being, Rev. Sam. Van Vechten,
John Van Derveer, Ferdinand Van Derveer, Johathan F. Morris, and
John F. Schermerhorn. Having lost their church property, they met
in various places, at times in the homes, again in wood sheds or
barns. But amid all this distress the people of the Dutch church were
loyal and kept to the faith. The next pastor was Rev. Abraham
Messier (1825-1828) during whose ministry a new church was erected.
In December, 1824, the following committee was appointed to super-
intend the building of a new church: John P. Nevius, J. H. Halsey,
Tunis Covert, Henry Montgomery, and John De Motts. The church
was erected at Lodi village (De Mott's Corners). A subscription
paper extant is nine feet long and holds the names of one hundred
and eighty-one subscribers who gave $3,520.
Rev. Messier was installed pastor of the church in June, 1825,
the service being conducted by Rev. David R. De Fraest of Cato (cf).
The church was dedicated November 9, 1826. On July 24, 1828, Mr.
Messier resigned to enter a missionary work in New York City. Two
pastorates followed, in Pompton Plains and at the 1st Raritan (N. J.)
in which latter he died, at the close of a half century pastorate on
June 12, 1882. Messier was a prolific writer, a trustee of Rutgers,
and President General Synod in 1847. The next pastor at Lodi was
Rev. Asa Bennett (1828-1838). Later he was pastor at Constantine,
Mich. (1843-1845), and died in 1858. It was while Bennett was pastor
that the Farmerville church was organized (1830), the child of the
Lodi church. A house was also bought at this time for the minister
to dwell in, and was so used until the coming of Rev. Van Neste
when another parsonage was obtained. During Bennett's ministry
two hundred and sixteen members were received.
Rev. John A. Liddell succeeded Bennett (1838-1848), during
whose ministry a hundred and twenty-one new members were re-
ceived. Mr. Liddell was a Glasgow graduate, an attractive and able
preacher. He served the church at Cicero for a year after leaving
this field, and died in 1850. After a year Rev. Garret J. Garretson was
installed in September, 1649. Rev. Gustav Abeel, a Rutgers trustee
for forty years, then in the Geneva church, preached the sermon, as
he did also for Mr. Liddell eleven years previously. Mr. Garretson
remained three years (1849-1852), and died within a couple of months
after the relationship was dissolved. After an interim of a year,
Rev. Geo. J. Van Neste was installed in November, 1854. Van Neste
was connected with the celebrated family of that name in the Dutch
Reformed church. He remained until November, 1865. During this
pastorate the church numbered two hundred twenty-three members,
its largest roll. One hundred and thirty-four were received while
he was pastor. After several pastorates he took up the work at St.
Johnsville (cf), and later was pastor at Flatbush, and Pottersville,
N. J. at the latter place dying in 1898. Rev. John Addison Van Doren
65
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
was next called, and accepted (New Years, 1866), but a serious ill-
ness prevented his being installed. He remained here but six months.
In 1866 he became the first pastor of the Annandale, N. J. church, and
remained in that field until 1873, when he retired from the active
pastorate; Rev. Isaac H. Collier from Nassau, N. Y. was in-
stalled by Geneva Classis January 29, 1867, and remained until Sep-
tember 25, 1869. Forty-five were added during this ministry. Leaving
Lodi Mr. Collier had pastorates at Saratoga and Montville, N. J.
when he entered the Presbyterian ministry; and while supplying the
Oakfield, N. Y. church died, February 19, 1881. For more than a
year following the close of the Collier pastorate the pulpit was sup-
plied by Rev. Alexander McMann, who had been in the Ithaca Dutch
church for seven years (1831-1837), and had gone into the Presby-
terian body in 1862. He died in 1893. The next settled pastor was
Rev. H. P. McAdam, who delivered an interesting address at
the Centennial. Mr. McAdam began his work about New Year's,
1871. In the Autumn of 1871 repairs upon the church were
begun under the committee, S. S. Gulick, Peter Lott, P. V. W. Bodine,
Voorhees Minor, and Covert Osgood. The expense incurred was
$6,500. Six months later, July 14, 1872, the church was burned. Two
hundred of the members and friends of the congregation at once sub-
scribed toward a new church and the congregation began to build
under the direction of the former committee of repairs, and $20,000
was spent, the new church being dedicated July 15, 1873, Rev. Wm.
W. Brush of Geneva preaching the sermon. Rev. McAdam remained
thro a part of 1884 when he went to the Wolcott Presbyterian church
of Utica, later pastor of the Worthington (O.) Presbyterian church,
and has been living retired at Saugerties since 1905. The pres-
ent parsonage was built in this pastorate. His successor at
Lodi was Rev. Chester P. Murray (1884-1886), a Presbyterian min-
ister who reentered the work of that church and is now living in
Cleveland, O.
Rev. William H. Ballagh succeeded Murray, remaining thro 1888.
Mr. Ballagh died at Palmyra, N. Y. in 1892. The next pastor was
Rev. Charles F. Porter (1888-1904), an Auburn graduate who came
from the Alden Presbyterian church to a sixteen year pastorate at
Lodi. For several years now Mr. Porter has been connected with
the New York State Library at Albany. Rev. Frederick Perkins of
Bainbridge (Ga.) took up the work in 1905 and remained thro 1909,
going next to St. Johnsville where he is now pastor. Succeeding
him was Rev. Seth Cook who was installed in 1909 and dismissed
in the Fall of 1914, going to the Dryden, N. Y. Presbyterian church.
Rev. E. J. Meeker, who had served the churches of Mohawk and Glen,
next took up the work in December, 1914, and is the present pastor. The
Reformed church of Lodi has sent many men into the ministry, evi-
dencing the sort of work that has been accomplished there thro the
years. Among these have been Revs. Elbert Nevius, Arad Sebring,
John Minor, James Wyckoff, William Cornell, Minor Swick, G.
DeWitt Bodine, John V. N. Schenck, Elbert Sebring, Charles Wilson,
and John Van Neste. A son of Rev. Isaac Collier, William M., after
the Spanish-American war became the American Ambassador to
Spain.
66
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
MANHEIM REFORMED CHURCH
Manheim is very nearly the
central point of New York
state and is five miles east of
Little Falls. It has been an
immemorial tradition in the
community that the town was
so called by Dr. Wm. Petry
out of his personal associa-
tions in a town of the same
name in Baden, Germany.
Manheim was set off as a town
from Palatine on March 3,
1797, and on April 7, 1817, it
was annexed to Herkimer
county. Originally Sir Wm.
Johnson owned all the land
hereabout, the same having been granted to him a few years before
his death by King George, some forty thousand acres in all, called the
Royal Grant. The oldest patent of land in the town was given to Rev.
Petrus Van Driesen who for a quarter-century was in the old First
Dutch church of Albany. This grant was made in 1737 and contained
twenty-five hundred acres. With him was joined Rev. John Jacob
Ehle, and both of these men conducted a mission among the Indians,
Ehle keeping at the work at what is now called Fort Ehle (still stand-
ing), for upwards of half a century, or until his death, about 1780.
Originally the town of Manheim was in what was known as the Stone
Arabia district, created in 1772, but in the following year the same
was changed to Palatine district. In March, 1778, the Indians and
Tories invaded the settlement and caused general devastation, some
scalps were taken besides quite a number of prisoners. Among the
families who suffered were those of Cobus Mabee, Conrad, Joseph,
Abram and Jacob Klock, Mabus Forbush, Robhold Ough, Adam and
Rudolph Furrie, Henry Shafer, John and Michael Keyser, Calvin
Barnes. Between 1786 and 1796 the supervisors of the town were:
John Frey, Christian Nellis, Jacob Eaker, Frederick Getman, Samuel
Gray, and Jacob Snell. Judging from the votes cast for Governor
in 1786 there were a thousand population in the town then, while in
1796 there were over six hundred electors, indicating a population
of thirty-five hundred.
With the settlement of the town of Manheim in 1770 the people
who were mostly German, soon formed the first church organization,
and as they had to depend on the Stone Arabia Dutch Reformed
church for preaching, naturally the organization followed that de-
nomination. Among the influential men of that day were Jacob Mar-
kell (later a congressman), Michael Myers, Andrew Finck, Dr. Wm.
Petry, John M. Petry, and others. Most of the inhabitants were
unprogressive and uneducated. They did not keep up either their
German language or adopt the English, but used what was called
a Mohawk Dutch. But with the coming of the New England settlers,
who were better educated and more enterprising, and with the English
preaching and English teaching in the schools, the community as-
sumed a higher condition in morals and education. Sometime before
i;:
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
the Revolution there were four of the Snell brothers, Jacob, Joseph,
Peter, and Suffrenus, who gave seven acres of land for the church
and twelve acres for the school. So many Snells lived in the vicinity
that the place was popularly known, and is in a measure to this day,
as "Snell's Bush." The first church built was burned sometime during
the Revolution. The second church, probably erected soon after the
war, served the congregation until 1850, when it was taken down,
part of its timber used in the construction of the new edifice. On
January 8, 1850, at a meeting of the congregation it was voted to
build a new "St. Paul's Reformed Protestant Dutch church" to be
sixty by forty feet, and the following committee was appointed to
build it: John Markel, Peter P. Snell, and Jacob Yoran. The con-
sistory at this time consisted of elders, Peter A. Timmerman and
Jacob Yoran; deacons, John Garlock and Levi Timerman. The "slips"
(pews) were sold on February 3, 1851, for $4,464, and among the
purchasers were eighteen Snells and ten Timermans. Peter P. Snell's
family was so large that he bought two pews for $221, while Adam
A. Feeter paid $141 for a single pew, and Jehoram Snell $136 for a
pew.
All but half an acre of the nineteen acres given by the Snells
was finally deeded to the church, an act of the legislature being
necessary to consummate the deal and establish the title. In 1801
the Rev. Caleb Alexander who was travelling thro the country wrote,
"between Fairfield and Little Falls is a Dutch settlement called Man-
heim — rich farms, a meeting house and a minister. The church was
at first called the Reformed Calvanist church, and was incorporated
in 1792. Originally it was a German Reformed church, and is called
"St. Paul's" in the incorporation article. It united with the Mont-
gomery Classis September 27, 1822. Consistory minutes which are
extant begin in 1850, all previous ones seeming to be lost. The mem-
bership roll begins in 1860 and the marriage register in 1872. An
1839 subscription list for a coffin cloth contains the names of Jacob
I., Joshua, Adam P., Simeon, Peter P., Peter, Frederick F., and
George P. Snell, Adam H., David, Levy and Samuel Timermanf
Benjamin and Nicholas Petrie, John and Jacob Yoran, John and
Hiram Gerlock, Adam Feeter, John Markell, Jonas Elwood, Joseph
Casler, Henry Dockey, John Moyer, Henry Young, Daniel Getman,
Isaac Smith, and Uriel Van Valkenburg. The first pastor at Manheim
was the Rev. John H. Dysslin of St. Johnsville Reformed church (cf),
who began preaching here in 1770 and supplied the pulpit for nearly
a quarter of a centry. Dysslin was a scion of Swiss nobility, coming
to America to seek his fortune, shipwrecked on the high seas, and
vowing to God while tossed about on the wreckage that if He would
spare his life it should be devoted to God's service. He was rescued^
brot to New York, returned to Switzerland for education, then re-
turned and spent the rest of his life in the Reformed ministry (cf
St. Johnsville).
In 1820 Rev. Isaac Ferris (Chancellor of New York University^
1852-1873, dec.) was appointed by the Board of Domestic Missions to
labor in the Classis of Montgomery. He spent considerable time at
Danube, Manheim, Oppenheim and Herkimer. He reports that Man-
heim had no ecclesiastical connection at the time with the Classis.
The Fonda records give the names of the men elected July 3, 1816,
for consistorymen, elders, Adam H. Timmerman, Lawrence Timmer-
68
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
man, and John Rasbach, and deacons, Suffrenus Snell, Peter P. Snell,
and Adam Kilts. These were ordained by Rev. Daniel De Voe, who was
called to this church and Oppenheim in 1816. He came from Middle-
burgh. Following him came Rev. Stephen Z. Goetschius who after
a couple of years work seceded from the denomination and joined
the "Wyckofites," and was suspended by the Montgomery Classis.
Later (1828) he reentered the church and served Canastota as a sup-
ply for two years (1836-1837) and then went west. Following Goet-
schius in the pastorate was Rev. Isaac S. Ketchum (1822-1830), who
was ordained here, and spent about the same time in the Stone Arabia
pastorate (cf). Among the families in the church at the time shown
by an old list were those of Ayres, Altenburgh, Baum, Beardsley,
Bloodough, Cook, Couch, Dockstader, Feeter, Fink, Garlock, Get-
man, House, Hart, Ingham, Johnson, Klock, Kilts, Loucks, Lipe,
Markel, Nestle, Owens, Powell, Petree, Pettibone, Richtmyre, Ras-
bach, Snell, Shults, Shaver, Scott, Timmerman, Turney, Tacka,
Vedder, Van Allen, Van Valkenburgh, Woolaver, Walrath, and Yoran.
Rev. John Manley (1831-1833) was the next pastor; he died in
1871. Rev. Jas. Murphy who was pastor at St. Johnsville (cf) supplied
from 1834 thro 1836. Rev. Paul Weidman came to Manheim from a
seventeen year pastorate at Schoharie, and remained here from 1837
almost up to the time of his death in 1852. This is what Corwin's
Manual of the Reformed church says, but Rev. John DuBois began
his work in the ministry here in 1843, remaining three years, and go-
ing next to Cicero (cf). And after this Rev. Abraham H. Myers
came in 1848 and staid here thro February, 1852. He began his work
in the Montgomery Classis at St. Johnsville (cf). After this the Rev.
Paul Weidman returned for an eight year pastorate (1852-1860), re-
linquishing the active ministry of forty years in October, 1860. Rev.
Rufus M. Stanbrough on his graduation from New Brunswick, came
to field in the spring of 1861 and was ordained and installed over the
Manheim church in October that year, serving the church at Indian
Castle also, on the south side of the river. He also supplied the
Stone Arabia church (cf) for a while. He remained until June, 1876.
Later he was six years in the Columbia church. He died in 1905.
Rev. Algernon Matthews, who succeeded Stanbrough in the Manheim
church in November 1876, was born on the Isle of Geurnsey and
educated in Germany, tho graduating at New Brunswick in 1875. He
remained with this church thro 1878, and then entered the missionary
work of the Presbyterian church in Canada.
During the year 1880 from November thro October, 1882, the pulpit
was supplied by the Rev. John Minor who had previously been pastor
of the first Amsterdam church (cf). For several years the pulpit was
supplied by the St. Johnsville and other nearby pastors. In the
records are the names of Rev. David E. Van Giesen, George W. Fur-
beck and Rev. Philip Furbeck (cf St. Johnsville). In 1892 David T.
Harris was received from the Methodist Conference and was ordained
and installed over the church which he served for two years. He is
now pastor of the West Copake church. Rev. Fred W. Ruhl was
next called, coming to the church from Cicero, and staid four years
(1892-1895). Again the church began an itinerant supply. Rev. Louis
H. Baehler's pastorate began in 1898 and continued thro a part, of
1900. Mr. Baehler entered the Presbyterian church, retiring from
the active work of the ministry in 1912, and spent the rest of his life
69
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
at Schenectady, where he died in 1914. A brother of Rev. Baehler,
Rev. P. G. M. Baehler, is in the Williamson, N. Y. Reformed church,
while his father, Rev. P. B. Baehler served several Holland churches
in New York, and the grandfather, was a preacher at Zwolle, Holland.
This was the last settled pastorate at Manheim, whose pulpit has
been since supplied, mostly in the summer time, by seminary students,
neighboring pastors, and the classical missionary. Among the sup-
plies of the pulpit may be mentioned Rev. C. V. Bedford (1896), now
of Hagaman, N. Y.; Rev. John A. Thomson (1892), now of Middle-
bush, N. J.; Benjamin F. White (1902), now of Germantown, N. Y.;
Rev. Burton J. Hotaling (1904), now of Albany, N. Y.; Rev. Henry D.
Cook (1905), now of Paramus, N. Y.; Rev. Daniel G. Verwey (1906),
now of Walkill, N. Y., during whose summer services the church was
repaired and renovated; and Rev. George S. Bolsterle (1907), now of
N. Y. City. During 1908 the pulpit was supplied by a young
Christian worker, Henry Mcllravy, and in 1909 the Rev. R. J. Van
Deusen, a Lutheran pastor, preached here in conjunction with Ing-
hams Mills. During the summers of 1910 and 1911 the work was
done by the student, Andrew Van Vranken Raymond, Jr., who is in
the Presbyterian church at South Wales, N. Y. During the summer
of 1912 the Rev. Arthur J. Wyman of the Little Falls Presbyterian
church supplied, and in 1913 the classical missionary of Montgomery,
Rev. W. N. P. Dailey, preached occassionally thro the year. Rev.
Herbert D. Leland, now of Utica, supplied one summer, and Rev.
Edward B. Irish of Fultonville, spent his 1914 vacation on the field
ministering to its wants. The church cemetery has recently been
cleared and beautified and may be seen for many miles, on the high
land surrounding the church. The principal burials are the Snells,
Timmermans, Yourans, Feeters, Garlocks and Markells. The oldest
stone in the yard marks the burial spot of Peter Snell who was born
in 1731 and died in 1804. Other burial spots not far distant, as the
one on the Beardsley farm where many of the Kilts family are in-
terred, and another surrounding the Lutheran ("Yellow") church,
where many of the original settlers were buried, as the Keysers,
Windeckers, Bellingers, Petries et al. were laid to rest, are interesting
spots for the student of the early history of the town of Manheim
and the valley of the Mohawk.
70
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I 1
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I 1
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
MAPLETOWN REFORMED CHURCH
Another name for the
place is "Middletown," and in
the earlier records the church
is often given this name. The
sugar maples abounding in
the vicinity naturally suggest
the origin of the name of the
place. Jacob Ehle and Joseph
Knox were settlers here in
1791. Mr. Knox died in
1809, Mr. Ehle in 1850.
Services were held as
early as 1793, but the or-
ganization was not perfected
until September 12, 1801, the
meeting for the same being
held at the tavern of Elisha
Taylor and presided over by
Rev. Isaac Labagh, who at
the time was preaching in
the churches of "Sand Hill" (Canajoharie), Stone Arabia, and
Sharon. Jacob Ehle is mentioned in the 1801 Fonda records as
a trustee. A full consistory was chosen and services were continued
in the homes of the members until 1805, when the first house of
worship was erected. Jacob Ehle, Ebenezer Hibbard, Jacob S.
Keller, Daniel Van Hoesen and Ebenezer Lathrop were the first con-
sistory. The first pastor was Rev. John Calvin Toll (Tol), who had
studied under Livingston, and on his ordination in October, 1803,
assumed charge of this church, preaching also at Bowman's Kill
(Buel) and Westerlo (Sprakers). Mapletown renewed its call No-
vember 3, 1807 (approved in Classis May 31, 1808), and again renewed
it December 20, 1817. The 1807 call is signed by Peter Clement, Elijah
Taylor, Ebenezer Hebberd and John R. Van Evera, elders, and Luke
Wesseley, James DSy, Peter Deremer and Garett Van Valkenburg,
deacons. The 1817 renewal is signed by Peter Deremer, David
Huguarin, L. Van Dervolgen and James Dey, elders, and Peter Clute,
Rudolphus Dingman, John Davis and William Smith, deacons. After
a pastorate of some eighteen years Mr. Toll left the denomination
and joined the "True Reformed Church" ("Wyckoflte"), and or-
ganized a church of this name at both Westerlo and Aliddletown, and
spent a second eighteen years in these two fields. He died at Glen-
ville in 1848. During his pastorate at Mapletown (1803-1821) he
married two hundred couples and baptised six hundred and fifty in-
fants and received one hundred and seventy members into the church.
Rev. Toll was born in 1780 and died in Glenville in 1849 at the old
Toll homestead. His father was Adj. Carl H. Toll of the 14th Regt.
N. Y. Militia. Rev. Toll was chaplain in Lieut. Col. John Roof's
regiment of Montgomery county. His wife was Annatje, daughter
of Barent Mynderse of Guilderland (a Lieut. Col. in the war of 1812),
whom he married in 1802. During 1820 and 1824 Rev. Samuel Van
Vechten occassionally preached here. After an interim of a few
years, with a Rev. Alonzo Welton supplying one of them, Rev.
71
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Douw Van Olinda, a native of Charleston, became the pastor (1827).
Rev. Buckelew, pastor at Mapletown (1851-1854) in an article in the
"Christian Intelligencer" says that Van Olinda was pastor in 1824,
but this can hardly be so, since on graduation from New Brunswick
in the class of 1824 Van Olinda spent a year in missionary work at
Johnstown, Mayfield and Union, and in 1825-1827 he was the pastor
at Palatine (St. Johnsville). Mr. Van Olinda's pastorate closed in
December, 1831. After serving the church at New Paltz (1832-1842),
he returned to the Classis (1844) and was pastor at Caughnawaga
until the time of his death in 1858. In 1831 the custom of electing
deacons was discontinued and trustees were elected. In 1883 the
Board of Trustees was disbanded and a return made to the election
of deacons.
Rev. Jacob W. Hangen came next to the church from Columbia
(cf) and was installed March 14, 1832, and remained four years.
He served Currytown while pastor here. Consistorial meetings were
held monthly and a fine of fifty cents was imposed on the members
who were either absent or tardy one hour. During Hangen's pas-
torate the name of the church was changed from "Middletown" to
that of Mapletown. Hangen had several other pastorates in the Re-
formed church, then entered the German Reformed church, preaching
in Pennsylvania, where he did at Trappe in 1843. A brief pastorate
of two and a half years followed by Rev. Harrison Heermance, who
came September 25, 1837. After several years in the active work of
the Presbyterian ministry, Heermance became an army chaplain. He
died in 1883. From 1842 thro 1848 there were no consistorial records
kept. Rev. Thomas Frazier was pastor in 1840 thro 1843, of whom
we know nothing further except that he died in Montreal, Canada, in
1884. Jasper Middlemas succeeded him in 1844 and acted as a stated
supply thro 1846. The next pastor was Rev. John H. Carle (1847-
1851) whose ill health compelled him to give up the active ministry.
Rev. William D. Buckelew was next called and began his ministry
in this church in 1851, and spent forty-two years in the pulpit, his
death occurring in 1893. He was four years at Mapletown. During
Buckelew's ministry a new church was built. The last service in the
old church was held Sunday, May 30, 1852. The church was taken
down during the following week. The corner stone of the new church
was laid July 8, 1852, by Rev. J. C. Van Liew of Stone Arabia. The
church was finished in October, 1852. Rev. John J. Quick's pastorate
extended over seven years (185(3-1862). He also preached at Curry-
town, which was frequently joined with this church in pastoral work.
Rev. Richard M. Whitbeck succeeded Quick, was ordained and in-
stalled by the Montgomery Classis but remained only two years,
1863 and 1864. After a few more years he left the active ministry
to enter educational work and lived a retired life for many years
at Hudson, N. Y.
Rev James M. Compton was next .called and staid four years or
until 1868, but to remain in the Classis for twenty-five years at Stone
Arabia and Ephratah (1868-1870), Columbia and Henderson (1870-
1875), Union (1875-1876), Sprakers (1878-1882), Mapletown again dur-
ing 1882, and, finally, Columbia again from 1888 to the time of his
death at the latter place, December 12, 1891. Josiah Markel supplied
the Mapletown pulpit from the summer of 1869 thro the summer of
1871. His death occurred at Albany, N. Y., in 1898. He had not been
72
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
in the active ministry for twenty-five years. Two years the pulpit
was occasionally supplied by different men, and until Rev. George
Sharpley became pastor in 1874 who resigned in 1880. He was
licensed and ordained by Montgomery Classis. A son of this pastor,
Giles H. Sharpley, after studying at Rutgers and New Brunswick
(1888-1889) entered the ministry of the Episcopal church, graduating
from the General Theological Seminary in 1897. In 1880 from May
to December the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Dewey Jones. Rev.
John Minor was installed in 1882 and remained thro 1884. Later Mr.
Minor supplied several Presbyterian churches and died November
20, 1890, while supplying the Fort Herkimer church (cf). Rev. Garret
Wyckoff succeeded Mr. Minor, coming to the church in 1886 and
staid two years, to be followed by Rev. Henry H. Sangree (1888-1893).
Mr. Wyckoff is now supplying the church at Flatbush, N. Y. Mr.
Sangree entered the ministry of the German Reformed church and
later still that of the Presbyterian and is now in Philadelphia, Pa.
The last installed pastor at Mapletown was John A. Thomson (1894-
1902). Since leaving this charge Mr. Thomson has been pastor at
Middlebush, N. J. Following Mr. Thomson Rev. E. M. Forest sup-
plied for a year, after which the Rev. Frank R. Shepherd (Presb.)
supplied for three years (July, 1903-March, 1906). Beginning Sep-
tember 30, 1906, Rev. Sybrandt Nelson of the Buel Presbyterian church
began a supply which continued until October 23, 1912. During the
summer of 1913, Mr. Charles Stube, a New Brunswick Seminary
graduate, supplied the church. The present supply, Rev. Elmer E.
Frederick, has had charge of the Buel Presbyterian church and of
Mapletown since the fall of 1913.
MOHAWK REFORMED CHURCH
■ The Reformed Protestant
Dutch church at Mohawk was
organized in 1838 by the Classis,
and the following year incor-
porated. At the time of organiza-
tion Christopher Bellinger and
Samuel Meeker were elders, and
Samuel Bellinger and Henry
Harke, deacons. The lot for the
church was given by Frederick
Bellinger. The church records
were lost in a hotel fire during
Mr. Meeker's pastorate. The
first supply of the church was the
Rev. James Murphey, who at the
time was the pastor of the Her-
kimer church (cf). Rev. Jede-
diah L. Stark followed in 1842
and died in 1862 and was buried
at Utica, N. Y. Corwin says that Mr. Stark preached at German Flatts,
Mohawk, and Frankfort at the same time thro the years 1843 and
1844, and from 1844 thro 1846 he preached at Mohawk and Frankfort,
and from 1846 thro 1852 he was the pastor at Mohawk, from which
73
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
place he went in 1852 to Fort Herkimer (German Flatts) and con-
tinued there until 1857, when he ceased the active work of the min-
istry. Mr. Stark preached for several years at Mohawk, Frankfort and
Fort Herkimer on every Sunday, covering the eleven miles with horse
and wagon. His first pastorate of twenty years was at West Brattle-
boro, Vt. (1820-1840). Rev. Elbert Slingerland came to Mohawk in
1865 and after a couple years work became a pastor emeritus, and
died in 1875 at the age of seventy-five. This was his second pastorate,
the first occuring during 1855 and 1856. He also preached at Haga-
man (cf) and Chittenango in this Classis. Rev. John W. Hammond
followed Slingerland in 1856 and staid thro 1859. He had several
other pastorates in the Dutch church, and died in 1876, soon after
the close of his pastorate at Roxbury, N Y. Rev. Charles D. K.
Nott succeeded Mr. Hammond in 1859 and preached for five years,
when he entered the Presbyterian church ministry. Then came the
second pastorate of Mr. Slingerland, of which we have spoken above.
Rev. G. D. W. Consaul (later pastor at Herkimer-cf) supplied the
pulpit at Mohawk during 1867-1869, at which time he was ordained by
the Classis of Montgomery. Rev. Frederick F. Wilson became pastor
in 1870, coming from the Scotia church, thro a part of 1872. After a
few other short pastorates he became inactive, about 1890, and twenty
years later died at Asbury Park, N. J., in 1910.
Rev. Francis M. Bogardus was called to Mohawk in 1872 and
resigned in 1876. He continued in the active pastorate for twenty
years more, and has for some years been living retired at Asbury
Park, N. J. Rev. John G. Lansing (son of Dr. Julian Lansing, a
missionary at Damascus) was born in Syria at Damascus in the street
called "Straight." He was licensed and ordained by the Montgomery
Classis in 1887 and installed over the Mohawk church, which pulpit
he occupied for three years. After a second pastorate of five years
at West Troy (1879-1884) he was made Professor of Hebrew in New
Brunswick Seminary, which chair he occupied for fifteen years when
he resigned to take up editorial work at Denver, Co., where he
died in 1906. He was the author of several volumes on Old Testa-
ment exegesis, and the founder in the Reformed church of the
Arabian Mission. Rev. James Edmondson was licensed by the Mont-
gomery Classis in 1868; the next record of him is as supply at Cicero
(1879-1881), from which field he was called in 1881 to the Mohawk
church which he served until some time in 1886, when he went to
Sedalia, Mo., where he died. In 1882 Rutgers gave him the degree
of Ph. D. Rev. John H. Brandow succeeded to the pastorate in
1886 and resigned in 1888. He was ordained by the Montgomery
Classis. He went from Mohawk to the Oneonta Presbyterian church,
from which field he came back into the Reformed ministry in 1895,
and settled at Schuylerville. In 1905 he was called to Schoharie, and
was there until 1908 when he became the Albany Synodical Mission-
ary which position he still fills, with residence at Albany, N. Y. The
next pastor was Rev. Albert Dod Minor who was licensed in 1879
by the Classis of Montgomery, and ordained and installed over the
church at St. Johnsville (cf). In 1888 Mr. Minor came to the Mohawk
field, at the same time, and for a few years following his resignation
from Mohawk (1891) supplying the pulpit at Fort Herkimer. -Mr.
Minor died in 1910. Following Mr. Minor was the Rev. Ira Van
Allen (previously pastor at Owasco), who was installed pastor
74
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
in 1S92 and remained thro 1898, to be succeeded by the Rev.
Edward J. Meeker, who was ordained in 1899 by the Montgomery
Classis and installed over this church. Mr. Meeker also supplied
Fort Herkimer. He resigned in 1903, going to Highland Park church,
New Brunswick, N. J. He returned to the Classis in 1909 and took
up the work at Glen, now in the Lodi church. Rev. Charles
W. Kinney who followed had already had a pastorate at
St. Johnsville (1893-1899), having gone from that field (cf) to the
Presbyterian church of Hobart, N. Y. In 1906 he returned to the
Classis and was installed over the Mohawk church (also supplying
Fort Herkimer) which church he continued to serve until 1911 when
he went to the Schoharie church. Since 1913 he has been in the
Schuylerville Reformed church. The present pastor of the church,
Rev. Oscar E. Beckes, was called from the Manlius Presbyterian
church in 1912.
NAUMBURCH REFORMED CHURCH
This village lies a mile east
of Castorland, a station sixty-
five miles north of Utica on
the Black River division of the
New York Central R. R. Be-
hind Castorland is the story of
an attempt to found in the
wilds of the New World by an
exiled nobility and clergy of
the old regime in France, a
secure retreat from the horrors of Revolution in the Old. In August,
1792, a French company bought a large tract in the Macomb Purchase,
on both sides of the Black river, 610,000 acres. Later two-thirds
of this was given up. Castorland means the "land of beavers," the
Iroquois term being Couch-sach-ra-ge, "Beaver Hunting Country." A
pamphlet descriptive of the place was published in Paris, where the
details of the settlement were most elaborately planned — an im-
practicable Utopia, doomed at its inception to failure, tho many took
shares. The founding of Castorland is a story well worth reading,
tho terribly tragic in its conclusions. One finds its counterparts in the
Jacobite settlement at Cape Fear, or the Huguenots at Port Royal, or
Arcadie in Nova Scotia, or New Sweden on the Delaware, or New Am-
sterdam on the Hudson. Ancient Castorland lives now only in poetry
and history — a story of highly colored but unfulfilled promise, of
bright hopes forever deferred, of man's titanic but fruitless endeavor,
of woman's tragic tears.
The Reformed church is situated on what is known as Macomb's
Purchase, who owned practically the land of the whole county. The
western part was sold to New York City capitalists while the east-
ern section went to a French company at Paris (cf West Leyden).
In the early part of the last century a French nobleman by name of
James Donatien Le Ray, Count de Chaumont, who had come to man-
age the land, gave to the Prussian settlement now called Naumburgh,
sufficient land (about an acre) for school and cemetery purposes, and
about thirty acres for the church. He could afford to be thus gener-
75
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
ous for he owned 348,205 acres in Franklin, St. Lawrence, Lewis and
Jefferson counties. This was in 1852, and the church, which had been
already organized in 1850, was a Lutheran body. In 1855 the Re-
formed church, by request of the Lutheran Synod, took over the con-
gregation and Classis organized a Reformed church. Naumburgh is
a small village about sixty-six miles north of Utica in Lewis county
on the Black river, while the church is about a mile from the village.
The first Reformed minister to serve the church was Rev. William
Wolfe, who came in January, 1855. There were eighteen charter
members. As long as New Bremen Reformed church was in ex-
istence (cf) the pastors at Naumburgh supplied that pulpit also (six
miles distant). The parsonage was built during Wolfe's pastorate.
He remained until 1860. He went to 3d Hackensack, and in 1866
was preaching at Plainfield, N. J. Rev. Carl Becker was called in
1860 from 3d Hackensack and was the pastor for nine years. In the
early part of 1870 Rev. John Boehrer of Damascus, Pa. became the
pastor, remained five years, during which time extensive repairs were
made upon the church building. There were sixty-nine members at
this time, and a Sunday School of thirty-five. Boehrer's pastorate
began in fine spirit but its close ended in the refusal of the entire
congregation to attend the services. He resigned on June 1, 1876.
He worked for the American Tract Society for some years after leav-
ing Naumburgh, and spent the last years of his life in Buffalo, where
he died in 1913.
Rev. H. W. Warnshius was ordained and installed over the church
on June 26, 1877. In a brief period the church revived, the member-
ship grew to nearly a hundred, the church became self-supporting,
and the entire religious life of the community was quickened. This
pastorate came to a close in April, 1889. Warnshuis later entered the
Presbyterian church for work in Dakota. Rev. Peter A. Moel-
ling came to the church in the latter part of 1880, and staid until
the summer of 1884. He was succeeded by Henry Unglaub in 1885,
who remained three years. During the years 1889 and 1890 the pulpit
was occasionally supplied by the late Rev. J. W. Geyer of New York
and Rev. F. E. Schlieder of West Leyden. Rev. Wm. F. Barny of
the Seminary at Bloomfield supplied the pulpit during the summer
of 1891 and 1892. In 1893, on his graduation from New Brunswick,
Barny accepted a call to Naumburgh and was ordained by Mont-
gomery Classis and installed over the church. He spent four years,
the last of the settled pastors, resigning September 13, 1896. John
Bombin (now of Hackensack, N. J.) a New Brunswick student, spent
the summer of 1889 on the field and George Schnucker the
summer of 1897. He is now at German Valley, 111. Rev.
Theodore F. Hahn, an ordained missionary of the Presbyterian
church, spent the summer of 1903 on the field. For the past fifteen
years services have been held occasionally, conducted by the Synodical
and Classical missionaries, and others.
76
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
OWASCO REFORMED CHURCH
Cayuga county, in which
, Owasco is situated, was
formed in 1790 from the
Onondaga military tract,
a large land area, pur-
chased of the Indians, and
used by the government
for paying the land boun-
ties given the soldiers of
the Revolution. Simeon
De Witt (N. Y. State Sur-
veyor-General) laid out
this tract, giving classic
names to most of the com-
munities. Cammerhoff in
1750 wrote the name of
the place, "Achs'-go." The
first settler of the country
was Roswell Franklin (1789). In 1792 Capt. John L. Hardenburgh
bought six hundred acres of land near Owasco Lake. Col. Harden-
burgh settled about three miles from the foot of the lake, his house
being about where the Auburn City Hall now is. Auburn was called
"Hardenburgh's Corners" until 1805. Here near Owasco was the
settlement of the Alleghans who occupied the land for several
centuries before Columbus came, and until the Cayugas conquered
them. The place was called Osco or Wasgough (Owasco). The cele-
brated Indian chief, Logan, was born here. The first of the Harden-
burghs had come to America from the Netherlands in 1640. Sir John
Hardenburgh was knighted by Queen Anne for gallantry at the de-
cisive battle of Blenheim. Of his six sons (and six daughters) Johanes
(1706-1786) lived at Rosendale, N. Y., and was a Colonel in the Ulster
Co. Militia for twenty years, a Colonial Assembly member (1743-
1750), and also of the first Provincial Congress (1775). The old Hard-
enburgh house is still standing in Ulster county. His son, Johannes,
Jr., was Colonel of the 4th Ulster Regt. during the Revolution. Jacob
Rutsen Hardenburgh, a brother, .was Queens (now Rutgers) first
college president. Leonardus Hardenburgh, son of Sir John Harden-
burgh (bl714) had a son, John L., who was a Lieutenant in the
7th Co. N. Y. (1776), Adjutant in 1789, and Captain of Levies in
1782. Ten years later he came into this country where he died April
25, 1806. The first settlers in 1792 were Benjamin and Samuel DePuy
and Moses Cortright from Orange County, and Jacob and Roeliff
Brinkerhoff from Harrisburgh, Pa. In 1795 the families of Jacob
Roeliff and Luke Brinkerhoff, Thomas Johnson, Jacob Loyster, An-
drew Johnson, Abraham Bodine, Isaac Parsell, James Dales and
Charles Van Tine came from the Conewago Reformed church near
Gettysburgh, Pa. These later settlers met at Col. Hardenburgh's
home September 23, 1796, organized the Owasco church, and, later
(1797), built the first house of worship in Cayuga county. They found
here on coming, the families of Adam Tries, Daniel Miller, Elijah
Price, and Benjamin DePuy. Later came the Cuykendalls and
Gumaers from Orange county (N. J.). Of the first missionaries there
77
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
were Rev. Daniel Thatcher, and Rev. Asa Hillyer of Orange, N. J.,
Rev. Matthew Perrine, Rev. James Richards and Rev. Henry Miller,
also of New Jersey, these last becoming teachers in Aubury Semin-
ary. The organization took place at the home of Col John L.
Hardenburgh, the founder of the city of Auburn on September 23,
1796. In 1796 Rev. Peter Labagh was sent to the western part of
New York with Rev. Jacob Sickles. In Todd's Life of Dr. Labagh
the latter is said to have organized Owasco in 1796. In 1797 the
first church was erected, at a spot about midway between what are
now Owasco and Owasco Outlet. It was built of logs, twenty-five
feet by thirty feet, with four windows each eighteen inches square,
and slabs for seats. It served the congregation for eighteen years.
The first consistory consisted of Elders Jacob Brinckerhoff and
Cornelius Van Auken, and Deacons Roeliff Brinckerhoff and Thomas
Johnson. Col. Hardenburgh married the same year Martina Brinck-
erhoff and the names of their two children, John Herring and Maria
are on the Owasco register (1798-1800), Rev. Abram Brokaw, pastor.
Col. Hardenburgh died in 1806. The consistory at the time of the
building of the church consisted of Elders James Brinckerhoff,
Thomas Johnson, Cornelius De Witt and Jacob Brinckerhoff, and
Deacons Samuel Hornbeck, Abram Selover, Levy Boadly and Isaac
Selover.
The ground on which the present church is built was given by
Martin Cuykendall. Three or four years were spent in the building
of the second house of worship. In 1811 a subscription was made for
the work, and in 1813 the seats were sold for $3,772 and $1,300 ad-
ditional was raised. This enabled them to build in 1815. Rev.
Abram Brokaw was the first pastor at Owasco. It was also his
first pastorate and lasted twelve years, when he accepted a call to
the church at Ovid, where he remained fourteen more years, or until
1822 when he joined the "True Reformed" or "Wyckofite" church,
for which secession he was suspended by the Classis. Rev. George
G. Brinckerhoff, from whose congregation at Conewaga, Pa. many
families had migrated into Cayuga and Genesee counties, New York,
and who was settled at Sempronius, N. Y. (near Owasco) supplied
the pulpit until the coming of Rev. Conrad Ten Eyck in 1812. The
entire active ministry of Mr. Ten Eyck 'was in the Montgomery Classis
at Mayfield, Veddersburgh (Amsterdam), Fonda's Bush, Sand Beach
and Owasco, at the latter place preaching for fifteen years. In the
call the churches at Owasco and Sarp/ Beach (Owasco Outlet)
promised each to give Mr. Ten Eyck $150 and 150 bushels of wheat an-
nually. The nearest market at the time for wheat was Utica where
it sold for a dollar a bushel. During his pastorate here, or in 1816,
a great revival swept over the two congregations, resulting in ad-
ditions to the churches of three hundred and fifty-one members. Three
years later on complaint of a few members Mr. Ten Eyck was tried by
the Classis on the charge of teaching a free and unlimited atonement.
Both Classis and Particular Synod (to which body appeal was made)
upheld the teaching and work of the good minister. This was in
1819. At the close of his work in these two churches (1826) Mr.
Ten Eyck retired from the active work of the ministry. His daughter
Elizabeth, married Rev. Robert W. Hill, Auburn '26. Mr. Ten Eyck
died in 1844 at East Gainesville in the eighty-eighth year of his age.
Rev. Israel Hammond succeeded Ten Eyck in the pastorate, com-
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
ing in 1831, and remaining until 1839. He had two short pastorates
later at Mt. Morris and Gorham, N. Y. He died in 1856. Rev. Wil-
liam Evans was installed in 1839 and served seven years or until 1846,
when he gave up the active work of the ministry. Rev. Jacob C.
Dutcher came from New Brunswick Seminary to this his first charge
and remained five years (1846-1850). After preaching for some thirty-
three years he entered the consular service at Port Hope, Can. He
died in 1888. Rev. Henry A. Raymond( father of Rev. Dr. A. V. V.
Raymond) had a short pastorate of less than three years (1851-1853),
but continued for twenty years in the work in other fields. He died
in 1877. Rev. Wilson Ingalls followed Mr. Raymond in a twelve year
service to the Owasco church (1853-1854). Mr. Ingalls studied theology
under Dr. Nott of Union College and came from a ten year pastorate
in the 1st Church of Glenville. Rev. George L. Raymond, Auburn
'62, was a member of this church. He had a ten year pastorate at
Blooming Grove, N. Y. He died in 1889. Following Mr. Ingalls came
Rev. Alonzo Paige Peeke (1865-1872). After a pastorate of eight
years in the Rhinebeck church, Mr. Peeke went west and served the
churches at De Kalb, la., and Centreville, Mich. He gave a great
deal of time and work to the institutions of the church at Holland,
Mich. He was finishing a ten year work at East Millstone, N. J.,
when he died in 1900. He had two sons in the ministry, Louis Peeke,
a Presbyterian pastor, and Harmon V. S. Peeke (born at Owasco),
who since his graduation at Auburn Seminary in 1893, has been in the
South Japan mission of the Reformed church. Rev. George H. Peeke
(a brother of the former pastor) was called to the vacant pulpit and
began work in the latter part of 1872 and staid until 1875. Mr. Peeke
entered the Congregational ministry in 1876 and after twenty or more
years in that denomination next began work (1898) in the Presby-
terian church of Sandusky, O., where he died December 20, 1915.
At the beginning of the pastorate of Mr. Alonzo Peeke the
"Wyckofite" or "True Reformed Church," a secession from the Dutch
church, which began in 1823, was disbanded, the building being sold
to the Methodists, and now used by them. The successor to George
H. Peeke was Rev. Alfred E. Myers (1893-1915 in the Collegiate
church of New York City), who after studying at New Bruns-
wick and Princeton, graduated at Union Seminary in 1870. He began
his work in the Owasco Reformed church in 1876 and closed it in
1878. In the second year of his work a division occurred in the
church, resulting in the organization of a Presbyterian body, which
Myers served for six or seven years. Other pastors were Rev. H.T?-
Chadsey, Rev. Mr. Hoyt, and Rev. D. I. Biggar. Afterwards for a n*f <J*~rra£L
few years this church was supplied by students from Auburn Semin-
ary. Lying vacant for many years, after a few brief pastorates,
it was finally sold by the Presbytery to the Roman Catholics (1912).
Naturally the old Dutch church suffered severely from this defection
and its serious consequences can be traced even to the present day.
Rev. Robert H. Barr became the next pastor, coming to the church
in 1880 and remaining thro 1883. In 1888 Mr. Barr went to the
Associate Reformed church located at Newburgh. Rev. Jonah W.
Vaughn's pastorate (1884-1889) came next, followed by that of Rev.
Ira Van Allen (1889-1892). Mr. Vaughn died in October, 1913. Mr.
Van Allen later served Mohawk (1892-1898) and for a decade now
has been supplying the church at Owasco Outlet. Rev. John A.
79
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Rodgers an Auburn Seminary graduate supplied Owasco for ten years,
or until April, 1903. He became a member of the Classis of Montgom-
ery in 1896, but was never installed over the church. Rev. Robert
Ivey was received from the Syracuse Presbytery in 1903, installed
over the church in October of the same year, and resigned in March,
1905. Rev. J. Cassius Sargent became stated supply of the church
in August, 1905, and continued until September, 1910. He joined the
Classis of Montgomery at the Spring session of 1910, but was never
installed over the church. Leaving Owasco, Mr. Sargent went to the
Cato Presbyterian church (originally Reformed-cf) but in September,
1912, be became pastor of the Liverpool Presbyterian church. The
change in the community is evidenced in the fact that during Mr.
Sargent's supply of five years he had seventy-eight funerals. Rev. Geo.
G. Seibert came to Owasco from a pastorate of six years in the
Hagaman, N. Y. church (cf). He began his work at Owasco on
January 1, 1912. Mr. Seibert was the first pastor, educated in the
schools of the church and trained in the experiences of the denomina-
tion that the Owasco church had had for twenty years. This century-
old church, whose light has never ceased to shine, still holds its
place of power in the religious life of the community. There is
manifest a deepening love for denominational activities and an
awakening zeal for missions at home and abroad.
OWASCO OUTLET REFORMED CHURCH
The original name of this
church was "Sand Beach," by
which it is still best known. The
church is at the head of Owasco
Lake, situate about three miles
east of the city of Auburn. The
history of Owasco is to be read
in conjunction with the story of
the Outlet church, as the same
pastors frequently supplied both
of the fields. As early as 1807
efforts were made to build a
church at the Outlet, and an-
other effort was made in 1810.
In November of 1810, pews
in the new church (not yet
erected) were sold for $2,1^8.50,
while Asa Jackson gave an acre of land on which to erect the new
building. The church was incorporated in December, 1810. The year
of the organization of the church is put in 1812. The first preaching
at the "Sand Beach" church was by Rev. Abram Brokaw, who was
also the first pastor at Owasco (1796-1808). But before this, at both
Owasco and Owasco Outlet, preaching services had been more or
less regularly conducted by the missionaries, Revs. Daniel Thatcher
and Asa Hillyer from Orange, N. J, and Revs. Matthew Larue Per-
rine, James Richards and Henry Mills of New Jersey also, the last
three becoming professors at Auburn Seminary. The nearness of
both of these fields (Owasco and Owasco Outlet) to the Presbyterian
80
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Seminary at Auburn has afforded easy opportunities for the pulpits
to be supplied by the students of this school, especially during in-
terims of the pastorates. This has meant, naturally, longer lapses
between the pastorates than should have existed, and it has also
resulted in distinct loss, thro certain periods, of the influences of the
two churches upon the work of the denomination. The first pastor
was Rev. Conrad Ten Eyck who also preached at Owasco (cf). He
came to the church in 1812 and remained thro 1826. In 1816 eighty-
nine additions were made to this church (two hundred and sixty-two
at Owasco). Domine Ten Eyck was followed in 1826 by Rev. Benj. B.
Westfall (1827-1828), who, after ten years in the Rochester church
went to Stone Arabia (cf) where he died in 1844. For two years (1828
and most of 1829) the pulpit was supplied by Rev. John Dunlap, who
died while preaching here, and by Rev. Henry Heermance, who died
in 1846 while pastor at Kinderhook. Rev. John G. Tarbell supplied
the Owasco Outlet church for two or three years (1830-1832). He
spent some forty years of his life as a missionary in Michigan, where
he died in 1880. Rev. Leonard Rogers became the pastor in 1833 and
remained thro 1834. He died a few years later (1838). He was suc-
ceeded by Rev. Robert Kirkwood (1836-1839), who died in 1866. Fol-
lowing Rev. Mr. Kirkwood came Rev. John G. Moule, a Presbyterian
minister who supplied the pulpit thro 1839-1841, and was followed by
Rev. Richard W. Knight (1841-1844), who later supplied Cato, Ly-
sander and Wolcott (cf) and died in 1873 after he had been out of the
active work for some twenty years.
Rev. Aaron B. Winfield was next called to the church from the
Presbyterian church at Friendsville, Pa. Mr. Winfield remained at
Owasco Outlet from 1844 thro 1850, when he went to the Paramus
N. J. church in which pastorate he died in 1856. Following this
pastorate, Rev. Samuel Robbins Brown was called to the church in
1851 and resigned in 1859 to go to Japan where he spent ten years in
missionary work. He had previous to the Owasco Outlet work spent
nearly the same time in China in a Chinese Boys' School. On a
furlough to this country in 1869 he supplied the pulpit of the Owasco
Outlet church for a year. At the end of this furlough he again re-
turned to Japan and gave ten more years of his services as teacher
in Yokohama and Nigata. He died at Munson, Mass. in 1880, in the
seventieth year of his age. Guido Fridolin Verbeck joined the Cayuga
Classis in 1859 and became a member of Montgomery in 1889. He
went to Japan with Dr. Brown in lStl. He knew seven languages,
and added Japanese in a few years. He was a citizen of the world.
He founded Japan's system of education. One of his early pupils
was Count Okuma, the premier of 1915. Verbeck of all foreigners
who ever entered Japan may be justly termed its new creator.
He died in 1898 at Tokio and was buried with imperial honors.
The wife of Guido F. Verbeck (Maria Manion), noted missionary
in Japan, Mrs. E. Rothesay Miller, late of the Japan mission, who
was Mary E. Kidder, and Caroline Adriance, names honored in the
story of Japan's Christianization, were all members of this church
during Dr. Brown's pastorate. Miss A.driance died at Amoy, leaving
all her property to the Foreign Board. Mrs. Miller founded Ferris
Seminary at Yokahoma, Japan. Miss Hequemborg also went in-
to the foreign work (1873) from this church. Dr. Brown had the
distinction of being the pioneer teacher in Christian education in
81
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
China, in being the founder of the colleges for women in America,
and of starting the movement for Christian education and
theological study in Japan. Corwin's Manual gives a most
interesting account of Mr. Brown's life. It was while he was princi-
pal of a school at Rome that Dr. Brown accepted the call to the
Owasco Outlet church. He bought a farm near by and on it establish-
ed a school in order to increase his stipend for living. The school
flourished, the church waxed strong, a new edifice was built in 1855,
a movement was started by him which resulted in the founding of the
"Elmira Female College," the first of its kind in America. Rev.
Dr. Griffes has written biographies of both Brown and Verbeck.
John Garretson, who from his graduation at New Brunswick in 1826,
devoted, himself to the missionary movement and who served the
Board of Domestic Missions for ten years (1849-1859) as Correspond-
ing Secretary, succeeded Dr. Brown in the Owasco Outlet church in
1861 and remained thro 1864. The present parsonage ground was
bought in 1862 (the old property having been sold in 1854 for $1,400)
for $1,250, and a new parsonage built for $1,100. The church cost
$6,000. Under his secretaryship the Holland immigration took place
(1847-1852), and Mr. Garretson's leadership enabled the Board to make
great progress in the west. His last service was as Rector of Hertzog
Hall in which position he died in 1875. Rev. John V. N. Schenck came
in 1865 and after three years went to Pompton Plains, N. J., in which
pastorate he died in 1874. He was followed in the church by Rev.
Henry S. Huntington, a Presbyterian minister who filled the pulpit
in 1870 and 1871. On leaving the Owasco Outlet church Mr.
Huntington became pastor of the Calvary Presbyterian church of
Auburn, later going to Caldwell on Lake George. In 1881 he entered
the Episcopal church. He died December 22, 1895. A son, George,
is rector of the Niles (Mich.) P. E. church, and a younger son,
David C. is archdeacon of Western Michigan.
Rev. W. A. Rice preached here during 1871-1873, and Rev.
Artemas Dean from 1873 thro 1875. Mr. Dean's previous ministry
of twenty-five years had been in the Congregational church. After
leaving Owasco Mr. Dean had two pastorates at High Bridge, N. J.,
and at the Palisades church. He resides at Mt. Carmel, Pa. Rev.
G. A. McKinley supplied the pulpit from 1886 thro 1887 and Egbert
C. Lawrence (cf Thousand Isles) during 1878 (both Auburn men), and
Rev. Charles Anderson, a Presbyterian, from 1879 thro 1883, after a
pastorate of thirty years in Sennet Presb. church; he died in 1900;
and Rev. R. R. H. Dexter (Presb.), 1884 thro 1887, and who died
in 1890, and Rev. Hervey D. L. Leland from 1888 thro 1889.
Mr. Leland was allowed to demit the ministry by the Montgomery
Classis in the Fall of 1912. Rev. Charles Maar became the pastor of
the Owasco Outlet church on his graduation from Auburn, and was
ordained by the Montgomery Classis and installed over the church
in 1892, and remained until 1893 when he took up the work in the
new Second Reformed church of Syracuse (cf). Rev. Frank A. Force
was called to the church from Gallupville in 1895 and remained about
four years, going to the Cortlandtown church at Montrose, N. Y. He
is at present pastor of the Gallatin church at Mt. Ross, N. Y. Rev.
Ephraim W. Florence succeeded Mr. Force, coming in 1899 and re-
maining thro 1902, going to the Currytown church (cf) in that year,
from which he went in 1905 to the Philmont, N. Y. church. He has been
82
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASS IS
living in Canada for some years now, serving the church of England.
Rev. Ira Van Allen, who has served the Montgomery Classis at Mo-
hawk (1892-1898-cf) was pastor of the church during 1890 and 1891,
just before the coming of Mr. Maar. After leaving Mohawk, Mr. Van
Allen gave up the work of the active pastorate, and now for more
than ten years he has been supplying the vacant pulpit of the Owasco
Outlet church. Rev. Mr. Dean in 1875, and Rev. Mr. Maar in 1893,
wrote histories of the church.
SPRAKERS REFORMED CHURCH
In Revolutionary times this
place was called "Keder's
Rift" but about the year 1800
it became known as "Wester-
lo." Still later, because of the
prominence in the community
of Major Yost Spraker, it re-
ceived the name of "Sprakers
Basin," which has for many
years been abbreviated into
its present form. The people
of the community were in the
habit of going to "Sand Hill"
for service until about 1790
when meetings began to be
held in the homes of the
people by the nearby pastors.
On October 29, 1796, at a pub-
lic gathering a Reformed
Protestant Dutch church was
organized under the direction of the pastor at Fonda, Rev. Abraham
Van Home, who installed these officers: Elders, Andrew Michel and
Daniel Cornue, and Rynier Van Evera, and Deacons William Bell-
inger, Jacob Ehle, and Joseph Van Ingen. In 1803 John Roseboom
and Peter Quackenbush were the elders and William Bellinger and
Wessel Cornue were the deacons. In 1805 Rev. John C. Toll had
come into the work. In 180G Andrew Mitchell gave land for the
building of the new church contemplated. But just as soon as plans
were laid for Westerlo then Currytown wanted a church too, unless
Westerlo would build at Currytown. The division was unfortunate
at the time to both communities. But Westerlo went ahead and the
new church was built in 1807. In 1814 it was proposed to move the
church to Canajoharie — a geographical term which included a large
area, sometimes on both sides of the river. The minutes extant
of the Westerlo church are not carried beyond 1824, but Rev. Isaac
Labagh, a later supplj' and pastor, recorded many statistics in the
Lawyersville church of which he was at the same time pastor. The
period was one in which the "Wyckofites" were eager to do battle,
and Rev. Toll and others were drawn into the secession, and when
they could not take their church with them they went off and started
a "True Reformed Church."
For nearly a score of years the Sprakers church was supplied,
Rev. Douw Van Olinda who had nearby fields, often preaching here.
83
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
It was not until Mr. Romaine came to Canajoharie that definite plans
were carried out for the reorganization of the church in 1858. It was
incorporated April 9, 1858. The first pastor, Rev. E. Vine Wales
(1859-18*51) came from the Otsego Presbytery. He died in Oneonta
where he had lived since 1865. Succeeding him in 1861, Rev. Nanning
Bogardus remained until 1866. This was his last pastorate. He had
been in Fort Plain twenty-five years before this. Rev. Benjamin
Van Zant of Canajoharie supplied the church for two or three years.
In 1869 Rev. David K. Van Doren was called and remained until 1873,
preaching also at Currytown. He went to the Third Reformed Church
of Albany and had later pastorates at Schuylerville, Scotia, Middle-
burgh and New Salem. He died in 1908. The next pastor was Rev.
Edward G. Ackerman (1874-1878), who also served Currytown. He
died in 1899. Rev. James M. Compton supplied the pulpit from 1878
thro 1883 (cf Ephratah). Rev. John Minor came in 1884 and remained
a couple of years (1884-1885). Rev. John Thomson was ordained by
the Classis in 1887 and installed over the churches of Sprakers and
Stone Arabia, and was here for five years (1887-1902).
Rev. James B. Campbell was called to the church in 1903 and
staid until 1906. Tho a New Brunswick graduate, Mr. Campbell had
about equally divided his ministry between the Reformed and Presby-
terian bodies. He came to Sprakers from the Shawnee (Pa.) Presby.
Church and on leaving went to the Raritan, 111. church, and next to
Port Jervis, where he died in 1911, as pastor of that church. A man
of rare spirit, evangelistic, and of great power of prayer. His son,
Rev. Donald Campbell, became a Congregational minister and when
pastor of the Schodack Reformed church, demitted the ministry.
Rev. C. V. W. Bedford was the stated supply at Sprakers and Curry-
town in 1909, and served the church for nearly four years. He went
next to Hagaman (cf). The present pastor of the church is Rev.
Harry A. Eliason, who supplying the pulpit for a year or more, was
licensed and ordained by the Classis and installed over Sprakers and
Currytown on July 14, 1914.
ST. JOHNSVILLE REFORMED CHURCH
St. Johnsville was, doubtless,
settled as soon as Stone Arabia
of which it was originally a part,
that is in 1725. For a long time
the place was called "Timmer-
man's" after the first settlers.
Simms say the present name
comes from Alexander St. John,
a pioneer surveyor, but this is
conjectural since the church was
called "St. John" long before
the village was named St.
Johnsville. The date of the or-
ganization of the church has al-
ways been placed as 1770 but
inasmuch as a church washere
as early as 1756 (-N. Y: DOcT
H-isi.) we are inclined to give
84
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
the date as 1750, while there is no reason to think that the Germans
who settled here in 1725 did any different from those who settled
at the same time at Stone Arabia or German Flatts who organized
the church as soon as they settled. We are indebted for much of this
history of St. Johnsville to the orderly type written transcript of the
church records by R. W. Vosburgh, archivist of the. New York Genea-
logical and Biographical Society, who has illuminated the story, by
research in the county and state records concerning the same. St.
John's church was within the limits of the Palatine (Stone Arabia)
district of Montgomery county, a part of which in 1838 became the
town of St. Johnsville. The Francis Harrison patent of 1:3,000 acres
was obtained of the Indians in 1722, and a year later the entire tract
was partitioned off, the first church having been built on Lot. No.
13, owned by George C. and Jacob Klock (cf Bk. Deeds 48, 213).
There are traditions that both Christian and George Klock built the
first church in 1756. The Capitol fire destroyed priceless historical
documents which would verify and illumine much of the history of
the Mohawk valley churches. This George Klock is often mentioned
in the Sir William Johnson correspondence but always for his in-
terference with the church services and work, and particularly for
his inimical attitude toward Domine Lappius, and his deceit toward
the Indians. The earliest written record extant of the church is in
the form of a receipt bearing date of January 4, 1805. Jacob G. Klock
who gave this receipt was the son of George Klock the elder, owner
of lot 16 of the Harrison patent, thro which Klock's Creek flowed.
Letters of administration of this George Klock were granted October
19, 1795 to his two sons, Jacob G. and George G. Klock. What is
known as "Klock's Church," probably erected in 1786 in the Klock
private burying ground, was the work of George Klock (the son of
George Klock, the elder) and Col. Jacob Klock. It was built after
the Indian raid of 1780, the church being incorporated March 13, 1787,
the title being, "The Reformed Calvinist Church." The burying
ground of this so-called "Klock's Church" occupied the central por-
tion of the eight acre lot shown on the map dated 1842. Undoubtedly
the first services at St. Johnsville were conducted by the nearby
pastors, Schuyler of Stone Arabia and Weiss and Rosencrantz of
German Flatts (cf). The usual belief is that the first church was
built in 1770, but we know of the 1756 building, probably the initial
structure. The first settled pastor at St. Johnsville was Rev. John
Henry Dysslin. He was a Swiss, born in Burgdorf, Canton Berne,
of the nobility. Gathering his "goods" together he left home, was
shipwrecked and lost all but his life which he vowed to God if saved
from the sea. Brot to New York City he then returned home, was
educated for the ministry, and came back to New York and served
the German churches at St. Johnsville and Manheim (1788-1812).
Local tradition says that Mr. Dysslin was buried (died in 1812) be-
neath the pulpit of Klock's church, but this can hardly be since the
Klock church was taken down long before Mr. Dysslin's death, and had
not been used since the organization removed to the village. About
a hundred graves are still visible in the old cemetery, the last in-
terment taking place in 1847. One stone is supposed to mark the
grave of Hendrick Klock the pioneer settler who died in 1760, aged
ninety-two. Rev. John Taylor mentions the church in recounting
his missionary travels in 1802, and speaks of Mr. Dozly (Dysslin) as
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
the German pastor. For the first two years Mr. Dysslin's salary was
$117, with use of glebe lands, etc. The third year he was paid $119,
and a receipt dated June 12, 1810, shows that for two years they paid
him $120. Additional payments were in wood, wheat, and labor in
plowing the land. Mr. Dysslin married a daughter of Col. Jacob Klock,
by whom he had five daughters and two sons wdiose descendents still
live in the community, among whom are the Dysslins, Beekmans,
Klocks, Bauders, Nellis, et al.
St. John's church in St. Johnsville is one mile west of Klock's
church site. The old church was torn down in 1818. Originally there
wras a glebe land of seven acres connected with the present property,
the burial grounds of the church being the westerly end of this glebe
and extending on both sides of Zimmerman's creek. References to
this church land at Fonda are plentiful. The land originally belonged
to Jacob Zimmerman (written also Timmerman), and as far back
as 1792 payments were made on it. The work had not progressed
on the new church in the village until 1803, at which time John L.
Bellinger became treasurer. In 1804 the seats were sold, among the
buyers being W. I. Walrath, Andrew Zabriskie, Wm. Shaver, Fredk.
Bellinger, Jacob J. Failing, Fredk. Getman, Peter Storms, Conrad
Hellecoos, John Euker, Henry Beekman, Catharine Windocker, John
C. House, Peter Kels, and John Kring. The church was completed
June 1, 1$04, during the pastorate of John Dysslin (who was al-
so the pastor at Canajoharie Castle (Indian Castle). The first par-
sonage stood near the center of the glebe lot, and Rev. De Voe was
the first pastor to occupy it. Mr. Dysslin remaining in the Klock
church parsonage, or house, which Mrs. Dysslin had inherited from
Col. Jacob Klock. Prior to February 11, 1829, St. John's church was an
independent German Reformed body, tho served by a member of the
Classis of Montgomery, which Classis had installed Mr. De Voe over the
churches of St. John's of Oppenheim and of St. Paul's at Manheim
(received by Classis in 1822). After Mr. Dysslin's death the church was
supplied for a while by Rev. John J. Wack (cf "Sand Hill") who was
then at Stone Arabia. Rev. David De Voe came to St. John's in
1816 and remained until 1830. Mr. De Voe joined the Montgomery
Classis in 1813, and preached at Beaverdam and Middleburgh. While
pastor at St. Johnsville, Mr. De Voe organized churches at Fayette,
Seneca county, and at Le Roy, Jefferson county. His last work was
at Columbia (cf) and Warren (Herkimer county) during 1834 thro
1837, tho he did some missionary work in Lewis county (Turin) until
1841. He died in 1844.
Rev. Abraham H. Myers came to St. Johnsville in August, 1830,
from the Seminary and remained a year. He also supplied Man-
heim (cf) later (1848-1852). Rev. Herman B. Stryker was the next
pastor who came in February, 1833, remaining thro May, 1834. On
his graduation from the Seminary in 1822 he had done some mission-
ary work at Johnsburgh and Warrensburgh (Warren county). He
was also in the Union church, Amsterdam (1827-1832) from which he
went to Glenville. After a retirement from the active work for twenty
years he died, December 11, 1871, following a decade of work at the
Huguenot church of Staten Island. Rev. James Murphey succeeded,
remaining from June, 1834, to July, 1837, when he went to the dual
pastorate at Herkimer (cf). He died while supplying Frankfort (1854-
1857). Rev. A. H. Myers returned for a second pastorate and re-
80
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
mained seven years (1837-1844). He died at the age of eighty-five
in 1886 and was buried at Port Ewen. Rev. Joseph Knieskern came
next in May, 1845, and remained until September, 1872. In 1848,
$2,000 was spent in repairs on the church. Mr. Knieskern also supplied
Manheim and Indian Castle. For some years after leaving this field
he supplied the Virgil Presbyterian church. A cold caught at a
funeral at St. Johnsville so affected his voice as to render him almost
unfit for pulpit service. He died at Cortland, September 7, 1895. Rev.
Edward Lodewick was the eighth pastor, remaining a little over
three years (1872-1875). He was ordained by the Montgomery
Classis. His next charge was in the Pascack, N. J. church. He died
at Bound Brook, N. J., September 14, 1909. During this pastorate
the glebe land was sold, several acres, on both sides of the creek,
for $6,025. The church debts were paid and the rest of the proceeds
went into the new parsonage which cost $3,400. The bodies were
removed from the glebe land to the village cemetery. Rev. George
Van Neste came in September, 1875, and remained a little more than
three years. He died in 1898. He had been pastor at Lodi (cf) for a
dozen years. Other pastorates followed this field at Kiskatom and
Flatbush, and one at Pottersville, N. J. -tfe. wa=s A*-fa*ber -&k Elder
Afe#*a*- Van Nes4: wire gtuie ^imm M«*t tiaW- te- R-tttg»fss Colkgc, H e
was of the seventh generation from Peter Van Nest, who came to
Long Island from Holland in 1647. The pulpit was next filled by
Rev. Albert Dod Minor (1879-1888), who went next to Mohawk (cf)
During Minor's pastorate the present church was built in 1881. Mr.
Minor preached an historical sermon, as did his successor, Rev.
Philip Furbeck, who gave a great deal of study to the old documents.
We have been unable to locate either of these investigations.
Mr. Furbeck came in 1888 and remained thro a part of 1893. His
brother, George, died October 18, 1851, the year of his graduation at
New Brunswick Seminary. Rev. Furbeck's first charge in the Classis
was at Fonda (cf). Rev. Charles W. Kenney took up the work in
1893 and left in 1899 to become pastor of the Hobart Presbyterian
church. He was later in the Mohawk church (cf). Rev. Orville J.
Hogan was next called. He had been at Rocky Hill, N. J. when he
came to this field in 1899 and remained here ten years, going to
his present charge at Closter, N. J. The present pastor, Rev. Fred-
erick Perkins was already in the Montgomery Classis at Lodi, when
called to this field in 1909.
Three churches were continuous and collegiate with St. John's
at St. Johnsville, the pastors of the latter preaching statedly at
Youker's Bush, Canajoharie Castle ("Indian Castle"), and "Snell's
Bush (Manheim). Of Youker's Bush it is sufficient to say that it was
organized by De Voe in 1821, and from 1830 to 1887 was collegiate
with St. Johnsville. The building was erected in 1830 and stood about
a mile and a half east of Crum Creek, and half a mile north of the
county line. The spot is two and a half miles north of Upper St.
Johnsville church, tho never mentioned in the minutes of Classis. In
1857 a new church was built, a mile and a half east from the first
Youker's Bush church, and is about three miles north by east of St.
Johnsville, and was controlled by the Dutch Reformed church. It
paid $225 of Van Neste's salary, and $150 of Minor's salary. About
the year 1887 the Reformed services ceased, and later the Grace
Christian church of St. Johnsville assumed direction of the services.
87
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
The Canajoharie Castle church was the present Indian Castle church
(cf) now standing in the town of Danube. It was erected in 1769
by Sir William Johnson who is said to have personally paid for the
whole cost of the same, which was $1,147.50. The church was built for
a church of England mission to foster religion among the Indians of
the Upper Mohawk castle. Thro the years the Dutch Reformed and
German Reformed and Lutherans and Presbyterians have all held
services here. The Reformed Dutch church of the Castle was in-
corporated about 1800. [The Snell's Bush church, called now the
, Manheim church (cf), is situated in the town of Manheim, midway
^f^-J^i^between St. Johnsville and Little Falls. Before the revolution Suf-
^XAA^vfi^^*^ frenus, Peter, Joseph and Jacob Snell of Snell's Bush gave seven
acres for church and twelve acres for school purposes. A church
was built but burned during the revolution, and later rebuilt. It
stood until 1850 when it was taken down and the present church
built. These churches are historically considered elsewhere in this
record?_
STONE ARABIA REFORMED CHURCH
Stone Arabia is sphinx-like in the origin
_______ _ of its name. None of the fanciful theories
. about it satisfy. That some of the Palatines
Q^lQT)y\fQ.0lO. had traveled in Arabia Petrae and saw a re-
JferowcD QtyRcn- semblance in the "Nose" and the low lying
5r0«/7»™« *r hills of the country to that place is mere
Of?g*m,z£o hbout conjecture. The name is variously spelled and
- 1 7* — 0~ misspelled in the church and other records
0/ttSm,, Ch»rct, bui)t->» .j thro the nearly two hundred years since the
~° //,<y<3"°~ men of the German Palatinate first settled in
the valley. One hundred and twenty-seven
names are among the first settlers to
whom the land was parcelled out. At this time the road on the
north side of the Mohawk ended at Cayadutta creek, not far from
Fonda, access beyond being only by Indian paths. In 1726 a new
road was undertaken, to be built as far as Utica. The land upon
which the original Stone Arabia church was built (a log struc-
ture) and which stood where the present Lutheran church is now
erected, was purchased of one William Coppernoll of Schenectady,
the contract being dated Jbnfiars* >, 1729, the deed to be given by
April 9, 1731. The deed, however was dated May 29, 1732. It con-
sisted of 50 acres for which £100 was to be paid, the other parties
to the transaction being Andrew Fink, Warner Diegert, Johannes
Schnell, and "all the rest of the proprietors and owners of the Stone
Raby patent." In the following year (1733) the people, German
Lutherans and German Calvinists, began to build a frame church, on
the site of the building now occupied by the church. The foundation
had been laid when a controversy arose as to the name by which the
church should be known in the future. The Lutherans withdrew
from the project and returned to the old log church, while the Re-
formed people continued to build. Johannes Schnell and Johannes
Krembs were the contractors, having given bonds for £400 to finish
the building according to the plans. Five years were spent in build-
88
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
ing, but no record is given of the cost or size of the edifice, nor any
view exists of the church, unless, perchance, the ancient seal illus-
trates this nrstchiirch. Rev. Wm. C. Berkenmeyer, S$aot%€^k. the
ga2*t*fte* Ston-e^churchi (1733-1743), Lutheran, writes under date of
August 11, 1734, that he had visited Stone Arabia and held services
in a church jointly built by the Reformed and Lutherans. This must
have been the original church. Under date of February 17, 1745,
Rev. Peter Nicolas Sommer in his Journal writes that he had held
a service of communion for the Lutherans of Stone Arabia in the
barn of Wilhelm Nellis. This shows that the old log structure had
already been abandoned, but as yet no Lutheran church had been
erected to take its place. Ten years later the Lutherans and the Re-
formed people divided equalljr the 50 acres of Glebe. The release
given by the Luthern church to the Reformed church is dated
"Twenty-seventh day of March in the seventeenth year of the Reign
of our Sovereign Lord George the Sec-
ond, over Great Britain, France and Ire-
land, King, Defender of the Faith, etc.,
and in the year of our Lord Christ, one
'i| '
if
A!
11
H
H
ff-
" if?
IT
ft
'-—
r
-
1
thousand seven hundred and forty-four." It is the oldest and most
valuable of the very few papers or records, outside of the books, in.
the possession of the church. It is signed by Jacob Schnell, Kirl£
Loux, Wm. Brouer, Laverinus Deigert, Peter Suits, Hendrick Louxy
Nicholas Horning, William Coppernoll, Peter Diegert, Harris Schnell)
Andreas Fink and Johannes Krems. Each name is differently "sealed"
and six are "marked."
This old stone church, and the one at German Flatts (Fort
Herkimer) whose foundations were laid almost half a century
before it, are among the most remarkable and rarest ecclesiastical
buildings to be found in the United States. The elements of time
and innovation have not changed their form, except slight improve-
ments made necessary within. The same simple but substantial lines
of craftsmanship that the builders wrought into these stone Houses
of God abide to this day. Ardently we hope that for ages to come
they will remain to teach other generations, many yet unborn, of
89
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
the price of liberty and the value of worship. Altho Stone Arabia
was organized nearly two hundred years ago and about it have oc-
curred some of the most tragic events of the valley of the Mohawk,
and its membership evidently originated the Tryon County Com-
mittee of Safety (cf), and to it the nation is indebted for a large
share of those human forces that gave independence and liberty to
the Republic, yet, strange to say, we have never known of a history
of this church to be written. The present effort is a duplication of
an address given by the writer at the time of the one hundred and
twenty-fifth anniversary of the building of the present stone structure.
The first minister among the Palatine Germans in America was the
Rev. Joshua Kocherthal, a Lutheran pastor who came over with the
first Palatine emigration in 1709, under the favor and support of
Queen Anne. For ten years he worked among his people, who had
settled near Newburgh on the Hudson. His death occurred in 1719.
In 1709 Kocherthal visited England and on
his return in 1710, the Rev. John Frederick
Haeger accompanied him, organizing on his
arrival in New York City an Episcopal
church. The missionary society of the
Church of England paid him a salary of £50
annually. Haeger tried at first to win the
Lutherans over to Episcopacy and when he
failed in this, he turned his attention to the
Reformed Germans. But the Church of Eng-
land was not attractive to either, and Kocher-
thal opposed his efforts. Haegar's work
was almost wholly confined to the Hudson
EnTitnnc£On»r£DjNj^^ river settlements below Catskill. He died in
1721, for years having been neglected by the society that had sent
him into the foreign field, tho his letters are piteously appealing for
support. The third minister to serve the Palatines was the Rev. John
Jacob Ehle. The oldest record book of the Lutheran church of Stone
Arabia bears on its cover the statement that the original church here
was organized by Ehle in 1711, but this is an error, both because Ehle
did not come to America until October, 1722, and because the Pala-
tines did not come into this section from Schoharie in any consider-
able numbers until about the same year. Most of the original settlers
had come by 1710. The Rev. Ehle, as his predecessor, Haeger, was an
Episcopalian, having been ordained by the bishop of London,
in August, 1722. He was a Palatine and educated at Heidelberg. At
first his work was among the German settlements on the Hudson,
though he supplied Kinderhook frequently, at which place he married
Johanna Van Slyck in June, 1723. From 1742 until the time of his
death in 1777 at the age of 92, his entire ministry was spent in the
Schoharie and Mohawk valleys. On February 8, 1762, Rev. Ehle
wrote Sir William Johnson protesting vigorously against certain
Bostonians who were proposing to establish schools among the Mo-
hawks as well as the Presbyterian faith He, doubtless, spent some
years in regular service at both Schonane ina Stone Arabia and the
settlements between, but after 1750 his work was confined mainly to
the Mission established near Palatine (then called Canajoharie), the
building still standing and his adjacent residence, called also Fort
90
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Ehle, situate a short distance east of the Fort Plain N. Y.C. depot.
In his latter years he devoted most of his time to his work among
the Indians to whom in 1750 he had been appointed a missionary, and
with the Rev. Peter H. Van Driesen (dec. 1738), was given valuable
land tracts by them in appreciation of his services. Ehle's descend- a
ant's still occupy this land. ~Xor ><^^^ ,^r^^c-^ £~t2^£ty frsC/to****2- &*'^^2-a^
The Rev. Michael Weiss (Weitzil/s he sometime? wrote it) was "^-s-c-w?^
the first ordained Reformed minister to labor among the Palatines
of the Schoharie and the Mohawk valleys. Born in the Palatinate, a
graduate of Heidelberg at 18, ordained in 1725, he came to America
two years later (with 400 others) sent there by the Palatine consis-
tory. For four years he worked in Pennsylvania, then came to Scho-
harie country in 1731, going the, next year
^oxsackie, where he re-
year to Lo
mained four years, and in"T73fland for seven years stationed at
German Flatts (Fort Herkimer). From German Flatts he went to
Rhinebeck in 1742. No mention is made in the existing records at
Stone Arabia of the service either of the Revs.
Ehle or Weiss, but we know the former often
preached here, and Weiss, doubtless, frequent-
ly supplied this pulpit during his pastorate at
German Flatts. After two other pastorates
Weiss died at Gosenhoppen, Pa., in 1762, at
the age of 62. During his years in the valley,
Weiss, as Ehle, worked among the Mohawks.
Weiss wrote quite a graphic description of the
Indians. The Rev. Johannes Schuyler had
four pastorates, two of which
were at different periods in Scho-
harie, involving some thirty years
or more, the first for a score of
years following 1735. During this
first pastorate he supplied Stone
Arabia and German Flatts, where
his name is to be found on the
earliest subscription list toward
the completion of the partly
built church. By some he is
thought to have been the man who organized the Stone Arabia
church. The first consistory record is dated October 24, 1743, yet
members were admitted into the church and so recorded as early as
1737. Ten members joined in 1739 and seven in 1740. There is a
baptism in 1739 of Henry Richard Loux, the son of Adam Loux.
The church early in its history was an Independent Reformed church,
probably from the beginning the Lutherans having their own
organization. There is a record showing that at first consistory
gatherings were largely verbal meetings with no records. Rev.
Schulyer was a member of the first Coetus (1738), first Dutch minister
to be ordained in this country, which act was approved by the Classis
of Amsterdam. We are inclined strongly to believe from conditions
that prevailed at German Flatts, that one of the first things done at
Stone Arabia was the organization of a church, without doubt as
early as 1725. It may be that the earliest baptisms, marriages and
admissions to membership were regarded as a part of the work of
the Schoharie church. The earliest record extant of the consistory
91
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
is dated October 24, 1743, — "Johannes Schuyler, Praedeger of Scho-
harie and Steinrabie; Dietrich Loux and Jost Snell, elders, and Ser-
venus Duiker and Adam Loux, deacons." This is the first minister
mentioned in the extant records. Rev. Schuyler left Stone Arabia
and Schoharie in 1756 to succeed Rev. Curtenius in the Hackensack,
N. J. church, where he remained ten years, returning next to Scho-
harie where he died on April 16, 1779, aged sixty-nine. He was buried
beneath the pulpit of the old stone church, erected toward the close
of Schuyler's second pastorate, later used as a fort. Rev. Schuyler
married Annatje Veeder of Schenectady in 1743, and had six children.
His sixth son, Philip, was the builder of the Stone Arabia church in
1788. Philip was also engaged on the Inland Lock Navigation Co.
under Gen. Schuyler, to whom he was distantly related. His only
daughter, Margaret, became the wife of Andrew Van Wie of Florida
(Montgomery county). A sister of Rev. Schuyler, Elisabeth, was the
wife of Gosen M. Van Alstyne, who built the old stone house, the
first in the present village of Canajoharie, still standing, and, by
some erroneously thot to be Fort Rensselaer. Mrs. Margaret Snell
of Herkimer was a great grandaughter. The names of the minister
and those of his two sons, Peter and Philip, are carved in the stones
of the old Fort at Schoharie.
The "Rev. Johannes Aemilius Wernig" is the way this successor of
Schuyler spells his name in the record. Under date of July 14, 1751,
the church of "Stein Rabien," testified to the Classis of Amsterdam
(Holland), of the good character and correct standing of their pastor.
The letter is in German and is signed by 32 names as follows: Peter
Lutz, Johannes Schnell, Henrich Fehling, Johannes Jost Snell, Sev-
erinus Deigert, Wilhelm Wermuth, Henrich Lauchs, Casper Kock
(Cook), Peter Kremps, Gottfried Helmer, Friederich Bellinger, Jr.,
Friederich Bellinger, Johann Leonhardt Helmer, Henrich Lauchs,
George Koppernoll, Henry Ifer'kel, Jacob Krauz, Adam Lauchs,
Frederich Getmann, Conrad Kutz, Johann Henrich Klock, Wilhelm
Lauchs, Johannes Kremps, Wilhelm Koppernoll, Leonhardt Helmer,
Robert Gerder, Adam Wabel, Johannes Fehling Johannes Snell, Jr.,
Dietrich Lauche, Johannes Henrich Riemenschneider. The church
decided to call Wernig, who had already declined to go to Lancaster,
Pa., but a year elapsed before the Classis of Amsterdam replied, who
said that Wernig had exhibited no evidence that he was even a can-
didate (his papers were not satisfactory), much less that he was a
minister. They seemed to have investigated his Heidelberg record,
for they admit he is a licentiate, but his examination for the ministry
was not sustained. Therefore Classis votes that Wernig must come
to Holland to be examined before they can approve the call of the
Stone Arabia church. This was the action of July 17th, 1752. On
September 14, 1752, Wernig writes from Stone Arabia a long letter
to his friend, the Rev. John Ritzema of New York city. It is full of
scathing rebuke for the disturbers in the field, and replete with fine
sarcasm for some of the preachers whom Wernig claims "serve the
flock only for the wool that is in it." He wants to be examined by
the New York City Reformed ministers, which request was refused
September 17, 1753, and says he can't go to Holland, among other
reasons, because he has married a wife, and hasn't any money, and
on his first voyage over he came near dying of sea sickne^ (Eccles.
Histy. N. Y., V. 3162, 3285). After leaving Stone Arabia (he also
92
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
served Canajoharie and Schoharie) all trace of him is lost. Rev.
Sommers of the Lutheran church married Mr. Wernig to Anna Maria
Schnell on July 2, 1751.
Under date of May 30, 1755, the Coetus (predecessor of the
General Synod) asked permission to ordain and install John Mauritius
Goetschius over the church of Stone Arabia which they say is a
"German Reformed church north of Albany ... .for sometime past
imposed upon and tossed about and injured by German (ministerial)
tramps. It is far distant and has little strength; but it longs for the
Gospel ministry. .. .if not helped now in this way.... it is liable to
become totally scattered." But the Classis of Amsterdam under date
of April 5, 1756, writes that it will not permit Mauritius Goetschius
to be installed at Stone Arabia to which he had been called. Mr.
Goetschius was a physician, and was licensed in 1754 and was at
Schoharie in 1757-1760, and doubtless supplied Stone Arabia during
these same years or a part of the time. He was ordained at Scho-
harie on December 14, 1757. His next and last pastorate was at New
Paltz, an itinerary of thirty miles. Here he died in 1771. He practiced
medicine all his life. He was one of the original trustees of Queens
College. The Rev. Abram Rosencrantz ©ee»sie«a41y served Stone
Arabia during the years 1756-1758, and a second time from 1760 thro
1770. Rosencrantz was one of the original patentees of the tract
known as "Stally's Patent," in the town of Little Falls. He was a
graduate of one of the German universities and at the time the fore-
most divine west of Schenectady. His first work was at German
Flatts (cf) and Canajoharie in the old "Sand Hill" church, where he
labored from 1752 to 1758. A brother in the ministry was working
among the German families scattered along the route from Schoharie
to Utica, but died (1752) just before Abram came to America. In
1758 and 1759 he was called to a work among the Germans in New
York city, but in 1760 he returned to the Mohawk valley, preaching
in Stone Arabia, Canajoharie and German Flatts. He supplied this
church for ten years from 1760, spending the remainder of his life,
about 40 years, at German Flatts. Rosencrantz married Anna M.
Herkimer, a sister of the general. He died on Fall Hill, in 1796,
and was buried beside his brother under the pulpit of the old stone
church at German Flatts (Fort Herkimer). While pastor at Stone
Arabia Rosencrantz received £70 annually as his salary, Canajoharie ^Trk {r
and German Flatts also paying a similar amount (in all $525).
In the period including the war of the Revolution there seems
to be no record of any settled pastor or regular supply, the Rev.
John Daniel Gros and the Rev. Rosencrantz occasionally serving the
church. The church records show this. The Rev. John Daniel Gros,
once a New York city pastor, also for a while professor at Columbia
College, was an unusually well learned man for the time. He was an
ardent patriot and served as chaplain in three different regiments.
The last few years of his life (1802-1812) were spent in the vicinity
of Fort Plain on a farm, and he lies buried at Freysbush in this
county. There are no records of baptisms or marriages, or even of
consistory after 1771 thro 1776 tho very likely the former records
were made, especially by Rosencrantz in the German Flatts register.
For a decade after this the history of the church is unknown. The
Battle of Stone Arabia, occurring near the church (October 19j 1780)
is treated of in the Notes. The Johnsons and Butlers and Brants
93
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
were raging the country with the help of the Indians. The 1779 raid
was a cruel one but the 1780 devastation was inhumanly brutal. In
the Reformed church cemetery is a monument erected in 1836 to the
memory of Col. John Brown who lost his life in the Battle of Stone
Arabia. It ought to be a patriotic shrine to which we might make
regular pilgrimages in remembrance of the price paid by our
forefathers for liberty and justice. The present stone church
was erected in 1788 by Philip Schuyler, the sixth son of the first re-
corded pastor of the church. The consistory at the time was John
Ziellj', Jacob Eacker, Arnout Vedder and Johannes Koch, elders, and
Frederick Gettman, Adam Loucks, Casper Cook, and Michael Ehle,
deacons. The history of the church from this time on is more definite.
At the completion of the building Rev. D. C .A. Pick came to the
work. He, later, served German Flatts (cf). He remained at Stone
Arabia for ten years. In 1795 the church gave five acres of land to
the Union Academy of Palatine. A two story frame building was
erected opposite the church in 1799. Maj. Andrew Finck was behind
this project. The Legislature was about to establish several new
seats of learning and this was to be one of them. However, Finck's
neighbors vehemently objected to the school, saying that "too much
learning made bad farmers." The title to the land was questioned,
the administration was sued, and Finck was forced to yield. Later
Finck gave the land for the Fairfield Seminary in Herkimer county,
for which school in 1814, $5,000 was raised by lottery. This was
burned in 1806 and the school given up.
Pick was a great orator, likened by some to Martin Luther,
and crowds waited upon his preaching. He was suspended
from the ministry about 1800. In 1802 on a visit to New York cily,
he dropped dead on the street. During this pastorate the church con-
nected itself (January 20, 1790) with the Classis of Albany, and on
May 31, 1791, it was incorporated as the "Reformed Protestant Dutch
Church of Stone Arabia." An inventory of church property filed at
Fonda, January 3, 1794 is signed by D. C. A. Pick, V. D. M., Adam
Loucks, Hendrick Loucks, Frederick Gettman (elders), and Jacob
Snell, Christian Finck, Nicholas Van Slyck and John H. Van Wie,
deacons. In 1797 a parsonage was built. For eight years or not until
1788, when this church was erected during Pick's pastorate at a cost
of $3,378, the people had no other place of worship, except a
temporary frame structure. Sir John Johnson with Captains Thomas
and Brant came from Montreal by way of Oswego with their hired
Indians and after devastating Schoharie reached Fort Hunter October
17, 1780, and proceeded west, destroying every building as far as Fort
Plain, including Caughnawaga. From Keder's Rift (Sprakers), 150
men attacked Fort Paris, the stockaded store of Isaac Paris (tortured
to death by the Indians at Oriskany in 1777) and burned the Dutch
and Lutheran churches. The Dutch church burned was erected in
1738. The Lutherans rebuilt theirs, the present structure, in 1792,
Rev. Dr. Philip T. Gros preaching the dedication sermon.
Rev. Isaac Labagh came to this church from Kinderhook in 1800,
and remained three years, preaching in German Low Dutch and
English. While pastor here he also preached in the Reformed Cal-
vinist church of Minden (Canajoharie having been divided) and, oc-
casionally at Sharon (•N-e*v Rhin-&beek-), Schoharie county, to which
place he went in November, 1803. hi 184-J7--4rr--rg4«aHhed--trj~rh-c valley
94
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
tmd- spent a few monthc at U-fciea-. He died July 4, 1837. It is re-
corded that John Dockstader of Stone Arabia was paid seven shillings
for bringing up the minister's wagon from Kinderhook in 1803. Rev.
John Taylor in his Journal of 1802 writes that he visited Stone Arabia
and found Dr. Grotz (Gros) in the Lutheran church and Rev. Lubauch
(Labagh) in the Dutch Reformed church. He spells the name "Stone-
rabia," and adds that the Dutch pronounce the last word as if spelled
"robby." The longest pastorate in the church was that of Rev. John
J. Wack, extending thro nearly a quarter-century from 1805, the year
ui-h+s-ea4i, tho during most of these years Mr. Wack was not in good
standing in the Classis. The Minutes of Albany Particular Synod
(1817) refer in detail to the trouble, Among the officers at this time
were, Elders Thomas Getman, Lutwig Rickert, John P. Grames, Wm.
Smith, Jacob Snell, David I. Zieley, Adam Lipe, Peter G. Getman, and
Deacons Jacob I. Eacker, John Gray, Richard Luts, and Christopher
C. Fox. He also supplied the Tillaborough field, and for a few years,
also, the church at Ephratah. His life and work is spoken of in detail
in the record of the "Sand Hill" church of the extinct churches. On
his death, May 26, 1851, Wack was at first buried in the church hill
cemetery at Ephratah, but later the body was reinterred at Fort Plain.
The Rev. Isaac S. Ketchum was graduated from New Brunswick in
1821 and entered at once upon his ministry in this community, serving
at Manheim (cf), Danube (Indian Castle), Salisbury and Stone Arabia
from 1822 thro 1830. He also occasionally preached at the Columbia,
Second Herkimer, and Remsen Snyder's Bush Churches, and from
1829 thro 1836 he preached at Ephratah in connection with Stone
Arabia. Ketchum was an intimate friend of President Martin Van
Buren, who commissioned him to remove some Indian tribes beyond
the Mississippi and received the thanks of Van Buren for his success-
ful work. He spent the closing years of his life on a farm near St.
Louis, and died in 1863, aged 67 years.
Rev. Benjamin B. Westfall came to Stone Arabia in 1838 and re-
mained about seven years, or until the time of his death, which oc-
curred in 1844 at the age of 46. Westfall was brot up on a Columbia
county farm. In a nine years' work in Ulster county 300 were added
to the church, and it was in the midst of a great revival here in Stone
Arabia that Ketchum contracted a disease that ended his life. This
man's soul travailed in birth for his people, that Christ might be
formed in them, the hope of glory. During Westfall's pastorate the
church was repaired and a bell bot, all costing $2,000. He died in
Stone Arabia in 1844, as the tablet on the wall tells, and lies buried
beneath the pulpit. The bell bot in 1839, cost $355, the repairs, be-
side a complete renovation, including the closing of the east door, a
window being substituted, the raising of the floor, change of seats, a
new pulpit built, arch overhead filled in, gallery at front partitioned
off, the steeple tinned and weather vane purchased, and belfry blinds
put on. The membership at this time was 241, and in 1840 the report
to Classis was most gratifying. When the next renovation comes to
the old Stone Arabia Reformed Dutch church it is to be hoped that
those who have it in charge will endeavor to reinstate the old pulpit,
still extant, and bring back the interior to its old time beauty and
symmetry. Charles Jukes had a seven year pastorate at Stone Arabia
(1844-1850), beginning in 1844. He was an Englishman by birth,
coming to America in 1830 and serving Presbyterian churches in
95
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Saratoga county and at Amsterdam. He came to this church from
the Glen Reformed church (cf). His last pastorate was at Rotterdam,
Schenectady county, where he died in 1862. Some of his descendants
live in Fulton county. John Cannon Van Liew was 40 when he came
to this church in 1851, remaining nearly six years. He had another
short pastorate at Berne (Albany county) and died in 1861 at the
age of 51. During the years 1857 and 1858 the Rev. Nanning Bo-
gardus, who spent some ten years in the Classis at Fort Plain and
Sprakers, was a stated supply. Mr. Bogardus' last pastorate was at
Sprakers and he died in 1868. The only record of this ministry is to
be found in a salary receipt. Other supplies in 1858 and 1859 were
the Rev. Philip Furbeck, at the time pastor at Fonda (cf), and the
Rev. G. M. Blodgett of whom we know nothing further. In 1859 the
present parsonage was built at a cost of $1,337.
After an interim in the pastorate of some five years, the Rev.
Lawrence H. Van Dyck was called to the church in 1861. There
were 85 families and 103 members in the church in 1862. He had
ministered to Presbyterian churches since graduation at Auburn in
1833, and for about 15 years at Gilboa and Helderburg, and at Bloom-
ing Grove for 5 or 6 years before entering this field. Leaving here
in 1867 he had a pastorate in Unionville, N. Y., next going to New
Brunswick, N. J., in 1876, to become rector of Herzog Hall. He died
in Brooklyn January 24, 1893, at the age of 86. Van Dycke was a
most devoted pastor, his whole life an illustration of the Master's
spirit and service. He wrote a history of the Montgomery County
Bible society in 1867. His wife was Christina Hoes of
Kinderhook, sister of Rev. J. C. F. Hoes (cf Ithaca). A
brother, Rev. C. V. A. Van Dyck was the noted Syrian scholar,
and a sister, Jane Elizabeth, married Rev. Dr. T. W. Wells.
The Rev. James Murphy Compton spent nearly thirty years
laboring in the Classis of Montgomery, principally in the
churches of Currytown, Mapletown, Columbia, Henderson and Sprak-
ers (cf). His pastorate here and at Ephratah extended over four
years from April, 1868. He died while pastor of the Columbia church
December 12, 1891, and lies buried in that church cemetery. William
B. Van Benschoten, after two pastorates in New Jersey of four years
each, came to this church in 1872 (also preaching at Ephratah and
labored here until he died in 1880 at the age of forty-five. During the
last year of his pastorate the church and parsonage were repaired
at a cost of $2,000. Prominent among the workers of this period were
Conrad P. Snell, Henry Gramps, John Kilts, Reuben Graff, Erwin
Vosburgh, Aurora Failing, Charles Loucks, Johannes Hess and Harri-
son Brown.
The Rev. Rufus M. Stanbrough was graduated from New Bruns-
wick in 1861 and at once took up the work at Manheim (cf), also
supplying Indian Castle. He came to Stone Arabia in 1881 from a
five years pastorate at Columbia (Herkimer county), remaining here
for about five years. His next and only other charge was at West
Hurley, N. Y. He exhibited an indomitable energy in his arduous
ministry and was the personification of patience, faith and devotion.
He died in 1894, at the age of 72. During Stanbrough's pastorate
(1883) the organ was bot at a cost of $400. Occasionally services
were held during the years 1886 and 1887. The Revs. P. H. Bariler
(cf Manheim), F. S. Haines (cf Canajoharie) and Jas. Demarest (cf
96
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Fort Plain) filling the pulpit, the summer months being filled by
Frederick L. Luce, a seminary student. The Rev. John A. Thomson
on graduation from New Brunswick in 1887 assumed the pastorate in
connection with Sprakers and remained nearly five years. At this time
forty families were reported and seventy members. In the few years
after leaving this field, Mr. Thomson served Sprakers (cf) and Maple-
town, and a mission at East Palatine. Since 1902 he has had a pas-
torate at Middlebush, N. J. During Mr. Thomson's pastorate the
centennial of the construction of this church was observed.
The morning program included a sermon by the Rev. Dr.
DeBaun of Fonda, and an historical address by S. L. Frey of Pala-
tine Bridge. In the afternoon, dinner having been served, addresses
were delivered by Edward F. Jones of Binghamton, Lieutenant-
Governor of New York, A. T. Worden, Senator Arkell and the Rev.
J. W. Compton (pastor 1868-1871). After Mr. Thomson's pastorate
the church had no regular ministry for another five years, or until the
Rev. Charles L. Palmer came in 1897. Richard Van Benskor, a
student, supplied occasionally in 1895, as did also Rev. Joel A. Loucks,
a licentiate of Montgomery Classis, Isaac Messier, superintendent of
the Kentucky mission work since 1905, preached here during the
summer of 1896. The Rev. Charles L. Palmer became pastor in 1897,
also serving the Ephratah church for three years, and since 1903-1914
was pastor of a Reformed church at Kingston. During this pastorate
the church was again incorporated (May, 1899) and the Bible now in
use was given by the Social union. Rev. Palmer is now at Marlboro,
N. J. Since the year 1900 and until June, 1914, there was no settled
pastor or stated supply, of the church, regular services having been
held only during the three summer months of each year. Only sum-
mer work by students has been undertaken during these years. A.
C. V. Dangremond, now of College Point, L. I., was here in 1900 and
1901, and in 1902 and 1903 Garret Hondelink, now at Kalamazoo,
Mich, supplied. For four years following no services were held in
the church. In 1908 R. A. Stout preached during the summer. In
1909 Rev. E. J. Meeker, now at Lodi, supplied the pulpit for several
months. Anthony L. Ver Hulst supplied during the summer of 1910,
and for three summers R. A. Stanton, '14 of the Western Theological
Seminary at Holland, Mich., was the supply. In June, 1914, Mr.
Stanton was ordained by the Montgomery Classis and installed over
the Ephratah (cf) and Stone Arabia churches. The present con-
sistory is Harvey Gramps and John C. Kilts, elders, and Wm. Kent,
Adelbert Laning and Chas. Vosburgh, deacons.
97
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
SYRACUSE: FIRST REFORMED CHURCH
£':. ft' >» V
•:-. is'., i
Ifli
The First Re-
formed (Dutch)
church of Syra-
cuse was organ-
izedby the Classis
of Cayuga on
March 10, 1848,
the same year
that Syracuse ob-
tained its first
charter, and was
incorporated
March 25, 1848.
A. mong the ori-
ginal members
both Salina and
Syracuse (joined
by the charter)
were represented,
while others
came from the
Dutch churches
of Chittenango
and Geneva, and
a few from the
First and Park
Presbyterian churches of Syracuse. The services at the very be-
ginning were held in Market Hall where the magnificent City Hall
now stands. The services, however, were transferred to a frame
chapel which had previously been used by the Baptists, Congrega-
tionalists, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Unitarians. Here the Re-
formed congregation worshipped for two years. In 1850 the church
bot its present site and built a fine frame edifice which served them
until February, 1878, when the church was burned. The original site
and church cost $16,000. W. B. Van Wagenen and B. C. Vroraan,
elders, and Peter Burns and S. V. A. Featherly, deacons, made up
the first consistory. After the burning of the church, plans were
set on foot for rebuilding, with the result that the present beautiful
and enduring stone church was dedicated in February, 1881. This
church cost $60,000. At first the church was in the Cayuga Classis,.
but was transferred to Montgomery in 1889. Rev. James H. Cornell
was the first pastor (1848-1851), installed November 9, 1848. His
father was Rev. John Cornell a student of Livingston, his mother
being Maria Frelinghuysen, daughter of Gen. Frederick Freling-
huysen. After leaving Syracuse he had short pastorates at Raritan,
N. J., and Coeymans, N. Y., spending his last years in this latter place.
He died in 1899. Dr. Cornell is best remembered by the church at
large as a good Secretary of the Board of Education, as well for his
personal efforts and gifts which increased the Seminary endowment
at New Brunswick for upwards of half a million of dollars. It -was
during Cornell's pastorate that the first church was built, being dedi-
cated July 16, 1850. In May, 1851, the consistory unanimously re-
98
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
solved to approve the action of the Classis of Cayuga which had
officially and solemnly decreed that every minister that joined their
body should thereby attain the degree of "Doctor of Divinity." Rev.
J. Romeyn Berry followed Dr. Cornell (1851-1857). At this time the
church reported a hundred and twenty members and at the close of
his ministry a hundred and forty-nine. Dr. Berry was President
of General Synod in 1890. He was a grandson of Rev. J. V. C.
Romeyn and a great grandson of Rev. Thomas Romeyn( cf Fonda),
whose four sons were in the Reformed church ministry. Dr. Berry
had several pastorates after leaving Syracuse, including one of eighteen
years in the Montclair, N. J. Presbyterian church. His last charge
was at Rhinebeck where he died in 1890. Following Dr. Berry, Prof.
J. B. Condit of the Seminary at Auburn, supplied for a while. Rev. T.
DeWitt Talmage came to the Syracuse church in 1859 from his first
charge at Belleville, N. J. and remained thro the larger part of 1862.
General Synod met in the church in 1861, and again in 1885. From
Syracuse Dr. Talmage went to the Second church of Philadelphia for
an eight year pastorate. The church had called him the year previous-
ly but he postponed going for a year. In 1869 he became the pastor
of the Central Presbyterian church of Brooklyn, which church in
1870 became the "Brooklyn Tabernacle." Here he was pastor until
1894 when he went to the Presbyterian church of Washington, D. C.
He died in 1902 in this pastorate. He was a preacher of world-wide
reputation and influence. The late Rev. Frank Talmage was his son.
Rev. Joachim Elmendorf, who had already served the Reformed
churches of Ithaca and Saugerties, was called to the church in 1862,
and resigned in 1865. Leaving Syracuse Dr. Elmendorf became the
pastor of the Second Church of Albany (1865-1872) and later of the
Second Church of PoughkeepjJe(1872-1886), leaving in the latter
year to enter the Harlem /^ga$Bgla^H3hurch of New York City in
which pastorate he died in 1908. Dr. Elmendorf was Press Agent of
General Synod in 1872 and was a Rutgers trustee for nearly forty
years. Rev. Jeremiah Searle was the succeeding pastor (1866-1869),
whose father of the same name, studied theology under Prof. Yates
of Union College while pursuing a course there and whose brother,
Rev. S. T. Searle, was the father of Rev. Dr. J. Preston Searle, Presi-
dent of the Faculty of New- Brunswick Seminary. Leaving Syracuse
Rev. Jeremiah Searle became the pastor of the Calvary Presbyterian
church of Newburgh in 1873, and served this church for forty years,
or until 1913, when he died. In the interim of the pastorate the pulpit
was again supplied by Prof. Condit of Auburn Seminary. Rev.
Martin Luther Berger was the sixth pastor of the Syracuse church,
during whose time some two hundred were added to the membership.
At the close of a seven year's work (1869-1875) he entered the Pres-
byterian church at San Francisco. He died in 1910. Prof. W. P.
Coddington of Syracuse University supplied the pulpit until the com-
ing to the field of Rev. Evert Van Slyke who was called in July,
1876, and remained nine years. It was during his pastorate that the
church was burned, February 3, 1878, and the new present stone
structure erected. Dr. Van Slyke left in April, 1885, and had later
pastorates in Catskill and Brooklyn. He died in 1909. The church
had no settled pastor now for about three years. Rev. Dr. Codding-
ton of Syracuse University supplied the pulpit thro 1886-1888 when
Rev. H. D. B. Mulford of Franklin Park, N. J. was called and came
99
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
in 1889. He remained until 1897. During his pastorate and thro the
efforts of his Christian Endeavor Society the Second Church of
Syracuse was organized in 1895. Two hundred and twenty additions
to the church membership are recorded during Rev. Mulford's pas-
torate. Mr. Mulford next went to Rutgers as Professor of English.
In 1912 he became the pastor of the Upper Red Hook Reformed
church. In November, 1897, Rev. Dr. Philip H .Cole became the
pastor and remained ten years. Dr. Cole has been pastor since
leaving Syracuse of the First Presbyterian church of Rome. Follow-
ing Dr. Cole came Rev. Dr. John F. Dobbs (November, 1908) of Mott
Haven, who remained until May, 1915, when he was dismissed to
the Woburn (Mass.) Congregational Conference. Rev. Ulysses Grant
Warren succeeded Dr. Dobbs, coming to the church from the Brook-
lyn Congregationalists in September, 1915. Hon. Nathan F. Graves,
who endowed a Missionary Lectureship at the Syracuse University and
another at New Brunswick, was a member of this church, and one
of its officers for many years. Rev. Maltbie D. Babcock and Rev.
Willard King Spencer (Auburn '79) were also in membership here.
SYRACUSE: SECOND REFORMED CHURCH
The Second Re-
formed church of Syra-
cuse was organized
May 27, 1895, begin-
ning with a charter
membership of twenty-
seven. The church was
the direct outgrowth of
a Sunday School work
which had been carried
on for some months by
the young people of the
First Reformed church
while Rev. H. D. B.
Mulford was the pas-
tor. The first pastor called to the field was Rev. Charles Maar, who
after two years at New Brunswick, took a third year at Auburn
Seminary, and on his graduation in 1892, was ordained by Montgom-
ery Classis and installed over the church at Owasco Outlet. After
a second pastorate at Cobleskill, Rev. Mr. Maar took up the work at
Second Syracuse in October, 1895, remaining until May, 1899. After pas-
torates at Upper Red Hook and Walkill, Mr. Maar entered the employ
of the State at Albany, where he now resides. Within a short time
the church called Charles G. Mallery who took up the work of his
first pastorate on graduation from New Brunswick in 1899 and was
ordained and installed over the church by the Classis. During his
pastorate sixty-four were received into the church, the building erect-
ed, and the work progressed. Mr. Mallery resigned in 1904, going
to Rhinebeck, N. Y. from which field he went to Bedminster, N. J.
in 1914. Rev. Peter Edwin Huyler, a graduate of Auburn, next took
up the work at Second Syracuse in the early summer of 1905, and
resigned in September, 1914, to follow Mr. Mallery in the Rhinebeck
100
HISTORY OF .MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
church. Rev. Alexander S. Van Dyck came to the pastorate from
Philmont in January, 1915. He had served the denomination for
twelve years in the foreign missionary work at Amoy, China. The
Second Reformed church of Syracuse is in a fine field, a favored and
growing residential section of the city, and is coming into its own
in the influence upon the community. The first consistory of the
church was made up of Elders John Boyd, and F. G. K. Betts, and
Deacons E. F. Hammeken and Alexander Gee. The present con-
sistory is composed of Elders W. A. Boyd, E. F. Hammeken, N. W.
King, and H. H. Snyder, and Deacons E. E. Hull, C. W. Taylor,
Oscar Hauptli, and G. C. Hutchings.
THOUSAND ISLES REFORMED CHURCH
Probably the first
white man to gaze on
the beauty of the Lake
of the Thousand Isles
was Samuel de Cham-
plain, the founder of
New France, who, in
1615, took part in an
expedition against the
Iroquois. After him the
first man of note was
Father LeMoyne, the
Jesuit priest while on
his journey to the On-
ondagas in the summer
of 1654. After Le-
Moyne came LaSalle, Frontenac, De La Barre, La Hontan, Hennepin,
Charlevoix, et al. This church is in Jefferson county (called after
Thomas Jefferson) at Alexandria Bay (named after Alexander Le Ray,
son of the proprietor of the tract). The site for the church and par-
sonage was given by Francis DePeau. "The Church of the Thousand
Isles" is the corporate and euphonious name of this Reformed church,
which owes its origin to the indefatigable labors of Rev. Dr. Bethune,
the noted hymn writer and at one time the pastor of our Utica
church (cf). While pastor of the old Third Church of Philadelphia
(now extinct) Dr. Bethune made annual pilgrimages to the "Thousand
Isles," usually preaching on Sundays in the school house at Alexan-
dria Bay. The first Sunday school in the town was soon organized.
Later Dr. Bethune met the Rev. Jerome A. Davenport, and sent him
to the field, caring for him largely out of his own means, with no thot
whatever of a church — just a sort of itinerant preaching at the Bay
and in the surrounding communities. But Mr. Davenport's work soon
outgrew the little stone school house, and compelled a church building.
Mr. Davenport went to Wisconsin and later entered the Episcopal
church. After two years spent in raising funds, a church was built
costing $2,800, while in the following year a manse was erected which
cost $825. The first consistory of the church was Alvah Ford, elder,
and James Wordworthy, deacon. The first pastor of the church was
the Rev. Anson DuBois, who came in 1850 and remained four years.
101
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
He had just graduated from the Seminary (New Brunswick) and
spent over fifty years in the pulpit. During Mr. DuBois' ministry
here the church was organized in 1851, reporting to the Particular
Synod the following year. Among the early patrons of the church,
besides Dr. Bethune, were Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Throop Martin of
the Owasco Outlet church, who largely contributed toward its
erection and John G. Holland to whom a memorial tablet was erected.
The building was dedicated in August, 1851, Dr. Bethune preaching
the sermon. A Presbyterian church in Troy, N. Y. gave the bell.
Very few of the members of the church were ever before connected
with the denomination. The land for both church and parsonage
wwe^given by the estate of Frances DePeau.
The second pastor of the church was the Rev. George Rockwell,
who staid by the organization for twenty-three years. Relinquishing
this pastorate owing to extreme deafness in 1877, Mr. Rockwell spent
some time in Fulton, N. Y. and New York City, going for residence
finally to Tarrytown, where he died in 1897. Rev. De Vries came to
the work in 1877 and remained five years. Since 1884, Mr. De Vries
has been the pastor of the Peekskill, N. Y. church. Rev. Dr. Egbert
C. Lawrence followed De Vries in 1882 and resigned in 1886. Mr.
Lawrence has been in the Presbyterian ministry for many years, and
has been spending a good many years as supply to vacant churches,
making his home in Schenectady, N. Y. After Dr. Lawrence, the
Rev. Charles P. Evans supplied the church for a couple of years. He
is living at present in Watervliet. Rev. George Z. Collier was next
on the field, coming in 1890 and remaining thro a part of 1896. Mr.
Collier is now serving the Middleburgh church in the Classis of
Schoharie. Rev. Isaac J. Van Hee came to the field from the Semin-
ary (New Brunswick) in 1897, being ordained by the Classis. He re-
mained thro 1901 when he accepted a call to the Fultonville church
which he left in 1905. After pastorates at North Paterson (N. J.),
Little Falls (N. J.), and Pekin, 111., he entered the Presbyterian
church. His principal task for some years has been in social work
for the Ford Auto Co. of Detroit, Mich.
In 1901 the church called Rev. Charles F. Benjamin, a member
of that year's class in the Seminary, who was ordained by the Mont-
gomery Classis and installed over the church, and is its present
pastor. The present consistory consists of Norman Hay, Noris
Houghton, John Betz, C. B. Forsythe, elders, and C. W. Cornwall,
George Russell, J. B. Reid and Fred Chayn, deacons.
102
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASS1S
UTICA REFORMED CHURCH
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Oneida county, in which Utica is situated and which was form-
ed January 27, 1789, was the home of the Oneida Indians, the only
tribe who remained friendly to the colonists, except a part of the
Tuscaroras. The work of the Rev. Samuel Kirkland among them
made this possible (cf Note on Indian Education, etc.). The earliest
mention of Utica is in the Cosby Manor Patent, dated 1734, and, again,
in the itinerary of a French spy, traveling in 1757 from Oswego to
Schenectady. President Dwight of Yale passing thro Utica in 1798,
speaks of it as a pretty village of fifty houses. Reference is also
made to it in the "Story of Castorland." The Reformed Protestant
Dutch church of Utica was organized in 1830. The first church organ-
ized in Oneida county was by the Congregationalists at New Hart-
ford, the Presbyterians having formed one later (1786) at Whites-
boro. With Reformed churches established so many years previously
in the vicinity of Utica it is a cause of surprise that one was not found-
ed here earlier. Soon after 1800 (Utica was incorporated as a village
in 1798), a number of Dutch and German families settled at Deer-
field, near Utica. The pastor at German Flatts, Rev. John P. Spin-
ner, as well as Rev. Isaac ,'Labagh and Rev. John F. Schermerhorn,
missionaries of the Domestic Board, made frequent visits to this field.
The preaching was in the German and Dutch tongues, the services be-
ing held at first in the Deerfield Baptist church, then the old Utica
Methodist meeting house, kindly loaned for this purpose. Up to
103
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
1825 Mr. Spinner came to Utica nearly every alternate Sunday. In
the Reformed Church Magazine of January 28, 1828, is an account
of a consistory meeting of the Collegiate church, New York City,
held at the corner of Nassau and Amsterdam streets, at which the
matter of organizing a church at Utica was discussed. Rev. John
Ludlow of the First Church, Albany, and Secy. Schermerhorn, were
the men who urged it. It was shown that a sum of $3,000 was avail-
able at Utica, and a lot worth $4,000. The Albany church had prom-
ised $3,000. It was thot that $10,000 was necessary to begin the
work. We do not know the results of this meeting, but in the follow-
ing years plans were consummated for the organization. The Broad
Street church building was erected in 1830, and dedicated on June
3d. It cost $15,000. At the organization, late in October, there were
thirty-nine members, while fifteen more united at the first communion.
This building was used until 1866. The first pastor of the church was
Rev. George W. Bethune, who remained four years. He was in-
stalled November 7, 1830, and preached his farewell sermon June
29, 1834. The Utica church resulted from an unusual religious con-
dition in the city, and was started by certain men and women of
strong Calvinistic faith. Rev. Charles G. Finney had occupied the
pulpit of the First Presbyterian church during the winter of 1827.
While his influence was powerful, many questioned the methods
he pursued, while they regarded much of the preaching as un-
scriptural. But rather than oppose what passed in those days for a
revival, certain persons, principally Scotch, came together and formed
the Utica Dutch church. The first officers were Abraham Varick and
George M. Weaver, elders, and Nicholas G. Weaver and Richard
Vaughan, deacons.
Dr. Bethune was the son of Divie Bethune, one of the founders
of Princeton Seminary, a publisher and distributor of free tracts and
Bibles years before the founding of the societies for this purpose. He
was born March 18, 1805, spent three years at Columbia, and gradu-
ated at Dickinson College (1823). He was a Princeton Seminary
graduate of 1826. His first work was among the colored and poor
people, and the sailors at Savannah, Ga. He came to the Utica church
from Rhinebeck. His reasons for entering the ministry of the Re-
formed church, briefly, were these, "a preference for her order, equally
removed from the democracy of Congregationalism, the monarchy of
Episcopacy, and the oligarchy of Presbyterianism, she presents in her
representative government, united to rotation in office, the purest
republican constitution." He wrote that "he liked her liturgy, de-
lighted in her sound doctrine, admired her spirit her ministers
were a band of brethren children of the same beloved mother
who never meet but with joy, and never part but with tears and
mutual benedictions, a united, respected, influential body
and they shall prosper who love her." Dr. Bethune's correspondence
shows the marked opposition of the other local churches to the Dutch
church at its organization, which was continued for some years. In
his inaugural sermon we hear him making a sort of apology for the
denomination. But it was the spirit of the man and those first mem-
bers who won the day, for despite all scorn and ridicule, the Dutch
church, under the leadership of their pastor, made a name and fame
for itself. When the cholera visited Ctica in 1832, Dr. Bethune
was one of the two ministers who did not flee the city. Indeed he
104
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
took one minister into his home and nursed him back to life. After
pastorates at Philadelphia and Brooklyn, he went to the 21st St.
Church of New York. He died while in this pastorate, at Florence,
Italy, April 28, 1862. He was the founder of the church
at Alexandria Bay (cf). He gave his library of seven hundred
volumes to New Brunswick Seminary. He was a scholarly man of
sweet, rare character, whose contributions to Christian Hymnology
constitute one of his chief claims to remembrance. President James
K. Polk urged Dr. Bethune to accept the chair of Moral Philosophy
at West Point, but he felt obliged to decline. Later he was selected
to succeed Chancellor Frelinghuysen of the New York State Uni-
versity, but this honor also he declined to accept. A handsome marble
mosaic of Dr. Bethune, once in the Third Church of Philadelphia, is
now in the Sage library at New Brunswick.
The second pastor at Utica was Rev. Henry Mandeville (1834-
1841). He was born in Kinderhook, and was a professor of Moral
Philosophy at Hamilton College. He died in 1858 while pastor of the
Presbyterian church at Mobile, Ala. Rev. John P. Knox was the
next pastor, coming from the Nassau Reformed church in 1841 and
remaining thro 1844. He entered the ministry of the Presbyterian
church later and died June 2, 1882. The Rev. Charles Wiley succeed-
ed Dr. Knox, June 15, 1845, and remained ten years (1845-1854). Be-
fore coming to Utica he had been pastor of the Northampton (Mass.)
Congregational church. In 1849 the church had 225 members. After
leaving Utica he became the President of the Milwaukee University,
but again entered the active ministry and was pastor in the Geneva
church in 1859. He edited a series of Latin Classics and wrote a
volume on "Why I am not a Churchman." He died in December,
1878, at Orange, N. J. The fifth pastor at Utica was the Rev. George
H. Fisher (1855-1860), who became one of the great preachers of the
country. For six years he was secretary of the Domestic Missions
Board. He died in 1872 while pastor of the church at Hackensack,
N. J. For two years the church was supplied by Rev. Charles
E. Knox, a tutor at Hamilton College, and, later and for thirty years
President of the Bloomfield Theological Seminary, where a $65,000
Knox Hall was erected in 1914 to commemorate his work there.
When Rev. Dr. Knox was asked to supply the pulpit he felt that
the church ought to move up town and consented to supply on con-
dition that he be permitted to raise the funds necessary to build
in another section of the city. He raised $17,000 for this purpose.
The Civil War provided an impediment to this project, but Dr. Knox's
work paved the way for his successor to build. He died April 30,
1900. Rev. Ashbel G. Vermilye succeeded to the pastorate, coming
to the church in 1863 and leaving in 1871, to become the pastor of the
old First Dutch church in Schenectady. He was the son of Rev.
T. E. Vermilye, at the time the senior pastor in the Collegiate church,
New York City. He was born at Princeton, N. J. in 1822. Before
coming to Utica he had had pastorates at Little Falls, N. Y. (Presby-
terian) and Newburyport, Mass. For thirty years before his death
in 1905, Dr. Vermilye was not in the active work, much of the time
being spent abroad and in literary labors. It was during his pastorate
that a new site was secured for the church at the corner of Genesee
and Cornelia streets, where the second church was erected, being
dedicated on May 3, 1868. This building was burned February 6,
105
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
1881, but rebuilt the following year. When Rev. Dr. Vermilye went to
Schenectady he became the first pastor of the new church, the fifth
erected, and preached his first sermon there on the day of its dedi-
cation, August 6, 1871.
In 1871 Rev. Isaac N. Hartley was installed pastor of the church
and remained on the field nearly eighteen years, resigning in 1889,
to enter the ministry of the Episcopal church. He died while rector
at Great Barrington, Mass., in 1899. In 1880 Dr. Hartley wrote a
semi-centennial history of the church. Rev. Oren Root, at the time
Professor of Mathematics at Hamilton College, began supplying the
pulpit in 1890. Later he was called to the pastorate and remained
five years (1890-1894). Rev. Dr. Root (brother of U. S. Senator, Elihu
Root) frequently supplied the Utica church pulpit when there were
no pastors. He died August 20, 1907. The pastorate of Rev. Peter
Crispell was of nine years duration (1894-1902). This was his second
charge, his first being at Warwick, N. Y. Leaving Utica he went
to Montgomery. In 1914 he retired from active work and is
living at Newburgh. For some years the church seemed to be
losing its grip in the community, but in the hour of its need, at the
close of the pastorate of Mr. Crispell, Rev. Oren Root came back
to it with generous and helpful service, and with the aid of the faith-
ful few (found everywhere) saved the church to the denomination and
the city, and prepared the way for the coming of the present pastor,
Rev. Louis H. Holden, who was installed over the church October, 1904.
The work done in the past decade has strengthened the organization
and given the church a place of widespread influence in the religious
life in the city. The present consistory are, Charles W. Weaver,
Herbert F. Huntington, Joseph Hollingsworth, Edward Williams, Roy
D. Barber, elders, and Frederick R. Drury, Floyd E. Ecker, Newton
B. Hammon, Allen C. Hutchinson, and Roy C. Van DerBergh,
deacons, while the board of trustees are, Herbert F. Huntington, Roy
D. Barber, George DeForest, Newton B. Hammond, Joseph Hollings-
worth, John W. MacLean, and Harry W. Roberts. The late Vice-
President Sherman was for years a trustee of this church.
#
106
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
WEST LEYDEN REFORMED CHURCH
The county of Lewis in
which are situated the West
Leyden and Naumburgh
churches (as was also the New
Bremen church) was formed
from Oneida county March 28,
1805 (Jefferson county being
formed the same day). Alex-
ander Macomb, who came
from Ireland in 1742, had five
sons in the War of 1812, one
of whom was Maj. Macomb of
Plattsburgh fame. On June
22, 1791, Macomb bought near-
ly all the land in Lewis coun-
ty, some 3,816,960 acres (cf
Naumburgh). The town of
Lewis was formed November
11, 1852. West Leyden was
first settled in 1789 by two
families named Newel and In-
graham, who remained, how-
ever, but a few years. In 1799
Col. John Barnes, Joel Jenks,
from Rhode Island, Medad Dewey and John and Cornelius Putman,
from Somers, Ct, settled here. Major Alpheus Pease (dec. 1816)
built the first grist mill in 1802. The names of Hunt, Tiffany, Felshaw
and Pelton are among the earlier settlers. In 1831 ten German
families came to West Leyden. The first church formed in the
village was a Baptist organization in 1798. Its building stood where
the present Union church is. The Congregationalists formed a
church in 1806, Rev. Nathaniel Dutton being the organizer. Other
ministers of this church were Reuel Kimball, Amaziah Clark, Eli
Hyde, Calvin Ingalls, Jedutha Higby, and Comfort Williams. In
1826 the congregation joined the St. Lawrence Presbytery. The
building stood on what is now cemetery ground. On August 16,
1847, the St. Paul's Lutheran and Reformed church was formed of
which Frederick Meyer, Frederick Schopfer and George Tries were
the trustees. A question arising in 18*5 concerning the matter of
worship the families of the Reformed persuasion in this Union
church withdrew and organized the "Reformed Protestant Dutch
church of West Leyden." This was September 17, 1856, and the
first trustees were, Philip Rubel and Frederick Meyer, elders, and
Frederick Schopfer and Valentine Gleasman, deacons. Rev. John
Boehrer came to the church as its first pastor soon after the organiza-
tion and continued with it until 1862. Mr. Boehrer later on was
pastor of the nearby churches of Naumburgh and New Bremen.
Leaving Naumburgh he became pastor of a Buffalo church (1887-
1897), but was without charge from 1897 to the time of his death,
1913. During Boehrer's pastorate another church was organized
December 7, 1858 and was called the "United German Protestant
Lutheran and Reformed Congregation," in which Peter Wolf, Jacob
107
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Roser, Peter Kantser, George Tries, and Heinrich Roser were the
trustees.
Rev. John M. Wagner succeeded Mr. Boehrer in September,
1862, and continued the work thro 1864. Wagner was from the
German Palatinate and gave his best efforts for the German churches
he served. For nearly thirty years he was pastor of the large and
influential German Evangelical church in Brooklyn, in which pas-
torate he died January 21, 1894. In the summer of 1864 Rev. Frederick
E. Schlieder came to the West Leyden church. Mr. Schlieder was
born in Germany. Coming to this country he was graduated at New
Brunswick, and in 1865 was installed over the church here. He had
two pastorates at West Leyden, this one of eight 3rears, and a second,
beginning in September, 1889, and continuing for eighteen years, or
until failing health compelled him to relinquish the pulpit. Alto-
gether Mr. Schlieder served the West Leyden church twenty-five
years. He died February 2, 1915. His son, Rev. Albert Schlieder,
is pastor of the First Church of Hackensack, N. J. Under the
shadows of the old West Leyden church Mr. Schlieder spent his
last days. There was no pastor during 1873, but in 1874, Rev. Jacob
Weber became the minister in charge, and remained with the people
for five years. Rev. Henry W. Warnshuis succeeded Weber but
stayed only half a year. After leaving West Le}rden he went west
and entered the Presbyterian church for work in Dakota. John H.
Reiner was the next pastor. He was born in Russia, of Jewish
extraction, and came to America in 1880. His only known work was
this pastorate at West Leyden (1881-1885) and another at Gallatin
(1886-1887). He visited the West Leyden field in 1912. During
Reiner's pastorate the parsonage was built and the Ladies' Aid
Society organized. It was also in his time that a division occurred
in the church, and the faction withdrawing built a meeting house
in 1889, supplied since by the Ava Methodist minister. Following
Reiner came Rev. Henry Freeh (1885-1888), tho Rev. S. Kern had
supplied the pulpit for a year (March, 1885-March, 1886). Nothing
further than this West Leyden work is known of either of these men,
except that before coming to West. Leyden, Freeh had been pastor
for four years of the German church (2nd) of Jamacia. In 1889
Rev. Julius J. Keerl supplied the pulpit for six months or until the
return of Mr. Schlieder. In June, 1908, the Rev. George S. Bolsterle,
recently graduated from New Brunswick, was ordained by the Classis
of Montgomery and installed over the West Leyden church. Mr.
Bolsterle did a fine work of reorganization and greatly encouraged
the people in the three years he remained with them. For the past
three years the church has been supplied during the summer by the
seminary students, with occasional services by the Classical Mission-
ary. Among these students have been Stephen W. Ryder of New
Brunswick '13, who is now in the foreign missionary work in Japan,
Bert W. Maass, now at Schodack Landing, John Putman and
Chauncey Stevens of New Brunswick '16. In the Fall of 1914 Joseph
M. Spalt began a lay work at West Leyden, which continued for a
year.
1C8
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
IReformeti Ctjurcljes 5I?oto QEetinct
g JFormerlp attacfjcD to Classis @
The first settlement in the town of Amsterdam
AMSTERDAM (formerly called "Veddersburgh"or"Veedersburgh"
was by the widow and four sons of Philip Groat,
at a place just opposite to where Cranesville is now (cf). Originally,
Amsterdam, Johnstown, New Broadalbin and Mayfield were in a sort
of square, and formed the ancient town of Caughnawaga. At first
this part of the town was called Veddersburg or, Vedder's Mills,
named after William Vedder, who, with his family, moved here from
Johnstown in 1776. He was a descendant of Lucas Vetter (spelled
also Vader, Feeter, Veeder) who died at Derdinger, southwest Ger-
many so long ago as 1483. (Koetteritz: "Feeter Family"). Others give
Albert Vedder of Holland descent as the founder. He was the first
tenant of Fort Johnson after Sir John had fled to Canada. The name
was changed in 1808 to "Amsterdam," and incorpation of the village
was in 1830. Among the first settlers were William and Albert
Vedder, E. E. DeGraff, Nicholas Wilcox and William Kline. The
earliest known church was the Dutch Reformed Protestant church of
1792, in which Michael Spore, Tunis Swart, Jeremiah DeGraff and
Ahasuerus Marcellus were elders. This was an effort to organize a
church at Cranesville ("Willigas"), but tho a morgan of land was
given by John L. Groat, son of Philip Groat above, the project fell
thro because the members wanted the church on both sides of the
river. In the Summer of 1795 a second organization was started in
which Jeremiah Voorhees and Cornelius Van Vranken were elders,
whom Rev. John Johnson of the First Dutch church of Albany or-
dained. The meeting for organization was held at the home of John
Wiser (near where Henry Hagaman lived in 1851). A Rev. Ames
supplied this church, who spent his last days at the county house.
Rev. Sampson Qccuir^-a Long Ioland India n— preaeh-ef; also was in
thi^-ehtrrcrr. — He-died-m-l^gg at N^w-S4^ckbrid^erM^xiisorr-€-o.7-NlT-¥ . ,
aged— etr- He^was ^ne- of-4ke-be^^diieated ~o~f^ Two
other churches were built at this time, one at New Harlem, later
called Fondas Bush, and another at Mayfield. In 1799 the Rev. Con-
rad Ten Eyck, just graduated from the New Brunswick Seminary, was
called to these three fields, the call being dated March 14, 1799, tho
Mr. Ten Eyck did not enter on the field until May 1, 1799. There was
no church edifice as yet in Amsterdam. On July 3, 1799, Joseph Clizbe
was made elder and Aaron Lindsay deacon. John DeGraff was al-
ready in the consistory whose place was taken in December, 1799, by
Nicolas Marcellus. John Manley and John Crane were made deacons.
During 1800 in trying to settle on a church site two places were
favorites, one in the village where the Dr. Pulling residence was,
Note — We are attempting to give in these following pages glimpses of the
history of those churches, formerly attached to the Montgomery Classis, but
which^ thro the circumstances referred to in each case, became extinct, or
independent, or were merged into other bodies. While some of them were
worthy a decent burial, still we are constrained to feel that many were lost
to the denomination thro neglect or lack of practical aid on the part of
the Classis.
109
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
near Market and West Main, and the other at Manny's Corners,
where a good many of the congregation lived. As a result of the
difference of opinion two churches were erected, one on each spot.
At this time a third church seems to have been organized in Vedders-
burgh, among the officers being James Downs and Mr. Van Derveer,
both residents in Florida. This church continued until about 1831.
Ten Eyck remained about four years with these three churches, and
then served Mayfield and New Harlem until 1812, when he went to
the Owasco church. The Veddersburgh church was supplied after
Ten Eyck's going by the neighboring pastors, and occasionally by
those in the Albany and Schenectady Dutch churches. Articles of
incorporation of all these churches are to be found at Fonda. In 1802
Classis dismissed the First Dutch church to unite with the Galway
Presbyterian church to call Rev. Mr. Christie. In 1807 Classis dis-
missed another First Dutch church to Albany Presbytery.
In the journal of the Rev. John Taylor, who traveled thro here
in 1802 he refers to Amsterdam as a town eleven by eight miles,
where both the Dutch and Presbyterian churches are vacant, tho
he adds that "Domine Ten Eyck occasionally officiates at both."
He also says that the people are three-fourths English and that they
have great respect for pious clergymen. In 1806 the Veddersburgh
congregation at a meeting held in the church building, elected Andreas
Waters, Harmanus A. Vedder and Volckert Vedder as trustees. In
1807 this church is dismissed to the Presbytery of Albany. In
1815 a new church was formed, known as "The Albany Bush (Johns-
town) and Amsterdam Reformed Dutch church"; the elders were
Peter Van Neste and Solomon Hoyt, and the deacons, Peter Vos-
burgh and Garret Ten Broeck. Later, November 21, 1821, the term
"Union" was added to the title and John Voorhees and Nathan
Wells were in the consistory. The Manny's Corners Reformed
church became Presbyterian in 1802, and was incorporated February
1, 1803, its first trustees being Joseph Hagaman, Samuel Baldwin,
John Bantan, Aaron Marcellus, Joseph Gunsaulus and Gabriel Manna.
It united with the West Galway Presbyterian church and called Rev.
John I. Christie, who began his work October 5, 1803. He was a
Reformed Dutch minister coming from the Classis of Bergen to the
church. His last charge was in the Dutch church at Warwick (1812-
1835). He died in 1845. After Mr. Ten Eyck left in 1804 there was
no preaching in the Veddersburgh church for several years, and in
1812 the church became Presbyterian and united with the church at
Manny's Corners, which also had become Presbyterian, under one
head. It was from this church that on March 3, 1832, a hundred and
four members went to form the Second Presbyterian church of Am-
sterdam. Not until 1850 was another Reformed Dutch church found-
ed in Amsterdam, this time on the south side of the river, in Port
Jackson. Among those who preached in these first or earlier Re-
formed churches, besides Mr. Ten Eyck, were the Rev. Messrs.
Stephen Ostrander, Herman B. Stryker, Jonathan F. Morris and
Sylvanus Palmer, the last of whom organized an independent
("Wyckofite") church in Amsterdam, its members being called
"Palmerites" and "Wyckofites." This church ran for six or seven
years. Palmer also preached in independent churches at Tribes Hill
and Mayfield. The Particular Synod of Albany, of the Dutch church,
carried the "Albany Bush Reformed church" on its records until 1831.
no
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
The years of the ministry of Morris and Stryker date down to 1833.
Stryker went to St. Johnsville in 1833 and remained about two years.
This was one of the original churches of the
ANDRIESTOWN Classis, and usually given as one of the
Canadian churches organized by the missionary,
McDowell. But Andriestown ("Andrustown") was an outgrowth of
the German Flatts church, seven miles away in the southern part of
Herkimer county, and so called after Dr. Jas. Henderson, a surgeon
of the British Army, who had obtained in 1739 from the Crown some
20,000 acres of land. It was a corrupted form of Hendersontown.
Seven of the German families of the German Flatts church bot a
thousand acres of this land. Among the names are Grimm (Crim),
Starring, Osterhout, Frank, Hawyer, Bell, Lepper, et al. In 1757
these people took refuge in the church fort at German Flatts on ac-
count of the French-Indian troubles. On July 18, 1778, an Indian
massacre occurred at Andriestown with utter destruction of crops and
cabins. It was here that Brant took his first revenge for Oriskany.
At the time there were ten families, three of whom, the Crims,
Moyers and Osterhouts escaped to Fort Herkimer. The rest were
killed or taken prisoners. The congregation was pastored by the
German Flatts church minister as the records show. The work was
continued in the Columbia church.
The records of this church, now called^ Roxbury, y sJLct/^
BEAVERDAM begin in 1802. In its earliest years- ft was supplied-,. r<y%
by Revs. Stephen Z. Goetschius, Abner Benedict ^^^-v^C^j
and Winslow Paige. Rev. David Devoe supplied ifwfien pastor at ^V. T
Middleburgh (1803-1816). In 1813 he reported one hundred and thirty ~^
members. This was the year it joinea the Classis..Vr ■'=•>'- ^ k4rn£aT££:
This church is now called So. Gilboa. Corwin sa"ys
BLENHEIM it was organized in 1821 but the Montgomery Classis
Minutes carry it on their roll for a decade previous to
this. Rev. Winslow Paige was its supply during this period.
The first settlement at Buel was by John Bowman in 1760.
BUEL The Indian name for the place was Te-ko-ha-ra-wa. The
place was called "Bowman's Kill" for a long time. Its pres-
ent name comes from Hon. Jesse Buel a prominent agriculturist of
Albany. It was here that Capt. Robt. McKean was brot after the
battle of Dorlach (Sharon Springs) and where he died, July 10, 1781,
and was at first buried at Fort Clyde (Minden), tho later reinterred
at old Fort Plain. The earliest title of the church is the "Bowman's
Creek Protestant Dutch Reformed Church. It joined the Classis
of Montgomery in 1802. The consistory in 1807 were Abijah
White and John Bowman, elders, and William Bartlett and
Adam Felist, Jr., deacons. In 1809 John Bowman, a ruling elder
in the churc,h had the body turned into Presbyterian. Rev. John C.
Toll was the last pastor of the Dutch church (1803-1807). On May
21, 1842, the session met and put the church back into the Dutch fold,
but five years later, May 22, 1847, the church was again put into the
Presbyterian fold, where it has remained since. The church edifice
built about 1800 was burned in 1915. A new building was erected the
same year. Among the preachers here besides Toll (cf Mapletown),
were Rev. J. L. Stark (cf Mohawk) and a Rev. William Clark, who
supplied for a while. The proximity of the Mapletown Reformed
church has often resulted, as now in a dual pastorate. Rev. Ebenezer
111
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Tucker, Auburn '43, was a member of the Buel church. In 1823 an
asylum for the deaf and dumb was built, but in 1836 united in the one
already founded in New York City.
Three Reformed churches at Buffalo have become ex-
BUFFALO tinct. The church of 1838 had for pastors, Rev. John
Beattie (1838-1844), and Rev. William A. V. V. Mabon,
who served it in a missionary capacity for two or three years (1844-
1856). Mr. Beattie came to Buffalo to supply the church here after
a twenty-five years pastorate at New Utrecht. Later he was installed
pastor. He died January 22, 1864. Mr. Mabon died while in the
professorate at New Brunswick, November 3, 1892. A second organi-
zation at Buffalo was the Holland church of 1855, whose pastors were
Revs. W., C. Wust (1855-1856), A. K. Kasse (1861-1864), and Henry
K. Boer (1876-1879). Mr. Wust went to a Holland church in Ro-
chester (1856-1864), then to the Lodi, N. J. Holland church, where
after a few years he was suspended, but preached to an independent
church until 1878, when he returned to Holland. Mr. Kasse died
while pastor of the Second Holland church of Paterson, N. J., in
1874. Mr. Boer is at the Siuox Centre, la. church. A third effort at
Buffalo was an English speaking church, founded in 1855, located on
Delaware avenue, of which the only pastor was the Rev. John L.
See (1854-1861), who, later became Secretary of the Board of Educa-
tion. He died June 1, 1892. The present Buffalo church is in the
Rochester Classis, tho for many years a member of Montgomery.
"Canajoharie" is a term to conjure with in
CANAJOHARIE OR any historical study since it was on both
"SAND HILL" sides of the Mohawk and was loosely bounded
by the changing events of those early pre-
Revolutionary times. Originally it referred to the country on the
north side of the river, and was named after the Indian village,
"Can-a-jor-he" ("whirling stone"). When the Bear clan of the Can-
a-jor-he moved to the south side of the river toward the close of
the seventeenth century they took the name with them, tho for
years afterwards the old deeds refer to it still as on the north side.
This continued until 1772 when Tryon county was formed and Cana-
joharie was definitely bounded, extending from Nose Hill to Fall
Hill along the river for twenty miles, virtually to the Pennsylvania
line. In the divisions of Tryon county Canajoharie included the
settlements of Cherry Valley, Charlotte river, etc. and, later, was
known as the "Old English District." On Sauthier's map (1776)
the Canajoharie creek was called "Te-cay-o-ha-ron-we."
During Sir William Johnson's time Canajoharie was known as
the country on the south side of the river around the Upper Castle
of the Mohawks, in the town of Danube, but by the time of the
Revolution its boundaries became popularly extended as far east as
Fort Plain. Continuing the local history before we come to the
"Sand Hill" church, the government in 1776 built a fort about a third
of a mile north-east of the church (built in 1750) and called it "Fort
Plain" (not Fort Plank which Stone, Campbell, et al. confuses with
Fort Plain). It enclosed a third of an acre and was palisaded and
defended with cannons and bastions. After the brutal raid of Sir
John Johnson in 1780 (cf Notes) the government built a score, of
forts in the valley for increased protection of the settlers. The first
raid was in August, followed by the savage raid in October. The
112
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
record of the court martial of Gen. Robt. Van Rensselaer brot out
the fact that Van Rensselaer wanted the name of "Fort Plain"
changed to that of "Rensselaer," to satisfy his vanity — surely not
because of his cowardice shown at the battle of Stone Arabia (cf
Note). Acquitted at the court martial, failing to have the name
changed, Van Rensselaer ordered the erection of a block house a
little to the north of the fort, on the land of John Lipe, and called
it "Fort Rensselaer." This was in 1781. "Fort Plain" was already
becoming dilapidated. Rev. Daniel Gros, the pastor of the "Sand
Hill" church wrote Gen. Clinton urging him to send troops to Fort
Rensselaer which, he says, is close to the ruins of the old "Sand
Hill" church, burned in the raid of 1780. In his trip up the valley
in July, 1783, Washington speaks of tarrying over night at the home
of Maj. Wormuth, opposite Fort Plain and crossing in the morning
where he probably dined at Fort Rensselaer to which he refers.
Simms and later writers refer to the old stone house built by a Mr.
Van Alstyne (1740), who had come from Kinderhook and settled at
what is now the present village of Canajoharie, as Fort Rensselaer,
but this is obviously an error, as all the documentary history amply
proves. The ninth meeting of the Tryon Co. Com. of Safety was held
in this house, June 11, 1775. The fourteenth meeting was also held
here and Gen. Herkimer was chairman of the meeting. The forts
built near Fort Plain during the last years of the War of the Revolu-
tion were Fort Rensselaer, three hundred and thirty feet from old
Fort Plain, Fort Plank, two and a half miles west and a quarter of
a mile from the river, Fort Willett four miles west on the highland
of "Dutchtown," on the Zimmerman farm; Fort Windecker eight
miles west on the river, and Fort Clyde, in Freys Bush, three miles
south.
"The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Canajoharie" (so
the seal reads) was organized in 1750 and for seventy-five years the
work was carried on. The church was locally known as the "Sand
Hill" church, and was built on the westerly side of the "Dutchtown"
road, about four miles up the river from the present village of Cana-
joharie and about one mile above the present site of Fort Plain. The
Germans who settled the town of Minden about 1720, located prin-
cipally on the "Dutchtown" road which led down from Sand Hill to
the river where there was a ferry. The land for this church and
parsonage was given by Rutger and Nicolas Bleeker on September
22, 1729, tho the church was not built, that is the substantial structure,
until after 1761, for Rev. John Lappius, a German minister, on Sep-
tember 9, 1761, was given permission to collect funds for the erection
of a church. In April, 1759, Sir William Johnson held an Indian
council at this place with the Iroquois. Domine Lappius died in
1765. From Canajoharie just previous to his death Mr. Lappius writes
a pathetic letter to Sir William Johnson, begging him to send him
some rum and raisins to relieve his cold. Near by the church was
the home of John Abeel, a celebrated German trader with the Indians,
whose Seneca squaw bore him a son, Cornplanter, the celebrated
Indian of infamous memory.
All that remains of the old church today is a long neglected
burial spot, a few mutilated books (in the Utica Public Library), the
church seal, Rev. John Wack's call, and a few old papers, which are
in the possession of some of Wack's descendants at Fort Plain. In
113
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
the old record books referred to there are but a few consistorial
minutes, the main portion of these records being statistical — baptisms,
marriages, deaths, etc. These are from.1788 thro 1821. Rev. Abra-
ham Rosencrantz preached here aTtelr Mis coming to German Flatts
rcf>-4«- 175:3, and, later came Rev. John Casper Lappius(l,S^1765)
and Rev. Kennipe (of whom we know nothing but the name in the
records) and Rev. John Broeffle'fdr" Brtreffel), who was one of the
first post-Revolutionary pastors. In 1788 Rev. D. C. A. Pick of Stone
Arabia (cf) came to the church to supply it, and was followed by Rev.
John D. Gros, a regent of the University of New York, and a chaplain
of the N. Y. militia. He had served a German Reformed church in
New York City. Dr. Gros was the instructor of the illustrious
Milledoler (for thirty years connected with Rutgers). He wrote a
standard work on "Moral Philosophy." He spent the last ten years
of his wonderful life in the vicinity of Fort Plain, and lies buried in
its beautiful cemetery. He was an extensive land owner in the
valley. His brother, Capt. Lawrence Gros, of the Revolution, came
to America in 176-1. His company was a part of Col. Willet's regi-
ment. He was in the battles of Oriskany, Sharon and Johnstown.
Rev. Dr. Gros was the almoner for N. Y. State Commission for re-
lieving distressed families and served during 1780-1783. During the
^ buv-k^ffllPttuist^y— ®$- Dr. Gros a new church was built costing $2,500, before
^ and during the construction of which (erected on the site of the old
one) the barn of Mr. Lipe (torn down in 1859) was used for worship.
The builder of the church was Peter March. It had the high pulpit,
half round with a bench for one, and sounding board, galleries on
the sides and rear and steeple. Rev. Isaac Labagh came to the church
about 1800 and remained three years. During the first year of his
ministry a Washington Memorial service was held, and Labagh
preached a sermon, afterwards printed. The church was decorated
with evergreen and black crepe, while in the procession was a rider-
less horse, with boots attached to the saddle (a custom of the day
when officers were buried). It was an imposing service, attended by
thousands, not a few of whom, doubtless, saw Washington on his
visit to "Sand Hill" in the summer of 1783.
Rev. John J. Wack came to the "Sand Hill" church in 1804, the
call being dated May 26 and promising $200, together with fifty cords
of wood, the personal use of the parsonage, the use of the glebe
lands, and two weeks' vacation. His older brother, Casper, began
the study of theology at eleven, and received calls at fifteen, but
Classis compelled him to wait a few years for ordination tho he was
allowed to serve the church as a catechist. He was the first native
born minister to be educated and ordained in America. Rev. J. J.
Wack began preaching at twenty-three at Amwell, N. J., from which
he came to the "Sand Hill" church with his bride and two slaves,
several head of cattle — driving all the distance. Wack's call is signed
by John Jr., Jacob and John Dievendorf, Cornelius Van Camp, Jr.,
Dionysius Miller, Thomas Zimmerman, Jacob H. Walradt, John Fail-
ing (consistory), and by the trustees, Solomon Dievendorf, George
G. Garlock, John Seeber, Casper Lipe and Henry S. Failing. Rev.
Mr. Wack was a fluent linguist, preaching in the German and English,
and in the controversies of that day with the Universalists, quo.ting
passages from his Hebrew and Greek Testaments, and from the
Latin Fathers — which procedure always had a most favorable impres-
114
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
sion on the hearers and tended to confound his adversaries. Rev.
Wack was more than a preacher — he was for his day a sort of
"bishop," ruling in all the affairs of his people with strong hand and
convincing speech. When the soldiers of the company of which he
was chaplain (War of 1812) refused to assemble for prayers be
borrowed the sword from the commanding officer and compelled them
to form a hollow square, inside of which he led them in the morning
devotions. When the Montgomery Classis sought to discipline him
for infraction of their rules he took the church out of the Classis or
else went off and organized a new one. For nearly half a century
he was a potent factor in the churches of the classis, or in those
that were organized independent of Classis. He served the church
at "Sand Hill" for twenty years, its last pastor, unto whom, for
salary due, came the church, and parsonage, and glebe lands, — he
might have had the cemetery but declined it. We find him serving,
besides "Sand Hill," the churches at Canajoharie (Independent), Stone
Arabia, Tillaborough, and Ephratah, at which place he died, May
26, 1851, the anniversary of his call to "Sand Hill." Under the present
Canajoharie church we speak of other efforts in the present village
to organize Reformed churches, and under the Independent churches
references are to be found anent the "Wyckofite" movement in the
community. Both Fort Plain and Canajoharie are outgrowths of the
"Sand Hill" church, tho the former has priority in the succession.
"Sand Hill" or "Canajoharie" was for many years also called, the
"Fort Plain" church. In the Minutes of Particular Synod of Albany
(1817 ff) concerning the trouble Classis had with Mr. Wack it is
so called, and Peter Mayer signs himself as the "President of the
Fort Plain Reformed Dutch church" under date of October 2, 1816.
Organized in 1833 by the Cayuga Classis, it entered
CANASTOTA the Montgomery Classis in 1889. The pulpit from
the beginning was almost wholly supplied by the
students from Auburn Seminary, while of the fourteen pastors or
supplies mentioned, but four represent the Reformed church ministry.
Among the pastors were, Rev. S. Z. Goetschius (S. S. 1836-1837), Rev.
Francis T. Drake (1845-1853), Rev. John Garretson (1859-1861), and
Rev. William A. Wurts (1863-1868), the latter serving as pastor for
six years, and, later (1877-1878) acting as supply. Rev. John H. Lock-
wood was installed in November, 1871, and resigned in May, 1873.
Mr. Lockwood went to the First Congregational church of Westfield,
Mass., in 1879, and is now the pastor emeritus of that church, tho
residing at Springfield, Mass. He has not been in active work since
1896. Cayuga dropped the church after Wurts' supply but Mont-
gomery listed it until 1894, even tho it had gone over to the Pres-
byterian denomination about 1883. A strong Reformed church in
the sixties, tho most of the families were Presbyterian, the church
was practically in the hands of the Auburn men, especially Rev. Mr.
Whitfield, and eventually went into that denomination. Canastota
means "the lonesome pine."
Two churches were organized at Caroline (Tompkins
CAROLINE Co.), the first in 1800, the year of the forma-
tion of the Classis, and which continued for a
few years, Rev. Garrett Mandeville being a pastor. In 1831 a second
Reformed church was formed, Revs. Chas. P. Wack, John G. Tarbell,
115
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Cornelius Gates, and John Witbeck (cf Arcadia) serving as pastors,
the last thro the years 1852-1868.
The Reformed Dutch church of Cato was organized in 1818
CATO by the Montgomery Classis and continued as such until
December, 1884, when it was formally received into the
Presbytery of Cayuga. For the first few years it was supplied by
missionaries or nearby pastors. In 1821 David R. DeFraest became
the pastor. In 1824 a church was organized at Sterling (cf Aurelius)
and DeFraest preached for a couple years here, as well as at Cato.
In 1827 an Independent or "Wyckofite" church ("True Reformed")
was organized at Cato in which DeFraest continued to preach until
1828 when he was suspended by the Classis from the ministry. Later
he joined the Associate Presbyterian body, and died in 1861. When
the seceders left the original church the missionaries, Rev. Richard
Wynkoop served the church for several months, and after him Rev.
Jas. B. Stevenson for a couple of years, going to Florida (cf) in 1829.
Rev. Abram Hoffman was the second pastor serving the church from
1831 thro 1843. He died in 1856. Rev. Richard W. Knight, an English
Congregationalist, who had been at Sand Beach (Owasco Outlet) for
several years, came to Cato in 1845, also preaching at Lysander.
Later Wolcott (Victory) was substituted for Lysander, and Knight
continued at Cato until 1852, when he was made pastor emeritus. He
died February 9, 1873. Rev. A. G Morse was at Cato during 1857-
1859. Rev. Thomas G. Watson was ordained and installed over the
church by the Geneva Classis, June 25, 1861. He also preached at
Wolcott. On leaving Cato in 1869, he entered the Presbyterian
church, spending fifteen years in Washington where he died, at
Spokane on October 28, 1900. During his pastorate (1865) the con-
gregation bot of the Methodists their property for $850, selling the
old church and land for $350. At this time there were but thirty-
one in the communion of the church. Rev. Watson was drafted for
the Civil War, but he bought his release with money given by the
two churches and some of his own ($600). In these days L. W.
Van Doren, Isaac Van Doren, Morgan Lawrence, Peter Sleight, and
David Jones were efficient officers. Rev. Minor Swick came in 1869
and remained two years, to be followed by Rev. Frederick F. Wilson,
who came from Mohawk (cf) and remained a year (1872). Rev. T.
R. Townsend supplied for a while. On May 26, 1874, Rev. J. Howard
Van Doren, who had been in the China mission, was installed and
staid until 1876 when he went to Tyre. His last pastorate was at
East Albany (Bath) where he died June 6, 1898. His daughter, Alice
Van Doren, has been for some years a member of the Ranipettai
(India) Mission. Rev. Ransford Wells (cf Canajoharie and Fulton-
ville) spent five years at Cato (1876-1880). At this time the church,
thro its financial depression, lost its parsonage. For three years it
was supplied by Auburn students, Rev. Wilbur O. Carrier leading
it at length into the Presbyterian fold. This was no reflection on
the Reformed denomination for the Domestic Board gave thousands
of dollars thro the years to the work. The first pastor of the Presby-
terian church was Rev. John Wileridge. Rev. O. B. Pershing (New
Brunswick 1900) was ordained here. The present pastor, Rev. Cassius
J. Sargent, supplied the Owasco field from 1905 thro a part of 1910.
116
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
The First Reformed Protestant Dutch church of
CHARLESTON Charleston was a charter member of the Classis.
It was organized in 179$" In 1803 the Second
Charleston church was organized by the Classis, the first settled
pastor being Rev. Henry V. Wyckoff (1803-1820), who lived in the
town of Charleston for thirty-five years, serving various churches,
regular, independent, and secession. In the Particular Synod Albany
Minutes of 1817 he is reported as without charge. A brother, Rev.
Isaac N. Wyckoff, was at Albany Second for thirty years, receiving
a thousand souls into that church. Wyckoff came to Glen and
Charleston from the Seminary in 1799: During the quarter-century
following the first organization there were four others according to
the records, but nothing is known of them. Wyckoff seems to have
been the moving genius in each but the first. Another church under
date of August 13, 1803, was incorporated, which Wyckoff served
twenty-five years. The consistory of this last church was, Timothy Hut-
ton, Sr., John Jamison, Garrett Lansing, Cornelius Van Olinda, elders,
and Edward Montaney, Francis Stile, Wilhelm Fero, and Henry
Disbro, deacons. There was also a "Reformed Calvinist church of
Canajoharie and Charleston," incorporatedit/^lSOe. The building
used by the Second church finally came into use by the followers of
Wyckoff, who were termed, and to this day, "Wyckofites." This
edifice was burned in 1860. This church was re-incorporated Novem-
ber 24, 1823. Wyckof was suspended in 1820 and at once organized
a "Truth Reformed" church (cf Note), which, with another seceding
church he served for ten more years. Other men serving the regu-
lar churches in the town of Charleston were, Revs. Benj. Van Keuren,
Peter Van Buren, ordained by Montgomery Classis in 1805, J. R. H.
Hasbrouck, Jonathan F. Morris, and Alanson B. Chittenden. Van
Keuren was also at Mapletown (cf). Hasbrouck was, later, at Curry-
town (cf). Morris was a classical mhjionan^in the twenties. He
died July 11, 1886. Mr. Chittenden died m/!&^^.
This is said to be the first church organized by the
CHENANGO Board of Domestic Missions after the Revolution,
but in Todd's "Life of Peter Labagh," it is recorded
to have been organized in 1796 by Labagh, who was temporarily
serving the Particular Synod of Albany as a missionary. It was
formed by Rev. John Cornelison. He died in 1828 after a pastorate
of twenty odd years in the church at Bergen. The date was 1794, a
charter member of the Classis. It was situated near the present site
of Binghamton, and continued as a Dutch church for nearly thirty
years, when it became Presbyterian. The building was torn down in
1911. Corwin's manual says the men who served this church were,
Revs. Sylvanus Palmer (cf Amsterdam), Samuel Van Vechten (cf
Fort Plain), John Van Derveer (cf Canajoharie), John W. Ward, A.
Henry DuMont, Douw Van Olinda (cf Fonda). Ward was the first
Presbyterian pastor. Excepting Mr. Ward these men served the
Union church in Montgomery county (Johnstown) organized by the
Classis in 1810. Corwin's Manual errs in associating them with the
Chenango Church so far distant. Another church nearby was called
the "Union" Reformed Dutch Church, because here Gen. Clinton on
August 28, 1779, made a union with the forces of Gen. Sullivan in the
latter's campaign against the Iroquois.
117
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Chittenango was settled in 1793 and was called
CHITTENANGO Chittenango Falls. A Presbyterian church was
organized here in 1799 and Rev. John Leonard
was the first pastor. The Reformed Dutch church of Chittenango
(an Indian name meaning "sunshine") was organized January 12, 1838,
and the building dedicated January 15, 1829, by the Cayuga Classis.
The founders of the church were Rev. Andrew Yates, David R.
Austin, las. A. Van Voast, Jacob Slingerland and Stephen Alexander.
At a public meeting held February 28, 1828, a committee of thirteen,
with Rev. Yates was appointed to erect the church. Hon. John B.
Yates, an attorney at Chittenango, gave $2,500 toward the project.
The first work done in Chittenango was by Rev. Hutchins Taylor
(1828), but on the coming of Rev. Yates, a New Brunswick man, to
the principalship of what became the Yates Academy (a work of the
Dutch church) and which, later, and is now called the Yates High
School, the Reformed church was organized. Originally there were
but five members, and at the close of the first year, but twelve, tho
after the dedication some twenty from the Sullivan Presbyterian
united. Even after forty years, in 1864, when Rev. Jas. R. Talmage
was pastor, there were but seventy-nine. Rev. Taylor remained
eighteen months, after which Dr. Yates served as supply for a year.
Rev. Dr. Yates is again called, and declines, but secures for the
church Rev. William H. Campbell (later Professor and President at
Rutgers), who remained a year. Rev. Dr. Yates now accepts a call
to the church, still retaining his position in the school. But the burden
of work is too great so he secures Rev. Elbert Slingerland, but he
remained but two months. Rev. Daniel E. Manton, a graduate of
Andover and Princeton, supplied the pulpit after this until April 22,
1836, when Rev. John Cantine F. Hoes is installed over the church,
remaining until 1837, when he resigned to go to Ithaca (cf). Rev.
Hoes was born in Kinderhook, and a sister married President Martin
Van Buren, while another married Rev. L. H. Van Dyck (cf Stone
Arabia). His only son was a chaplain in the navy. The Board of
Domestic Missions was making annual grants of $200 to aid in pay-
ing salary.
In January, 1838, Rev. James Abeel came to the field and staid
nearly twenty years, during all of which time the organization was
straightened financially. Other preachers or supplies were, Rev.
Seth P. M. Hastings, who died at Accord in 1876, and Jas. R. Tal-
mage, who died a decade later. His brothers were Rev. John V. N.
Talmage, a missionary to the Chinese for forty years, Rev. Goyn
Talmage of the same class ('45) at New Brunswick, and Rev. T.
DeWitt Talmage, the famous preacher (cf Syracuse 1st). Rev. Jacob
H. Enders who was pastor for ten years (1869-1880). Rev. Otis C.
Thatcher was the last pastor of the Reformed church. A Mr. Fisher
supplied the pulpit after Rev. Thatcher left, who later entered the
Methodist ministry. At the Fall meeting of the Presbytery of Syra-
cuse, held in the Reformed church at Chittenango, the organization,
on application of the congregation was received into the Presbytery,
which also took over the valuable property rights into which the
Board of Domestic Missions had invested thousands of dollars, and
endowments given to the Dutch church by its former members. Rev.
Charles H. Walker (now of Troy, N. Y.) was the first Presbyterian
pastor, installed in 1889. A year after this transfer the Particular
118
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Synod of Albany placed the Chittenango church in the Classis of
Montgomery, and said church was listed among those of the Classis
until 1894.
The Classis of Montgomery in 1825 gave leave of
CINCINNATUS absence to Rev. Mr. Labagh that lie might go to
this place, which is in Cortland county, to organ-
ize the Reformed Dutch church there. Mr. Van Home and Rev. Mr.
De Voe were to supply his pulpit. The church is mentioned after
this only in the reports of the Missionary Society.
This church, as that of Andriestown (cf) was
COENRADSTOWN given a place in the 1800 list of the Montgom-
ery Classis. They have been placed at times
among the Canadian churches of early missionary activity organized
by Rev. Robert McDowell, who was commissioned by the Classis
of Albany to labor in both Upper and Lower Canada, and whose
regular field of service was nearly three hundred miles long. Both
of these churches were developments of the German Flatts church.
Reference is made under Andriestown to the settlement of that name,
seven miles south of Fort Herkimer. After a few years of prosperity,
a number of these settlers went five miles further west and formed
a new settlement and called it Coenradstown (Coonrodstown) because
that family surname predominated among the first settlers. In the
"Mission Field" of December, 1912, is a view of the Coonrod
Orendorf barn where the people of Coenradstown usually met for
worship, and where, in 1798, the church of Columbia was organized.
In the records of the German Flatts church in calling Rev. Pick to
their joint pastorate (April 9, 1798) the consistories of German
Flatts and Herkimer, besides demanding of Pick a statement as to
his debts and his creditors, also agreed, on request of a representa-
tive from Coenradstown, that Pick should preach at that place six
Sabbaths every year, and four times a year during the week at Oren-
dorf's barn or in the church erected. No records of these two
churches, Andriestown and Coenradstown are extant, tho references
are made to them in the records at German Flatts.
The Union Reformed Dutch church of this place
COBLESKILL was received into the Montgomery Classis on the
second Wednesday of February, 1826. It became
extinct in 1855, for most of the time being in the Schoharie Classis.
A church was at once built, and Rev. William Evans conducted
services in it during the summer months of 1827. Other pastors or
supplies were, Revs. H. A. Raymond, A. H. Myers, J. E. Quaw, Benj.
Bassler, H. E. Waring, William Lochead, Cyril Spaulding, and D. B.
Hall. Roscoe's History of Schoharie County refers to the church,
but the only correct statement made is to the effect that the building
was later occupied by the post office. This church has no relation
whatever to the present Cobleskill church.
"The Duanesburgh Dutch Church — Anno Domini
DUANESBURGH 1800— Thomas Romeyn, V. D. M.," is the record
on the fly leaf of the old consistory book of this
church. This organization had apparently but a few years of life,
the records beginning in September, 1798, and ending in June, 1804.
Among the ministers whose names occur in the records are those of
Rev. Winslow Paige of Florida (cf), Rev. Thos. Romeyn, Rev. Conrad
Ten Eyck, Rev. Robert McDowell. Romeyn was also at Florida
119
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
(1800-1806), and Ten Eyck was at Amsterdam (first organization),
while McDowell was one of the early missionaries of the denomina-
tion, doing a large work in the Canadian settlements near the border.
A meeting house was built, but the work was given up in 1805. A
second church was organized in 1824. Records of these churches are
to be found at Fonda. On April 5, 1801, an "Association of Florida
and Duanesburgh" was incorporated, and trustees chosen at the house
of Thomas Crawford. Later a Duanesburgh Presbyterian church was
organized in 1804, and in 1806, Classis dismissed the Dutch church
to Albany Presbytery. Still another Associate church was organized
at Scotch Bush in 1795, and a church was built. This last church was
rebuilt in 1846 and in 1851 it became Presbyterian. The old book to
which we refer contains several pages of marriages, baptisms, and
a church membership register, of which typed copy has been made.
This church was in Seneca county; originally the town
FAYETTE was called "Washington." The church was formed in
1800. It was a missionary church, and was supplied
for a decade by Revs. John Van Derveer and Jonathan F. Morris.
In 1855 the county histories report two Reformed churches in this
town. Classis admitted the Fayette church in 1821.
Called also Raitfsonville (corporate name in 1815),
FONDA'S BUSH "New Harlem" and "Broadalbin," it was situated
in what is now Fulton Co. on Kennyetto Creek,
and is now called Vails Mills. Rev. Romeyn began services here in
1790. The church was organized in 1795, and incorporated in 1800, and
ran thro an existence of some thirty years, when (1823) it was dis-
missed by Classis to the Albany Presbytery. The first consistory
was made up of Dick Banta and Samuel Demarest, elders, and
Abraham Westervelt and Peter Demarest, deacons. Mr. Ten Eyck
staid until lSl^^T^aTrner' came in 1818. Rev Conrad Ten Eyck and
Rev. Sylvanus Palmer were pastors of the church and Rev. Samuel
Van Vechten, the missionary, also served it. (In 1804 there was an
incorporation as "The First Presbyterian Congregation in Broadalbin
under the inspection of the Associate Reformed church").
This church was situated in the town of Minden
FORD'S BUSH (Montgomery Co.) just south of St. Johnsville,
and was incorporated April 26, 1801. The incor-
poration, signed by Rev. Conrad Ten Eyck, bears date of May 18,
1800 and is on file at Fonda. Jonathan F. Morris is put down as a mis-
sionary, serving this church as late as 1829. Robert Sybert, Martin
Blessing and John Monk were trustees.
While the Reformed church never had any or-
FORT HUNTER ganization at Fort Hunter yet on the estate of
Rev. Jacob H. Enders (for years a member of the
Montgomery Classis, cf Chittenango) a commodious house of worship
(still standing) had been built by J. Leslie Voorhees of the Auriesville
church, and services for the people of the community had been held
in it for many years. Fort Hunter was originally called "I-can-der-
a-go" or "Te-on-de-lo-ga" i. e. "two streams coming together." Here
was the familiar palisaded Indian Mission spoken of in the Note on
Indian Education. The lower Mohawk Castle was built here. Fort
Hunter was built in October, 1711, but at the close of the French
War in 1763, it was abandoned, and the Indian Mission given up a
decade later. Soon after the Queen Anne chapel was built in the
120
iLs
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
fort, the Dutch built a log meeting house near what later became
known as Snook's Corners, about two miles distant from the fort.
The place was named after Lawrence Frank, an
FRANKFORT early settler. A church was organized in the pres-
ent village of Frankfort (Herkimer Co.) in 1830. At
the beginning the Rev. Henry Snyder (cf Herkimer) preached here,
and at Schuyler and Herkimer 2nd. Other ministers were, Rev. Amos
W. Seeley (cf Cicero), Rev. James Murphy (cf Herkimer), and Rev.
Jedediah L. Stark (cf Mohawk).
, This church was organized in 181:2. It was some-
jGREENVVICg; times called "Union Village," and was in Washing-
\/UTt**~ w^. tQn county Nothing else is known.
Sometimes called, "Warren," this church was situ-
HENDERSON ated near Jordanville (Herkimer Co.), some six
miles east of the Columbia church. It was settled
between 1750 and 1756. Its name was, doubtless, derived from Dr.
Henderson, after whom Andriestown was also called (cf). Services
were conducted in this church, built in 1829 (building still standing,
1915) up to May 22, 1887, a communion service conducted by Dr.
Daniel Lord. In 1895 Classis sold the building for $25. A First Church
of Henderson was organized about 1798, at the time of the organiza-
tion of the Columbia church. This seems to have been dropped, and
second one formed in 1823, the pastors at Columbia usually sup-
plying Henderson, among whom were Revs. Jacob W. Hangen (cf
Columbia), David De Voe (supplied for a year-cf St. Johns-
ville), John P. Pepper, Davis B. Hall, John Witbeck, Daniel
Lord (supplied often during twenty years, cf Fort Herkimer), and
James M. Compton (cf Stone Arabia). Henderson reported one
hundred families and a congregation of five hundred in 1842, but in
1854, the report read, forty families and one hundred and fifty in
the congregation." Reported vacant until 1895 when the name was
dropped.
It was about a century after the forming of the origin-
HERKIMER al Herkimer church that a second church was or-
SECOND ganized by Montgomery Classis in the east end of
Herkimer. This was done in 1824 and continued with
more or less success until 1836, when it was merged into the mother
church. In December, 1823, Simeon Ford and others wanted to organ-
ize but Classis objected. Gen. Synod in June, 1824, directed it should
be done. Among the men who served the Second Herkimer church
were Revs. Samuel Centre, Isaac S. Ketchum, Joshua Boyd, Jonathan
F. Morris, Henry Snyder, and John H. Pitcher. In 1912 a Sunday
school was started by members of the Herkimer church in East
Herkimer, and the outlook is excellent for an organization in this
prosperous suburb of Herkimer.
A Reformed church was organized at Ilion in 1862, and in
ILION 1866 reported thirty families to the Classis. Rev. Jeremiah
Petrie (cf Herkimer) was the pastor from 1864 thro 1868.
The church later went over to the Presbyterians, who built a beauti-
ful new structure in 1912.
Sir William Johnson is said to have built the
INDIAN CASTLE church at Indian Castle, costing $1,142.75 (also
called "Danube") in 1769 in order that the
Indians at the upper Mohawk Castle might have religious training.
121
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
In the beginning of the work Rev. Mr. Hale was called, but declined.
In 1772 Sir William Johnson complained to Rev. Dr. Burton, that
he can get no preacher for the Castle church. On March 12, 1800, a
Reformed Dutch church was incorporated. Rev. David De Voe, Rev.
Joseph Knieskern of St. Johnsville, and Rev. D. C. A. Pick of Stone
Arabia often supplied the pulpit. In 1823 Rev. Samuel Ketchum was
preaching here. The consistory at this time were Andrew Dingman,
Jacob Overacker, Robert Spoor, Henry Moyer, elders, and William
Ostrander, Thomas J. Mesick, Jacob I. Cramor, and Rudolph Wal-
rath, Jr., deacons. A second church was formed in 1861 to which
Rev. R. M. Stanbrough, at the time the Manheim pastor ministered.
Stanbrough usually walked from Manheim to the Mohawk at a point
opposite the church site, then crossed in a skiff, with frequent dangers,
and after service made the return trip for the evening service at
Manheim.
Called also "Johnsburgh," it was organized by
JOHNSBOROUGH Rev. Samuel Centre (cf Herkimer) who sup-
plied the field in 1823. The church was in
Warren county and was organized in 1819.
A Montgomery county church, formed in 1816. It
JOHNSTOWN was also called "Kingsboro." It was in the Kings-
land tract of sixty-six thousand acres of land that
the King gave Sir William Johnson a few years before the latter's
death. Johnstown was originally the county seat of Tyron and later
of Montgomery county, and it was the removal of the county seat
to Fonda that caused a division in the county and the formation of
Fulton county. The title on record is "The Kingsborough Reformed
Dutch church." At first it was connected with the Caughnawaga
church. The men who preached here were, Rev. Albert Amerman,
who also supplied Mayfield, and who was on this field, in regular
and independent Reformed churches for a quarter century (1817-
1843). His only other field was Hackensack (1843-1871). He died as
pastor of the Presbyterian church of Hackensack in 1881. The next
ministers were, Rev. Samuel Van Vechten (cf Mapletown), Rev.
Douw Van Olinda (cf Mapletown), and Herman B. Stryker (cf St.
Johnsville). The work was given up about 1835, and it was not until
1894 that the present Johnstown church was organized. The Fonda
records are dated 1800, Philip Miller and Christian Yaney being
elected elders. A re-incorporation is recorded in April, 1813. Rev.
Peter Domier, a Lutheran, organized on Christmas day, 1821, a Dutch
Lutheran church at Johnstown (cf Palatine Stone Dutch church).
Rev. John Taylor (1802) speaks of the "elegant Scotch Presbyterian
church" in Johnstown, Rev. Simon Hoseck, pastor; also of the Epis-
copal church and its organ, Rev. John Erquahart, rector, and of the
Reformed Dutch church where Dominie Van Home preaches.
Tho this church was in Schenectady county it was
MARIAVILLE in the Montgomery Classis, being near to the Flori-
da church at Minaville, if not, indeed, an outgrowth
of this church. It was organized in 1843, its only pastor of whom
we have knowledge having been James Donald, who served the
church from 1844 thro 1850. Mariaville first reported to the Fall
meeting of Classis in 1845.
122
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASS1S
Situated in Lewis county, organized in 1827.
MARTINSBURGH It was near Lowville on the Black River Rail-
road. Known only thro mention of it in the
minutes of the Synods.
The Reformed Protestant Dutch church of Mayfield
MAY FIELD was organized in 1703, Abraham Wells, Abraham
Romeyn, Lucas Brinckerhoff, Peter Snyder, David
Becker, Elisabeth Turner and Mary Van Buren being charter mem-
bers. On February 20, 1795, it was determined to build the church
on the "nole" at or near the road leading from Mayfield to Romeyn's
Mill (building still standing near the F., J. & G. R. R.). Mayfield
cemetery now covers the original tract of land that was used for
building the church. The first church was thirty by twenty, built on
a half acre of land, given by Abraham Wells. Originally Mayfield,
with New Broad Alban, Johnstown, and Amsterdam, formed the
Caughnawaga "Square." Rev. Conrad Ten Eyck was the first preach-
er, also at Amsterdam (cf) and remaind until 1812. Rev. John
Taylor's "Journal" of 1802 speaks of the old Dutch church at May-
field and its pastor, Ten Eyck. After Mr. Ten Eyck left a dissension
arose resulting in a number withdrawing and building another church
at what is now called Munsonville. These people were called "Pal-
merites" after their pastor, Rev. Sylvanus Palmer (cf Amsterdam),
who was with them so many years. This second church building
was taken down many years ago. Rev. Albert Amerman (cf Amster-
dam) was here for four years (1817-1821), and Revs. Douw Van
Olinda, and Samuel Van Vechten, of whom we have spoken under
Amsterdam. In March, 1823 (Fonda Records), the church withdrew
from Montgomery Classis and became the Central Presbyterian
church of Mayfield. Rev. Jeremiah Wood began preaching here in
1826, and continued until 1870. He died in 1876. The present Presby-
terian church was built in 1828.
A Reformed organization was once started at
MIDDLETOWN some place in Saratoga county called Middletown,
(Half Moon), but this is the only reference we
have of the body. The present name of the town is Middle Grove.
The date of formation of the society was 1791. This church is not
to be confounded with the Mapletown church, formerly called Middle-
town, in Montgomery county. Rev. John Clost is the only pastor
known. Middletown was put into the Washington Classis in 1818.
In the town of Minden (Montgomery Co.) a Reformed
MINDEN Dutch church was organized February 12, 1816, and. was
known as the "St. Paul's Reformed Dutch and Lutheran
church." Peter Ressner was trustee. (The Geissenberg church in this
town was a Lutheran body).
This church was collegiate with Naumburgh, six
NEW BREMEN miles distant. The pastors and supplies were the
same as those who preached at Naumburgh (cf).
New Bremen is now a town of three hundred population on the
Lowville and Beaver River R. R. The church was organized in 1855,
and the last meeting of Consistory was held in 1876. The building
was sold for $25 by the Board of Domestic Missions. The congre-
gation was German, the minutes being kept in this language. The
first church building was erected by the Lutherans (as was also the
case at Naumburgh), but in 1873 Rev. Boehrer built a new church
123
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
at a cost of $1,050, the Board of Domestic Missions giving $650 of
this sum. Classis disbanded the church in 1900.
This was a German Reformed church at first,
NEW RHINEBECK organized by Rev. J. C. L. Broeffle of the
Schoharie church in 1788, and later merged
into the present Lawyersville church. Durlach (Sharon) organized
at the same time, and New Boston, a mission station, were all con-
nected. The first settled pastor was Rev. Christian Bork, formerly
a Prussian soldier under Burgoyne, and, later with Col. Willett, when
the Indians were given their final scourging at Johnstown, and the
Tories were driven forever from the Mohawk and Schoharie valleys.
Rev. Mr. Bork began work here in July, 1795, tho he was not in-
stalled till August 14, 1796. The church was one of the charter mem-
bers of the Classis. In 1807 the Lutherans having demanded the
church edifice, built in 1801, the Reformed church gave up the prop-
erty. The church was a mile or more north of Lawyersville on a
part of Lot No. 11 of Jacob Borst. From the call to Rev. Mr.
Labagh in 1807, the congregation worshipped in the church at
Lawyersville. In 1826 it was put into the Schoharie Classis. From
1798 to 1803, besides those above, Rev. Winslow Paige and Rev.
Rynier Van Nest supplied. Rev. Mr. Labagh was first called to the
church in 1803. In 1811 he desired to go to the Pompton, N. J.
church, but the churches (New Rhinebeck and Sharon) would not
dismiss him. Five months later Classis dismissed him. In May,
1813, he came back for a second pastorate of a year and a half. Rev.
Nichola-s- Jones was pastor for five years (1816-1821). Mr. Jones well
illustrated the proverb about "man being born unto trouble." Con-
sistory records and Classis records give him large space. In 1820
he was suspended. He did some work on the parsonage and with
back salary made a demand for $t,.7<(70, but settled for $330.04. He
later entered the Baptist church.
This church was organized in 1895. It was
NEW YORK MILLS an Oneida county field. Rev. Jacob C. Berg-
mans was the pastor for six years after its
formation. He came from the Congregational body, and on leaving
New York Mills in 1901, he went to Gilboa.
This church reported to the Montgomery
NORTH HARLEM Classis in 1820. It may be an error for New
Harlem or Fonda's Bush (cf).
The town of Oppenheim was formed March 18, 1808,
OPPENHEIM from the western part of the town of Palatine. In
the Fonda records are three references between 1816
and 1822, anent the Oppenheim church. There were two churches
organized, the first, the "St. John's Reformed church" in July 1816,
which is the present St. Johnsville church (cf), and supplied by
Rev. David De Voe for six years from 1816. Montgomery Classis
received this church on February 11, 1829, and De Voe continued to
serve it until 1830. It was also called "Youker's Bush." De Voe
ordained the first consistory at Peter Kline's house, January 4, 1822.
This church had no building. Rev. John C. Van Derveer, a Mission-
ary of the Classis (1822-1823), reported the Second Oppenheim church
as "small and weak." On September 25, 1830, a Lutheran church
was organized at Eukersbush (Youkers Bush). On May 15, 1855,
this church was reorganized as a Reformed Dutch Lutheran church,
124
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
and a building erected in 1857. A second church was formed No-
vember 28, 1821, and called the "Second Reformed church of Oppen-
heim." In 1826 a third society was formed. De Voe recorded not
only the incorporation of these two churches, but the names of the
consistories also.
Originally in the Canajoharie district of Tryon Co.
OSQUAKO Later it was in the town of Stark (Herkimer Co.). We
spell the name as found in the corporate title of the
church tho it is found as "Asquach," "Osquak," etc. The meaning
is said to be "under the bridge." The record is dated June 3, 1800,
on file at Fonda. The church was in the town of Minden, the village
being east of the creek near St. Johnsville. Another meaning of the
Indian word is "place of wolves." Rev. Jonathan Morris (cf Amster-
dam) preached here about 1823. At this time the consistory con-
sisted of Peter Whitbeck, Anthony Devoe, Jacob S. Moyer and Peter
W. Philip, elders, and Jacob J. Young, Lewis Young and Jacob F.
Bronir, deacons. It was visited by Van Curler in 1655, and is a half
mile west of Canajoharie creek. In August, 1780, the place was
devastated by the Indians. John C. Wieting, a British prisoner (tho
German) at Saratoga, became an American citizen. He began an
itinerant preaching circuit about Greenbush, soon afterwards coming
to the town of Minden where he established two churches (Lutheran),
one at the "Squake" (Otsquago, Osquak, etc-cf), where he built a
frame church near the source of the creek of that name; a second
church was erected at Geissenberg ("Goat Hill") seven piiles from
the Squake church. The work was begun in 1750 by HJoTiHe-f (cf
Palatine). This was a brick edifice, with galleries, high pulpit and
sounding board, and was dedicated in 1806. It stood until 1849. A
first church built here in 1767 was called "St. Paul's Lutheran church
of Minden." Rev. Philip 4lL (&¥&£ preached here, as also did Wieting,
until his death in 1817. The work prospered for a few years and
then ceased altogether. A Union church was organized in Minden
in 1807, of which John Herkimer, Jacob Smith and Jacob Tarpenny
were the trustees. The records of the Geissenberg church are in
the Fort Plain Farmers National Bank. The place is now called
Hallsville. John H. and Magdalena Walbracht gave a half acre of
land in 1767 to the Osquako church. Mr. Pick was pastor.
In 1890 Rev. John A. Thomson (then pastor at
EAST PALATINE Stone Arabia), began a work at East Palatine,
the services being held in the school house in
Schneck's Hollow, near the county house. Rev. Thomson continued
to hold services from 1891 thro 1894, when the work was given up.
The town of Palatine was formed March 7, 1778,
PALATINE and embraced all the county between "An-
STONE CHURCH thony's Nose" and Little Falls, north to Canada.
On January 2, 1804, a "St. John's Reformed
Protestant Dutch church of Palatine" was organized (St. Johnsville).
What is popularly called the "Palatine Stone Church" (Lutheran)
in the town of Palatine became a member of the Montgomery Classis
on February 2, 1825. The transfer of this organization from the
Lutheran Synod to the Reformed Classis was brot about by Rev.
Domier, who was at the Stone Arabia Lutheran church from 1811
thro 1826, and who had trouble at the Palatine Stone church toward
the close of his ministry there. Rev. Douw Van Olinda was called
125
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
to the pastorate, but in February 14, 1825, it united with the old Cana-
joharie ("Sand Hill") church under one pastor. In 1830 the church
is reported vacant and on February 7, 1832 Classis dissolved the or-
ganization. The property from the beginning had always been in the
Lutheran body, and after the original organization there had been no
efforts made to increase the membership or re-elect the consistory
tho the congregation worshipped in the stone church. At Fonda is
a record (1820) of the Canajoharie and Palatine church whose trus-
tees were Henry I. Frey, Alfred Conkling, Isaac Hees, John Garlock
and George Getman. A Presbyterian church of Palatine was or-
ganized in 1823.
In the north-eastern part of the town of Perth (now
PERTH Fulton county and a part of the Royal Grant given Sir
William Johnson) a Dutch Evangelical church was or-
ganized in 1867 with fifty members (Child's Gazette, 1830).
This church was an out-station of the West Leyden
POINT ROCK church, and some seven miles from that church
(Lewis Co.). It was organized in 1881, and sup-
plied by Rev. John Reiner of the West Leyden church. In the late
eighties the work was given up, the Methodists assuming charge
of it, and are still conducting services there.
It was also called 'jPLay," one of the original churches
SACONDAGA of the Montgomery Classis (1800), tho it was or-
ganized as early as 1789. The place was at first
called "Concord." The names of the early pastors are not recorded,
but doubtless, those serving Johnstown, Mayfield and Caughnawaga
also frequently preached at Sacondaga. The later organization was
in 1842, and the preachers were, Revs. John A. Lansing, Jacob N.
Voorhis, Woodbridge L. James and Calvin Case (1855-1857). Sacan-
daga means "swamp."
In 1822 a Reformed Dutch church was formed in
SALISBURY Salisbury, Herkimer county. It was a Congregational
body at first. It was supplied by Rev. Samuel Ketch-
um during 1822-1823 and later, by Rev. David De Voe of St. Johns-
ville (cf). A Presbyterian church was incorporated here in 1803, to
which in 1824 Classis dismissed the Dutch church, which became
part of the Oneida Presbytery.
The first President of the Classis of Montgomery
SCHOHARIE was the Rev. Rynier Van Nest, the pastor of the
Schoharie church. The place was also called, or at
least, the church, "Huntersfield." Prior to its dismission to the
Schoharie Classis in 1826, this church was pastored by Rev. Rynier
Van Neste (until 1804), J. D. Schoeffler, and Paul Weidman. The
organization of the church goes back to 1720 or 1725. The pastors at
Schoharie were accustomed to preach at Stone Arabia after 1730.
The place was also called "Conesville," and
SCHOHARIE KILL the church here was formed about 1800 or a
little before, and continued until 1846. Rev.
Cornelius D. Schermerhorn, ordained by Montgomery in 1804, was
the pastor for twenty-eight years, from 1802 on. He died in 1830 at
Canajoharie (cf Simms "Schoharie"). Doubtless this organization
was placed in the Schoharie Classis in 1826, but no mention is made
in the record. About the time of the Revolution the Reformed
churches on the Schoharie were known as "the churches of the
126
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Schoharie Kill." Included in these were Brakabeen, North Blenheim,
Gilboa (Broome), Prattsville, Red Oak, Huntersfield and Windham.
The Prattsville minutes begin at 1798. The Gilboa record, the oldest
of them all, bears the name of Broome, and those of Prattsville,
"Schoharie Kill." This last church, built in 1804 and rebuilt in 1834,
together with the village itself, will soon give place to the great
reservoir being built for New York City.
Organized in 1770 and later merged into
SCHOHARIE LOWER the Schoharie church.
Organized in 1808 near East Cobleskill,
SCHOHARIE MOUNT and merged later into the Howes Cave
church. No names of pastors given while
church was in the Montgomery Classis.
Organized in 1732, and later (after 1800) it
SCHOHARIE UPPER changed its name to Middleburgh. Pastors
up to 1826 were, Revs. Johannes Schuyler
(cf Stone Arabia), Rynier Van Nest, David De Voe, and John F.
Schermerhorn, the latter ordained by Montgomery Classis in 1816.
Later and for some years Schermerhorn was the Montgomery County
Missionary. From 1828 for five years he was the Secretary Board
Domestic Missions. Rev. Mr. De Voe, tho licensed in 1808, was not
ordained until 1812 in order that he might study and better perfect
himself for the ministry.
This was a small organization in Herkimer county,
SCHUYLER between Herkimer and Frankfort, where Henry
Snyder supplied for a few years about 1830.
An earlier name for this place was Dorlach. It is in the
SHARON present town of Seward (Schoharie county). Rev. Peter
N. Sommer of the Schoharie Lutheran church began to
hold services here as early as 1776. The German Reformed church
of Dorlach was formed in 1788 by Rev. J. C. L. Broeffle of the Scho-
harie German Reformed church. In 1790 a bell was given to the
"High Dutch Reformed Church of Dorlach." But in 1798 Mr. Bork
refused to remain longer at New Rhinebeck or Sharon, unless a
church was built. Other preachers in this church were, Rev. Isaac
Labagh, Rev. Nicholas Jones. In 1826 it went to the Schoharie
Classis. In 1813 Sharon reported eighty members. Read the history
of New Rhinebeck with that of Sharon. It was here that the Battle
of Dorlach was fought on July 10, 1781, in which Capt. McKean was
mortally wounded (cf Buel).
Another name for the church was the "Reformed
STILLWATER Church of Sinthiock" (Sincock). It was organized
in 1789 and ran thro, possibly, twenty years. It
was a Saratoga county church and but two pastors are mentioned,
Rev. Winslow Paige (cf- Florida) and Rev. Peter D. Froeligh (1802-
1807), who also supplied at the same time Pittstown and Tioshock.
He was a son of Rev. Solomon. Froeligh, and like his father, seceded
from the church to form the "True Reformed" church. He died in
1827. It was at Stillwater where the American forces encamped be-
fore the Battle of Saratoga.
The Summit Reformed Dutch church was received into
SUMMIT the Classis in 1823. It was situated at Eminence (Scho-
harie county). It never had any settled pastorate.
127
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
The history of this church begins in 1767, when
TILLABOROUGH a grant of land was given (115 acres) for church
and school purposes to encourage certain
settlers who had been placed upon the contiguous territory. The
church was built on Lot No. 13 of Magin's Purchase. The
place is about three miles west of the present village of Ephratah.
One of the owners of the land, and one of the givers of this church
tract was the Rev. John Ogilvie of New York City, who had been
the rector of St. Peter's P. E. church of Albany (1749-1764). He
died four years after this deed of land, aged fifty-one. Under the
conditions existing in the province at the time between the Church of
England and the Dutch church we are persuaded that there must
have been some commercial reason for putting into the deed the pro-
vision that the church must be a Reformed one. The church for a
century or more has always had a building, but never a stated pastor,
and for most of the time no congregation. For more than three
generations the property has been held by trustees who have used
the same for personal profit. An incorporation is recorded April 15,
1823, and a form of re-incorporation in 1831. Since 1865 there has
been no consistory or membership even. Nearly all the men who
were at Stone Arabia, and later, at Ephratah, have supplied the
church at intervals. In this field Revs. Domier, formerly at Stone
Arabia Lutheran, and Wack, so long at "Sand Hill" (cf) finished their
ministerial work. In order to hold the property the old church, fall-
ing to pieces, was taken down and another one built in the seventies.
There is an old forsaken cemetery connected with the church.
S
ilk
128
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
I! 3n0epentient ant) Receding a
fteformeD Ci)urcl)e0
-j-HiT.,. ... _ „. „. _ „. ^ „. ^>
A Union church was organized in 1822 and existed
AMSTERDAM for eight years. Rev. Sylvanus Palmer (cf Maple-
town) established the work and was its only pastor,
remaining here for eight years. Palmer had become a "Wyckofite"
after his suspension from the ministry and also was at Mayfield and
Broadalbin.
An independent organization continued in the
CANAJOHARIE "Wyckofite" church, was started here by Rev.
John J. Wack in 1819 after his being dropped from
the Montgomery Classis in 1814. An incorporation of this church is
found in the Fonda records. Mr. Wack preached in this church for
more than ten years and was followed by Rev. John C. Toll (1827-
1842), when the church became extinct. The building was in the
eastern part of the present village, and some years ago, it was torn
down, its timber being used in the construction of the dwelling now
owned by O. C. Van Evera. The trustees were Henry I. Frey, Al-
fred Conkling, Isaac Hees, John Garlock, Jacob Hees and George
Gartner, all found in the membership of the later Reformed church,
organized in 1827. A church was built which remained for many
years after the services were given up. Prominent in the work were
Hugh Mitchell, Gloudy Van Deusen, Rudolph Dingman, Anthony,
Daniel and Wessels Cornue, Nicholas and John Sweatman, Dr.
Jonathan Shineman, Bartholomew Van Alstyne, Uriah Wood, Lewis
and Abraham Putman, Peter and Martin Van Deusen and John Davis.
What was known locally of the "True Reformed Dutch church" was
an organization made up of certain persons who seceded from the
old "Sand Hill" church to become followers of Rev. Wack. They
organized this church May 26, 1825, the preacher also supplying a
similiar church at Westerlo (Sprakers) and Middletown (Mapletown).
Rev. John C. Toll was the pastor of this church for five years (1822-
1827), when he became the pastor of the new or Independent church
referred to above, and remained till his own death and that of the
church in 1848. The first consistory were, Hugh Mitchell, Garrett
Van Valkenburgh and Martin Van Deusen, elders, and Rudolph Ding-
man, Jr., Henry Smith and J. G. Van Deusen, deacons. We have
gone thro the records of these churches, the main portion of which
has to do with the discipline. In 1773 a "Lower Canajoharie" church
is found recorded.
Corwin's Manual refers to a seceding church at Cato, or-
CATO ganized in 1827, a defection from the Dutch church of the
same place.
During the years 1797 thro 1830 no less than five
CHARLESTON Reformed churches were organized in this town
(Charlestown), two of which are spoken of under
These churches are given a place in this record for the reason that the
organizations were defections from the Dutch church, and in most cases
the men serving them were ministers of the Dutch Reformed church. These
churches were of brief life, except those that Wyckoff and McNeil served.
129
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
the "extinct churches." A seceding church was started by the
"Wyckofites" in 1822, and from this a second church seceded in 1824
and, finally, in 1829, an Independent church was established.
This was another name for "Indian Castle" (cf) in Her-
DANUBE kimer county. Rev S. Z. Goetschius, suspended in 1824
by Montgomery Classis, organized a church at Danube,
and on its decline in 1828, he re-entered the Dutch church, supplied
Canastota (cf) for three years from 1836, then went west. He also
preached at Osquak and Westerlo. Rev. Goetschins furnished the
"Wyckofite" Synod material for a tedious , trial on strictly moral
lines of conduct.
The Fonda records show the incorporation of what has al-
GLEN ways been known as the "Wyckofite" church of Glen, formed
in 1830. Rev. Jasper Hogan wrote an informing chapter on
this secession in his "History of the Glen Church," and it is also
treated in the "Bergen Classis History." The compiler of this work
has recently filed in the Seminary at New Brunswick an almost com-
plete set of all the printed documents (some manuscripts) of the
"True Reformed church." Corwin's "Manual" refers to an independ-
ent Reformed church at Glen of which Rev. Christian Paulison (N.
B. Sem. '26) was the pastor, who had seceded from the Reformed
church in 1831, and, later, was suspended from the "Wyckofite"
Classis (there never were but two classes, and each in time dis-
solved the other). The church building erected in 1831 is still in
good condition, and is generally known as the "White" church.
Services are held monthly in this church.
A "Wyckofite" church was formed at Johnstown in
JOHNSTOWN 1822, and was served by two pastors for more than
thirty years, first by Rev. A. B. Amerman (Asso.
Refd. Sem. '16), who while servng Johnstown and Mayfield (1817-
181) was both suspended and restored, and continued at Johnstown
and Mayfield thro 1843; and second, by Rev. J. P. Westervelt (1845-
1855). Both of these men later united with the Presbyterian church.
The Johnstown church soon after Westervelt's pastorate disbanded.
An "Independent" Reformed church was organized in
MAYFIELD 1821, and served by Revs. Amerman and Westervelt
of the church of the same character at Johnstown (cf
Johnstown above). In the County Clerk's records at Fonda is shown
the incorporation act, dated April 12, 1832, of the "True Reformed
Dutch church of Mayfield." Besides these there was a Union Re-
ligious Society incorporated at Mayfield on April 5, 1813.
There was a "True Reformed" church organized by
OSQUAKO Rev. S. Z. Goetschius at Osquako ("Asquach" or
"Osquak"), in the town of Minden, about 1823, but
it survived only a few years.
After serving Ovid (organized 1808 and in 1828 merged into
OVID Lodi, organized in 1800) for fourteen years, Rev. Abram
Brokaw became a "Wyckofite," and was suspended by the
Montgomery Classis. He at once organized a "Wyckofite" church
at Ovid (1822), and probably supplied it for a while. In 1838 Rev.
Archibald McNeil became the pastor of this church, and served it
thirty years, the church dying with its minister. The General Synod
of the True Reformed church met here in 1840.
130
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
A secession from the old church at Owasco took place
OWASCO in 1823, the first pastor to serve it being Rev. Archibald
McNeil (cf Ovid), who remained five years, and was suc-
ceeded by Rev. William Johnson, and after a lapse of ten years, who
remained with the church for more than a quarter of a century
(1838-1865).
A second secession from the Owasco church took place
OWASCO in 1879 when Rev. Alfred E. Myers, pastor, and some
members of the church withdrew and formed the Owasco
Presbyterian church, which Myers served six years (1879-1885). The
church erected has become the home of the Owasco Roman Catholic
church. Rev. Horace Chadsey and Rev. Mr. Hoyt were other pastors
of this church.
What was called a "Canajoharie" church was
SPRAKERS BASIN formed by the union of Sprakers Basin
("Westerlo") and the Middletown (Maple-
town) secessionists, who were pastored by Rev. John C. Toll for
twenty years (after his suspension by Montgomery Classis in 1822).
Toll died in 1848.
A "True Reformed Church" was formed and in-
TRIBES HILL corporated at Tribes Hill in 1840. The record is
on file at Fonda. This was probably a development
of the Glen "Wyckofite" church. Beyond the County Clerk's record
nothing is known of it.
131
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
— — -
H iaeformeti Ci)urcl)e0 S
Capuga anD ®enetia Classes
Cayuga Classis
In 1826 the Particular Synod of Albany formed the Classis of Cay-
uga by setting off seven churches from the Classis of Montgomery, as
follows: Cato, Chittenango, Lysander, Ovid, Owasco, Sand Beach,
Six Mile Creek. Of these seven churches Owasco and Sand Beach
(Owasco Outlet) are now in the Montgomery Classis. The other
five are extinct or are merged into other churches (cf). When Cayuga
Classis was disbanded in 1889 Chittenango was put back into Mont-
gomer}'. In 1851 Cato was put into the newly formed Classis of
Geneva, but is dropped from the roll of churches in 1884. Ovid,
divided by the Brokaw secession of 1826, was finally merged into
Lodi. Lysander became Congregational in 1883. Six Mile Creek had
but a brief existence (1827-1831). In 1835 the Particular Synod of
Albany sought to form a new Classis, to be called "The Classis of
Oneida." From the Classis of Cayuga were to be taken Chittenango,
Canastota, Jamesville, Lysander and Utica, while from Montgomery
were to be taken Frankfort, Herkimer, Columbia, St. Johnsville and
Manheim. Tho referred to several succeeding synods the plan of
the Classis makers never materialized. In 1851 the Particular Synod
of Albany, on request of the Cayuga Classis reformed that body,
making the Classis of Cayuga to consist of Chittenango, Cleveland,
Canastota, Cicero, Owasco, Lysander, Sand Beach, Syracuse, Utica.
The statistical tables of 1852 add the church of The Thousand Isles.
Of these churches, Canastota, Chittenango, Cicero, Owasco, Owasco
Outlet (Sand Beach), Syracuse, Thousand Isles and Utica were put
into the Montgomery Classis when the Cayuga Classis was disbanded
in 1889. Of the other two churches that at Lysander, organized in
1826 by the Classis of Cayuga, joined with the Presbyterian church
of the same place, and formed a Congregational church about 1883.
The church at Cleveland (Oswego Co.) organized in 1850, became
Presbyterian in 1856. In 1889 the Classis of Cayuga was disbanded,
its churches being placed in the Montgomerj' Classis. The churches
received by Montgomery Classis were Canastota, Chittenago, Cicero,
Lysander, Naumburgh, New Bremen, Point Rock, Owasco, Owasco
Outlet, Syracuse, Thousand Isles, Utica, and West Leyden. Other
churches which were in membership in the Cayuga Classis before
the Classis of Geneva was formed in 1851, were as follows: Arcadia,
Caroline, Farmerville, Gorham, Geneva, Ithaca, Jamesville, Lodi, Tyre,
Piffardinia, Wolcott. Of these churches Arcadia, Caroline, Farmer-
ville, Geneva, Gorham, Ithaca, Piffardina, Tyre and Wolcott were
placed in the Geneva Classis when formed in May, 1851. Unless re-
The Churches and Ministry of the Classes of Cayuga and Geneva, being
more or less associated with those of Montgomery, are included, with brief
reference, in these records. The printed Particular Synod of Albany Minutes,
except a few copies found by the writer, are lacking for the first twenty
years, and for the next forty years they are cruelly condensed (for history's
sake), and typographically much in error.
132
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
ferred to in this part of the record that has to do with the Cayuga and
Geneva Classes, the churches mentioned above or below will be found
in the Montgomery Classis lists.
Geneva Classis
The Particular Synod of Albany in 1851 organized the Classis of
Geneva, making it to consist of the following churches: Arcadia,
Caroline, Cato, Farmerville, Geneva, Gorham, Ithaca, Piffardinia, Tyre
Wolcott. In the statistical tables of 1852 (P. S. A. Minutes) are added
Lodi, Pultneyville and Waterloo. Corwin's Digest adds Buffalo,
Clymer and Rochester, tho these do not occur in the statistics until
1853. In this same year Cataline (error for Caroline) is added and
Gorham and Piffardinia are dropped. In 1887 the Classis of Geneva
was disbanded, the churches going into the recently formed Classis
of Rochester. At this time the Classis of Geneva had these churches
in membership: Abbe, Clymer, Farmer Village, Marion, Pultneyville,
Arcadia, Dunkirk, Geneva, Mina, Rochester, Caroline, East William-
son, Lodi, Ontario, Tyre. There were two thousand members in
these churches and fifteen hundred in the Sunday schools. Fifteen
ministers were members and $11,000 was raised for congregational ex-
penses during the year previous to disbanding. In 1887 the Particular
Synod of Albany organized the Classis of Rochester, to take the place
of the Classis of Geneva. The churches forming the Classis of
Rochester were as follows: Abbe, Arcadia, Clymer, East Williamson,
Farmer Village, Geneva, Lodi, Marion, Dunkirk, Pultneyville, Pal-
myra, Rochester, First and Second Tyre, Ontario. Of these churches
Lodi and Farmer Village (Interlaken) are now in Montgomery
Classis. Dunkirk, organized in 1867, vacant for three fourths of its
nominal existence, was dropped in 1888. Geneva was disbanded when
the Classis of Rochester was formed. The rest of the above named
churches are now in Rochester Classis. Other churches which were
in membership in the Geneva Classis, not mentioned elsewhere, were
as follows: Buffalo and Buffalo Holland (1856), Mina Corners (1857),
Athens, Pa. (1859).
"Q
133
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
[*] (Efcurcijes of @
Capuga anD dBenetoa Cla00e0
(linrcroriiet) <2liactofoere
The Reformed church at Clymer (Chautauqua Co.) was called
ABBE the Abbe church in memory of Mrs. L. M. Abbe of Albany,
who gave a large sum of money toward its erection. Clymer,
formed in 1821, was named after Gen. Clymer, one of the signers of
the Declaration of Independence. Organized in 1869, it is today a
prosperous church in the Rochester Classis of two hundred and fifty
members. (The Clymer Hill church is another organization of 1853.)
This church was also called "Fairville" (Wayne Co.) and
ARCADIA was organized in 1835 by the Classis of Cayuga. Among
the pastors were Rev. Elbert Nevius (1835-1836), the
famous missionary to Borneo; Rev. William E. Turner (1841-1848),
John Whitbeck (1850-1852), Benj. F. Snyder (1855-1856), and Rev.
W. E. Turner (second pastorate, 1862-1866). In 1870 the organiza-
tion was abandoned. The Second Reformed church of Arcadia (near
Newark) was organized in 1833 and is today a church of a hundred
and eighty members in the Rochester Classis.
This was a Rradford county (Pa.) organization of
ATHENS, PA. 1858 with a reported charter membership of ninety-
five. Its pastors were Rev. Augustus F. Todd (1858-
1865), Rev. Philip Berry (1865-1872), Rev. John F. Shaw (1868-1870).
This was a Cayuga county church, organized in 1813
AURELIUS by Rev. Conrad Tfen Eyck, who served the church
(JWtLe^oZtjblaf fourteen years. There were nearby organizations at
Sempronius, where Rev. George W. Brinkerhoff was prior to 1812, and
Sterling (named after Lord Sterling). Rev. David R. De Fraest was
pastor at Sterling during 1825-1828. The 1855 census gives the Dutch
church at North Sterling. Aurelius was the former name of the town
of Owasco and was three miles west of Auburn.
This was a Cayuga county church, organized in 1831 and
CATLIN served for two years (1832-1833) by Rev. Leonard Rogers,
who was at Owasco Outlet nearby for two years (1833-
1834). He died in 1838. Nothing further is known of the Catlin
church.
The New York Gazetteer (1849) says that the first church
CLAY organized in the town of Clay was a Dutch Reformed body,
whose meeting house was in the north-eastern part of the
town of Clay. Smith's "Pioneer Times in Onondaga County" also
refers to this early Reformed Dutch church.
The Reformed church of Cleveland (Oswego Co.)
CLEVELAND was organized in 1850, but after a few years, during
which it was ministerd unto by Rev. David B. Hall
(cf Columbia) and Rev. Nathan W. Jones. It went over to the Pres-
byterian body in 1856.
Originally this Holland church was in the Classis
CLEVELAND, O. of Cayuga, when it was organized in 1864. Rev.
A. K. Kasse was licensed by the Geneva Classis,
and after a pastorate at Pultneyville (1851-1861) and one at Buffalo
134
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSTS
(1861-1864), he went to Cleveland, from which he went to the Second
Church of Paterson, N. J. in 1868, and died as pastor of that church
in 1874.
One of the churches taken from Montgomery to form
GENEVA the Classis of Geneva. It was organized in 1831 (On-
tarion Co.) and for a quarter of a century did splendid
work. At the time that it was the strongest church in the Classis
of Geneva it was disbanded, its one hundred thirty members dis-
missed, and the church building and property, worth $10,000, was
sold to the city of Geneva for $4,000 to satisfy a claim of the Collegiate
church of New York. The city later sold the property to the church
of Rome. General Synod met at Geneva in 1867, and at the time there
were a hundred and seventy-eight members who gave $701 for
benevolence the previous year. Its first pastor was Rev. Henry Man-
deville (1831-1834), who later went to Utica (cf). Following him
were Rev. Gustavus Abeel (1835-1849), Rev. James Romeyn (1850-
1851), who died as the pastor emeritus in 1859, a Boanerges in the
pulpit of his day; Rev. Henry V. Voorhees (1851-1854), Rev. Jos.
A. Collier (1855-1859), a most successful pastor, especially with the
young; Rev. Charles Wiley (1859-1865) and for ten years in the
Utica church (cf) ; Rev. Samuel J. Rogers (1865-1872), who later was
pastor at Fort Plain (cf); Rev. William W. Brush (1872-1878), or-
dained by the Geneva Classis in 1866 and installed over the Farmer
Village church (cf ) ; Rev. Oppie (1878-1879), who died in 1880; Rev.
William H. Nasholds (1880-1882), who went to Farmer Village next
(cf); and Rev. Thomas C. Strong (1882-1885-S. S.), who became a
Presbyterian in 1871 at the close of his pastorate in the Ithaca church
(cf ) that became Congregational in 1872. Dr. Strong was President
of Wells College during 1871-1875, and of the Pennsylvania Female
College at Pittsburgh during 1875-1878. He was the Cor. Secy, of
the Board of Publication (1859-1868) and President of General Synod
at both Geneva and Albany in 1867, when the present name of the
denomination was fixd.
This place was first called "Easton" then "Lincoln."
GORHAM Organized in 1843 the church at Gorham had but a
decade of existence, during which time it was pastored
by Rev. Abram G. Ryerson, Rev. Aaron Lloyd and Rev. Israel Ham-
mond (cf Owasco).
The Reformed church of Ithaca (Tompkins Co.) was or-
ITHACA ganized on April 2, 1830, with forty members. A month
after the formation of the church the people were wor-
shipping in their new edifice, an humble imitation of the Parthenon,
which served them for forty years — the span of life for the Ithaca
Reformed Dutch church. With the coming of Rev. Dr. Charles M.
Tyler in 1872 to the pastorate, the church went over into the Con-
gregational body. Pastors at Ithaca were Revs. Alexander M. Mann,
John C. F. Hoes (cf Chittenango), James V. Henry, Charles H. A.
Bulkley, Joachim Elmendorf, John W. Schoenck, Francis N. Zabriskie,
and Thomas C. Strong. Rev. Dr. W. E. Griffis (N. B. Sem. '72)
served the Congregational church ten years, from 1893. Ground for
the original church was given by Simeon De Witt, the founder of
Ithaca. A memorial tablet in the handsome new edifice of the Con-
gregational body records the names of the pastors of the Reformed
Dutch church. Rev. Mann was the first pastor at Ithaca (1831-1837)
135
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
who, later had a twenty year pastorate in the First Church of Pough-
keepsie, his last charge. Rev. Hoes' pastorate was from 1837 thro
1845 in which year he went to Kingston for his last twenty years
work. Here at Kingston he built the stone church. He came to
Ithaca from Chittenango (cf). Dr. Hoes died in 1883. Rev. James V.
Henry succeeded Dr. Hoes, coming from a seven years' pastorate at
Ossining. He remained at Ithaca during the years 1846-1849. Rev.
Henry died at Jersey City, N. J., March 14, 1873. Rev. Charles H. A.
Bulkley, a Presbyterian followed who supplied the pulpit thro 1850-
1852. Rev. Joachim Elmendorf began his ministry in 1853, remaining
upwards of three years. Other pastorates of his were at Saugerties,
First Syracuse, Second Albany and in the Harlem Collegiate of New
York. Rev. John W. Scheneck (1855-1863), who died while pastor of
the Claverack church in 1881, at the close of a ten year pastorate;
Rev. Francis N. Zabriskie (1863-1866), who later was connected with
the "Christian Intelligencer," and was followed by Rev. Thomas C.
Strong of whom we have spoken at length under Geneva (cf), who
was the last Dutch pastor (1870-1871).
An Onondaga county Reformed church, organized
JAMESVILLE about 1833 (P. S. A. Min.). It was short lived, Rev.
E. Evans serving it in 1836, and Rev. Thomas A.
Amerman from 1838 thro 1840.
"The First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Japan"
JAPAN is reported in the 1866 General Synod Minutes under the
Classis of Cayuga. It had a membership of twenty-nine,
two hundred and fifty under Bible instruction, and reported six
hundred and seventy-four in the Sunday schools. Rev. Samuel R.
Brown (cf Owasco Outlet) and Rev. Guido F. Verbeck were in charge
of the work.
This place in Onondaga county, was settled in 1793.
LAMSONS A New York Gazetter of 1855 refers to this church.
Elijah and Solomon Toll were among the first settlers,
John Toll being the first child born here.
Organized in March, 1828, in a small town of Onon-
LYSANDER daga county by Rev. James Stevenson, thro half a
century it did good work. On its organization it took
in the Second Presbyterian church, which was organized in 1820, but
had no building. Rev. John Davenport was the missionary here. Dis-
sension soon arose, followed by litigation, the original Dutch church
winning in the courts. In 1833 a Presbyterian church was built and
until 1877, both churches prospered. About this time, however, a
union of the two was perfected, forming the Lysander Congregational
church. Rev. James B. Stevenson (cf Florida) thro 1827 and 1827, and
Rev. James E. Quaw during 1829 and 1830 did missionary work on the
fields. Other men who were pastors or supplies were, Rev. Aaron A.
Marcellus (1830-1831), Rev. Melanchton B. Williams (1834-1855), Rev.
Richard W. Knight (1846-1848), Rev. J. W. Bradford (1849-1855), Rev.
Francis V. Van Vranken (1861-1866), Rev. J. H. Enders (1866-1869),
who was later at Chittenango (cf), and Rev. William A. Wurts (1871-
1876), who was also a pastor at Hagaman (cf). Of these men Rev.
Quaw lost his life on Lake Erie in 1845; Mr. Marcellus spent most
of his years in teaching; Mr. Williams is unknown after leaving
Lysander; Mr. Bradford in his last years lived retired at Marathon,
where he died March 3, 1874.
136
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
A Chautauqua county church, called also Mina Corners, or-
MINA ganized in 1856 and was active for a quarter of a century,
tho its name was not dropped from the roll of the Geneva
Classis until 1887. Rev. John W. Dunnewold while pastor at Clymer
Hill Congregational church (1851-1868) supplied the church until
1860, and then became pastor (1860-1808). He was followed by Rev.
Jacob Weber and Rev. John Boehrer (cf West Leyden). Clymer Hill
was in the Congregational body, but joined the Classis in 1851, along
with its pastor.
The story of this church, in Seneca county, is told in con-
OVID nection with Lodi, into which in 1830, it was merged. An
important institution of learning was here for many years.
The Ovid Presbyterian church was dismissed to the Classis in 1809,
when Mr. Brokaw was installed.
A Livingston county Reformed church, organized in
PIFFARDINA 1847, and served for a couple of years by James M.
Compton, who spent most of his ministry in Mont-
gomery Classis (cf Columbia). Its name is dropped from Classis
after 1852.
The Onondaga county history refers to the Plain-
PLAINVILLE ville Reformed Protestant Dutch church, situated in
the town of Lysander, and as late as 1850, speaks
■of it as being still at work.
There was an early organization at Pultney-
PULTNEYVILLE ville in 1824, to which Rev. J. F. Morris min-
istered, but the present church (Rochester Classis)
was organized in 1851. It has a membership of 141. ^..^ OiuXjP
SEMPRONIUS and STIRLING were out stationf of &mz£^(ciy**
A Cayuga Classis organization of 1827, which
SIX MILE CREEK had but a single pastor, Rev. Garret Mande-
ville, who served the church for three years
from 1831, when he retired from the active ministry tho he lived
until 1853. Received from Albany Presbytery in 1819.
This church, ajs.o called the "Malcolm Church," was organ-
TYRE iz<?tfV^&v 1836/1^ "tlie Cayuga Classis. It is now in the
— -<w- Rochester Classis and has a membership of thirty-eight.
t'f*' ' Another name for this church, which at first was in
WOLCOTT Cayuga then in the Geneva Classis, was "Fair Haven,"
and was organized in 1847. Gov. Wolcott of Connecti-
cut was sponsor for first name. Rev. Richard W. Knight (cf Owasco)
was the first pastor (1849-1852), and was followed by Rev. John
Muller (1854-1857), who later became President of Pleasant Prarie
Academy. Rev. Cornelius Gates was pastor during 1857-1859 (cf
Amsterdam); Rev. Thomas G. Watson (1862-1864), who died in 1900,
while pastor of the Brighton Heights Presbyterian church. Rev.
Benjamin A. Bartholf was the next pastor (1864-1868), whose ministry
was partly spent in the Presbyterian church. Rev. James L. Southard
succeeded Bartholf (1869-1881), and afterwards was ten years at
Buskirks, and died at Griggstown, N. J., in 1906. He was the last
Reformed pastor, the church becoming Presbyterian in 1882.
137
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
a
Ifteformeti Ctjurctjes
aipfjafcetkallp !Lt0teD
*
C .- ^ ■»■ -.■■-.--■ -■ - -^^
(With Parenthetic Explanation!
Abbe (Clymer)
Albany Bush (Amsterdam)
Alexandria Bay (Thousand Isles)
Amsterdam — First
Amsterdam (Albany Bush)
Amsterdam (Port Jackson)
Amsterdam — Trinity
Amsterdam (Veddersburg)
Andristown (Andrustown)
Arcadia (Fairville)
Asquach (Asquako)
Athens (Pa.)
Auriesville (Auries Creek)
Aurelius °fr~i>
Beaverdam (Roxbury)
Blenheim (So. Gilboa)
Bowman's Kill (Buel)
Broadalbin (Fonda's Bush)
Buel (Bowman's Kill)
Buffalo
Buffalo (German)
Buffalo (German)
Buffalo (Holland)
Canajoharie
Canajoharie (Sand Hill)
Canajoharie (Sprakers Basin)
(Westerlo)
Canastota
Caroline
Cato
Caughnawaga (Fonda)
Charleston (Charlestown)
Chenango (Union)
Chittenango
Chukonot (Florida)
Cicero
Cincinnatus
Cleveland (N. Y.)
Cleveland (O.)
Clay
Clymer (Abbe)
Cobleskill
Coenradstown
Columbia
Conesville (Schoharie Kill)
Conewago (Caugnawaga)
C^nesvnTe
Currytown (Root)
Danube (Indian Castle)
Day (Sacondaga)
Dillenburgh (Tillaborough)
Dorlach (Sharon)
Duanesborough (Duanesburgh)
East Palatine
Eminence (Summit)
Ephratah
Eukersbush (Youker's Bush)
Fair Haven (Wolcott)
Fairville (Arcadia)
Farmers Village (Interlakeh)
Fayette
Florida (Minaville)
Florida (Chukonot)
Fonda (Caughnawaga)
Fonda's Bush (Broadalbin)
Fonda's Bush (New Harlem
and Johnstown)
Ford's Bush
Fort Herkimer (German Flatts)
Fort Hunter
Fort Plain
Fultonville
Geneva
German Flatts (Fort Herkimer)
Glen 7"
Gorham
Greenwich
Hagaman (Hagaman's Mills)
Henderson (Warren)
Herkimer
Herkimer — Second
Howes Cave (Schoharie)
Huntersfield (Schoharie)
138
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Uion
Indian Castle (Danube)
Interlaken (Farmers Village)
Ithaca
Jamesville
Johnsborough (Johnsburgh)
Johnstown (Fonda's Bush)
Johnstown (Kingsborough)
Kingsborough (Johnstown)
Klock's (St. Johnsville)
Lamsons
Lawyersville (New Rhinebeck)
Le Roy
Lodi (Ovid)
Lysander
Manheim (Snell's Bush)
Mapletown (Middletown)
Mariaville
Marion
Mayfield
Middleburgh (Schoharie Upper)
Middletown (Mapletown)
Mina Corners
Minaville (Florida)
Minden
Mohawk
Naumburgh
New Bremen
New Harlem (Fonda's Bush)
New York Mills
New Rhinebeck (Lawyersville)
North Harlem
Ontario
Oppenheim (Youker's Bush)
Osquako (Asquath)
Ovid (Lodi)
Owasco 46W^&eD-45S^iey
Owasco Outlet (Sand Beach)
Palatine (St. Johnsville)
Palmyra
Piffardinia
Palatine — East
Palatine Stone Church
Perth
Plainville
Point Rock
Port Jackson (Amsterdam)
Puitneyville
Rochester
Root (Curry town)
Roxbury ( BeaverasS&fT
Sacondaga (Day)
Salisbury
Sand Beach (Owasco Outlet)
Sand Hill (Canajoharie)
Schoharie (Huntersfield)
Schoharie Kill (Conesville)
Schoharie Lower (Schoharie)
Schoharie Mt. (Howes Cave)
Schoharie Upper (Middleburgh)
Schuyler
Sempronius 4yfflAniraeiiu.fr)
Sharon (Dorlach)
Six Mile Creek
So. Gilboa (Blenheim)
Sprakers (Westerlo)
Snell's Bush (Manheim)
Sinthiock (Stillwater)
Stillwater (Sinthiock)
Stone Arabia
St. Johnsville (Palatine)
Summit (Eminence)
Syracuse — First
Syracuse — Second
Tillaborough (Dillenburgh)
Thousand Isles (Alexandria Bay)
Tyre
Union (near Chenango)
Union (Montgomery Co.)
Utica
Warren (Henderson)
Waterloo
Westerlo (Canajoharie) Sprakers
West Leyden
Wolcott (Fair Haven)
Youker's Bush (Oppenheim)
139
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASS1S
a laeformeD Ct)urci)e0
©f tfje Qiontgomerp Classis, 1915
-
m y l|l y ||| T ^i T y y T T ^ ■!■ T ¥ f ¥ y 'I' ■■■ H»~^ '
Chronologically Arranged
1723-
-Fort Herkimer
1798-
-Mapletown
1848-
-Syracuse First
1723-
-Herkimer
1800-
-Lodi
1850-
-Amsterdam 1st
1725-
-Stone Arabia
1812-
-Owasco Outlet
1850-
-Hagaman
1750-
-St. Johnsville
1823-
-Ephratah
1850-
-Naumburgh
1758-
-Fonda
1827-
-Canajoharie
1851-
-Thousand Isles
1770-
-Manheim
1830-
-Interlaken
1856-
-West Leyden
1784-
-Florida
1830-
-Utica
1871-
-Cranesville
1792-
-Glen
1831-
-Fort Plain
1892-
-Amsterdam —
1796-
-Sprakers
1837-
-Cicero
Trinity
1796-
-Currytown
1838-
-Fultonville
1894-
-Johnstown
1796-
-Owasco
1838-
-Mohawk
1895-
—Syracuse Second
1798-
-Columbia
1839-
-Auriesville
1908-
-Cortland
These dates represent the year of the organization of the work on
the field — not the year always of the acceptance of church by the
Classis.
Geographically Arranged
Cayuga Co. — Owasco and Owasco Outlet.
Cortland Co. — Cortland.
Fulton Co. — Ephratah and Johnstown.
Herkimer Co. — Columbia, Fort Herkimer, Herkimer, Manheim
and Mohawk.
Jefferson Co. — Alexandria Bay.
Lewis Co. — Naumburgh and West Leyden.
Montgomery Co. — Amsterdam First and Trinity, Auriesville,
Canajoharie, Cranesville, Currytown, Florida, Fonda, Hagaman, Fort
Plain, Fultonville, Glen, Mapletown, St. Johnsville, Sprakers and
Stone Arabia.
Oneida Co. — Utica.
Onondaga Co. — Syracuse First and Second, Cicero.
Seneca Co. — Interlaken and Lodi.
140
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Membership of Classis in 191 5
Year Indicates Date of Joining Classis
1873-
-Rev.
R. A. Pearse
1909— Rev.
1881-
-Rev.
J. R. Kyle
Rev.
1890-
-Rev.
Ira Van Allen
Rev.
1896-
-Rev.
Joel Loucks
1910— Rev.
1901-
-Rev.
Rev.
H. C. Cussler
C. F. Benjamin
Rev.
1912— Rev.
Rev.
Rev.
1913— Rev.
1914— Rev.
Rev.
Rev.
Henry Smith
1902-
1903-
-Rev.
-Rev.
Rev.
C. V. W. Bedford
P. A. Wessels
W. N. P. Dailey
1904-
-Rev.
H. C. Willoughby
Rev.
Rev.
L. H. Holden
1915— Rev.
1906-
-Rev.
G. G. Seibert
Rev.
J. H. Brinckerhoff
P. S. Beekman
Frederick Perkins
E. J. Meeker
E. B. Van Arsdale
J. H. Murphy
O. E. Beckes
J. A. De Hollander
E. B. Irish
R. A. Stanton
H. A. Eliason
V. J. Blekkink
A. S. Van Dyck
U. G. Warren
Montgomery Classis Ministers
See Illustration on Next Page
1. Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage
2. Rev. Edward Lodewick
3. Rev. Evert Van Slyck
4. Rev. James A. H. Cornell
5. Rev. Jeremiah Searle
6. Rev. J. Romeyn Berry
7. Rev. Henry A. Raymond
8. Rev. John A. Liddell
9. Rev. Martin Luther Berger
10. Rev. Joachim Elmendorf
21. Rev. J.
11. Rev. Peter Q. Wilson
12. Rev. Isaac Labagh
13. Rev. James R. Talmage
14. Rev. Oscar H. Gregory
15. Rev. George W. Bethune
16. Rev. A. Henry Dumont
17. Rev. James Murphey
18. Rev. John A. DeBaun
19. Rev. John P. Spinner
20. Rev. Guido F. Verbeck
Lansing Pearse
141
e^ontgomcrp Classis Ministers!
See Previous Page
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
a JReformeD Ctjurct) 30tnt0ter0 a
©f ttje Siontgomerp Classis
Abeel, Gustavus (1801-1887) 1835-1849— Union '23— N. B. '24 — Geneva.
Abell, James (dl867) 1838-1855— Chittenango.
Ackerman, Edw. G. (1837-1899) 1874-1879 — Rutgers '66— N. B. '69—
Currytown, Sprakers.
Ackerson, John H. (1810-1852) 1839-1841— N. B. '39— Columbia.
Amerman, Albert B. (1793-1881) 1816-1821— Col. '12— Asso. Refd. Sem.
'16 — Johnstown, Mayfield.
Amerman, Thos. A. (dec.) 1838-1840— Amherst '27 — N. B. '30 — James-
ville.
Anderson, Chas. (1812-1900) 1879-1883 — Union '40 — Auburn '43—
Owasco Outlet (S. S.)
Aurand, Henry (1805-1876) 1860-1863— Dartmouth '30 — Columbia.
Babcock, Maltbie D. (1853-1901) Syracuse '79 — Auburn '82 — Cicero
(S. S.) 1881.
Baehler, Louis H. (1839-1914) 1898-1901— Rutgers '01— N. B. '67—
Manheim.
Ballagh, Wm. H. (dl892) 1886-1888— Rutgers '60— N. B. '63— Lodi.
Barny, Wm. F. (1862) 1893-1896— Bloomfield Sem. '93— N. B. '09—
Naumburgh and New Bremen — Milltown, N. J.
Barr, Robt. H. (1851) 1880-1883— Rutgers '75— N. B. '78— Owasco—
Newburgh, N. Y.
Bartholf, Benj. (1835-1908) 1864-1868— Rutgers '61— N. B. '64— Fair
Haven.
Bartlett, John— Pastor at Columbia 1811-1814.
Bassler, Benj. (1806-1866) 1838-1866 — Union '30 — N. B. '33 — Farmers-
ville.
Beattie, Jas. A. (1861-1915) 1892-1915— Glasgow Univ. '85 — Princeton
'89 — Amsterdam, Trinity.
Beattie, John (1784-1864) 1838-1844— Union '06— Buffalo.
Beaver, J. Perry (1858) 1898-1901— Ursinus '80— Auburn '83— Buffalo
— Coeymans, N. Y.
Becker, Chas. — -Pastor at Naumburgh and New Bremen 1860-1870.
Beckes, Oscar E. (1868) 1912 — Emporia Col. '96— McCormick '98 —
Auburn '99 — Mohawk — Mohawk, N. Y.
Bedford, C. V. W. (1871) 1902— N. B. '97— Johnstown, Currytown,
Sprakers, Hagaman — Hagaman, N. Y.
Beekman, Peter S. (1861) 1893-1901 and 1909— Rutgers '84— N. B. '87
— Currytown — Johnstown — Johnstown, N. Y.
Beekman, Theo. A. (1856) 1885-1887— Rutgers '82— N. B. '85— Colum-
bia, Rosendale, N. Y.
Benjamin, Chas. F. (1872) 1901— Rutgers '98— N. B. '01— Thousand
Isles — Alexandria Bay, N. Y.
Bennet, Asa (1790-1858) 1828-1838— N. B. '24— Ovid.
First parenthesis gives birth, and if deceased, year; membership in
Classis follows; College and seminary, and year; then fields served in Classis;
address last. Cayuga and Geneva classes, set off from and returning to
Montgomery are somewhat included in this list.
143
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Bentley, E. W. (1826-1886) supplied Canajoharie in 1881.
Benson, Clarence H. (1879) Oct. 1911— Jun. 1912— Univ. Minn and
Macalster College — Princeton '08 — Buffalo (now in Rochester
Classis)— Buffalo, N. Y.
Berger, Martin L (.1839-1910) 1868-1875 — Williams '59 — Union Sem.
'62 — Syracuse First.
Bergman, Jacob C. (1861) 1895-1901— Albion '88— Yale Div. '91— N.
Y. Mills — Grand Rapids, Mich.
Berry, Philip (1837-1889) 1865-1872— Rutgers '57— N. B. '60— Athens
(Pa.)
Bethune, Geo. W. (1805-1862) 1831-1834— Col. and Dickson '23—
Princeton '26 — Utica.
Blekkink,, Evert J. (1858) 1894-1899— Hope '86— N. B. '89— Amsterdam,
Trinity — Holland, Mich. Western Theo. Seminary.
Blekkink, Victor J. (1887) 1914— Hope '09— N. B. '12— Canajoharie—
Canajoharie, N. Y.
Blodgett, Gaius M. (1815-1884)— Union '34 — Auburn '37— Columbia,
Warren (Licentiate), Stone Arabia 1858-1859 (S. S.)
Boehrer, John (1828-1913) 1856-1862 and 1868— West Leyden, Naum-
burgh and New Bremen.
Bogardus, Francis M. (1836) 1872-1877— Rutgers '60— N. B. '63— Mo-
hawk— Asbury Park, N. J.
Bogardus, Nanning (dl868) 1834 and 1858-1868— Fort Plain, Sprakers,
Stone Arabia.
Bolsterle, Geo. S. (1876) 1909-1911— Rutgers and N. B. '09— West Ley-
den—N. Y. City, N. Y.
Bork, Christian (1758-1823) 1796-1798— N. B. 1795— Sharon.
Boyd, John C. (1836-1901) 1865-1870 and 1883-1901— Princeton '55—
Princeton Sem. '63 — Fonda, Auriesville and Sammonsville (S. S.)
Boyd, Joshua (1785-1874) 1826-1828 — Union '14 — Herkimer Second.
Bradford, Wm. J. (1795-1874) 1849-1858— Princeton Sem. '23— Lysan-
der (S. S.)
Brandow, John H. (1853) 1886-1888— Rutgers '83— N. B. '86— Mohawk
—Albany, N. Y.
Brinckerhoff, Geo. G. (1761-1813)— N. B. 1788— Owasco, Sempronius.
Brinckerhoff, J. Howard (1883) 1909— Rutgers '05— N. B. '08— Herki-
mer—Herkimer, N. Y.
Brokaw, Abram (1761-1846) 1796-1822— Queens 1793— N. B. 1796—
Lodi, Ovid, Owasco.
Brokaw, Ralph W. (1855) 1877-1882— Rutgers '74— N. B. '77— Herki-
mer— Utica, N. Y.
Brokaw, Asahel (1794-1822) 1865-1867— Columbia.
Brower, Cornelius (1770-1845) 1815-1833— Col. 1792— N. B. 1793—
Frankfort, Arcadia, Gorham, Tyre.
Brown, Samuel R. (1810-1880) 1851-1859 and 1868-1869— Yale '32—
Union Sem. '38 — Owasco Outlet.
Brush, Wm. W. (1843-1878) 1866-1868 and 1872-1878— Rutgers '62—
N. B. '66 — Farmers Village, Geneva.
Buckelew, Wm. D. (1825-1893) 1851-1854— Rutgers '48— N. B. '51—
Currytown, Mapletown. Also at Tyre 1870-1876.
Bulkley, Chas. H. A. (1819-1893) 1851-1853— Univ. N. Y. '39— Union
Sem. '42 — Ithaca. .
Burtis, Arthur (1807-1867) 1835-1836— Union '27— Auburn '33— Fort
Plain.
144
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Campbell, Jas. B. (1840-1911) 1903-1906— Rutgers and N. B. '70—
Currytown, Sprakers.
Campbell, Wm. H. (1808-1890) 1831-1833 — Dickinson '28— Princeton
'31 — Chittenango.
Carle, John H. (dec.) 1847-1851— Queens '11— N. B. '14 — Mapletown,
Currytown.
Case, Calvin (1821-1906) 1855-1857 — Rutgers '48 — N. B. '51 — Day.
Caton, J. Collings (1872) 1901-1904— Princeton '97— Yale Div. '98—
Fonda — Paterson, N. J.
Centre, Samuel (1794-1859) 1824-1826— Middlebury '19— N. B. '23—
Herkimer Second, Johnsburgh.
Chapman, Nathan F. (1811-1893) 1849-1853 — Rutgers '44 — N. B. '47—
Canajoharie.
Chittenden, Alanson (1797-1853) 1827-1834— Union '24— Auburn '28—
Charleston, Glen.
Clancy, John (d) 1855-1861— Florida (Minaville).
Close, John (1737-1815) 1796-1804 — Princeton 1763 — Middletown (Sara-
toga county).
Coddington, W. P. (dl913)— supplied First Syracuse 1886-1888.
Cole, Philip H. (1864) 1897-1907— Union '88— Union Sem. '89— Syra-
cuse First — Rome, N. Y.
Collier Geo. Z. (1862) 1890-1896— Rutgers '83— N. B. '86— Thousand
Isles — Middleburgh, N. Y.
Collier, Isaac H. (1834-1881) 1865-1870— Rutgers '59— N. B. '62— Lodi.
Collier, Joseph A. (1828-1864) 1855-1859— Rutgers '49— N. B. '52—
Geneva.
Compton, Jas. M. (1817-1891) 1847-1850 and 1863-1891— Rutgers '43—
N. B. '46 — Currytown, Mapletown, Stone Arabia, Columbia, Hen-
derson, Ephratah.
Consaul, Gansevoort D. W. (1841-1908) 1868-1879 — Amherst '59 —
Princeton '61 — Fort Plain, Mohawk, Herkimer, Fort Herkimer
(S. S.)
Cook, Seth (1858) 1910-1914— Auburn '90— Lodi— Moravia, N. Y.
Cornell, Jas. A. H. (1818-1899) 1848-1851— Rutgers '38— N. B. '41—
Syracuse First.
Cox, Henry M. (1854) 1882-1890— Rutgers '76— N. B. '79— Herkimer—
Harrington Park, N. J.
Crispell, Peter (1862) 1894-1902— Rutgers '48— N. B. '87— Utica— Mont-
gomery, N. Y.
Cussler, Henry C. (1866) 1901— Rutgers '93— N. B. '96— Buffalo-
Fonda — Fonda, N. Y.
Dailey, Wm. N. P. (1863) 1903— Union '84— Hartford Sem. '87— Am-
sterdam, Trinity — Schenectady, N. Y. Classical Missionary 1911.
Davis, George (1860-1914) 1911-1914— Rutgers '84— N- B. '87— Cana-
joharie.
Dean, Artemas (1824) 1873-1875— Amherst '42— Auburn '48— Owasco
Outlet— Mt. Carmel, Pa.
De Baun, John A. (1833-1900) 1883-1900— Rutgers '52— N. B. '55—
Fonda.
De Fraest, David R. (1785-1835)— N. B. '18— Cato, Sterling.
DeGraff, Garret D. L. (1869-1910) 1909-1910— N. B. '01— Cortland.
De Hollander, John A. (1875) 1912— Univ. Mich. '05— N. B. '08—
Cicero — Irondequoit, N. Y.
145
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Demarest, James (1832-1913) 1884-1900— Union '52— N. B. '56— Fort
Plain.
Denman, Mark A. (1858) 1891-1897— Washington-Jefferson '82—
Princeton '86 — Canajoharie — Springfield, Mass.
De Voe, David (1783-1844) 1811-1844— N. B. '08— St. Johnsville, Colum-
bia, Oppenheim, Manheim, Henderson, Warren, Upper Schoharie.
De Vries, Henry (1847) 1877-1882— N. B. '88— Thousand Isles— Peek-
skill, N. Y.
Dexter, Rex Rescum Hart (1819-1890) 1884-1887— Auburn '54—
Owasco Outlet.
De Witt, John (1821-1906) 1849-1850— Rutgers '38— N. B. '42— Cana-
joharie.
Dobbs, John F. (1870) 1908-1915 — Lafayette '97 — Union Sem. '00—
Syracuse First — Woburn, Mass.
Donald, James E. (dec.) 1844-1855— Mariaville.
Dougall, Arthur (1868-1904) 1900-1903— Union '92— Princeton '95 —
Fort Plain.
Drake, Edward (1871) 1897— Lake Forest '94— Auburn '97 — Lie. by
Montgomery Classis — Minneapolis, Minn. (Presb.)
Drake, Francis T. (1805-1867) 1844-1853— Rutgers '38— N. B. '41—
Canastota.
DuBois, John (1812-1844) 1843-1845 and 1850-1854— Union '39— N. B.
'42 — Manheim, Cicero.
Dumont, Abraham H. (1800-1865) 1826— N. B. '26— Union Church.
Dunnewold, John W. (1821-1895) 1855-1868— Clymer and Mina.
Dunning, Edward O. (dl'874) 1842-1845— Canajoharie.
Duryee, Isaac G. (1810-1866) 1859-1862 — Union '38— Andover '41 —
Yale Div. '42 — Amsterdam First.
Dyer, David (dec.) 1841-1843— Fultonville.
Dyke, Jacob (1860) 1903-1909— Hope '83— N. B. '86— Herkimer (1904)
— Presb. — East Moriches, L. I.
Dyke, Chalmers P. (1869) 1900-1903— Rutgers '92 — N. B. '95— Herki-
mer— Lowell, Mass.
Dysart, Joseph P. (1841) 1874-1879 — Union '65 — United Pres. Sem. '68
— Glen — Milwaukee, Wis.
Dysslin, John H. (dl812) 1788-1812— St. Johnsville, Manheim, Indian
Castle.
Edmonson, James (dec.) 1868-1886 — Cicero, Mohawk.
Eliason, Harry A. (1880) 1914 — Currytown, Sprakers — Currytown,
N. Y.
Elmendorf, Joachim (1827-1908) 1853-1855 and 1862-1865— Rutgers '50
— N. B. '53 — Ithaca, Syracuse First.
Enders, Jacob H. (1834-1901) 1891-1901 — Union '58 — Princeton '61 —
Chittenango — also at Lysander 1866-1869.
Erler, John (1877) 1903-1906— N. B. '02— Cicero (Luth.) Rockwood, Pa.
Evans, C. Park— Thousand Isles (S. S.) 1889-1890— Watervliet, N. Y.
Evans, E. — Stated supply at Jamesville (Onondaga Co.) during 1836.
Faber, John P. (1878) 1906 — N. B. '99 — Auriesville (S. S.), Cranes-
ville (S. S.) — Schenectady, N. Y.
Ferris, Isaac (1798-1873) 1820 — Col. '16 — N. B. '20 — Missionary: Man-
heim, Oppenheim, Danube, Osquak and Herkimer Second.
Florence, Ephraim W. (1864) 1899-1904 — Owasco Outlet, Currytown,
Sprakers. Sidney, Nova Scotia (P. E.)
146
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Fonda, Jacob D. (1793-185(5) 1835-1842— Union '15— N. B. '19— Fonda.
Force, Frank A. (1850) 1896-1899 — Hope '76 — N. B. '80 — Owasco Out-
let—Mt. Ross, N. Y.
Forsyth, James C. (dec. 1898) — pastor of Interlaken 1870-1875 (Pres.)
Frazer, Thomas (1791-1884) 1840-1843 — Currytown, Mapletown.
Freeh, Henry — pastor at West Leyden and Point Rock 1886 and 1887.
Frederick, Elmer E. (Presb.) Supply at Mapletown 1913.
Froeligh, Peter D. (1782-1827) 1802-1807— Col. 1799— N. B. 1801—
Sincock.
Furbeck, Howard R. (1878) 1901-1903— Union '97— N. B. '01— Amster-
dam, Trinity — Annandale, N. J.
Furbeck, Philip (1832-1899) 1889-1892 and 1898-1899— Union '54— N. B.
'59 — Fonda, St. Johnsville.
Gardner, Hugh B. (1820-1874) 1860-1864— Yale '42— Princeton Sem.
'49 — Herkimer.
Garretson, Garrett I. (1808-1853)— Rutgers '29— N. B. '32— Lodi.
Garretson, John (1801-1875) 1859-1864— Union '23— N. B. '26— Cana-
stota, Owasco Outlet.
Gates, Cornelius (dl863) 1856-1857 — Amsterdam First.
Gebhard, John G. (1857) 1892-1900— Hope '78— N. B. '82— Herkimer
— N. Y. City, N. Y.
Goetschius, Stephen G. (dl795) 1822-1824— N. B. '19— Manheim, Dan-
ube, Osquak, Canastota.
Grant, Jas. Edward (1872) 1906-1915 — Westminster Theo. Sem. '00 —
Union Sem. '14 — Fultonville — Delaware Water Gap, Pa. (Presb.)
Gregory, Oscar H. (1809-1885) 1831-1838— Amherst '28— Princeton
Sem. and N. B. '31 — Farmersville.
Gray, John (1799-1877) 1830-1832— Root (Currytown).
Gray, John (1792-1865) 1856-1857— Cicero.
Gros, Johannes D. (1737-1812) 1796-1800 — Canajoharie, Stone Arabia.
Hageman, Andrew J. (1837-1912) 1863-1887— Rutgers '60— N. B. '63—
Hagaman.
Haines, Francis S. (1857) 1884-1890— Princeton '78— Union Sem. '83—
Canajoharie — Goshen, N. Y.
Hall, David B. (1812-1898) 1844-1848— Union '39— Princeton Sem. '41
— Columbia and Henderson (Cong. S. S.). Also at Cleveland,
N. Y. (1850-1853).
Hammond, Eben S. (1815-1873) 1854-1858— Rutger's '39— N. B. '42—
Canajoharie, Columbia.
Hammond, Israel (bl791) 1831-1839 and 1847-1850— Owasco, Gorham.
Hammond, John W. (1819-1876) 1856-1859— N. B. '48— Mohawk.
Hangen, Jacob W. (1805-1843) 1832-1836— Columbia, Warren, Maple-
town, Currytown.
Hansen, Maurice G. (1835-1904) 1887-1893— Rutgers '56— N. B. '59—
Hagaman.
Harris, David T. (1846) 1891-1892 — Manheim — West Copake, N. Y.
Hartley, Isaac S. (1830-1899) 1871-1889— N. U. Univ. '52— Union Sem.
'54 — Utica.
Hasbrouck, Jacob R. H. (1784-1854) 1814-1830— Canajoharie, Charles-
ton, Mapletown, Currytown.
Hastings, Seth P. M. (dl876) 1855-1859— Hamilton '33 — Auburn '37 —
Chittenango.
147
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Heermance, Harrison (1813-1883) 1837-1840— Rutgers '34— N. B. '37—
Currytown, Mapletown.
Henry, Jas. V. (1798-1873) 1846-1849— Central Col. N. J. '15— Prince-
ton Sem. '21 — Ithaca.
Hewlings, Geo. (Hulin, Geo.) (1804-1872) 1861 — Union '26 — Princeton
Sem. '31 — Ephratah (S. S.)
Hillyer, Asa — Missionary at Owasco Outlet 1790f- — rom Orange, N. J.
Hoes, John C. F. (1811-1883) 1839-1845— Amherst '32— Princeton Sem.
'35 — Ithaca, Chittenango.
Hoffman, Abraham (1780-1856) — Pastor of Cato church 1831-1843.
Hogan, Jasper S. (1867) 1894-1896— Rutgers '91— N. B. '94— Glen-
New Brunswick, N. J.
Hogan, Orville J. (1861) 1899-1909— N. B. '93— St. Johnsville— Closter,
N. J. '
Holden, Louis H. (1873) 1904— Yale '95— Col. '97— Union Sem. '98—
Utica— Utica, N. Y.
Huntington, Henry S. (1828-1895) 1869-1870— Princeton '50 — Andover
and Princeton '54 — Owasco Outlet (S. S.)
Huyler, Peter (1876) 1905-1914— N. Y. Univ. '98— Auburn '01— Syra-
cuse Second — Rhinebeck, N. Y.
Hyde, Oren (1787-1873)— Middlebury '12— Princeton '25— Cicero (S.
S.) 1839 (at Fayette 1833-1873).
Ingalls, Wilson (1809-1899) 1855-1864— Union '36— Owasco.
Irish, Edward B. (1886) 1913— Union '10— N. B. '13— Fultonville—
Fultonville, N. Y.
Ivey, Robert (1862) 1903-1905— Auburn '96— Owasco, Atlanta, Ga.
Johnson, William (dec.)— At Owasco 1835-1865— ("Wyckofite").
Jones, Nathan W. (1820-1876) 1853-1854— Rutgers '50— N. B. '54—
Cleveland (S. S.)
Jones, Nicholas (dl839) 1816-1820 — Sharon and New Rhinebeck.
Jones, Thomas W. (1843-1909) 1870-1882— Rutgers '64— N. B. '67—
Fonda.
Jukes, Charles (1788-1862) 1830-1834 and 1838-1850 — Glen, Auries-
ville, Ephratah, Stone Arabia.
Kasse, A. K. 1851-1864— Pastor at Pultneyville and Buffalo (Holland).
Ketchum, Isaac S. (1796-1836) 1822-1840— N. B. '21— Salisbury, Man-
heim, Danube, Stone Arabia, Ephratah, Columbia, Herkimer.
Keerl, Julius J. — Was stated supply at West Leyden in 1889.
Kinney, Chas. W. (1858) 1893-1899 and 1906-1911— St. Johnsville, Mo-
hawk— Schuylerville, N. Y.
Kip, Francis M. (1839-1911) 1870-1883— Univ. N. Y. '64— N. B. '67—
Fultonville, Auriesville.
Knieskern, Joseph (1810-1895) 1845-1895 — Rutgers '38— N. B. '41 — St.
Johnsville, Manheim, Indian Castle.
Knight, Richard W. (1794-1873) 1841-1873 — Owasco Outlet, Cato,
Lysander, Wolcott.
Knox, Charles E. (1833-1911) 1861-1862— Hamilton '56— Auburn '57 —
Union Sem. '59 — Utica (S. S.)
Knox, John P. (1811-3 882) 1841-1844 — Rutgers '30 — N. B. '37 — Utica.
Krum, Josephus D. (1833) 1861-1865 — Rutgers '58— N. B. '61— Florida
—Ottawa, Kan. (P. E.)
Kyle, Joshua R. (1833) 1881 — Miami '59 — Xenia Sem. '63 — Amsterdam
First — Amsterdam, N. Y.
148
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Labagh, Isaac (1764-1837) 1801-1811-1813-1814, 1822-1826— Canajo-
harie, Stone Arabia, Sharon, New Rhinebeck.
Lane, Gilbert S. (1828-1896) 1866-1881— Rutgers '51 — N. B. '54 —
Florida.
Lansing, John A. (1824-1884) 1845-1848— Union '42— N. B. '45— S. S.
at Day, Canajoharie.
Lansing, John G. (1851-1906) 1877-1879 — Union '75— N. B. '77 — Mo-
hawk.
Lansing, Raymond (1873-1903) 1897-1903 — Union '94 — N. B. '97 — Glen.
Lappius, John C. (dl765) — Pastor at "Sand Hill" church 1770-1774.
Lawrence, D. W. — S. S. at Cicero 1874 and 1875.
Lawrence, Egbert C. (1845) 1883-1886 — Union '69 — Princeton Sem. '75
— Auburn '76 — Thousand Isles — Schenectady, N. Y.
Lawsing, Sidney O. (1846) 1882-1883— Rutgers '74— N. B. '79— Glen—
Catskill, N. Y.
Lehman, F. V. W. (1870) 1899-1902— N. B. '99— Columbia— Delmar,
N. Y.
Leland, Hervey D. (1862) 1888-1912 — Yale '85— Union Sem. '88—
Owasco Outlet — Utica, N. Y.
Lloyd, Aaron (1817-1905) 1846-1847— Rutgers '42— N. B. '45— Gorham.
Lockwood, John H. (1848) 1871-1873 — Williams '68— Princeton '71
— Canastota — Springfield, Mass.
Lodewick, Edward (1846-1909) 1872-1875— Rutgers '69— N. B. '72—
St. Johnsville.
Lonsdale, Wm. J. (1889) 1904-1910— Hamilton '01— Auburn '02 — Union
Sem. '04 — Fonda.
Lord, Daniel (1822-1899) 1851-1856 and 1860-1865 and 1878-1899— Univ.
Penn. '44 — N. B. '47 — Henderson, Fort Herkimer.
Loucks, Joel (1853) 1896— Rutgers '81— N. B. '84— Stone Arabia (S. S.)
in 1895 — Canajoharie, N. Y.
Maar, Chas. (1864) 1892-1900— Rutgers '89— N. B. '90— Auburn '92—
Owasco Outlet, Syracuse Second — Albany, N. Y.
Mabon, Wm. A. V. V. (1822-1892) 1844-1846— Union '40— N. B. '44—
Buffalo.
Mallery, Chas. G. (1869) 1890-1904— Rutgers '96— N. B. '99— Syracuse
Second — Bedminster, N. J.
Mandeville, Garrett (1775-1853) 1798-1802— N. B. 1796— Caroline, Six
Mile Creek.
Mandeville, Henry (1804-1858) 1831-1849— Union '26— N. B. '29—
Geneva, Utica.
Manley, John (1810-1871) 1831-1833— Rutgers '28— N. B. '31— Man-
heim.
Mann, Alexander M. (1808-1893) 1831-1837— Rutgers '27— N. B. '30
— Ithaca.
Manton, Daniel E. (1811-1841) 1836— Amherst '31— Andover & Prince-
ton '32-'35 — Chittenango.
Markle, Josiah (1829-1898) 1870-1872— Rutgers '53— N. B. '57— Maple-
town.
Marcellus, Aaron A. (1799-1860) 1830-1831— Union '26— N. B. '30—
Lysander.
Matthews, Algernon (1841-1885) 1876-1879— Elizabeth Col. (Ger.)—
N. B. '75— Manheim.
149
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Mattice, Abram (1833-1904) 1871-1879 — Rutgers '58 — N. B. '62— Fort
Plain (S. S.)
McAdam, Hugh P. (1837) 1871-1884— Lodi— Saugerties, N. Y.
McCullum, Edward A.— 1891-1899— Fort Plain— Castleton, N. Y.
McDowell, Robert (1760-1841) — Served the Duanesburgh Dutch
church 1800.
McFarlane, James (dl87l) 1845-1848 — Canajoharie (student supply).
McKinley, Geo. A. (1847) 1876-1877 — Auburn '77 — Owasco Outlet —
Salem, Ore.
McLean, Chas. G. (dec.) 1844-1853— Fort Plain.
McNeil, Archibald— Owasco 1823—1824 (S. S.) Ovid (Seceder)
1838-1868.
Mead, Cornelius S. (1818-1879) 1849-1859— Union '41— Auburn '44—
Herkimer.
Merwin, Miles T. (1802-1865) 1862 — Yale '28 — Union Sem. '41— Prince-
ton Sem. '42 — Ephratah (S. S.)
Messier, Abraham (1800-1882) 1824-1828— Union '21— N. B. '24— Ovid.
Meeker, Edward J. (1867) 1899-1903 and 1910— Rutgers '96— N. B. '99
— Mohawk, Fort Herkimer (S. S.), Glen, Auriesville (S. S.) —
Supplied Ephratah and Stone Arabia — Lodi — Lodi, N. Y.
Meyers, Abraham (1801-1886) 1830-1831 and 1837-1844 and 1843-1852
— Union '27 — N. B. '30 — St. Johnsville (2), Manheim.
Michael, Daniel (1810-1865) 1836 and 1840-1847 (w. c.)— Rutgers '33—
N. B. '36 — Licensed by the Montgomery Classis.
Middlemas, Jasper (dec.) 1844-1847 — Mapletown and Currytown (S. S.)
Mills, Henry (1786-1867)— Auburn Prof. 1821-1854— Princeton 1802—
Owasco Outlet (S. S.)
Milne, Charles (1820-1882) 1849-1853— Rutgers '42— N. B. 45— Haga-
man.
Minor, Albert Dod (1850-1910) 1879-1910— Rutgers '76— St. Johnsville,
Mohawk, Fort Herkimer.
Minor, John (1814-1890) 1873-1886— Rutgers '42— N. B. '45— Amster-
dam First, Manheim, Currytown, Mapletown, Sprakers, Herkimer,
Cranesville (S. S.)
Moelling, Peter A. — Pastor of Naumburgh and New Bremen 1880-1884.
Morris, Jonathan F. (1801-1886) 1824-1832— N. B. '24— Glen, Charles-
ton, Ephratah, Stone Arabia, Herkimer Second, Ford's Bush,
Osquak.
Morse, A. G. — Stated supply at Cato during 1857-1859.
Moule, John (dec.) 1839-1841 — Rutgers '34 — Princeton '37 — Owasco
Outlet.
Mulford, Henry D. B. (1859) 1889-1897— Rutgers '81— N. B. '85—
Syracuse First — Upper Red Hook, N. Y.
Muller, John (1826-1910) 1854-1857— Rutgers '51 — N. B. '54 — Woolcot.
Murphy, James (1788-1857) 1834-1843 and 1853-1857— N. B. '14— St.
Johnsville, Manheim, Mohawk, Herkimer, German Flatts, Frank-
fort, Columbia.
Murphy, J. Harvey (1882) 1912— Rutgers '06— N. B. '09— Amsterdam
Trinity — Amsterdam, N. Y.
Murray, Chester P. (1845) 1886 — Princeton '72 — Princeton Sem. '75 —
Lodi — Cleveland, O.
Myers, Alfred (1844-1915) 1877-1878— Williams '66— N. B. '68—
Princeton Sem. '69 — Union Sem. '70 — Owasco.
150
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASS1S
Nasholds, Wra. H. (1850) 1880-1887— Rutgers' 76— N. B. '79— Geneva,
Interlaken — Schenectady, N. Y.
Nelson, Sybrandt (Presb.) Supplied Mapletown 1907-191:2.
Nevius, Elbert (1808-1897) 1835-1836— Rutgers '30— N. B. '34— Arcadia.
Nott, Charles D. K. (1833-1904) 1859-1864— Union '54— Union Sem.
'56— N. B. '59— Mohawk.
Nott, John (1801-1878) 1861-1878— Union '23— Andover '25 — Princeton
Sem. '26 — Auriesville (S. S.)
Oppie, John (1854-1880) 1878-1879— Rutgers '74— N. B. '78— Geneva.
Ostrander, Stephen (1769-1845) 1792-1793— N. B. 1792— Missionary in
Mohawk Valley.
Paige, Winslow (1768-1838) 1808-1814 — Dartmouth and Brown — Flori-
da, Stillwater, Blenheim.
Palmer, Chas. L. (1869) 1897-1899— N. B. '94— Ephratah, Stone Arabia
— Marlboro, N. J.
Palmer, Frederick W. (1860) 1888-1893 — Hamilton '81 — Auburn '88—
Interlaken (S. S.)— Auburn, N. Y.
Palmer, Sylvanus (1770-1846) 1818-1822— Fonda's Bush, Middletown,
Veddersburgh.
Parsons, Andrew (1830-1900) 1864 — Williams '57 — Auburn '60 — Colum-
bia (S. S.)
Paulison, Christian Z. (1805-1851 )— N. J. Col. '22— N. B. '26— Glen
("Wyckofite").
Pearse, J. Lansing (1829-1898) 1856-1860— Union '49 — Princeton Sem.
'56 — Hagaman.
Pearse, Richard A. (1849) 1873— Rutgers '70— N. B. '73— Florida—
Minaville, N. Y.
Peeke, Alonzo P. (1835)-1900) 1865-1872— Rutgers '59— N. B. '62—
Owasco.
Peeke, George H. (1833-1915) 1872-1875— Rutgers '57— N. B. '60—
Owasco.
Pepper, John P. (1809-1883) 1837-1845 — Fort Plain, Henderson
(Warren ).
Perkins, Frederick (1865) 1909 — Hamilton '89— Princeton Sem. '92 —
St. Johnsville, Lodi — St. Johnsville, N. Y.
Perrine, Matthew La Rue (1777-1836)— Princeton Col. 1797— Prof at
Auburn 1821-1836— Owasco Outlet (S. S. )
Peters, Joseph D. — 1898-1910 — Canajoharie, Hoboken, N. J.
Petrie, Jeremiah L. (1825-1910) 1836-1870 — Union '46 — Auburn '49—
Ilion, Herkimer.
Pick, D. C. A. (dl802) 1788-1800 — Stone Arabia, German Flatts, Sand
Hill, Herkimer.
Pitcher, John H. (1806-1879) 1831-1833— Union '27— N. B. '30— Herki-
mer Second.
Porter, Chas. F. (1861) 1888-1904 — Hamilton '84 — Auburn '87 — Lodi—
Albany, N. Y.
Powell, Enoch R. of Scotia (Baptist) at Cranesville (S. S.) 1914.
Quaw, James E. (1800-1845) 1829-1830— N. B. '28— Lysander (Mission-
ary).
Quick, A. Messier (1839) 1864-1871— Rutgers '60— N. B. '64— Amster-
dam First — Brooklyn, N. Y.
151
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Quick, John J. (bl817) 1855-1871 — N. B. '39 — Currytown, Mapletown,
Fort Herkimer.
Quinn, Robert A. (1803-1853) 1833-1835— N. B. '33— Fonda.
Rawls, John (dl~97) 1820-1823— N. B. '19— Columbia.
Raymond, Henry A. (1804-1877) 1831-1833— Owasco.
Reiner, John H. — Pastor at West Leyden and Point Rock 1882-1885 —
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Renskers, Garret J. (1818-1893) 1868-1880— Clymer.
Richard, Jas. (1767-1843) — Yale 1749 — Auburn Prof. 1823-1843— Owas-
co Outlet (S. S.)
Riggs, Alexander B. (1842) 1870-1876— Washington and Jefferson '63
—Auburn '69 — Union Sem. '70— Fort Plain — Auburn, N. Y.
Robb, John (dec.) 1844-1845— Ephratah (S. S.)
Robertson, Samuel (1784-1869) 1836-1839 — Williams '12 — Princeton
Sem. '15 — Canajoharie.
Rockwell, George (1821-1897) 1854-1877— N. B. '51— Thousand Isles.
Rodger, John A. (bl855) 1897-1900— Syracuse '91— Auburn '94— Owas-
co— Skaneateles, N. Y.
Rogers, Leonard (1803-1838) 1832-1838— N. B. '32— Catlin, Owasco
Outlet.
Rogers, Samuel J. (1832-1910) 1876-1879— Rutgers '59— N. B. '62—
Fort Plain. Also at Geneva 1865-1872.
Romaine, Benj. F. (1820-1874) 1859-1862— Rutgers '42— N. B. '45—
Canajoharie.
Romeyn, James (1797-1859) 1850-1851— Col. '16— N. B. '19— Geneva.
Romeyn, Thomas, Jr. (1777-1857) 1800-1806— Union 1797— N. B. 1798
— Florida.
Romeyn, Thomas, Sr. (1729-1794) 1772-1794— Col. N. J. 1750— Fonda.
Roof, Garret L. (1810-1891) 1847-1855— Union '31— Auriesville, Glen,
Amsterdam First.
Root, Oren (1838-1907) 1890-1907 — Hamilton '56— Utica.
Rouse, Peter P. (1798-1832) 1822-1828— Union '18— N. B. '21— Florida.
Ruhl, Frederick (1847-1904) 1891-1895— Rutgers '72— N. B. '84—
Cicero, Manheim.
Ryerson, Abram G. (1817-1887) 1843-1846— Rutgers '39— N. B. '42—
Gorham.
Sangree, Henry H. (1857) 1888-1893 — Mercersburg 80— Union Sem.
'83 — Currytown, Mapletown — Philadelphia, Pa. (P. E.)
Sargent, Cassius J. (1869) Apr., 1910-Dec, 1910 — Aubuprn '01— At
Owasco 1905-1910 — Liverpool, N. Y.
Sauerbrum, Louis F. (1877) 1904-1905 — Bloomfield '97 — Princeton '00
— Glen — Chester, N. J.
Schenck, John V. N. (1842-1871) 1865-1867— Rutgers '62— N. B. '65—
Owasco Outlet.
Schenck, John W. (1825-1881) 1855-1863— Rutgers '45— N. B. '49—
Ithaca.
Schenck, Martin L. (1817-1873) 1853-1857— Rutgers '37— N. B. '40—
Fort Plain.
Schermerhorn, Cornelius D. (1780-1830) 1803-1830 — Union 1797— N.
B. 1803— Schoharie Kill.
Schermerhorn, John F. (1786-1851) 1816-1827 — Union 1809 — Upper
Schoharie (Middleburgh).
152
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Schlieder, Albert H. (1869) 1896— Rutgers '93— N. B. '96— Hacken-
sack, N. J. Licensed by Montgomery Classis.
Schlieder, Frederick E. (1838-1915) 1865-1872 and 1890-915— N. B. '65
— West Leyden.
Schmitz, William (1857) 1892-1901— Rutgers '81— N. B. '84— Fulton-
ville— Bushkill, Pa.
Schoeffler, J. D. (dec.) 1804-1819— Schoharie.
Schoonmaker, Richard L. (1811-1882) 1880-1882 — Rutgers '29 — N. B.
'32— Glen.
Schuyler, Johannes (dl799) — Supplied German Flatts and Stone
Arabia (1745-1756).
Searle, Jeremiah (1836-1913) 1866-1868 — Rutgers '55 — N. B. '58 —
Syracuse First.
Seeley, Amos W. (1805-1865) 1831-] 836— Union '28— Princeton Sem.
'31— Frankfort. Also at Cicero 1840-1845.
Seibert, George G. (1867) 1906— N. Y. Univ. '89— N. B. '92— Hagaman,
Owasco — Owasco, N. Y.
Shaw, John F. (1844) 1868-1870— Rutgers '65— N. B. '68— Lysander,
Athens, Pa.— Afton, N. Y.
Shelland, Wm. H. — Pastor at Columbia 1895-1899.
Slingerland, Elbert (1800-1875) 1855-1856 and 1860-1862 and 1865-1875
— N. B. '24 — Chittenango, Mohawk, Hagaman.
Smith, Chas. W. (1883) 1913— Rutgers' 10— N. B. '13— Lawyersville,
N. Y. Licensed by the Montgomery Classis.
Smith, Henry (1863) 1901— Friends Sem. '88 (Cong.) Cicero, Glen—
Rifton, N. Y. (W. C.)
Smith, William H. (dl880) 1866-1871 — Union '63— Ephratah, Tilla-
borough.
Snyder, Benj. F. (1826-1889) 1855-1856— Rutgers '46— N. B. '49—
Arcadia.
Snyder, Henry W. — S. S. at Frankort, Schuyler, Herkimer Second
(1829-1831).
Southard, James L. (1844-1906) 1869-1881— Rutgers '66— N. B. '69—
Wolcott.
Spinner, John P. (1768-1848) 1801-1848 — German Flatts, Herkimer.
Stanbrough, Rufus M. (1832-1905) 1861-1885— Rutgers '58— N. B. '61
— Indian Castle, Manheim, Columbia, Stone Arabia.
Stanton, Royal A. (1886) 1914— Rutgers '09— Western Theo. Sem. '14
— Ephratah, Stone Arabia — Ephratah, N. Y.
Stark, Jedediah L. (1793-1864) 1838-1862— Buel, Columbia, Mohawk,
German Flatts, Frankfort.
Stevenson, James B. (1798-1864) 1827-1854— N. B. '27— Lysander,
Florida.
Strong, Thomas (1824-1890) 1866-1890— Union '41 — Ithaca, Geneva
(S. S.)
Stryker, Herman B. (1794-1871) 1822-1834 — Johnsburg, Warrensburg,
Amsterdam, St. Johnsville.
Stube, Charles F. (1886) 1913-1914— Hamilton '10— N. B. '13—
Licensed by the Montgomery Classis. Missionary in India.
Swick, Minor (1829) 1861-1871— Rutgers '58— N. B. '61— Cato— Flush-
ing, N. Y.
Swits, Abram J. (1785-1878) 1821-1822— Union '17— N. B. '20— Missy.
in Classis. Supplied Amsterdam First July, 1857-July, 1859 and
Nov., 1862-Aug., 1863.
153
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Talmage, J. R. (1808-1879) 1860-1869— Col. N. J. '26— N. B. '29— Chit-
tenango.
Talmage, T. DeWitt (1832-1902) 1859-1862— Univ. N. Y. '53— N. B.
'56 — Syracuse First.
Tarbell, John G. (1794-1880) 1830-1840— Harvard '20— N. B. '25—
Owasco Outlet, Caroline.
Taylor, Chas. F. (1872) 1906-1909 — Princeton Sem. '95 — Union Sem.
'96 — Herkimer — Greenwich, Ct.
Taylor, Hutchins — Stated supply at Chittenango Nov., 1828 — May,
1830.
Ten Eyck, Conrad (1756-1844) 1799-1844— N. B. 1799— Amsterdam,
Mayfield Fonda's Bush, Owasco, Owasco Outlet (w. c. 1826-1844).
Thatcher,. Charles O. (1842) 1880-1887— Union '64— Princeton Sem. '67
— Chittenango — Bachellerville, N. Y.
Thatcher, Daniel — Missionary from Orange, N. J. at Owasco Outlet
before Brokaw (cf).
Thomson, John A. (1857) 1887-1891 — Rutgers '84 — N. B. '87 — Sprakers,
Mapletown, Stone Arabia, East Palatine — Middleburgh, N. J.
Thyne, Joseph B. (1830-1910) 1899-1910— Union '58— Xenia Sem. '61
—Glen.
Todd, Augustus F. (1826-1907) 1858-1865— Rutgers '55— N. B. '58—
Athens, Pa.
Toll, John C. (1780-1849) 1803-1822— Union 1799— N. B. 1801— Cana-
joharie, Mapletown, Westerlo.
Turner, Wm. E. (1810-1893) 1841-1848 and 1862-1866— Rutgers '38—
N. B. '41 — Arcadia.
Unglaub, Henry (1857) 1884-1888 — Bloomfield Sem. '80— Naumburgh
and New Bremen.
Van Allen, Ira (1846) 1890 — Rutgers '73 — N. B. '76 — Owasco, Mohawk
— Owasco Outlet (S. S. ) Syracuse, N. Y.
Van Arsdale, Elias B. (1869) 1893-1909 Rochester CI.) 1910 — Inter-
laken — Interlaken, N. Y.
Van Arsdale, Jacob (1808-1871) 1850-1864— Rutgers '30— N. B. '33—
Tyre.
Van Benschoten, Wm. B. (1835-1880) 1872-1880— Rutgers '61— N. B.
'64 — Ephratah, Stone Arabia.
Van Buren, John M. (1811-1892) 1842-1851— Union '35— Auburn '38—
Fultonville.
Van Buren, Peter (dl832) 1805-1814— Union 1802 — Charleston First.
Van Burk, John (1863) 1895-1902 — Oberlin '91 — Johnstown — Swanton,
Vt.
Van Derveer, Ferdinand H. (1841-1881) 1823— Union '20— N. B. '23—
Ovid.
Van Derveer, John (1880-1878) 1822-1823— Col. N. J. '17— N. B. '22—
Mapletown, Canajoharie, Oppenheim.
Van Doren, David K. (1841-1908) 1869-1873— N. B. '67— Currytown,
Sprakers.
Van Doren, John Addison (1815-1886) 1866— Lodi.
Van Doren, John H. (1837-1898) 1876-1882— Rutgers '59— N. B. '64—
Tyre.
Van Dyck, Alexander S. (1858) 1915— Col. City N. Y. '79— N. B. '82—
Syracuse, Second — Syracuse, N. Y.
154
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASS1S
Van Dyck, Lawrence H. (1807-1893) 1861-1867 — Amherst '30 — Auburn
'33 — Stone Arabia.
Van Hee, Isaac J. (1868) 1897-1905 — Rutgers '93 — N. B. '96 — Thousand
Isles, Fultonville — Detroit, Mich.
Van Home, Abram (1763-1840) 1795-1840— Fonda (Caughnawaga).
Van Home, David (1837-1867)— Union '64— N. B. '67— Theo. Sem.
Refd. U. S. — Dayton, O. Licensed by Montgomery Classis.
Van Keuren, Benj. (1800-1865) 1824-1825 — N. B. '24— Charleston
Second, Mapletown, Westerlo (Canajoharie).
Van Kleek, Richard D. (1800-1870) 1834-1835 — Union '22 — N. B. '25 —
Canajoharie.
Van Liew, John C. (1806-1861) 1850-1856— N. B. '32— Ephratah, Stone
Arabia.
Van Neste, Geo. J. (1822-1898) 1875-1878— Rutgers '42— N. B. '46—
St. Johnsville. Also at Lodi 1853-1865.
Van Nest Rynier (1739-1813) 1793-1813— Schoharie.
Van Olinda, Douw (1800-1858) 1825-1831 and 1844-1858— N. B. '24—
Johnstown, Mayfield, Union, Palatine, Mapletown, Sprakers,
Fonda.
Van Slyke, Evert (1862-1909) 1876-1885— Rutgers '62— N. B. '65—
Syracuse First.
Van Vechten, Samuel (1796-1882) 1823-1824 and 1841-1844— Union '18
— N. B. '22 — Johnstown, Mapletown, Mayfield, Fonda's Bush,
Union, Fort Plain.
Van Vranken, Adam H. (1824-1880) 1851-1865— Rutgers '48— N. B.
'51— Glen.
Van Vranken, Francis V. (1835) 1866-1874 and 1882-1892— Union '58
— N. B. '61 — Glen, Fultonville. Also at Lysander 1861-1866—
Albany, N. Y.
Van Zandt, Benj. (1809-1895) 1862-1869— Union '33— Auburn '36—
Canajoharie, Sprakers.
Van Zee, Chas. W. (1867-1903) 1900-1901 — Rutgers '90— N. B. '93—
Amsterdam, Trinity.
Vaughan, Jonah W. (1851-1913) 1884-1889— Rutgers '78— N. B. '81—
Owasco.
Veenhuizen, A. B. (1814-1895)— Pastor at Pultneyville 1853-1885.
Verbeck, Guido F. (1830-1898) 1898— Auburn '59— (cf Owasco).
Vermilye, Ashbel G. (1822-1905) 1863-1871— N. Y. Univ. '40— N. B. '63
— Amsterdam First.
Voorhees, Henry V. (1826-1897) 1851-1852— Rutgers '47— N. B. '50—
Geneva.
Wack, Charles P. (1807-1866) 1831— N. B. '29— Caroline.
Wack, John J. (1774-1851) 1803-1817— Stone Arabia, "Sand Hill,"
Ephratah, Stone Arabia (Preached 14 years after being dropped.)
Wales, E. Vine (1816-1878) 1850-1861— Oneida Inst. '39— Auburn '43—
Sprakers.
Ward, John W. (1801-1859) 1824-1831— Col. N. J. '21— Princeton Sem.
'23 — Union (Chenango) Presb.
Warnshuis, Henry W. — 1877-1880— Pastor at Naumburgh, New Bre-
men, West Leyden — Port Royal, Va. (Presby.)
Warren, Ulysses Grant (1872) 1915— Syracuse '96— Columbia— Yale
'99 — Syracuse, First — Syracuse, N. Y.
155
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Watson, Thomas G. (1836-1900) 1861-1869— Hobart '57— N. B. '61—
Cato, Woolcot.
Weber, Jacob. 1871-1879 — Mina, West Leyden — Yonkers, N. Y.
Weidman, Paul (1788-1852) 1820-1826 and 1837-1852— Union '18— N. B.
'20 — Schoharie, Manheim.
Weidner, David C. (1877) 1902-1905— Rutgers '99— N. B. '02— Haga-
man — Ridgewood, N. J.
Wells, Ransford (1805-1899) 1830-1833 and 1857-1868— Rutgers '27—
N. B. '30 — Fultonville, Canajoharie.
Welles, Theodore W. (1839) 1865— Rutgers '62— N. B. '65— Paterson,
N. J. Licensed by the Montgomery Classis.
Wessels, Peter A. (1841) 1882-1884 and 1903— Williams '76— Drew '78
— Auburn '79 — Columbia, Auriesville (S. S.) — Amsterdam, N. Y.
Westervelt, John P. (1816-1879) 1858-1859— Rutgers '37— Ephratah.
Westfall, Benj. B. (1798-1844) 1827-1828 and 1838-18-44— Union '23—
N. B. '26 — Owasco Outlet, Stone Arabia, Ephratah.
Whitbeck, John (1812-1888) 1849-1850— Rutgers '37— N. B. '40—
Arcadia, Caroline, Henderson.
Whitbeck, Richard M. (1838) 1863-1866— Rutgers '59— N. B. '62—
Mapletown. At Tyre 1865-1868 — Lenox, Mass.
Whitney, Wm. W. (dl903) 1886-1889— Ephratah (cf).
Wiley, Charles (1810-1878) 1845-1855 and 1859-1865— Princeton '31—
Auburn '35— Yale Div. '36— Utica.
Williams, Melanchton B. — Col. N. J. '14 — Pastor at Lysander 1834-
1837.
Williams, Richard R. (1843-1915) 1870 — Union Sem. '70 — Canajoharie.
Willoughby, Henry C. (1866) 1904-1915— N. B. '96— Fort Plain— Fort
Plain, N. Y. (After February l, 1916, Schenectady, N. Y.)
Wilson, Frederick F (1831-.1910) 1870-1872— Rutgers '58— N B. '62—
Mohawk. Also at Cato 1872-1873.
Wilson, Peter Q. (1831-1902) 1882-1889— Rutgers '58— N. B. '61—
Ephratah, Cranesville.
Winfield, Aaron Burr (1815-1856) 1844-1851 — Owasco Outlet.
Wortman, Denis (1836) 1880-1883 — Amherst '57 — N. B. '60 — Fort Plain
— East Orange, N. J.
Wurts, Wm. A. (1838) 1863-1868 and 1871-1816 and 1893-1901— Lafay-
ette '59 — N. B. '62 — Canastota, Lysander, Hagaman — Sharon
Springs, N. Y.
Wyckoff, Garret (1855) 1885-1887— Rutgers 8'1— N. B. '84— Curry-
town — Red Bank, N. J.
Wynkoop, Richard (1798-1842 1826-1827— Col. '19— N. B. '22— Cato.
Yates, Andrew (1772-1844) 1828-1835 — Yale 1793— N. B. 1796— Chitten-
ango.
Zabriskie, Albert A. (1843) 1868-1869— Rutgers '65— N. B. '68— Inter-
laken — Bloomington, N. Y.
Zabriskie, Francis N. (1832-1891) 1863-1866— N. Y. Univ. '50— N. B. '55
— Ithaca.
156
a IReformet) (2Dutci)) Ctjurct) 1
^tstortcai J15ote0
Church Emblem
The seal of the Reformed Church in America
dates back to 1556, and is built upon the seal or
shield of Prince William of Orange, the leader of
the Reformation in the Netherlands. The present
shield goes back to its official use in 1826, when the
pillars were added to give it an ecclesiastical bear-
ing. The stars at the top of these pillars suggest
the heavenly life. The motto on the top ribbon is
Latin and means, "Without the Lord all is Vain,"
while the nether ribbon is in Dutch, meaning, "Union makes Strength."
The various armorial bearings on the three shields originate from the
fact that the Princes of Orange were also lords of other principalities.
When a number of Provinces came under one leadership the right to
make use of the emblem of all centered in one person. Thus we have
on the large shield the four shields of Nassau, Katzenelnbogen,
Vianden, and Dietz. On the small shields at the centre, composing
the second shield, are those of_ the united provinces of Cahlons and
Orange, while the very smallest shield, which is divided into squares,
is there by the reason of the marriage of Jane of Geneva to one of the
princes of Orange. Tt is interesting to note that the first quarter of
the large shield bears the arms of Nassau, the capital of which was
the birthplace of William the Silent, Prince of Orange. It has a lion
rampant, surrounded by seventeen billets, representing, it is said, the
union of the ten states of the Netherlands with the seven states of
Holland, under the rule of William. The princes of Orange received
a recognition from the Emperor, Charles V, which permitted them
to place the Imperial crown above the helmet, which is the emblem
of bravery in time of war. The Coat of Arms is now the accepted
emblem of the denomination. The armorial device fittingly recalls
the glorious work of William the Silent, founder of freedom. Its
Latin motto reminds the church of its entire dependence on Almighty
God, while its Dutch motto bespeaks man's needed help, and its pillars
direct our thots to the stars and beyond them to the hills from whence
cometh our help.
The Dutch Church in the Mohcnvf? Valley
The Reformed Church in America is the oldest evangelical body
on the western hemisphere. As the pioneer, therefore, of those
doctrines,- and form of government, believed to be the most in har-
mony with the Scriptures, and the American constitution, she oc-
cupies a unique place in the annals of the States. While the Holland
Dutch first came to the New World in 1609, and at once established
157
HISTORICAL NOTES
their church and school, it is noteworthy that all elements of the
Reformed churches of the American continent — from France and
Switzerland, and the German Palatinate — the churches of the Reform-
ed faith established in Virginia (at times meaning the Atlantic coast
lands), and Maryland, and Pennsylvania — all turned to the Classis
of Amsterdam (Holland) for men and money. The archives of this
Classis, from 1582 to 1816, contain a voluminous correspondence from
all these fields. From 1609 to 1664 the religion of the Dutch church
was the recognized religion of the country. Even up to 1693 it was
the most respected of all of the denominations because of its Christian
tolerance and charity to all. In 1693 the Colonial Assembly of New
York passed an act whereby the Protestant Episcopal church became
the religion known to the law, and from 1693 to 1776, besides sup-
porting its own ministry, the Dutch church was forced to contribute
to the support of the church of England. In prior years the Dutch
churches were always accessible to the clergy of the English church
who conducted the Anglican services in them. The act of the New
York Colonial Assembly was the result of the alliance of the Church
of England with the Royal Cause. As a secondary result it was the
rebellion of the colonists to the church of England that ensued in the
rebellion of the colonies against the English government. It was not
so much a religious as a political rebellion. The church of England
wanted a hierarchy in America under foreign domination, and in New
York and Virginia was as intolerant as in the mother country. When
the Revolution broke out every clergyman of the established church
in New York, New Jersey and New England was an out-and-out Tory,
and this was probably true of all the other colonies. It was due to
their inherited reverence for distinction of rank. In New York the
antagonism was so great that in a sense the Revolution was a re-
ligious war, the members of the established church being loyalists
and the dissenters all whigs. Altho Washington was a member of
the Church of England all his army chaplains were dissenters, and
thro the war he attended their meetings. After the war all this was
changed.
The development of the Dutch church in New Netherlands, as
Manhattan was first called, is an interesting story. The church was
organized in 1628 by Rev. Jonas Michaelius, and a small structure
built within the Fort at the lower end of what is now New York City.
The first minister at Fort Orange or Beverwyck (Albany) was
Johannes Megapolensis, who arrived in 1642. He was the first
Protestant missionary among the Indians in America, antedating John
Eliot's work in New England by several years. He learned the
Mohawk language, regularly preached to them, received them as mem-
bers into his church, and was on the friendliest terms with them, both
in their tepees and in his own home. In the Mohawk valley proper
the first settement of the church was at Schenectady, an out-station
of the Albany church from 1662 to 1670, when the first definite or-
ganization there is recorded. The first established minister at Sche-
nectady was Rev. Petrus Tesschenmacher (1684-1690), a graduate of
Utrecht, who was killed at the burning of Schenectady by the French
and Canadian Jesuits on February 8, 1690. Schenectady was the most
remote settlement from Albany at this time, being founded by Ar.ent
Van Corlear in 1662. For a hundred years the little congregation
at Schenectady was exposed to the ravages of the French and
158
HISTORICAL NOTES
Canadian fanatics, twice suffering almost total extinction. For a
century the street now called "State," under whose pavements lies
the dust of the early settlers, was called after 1690 the "Street of the
Martelaers" (Martyrs). In other Notes we have spoken of the Iro-
quois, the efforts made to educate and evangelise the Indians, the
various missions among the Amerind, and in the main portion of the
book the work of the churches west of Schenectady. Ten years
after the first massacre there the Rev. Barnardus Freerman, for so
he wrote his name, became pastor of the church, and did a great work
among the Mohawks, especially. He remained six years, but so
great was his kindness and so successful his work among the Indians,
that five years later we find the Mohawks petitioning the Governor
of the Province for his return to their castle. For some reason the
treatment accorded the Dutch ministers by these Aborigines was far
different from that given to the Jesuit priests. The first church build-
ing at Schenectady was destroyed in 1690, the second, built in 1703,
was converted into a fort in 1734; the third, built of stone, as its
predecessors, had the high pulpit and sounding board, raised seats
tor the men, lowly ones for the women. For eighty years this building
was used, when in 1814 a fourth structure was built of brick, which
was burned in the fire of August, 1861, when the present edifice, one
of the finest in the country, was constructed. The ministers of this
church often itinerated in the Mohawk valley.
Reformed Church in America — Doctrine, Confession, Custom
The Reformed Church in America is a product of the European
revival known as the Reformation. Other articles in this book speak
of its history in general, and in the Mohawk Valley in particular, and
of its progress or development in America. In this note we want to
refer, very briefly, to its doctrine, its confession, and its customs.
The basic belief or creed of the Church is to be found in the Word
of God, which is its rule of faith and conduct. Other expressions of
faith are accepted merely as guides for the culture of the individual
soul or as aids toward the administration of the kingdom of God in
the church. A trinity-statement of belief forms the ground-work of
the doctrines and confessions of the church.
The Belgic Confession, formed in 1561, puts in an orderly fashion
our belief in God, the Trinity, Faith, the Church, Salvation thro
Christ, and the Judgment. Since 1619 it has been tenaciously adhered
to by the Reformed Church in America. While Calvanistic in its
conceptions of the truth, its focus is on Jesus Christ, the world's
Saviour, Who alone can impart the divine life.
The Canons of Dort is an after-growth of the controversy that
ensued the adoption of the other two — the church's interpretation of
the Confession and Catechism. It dates back to 1618 when repre-
sentatives of the Reformed Church of Europe met at Dordrecht to
define more clearly certain statements of the Belgic Confession.
What is generally known as the "Five Points of Calvanism" was the
result of this conference, and was adopted, later, by the Reformed
Church in America. In these Canons of Dort is expressed the firm
belief of the Reformed Church in God's absolute sovereignty, in man's
original sin which can only be done away with by divine regeneration,
159
HISTORICAL NOTES
in the necessity of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, and in God's plan of
salvation.
The customs of the Reformed Church in America are, mainly,
peculiar to its organization, settled fixtures of its constitution and
forms of worship. The General Synod has oversight of the ad-
ministration and worship, the latter being semi-liturgical. Conse-
quent with the changing years and the varied environment of the
church, the Constitution, as well the forms of worship have under-
gone change, yet there has always been a reverent deference paid to
the originals, and any change has always first received the approval
of the entire church. Among the usages made prominent in the
Church is the established order of worship, including the responsive
reading of the Psalter and Commandments, and the use of the Lord's
Prayer and Apostles Creed. For three centuries now the ministry,
besides declaring their belief in and acceptance of the doctrines of
the church, have obligated themselves to preach on the Heidelberg
Catechism. The elders who have the spiritual oversight of the
church often sit together near the pulpit, visit the congregation with
the minister and must always be present when the sacraments are
conducted. The entire service or worship of the church is centered
in the sacraments, the Lord's Supper and Baptism, regarded as signs
and seals of Christ's covenant with His people and their expression
of love and loyalty to Him. Other forms are prescribed for the
ordination of the ministers, elders and deacons, reception of mem-
bers, catechetical instruction arranged for, and other organizations
meet the varied social and spiritual needs. The weekly prayer ser-
vice is intended as a school of Christ wherein piety, personal service
and brotherly love is taught. From the inception of the church
there has always been a charitable spirit of toleration toward all
other sects, and a cordial co-operation wherever possible, with every
evangelical force making for righteousness.
Reformed Church in America — Development and Progress
The Collegiate Reformed (Dutch) Church of New York City is
the oldest Evangelical church in America, having been organized in
1628 by Rev. Jonas Michaelius, tho in the coming of the Dutch to
Manhattan in 1609, religious work was immediately begun. A third
of a century later (1664) when New Amsterdam surrendered to the
English, there were eleven Dutch churches in the Province. The
denomination has today more than seven hundred churches and
about a hundred and fifty thousand members whose gifts for all
purposes last year were nearly two and a quarter million dollars.
The story of the development of the church thro its three centuries
is punctuated with tragedy and triumph, with some errors of judg-
ment, mayhap, but withal a large-hearted tolerance and a genuine
devotion to the interests of the people as a whole. Not long after
the foundation of the work on Manhattan an effort was made by the
English to establish an official church. Domine Megapolensis, and his
son, Rev. Samuel, who had to do with the terms of surrender, saw
to it that the rights of the Reformed church were protected, and
religious liberty guaranteed to the Province However, tho by far
the stronger body, the Dutch church was compelled to pay tribute
160
HISTORICAL NOTES
to the Church of England in addition to supporting their own. They
had brot from the Netherlands their traditionary love for religious
freedom, and when the English, and German, and French came, they
accommodated themselves to these peoples, gave them the free use
of their churches, and afforded them services in their mother tongue.
In return the English Governors gave their Church favorable grants,
and made the existence of the Dutch church a very hard task.
Another impediment in the progressive development of the Dutch
church was the administration of all affairs by the Classis of Holland
which ruled with rigidity for a century and a half. The discussion
that naturally ensued over this condition ranged ministers and
churches into opposing camps, and much turmoil and strife was
engendered. Perhaps the chiefest obstacle to the progress of the
church was the set determination of the older element to cling to the
preaching in the Dutch language, notwithstanding the large influx
of English speaking immigrants. One's sympathy is with the Dutch
of that day whose antipathy to whatever was English was natural,
considering how they had been treated by the Established Church
of England or those who represented that church — and considering
how the war lords of England conducted their campaign against the
settlers, in the Hudson and Mohawk valleys, with the aid of the
savages. And this suggests that the prescribed environment of the
field of the Dutch church had not a little to do in the way of re-
tarding its development, since it was around New York city, in New
Jersey, and in the Hudson and Mohawk valleys, that the brunt of
the Revolution was felt, with the French Wars preceding and the
Border Wars following. The men who made up the Colonial army
at Oriskany, and the members of the Committee of Safety of Tryon
County, were almost wholly identified with the Dutch church. There
were twelve of these churches in the Mohawk valley to four of the
Lutheran and two of the Church of England. The conditions pre-
vailing in America during most of the eighteenth century had a
tendency to check the Holland immigration which had begun so
auspiciously in the seventeenth.
After the Revolution radical changes followed; the domination
of the Church of England ceased; the General Synod was formed for
the administration of affairs in the homeland; later on a new tide of
Holland immigration set in and the Reformed Church began to ex-
pand in the west, notably in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. One
of the very first establishments in Manhattan was the organization
of a public school whose teachers taught the rudiments of education
and at the same time comforted the people in their sorrow and
practically did the work of the minister until his coming in 1628.
This school is now the Collegiate Institute of New York City. Edu-
cation was to be the handmaid of their religion, which is evidenced
to this day in the educated ministry that has thro these centuries
been one of the cardinal features of the Reformed Church. Some
historians point to the names of the English on the first charter of
Queens (Rutgers) but it was the petition of the Dutch ministers that
caused Queens to be founded. After whatever English names appear
might have been put ex-officio. It was the English who burned the
college buildings soon after they were erected. Rutgers College,
Hope,College, New Brunswick Seminary, Western Theological Sem-
inary, and the other colleges and academies, in the home land, and
161
HISTORICAL NOTES
on the foreign fields, where the Reformed Church is working, testify
to the consistent attitude of the Church toward education and religion
in their co-ordinate relations. Its missionary spirit has been keen
from the very beginning. It was the first to preach the Gospel to
the Red Men, while in these latter days of Indian Mission work, the
name that stands above every other, both in the councils of the
Indian as well in the mind of the church, and in the opinion of the
Government is that of Walter C. Roe. Within a decade after the
Declaration of Independence the Reformed Church began a definite
work for Domestic Missions. From 1602 the Reformed Church of
the Netherlands prosecuted foreign missions both in the East and
West Indies. Modern Foreign Missions began toward the close of
the eighteenth century, and the Dutch Church of America, uniting
with the Presbyterian and Baptist churches, began an aggressive
campaign at once. Later (1820) a union was made with the American
Board. In 1832, while co-operation was still maintained with the
American Board, there was a separate Board of Foreign Missions in
the Dutch Church, and in 1857 it became independent. Its principal
fields of operation are China, Japan, India, and Arabia.
"True Reformed Dutch Protestant C/iurc/i"
The only defection that the Reformed (Dutch) Church in Ameri-
ca has had for its more than two centuries of existence (except the
Christian Reformed church) was the schism known by the above title,
but so small and so devoid of influence was this secession that it
was hardly worth while to call it a division. There were but two
classes organized, one in New Jersey and the other here in Mont-
gomery county, popularly called the "Wyckofite" church because one
of the separatists was Rev. Henry V. Wyckoff whose personality for
a generation kept the schism alive, tho for the most part thro the
years it had but little more than a name. Its inceptor was Rev. Solo-
monmon Froeligh of Hackensack, N. J., a professor in the church
seminary recently founded, joined with whom were Revs. Abram
Brokaw of Ovid, N. Y., Sylvanus Palmer of Union (Montg. Co.) N.
Y., Rev. H. V. Wyckoff of the Charleston, N. Y. church, and Rev. J. C.
Toll of Mapletown, N. Y., both in Montgomery county. The schism
came in 1822 and was brot about largely by theT)(limited atonement"
preaching of Rev. Conrad Ten Eyck of Owasco, formerly of the Re-
formed churches of Amsterdam, Mayfield, and Johnstown. It resulted
in the suspension of the above ministers from the Reformed Dutch
church ministry. In 1820 General Synod (R. P. D. C.) had re-
solved that the Particular Synod of Albany should organize a
new classis of Sharon, Rhinebeck, Johnstown, Mayfield, Westerlo,
Middletown, Fonda's Bush, Albany Bush, Ovid, and the Second
Church of Charleston, but this the Synod of Albany refused to do
in 1821, because of the "disrespect and insubordination" shown by
several of the pastors of these churches of the Dutch church.
Nothing daunted, the dissenters met and moved to suspend
the whole ministry of the Reformed Dutch church which
action begun was not carried out. Later in ecclesiastical differences
ensuing between these two classes each suspended the other and in
terms that are not current in the language of religious bodies of this
162
HISTORICAL NOTES
day. In New Jersey the spirit of contention was centered- in the
Schraalenberg church where one of two pastors had obtained un-
fairly a title from the Governor to certain church property. Manu-
script evidence is in hand of the writer to show that these men,
headed by Prof. Froeligh, were preparing for some time for the
break. We have gone thro the private correspondence of one of
the malcontents, and have also looked thro the printed pamphlets
and reports of their General Synods which were kept up for a quarter
of a century, and we have failed to discover any logical basis for
separation or any work the "Trues" did that was worth while. The
General Synods were gatherings largely of a two-fold nature, to
discipline and collect assessments with which to pay the traveling
expenses of the delegates.
In the articles of their organization they solemnly declared that
the "Reformed Protestant Dutch church" was unsound from its head
to its feet, and after excoriating the entire church, they de-
livered them over to Satan until they should repent. The church
in 1825 numbered a score of churches or congregations and about half
as many ministers. The preaching was exceedingly long and extreme-
ly dogmatic. Secret societies were virulently attacked. It believed
in an unalterable reprobation. The printed arguments for its rise
have a great deal to say of the evils of Antinomianism, Arminianism,
Erastianism, Deism, Arianism, Hopkinsianism, Socinianism, Univer-
salism, Lordly Episcopacy, and Papal Despotism — terms of frequent
discussion in their assemblies and of prolonged development in their
publications. We have examined the records of the churches at
Middletown (Mapletown), Westerlo (Sprakers), and Canajoharie,
where Rev. J. C. Toll was pastor for ten years or more and find them
almost wholly devoted to discipline and trouble in the congregation.
The Union Classis (Montgomery Co.) was so small that sessions
were only held once in two or three years. There were congregations
at Owasco, Ovid, Danube (Indian Castle), and Mount Morris (Liv-
ingston Co.), N. Y., in addition to the above. While churches were
not always built there was preaching also at Tribes Hill, Amsterdam,
Glen, Osquako, Mayfield, and Johnstown. In 1830 the secession came
to its climax in strength and later joined the Christian Reformed
church. There is a church at Glen, N. Y., where services are held
monthly and an occasional service is still conducted at Johnstown,
N. Y.
163
HISTORICAL NOTES
S historical jl?ote0 1
on rt)e fl@ot)atoft Pailep
The Iroquois
In Van Ortelius "Universal Geography" (published in 1570) is
to be found a map of New France which comprised all that was then
known of North America. The land was divided into nine provinces
or districts, and what is now Northern New York, including the
Valley of the Mohawk was called "Avacal." On the map of the New
Netherlands (1616) the country lying on both sides of Lake Cham-
plain was called Ir-o-coi-sia, the hereditary land of the Iroquois.
This vast region as is well known is almost entirely surrounded by
water, on the north the St. Lawrence, on the east the Hudson, on
the south the Mohawk and on the west Oneida Lake and Oswego
river. The Indian paddled his canoe around it excepting two short
carrying places, one at Fort Edward to Wood Creek s^^-
and the other at Fort Stanwix to the other Wood Creek that empties
into Oneida Lake. When the white man first explored this region,
early in the seventeenth century, Northern New York was a part of
the territory and hunting grounds of the great Indian Confederacy,
called by the French, the "Iroquois," by the English, the "Five
Nations," and by themselves the "Ho-de-no-sau-nee," the "People of
the Long House," or the "People of many fires." Another name the
Iroquois applied to themselves was the "On-gue-hon-we," that is, "the
men surpassing others" — "the real men." The rest of the Amerind
were practically without knowledge or genius ,and possessed nothing
of ability, or influence, or appeal, such as characterized the Indians
of this League. In 1715 the Confederacy adopted into their league
the Tuscaroras who had lost a thousand of their tribe thro wars in
North and South Carolina. Thereafter they were known in England
as "The League of the Six Nations."
The country of the Iroquois, called by them, "Ho-de-no-sau-
nee-ga," extended from the Hudson to Lake Erie, from the St.
Lawrence to the valleys of the Delaware, the Susquehanna and the
Alleghany, the whole of Central and Northern, and large parts of
Southern and Western New York. The territory of Northern New
York belonged principally to the Mohawks and Oneidas, the Ononda-
gas owning a narrow strip along the eastern shore of Lake Ontario.
The New York league of the Amerind, as their name signified, were
of a superior type of red men. They matched the European in
diplomacy, while in knowledge of human nature and sagacity, they
were superior. Man to man the Iroquois matched the white man.
In a certain sense civilized, yet at heart barbarous, cruel, savage,
rapacious, treacherous. The Indian had no peer in oration. The
conviction of his free birth made him a proud man, and everywhere
These Historical Notes are added because they illumine the storfcf of the
Mohawk Valley, as well indicate the part played by the Dutch Church in
those stirring days of Settlement and Revolution. So long as the Mohawk
flows the Iroquois, the Palatines, and this Valley will never be forgotten.
164
HISTORICAL NOTES
his ability was recognized. Here in the wilderness of what has be-
come the Empire State the Iroquois built up the strongest con-
federacy that existed in America north of the Aztec monarchy in
Mexico. It was an ideal condition of Aboriginal life that the white
man found when he came over the seas to dwell in this western
land. Up to the time of Sullivan's expedition (1779) which was the
direct resultant of the Cherry Valley and Wyoming massacres in
1778, the Iroquois had ruled their vast unknown territory, undisputed-
ly, for five centuries They held the gateway that opened into the
great west, and this made them arbiters between the great nations
of the Old world who in that day were fighting for supremacy in the
New.
Among all the Amerind of the New World there were none so
politic and intelligent, none so fierce and brave, none with so many
germs of heroic virtues mingled with their savage vices — as these
people of the Long House. All other nations feared them. They
overrun the country of the Hurons in 1650, in 1651 utterly destroyed
the Neutral Nation, in 1652 exterminated the Eries, and in 1672 made
the Andastes a slave nation. As far west as the Mississippi and as
far south as the great gulf was their war-cry heard. The tribes along
the Hudson and the nations in New England paid tribute to them.
They were the Conquerors of the New World, the "Romans of the
West," of whom Father Ragueneau wrote in 1650, "my pen has no
ink black enough to describe the fury of the Iroquois." They built
their castles (villages) on the banks of the streams, lived in long
narrow houses and raised vegetables and tobacco. For more than
two hundred miles along the narrow valley of the Mohawk stretched
their "long house." The Mohawks (Ga-ne-a-ga-o-no, i. e. "People
Possessors of Flint") guarded the eastern door of this "long house"
while the Senecas (Nun-da-wa-o-no, i. e. "Great Hill People") kept
watch at the west. Between these doors of their country dwelt the
Oneidas (O-na-yote-ka-o-no, i. e. "Granite People"), the Ononodagas
(O-nun-do-ga-o-no, i. e. "People on the Hills"), the Cayugas (Gwe-
u-gweh-no-no, i. e. "People at the Mucky Land") and the Tuscaroras
(Dus-ga-o-weh-o-no, i. e. "Shirt-Wearing People"). Of their system
of government, their festivals and religious beliefs, and their social
life it is not our purpose to speak.
Arent Van Corlaer (1638-1667), and Peter Schuyler afterwards
were on the friendliest terms with these Aboriginies. Indeed the
earliest history of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of America
is replete with the splendid service record of the ministers in the old
churches at Manhattan, Fort Orange, Schenectady, and elsewhere,
who ministered unto the Indians, visited them in their forest homes,
and welcomed them to the privileges of the parsonage and the worship
of the church. After 1744 and for thirty years Sir William Johnson
wielded a great influence over the Iroquois. In the paragraph de-
voted to the education and christianizing of the Indians there conies
out in striking illustration the marked attitude of the Indians thro
all the century and more before the Revolution between the Dutch
settlers and the French, or even between the Dutch and the English
settlers. The three castles of the Mohawks were all on the south
side of the river, and in 1693, March 8, were captured by a French-
Indian band of six hundred. As early as 1665 De Curcelles with 1,300
made an expedition against the Mohawks and burned five of their
165
HISTORICAL NOTES
palisaded villages. In 1669 La Salle took possession of Lakes Erie
and Ontario and built Fort Niagara (destroyed in 1689). In 1673
other Frenchmen erected Fort Frontenac at what is now Kingston,
Ont. The French sought to win the Indian over, first by Jesuitism,
and later by force of arms. With the English it was different. They
sought the aid of the Indian to help the crown put down the re-
bellion, to match the plodding settlers of the new world with the
wonted savagery of the forest. All the while the colonists wrought
with the Indians to remain neutral, well knowing what would happen
both to the Indian and the colonist if they were brot into the conflict.
Just before the Revolution, on his visit to London, Brant entered
into an agreement with Lord George Germaine who was Lord
North's cabinet member who had charge of the war in America,
whereby the Indians were to receive in lieu of their loyalty to the
crown, and as an exchange for their savage service, immediate re-
wards together with future care, no matter which side won. It was
also stipulated that for every prisoner taken they were to receive
eight dollars, but the scalps of the prisoners would also be honored
at this price. Is it any wonder that for generations it was not thot
to be a crime in the valleys of the Mohawk or Schoharie to kill an
Indian. Under the floor of the old church at German Flatts, whose
erection was begun about 1740, the settlers buried their dead that they
might save their bodies from mutilation by the savage. England
broke every promise it made to the Indian, vacated the treaty made
with them in 1683, and at the close of the war utterly forsook them.
The Iroquois paid dearly for their allegiance to the Butlers and the
Brants, to the Johnsons and the Tories, and to England. Capt. Dal-
ton, Supt. Indian Affairs of the Government, himself a prisoner for
several years among the Indians, under date of August 5, 1783,
estimates the number of Indians engaged by the British during the
Revolution as a few short of 13,000. The most of these were Uchip-
weys (3.000), Sues (1,300), Creeks (700), Choctaws (600), Senecas
(600), Cherokees (500), Kackopoes (500), Delawares (500), Sokkie
(450), Plankishaws (400), Chickasaws (400), Ononodagas (300), Shaw-
anaws (300), Mohawks (300), Ottaways (300), Puyons (350), and 2,500
from the other eleven tribes.
Indian Border Wars— 1 662-1 7 J 3
In 1614 a Dutch trading post was built at Fort Orange (Albany).
The Five Nations held all the land north and west of this point to the
St. Lawrence and the Lakes. They scourged and terrified their
neighbors, and from 1615 to the close of the French war in 1763, they
kept up an intermittent warfare with the Canadian French. At the
same time they were at peace with the Dutch and English, but always
distrusted by both because of the Indian's fickle nature. He depended
on the white man for his powder, and rum and camp duffle. Hence
arose the necessity for protecting the settlements that were always
apprehensive of impending danger. Among the settlements thus
fortified were Claas Gravens Hoek (Cranesville), Post Jackson (Am-
sterdam), Caughnawaga, Canajoharie, Palatine, and German Flatts.
During the years of 1688 to 1760, when the French power ceased to
create alarm in America, the New York Province was more than
166
HISTORICAL NOTES
half the time in a state of war or of imminent danger. Never but
once (1690) did any formidable body of the French ever cross the
Mohawk, but skulking bodies of their Indian Allies made constant
reprisals from the settlers. The expedition of M. De Courcelles
against the Mohawks December 29, 1665, is referred to elsewhere.
In 1669 another battle was fought on the western edge of the town.
The River Indians (Mahikanders) attacked the stockade village of
the Mohawks at Caughnawaga. After repulsing them the Mohawks
followed and gave battle to their foe on Towereoune Hill, near
Hoffmans. During the last quarter of the seventeenth century Eng-
land and France were at peace with each other, but their provinces
in America were at the same time at the point of war with each other.
In December, 1688, King James, failing to make England a Papal
nation, abdicated the throne and joined Louis, his royal ally, in
France. In America Governor Andros was imprisoned and Leisler
headed a popular anti-papal government. At Montreal in August,
1669, the Five Nations sacked the city and held it until October.
A French attack on the Mohawk and Hudson settlements was looked
for by all. The blow fell first upon Schenectady, February 9, 1690.
In April following the French Indians attacked Canastagione (Nis-
kayuna), killing some ten persons. In 1693 the French attacked and
took the first three Mohawk castles and burned them. In 1695 there
were many conflicts between the Five Nations and the French. In
July, 1696, the French attacked and burned the castle of the Oneidas.
The Onondagas, too weak to fight the French, burned their own
castles and retreated. Schenectady was greatly alarmed when a party
of French Indians on September 17th, 1696, killed some settlers. The
anticipated raid of the winter of 1696-1697 did not occur but in the
spring of 1697 small bands of Indians harassed the settlements along
the Mohawk. On September 20, 1697, terms of peace were signed
(Peace of Ryswick) between England and France. But the Canadian
French remained openly imimical to the Five Nations, and preserved
their army intact, while the fortifications and soldiery in the valley
were neglected. In 1709 Governor Lovelace received orders from
England to prepare for an attack upon Canada and Nova Scotia. A
Naval Squadron and five regiments were to be sent over, with whom
1,500 of the New England Militia, the Five Nations and the River
Indians were to join forces. Like the 1691 attempt, the whole thing
fell through. England sent her force to Portugal. During the
English-French war (1701-1713) the neutral Five Nations became cor-
rupted, and lost much of their former spirit of loyalty to the English.
In 1771 another attempt was made to conquer Canada, which also
ended in failure. These abortive attempts had the effect of increas-
ing the marauding spirit of the Indians in the Mohawk Valley. From
1712 until the "Old French War" (1744) there was peace between
England and France and comparative peace in the New York
province, especially in the Mohawk Valley.
Missions Among the MohaTvI( Valley Indians
Rev. Johannes Megapolensis, the first Reformed Dutch pastor at
Rensselaerswyck (Albany) from 1642 to 1649 was the first Protestant
Missionary to the Indians in America, antedating by several years
167
HISTORICAL NOTES
the work of John Eliot in New England. Even the Jesuit missionaries
who had been in the Mohawk country, but for a short time before
his coming, and whom Megapolensis and Van Curler rescued, were
captives in the country. Megapolensis was born in Holland in 1601.
He came of a Romanist family, but early in life espoused the cause of
Protestantism. His coming to America in 1643 was purely a religious
impulse on his part, tho the Patroon, Kilian Van Rensselaer, who was
behind the movement financially, and who had established Rensse-
laerswyck in 1637, doubtless, saw a good deal of profit commercially.
Megapolensis' ministry in America included forty years, half of which
was spent in the New Amsterdam church. He was a man of splendid
scholarship, energetic character, and devoted piety. He saw the in-
fancy of the Dutch Province, watched its growth, and witnessed its
surrender. Indeed he got into no little difficulty when he advised
Stuyvesant to surrender to the English in 1664, when he saw that there
was no defense they could make and to hold out inevitably meant a
great loss of life — and of property. Megapolensis' father was a
minister at Egmont on the sea, and, later at Koedyck and Pancras
in North Holland. His youngest son, Samuel, also became a minister
of the Dutch church, and with his father, went out to meet the fleet
that were menacing the city, and was one of the commissioners to
prepare the terms of surrender and saw "to it that the rights of the
Dutch church were well guarded, and that the separation of church
and state was fully established. Megapolensis learned the heavy
language of the Mohawks and wrote an interesting story of the Mo-
hawks and their country which was published in Holland. The
domine freely mingled with the Indians, received them into his
church as members, lived with them in their tepees, and kept his own
Dutch manse always open for their welcome. And this was true of
all who succeeded him in the old Dutch church at Albany, and of the
ministers in the old Dutch church at Schenectady.
Megapolensis had left Albany in 1649 and spent twenty years
later in New York but his work for the Indians at Albany was con-
tinued by his successors, Rev. Gideon Schaats, who spent forty years
in the Dutch church at Fort Orange, frequently supplying Schenec-
tady. During his pastorate in Fort Orange, Gov. Andros compelled
him to receive Van Rensselaer, an Episcopalion, as a colleague, but the
friction ensuing was ended after two years by the death of the latter.
Following him Godfreidus Dellius gave sixteen years to definite
Indian mission work. Gov. Leisler and Dellius were inimical to each
other. Immediately on Leisler's illegal execution (1691) Gov. Slough-
ter sent Dellius as a missionary among the Indians, and, like the Dutch
predecessors (and successors) he had great influence over them. Both
Father Milet and Father Dablon, Jesuit missionaries, wrote Dellius,
proferring thanks not only, but pecuniary gifts for his kindness to-
ward them. When he went with Peter Schuyler to Canada in April,
1698, to confer with Frontenac, he took nineteen French prisoners
with him. Some writers severely censure Dellius and others of his
day because of the large areas of land they secured from the Indians,
some of the tracts being fifty and sixty miles long and several miles
wide. But the crown was behind these transactions, the purpose of
which was to prevent Jesuit occupation. A super-abundance of letters,
documents, etc., to be found in the State archives, and in the history
168
HISTORICAL NOTES
of the church of the day show that Dellius was right and that the
giddy headed governor (Bellomont) was all wrong.
Rev. John Lydius spent ten years (1700-1709) with the Mohawks
and brot many of them to a high state of civilization. In later years
his son, John Henry Lydius, a counsellor of Sir William Johnson, also
for some years a governor at Fort Edward, gave the best years of his
life (he died near London in 1791, aged ninety-eight) to the cause of
the Indian. Another great worker among the Indians was Rev.
Bernardus Freeman of the Dutch church at Schenectady, who was a
missionary by Gov. Bellomont's appointment to the Iroquois, and who
obtained a better understanding of the dialects of the Indians than
even Dellius. His Book of Common Prayer translated into the Mo-
hawk language for the use of the Indians in the vicinity of New York
(printed in 1715) is one of the rarest books in the class of American
linguistics. This was but one of many such publications that he put
into the Mohawk tongue. The list of the men who befriended the
Indians of the Mohawk valley up to the time of the Revolution would
include every pastor, especially, in the Albany and Schenectady
churches, at first the Dutch, and later, also, the Episcopal. References
to the work of Ehle and Van Driesen will be found in the Stone
Arabia church history.
Among the first Jesuit priests who were found among the Indians
were Jogues, and Bressani, Poncet, and Goupel. This work goes
back to 1644 when Arent Van Curler (cf Note) urged by Megapolensis,
made a trip into the Mohawk company to rescue certain Jesuits who
were about to be martyred. Van Curler failed to rescue these priests
but he obtained the promise of the Indians that they would not be
killed. Later Jogues escaped, was secreted for a while by the
Dominie, then shipped to France. Returning to the country in 1646
he was killed by the Indians, his books and clothes being brot to
Megapolensis at Albany. Father Le Moyne, after peace had been ne-
gotiated between the Mohawks and the French in 1653, began a work
in central New York which resulted in the establishment of a string
of Jesuit missions from Fort Orange to Lake Erie. But so soon as
the gifts from Canada began to fail the Indian piety began to wane.
Le Moyne (April, 1658) tried to bring Megapolensis back into the
papal fold, to which effort the domine wrote in the Latin a treatise
on Popery, which aside from its polemic nature is remarkable as an
exhibition of the learning and ability of this famous old divine. Le
Moyne urged him to weigh his arguments in the scales of the sanctu-
ary, and the minister said he had, but could not fish out anything to
establish the claims of Rome. To the list of popes sent by the Jesuit,
the dominie asks why Joanna was left out, who was well attested by
papal historians, and calls him to account for daring to put Christ
and Peter at the head as if they stood for some of the doctrines of the
church of Rome. In reference to the councils Megapolensis thinks
Le Moyne must be laboring under some hallucination if he thinks
God's promises are limited to the papal church, and are not meant for
the Holy Catholic church. He refers to Rome as the Babylonian
harlot that had become drunk with the blood of the martrys. And,
further, Le Moyne could not be ignorant of the fact that popes and
councils had frequently contradicted each other. Le Moyne named
Judas as the arch heretic and let Calvin bring up the rear. Mega-
polensis, however, showed how Judas rejected Christ's doctrines and
169
HISTORICAL NOTES
became his enemy, while Calvin vindicated the Christ, His Word, and
His spirtual body and brot back the doctrine of Christ's merits. Mega-
polensis declares that Le Moyne would have made out a better list
of heretics if he had omitted some he had named and inserted various
orders of monks, which he names, and some of the orders of nuns.
Finally he takes issue with Le Moyne baptising Indians on their
ability to make the sign of the cross and sometimes even when they
were half dead — a profanation, for no such ceremony could cleanse the
soul. The Jesuit missionaries ceased to be devotees of Rome and
became agents of the King of France. The work of the Jesuits con-
tinued for more than forty years when it was suddenly halted by
Gov. Dongan, himself a Romanist (1684), in the interests of British
trade. Gov. Dongan asked the Indians not to receive the French
Jesuit priests, promising them Protestant missionaries instead. Both
the Crown and Gov. Dongan decided it would be best to keep the
priests of France' out of the country, and in 1700 an act was passed
forbidding the Jesuits or any Popish priests to work with the Indians.
This spirit was in keeping with the original laws of Georgia, for-
bidding Rominists to colonize, and with that of New England pre-
scribing the death penalty if caught there, and with that of Virgina,
which refused Lord Baltimore and his colonists to land there owing
to their being Romanists.
Six years later, Kryn, "the great Mohawk," who had conquered
the Mohegans, having become a Romanist, led the band of "praying
Indians" to attack Schenectady in 1690, inciting them to the highest
pitch of fury just before the massacre. Louis XIV of France and his
morganatic wife, Madame de Maintenon (the widow of the crippled
poet, Scarron) were told, later, by Monseignat of the extermination
of the heretics at Schenectady, and the story went the rounds of the
salons of Versailles and Paris and London. It was this same Louis
XIV that drove the Palatines from their homes at the beginning of
the eighteenth century. It was the French Jesuit priests, who "con-
verted" certain Indians of the Mohawk valley, and took them away
into Canada, who twice descended upon Schenectady to massacre the
Dutch Protestant settlers there. The descendants of these Indians,
the St. Francis tribe, are living to this day at Caughnawaga, formerly
called La Prarie, and now called Sault Saint Louis. The church of
England began a work among the Indians along about 1700, and in
the following years we find the names of Revs. Smith, Thomas
Barclay, William Andrews (first rector at St. George's in Schenec-
tady), who kept the work going until 1719. After six years' work
among the Mohawks and Oneidas, begun in 1712, Rev. Andrews writes
his English society that the Indians were heathen and incapable of
being anything else. But Megapolensis, and Eliot, and Kirkland had
other opinions of the Red men. Queene Anne was influenced to aid
the Indian cause thro the visit (1710) to the court by Gen. Peter
Schuyler, formerly mayor at Albany, who had with him four Indian
chiefs, among these the husband of Joseph Brant's mother.
"*e
Rev. Mr'Tiarclay was at Fort Hunter 1708-17 10<wrrKg*|fsm*erfl
wrxr1t--a-t-''Sc"rfeTrefeta4y_Jii--4J^ St. George's church wasMiot
built and completed until 1769 ("Smith's Journal," 1769). J^r-^tTJt
Rev. John Miller visted the Mohawks, while in 1733 it was reported
that there were but few unbaptised among them. Rev. John Ogilvie
(rector at St. Peter's church, Albany in 1748) came in 1750, his work
170
HISTORICAL NOTES
being especially among the Mohawks, Oneidas, and Tuscaroras. He
served up to the time of the Revolution. Rev. John Stuart came to
the Fort Hunter Indian mission in 1770, following Rev. Henry Munro.
He also served Johnstown occasionally. Fort Hunter was an im-
portant military post in early times, having been erected by Capt.
John Scott in 1710. The post was surrounded by walls twelve feet
high and enclosed about a hundred and fifty square feet. Rev.
Thoroughgood Moor was the missionary during 1704-1707. Rev.
Thomas Barclay was stationed here during 1708-1712, and, later, his
son, Rev. Henry Barclay, was stationed here 173^-174(5"" He then went
to Trinity church in New York where he died in 1761. A chapel
built within the walls, endowed by Queen Anne, was called "Queen
Anne's Chapel." During the Revolution, the fort having become di-
lapidated, the chapel was fortified with heavy palisades and block
houses. The chapel was taken down in 18:3(L,to make room for the
Erie canal. The stone rectory, aixo erected^ w^ffmathe walls is still
standing. In 1860 it was sold by the Trinity Episcopal church of New
York city for $1,500. The Indians had given Rev. Barclay three
hundred acres of land for the support of the missionary, who, in re-
turn, sold it to the English society that was supporting the work here.
When Rev. Mr. Stuart of the mission, in keeping with the spirit of all
the clergy of the Province, refused to give up his allegiance to the
King, Gen. Herkimer promised Brant at the Unadilla interview that
he would be given safe conduct into Canada. After the Revolution
Stuart preached for some years at Grand River, Can. On the going
of Stuart in 1775 the Indian work was given up. Aided
by Brant, Rev. Stuart wrote the Gospel of Mark and a part of Acts, as
well as a short history of the Bible, in the Mohawk tongue. While
the title of the rectory and glebe was with Trinity Episcopal church
in New York city, yet, when these properties were sold ($3,000) both
the Johnstown Episcopal church, which Sir William Johnson caused
to be built in 1764, and the St. Ann's Episcopal church of Amsterdam
incorporated as the Episcopal Church of Florida in 1S30 and re-
incorporated as St. Ann's Episcopal Church of Port Jackson in 1835,
were made beneficiaries. The bell of the old mission went to the
Johnstown academy. The Moravians began mission work among the
Onondagas in 1740, Rev. David Zeisberger being at the head of the
movement. He was the author of many works or translations in the
Indian tongue. The mission, however, was of short duration. Other
names in the work were Rev. Ashley,. Crosby, Peter Avery, Henry
Avery — all before Kirkland began his work.
The first permanent Protestant
mission among the Oneidas was at
Oneida Castle, begun by Rev. Samuel
Kirkland in 1766, whose final efforts
(he became both blind and crippled
in his latter years) ensued in what
aft .ward; became Hamilton College
which was projected and founded by
Kirkland for the special benefit of the
Oneida Indians. In 1764 Kirkland,
guided by a young Mohawk, came to
William Johnson, who sent him for-
Rev. Samuel Kirkland ward on January 17, 1765, escorted
171
HISTORICAL NOTES
by two friendly Senecas, on a journey of two hundred miles, thro a
wilderness to a people whose language he did not know. He spent
eighteen months with the Senecas, and then, in 1766, he entered upon
his life work among the Oneidas. In 1780 he married Jerusha Bing-
ham, niece of Rev. Dr. Wheelock, who founded Dartmouth. Both
gave literally their lives to these Oneidas. On July 1, 1794, Baron
Steuben, with Stephen Van Rensselear, Col. North, Maj. Williams,
and Chief Skenandoah — all aided Kirkland, the patriot missionary,
to lay the corner stone of Hamilton Academy (named for Alexander
Hamilton) which, later, grew into Hamilton College. Both the Kirk-
lands, and Skenandoah, are buried in Hamilton College cemetery. On
Skenandoah's monument (1706-1816) is his own written epitaph, — "I
am an aged hemlock; the winds of a hundred winters have whistled
through my branches; I am dead at the top. The generation to which
I belonged have run away, and left me." Other names deserving
mention are Rev. Elihu Spencer (1748) who later became President of
Dickinson College; Rev. Mr. Hawley (1753) and Rev. Mrs. Ash-
ley. Modern work was done among the Oneidas by Rev. Daniel
Barnes (1829), and Rev. Daniel Fancher (1841).
Palatines of the Rhine
The Palatines have played
so important a part in the
settlement and development
of the Mohawk Valley, to
which they came about 1720,
from the Hudson River set-
tlements and the Schoharie
Valley, and because they al-
most wholly made up the
Committee of Safety of Try-
on County and the forces
that won the Battle of
Oriskany, we have deemed
it of importance to speak of
them in this work. The term
"Palatine" (in use in America over three centuries) in English and
early colonial history meant a "lord" or "proprietor." In the times
of the Merovingian Kings, the first Frankish dynasty in Gaul (fifth
to eighth centuries) was an officer called "comespaltii," who was the
master of the royal household. The king also gave his like authority
to provincial rulers, to act for him in their province, and who were
called Count Palatine, and the province Palatinate. Among the
provinces into which Germany was divided in the J 6th century, one
of the most extensive, fertile and prosperous was known as the lower
Palatine, or the Palatine of the Rhine. Its chief city, and the seaport
of its government, was Heidelberg, where the Catechism, one of the
three doctrinal standards of the Dutch church, was published 350
years ago. Manheim was the next city of importance. Into this
Palatine country Protestantism did not enter to any large extent until
late in the period of the Reformation, and when the controversy was
fully developed. Being on the border, the country formed an easy
172
HISTORICAL NOTES
asylum for a great number of Calvanistic refugees from Holland and
France, with the natural result that the Rhine country became a com-
mon battlefield on which the hostile armies of Rome and Protes-
tantism were wont to meet for the settlement of religious and terri-
torial disputes. And it came to pass that many of the Palatines of
the Rhine, tenacious of personal liberty, as their Teutonic forefathers
were, and emulating their Puritan predecessors, who a century before
fled the violence of persecution in the old land, began to dream of
liberty and freedom to worship God in another land. Toward the
close of the 15th century the Germans of the Rhine country, in large
numbers, began to settle in London, and soon became an actual
burden to the English government. In less than three months 10,000
of them had come. During 1708 and 1709 they had cost England
nearly £136,000.
To relieve herself of the cost of supporting these refugees, Eng-
land planned to send at first 3,000 of them to her American colonies,
but with this double ulterior motive, namely — that she might curb
the threatened French-Canadian invasion of the province of New York
with a human barrier at the outposts of civilization, and secondly that
she might develop a great tar industr)' for British naval and com-
mercial purposes. And so it came to pass that the Palatines who left
their vineyards in the dear old Rhineland, so often laid waste by cruel
war, were destined for a still more savage one in the American wilder-
ness. But "man proposes and God disposes." The German Palatines
became an unconquerable human barrier to the progress of British
colonization in America, while the "tar bondage," conducted by that
modern Pharaoh, Governor Hunter, scatterd these German white
slaves throughout the Schoharie and Mohawk valleys, and wrought
out of them the advance guard of the white man's supremacy in this
northern wilderness. We have been profoundly surprised in our
researches for this address, to discover that many of the best works
on American history hardly mention this early German immigration.
More surprised yet have we been in discussing this story of the
Palatines with their descendants here in this valley, to find how little
they know of the early struggles and privations and hardships their
fathers and mothers had to suffer, or of the patriotic services they
rendered during the first birth of the republic. And among the
historians who do speak of them there is a difference of opinion as to
their character — Mrs. Lamb placing them on a par with the Coolies
of the Pacific coast, while Macauley (1829) says that their genius
and industry was such as to enrich any land fortunate enough to
afford them an asylum. In Mrs. Grant's "An American Lady" (pub-
lished in London in 1808), which is the autobiography of an English
woman living for some years during the middle of the seventeenth
century at Albany, and frequently meeting the Palatines in their homes,
we find this comment — "The subdued and contented spirit, the simple
and primitive manners, the frugal and industrial habits of these
genuine sufferers for conscience sake, made them an acquisition to
any society which received them, and a most suitable leaven among
the inhabitants of this province."
The Palatines were Of the same importance to New York as the
Puritans and Pilgrims were to New England. They chose to become
the farthest outpost of white men in the country of the fiercest
aborigines, the Iroquois confederation. They braved all the dangers
173
i
HISTORICAL NOTES
of the Wilderness and settled in the midst of the Mohawks, the most
war-like of all the Indian tribes. The Palatines, moreover, were the
founders in this country of a free press. John Peter Zenger of P44ku
derpirta, a Palatine, was jailed because he dared to criticise Governor
Ofosby the King's representative, in his paper^'Thye.^Veekly Journal."
He was defended by j=an*ss JvlojianalSif^ Hamilfli)ii.^<~His acquittal was
one of the greatest victories for law and freedom ever won on this
continent. Prof. Fiske, the eminent historian, says "that the most
obstinately fought and bloodiest battle of the Revolution was that of
Oriskany," the most sanguinary battle of the Revolution, wherein 200
Palatines lost their lives. The presence of so many former neighbors
on both sides made it a fratricidal contest. You will recall that
"Honikal" Herkimer, who was the general in command, was of German
descent, and his army was made up almost wholly of Palatines
(cf Note on "Tryon Co. Com. Safety"). Despite the stupid idiocy
of his officers (cf Note on "Battle of Oriskany"), the wounded Herki-
mer fought this battle to a finish and won the victory over St. Leger
and the savages, which meant so much to the cause of liberty in this
western land. Bennington prevented the arrival of Burgoyne's sup-
plies and Oriskany his expected reinforcements. This decisive battle
of the Revolution resulted in the turning back of St. Leger to Canada
and in the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, in the union of the
northern colonies and in the final evacuation of the Hudson and
Mohawk valleys by the British. The battles of Oriskany and Stone
Arabia were as great contests as Concord and Bunker Hill. At the
close of the struggle there were upwards of four hundred widows
in five districts of Tryon county.
The very first known Palatines that came to America (they
numbered fifty-five) were conducted hither by Rev. Joshua Kocher-
thal, a Lutheran minister, born in 1669, who came to America in 1708
and for two or three years was a pastor at West Camp. The
Quassaic (Newburgh) Colony came over with Kocherthal. After be-
ing denizened in England by royal order, August 25, 1708, they were
later sent to America with Lord Lovelace. The work of Brown
puts the date of their coming a few months before coming to New
York. Kocherthal visited England in 1709 in the interest of the
colony. Kocherthal died in 1719 and is buried at West Camp. Kocher-
thal's first wife died in 1713, December 6. His second wife who sur-
vived him married Rev. W. C. Berkenmeyer, a Lutheran missionary,
who was the first pastor of the Palatine Lutheran Stone church
(1733-1743). The first Germans from the Rhine Palatine who came
in any considerable numbers to New York, arrived June 14, 1710, and
numbered three thousand, the largest of any single immigration to
America up to that date. This date, June 14, was religiously ob-
served for many years by the early settlers, and might well be
annually kept now in unison with Flag Day which falls on the same
day. Before the Palatines left England they had heard of the wonder-
ful valley of the "Schorie" (an Indian term for drift wood), Schoharie,
and longed for this "promised land." But the statesmen of Queen
Anne's time thought that the Palatines ought to repay some of their
"keep" in England as well their transportation, so they conceived a
plan whereby these Germans were to get out timbers for the royal
navy and pitch and turpentine and resin, needed naval stores. Great
Britian had furnished $40,000 and out of his own fortune Gov. William
174
HISTORICAL NOTES
Burnet furnished $140,000. They were settled at Livingston Manor
on the Hudson, and set to work. It proved to be a modern effort of
making "bricks without straw," and after years of vain pleadings to
be allowed to go to the promised land in the Schoharie valley, they
finally rose up, rebelling against "Pharaoh" Hunter and left the tar-
less pine trees for the rich, alluvial soil of the Schoharie, tho not
a few went into Pennsylvania.
About the time of the German exodus from the Hudson settle-
ment not a few of the Palatine families found their way into the
valley of the Mohawk, at least one-third of all the Germans in the
Schoharie valley coming into this community between 1722 and 1725.
To these were added iHU££ a goodly number who had just entered the
country, among tnemT^cnolare Herkimer of Oriskany fame, who came
to America in 1722. England now began to grant great tracts of land,
among them being the Governor William Burnet's Patent, land
bought of the Mohawks in 1722 — consisting of all the country on both
sides of the river from Little Falls to Frankfort, 100 acres being
given to each of the 70 persons named in the patent settling there,
subject only to quit rent to be paid forever to the Crown. German
Flatts (Fort Herkimer) was once called "Burnetsfield." On October
19, 1^23, another patent, similar to this one of Burnet's, officially re-
corded in the office of the Secretary of State, was given at Stone
Arabia, consisting of 12,000 acres, and costing $750 in Indian goods
(all but a small portion being in the town of Palatine), was disposed
among twenty-seven Palatine families who entered upon the land in
the spring of 1723). Simms' "Frontiersmen" gives the names of the
men). The Mohawks just previous to this had given deeds of lands
to certain settlers who began to locate near the Palatine Stone
church. For twenty-five miles the Mohawk is a Palatine or German
river, as witness the towns — Palatine, Oppenheim, Frankfort, Man-
heim. Newkirk, etc. This district had the fewest Tories because the
German settlers, while they were of inestimable value to England in
the war with France, were the most ardent patriots, and toryism did
not flourish in such an environment. At Stone Arabia, in the tavern
of Adam Loucks, who lies buried in the cemetery adjoining, was
held the first meeting of the "Tryon County Committee of Safety,"
August 27th, 1774, whose deliberations and activities counted so much
for the independence of the colonies. New York led all the colonies
in their bold stroke for freedom, while Tryon county (Montgomery)
led all New York in the spirit of independence displayed by its
citizens. Like the Star of the East, which led the wise men to the
Khan of Bethlehem, where the World's Redeemer was born, the
vision of liberty was filling all the sky of the seventeenth century,
and by its light the mightiest men that ever peopled the earth were
led to the cradle of freedom in this western land. There were the
Holland Dutch, the English Puritans (who also came from Holland),
the Scottish Covenanters, the Pilgrim Fathers, and last, but not least,
the Germans of the Palatine. These were the five tribes of God's
Israel, who laid the foundation of Christian civilization in America,
who were the founders of our institutions, the builders of the republic,
and all alike caught their inspiration and won their victories through
their genius for religion and their unwavering faith in the Almighty
God.
17:
HISTORICAL NOTES
Committee of Safety of Tryon County
The occasion for the appointment of the Committee of Safety of
Tryon County was dictated by the stirring events transpiring in those
days just prior to the Revolutionary War. Among the colonies in
the north there was no section where the Royal cause was so deeply
intrenched or in which the loyalists were so numerous or of greater
influence than in the Valley of the Mohawk. The only exception to
this was in the Palatine section where Toryism was not healthy. Not
only over the Iroquois but over the western Red men beyond, Sir
William Johnson had absolute power, and was regarded by the Indians
as the supreme arbiter in all their councils, and with whom also the
white settlers knew they must reckon. Sir William Johnson died,
suddenly and suspiciously, on June 24, 1774, at his baronial mansion
in Johnstown, and the estate fell to his son, already a baronet, Sir
John (child of his German housekeeper), of morose temperament and
exceedingly irascible. Associated with him as the new Superintendent
of the Indians was Col. Guy Johnson, an Irish nephew of Sir William,
who had married his cousin Mary, one of John Johnson's sisters.
He was an irresponsible character of uncontrollable temper, but with a
great mental void. His secretary was Walter Butler, the fiend
incarnate of all the Tories. At this time most of the settlers in the
valley as far as Caughnawaga were the Dutchmen who had come
from Manhattan and Fort Orange, while west almost as far as Utica,
were the Palatines, who had begun to settle in the valley about 1720.
Neither of these elements welcomed the change from the sagacious
and politic Sir William, with his generous treatment of all, to the
overbearing, aristocratic, and domineering attitude of Sir John and
Col. Guy Johnson. Matters would have come to a crisis sooner than
they did, had it not been for the influence of Mistress Molly and her
big brother, Joseph Brant, who cautioned the Johnsons and indirectly
ruled the Iroquois. Tryon county was ready to resent the tyrannical
spirit of these men, and when word at last had come from Lexington
and Concord, the first Independents in the North began to formulate
their plans. After Sir John had removed Kirkland from his mission-
ary work among the Indians, he went with the Butlers and Brants
to a great Indian conference at Montreal, and came back to organize
his Romanist Scotch Highlanders and fortify Johnson Hall. In his
absence in Canada the patriots, or Whigs, as they were called, or-
ganized the Committee of Safety, deposed Sheriff White, the Tory,
and put John Frey in his place. When, later, White arrested Jacob
Fonda the committee went to the Johnstown jail and liberated the
prisoner amid an exchange of shots, the first of the Revolutionary
War fired west of the Hudson. Later, White was sent a prisoner
to Albany.
The late J. Howard Hanson of Amsterdam and S. L. Frey of Pala-
tine Bridge, thro the generosity of the late Stephen Sanford of Am-
sterdam, in 1905, reissued in printed form the correspondence and acts
of the Tryon County Committee of Safety, originally written by
Christopher P. Yates (b. 1750-d. 1815), the best educated member of
said committee, Montgomery's first county clerk, assemblyman, mem-
ber of Provincial Congress, Major in N. Y. State Militia, and Regent
of N. Y. State. William W. Campbell, who wrote "The Annals of
Tryon County," at a celebration at Cherry Valley, July 4, 1840, said
176
HISTORICAL NOTES
that he had found the original correspondence many years before that
date in the garret of Maj. John Frey, and had them removed and
deposited with the New York State Historical Society. These original
Minutes have for many years been in the possession of S. L. Frey
of Palatine Bridge. Among the members of the committe from the
Palatine District were, George Eker, Jr., Anthony V. Frechten, Har-
mon V. Slyke, John Frey, Christopher P. Yates, Peter Waggoner,
Isaac Paris, Andrew Finck, Jr., Daniel McDougall, Andrew Reber,
and John Klock. From the Canajoharie district there were, David
Cox, John Rickert, Michel Heckimer, William Seeber, John Moore,
and Ebenezer Cox. From the German Flatts district there were Wil-
liam Petry, Edward Wall, Jacob Weaver, Marcus Petry, Duncan
McDougall, and John Petry. From Kingsland there were George
Wents, John Frank, Augustinus Hess, Michel Ittig, George Her-
chheimer, Frederick Ahrendorf, and Frederick Fox. Adam Loucks
was a Palatine at whose Stone Arabia Inn the committee was formed.
Isaac Paris had a palisaded house (Fort Paris) on what is now the
Cramps farm. His son Peter was killed at Oriskany and himself a
prisoner, tortured to death. His youngest son married a sister of
Washington Irving. John Frey was a grandson of the first settler
in the Palatine section who bought land on the Mohawk in 1689.
John Frey's second wife, Mrs. Gertrude Wormuth, was a niece of
Gen. Herkimer. Frey served as Major under Herkimer at Oriskany,
was an assemblyman and N. Y. State senator. Andrew Fink, whose
grandfather was one of the Stone Arabia patentees, was an assembly-
man and, later, state senator. He was a captain in the N. Y. militia,
and was in the Battle of Saratoga. Peter Waggoner was a Lieutenant-
Colonel in the Tryon county militia at Oriskany, with three sons.
Webster Wagner, whose old home and workshop was at Ephratah,
where the parlor and sleeping cars were planned, was a descendant
of Peter Waggoner. Nicholas Herkimer, the genera', son of John
Jost, had twelve brothers and sisters (all married but one). Five
Herkimers were in Col. Bellinger's regiment. Next to the Johnsons,
the Herkimers were the most influential family in the Mohawk valley.
Gen. Herkimer was a man of many parts, fairly well educated, a Bible
student, a man of sterling character, and a high born patriot, who
gave his all including his life to the cause of liberty. Ebenezer Cox
and William Seeber were killed at Oriskany. Dr. William Petry was
a surgeon in Col. Harper's regiment at Oriskany, and attended Gen.
Herkimer after the battle. There were fifty Fondas, twelve Shoe-
makers, and seventy-five men by the name of Vedder or Veeder, who
saw service in the Revolution. These Veeders and Vedders were de-
scendants of both Lucas Vetter of Germany and of the Holland
Vedder family. Rudolph Shoemaker was a Captain at Oriskany tho
only fifteen years old. Adam Bellinger, a lieutenant in Col. Klock's
regiment, a grandson of Peter Bellinger, married Delia Herkimer.
Major John Frey's brother, Bernard, was in the English army. Col.
Hendrick Frey, the Tory, married a sister of Gen. Herkimer, while
his patriot brother, Major John Frey, married the general's niece.
Christopher P. Yates' wife was the youngest sister of Major John
Frey. Among other patriots, German and Dutch, among whose fami-
lies occurred many marriages, may be mentioned these — Feeter,
Helmer, Nellis, Fox, Gros, Eisenlord, Nestell, Roof, Dievendorf,
177
HISTORICAL NOTES
Visscher (Fisher), Quackenboss, Van Epps, Wemple, Hanson, Groat,
et. al.
Great credit is due the men of this Committee for the way in
which they conducted the patriotic cause in the valley, and their work
and the influence of their lives counted immensely in the final in-
dependence. Early in 1776 Sir John Johnson surrendered himself,
his Hall and all his belongings to Gen. Schuyler, who gave him his
parole under the care of Col. Herkimer. When this parole was brok-
en by the Tory baronet, Col. Dayton was dispatched to arrest Sir.
John, but loyalist friends apprised him of the danger, enabling him
to escape to Montreal. His estate, the largest ever held by one man,
with one exception, was sold at auction, while Lady Polly Watts
Johnson was removed to Albany as a hostage for the peaceful con-
duct of her recreant husband. Sir John became the Colonel
of the Royal Greens, and Brant and Butler were made Captains
in the English army. A captain's commission was on Butler's
person at his death. Swearing bloody vengeance against their former
neighbors in the valley of the Mohawk, this triad of fiends incarnate,
under the approval of the English and with the aid of the savage,
wreaked their venomous hatred on the people of the valley, sparing
neither age nor sex. The ancient British theory still held that all
land acquired by settlement or conquest remained the property of the
King, and the occupant must share its profits with the crown. More-
over the commerce and industry of the colonists must not compete
with that of England. Trade restriction and taxation without re-
presentation were the rocks of offense on which the home govern-
ment foundered in its dealings with the colonists. In a country but
sparsely settled, separated from the Hudson river by a powerful
Indian tribe, and surrounded by a large and influential body of well
organized loyalists — the Tryon County Committee of Safety mani-
fested a courage and determination unparalleled even in that day of
self-sacrifice and heroic devotion to the cause of freedom. Almost
two years before the Declaration of Independence was signed (July
4, 1776), the Independents of Tryon County (August 27, 1774) calmly
but bravely asserted their rights and bound themselves to abide by
the regulations of the First Continental Congress. Unless we accept
the Declaration of Independence formulated at Mendon, Mass., March
1, 1773, the Tryon County Committee of Safety were the first or-
ganized body of Independents in the colonies.
The war lords of that day met in London and planned the battles
for the extermination of the rebellious colonists. Burgoyne was to
fall on northern New York and St. Leger was to scourge the valley
of the Mohawk, the victorious commanders meeting in Albany, and
go down the Hudson valley to enjoy the fruits of Arnold's treachery.
Burgoyne was a successful leader, St. Leger had already proven
his worth while Brant the savage leader, hired by England
under the promise of eight dollars per scalp turned in, was the
ablest strategist of all the Iroquois. But what irony of fate, that the
Palatines, whom England had generously passaged over into this new
land should be the battering ram that would tuurn aside St. Leger
in the bloodiest battle of the Revolution, prevent his coalition with
Burgoyne, and thus make sure the land of freedom. Some day the
story of these Palatines will be written in such fast colors that this
nation of ours will never willingly let their memory die out. In
178
HISTORICAL NOTES
February, 1788, France formed its alliance with the colonies on the
sole condition that never again would they acknowledge the su-
premacy of Great Britain. In 1779 Spain declared war against Eng-
land with the hope of obtaining Gibralter. In 1780 Russia organized
a neutrality league of the northern states to resist England's attempt
to search the ships of neutral countries. Holland so opposed this
attitude of the British that in 1790 England declared war against Hol-
land. With the surrender of Cornwallis, October 21, 1781, the War of
the Revolution ended with the colonies, while both France and Spain
won in their struggle with England. It is a fact worthy of constant
emphasis that the Revolution was fought by the classes — that the
educated, conservative, elegant and well-to-do were practically all on
the British side. Notable exceptions were Washington and Sullivan.
In the case of the latter he so impoverished himself, and Congress
so neglected him, that when he died the sheriff attached his corpse
for debt, which had to be released prior to burial. Many of the Dutch
and Palatines could not write their names, tho they had ingenious
"marks" to verify the signatures made by others for them. It was
these ignorant, oft-discouraged and broken hearted ones, the "rabble,"
who bought our liberty with the price of their blood. When the
Revolution was over Parliament made terms with four thousand
Tories who were conspicuous in their alliance with England and dis-
tributed among them sixteen millions of dollars. Thus the Britons
gave to the Tories vastly more than Congress gave to the ragged
Continentals who had won the country's freedom.
But tho Cornwallis surrendered and a Peace Treaty was signed
September 3, 1783, England still controlled New York city, Charles-
ton, and Savannah. The War meant a practical separation from Eng-
land but Independence did not really and fully come till 1815. Eng-
land broke the terms of the Treaty by retaining her military posts
in the west which she promised to give up, and the new Treaty of
1795 she ignored by instructing her navy to capture American ships
trading in French ports. England also trickily tried to use' Napoleon
as a pawn whereby she might forever destroy the possibility of Ameri-
can commerce. In the south Cornwallis, forgetful of the spirit of
Washington shown at the surrender, burned and ravaged, especially
venting his spite on the people of Presbyterian faith, whose churches
and Bibles he burned. The Revolution cost $135,000,000 and 232.000
men were engaged. It cost England thirteen provinces, four islands,
a hundred thousand men, and $350,000,000. In 1812 Congress de-
clared war against England, protesting its claim of a half century
that it owned the seas. In the conflict, which did not open auspicious-
ly, the United States overwhelmingly defeated England. During 1812
thro 1814 in several engagements, near and within Canada, England
again resorted to the infamous use of the savages who were urged
to carry on their atrocities. This war cost thirty thousand lives and
a hundred million dollars.
Border Wars
General Sullivan's Campaign or raid into the Iroquois country
(1779), which resulted in the destruction of their villages, was the
immediate result of the Wyoming and Cherry Valley massacres.
179
HISTORICAL NOTES
Washington's orders to Sullivan were strictly carried out — the de-
vastation of the Indian settlements, but the expedition failed in its
main purpose which was to suppress the Indian raids, since most of
the injury done in the Mohawk valley was subsequent to the Sullivan
campaign. In no other part of the country was so great damage in-
flicted on the non-combatants. In Tryon county twelve thousand
farms were idle, two thirds of the population had either been killed
or fled, and of the remaining one-third three hundred were widows
and two thousand were orphans. The Province of New York at the
time of the Revolution was wholly governed by Loyalists, appointed
thro London. But not in any less measure was the Mohawk valley
dominated by the Johnsons. Sir. William's loyalty was made keen thro
generous and continuous gifts of the crown, while that of his success-
ors wrought itself out in satanic savagery. And this was all ably
abetted by the English government. Gen. Burgoyne (a noted play-
wright in England) in June, 1777, in his Crown Point proclamation
threatened the "outcast" rebels with Indian butchery if their "frenzied
hostility continued" and believed he said, that "God would approve
the execution of such vengeance." Indeed to prevent desertion from
his English ranks he announced orders to each regiment that he had
enjoined the savages to scalp any runaway British soldiers.
Oriskany can hardly be classed among the Border Wars, tho it
often is. We may more reasonably regard it as one of the causes, if
not the chief cause, leading up to these wars. About the middle of
July (1777) St. Leger landed at Oswego where he was joined by the
Johnsons, and Brants, and Butlers. His plan was to devastate the
Mohawk, join Burgoyne at Albany, to which place Gen. Clinton was
expected to come after subduing the Hudson valley. Burgoyne had
a numerous body of the savages with him when he started out from
the north but all had deserted before the Saratoga battle. Barry St.
Leger had more and these were in charge of Brant and Butler. The
Indians were promised that rum would be as plentiful as the waters
of Lake Ontario, presents were bestowed and the English government
offered a reward for prisoners or scalps at eight dollars each. For
years England sought to enlist the services of the Iroquois against
the colonists, while the latter urged the Indians to remain neutral,
well knowing the true type of their aid. In July, 1775, Sir Frederick
Haldemand in the presence of Col. Guy Johnson, the Indian agent for
England, said to the gathered savages, "now is the time for you to
help the king * * * whatever you lose the King will make up to
you when peace returns." And the Earl of Dartmouth in the same
month wrote Col. Johnson from London that it was King George's
pleasure "that he lose no time in taking such steps as may induce the
Indians to take up the hatchet against his majesty's rebellious sub-
jects in America." Before Oriskany St. Leger offered the Indians
twenty dollars for every American scalp.
Oriskany ("Nettles") is a tragic story of haste, insubordination,
cowardice, — but a wondrous story also of more than human bravery
and of splendid victory, tho dearly bot. The Palatine Germans, the
English white slaves, became a human barrier against the rising tides
of feudal aristocracy in this new soil of America. The plan of Herki-
mer, the man of the hour in this contingency, was to crush the forces
of St. Leger with a front and rear attack, the latter to be made by
Col. Gansevoort of Fort Stanwix. But his impetuous officers, big with
180
HISTORICAL NOTES
bluster and ignorant of conditions nagged their general, taunted him
with cowardice, and against his better judgment he moved his forces
on to what became the bloodiest battle of the Revolution, if not the
pivotal struggle of the war. Hearing of the coming of Herkimer thro
Sir William Johnson's pale faced mistress widow' — Molly Brant (who
on the baronet's death was sent back to the tribe of her birth). St.
Leger dispatched Sir John Johnson with his royal Yorkers, and Capt.
Walter Butler with his Rangers, Col. Claus and his Canadian
troops, and Lieut. Bird with a force of Regulars, to ambush the Tryon
county militia if possible. For five hours the battle raged, three
hundred were killed, as many taken prisoners. Major Stephen Watts,
Johnson's brother-in-law was killed, and Col. Paris of Stone Arabia,
taken prisoner, was later slowly tortured to death. John Frey was
a prisoner, whose brother, a Tory, tried hard to kill him. Jacob
Gardinier and a few men annihilated a whole platoon of the British,
Gardinier receiving thirteen wounds, but crawling into the hollow
trunk of an old tree, and sending a German lad out on the field for
the weapons of the fallen, he kept up the fight till exhausted. He
lived to a good old age. During the battle Col. Willett led a sortie
from Fort Stanwix, and captured twenty-one wagon loads of the
British camp duffle, including all of Johnson's and Leger's papers,
etc. This sortie had the effect of ending the back woods fight, and
left Herkimer, propped against a tree directing the battle, the victor.
Lieut. Col. Gansevoort ran the captured British standards aloft, and
^^gffiffi them he placed for the first time the Stars and Stripes, adopted
by congress a short time previously, the emblem being made from the
white of a shirt, the blue of a soldier's jacket, and the red from the
petticoat of one of the women in the garrison. /S-aJ$s: ?*r<-^+-- CL^^. 3,l~) 7~)
The civilian population suffered no less than the actual com-
batants. Fields were devastated, homes and provisions ruthlessly
burned, mothers murdered and daughters outraged by a villainous,
licentious soldiery. Led captives into a howling wilderness women
had their babes snatched from their breasts while the savages scalped
them for gold, and later tomahawked the mothers. In other parts
of the great colony of New York settlers pursued their work un-
molested, while here in the valleys of the Mohawk and Schoharie
rapine ran riot for a half a century. The major blame for this
treatment of the colonists of these valleys must rest on the shoulders
of England, whose emissaries, the Johnsons, and Butlers, and Brants,
out-Heroded Herod in their cruel carnage, while most of the other
Tories were scarcely less savage than the savages. All but about
half of the Oneidas of the entire Iroquois Confederacy were allied
with the British army in the Revolution, and many of the Indians
were later used along the Canadian border against the Americans
in the War of 1812. Under date of Albany, Mar. 7, 1782, Capt. Gerrish of
the New England Militia writes to his commander of the spoil taken
in an expedition into the Indian country. In the booty were eight
packages of scalps consigned to Col. Haldiman, the British Governor
of Canada, accompanied by a letter written from Tioga by one Capt.
Jas. Craufurd, giving the detailed history of these scalps which were
to be forwarded to England for the Crown's reward. In these pack-
ages were the scalps of three hundred and fifty-nine farmers, two
hundred and eleven girls, a hundred and ninety-three boys, a hun-
dred and five women, forty-three soldiers, twenty-nine infants, one
181
HISTORICAL NOTES
minister, and a hundred and twenty-two mixed. Each was definitely-
marked by Indian signs and rings, etc., to denote the sex, age, occupa-
tion, manner of death, etc. It is singular that after the Battles of
Oriskany and of Saratoga that these Border Wars should have oc-
curred. New York Province ought to have settled down to peace and
prosperity and industry. The main issues of the war had been trans-
ferred to Virginia, Georgia, and South Carolina. And it is worth
noting that most of the province did settle down and the people quiet-
ly pursued their agricultural and other work. But here in the Mohawk
and Schoharie valleys rapine and bloodshed ran riot for several years.
The sequel of it in part may be traced to Oriskany where the duped
Indians got a thirst for bloody revenge which took years to assuage.
To the English government must also be given the credit for setting
in motion those forces which ensued in such satanic savagery toward
the settlers in the new world. But conspicuous among the agencies
that wrought a diabolism that was never known before in so-called
Christian lands, are the lives and the deeds of the Johnsons, and
Brants, and Butlers.
Battle of Stone Arabia
The Battle of Stone Arabia occurred October 19, 1780. It was
a fierce conflict between a large part of the forces of Sir John John-
son's "Royal Greens" and Indians, and a detachment from the
stockaded garrison known as Fort Paris, near the Stone Arabia cross
roads. Sir John with his hired savages had appeared in the late
Spring quite suddenly at sunset on May 21 at Johnson Hall, Johns-
town, evidently seeking the silver plate, papers, etc., which he had
left behind some months previously in his hurried flight into Canada
when Gen. Schuyler had dispatched Col. Dayton to arrest him for
having broken his parole, given in the early part of 1776 when he
surrendered to Gen. Schuyler. On the following morning he attacked
Caughnawaga and Tribes Hill, 500 Indians and Tories being in his
company. All Summer long the settlements were harassed and de-
vastated by the foe whose commanders, or leaders, were Sir John
Johnson, Col. Guy Johnson, the Tory Captain, Walter Butler, Corn-
planter the Seneca chief, Joseph Brant the Mohawk, and others. The
force totaled about 2,000. In February German Flatts was attacked,
and in March Palatine was visited. In April Harpersfield was burned,
and further depredations were committed in Ulster county. Then
came Johnson by way of Lake Champlain to Johnstown, harassing the
north side while Brant and Butler were busy on the south side of the
river. In July Brant and GOO Indians cut off intercourse between Fort
Stanwix and German Flatts. On August 2 Brant attacked Canajo-
harie with 450 Indians, killing fourteen and taking half a hundred
captives. In September Brant visited the Schoharie valley with Sir
John Johnson and Cornplanter, the entire force numbering 1,500.
They attacked the Middleburgh Fort, but were unable to take it. On
both sides of the Mohawk they ravaged the country. The home of
Jelles Fonda at Palatine worth $65,000 was burned. Fonda was
absent and his wife made her way to Schenectady on foot, twenty-
six miles.
On October 19, 1780, Sir John sent a force to attack Fort Paris,
HISTORICAL NOTES
a stockkaded store at Stone Arabia. Because of the ravages of the
Indians and Tories Gen. Robt. Van Rensselear was dispatched with
companies from Claverack, Albany, and Schenectady, to the relief of
the settlers. Gov. Clinton was with the expedition. Capt Robt.
McKean, having joined the Van Rensselaer force, urged the com-
mander to hasten up the valley, but the general seemed bound to de-
lay his march. On the evening before the battle Van Rensselaer's
force, with two hundred Oneidas encamped on a hill near the Stanton
place in the present town of Florida, less than fifteen miles of John-
son's camp (Sprakers). Van Rensselaer had sent word to Col. John
Brown stationed at Fort Paris to engage the enemy at the front and
he would fall on their rear. In the Burgoyne campaign Col. Brown
had liberated a hundred American soldiers and made prisoners of
three hundred of the enemy. Van Rensselaer's forces (1,500) twice
that of the enemy, reached Sprakers just after Johnson's forces had
crossed. Col. Brown, relying on Van Rensselaer's word, started out
to engage the foe. He brot along the message sent him by Van
Rensselaer, but before entering the battle sent it back to the fort. This
message was not found after the battle. So sure was he of the rear
attack that he had covered two-thirds of the distance to the river
before he met the enemy. Van Rensselaer could see the smoke and
hear the noise of the battle, yet he refused to cross. McKean (who
had challenged Brant to fight alone or with an equal number of men,
and was refused by the Mohawk) begged Van Rensselaer to let him
and Lt. Louis the Indian commander of the Oneidas under McKean
to cross, but they were refused.
When, however, they heard of Col. Brown's death, and knowing
the enemy were exhausted by their long march and fiendish labors,
Capt. McKean with his eighty Oneidas and Lt. Col. Louis, the Oneida
chief, rushed their forces in pursuit across the river, only to be re-
called by Van Rensselaer, who ordered a halt while he went off to
Fort Plain to have dinner with Gov. Clinton. He did not return until
four in the afternoon and then began a tedious crossing of the river
by means of wagons. Col. William Harper remonstrated with the
general and Lt. Louis shook his sword in his face and denounced him
as a Tory. It was later discovered that the forces of Sir John were
utterly fatigued and were expecting to surrender to the fresh troops
of Gen. Van Rensselaer, whose relationship to Sir John Johnson was
said to be the reason for the cowardice if not treachery displayed.
Col. Brown and some thirty of his men lost their lives. Capt. Cassel-
man urged the Colonel to keep his force under cover as the Indians
were, but Brown was impetuous and relied on the rear attack and
pushed forward. After the enemy had left the field Joseph and Con-
rad Spraker, Warner Dygert and William Waffles returned to the
scene and found Col. Brown's body and those of his soldiers, naked
and scalped. They were buried in a trench beside an immense
boulder (now suitably marked) behind which they had fought. Later
the body of the Colonel was reinterred in the Reformed church burying
ground, and on October 19, 1836, the fifty-sixth anniversary of the
battle, a monument was erected by his son over the spot. Rev. Abram
Van Home of Caughnawaga preached the sermon, and an address was
given by Attorney Garret L. Roof of Canajoharie. In October, 1915,
the Fort Rensselaer Chapter D. A. R. of Canajoharie, aided by some
of Col. Brown's descendants, repaired the monument and en-
183
HISTORICAL NOTES
circled it with an iron fence. Col Brown is also remem-
bered as the brave accuser of Benedict Arnold, against
whom he had repeatedly made charges, both to the commander of the
American army as well as to Congress. Three years before the West
Point affair Brown had publicly posted fresh charges against him,
among them this — '"Money is this man's God, and to get it he would
even sacrifice his country." After the battle the enemy scattered, de-
vastating the country on all sides. Van Rensselaer crossed the river
at Fort Plain and overtook the enemy on the north side above St.
Johnsville near Klock's block house. Johnson retreated to a point
of land jutting out into the river. Col Harper and Col. Du Boise
urged an immediate attack but Van Rensselaer refused and the enemy
moved out during the night at their leisure. Capt. Duncan of John-
son's forces, after the war, while visiting at Schenectady, said that
the officers under Johnson had made all preparations for surrender,
but Gen. Van Rensselaer gave them no chance to capitulate. Gen.
Van Rensselaer was court martialed in March, 1781, for his action
but was acquitted because of conflicting testimony. Washington
wrote the Continental Congress that this raid was planned by the
Johnsons and Brants in the belief that Arnold would succeed at West
Point, of whose plans the enemy probably knew. The wonder is if
either Johnson knew at the time that Arnold had failed or if Brown
knew of the treachery of his former commander and consistent
enemy.
Revolutionary Residences Now in the Mohav>l? Valley
The primitive homes in the Valley of the Mohawk were the
conventional log structures, made from the woods of the virgin
forests, in which they were built and barren of the comforts or
conveniences of the modern house. Once the land was cleared and
a bit of prosperity had come thro trade the settlers began to build
better houses, of brick, or frame, or stone, and usually patterned
them after the homeland dwellings. This note deals very briefly
with those residences built before or during the Revolution that are
still extant.
Mount Johnson, called Fort Johnson after it was stockaded in
17M, was built by William Johnson in 174:2. In its day it was a
magnificent building, and the years since have but added to its solid
dignity and grandeur. Constructed of stone, with broad and straight
architectural lines, and of massive material, it is today the proud
possession of 1®!/ Montgomery Historical Society. About a mile east
of Fort Johnson Sir William built in 1766 what is now known as
Guy Park Mansion, a home for his daughter, Mary, the wife of his
nephew, Guy Johnson. The land attached to it, a mile square, was
part of the Hoofe Patent, granted in 1727. It was built of wood,
originally, but rebuilt, after a fire, of stone. In construction it is
similar to the baronial hall at Fort Johnson, with its irregular blocks
of limestone, massive walls and timbers, deep recessed windows, wide
halls, spacious rooms and broad starcases.
The General Herkimer home in the town of Danube was built
about 1700. It has lately been purchased by New York State and
thoroly renovated and in the repair strict accuracy has been main-
184
HISTORICAL NOTES
tained of the original dwelling. It is characteristically colonial.
There are five fireplaces of Holland brick, quaint mahogany stair
rails and newel posts, floors of wide boards that have been trod for
a century and a half, deep window-seats, broad piazzas, stately halls
and rooms, spacious attic and large stone-floored cellars.
In the town of Palatine is the stone house built by John Peter
Wagner, to whose family reference is made in the Ephratah church
history. Not far away is Fort House, built about the same time
(1750) by Christian House. Fort Ehle, near Fort Plain, was built
in two parts, first the small stone wing on the west, then the larger
addition on the east. The west end was built by Rev. John Jacob - .
Ehle and for many years was the mission house. The other part was^*^
fett+k which' became the home of Dr. John Cochran, a surgeon general
in the Revolutionary War. Much of the fine mahogany furniture
that once adorned this home was given to Dr. Cochran by General
Washington who had used it in his Newburgh headquarters. On
the Sand Flats beyond Fonda is the old Dockstader house, first
built as an inn. It is on the Indian trail leading to Stone Arabia, and
has the double Dutch doors and beamed ceilings. Dockstader was a
Tory.
Johnson Hall in Johnstown was built by Sir William Johnson in
17G3 and was the baronet's home for the last decade of his life. Two
stone block houses were built nearby. The Hall is of frame con-
struction, rooms wainscotted with much decoration, mahogany balus-
trades, one rail of which is scarified by hatchet-marks, signs of safety
in that day to the Indian, broad halls and large rooms, and great
cellars where, originally, the horses were stabled. The building is
owned by New York State. Another old house in Johnstown is the
Drumm home, built for the schoolmaster by Sir William Johnson. It
was not, however, the first public school in the province, as some
assert, since some years before Rev. Jonas Michaelius came to New
Amsterdam (1628), a school system was established, which has been
continuous thro three centuries and is now known as the Collegiate
Institute of New York City. An old house not far from Johnstown
is called the "Black Horse Tavern." For a great many years the
Yauney's conducted a tavern here. It is referred to in the Ephratah
church history.
The square gambrel roofed Glen-Sanders house was built in 1713,
its predecessor of 1659, the first house built north of the Mohawk
west of Schenectady, having been rendered untenable by the en-
croaching Mohawk. The present house is well preserved and con-
tains many relics of the past, and is visited by hosts of people every
year. Lofty ceilings, large rooms, spacious attic and cellar, extra
thick stone walls, massive dove-tailed timbers, and many other re-
minders of olden days are present. The Abraham Yates house,
Schenectady, on Union street near the First Dutch church, dates
back to about 1730. Probably at first of frame construction it was
later brick fronted, and additions built on. There are several other
houses in and about Schenectady, built prior to and during the
Revolution which have been modernized, as the old home of Gov.
Yates, at 26 Front street, now occupied by Alonzo P. Walton.
The Mabie house was built on the south bank of the Mohawk,
seven miles above Schenectady, sometime before 1706 — perhaps as
early as 1670. Constructed of heavy stones taken from the neighbor-
HISTORICAL NOTES
ing hillside from which rose the peaked roof of Dutch architecture.
The heavy floor of the attic forms a planed ceiling for the second
story. The Brant house, near the Schenectady Pumping Station
is given the date of 1736, but is probably older, and is built of brick,
the latter being laid in characteristically Dutch style. The Schermer-
horn house in Rotterdam has been occupied by the same family and
their descendants for two hundred and fifty years. The Van Guysling
frame house in Rotterdam dates back to 1664, making it the oldest
house in the Valley, while the Johannes Peek house was built in 1711.
The Queen Anne parsonage goes back to 1712 and is built of rough
stone two stories high. The Butler house on Switzer Hill, a mile
from Fonda, was built in 1743 by Walter Butler, father of Col. John
Butler, father of Walter Butler. It is built of oak and has the usual
broad dimensions.
The General William North residence at Duanesburgh was built
in 1784. His wife was Mary Duane, daughter of Judge Duane, who
gave her a thousand acres. Hereon a splendid mansion was built,
the native woods, pine and maple and birch being used. Here noted
men frequently met among whom were Baron Steuben, whose aide
General North was. The later Duane Mansion, built at the close of
the eighteenth century, was the meeting place of Lafayette, Webster,
Madison, Jay, Jackson, Calhoun, Joseph the King of Spain, and his
brother, Jerome Bonaparte. The Duanesburgh Episcopal church,
built by Judge Duane, is the oldest church edifice of that denomina-
tion in New York state. The old stone house near Palatine Bridge,
where Major John Frey was born, was built in 1740 and later
palisaded and garrisoned.
<8>
186
Arendt Van Curler
Arendt Van Curler was one of the earliest Europeans to visit
the valley of the Mohawk, and had the confidence and respect of the
Indian, as perhaps no one else, not even Sir William Johnson, ever
held. So great was the regard of the Indian for him that we find
them addressing the Governors of New York as "Corlaers" long after
his death. The Iroquois word "Kora" comes from Corlaer, a term
applied to the Dutch Governors of Orange and New Amsterdam, and
to the English Governors of Albany and New York, and to all the
Governors of New England, The Mohawks of Canada still refer to the
Governor-general as "Corl," and they were accustomed to speak of
Queen Victoria as "Kora-Kowa," i. e. the "great Corlaer." Van
Curler came to America in 1638 as an agent for his cousin, Kilian
Van Rensselaer, who, tho he owned some seven hundred thousand
acres of land, including all of Albany, and most of Columbia and
Rensselaer counties, and considerable in the Black River country,
never left his home in the Netherlands That this Van Rensselaer
manor was the only successful of the several manors laid out was
due to the genius of Van Curler, born of noble blood, a sterling
character, of great strength, physical and mental, and of a high morrl
nature all of which combined to win him the love of the civilized
European as well of the uncivilized Indian. There were three
Van Curlers, the least important one being immortalized by
Washington Irving — a Jacobus Van Curler, a New Netherlands
school master, and Arendt. It was Van Curler's broad states-
manship and his practical common sense wisdom that won
him the esteem of the Iroquois, the most powerful con-
federacy of Indians over known; it was his high ideals of peace and
friendship that acted as a defense against French aggression, it was
the Dutch blood coursing in his veins that led the colonists finally
to liberty and self-government, and away forever from the French
ideals and traditions; it was Van Curler who prevented the French
from Sver possessing the Hudson and Mohawk valleys, gateways
alike to the ocean and the great west. Van Curler was a true
humanitarian. He was opposed to the feudal system imposed on all
land sales by the Van Rensselaers. In 1642 he leaves Albany and goes
as far west as Fonda — apparently to save the French Jesuits who
were marked for martyrdom by the fierce Mohawks. And he suc-
ceeded. In his letter to the patroon, June 16, 1643, he describes the
Valley of the Mohawk as "the fairest land the eyes of man ever
rested upon." In July 1661 he bought a great tract of land of the
Mohawks and founded the present city of Schenectady. In 1667,
while crossing Lake Champlain to visit Gov. Tracy of Canada, he
was drowned. His widow continued to live in Schenectady until her
death in 1675.
187
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
Sir William Johnson — Bart
Sir William Johnson,
the son of Christopher
and Anna Warren John-
son, was born in the
county of Meath, Ireland,
in \1\ST At the age of
twenty he came to Ameri-
ca to act as an agent for
his uncle, Peter Warren.
Admiral Warren had
married the daughter of
Stephen De Lancey, a
wealthy aristocrat of the
provincial metropolis, and
built there a new home,
now known as No. 1
Broadway, later the head-
quarters of Generals
Howe, Clinton and Carle-
ton. It was from this
home that Major Andre
set out on his mission to
aid Arnold, with whom he
had been intimate for
years, to consummate his
his treachery. At the time
of Johnson's coming Capt.
Warren had acquired
a title to a tract of fifteen thousand acres of land in the present town
of Florida (Montgomery Co.). In correspondence his uncle Peter
speaks of William as a wayward youth in the home land who is
being sent out to the new world in the hope that its experience will
discipline him. One of the elements, perhaps the chief one, that
called for this chastisement was his attachment to an Irish colleen
which met the serious objection of both his parents and his uncle.
Thus it happened that when the lad was ready to take up his new
work in America he left behind him in the port town of Drogheda a
broken-hearted girl, to whom, however, he pledged a sure return for
marriage. But the girl knew that it was to break up this alliance that
he was being sent away and instinctively she felt that they would
never see each other again. We shall see how this incident colored
the whole after life of William Johnson and gave him an unenviable
reputation among the settlers of those days. Soon after the arrival
of Johnson he was made the agent of the English government for the
Iroquois or Six Nations. This was in June, 1738, the birth year of
King George III. He began an extensive fur trade with the Indians
and in various ways secured large tracts of land. He adopted not a
few of the customs of the Mohawks, learned their language, and in
1746, was formally adopted into the tribe and given the title, Wa-ra-
i-ya-ge, — i. e. "chief director of affairs." While advancing his own
personal interests he kept the Amerind loyal to the English cause.
His alliances, first with Caroline Hendrick, daughter of "King" Hen-
188
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
drick, and later with Molly Brant, sister of Joseph Brant the noted
Indian leader, and his intimacy with many of the wives of the chiefs
of the various tribes, gave him increasing power over the Red men,
and until his death made his name a tower of strength and influence
in the valley in the dealings of the Indians with the white settlers and
in their relations to the home government.
Johnson's first settlement in the new world was on the land of
his uncle, to which he gave the name of Warren's Bush. This settle-
ment was about half a mile below what is now (south) Amsterdam,
and as late as 1795 was known as "Johnson's Settlement." Johnson
lived there five years and here his first son, John, was born. A plan
was devised whereby a homestead was to be given to the first five
hundred families emigrating from Europe. In the first five years he
had disposed of more than two-thirds of all his uncle's holdings, these
being on the south side of the Mohawk and west of Schenectady. It
was while Johnson was settled at Warren's Bush that his alliance with
Catherine Weisenberg began. Two miles below Johnson's store was
a tavern kept by Alexander and Hamilton Phillips at what is now
called Phillips' Locks. The Groat brothers (cf Amsterdam) were
living on the north side of the river at what is now Cranesville
("Adriutha"). Simms the historian of the Mohawk and Schoharie
valleys gets his information from persons who were very close to
these occurrences, indeed witnesses of much that he narrates, hence
their historic credibility and authenticity. He says that Lewis Groat
suggested the desirability of marriage to William Johnson, but the
latter said that he wanted to marry a girl in the old country, but his
folks prevented it. He had determined that he would never marry,
but, he added, that he proposed to raise a numerous progeny. Even
if one doubts the conversation there is an abundance of evidence to
prove that Johnson carried out the spirit of this determination.
Johnson's first mesalliance was with Catherine Weisenberg, a
"High Dutch" girl, then a Palatine orphan, whom he had met at the
Phillips' tavern. Her passage money had been paid by Alexander
Phillips, to whom she was bound out by the captain of the sailing
vessel for a term sufficient to meet this indebtedness. It was a com-
mon custom of the time. Phillips protested against giving up the
girl but Johnson finally won out, paid the passage money, and took
her to his settlement to be his housekeeper. One historian says
Catherine was the daughter of Rev. Jacob Weisenberg, a Lutheran
pastor at Schenectady, who was appointed by Governor Clinton
in 1745, an Indian commissioner. It is said that the baronet
availed himself of the Iroquois custom, still prevalent among
certain Mexican tribes, of allotting to distinguished visitors their
choice of maiden or squaw during their stay among the tribe. Hence
William Johnson in the years raised up a numerous progeny among
the Indian women, who were proud of the honor thus bestowed up-
on them. This policy was the practice of the French colonists, urged
on them by the French King. It is a significant fact that while the
men friends of Sir William Johnson frequently called on him at Fort
Johnson and Johnson Hall the women acquaintances and the wives
of the men mentioned seldom if ever went to his home, owing to this
well known unmoral attitude of the Indian commissioner. In 1743
Johnson bought a large tract of land upon the north-west bank of the
Mohawk on both sides of the Kayaderosseros creek. In 1742 he built
189
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
a grist mill and the stone house now called Fort Johnson, the first
colonial mansion in New York state. He had brot sixty Scotch-
Irish families to this estate, all Romanists, and had settled them in
Perth, Broadalbin, Galway, and Johnstown. It was from these
families that Sir John Johnson, after the death of Sir William, re-
cruited his body-guard of one hundred and fifty at Johnson Hall. In
1745 the baronet was importing breeding horses and stock; in 1746
he was shipping flour to the West Indies, and was the largest slave
holder in the Province. In 1769, five years before his death, the crown,
on the request of Sir William, gave him what is called, the "Royal
Grant," an estate of sixty thousand acres of land, the tract extending
between East and West Canada creeks, on the north side of the Mo-
hawk. It included the present site of Herkimer and Little Falls. The
tradition of Johnson securing this land from "King" Hendrick thro
dreams is as fascinating as it is fanciful. Sir William was always keen
on futures, both for himself and his families, and he had a lot of folks
to remember in his will, and wanted his property and lands to go
around.
Sir William's first residence on the north side of the river was at
what is now Fort Johnson. Because of certain grants of land by
Ethan Akin to the N. Y. C. H. R. R. the place for many years was
called Fort Akin but in 1912 this was changed to Fort Johnson. The
old baronial home has now for several years been the headquarters
of the Montgomery County Historical Society. East of Fort Johnson,
or "Mount Johnson" as it was first called, Sir William built a two
story stone house for his daughter Mary (born in 1744) who married
her cousin, Guy Johnson, a nephew of Sir William. And about midway
between this residence and his own home he built another house for
his daughter Nancy Anne (born 1740), who married Col. Daniel
Claus. There was a tract of land about a mile square attached to
each of these two residences.
Mrs. Nancy Claus went to Canada in 1776 and died there
soon afterwards. A child of this marriage, Mary, married Lord
Clyde, better known as Sir' Colin Campbell of British fame, whose
Highlanders raised the seige of Lucknow. When Sir William re-
moved to Johnstown, named for Sir William's oldest son, in 1763, he
left his son, John Johnson, in the home at Mount Johnson. The
Johnson family were to all intents and purposes the ruling family of
the valley of the Mohawk, living as aristocratic nobles, surrounded
by a sort of feudal system borrowed from the old world, but ex-
ceedingly offensive to the liberty loving German and Dutch settlers.
An estate of two hundred thousand acres, the largest in the world
at the time, was not in accord with the growing spirit of democracy
in the new world. The house Sir William built for Mrs. Claus was
soon afterwards accidentally destroyed by fire, but the Guy Johnson
house, Fort Johnson, and Johnson Hall at Johnstown are well pre-
served. The last was built in 1763. Of the alliance of Sir William
with Catherine Weisenberg, three children were born, Mary (Mrs.
Guy Johnson), Nancy (Mrs. Claus), and John Johnson (born in 1742),
Mrs. Grant, to whose work we have referred in the article on the Pala-
tines, visited the home of Sir William Johnson, and writes most in-
terestingly of the life at Mount Johnson, especially emphasizing the-
strict seclusion under which these first daughters were kept. John John-
son was born Nov. 5, 1742. The mother, Catherine Weisenberg, died in
190
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
1745, and was buried near the baronet's house at Fort Johnson, tho
in later years the grave was completely lost track of. There is no
extant evidence that Sir William Johnson was ever married — to this
woman, or to Molly Brant, whom he refers to even in his will as a
"housekeeper," or to Caroline Hendrick (niece of King Hendrick)
or to any of the others who bore him children. His son, John John-
son, was knighted a year or more before his father's death, and at the
personal solicitation of the father who must have known that the
question of legitimacy might have thwarted this honor after the
decease of the baronet. And, again, we have too keen a respect for
the ability and shrewdness of Mollie Brant to believe that if she were
the lawful wife of Sir William, as some writers assert, that she would
have allowed herself and her eight children to be driven back to the
savage conditions of her Indian tribe.
Besides these homes we have mentioned Sir William also had
others on his great estate, one at what is now known as the Fish House
(Fulton County) a woody summer resort under the care of
the two Wormwood women. Another home, with its attendant fur-
nishing was built at Broadalbin. Caroline Hendrick, to whom refer-
ence has been made, died in 1752, and Molly Brant was then brot to
Mount Johnson to care for Caroline's three children. One of these,
William of Canajoharie, whose Indian name was Teg-che-un-to, and
who was killed at the Battle of Oriskany, is mentioned in the baronet's
will. Two daughters, Charlotte and Caroline, had already received
their dowry at their marriage. Charlotte married Henry Randall, a
young British officer who, later joined the Continentals and fell at
the Battle of Monmouth. Caroline married Michael Byrne, who
clerked for Sir William. He was one of Butler's Rangers and was
killed at Oriskany. His widow married Mr. McKin, a Canadian
Indian agent. Francis Parkman, the eminent historian, refers to an
alliance that Sir William had with one Eleanor Wallaslous, but does
not quote any authority. The marriage of Sir William Johnson Bart
to Elizabeth Cleland on March 10, 1757, published in the "Gentleman's
Magazine" and the "London Magazine" in 1757, refers to another
family of another name. Molly Brant the "tribal wife" of Sir William
went to Fort Johnson in 1752 and lived with Sir William until the
time of his death in 1774. She was the half-breed step-daughter of
"Nickus Brant," at whose place Johnson always stopped when visiting
Canajoharie. Her mother was a Mohawk squaw. Jared Sparks the
noted historian of the Revolution, and other annalists say that Joseph
Brant was the natural son of Sir William by this Mohawk squaw,
which might account for the baronet's faithful attention to Joseph.
It is a singular commentary on the influence of this baronial home
that after so long a period of contact with the best that there was in
that day in the valley, Molly Brant, the close companion of the
baronet, and her halfbreeds all reverted to savagery, except possibly
one son, Peter. The mother died in Canada in 1805. In 1757 because
of his part in the battle of Lake George wherein the French were de-
feated, Sir William was knighted and given a reward of five thousand
pounds Sterling. Johnson was also in command at the fall of Fort
Niagara in 1759, and in the surrender of Canada in 1760 he led a thous-
and Iroquois against Montreal. Johnson was vigorous of body and
fertile of mind, tho coarse in conduct and unmoral in action. He
made the most of an opportune period and quickly rose from the
191
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
ranks to be commander of the army, and from colonist to
baronet. Almost invariably the histories of the valley refer to his
generosity toward all Christian work. Up to the time of his death
he seems to have been the prime mover in every religious undertaking
of the valley, no matter what the denomination. This is what the
books say and later writers who follow the books. Doubtless he did
a great deal toward establishing his own communion, the Church of
England. But amid all the lists of donors to the erection of the Dutch
churches, as at German Flatts, Herkimer, Stone Arabia, St. Johnsville,
Fonda, Manheim — enterprises of his day, we have never seen his name,
tho these lists contain many of the names of the settlers of the Mo-'
hawk and Schoharie valleys. And it was natural that he should
favor his own church, the Church of England, whose ministry and
membership in their entirety were inimical to the colonists in theirr
struggle for Independence, and whose persistent and seditious efforts
to establish a foreign hierarchy in America precipitated the American
Revolution. When Queens College (Rutgers) was founded by royal
charter in 1766 upon the petition of the ministers and members of the
Reformed Dutch church in America, Sir William Johnson, represent-'1
ing the interests of England, was made one of the forty-one directors,
the Governor, Chief-Justice, and Attorney General of the New Jersey
Province, heading the list. The college buildings constructed were
burned by the British in 1778. Johnson's correspondence shows that,
in £h e- -b-e g-i n niag— . at-4^»st he was in league with England's policy of<
6Mfcfc^T7iJnatinff-t4ie_ 1 i)-iP,P^y=rh-rsziiig r rd^rrr^K^txL-j4n-' Mnl i J ml -j/ allay In
1746 Capt. Warren Johnson of the Royal Army, the baronet's brother,
visited him at Fort Johnson, bearing important message from General
Clinton. On March IS, 1747, William Johnson wrote Gov. Clinton,
complaining that the government was likely to ruin him for lack of
blankets, and paints, and guns and cutlasses, commodoties promised
their copper colored allies who were bringing in prisoners and all
sorts of scalps to Mount Johnson. In May, 1747, he writes of the
youth, Walter Butler's successful scalping expedition. He refers
to a party of six Mohawks who had just brot in seven prisoners and
three scalps and adds "this is very good for so small a party." Fort
Johnson in those days must have afforded a gruesome sight with its
walls plastered with the scalps of the men, women, and children of
the valley. Johnson, European and Mohawk, colonist and baronet,
was also the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of pre-Revolutionary times.
Sir William Johnson died at Johnston Hall, Johnstown, on July
11, 1774. The troubles between the Colonists and the Indians and
between the Colonists and the mother country were beginning to tell
upon him. We credit him with prophetic vision, for he must have
seen the clouds of conflict gathering; he must have been keenly
alive to what would happen when the savages were once unfetterd;
he knew only too well the determination of the colonists, the liberty-
loving Dutch, and the Palatines with half a century of unjust oppres-
sion behind them in the valleys of the "Schorie" and "Mohaque," he
doubtless felt that England would play a losing game with the In-
dependents; he had received lavish gifts of gold and honor from his
mother land, and at the same time, had cemented here in the valley
privileged fellowship with these hardy pioneers who represented him
and were guided and helped by his never failing counsels. The year
before his death he had been to England and he knew the mind of
192
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
the ministry there, or, at least, he knew the plans of those who would
have charge of the war, if the conflict once came. In vision fearful
he saw the slaughtered tribes of Red men, the devastated homes of
the settlers, all of whom were his friends. Was there a premonition
of his death in the reported conversation with John B. Van Epps of
Schenectady, or Lewis Groat of Cranesville, or Mr. Campbell, to
whom it is said he remarked in some such words as these — "I see
the conflict coming, but I will never live to see it." On the day of
his death he was attending the Tryon county court at Johnstown. He
was wearied with the conferences he had held with the Indians. A
package of personal correspondence had just come from England.
He took it, left the court room, went to his home, and in an hour or
so Sir William Johnson, Baronet, was dead. What choice he would
have made in the impending struggle — between his beloved England
and his beloved friends, the latter both Colonists and Iroquois, is
only conjectural. His last word was spoken in the Mohawk tongue to
Brant, "Joseph, control your people, I'm going away."
Sir William Johnson was buried a few days later beneath the
altar of the stone church at Johnstown which he had caused to be
erected in 17G4. The body was first placed in a mahogany casket, then
sealed in a lead container. During the Revolution this lead covering
was removed and run into bullets. Campbell says that the body was
taken up in 1806 and the "bones re-interred," but he does not say
why this was done. But we know that there was a time in the early
years of the past century when St. John's church was much neglected
and falling into ruins. The church, after the Revolution had been
used by the Presbyterians, except for eight Sundays in each year,
when the Episcopalians might hold worship therein. The boys of the
day found their way into the building and one tells how they used to
get into the vault where they would read the brass-nailed inscription
on the casket of Sir William, and when the waters of the Cayadutta
broke their bounds and overflowed into the vault they watched the
casket floating around.
In the fire of 1836 when the church was destroyed they re-cased the
body before a second (or third) burial, but hung the coffin-lid with its
brass inscription in the chancel. In the second fire, which burned out
the church interior, this was consumed. When the church was re-
built after the fire of 1836, the vault was without the edifice, and it
was not until 1862 that it was discovered, and the bones again in-
terred with a monument marking the spot. We do not know in all
American history such an illustration of the complete overthrow in
so short a time of the great ambitions, and the well-laid plans, and
the consummate skill that was embodied in the establishment of a
magnificient kingdom in this New World under the leadership of Sir
William Johnson. Within a few months the vision splendid, which
had a most substantial basis of fact, had crumbled into dust. The
world's greatest honors were his, untold wealth, a land-kingdom of a
hundred and seventy thousand acres, houses of stability that are still
with us after a century and a half, the men of the old and new worlds,
his friends and admirers. Studiously, prophetically he devised this
vast estate, binding all the heirs that it should remain intact. But
in a short time the eldest son is an exile and an object of infamy, while
today instead of the boundless feudal kingdom there is a great free
State with a multitude of farms, and villages, towns, and cities. Not
193
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
much more than a name remains to recall the story, while the in-
fluence of the lives of the men and women who loved God first and
liberty afterwards still abides in the increasing devotion of their de-
scendants to God and Home and Native Land.
Sir John Johnson
Sir John Johnson, the eldest son and heir of Sir William John-
son and Catherine Weisenberg, was born at Warrenbush, November
5, 1742, and died at the age of eighty-eight at Montreal, January 4,
1830. He is referred to elsewhere in this history under Sir William
Johnson, Border Wars, Iroquois, etc. When Sir William left Mount
Johnson in 1763 to found Johnstown, named after the heir, Sir John
took up his residence at what is now called Fort Johnson. The
mistress of this baronial mansion for a decade was the beautiful Clara
Putman of the Mohawk valley, by whom Sir John had several
children. Then a new love came into his life in the person of Mary
("Polly") Watts, the daughter of a wealthy New York Loyalist, and
forgetting his promise of marriage to Clara Putman he married Mary
Watts June 30, 1773, who died August 7, 1815. On his return to the
mansion Sir John had Clara Putman and her children removed, first
to the town of Florida, then to Schenectady, where it is said he bot
a home for her, and where she lived until 1840. At this time Sir John
held a Colonelcy in a Regt. of Horse in northern New York, and
afterwards served the King as Maj. General, and as Lieut. Colonel
of the "Royal Greens." Sir John and Mary Watts Johnson had eight
children — William (borne in 1775), who married Susan de Lancey;
Adam Gordon, who became a third baronet; James, Stephen, Robert,
Warren; John, who married Mary, the daughter of Richard Dillon of
Montreal; Charles Christopher, and Archibald Kennedy (born in
1792). Now and then writers have carelessly interchanged the names
and work of Sir John with those of Guy Johnson who married his
sister, Mary, and who became the Indian Agent on the death of Sir
William, and who was an irresponsible officer of the British Crown.
The life and character of Sir John are best revealed in the stirring
times prior to the Revolution, and during it, and in the Border Wars
after the Treaty of Peace had been signed, and in his alliance with
the Indians to annihilate the Colonists and devastate the Valley of
the Mohawk.
General Nicholas Herkimer
Herkimer House
Built in 1764
Gen. Nicholas Herkimer was the
foremost American in the Mohawk
Valley, if not in the Province of New
York, during the quarter-century pre-
ceding the signing of the Declaration
of Independence. He was the eldest
son of Johan Jost and Catherine Her-
kimer and was born, as were his
twelve brothers and sisters, in the
log house, built in 1721 by his father
when he settled at Burnetsfield.
Documentary proof is lacking as to
the racial ancestry of the Herkimers,
194
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
but the preponderance of opinion is that the General's father, Johan
Jost, and his grandfather, Jurgh (George) Herkimer emmigrated to
Holland from the Lower Palatinate, and came to America in 1710, and
to the present Fort Herkimer in 1721. His first house was of logs,
just east of the village, but about 1740 a stone structure was built
about fifty rods west of the present Dutch Reformed church. It was
forty feet wide, seventy feet long, with walls two feet thick, two
stories, with steep roof covered with three foot long shingles. This
house was torn down about 1812, many of the stones being used in
the second story of the Fort Herkimer church which at that time was
enlarged. The earliest name of the place was Kouari (Oquari), a
Mohawk term for "bear." When the 1740 Herkimer house was forti-
fied (about 1756 when Sir William Johnson also fortified the church)
it was called Fort Kouari, later Fort Herkimer. The General Herki-
mer home (shown in illustration) was built in 1764. Here General
Herkimer died in 1777, aged fifty, ten days after the Battle of
Oriskany. His brother, Captain George Herkimer, and, after his
death in 1786, his widow, Alida Schuyler Herkimer and her sons,
Major John and Joseph Herkimer, lived in this house until 1817, in
which year it passed out the family. In 1914 it was bot by the
State of New York. In 1848 Warren Herkimer (son of Joseph), who
died at Janesville, Wis., in 1878, marked what he believed to be the
grave of Gen. Herkimer, and in 1896 an obelisk sixty feet high was
placed on the spot by the U. S. Government. Herkimer was the
personification of a fearless Independent, the living embodiment of
a sturdy American, the most prominent among the first contenders
of those democratic ideals that in time created out of the colonies a
Nation that today stands first among the world powers.
Joseph Brant
Joseph Brant was born about 1742, but
whether, as some historians say, on the
banks of the Ohio, a pure native Indian,
or at Canajoharie, where the mother of
Joseph and Mollie Brant lived, after the
death of her first husband in the west,
and where Sir William Johnson spent
much of his time, it is difficult to say.
Sparks and other annalists of that day
do not hesitate to attribute his birth to
Sir William Johnson, and refer to the un-
usual attachment and personal concern of
the baronet to the youth because of this
paternity. His Indian name was "Thay-en-da-ne-ge-a" which means
a "bundle of sticks," that is, "strength." An Indian named "Carrihoga"
had married the mother of Joseph, to whom the settlers gave the
name of Barent (Brant). Elsewhere Molly Brant is referred to as
the Mistress of Mount Johnson. Joseph was sent to the Indian
school of Dr. Eleazer Wheelock at Lebanon, Ct. (which ensued in
Dartmouth College) with the purpose of training him for a missionary
among the Mohawks. He served in this capacity for a few years
under Kirkland, who sought to get him to remain netural as the
195
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
Revolution approached. But Sir William Johnson's relationship and
influence overcame this. Joseph Brant visited England in 1775 and
1783, and entered into certain agreements with the Crown. He held
a Colonel's commission from the king. Brant married a daughter of
Colonel Croghan in 1779, the ceremony being performed by former
Justice of the Crown, John Butler, father of Walter Butler. An
Erie county town is called after him. He died November 24, 1807,
aged sixty-five. One of his sons was in the British army in the war
of 1812, and a daughter married W. J. Kerr of Niagara in 1824. He
lies buried in the Mohawk churchyard near Brantford, Can. After
Brant's death efforts were made to "better" his character, principally
because English aristocracy had feted him, the crown had honored
him, and, because he had not always killed. But such wanton murder
as that of Lieut. Wormed at Cherry Valley, an intimate friend of
Brant, whom the latter himself tomahawked, and many other like
incidents stand in the way of this.
Walter Butler
Walter Butler was the son of Colonel John Butler, a Justice
of the King's Court of Tryon. Both father and son held commissions
in the English army and were with St. Leger at Oriskany. The
Butler estate (old house still standing) included lands in the present
site of Fonda, upon which land the old Caughnawaga church was
built, which fact saved it from destruction in the October, 1780, raid.
Robert Chambers has given us in his "Cardigan" a graphic account
of the part played by Butler in the valley, whose name is the most
odious in all the history of the Mohawk and Schoharie country. He
outsavaged the savage in his diabolical treatment of all who were
not English. In his youthful scalping expeditions Sir. William John-
son in correspondence compliments him. After Oriskany he visited
German Flatts with fourteen Tories and tried to get the settlers there
to ally with the King. He was arrested, condemned to death as a
spy, imprisoned at Albany, and escaped later thro influence, and
reached Canada where he joined his father's regiment of "Butler's
Rangers." To Colonel Willet fell the privilege of ridding earth of
this incarnate fiend. On October 24, 1781, Willet set out from Fort
Rensselaer (near Fort Plain) for Fort Hunter, twenty miles distant,
in pursuit of the British force of 600 under Major Ross, and to
fight later the Battle of Johnstown. October 25, 1781. The enemy
were soon in flight, Willet pursuing them, Tories and Indians (500),
across West Canada Creek, north of Herkimer, where the stream
leaves Oneida county. Here Capt. Butler dismounted, and while in
the act of drinking, oblivious to the nearness of the American forces,
was shot by Anthony, a Mohawk. As the demon fell, the Indian
crossed the stream and fell upon his quarry, who plead for quarter.
Anthony, it is said, appealed to Col. Willet who signified that the
prisoner belonged to the Mohawk, who at once scalped Butler with
the promise of "Cherry Valley Quarter," and left the body to
be food for the wild beasts. Col. Willet, whose force rid
the valley of its scourge, lived to be ninety years old, and died
on the anniversary of the Battle of Johnstown, August 22, 1830. The
body was encased in a coffin made of woods which the Colonel had
gathered from Revolutionary battlefields.
196
In the gathering of material for these Ecclesiastical Studies of
the Montgomery Classis churches we have consulted the Clerk's
Records of the counties in which they are situated in order to verify
incorporation dates and secure other data of interest. The published
County Histories insofar as they refer to the Reformed churches
have been read. The Minutes of the Coetus and Conferentie, pre-
decessors of the General Synod, and the Minutes (printed) of both
General and the Particular Synod of Abany to date were examined.
Most of the churches now in Classis have had their records carefully
read, and in a few cases we have read historical sermons based upon
these records. In the case of the extinct or merged churches we
obtained information from the men who formerly served these
churches or from the oldest members. Other works or records which
have been examined in the preparation of this history are as follows:
"Annals of Tryon County" (Campbell, 1831); "Biographical Records"
Auburn, New Brunswick, Princeton, and Union Seminaries; Union
College "Alumni Record"; Minutes of General Assembly of Presby-
terian Church; "Documentary History of New York State" (-1 vols.);
"Ecclesiastical Records" of New York State (6 vols., 1901-1905);
"Geographical History of New York" (Mather, 1851); "History of
Schenectady County" (Pearson, 1883); "History of Schenectady
County" (Halsey, 1887); "History of New York State" (Macauley,
3 vols., 1829); "In the Mohawk Valley" (Reid, 1901); "Old Fort
Johnson" (Reid 1906); "Indian Names in New York" (Beauchamp,
1894); "Manual of the Reformed Church" (Corwin, 1869, 1879, 1902);
"Old New York Frontier" (Halsey, 1902); "Joseph Brant" (Stone,
1838); "History of Schoharie County" and "New York Border Wars"
(Simms, 1845); "The Frontiersmen" (Simms, 1878); "Committee of
Safety Minute Book of Tryon County" (1905); "Story of the Pala-
tines" (Cobb, 1897); "Fathers of the Reformed Church" (Harbaugh,
2 vols., 1854); "History of New York" (Smith 2 vols., 1814); "History
of an American Lady" (Mrs. Grant, 1808, London); "History of the
New York Iroquois" (Beauchamp, 1905); "Gazeteer of Mohawk
Valley" (Childs, 1869); "Mohawk Genealogy" (Reynolds, 4 vols.,
1911); "Delaware County and New York Border Wars" (Jay Gould,
1856); "Eminent Americans" (Lossing, 1855); "Van Curler's Journal"
(Wilson); "Greycelaer a Mohawk Romance" (Hoffman, 2 vols., 1840);
"Colonial New York" (Schuyler, 1885); "Sir William Johnson and the
Six Nations" (Griffis, 1891); "The Hudson River" (Bacon, 1903);
"Onondaga" (Clark, 2 vols., 1849); "Colonial Period" (Andrews, 1912);
"Colonial Homesteads" (Harland, 2 vols., 1899). Articles in Nation,
Harpers, Century, Lippincott, bearing on the Mohawk valley, etc.
197
ADDENDA
The beginning of the work at Currytown is uncertain.
The 1796 organization, tho recorded at Fonda, is not
mentioned in Classis record. The present church was in-
corporated May 7, 1806, and the land deeds bear this date,
but were not recorded until April 18, 1849. On January
29, 1811, the churches at Sprakers and Mapletown com-
plained to Classis that Currytown had "ceceded" from
them and formed a separate congregation. Currytown
was received into the Classis May 31, 1814. The Tryon
County Committee of Safety Records show thirty-one
meetings, fourteen of which were held at the Gosen
Van Alstyne stockaded house at Canajoharie, the present
home of the Fort Rensselaer Club. H. B. Stryker, a
licentiate, was a missionary of the Classis at Athol, Cald-
well, Johnsburgh and Warrensburgh, in Warren county,
in 18^2 and 1823.
Page 18, line 51, read "descendant"; page 27, line 8,
read "Robert" for "Harvey"; page 28, line 28, read
"taken"; page 30, line 28, read "1796"; page 44, line 34,
read "log"; page 105, line 41, read "proved"; page 107,
line 39, read "1885"; page 117, line 25, read "True"; page
149, line 10, read "1760-1765"; page 149, line 26, add Pater-
son, N. J.; page 152, line 12, read "Cincinnati, O." for
"Auburn, N. Y."; page 158, line 39, read "Auburn"; page
164, line 12, omit ????; page 164, foot note, read "story";
page 185, line 12, reads: "The other part was built in 1756*-
by Peter Ehle. It is still owned by the Ehles. Before
the Revolution an old-fashioned square house within sight
of the Lutheran Stone church was built, which became
the home of Dr. John Cochran," etc.
m