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PAPERS 


READ  BEFORE  THE 


HERKIMER  COUNTY  HISTORICAL 

SOCIETY 


DURING  THE  YEARS 


J  896,  1897  AND  1898. 


COMPILED  BY  ARTHl'R  T.  SMITH, 

SECREi-vRY  OF  ^'  tl'^i  SOCVvVY. 


HERKIMER   AND   II.ION.    N.    V.: 

CITIZEN   PUm.ISHING   COMP\NY,    PUBLISHERS, 

1899. 


CONTENTS. 


1896  PAPERS. 

The  Career  of  Michael   Hoffman,  by  Geo.  W.  Smith          ...  5 

Life,  Character  and  Public   Services  of  John  Jay,  by  Frank  B.  Parkhurst  37 

The  First  Settlers  of  the  Mohawk  Valley,  by  Mary  Shepard  Warren  -  36 
Herkimer  and  lis  People  During  the  First  Thirty  Years  of  This  Century, 

Dy  Robert  Earl            ......--  44 

Herkimer  Seventy  Years  Ago,  by  Charles  Holt      ....  50 

Gen.  F.  E  Spinner's  First  Nomination  to  Congress,  by  Alexis  L.  Johnson  53 
Personal  Recollections  of  Herkimer  Village  Dating  Back  Nearly  Seventy 

Years,  by  Albert  L.  Howell              ■             -            -            -            -            -  56 

The    Mohawk   River   in    History,    by  Robert  Earl            ...  62 

History  of  Lotteries  in  the  State  of  New  York,  by  Robert  ^rl        -            -  69 

Buildings  in  Herkimer  Seventy  Years  Ago,  by  Jas.  A.  Suiter  -  -  78 
Reminiscences  Concerning  Several  Persons  Connected    With  Important 

Historical  Events,  by  Robert  Earl                -----  83 

A  Historical  Mistake  Corrected,  by  Robert  Earl      .            -            .            .  91 

John  Brown's  Tract,  by  Charles  E.  Snyder        -            -            ...  94 


1897  PAPERS. 

The  Royal  Grant,  by  Geo.  W.  Smith      .----.  7 

An  Outline  Sketch  of  the  History  of  Tryon  County,  by  Jno.  D.  Henderson  25 

Continental  Money,  by  Wm.  C.  Prescott            -----  33 

Herkimer  County  Geology  in  Primitive  Days,  by  Albert  L.  Howell        -  39 

Early  Navigation  of  the  Mohawk  River,  by  Rufus  A.  Grider             -  43 

Two  Prominent  Citizens  of  Herkimer  County,  by  Kobert  Earl      -            -  50 

Organic  History  of  the  Village  of  Herkimer,  by  Robert  Earl              -            -  55 

Andrew  Finck,  Major  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  by  Jno.  B.  Koetteritz  59 

Loss  of  Life  in  the  Revolutionary  and  Other  Wars,  by  Robert  Earl              -  74 

Ilion  and  the  Remingtons,  by  A.  N.  Russell          .            .            .            .  7(j 

Two  Historic  Houses  in  the  Mohawk  Valley,  by  Mrs.  M.  B.  Hedges              -  94 

-Slavery  in  the  Colony  and  State  of  New  York,  by  Robert  Earl                -  108 

Printing  and  its  Development  in  this  Country,  by  Jno.  L.  McMillan           -  115 

The  Mohawk  Turnpike,  by  Rufus  A.  Grider           ....  124 

Religion  in  the  Colony  of  New  York,  by  Robert  Earl               -            -            -  131 


1898  PAPERS. 

John  Jost  Herkimer,  by  Robert  Earl            .....  5 

The  Dutch  in  New  Netherlands,  by  John  D.  Henderson                      -            ■  9 

The  Town  of  Russia,  by  Jas.  N.  Walters                 ....  17 
The  Town  of  Schuyler  as  a  Factor  in  the  History  of  Herkimer  County,  by 

J.  H.  J.  Watkins 22 

Fragments  of  Norway's  Early  History,  by  Freti  Smith                 -            -  27 

Piracy  in  Its  Relation  to  the  Colony  of  New  York,  by  Robert  Earl              -  32 

John  Christian  Shell  and  his  Block  House,  by  Albert  L.  Howell             -  35 

Fort  Dayton,  by  Robert  Earl                    -            -            -            -            •            -  38 

The  Town  of  Danube  by  Edward  Simms                  ....  40 

Fort  Herkimer,  by  Robert  Earl               .-.-..  47 

The  Feeter  Family,  by  Jno.  B.  Koetteritz               -            -            -            -  50 

The  Mohawk  Valley  and  the  Palatines,  by  Robert  Earl           -            -            -  o7 

Newspapers  of  Herkimer  County,  by  Geo.  W.  Smith        ...  63 


THE  CAREER  OF  MICHAEL  HOFFMAN. 


AN   ADDRESS  BY  HON.    GEORGE  W.    SMITH, 
Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society  February  13,  1896. 


Among  the  public  men  of  Herkimer 
county  Michael  Hoffman  is  the  most 
striking  and  interesting  figure,  and  his- 
torically his  career  is  most  notable.  The 
impression  made  by  him  upon  the  legis- 
lation and  policy  of  the  state  was  mark- 
ed and  permanent.  His  was  the  leading 
and  constructive  mind  in  what  has  aptly 
been  called  the  Herkimer  school  of  poli- 
tics, as  it  was  known  prior  to  the  period 
that  preceded  the  breaking  out  of  our 
civil  war,  and  his  counsels  and  public 
action  swayed  largely,  and  sometimes 
decisively, the  policy  of  his  party  through- 
out the  state.  He  was  a  distinct  and 
strong  personality  in  the  galaxy  of  states- 
men in  which  Silas  Wiight,  Martin  Van 
Buren,  Preston  King,  Samuel  Young, 
and  in  this  county,  Arphaxed  Loomis, 
Abijah  Mann,  Nathaniel  S.  Benton,  Wil- 
liam C.  Grain,  Francis  E.  Spinner,  Abi- 
jah  Beckwith,  Alexander  H.  Buel,  F. 
P.  Bellinger,  Ezra  Graves,  Standish  Bar- 
ry, and  their  compatriots,  were  conspic- 
uous. 

Mr.  Hoffman  was  a  lawyer  of  learning, 
ability  and  force.  But  he  was  more. 
He  was  endowed  with  a  clear  sighted  in- 
tellect that  took  within  its  scope  and  cre- 
ative energy  important  public  interests, 
and  with  a  characteristic  eloquence  that 
was  displayed  upon  great  measures  of 
which  he  was  the  leading  advocate  in 
the  forum  of  public  affairs.  The  natural 
bent  of    his  mind    led  him  to  study  the 


organism  of  political  institutions  and  the 
philosophy  of  popular  government.  He 
regarded  existing  forms  not  as  finalities, 
but  as  expedients  for  securing  the  pres- 
ent welfare  of  the  state,  and  he  believed 
that  they  should  be  modified  and  re-con- 
stituted when  they  failed  to  meet  new 
exigencies,  and  when  new  abuses,  inci- 
dent to  the  exercise  of  all  delegated 
power  required  new  checks  and  safe- 
guards. He  was  a  radical  in  attacking 
the  measures  and  policies  which  he  re- 
garded as  dangerous  to  the  common 
weal,  and  conservative  in  his  defence  of 
the  whole  domain  of  popular  rights.  He 
appreciated  the  truth  that  no  political 
foresight  can  frame  political  institutions 
suited  to  all  the  varying  conditions  of 
social  and  political  growth,  and  that  the 
exertion  of  popular  power  must  from 
time  to  time  restrain  the  excesses  of  its 
delegated  power.  He  believed,  with  Bo- 
lingbroke,  that  the  virtues  and  essential 
spirit  of  popular  constitutions  must  be 
constantly  renewed  by  the  infusion  of 
new  elements.  His  political  action  took 
its  tone  from  his  appreciating  the  fact 
that  the  present  generation  is  ever  en- 
dowed with  the  true  antiquity,  that  it 
has  the  final  word  from  the  largest  expe- 
rience, and  is  therefore  constantly  charg- 
ed with  the  duty  of  providing  for  the 
present  and  the  future  exigencies  that 
arise  in  popular  government. 

His  field  of  action   was   more  strictlv 


political,  while  his  distinguished  co-la- 
borer, Arphaxed  Loomis,  devoted  his 
large  constructive  faculties,  not  only  to 
political  measures,  but  to  the  work  of 
legal  reform.  Mr.  Hoffman  saw  what  oth- 
ers were  more  slow  to  see,  that  the  pow- 
er of  the  agents  of  the  people  in  the  leg- 
islature needed  to  be  checked  and  along 
with  Mr.  Loomis  he  began  the  advocacy 
of  the  restraints  upon  the  legislative 
power  to  create  state  debts,  which  are 
now  regarded  as  indispensable  securities 
against  abuses  of  the  legislative  trust. 
But  for  the  reforms  these  men  initiated, 
tlie  property  of  the  taxpayers  would  be 
largely  at  the  disposal  of  a  lobby  at  Al- 
bany, and  the  schemes  of  gigantic  debt 
they  are  always  organized  to  promote. 
Others  may  have  perceived  that  the  peo- 
ple's representatives  could  not  be  safely 
intrusted  with  the  power  to  create  the 
mortgages  on  the  property  of  the  state 
which  organized  self-interest  might  seek 
to  impose,  but  those  Herkimer  states- 
men were  the  first  to  insist  that  these 
questions  should  be  decided  by  the  vote, 
the  ijlehiscitum  of  the  whole  people. 

Born  in  Saratoga  county  in  1787, 
Michael  Hoffman's  birth  was  nearly  co- 
eval with  that  of  the  Federal  constitu 
tion.  He  came  to  Herkimer  about  1816, 
and  became  the  law  partner  of  Aaron 
Hackly.  About  1819  he  went  to  Seneca 
county  and  was  appointed  district  at- 
torney in  1823,  and  he  held  the  same 
office  in  1836.  He  was  elected  in  1824 
to  the  19th  congress  and  re-elected  to  the 
20th,  21st  and  22nd  congresses.  In  the 
national  legislature  he  held  high  posi- 
tions in  standing  committees.  He  was 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  naval  af- 
fairs, and  distinguished  himself  by  able 
and  thorough  work  in  committee,  and 
by  his  efforts  in  debate  upon  questions 
involving  naval  affairs.  While  in  con- 
gress he  corresponded  largely  with  the 
late  Judge  Charles  Gray,  who  was  sever- 
al years  his  junior,  and  in  whose  train- 
ing and  career  he  took  a  special  interest. 
Some  of  his  letters  have  been  preserved 
and  they  throw  an  interesting  light  upon 
the  times  and  upon  the  writer's  solid  ba- 
sis of  character.  In  a  letter  dated  Janu- 
ary IG,  1826,  he  describes  his    surround- 


ings at  the  capitol.  After  an  apology  for 
delay  in  writing,  he  says  :  "I  entreat 
you  to  remember  and  commiserate  my 
unhappy  condition,  in  a  house  as  large 
as  six  barns,  in  a  crowd  of  two  hundred 
men,  behind  a  table  filled  with  unmean- 
ing papers,  hearing  resolutions  only  in- 
tended to  get  the  name  of  the  mover  into 
the  public  papers,  and  papers  asking  for 
everything  but  hanging,  and  that  I  am 
in  a  city  made  up,  as  has  been  said,  with 
more  truth  than  decency,  of  brick  kilns, 
bawdy  houses  and  magnificent  distances, 
relieved  now  and  then  by  a  decent  house 
and  saved  from  brimstone  by  many  res- 
pectable people." 

He  expresses  a  disability  to  discover 
the  drift  of  political  events,  a  problem  to 
many  another  in  that  formative  period 
in  which  the  older  republicanism  of  Ad- 
ams, Clay  and  Calhoun,  was  about  to  be 
confronted  and  assailed  by  the  newer 
and  more  aggressive  Republicanism  of 
the  Jacksonian  Democracy.  Of  the  poli- 
cy and  personality  of  John  Quincy  Ad- 
ams, then  president,  he  wrote  :  "I  can 
only  guess  the  future,  and  like  the  pres- 
ent it  will  be  so  amalgamated  as  to  flat- 
ter the  hopes  of  eager  credulity.  Take 
as  a  sample  the  appointment  of  Mr.  King 
and  son,  —of  Mr.  Conkling.  Indeed  all  is 
mingled.  Mr.  Adams,  as  head  of  the  cab- 
inet, can  keep  contol  there.  He  knows 
his  men  and  I  wish  you  could  see  him 
when  they  pass  with  the  crowd  in  review 
before  him  at  levee.  He  knows  him- 
self and  seems  to  feel  like  a  man  con- 
scious of  his  superiority,  and  he  is 
his  own  counsel.  Perhaps  you  know  his 
designs  as  well  as  any  one  about  him. 
They  hear  what  he  says,  and  see  what 
he  does,  and  he  appears  to  them  perfect- 
ly open.  But  they  are  far  from  him, 
and  they  can  know  little  more  of  him 
than  you  who  are  far  distant.  I  feel  so  in 
looking  at  him  and  his  measures.  He  is 
a  plain  man,  solid,  not  awkward,  but 
seems  to  approach  rusticity,  cool,  col- 
lected, of  a  violent  temper,  but  of  un- 
m^asured  diligence  and  exhaustless  pa- 
tience. His  temper  has  not,  and  will 
not  direct  him  in  any  measure.  He  has 
his  end  in  view  and  reaches  it  by  the 
means  suggested  in  his  judgment." 

6 


It  is  to  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  po- 
litical divisions  that  occurred  not  long 
after,  had  not  yet  appeared.  Mr.  Adams 
was  a  recognized  Republican  and  a  pos- 
sible Republican  candidate.  Hoffman's 
hostility  to  Adams'  administration  was 
excited  by  Mr.  Adams'  large  interpreta- 
tion of  federal  power  and  his  personal  fa- 
vor to  the  federalists  and  Clintonians, 
and  Hoffman's  complete  alienation  from 
the  administration  soon  became  mani- 
fest. Writing  March  10th,  1826,  Mr. 
Hoffman  finds  the  course  of  public  meas-, 
ures  wholly  adverse  to  his  democratic 
instincts.  He  says  :  "This  is  a  federal 
administration.  The  message  speaks  for 
the  whole.  *  *  All  and  every  possible 
express  or  implied  power  is  to  be  exercis- 
ed. In  addition  to  past  grand  projects 
this  government  is  to  spend  two  or  three 
hundred  millions  of  dollars  on  canals, 
roads  and  bridges,  is  to  have  a  school 
fund  to  loan  out  and  distribute  among 
the  states.  *  *  This  government 
should  in  my  view,  use  the  most  simple, 
cheap,  and  natural  means,  and  never 
grasD  at  doubtful  powers,  and  should 
useof  that  which  is  undoubted,  the  small- 
est share.  The  power  exerted  should 
be  small,  cheap,  humble,  and  plain,  to 
be  republican." 

Mr.  Boft'man  here  shows  his  predilec- 
tion for  that  rigid  policy  which  seeks 
the  good  of  the  greatest  number  by  the 
minimum  of  administration  which  mark- 
ed his  whole  public  life.  For  a  strict 
and  close  construction  of  all  federal,  civ- 
il and  delegated  power,  he  was  the  steady 
champion.  He  opposed  the  protective 
system,  government  banking  by  the 
agency  of  a  national  bank,  and  support- 
ed afterward  the  veto  of  the  bill  for 
constructing  the  Maysville  road,  one  of 
the  projected  national  roads,  believing  a 
system  of  internal  improvements  by  the 
federal  goverment  not  warranted  by  the 
constitution.  A  severe  simplicity  of 
character,  and  a  certain  Republican  aus- 
terity of  temper,  was  reflected  in  his  po- 
litical creed.  From  hi"  point  of  view  a 
people  unfettered  in  their  industrial  ac- 
tivities, burdened  lightly  by  only  the 
forms  of  frugal  administration,  and 
without    favored    classes    or    interests. 


would  better  enjoy  their  liberty,  than 
with  a  government  decorated  by  pomp 
and  splendor.  He  believed  that  classes 
created  by  special  legislation  and  en- 
riched by  exaction  from  the  masses,  were 
a  solecism  in  popular  government,  and 
with  Mr.  Hoffman  to  have  a  conviction 
was  to  act  upon  it. 

In  the  same  letter  he  says  :  "Com- 
plaints have  been  made  against  Van  Bu- 
ren  and  others  for  endeavoring  to  influ- 
ence the  politics  of  New  York.  They 
have  not  deserevd  this  censure  but  the 
very  reverse.  Our  political  friends  in 
New  York  must  judge,  but  I  will  while 
here  advise  them  of  facts.  I  cannot 
support  a  federal  amalgamating,  all-par- 
ty administration.  Adams  and  Clinton 
may  be  equal  to  these  objections.  Will 
they  prove  so  ?  Mr.  Clinton's  friends 
here  support  Adams,  ask  and  receive  fa- 
vors ;  the  Cling  Feds  will  stick  to  him, 
the  Clings  proper,  (you  know  what  they 
can  do)  may  in  the  last  evil  hour  betray 
him  and  come  over  to  a  rival  party. 
When  I  received  a  line  hinting  at  Mr. 
Clinton's  nomination  I  answered  these 
facts.  *  *  *  I  advi?.e,  against  al^ 
amalgamation.  Let  us  be  Republicans, 
go  for  the  whole,  gain  what  we  desire, 
or  fail.  In  the  Presidential  election,  if 
New  York  will  concentrate  her  vote  in 
the  "Choice  of 'fepresentatives,  and  next 
pass  a  law  providing  that  the  people 
choose  a  convention  as  numerous  as  the 
assembly,  to  nieet  and  by  a  plurality  ap- 
point electors,  then  she  will  give  36  votes 
in  the  college  ;  she  may  go  into  the  cau- 
cus safely  with  36  votes.  But  if  she  will 
be  heard  she  must  have  a  strong  repre- 
sentation here,  and  an  entire  college, 
and  other  states  must  know  this  before 
the  day  of  trial.  *  *  *  if  you  will 
elect  them  it  must  be  by  districts,  or 
they  will  never  tell  against  the  mighty 
patronage  of  this  government  when  there 
are  three  or  four  candidates." 

Writing  February  15,  1827,  Mr.  Hoff- 
man shows  no  lack  of  confidence  in  his 
ability  to  meet  his  associates  in  debate. 
He  says  :  ".Markell  made  a  short  speech 
(on  the  judiciary)  with  which  I  was 
pleased.  I  do  not  knoiv  that  I  ought 
longer  to  forbear,  and  yet  if  I  go  on,  ex- 


perienoe  may  satisfy  me  that  silence 
would  have  conferred  advantages.  I 
could  maintain  any  scuffle  in  the  House  ; 
you  may  think  this  boasting,  but  it  is  the 
result  of  two  montlis  close  attention. 
I  do  not  doubt  the  power  to  do  it,  I  can- 
not fear  the  force,  variety  or  eloquence 
of  any  I  have  heard." 

He  speaks  in  this  letter  of  men  and 
measures  in  a  manner  that  displays  the 
elevated  cast  of  his  character  and  the 
natural  sobriety  of  his  mind.  He  says  : 
I  am  not  satisfied  with  the  course  of 
events  or  measures,  and  to  stem  them 
requires  union  and  numbers.  All  these 
take  the  road  that  cunning  points  out  to 
folly.  Remote  from  the  observation  of 
those  they  esteem  or  fear,  men  here  play 
at  private  vices  which  you  do  not  sus- 
pect and  would  not  beleve  if  told  them. 
I  cannot  associate  with  them  in  their  gay 
or  lewd  pursuits.     *    «    * 

Of  measures,  I  approve  of  the  defense 
of  the  country  by  proper  fortifications. 
But  strange  as  the  fact  may  appear,  yet 
it  is  true  that  there  is  not  now  one  gun 
more  which  we  can  point  at  an  enemy, 
than  at  the  close  of  the  late  war.  Mil- 
lions have  been  expended,  forts  are  be- 
gun but  none  finished.  Why  not  ?  Is 
it  because  as  long  as  the  work  continues 
there  are  good  jobs,  but  when  the  works 
are  finished  all  jobs  end  ? 

Of  men  shere  is,  I  say,  no  Republi- 
can party,  but  Storrs,  Webster,  Strong. 
Minor,  Burgess,  these  are  Republicans  ! 
Yes,  this  is  the  order  of  the  day,  men 
are  Republicans  ,  but  the  party  cannot 
get  to  be  republican.  The  "Clings"  ad- 
here and  asking  receive  favors  *  *  * 
Mr.  Adams  is  his  own  administration  ; 
let  him  support  it  himself  ;  for  one  I 
will  not,  when  it  stinks  of  federalists 
who  opposed  the  war  and  country.  I 
like  a  good  honest  American  federalist, 
and  if  you  were  here  to  see  the  Massachu- 
setts and  Connecticut  "feds"  you  would 
be  ready  to  say  that  a  Mohawk  federal- 
ist was  a  patriot  because  he  was  willing 
to  fight.  *  *  I  hate  Governor  Strong 
and  the  Hartford  Convention.  *  *  i 
understand  what  some  knaves  and  fools 
are  about  at  home  —they  quit  Adams  be- 
cause he  is  a  federal,  and    support  Clin- 


ton because  (while  ?)  federalists  support 
him  and  he  them  !  This  is  neither 
rhyme  nor  reason,  and  you  know  Gen- 
eral Jackson  was  the  man  that  recom- 
mended the  striped  flag  and  the  no-party 
system,  so  we  go." 

Mr.  Hoffman  clearly  was  not  pleased 
with  the  drift  of  measures  at  this  period. 
In  1819  his  resolutions  hostile  to  Clinton, 
introduced  and  successfully  urged  by 
him  in  a  meeting  at  Herkimer,  had  divi- 
ded the  party  into  two  factions,  known  as 
Clintonians  and  Bucktails.  His  feeling 
against  Clioton,  whose  special  support- 
ers he  calls  "Clings,"  in  1827  is  very 
pronounced.  Benton's  history  says  that 
Hoffman  favored  General  Jackson's 
election  in  1828,  and  that  his  antecedent 
political  action  was  directed  to  this  ob- 
ject. On  such  testimony  this  can  hard- 
ly be  doubted,  but  in  1827  we  find  him 
including  General  Jackson  in  Jiis  adverse 
criticism  of  the  men  and  measures  of 
the  day.  It  may  be  inferred  that  Mr. 
Hoffman  entertained  a  high  opinion  of 
Mr.  Adams.  Some  traits  of  character 
in  the  President  evidently  gained  the  ad- 
miration of  Mr.  Hoffman,  but  Adams,  as 
president,  gave  too  wide  an  interpreta- 
tion to  the  Constitution,  ascribed  to  it 
too  great  a  latitude  of  power,  and  his 
administrative  policy  showed  too  much 
countenance  to  federalists  and  Clinton- 
ians to  permit  Mr.  Hoffman's  toleration. 

It  is  a  notable  fact  that  in  a  house  of 
which  Daniel  Webster  was  a  member, 
Hoffman  seems  to  give  precedence  to 
Henry  R.  Storrs,  of  Oneida,  who  was 
indeed  one  of  the  ablest  men  who  ever 
represented  this  state  at  Washington. 
His  speech  in  opposition  to  the  resolu- 
tions of  McDuffie,  of  South  Carolina,  for 
electing  president  by  districting  the 
States,  made  the  strongest  impression  of 
any  delivered  on  that  subject,  (1  Am. 
An.  Reg.  67.)  He  maintained  that  the 
constitutional  intention  was  to  preserve 
inviolably  in  the  election  of  president, 
the  separate  action  of  the  States  as  dis- 
tinct sovereignties,  and  th^t  the  struc- 
ture of  our  federative  system  was  found- 
ed upon  this  principle.  The  curious  fact 
appears  that  the  South,  speaking  by 
McDuffie,  advocated  a  practical  consoli- 


dation  in  the  election  of  president,  while 
the  North,  speaking  by  Mr.  Storrs,  con- 
tended for  a  vital  principle  of  State  sov- 
ereignty, 

MR    HOFFMAN'S  ADVICE  TO  LAWYERS    AND 
PUBLIC  SPEAKERS. 

In  the  letters  referred    to,    Mr.  Hoff- 
man gives  some  useful    and  sagacious 
maxims  on  the  formation  of  a  lawyer's 
character  and  suggestive  rules  for  ac 
quiring  efficiency  in  public    speaking. 

"  I  know,"  he  says  that  good  morals 
are  indispensible  to  success,  not  on  the 
ground  so  often  asserted  that  a  good 
character  assists  a  lawyer  to  impose  his 
views  upon  others,  but  upon  the  ground 
that  habits  of  perseverance  and  industry 
necessary  to  success  can  never  exist  un- 
less caused  and  supported  by  good  mor- 
als and  a  sober,  upright  and  righteous 
life.  There  is  no  cant  in  this.  It  is  the 
law  of  nature  and  must  be  obeyed.  You 
ought  not  to  be  satisfied  by  any  excel- 
lence short  of  that  which  a  virtuous 
heart  can  give  the  mind.  You  will  read- 
ily despise  the  utmost  success  to  which  a 
happy  mind  can  push  a  vicious  mind  ;  it 
is  not  great  or  desirable,  though  often 
envied. 

You  still  suppose  the  art  of  speaking 
is  difficult  of  attainment.  It  is  indeed 
indispensible  to  success.  While  you 
suppose  that  none  can  shine  unless  gifted 
by  nature,  I  must  say  that  no  mode  of 
speaking  which  can  in  any  sense  bo  said 
to  shine  will  attain  success,  and  that 
mere  fluency,  the  envied  gift  of  nature, 
is  perfectly  vulgar.  *  *  *  You  will 
find  ten  nay  a  hundred, speaking  men  for 
one  speaking  mind.  The  undisciplined 
mind  does  not  proceed  in  one  continued, 
unbroken,  undeviating  course,  but 
breaks,  corrects,  amends,  strays,  re- 
turns, repeats,  and  so  confounds  itself. 
*  *  *  Words  must  succeed  one  after 
another  in  the  same  order,  they  must 
succeed  thoughts  of  a  speaking  mind. 
The  mind  by  effort,  habit  and  practice 
may  be  taught  lo  remember  all  our 
thoughts  on  a  given  subject,  but  to  rec- 
ollect all  the  words  necessary  to  express 
them  is  not  only  to  burden  but  to  de- 
stroy the    memory. 

A     speaking   succession  of  thoughts, 


then,  is  what  you  must  first  acquire.  In 
a  well  written  paragraph  you  have  the 
thoughts  arranged  in  a  speaking  succes- 
sion. To  study  the  thoughts  in  that  suc- 
cession, obliges  the  mind  to  associate  the 
thoughts  and  the  words  in  that  order.  I 
know  the  labor  and  diligence  necessary 
to  effect  this  end.  but  habit  and  practice 
give  ease,  facility  and  force  to  the 
mind  to  arrange  its  thoughts  in  this  logi- 
cal succession.  This  succession  of 
thought  is  necessary,  not  only  to  the  stu- 
dent and  man  of  business,  but  it  is  indis- 
pensable to  every  man  who  in  public 
would  speak  well,  because  in  public  he 
can  speak  but  once,  and  speaks  ill  when 
he  is  compelled  to  alter,  correct  and 
amend.  Fluency  of  speech  is  not  so 
great  a  gift  of  nature  as  you  have  fan- 
cied. The  want  of  it  is  more  frequent- 
ly occasioned  by  the  faulty  order  in 
which  thoughts  occur  than  by  any  de- 
fect of  nature." 

In  another  letter  Mr.  Hoffman  writes  : 
"I  will  not  attempt  rules  for  your  direc- 
tion. Books  contain  enough — and  I  had 
almost  said,  they  never  yet  did  any  good. 
But  I  will  give  you  one,not  worth  a  farth- 
ing if  not  practiced.  Read  in  some  ©ra- 
tion or  law  pleading  one,  two,  three 
or  more  of  paragraphs  until  you  under- 
stand the  subject  perfectly  well  and  put 
the  main  point  or  principle  of  each  par- 
agraph upon  a  piece  of  paper.  Let  this 
note  be  written  as  short  and  plain  as 
possible.  Then  take  the  first  note  and 
speak  its  substance  in  a  plain  and  neat 
manner,  so  proceed  from  paragraph  to 
paragraph  until  you  can  give  a  correct, 
neat  and  happy  utterance  to  every  para- 
graph of  a  long  discourse. 

When  you  shall  have  acquired  a  good 
speaking  mind,  you  will  still  feel  a  dif- 
ficulty in  the  choice  and  manner  of  ex- 
pression. In  the  choice  of  words  and 
figures  you  will  be  obliged  to  labor  nAich 
and  long.  You  must  select  only  words 
that  are  plain  and  figures  of  speech 
simple  and  familiar.  Every  fetch  at  a 
fine  period  will  injure  you  and  those 
speakers  and  writers  that  you  most  ad- 
mire adopt  a  simple  and  lucid  style.  In 
an  art  like  that  of  which  I  am  speaking 
there  is  no  perfection.     *    *    *    But  the 


same  colors  which  might  hide  and  dis- 
grace the  canvass  may.  when  arranged 
by  a  West  show  us  our  blessed  Lord  and 
Savior  healing  the  sick,  and  fill  us  with 
reverence  and  awe.  So  in  speaking  the 
same  thoughts  disjointed,  broken  and 
scattered  will  digrace  the  speaker,  but 
duly  arranged,  in  that  order  in  which 
words  can  effectually  utter  them,  they 
will  persuade,  convince  and  sway  our 
judgments." 

HOFFMAN  IN  THE  STATE  LEGISLATURE. 

At  the  close  of  Mr.  HoflEman's  eight 
years  of  service  in  congress  he  served 
three  years  aa  first  judge  of  this  county, 
and  in  1835  he  held  for  a  short  time  the 
office  of  canal  commissioner.  In  the  as- 
sembly of  1841  he  appeared  with  Ar- 
phaxed  Loomis  as  his  colleague  and 
they  together  with  Col.  Sam  Young,  of 
Saratoga,  opened  a  campaign  of  reaction 
against  the  improvement  policy  of  Gov- 
ernor Seward.  That  policy  was  based 
upon  the  famous  and  glowing  report  of 
Mr.  Ruggles,  made  in  1837,  and  fully 
endorsed  and  reproduced  in  Governor 
Seward's  message  of  1839.  At  the  ses- 
sion of  1841  Mr.  Hoffman,  as  chairman 
of  the  committee  charged  to  investigate 
the  subject  of  the  state's  liabilities,  re- 
ported that  the  state  debt  was  virtually 
$20,000,000  ;  he  dwelt  upon  the  impair- 
ed credit  of  the  state,  apparent  in  the 
decline  of  its  six  percent,  stocks,  to  twen- 
ty per  cent,  below  par  and  sounded  the 
alarm  of  bankruptcy.  Prior  to  the  elec- 
tion of  1841,  Hoffman,  Loomis,  Young, 
Flagg  and  others  of  similar  views  on 
state  policy  had  already  begun  to  look  to 
a  new  constitution  for  a  permanent  bar- 
rier against  state  debt,  and  they  forced 
the  consideraton  of  that  question  upon 
the  people  of  the  state. 

Hoffman  and  Loomis  were  re-elected 
to  the  legislature  of  1842  and  Hoffman, 
despite  what  he  called  "the  shrieks  of  lo- 
cality," continued  his  assaults  upon  the 
improvement  policy  of  Governor  Sew- 
ard and  attacked  his  financial  system  at 
all  poinis.  Sustained  by  Comptroller 
Flagg's  report,  showing  a  large  treasury 
deficit,  and  assuming  that  the  stocks  of 
the  state  had  depreciated  from  twenty- 
two  to  twenty-five  per  cent.,    Hoffman 


brought  in  his  notable  report  demanding 
that  canal  expenditures  ehould  cease, 
recommending  a  mill  tax,  one  half  of 
which  should  be  used  to  reinforce  spe- 
cial funds,  one  half  to  be  paid  into  the 
canal  fund,  in  order  to  restore  the  credit 
of  the  state  by  beginning  the  payment 
of  its  debt.  It  requires  courage  in  a  public 
man  to  advise  the  laying  of  direct  taxes, 
but  these  men  had  the  courage  of  their 
convictions,  and  they  created  the  senti- 
ment that  sustained  them.  The  adop- 
tion of  the  "stop  and  pay  policy"  in  a 
short  time  restored  the  public  credit  and 
took  the  financial  fortunes  of  the  state 
out  of  the  grasp  of  combinations  not  un- 
like those  from  which  Mr.  Tilden  res- 
cued the  tax-payers, thiry-two  years  after. 
The  opposition  to  this  temporary  aban- 
donment of  canal  improvement  was  very 
bitter,  and  it  was  suggested  by  Hoff- 
man's opponents  that  his  original  hostil- 
ity to  Clinton  and  to  "Clinton's  Ditch," 
gave  edge  to  the  zeal  with  which  he  at- 
tacked Governor  Seward's  scheme  of 
public  improvements,  but  it  is  no  longer 
doubted  that  the  suspension  of  the  pub- 
lic works  was  an  imperative  necessity, 
nor  that  Hoffman  and  his  associates  per- 
formed an  important  service  to  the  state 
by  securing  the  adoption  of  that  meas- 
ure. 

A  measure  more  far-reaching  and  des- 
tined to  become  a  part  of  the  state  con- 
stitution regulating  the  creation  of  pub- 
lic debt,  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Loomis 
with  the  concurrence  of  Hoffman  and 
Young  to  the  legislature  of  1841.  This 
important  and  essential  safe-guard 
against  the  accumulation  of  state  debt 
by  the  scheming  of  contractors  and  the 
subserviency  of  corrupt  legislators,  was 
devised  by  Mr.  Loomis  who  advocated  it 
in  the  columns  of  the  Mohawk  Courier 
in  articles  that  were  largely  copied  by 
the  press.  This  measure  which  has  saved 
millions  to  the  tax-payers  of  the  state 
provided  that  every  act  creating  a  btate 
debt,  must  specify  the  object,  that  the 
act  must  embrace  only  one  object,  that 
the  proposition  must  be  submitted  to  a 
vote  of  the  people  and  that  all  the  mon- 
ey raised  by  such  popular  vote  must  be 
applied  to  that  sole  object.     The  vote  on 

10 


the  resolutions  favoring  tlbi3  constitu- 
tional check  on  the  creation  of  public 
debt,  which  was  first  known  as  Loomis"'s 
Resolutions,  (and  on  the  suggestion  of 
their  author  changed  to  the  People's 
Resolutions)  was  not  reached  until  1842, 
when  they  failed  for  want  of  a  constitu- 
tional majority,  but  the  discussion  of  the 
subject  went  on  and  elicited  a  senti- 
ment which  led  to  the  incorporation  of 
their  essential  features  in  the  constitu- 
tion of  1846. 

An  extract  from  Hoffman's  speech  re- 
viewing Governor  Seward's  message  of 
1842  gives  an  idea  of  his  vigorous  and 
vehement  style  and  the  intensity  of  his 
opposition  to  the  debt  policy.  In  a  speech 
continued  through  most  of  the  14th  and 
15th  days  of  January  he  said;  "You  may 
follow  in  the  course  of  other  states  and 
institutions  —offer  seven,  seven  and  one- 
half,  go  to  eight,  continue  this  process 
until  like  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Michigan, 
your  stocks  are  sold  for  forty  cents  on  the 
dollar.  But  sooner  or  later,  the  hour  is 
approaching,  when  you  must  stop  in  this 
profligate  course,  as  we  have  already 
stopped  our  public  works.  If  the  two 
houses  shall  be  equal  to  their  duty  on  this 
trying  occasion  let  no  man  tremble  for  the 
honor  and  character  of  the  state.  It  can 
be  preserved,  it  should  be.  Can  any 
man,  native  or  foreign,  hesitate  between 
stopping  these  expenditures  and  going 
on  at  the  expense  of  honor,  credit  and 
character  ?  Lives  there  anything  so  base 
on  earth  that  to  work  itself  out  of  diffi- 
culty it  would  bring  this  state  where 
Indiana  and  Illinois  are?  Where  the 
bank  of  the  United  States,— once  be- 
lieved to  be  beyond  the  reach  of  dis- 
honor and  bankruptcy,— where  Michigan 
is?  Where  deficit  has  put  Maryland,  an 
Atiant  c  state?  *  *  If  we  will  only 
stand  by  our  credit,— cease  our  expendi- 
tures pay  as  we  go— we  shall  overcome 
this  storm,  stand  erect,  and  in  the 
markets  ot  Europe,  our  merchants  will 
be  the  merchants  of  the  republic,  our 
banks  the  banks  of  the  republic,  our 
reputation  in  a  word  like  that  of  the  peo- 
ple of  Holland.  But  if  seeking  popu- 
larity for  an  hour,  dreading  the  influence 
of  this  and  that  locality,  winking  there 


at  a  railroad,  and  there  at  an  extension, 
the  credit  of  the  state  in  peril  and  itself 
on  the  verge  of  bankruptcy ;  when 
calamity  comes  upon  us  and  we  call  on 
the  mountains  t<»  cover  us  the  earth  it- 
self will  spurn  us,  the  ashes  of  the  dead 
on  which  we  stand  would  be  dishonored, 
*  *  No  language  of  reprobation  can 
express  the  deep  indignation  that  men 
must  face  when  they  see  their  country 
urged,  urged  to  the  fatal  brink  of  ruin." 

In  the  following  March  Mr.  Hoffman 
reported  from  the  committee  of  ways  and 
means  a  bill  entitled,  "An  Act  to  Pro- 
vide for  the  Payment  of  the  Debt  and 
Preserving  the  credit  of  the  State " 
framed  in  accordance  with  the  views  of 
the  advocates  of  the  "stop  and  pay" 
policy.  It  passed  both  houses  at  once. 
In  consequence  of  this  act,  the  stocks  of 
the  state  rose  in  a  few  months  from  a 
depreciation  of  from  twenty  to  twenty- 
two  per  cent,  to  par  value.  Most  of  the 
leaders  in  this  movement  deemed  it  es- 
sential to  promptly  initiate  measures  to 
restore  the  credit  of  the  state,  but  Col. 
Young  thought  mere  legislation  would 
prove  only  a  temporary  check,  that  the 
debt  promoting  schemes  would  re-ap- 
pear as  the  public  credit  revived,  and 
that  no  effectual  bar  could  be  found 
short  of  a  constitutional  injunction 
against  the  legislative-making  of  debt. 
Mr.  Hoffman  believed  that  a  consti  ution 
should  be  framed  embracing  that  fea- 
ture, but  insisted  that  the  legislative 
check  should  be  applied  at  the  earliest 
moment  to  restore  the  credit  of  the  state, 
a  result  which  was  secured  by  the  act  of 
1842. 

As  to  Mr.  Hoffman's  efforts  in  the  leg- 
islation of  1844  Mr.  Benton  says :  "In 
1844  the  democratic  majority  favored 
the  canal  improvement  policy  and  elected 
a  speaker,  (Mr.  Elisha  Litchfield,  of  On- 
ondaga.) who  differed  with  Mr.  Hoffman 
on  the  'stop  and  pay'  policy.  But," 
says  Mr.  Benton,  "  there  are  few  if  any 
instances  in  the  history  of  the  legisla- 
ture of  this  state  where  a  single  member 
exerted  such  powerful  influence  as  did 
Mr,  Hoffman  during  this  session.  He 
did  not  trouble  himself  to  advocate 
many  of  the  measures  that  were  brought 


11 


before  the  House,  but  he  took  unwearied 
pains  to  oppose  and  defeat  every  project 
he  considered  unsound,  impolitic  or  mis- 
chievous, and  he  seldom  tailed." 

HOFFMAN  ON  THE  ANNEXATION  OF  TEXAS. 

Mr.  Hoffman  was  strongly  opposed  to 
the  annexation  of  Texas.  Personally 
attached  to  Mr.  Van  Buren,  and  as  loyal 
to  that  stat'sraans  political  views  and 
fortunes  as  was  consistent  with  his  own 
independent  judgment,  he  dttested  with 
aU  the  energy  of  his  uncompromising  na- 
ture, the  instrument  which  was  forged 
or  used  by  Mr.  Van  Buren's  enemies  for 
his  political  destruction.  There  was  an 
incipient  rebellion  among  many  leading 
democrats  against  ihis  measure,  and  es- 
pecially against  the  underlying  motive— 
the  increase  of  slaveholding  territory 
and  the  power  of  the  slaveholding  class. 
William  C.  Bryant.  David  Dudley  Field, 
George  P.  Barker  and  other  free  sod 
democrats,  issued  a  famous  circular  for 
the  purpose  of  obtaining  signatures  to  a 
proposed  declaration  to  the  effect  that 
the  signers  while  supporting  Polk  and 
Dallas,  protested  against  the  resolutions 
of  the  national  convention  respecting 
Texas,  on  the  ground  that  they  interpo- 
lated new  doctrines  into  the  party  code 
that  were  opposed  to  established  princi- 
ples and  "abhorrent  to  the  opinions  and 
feelings  of  a  great  majority  of  northern 
freeman."  At  the  head  of  the  list  to 
whom  this  circular  was  addressed,  stood 
the  name  of  Michael  Hoffman.  Among 
other  names  where  those  of  Nathaniel 
R.  Benton,  Hiram  Denio,  Freeborn  G. 
Jewett,  Preston  King  and  Samuel  Young. 
It  was  generally  understood  that  Silas 
Wright  was  in  sympathy  with  this  move- 
ment, but  his  position  as  candidate  for 
governor  made  it  inexpedient  to  call  out 
his  views  upon  that  subject.  The  pro- 
posed declaration  did  not  appear.  Its 
suppres.-ion  was  of  course  due  to  a  con- 
viction that  such  a  manifesto  signed  by 
such  representative  democrats  might  be 
fatal  to  the  democratic  nominees,  and 
however  ill  affected  toward  the  nomina- 
tion of  Polk,  and  deep  as  was  their 
chagrin  at  the  setting  aside  of  Van 
Buren,  the  democratic  frye  soilers  could 


not  abide  the  possible  election  of  their 
old  enemy,  Henry  Clay. 

But  Mr.  Hoffman  was  very  reluctant, 
to  take  the  role  of  passive  obedience  to 
party  dictation.  He  at  one  time  an- 
nounced to  his  friends  that  if  he  could 
count  upon  the  support  of  any  consider- 
able body  of  the  democratic  party  for 
such  a  8  ep  be  was  still  ready  to  call  a- 
meeting  in  the  park  of  New  York  city, 
and  speak  against  the  annexation  project. 
But  the  counsels  of  men  more  attached 
to  party  than  tenacious  of  principle,, 
finally  prevailed.  Had  Hoffman  raised 
the  standard  of  revolt,  it  is  far  from  cer- 
tain that  his  appeal  to  that  great  body  of 
democrats  who  gave  him  their  implicit 
confidence,  might  not  have  defeated 
Polk,  and  changed  the  course  of  political 
history  in  this  state  and  nation.  Since- 
the  circular  letter  was  not  addressed  to 
Mr.  Loomis  nor  Horatio  Seymour,  it 
is  to  be  inferred  that  they  differed  in 
opinion  from  Hoffman,  and  such  was  no 
doubt  the  fact.  The  couise  of  events  it 
may  be  said  has  vindicated  their  judg- 
ment. But  the  geographical  fact  that 
the  Mississippi  makes  its  way  through 
Louisiana  to  the  gulf,  was  the  guarantee 
of  nature  that  our  ocean  frontier  must 
be  upon  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  the 
courses  of  the  Red,  the  Colorado,  the 
Brazos  and  the  Rio  Grande,  taking  their 
way  from  sources  which  would  naturally 
fall  under  our  control  in  the  progress  of 
western  settlpment,  gave  a  like  assurance 
that  the  domain  which  they  traversed  in 
their  course  to  the  gulf,  would  be 
brought  under  our  flag.  An  unjust  and 
deliberately  planned  war  of  invasion  on 
Mexico  only  hastened  the  acquisition  of 
territory  which  would  have  been  secured 
by  our  natural  expansion  westward,  and 
without  conquest  by  war. 

MR.  HOFFMAN  IN  THE  CONVENTION  OF  '46. 

The  convention  of  1846  was  called  un- 
der a  legislative  act  of  1845,  by  a  vote  of 
213,25"  in  its  favor  and  38,860  opposed. 
The  project  for  calling  the  convention 
had  its  origin  mainly  in  the  Herkimer 
school  of  politics,  and  this  county  eave 
in  its  favor  4,346  votes,  to  86  opposed^ 
Mr.  Hoffman  was  elected  a  member  for 
this  county,  though  residing  at  the  time 


12 


in  the  city  of  New  York,  where  he  was 
acting  as  U.  S.  naval  officer  at  that  port. 
He  was  elected  as  the  special  champion 
of  the  anti-debt  policy  and  to  secure  its 
incorporation  into  the  constitution.  On 
that  issue  he  represented  the  friends  of 
that  policy  throughout  the  whole  state 
as  well  as  Herkimer  county.  Upon  all 
the  questions  that  he  debated,  his  was 
the  dominant  mind,  and  he  was  the 
intellectual  leader  of  the  convention. 
His  unerring  common  sense  and  intu- 
itive discrimination  solved  questions  by 
a  resort  to  vital  prmciples.  In  the  debate 
upon  the  veto  power,  members  appealed 
to  ancient  history  and  precedents,  but 
his  arguments  and  analysis,  drawn  from 
our  own  national  politics,  showing  that 
this  power  was  truly  conservative  of 
popular  rights,  set  aside  all  the  prece- 
dents cited  against  it.  In  the  debate  on 
the  system  of  jury  trial,  while  others 
saw  in  it  only  a  protection  to  personal 
liberty  and  property  rights,  Hoffman  de- 
clared it  to  be  •'  the  great  school  of  civil 
wisdom  m  any  free  country  which  more 
than  all  other  schools  put  together, 
taught  practical  lessons  of  liberty  and 
freedom."  Not  this  only,  but  ^hile  in 
his  view,  the  right  of  a  citizen  to  be 
tried  by  a  jury  was  indeed  important, 
the  right  to  be  a  juror  was  one  of  the 
muniments  of  popular  government,  and 
he  regarded  "  the  right  to  sit  in  judg- 
ment on  the  controversies  of  his  fel- 
lows" as  a  right  more  important  than 
the  right  of  the  sulTrage  itself,  and  as 
•'the  highest  power  man  could  exert.'' 
He  perceived  in  this  ordinary  function 
of  the  ci'izen  not  only  a  legal  fran- 
chise, but  a  vital  political  force  which  is 
felt  throughout  the  whole  body  politic, 
elevating  and  preserving  it;  views  which 
displayed  his  powers  of  penetratmg  to 
the  essential  and  practical  in  political 
institutions. 

Mr.  Hoffman's  greatest  effort  was,  of 
course,  his  speech  in  support  of  the 
financial  article.  The  grasp  and  com- 
prehension of  the  questions  of  finance, 
state  debt  and  the  sacredness  of  public 
faith  which  he  exhibited,  were  un- 
equalled in  their  completeness,  clearness 
and  force,  and   it  may  be  questioned  if 


that  speech  has  ever  been  excelled  by  any 
of  the  masters  of  finance.  Given  orally 
and  while  suffering  from  a  physical  pain 
that  embarrassed  his  delivery,  and  deal- 
ing with  complicated  financial  operations 
running  through  many  years,  his  pre- 
sentation of  the  whole  subject  was  so 
lucid  and  convincing  that  the  conclu- 
sions drawn  by  him  could  not  be  resisted. 
The  member  who  first  arose  to  reply 
spoke  of  Mr.  Hoffman  as  the  Ajax  Tela- 
mon  of  the  del  ate  furnished  and  aided 
by  documents  and  statistics  as  he  pro- 
ceeded, by  Ulysses  (Mr.  Loomis)ar«d  any 
one  who  peruses  that  massive  and  power- 
ful argument  enforced  as  it  is  by  a  high 
O'  der  of  eloquence,  must  admit  the  jus- 
tice of  the  appellation.  Borne  down 
by  disease  aggravated  by  his  arduous 
labors  in  the  convention  and  in  the  legis- 
lature, he  did  not  long  survive  them. 
He  died  in  Brooklyn,  September  27, 1848, 
and  his  remains  lie  in  the  old  cemetery 
at  Herkimer. 

There  may  be  those  who  will  regard 
Hoffman's  dislike  of  public  debt  as  too 
intense,  and  as  exaggerated.  But  hav- 
ing watched  the  slow  and  painful  task 
of  paying  off  the  public  debts  caused  by 
revolution  and  the  war  of  1812,  and 
believing  that  public  like  private  debts, 
create  a  kind  of  slavery,  he  looked  upon 
them  with  horror.  His  pride  in  the 
financial  integrity  of  the  state,  and  his 
dread  of  a  treasury  deficit  were  akin 
to  those  felt  by  men  of  rigid  business 
methods  in  respect  to  their  private 
affairs.  It  was  with  no  affected  alarm 
that  he  beheld  the  prospect  of  defaults 
in  meeting  state  obligations,  the  growing 
depreciation  of  the  public  credit,  and 
the  clanger  of  a  possible  repudiation. 

Michael  Hoffman  was  a  republican  of 
the  old  school,  a  school  in  which  just 
principles  were  souj<ht  as  guides  for  con- 
ducting public  affairs.  He  had  the 
simplicity  of  character,  the  frank  earn- 
estness, the  strong  and  abiding  sense  of 
impartial  justice  and  of  the  rights  of 
the  masses  which  befit  the  exponent  of  a 
true  democratic  system.  He  had  no 
private  aims  that  were  not  subordinate 
to  his  convictions  of  duty  to  the  state. 
He  performed  well  his  part  among  the 


13 


men  who  by  devoted  service  and  public  I  first  saw  Mr.  Hoffman  on  the  occa- 

spirit  gave   lustre  to  the  classic  age  of  sion  of  his  maljing  a  speech  at  Middle- 

our  political   history,  at  a  period  when  ville  in  1842.     I  remember  him  as  being 

Webster   brought  into   bold    relief    the  of  spare    build,   rather  above    medium 

national  potency  of  the   federal  cousti-  height,  with   something  of  a  student's 

tution,  and   when  Jackfon  sustained  it  stoop,  except  when  his  impassioned  ora- 

by  the  vigor  of  his  administration,  that  tory  brought  him  erect  and  to  hia  full 

period  when  the  profound  and  majestic  stature.     Hts  gray  suit,  long  iron-gray 

oratory  of  the   etatesnaan  and  the   iron  hair,  his  eyes  deei^-set  and  penetrating, 


will  of  the  soldier  roused  an  enthusiasm 
for  nationality,  which,  when  nullification 
rose  to  armed  secession,  became  a  burn- 
ing patriotic  rage  that  fused  all  sections, 
all  parties,  all  the  elements  of  nationality 
into  the  indissoluble  and  invincible  re- 
public. 

Though  not  called  to  the  highest 
oflBces  of  the  state,  yet,  Mr.  Hoffman's 
work  in  his  ch(  sen  theatre  of  action  was 
equal  to  the  demands  of  the  hour,  there 
it  was,  teres  et  rotundus,  rounded  and 
complete.  If  it  may  be  said  that  his 
convictions   were    tinged    by  prejudice 


his  grave  and  thoughtful  aspect,  his  in- 
tense earnestness  of  delivery,  that  seemed 
to  struggle  under  the  restraint  imposed 
by  strong  self  control,  together  made  up 
a  personality  not  to  be  forgotten.  It  is 
believed  that  no  likeness  of  Mr.  Hoff- 
man is  in  existence,  as  He  had  a  great 
repugnance  to  give  a  sitting  for  that 
purpose.  It  is  related  that  on  one  occa- 
sion Mr,  Loomis  persua  led  him  to  sit  for 
the  taking  of  a  daguerreotype,  which  was 
defaced  by  some  accident  before  it  was 
finished,  and  he  could  not  be  induced  to 
again  submit  to  what  was  to  him  an  irk- 


and  affected  by   personal  dislikes,  it  is    some  ordeal 

also  true,  that  ihese  are  generally  in-  In  surveying  Mr.  Hoffman's  career  we 
separable  from  such  a  type  of  character,  see  the  self-reliance  of  a  positive  charac- 
His  remarkable  sway  over  the  public  ter  tenoned  as  it  were  in  granite,  the  eye 
mind  came  from  none  of  the  devices  of  single  to  the  interests  of  the  state,  that 
the  demagogue;  his  arts  were  only  hon-  freedom  from  sordid  and  vulgar  self- 
est  arts,  he  never  ttooped  to  play  a  part,  seeking,  united  with  boldness  of  action 
never  fawned  for  the  favor  of  any  power  in  emergencies,  and  that  energy  fruitful 
that  he  regarded  as  injurious  to  the  pub-  in  results,  which  are  found  only  in  states- 
lie  welfare,  never  sought  for  public  ap-  men  of  the  first  order.  His  traits  of 
plause.  Yet  he  was  beloved  scarcely  less  character  justly  connect  his  fame  with 
than  he  was  admired.  He  had  the  titles  that  of  Silas  Wright,  the  Cato  of  Amer- 
of  nobility,  the  affectionate  distinctions  ica.  No  other  man  of  this  state  at  any 
conferred  by  democracies  upon  those  period  of  its  history,  more  truly  parallels 
favorites  thaft  they  learn  to  trust.  He  the  noble  simplicity,  the  devoted  and 
was  known  as  the  "old  Admiral "  and  unselfish  patriotism,  the  self-sustained 
as  "  old  Iron  Gray,"  and  his  plain  gray  and  unshaken  independence,  the  native 
suit,  was  more  to  his  fellow  citizens  power  without  outentation,  and  the  in- 
than  any  crown  or  robe  of  state.  Mr,  tellectural  force  of  that  model  republican 
Hoffman  divided  the  hours  of  his  busy  statesman.  The  unbiased,  sober  judge- 
life  between  his  profession,  his  public  ment  of  all  parties  assigns  a  position  to 
duties,  books  and  discourse  with  political  Silas  Wright  upon  the  pedestal  built  in 
disciples  who  were  proud  to  sit  at  his  the  hearts  and  memories  of  New  York- 
feet.  He  was  fond  of  sharing  his  stores  ers,  and  on  which  they  cherish  the  fame 
of  knowledge  with  young  men,  and  of  their  best  statesmen.  He  stands  there 
sought  to  elevate  their  views  and  aims,  among  peers,  but  not  superiors,  and 
He  read  and  studied  eiirrente  calamo,  Michael  Hoffman  stands  second  to  him 
writing  out  what  his  reading  suggested,  alone  in  the  qualities  that  sustain  popu- 
and  now  and  then  running  his  pen  lar  governments  in  their  most  benefi- 
through  words  and  clauses  that  offended  cent  action  for  securing  the  truest  and 
his  taste  for  concise  expression.  widest   welfare  of  the  community,  and 

14 


the  greatest  good  of  the  greatest  num- 
bers, 

MR.  HOFFMAN'S  SPEECH  ON  THE  PROPOSED 

AMENDMENTS    OF    THE    CONSTITUTION 

IN    RESPECT    TO  THE   ELECTION 

OF        PRESIDENT         AND 

VICE-PRESIDENT. 

After  the  reading  of  the  foregoing  the 
speech  of  Mr.  Hoffman,  delivered  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  March  29,  1836, 
came  to  the  hands  of  the  writer.  There 
is  probably  no  other  copy  extant,  and 
considerable  extracts  are  here  repro- 
duced. Mr.  George  McBufBe,  of  South 
Carolina,  had  introiuced  resolutions  for 
amending  the  Constitution  so  as  to  pro- 
vide for  the  election  of  president  and 
vice-president  by  a  general  district  sys- 
tem. A3  has  been  stated  Henry  R. 
Storrs,  of  Oneida,  spoke  against  the  res- 
olutions. Among  others  who  engaged 
in  the  debate  were  Edward  Everett,  of 
Massachusetts;  Andrew  Stevenson,  of 
Virginia,  and  Ralph  Ingersoll,  of  Con- 
necticut. Mr.  Hoffman  argued  in  favor 
of  abolishing  the  electoral  college  and 
for  a  district  system  that  would  take  the 
elfcction  from  the  House.  His  spee-ch 
was  extensive  and  elaborate,  and  while 
characteristic  of  his  style  of  argument 
and  oratory  it  is  interesting  for  his  views 
on  various  subjects.  After  speaking  of 
an  illness  that  had  prevented  his  hear- 
ing a  considerable  psert  of  the. debate 
and  expressing  his  concurrence  with  the 
eulogies  pronounced  upon  the  framers 
of  the  Constitution,  he  said  : 

"Their  good  character  expresses  our 
duty.  We  must  not  shrink  from  the  re- 
sponsibility of  our  situation.  Like  them 
we  must  examine  into  the  states's  condi- 
tion and  the  wants  of  the  society  in 
which  we  live;  and  if  the  advancement 
of  the  interest  or  happiness  of  the  citi- 
zens of  the  states  requires  it,  we  must 
propose  proper  amendments  to  the  Con- 
stitution according  to  its  provisions.  We 
must  endeavor  to  perfect  the  work  they 
so  happily  began;  and  not  disappomt 
the  just  expectations  of  our  predeces- 
sors." 

Replying,  in  passing,  to  Mr.  Storrs  ob- 
jection to  the  proposed  amendment  and 


his  remark  that  the  framers  of  the  Con- 
stitution seemed  "  to  have  been  inspired 
in  their  labors.'  he  suggested  that  i|*ny 
part  of  the  Constitution  was  thoJ-wocAof 
inspiration  it  was  that  part  which  pro- 
vided for  making  amendments.  Contin- 
uing, he  said  : 

"  Akm  to  this  is  the  argument  of  the 
gentleman  from  Massachusetts  (Mr.  Ev- 
erett). He  tells  us  '  it  is  not  consti- 
tutional to  propose  the  contemplated 
amendments' — and  he  went  into  argu- 
ment to  support  his  position.  He  seems 
to  suppose  that  some  parts  of  the  Con- 
stitution are  unessential  without  inform- 
ing us  by  what  rule  we  shall  know  them 
to  be  so.  With  those  he  admifcs  we  may 
play  and  may  amend  them,  but  he  de- 
nies that  we  may  amend  the  Constitu- 
tion in  any  of  its  essential  features.  I 
am  unwilling  to  admit  a  doctrine  which 
leaves  it  to  the  caprice  of  each  individ- 
ual to  say  this  or  that  part  of  the  Con- 
stitution is  a  material  or  immaterial 
characteristic  of  it.  When  he  objects 
to  us  our  oath  to  support  the  Con- 
stitution he  is  well  answered  by  those 
who  reply  that  the  oath  applies  as  well 
to  the  clause  making  it  the  duty  of  Con- 
gress to  propose  amendments,  when 
necessary,  as  to  any  other  part  of  the 
compact. 

'•  But  as  he  may  not  be  satisfied  with 
this  reply,  and  as  I  desire  the  aid  of  his 
eloquence  and  vote  to  procure  this 
amendment,  I  will  urge  upon  his  mind 
another  consideration.  The  amendment 
is,  or  is  not  necessary.  If  it  is  necessary 
to  the  security  of  the  rights  of  the  citi- 
zen, the  prosperity  of  t)he  several  states 
and  the  peace  of  the  union  —admit  that 
it  is.  Is  it  then  unconstitutional  to  pro- 
pose it  ?  His  argument  goes  the  whole 
length  to  declare  that  however  necessary 
the  amendments  may  be,  even  if  neces- 
sary to  provide  against  foreign  invasion 
or  domestic  evils  — the  amendments  can 
not  be  adopted.  I  can  not  agree  with 
him.  Those  parts  of  the  constitution 
which  in  practice  operate  on  the  person 
or  property  of  the  citizen  must  always 
be  material.  We  must  amend  it 
wherever  it  operates  injuriously  to  the 
personal  liberty  or  personal  security  of 


15 


the  citizen  or  to  his  rights  to  private 
property,  or  render  them  in  the  least  de- 
gree insecure,  and  they  can  never  be  se- 
cured to  him  but  by  securing  to  him  a 
reasonable  and  proper  bhare  of  political 
power  to  defend  them.  *  *  *  The 
first  question  that  presents  itself  is,  how 
are  the  electors  of  president  and  vice- 
president  chosen?  The  Constitution, 
art.  3,  sec.  2,  declares  that  "each  state 
shall  appoint  in  such  manner  as  the  leg- 
islature may  direct  a  number  of  electors 
equal  to  the  whole  number  of  senators 
and  representatives  to  which  the  state 
may  be  entitled  to  in  the  congress." 

The  manner  in  which  it  was  thought 
this  appointment  would  be  generally 
made  may  be  different  from  some  others 
the  words  would  admit  of.  The  con- 
vention which  framed  and  the  states 
which  adopted  the  constitution  un- 
doubtedly believed  that  the  general 
practice  under  the  clause  would  be  that 
the  citizens  of  the  states  would  in  some 
way  appoint  the  presidential  electors. 
*  *  *  If  any  doubts  could  be  raised 
on  this  subject,  the  clause  should  be  lib- 
erally construed  for  the  benefit  of  the 
states,  who,  as  parties  to  the  compact, 
reserve  the  right  of  appointment  to 
themselves.  If  I  had  any  doubts,  a  re- 
gard for  state  rights  would  induce  me 
to  resolve  them  in  favor  of  the  state,  and 
I  would  say  that  the  state  may  make  the 
appointment  by  any  body  of  men  in 
whom  they  may  choose,  by  law,  to  vest 
the  power  of  appointment.  Mr.  Hoff- 
man i,hen  declares  the  arguments  of 
Messrs.  Stevenson  and  Everett  complete 
anil  perfect  to  show  that  such  was  the 
power  vested  on  the  states.  Continuing 
be  said: 

"But,  if  the  question  were  a  new  one; 
if  we  had  not  the  secret  journal  of  the 
convention;  if,  without  any  practice,  we 
were  now  about  to  carry  the  constitu- 
tion into  practice,  there  could  be  no 
reasonable  doubt  in  giving  a  construc- 
tion to  the  clause  in  question.  If  it  be 
said  that  the  electors  mnst  be  appointed 
by  the  people  and  can  not  be  appointed 
by  the  legislature,  then  the  question  will 
occur,  by  what  or  by  the  whole  of  the 
citizens  ?    by  those  of  full  age,    or   by 


those  who  are  minors?  by  the  freehold 
voters  of  the  state  authorized  to  vote  for 
senator  and  governor,  or  by  the  voters 
authorized  to  vote  for  the  most  numer- 
ous branch  of  the  state  legislature,  or 
by  the  voters  in  their  primary  assem- 
blies of  the  people  and  their  towns?  For 
the  state  constitutions  were  then  exist- 
ing, and  in  that  of  New  York  were  these 
different  classes  of  voters.  If  the  con- 
vention intended  the  choice  must  bo 
made  by  the  voters  would  they  have  left 
it  so  wholly  uncertain  by  what  class  of 
voters  the  appointment  should  be  made." 
Referring  to  the  precise  methods  pre- 
scribed for  the  election  of  representa- 
tives and  senators  he  said:  "They  no 
doubt  believed  that  (the  appointment) 
would  be  in  general  practice,  be  made  in 
some  way  by  the  voters  of  the  state;  but 
they  must  have  understood  that  it  could 
and  might  be  made  in  any  other  manner 
in  which  the  stale  in  its  judgment  may 
direct.  If  they  did  not  intend  this  could 
be  done  why  did  they  leave  this  ap- 
pointment so  unlimited  in  the  manner 
and  yet  so  cautiously  guard  the  choice  of 
representative  and  senator." 

Mr.  Storrs  in  his  speech  denied  the 
power  of  the  two  houses  of  the  legisla- 
ture to  make  this  appointment,  and  de- 
clared its  exercise  in  1824  to  be  usurpa- 
tion. Mr.  Hoffman,  replyingto  this,  and 
continuing  his  argument  in  support  of 
the  state's  unlimited  discretion,  said: 
"I  wish  lo  call  to  the  no* ice  of  my  col- 
league and  the  committee  so  much  of 
the  legislation  of  New  York  as  relates 
to  this  subject.  In  our  state  (my  col- 
league, though  not  a  native,  is  a  citizen 
of  the  state)  nothing  can  be  better  set- 
tled as  matter  of  law  on  the  highest  au- 
thority than  the  proposition  for  which  I 
contend.  Under  the  old  constitution 
the  council  of  revision  was  composed  of 
the  governor,  the  chancellor  and  the 
justices  of  the  Supreme  Court.  They 
possessed  a  powerful  negative  upon 
every  bill,  and  in  the  theory  and  prac- 
tice of  the  government  were  especially 
charged  with  the  duty  of  permitting 
none  to  pass  that  might  infringe  upon 
the  constitution.  Yet  the  law  of  that 
state,  vesting  in   the  two  houses  of  the 


16 


state  legislature  the  power  of  appointing 
presidential  electors  passed  again  ar^d 
again  the  severe  scrutiny  of  the  council 
of  revision.  The  charge  of  usurpation 
made  by  my  colleague  applies,  if  at  all, 
more  strongly  to  those  who  passed  the 
act  than  to  those  who  acted  under  it. 
It  would  include  many  legislatures  of 
that  state.  The  legislature  of  1824  did 
not  pass  the  act.  They  were  in  the  ex- 
ercise of  this  power  the  humble  follow- 
ers of  the  great  men  who  had  gone  be- 
fore them — the  fathers  and  patriots  of 
the  state." 

The  first  general  act  of  that  state  vest- 
ing this  power  to  appoint  presidential 
electors  in  the  two  houses  of  the  state 
legislature  was  passed  April  12,  1793, 
when  the  council  of  revision  consisted 
of  George  Clinton,  the  governor,  who 
knew  the  constitution  and  always  did 
his  duty;  Robert  Yates,  John  S.  Hobart, 
John  Lansing,  Jr.,  and  Robert  R.  Liv- 
ingston, the  last  of  whom,  at  least,  was 
well  informed  of  the  nature  and  design 
of  the  constitution.  The  bill  became  a 
law  with  the  sanction  of  these  great 
men  and  able  lawyers.  This  bill  was 
re  enacted  March  26,  1796.  John  Jay 
was  then  governor,  and  did  he  not  un- 
derstand the  constitution?  The  judges 
just  mentioned  with  Morgan  Lewis  and 
Egbert  Bensen  composed  the  council  of 
revision.  But,  sir,  this  bill  was  amended 
November  13,  1804,  and  the  electoral  col- 
lege itself  was  authorized  to  supply 
any  vacancies  which  might  happen 
from  death  or  absence.  This  power  to 
supply  vacancies  is  a  power  to  appoint, 
and  the  college  appointed  by  the  legisla- 
ture is  empowered  to  appoint  electors  to 
supply  the  places  of  such  as  might  be 
absent.  Was  this  unconstitutional? 
Who  were  the  council  of  revision  ?  Mor- 
gan Lewis,  who  had  been  an  able  judge 
in  the  Supreme  Court,  was  governor; 
John  Lansing,  jr.,  an  able  lawyer,  fa- 
miliar with  everything  relative  to  the 
constitution,  was  chancellor.  The  jus- 
tices of  the  Supreme  Court  were  James 
Kent,  a  profound  jurist  and  civilian, 
whose  opinions  v.ill  be  respected  as  long 
as  virtue  is  esteemed;  Brockholst  Liv- 
ingston, who  has  adorned  the  bench  of 


the  Supreme  Court  of  the  union;  Smith 
Thompson,  who  now  adorns  that  bench; 
Ambrose  Spencer,  who  as  a  lawver  had 
few  equals  and  no  superior;  Daniel  D. 
Tompkins,  since  known  as  a  patriot  to 
every  friend  of  the  country.  On  a  legal 
or  constitutional  question  the  opinions  of 
these  men  would  weigh  aga-nst  the 
opinion  of  any  body  of  men  ever  assem- 
bled in  the  union.     *    * 

But,  sir,  these  are  not  all  that  are 
reached  by  the  denunciations  of  my  col- 
league. On  the  15th  of  March,  1825, 
the  legislature  of  that  state,  composed  of 
the  old  senate,  who  may  not  find  favor 
with  my  colleague,  and  a  house  of  as- 
sembly warm  from  the  people  and  com- 
posed mostly  of  patriots  elected  in  that 
triumph  which  returned  my  colleague 
to  this  house,  after  deliberation  and  de- 
bate, passed  an  act  establishing  the  dis- 
trict system  in  that  state,  the  adoption 
of  which,  while  other  states  do  not,  my 
colleague  declares  to  be  "an  act  of  polit- 
ical suicide."  That  act  divides  the  state 
into  electoral  districts  and  provides  for 
the  appointment  of  34  presidential  elec- 
tors by  the  voters,  and  authorizes  this 
college  so  appointed,  when  met,  not  only 
to  supply  vacancies,  but  also  to  appoint 
two  additional  electors,  never  chosen  by 
the  people,  corresponding  with  the  two 
senators  in  the  congress  of  the  United 
States.  Governor  Clinton  had  through- 
out recommended  the  general  ticket 
system  for  the  state  and  opposed  the  dis- 
trict system  for  the  state  until  the  United 
States  should  establish  it  uniform 
throughout  the  union.  Opposed  as  he 
was  to  the  policy  of  the  act,  it  received 
the  constitutional  sanction  of  that  able 
lawyer  and  statesman.  If  unconstitu- 
tional would  he  not  have  interposed  his 
veto  ?  Would  he  not  have  discovered  so 
fatal  an  objection  to  the  bill  ?  Is  he,  too, 
an  "usurper?" 

The  gentleman  from  Virginia,  who 
spoke  second  in  the  debate,  (Mr.  Steven- 
son,) objects  to  one  of  these  amend- 
ments. He  supposes  that  to  district  the 
states  will  enfeeble  the  power  of  tie 
state  legislatures,  and  tells  us  in  his  own 
forcible  manner  that  the  state  legisla- 
tures are  by  the  constitution  the  senti- 


17 


nels  of  the  liberties  of  the  people, 
placed  to  warn  against  the  encroach- 
ments of  arbitrary  power.  Tliis  allega- 
tion, made  in  "his  own  eloquent  manner, 
appeared  like  an  argument;  but  it  was 
appearance  onlj',  for  iu  a  few  minutes, 
in  a  statement_made  in  the  same  forci- 
ble manner  of  the  facts  of  history,  he 
overthrew  this,  theoretical  supposition. 
When,  in  1798,  the  legislatures  of  Ken- 
tucky and  Virginia,  seeinK  the  ap 
proaches  of  arbitrary  power  seizing 
upon  the  vitals  of  the  constitution, 
called  upon  the  legislatures  of  their  sister 
states  to  aid  in  the  defense  of  freedom, 
seven  out  of  nine  of  these  sentinels 
slept.  They  replied  there  is  no  danger; 
they  deserted  their  posts  and  slept  in  the 
enemy's  camp.  'The  Praetorian  bands', 
I  correct  the  reading  of  my  colleague 
(Mr.  Storrs.)  enervated  and  debauched  as 
they  were,  had  yet  sufficient  force  to 
awe  the  Roman  populace,  but  when  the 
distant  legions  took  the  alarm  they 
marched  to  Rome  and  gave  away  the 
empire.'  Yes,  sir,  the  state  legislatures 
slept  iu  the  enemy's  camp,  but  the  peo- 
ple of  the  United  States  rose  in  their 
sovereign  will,  produced  the  political 
revolution  of  1800,  and  brought  back  the 
constitution  to  its  original  simplicity. 
Will  you  struggle  to  retain  these  sleep- 
ing sentinels  of  your  liberty  and  keep 
away  the  people,  your  real  defenders  ? 
I  desire  that  the  state  legislatures  should 
be  sentinels  as  much  as  the  gentleman 
from  Virgmia.  They  will  not  be  the 
less  vigilant  as  sentinels  bj^  the  adoption 
of  this  amendment;  they  will  be  more 
so.  As  organized  bodies  they  will  have 
nothing  to  do  directly  with  the  presiden- 
tial election.  He  will  not  be  the  presi- 
dent of  their  making,  and  they  will  be 
impartial  judges  of  his  conduct.  *  * 
In  his  most  conscientious  zeal  to  resist 
these  amendments  my  honorable  col- 
league (Mr.  Storrs)  has  told  us  that  there 
is  in  some  states  a  "peculiar  population" 
counted  in  the  distribution  of  political 
I)Ower,  though  incapable  of  exercising 
ic,  and  he  warns  those  states  of  the  dan- 
gers which  iie  discovers  in  the  prospect. 
*  *  Two-thirds  of  the  states  may  pro- 
pose, but  it  requires  three-fourths  of  the 


states  to  adopt  any  amendment.  The 
period  which  he  treats  as  dangerous  to 
these  states  must  then  be  remote  indeed, 
long,  I  fear,  before  these  states  will  be 
w  thout  this  peculiar  population.  But 
will  the  adoption  of  this  amendment 
hasten  that  dreaded  event?  No,  sir. 
Will  the  rejection  of  it  retard  that  event? 
No,  sir.  Will  the  practice  of  the  consti- 
tution as  it  now  stands  dry  up  the 
sources  of  population  in  the  free  states 
and  prevent  the  increase  of  their  num- 
bers or  the  numbers  of  their  people?  No, 
sir.  Whether  you  adopt  cr  reject  these 
amendments,  that  period  will  be  neither 
hastened  nor  protracted. 

The  honorable  gentleman  from  Massa- 
chusetts, (Mr.  Everett)  has  unburthened 
his  mind  upon  this  subject  where  I  have 
never  felt  a  burthen.  As  the  proposi- 
tion which  he  has  asserted  may  be  ap- 
plied to  my  children,  I  will  repeat  it  to 
deny  it.  I  will  employ  his  own  words. 
I  know  I  have  them  nearly,  and  I  be- 
lieve entirely  correct.  He  says:  "Slav- 
ery, domestic  slavery,  say  what  men 
will,  is  a  condition  of  life  as  clearly  as 
any  other,  defensible  by  religion,  mor- 
ality and  national  law  or  international 
law."  I  deny  it.  My  religion  will  be 
found  in  the  example  and  precepts  of  the 
Saviour  of  the  world,  including  in  them 
the  best  system  of  morals,  and  my  in- 
ternational law  on  this  subject  is  writ- 
ten in  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 
What  a  doctrine  the  gentleman  has 
adopted  !  Let  not  the  master  lay  this 
doctrine  to  his  heart  to  give  it  ease.  It 
should  be  more  dreadful  to  him  than  to 
the  slaves.  It  frees  none  and  may  bind 
all  I  The  toil-worn  slave  may  not  dread 
it,  but  it  may  be  pushed  to  the  master 
himself.  Is  this  doctrine  to  be  the  prac- 
tice of  this  coalition  administration  in 
which  the  gentleman  tells  us  it  is  hon- 
orable for  any  man  to  serve?  For  my 
country  I  hope  not  and  will  believe  not. 
It  is  a  terrible  doctrine.  It  has  enslaved 
Asia  and  depopulated  the  fairest  parts 
of  the  earth.  Desolation  marks  its  pro- 
gress. And  if  insular  Hayti  is  odious  is 
continental  Barbary  less  so,  where  he  on 
the  one  side  of  the  Mediterranean  is  a 
master,  on  the  other   is  a  slave  doomed 


18 


to  servitude  ^where  hope  never  comes, 
that  comes  to  all,  but  torture  without  end 
still  urg^es,' 

Having  faid  this  as  an  answer  to  the 
gentleman's  proposition,  let  me  add 
what  I  think  useful:  Religion,  morality 
and  national  law  forbid— not  slavery 
only— forbid  not  domestic  slavery  only, 
forbid  the  citizens  of  one  sovereign  state 
to  interfere  with  and  disturb  the  domes- 
tic concerns  of  another;  forbid  the  neg- 
lect of  self-reformation  and  a  hypocriti- 
cal pretense  to  reform  others  who  have 
never  offended.  Slavery  is  an  evil;  it  is 
a  domestic  evil,  and  must  be  reformed 
and  removed  by  the  justice  and  wisdom 
of  the  society  in  which  it  may  be  found. 

The  gentleman  of  the  south  may  be 
well  mformed  as  to  the  best  remedy  for 
this  evil,  and  yet  I  should  be  unwilling 
to  have  them  come  into  New  York  to 
teach  us  how  to  dispose  of  the  few  that 
remain  to  us  of  this  unfortunate  race, 
and  I  feel  as  little  disposed  to  travel  after 
these  evils.  Every  society  must  reform 
its  own  abuoes,  and  if  evils  are  neglected 
the  society  must  and  will  suffer  the  con- 
sequences. 1  would  say  to  the  Virgin- 
ian, the  Carolinian,  the  Georgian— rely 
upon  your  own  wisdom  and  your  own 
justice;  if  ycu  have  evils  refcrm  them; 
rely  upon  yourselves.  Aids  are  prom- 
ised, but  never  look  to  Rome  for  aids. 
You  are  sovereign  states,  the  aids  may 
not  come  in  time.  In  a  single  day  in  a 
Servile  war  the  tables  may  be  turned, 
and  when  the  aid  shall  come  you  may 
be  stretched  on  the  earth;  a  sable  sov- 
ereignty may  wave  its  sceptre  over  your 
wives  and  your  children,  and  power  may 
repeat  to  them  'slavery,  don:estic  slavery, 
say  what  men  will,  is  a  condition  of  life 
as  easily  as  any  other  defended  by  mor- 
ality, religion,  national  law  and  interna 
tional  law.' 

Another  argument  is  urged  against  the 
amendments:  We  are  told  that  they  will 
destroy  state  rights.  State  rights  are 
dear  to  me,  and  I  respect  them,  but  what 
have  they  to  do  with  this  question,  un- 
less, like  slavery,  they  are  to  be  urged 
into  every  debate  ?  They  cannot  be  pre- 
served by  mere  theories  contradicted  by 
practice.     Let  this  government  exercise 


the  lea^t  power  which  can  effect  the 
constitutional  ends  of  its  establishment, 
and  in  nothing  affect  splendor,  and  state 
rights  will  be  secure.  But  when  the 
powers  of  the  government  are  to  be  ex- 
tended what  do  we  hear  about  state 
rights?  When  this  government  desires 
to  incorporate  a  bank  and  the  bank  has 
carried  the  ramparts  of  the  constitution; 
to  construct  canals;  to  send  a  mission  to 
a  congress  of  nations;  to  exercise  a 
guardianship  over  Indian  tribes  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  old  states,  which 
were  independent  sovereignties  before 
this  government  was  in  being,  do  we 
then  hear  of  the  sovereign  rights  of  the 
states?  *  *  But  when  it  is  proposed 
to  touch  the  political  power  of  this 
house— then,  and  not  till  then,  are  state 
rights  endangered.  When  this  house  is 
called  upon  to  give  up  to  the  citizens  of 
the  states  the  power  of  choosing  a  presi- 
dent, then  we  are  alarmed  with  the  cry 
of  state  rights.  The  question  is  not  be- 
tween this. government  and  the  states. 
No.  sir.  It  is  between  this  house  holding 
and  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  de- 
manding the  power  to  elect  the  execu- 
tive of  the  union.  If  the  small  states 
are  endangered  will  they  not  discover  it 
and  reject  the  amendments  ?  If  the 
rights  of  the  large  states  are  to  be  de- 
stroyed will  they  not  foresee  it  and  se- 
cure their  rights  by  refusing  to  adopt 
the  amendments?  The  states  do  not 
elect  a  president  here;  it  is  the  house 
who  elects  him.  The  large  states  can 
not  value  a  right  so  perfectly  worthless. 
My  colleague,  (Mr.  Storrs,)  who  opposes 
the  amendments  out  of  regard  for  state 
rights  will,  I  hope,  aid  us  to  ?end  tho 
amendments  to  the  states,  that  they  may 
judge  for  themselves.  The  states  will 
take  care  of  their  own  rights  when  the 
question  comes  before  them.     *    * 

in  my  reflections  upon  the  subject  of 
these  amendments  I  have  found  to  my 
entire  satisfaction  that  the  establishment 
of  a  system  of  districts  equal  in  politi- 
cal power  is  necessary  for  the  conven- 
ience of  the  large  states  and  the  safety 
of  the  small  ones,  and  is  desired.  *  * 
Without  the  amendments  you  force  the 
large  states  to  consolidate  their  electoral 


19 


power,  and  you  drive  them  into  coali- 
tions to  enable  the  moral  force  and  in- 
telligence of  the  people  to  choose  their 
president.  I  do  not  threaten  the  evil. 
It  will  ronie.  Some  states  now  small  in 
numbers  will  increase  their  fertile  and 
exteuded  territories,  and  will,  I  hope, 
soon  be  populous.  They  will  join  the 
coalilion.  Every  man  in  the  least  ac- 
quainted with  the  affairs  of  life  must 
anticipate  these  things.  The  same  cir- 
eurrstances  will  oblige  the  large  states 
in  the  measures  necessary  to  secure  their 
one  vote  in  the  house,  to  consolidate  in 
their  representation  in  congress.  What 
will  be  the  consequences  ?  I  will  not  at- 
tempt to  enumerate  the  evils  I  dread, 
but  they  will  be  more  terrible  than  the 
fancied  political  distractions  of  New 
York,  so  strongly  deprecated  by  my 
honorable  colleague,  (Mr.  Storrs.) 

In  his  opposition  to  the  resolutions  he 
has  alluded  to  the  "political  distractions" 
of  New  York,  rejoiced  at  the  abolition  of 
her  council  of  appointment,  though  he 
dishkes  amendmg  constitutions.  He  has 
denaunced  "the  caucus  system"  of  the 
state,  and  represents  as  still  more  odious 
the  caucus  system  that  will  grow  up  in 
districts.  *  *  The  history  of  the  state 
will  vindicate  her  old  constitution  and 
her  council  of  appointment,  and  the  ab- 
olition of  both  will  vindicate  her  parties, 
her  caucus  system  and  her  "district  sys- 
tem," and  will  prove  the  absolute  neces- 
sity of  establishing  a  general  system  of 
districts  throughout  the  United  States. 

Her  old  constitution  was  framed  by 
our  ancestors  amidst  the  perils  of  the 
revolution.  It  was  the  child  of  a  cau- 
cus and  carried  the  state  safe  to  inde- 
pendence. The  council  of  appointment 
was  wisely  intended  to  secure  the  due 
execution  of  her  laws  and  to  exclude 
disaffection,  then  existing,  ftom  execu- 
tive offices.  It  supported  the  state  m 
the  first  controversy  with  England,  and 
in  the  hands  of  a  patriot  citizen,  whose 
death  will  long  be  lamented,  it  gave  se- 
curity and  strength  to  the  union  in  the 
late  war.  But  when  the  population  of 
the  state  had  increased  to  a  million  five 
hundred  thousand  and  its  patronage  to 
more  than  a  million  a  year,    *    *    then, 


sir,  it  became  too  heavy  for  the  feeble 
arm  of  the  council.  The  council  could 
not  know  the  character  of  the  appli- 
cants for  office.  The  governor,  Mr. 
Clinton,  recommended  the  call  for  the 
convention.  Instantly  the  republicao 
party  adopted  the  recommendation  and 
carried  the  measure.  *  *  I  aided  ia 
that  effo't.  A  convention  was  called, 
the  constitution  was  amended,  the  coun- 
cil of  appointment  was  abolished  and 
the  power  of  appointment  distributed 
and  placed  in  other  hands;  the  right  of 
suffrage  was  extended,  a  new  judiciary 
was  provided,  better  suited  to  the  in- 
creasing wants  of  the  state,  and  a 
completion  of  her  canals  was  secured  by 
the  constitution  itself. 

Her  caucus  so  denounced  originated 
in  the  revolution;  it  framed  the  coneti- 
tutioa  itself  and  conducted  the  state 
safely  through  that  dreadful  struggle. 
It  was  then  hated  by  the  tories,  and  has 
been  complained  of  by  men  whose  am- 
bition outruns  the  public  judgment  in 
its  desires  for  office.  But,  sir,  what  is 
this  hated  caucus  system  ?  The  citizens 
assemble  in  their  towns  and  discuss  pub- 
lic measures  and  public  men.  They 
choose  their  delegates  to  represent  their 
judgments  in  the  county  convention. 
Warm  from  their  hands  they  express 
strongly  the  judgments  of  the  people. 
The  county  conventions  send  delegates 
to  those  of  the  senate  districts  and  to 
the  state  caucuses.  If  they  expressed 
less  of  the  sense  of  the  people  politicians 
might  desire  them  more,  but  no  man 
can  be  found  who  will,  in  these  caucuses 
or  out  of  them,  entirely  disregard  the 
judgments  of  the  people.  *  *  All  the 
great  nien  of  the  state  have  been  sup- 
ported by  it,  not  as  my  colleague  sup- 
poses, "wanting  principle  and  lacking 
bread,"  but  serving  their  country.  This 
caucus  system  is  the  instrument  of  the 
public  judgment,  and  has  teen  em- 
ployed in  everything.  The  public  judg- 
ment it  expressed  made  the  state,  framed 
the  constitution,  amended  it,  abolished 
the  council  of  appointment,  enacted  her 
laws,  established  her  common  schools 
and  school  fund,  endowed  her  acade- 
mies and  colleges  and  secured  the  com- 


20 


pletion  of  her  grand  canal?.  *  *  * 
Every  party  in  the  state  has  used  it,  and 
will  continue  to  use  it,  however  it  may 
be  denounced  here.  I  know  that  this 
instrument  will  be  brought  to  operate 
on  this  very  quest'on.  One  million  six 
hundred  thousand  people  will  not  con- 
sent to  see  the  presidential  election 
taken  from  them  and  brought  here. 
They  will  not  consent  that  their  force, 
their  intelligence,  their  political  power, 
shall  be  reduced  to  a  single  vote  in  this 
house.  The  powers  of  this  government 
must  be  distributed  and  exercised  among 
the  citizens  of  the  respective  states  in  a 
proportion  something  like  the  moral 
force  of  numbers  and  intelligence. 
Even  my  honorable  colleague  himself, 
(Mr.  Storrs,)  in  his  practice  contradicts 
his  theory.  He  never  declined  the  sup- 
port of  a  caucus.  I  do  not  blame  him 
for  condemning  his  own  acts,  but  I  like 
his  example  I  etter  than  his  precepts  on 
this  subject,  and  justify  myself  from 
his  censures  by  the  acts  of  a  great  man. 
My  honorable  colleague  (Mr.  Storrs) 
exulted  at  the  imaginary  destruction  of 
the  New  York  caucus  system.  Sir,  it  is 
not  destroyed.  The  legislative  caucus 
of  1824  nominated  a  governor  and  lieu- 
tenant governor  and  adjourned  in  jApril. 
From  that  day  forth  the  electoral  law 
was  pushed,  debated,  discussed,  until  in 
September  a  mighty  state  caucus,  under 
the  name  of  a  state  convention,  met  at 
Utica.  Speeches  were  made,  reporters 
were  employed;  the  electoral  law  was 
again  discussed.  The  caucus  then  nom- 
inated candidates  for  governor  and  lieu- 
tenant goverror.  Then  it  was  that 
politicians  (and  there  will  be  some  such 
in  a  society  so  numerous  as  ours)  changed 
their  politics  "more  frequently  than  a 
decent  man  does  his  shirt.'"  The  con- 
stituents of  my  colleague  were  many  of 
them  friendly  to  the  advancement  of 
the  present  incumbent,  and  being  in  a 
manufacturing  district  many  of  them 
strongly  favored  the  claims  of  the  sec- 
retary of  state.  I  opposed  the  Utica 
caucus,  by  the  aid  of  which  my  honora- 
ble colleague  secured  his  election.  But 
my  honorable  friend  from  the  city  of 
New  York,  (Mr.  Cambreling,)  was  not  a 


candidate  favored  by  this  caucus.  He 
was  supported  by  a  caucus  of  different 
politics;  neither  is  destroyed.  It  was 
caucus  against  caucus— Greek  against 
Greek. 

I  have  mentioned  these  things  to  show 
you,  sir,  that  the  district  system  was 
well  understood  and  well  considered  by 
the  people  of  this  state.  A  season  of 
tranquility  favorable  to  a  correct  judg- 
ment— not  an  apathy  of  the  public 
mind — ensued.  At  the  January  session 
of  the  state  legislature  in  1825  the  gov- 
ernor recommended  the  general  ticket 
system.  The  patriots  returned  by  that 
election,  which  gave  my  colleague  (Mr. 
Storrs)  his  seat,  after  debate  and  delib- 
eration, excepting  only  some  seventeen 
or  eighteen,  passed  the  district  bill 
agreeing  wjth  the  judgment  of  the  sen- 
ate.    Is  this  no  judgment  ? 

My  honorable  colleague  stated  that 
the  whole  number  of  votes  given  in  fa- 
vor of  the  district  system  was  about 
47,000  (I  took  down  his  numbers;)  that 
the  votes  given  for  the  general  ticket 
were  43,000,  making  the  whole  number 
given  90,000,  and  the  majority  for  dis- 
tricts 4,000.  In  the  state  paper,  the  Al- 
bany Argus,  of  December  13,  1825,  is  an 
official  copy  of  the  canvass.  The  whole 
number  of  votes  on  this  question  was 
not  90,000,  but  137,840.  *  *  Of  these 
votes  it  is  stated  that  there  were  "by 
districts"  66,324;  by  "general  ticket  ma- 
jority" 941;  "by  general  ticket  plural- 
ity" 56,901,  giving  the  district  system 
over  both  general  tickets  a  majority  not 
of  4,000,  but  of  8,882.  Is  this  no  judg- 
ment ?  And  if  the  canvass  be  corrected 
Yy  adding  to  those  allowed  only  such  as 
are  most  evidently  intended  for  the  dis- 
trict system,  having  "district"  written 
on  them,  and  giving  to  the  general 
ticket  all  others,  however  intended, 
and  there  is  a  majority  in  favor  of  the 
district  system  of  14,333  votes  out  of 
137.840,  being  a  proportion  greater  than 
was  ever  given  on  any  question  in  this 
state.     Is  this  no  judgment?     *      *      » 

I  insist,  sir,  that  the  amendments  pro- 
posed are  necessary  to  keep  the  election 
out  of  congress,  and   to  save  from  total 


31 


ruin  the  character  of  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives. 

When,  in  1801,  the  election  came 
here,  amendments  were  proposed  and 
adopted  to  prevent  the  recurrence  of  the 
event  of  an  equality  of  votes  between 
two  candidates.  Since  then  this  diffi- 
culty could  not  occur,  and  we  have  had 
but  two  opposing  candidates  until  the 
last  election.  The  race  of  revolutionary 
patriots  are  gone— and  it  has  been  justly 
remarked,  we  shall  have  "Rlchmonds 
enough."  All  seem  to  concur  that  we 
shall  have  these,  four  or  five  candidates. 
If  the  "infoimal  conference  system'  be 
continued— if  no  caucus  can  concen- 
trate and  express  (not  create  and  control) 
the  public  judgment,  shall  be  adopted, 
no  election  will  occur  without  four  or 
five  candidates.  In  every  such  case  the 
election  will,  in  all  probability,  come 
mto  the  house.  Yet  the  gentleman 
from  Connecticut  (Mr.  Ingersoll)  tells  us 
the  constitution  has  succeeded  com- 
pletely in  this  particular  provision  of  it. 
For  thirty  years  the  colleges  decided  the 
elections.  But  if,  as  seems  admitted  by 
all,  each  succeeding  election,  like  the 
past,  must  be  made  by  this  house,  then  I 
affirm  the  constitution  has  wholly  failed 
and  the  amendment  of  1803  is  entirely 
defeated.  The  people  are  thrown  out  of 
the  election  whenever  it  is  brought  re- 
peatedly into  the  house,  and  it  will  pro- 
duce the  most  serious  evils,  both  in  and 
out  of  doors. 

The  gentleman  from  Virginia,  (Mr. 
Stevenson)  insists  that  the  house  is  pure, 
but  he  admits  that  it  has  passions  which 
the  election  excites  or  embitters.  I  do 
not  know,  sir,  what  gentlemen  mean 
when  they  say  the  house  is  pure,  and 
they  have  not  informed  us  exactly  what 
they  mean  by  this  supposed  corruption, 
which  is  denied.  Without  attempting 
to  be  more  explicit,  without  alleging  that 
gross  corruption,  which  labors  for  im- 
mediate gain,  or  denying  its  existence — 
let  me  say  that  when  it  is  admitted  that 
the  house  has  passions,  gentlemen  ad- 
mit all  I  ask.  If  these  passions  are 
awakened  by  the  recurrence  of  the  elec- 
tion here  and  produce  an  injurious  ef- 
fect on  our  legislation  I  must  deprecate 


them;  they  not  only  injure  our  constit- 
uents, but  disgrace  us— make  us  guilty, 
not  of  gross  corruption,  but  of  injus- 
tice. 

The  gentleman  from  Massachusetts 
(Mr.  Everett)  carries  his  opinions  still 
farther  and  tells  us  the  house  is  not  cor- 
rupt but  incorruptible.  I  had  hoped  the 
house  was  not  corrupt,  bnt  I  can  not 
dispute  with  the  man  who  asserts  it  any 
more  than  I  could  with  the  man  who 
denies  his  own  existence.  In  support  of 
his  position  that  gentleman  has  made  a 
proposal  to  my  honorable  friend  from 
South  Carolina.  Let  him  make  it  tome. 
He  says  the  thirty  million  claim  for 
French  spoliations  is  most  righteous,  and 
he  would  pile  up  millions  in  the  area 
before  the  speaker's  chair,  and  those 
who  will  support  it  with  their  votes 
might  load  themselves  with  it  until  they 
were  unable  to  stagger  away.  Let  it  be 
suspected  that  he  has  the  warrant  to 
give  this  money,  or  that  I  am  disposed 
to  accept,  and  in  that  instant  we  are 
both  infamous.  Yes,  sir;  if  the  people 
should  suspect,  not  believe,  that  the 
owners  of  this  "righteous  thirty  million 
claim"  offer  ten  millions  for  the  votes  of 
oifmbers;  if  the  claim,  however  just, 
shall  be  allowed,  nothing  can  ever  wipe 
away  the  infamy  of  this  house.  The 
gentleman  says  he  did  but  jest.  I 
thought  so,  too;  but  the  jest  was  the 
more  cruel,  as  the  facts,  without  which 
it  proves  nothing,  had  no  existence. 
But,  sir,  if  such  a  case  should  occur,  it 
would  destroy  the  house;  no  man, 
whether  he  received  anything  or  not— 
no  man,  if  it  was  only  possible  that  it 
might  have  been  taken,  who  should 
vote  for  the  claim,  would  ever  again 
hold  a  seat  here  after  the  next  election, 
whatever  might  te  his  private  worth. 

But  my  honorable  colleague  (Mr. 
Storrs)  finds  other  arguments  to  oppose 
these  amendments.  He  says,  "If  the 
house  is  so  corrupt  why  ask  it  to  amend;" 
and  he  warns  the  house  "not  to  record 
its  own  infamy"  by  adopting  the  amend- 
ments. When  I  heard  this  argument  I 
thought  it  a  ministerial  story.  Every 
man  the  least  acquainted  with  British 
history  must    have    read   it  in    parlia- 


22 


coentary  debates.  There  the  member 
purchases  his  borough  and  the  minister 
buys  his  members.  When  a  reform  is 
moved  in  parliament  and  it  is  declared 
that  corruption  stalks  abroad,  the  crea- 
tures of  the  ministers —the  gentlemen 
from  the  treasury  bench— rise  in  their 
places,  and  looking  around  at  their  bor- 
ough mongers  here  and  there  in  every 
part  of  the  house,  inquire:  "Will  you 
admit  your  guilt?"  Be  cautious  how 
you  record  your  own  infamy!  Though 
corruption  is  admitted,  reform  is  de- 
nied.—I  hope  that  the  morals  of  this 
bouse  are  not  so  corrupted  as  this  spe- 
cies of  argument  supposes.  If  the  house 
can  be  influenced  by  such  an  argument 
there  is  an  end  to  all  amendment  in 
everythtng  that  relates  to  its  powers,  and 
an  expression  apolied  to  another  body 
should  be  applied  here  "the  awful  and 
once  respected  commons  of  Great  Brit- 
ain." If  I  he  argument  of  my  colleague 
has  force  in  this  house  the  amendments 
ought  to  be  carried  for  that  very  reason, 
as  it  supposes  corruption  which  it  might 
t>e  infamous  to  record.  But  his  whole 
argument  is  out  of  the  record.  If  the 
past  conduct  of  the  house,  as  I  hope, 
has  been  innocent,  the  record  leaves  it 
so;  and  if  there  has  been  guilt  the 
amendments  record  nothing.  *  *  * 
Another  source  of  security  pointed 
out  by  my  colleague  in  his  corscientious 
zeal  to  resist  innovation  is  the  responsi- 
bility of  the  member  to  his  constituents. 
If  the  member  is  honest,  makes  no  bar- 
gain and  gives  his  vote  according  to 
conscience  and  duty,  he  must  indeed 
return  to  his  constituents  and  meet  them. 
Though  innocent,  he  may  be  censured 
and  punished.  If  he  makes  his  bargain, 
if  he  is  corrupt,  if  he  secures  his  re- 
ward; if  he  is  guilty  he  enriches  himself, 
pockets  his  rew^ard  and  "retires  infa- 
mous and  contented."  Or  he  employs 
the  patronage  of  his  new  situation,  se- 
cured by  his  corruption  to  purchase 
friends  and  popularity,  and  realizes  the 
character  described  by  the  poet: 

"Man  smiles  in  ruin,  glories  m  his  guilt,  and 
infamy  stands  candidate  for  praise." 

(In  view  of  the  imputations  at  that 
time  so  rife  of  a  corrupt  bargain   be- 

23 


fc  A-een  the  friends  of  Mr.  Adams  and  Mr. 
Clay , charging  that  the  former  was  chosen 
president  by  the  house,  the  last  clause 
seems  to  have  been  intended  to  picture 
the  attitude  of  some  of  the  president's 
support^  rs  in  the  house  at  the  late 
election.  The  final  judgment  of 
history  does  not  confirm  the 
"bargain  and  corruption"  charge 
then  pressed  with  great  acrimony,  but  it 
was,  no  doubt,  honestly  entertained  by 
most  of  the  partisans  opposed  to  the 
president  and  the  secretary  of  state.) 

Continuing,  Mr.  Hoffman  said:  "But, 
sir,  the  question  is  not  whether  the  house 
was  innocent  or  guilty  in  the  last  elec- 
tion, no  accusation  has  been  made  (here) 
to  raise  such  a  question,  and  to  deny  or 
afiirm  either  is  entirely  out  of  the  ques- 
tion in  dispute.  That  question  can  not 
be  asked — it  is  vain  to  propose  it.  What 
could  the  house  reply?  Not  its  own  in- 
nocence or  its  own  guilt.  It  can  not 
confess  nor  deny,  either  would  excite 
public  ridicule.  The  question  is,what  was 
the  effect  of  the  election  on  the  character 
of  the  hous'?  Did  it  injure  the  charac- 
ter of  the  house,  not  in  the  opinion  of 
honorable  gentlemen  here,  but  in  the 
esteem  of  the  American  people  ? 

Whenever,  sir,  it  is  seen  that  the  elec- 
tion will  in  all  probability  come  into  the 
house,  then  everything  that  belongs  to 
the  election  attaches  to  the  character  of 
the  house.  *  *  The  character  of  the 
candidates,  the  cards,  the  labels,  pam- 
phlets, attacks -everything  dignified  or 
disgraceful,  odious  or  contemptible,  all 
that  belongs  to  the  election  is  deemed  to 
be  the  creation  of  the  house.  The  peo- 
ple judge  of  the  election  and  the  con- 
duct of  the  house  with  less  reserve,  but 
not  with  less  justice  than  the  members 
judge  themselves.  We,  perhaps,  are  a 
little  too  polite  and  kind  towards  each 
other  to  suspect  dishonor  or  dishonesty. 
The  people  are  more  plain,  nor  are  they 
entirely  mistaken.  They  make  allow- 
ances for  circumstances,  and  th'ey  judge 
us  with  plain  sincerity.  While  we  count 
so  largely  on  that  side  of  their  good 
sense  which  favors  us,  it  may  be  well  to 
read  what  is  written  on  the  other  side. 
*    *    When  they  see  that  the  election  is 


likely  to  come  here,  and  that  the  house 
and  its  members  do  nothing  to  prevent 
it,  they  may  think  it  desired,  and  every- 
thmg  good  or  evil  in  its  progress  is  in 
some  degree  attached  in  their  judgment 
to  the  character  of  the  house.  Was  the 
last  election  conducted  fairly?  I  hope 
so:  and  yet  what  reproaches,  suspicions 
and  abuses  has  every  man  been  obliged, 
with  pain,  to  hear.  Will  you  have  more 
respectable  candidates  ?  Who  were 
they  ?  The  one  a  secretary  of  the  treas- 
ury, another  the  secretary  of  state,  an- 
other an  honorable  senator  from  the 
state  of  Tennessee,  another  speaker  of 
the  house.  All  these  were  in  daily  in- 
tercourse with  the  members  of  the 
house.  How  many  opportunities  for 
bargains,  contracts,  promises  and  un- 
derstandings, and  all  constantly  acted  on 
by  those  reciprocations  which  influence 
affection,  mould  the  will  and  incline  the 
conduct  of  men.  It  will  be  with  others 
as  it  was  with  you.  Your  presidential 
candidates  will  not  be  retired  and  pri- 
vate men,  but  public  men,  daily  acting 
with  you.  The  opportunities  for  cor- 
ruption will  exist.  You  must  attribute 
the  suspicions  to  the  circumstances  in 
which  you  are  placed.  You  must  change 
the  circumstances;  while  these  exist  you 
never  can  change  the  opinions  of  men. 
I  ask  you  to  remember  all  the  shoe-black 
and  polish  of  character,  all  the  ink  and 
pamphlets  of  the  late  election,  all  the 
reports  and  rumors  circulated  to  your 
injury.  They  were  all  considered  a  part 
of  the  election  in  congress.  Whenever 
It  is  seen  that  the  election  will  come  here 
the  members  are  considered  a^  managers 
and  the  election  as  the  business  of  this 
house.  I  am  too  much  exhausted,  but  I 
had  intended  to  draw  from  the  minds  of 
the  people  a  true  picture  of  the  house, 
stamped  there  by  the  last  election,  of 
80  many  things  strange,  ridiculous  and 
dangerous,  and  which  had  a  most  un- 
happy influence  on  the  character  of  the 
house.  *  *  You  may  allege  that  the 
people  are  mistaken.  They  will  cling  to 
their  opinion  of  you,  cling  to  this  power, 
and  rely  upon  it,  sir,  when  the  character 
of  'this  house  becomes  odious  and  sus- 
pected in  the  minds  of  the  people  it  will 


not  be  long  before  ft  will^deserve  the  bacJ 
character  imputed  to  it.  *  *  What- 
ever fol  ows  in  the  train  of  the  electitms; 
what  of  coalitions  and  intrigues  will 
cling  to  the  skirts  of  the  house.  Let  us 
adopt  these  amendments  and  dispense 
with  this  unhappy  blessmg;  a  power 
which  has  injured,  will  disgrace  and  will 
corrupt  the  house.     *    * 

No  purity  of  private  life,  no  past  patri- 
otic sacrifices,  no  future  public  success 
can  wipe  out  the  reproach.  I  care  noth- 
ing about  the  kind  judgments  of  gentle- 
men here.  What  will  be  the  public 
judgment  abroad —beyond  these  walls? 
Can  I  doubt  from  wh  it  I  have  heard  that 
the  same  judgments  will  be  repeated  and 
declared.  If  a  member  accepts  an  ap- 
pointment the  executive  seal  will  be  a 
seal  of  infamy.  If  the  executive  ap- 
points his  friends  he  rewards  -if  his  op- 
ponents he  buys  !  Reverse  this  judgment 
who  will,  the  people  will  establish  it, 
will  assert  it,  will  maintain  it  while  the 
election  is  withheld  from  them  and 
brought  hither.  *  *  The  only  remedy 
is  in  practice,  to  take  the  election  from 
congress.     *    * 

Another  argument,  Mr.  Chairman, 
which  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  urge  upon  the 
consideration  of  the  committee  in  favor 
of  the  amendments  is,  that  the  people 
desire  to  dispense  with  the  electoral 
colleges,  and  in  some  way  to  give  their 
vote  direct  for  president  and  vice- 
president.  Whatever  may  be  the 
fate  of  any  other  amendment, 
whether  any  other  shall  or  shall  not  be 
adopted,  I  assert  that  the  people  do  de- 
sire to  vote  direct  and  to  dispense  with 
the  electoral  colleges.  On  all  hands 
these  colleges  are  admitted  to  be  useless. 
No  man  has  or  can  offer  an  argument 
for  their  continuance.  All  allow  them 
to  be  perfectly  useless,  but  all  can  not  as- 
sert that  they  are  perfectly  harmless. 
Why,  then,  should  they  be  retained  as  a 
useless  part  of  the  system?  Why,  then, 
oblige  the  public  judgment  to  sue  out  a 
license  to  pass  through  the  pipe  of  an 
electoral  college?    *    * 

But,  whatever  may  have  been  the 
cauSe  of  the  ruin  of  the  Athenian  and 
other    republics,    (after    discussing  the 

24 


views  of  other  members  on  that  sub- 
ject,—Ed.)  it  can  have  no  just  appli- 
cation to  the  American  people,  occu- 
pied as  they  are  in  all  the  concerns  of 
civilized  life,  scattered  over  an  immense 
territory,  cultivating  the  soil,  possessed 
of  riches,  busy  with  industry,  blessed 
with  intelligence.  *  *  i  have  no  fear 
of  them.  If  any  part  of  our  govern- 
ment be  pure,  be  incorruptible,  I  assert 
that  it  is  the  people.  If  any  body  of 
men  be  above  suspicion  and  beyond  the 
reach  of  corruption  it  is  the  voters  in 
the  respective  states.  No  patronage  can 
cover  their  numbers;  no  political  indus- 
try can  find  or  count  them.  There  I 
wish  to  see  the  election  go;  there  let  the 
power  be  deposited.  They  are  as  incor- 
ruptible as  anybody  in  this  life  can  be; 
there  it  will  be  safe. 

The  gentleman  from  Massachusetts, 
(Mr.  Everett,)  reminds  us  of  the  French 
electoral  colleges.  I  do  not  see  how  they 
can  be  pressed  into  the  argument  to  sup- 
port the  retaining  of  ours,  and  I  thank 
him  for  the  hint.  Yes,  sir;  in  France, 
if  an  election  could  in  any  way  be  dis- 
posed of  directly  by  the  people  they 
would  return  deputif  s  hostile  to  prerog- 
ative and  favorable  to  liberty.  To  pre- 
vent this,  to  secure  everything  to  the 
crown,  electoral  colleges  are  devised;  the 
people  can  return  no  one;  the  candidates 
must  pass  through  the  electoral  colleges. 
If  the  court  fail  to  obtain  their  creature 
in  the  primary  elections  the  patronage 
of  the  king  can  secure  him  in  the  elec- 
toral college;  such  is  the  practice.  If 
we  desire  that  ours  should  be  employed 
to  produce  a  like  effect  it  may  be  an  ar- 
gument to  retain  them.  I  w  ish  for  that 
reason  to  destroy  them. 

Sir,  I  do  say  r,hat  the  people  desire  to 
dispense  with  the  colleges  and  to  vote 
direct.  Will  we  deny  them  their  re- 
quest? *  *  We  are  their  trustees;  the 
power  we  have  they  gave  us  in  trust. 
The  dignity,  the  intelligence,  the  moral 
character  of  the  house  is  not  ours,  but  a 
reflex  of  theirs:  they  are  derived  from 
the  people.  The  213  gentlemen  who 
compose  the  house  on  a  question  of 
learning  would  not  be  the  equal  of  some 
of  our  literary  institutions;  on  a  ques- 


tion of  trade  would  be  weighed  down  by 
a  chamber  of  commeice,  and  the  me- 
chanics of  a  city  would  certainly  be 
much  better  authority  on  a  question  of 
arts.  *  *  *  Can  we  deny  them  this 
power  if  they  judge  it  best  to  ask  for  it? 
Can  we  tell  them  that  my  friend  from 
South  Carolina  will  find  them  with  this 
power  and  by  his  eloquence  seduce  them 
to  their  own  ruin?  Shall  we  insult  them 
by  saying  that  political  demagogues  will 
rouse  them  to  madness  and  riot — that 
they  are  intelligent  and  patriotic  but  can 
not  be  trusted  ? 

But,  gentlemen,  declare  that  the  peo- 
ple do  not  desire  this  change,  and  in 
proof  of  this  assertion  they  say 
the  several  states  can, -but  do  not  pro- 
pose the  call  of  a  convention.  I  know 
they  can,  but  ought  they  to  doit?  I 
ask  whether  it  is  wise  or  prudent  when 
a  great  proportion  of  the  people  ask  for 
any  particular  amendment  to  refuse  it, 
until  in  one  state  for  one  reason,  in  an- 
other for  another  reason,  in  New  York 
and  Tennessee  for  this  amendment,  in 
Massachusetts  to  restrain  your  power  as 
to  militia  officers,  in  the  west  for  relief 
against  your  judicial  executions,  in 
other  states  for  other  purposes,  until 
discontent  shall  invite  two-thirds  of  the 
states  in  a  common  call  for  a  convention 
to  propose  amendments  to  the  constitu- 
tion. Is  it  prudent  to  wait  for  such  a 
call?  When  it  does  come  you  can  not 
deliberate;  you  can  not  decide  whether 
to  grant  or  refuse  it.  You  must  regis- 
ter the  decree,  the  call  must  be  obeyed. 
When  such  a  convention  meets  the 
whole  constitution  is  afloat;  every  part 
of  it  may  be  amended.  You  can  not 
restrain  the  power  of  the  convention  or 
tie  up  its  hands  to  this  or  that  part  of 
the  compact.  The  states'  convention 
would  laugh  at  such  an  effort  to  limit 
them.  Do  gentlemen  desire  such  a  con- 
vention? If  they  do  let  them  refuse 
this  and  every  other  necessary  amend- 
ment until  evils  shall  reach  and  press 
hard  upon  two-thirds  of  the  states— and 
they  may  yet  live  to  hear  the  call !  The 
evils,  accumulated  by  our  negligence 
and  our  obstinacy,  will  be  great,  and  the 
call  will  be  terrible.     *    * 


25 


For  my  constituents  I  affirm  that  they 
desire  it  (the  direct  vote.)  In  the  state 
from  which  I  came,  making  a  seventh 
of  the  whole  people  of  the  United  States, 
in  the  legislature,  m  the  public  proceed- 
ings, at  the  courts  of  justice,  in  all 
j>laces  I  have  heard  their  opinions  on  this 
question.  Of  the  thousands  whose  judg- 
ments I  have  heard  expressed  I  have 
never  heard  a  single  man  express  a  de- 
sire to  retain  the  colleges.  In  the  dis- 
trict of  my  colleague  (Mr.  Storrs,)  who 
opposes  all  amendments,  I  am  ac- 
quainted, and  know  that  his  constituents 
and  my  own  most  ardently  wish  to  vote 
direct  for  president.  My  colleagues  are 
about  me  and  can  contradict  me  if  I 
err.     *    * 

Will,  then,  the  friends  of  this  new  ad- 
ministration—chosen by  congress,  not 
by  the  people,  in  their  colleges— will 
they  refuse  the  universal  wish  of  the 
people?  If  they  do  can  they  hope  or 
expect  to  sustain  the  administration 
against  the  general  -judgment  which 
must  follow  the  refusal?  To  the  gentle- 
man who,  from  a  sense  of  duty  to  the 
country  oppose  the  administration,  I 
put  the  question:  Can  you  without  pa- 
tronage, without  the  power  of  confer- 
ring patronage  and  honor — if  you  by 
your  votes  oppose  the  just  wishes  of  the 
people  in  this  instance,  can  you  oppose 
successfully  this  administration?  It  is 
only  by  the  support  you  shall  give  to 
their  judgments  and  their  rights  that 
success  can  be  secured  or  deserved.  To 
all  I  put  the  question:  Shall  it  be  said 
that  the  house  of  representatives  have 
got  the  power  to  elect  the  president  and 
they  will  keep  it?  By  our  vote  on  these 
amendments  shall  we  place  the  will  of 
this  house  against,  and  the  judgment  of 
the  people  for,  the  amendments  ? 


Sir,  do  the  people  of  the  states  require 
this  amendment,  and  as  a  means  to  at- 
tain it,  ask  the  system  of  districts  equal 
in  political  power!  I  think  they  do;  it 
can  hardly  be  attained  without  the  dis- 
tricts. *  *  Shall  we  refuse  and  tell 
them  all  that  has  been  urged  here 
against  the  vote  by  the  people  and  the 
district  system  ?  What  will  they  reply  ? 
We  made  you  and  can  unmake  you. 
We  tell  them  they  are  patriotic,  intelli- 
gent and  worthy  of  confidence,  but  the 
vote  by  the  people  and  the  district  sys- 
tem will  injure  state  rights;  what  will 
they  reply?  "We  are  the  states;  their 
rights  are  ours,  send  the  amendments  to 
the  states  and  we  will  judge  then  of  our 
own  rights."  Yes,  sir.  let  them  judge 
what  is  fit,  safe  and  proper  for  them- 
selves. They  know  and  will  secure  their 
rights,  if  they  can  once  tear  them  from 
your  grasp.  Whatever  excuse  we  may 
attempt  to  make  for  clirging,  as  power 
always  will,  to  this  power  of  electing  a 
president,  it  will  recoil  upon  us.  The 
people  will  believe  that  we  are  partial, 
corrupt  judges,  who  judge  in  their  own 
favor.  If  we  refuse  they  will  justly 
charge  us  with  the  crime  of  withhold- 
ing this  power  from  those  whoga\eit, 
and  for  no  good  purpose.  They  will 
look  upon  us,  and  justly,  as  unfaithful 
guardians  who  watch  the  property  of 
their  wards,  to  squander  it,  and  illegally 
retain  it  in  their  hands  to  apply  it  to 
their  own  corrupt  purposes,  to  pervert 
and  abuse  it.  Let  not  this  be  said  of  us; 
let  us  surrender  a  power  which  will  cor- 
rupt this  house  and  give  it  to  the  peo- 
ple in  their  districts,  where  it  will  be 
safe  forever. 


26 


LIFE,  CHARACTER  AND  PUBLIC  SERVICES  OF 
JOHN  JAY. 


AN  ADDRESS  BY  FRANK  B,  PARKHURST,  OF  FRANKFORT, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society  March  lo,  1896. 


It  is  a  mark  of  progress,  as  well  as  of 
stability,  when  a  people  investigate  the 
causes  which  conduce  to  their  well- 
being.  It  is  not  only  essential  that  the 
historian  should  rescue  important  ques- 
tions from  obscurity,  but  that  the  masses 
should  become  mindful  of  those  trans- 
actions wherein  were  gatned  rational 
liberty  and  nationality.  It  is  true  there 
are,  and  ever  will  be,  new  applications 
in  our  civil  polity;  but  never  could  we 
solve  the  problems  which  confront  us 
without  the  fundamental  lessons.  Fa- 
miliarity with  the  causes  which  actu- 
ated the  building  of  our  political  system 
is  not  only  a  duty,  but  should  be  a  de- 
light, to  every  American,  for  there- 
from emanates  the  respect  which  is  the 
foundation  of  good  citizenship 

With  all  our  ingenuity,  wealth  and 
power,  we  should  bear  in  min  i  society 
has  boen  of  slow  growth,  not  of  rapid 
creation,  and  that  our  security  and  hap- 
piness are  involved  more  in  precedence 
than  we  judge  at  first  view;  indeed  re- 
search,of  ten  prompts  the  student  to  ex- 
claim :  "Modern  knowledge  is  but  a 
development  of  the  primal  hints  of  the 
ancients!"  He  observes  that  these  inci- 
dents and  suggestions  materially  relate 
to  his  own  condition;  that  they  still  in- 
culcate vigilance,  fortitude  and  justice. 
He  learns  that  the   way   has  been  long 

27 


and  toilfome;  not  once,  but  more  than  a 
score  of  times,  during  five  reigns,  was 
Magna  Charta  signed,  perforce,  ere  that 
justly  celebrated  instrument  was  ac- 
knowledged by  the  crown.  While  our 
founders  molded  their  design  by  a  crea- 
tive power  of  their  own,  "the  materials 
for  building  the  American  Constitutioi 
were  the  gifts  of  the  ages."  Yes,  we 
are  required  to  live  in  the  past  as  well  as 
in  the  present,  if  we  would  treasure  and 
transmit  beneficial  results  to  those  who 
shall  follow  us;  and  he  who  cares  naught 
for  posterity  lacks  the  sympathy  requi- 
site for  good  order  and  pi  ogress.  So 
has  history  warned  and  encouraged  the 
race,  and,  we  have  reason  to  hope,  will 
lead  mankind  to  a  higher  status  by 
teaching,  with  redoubled  emphasis,  that 
wrong  must  ultimately  yield,  even  in 
the  citadels  of  ignorance  and  prejudice. 
With  this  in  view  the  wise  and  benevo- 
lent establish  institutions  of  learning, 
public  libraries  and  historical  societies. 

If  the  sublime  in  man,  as  evinced  in 
individual  achievements  for  good,  in- 
spire gratitude  and  emulation,  second  to 
none  among  the  ennobling  examples  in 
history  and  tradition  are  the  benefactors 
who  flourished  during  our  Revolution- 
ary epoch,  and  not  least  among  the  truly 
great  of  that  time  is  the  subject  of  this 
brochure.     Here    we    must   be   content 


with  a  glance  at  a  character  whose  dis- 
tinctive qualities  become  more  interest- 
ing at  each  perusal. 

We  are  prompted  to  revert  for  a  mo- 
ment to  the  closing  scenes  of  the  sev- 
enteenth century,  upon  the  continent  of 
Europe,  as  illustrative  of  Mr.  Jay's  ori- 
gin  and  proclivities. 

Louis  the  Great  had  fallen  to  Louis  the 
tyrant  and  the  voluptuary;  his  example 
spread  like  a  conta^tion  among  those 
who  surrounded  the  throne;  there  was  a 
social  relapse  when  the  political  meth- 
ods of  Machiavilli  and  visions  of  Boc- 
caccio were  perused  with  morbid  avid- 
ity. The  noble  Colbert,  the  benefactor 
of  his  country,  lay  in  the  tomb;  princi- 
ples baneful  and  beneficial  clashed 
angrily  in  the  gilded  salon,  the  mart  and 
the  coffee  houses.  Forgetting  former 
achievements  which  gave  renown  to  his 
name  and  unparalleled  splendor  to 
France,  the  monarch  listened  to  perni- 
cious counsels,  revoked  the  edict  of 
Nantes,  and  enfeebled  his  country  with 
strife  and  confusion.  Scourged  on  the 
one  hand  and  licensed  on  the  other  the 
disturbing  forces  of  his  realm  loomed 
in  threatening  array.  The  banners  of 
disaffection  flaunted  in  the  by-ways  of 
the  capital;  a  condition  bordering  on 
chaos  was  the  result  of  the  royal  man- 
date; his  battalions  began  to  waver  and 
his  glory  fade  before  the  advancing  col- 
umns of  the  Alliance.  The  church, 
which  had  been  allied  to  the  crown  to 
maintain  order  and  preserve  civilization 
during  the  feudal  period,  becoming 
alarmed  at  the  course  of  events,  sought 
exoneration  from  the  king  and  attempted 
to  reconcile  the  people.  But  in  a  state 
vibrating  between  despotism  and  an- 
archy, where  ribaldry  and  minstrelsy 
frequently  interrupted  the  sacred  mass 
and  personal  malevolence  was  not 
checked  by  sympathy  nor  punished  by 
law,  the  afflicted  had  no  alternative  but 
to  deny  conscience  or  abandon  property, 
kindred  and  country. 

In  those  days  of  sorrow,  of  fire  and 
mutilation,  there  lived  in  the  French 
city  of  Rochelle  a  prosper  us  Huguenot 
merchant,  who  had  cultivated  a  taste 
for  literature  and  politics  as  well  as  for 


commerce.  Foreseeing  a  crisis  he  sent 
his  wife  and  children  lysea  to  England. 
Suspicion  «as  aroused,  he  was  thrown 
into  prison,  from  which  he  was  extri- 
cated by  the  intercession  of  worthy  op- 
ponents. Trusting  that  reconciliation 
would  be  effected  he  calmly  but  vigi- 
lantly awaited  coming  events.  The 
revocation  of  October  23,  1685,  dispelled 
hope,  and  Pierre  Jay,  th;  proscribed  op- 
ulent trader,  quickly  decided  to  sacrifice 
the  earnings  of  yeats  rather  than  re- 
cant at  the  feet  of  tyranny.  Employing 
a  trusty  pilot  to  watch  and  hold  one  of 
his  own  vessels  at  the  mouth  of  the  har- 
bor he  boarded  her  under  cover  of  dark- 
ness and  sailed  for  England,  where  he 
sold  his  valuable  cargo,  liberally  paid 
captain  and  crew,  and  joined  his  family. 
Here,  by  frugality,  they  lived  comforta- 
bly upon  the  wreck  of  his  fortune. 

The  respect  this  thrifty  merchant  had 
for  learning  may  be  surmised  from  the 
fact  that  previous  to  his  exile  he  sent 
his  only  son,  Augustus,  at  the  age  of 
twelve,  to  an  English  university.  The 
lad  proved  worthy  of  the  paternal  gener- 
osity, becoming  noted  for  his  erudition 
and  enterprise.  At  the  completion  of 
his  education  he  embarked  for  Africa, 
in  his  father's  interest,  and  was  there 
stationed  at  the  escape  of  his  family. 
Returning,  he,  too,  was  resolute  in  his 
convictions,  and  sailed  for  the  Carolinas, 
the  trysting-place  of  many  French  Hu- 
guenots. After  various  adventures  upon 
sea  and  land,  among  which  was  his  cap- 
ture while  on  a  voyage  to  Holland,  and 
his  being  carried  by  a  French  privateer 
to  the  fortress  of  Sr.  Maloes,  whence  ne 
escaped  to  Denmark.  He  completed  his 
business  abroad  and  returned  to  New 
York,  then,  as  now,  the  chief  commer- 
cial city  of  the  continent.  Here  he 
married  the  refined  M'ss  Anna  Bayard, 
who  was  also  a  descendant  from  those- 
who  had  suffered  religious  persecution. 
Here  settled  the  flourishing  importer 
and  his  amiable  spouse. 

Resolute,  tolerant,  educated  and  en- 
terprising, Augustus  Jay  soon  took  an 
important  place  among  the  influential 
citizens  of  the  metropolis.  Four  chil- 
dren were   the  fruit  of  this  union,  the 


28 


fourth  of  whom  was  Peter,  who,  im- 
bibing tlie  spirit  of  his  ancestors,  ad- 
vanced rapidly  in  wealth  and  position. 
He  married  Miss  Mary  Van  Cortland t,  a 
lady  of  Bitavian  extraction  and  of  re,- 
markable  talents  and  culture. 

Such  was  his  success  in  business  that 
at  the  age  of  forty  Peter  Jay  was  able 
to  retire  with  his  wife  and  ten  children 
to  a  country  seat  on  Long  Island,  where 
his  household  devoted  their  time  to  the 
welfare  of  each  other.  The  eighth  child, 
born  on  the  13th  of  December,  1745,  to 
this  intelligent  and  devout  couple,  was 
the  renowned  John  Jay,  first  Chief  Jus- 
tice or  the  Republic,  Minister  to  Spain, 
France  and  England,  and  Governor  of 
the  state  of  New  York. 

The  mother  of  this  noted  man  was 
from  an  excellent  family,  who  were 
among  the  early  settlers  of  the  New 
Netherlands.  To  her  he  attributed  much 
of  his  early  education  and  the  instilling 
of  those  Christian  principles  into  his 
mind  which  were  exhibited  throughout 
his  career.  At  the  knee  of  this  excellent 
mother  he  learned  the  rudiments  of 
English  and  Latin.  "When  in  his  eighth 
year  he  was  sent  to  a  grammar  school  at 
New  Rochelle,  where  he  was  subjected 
to  many  inconveniences  and  hardships 
among  strangers,  but  even  at  this  tender 
age  his  self-reliance  and  contented  dis- 
position supported  him.  In  youth  he 
was  reserved,  yet  juvenile  sports  were 
not  without  attraction  for  him.  Beneath 
his  sedateness  there  were  kindly  quali- 
ties which  drew  the  respect  of  his  play- 
fellows. At  this  time  he  also  learned 
from  those  with  whom  he  mingled  to 
speak  Fieuch  quite  fluently,  a  matter  of 
moment  to  him  in  after  years. 

At  the  age  of  eleven  his  father  took  him 
to  the  homestead  and  placed  him  under 
the  care  of  a  private  tutor,  who  prepared 
him  for  Kin^s  (now  Columbia)  college. 
He  applied  himself  diligently  to  his 
studies  and  composition,  devoting  his 
leisure  moments  to  literature  and  his- 
tory. His  deportment  and  application 
elicited  esteem  from  his  teachers.  In  his 
fourth  collegiate  year  he  decided  upon 
law,  and  began  reading  Grotius.  He 
graduated  on  the  15th  of  May,  17G4,  pro- 


nouncing the  Latin  salutatory.  Two 
weeks  after  he  entered  the  office  of  Ben- 
jamin Kissam,  in  the  city  of  New  York. 
He  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1768,  and 
soon  was  possessed  of  a  lucrative  busi- 
ness. 

At  the  age  of  twenty  nine  Mr.  Jay  was 
united  in  matrimony  to  the  accomplished 
Miss  Sarah  Livingston,  whose  family  were 
distinguished  for  abilities  and  social  po- 
sition. This  kind  and  polished  woman 
was  a  fit  consort  for  such  a  man. 
Whether  in  the  domestic  sphere  or  amid 
the  brilliancy  of  foreign  courts,  she  was 
an  ornament  to  her  country  and  a  solace 
to  her  honored  husband.  This  alliance, 
together  with  his  descent  from  the  two 
races  predominant  in  the  city,  had  no 
little  influence  in  bringing  him,  at  a 
very  early  period,  before  the  public. 
But  his  well  equipped  mind  and  natural 
tendencies  prepared  him  to  lead,  even 
amid  that  galaxy  of  men. 

He  now  took  a  deep  interest  in  public 
affairs,  and  was  an  open  opponent  of 
British  misrule.  As  a  citizen  of  New 
York  he  was  appointed  to  formulate  an 
answer  to  the  people  of  Boston  with  re- 
gard to  the  passage  of  the  port  bill.  He 
was  the  first  to  suggest  therein  that  the 
provinces  appoint  deputies  to  a  general 
congress,  a  proposition  that  met  uni- 
versal approval.  He  was  delegated  as 
one  of  the  five  from  the  colony  of  New 
York,  and  soon  departed  to  take  a  seat 
in  that  body,  of  whom  Lord  Chatham 
said:  "In  solidity  of  reasoning,  force  of 
sagacity  and  wisdom  of  conclusion  it  has 
never  been  surpassed." 

Though  the  youngest  member  but  one 
of  the  first  congress  (being  thirty  years  of 
age,)  his  reputation  had  gone  before,  and 
he  was  immediately  placed  upon  the 
committee  to  draft  an  address  to  the 
people  of  Great  Britain.  This  effort  was 
the  most  complete  version  of  the  case, 
l>rior  to  Jefferson's  immortal  document, 
given  to  the  world.  Its  sentences  ring 
with  logic  and  tremble  with  emotion. 
Said  Jefferson,  "It  is  the  production  of 
the  finest  pen  in  America !" 

He  supported  in  this  congress  m  strong 
terms  the  nonimportation  act;  although 
declared  at  the  time  by  many  patriots  in 

29 


the  seaport  towns  to  be  an  impolitic 
measure,  we  discern  the  utility  of  the 
sacrifice,  for  it  unveiled  the  motives  of 
the  ministry,  gaining  in  time  and  knowl- 
edge with  the  masses  more  than  it  lo?t 
in  money  and  goods.  After  a  six  weeks' 
session  these  busy  patriots  made  provis- 
ion for  the  meetino:  of  another  congress 
in  the  following  May,  1775,  and  ad- 
journed. 

The  edict  against  the  importation  of 
English  materials  gave  an  opportunity 
to  the  tories  of  the  city  of  New  York  to 
declaim  against  what  they  termed  the 
■assumption  of  power  by  a  congress 
elected  for  advisory  purposes  only.  But 
the  constituents  of  Mr.  Jay  were  alert;  a 
colonial  legislature  was  elected  and  the 
disaffected  excluded.  This  clear  and 
vigorous  young  statesman,  after  arriving 
in  his  native  city,  was  constantly  in 
requisition  in  conducting  correspondence 
and  preparing  reports,  till  he  was  again 
elected  a  delegate  to  the  second  con- 
gress, which  assembled  May  10th,  Con- 
cord and  Lexington  had  been  fought  and 
won  by  the  patriot  farmers.  With  many 
leading  spirits  he  still  hoped  for  redress 
by  legislation;  but  the  second  petition  to 
King  and  Parliament,  like  the  first,  met 
with  insults  and  indignities.  Congress, 
however,  had  not  neglected  means  of 
resistance.  The  public  mind  was  in  a 
ferment;  the  people  were  in  arms  ! 

The  storm  that  had  threatened  on  the 
political  horizon  began  to  drift  rapidly 
toward  the  zenith.  But  the  increasing 
gloom  did  not  dismay  John  Jay.  True 
to  his  convictions  and  lineal  tendencies 
he  voted  against  further  mediation. 
When  truth  no  longer  lay  hidden  in 
conjecture  he  was  among  the  first  to 
defy  the  ministry  and  call  for  separa- 
tion. Up  to  this  moment  the  obtuse 
-George  had   no   more   loyal  subject   in 


remained  strangely  deaf  lo  the  prayers 
of  his  people.  The  spirit  of  liberty  was 
now  rife  in  the  colonies,  and  they  en- 
tered a  contest  which  might  be  disas- 
trous to  them  but  would  redound  to  the 
ultimate  elevation  of  mankind;  herein 
rests  the  glory  of  their  action.  In  the 
face  of  foree  and  flattery  they  would 
not  yield,  nor 
"Crook  the  pregnant  hinges  of  the  knee." 
Mr.  Jay  was  elected  a  representative 
from  the  city  and  county  of  New  York 
to  the  provmcial  convention  in  April, 
1776.  On  receiving  the  summons  he  left 
Philadelphia  for  home,  where  the  con- 
vention was  in  session.  At  his  sug- 
gestion resolutions  were  adopted  calling 
upon  the  people  to  elect  delegates  to  a 
conventien  with  the  express  power  to 
establish  a  form  of  colonial  government. 
This  man  of  acumen  and  resources,  who 
had  assisted  in  the  national  councils 
hurried  at  the  call  of  his  fellow  citizens 
to  organize  his  colony  against  the  attack 
of  I<ord  Howe  without  and  his  abettors 
within.  It  was  fitting  his  seat  in  the 
Continental  Congress  should  be  eacant 
till  the  great  commoner  gave  his  atten- 
tion to  the  reorganization  of  bis  com- 
monwealth. At  White  Plains,  amid 
these  duties,  he  received  the  news  of  the 
adoption  of  the  Declaration,  He  imme- 
diately reported  resolutions  affirming 
the  independence  of  the  states  and 
pledging  the  support  of  New  York  in 
the  struggle.  Thus  he  was  denied  the 
privilege  of  signing  the  famous  docu- 
ment. 

The  defeat  of  our  forces  on  Long  Isl- 
and permitted  invasion  of  the  city,  and 
the  provincial  convention  was  prevented 
from  preparing  a  form  of  government. 
A  committee  was  appointed  for  this  pur- 
pose, Mr,  Jay  being  selected  as  chair- 
man, and  the  task  of  preparing  a  state 


America  than  he,  and  had  that  arrogant  constitution  assigned  to  him.  Misfor 
sovereign  exhibited  the  spirit  of  the 
great  Frederic  when  he  thundered  to  his 
favorite,  "He  deserves  to  rule  most  who 
best  serves  as  a  support  of  the  laws  and 
for  righteousness,  the  bravest  to  defend 
and  wisest  to  avoid  tyranny  and  war," 
Jay  and  his  coadjutors  might  have  com- 
promised with   the  crown,  but  the  king 


tune  attended  our  arms.  There  being 
no  executive  authority  in  the  colony  a 
committee  of  safety  was  named  "for  in- 
quiring into  and  defeating  all  conspira- 
cies against  the  liberties  of  America." 
Mr.  Jay  was  also  made  chairman  of  this 
committee,  and  did  important  service  in 
counteracting  the  efforts  of  the  invaders 


30 


and  their  tory  friends.  It  was  he  who 
devised  at  this  time  the  transfer  of  arms 
and  munitions  to  West  Point  from  New 
England.  He  seems  to  liave  been  suspi- 
cious of  the  invasion  from  the  north. 
This  committee  was  distributel  over  the 
fctate.  General  Nicholas  Herkimer,  hav- 
ing been  selected  in  this  vicinity,  bis 
subsequent  conduct  at  Oriskany,  which 
contributed  so  much  to  our  success  at 
Bemis  Heights,  proves  the  wisdom  of 
the  convention  in  trusting  to  his  sagac- 
ity and  patriotism. 

Words  cannot  express  the  despond- 
ency at  this  period.  While  the  war 
cloud  hung  like  a  vast  pall  over  his 
country,  Jay  encouraged  hope  and 
stimulated  action.  No  toil,  however 
hazardous  or  exhausting,  did  he  evade 
in  the  support  of  the  cause;  without 
fear  he  applied  the  pen  inspired  with 
devotion.  If  during  the  struggle  he  did 
not  seek  redress  nor  fame  upon  the 
tented  field,  though  the  bent  of  his  mind 
was  not  in  that  direction,  he  possessed  a 
brave  heart  as  well  as  a  contemplative 
mind.  Cheerfully  did  he  assume  dan- 
gers and  responsibilities  which  enrolled 
his  name  high  upon  the  list  for  British 
persecution.  Yes,  there  was  peril  then 
in  the  council  chamter  as  well  as  in  the 
glare  of  battle.  In  his  address  to  the 
provincial  congress,  adopted  on  the  33d 
of  December,  1776,  we  find  these  elo- 
quent words:  '"Rouse,  brav^e  citizens! 
Do  your  duty  like  men,  and  be  persuaded 
that  Divine  Providence  will  not  permit 
this  western  world  to  be  involved  in  the 
horrors  of  slavery.  Ck)nsider  that  from 
the  earliest  ages  of  the  world,  religion, 
liberty,  and  reason  have  been  bending 
their  course  toward  the  setting  sun.  The 
holy  gobpels  are  yet  to  be  preached  to 
these  western  regions,  and  we  have  the 
highest  reasons  to  believe  that  the  Al- 
mighty will  not  suffer  slavery  and  the 
gospel  to  go  hand  in  hand.  It  can  not, 
It  will  not  be!" 

The  state  government  could  not  be  es- 
tablished until  the  spring  of  1777.  The 
constitution  prepared  by  him  was  re- 
ported on  the  12th  of  March.  Upon  de- 
liberation he  wished  and  expected  the 
opportunity  to  engraft  new  features  and 


add  amendments,  but  while  at  the  bed- 
aide  of  his  dying  mother  the  instrument 
was  prematurely  adopted,  much  to  his 
regret.  This  convention,  before  ad- 
journing, appointed  temporarily  the 
higfe  officers  of  the  state,  ministerial  and 
judicial.  Mr.  Jay  was  unanimously  se- 
lected for  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court.  He  was  also  appointed  one  of 
the  council  of  safety  to  administer  af- 
fairs till  governor  and  legislature  were 
elected 

We  learn  that  his  first  charge  to  the 
grand  jury  at  Kingston,  in  that  hour  of 
gloom,  was  replete  with  patriotism  and 
sanguine  of  success.  Such  was  the  call 
for  the  talents  of  this  man  that  in  1778 
he  was  elected  a  special  delegate  to  the 
Continental  Congress  without  vacating 
his  judicial  office,  and  on  the  resigna- 
tion of  Henry  Laurens  was  immediately 
chosen  to  preside  over  that  body.  This 
was  then  the  highest  office  in  the  gift  of 
the  Confederation.  He  soon,  however, 
resigned  the  State  Chief  Justiceship,  as 
incompatible  with  his  position  as  chair- 
man, and  applied  himself  to  his  duties 
in  Congress,  which,  owing  to  the  dis- 
turbed condition  of  the  country,  was  in 
constant  session.^  He  was  now  appointed 
to  the  honor  of  preparing  a  circular  let- 
ter to  the  colonies,  urgins  vigorous  ac- 
tion. Again  he  stimulated  zeal,  and 
gave  another  strong  and  brilliant  paper 
to  history. 

Congress,  being  urged  by  the  French 
minister  to  take  measures  for  securing 
the  object  contemplated  by  the  secret 
articles  of  treaty  with  France  and  Spain 
in  1778,  Mr.  Jay  was  importuned  to  ac- 
cept the  important  mission  to  the  Span- 
ish court.  He  sailed  on  October  the  18th 
and  after  barely  escaping  shipwreck  and 
capture  by  British  men-of-war,  on  the 
23d  of  January,  1780,  himself,  wife  and 
private  secretary  arrived  at  Cadiz. 

This  mission  was  largely,  on  the  part 
of  Congress,  of  a  financial  character. 
Our  treasury  was  depleted;  munitions  of 
war  were  greatly  needed  in  the  strug- 
gling colonifs.  The  wily  Spaniard,  te- 
nacious of  his  grasp  upon  the  south- 
western territory,  thought  by  keeping 
Jay  in  abeyance  for  many  months  he 

31 


could  better  effect  bis  purpose.  Taking  heavily  upon  him.  The  treaty  of  peace 
advantage  of  our  indeUedness  to  his  was  promulgated  in  due  time,  Con^jress- 
country  he  at  last  dropped  the  mask  and   ratifying  it  in  January,  1784. 


"Witb  enfeebled  health  the  subject  of 
our  sketch  landed  at  New  York  in  July 
of  that  year.  Be  was  met  by  an  enthu- 
siastic reception.  He  had  contemplated 
retiring  from  public  life  at  the  close  of 
the  war,  but  found  he  had  been  elected 
by  Congress  to  the  office  of  Secretary  of 


demanded  the  right  of  sole  navigation  of 
the   Mississippi   river    before  making  a 
farther  loan.     This  our  envoy  peremp- 
torily refused,  and  the  minister,  anxious 
not   to  close  the    negotiations    wholly, 
offered  to  loan  $150,000  for  three  years, 
if  Mr.  Jay  could  give  security.     This  he 
failed  to  do,  and  took  in  person  the  haz-  p^reign  affairs, 
ard  of  assuming   the  debt  already  ac- 
crued, rather  than  jeopardize  the  credit  '^^  ^^^  position  he  was  brought  into 
of  his  country.     Here   the  negotiations  contact  with  the  defects  m  the  Articles 
were  suspended.  of  Confederation,     and    advocated    the 

Mr.   Jay    was    now  appointed   envoy  formation    of    a    stronger    government, 

extraordinary      in      conjunction      with  which  he  considered  impei alive  for  the 

Franklin,    Jefferson,    Adams    and  Lau-  welfare    of    the    people    of     America, 

rens  to  conclude  peace  with  Great  Brit-  Therefore  he  watched  with  deep  interest 

ain.     He  therefore  joined    Franklin    at  the  action  of   the  convention   at   Phiia- 

Paris.     Upon  his  arrival   he  was  confi-  delphia  in  1787.    The  Constitution  ema- 

dent  he  saw  on    the  part  of  France  an  nating    therefrom    met  his  hearty    ap- 

inclination  to  subordinate  the  young  re-  proval.     In   addition  to  his  lucid  corre- 

public  to  French  interests  in  the  settle-  apondence  and  oral  advice   on  the  sub- 

ment  with  England.  3^*^''  ^^  published   an  able  address  upon 

Laurens  was  imprisoned  in  the  tower  adoption,  and  contributed  valuable  ar- 
of  London.  Adams  was  in  Holland  ne-  titles  to  the  press.  He  was  a  member 
gotiating  a  loan.  Jefferson  was  detained  of  the  New  York  convention  on  adop- 
in  America,  and  Franklin  was  prostrated  tio^,  and  offered  the  resolutions  for  rat- 
by  sickness,  lie  determined  to  act  upon  ification.  He  also  drafted  the  circular 
his  own  responsibility,  for  no  delay  was  letter  to  the  states,  urging  the  adoption 
admissible.  He  would  enter  into  no  al-  of  the  amendments  proposed  by 
Uance  that  would  compromise  the  inde-  York, 


New 


pendence  of  the  United  States.  That 
was  the  first  object  of  his  mission.  By 
adroit  action  he  learned  the  views  of  the 
British  Ministry.  Favors  he  would 
grant  for  the  advance  of  humanity  and 


The  confidence  reposed  in  his  abilities 
and  judgment  prompted  Washington, 
after  the  organization  of  the  federal 
government,  to  tender  to  him  any  office 
within  his  gift.     He  accepted  the  Chief 


the  extension  of  commerce,  but  not  to  Justiceship  of  the  Supreme  Court.     We 

sully  the   honor  of  his  victorious  coun-  are  reminded  that  at  the  request  of   the 

try.     He  calmly  and  firmly  met  the  art-  Presideiit   he  officiated  as   Secretary  of 

ful  Count  de  Vergennes  and  dextrous  State  until  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Jefferson. 

Oswald.     Spain,  which   had   held  aloof,  True  to  the  sanctity    of   the   bench,  he 

began  to  relent,  fearful  of  losing  an  op-  abstained     fiom     all    political    contro- 

portunity,  and  offered  to  reopen  negoti-  versies.      Without    solicitation    he    was 

ations.     The  problem  of  the  navigation  nominated   for  governor    in    February^ 

of  the  Mississippi  was  solved  by  tidings  1792.      He    reluctantly  yielded    to    his 

from  Congress   instructing  the  commis-  friends.     George   Clinton     regarded    as 

sioners  to  agree  to  abstain  from  travers-  the  most  popular  man  in  the  opposition, 

ing   that   stream   beyond  our   ttrritory,  was   his   competitor.     Owing  to   the  re- 

and  the  $150,000  loan  was  perfected  with  jection  of  Tioga,    Clinton   and    Otsego 

the  court  of  Madrid,  releasing   Mr.  Jay  counties     Mr.    Clinton     was    installed, 

from  his    personal    obligation,    which.  Great    excitement    followed,      Mr.   Jay 

with  his  onerous  duties,  had   weighed  was  calm,  and  did  much  to  allay  a  con- 

32 


fusion    which   seemed   to  approach    an- 
arcliy. 

After  our  proclamation  of  neutrality 
the  mother  country,  still  chafing  at  the 
loss  of  the  colonies,  showed  increased 
enmity  by  her  unjust  course  toward  our 
commerce.  These  complications  were 
ai?gravated  by  her  war  with  France. 
Mr  Jay  was  now  chosen  special  envoy 
to  the  court  of  St.  James,  to  remonstrate 
with  that  government  against  the  vio- 
lations of  the  treaty  of  1783,  which  he 
had  so  largely  assisted  in  making.  The 
critical  task  of  our  minister  when 
closeted  with  Lord  Grenville  is  known 
to  every  student  of  history.  He  who 
studies  the  perplexing  questions  at  issue 
and  the  temper  of  the  three  nations  at 
that  time  realizes  the  advantages  at- 
tained by  Jay  in  that  treaty.  Still, 
owing  to  the  feeling  which  had  been  en- 
gendered by  the  wild  schemes  of  the 
French  agent,  Genet,  there  was  much 
objection  to  its  reception.  After  a  pro- 
tracted and  heated  discussion,  in  and 
out  of  Congress,  it  was  ratified,  rellev- 
iog  Washington  of  much  anxiety.  It 
obviated  immediate  hostilities  with  Eng- 
land for  which  we  were  not  prepared  ; 
it  delayed  a  military  campaign  neces- 
sary to  establish  our  complete  sover- 
eignty, when  we  could  and  did  give  the 
finishing  blow  to  English  usurpation  of 
American  rights  upon  the  high  seas. 
Mr.  Sparks  justly  said  of  that  treaty: 
"Time  disappointed  its  enemies  and 
more  than  fulfilled  the  expectations  of 
its  friends." 

Oq  his  return  from  abroad  he  found 
he  had  been  elected  governor  by  a  large 
majority  over  Robert  Yates.  On  the  1st 
of  July,  1795,  he  look  the  oath  of  office. 
He  must  have  assumed  with  pride  the 
executive  office  of  his  native  state  whose 
consiitution  he  had  framed  and  whose 
interests  lay  so  near  his  heart.  Upon 
her  soil  his  ancestors  had  found  an  asy- 
lum when  refugees  from  foreign  perse- 
cution. At  home  and  from  afar  he  had 
watched  with  an  attentive  eye  the  de- 
velopment of  this  people.  His  foresight 
and  sense  of  duty  as  an  executive  gave 
an  impetus  to  our  municipal  affairs  and 
inaugurated   precedents  of    inestimable 


value  to  the  union,  Then  it  was  his 
richly  endowed  mind  conferred  lasting 
benefits  upon  this  commonwealth. 
Amendments  of  the  criminal  code,  the 
erection  and  maintenance  of  prisons 
and  charitable  institutions,  employment 
and  reformation  of  criminals,  encour- 
agement of  commerce,  learning  and  art, 
and  manumission  and  education  of 
slaves  within  the  state,  were  among  the 
multifarious  subjects  which  engaged  his 
attention,  and  many  of  which  he  saw 
materialized  during  his  first  term. 

In  spite  of  a  formidable  opposition, 
and  his  wish  to  retire,  he  was  re-elected 
governor  over  Robert  R.  Livingston  in 
Aprilj  1798.  Internal  dissensions  were 
soon  forgotten  in  the  expectation  of  war 
with  France.  He  called  a  session  of  the 
legislature,  before  which,  with  his  old- 
time  vigor,  he  asked  for  the  passage  of 
measures  to  defend  the  state.  A  large 
sum  was  appropriated  and  placed  sub- 
ject to  his  use  in  co-operation  with  the 
federal  government.  But  the  prepara- 
tions fcr  the  French  invasion  were  of 
short  duration.  The  "man  of  destiny" 
who  now  appeared  in  French  politics 
mediated  a  different  scheme  than  that 
of  meddling  with  the  new  republic  of 
the  west.  When  the  predictions  of  war 
in  America  were  silenced  by  the  guns  of 
Aboukir  and  Marengo,  even  then  bitter- 
ness was  aroused  by  false  rumors  of 
foreign  machinations. 

In  the  election  of  April,  1800,  a  ma- 
jority of  republicans  were  returned  to 
the  legislature.  The  term  of  the  old 
law-making  body  did  not  expire  until 
July  1st.  It  was  rumored  that  a  propo- 
sition had  been  made  by  those  high  in 
authority  to  Governor  Jay  to  call  the 
old  legislature  together  before  July  1st 
for  the  purpose  of  changing  the  law  so 
as  to  permit  a  choice  of  electors  who 
would  select  a  federalist  for  president. 
Party  feeling  again  ran  high  and  seemed 
about  to  disrupt  the  state.  But  wisdom 
did  not  forsake  him  in  the  state  house. 
With  him  the  legal  expression  of  the 
majority  was  paramount  to  party  and 
personal  considerations.  With  the  dig- 
nity of  a   Roman    pretor    he    wrapped 


38 


himself  in  his  conscience  and  remained 
silent. 

The  reactionary  forces  in  our  politics 
are  studied  with  profit.  They  are  side- 
lights revealing  much  that  is  interest- 
ing. The  election  of  1804  resulted  in  a 
political  anomaly- strengthened  Mr. 
Jefferson,  while  it  defeated  his  party  in 
the  state  of  New  York.  Aaron  Burr, 
highly  educated,  intriguing  and  ex- 
tremely ambitious,  failed  to'  accomplish 
schemes  detrimental  to  the  policy  of  his 
great  leader,  and  permitted  disapnoint- 
ment  to  merge  into  hatred  after  his  de- 
feat for  president,  hatred  particularly 
toward  Hamilton,  while  he  had  no  affin- 
ity for  the  calm  majesty  and  pure  char- 
acter of  Jay,  who,  with  Washington 
and  others,  distrusted  his  motives.  Jef- 
ferson, when  writing  to  his  compeer, 
Madison,  uses  these  words:  "I  have 
always  considered  Burr  as  a  crooked 
gun,  whose  shot  you  could  never  be 
sure  of."  Hamilton  and  his  friends  had 
persuaded  their  faction  to  support  Jef- 
ferson in  the  House  of  Representatives 
as  the  best  qualified  for  chief  executive 
of  the  nation.  This,  with  the  defeat  in 
the  guberiiatorial  canvass,  so  exasper- 
ated Burr  that  he  became  vindictive, 
abandoned  reason  and  provoked  the 
great  federalist  to  a  personal  encounter 
on  the  field  of  honor— so  called,  but  de- 
nounced by  civilization— and  slew  at 
the  first  fire  this  remarkable  man,  who, 
at  thirty  years  of  age,  excepting  Madison 
and  Jay,  did  more  to  build  and  teach 
tht!  new  system  than  any  man.  Say 
what  we  may  of  their  idiosyncracies, 
differ  as  we  will  with  their  political 
plans,  their  efforts  will  remam  to  teach, 
warn  and  edify.  They  are  the  revela- 
tions of  genius  after  profound  medita- 
tions. We  may  charge  scepticism  to 
one  and  credulity  to  the  other,  but  the 
impartial  student,  knowing  the  weak- 
nesses and  temptations,  as  well  as  the 
excellencies  of  mankind,  marvels  at  the 
works  of  these  masters  of  political  sci- 
ence, which  works  exhibit  shades  of 
opinion  but  no  lack  of  patriotic  devo- 
tion. 

At  the  close  of  Mr.  Jay's  second  gub- 
ernatorial   term     no    persuasion    could 


prevail  upon  him  to  remain  in  public 
life,  not  even  the  tender  of  the  Chief 
Justiceship  of  the  Federal  Supreme 
Court.  It  was  fitting  that  he  close  hie 
arduous  and  honorable  public  career  as 
Governor  of  the  Empire  State,  which  he 
loved  so  well.  Here  he  found  the  quiet 
and  repose  he  coveted  and  had  so  justly 
earned.  His  example  while  governor  is 
worthy  of  close  attention.  While  he 
considered  the  executive  office  a  public 
trust  m  its  broadest  sense,  he  stood 
firmly  upon  his  privilege  as  guaranteed 
by  the  Constitution,  and  took  pride  in 
right  administration,  often  relying,  in 
the  light  of  duty,  upon  the  reaction  of 
public  sentiment  for  exoneration  and 
indorsement. 

Scarcely  had  he  established  himself 
amidst  his  family,  upon  his  estate  at 
Bedford,  Westchester  county,  when  he 
lost  the  devoted  wife  who  had  stood  by 
his  side  through  the  years  of  vicissitudes 
and  joj's,  a  kind  and  intelligent  compan- 
ion. Severe  as  was  this  blow  to  him  he 
boie  it  with  his  characteristic  resigna- 
tion. Supervising  the  duties  upon  his 
farm  and  performing  deeds  of  benevo- 
lence he  passed  a  serene  old  age,  still 
reflecting  upon  the  lessons  of  the  Master 
and  ihe  moral  tenets  of  Cicero.  Many  a 
pilgrimage,  by  those  in  and  out  of 
power,  was  made  to  the  sage  who  had 
assisted  in  erecting  the  Republic  and 
embellishing  our  annals  with  his  fund 
of  learning  and  wisdom.  Here,  on  the 
17th  of  May,  1829,  in  the  eighty-fourth 
year  of  his  age.  solactd  by  the  knowl- 
edge of  duties  well  performed,  and  sur- 
rounded by  his  loving  children,  he 
passed  peacefully  into  immortality. 

Exigencies  and  new  applications  there 
will  be,  as  we  asserted  at  the  outset;  but 
when  perusing  the  formative  period  of 
our  state  and  national  government  we 
may  gain  strength  and  wisdom  by  di- 
recting our  gaze  toward  him  who  is  the 
subject  of  this  deliberation.  His  life 
requires  no  embellishments;  his  conduct 
has  withstood  the  scrutiny  of  the  his- 
torian and  biographer. 

In  stature  he  was  nearly  six  feet;  in 
manners  deliberate  and  courteous.  His 
portrait  looks  upon    us   with  clear-cut, 


34 


regular  features,  exhibiting  keen  sus- 
ceptibilities, yet  grave,  circumspect  and 
truthful  ;  a  character  partaking  of  the 
reflective  Batavian,  enlivened  with  a 
Gallic  strain,  a  personality  withal  bal- 
anced and  enduring. 

He  was  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Episcopal  church,  an  avowed  federalist, 
but  not  of  the  radical  school;  ever  ready 
to  express  his  views  upon  public  aflaiis, 
unless  bound  by  secrecy  for  the  good  of 
his  country.  A  mind  so  well  calculated 
to  weigh  the  abstruse  questions  of  juris- 
prudence and  history  received  respectful 
attention  in  politics.  He  was  slow  in 
his  deductions  and  firm  in  his  decisions. 
He  respected  the  motives  of  those  who 
differed  from  him;  outward  forms  had 
no  allurements;  whether  in  or  out  of 
office  he  was  the  same  unassuming  citi- 
zen, charitable  to  his  fellow  men,  sym- 
pathizing with  their  misfortunes  and  en- 
couraging their  capabilities;  a  faithful 
husband  and  friend,  and  an  afl'ectionate 
and  firm  father. 

Liberated  from  the  cant  and  preju- 


dice of  his  day,  every  enlightened  citi- 
zen is  impelled  to  admire  the  character 
and  deeds  of  John  Jay,  who  seemed  en- 
dowed by  Providence  to  fill  the  onerous 
stations  to  which  he  was  assigned  from 
his  entry  into  public  life  to  the  Chief 
Justiceship.  His  research,  grasp  of 
intellect,  and  long  and  faithful  service, 
well  prepared  him  for  this  exalted  posi- 
tion. Never  did  a  magistrate  deserve 
the  plaudits  of  his  countrymen  more 
than  he  who  wore  the  ermine  with  an 
honor  that  gave  dignity  to  our  highest 
tribunal,  shedding  lustre  upon  the 
American  name  and  winning  praise 
from  posterity. 

Again  we  are  admonished  that  the 
philosophy  of  our  history  is  best  known 
by  those  who  study  the  motives  and  acts 
of  the  individuals  who,  with  untiring 
zeal,  through  sacrifices  and  trials,  prop- 
agated and  maintained  this  superlative 
government,  and  in  honoring  such 
characters,  principles  and  deeds  we  will 
not  falter,  whether  the  crisis  be  within 
or  without ! 


35 


THE  FIRST  SETTLERS  OF  THE  MOHAWK  VALLEY 

AN   ADDRESS   BY   MRS.    MARY   SHEPARD  WARREN,    OF  ILION, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  June  9,  1S96. 


It  will  not  be  possible  to  give  more  stantly  at  war  with  each  other,  the  half 
than  a  brief  summary  of  the  history  of  million  inhabitants  of  the  Palatinate  sel- 
the  early  German  settlers  of  the  Valley  dom  enjoyed  an  interval  of  peace.  The 
of  the  Mohawk  prior  to  their  coming  to  epoch  from  which  may  be  traced  the 
America;  yet  their  story  would  be  shorn  causes  which  drove  the  Palatines,  a?  they 
of  much  of  its  interest  if  it  were  omitted  were  called,  from  their  homes  in  the 
altogether.  Nor  can  it  be  told  without  Rhine  valley  to  seek  refuge  in  the  remote 
some  reference  to  the  causes  which  led  Province  of  New  York,  may  be  said  to 
these  people  to  seek  an  asylum  so  remote  have  been  the  outbreak  of  the  Reforma- 
from  their  native  land.  tion.     The  continental   wars  from  that 

The  map  of  Europe,  as  it  was  given  in  time  up  to  the  last  of  the  seventeenth 
the  seventeenth  century,  gives  a  division  century  were  in  reality  religious  wars, 
of  Germany  which  was  called  the  Lower  particularly  those  which  were  waged  so 
Palatinate,  or  Rhinepfalz.  This  must  not  furiously  by  Louis  XIV.  of  France.  Time 
be  confounded  with  the  Upper  Palatin-  alter  time  the  Palatinate,  owing  to  its 
ate  which  was  located  north  of  the  one  unprotected  situation,  was  overrun  by 
with  which  we  are  concerned.  Within  imperial  armies,  and  each  time  it  was 
the  limits  of  the  Lower  Palatinate  were  mercilessly  devastated.  Obeying  the  or- 
contained  the  cities  of  Mannheim,  Heidel-  ders  of  Louvois,  Lou's  XI  V's  cruel  war 
berg,  Spire,^,  and  Worms.  This  district  minister.  Turenne,  the  famous  French 
contained  several  thousand  square  miles  general,  carried  out  the  instructions  with 
of  rich  land— none  fairer  or  more  fertile  such  fidelity  that  both  banks  of  the  Rhine 
could  be  found  in  all  Europe.  It  was  in  the  Palatinate  district  were  absolutely 
situated  chiefly  in  the  valley  of  the  denuded  of  everything.  The  unhappy 
Rhine,  that  region  so  justly  famed  for  its  inhabitants  were  shown  no  mercy.  Men, 
beauty  and  luxuriance.  women,  and  children  were  driven  forth, 

During  the  latter  half  of  the  seven-  many  having  been  stripped  of  their  cloth- 
teenth  century  the  Lower  Palatinate  be-  ing,  to  wander  helplessly  about  without 
longed  wholly  to  Germany,  although  that  food  or  shelter.  It  was  in  December  and 
country  and  France  had  for  years  con-  the  ground  was  covered  with  snow,  and 
tested  the  possession  of  this  desirable  many  died  from  exposure.  Their  homes 
strip  of  country,  owing  to  its  being  the  were  first  pillaged  and  then  burned  by 
dividing  territory  between  them.  the  rapacious   mob.     The  Elector,  it   is 

As  the  two  countries  were  almost  con-   said,  beheld  from  his  window  two  cities 

36 


and  twenty-five  towns  in  flames  at  one 
time.  One  writer,  in  describing  the  ex- 
cesses of  the  French  army  upon  this  oc- 
casion, says:  "Lust  and  revenge  walked 
hand  in  hand  with  fire  and  sword."'  But 
what  followed  in  a  later  invasion  by  the 
French  was  yet  more  terrible.  Tlie  fa- 
natical Lou  vols  this  time  commanded 
that  a  desert  should  be  created  between 
the  kingdoms  of  France  and  Germany. 
Having  recovered  somewhat  from  previ- 
ous calamities,  the  various  districts  of 
the  Palatinate  were  blooming  and  rich 
with  promise  of  abundant  harvest.  But 
this  did  not  stay  the  wild  troops  who 
carried  on  their  ruthless  destruction  until 
this  fair  land  became  ore  of  desolation. 
It  had  been  so  repeatedly  and  irreparably 
"wasted"  that  when  peace,  so  tardy  in 
coming,  was  declared  in  the  year  1697, 
there  was  nothing  left  in  ti>e  fatherland 
for  these  war-afflicted  people.  They  were 
homeless;  they  were  destitute:  their  past 
was  full  of  suffering;  their  present  was 
full  of  wretchedness,  and  their  future,  if 
they  remained  where  they  were,  was 
full  of  uncertainty.  Confronted  by  every 
imaginable  discouragement,  what  won- 
der, ttien,  that  these  unhappy  people  re- 
solved to  leave  their  native  country  to 
seek  refuge  in  some  far-off  land  where 
they  could  be  safe  from  the  unutterable 
miseries  of  war. 

Above  all,  they  wished  to  establish 
homes  where  they,  and  their  children 
after  them,  could  enjoy  perfect  freedom 
of  opinion.  Hearing  of  the  desperate 
straits  to  which  they  were  reduced,  Eng- 
land, ever  helpful  of  the  oppressed,  ex- 
tended a  friendly  hand  to  the  unfortunate 
Palatines  and  bade  them  welcome  to  her 
hospitable  shores. 

The  proffered  aid  was  gratefully  ac- 
cepted, and  a  company  of  these  people, 
forty  in  number,  went  over  to  England 
and  were  transported  to  the  province  of 
New  York  through  the  assistance  of  the 
board  of  trade.  This  so  encouraged 
those  left  behind,  that  there  was  soon 
such  an  extraordinary  migration  from 
the  Lower  Palatinate  to  England  that  it 
became  a  serious  embarrassment  to  th6 
authorities  to  care  for  the  thirteen  thou- 
sand destitute  people  who  were  so  sud- 


denly thrust  within  their  borders.  They 
were,  however,  provided  for  at  pu'nlic 
expense  by  this  friendly  nation,  and  were 
finally  all  sent  to  the  various  English 
colonies,  with  the  exception  of  thr^e 
thousand,  who  still  remained  to  be  dis- 
posed of.  Steps  were  immediately  taken 
to  transfer  them  to  the  Province  of  New 
York  where  they  were  expected  to  en- 
gage in  the  manufacture  of  naval  stores, 
through  which  industry  they  hoped  to 
reimburse  the  friendly  government  which 
had  stood  by  them  in  their  extremity. 

After  a  wearisome  voyage,  during 
which  time  nearly  one-half  their  number 
died,  the  "distressed  Palatines"  (as  they 
were  called  in  the  documents  relating  to 
them)  arrived  in  New  York  in  a  pitiable 
condition.  Their  only  possessions  when 
thej^  reached  their  "promised^land"  were 
the  clothes  which  they  wore;  and  what 
rendered  them  j'et  more  helpless  was 
their  ignorance  of  the  English  language. 
They  arrived  in  the  year  1710.  They 
were  immediately  placed  on  barren  pine 
lands  just  where  the  present  town  of 
Germantown  stands.  Here  they  were  to 
employ  themselves  in  the  production  of 
pitch  and  tar  for  the  use  of  the  English 
navy.  Their  condition  now  became  little 
better  than  that  of  serfs.  They  were 
unable  to  live  up  to  the  terms  of  their 
contract  and  finally  the  colonial  govern- 
ment withdrew  its  support.  Their  mis- 
eries multiplied  until  they  were  almost 
desperate.  The  result  was  that  they  de- 
termined to  free  themselves  from  this 
serfdom.  Accordingly  they  decided  to 
go  to  Schoharie  and  take  up  lands  from 
the  Indians. 

It  was  late  in  the  fall  of  1713  and  very- 
cold  when  they  started  on  ibeir  weary 
pilgrimage.  Simms,  in  his  "History  of 
the  Frontiersmen  of  New  York,'  tells  of 
the  sufferings  of  the  unfortunate  Pala- 
tines as  they  made  their  toilsome  journey 
on  foot  over  rough  Indian  trails.  Al- 
though the  winter  was  close  at  hand  the 
people  were  scantily  clad,  and  set  forth 
on  their  sad  way  without  provisione. 
One  writer  makes  particular  mention  of 
the  cries  and  lamentations  of  the  women 
and  children  as  they  started  on  their 
wearisome  way.     Whfn  they  arrived    aji-r 

37 


Schoharie  they  had  no  food.  They  were 
therefore  reduced,  Simms  tells  his  read- 
ers, to  the  hard  necessity  of  seeking  re- 
lief from  the  Indians,  and,  be  it  recorded 
to  the  everlasting  honor  of  the  red  men, 
the  appeal  was  not  made  in  vain. 

The  settlement  they  formed  in  Scho- 
harie was  a  disappointment,  for  difficul- 
ties about  the  titles  of  their  lands  arose, 
and  such  were  their  discouragements 
theyaj;ain  determined,  or  at  least  many 
of  them,  to  seek  homes  elsewhere.  A 
number  of  them  decided,  if  possible,  to 
remove  to  the  Mohawk  Valley,  although 
it  was  then  an  unbroken  wilderness. 

Accordingly  about  one  hundred  of 
their  number  applied  to  Governor  Burnet 
for  a  patent  which  would  allow  them  to 
occupy  the  "Mohawk  lands,"  as  the  ter- 
ritory was  then  called  which  is  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  towns  of  Herkimer  and 
German  Flatts.  The  original  intention 
of  the  English  had  been  to  plant  the 
Palatine  colony  on  this  exposed  frontier 
"to  serve  as  a  barrier  against  the  In- 
dians," but  they  failed  to  accomplish 
their  heartless  plan. 

The  Palatines  having  heard  of  the  rich 
alluvial  lands  along  the  Mohawk  river, 
wished  to  obtain  them  in  order  that  they 
might  peacefully  pursue  their  calling, 
which  was  that  of  husbandmen.  Gov- 
ernor Burnet,  who  was  kindly  disposed 
toward  these  unhappy  Germans,  acceded 
to  their  request  and  purchased  from  the 
Indians  between  nine  and  ten  thousand 
acres  of  land.  The  natives,  tempted  by 
such  trifles  as  beads,  a  few  yards  of 
bright  calico,  tobacco,  and  rum,  were 
very  readily  induced  to  exchange  vast 
tracts  of  their  valuable  lands  for  these 
worthless  baubles.  The  lands  thus  ob- 
tained were  later  transferred  to  the  Pala- 
tines by  the  crown  commissioners. 

To  this  unbroken  wilderness,  whose 
solitude  had  seldom  been  penetrated  by 
the  white  man— save,  perhaps,  by  a  lone- 
ly missionary,  or,  possibly,  by  some  en- 
terprising trapper -came  its  first  Caucas- 
ian inhabitants. 

The  sturdy  Palatines  were  in  reality 
driven  thither  by  persecution  for  opin- 
ion's sake— just  as  the  hardi'  pilgrims 
were  forced  to  seek  refuge  in  New  Eng- 


land for  a  like  cause  one  huodred  yeai'S 
before. 

It  is  a  touching  record  which  tells  how 
these  unhappy  people  journeyed  to  this 
solitary  region  which  was  to  be  their 
home.  With  stout  hearts, pushing  through 
thickly  matted  underbrush,  they  made 
their  way  along  the  bank  of  the  Mohawk 
river.  The  women,  not  less  sturdy  than 
the  men,  carried  heavy  burdens  on  their 
backs  and  heads,  sheltering  at  the  same 
time  helpless  infants  in  their  arms,  while 
beside  them,  clinging  to  their  skirts, 
young  children  stumbled  along  the  rough 
way.  What  few  heavier  articles  they 
possessed  were  piled  upon  clumsj"^  ba- 
teaux which  had  been  rudely  hollowed 
out  of  trunks  of  trees.  These  the  men 
laboriously  poled  against  the  current  of 
the  river  and  dragged  over  the  portages. 
Thus  they  plodded  on  with  patience  that 
was  little  less  (han  sublime,  halting  when 
night  overtook  them  to  camp  by  the  river 
side,  where  they  rested  beside  bright 
fires  which  they  kept  burning  for  the 
double  purpose  of  warmth  and  to  fright- 
en away  the  wild  animals  which  at  that 
time  infested  the  valley.  At  daybreak 
they  gathered  up  their  few  possessions 
and  resumed  their  fatiguing  march. 
This  was  at  last  accomplished,  and,  foot- 
sore and  weary,  they  reached  the  place 
which  was  to  yield  them  home  and  sus- 
tenance. 

The  task  before  them  was  enough  to 
make  the  stoutest  heart  quail.  There 
was  no  shelter  for  the  helpless  group  of 
women  and  children  save  the  blue  canopy 
of  heaven— at  least  not  until  rude  abodes 
of  logs  could  be  constructed.  It  took 
time  to  accomplish  this  as  the  trees  had 
first  to  be  felled  and  their  trunks  squared 
before  even  the  walls  of  the  dwellings 
could  he  raised.  This  accomplished, 
there  were  still  roofs  lacking.  In  order 
to  obtain  straw  for  thatching  the  grain 
must  needs  be  planted,  grown,  harvest- 
ed, and  threshed.  Thus  these  people 
were  practically  without  shelter  for  sev- 
eral months. 

It  was  through  overcoming  such  almost 
insurmountable  obstacles  that  the  begin- 
nings of  the  first  settlement  of  this  now 
thickly   populated    valley    were    made. 


We  of  the  present  day  realize  but  dimly 
what  our  forefathers  had  to  conquer 
when  they  came  to  plant  their  homes  in 
this  then  almost  unexplored  region.  At 
alleveata,  "they  builded  better  than  thej' 
knew,"  and  the  present  generation  is  en- 
joying the  results  of  their  self-sacrifice 
and  labor. 

The  Palatines  reachei  the  Mobawk 
Valley  in  the  spring  of  1733,  but  the  pat- 
ent of  the  lands  was  not  ip.sued  until  two 
years  after,  April  30,  1725,  Thia  was 
called  the  Burnetsfield  patent,  and  it  in- 
cluded lands  on  both  sides  of  the  Mohawk 
river.  It  set  apart  one  hundred  acres  to 
each  person— man,  woman,  and  child  — 
of  the  little  company  of  ninety-two  peo- 
ple. The  terms  of  the  pui  chase  were 
most  favorable  to  the  colonists,  being 
simply  an  annual  quit-rent  of  two  shil- 
lings and  sixpence  and  a  guarantee  that 
within  three  years  six  out  of  every  one 
hundred  acres  of  land  should  te  brought 
under  cultivation. 

The  lots  were  surveyed  in  narrow  strips 
leading  back  on  either  side  of  the  river 
to  the  wooded  hills  beyond.  To  each 
person  was  alloted  thirty  acres  of  the 
rich  alluvial  lands  near  the  river,together 
with  seventy  acres  of  the  uplands. 

The  era  of  hope  which  now  dawned 
upon  these  brave  souls  was  the  begin- 
ning of  many  years  of  undisturbed  peace 
and  constantly  increasing  prosperity, 

The  nucleus  of  this  first  settlement  of  the 
Mohawk  Valley  was  on  the  south  side  of 
the  river  at  the  point  now  known  as  Fort 
Herkimer.  Here  gathered  a  sturdy  group 
of  brave  pioneers,  at  whoso  head  stood 
Johann  Herkimer,  from  whose  patriot 
son  our  county  has  inherited  its  honored 
name. 

In  the  division  of  the  land  that  portion 
known  in  the  original  patent  as  lot  3G 
fell  to  the  share  of  Johann  Jost  Herki- 
mer who  was  to  be  the  leading  spirit  of 
this  particular  hamlet.  This  lot  was  just 
east  of  where  the  venerable  old  stone 
church  now  stands.  A  few  years  later, 
after  his  prosperity  had  become  assured, 
Herkimer  built  a  substantial  stone  house 
west  of  the  church,  the  precise  location 
of  which  was  directly  opposite  the  small 
island  in  the  Mohawk  river  now    ailed 


Herkimer  Island.  At  the  beginning  of 
the  French  and  Indian  war,  when  the 
the  settlers  were  in  constant  danger  from 
marauding  savages,  it  was  deemed  pru- 
dent to  protect  it  by  earthworks,  and  to 
further  fortify  it  by  a  palisade  of  logs. 

From  this  time  on  it  was  used  as  a  fort 
and  was  resorted  to  by  the  inhabitants 
of  the  surrounding  country  as  a  place  of 
refuge  and  defense.  It  is  described  as  a 
three  story  stone  house  with  port-holes 
at  each  story.  This  building,  although 
of  such  precious  historical  interest,  was 
unhappily  sacrificed  to  accommodate 
either  the  construction  or  later  enlarge- 
ment of  the  Erie  canal.  This  was  an  un- 
necessary piece  of  vandalism,  as  the  sur- 
vey might  have  bgen  made  without  dis- 
turbing this  interesting  and  sacred  land- 
mark. But  with  unaccountable  indiffer- 
ence the  state  authorities  allowed  its 
demolition,  quieting  the  protests  which 
were  raised  against  the  act  by  promising 
to  preserve  the  remembrance  of  the  spot 
by  marking  it  with  a  suitab'e  monument. 
Seventy  years  have  rolled  by  and  the  un- 
marked site  of  so  many  hallowed  histori- 
cal memories  bears  silent  witness  to  the 
unfulfilled  pledge.  Would  it  not  be  emi- 
nently fitting  for  the  Herkimer  County 
Historical  Society  to  engage  itself  in  the 
work  of  rescuing  this  spot  from  the  ob- 
livion into  which  it  has  been  allowed  to 
fall,  by  marking  with  an  appropriate 
memorial  this  place  so  fraught  with  his- 
torical memories? — one  of  which  is  of 
extreme  interest,  although  not  generally 
known.  It  was  here  before  this  fort* 
that  the  first  liberty-pole  ever  raised  in 
this  state  was  placed— only  to  be  pulled 
down  by  British  authority.  In  recogni- 
tion, then,  of  the  importance  of  its  part 
in  two  dark  and  bloody  struggles,  let  a 
visible  sign  soon  be  placed  on  this  ground 

*  Although  it  is  recorded  in  the  earfy  his- 
tories of  Herkimer  County  that  the  first  liberty 
pole  erected  in  the  State  of  New  York  was  at 
Fort  Herkimer,  it  has  been  found  that  this  is 
an  erroneous  statement.  We  are  indebted  to 
Judge  Earl  for  having  unearthed  the  truth  in 
this  matter,  for,  after  careful  investigation, 
he  found  that  there  were  at  least  five  liberty 
poles  erected  in  the  city  of  New  York  before 
the  one  at  Fort  Herkimer  was  raised. 

M.  S.  W. 


£9 


which  shall  bear  witness  that  this  gen-  ants  of  this  family  from  that  time  (1733) 

eration,  at  least,  realizes  what  great  ser-  to  the  present  day. 

vice  was  here  rendered  to  our  defenceless  What  is  nov   known  as  the  Spencer 

ancestors  who   had  the  courage  to  plant  farm,  at  the  west  side  of  the   Mohawk, 

their   homes    in    the   face  of  enormous  was  the  land  which  fell   to  the  share  of 


dangers  on  this  then  distant  and  unpro 
tected  frontier. 


On  the  north  side  of  the  river  gathered 
another  little  band  of  Palatine?  who  se- 
lected for  their  settlement  the  site  wherj 
the  present  village  of  Herkimer  stmds. 
This  place  was  first  called  Stone  Ridge, 
then  Palatine  Dorf,  ani  finally  BarneLs- 
field,  in  honor  of  Governor  Burnet 
was  also  at  a  later  date  called  German 
Flatts,  and  it  was  the  intention  of  those 
having  the  mitter  in  charge,  when  the 
names  of  the  new  towns  were  handed  to 
the  legislature  that  it  should  continue 
"German  Flatts,"  but  owing  to  some 
confusion  it  was  called  Herkimer,  and 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river  was  given 
the  name  of  German  Flatts. 

The  dominating  spirit  among  the  Bur- 
netsfield  families  was  Johann  Jost  Petri, 
who  was  a  natural  leader  by  right  of 
ability  and  education.  His  wife  was  a 
woman  of  culture  and  refinement.  Lot 
No.  8  was  assigned  to  him  and  was  the 
one  on  which  now  stands  the  paper  mill. 
There  is  to  day  an  old  well  in  Herkimer 
that  was  dug  over  one  hundred  and 
sixty- five  years  ago.  This  furnished  wa- 
ter not  only  for  the  Petri  family  but 
supplied  it  to  the  fort  through  two  wars. 
It  is  located  just  north  of  the  present 
court-house. 

There  was,  at  that  early  day,  no  r<^gu- 
lar  settlement  where  Ilion  now  stands, 
although  at  long  intervals  there  were 
scattered  lonely  isolated  dwellings.     The 


Rudolph  Schumacher.  This  particular 
locality  has  a  history  which  is  interest- 
ing because  it  was  through  a  little  ravine 
just  west  of  the  Spencer  house,  that 
Brant  conducted  his  murderous  band  of 
Tories  and  Indians  when  he  came  to  at- 
tack the  unprotected  settlers  on  the  south 
side  of  the  river  west  of  Fort  Herkimer, 
J  that  locality  now  occupied  by  the  vil- 
lages of  Mohawk  and  Ilion.  The  houses 
were  at  a  considerable  distance  from  each 
other,  but  such  timely  warning  was  given 
the  people  they  were  able  to  reach  Fort 
Herkimer  in  safety.  They  saved  them- 
selves, but  their  crops,  their  cattle,  and 
their  buildings  were  left  to  the  mercy  of 
their  foes.  These  disappointed  of  their 
prey,  sated  their  thirst  for  vengeance  by 
applying  the  torch  to  houses,  barns,  and, 
stacks  of  hay  and  grain.  The  cattle 
were  driven  away  by  the  Indians.  Wil- 
liam L.  Stone,  in  speaking  of  this  event, 
says:  "Just  as  the  day  was  breaking  in 
the  east,  the  fires  were  kindled,  and  the 
whole  section  of  the  valley  was  speedily 
illuminated  by  the  flames  of  houses  and 
barns,  and  all  else  combustible." 

The  spectacle  to  the  people  in  the  fort 
was  one  of  melancholy  grandeur.  Every 
family  saw  the  flames  and  smoke  of  its 
own  domicile  ascending  to  the  skies,  and 
every  farmer,  the  whole  product  of  his 
labor  for  the  season  dissolving  into 
ashes."  Mr.  James  D^'gert  tells  of  this 
occurrence  as  follows  :  "My  grand- 
mother, Mrs.  Catharine  Myers,  was  at 
this  time  a  girl  of  ten   years  and  a  resi- 


lands  at  this  point  were  parcelled  off  to  dent  of  this  place.  Many  times  when  I 
persons  by  thenamasof  Rickert,  Schmidt,  was  a  boy  she  related  to  me  the  appear- 
Speir,  Reele,  and  Weber.  In  the  Bur-  ance  of  the  courageous  scout  when  he 
netsfield  patent  appears  the  name  of  gave  the  alarm.  His  clothing  was  torn 
Volz  (Folts)  and  to  this  patentee  was  as-    to  tattirs,  his  eyes   were  b'oodshot,  his 


signed  lot  No.  3  which  designacsd  a  par- 
cel of  land  which  now  lies  in  East  Frank- 
fort. It  was  left,  therefore,  to  the  Volz 
family  to  live  in  the  most  remote  and 
unprotected  location  within  the  Burnets- 
field  grant.  It  is  an  interesting  fact  that 
this  laud  has  been  occupied  by  descend  • 


hands,  feet,  and  limbs  were  lacerated 
and  bleeding  fiom  the  effects  of  the 
brambles  and  bushes  through  which  he 
had  forced  his  headlong  flight.  He 
haltei  long  enough  to  shout,  'Flee  for 
your  lives  !  the  enemy  are  not  an  hour 
bahini!'  and   hurried  to  the  next  house. 


40 


There  are  many  descendants  today  in  the 
Mohawk  valley  of  those  who  were  saved 
from  midnight  massacre  by  the  undaunt- 
ed courage  and  superhuman  endurance  of 
John  Adam  Helmer." 

An  interesting  relic  of  this  memorable 
event  is  in  the  possession  of  Mrs.  Catha- 
rine Johnson  of  Mohawk,  a  granddaugh- 
ter of  the  Mrs.  Catharine  Myers  just  re- 
ferred to.  It  is  an  old  German  Bible 
bound  in  leather,  with  the  corners  of  the 
cover  protected  by  metal.  The  history 
of  this  venerable  book  is  thrilling.  It 
belonged  to  a  Palatine  ancestor  of  Mrs. 
Johnson.  During  a  religious  persecu- 
tion in  Germany  it  was  buried  in  order 
to  save  it  from  destruction.  Later  it  was 
brought  by  the  family  to  the  Mohawk 
Valley  as  a  most  precious  possession. 
When  warned  by  John  Adam  Helmer 
that  Brant  was  about  to  fall  upon  them, 
the  familj'  hastily  buried  the  sacred 
volume,  with  a  few  other  valuables,  and 
fled  to  the  fort.  Tradition  say  that  the 
tree,  uuder  which  it  was  concealed, 
stood  near  the  place  where  tfae  dwelling 
of  the  late  Mr.  John  A.  Rasbach  now 
stands. 

When  the  Palatines  came  to  settle  in 
the  upper  valley,  seven  families  left 
their  fellows  and  hewed,  as  it  were, 
their  way  through  the  dense  forest  to 
that  part  of  Herkimer  county  called 
Warren.  Here  they  felled  trees  from  a 
small  area  of  land  and  planted  their 
humble  hom^s  and  shut  in  on  all  sides 
by  the  primeval  forest,  nine  miles  away 
from  the  nearest  white  settlers,  these 
brave  people  subsisted  undisturbed  for 
many  years.  But  during  the  revolu- 
tionary war,  which  was  such  a  scourge 
to  all  parts  of  the  country,  these  defence- 
less pioneers  were  attacked  by  a  band  of 
Indians  and  part  of  ther  number 
savagely  butchered.  The  survivors 
were  taken  prisoners  with  the  exception 
of  three  families  by  the  names  of  Grim, 
Hoyer,  and  Osterhout.  These  escaped 
and  made  their  way  on  foot  through  the 
forest  to  Fort  Herkimer.  Anna  Oster- 
hout. the  grandmother  of  Mrs.  Alfred  E. 
Brooks  of  Ilion,  was  one  of  the  number. 
She  was  a  child  of  tender  years  at  the 
time,  but  nevertheless,  walked  with  the 


rest  of  the  terrified  company  to  the  fort 
nine  miles  away. 

From  an  early  history  of  Herkimer 
county  we  learn  that  the  eatly  German 
settlers  of  the  Mohawk  Valley  possessed 
many  sterling  qualities  of  character,  be- 
ing honest,  thrifty  and  industrious.  With 
such  characteristics  they  naturally  began 
to  accumulate  property,  and  at  once  en- 
tered upon  a  career  of  prosperity  to 
which  they  had  long  been  strangers. 
The  women  were  equally  industrious 
with  the  men,  and,  beside  caring  for 
their  families,  which  were  large,  they 
assisted  in  the  farm  work.  They  raised 
the  flax,  then  pulled,  broke,  hetchelled, 
and  spun  it.  By  them  the  sheep  were 
sheared,  the  wool  picked,  carded,  and 
spun.  They  wove  the  cloth  with  which 
to  clothe  their  families.  The  numer- 
ous children  of  a  family,  ruddy  and 
str  )ng,  were  quite  content  with  their 
simple  fare  of  supawn  (a  kind  of  hasty 
pudding)  which  they  ate  with  wooden 
spoons  from  a  common  trencher.  Con- 
tentment and  happiness  were  theirs  for 
there  were  flo  distinctions  of  caste  among 
them  to  create  jealousy  and  unhappiness. 
They  adhered  closely  to  th«  ways  and 
traditions  of  their  fatherland  both  in 
manner  of  performing  labor  and  in  their 
social  and  religious  customs.  They  spoke 
their  nativ'e  Ian  jjuage  and  worshipped  ac  - 
cording  to  the  Lutheran  faith.  Christ- 
ma?  was  a  season  of  great  rejoicing 
among  them.  They  allowed  no  work  on 
that  day,  and,  after  heari-ig  prayers, 
gave  themselves  up  to  eatina^,  drinking, 
and  making  merry.  They  were  strictly 
honorable  in  all  business  dealings.  It  is 
recorded  of  them  that  such  a  thing  as  a 
proiniS'Ory  note  was  unknown  among 
them.  Their  word  was  their  bond.  They 
were  a  superstitious  people  and  held  to 
some  very  curious  customs  in  regard  to 
funerals,  which  no  one  attended  unless 
especially  invited.  After  the  burial  it 
was  customary  to  return  to  the  house 
where  intoxicants  were  partaken  of  very 
freely. 

Cakes,  too,  were  passed  around  in 
large  baskets  so  that. with  the  eating  and 
drinking,  the  occasion  assumed  a 
festive  character.      Simms 


very 
responsi- 


41 


ble  for  the  statement  tRat  it  was  no  an- 
coiunioa  thins  for  people  at  that  early 
day,  to  go  home  from  a  funeral  the 
worse  from  their  potations. 

Many  of  the  names  of  these  German 
pioneers  have  undergone  curious 
changes.  Their  descendents  would  now 
hardly  recognize  them.  Tlie  following 
names  which  appear  in  the  o-iiginil 
patent  have  been  modified  until  Pellin- 
ger  h;vs  became  Bellinger;  Pears,  Barse; 
Pell,  Bell;  Edich,  Edi^h;  Ittich.  Eedick; 
Vol/.,  Vols,  Folts;  Herter,  Herder,  Har- 
der, Hatter,  Barter;  Staley,  Steele; Schu- 
macher, Shoemaker;  VVollever,  Wolla- 
her.  There  were  innumerable  changes 
rung  on  the  name  of  Herkimer  such  as 
Herchkeimer,  Kerchmer,  Erghemar, 
Harkemar  and  Herkheimer,  Among 
the  names  found  in  the  original  Stone 
Arabia  patent  are  the  familiar  ones  of 
Finck,  l>eichert  (Dygert),  Koperaol 
(Coppernoll),  Peiper  (Piper),  Schenele 
(SnelU  and  Loucks. 

For  upwards  of  thirty  years  the  Pala- 
tines enjoyed  peace  and  secur.ty  not- 
withstanding their  exposed  situation  on 
this  distant  frontier.  They  had  prosper- 
ed, having  acquired  comfortable  homes 
and  a  fair  competence,  but  this  period 
of  repose  was  destined  to  be  rudely  end- 
ed by  the  unhappy  calamity  of  war— a 
calamity  which  had  already  been  but 
too  well  tested  by  the  unf  >rtunate  Pala- 
tines in  their  Fatherland.  But  they  had 
been  lulled  into  a  feeling  of  security  be- 
cause of  long  exemption  from  hostile 
approaches  and  were  slow  to  av,'aken  to 
a  sense  of  their  danger  although  war 
was  at  their  very  doors— and  for  the 
very  reason  that  they  were  so  unpre- 
pared, the  inhabitants  of  Burnetstield 
fell  easy  victin>s  to  their  French  and  In- 
dian foes,  who  with  tomahawk  and 
torch,  descended  upon  the  defenseless 
hamlet  early  one  dark,  cold  morning  in 
the  fall  of  1757.  So  sudden  was  the  on- 
slaught those  who  escaped  had  no  time 
in  which  to  clothe  themselves.  A  few 
were  brutally  murdered,  while  many 
were  dragged  away  into  captivity, 
Johann  Jost  Petrie  being  among  the 
number. 

One   incident  of    this   cruel   invasion 


never  loaes  its  thrilTing  interest  in  the* 
tell  ng,  parily  because  of  the  flavor  of 
romaoce  which  hangs  about  it,  and  part- 
ly because  its  chief  actors  have  many 
descendants  living  today  in  the  Muhawk 
Valley.  The  outlme  in  brief  of  the  story 
ia  this  :  On  the  memorable  night  just 
referred  to  the  slumbers  of  a  family  by 
the  name  of  Barter  were  rudely  brokers 
by  the  blood-curdling  war  whoops  of  a 
band  of  Indians  who  had  separated 
themselves  from  the  main  body  of  war- 
riors who  were  intent  on  devastating  the 
little  hamlet  of  Burnetsfield.  The  hum- 
ble log  dwelling  of  the  Barters  stood  oa 
the  sunny  s'ope  which  is  now  occupied 
by  the  picturesque  farm  house  of  Mr. 
William  Kay,  just  west  of  the  village  of 
Herkimer.  The  savages  lost  no  time  in 
sieving  the  family  and  applying  the 
torch  to  their  abode,  they  started  with 
the  terrified  prisoners  to  make  their  way 
back  to  Canada  over  the  rough  trail  to 
the  north.  When  they  reached  the  St. 
Lawrence  river  they  separated  the  fami- 
ly, placing  Mrs  Barter  in  a  canoe  with 
two  Indians  who  were  to  paddle  the  frail 
bark  across  the  broad  expanse  of  water. 
Before  the  keel  of  the  boat  had  touched 
the  opposite  shore,  a  daughter  had  been 
born  to  Mrs.  Barter.  This  child,  strange- 
ly enough,  survived  to  grow  to  woman- 
hood and  was  admired  for  her  great 
beauty  and  social  gifts.  She  became  the 
wife  of  General  Michael  Myers.  In  that 
beautiful  "God's  acre,"  known  as  Oak 
Bill  Cemetery,  rests  all  that  is  mortal  of 
the  lovely  Catharine  Barter  Myers,  and 
but  few  of  those  who  chance  to  pass  the 
moss  covered  pyramidal  stone  which 
marks  the  spot  are  familiar  with  the 
strange  story  of  her  life,  tl>e  first  year  of 
which  was  spent,  with  her  parents,  in 
captivity  among  the  Indians. 

All  of  the  prisoners  who  were  carried 
off  at  the  time  of  the  attack  on  Burnets- 
field were  released  the  following  year 
and  returned  to  their  homes  only  to  find 
them  in  ashes,  and  their  lands  shorn  of 
everything  but  their  fertility. 

They  had  hardly  time  to  rally  from 
these  losses  and  afflictions  before  the 
war-cloud  of  the  Revolution  obscured 
their  horizon,  and  it  was  not  long  after 


42 


t)eTore  it  rose  to  tsrealj  over  tlieir  lifads. 
The  prospect  was  now  gloomy  indeed; 
ibut  these  much  tried  souls  did  not  flinch. 
They  cheerfully  assisted  ia  every  move- 
<ment  to  repel  the  enemy  and  were  as 
unse  fishly  devoted  to  their  adopted 
<;ountry  as  though  native  to  its  soil. 

Many  of  the  Palatines  laid  down  their 
lives  in  the  sanguinary  struggle  at  Oris- 
kany.  Professor  lirider,  in  a  recent  lec- 
ture upon  the  Mohawk  Valley,  referring 
ito  the  importance  of  this  battle,  says 
that  it  was  the  pivotal  -one  of  the  Revo- 
Jution,  and  the  success  or  failure  of  the 
revolt  against  iEngland  hinged  upon  it. 
The  importance,  then,  of  the  service 
rendered  to  our  country  by  (liese  brave 
■Germans  can  not  be  overestimate!. 
That  tlie  sacrifices  which  they  made  for 
the  country  of  their  adoption  may  be 
fully  appreciated  let  it  be  understood 
that  almost  every  Pa'atine  family  was 
represented  in  the  ba:tt>le  of  Oriskany — 
not  only  by  one  of  its  members,  but  in 
-many  instances  by  several  members. 
Nine  Snells  marched  to  battle,  two  only 
returned.  Six  Petries  periled  their  lives 
in  the  same  conflict,  while  six  Wagners, 
four  Wolhebers,  five  Dygerts  and  six 
Foxes  swelled  the  numbers  of  those  who 
marched  to  this  deadly  fray. 

"The  men  who  fought  this  battle,"  to 
<luote  the  words  of  Chancellor  Haven, 
-"were  good  specimens  of  a  peculiar  peo- 
ple. They  came  across  the  ocean— or 
their  fathers  and  mothers  did— not  for 
money,  but  for  liberty  and  religion. 
Such  a  people  fought  the  battle  of  Oris- 
kany; nay,  the  battle  of  freedom  for  all 
mankind."  Through  the  fatalities  of 
two  wars  death  had  entered  nearly  every 


"household;  hut  being  iniired  to  all  hard- 
ship, these  heroic  beople  bore  even  this 
sorrow  with  noble  fortitude.  One  writer 
says  that  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution- 
ary war,  "After  this  valley  had  been 
raided  and  warred  over  during  seven 
long  years,  tkree  thousand  women  and 
children  remained  with  but  five  hundred 
men  to  care  for  them."  Whnt  wonder, 
then,  that  the  Palatines  became  disheart- 
ened and  crushed  in  spirit.  They  had 
suffered  so  severely  during  two  b'oody 
conflicts  tfeey  could  not  rally,  and  were 
never  again  the  people  they  had  been 
before. 

After  the  Rev'olutionary  war  there  was 
a  remarkable  emigration  of  the  New 
Englanders  to  this  part  of  New  York 
state,  the  Mohawk  Valley  in  particular, 
being  a  favorite  point  of  settlement  with 
these  thrifty  and  energetic  people.  The 
Palatines,  because  of  their  vicissitudes, 
gave  way  before  the  encroachments  of 
this  new  element,  and  it  was  not  long 
before  the  settlements  of  the  valley  lost 
their  distinctively  German  characteris- 
tics, and  perhaps  the  change  was  for  the 
better,  as  these  early  Germans  were  in- 
tensely conservative  an4  clung  with 
great  tenacity  to  old  customs,  which 
made  tfeem  disinclined  to  favor  innova- 
tions. The  New  Englanders,  on  the  con- 
trary, were  animated  by  a  progressive 
spirit,  which  showed  itself  in  the  rapid 
advancement  of  educational  and  busi- 
ness facilities,  the  result  of  which  is 
shown  in  the  fact  that  this  beautiful  and 
historical  valley  of  the  Mohawk  is  to 
day  second  to  none  in  the  country  in 
enterprise  and  importance. 


48 


HERKIMER  AND  ITS  PEOPLE  DURING  THE  FIRST 
THIRTY  YEARS  OF  THIS  CENTURY. 


AN   ADDRESS  BY  HON.    ROBERT   EARI.  OF  HERKIMER, 
Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society  June  9,  1896. 
I  propose  to  give  some  glimpses  and    were  as  follows  :    The  house  now  owned 


reminiscences  of  Herkimer  and  its 
people  during  the  first  thirty  years  of 
this  century.  Some  of  the  things  I 
write  are  within  my  own  knowledge  and 
others  I  have  learned  from  Colonel 
Suiter,  who  is  still  with  us,  and  from 
William  Smith,  and  other  old  citizens 
who  have  passed  away. 


by  Dr  Burgess  on  Main  street,  the  one 
on  Main  street  now  owned  by  Dr.  Kay, 
recently  occupied  by  Mrs.  Lawton, 
where  she  wa?  born,  and  during  the 
eighty-three  years  of  her  life  always 
lived;  the  Simeon  B'ord  house  on  Wash- 
ington street,  just  south  of  the  lane 
crossing  the  hydraulic  to  what  is  now 


The  people  living  here  had  a  village  called  Brooklyn,  and  the  Weber  house 
organization  and  government,  under  a  now  occupied  by  Dr.  Pryne. 
legislative  act,  as  early  as  1807,  one  of  There  was  but  one  church,  and  that 
the  earliest  in  the  state  west  of  Schen-  was  where  the  Reformed  Church  now  is, 
ectady.  The  stony  ground,  mainly  and  the  Court  House, which  included  the 
above  the  railroad  and  south  of  Ger-  jail,  was  where  the  present  Court  House 
man  street,  was  usually  called  by  the  is  located,  and  that  burned  down  in  1834 
residents  here  the  "Stone  Ridge'*;  and  and  the  same  fire  was  communicated  to 
the  three  parallel  streets,  Main,  Pros-  the  church  and  also  destroyed  that, 
pect  and  Washington,  with  the  inter-  There  was  but  one  school  house  on  the 
secting  cross  streets,  north  of  the  rail-  Stone  Ridge,  and  that  a  very  poor  and 
road,  then  existed,  and  upon  these  streets  cheap  one,  located  on  Washington  street 
early  in  the  century    there   were  but  a   on  the  lot  now  occupied  by  LaFayette  J. 


few  hundred  inhabitants.  As  late  as 
1830  there  were  not  more  than  five  hun- 
dred. There  were  no  sidewalks,  the 
first  sidewalks  having  been  built  upon 
portions  of  Main  street  in  1832,  and  the 
buildings  were  small  and  of  simple  con- 


Foits.  There  was  another  school  house 
in  a  separate  district,  situated  nearly  op- 
posite the  brick  house  of  Jacob  J.  Bel- 
linger on  German  street. 

There  were  several  stores— one  where 
Dr.    Suiter's    house  now  is.  which  was 


struction.     The  buildings  in;    he  village   kept  by   Mr.    Far  well,   who  afterwards 


and  particularly  in  the  country,  general- 
ly, were  not  finished,  lathed  or  plastered 
above  the  first  story  and  there  were 
generally  no  locks  on  the  outside  doors. 
The  most  considerable  private  residences 


moved  to  Utica  and  thence  to  Chicago 
where  his  sons  have  been  among  the 
prominent  business  men,  one  of  them 
having  been  a  United  States  Senator. 
There  was  a  block  of  three  wooden  stores 


44 


where  the  Fox  block  now  is,  one  where  ling;  for  thestabling  of  a  team  overnight 

Mrs.  Washburn  resides,  and    where  the  with    hay.     Whiskey,    which    was    the 

National  Bank  now  is  there  was  a  store  principal  liquor  sold,  was  not  more  than 

and  a  jewelry  shop.     At  the  beginning  fifteen  cents  per  gallon,  and  hence  could 

of  the  century  and  for  a  Jong  time  before  be  dispensed  cheap  with  a  profit,  and  it 

Jacob  P.Weber,  called  King  Weber,  had  was  freely  indulged  in.     All  the  travel 

a  store  on  German  street,  just  east  of  the  was  by  land,  except  a  small  amount  upon 

lot  then  owned  by  Dr.  William  Petry  and  the  Erie  canal  after  it  was  opened,  and 

later  by  Mr.  Samuel  Earl.     At  this  store  it   was  large.     The  stages  which    then 

he  dealt  in  peltries  with  the  Indians  and  carried  all  of  the  passengers  to  and  from 

white  hunters  and  trappers  and  amassed  the  west,    passed   over  the   turnpike  on 

a  large  fortune,  larger  than  that  of  any  the  north  side  of  the  Mohawk  river,  and 

other  person  in  the  State  west  of  Schen-  through  this  village,  bringing  much  cus- 

ectady,  which  on  his  death  passed  to  his  torn  to  the  taverns  along  the  route.    The 

daughters,  Mrs.  Frederick  Doxtater,  Mrs.  stages  were   drawn   by  four  horses  and 


F.  P.  Bellinger  and  Mrs.  C.  C.  Bellinger. 
There  were  more  taverns  in  the  town 
of  Herkimer  then  than  now.  There  was 
one  at  the  Farrington  farm  near  the 
Ilion  depot,  called  the  Uphan  tavern, 
somewhat  noted  for  its  sign,  on  one  side 
of  which  was  paintei  in  oils  a  well- 
dressed  gentleman,  riding  a  fine  horse, 
with  the  legend,  "Going  to  Laiv,"  and 
on  the  other  side  a  shabbily  dressed,  for- 


they  all  changed  horses  at  some  tavern 
in  this  village.  As  a  stage  came  into  the 
village  from  the  east  or  west,  the  driver 
would  blow  his  horn,  and  by  the  time  he 
reached  the  tavern  the  fresh  horses  would 
be  ready  to  hitch  on. 

There  were  several  whiskey  distilleries 
in  the  town;  one  where  Mr.  Marks's  resi- 
dence now  is;  one  on  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  Prospect  and  Church  streets;  one 


lorn  looking  man  and  a  poor,  woebegone    near  Kast's  Bridge;  another  on  the  West 


looking  horse, with  the  legend,  "Return- 
ing from  Law;"  and  also  at  the  follow- 
ing places:  On  the  hill  west  of  the  Hor- 
rocks  factory,  in  a  building  recently 
burned. down;  where  the  present  cheese 


Canada  creek  just  north  of  the  toll-gate; 
aud  a  cider  brandy  distillery  up  the  creek 
at  the  Farmer  place.  There  was  an 
ashery  for  the  manufacture  of  potash 
where  Mr.  James  Fagan  now  lives,  and 


factory  is;  just  east  of  the  residence  of  south  of  that  there  was  a  tannery;  there 
Dr.  Pryne;  on  Main  street  where  Dr  was  also  an  ashery  on  Washington  street 
Suiter's  house  is,  in  a  building  which  was  where  Mr.  McNeal  lives, 
before astore;  where  the  Mansion  House  There  were  a  number  of  blacksmiths, 
now  is;  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Mary  who  not  only  did  all  the  work  now  done 
streets,  where  Mrs.  Monroe  now  lives;  by  men  of  that  craft  in  this  region,  but 
where  the  Waverly  House  now  is;  where  they  also  made  all  the  carpenters'  tools 
the  Stimsons  now  live;  where  the  Deimel  and  all  farming  implements,  such  as 
block  now  is;  where  the  Nelson  House  plows,  hoes,  shovels,  scythes,  axes,  etc. 
and  also  where  the  Edick  House  The  shoemakers  made  and  mended  all 
now  are;  up  the  creek  where  John  Far-  the  shoes,  and  no  shoes  were  brought 
mer,  and  afterwards  his  son  Harry  and  here,  as  now,  for  sale.  Farmers  would 
still  later  Mr.  Fenner  lived;  where  Mr.  have  their  hides  tanned,  and  shoemakers 
James  Bellinger  lives;  near  the  Tower  would  go  around,  and,  working  by  the 
farm  on  the  turnpike,  and  still  further  day  or  month,  would  once  a  year  shoe 
down  where  Darius  Small  now  lives,  and  the  whole  family— the  farmer  furnishing 
just  east  of  that,  one  called  the  Ethridge  the  work-bench  which  many  of  them 
tavern.  Their  profits  were  small  and  kept  on  hand  for  that  purpose, 
outside  of  the  village  they  were  gener-  Tailors  made  all  the  clothes,  as  there 
ally  connected  with  farms  and  were  only  was  no  ready-made  clothing,  and  they, 
incidental  to  farming.  The  charges  were  too,  would  annually  go  around  from 
generally  small,  a  sixpence  for  a  meal  house  to  house  and  make  the  clothes  for 
and  the  same  for  lodging  and  one  shil-   a  whole  family  out  of  cloth  made  from 

45 


the  wool  spun  and  woven  in  the  farmer's 
famil)',  and  dyed  and  dressed  at  the  full- 
ing mills,  a  number  of  which  were  lo- 
cated in  the  town.  These  itinerant  shoe- 
makers and  tailors  worked  for  about  $13 
a  month. 

There  was  a  manufactory  of  cow-bells 
where  the  jail  now  is,  and  Colonel  Suit- 
er, when  a  boy,  worked  in  the  factory  at 
a  shilling  per  day.  These  bells  were 
made  for  use  in  this  State,  upon  cows 
which  were  permitted  to  roam  for  food 
in  the  forests,  particularly  in  the  early 
spring.  But  they  were  sold  mainly  for 
use  in  the  southern  states. 

This  village  was  the  home  of  several 
prominent  lawyers,  among  them,  Gay- 
lord  Griswold,  a  brilliant  lawyer  in  the 
early  part  of  this  century,  who  became 
a  Federalist  member  of  Congress,  elected 
in  1802,  and  died,  comparatively  young, 
in  1809;  Aaron  Hackley,who  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress  in  1818  and  voted 
for  the  Missouri  Compromise  line  in  1821; 
Simeon  Ford,  Loren  Ford,  James  B. 
Hunt.  Charles  Gray,  Michael  Hoffman, 
and  Flavins  J.  Littlejohn,  who  subse- 
quently became  Governor  of  Michigan 
These  men  gave  our  bar  a  high  standing 
and  adorned  many  public  stations. 

The  Herkimer  American,  published  by 
Edward  P.  Seymour,  was,  during  the 
later  years  of  the  period  wuth  which  I 
am  now  dealing,  the  only  newspaper. 

The  doctors  were  Doolittle,  Farrell, 
Abrahams,  and  Tomlin,  and  they  usually 
visited  their  out-of-town  patients  on 
horseback,  and  their  compensation  for  a 
visit  was  not  more  than  fifty  cents,  and 
to  my  personal  knowledge,  they  pulled 
teeth  for  one  shilling  each. 

Farm  hands  received  $8  per  month  by 
the  year  and  about  $13  per  month  for  the 
spring,  summer  and  fall  work,  and  they 
usually  worked  from  daylight  to  dark: 
and  female  help  received  from  50  to  75 
cents  per  week. 

Farmers  and  their  families  were  gen- 
erally clothed  in  home-made  cloth,  both 
woolen  and  linen.  The  women  generally 
hetcheled  and  spun  the  flax  and  wove  it 
into  cloth  for  underwear  and  sheets  and 
pillow-cases,  and  they  also  worked  in  the 


fields  upon  the  farm,  cultivating  crops 
and  gathering  in  the  harvest. 

A  large  share  of  farm  work  was  done 
by  what  were  called  "bee^."  There 
were  bees  for  paring  apples,  spinning, 
plowing,  drawing  out  manure,  chopping 
and  logging,  husking  corn  and  some- 
times for  making  hay.  Hilarity,  good 
fellowship  and  son^etimes  pugnacity 
among  the  men  at  these  bees  were  stimu- 
lated by  the  free  use  of  whiskey  which 
was  never  absent.  Indeed,  few  farmers 
in  those  days  did  their  farm  work  with- 
out dealing  out  whiskey  to  their  help,  to 
keep  them  warm  when  it  was  cold,  and 
cool  when  it  was  hot.  Large  farmers, 
frequently  at  the  commencement  of  hay- 
ing and  harvesting,  purchased  whiskey 
by  the  barrel  for  use  upon  their  farms. 
Whiskey  was  also  freely  dispensed  at 
funerals,  christenings,  sheep-shearing, 
sheep  washing,  and  on  all  occasions  of 
festivities,  and  yet,  the  evils  of  intem- 
perance were  not  greater  then  than  now. 

The  farmers  in  those  days  were  frugal, 
industrious,  generally  out  of  debt  and 
independent;  most  of  them  never  gave 
nor  held  a  note.  In  the  winter  the  lead- 
ing farmers  were  engaged  in  carrymg 
their  produce  to  Albany  for  sale  there, 
and  they  would  generally  carry  back 
loads  of  merchandise  for  merchants. 
They  were  generally  a  hearty,  rollicking 
lot  of  men,  social,  free  from  harassing 
cares,  honest,  pious,  with  few  wants  and 
simple  habits;  and  I  believe  that  on  the 
whole  they  were  happier  than  thv^  farm- 
ers of  this  day.  They  nearly  all  be- 
longed to  Dominie  Spinner's  Dutch 
Church,  and  if  they  did  not  in  all  re- 
spects exemplify  the  precepts  of  the 
Christian  religion  in  their  daily  lives, 
they  lived  well  up  to  the  highest  stand- 
ards of  their  day.  They  were  taught  the 
Heidelburg  Catechism  and  when  suffi- 
ciently instructed,  were  taken  into  the 
church  on  the  profession  of  their  faith. 
They  usually  attended  church  in  the  fore- 
noon on  Sunday  and  a  large  share  of 
them  slept  through  the  service;  and  in 
the  afternoon,  following  the  customs  of 
their  German  ancestors,  which  were 
sanctioned  by  iheir  dominie,  they  visit- 


46 


ed,   and    sometimes    engaged    in   other 
harm'ess  amusements. 

In  the  long  winters  the  dances  called 
"Dutch  Fuddles"  were  a  great  feature 
among  the  farmers,  servins  in  the  in- 
clement season  to  cultivate  a  cheerful 
spirit  and  to  mollify  the  a'^perity  of  na- 
ture. They  were  given  in  private  houses, 
and  one  fiddler,  usually  standing  upon  a 
chair,  furnished  the  music.  He  would 
call  off  the  dances,  and  the  women, 
dressed  in  home-made  stuff  and  calico, 
silks  being  very  rare,  and  the  men, 
clothed  in  homespun,  with  coarse  boots 
and  sometimes  without  anything  on  their 
feet  but  stockings,  kept  time  to  the  mu- 
sic and  whirled  in  the  giddy  dance,  in  a 
manner  that  would  astonish  the  trained 
and  genteel  dancers  of  these  modern 
days. 

There  were  no  friction  matches,  and 
coals  were  kept  alive  over  night  for  the 
fire  of  the  next  day,  and  when  there 
were  no  live  coals,  fire  was  started  with 
a  spark  from  steel  and  flint  and  in  some 
other  rude  way. 

Among  the  Germans,  or  Dutch,  as  they 
were  called,  much  was  made  of  the  few 
holidays  they  had.  Christmas,  the  main 
holiday,  wa=i  celebrated  for  aeveral  days, 
continuing  until  after  New  Years,  and 
Easter  and  Pinckster,  which  in  the 
church  calendar  is  Whit- Sunday  were 
kept  with  much  zest.  Easter  and 
the  colored  eggs  were  always  associated 
in  the  youthful  minds.  The  4th  of  July 
was  a  great  day,  ushered  in  with  the 
boom  of  cannon  and  celebrated  with  pa- 
rades in  which  Revolutionary  soldiers 
bore  a  conspicuous  part,  and  with  speech- 
es and  fire-works  and  other  demonstra- 
tions of  genuine  patriotic  zeal  and  devo- 
tion. 

During  all  these  years  military  organi- 
zations were  numerous,  and  all  men  be- 
tween the  ages  of  eighteen  and  forty-five, 
were  required  to  belong  to  some  of  them, 
and  to  train  as  it  was  called.  Military 
titles  were  much  coveted,  and  even  a 
corporal  was  not  to  be  despised.  Gen- 
eral trainings,  when  a  whole  regiment 
or  several  regiments  were  brought  to- 
getlier  for  parade,  were  great  events. 
There  was  a  general  turn  out  of  the  peo- 

47 


pie  and  the  occasion  was  a  real  holiday. 
Cider  and  other  beverages  and  Yankee 
notions  were  sold,  and  ginger  bread  was 
there  to  gladden  the  hearts  of  the  young- 
sters who  had  a  few  pennies  to  invetst. 
There  were  artillery,  rifle,  light  infantry, 
cavalry  and  militia  companies,  and  they 
kept  up  the  military  spirit  engendered 
in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  the  later 
war  of  1813. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  town  were 
mostly  the  descendants  of  the  old  Pala- 
tines and  of  later  German  emigrants. 
German,  Mohawk  Dutch  as  it  was  called, 
was  generally  talked  and  understood. 
That  language  was  heard  more  than  any 
other  in  the  pulpit,  in  the  streets,  tav- 
erns, stores  and  upon  election  and  town 
meeting  days.  These  people  were  plain, 
simple,  honest  and  unlearned.  They  were 
superstitious,  generally  believed  in  witch- 
es and  ghosts;  and  many  were  the  stories 
of  ghosts  and  witches  I  heard  in  my  boy- 
hood, which  almost  made  my  hair  stand 
on  end  and  filled  the  dark  night  with 
terrors  and  my  brain  with  troubled 
dreams.  Within  the  village  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Henry  Helmer,  who  lived 
where  Mr.  J.  G.  Bellinger  now  lives,  had 
some  hogs  that  were  diseased  in  some 
unusual  way  and  he  concluded  that  they 
might  be  bewitched.  He  consulted  a 
professed  witch  doctor,  by  the  name  of 
Baltus  Bridenbecker,  who  lived  in  Schuy- 
ler, and  he  was  advised  to  burn  the  hogs, 
and  that  the  first  man  who  came  when 
they  began  to  squeal  would  be  the  witch. 
Helmer  confined  the  hogs  and  piled 
brush  upon  them  and  set  fire  to  the  brush, 
and  a  man  by  the  name  of  Jacob  Moon, 
a  quaint  character,  was  the  first  to  ap- 
pear when  the  hogs  began  to  squeal,  and 
so  he  was  believed  to  be  the  witch.  The 
hogs  were  roasted  and  Helmer  was 
thereafter  called  the  "Sibrorer,"  the 
Dutch  name  for  hog  roaster  and  his  son, 
a  comrade  of  mine,  was  called  the 
"Young  Sibrorer." 

There  were  no  buggies  or  cutters  and 
at  most  two  or  three  carriages  in  the 
whole  town,  one  of  which  was  still 
owned  by  William  Smith  at  his  death 
and  pa-jsed  to  his  legatees  under  his  will; 
and  there  was  not  a  piano  or  a  house  or- 


gan  of  any  kind  in  the  town  and  no 
cushioned  or  upholstered  furniture. 

There  were  but  a  few  Yankees  here  at 
the  beginning  of  this  century.  The  Dutch 
feared  them,  believing  them  to  be  too 
smart  for  Dutch  simplicity.  The  trick 
of  the  "Yankee  pass"  from  which  Judge 
Staring  suffered,  handed  down  by  tradi- 
tion which  is  related  in  Benton's  History 
of  Herkimer  County,  engendered  suspi- 
cion of  Yankee  cunning  and  craft. 

During  this  time  there  were  never 
more  than  two  Roman  Catholics  residing 
here,  one  of  whom  was  a  lawyer  by  the 
name  of  Lapham  and  the  other  a  farmer 
by  the  name  of  O'Rourke.  until  about 
the  time  of  the  construction  of  the  hy- 
draulic canal  and  the  railroad,  when 
many  Irish  were  brought  here  to  work 
upon  these  structures,  who  came  here 
with  such  a  reputation  for  pugnacity  that 
they  caused  us  youngsters  to  give  them  a 
wide  berth  when  we  met  them. 

There  were  no  Low  Dutch  here  except 
Peter  DeGraff,  who  came  here  from 
Schenectady,  and  was  a  tailor  by  trade, 
and  kept  the  toll  gate  at  the  West  Can- 
ada creek  bridge,  whose  youngest  son, 
Henry,  is  now  among  the  wealthy  men 
of  the  city  of  New  York,  and  is  presi- 
dent of  tne  Bowery  National  Bank. 

It  is  a  curious  circumstance  that  the 
settlers  upon  the  Mohawk  river  were  di- 
vided as  between  the  Low  Dutch  and 
the  German  High  Dutch,  as  they  were 
divided  upon  the  River  Rhine.  There 
the  High  Dutch  lived  upon  the  upper 
Rhine  and  the  Low  Dutch  upon  the 
lower  Rhine.  Here  the  Low  Dutch  set- 
tled upon  the  Mohawk  below  Canajo- 
harie  and  the  High  Dutch  above  that 
point,  and  hence  below  we  find  the  name 
of  Amsterdam,  a  Dutch  name,  and 
above  Palatine,  Minden,  Danube,  Man- 
heim,  Frankfort,  all  German  names 
from  the  upper  Rhine. 

At  the  beginning  of  this  century  there 
were  but  few  books  here  except  those  of 
a  religious  nature.  But  the  need  for 
more  books  soon  began  to  be  felt,  and 
the  "Herkimer  Library"  was  incorpo- 
rated in  1809  under  the  general  act  of 
the  legislature  of  1796,  authorizing  the 
incorporation  of    libraries.    The    incor- 


poration was  effected  at  a  meeting 
called  for  February  15,  at  the  house  of 
Theophilus  Morgan,  no^v  the  Mansion 
House,  over  which  Matthew  Myers  was 
chosen  to  preside,  and  the  following 
seven  trustees  of  the  library  were 
elected:  Walter  Fish,  Simeon  Ford, 
Philo  M.  Hackley,  Asa  Mimger,  Daniel 
Morse,  Asa  Gifford  and  William  Lappan. 
The  law  of  1796  required  at  least  twenty 
members  to  organize  such  a  library  and 
a  cash  capital  of  at  least  £40.  The  mem- 
bers owned  shares,  which  were  assigna- 
ble, and  annual  payments  from  mem- 
bers could  be  required  by  the  by-laws. 
Matthew  Myers  was  a  son  of  General 
Michael  Myers,  and  he  was  a  graduate 
of  Union  College,  in  the  class  of  1806, 
and  was  probably  studying  law  in  1809. 
The  trustees  were  all  prominent  men 
here.  Walter  Fish  was  one  of  the  judges 
of  the  county,  and  he  was  ths  father  of 
the  late  Henry  Fish  of  Utica.  Simeon 
Ford  was  the  leading  lawyer  of  the 
countv;  Philo  M.  Hackley  was  a  mer- 
chant; Asa  Munger  was  a  jeweler;  Dan- 
iel Morse  was  a  harness  maker;  Asa  Gif- 
ford was  a  carpenter  and  William  Lap- 
pan  was  a  lawyer.  We  know  nothing 
about  this  library  except  its  formal  or- 
ganization. It  did  not  come  down  to  the 
time  of  any  person  now  living,  even  by 
tradition.  It  must  have  soon  died  out 
for  the  want  of  support.  It  is  a  marked 
illustration  of  the  power  of  time  to  ob- 
literate all  traces  of  the  living  that  there 
are  no  descendants,  now  in  the  county, 
of  any  of  the  men  connected  with  the 
organization  of  that  library. 

Herkimer  was  in  the  early  years  of 
this  century,  as  now,  the  center  of  con- 
siderable political  influence.  It  was  near 
the  geographical  center  of  the  state,  and 
before  railroad  travel  was  more  accessible 
from  all  parts  of  the  state  than  any  other 
important  point.  Here  the  Democratic 
State  Conventions  were  held  which  nomi- 
nated Martin  Van  Buren  for  Governor 
in  1838,  Enos  T.  Throop  for  Governor  in 
1830,  and  William  L.  Marcy  for  Governor 
in  1832:  and  here  a  young  men's  Demo- 
cratic State  Convention  was  held  in  1832 
to  promote  the  election  of  Andrew  Jack- 
son to  the  presidency.     The  influence  of 


Michael  Hoffman  was  then,  and  for  I  hope  to  take-up  some  other  local  topics 
many  years  afterwards  influential  in  the  of  interest  for  some  future  meetings  of 
councils  of  the  Democratic  partj^.  the  society. 

I  must  here  bring  this  paper  to  a  close. 


49 


LETTER  FROM  CHARLES  HOLT, 


OF  KANKAKEE,    ILL., 
Read  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Societ}',  April  14,  1S96. 


Kankakee,  111.,  March  25.  '96. 
Arthur  T.  Smith,  Record  ing  Sec'y: 

I  have  received  your  official  notice  of 
my  election  as  an  honorary  rr.embpr  of 
the  Berkimer  County  Historical  Society. 
Permit  me  to  thank  the  society  most 
sincerely  for  the  honor  thus  conferred. 
This  e'ection  is  peculiarly  gratifying  to 
me,  and  1  presume  it  is  due  to  a  recogni- 
tion  of  a  series  of  sketches  of  the  early 
days  of  Herkimer  village  furnished  by 
me  to  the  Citizen  some  years  since  giv- 
ing some  personal  recollections  more  in- 
teresting to  the  older  class  of  citizens 
than  valuable  as  historical  contributions. 
If  I  am  correct  in  my  surmise  a  compli- 
ance with  an  unofficial  request  accom- 
panying the  notification  for  a  letter  "de- 
scriptive of  Herkimer  aa  I  remember  it," 
will  excuse  something  more  than  a  for- 
mal acknowledgment  of  the  membership 
conferred  upon  me.  Any  contribution  I 
can  furnish  must  necessarily  be  more  in 
the  nature  of  personal  recollections  than 
of  a  historical  character  If  or  which  I  have 
not  the  means  of  a  compilation.  I  should 
be  pleased  if  it  were  in  my  power  to  con- 
tribute something  of  historic  value  to 
what  your  society  purposes  to  collect 
and  preserve.  Herkimer  county  is  rich 
in  material  for  not  only  a  local  historian, 
but  a  state  history  would  be  sadly  defi- 
cient if  prominence  were  not  given  to 
one  of  the  earliest  settled  portions  of  the 


state  and  the  scene  of  the  early  strugg'es 
for  the  domination  ©f  races  and  its 
peaceable  possession  by  the  conquerors. 
Herkimer,  70  years  ago,  during  the 
days  of  my  boyhood  and  residence  there, 
was  a  quiet  village-  and  the  inhabitants 
a  quiet  people  who  led  a  quiet  life.  Their 
serenity  was  seldom  disturbed  by  any- 
thing outside  the  routine  of  a  rural  life, 
and  peace  and  contentment  reigned 
within  its  borders.  The  Utica  and  Sche- 
nectady rai'road,  which  has  developed 
into  the  great  Central  system,  with  its 
passing  trains  and  loaded  coaches,  was 
unknown.  The  Erie  canal  was  the  thor- 
oughfare of  freight  and  the  "packets" 
carried  the  passengers  who  were  not 
conveyed  in  the  four-horse  stage  coaches 
that  daily  traversed  a  valley  which  is 
now  the  avenue  of  the  wealth  of  an  em- 
pire to  a  market  of  the  world.  The  three 
long  and  five  cross-streets  were  unnamed, 
and  were  known  by  the  residences  of 
some  prominent  citizen  living  upon 
them.  There  were  no  banks,  extensive 
trading  houses,  factories,  doctors'  offices, 
(the  office  of  the  doctor  was  in  his  house) 
hotels,  (they  were  all  "taverns")  modern 
residences  or  costly  churches.  The  one 
district  school  gathered  all  the  children 
of  the  vdlage,  and  to  most  of  them  was 
the  only  source  of  an  education  which 
the  modern  public  school  has  enlarged 
and    carries    into    every  neighborhood. 

50 


Ministers  (no  clergymen  then)  were  faith- 
ful and  churches  dutiful,  though  "evan- 
gelists" were  unknown  and  "converts" 
few.  The  children  were  brought  up  to  a 
religious  life  and  the  teachings  of  child 
hood  governed  in  a.  maturer  age.  Doc- 
tors had  not  reached  the  use  of  the  gig, 
the  horse  carried  him  in  his  visits  outside 
the  village  and  the  saddle-bags  were  the 
only  drug  stores  where  prescriptions 
were  compounded.  Lawyers  served  their 
clients  then  as  now,  and  few  were  gradu- 
ated to  the  ability  to  pay.  Merchants 
made  spring  and  fall  visits  to  New  York 
to  boast  on  their  return  of  tiie  latest 
styles,  the  most  fashionable  goods  and 
the  largest  stock  in  town.  Ihose  stocks 
would  not  go  far  in  supplying  the  pres- 
ent trade,  but  they  were  ample  for  the 
wants  of  a  community  which  was  con- 
tent with  comfort  and  had  not  learned 
the  demands  of  luxury.  Six  yards  of 
calico  was  a  full  dress  pattern  and  a  new 
dress  an  event  of  family  if  not  of  neigh- 
borhood importance.  The  newspaper 
had  not  felt  the  impulse  of  enterprise  or 
the  influence  of  competition,  and  ven- 
tured upon  a  cost  of  publication  which 
would  have  devoured  the  entire  income 
of  a  modern  prosperous  office  and  bank- 
rupted its  publisher. 

The  boys  were  rich  with  a  37^  cent 
pair  of  skates,  a  75  cent  wool  hat,  and  25 
cents  for  the  4th  of,  July  or  menagerie 
day.  The  girls  did  not  expect  a  new 
modern  "up  to-date"  spring  dress  after 
the  reign  of  winter  had  been  met  in  a 
home-made  flannel  gown.  The  last 
summer's  left-over  did  duty  until  it 
passed  beyond  repair  or  had  been  out- 
grown. No  new  Easter  hat  was  neces- 
sary to  keep  in  the  fashion  or  hold  a  cov- 
eted place  in  "our  set." 

Bicycles,  big  sleeves  and  bloomers 
would  have  been  a  greater  curiosity  and 
a  more  attractive  spectacle  than  the  me- 
nagerie and  general  training  combined, 
and  the  performers  would  have  excited 
more  comment  than  the  "far-famed  ac- 
robat" or  the  "only  rhinoceros  in  Ameri- 
ca." The  singing  school  did  not  develop 
a  Jenny  Lind  (the  best  of  foreign  impor- 
tation) or  the  piano  bring  into  existence 
a  Paderewski;    but    it    replenished   the 

51 


church  choir,  where  the  melody  was  as 
acceptable  to  the  worshippers  as  the 
trills  and  screeches  in  the  concert  room 
to  the  up-to  date  auditor.  Base- ball  was 
a  simple  and  healthy  pastime,  while  long- 
ball  two  and  three-old-cat  disputed  favor 
with  the  more  pretentious  game,  hispy. 
Snapping-the-whip  and  red  lion  were 
evening  amusements  which  closed  a  day 
of  school  attendance  or  honest  industry. 
The  holidays  were  seasons  of  general  ob- 
servance and  unalloyed  enjoyment.  If 
they  cost  less  than  the  same  seasons 
now,  and  were  less  profuse  in  gifts,  they 
were  more  productive  of  pleasure,  and 
the  remembrances  were  more  sincere 
testimonials  of  affection.  The  tea  parties 
were  assemblages  of  friends,  where,  if 
the  entertainment  was  simple  the  good 
will  was  evident.  The  early  residents 
deserve  a  competent  historian.  They 
were  men  and  women  of  another  age, 
and  though  their  ways  would  be  anti- 
quated now  they  were  exemplars  of  the 
home  virtues  which  are  none  too  con- 
spicuous in  the  present  day.  Few  of 
them,  if  living,  would  adorn  modern 
"society,"  but  if  less  gifted  with  modern 
"accomplishments"  they  were  true  to 
their  duties,  and  gave  to  a  later  day 
those  who,  in  their  spheres,  gave  charac- 
ter and  repute  to  the  circles  in  which 
they  moved,  and  in  which  some  of  them 
have  surrendered  their  places  to  succes- 
sors who  now  govern  in  the  social,  busi- 
ness, professional  and  political  world. 
During  my  visits  a  few  years  since  I 
found  far  more  names  on  the  monuments 
and  headstones  in  the  two  old  grave- 
yards than  appeared  in  the  multiplied 
pursuits  of  the  present  village.  Their 
descendants  and  successors  should  honor 
their  memories,  and  no  more  fitting  con- 
tribution could  be  made  to  your  society 
than  such  a  tribute  as  that  of  Mr.  Smith 
to  the  virtues  of  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  distinguished  citizens  of  your  vil- 
lage. 

Honorable  as  has  been  the  record  of 
Herkimer  and  worthy  as  were  those  who 
moulded  its  character,  the  village  has 
done  wisely  in  keeping  up  with  the  pro- 
gress and  changes  which  mark  its  his- 
tory.    The  world  has  advanced  since  70 


years  a^o,  and  neither  isolation  nor  stag- 
nation is  to  be  desired  or  commended. 
With  all  the  veneer  of  modern  days  there 
is  yet  a  solidity  of  character  and  stability 
of  structure  which  insures  the  perma- 
nence of  the  essential  qualities  of  right 
living  and  hopeful  results.  The  virtues 
of  the  early  settler  are  perpetuated  in 
their  descendants,  to  whom  a  trust  is 
committed  which  will  not  be  betrayed. 
Give  the  fathers  and  the  mothers,  the 
old-time  boys  and  girls,  a  passing 
thought,  and  when  opportunity  occurs 
render  them  a  tribute  to  which  they  are 
entitled.  Such  a  tribute  will  not  detract 
from  the  merit  of  those  who  render  it. 
It  may  not  be  preserved  as  an  historical 
record,  but  it  surely  would  not  be  out  of 
place  in  a  social  meeting  of  your  mem- 
bers. 

In  connection  with  my  acknowledg- 
ments of  the  membership  conferred  upon 
me  I  make  a  couple  of  contributions 
which  you  may  deem  worthy  of  a  place 
in  your  collection  of  mementoes  of  a  for- 
mer day.     The  3-cent  shinplaster  issued 


by  my  father  was  "put  out"  in  the  year 
of  my  birth,  and  though  as  a  lusty  four 
months  old  resident  I  cannot  vouch  for 
its  issue  from  personal  knowledge,  I  have 
no  doubt  of  its  genuineness.  By-the-way, 
how  many  "current;  bank  notes"  were 
required  to  redeem  it?  The  "certificate" 
allowing  the  use  of  a  coachee  is  suggest- 
ive of  the  war  taxes  of  a  later  date. 
Could  other  persons  than  those  "of  a 
dark  green  color,  having  panel  work  in 
the  uper  division  thereof,  hanging  upon 
steel  springs,"  have  been  allowed  to  ride 
in  it?  A  similar  tax  now  upon  all  car- 
riages would  not  only  i^rovide  an  abun- 
dant revenue  for  the  government,  but 
leave  a  surplus  for  the  protection  of  our 
seacoasts  and  the  equipment  and  support 
of  the  9,500,000  army  the  United  States 
could  put  in  the  field  on  30  days'  notice 
for  the  general  defence  of  the  country. 

Wishing  your  society  success  and 
thanking  its  members  for  the  personal 
compliment  bestowed  upon  me, 

Yours  truly, 
Chas.  Holt. 


53 


GEN.  F.  E.  SPINNER'S  FIRST  NOMINATION  TO 
CONGRESS. 


AN  ADDRESS  BY  ALEXIS   L.   JOHNSON,    OE  EAST  SCHTJYI.ER, 
Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  May  12,  1896. 


In  April,  1890,  a  number  of  the  "  Col- 
lege and  SchooV  was  published  by  F.  G. 
Barry,  that  he  ternaed  a  "Spinner  num- 
ber." 

It  was  nnostly  composed  of  sketches  of 
Gen.  Spinner,  either  furnished  by  him- 
self or  his  friends.  Mr.  Barry  had  pro- 
posed to  publish  some  reminiscences  of 
the  General  in  a  future  number,  for 
which  the  following  was  written,  but 
from  some  cause  the  number  was  not 
published.  This  explanation  is  made  in 
reference  to  remarks  that  occur  in  this 
paper. 

In  this  account  no  attempt  has  been 
made  to  embellish  it  with  fine  phrases 
or  fanciful  words,  but  simply  a  plain 
statement  of  facts. 

The  writer  alone  is  left  of  those  whose 
names  are  mentioned  ;  the  others  have 
departed  and  only  their  memory  re- 
mains. 

Much  interest  has  lately  been  taken  by 
the  friends  of  Gen.  Spinner  in  the  valley 
of  the  Mohawk  in  his  health  and  history. 

The  publication  of  the  Spinner  number 
of  the  "  College  and  School"  has  afford- 
ed much  pleasure  to  his  old  and  numer- 
ous friends  and  acquaintances,  and  has 
met  with  a  cordial  reception  by  them. 
This  has  encouraged  the  editor  to  issue 
an  extra  "Spinner  number." 

There  are  some  circumstances  and  facts 
connected  with  the  first  nomination  of 


Gen.  Spinner  to  Congress  that  have  nev- 
er been  published,  and  as  that  was  a 
turning  point  in  his  political  career,  and 
his  entrance  into  a  national  and  honor- 
able reputation,  a  brief  account  of  them 
will  be  given  by  an  eye-witness. 

The  county  of  Herkimer  at  that  time 
composed  the  17th  Congressional  Dis- 
trict, and  was  largely  Democratic.  Gen. 
Spinner  had  always  been  a  Democrat, 
having  held  the  office  of  sheriff,  one  of 
the  commissioners  to  build  the  court 
house  and  jail  for  the  county,  after  the 
old  court  house  and  jail  were  burnt.  He 
also  was  one  of  the  commissioners  for 
building  the  lunatic  asylum  z-t  -Utica 
His  military  record  was  good,  attaining 
the  rank  of  Major  General  in  the  Third 
Division  of  Artillery  in  the  militia  of  the 
State. 

His  activity  in  the  political  campaigns 
bad  made  him  a  favorite  in  the  party, 
and  he  became  a  candidate  f»r  Member 
of  Congress.  Dr.  Walter  Booth,  a  wor- 
thy and  popular  man  of  the  town  of 
Russia,  was  also  a  candidate  who  had 
many  friends  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
county. 

At  that  time  the  caucuses  to  nominate 
delegates  to  county  conventions  were 
not  held  simultaneously,  and  eighteen 
towns  had  elected  delegates,  nine  towns 
having  delegates  for  Booth  and  nine 
towns  for  Spinner. 


53 


The  town  of  Schuyler  had  cot  chosen 
-delegates,  and,  holding  the  balance  of 
power,  became  the  battle-ground,  and 
great  efforts  were  made  by  the  rival 
candidates  to  secure  the  delegation. 

The  Democrats  were  in  the  minority  in 
the  town,  but  had  always  kept  their  or- 
ganization. 

The  town  committee  had  given  notice 
for  a  caucus  to  be  held  at  the  red  school 
house  in  school  district  No.  4,  on  Thurs- 
day evening  next  preceding  the  Satur- 
day on  which  the  county  convention  was 
to  be  held. 

The  district  is  in  the  east  part  of  the 
town,  and  a  large  portion  of  the  resi- 
dents were  Democrats,  and  of  German 
ancestry,  who  in  former  years  had  list- 
ened to  the  ministrations  of  the  Gen- 
eral's father,  and  were  old  and  staunch 
friends  of  the  son,  voting  for  him  every 
time  they  had  an  opportunity. 

Dr.  Booth  had  labored  with  some  of 
the  leading  Democrats  in  the  west  part 
of  the  town,  and  had  enlisted  them  in 
his  favor.  The  friends  of  Gen.  Spinner 
had  learned  of  this,  and  made  arrange- 
ments to  elect  delegates  who  would  ear- 
nestly support  him  in  the  convention. 

During  the  afternoon  of  Thursday, 
Charles  Spinner  and  Samuel  Earl  of  Her- 
kimer met  at  the  house  of  the  writer, 
who  lived  opposite  the  school  house,  and 
with  Samuel  M.  Jackson,  a  neighbor 
who  happened  to  bo  present,  a  consulta 
tion  was  held  and  a  plan  agreed  on  that 
in  the  end  proved  successful.  The  can- 
didates were  selected  and  ballots  pre- 
pared, to  be  ready  if  balloting  was  pro- 
posed. 

Word  was  sent  around  to  hasten  the 
voters  in,  as  Booth's  friends,  led  on  by 
E  W.  Day  and  Dr.  John  Mower,  were 
expected  early,  and  soon  the  voters  from 
the  west  part  of  the  town  began  to  ar- 
rive in  wagon  loads  and  on  foot. 

The  house  was  locked  and  the  key  in 
safe  possession,  and  the  house  was  not 
opened  while  waiting  for  Spinner's 
friends  to  get  together.  They  were  far- 
mers, having  chores  to  do— were  a  little 
late. 

Impatient  of  delay,  Booth's  friends  fi- 
nally raised  a  window  and  swarmed  into 


the  house  in  the  dark.  The  door  was 
opened  by  the  town  committee  and  Spin 
ner's  friends  filed  in. 

According  to  custom,  the  committee 
called  the  house  to  order,  the  call  for  the 
caucus  was  read,  a  chairman  and  secre- 
tary elected— the  organization  being  per. 
fected. 

E.W.  Day,  thinking  to  gain  an  advan- 
tage, moved  that  the  delegates  be  elected 
by  ballot.  Never  before  had  delegates 
been  chosen  this  way.  He,  having  bal- 
lots all  ready  and  supposing  his  oppo- 
nents had  none,  expected  to  win  easily; 
but  to  his  surprise  the  motion  was 
promptly  seconded  by  Spinner's  friends 
and  carried. 

The  ballotine  proceeded.  The  Spinner 
delegates— Vaughn  Sweet,  Samuel  M. 
Jackson  and  Alexis  L.  Johnson— were 
elected  by  a  large  majority. 

When  the  convention  met  at  Herkimer 
Dr.  Booth's  friends  made  a  desperate  ef- 
fort to  compass  their  ends  by  appearing 
with  delegates  to  contest  the  seats  of 
those  regularly  elected. 

When  the  contestants  appeared  before 
the  committee  to  have  their  claims  passed 
upon,  that  the  "West  End"  people  had 
in  the  dark,  when  first  in  the  school 
house,  gone  through  the  farce  of  naming 
delegates  as  a  joke.  But  when,  in  the 
open  meeting,  one  of  the  counter  eit 
delegates  was  chosen  secretary,  he  acted 
and  signed  the  credentials  of  the  regular 
delegates,  thereby  ignoring  their  former 
proceedings. 

The  contesting  delegates  were  dis- 
missed. The  names  of  two  of  the  com- 
mittee to  decide  the  contest  are  remem- 
bered—Wm.  Gates  of  Frankfort,  and  Ja- 
rius  Mather  of  Fairfield. 

The  convention  nominated  Gen.  Spin- 
ner, he  having  a  majority  of  three,  and 
took  his  seat  in  the  34th  Congress,  Dec. 
3d,  1855. 

The  opening  of  this  session  was  re- 
markable for  the  long  amd  bitter  contest 
for  Speaker,  whicb,  after  two  months, 
ended  in  the  election  of  Nathaniel  P. 
Banks. 

Near  the  close  of  the  contest  of  133 
ballotinga.  Gen.  Spinner,  who  had  some 
"Free  Soil"  ideas,  also  anxious  to  get  to 


54 


work,  and  in  accordance  with  the  advice 
of  some  of  his  Democratic  friends,  con- 
cluded to  vote  for  Banks,  who  was  elect- 
ed, receiving  103  votes,  and  Wm.  Aiken, 
of  South  Carolina,  receiving  100. 

Since  that  time  Gen.  Spinner  acted 
with  the  Republicans  and  by  them  was 
elected  to  represent  the  17th  District 
(then  composed  of  St.  Lawrence  and 
Herkimer  counties)  in  two  succeeding 
sessions,  his  congressional  career  termi- 
nating March  3d,  1861. 

In  his  service  as  Treasurer  of  the  United 
States,  he  deservedly  acquired  a  national 
and  honorable  reputation. 


The  writer,  though  always  a  Democrat 
and  nine  years  the  junior  of  Gen.  Spin- 
ner, has  always  had  great  respect  for 
him. 

A  few  years  ago  an  hour  was  spent 
with  him  at  his  home  in  Mohawk,  and 
the  time  was  very  pleasantly  passed  in 
relating  our  reminiscences  of  Herkimer 
and  old  military  and  political  friends, 
most  of  whom  had  departed.  With  sor- 
row we  hear  of  his  sufferings  in  his  old 
age,  but  know  he  will  bear  them  with 
the  fortitude  and  bravery  that  was  al- 
ways a  characteristic  of  bis  long  and  va- 
ried life. 


55 


PERSONAL   RECOLLECTIONS  OF  HERKIMER  VILLAGE 
DATING  BACK  NEARLY  SEVENTY  YEARS. 


AN   ADDRESS  BY   ALBERT   h.   HOWELL,   OF   MOHAWK, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  September  8,  1896. 


Since  the  organization  of  the  Herkimer 
County  Historical  Society  contributions 
have  been  presented  at  its  monthly  meet- 
mgs  touching  upon  many  subjects  of  fas- 
cinating interest,  pertaining  to  the  va'ley 
of  the  Mohawk,  and  the  first  settlers  of 
Herkimer  village.  And  claiming  it  as 
my  birthplace,  and  from  youth  up  to 
twenty-one  years  of  age  spent  there,  all 
the  principal  events  which  occurred  dur- 
ing tho^e  years,  in  connection  with  the 
inhabitants  who  participated  in  them, 
are  still  fresh  in  the  memory  of  the  wri- 
ter. 

And  having  been  solicited  to  add  some- 
thing that  might  be  of  interest  as  per- 
sonal recollections,  and  reminiscences  of 
those  years  (events  perhaps  which  may 
have  an  unwritten  history),  I  have 
sketched  some  of  them  as  they  occurred. 
There  being  but  a  remnant  of  those  early 
inhabitants  still  living  who  would  be 
able  to  recognize  them  or  to  follow  criti- 
cally in  the  reading  of  them.  But  Judge 
Robert  Earl  being  one  of  the  latter  (and 
a  schoolmate  in  boyhood  days)  I  may 
trust  to  stand  corrected  by  him  if  any 
inaccuracies  occur,  also  to  be  ex- 
cused in  referring  to  his  address  before 
the  Historical  Society  at  its  meeting 
June  9th  last  when  he  mentioned  the 
names  of  some  of  the  most  prominent 
citizens  then  living  in  Herkimer  village. 
The  names  of  Simeon  and  Lauren  Ford, 


Michael  Hoffman,  Charles  Gray  and 
other  distinguished  men.  Simeon  Ford 
stood  at  the  head  of  the  list. 

THE  HYDRAULIC  CANAL, 

He  was  selected  to  deliver  the  oration 
on  the  occasion  of  celebrating  the  break- 
ing of  ground  for  the  Herkimer  Hydraulc 
water  works,  July  4th,  1833.  Being  then 
but  eight  years  of  age,  I  thought  him  to 
be  a  "grand  old  man,"  and  listened  with 
a  good  deal  of  interest  to  what  he  said. 

The  spot  where  the  celebration  was 
held  was  a  few  rods  west  of  the  dam 
built  across  the  gorge  that  now  holds  the 
body  of  water  called  Mirror  lake.  The 
speaker  stood  under  the  shade  of  a  large 
hickory  tree,  upon  a  rise  of  ground,  the 
people  being  seated  around  him.  At  the 
conclusion  of  his  address  he  grasped  a 
shovel  that  was  in  readiness,  descended 
to  the  ground  where  the  channel  was  to 
be,  and  with  it  turned  over  the  first 
spade  of  earth  to  be  excavated  for  the 
ditch,  amid  the  booming  of  cannon  and 
the  hurrah  of  the  multitude.  After  this 
a  team  was  hitched  to  a  plough,  and  a 
few  furrows  were  turned  over,  which 
concluded  the  ceremonies  of  the  day. 
winding  up  with  refreshments,  spread 
on  long  tables  near  by  in  a  grove,  with 
hard  cider  as  the  liquid  accompaniment, 
(which  was  hard  to  my  personal  knowl- 
edge) as  our  uncle  who  was  with  us 
lianded   me  a  cup,   and,  being  thirsty, 


56 


drank  its  contents,  and  soon  was  able  to   ceeded    by  Hon.   Warner    Miller.    The 
give   my  experience  of  its  effects,  being   original  building  having  burned  in  1865, 


the   only  time   in   life   to 
seemed  to  be  intoxicated. 

The  preliminary  steps  having  been  ta- 
ken, the  project  was  successfully  carried 
to   completion.     As   the    Herkimer   Hy- 


know   how  it   was  rebuilt  and  enlarged  by  the  present 
Herkimer  Paper  company. 

It  was  predicted,  during  those  years  of 
non-use  of  the  hydraulic  water  works, 
that  Herkimer  would  never  be  benefited 


draulic  Water  Company  was  incorporated  by  its  use  until  that  generation  passed 

in  1833  with  a  capital  of  $100,000  to  con-  away;    and  the  prophecy  proved  true, 

struct   a  dam  across  the  West  Canada  But  for    this,    Herkimer    to-day   would 

creek  north  of  Herkimer  village  to  create  probably  be  a  large  and  busy  manufac- 

water  power   for  manufactories,  and  to  turing  town,  and  the  first  to  become  a 

dispose  of  water  privileges  to  this  end.  city  in  this  county  instead  of  Little  Falls. 


But  for  manj'  years  it  failed  to  realize 
the  expectations  of  its  projectors  as  well 
as  the  people  of  Herkimer — not  because 
it  was  a  wild  and  unfruitful  scheme,  but 
for  want  of  good  financiering  by  its 
stockholders,  one  in  particular,  who  held 


THE   BUILDING   OF   THE   UTICA  AND   SCHE- 
NECTADY RAILROAD. 

One  other  event  which  took  place  in 
the  early  days  of  Herkimer  village, 
(which  seemed  full  of  promise  to  open 
the  way  to  a  prosperous  period),  was  the 


a  controlling  interest,  being  a  farmer  construction  of  the  Utica&  Schenectady 
and  lari>e  land-holder,  whose  lands  bor-  railroad.  A  charter  having  been  granted 
dered  the  entire  western  part  of  the  vil-  in  1833,  a  survey  of  the  route  and  right 
lage  from  the  turnpike,  (now  called  Ger-  of  way  secured,  work  was  immediately 
man  streets,  to  the  Mohawk  river  on  the  commenced,  and  on  the  first  of  August, 
south,  gauged  the  business  of  selling  1836,  the  road  was  completed  and  its 
water  privileges  as  he  would  a  piece  of  first  passengers  passed  over  it.  On  this 
land  or  the  products  of  his  farm,  not  occasion,  as  the  excursion  train  passed 
having  the  foresight  that  by  selling  up  the  valley  from  Schenectady,  crowds 
water  privileges  at  rates  which  would  of  people  were  in  waiting  at  all  the  stop- 
induce  capitalists   to  invest  and    build  ping  places  to  get  aboard  and  take  their 


factories,  he  was  bringing  prosperity  to 
all.  There  were  many  applications  made 
soon  after  its  completion,  Mr.  Eliphalet 
Remington,  the  founder  of  the  celebrated 
Remington  armory  at  Ilion,  being  one  of 
the  first.  At  that  time  it  was  considered 
the  best  artificial  water  power  in  the 
state.     Beside  holding  prices    too  high 


first  ride  after  the    "iron    horse"   that 
puffed  and  hissed,  yet  never  tired  out. 

The  first  passenger  cars  were  frail  af- 
fairs, with  not  half  the  capacity  of  the 
present  coaches,  placed  on  four-wheeled 
trucks,  each  car  being  divided  by  parti- 
tions, making  three  compartments,  to 
hold  eight  persons.     The  entrance  was 


for  purchasers,  he  wanted  it  stipulated  by  a  door  on  each  side  of  the  car,  the 
in  every  sale  or  lease,  that  in  case  of  low  conductor  reaching  in  to  collect  the  fare, 
water  and  not  sufficient  for  more  than  standing  on  a  foot-rave,  and  holding  on 
one  mill,  or  factory,  his  grist- mill  should  to  an  iron  rod  running  along  overhead, 
always  be  the  favored  one.  The  present  Tickets  were  not  in  use  then,  there  being 
stone  grist-mill  was  erected  by  him  soon  no  ticket  office  or  depot.  All  the  fares 
after  the  completion  of  the  works,  and  were  paid  to  the  conductors,  and  of 
was  the  first  to  use  the  water.  Subse-  course  they  were  all -honest  ones  (on  the 
quently  J.  B.  Morse  made  an  arrange-  start)  and  no  need  for  detective  agen- 
ment  for  using  the  first  water  power  at    cies. 

the  upper  drop,  of  twenty-two  feet,  The  original  capital  invested  was  two 
using  an  overshot  wheel  and  manufac-  million  dollars.  One  of  the  provisions 
turing  hat  bodies.  He  was  succeeded  by  of  its  charter  was  prohibiting  the  carry- 
Burdick  &  Orr  in  the  same  business,  ing  of  freight;  another  was  fixing  the 
Then  came  Hon.  A.  H.  &  B.  Laflin  who  maximum  fare  at  four  cents  a  mile,  also 
manufactured  paper,  and  they  were  sue-    requiring  the  company  to  sell  out  to  the 

57 


state  after  ton  years  if  the  state  wanted 
to  buy.  The  first  single  track  was  cheap- 
ly made  by  using  cedar  ties  notched  to 
receive  pine  stringers  six  inches  equare 
and  held  in  place  by  wedges.  Afterward 
flat  ties  were  used,  with  cast  iron  brack- 
ets spiked  on  each  side  of  the  rail  to  the 
ties,  wrought  iron  strap  rails  being 
spiked  to  the  stringers.  By  using  these 
strap  rails  there  was  a  constant  danger 
of  the  spikes  at  each  end  of  the  connec 
tions  being  drawn  up  out  of  place  by  the 
heat  of  the  sun  in  summer,  and  the  cold 
in  winter;  consequently  the  road  hal  to 
be  watched  in  sections  by  men  before 
every  train  passed  over  it,  to  see  that 
there  was  no  "snake  heads"  (as  they 
were  called)  to  run  up  and  pierce  the 
bottom  of  the  cars. 

The  speed  of  tiains  at  first  was  about 
twenty  miles  an  hour,  and  no  time-tables 
governed  the  running  of  trains.  Ihey 
would  leave  Schenectady  at  a  specified 
hour  each  morning  and  arrive  in  Utica 
when  they  could,  and  return  on  the  same 
plan. 

The  first  survey  of  the  road  was  made 
to  pass  by  Herkimer  on  a  straight  line 
from  the  water-house  some  distance  east 
of  the  Weet  Canada  creek  bridge,  to  a 
point  about  one  mile  west  of  the  village. 
But  some  of  the  most  influential  citizens 
thought  it  would  be  a  nice  thing  to  have 
a  railroad  run  through  the  village,  and 
prevailed  on  the  chief  engineer  to  change 
it  to  its  present  route,  which  was  a  mis- 
take for  Herkimer  as  well  as  the  railroad 
company,  as  there  has  been  much  regret 
of  late  years  by  the  officials  of  the  com- 
pany that  the  first  survey  was  not  ad- 
hered to,  as  a  bad  curve  would  have 
been  avoided  through  the  village,  and 
the  many  lives  that  have  been  lost  at  its 
street  crossings  would  probably  never 
have  occurred.  There  has  been  of  late 
some  talk  of  changing  it  to  the  first  sur- 
vey. Herkimer  would  be  greatly  bene- 
fited by  this  change,  as  the  height  of  the 
embankment  from  the  West  Canada 
creek  to  the  river  bank  on  the  west 
would  serve  as  a  complete  barrier  against 
floods  from  the  Mohawk  river,  to  the  in- 
habitants living  on  the  flat  lands  north 
of  the  railroad,  and  for  the  village  to 


buy  and  transform  the  un03cupied 
gr'^iund  east  and  west  of  South  Main 
street,  together  with  the  land  now  used 
for  the  tracks,  for  a  village  park.  In 
this  event  the  entire  village  would  be 
north  of  the  railroad  tracks,  together 
with  its  railroad  depot,  freight  house, 
etc. 

For  many  years  the  only  fuel  used  for 
the  locomotives  was  pine  wood,  with  the 
bark  shaved  off,  to  lessen  the  sparks 
thrown  from  the  smoke-stack,  and  which 
was  a  constant  source  of  danger,  by  set- 
ting fire  to  the  track  and  bridges. 

The  locomotives  were  not  then  con- 
structed to  burn  coal,  and  it  was  a  weird 
sight  after  dark  to  witness  the  coming 
of  a  train  in  the  distance,  belching  forth 
its  millions  of  sparks  and  black  smoke, 
like  something  direct  from  the  "regions 
infernal."  In  order  to  have  an  ample 
supply  of  wood  always  on  hand,  it  re- 
quired large  woodsheds  to  be  built  for 
housmg  it;  the  present  freight  house  at 
Herkimer  was  originally  one  of  them. 

The  first  few  years  after  the  road  was 
completed  the  mails  were  carried  by  the 
railroad  company  f>n  a  horse  car,  similar 
to  the  present  hand  car  in  use  by  the 
track  repairers,  with  a  carriage  top  at- 
tachment to  protect  the  mail  messenger 
from  storms,  etc.  Subsequently,  mail 
cars  were  made  and  attached  to  passen- 
ger trains. 

In  building  the  embankment  for  the 
road  bed  through  the  village  the  earth 
was  taken  from  the  excavation  of  the 
hydraulic  ditch  below  the  lower  drop  to 
tbe  river,  as  these  two  projects  were 
being  constructed  about  the  same  years 
—from  1833  to  1836.  Michael  F.  Myers 
of  Fort  Herkimer,  (father  of  Mrs.  A.  H. 
Prescott  of  Herkimer,  and  Mr.  Robert 
Myers  of  Mohawk),  had  the  contract  for 
the  excavation  by  the  hydraulic  compa- 
ny and  delivery  to  the  line  of  the  rail- 
road. 

For  a  number  of  years  the  village  did 
not  receive  much  benefit  from  having 
the  railroad  pass  through,  until  it  com- 
menced to  carry  freight,  as  everything 
had  to  be  freighted  by  canal  in  summer 
and  by  teaming  in  winter;  consequently 
Mohawk  and  Little  Falls  were  the  ship- 


58 


f)ing  centers  in  the  county,  and  had  the 
advantage  of  trade  to  ihe  building  up  of 
those  places. 

MICHAEL  HOFFMAN. 

Michael  Hoffman  was  another  of  the 
noted  citizens  of  Herkimer  village.  He 
vpas  in  those  days  considered  authority 
on  political  matters  pertaining  to  th€ 
Demociatic  party.  During  the  years  in 
which  the  two  great  parties  were  strug- 
gling for  supremacy  he  was  the  champi- 
on of  free  tiade,  against  the  Whigs  for 
protection.  And  whenever  at  political 
gatherings  Michael  Hoffman's  voice  was 
heard  it  generally  swayed  the  multitude 
and  cariied  conviction  to  "doubting 
Thomases*'  by  his  logical  and  convincing 
arguments. 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS  VISITS  HERKIMER. 

He  was  a  member  of  Congress  from 
1825  to  1833,  and  during  his  terms  as  con- 
gressman be  formed  the  acquaintance  of 
Jefferson  Davis,  (of  Southern  Confeder- 
acy fame),  and  afterward  Mr.  Davis  paid 
a  visit  to  Judge  Hoffman — about  the  year 
1835— and  his  law  office,  on  the  same 
premises,  near  his  residence  on  the  cor- 
ner, (and  now  ocvned  by  Dr.  Pryne),  was 
the  place  of  their  meeting  and  social 
converse.  What  subjects  were  talked  of 
perhaps  were  never  put  on  record,  but 
i  presume  the  subject  of  secession  was  not 
one  of  the  topics,  although  Mr.  Davis 
may  then  have  held  the  idea  that  the 
south  would  eventually  take  this  step. 
He  then  being  a  slaveholder,  his  inter- 
ests were  with  the  slaveholding  state^^. 
And  when  the  uprismg  took  place  in 
1861  he  was  chosen  their  leader,  with  the 
results  that  have  passed  into  history, 
about  thirty  years  after  this  visit  to  Mr. 
Hoffman. 

So  to-day  Herkimer's  Main  street  with 
all  its  changes  and  demolition  still  holds 
intact  this  one  of  its  "old  landmarks," 
and  it  shoul  i  be  preserved  as  a  relic  of 
the  "by-gor  e  days"  of  the  village.  Mr. 
Hoffman  ab  ays  wore  clothes  made  from 
steel  gray  iroadcloth  which  gave  him 
the  sobriqu'jt  the  "old  iron  gray."  This 
was  his  onlf  garb  at  home  and  abroa  1. 

The  family  group  consisted  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hoffman,  threesona  and  one  daugh- 
ter.   The  oldest    son,   Phocian,   was  a 


successful  lawyer  in  Buffalo  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  The  other  two  boys, 
Michael  and  James,  were  finely  educated 
business  men.  The  daughter,  Margaret, 
was  .a  life  loiig  invalid  and  sole  survivor 
in  Herkimer  for  many  years. 

THE  HERKIMER   PRESS. 

The  first  paper  published  in  Herkimer 
village  was  under  the  proprietorship  of 
one  Benjamin  Cory,  who  commenced 
the  publication  about  the  year  1800, 
under  the  title  of  Tlie  Telescope,  and  his 
successor  was  David  Holt,  in  1805,  who 
issued  a  paper  known  as  the  Farmers' 
Monitor,  which  was  published  by  him 
until  1807.  Subsequently  Mr.  Cory 
started  another  paper  in  the  interest  of 
the  federal  party,  and  named  it  the 
Herkimer  Pelican,  which  was  published 
until  1810.  The  fourth  paper  was  es- 
tablished in  the  same  year  by  J.  H.  & 
H.  Prentice,  called  the  Herkimer  Aineri- 
can.  During  its  publication  by  them  it 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Edward  P. 
Seymour,  who  conducted  it  until  1831. 
In  1810  one  G.  G.  Phinney  started  a 
paper  known  by  the  title  of  Bunker  Hill. 
It  had  for  its  motto:  "Live  free  or  die — 
death  is  not  the  greatest  of  all  evils," 
which  was  published  about  two  years, 
and  then  he  edited  another  sheet,  the 
title  being:  "T/ie  Honest  American. 
Both  ceased  bemg  published  by  1821. 

In  1828  the  Herkimer  Herald  made 
its  appearance,  under  the  direction  of 
John  Carpenter,  which  was  conducted 
in  the  interest  of  General  Andrew  Jack- 
son. And  later  (coming  within  the 
memory  of  the  writer,  in  1830,)  the 
Republican  Farmers'  Free  Press  was 
started  for  the  purpose  of  waging  war 
on  masonry.  It  was  owned  by  an  as- 
sociation, printed  by  David  Holt  and 
edited  by  one  B.  B.  Hotchkin,  and 
shortly  went  the  way  of  all  the  preced- 
ing papers.  Next  came  the  Herkimer 
Count y  Journal  in  1837.  a  whig  paper, 
whose  editor  was  John  C.  Qnderwood, 
and  printed  by  Edward  P.  Seymour;  and 
subsequently  O.  A.  Bowe  took  charge 
and  published  it  about  six  years,  when 
he  relinquished  its  publication  and 
started  an  abolition  paper  at  Little  Falls, 
called  the  Herkimer  Freeman,  which  he 


59 


published  about  six  years,  in  the  inter- 
est of  the  anti-slavery  cause,  but  not 
meeting  his  expeciations  he  discontin- 
ued it,  and  in  1850  removed  to  Mohawk 
and  published  a  village  paper  called  the 
3Iohairk  Times.  A  few  changes  oc- 
curred after  this  with  the  papers  printed 
in  Herkimer  up  to  1850,  when  C.  C. 
Witherstine  became  interested  in  the 
publication  of  a  paper  formerly  started 
at  Frankfort  Village,  called  the  Frank- 
fort Democrat,  which  was  afterwards 
removed  to  Herkimer  village,  which  was 
conducted  \j  J.  M.  Lyon.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  R.  Earl  in  18-i8,  who  took  C. 
C.  Witherstine  into  partnership  about 
1850.  Tben  about  1854  he  sold  his  in- 
terest to  Mr.  Witherstine.  About  1859 
Mr.  Witheistine  sold  out  to  H.  G. 
Crouch,  and  four  or  five  years  later  he 
again  re-purchased  the  paper  and  con- 
ducted it  until  1875,  when  he  associated 
with  him  his  son,  H.  P.  Witherstine.  and 
the  Herkimer  Democrat  is  still  issued  by 
them  in  the  interest  of  the  democratic 
party. 

The  Citizen  was  first  published  Sep- 
tember 30,  1884,  as  a  semi-weekly  paper, 
in  connection  with  the  Citizen  at  Ilion, 
both  papers  being  printed  at  Ilion. 
Charles  S.  Munger  bemg  the  editor  of 
the  Herkimer  edition  and  George  W. 
Weaver  of  the  Ilion  edition.  October 
30,  1885,  the  name  was  changed  to  che 
Herkimer  Citizen,  and  since  then  it  has 
been  published  as  a  weekly,  on  Tues- 
days. January  1,  1889,  Arthur  T. 
Smith  and  Francis  E.  Easton  purchased 
Mr.  Weaver's  half  interest  in  the  two 
papers,  forming  the  Citizen  Publish- 
ing Company.  Messrs.  Munger  and 
Smith  are  the  editors  in  charge  of  the 
Heikimer  Citizen,  and  it  is  the  leading 
republican  journal  of  the  county,  hav- 
ing a  very  able  corps  of  correspondents 
and  being  an  up  to-date  and  influential 
weekly. 

The  Herkimer  Record  was  founded  in 
1888  by  G.  W.  Nellis,  jr.,  and  is  now 
published  by  the  Herkimer  Record  Com- 
pany. It  is  an  eight-page  weekly,  bright 
and  newsy;  issued  every  Wednesday, 
independent  in  politics,  and  has  a  large 
circulation. 


first  fire  department. 

Herkimer's  first  fire  department  was 
organized  about  the  year  1839,  soon 
after  the  extensive  fire  in  1838,  whicb 
consumed  about  all  the  business  places 
in  the  village.  Previous  to  this  there 
was  no  means  to  extinguish  fiies,  only 
by  the  citizens  forming  two  bucket  lines 
to  the  nearest  well,  one  to  pass  the  full 
buckets  of  water,  the  other  to  pass  back 
the  empty  ones;  and  if  the  fire  was  too 
far  advanced  it  had  to  burn  to  a  finish, 
as  was  the  case  at  the  burning  of  the 
old  court  house,  jail  and  Presbyterian 
church,  in  January,  1834  This  fire  was 
started  by  the  prisoners  in  one  of  the 
cells,  with  the  idea  (as  they  afterward 
stated)  of  gaining  their  liberty  during 
the  excitement  it  might  make.  Having 
set  fire  to  papers  stuffed  into  the  cracks 
of  the  walls,  which  soon  communicated 
to  the  dry  timber  and  floor  of  the  court 
room  above,  as  the  prison  walls  were 
made  of  heavy  hewn  timbers,  and  hav- 
ing shrunk  sufficient  for  this  purpose. 
After  the  fire  was  well  under  way  they 
thought  their  chances  of  being  cremated 
alive  better  than  making  their  escape 
caused  them  to  cry  fire,  which  frus- 
trated their  plan  of  escape,  and  they 
were  safely  transferred  to  other  and  safe 
quarters.  The  church  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  street  took  fire  from  cinders 
blown  from  the  court  house,  which 
lodged  on  the  roof,  and  the  water  pail 
brigade  was  of  no  use.  It  was  a  grand 
btit  sad  sight  to  witness  the  burning  of 
the  church  steeple,  as  the  fire  com- 
menced on  the  roof  near  the  steeple, 
which  was  in  flames  before  the  body  of 
the  church.  In  the  belfry  was  the  finest 
toned  bell  in  the  country,  and  was  said 
to  contain  a  large  portion  of  silver  in  its 
makeup.  It  was  entirely  destroyed, 
being  melted  after  it  fell  v^-ith  the  burn- 
ing timber  of  belfry  and  ste  pie. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  village  the 
owners  of  houses  were  reqf  ired  (pursu- 
ant to  an  ordinance  passed  by  the  trus- 
tees) to  keep  in  some  convenient  place 
fire  buckets  made  of  leather,  the  num- 
ber determined  by  the  number  of  stories 
high  the  houses  were,  one  beir  g  required 
for  each  story.    They  were  m',de  to  hold 

60 


about  twelve  quarts.  It  was  not  until 
1841  that  an  efficient  fire  department 
was  formed,  when  the  new  hand  fire 
engme  was  purchased,  and  at  a  meeting 
of  the  trustees  of  the  village  there  was 
selected  some  sixty-five  or  seventy  men 
to  serve  as  firemen.  Two  companies 
were  formed.  I  can  name  but  five  who 
are  now  living  and  could  answer  to  the 
old  roll  call :  James  A.  Suiter,  Warren 
Caswell,  Hubbard  H.  Morgan,  Peter  F. 
Bellinger  and  the  writer. 

Subsequently  a  hook  and  ladder  com- 
pany was  formed.  Previous  to  there 
being  any  organ^ed  fire  company  and 
chief  to  give  direction  at  fires  the  man 
that  had  the  strongest  lungs  and  could 
yell  the  Ipudest  was  conceded  "master 
of  ceremonies"  in  giving  directions, 
whether  they  were  right  or  wrong. 

SLAVERY  IN   HERKIMER. 

It  may  seem  a  little  surprising  to  the 
present  inhabitants  that  any  of  the  old 
Herkimerites  once  held  slaves,  but  there 
were    several    of    the    old-timers    who 


owned  slaves,  who,  perhap?,  were  not 
considered  as  beins:  on  the  same  plane 
with  the  slave  owners  of  the  south,  but 
held  them  as  personal  property,  just  the 
same.  Esq,  Michael  Myers,  Dr.  Doolit- 
tle  and  Alfred  Putnam  each  had  one, 
and  when  any  one  ofi  them  became  in- 
tractable and  thought  they  deserved 
more  punishment  than  they  got  with 
the  rawhide  they  put  them  in  the  dun- 
geon hole  under  the  old  jail  over  night. 
This,  together  with  the  tragedy  of  Perry, 
the  wife  murderer,  who  committed  sui- 
cide by  cutting  his  throat  with  a  razor 
in  one  of  the  old  jail  cells,  made  it  a 
famous  corner,  which  the  boys  shunned 
after  dark. 

In  conclusion,  I  would  say  there  may 
be  many  things  of  interest  I  have  not 
touched  upon  relating  to  the  historic  old 
town  and  its  people  during  the  period  I 
have  sketched,  but  must  close,  fearing 
to  worry  your  patience  by  adding  more, 
which  may  be  of  interest  only  to  the 
survivors  of  those  "by-gone  days." 


61 


THE  MOHAWK  RIVER  IN  HISTORY. 


AN  ADDRESS  BY  HON.  ROBERT  EARI,  OF  HERKIMER, 


Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  September  8,  1896. 

The  Mohawk  river  is  about  one  hun-  lages.  It  traverses  a  most  fertile  valley, 
dred  and  fifty  miles  long.  It  rises  in  the  which  is  famed  for  its  beauty  in  many 
southern  part  of  Lewis  count3%  and  runs  lands.  It  has  found  a  place  in  song  and 
southerly  to  Rome,  and  thence  easterly,  fiction,  as  well  as  in  history.  The  poet 
emptying  into  the  Hudson  river  in  four  Moore  saw  and  admired  it  on  his  trip 
channels— at  Waterford,  Lansingburg  through  the  valley  in  1804,  and  he  wrote : 
and  Troy,  descending  fiom  Rome  about 
four  hundred  and  twenty  feet  to  tide- 
water. At  Rome  it  runs  near  to  Wood 
creek,  which  empties  into  Oneida  lake. 
It  is  several  feet  higher  than  the  creek, 
and  in  times  of  very  great  floods  its 
waters  sometimes  overflowed  and  ran 
into  the  creek;  and  thus  a  portion  of  its 
waters  would  pass  through  the  Hudson 
to  the  ocean,  and  another  portion 
through  Oneida  Lake,  the  Oswego  river 
into  Lak«  Ontario,  and  thence  through 
the  River  St.  Lawrence  to  the  ocean. 
Between  two  of  the  channels  through 
which  it  discharges  its  water  into  the 
Hudson  lies  Van  Schaick's  Island,  which 
is  ahout  two  mile3  long  and  half  a  mile 


"From  rise  of  morn  till  set  of  sun 
I've  seen  the  mighty  Mohawk  run; 
And  as  I  marked  the  woods  of  pine 
Along  his  mirror  darklj'  shine. 
Like  tall  and  gloomy  forms  that  pass 
Before  the  wizard's  midnight  glass; 
And  as  I  viewed  the  hurrying  pace 
With  which  he  ran  his  turbid  race. 
Rushing  alike  untired  and  wild 
Through  shades  that  frowned  and  flowers 

that  smiled, 
Flying  by  every  green  recess 
That  wooed  him  to  its  calm  caress. 
Yet  sometimes  turning  with  the  wind 
As  if  to  leave  one  look  t>ehind, 
O !    I  have  thought,  and  thinking,  sighed 
How  like  thee,  thou  restless  tide. 
May  be  the  lot,  the  life  of  him 
Who  roams  along  thy  watery  brim." 

It  was  the  highway  of  the  Iroquois 


wide.     It  was  upon  this  island  that  Gen-  Indians  long  before   the  white  man  saw 

eral  Schuyler,  in   1777,  took  a  position  its  waters.     They  used  it   in  their  forays 

with   his    troops    just   before    they    ad-  upon  other  Indian  tribes  residing  in  the 

vanced  to  meet  General  Burgoyne,  and  eastern   part  of  the  state,    upon    Long 

fought  the  battle  which  did  more  than  Island,  in  New  Jersey  and  New  England, 

any  other  to  achieve  our  national  inde-  These  dusky  warriors,  in  their  war  paint, 

pendence.  as  they  paddled  their  light  canoes,  their 

On  the  borders  of  the  river  are  the  lithe  forms  swaying    to  and  fro  to  the 

cities  of  Rome,  Utica,  Little  Falls,  Am-  cadence  of  song,  must  have  been  quite 

sterdam,  Schenectady  .nnd  Cohoes,  and  picturesque;  and  we  can  imagine  how. 

several  beautiful    and    flourishing  vil-  with  their  wild  war  whoop,  they  awak- 

62 


ened  the  responsive  echoes  of  the  prime- 
val forests. 

It  is  impossible  now  to  say  who  was 
the  first  white  man  that  saw  the  Mo- 
hawk river.  It  may  have  been  some 
one  of  the  Couriers  de  Bois,  or  of  the 
Jesuit  missionaries  who  entered  the  ter- 
ritory of  the  Iroquois  from  Canada. 
Father  Jogues  saw  it  first  in  1643  and 
again  in  1646,  when  he  suffered  martyr- 
dom on  the  banks  of  the  Mohawk  at 
Caughnawasa,  Montgouiery  county. 
The  Dutch  from  Albany  may  have  gone, 
and  probably  did  go,  into  the  Mohawk 
country,  in  pursuit  of  trade  with  the  In- 
dians, earlier  than  any  other  white  men. 

Among  the  earliest  Indian  traders  was 
Arndt  Van  Curler,  who  founded  Sche- 
nectady in  1661,  where  there  was  al- 
ready an  Indian  village.  By  his  honesty 
and  tact  he  acquired  the  confidence  and 
friendship  of  the  Indians,  and  he  had 
great  influence  with  them.  They  called 
him  "Brother  Corlear,"  and  after  him 
they  named  Schenectady  "Corlear,"  and 
the  Mohawk  river  the  "River  of  Cor- 
lear." He  was  subsequently  drowned 
in  Lake  Champlain,  and  then  they  called 
that  lake  "Corlear's  lake,"  and  they  had 
such  respect  for  him  that  they  subse- 
quently called  the  colonial  governors 
"Corlear."  They  were  a  confiding, 
truthful  race,  and  the  men  who, like  Peter 
Schuyler,  called  by  them  "Quidder." 
and  Van  Curler  and  Sir  William  John- 
son, who  were  truthful  and  honest  with 
them,  always  had  great  influence  over 
them. 

Johnson  first  entered  the  Mohawk 
valley  in  1738,  and  as  there  were  then 
no  roads,  he  undoubtedly  passed  up  the 
river  in  a  canoe.  He  traded  extensively 
with  the  Indians,  and  met  them  on  a 
footing  of  equality.  He  painted,  ate 
and  dressed  like  them,  and  he  played 
their  games  with  them,  and  he  finally 
took  into  the  relations  of  a  wife  MoUie 
Brant,  the  sister  of  the  great  Indian 
chief.  He  built  a  stone  house,  called 
Johnson  Hall,  which  is  still  standing  at 
Akin,  on  the  north  side  of  the  New  York 
Central  railroad,  where  he  frequently 
feasted  the  Indians  and  held  councils 
with  them.     In  going  to  and  from  the 

63 


hall,  the  Indians  traveled  in  their  canoes 
upon  the  river. 

In  1722  William  Burnett,  the  governor 
of  this  state,  built  a  fort  at  Oswego  for 
the  purpose  of  facilitating  trade  with 
the  Indians,  and  in  1723  the  Indians  went 
from  there  to  Albany  with  fifty-seven 
canoes  loaded  with  738  packs  of  beaver 
and  deer  skins,  passing  up  the  Oswego 
river  to  Oneida  lake,  and  thence  through 
the  lake  and  Wood  creek,  and  over  a 
short  carry  to  the  Mohawk  river,  and 
down  the  river  to  Albany.  In  1746  the 
Six  Nations,  after  much  solicitation, 
went  to  Albany  for  a  council  with  the 
whites.  There  was  at  that  time  a  little 
jealousy  and  friction  between  the  Indi- 
ans, and  hence  the  Senecas,  Onondagas 
and  Mohawks  marched  down  on  one 
side  of  the  river  and  the  Oneidas,  Cay- 
ugas  and  Tuscarora's  on  the  other  side. 

Johnson  had  the  contract  to  victual 
the  fort  at  Oswego,  and  all  his  sujiplies 
went  up  the  river  to  Rome  and  thence 
over  the  road  above  mentioned  to  the 
fort. 

In  1748  Johnson  called  an  Indian 
council  at  Onondaga.  He  went  up  the 
Mohawk  river  with  a  guard  of  fifty  men 
in  batteaux  loadetd  with  provisions  and 
presents.  In  April,  1757  he  made  his 
headquarters  at  this  place,  and  here  is- 
sued his  orders  to  the  Indian  officers  in 
his  arrangements  to  baffle  the  French 
invaders;  and  here  he  held  a  council 
with  the  Indians  in  1763. 

In  1766,  Johnson,  going  up  the  Mo- 
hawk river  with  batteaux  loaded  with 
presents  and  provisions,  held  a  council 
with  the  great  Indian  chief  Pontiac,  and 
the  Iroquois  at  Oswego,  and  there  he 
brought  about  the  peace  which  followed 
the  famous  Pontiac  conspiracy  of  which 
the  historian  Parkman  has  written  so  in- 
terestingly. In  August,  1767,  Johnson 
being  bick  was  with  great  solicitude 
taken  by  the  Indians  in  a  boat  upon  the 
river  from  Johnson  hall  to  Schenectady, 
and  thence  he  was  carried  by  them  in  a 
litter  to  the  High  Rock  Spring  at  Saratoga 
for  the  benefit  of  its  medicinal  waters 
which  they  recommended  to  him  :  and 
thus  he  is  believed  to  have  been  the  first 


'white  man  who  drank  the  waters  of  that 
-celebrated  spring. 

In  the  fall  of  17(38  at  Fort  Stanwix, 
Johnson  held  a  council  attended  by 
more  than  three  thousand  Indians  and 
by  the  Governors  of  New  Jersey,  and 
PennHvlvania,  and  Commissioners  of 
Virginia  for  the  settlement  with  the  In- 
dians of  a  disputed  territorial  boundary; 
and  he  took  with  him  up  the  Mohawk 
river  twenty  batteaux  loaded  with  pro- 
visions and  presents  for  the  Indians.  He 
attended  other  councils  with  the  Indians 
at  Albany,  Johnson  Hall,  Oswego,  De- 
troit and  other  places,  always  using  the 
Mohawk  river  as  the  highway  for  the 
transportation  of  provisions  and  presents. 

Governor  Tyron  came  up  the  Mohawk 
river  to  this  place  in  the  summer  of 
1773,  and  here  and  at  Fort  Herkimer  re- 
viewed the  militia,  and  we  may  well  be- 
lieve that  the  sturdy  Germans  in  the 
presence  of  their  Governor  made  a  fine 
display  of  martial  ardor  and  soldierly 
proficiency  and  aptitude.  In  June  1775 
a  council  was  held  at  this  place  with  the 
Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras  to  secure  their 
neutrality  in  the  war,  and  they  promised 
neutrality.  On  the  IGth  day  of  August, 
1775,  there  was  a  council  at  this  place 
with  several  sachems  of  the  Six  Nations 
to  induce  them  to  attend  a  grand  council 
to  be  held  at  Albany;  and  on  the  31st  of 
August  such  a  council,  the  last  before 
the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  was 
held  in  Albany,  The  object  of  there 
councils  was  to  keep  the  Indians  from 
joining  the  British  in  the  war.  In  the 
spring  of  1775,  there  was  raised  on  the 
banks  of  the  Mohawk  at  Fort  Herkimer, 
the  first  liberty  pole  erected  in  this  state 
outside  of  the  city  of  New  York,  and 
subsequently  Mr.  White,  sheritf  of  Tryon 
county,  came  with  a  company  of  militia 
from  Johnstown,  and  cut  it  down  as 
witnessing  a  rebellious  spirit. 

In  January  1776,  General  Herkimer 
ordered  out  the  militia  of  Tryon  county 
to  head  ofif  some  expected  raid  of  Sir 
John  Johnson,  and  they  were  paraded 
on  the  ice  of  the  Mohawk  river  at  Fonda. 

When  the  militia  of  Tryon  county 
marched  to  the  battle  of  Oriskaiy,  their 
;age   went  up    the   river  in    boats. 


After  that  battle,  the  British  with  iheir 
Tory  and  Indian  allies  continued  to  in- 
vest Fort  Stanwix,  audit  was  feared  that 
with  their  superior  numbers  they  might 
take  the  fort;  and  alarm  was  felt 
throughout  the  Mohawk  valley,  that 
after  taking  the  fort,  they  might  sweep 
down  the  valley  and  spread  disasternd  a 
death  everywhere.  General  Benedict 
Arnold  was  then,  in  August  1777,  dis- 
patched to  the  relief  of  the  fort,  with 
twelve  hundred  continental  soldiers  and 
some  militia  fiom  this  locality.  His 
baggage  and  provisions  were  carried  in 
batteaux  on  the  river,  guarded  by  troops. 
He  went  up  about  ten  miles  west  of  this 
place  and  the  beseigers  hearing  of  his 
approach  abandoned  the  seige  and  fled. 
In  1778,  the  Six  Nations  perpretrated 
the  mas  acre  of  Wyoming  which  has 
been  so  pathetically  descibeJ  in  history 
and  song,  ravaged  portions  of  Schohaiie 
oounty,  burned  Cherry  Valley  and 
Springfield  in  Otsego  county,  and  An- 
drustown  and  the  German  settlement 
here  in  this  county,  killing  and  scalping 
men  and  women  and  taking  prisoners; 
and  they  made  other  savage  raids. 
Then  in  1779,  it  was  resolved  in  con- 
gress and  advised  by  the  commander-in- 
chief  that  a  military  force  should  be 
sent  into  the  heart  of  the  country  occu- 
pied by  the  Six  Nations  to  chastise  them 
in  their  homes;  and  General  Sullivan 
was  selected  to  command  the  expedi- 
tion. The  soldiers  detatched  for  this 
service  marched  in  two  divisions— one 
starting  from  Easton,  in  Pennsylvania, 
under  the  immediate  command  of  Sulli- 
van, and  the  other  starting  from  New 
York  under  General  James  Clinton, 
brother  of  Governor  George  Clinton,  and 
father  of  Governor  DeWitt  Clinton. 
The  latter  division  came  up  the  Mohawk 
river,  conveying  their  baggage  in  more 
than  two  hundred  batteaux  to  Canajo- 
barie.  There  General  Clinton  dispatched 
a  portion  of  bis  force  under  Colonel 
Van  Schaicb,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Will- 
et  and  Major  Cockran  up  the  Mohawk 
river  for  the  invasion  of  the  country  of 
the  Onondagas.  The  remainder  of  his 
force  left  the  Mohawk  river  at  Canajo- 
harie   taking  their  boats  with  them  on 


64 


wagons  through  Springlleld  to  the  head 
■of  Otsego  Lake,  four  horses  being  re- 
quired to  draw  one  boat.  There  they 
put  their  boats  upon  the  lake  and  went 
down  the  lake  to  its  outlet  and  then  into 
and  down  the  Susquehanna  river,  and 
joined  General  Sullivan, 

Fort  Stanwix,  in  the  later  years  of  its 
existence  called  Fort  Schuyler,  was  de- 
stroyed by  lire  and  water  in  May  1781; 
and  the  garrison  then  came  here.  In 
February  1783  soldiers  under  Colonel 
Willet  were  gathered  at  Fort  Herkimer, 
and  from  that  place  they  started  on  an 
expedition  to  surprise  and  capture  the 
British  fort  at  Oswego.  The  expedition 
failed  from  various  causes,  which  need 
not  be  mentioned  here. 

The  supplies  and  military  equipments 
for  all  the  forts  along  the  Mohawk  val- 
ley were  transported  in  boats  upon  the 
river. 

Before  the  revolutionary  war,  Albany 
was  the  sreatest  mart  on  this  continent 
for  the  sale  of  furs.  There  the  Six  Na- 
tions took  their  furs,  and  they  domi- 
nated nearly  all  the  Indians  east  of  the 
Mississippi  river.  They  paddled  their 
canoes  as  far  west  as  Dakota,  as  far 
north  as  Hudson's  Bay,"'and  south  to  tbe 
Chesapeake  Bay  and  even  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico.  Such  was  the  fame  of  the  Al- 
bany fur  market  that  even  the  Sioux 
from  Dakota  came  there  with  their  furs; 
and  ail  this  traffic  passed  up  and  down 
the  Mohawk  river. 

When  the  Palatines  came  to  this  re- 
gion from  Schoharie,  they  came  to  the 
Mohawk  river  at  or  near  Canajoharie, 
and  thence  conveyed  their  goods  up  the 
river  in  boats;  and  before  the  revolu- 
tionary war,  there  was  no  other  feasible 
way  for  the  transportation  of  goods,  as 
there  were  no  good  roads  on  either  side 
of  the  river. 

The  dusky  Indians  frequently  paddled 
their  friends  Quidder,  Corlear  and  John- 
son, upon  the  waters  of  the  Mohawk,  en- 
livening the  weary  hours  with  song  and 
war  whoop;  and  what  a  scene  along  the 
river  was  presented  to  the  early  white 
travelers  thereon!  Fish  were  abundant. 
Now  and  then  they  would  see  a  field  of 
corn  in  the  valley,  and  the_lopes  on  either 


side  were  covered  with  unbroken  for- 
ests. The  bear,  wolf,  elk,  deer,  pan- 
ther, beaver  and  other  wild  animals 
would  occasionally  come  in  sight,  and 
the  lurking  savage  would  now  and  then 
disclose  his  form.  They  would  pass  In- 
dian castles  at  Auriesville.  Tribe's  Hill, 
Caughnawaga,  Canajoharie,  Fort  Plain 
and  in  Danube  in  this  county. 

In  July,  1783,  hostilities  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  United  States  had 
ceased;  but  the  definitive  treaty  of  peace 
had  not  yet  arrived,  and  the  army  had 
not  been  disbanded.  Washington's 
headquarters  were  at  Newburgh,  and 
finding  his  situation  there  from  various 
causes  irksome,  he  resolved  to  visit 
some  of  the  places  made  famous  during 
the  war:  and  it  was  determined  that 
Governor  George  Clinton  should  accom- 
pany him.  They  started  from  New- 
burgh  and  went  up  to  Albany,  and  from 
thence  to  Lake  George,  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point;  and  then  they  returned  to 
Schenectady,  whence  they  proceeded  up 
the  valley  of  the  Mohawk  "to  have  a 
view,"  as  Washington  wrote  a  friend, 
"of  that  tract  of  country  which  is  so 
much  celebrated  for  the  fertility  of  its 
soil  and  the  beauty  of  its  situation." 
They  stopped  at  Fort  Herkimer  and  Fort 
Dayton  and  other  places  of  interest 
along  the  river,  and  went  as  far  west  as 
Fort  Schuyler  and  Wood  creek.  There 
they  turned  southerly  to  the  Susque- 
hanna river  and  Otsego  lake,  and  again 
reached  the  Mohawk  valley  at  Canajo- 
harie, passing  through  Springfield  and 
Cherry  Valley;  and  then  they  returned 
to  Newburgh,  after  an  absence  of  about 
three  weeks,  and  after  traveling  in  all 
about  seven  hundred  and  fifty  miles, 
mostly  on  horseback  and  through  for- 
ests. We  learn  from  Washington's  cor- 
respondence that  during  this  journey 
the  advantages  of  inland  navigation  for 
the  opening  of  communication  between 
the  Hudson  river  and  the  great  lakes 
dawned  upon  his  practical  and  sagacious 
mind.  Several  places  along  the  Mo- 
hawk river  are  still  pointed  ouc  where 
ho  stopped  for  rest  or  refreshment. 

The  waters  of  the  Mohawk  were  used 
for  the  last  time  for  the^  purpose  of  an 


65 


Indian  council  in  1788,  when  Governor 
George  Clinton  and  other  state  officials 
held  a  treaty  at  Fort  Stanwix  with  the 
Six  Nations  for  the  purpose  of  extin- 
guishing their  title  to  the  western  part 
of  this  state.  The  occasion  was  a  very 
interesting  one,  and  the  scene  at  the 
fort,    where  hundreds  of    Indians    had 


Whereas.  A  communication  by  watei- 
between  the  southern,  northern  and 
Western  parts  of  this  state  will  encour- 
age agriculture,  promote  commerce  and 
facilitate  a  general  intercourse  between 
the  citizens. 

The  act  provided  for  the  incorporation 
of  two  companies,  one  of  which,  called 
the   Western    Inland    Lock    Navigation 


assemliled,  fantastically  decorated  and  Company,  was  for  the  purpose  of  the 
clothed,  was  very  picturesque  and  opening  of  lock  navigation  from  the 
striking.  The  French  Ambassador  and  Hudson  river  to  Lake  Ontario  and  the 
the  Marchioness  de  Bison  came  there  Seneca  lake  through  the  Mohawk  valley, 
from  New  York  city  to  gratify  their  cu-  General  Schuyler  was  the  principal  pro- 
riosity.  meter  of  the  act,  as  he  was  of  the  com- 

Tbe  navigation  of  the  river  was  pany  organized  under  it.  The  company, 
greatly  impeded  by  the  falls  in  the  town  finding  no  suitable  engineer  in  this 
of  Little  Falls,  and  by  the  rift  therein  country  for  the  proposed  work,  procured 
near  Fort  Herkimer,  called  Wolfs  rift,  one  from  England  by  the  name  of  Wes- 
and  by  the  distance  between  the  Mo-  ton,  who  made  a  survey  from  tide-water 
hawk  and  the  navigable  water  of  Wood  at  Troy  through  the  Mohawk  valley  to 
creek,  which,  after  the  creek  was  cleared  Rome,  thence  down  Wood  creek,  Oneida 
out,  was  about  a  mile.  At  these  points  'ake  and  the  Oswego  river  to  Lake  On- 
the  boats  and  freight  would  have  to  be  tario  at  Oswego.  He  reported  the  re- 
carried  with  great  labor  on  land  or  suits  of  his  survey  to  the  company,  with 
drawn  by  oxen  and   horses  past  the  ob-   estimates  of  the  cost  of   the   proposed 


stacles,  and  thus  much  valuable  time 
was  lost  and  great  expense  incurred. 
These  obstacles  to  navigation  were  so 
annoying  that  soon  after  the  revolution- 
ary war  plans  were  discussed  and  con- 
sidered for  canals  and  locks  to  overcome 


locks  and  canals.  The  company,  shortly 
after  this  report,  commenced  three  small 
canals.  The  first  was  at  Little  Falls,  to 
pass  around  the  falls  there,  on  the  north 
side  of  the  river,  and  that  was  completed 
about  1798.     It  was  a  little  less  than  one 


them.  Elkanah  Watson  and  General  mile  long,  had  five  locks,  and  depth  of 
Schuyler,  were  the  principal  pioneers  water  for  boats  carrying  from  twelve  to 
in  this  movement  The  latter  was  fifteen  tons.  The  second  canal  was  be- 
a  member  of  the  state  senate  in  tween  Fort  Herkimer  and  Jackson- 
1791,  and  upon  the  committee  to  in-  burgh,  and  was  built  there  so  that  boats 
quire  what  obstructions  to  navigation  could  pass  around  Wolf's  rift.  It  had 
there  were  in  the  Hudson  and  Mohawk  two  locks  and  was  over  a  mile  long.  The 
Tivers  and  how  they  might  be  removed,  third  canal  was  at  Rome,  to  connect  ihe 
In  the  same  year,  on  the  24th  of  March,  Mohawk  river  with  Wood  creek.  It  was 
the  act  concerning  roads  and  inland  over  one  mile  long  and  had  two  locks, 
navigation,  and  for  other  purposes,  was  It  was  supplied  with  water  from  the 
passed.  Among  other  things  it  directed  Mohawk  through  a  feeder  about  a  mile 
the  commissioners  oF  the  land  office  to  long.  Several  dams  and  locks  were 
explore  and  survey  the  ground  between  erected  in  Wood  creek  to  facilitate  the 
the  Mohawk  river  and  Wood  creek,  and  descent  and  ascent  of  boats.  The  locks 
to  estimate  the  probable  expense  of  the  in  these  canals  were  first  made  of  wood, 
construction  of  a  canal  between  those  but  were  rebuilt  of  stone  in  1804.  These 
two  streams.  In  January,  1792.  the  canals  and  locks  were  completed  as  early 
commissioners  made  a  favorable  report,  as  1802.  They  cost  about  $450,000,  of 
On  the  30th  of  March,  in  that  year,  an  which  the  state,  under  the  act  for  their 
act  was  passed  "For  establishing  and  construction,  contributed  $92,000. 
opening  lock  navigation  within  the  By  means  of  these  canals  boats  were 
state."    Its  preamble  was  as  follows:  enabled  to  ascend   the  Mohawk  river  as 

«6 


high  as  Rome,  and  thence  through  Wood 
creek,  Oneida  lake  and  Oswego  river  to 
Lake  Ontario  at  Oswego.  Then,  as  the 
central  and  western  parts  of  the  state 
were  fast  filling  up  with  population,  the 
Mohawk  river  became  for  that  period  a 
great  highway  of  trade  and  commerce. 
Three  kinds  of  boats  were  in  use.  but 
the  tavorite  was  the  Schenectady  boat, 
called  the  Durham  boat,  a  broad,  shal- 
low scow,  about  fifty  feet  long,  steered 
by  a  sweep  oar  forty  feet  long,  and 
pushed  upstream  mamly  by  man  power. 
There  were  some  places  along  the  banks 
of  the  river  where  the  boats  could 
be  pulled  up  by  horses,  hired  of  the 
neighboring  farmers  and  of  others 
who  supplied  horses  for  that  pur- 
pose. All  practical  methods  were  re- 
sorted to  for  moving  the  boats  upon  the 
river— such  as  punting,  pushing,  pulling, 
sailing  and  floating.  When  the  river 
was  full  generally  ten  tons  was  a  load, 
and  when  the  water  was  low  three  tons 
only  could  be  caried.  At  places  where 
the  stream,  in  the  dry  season,  was 
likely  to  be  but  a  few  inches  deep,  or 
where  a  ledge  of  rocks  barred  the  way, 
low  stone  walls  were  built  out  from  each 
bank  until  they  almost  met  in  the  chan- 
nel, and  thus  a  depth  of  water  was  se- 
cured for  the  passage  of  the  boats.  When 
the  boats  reached  Utica,  which  was  then 
a  thriving  town  of  two  hundred  houses, 
the  freight  was  sorted,  and  goods  for 
the  salt  works  were  thence  taken  west 
through  the  river,  Wood  creek,  Oneida 
lake,  Onondaga  river  and  Seneca  river 
to  a  swampy  creek  which  led  to  Onon- 
daga lake,  on  the  high  banks  of  which 
stood  Salina,  a  place  then  containing 
about  fifty  houses,  where  the  sole  busi- 
ness was  the  manufacture  of  salt.  Some 
of  the  salt  manufactured  there  was  taken 
east  over  the  route  above  mentioned,  and 
some  of  it  found  its  way  by  water  to 
Lake  Ontario,  and  thence  partly  by 
water  and  partly  by  land  to  the  western 
parts  of  this  state,  to  places  on  the  lakes 
and  to  what  was  then  a  great  market, 
Pittsburg.  In  the  year  1817  there  was  a 
light  and  commodious  passenger  boat 
upon  the  river  makmg  regular  trips. 
The  trip  from  Utica  to  Schenectady  was 


considered  rapid  and  agreeable,  but  the 
return  was  so  slow  and  tedious  that  pas- 
sengers did  not  incline  to  take  the  boat 
for  that  purpose.  But  there  were  boats 
upon  the  river  carrying  passengers  much 
earlier  than  that.  Commodore  Perry 
won  his  famous  victory  over  the  English 
on  Lake  Erie  in  August,  1813.  In  Octo- 
ber thereafter  he  resigned  the  naval 
command  of  the  upper  lakes  and  re- 
pared  to  the  seaboard  in  November, 
where  he  was  put  incommand  of  a  new 
frigate.  On  his  way  from  the  west  to 
the  east  he  passed  down  the  Mohawk 
river  in  a  boat.  He  was  at  the  time  a 
national  hero  and  the  country  was  full 
of  his  praise  and  of  enthusiasm  for 
his  heroic  deeds.  As  he  passed  Sche- 
nectady, the  professors  and  students  of 
Union  college  assembled  on  the  banks  of 
the  river  to  welcome  and  greet  this  pop- 
ular idol. 

The  company  was  authorized  by  its 
act  of  incorporation  to  charge  tolls  for 
the  use  of  its  canals  and  locks  for  navi- 
gation between  the  Hudson  river  and 
Lakes  Seneca  and  Ontario,  not  exceed- 
ing "in  the  whole  the  sum  of  twenty- 
five  dollars  for  every  ton  of  the  burthen 
of  such  boat  or  vessel,  and  so  in  propor- 
tion for  every  one  hundred  feet  cubic 
measure  of  timber  and  one  thousand  feet 
board  measure  of  boards,  plank  or 
scantling,  and  so  in  proportion  for  any 
similar  distance  and  less  number  of  locks 
in  any  interval  between  the  said  river 
and  lakes." 

These  canals  and  locks  were  used  until 
near  the  completion  of  the  Erie  canal, 
when  about  the  year  1823  they  passed 
into  the  ownership  and  possession  of  the 
state,  under  the  act  of  1817,  authorizmg 
the  construction  of  the  Erie  canal,  which 
act  required  the  state  to  take  and  pay 
for  them.  Then  the  state  constructed 
an  aqueduct  at  Little  Falls  across  the 
river,  and  used  the  old  canal  as  a  feeder 
for  the  Erie  canal;  and  in  1841,  in  the 
enlargement  of  the  Erie  canal,  a  feeder 
was  constructed  on  the  south  side  of  the 
river  at  Little  Falls,  through  which 
water  has  since  been  drawn  for  the  sup- 
ply of  the  Erie  canal. 


67 


The  Mohawk  river  possesses  a  quah"ty 
unusual  with  the  inland  fresh  water 
rivers  of  this  state,  and  that  is  that  its 
bed  belongs  to  the  state,  and  that  the 
riprarian  owners  only  take  title  to  the 
margin  of  the  river.  It  was  sn  decided 
by  the  highest  court  of  the  state  in  1865. 
(People  vs.  Canal  Appraisers,  33  N.  Y., 
461  ) 

It  is  a  curious  incident  connected  with 
the  Mohawk  river  that  in  1797  (chapter 
60  of  the  laws  of  that  year,)  out  of  cer- 
tain monies  authorized  to  be  raised  by 
lotteries  for  public  improvement?,  Gen- 
eral Michael  Myers,  Gaylord  Griswold, 
John  Frank  and  Michael  Edick  were 
authorized  to  receive  four  hundred  dol- 
lars for  the  purpose  of  reimbursing  them 
for  money  expended  by  them  in  building 
a  bridge  over  the  river  at  this  place, 
where  the  lower  river  bridge  now  is;  and 
out  of  the  same  money  John  Post,  Na- 
than Smith  and  Isaac  Bray  ton  were  au- 
thorized to  receive  a  similar  sum  to  re- 
imburse them  for  that  sum  by  them  ex- 
pended in  erecting  a  bridge  over  the 
Mohawk  river  at  Utica,  called  in  the  act 
"Old  Fort  Schuyler."  The  bridges  thus 
built  were  probably,  with  the  exception 
o?  one  built  below   the  Cohoes  falls,  the 


earliest  bridges  spanning  the  Mohawk 
river.  There  was  no  bridge  across  the 
river  where  the  upper  river  bridge  be- 
tween this  village  and  Mohawk  now  is, 
until  about  the  year  1816. 

Since  1823  the  river  has  ceased  to  be 
navigated,  and  it  has  been  used  only  as 
a  feeder  for  the  Erie  canal  and  for  its 
water  power  at  Little  Falls  and  Cohoes. 
The  fish  have  mostly  disappeared  from 
its  waters,  and  the  march  of  civilization 
has  driven  far  away  the  wild  beasts 
that  in  the  last  century  used  to  be  seen 
upon  its  banks.  Well  tilled  farms  along 
its  borders  have  taken  the  place  of  the 
unbroken  forests,  and  the  shrill  screech 
of  the  stoam  whistle  has  supplanted  the 
war  whoop  of  the  savage.  It  no  longer 
carries  the  burden  of  trade  and  com- 
merce. Its  waters  move  sluggishly 
along,  unmindful  of  the  important  part 
they  once  played  in  the  history  of  the 
state.  They  have  ceased  to  make  his- 
tory, and  except  for  the  uses  above  men- 
tioned and  for  other  purposes  of  no 
greater  importance  they  serve  only  to 
awaken  the  echoes  of  the  past  and  to 
furnish  topics  of  interest  to  the  student 
of  historv. 


(W 


HISTORY  OF  LOTTERIES  IN  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK. 

AN  ADDRESS  BY  HON.   ROBERT  EARI.  OF   HERKIMER, 
Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  October  13,  1896. 


The  disposition  of  property  by  chance 
or  lot  is  probably  ntarly  as  old  as  organ- 
ized human  society.  We  find  traces  of 
it  in  the  most  ancient  writings.  Among 
the  children  of  Israel,  land  was  awarded 
by  lot.  In  Athens,  long  before  the 
Christian  era,  not  only  property,  but 
public  offices  were  disposed  of  by  lot. 
Lotteries  in  some  form  existed  in  ancient 
Rome;  and  in  the  middle  ages  great 
merchants  in  Italy  and  other  places  dis- 
posed of  their  wares  by  lotteries. 

Lotteries  were  first  established  in 
France  in  1539;  and  in  1700,  Louis  the 
XIV  established  a  lottery  by  an  edict 
sounding  very  strange  to  us  of  this  gen- 
eration, which  ran  as  follows :  "His 
Majesty  having  noticed  the  natural  in- 
clination of  his  subjects  to  vest  their 
money  in  private  lotteries,  and  desiring 
to  afford  them  an  agreeable  and  easy 
means  of  procuring  for  themselves  a 
sure  and  considerable  revenue  for  the 
rest  of  their  lives,  and  even  of  enriching 
their  families  by  investing  sums  so  small 
that  they  cannot  cause  them  any  incon- 
venience, has  judged  it  opportune  10 
eststblish  at  the  Hotel  de  Ville  at  Paris,  a 
royal  lottery.  We  can  easily  imagine 
how  by  such  language  "the  natural  in- 
clination" of  the  great  King's  subjects  to 
gambling  was  fostered  and  stimulated, 
and  how  the  hopes  raised  among  thou- 
sands and  even  millions  of  his  subjects 


were  disasterously  disappointed.  The 
evils  from  such  gambling  were  so  great 
that  on  November  2nd,  1793,  when  the 
French  people  were  dominant,  the  revo- 
lutionary convention  abolished  lotteries 
"as  an  invention  of  despotism  to  make 
men  silent  about  their  miseries  and  en- 
slave them  with  a  hope  which  aggra- 
vates their  distress."  Some  years  later 
lotteries  were  revived  in  France  for  the 
purpose  of  raising  public  revenue,  and 
under  the  Bourbons,  from  1816  to  1838, 
the  government  derived  from  them  an 
annual  revenue  of  ninety-four  million 
francs.  A  few  years  later,  in  1836,  they 
were  suppressed  there,  and  immediate- 
ly it  was  found  that  the  deposits  in  sav- 
ings banks  largely  increased. 

The  first  lottery  in  England  was  estab* 
lished  in  1569,  and  the  profits  were  to 
be  devoted  to  the  repair  of  harbors  and 
other  public  works.  Not  fearing  the 
desecration  of  a  religious  eaifice  thereby, 
the  drawing  took  place  at  the  west  door 
of  St.  Paul's  cathedral.  In  1612  a  lot- 
tery was  drawn  there  to  aid  the  Virginia 
company,  and  subsequently  to  found  the 
British  museum  and  to  build  the  West- 
minster bridge.  Now  and  then  a  feeble 
voice  was  raised  against  lotteries,  and  in 
1819  and  subsequently,  the  agitation 
against  them  became  so  pronounced  that 
in  1826  they  were  suppressed  by  an  act 
of  Parliament. 


(39 


Lotteries  are  still  maintained  on  the 
continent  of  Europe  for  the  purposes  of 
revenue,  and  are  attempted  to  be  justi- 
fied on  thr"  untenable  and  sophistical 
theory  that,  as  the  people  have  an  irre- 
sistiole  inclination  to  this  kind  of  gam- 
biiog,  they  had  better  be  under  govern- 
mental c©ntrol  and  yield  revenue  for  the 
public  good.  According  to  the  most  re- 
cent statistics  available  to  me,  Prussia 
now  receives  from  lotteries  an  annual 
revenueof  about  ten  millions  marks,  Aus- 
tria over  forty  million  crowns,  Italy 
over  seventy  five  million  lire  and  Spain 
seventy -five  million  pesetas.  Indeed  all 
the  modern  states  have  in  some  period 
of  their  history  employed  lotteries  as  a 
means  of  revenue,  aiid  during  the  mid- 
dle ages  the  church  used  them  to  build 
cathedials. 

They  came  to  this  country  from  Eu- 
rope and  when  the  people  were  poor; 
they  were  in  all  the  older  sates  the  most 
efficient  measures  for  raising  revenue 
for  all  kinds  of  public  purposes-  such  as 
building  and  founding  schools  of  learn- 
ing, building  roads,  bridges,  docks,  court 
houses,  jails,  and  bouses  for  the  sick  and 
poor,  for  the  repair  of  churches,  the  es- 
tablishment of  founderies  and  glass 
works  and  for  digging  canals.  In  the 
latter  part  of  the  last  century  and  early 
in  this,  Massachusetts,  by  lotteries,  en- 
couraged cotton  spinning,  paid  the  sala- 
ries of  various  public  officers,  and  in- 
creased tiie  library  of  Harvard  college. 
Connecticut  authorized  lotieries  for 
erecting  some  of  the  buildings  of  Yale 
college,  and  by  a  federal  lottei-y  a  hotel 
was  built  in  the  city  of  Washington,  and 
the  hotel  itself  was  the  principal  prize. 

The  agnation  against  lotteries  began 
in  this  country  about  the  same  time  it 
began  in  England,  and  the  result  was 
that  state  after  state  passed  laws  pro- 
hibiting them,  until  now  they  are  sup- 
pressed by  law  in  all  the  states,  Louisia- 
na and  Kentucky  being  the  last  slates 
to  maintain  them.  So  earnest  have  the 
people  beconid  in  their  determination  to 
suppress  them  that  in  most  of  the  states 
they  are  condemned  by  Constitutional 
provisions. 

I  have  written  so   much  as  a  brief  in- 


troduction to  the  history  of  lotteries  fn 
this  state. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  colony  of  New 
York,  lotteries  were  not  regulated  hy 
law,  and  private  lotteries  operated  widi- 
out  the  sanction  of  law  were  not  uncom- 
mon. Tickets  in  foreign  lotteries  were 
also  sold,  and  all  kinds  of  property  were 
disposed  of  by  some  schemes  of  chance. 
By  an  act  passed  July  27,  1721,  the  dis- 
position of  goods  hy  lottery  or  chance 
was  prohibited  "'as  pernicious  to  trade, "^ 
it  not  yet  having  dawned  upon  the  mmdr, 
of  the  statesmen  of  that  day  that  they 
w^ere  still  more  pernicious  in  many  oher 
ways.  So  scrupulous  were  the  law  mak- 
ers that  they  exempted  from  the  opera- 
tion of  that  act  the  lottery  of  William. 
Lake,  wnich  had  previously  been  li- 
censed. Prior  to  1754  the  colonial  gov- 
ernment had  granted  to  Columbia  col- 
lege by  lotteries  $8,609.75.  By  the  act 
of  November  25,  1747,  private  loiieries- 
were  prohibited  with  a  preamble  as  ful- 
loAs:  "Whei'eas,  several  persons  of  late, 
have  set  on  foot  and  operated  private 
lotteries  within  this  colony,  which,  be- 
ing under  no  restrictions  t)y  law,  are  at- 
tended with  pernicious  consequences  l& 
the  public,  by  encouraging  numbers  of 
laboring  people  to  assemble  together  at 
taverns,  where  such  lotteries  are  usually 
set  on  foot  and  drawn,  for  remedy 
whereof,  Ee  it  enacted,"  etc.  It  was  not 
the  rich,  or  the  capitalists,  or  the  well- 
to-do  who  gathered  a  these  taverns  to 
gamble  in  lottery  tickets.  The  poor,  the 
laboring  people,  gathered  there;  and  so 
it  has  been  the  world  over.  Lotteries 
tempt  the  poor  rather  than  the  rich,^ 
and  therefore  moneys  which  were  raisea 
by  lotteries  for  all  kinds  of  purposes 
came  out  of  those  who  were  least  able  to- 
bear  the  loss. 

By  the  act  of  December  24,  1759,  for- 
eign lotteries  were  prohibited  under  the 
following  preamble:  •*  Whereas,  the  sell- 
ing and  disposing  of  tickets  taken  out 
of  lotteries  erected  and  schemed  ini  the 
neighboring  colonies  (which  several  per- 
sons have  of  late  set  on  foot  and  prac- 
ticed) have  been  found  manifestly  preju- 
dicial and  of  pernicious  consequerice  to 
the  inhabitants  of   this  colony,  for  pre- 


ro 


vpnlion  thereof  for  the  future,  Be  it  -en-  the  said  county,  any  law  of  this  state  to 
acted,"  etc.  By  tlie  act  of  March  23,  the  contrary  notwithstanding."  Our 
1772,  "More  effectually  to  prevent  pri-  sense  of  fitness  aid  congruity  is  sorae- 
vate  lotteri  s,'  the  preamble  was  as  fol-  what  shocuei  that  the  legislature  should 
lows:  "Whereas,  the  laws  now  in  being  sanction  the  worst  form  of  gambling  to 
for  the  suppression  of  private  lotteries  build  court  houses  and  jails, 
have  been  found  ineffectual  to  answer  Then  came  chapter  12  of  the  laws  of 
thw  salutary  purposes  intended  by  the  1788:  "An  act  to  prevent  private  lotter- 
legislature  in  enacting  the  same;  and,  les,  to  remit  certain  penalties,  and  to  re- 
Whereas,  many  mischievous  conse-  Deal  the  acts  therein  mentioned,"  and 
quences  have  been  experienced  from  this  the  preamble  was  as  follows:  "Whereas, 
practice,  which  has  p-oved  highly  preju-  experience  has  proved  that  private  lot- 
•dicial  to  trade,  has  occasioned  idleness  teries  occasion  idleness  and  dissipation, 
and  inattention  to  business,  been  pro-  and  have  been  productive  of  frauds  and 
ductive  of  fraud  and  imposition,  and  has  impasitions.  Be  it  therefore  enacted," 
-given  birth  to  a  dangerou^j  spirit  of  gam-  etc.  All  private  lotteries  were  declared 
ing,  tqr  remedy  whereof  and  to  suppress  nuisances,  and  prohibited  under  severe 
■a  practice  which  may  be  attended  with  penalties  imposed  not  only  on  the  vend- 
distress,  impoverishment  and  ruin  to  ors  of  tickets,  but  upon  the  purchasers, 
many  families,  Be  it  enacted,"  etc.  and  all  justices  of  peace,  bailiffs,  eher- 
""That  all  lotteries  other  than  such  as  iffs,  mayors,  etc.,  were  directed  and  re- 
are  authorized  by  the  legislature,  are  quired,  by  all  lawful  ways  and  means, 
•common  and  public  nuisance?."  That  to  prevent  and  suppress  the  lotteries  pro- 
act  does  not  seem  to  have  been  altogeth-  hibited  hy  the  act.  But  this  show  of 
■er  effectual,  and  so  the  act,  chapter  17  of  virtuous  indignation  in  the  su'ong  lan- 
1774,  was  passed,  ''An  act  for  the  more  guage  used  excites  less  of  our  admira- 
eflfectual  prevention  of  private  lo  teries,"  ti©Q  when  we  read  the  seventh  section  of 
and  substantially  the  same  preamble  was  the  act,  as  follows:  "That  all  offenses 
attached  thereto.  That  act  required  all  against  an  act  entitled  "An  act  for  the 
judges  in  charging  grand  juries  to  call  more  effectual  prevention  of  private  lot- 
their  attention  to  the  provisions  of  the  teries,"  passed  on  the  9th  day  of  March, 
act  and  the  violactons  of  them,  and  severe  1774,  committed  since  the  4th  day  of 
penalties  and  forfeitures  were  imposed  July,  1776  and  not  hitherto  presented  or 
for  such  violations,  not  only  upon  per-  indicted  by  the  grand  jury  are  hereby 
sons  selling  lottery  tickets,  but  also  upon  pardoned:  and  all  penalties  and  forfeit- 
persons  purchasing  them  or  in  any  way  ures  thereby  incurred  are  remitted;  and 
interested  in  chem.  the  said  act,  except  as  to  such  person  or 

By  chapter  33  of  the  laws  of  1778  au-  persons  against  whom  presentment  or 
thority  was  given  to  raise  money  by  presentments,  indictment  or  indictments 
means  of  a  lottery  towards  rebuilding  have  been  presented,  is  hereby  repealed, 
the  court  house  and  jails  in  the  county  And  that  as  to  all  such  person  or 
of  Ulster,  as  follows:  "Whereas,  the  persons  against  whom  presentment 
court  bouse  and  jails  in  the  county  of  or  presentments,  indictment  or  in- 
Ulsterweie  destroyed  by  the  enemy  on  dictments  have  been  preferred,  for  which 
the  sixteenth  day  of  October  last;  to  the  offenses  judgment  remains  to  be  ren- 
end,  therefore,  that  the  inhabitants  of  dered,  such  court  to  which  such  indiet- 
the  said  county  may  be  assisted  with  ment  or  presentment  was  preferred, 
moneys  towards  rebuilding  the  same,  shall  and  may  at  a  future  session  of  such 
be  it  enacted,"  etc.  "That  the  judges  of  court  discharge  the  offender  or  oflend- 
the  inferior  court  of  common  pleas  and  ers  en  his,  her  or  their  paying  the  cost  of 
the  supervisors  of  the  county  of  Ulster  prosecution  respectively ;  and  for  neglect 
may,  by  way  of  lottery,  raise  a  sum  not  of  payment  of  the  cost  of  prosecution, 
ex  -eeding  t'2,000,  to  be  applied  towards  that  such  court  before  whom  such  of- 
rebuilding  the  court  house   and  jails  of   fender  is  indicted,  do   commit  such  of- 

71 


fenders  respectively  to  the  common  jail 
of  the  county  until  they  shall  respect- 
ively have  paid  the  costs  of  the  prosecu- 


ture  that  the  buildings  appropriated  fot 
the  reception  of  the  poor  and  indigent 
inhabitants  of  ihe  said  city  are  so  de- 


tion;  and   that  all  former  laws  of   this   cayed  that  it  will  be  difficult,  if  not  im 


state  respecting    lotteries    be,  and    the 
same  are   hereby   repealed."    Surae  big 


possible,  to  accominodate.  with  any  de- 
gree   of  comfort,    those   persons    whose 


tish  must  have  been  caught  in  the  net  of    unfortunate   lot   it   may  be  to  b.^  placed 
the   law   to   induce   this  enactment.     It   therein  during  the  ensuing  winter;  and 


may  be  noticed  as  a  matter  of  some  sig 
nihcance,  that  the  penalties  and  forfeit- 


that  they  have.   With  the   moneys  raised 
by  tax  ot)  the  said   city,  provided  a  con- 


ures  remitted  were  those   incurred  after   siderable  quantity  of  materials  for  the 


the  DtclaratioQ  of  Independence,  and 
during  the  active  pendency  of  the  war 
of  the  revolution. 

By  chapter  8  of  the  laws  of  1790  au- 
thority was  given,  with  a  preamble,  to 
the  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of 
the  city  of  New  York,  to  raise  by  lottery 
the  sum  of  £13,000  for  the  purpose 
therein  meniioned,  as  follows:  "Where- 
as, the  mayor,   aldermen  and  common- 


purpose  of  erecting  a  new  building,  but 
by  reason  of  the  expensive  and  necessary 
annual  improvements  in  the  said  city 
since  the  late  war,  which  have  been 
borne  by  the  inhabitants  th'>reof  with 
great  cheerfulntss,  it  would  be  too  great 
a  burden  on  them  to  raise  the  monies 
which  will  be  required  for  the  erection 
of  this  necessary  building  by  an  imme- 
diate  tax,    and   have,  therefore,  prayed 


alty  of   the  city  of  New  York,   by  their  that  a  law   may  be  passed   lo  authorize 

petition  presented  to  the  legis'ature,  that  theji    to    raise    a    sum    not    exceeding 

from  a  desiie  to  accommodate  the  con-  £10,000  by  lottery. 

gress  of   the   United  States  in  the  most       And,  whereas,  the  said  city,  from  its 

convenient  and  satisfactory  manner  they  situation,  is  necessarily  the  recepticle  of 

have  not  only  expended  in  repairing  and  a  greater  proportion  of  paupers  than  any 

improving  the  city  ball  such  money  as  other  city  or  county  within   this  state, 

has   been  heretofots  laised  for  this  pur-  and  the  erection  of  such   a  building   in 

pose,  but  are   also  indebted  in  the  far-  the  said  city  would   be  highly  beneficial 

ther  sum  of  £13,000  on   this  account,  a  to  the  same,  and  it   is  but  just  and  rea- 

sum  far  beyond  their  power  to  discharge  sonable,  that,  considering  the  great  bur- 

without  legislative  aid,  and  have  prayed  dens  heretofore  borne  by  the  said  inhab- 

that  a  law  mi^ht  Le  passed  to  authorize  Hants  for  the  improvement  of  the  said 

the  raising  of  the  said  money  by  one  or  city,  that  relief  should  be  offered  to  the 

more  lotteries.     And  whereas,  the  resi-  said    city   in    the    manner  prayed    for. 

dence  of  the  congress  in  this  city  is  not  Therefore,    belt  enacted,  etc.,  "That  lb 

only  beneficial  to  the  said  city  but  to  the  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  the  mayor, 

inhabitants  of  this  state  at  large.  There-  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  city  of 


fore  be  it  enacted,  etc.,  "That  it  shall 
and  may  be  lawful  for  the  mayor  alder- 
men and  commonalty  of  the  city  of 
New  York  to  raise  a  sum  not  exceeding 
£13,000  by  one  or  more  lotteries  to  be 
made  for  this  purpose,  and  to  apply. the 


New  York  to  raise  a  sum  not  exceeding 
£10,000  by  a  lottery  to  be  drawn  for  that 
purpose,  and  to  apply  the  proceeds 
thereof  to  the  discharge  of  the  expenses 
to  arise  for  the  erection  of  the  said  build- 
ing."   Thus  a  form  of  gambling    which 


proceeds  thereof  to  the  discharge  of  the   made  paupers  was  aulhori2.ed  for  their 
aforesaid  debt  by  them  incurred  in  re-    relief. 


pairing  and  improving  the  aforesaid  city 
hall  for  the  purposes  aforesaid." 

Chapter  51   of  the  laws  of  1795  is  an 
act  with  a  preamble  as  follows:  "Where- 


Chapter  60  of  the  laws  of  1797  is  an 
act  with  a  preamble  for  opening  and  im- 
proving certain  great  roads  within  this 
state,  and  is  as  follows:  "Whereas,  it  is 
as,  the  mayor,  aldermen  and  common-  highly  necessary  that  direct  communi- 
alty  of  the  city  of  New  York,  by  their  cations  be  opened  and  improved  between 
petition,  have  represented  to  the  legisla-   the  western,  northern  and  southern  parts 

72 


of  this  state.  Therefore,  be  it  enacteii," 
etc.: 

"That,  for  the  purpose  of  opening  and 
improving  the  said  coaimunications,  tho 
m  inagers  hereinafter  named  sha'l  cause 
to  be  raised  by  three  successive  lotteries 
of  equal  value  the  sum  of  $45,000.  That 
out  of  the  net  proceeds  of  the  first  lot- 
tery the  sum  of  fll,~00,  and  out  of  the 
net  proceeds  of  the  third  lottery  the  fur- 
ther sum  of  |2,200  shall  be  and  hereby 
is  appropriated  for  opening  and  improv- 
ing the  road  commonly  called  the  Great 
Genesee  road,  in  all  its  extent  from  Old 
Fort  Schuyler,  in  the  county  of  Herki- 
mer, to  Geneva,  in  the  county  of  Ou- 
tario." 

'•That  out  of  the  net  proceeds  of  the 
second  lottery  the  sum  of  $11,675  shall 
be  and  hereby  is  appropriated  for  im- 
proving the  great  road  leading  from  the 
city  of  Albany  to  the  bridge  erected 
over  the  Mohawk  river  below  the  Cohoes 
falls,  thence  to  Waterford;  and  also  to 
improve  the  road  leading  from  the  ferry 
at  Troy  to  Lansingburgh,  and  thence  by 
such  road  through  the  counties  of  Rens- 
selaer and  Washington,"  etc.  That  the 
sum  of  $3,000,  part  of  the  net  proceeds 
of  the  said  second  lottery,  shall  be  and 
hereby  is  appropriated  for  opening  and 
improving  a  road  from  Cooperstown,  in 
the  county  of  Otsego,  or  from  the  town 
of  Cherry  Valley,  as  the  commissioner 
or  commissioners  in  his  or  their  discre- 
tion, shall  deem  most  beneficial  to  the 
community  at  large,  and  from  either  to 
intersect  the  Great  Genesee  road  as  near 
as  conveniently  may  be  to  the  outlet  of 
Skeneateles  Lake."  "That  out  of  the 
net  proceeds  of  the  said  third  lottery  the 
further  sum  of  $6,510  shall  be  and  hereby 
is  appropriated  for  improving  the  great 
road  leading  from  Catskill  Landing,  in 
the  county  of  Albany,  to  Catherines- 
town,  in  the  county  of  Tioga."  "That 
out  of  the  net  proceeds  of  the  said  first 
lottery  the  managers  thereof  shall  pay 
to  the  superintendent  of  highways  for 
the  county  of  Herkimer  the  sum  of  $500, 
to  be  by  them  laid  out  in  improving  the 
road  from  Fort  Stanwix  to  the  bridge 
erected  over  Fish  Creek"  and  to  other 
places;  and  out  of  the  net  proceeds  of 


the  third  lottery  the  managers  thereof 
were  to  pay  to  three  persons  named  the 
sum  of  $490  to  reimburse  them  for 
money  expended  in  erecting  a  bridge 
over  the  Catskill,  and  to  certain  persons 
of  the  town  of  Cambridge  the  sum  of 
$325.  to  reimburse  them  for  that  sum  ex- 
pended in  erecting  a  bridge  over  Hosack 
river;  and  out  of  the  net  proceeds  of  the 
first  lottery  the  managers  thereof  were 
to  pay  John  Post,  Nathan  Smith  and 
Isaac  Brayton,  of  the  county  of  Herki- 
mer, the  sum  of  $400  to  reimburse  them 
for  that  sum  by  them  expended  in  erect- 
ing a  bridge  over  the  Mohawk  river  at 
Old  Fort  Schuyler;  and  to  pay  to  Mi- 
chael Myer,  Gaylord  Griswold,  John 
Frank  and  Michael  Ectigh,  of  the  county 
of  Herkimer  the  sum  of  $400  to  reim- 
Durse  them  for  that  sum  expended  by 
theni  in  erecting  a  bridge  over  the  Mo- 
hawk river  at  German  Flatts;  and  to 
pay  three  persons  named  the  sum  of 
$3,000  wherewith  to  coiiiplete  the  bridge 
already  began  to  be  erected  over  Scho- 
harie creek, near  Fort  Hunter.  Certain 
land  damages  for  laying  out  highways 
in  Westchester  county  were  required 
to  be  paid  out  of  the  proceeds  of  the 
third  lottery  and  one  moiety  of  the  resi- 
due of  the  proceeds  of  the  third  lottery 
and  the  residue  of  the  proceeds  of  the 
first  and  second  lotteries  were  to  be  paid 
to  the  superintendents  of  highways  for 
the  county  of  Westchester  to  be  laid  out 
in  improvements  on  the  post  road  lead- 
ing from  Croton  ferry  to  the  county  of 
Dutchess;  and  the  other  moiety  of  such 
residue  to  the  superintendent  of  high- 
ways in  the  county  of  Orange  to  be  laid 
out  on  the  places  named  in  that  county. 
John  Taylor,  Leonard  Gansevoort  and 
Daniel  Hale  were  appointed  manaorers 
for  drawing,  managing  and  superintend- 
ing the  lotteries  which  were  required  to 
be  drawn  in  the  city  of  Albany.  This 
act  seems  to  have  been  what  is  called  a 
log-rolling  measure  and  many  interests 
were  brought  to  its  support.  In  the  dis- 
position of  the  lottery  money  this  county 
was  not  overlooked  anti  its  members, 
among  whom  was  Gaylord  Griswold, 
must  have  assisted  in  the  log-rolling. 
Chapter  26  of  the  laws  of  1798  is  an 

73 


act  supplementary  to  the  last  named  act 
and  three  persons  named  therein  ;:vere 
appointed  additional  managers  for 
drawing,  manaiing  and  suparin- 
tending  the  lotteries  and  a  pro- 
vision was  made  therein  for  the  sale 
of  lottery  tickets  on  credit  to  any  p3r- 
8on  who  might  offer  to  purchase  the 
number  of  twenty-five  tickets  or  more, 
the  managers  taking  such  security  as 
they  should  judge  comp  tent  for  the 
payment  of  the  money  for  which  such 
tickets  should  be  sold.  The  legislature 
when  they  passed  this  act  were  in  a  be- 
nevolent mood  and  thus  provided  a  way 
for  the  purchase  of  lottery  tickets  by 
persons  who  had  no  money,  but  had 
creiiit. 

Having  provided  liberally  for  the  im- 
provement of  land  communications,  the 
law  makers  did  not  omit  to  allow  some 
gambling  for  the  improvement  of  water 
communications  and  hence  they  passed 
the  act,  chapter  25,  of  the  laws  of  1800 
making  provision  for  improving  the  nav- 
igation of  the  Hudson  river  between  the 
city  of  Albany  and  the  village  of  Water- 
ford  by  authorizing  the  raising  by  lot- 
tery of  $13,000  to  be  expended  for  that 
purpose;  and  in  the  same  act  commis- 
ioners  were  appointed  to  improve  the 
navigation  of  the  Hu  ison  river  between 
Troy  and  Albany  and  were  authorized 
to  raise  |15,000  by  a  lottery  drawn  for 
that  purpose.  And  by  the  act  chapter 
157  laws  of  1801  an  additional  sum  of 
^10,000  was  authorized  to  be  raised  by 
lottery  to  improve  the  navigation  of  the 
Hudson  river  between  the  villages  of 
Lausinburgb  and  Troy. 

Having  thus  provided  for  travel  and 
transportation  by  land  and  water,  the 
cause  of  education  and  literature  was  not 
neglected  and  hence  was  passed  the  act, 
chapter  126  of  the  laws  of  1801  for  the 
encouragement  of  literature;  and  it  was 
provided  therein  that  for  the  promotion 
of  literature  within  this  state,  there 
should  be  raised  by  four  successive  lot- 
teries the  sum  of  one  hundred  thousind 
dollars,  that  i?,  the  sum  of  twenty -five 
thousand  dollars  by  each  lottery;  $12,500 
of  the  proceeds  of  the  lotteries  were  to 
be  paid  to  the  regents  of  the  University 

74 


of  the  State  'of  New  York  for  the  pur- 
pose of  being  by  them  distributed  among 
such  and  so  many  of  the  academies  as 
then  were  or  might  thereafter  be  erected 
in  this  state  in  such  proportions  and^to 
be  appropriated  in  such  manner  as  they 
should  judge  most  beneficial  for  the 
several  academies  and  mostadvantagous 
to  literature,  and  the  residue  into  the 
treasury  of  the  state  to  be  applied  in  such 
manner  for  the  encouragement  of  com- 
mon schools  as  the  legislature  might 
from  time  to  time  direct. 

The  Hudson  river  wat*  quite  insatiable 
in  demands  for  money  to  improve  its 
navigation,  and  as  it  was  so  easy  to  raise 
money  from  the  deluded  victims  of  the 
lo'tery  mania,  a  combination  of  various 
interests  in  the  legislature  secured  the 
passage  of  the  act  chapter  48  of  the  laws 
of  1802.  by  which  further  sums  were 
authorized  to  be  raised  by  lotteries  to 
improve  fche  navigation  of  the  river  be- 
tween Troy  and  Lansingburgh,  between 
Lansingburgh  and  Waterford  and  from 
Albany  to    Nicol's  creek  in  Bethlehem. 

Having  done  something  for  the  Hudson 
river  in  the  supposed  interest  of  com- 
merce, the  law  makers  became  charit- 
able and  concluded  to  allow  some  gambl- 
ing for  the  benefit  of  the  poor;  and  hence 
in  the  same  act  they  authorized  the  city 
of  New  York  to  raise  by  lottery  not  ex- 
ceeding $15, 000  for  the  use  and  benefit  of 
the  society  for  the  relief  of  poor  widows 
with  small  children;  and  then  that  the 
whales  and  cod-fish  might  not  be  ne- 
glected, the  managers  of  the  lottery  were 
required  to  appropriate  $-5,000  for  the 
improvement  of  the  port  of  Sag  Harbor 
for  the  encouragement  of  the  whale  and 
cod  fisheries;  and  that  the  Dutchmen  of 
Schoharie  might  not  be  obliged  to  wade 
over  the  Sciioharie  river,  $600  out  of  the 
proceeds  of  the  lotteries  were  appropri- 
ated for  a  bridge  over  that  river. 

The  time  had'  now  come  when  the 
nascent  Empire  State  needed  a  Capitol 
and  no  more  ready  way  occurred  to  the 
law  m  ikers  than  a  lottery  for  that  pur- 
pose; and  hence  by  the  act  chapter  67  of 
the  laws  of  1804,  entitled:  "An  act  mak- 
ing provision  for  improving  the  Hudson 
river  below   the  city  of  Albany,  and  for 


other  purposes,"  $12,000  was  authorized 
to  be  raised  by  lottery  for  the  building 
of  the  capitol  at  Albany.  Having  at- 
tended to  the  capitol  of  the  state,  the 
next  year  the  law  makers  took  a  bijjher 
flight,  and  by  the  act  chapter  176  of  the 
laws  of  1805  authorized  lotteries  to  raise 
$15,000  for  Union  College  and  $25,000 
for  the  board  of  health  of  the  city  of 
New  York,  lo  erect  a  building  in  that 
city  "for  the  accommodation  of  persons 
sick  with  malignant  disease." 

Prior  to  1807  a  business  had  grown  up 
in  this  state  of  insuring  lottery  tickt^ts. 
A  person  would  buy  a  chance  in  a  lottery 
and  then,  if  he  had  any  money  left, 
would  pay  a  further  sum  of  money  to  in- 
sure that  chance;  and  as  the  money  thus 
paid  went  into  the  pockets  of  private  in- 
dividuals, an  act  was  passed,  chapter  181 
of  the  laws  of  1807,  prohibiting  the  in- 
surance of  lottery  tickets, 

Down  to  this  time  the  legislature  in  its 
disptnsation  ef  favors  through  lotteries, 
had  overlooked    the   medical  profession, 
and  hence  the  act  chapter  50  of  the  laws 
of  1810,  entitled:  "An  act  for  promoting 
medical  science   in    the   S  ate   of    New 
York,"  a  lottery   was  authorized  to  be 
drawn  for  the  purpose  of  raising  money 
to  purchase  on  beiialf  of  the  people  of  the 
state  the  botanical  garden  near  the  city 
1  of  New  York   belonging   to  Dr.    David 
j  Hosack  at  a  placd    then   called    Elgin. 
I  The  garden    was   to   be   under  the  man- 
i  agement  of  the  Regents  of  the  University 
i  for  the  medical  schools  of  the  state. 
In   1810   there   was   more   call  for  the 
provement  of  the  Hudson  river;  and  as 
the  people  who  desired  the  improvement 
lived  near  the  capitol,  they  had  easy  ac- 
cess to  the  members  of  the  legislature  and 
could  not  be  resisted;  and  hence  the  act, 
I  Chapter  133  of  that  year,  entitled:  "An 
act  making    provision   for   the  improve- 
ment of  the   Hudson  river  between  the 
I  villages  of  Troy,  Lansingburgand  Water- 
ford  and  for  other  purposes"  was  passed 
by  which   the  managers   named  in  the 
I  last  preceding  act  were  required  to  raise 
i  an  additional  sum;of  $30,000  for  the  im- 
provement of  the  Hudson  river  between 
'  the  places  mentioned. 

The  money  was  raised  and  paid  for  the 


garden  and  it  was  conveyed  to  the  state. 
Subsequently  in  1814  by  ;iuthorityof  law 
the  garden  was  conveyed  to  Columbia 
College  on  condition  that  the  college  es- 
tablishment should  be  moved  upon  the 
land. 

In  the  act  last  named  the  members 
from  Herkimer  county  in  the  legislature 
found  their  opportunity,  and  they  ob- 
tained out  of  the  proceeds  of  the  same 
lotterj'  an  appropriation  of  $5,000  for  the 
Fairfield  Academy  to  be  used  by  its  trus- 
tees for  the  support  of  the  Chemical  and 
Anatomical  school  under  their  superin- 
tendence. 

In  spite  of  the  laws  condemning  pri- 
vate lotteries,  they  still  contmued  to  be 
operated  to  some  extent  in  this  state;  and 
hence  in  1813  by  the  act,  chapter  10  of 
that  year,  laws  in  reference  to  private 
lotteries  and  the  insurance  of  lottery 
tickets  were  revised,  and  such  lotteries 
were  again  declared  to  be  "common  and 
public  nuisances."  The  preamble  of  the 
act  showing  the  public  sentiment  of  that 
day  was  as  follows:  "Whereas  exper- 
ience has  proved  that  private  lotteries 
occasion  idleness  and  dissipation  and 
have  been  productive  of  frauds  and  im- 
positions " 

Now  by  a  combination  of  colleges,  a 
very  comprehensive  lottery  scheme  was 
pressed  upon  the  legislature,  and  it  re- 
sulted in  the  act.  Chapter  120  of  the 
laws  of  1814.  Notwithstanding  the  well 
known  demoralizing  effects  of  lottery 
gambling,  the  following  high  sounding 
preamble  was  attached  to  the  act: 
"Whereas  well  regulated  seminaries  of 
learning  are  of  immense  importance  to 
every  country  and  lead  specially,  by  the 
diffusion  of  science  and  the  promotion  of 
morals,  to  defend  and  perpetuate  the 
liberties  of  a  free  state;"  and  then  hav- 
ing put  on  record  these  pious  sentiments, 
the  law  makers  authorized  lotteries  for 
raising  $220,000  for  Union  Colloge,  |40  - 
000  for  Hamilton  College,  $30,000  .for 
the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons 
of  the  city  of  New  York,  $13,000  for  the 
Historical  society  and  $4,000  for  the 
African  Asbnry  church  of  the  city  of 
New  York.  These  were,  so  far  as  I  can 
learn,  the  last  lotteries  authorized  in  this 


75 


state  except  the  act,  Chapter  232  of  the 
laws  of  1820  which  authorized  the  city  of 
Albany  to  dispose  of  its  pubhc  lands  by 
lotteries.  It  is  said  of  that  act  that  no 
bill  before  the  legislature  of  1814  excited 
greater  interest  and  attention,  and  that 
the  credit  for  its  passage  was  due  to  the 
unwearied  exertions  of  Dr.  Nott  the  able 
and  eloquent  president  of  the  college. 
By  the  act  of  1817  for  the  construction 
of  the  Erie  and  Champlam  canals,  there 
was  appropriated  and  pledged  to  the  ca" 
nal  f und  "the  proceeds  of  all  lotteries 
which  shall  be  drawn  in  this  state  after 
the  sums  now  granted  upon  them  shall 
be  paid." 

Tlie  public  conscience  began  now  to 
wake  up  to  the  lottery  evil;  and  the  agi" 
tation  against  it  began  to  grow  and 
spread  throughout  the  state.  Governor 
DeWitt  Clinton,  in  one  of  his  messages 
called  attention  to  it,  saying  that  the 
raising  of  money  by  lotteries  was  "du- 
bious in  the  eye  of  morality  and  certain 
in  the  most  pernicious  results."  Public 
opinion  became  so  pronounced  that  by 
Section  11  of  Article  7  of  the  Constitu- 
tion of  1821,  it  was  provided  as  follows: 
"No  lottery  shall  hereafter  be  authorized 
in  this  state;  and  the  legislature  shal- 
pass  laws  to  prevent,  the  sale  of  all  lot 
tery  tickets  within  this  state  except  any 
lotteries  already  provided  by  law." 

After  1821  of  course  no  new  lotteries 
were  authorized;  but  under  what  seems  to 
me  to  have  been  a  mistaken  view  of  consti- 
tutional law,  the  lotteries  already  author" 
ized  were  permitted  to  run  their  course  on 
the  ground  that  the  laws  grantmg  them 
gave  vested  rights  which  could  not  be  des- 
troyed. It  was  under  this  mistaken  view 
that  several  acts  were  passed  after  1821 
regulating  lotteries.  Among  such  acts  was 
chapter  92  of  the  laws  of  1823  entitled 
"An  act  to  authorize  and  provide  for  the 
erection  of  a  fever  hospital  in  the  city  of 
New  York"  which  with  its  preamble  was 
as  follows:  •'  vVhereas  the  erection  of  a 
building  near  the  city  of  New  York,  for 
the  reception  of  persons  who  may  during 
the  prevalence  of  yellow  fever,  be  taken 
ill  with  that  disease,  isan  object  of  much 
importance,  and  in  which  the  whole 
state  is  interested;  and  whereas    a    sum 


of  money  is,  by  the  existing  laws  au 
thorized  to  be  raised,  after  the  comple- 
tioQ  of  the  lottery  grants,  to  different 
literary  institutions  which  it  is  computed 
will  take  about  eleven  and  a  half  yea/s; 
and  it  is  represented  that  the  corporation 
of  said  city,  will  advance  the  money 
requisite  to  build  said  buildings:  and 
will  purchase,  from  the  state,  the  privi- 
lage  of  raising  the  sum  by  lottery  in  the 
expectation  that  they  may,  by  prudent 
and  correct  management  thereof,  be  en- 
abled to  save  out  of  the  avails  of  said 
lottery  a  portion  at  least  of  the  monies 
they  shall  expend  in  the  erection  of  the 
building  aforesaid,  after  refunding  to 
them  the  consideration  they  shall  pay 
into  the  treasury  for  t-aid  lotteries.  There- 
fore be  it  enacted  etc:  "That  it  shall  and 
may  be  lawful  for  the  corporation  of  the 
city  of  New  York  to  raise  by  lottery  un- 
der their  superintendence  and  diraction, 
as  hereinafter  named,  such  money  as  is 
now  authorized  by  the  existing  laws  of 
this  state  to  be  raised  by  lottery  for  the 
purpose  of  making  up  the  losses  which 
have  been  sustained  in  former  lotteries 
and  that  the  said  corporation  shall  have 
power  to  sell  and  dispose  of  said  lotter- 
ies in  any  manner  they  maj^  deem  prop- 
er" and  the  city  was  required  to  pay 
into  the  treasury  of  the  state  the  sum 
of  forty  thousand  dollars  in  two  equal 
installments  for  the  grant  of  these  lot- 
tery privdeges. 

Prior  to  1829  Union'CoUege  had  bought 
up  nearly  all  the  lotteries  authorized  by 
the  act  of  1814  for  colleges  and  other 
purposes;  and  it  was  probably  the  last  in- 
stitution in  the  state  interested  in  lotter- 
ies, as  It  had  been  the  largest  beneficiary 
of  them.  Soon  after  that  year  the  pub- 
lic sentiment  became  imparative  that  all 
lotteries  in  this  state  should  cease,  and 
so  by  the  act  chapter  306  of  the  laws  of 
1833.  it  was  provided  that  "all  lotteries 
authorized  by  law  within  this  state  may 
be  continued  until  the  close  of  the  pres- 
ent year,  after  the  end  of  which  period 
it  shall  not  be  lawful  to  continue  or 
draw  any  lottery  within  this  state;  but 
all  and  every  lottery  granted  or  author- 
ized within  this  state  shall  absolutely 
cease    and    determine"      Thus     lottery 


76 


gambling  within  this  state,  so  far  as  the 
law  could  supress  it  came  to  an  end. 

The  influence  of  lotteries  during  all 
the  years  of  their  existence  was  most  dis- 
asterous.  It  was  nearly  as  bad  as  that 
of  the  dram  shops  and  tippling  houses. 
The  passing  years  were  strewn  with  the 
wrecks  of  many  lives.  They  fostered 
idleness  and  dissipation.  They  deprived 
laborers  of  the  earnings  they  needed  for 
their  families  and  led  to  penury  and 
pauperism;  and  our  wonder  now  is  that 
they  were  tolerated  so  long.  A  lucky 
ticket  did  not  usually  benefit  the  buyer  as 
was  illustrated  in  this  town.  Sometime 
between  the  year  1830  and  1830  a  man 
who  went  by  the  name  of  Major  Barker, 
a  barber  living  here,  drew  a  prize  of 
ten  thousand  dollars  or  more  and  it 
ruined  him.  He  at  once  commenced  to 
celebrate  his  good   luck.     He  hired  a  six 


horse  team  and  had  the  horses  hitched 
to  a  sleigh,  on  the  4th  day  of  July  and 
was  drawn  to  Utica.  He  entered  upon 
a  prolonged  debauch  and  ended  a  pauper 
finally  dying  in  the  poor-house.  Another 
man,  William  Tabor  drew  fifteen  hun- 
dred dollars  and  ever  after  led  a  vaga- 
bond life  and  died  poor. 

I  will  now  bring  this  paper  to  a  close, 
simply  saying-  that  we  may  congratulate 
ourselves  that  we  live  in  times  when  all 
kinds  of  gambling  are  less  rife  than  they 
were  in  the  early  years  of  this  century, 
when  the  wages  of  labor,  instead  of  be- 
ing expended  at  lottery  offices,  are  to  so 
large  an  extent  placed  in  saving  banks 
and  in  life  insurance,  and  when  private 
benevolence  and  general  taxation  fur- 
nish the  funds  needed  for  seminaries  of 
learning  and  other  philanthropic  works. 


77 


BUILDINGS  IN  HERKIMER  SEVENTY  YEARS  AGO. 

AN   ADDRESS   BY   COL.    JAMES   A.    SUITER,   OF  HERKIMER, 

Delivered  l)efore  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Societ}',  November  lo,  1896. 


I  was  born  in  the  village  of  Herkimer 
in  the  yellow  house  whicli  stood  on  the 
lot  now  occupied  by  A.  B.  Klock,  near 
the  bridge  over  the  hydraulic  canal  on 
German  street,  on  the  29th  day  of  April 
1816.  Herkimer  has  been  my  home  since 
that  time.  I  have  been  absent  from  the 
village  less  than  four  years  including  the 
time  when  I  was  in  the  United  States 
service  during  the  Civil  war.  I  am  the 
only  male  inhabitant  of  the  village  of 
Herkimer  who  was  born  here  ovtr  eighty 
years  ago.  There  are  now  but  two  in- 
habitants of  the  village  who  were  born 
here  prior  to  1816,  namely;  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Gray,  the  widow  of  Gen.  Charles 
Gray,  who  is  in  her  ninety-first  year, 
and  Mrs.  Nancy  Gray,  widow  oF  Alexan- 
der M.  Gray,  who  is  in  her  eighty-second 
year. 

I  believe  that  the  following  list  of 
buildings  in  the  village  seventj"  years  ago 
is  substantially  correct.  In  most  cases  I 
have  also  made  mention  of  the  buildings 
of  seventy  years  ago  which  are  now 
standing.  In  many  cases  they  have  been 
enlarged  and  repaired. 

BUILDINGS  ON  THE  NORTH   SIDE    OF 
GERMAN  STREET. 

Commencing  at  the  west  line  of  the 
corporation  the  first  house  was  that  of 
Frederick  Doxtader,  which  is  now  owned 
and  occupied  by  Lewis  Mead;  next  was 
the  farmhouse  of  Christopher  Bellinger, 


the  grand-father  of  Jacob  G.  Bellinger^ 
which  is  now  occupied  by  George  W. 
Pine.  Next  was  the  store  and  tavern  of 
Jacob  Weaver,  the  Indian  trader,  com- 
monly called,  "King  Weaver.'  This  is 
the  building  which  was  destroyed  by  fire 
about  two  years  ago.  Next  was  the  tan- 
nery where  Horrock's  desk  factory  now 
stands.  Next  was  the  farm-house  of 
John  and  Richard  Syllaboch,  which 
stood  where  William  Horrock's  now 
lives.  Next  was  a  school  house  which 
stood  near  the  white  house  now  occupied 
by  Mrs.  Strouse  and  back  of  that  and 
near  the  little  creek  (called  Helmer's 
creek)  but  on  the  opposite  side,  was  a 
house  occupied  by  John  Adam  Hartman, 
and  a  short  distance  up  Helmer  creek 
was  a  grist  mill;  near  the  hill  and  back 
of  the  house  now  occupied  by  Fred  Bel- 
linger,, was  the  farm-house  of  Peter  Bow- 
man. This  house  was  moved  to  the  site 
of  the  house  where  William  Horrock's 
now  lives  and  was  destroyed  by  tire  and 
then  the  present  brick  house  was  built. 
Where  Fred  Bellinger  now  lives  was  a 
house  occupied  by  Mrs.  Hamlin;  on  the 
flat  land  in  the  Bellinger  pasture  was 
the  house  of  Frederick  Myers.  Next  j 
was  the  house  of  Maj.  Gen.  Michael 
Myers,  where  C.  L.  Avery  now  lives  and 
which  is  owned  by  Peter  F.  Bellinger. 
Next  was  the  house  of  Dr.  William  Petrie, 
grand  father  of  Samuel  and  Robert  Earl, 


78 


DOW     occupied    by    Robert    Earl     2nd,    was  the  tannery  dwelling  house  which  ig 


Al^out  where  George  F.  Miller  and  A.  O. 
McMath  now  live  wa-i  the  old  store  of 
King  Weaver.  This  store  was  moved  to 
the  south  side  of  German  street  and  now 
is  the  double  house  owned  by  Louis  Turn- 
ier.  At  the  head  of  Main  street  was  the 
house  of  Jacob  P.  Weaver,  now  owned 
by  Mis.  Dr.  Pryne.  A  short  distance 
east  of  tiie  Jacob  P.  Weaver  house  was 


near  the  cheese  factory  and  now  occu- 
pied as  a  dairy  house.  Next  was  the 
house  of  Frederick  and  William  Helmer, 
which  was  an  old  wooden  and  mud  house; 
this  house  was  moved  back  and  the  pres- 
ent bricK  house  was  built.  The  bricks  to 
build  this  house  were  obtained  on  the 
farm  on  the  north  side  of  the  turnpike. 
Where  Jacob  G.  Bellinger   lives  was  the 


the  Talcott  tavern;  this  building  was  house  of  Henry  Helmer;  this  house  was 
moved  by  Charles  Spinner  and  is  now  the  moved  to  the  east  side  of  Main  street  and 
south  part  of  the  Mansion  house  on  Main    is  the  double  house  next  to  Alonzo  Rust's. 


street.  Across  the  hydraulic  canal  was 
the  house  of  my  father,  John  Suiter, 
wheie  I  was  born;  this  building  was  a 
hotel  until  the  great  wes  ern  turnnike 
was  built,  and  as  that  road  was  laid  out 
down  Main  street,  the  hotel  lost  its  cus- 
tom and  the  Talcott  tavern  abov©  men- 
tioned was  built.  On  the  corner  of  Dorf 
lane  and   German  street   was  a  tobacco 


Next  was  the  house  of  Frederick  P.  Bell- 
inger which  is  now  occupied  by  Henry 
H.  Bellinger  and  his  sisters.  At  the  cor- 
ner of  Washington  and  German  streets 
was  a  tenant  house  owned  by  Jacob 
P.  Weaver;  this  house  was  occupied  by 
poor  people;  in  those  days  the  three  poor- 
masters  of  tbe  town  sold  the  labor  of  the 
paupers  to  the  person  who  would  take 


factory  owned  by  John  Suiter.  East  of  them  for  the  least  sum  and  support  them 
the  machine  shop  of  A.  B.  Klock  was  and  Mr.  Weaver  was  ofi en  a  purchaser, 
the  house  of  George  F.  Hilts;  next  was  Next  was  the  house  of  Melchert  Folts 
the  house  of  Con.  O'Rorke.  Next  a  about  where  Miss  Kate  Folts  now  lives. 
house  owned  by  Peter  Weaver,  brother  Nearly  opposite  the  dairy  house  of  Will- 
of  Jacob  P.  Weaver,  which  was  where  iam  Smith  was  the  dwelling  house  and 
the  tenant  house  lately  owned  by  Will-  factory  of  Levi  Morehouse.  Nearly  op- 
iam  Smith  now  stands.  Next  was  the  posite  the  places  now  occupied  by  Perry 
homestead  of  John,  Nicholas  and  George   G.  Wires  and  Jacob  H.  Harter  was  a  saw 


Smith,  which  was  the  house  where  Will 
iam  Smith  Jived  and  died.  Next  was 
the  house  of  Mathew  Smith  which  stood 
where  W.  C.  Prescott  recently  lived. 
Next   the  house  of  Nicholas  F.  Smith, 


mill  and  cloth  factory  of  Mr.  Bisby. 

EAST  SIDE  OF  WASHINGTON  STREET^ 

The  next  house  below  the  tenant  house 
of  Jacob  P.  Weaver  oo  the  corner  of 
Washngton  and  German  streets  was  the 


Next  a  house  occupied  by  Timothj-  Smith,  house  of  Mr.  Daniel  Chapman,  a  lawyer, 
Paul  Custer  and  others  near  Lake  street;  which  house  I  now  own  and  occupy.  Next 
next  a  house  of  Peter  Weaver  also  near  was  the  house  of  Joel  Tubbs  which  is 
Lake  street.  Next  the  house  of  Mr.  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Lints.  Next, 
Bisby  which  is  the  one  on  the  place  now  where  L.  J.  Folts  now  lives  was  the 
owned  by  Dr.  Pryne:  next  the  dwelling  school  house;  in  the  rear  of  the  school 
house  and  blacksmith  shop  of  Peter  house  was  an  old  tenement  house.  The 
Myers  on  the  place  now  owned  by  Mrs.  house  where  Glen  P.  Munson  now  lives 
Perry  G.  Wires,  next  the  house  occu-  was  the  residence  of  Lauren  Ford,  a  law- 
pied  by  John  Welter  and  others,  which  yer.  A  potashery  stood  where  Frank  H. 
is  the  old  house  a  short  distance  east  of  Smith  and  Henry  McNeal  now  live,  next 
Mrs.  Wires  place,  and  east  of  this  and  was  the  residence  of  Simeon  Ford,  a  law- 
the  last  house  in  the  corporation  was  the  yer;  the  building  is  cow  owned  by 
residence  of  Frederick  J.  Helmer;  this  Michael  Foley.  Next  was  a  rectifying 
house  is  still  standing  but  has  been  house  about  where  Joseph  Folts  now 
moved  out  of  the  corporation.  lives,  but  back   farther  from   the  street. 

SOUTH  SIDE  OF  GERMAN  STREET.  Next  was  the  house  of  Dr.  Harvey  W. 

Opposite  the  Horrock's  desk    factory    Doolittle  where  W.  B.  Howell  now  lives; 

79 


this  house  was  moved  to  the  west  side  of 
Prospect  street  and  is  the  second  house 
north  of  Judge  1  R.  Devendorf's.  Next 
was  the  residence  of  Mr.  Munger  and  is 
thehoase  next  south  of  Dr.  Shaper's  and 
is  now  owned  by  Elisha  Lyon.  When 
I  was  a  small  boy  there  was  no  house 
south  of  this  one  on  the  north  side  of  the 
turnpike. 

Lots  on  Washington  street  sixty  six 
feet  front  then  sold  for  forty  dollars  a 
lot. 

The  house  where  Stephen  Taylor  now 
lives  was  built  by  Asa  Wood.  Next  was 
the  house  of  Mrs.  Carlisle,  which  stood 
where  W.  P.  Munson  now  lives;  this 
house  was  moved  back  and  is  where 
William  Hartman  now  lives.  Where 
the  store  occupied  by  Treobeth  &  Co. 
now  is,  was  the  residence  of  John  Earl, 
father  of  Robert  and  Samuel  Earl.  The 
re?.r  part  of  the  store  is  a  part  of  the  old 
residence.  Next  was  John  Earl's  black- 
smith shoj) 

WEST  SIDE  OE  WASHINGTON  STREET. 

The  house  belonging  to  the  Myers  es- 
tate stood  on  the  site  of  old  Fort  Dayton, 
back  of  Mrs.  Goldsmith's  place  and  I  be- 
lieve the  house  is  still  standing. 

On  the  corner  of  Washington  and 
Court  street  was  a  house  owned  by  Wal- 
ter Fish:  this  house  was  moved  several 
times  and  is  now  on  the  northeast  corner 
of  Smith  and  Pine  streets. 

Where  M.  Foley  has  recently  built  two 
new  houses  was  a  tenement  house  belong- 
ing to  the  Griswold  estate,  and  where 
Father  Halpin  now  lives,  was  also  a  tene- 
ment house  belonging  to  the  GrisA^oId 
estate. 

The  house  in  which  Mrs.  A.  H.  Pres- 
cott  now  lives  was  a  part  of  the  house  of 
Dr.  Elihu  Griswold.  The  next  building 
was  the  blacksmith  shop  of  Mr.  Avery  at 
the  lower  corner  of  Green  and  Washing- 
ton streets.  Andrew  Bartow  lived  on 
the  lot  now  owned  by  Mr.  Metiger  in  a 
house  which  is  now  a  tenant  house  in 
the  rear  of  the  houses  on  Green  street 
and  is  owned  by  Mrs.  George  Myers. 
Mr.  Horace  Morse  lived  on  a  lot  owned 
by  Adam  Dager  in  a  large  house  which 
was  recently  torn  down.  Where  H.  A. 
Deimel  now  lives   was  the  cabinet  shop 


of  Benjamin  Kelsey  and  in  the  second 
story  of  this  building  was  the  Masonic 
hall.  C.  D.  Lounsberry  lived  in  a  house 
across  the  railroad  on  what  is  now  rail- 
road property;  this  building  was  moved 
to  the  north  side  of  the  turnpike  on  or 
near  Deimel  street. 

EAST  SIDE  OF  MAIN  STREET. 

The  first  house  was  the  Winnie  house 
in  which  Mrs.  Taber  now  lives.  Next 
was  the  store  of  Farwell  &  Woodruflf  on 
the  corner  of  Court  street  where  Dr. 
Suiter's  house  is;  it  was  afterward  used 
as  a  dwelling  house  and  was  moved 
away  when  Dr.  Suiter  built  his  house. 

On  the  farther  corner  of  Court  and 
Main  Streets  was  the  old  jail  and  court 
house,  a  wooden  buildmg  which  was 
burned  in  1834.  The  house  where  J.  A. 
Steele' now  lives  was  built  partly  of  the 
office  of  Gaylord  Griswold. 

The  house  on  this  lot  was  moved  to 
the  east  side  of  Washington  street  and  is 
now  owned  by  C.  A.  Snyder;  next  where 
the  Episcopal  church  now  is,  was  the 
residence  of  Gaylord  Griswold;  it  was 
moved  to  the  west  side  of  Main  street 
and  has  lately  been  remodeled  and  is  now 
occupied  by  H.  P.  Witherstine.  The  ho- 
tel of  Windsor  Maynard  was  on  the  cor- 
ner where  Mrs.  Monroe  lives. 

Next  where  the  furniture  store  occu- 
pied by  John  Campbell  is,  was  a  small 
building  occupied  as  a  mechanic  shop; 
where  the  Fox  block  now  is  was  a  block 
of  wooden  stores  which  were  burned  and 
a  block  of  brick  stores  was  subsequently 
built. 

Where  the  Waverly  hotel  is,  was  the 
Whiting     hotel  which    was   burned  and 
rebuilt.     Where  the  Herkimer  bank  is, 
was    a  jewelery    shop.       The    Stimson 
house  is  a  portion  of  the  hotel  and  resi- 
dence of  Thomas  G.  Barnum,     The  store 
«f  Thomas   G.  Barnum  and   his  cabinetj 
shop  was  on  the  Washburn  place.   Where 
W.  B.  Howell's  store  is,  was  the  dwellingj 
house  of  Jacob  Aid  rich.     Next,  wherej 
the  Metzger  block  is  was   the  store  of  I 
James  Byers,  who  was  the  grandfather 
of  the  Addys  and  Mrs.  J.  Horatio  Huyck,  f 
and  the  jewelry  shop  of  Mr.    Munger.  I 
The  store  of  James   Byers  was  moved  toj 
Smith  street  when  the  Metger  block  waaj 

80 


built  and  is  the  house  vp-hich  was  recent-  house  in  the  rear  occupied  by  Cornelius 
ly  owned  by  Garrison  Smith.  In  the  Conover;  this  dwelling  house  vv as  moved 
rear  of  Byers  store  was  the  printing  office  to  the  north  side  of  Church  street  and  is 
of  the  Herkimer  Aine^'ican  published  by  now  on  the  back  part  of  John  Camp- 
Edward  Seymour.  On  the  other  corner  bell's  lot.  The  north  part  of  the  present 
of  Main  and  Green  streets  was  a  large  Mansion  house  was  the  Smith  hotel, 
building  called  the  town  house  which  The  meat  market  of  I.  G.  Miller  was  the 
was  burned.  Next  was  the  store  and  dwelling  house  of  Mr.  Norris.  Where 
residence  of  James  VanAntwerp,  which  the  Palmer  house  now  is,  was  the  store 
is  the  building  where  Mrs.  Peter  I.  Lep-  of  P.  M.  Hackley  and  where  Dr.  Kay 
per  now  lives.  now  live^  was  a  building  occupied  by 
The  house  in  which  Dr.  Graves  lives  Horace  Morse  as  a  drug  store;  a  port- 
was  a  portion  of  the  hat  and  cap  factory  ion  of  this  building  is  still  standing, 
of  Bloorafield  Usher  Sr.  Next  was  the  Where  C  R.  Snell  livps  was  the  resi- 
dwelling  of  James  Claghorn  and  Benja-  dence  of  Mr.  Gill.  The  house  now 
min  Derby,  which  stood  on  the  site  of  owned  by  D.  M.  Burgess,  was  the  resi- 
the  Graves  brick  building;  the  old  build-  dence  of  Philo  M.  Hackley.  Where 
ing  was  moved  down  the  street  and  is  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Gray  now  lives  was  the 
now  occupied  by  N.  P.  Mount  as  a  liquor  house  of  Mr.  Lapham,  which  was  moved 
store;  where  the  Deimel  &  Schermer  to  Green  street  and  is  now  occupied  by 
block  now  is,  was  the  hotel  of  Joach  n  Dr.  Backus.  On  the  property  given  by 
Van  Valken burg  .The  building  occupied  Juige  Earl  and  wife  to  the  village  for  a 
tjy  Casper  Haller  was  the  harness  shop  library,  was  the  residence  and  shop  of 
of  Alfred  Putman.       Where  the  Nelson  Mark   Batchelder  and   the   residence  of 


house  now  is,  was  the  hotel  of  Asher 
Heacox;  the  rear  part  of  the  Nelson 
hoixse  is  a  part  of  the  old  building, 

On   the  south    side    of    the   turnoike 


Mr.  Blair,  who  was  a  son-in-law  of  Elihu 
Griswold.  The  residence  of  Mr.  Batchel- 
der is  a  part  of  the  Monro©  Building  at 
the  corner  of   Main  and   Mary  streets; 


about  where  the  depot  now  stands  was  the  shop  was  moved  to  Pine  street  and 
the  store  and  dwelling  house  "Of  Ralph  is  owned  by  Harvey  Reese.  The  Blair 
Merry;  this  building  is  now  one  of  the  house  was  moved  to  the  east  side  of 
Putman  dout^le  houses  on  the  east  side  Washington  street  and  is  the  second 
of  Prospect  street.  Below  Ralph  Merry's  house  above  J.  A.  Suiter  Jr.  The  Law- 
place  and  on  what  is  now  railroad   prop-  ton   house  on   the  corner  of   Main   and 


«rty,  were  four  old  dwelling  houses. 

WEST  SIDE  OP  MAIN  STREET. 

First  was  a  tenement  house  on  the 
place  now  owned  by  Judge  Smith.  Next 
TPas  the  residence  of  John  Harter  which 


Liberty  streets,  now  owned  by  Dr.  Kay, 
was  the  residence  of  Dr.  Andrew  Farrell. 
The  building  on  tRe  other  corner  owned 
by  Dr.  Pryne  was  the  house  of  Dr.  Tomb- 
lin  and  the  office   now   owned   bv   Dr. 


is  still  standing,  being  the  house  next  Pryne  is  the  same  office  used  by  Dr. 
north  of  W.  C.  Prescott's.  Next  was  the  Tomblin.  The  house  occupied  by  Mr. 
blacksmith  shop   of  John  Harter  about   Cyrus  Kay  was  the   house  occupied   by 


where  G.  M.  Helmer  now  lives.  Next 
and  about  where  the  Herkimer  County 
Grange  store  now  is,  was  the  harness 
shop  occupied  by  F.  E.  Spinner  and  tin- 
shop  occupied  by  John  Suiter.     On  the 


Edward    P.    Seymour.       The     dwelling 
house  of  Dr.  Abrams,  was    where   War- 
ren Caswell  now  lives.     The  rear  part  of 
the  house  of   Mrs.    Murray  was  the  resi 
dence  of  Alfred   Putman.     There  were 


lot  now  owned   by  A.  B.    Steele  was  the  two  tenement   houses  owned  by  Alfred 

slaughter    house    of    Warren    Caswell,  Putman    about     where    the     Democrat 

father  of  ex-postmaster  Warren  Caswell,  printing  office   and  J.  T.  Colcord's  store 

Next  was  the  Dutch   Reformed   church,  now  are.     The  law  office  of   William  B- 

then    a    woolen     building    which    was  GolT   was  where    Prowse   &  Thomson's 

burned  in  1834      Where  the  jail  now  is  store  now  is,  and   the  residence  of  Mr. 

was  a  cow  bell  factory  and  a  dwelling  Goflf  was  where  the  Arnold  block  now  is: 

SI 


this  house  was  moved  to  tfae  site  of  the 
Universalist  church.  Below  the  rail raod 
on  what  is  now  railroad  property  was  the 
wagon  shop  and  residence  of  Alexander 
McKennan,  grandfather  of  John  A.  Mc- 
Kennan.  The  residence  and  cooper  shop 
of  Boaz  Draper,  grandfather  of  Mathew 
Draper,  was  near  the  K  C,  Munson 
premises. 

EA&T  SIDE  OF  PROSPECT  STREET. 

The  first  building,  on  the  southwest 
corner  of  Prospect  and  Church  streets, 
was  a  distillery  conducted  by  James 
Byers.  Where  the  Misses  Chatfield  now 
live  was  a  tenement  house  owned  by  P. 
M.  Hackiey.  Next  was  the  residence 
and  cooper  shop  of  Samuel  Luke,  just 
south  of  H.  M.  Quackenbush's  shop. 

Next,  on  the  corner  of  Liberty  street 
was  the  residence  of  Jonathan  Dye.  On 
the  south  corner  was  the  residence  of 
Jabez  Fox,  now  occupied  by  John  Zintz- 
master.  The  last  house  on  the  street 
and  at  the  foot  of  the  street  was  the  res- 
idence of  Rev.  John  P.  Spinner,  after- 
ward owned  by  Peter  B.  Spinner. 

WEST  SIDE  OF  PROSPECT  STREET. 

Where  Morris  Marks  now  lives  was  the 
distillery  of  P.  M.  Hackiey;  where 
James  Fagan  lives  was  the  potashery  of 
P.  M.  Hackiey.  Where  Albert  Wilbur 
now  lives  was  the  tannery  of  Mr.  Kas- 
bach,  grandfather  of  Charles  Rasbach. 
The  house  owned  by  Jacob  W.  Petrie 
was  where  H.  M.  Quackenbush  now 
lives.  This  house  was  moved  to  Pine 
street  and  is  now  occupied  by  Heman 
Rowland.  Next  was  the  residence  of 
Enoch  Talcott.  The  last  bouse  on  this 
side  of  tiie  street  was  the  residence  of 
Judge  John  Mahon.  which  stood  about 
where  the   Methodist  parsonage  now  is. 


ALKAXY  STREET. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  turnpike  near- 
ly opposite  the  shop  of  J.  A.  Suiter  was 
rhe  house  of  Bloomfield  Usher  Sr.  This 
bouse  was  moved  to  the  west  side  of 
Washington  street. 

On  the  north  side  of  Albany  street 
where  the  the  Edick  house  now  is  was 
the  hotel  of  Benjamin  Kelsey. 

Near  the  West  Canada  creek  north 
of  the  turnpike  was  a  large  grist  mill, 
saw  mill  and  whiskey  distillery  and  sta- 
bles where  they  fatteil  cattle  and  hogs 
in  great  numbers.  These  buildings 
were  owned  by  Windsor  Maynard.  On 
the  turnpike,  and  this  side  of  the  old  toll 
gate  was  a  dwelling  house  occupied  by 
the  Millers. 

GREEN  STREET. 

On  the  south  side  of  Green  street  were 
hay  scales,  but  not  of  the  kind  used  to- 
day. To  weigh  a  load  on  a  wagon  they 
used  to  hitch  a  chain  to  each  of  the  four 
wheels  and  pull  the  wagon  up  by  ropes> 
run  on  pulleys. 

On  the  north  side  of  Green  street 
where  Mrs.  Nichols  lives  was  the  house 
of  Nicholas  Sterling  and  the  dwelling 
house  of  James  Byers  was  a  part  of  the 
tin  shop  of  John  Metzger. 

There  were  no  buildings  on  Mary  street 
except  on  the  corners. 

COURT   STREET. 

David  Petrie  had  a  tenement  house 
near  the  present  clerk's  ofBce.  The 
blacksmith  shop  of  Joel  Tubbs  was  near- 
ly opposite  Levi  Lawtons. 

LIBERTY  STREET. 

On  the  north  side  of  Liberty  street  was 
the  office  of  Dr.  Andrew  Farrell.  This 
building  was  recently  torn  down  by 
Charles  B.  Perry  to  make  room  for  his 
new  bouse. 


82 


REMINISCENCES    CONCERNING    SEVERAL    PERSONS 
CONNECTED  WITH  IMPORTANT    HIS- 
TORICAL EVENTS. 


AN  ADDRESS  BY  HOuST.   ROBERT  EARI,  OE  HERKIMER, 
Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  Counts'  Historical  Society,  November  lo,  1S96. 


I  have  met  several  interesting  people 
who  had  relation  to  important  historical 
«vents  of  whom  I  will  write  a  brief  pa- 
per that  may  have  some  interet  to  the 
members  of  this  society. 

MRS.  KATHARINE  MYERS. 

The  war  between  the  two  European 
powers,  England  and  France,  in  the 
middle  of  the  last  century,  commonly 
called  the  seven  years  war,  was  in  large 
part  fought  out  upon  this  continent. 
Here  the  question  involved  was,  whether 
the  French  or  the  English  should  domi- 
nate this  country.  The  English  guided 
and  stimulated  by  the  great  talents,  in- 
spiring enthusiasm  and  wise  statesman- 
ship of  the  elder  Pitt  finally  put  an  end 
in  that  war  to  the  dominion  of  France 
on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  Quebec 
was  taken  under  the  heroic  leadership 
of  General  Wolf  in  1759;  and  in  1760 
the  whole  of  Canada  came  under  the 
British  crown.  The  inhabitants  of  this 
country  fought  and  suffered  for  the 
English  cause. 

The  Palatines  came  here  about  1723, 
and  in  thirty-five  years  had  grown  to 
about  three  hundred.  They  were  hardy 
and  industrious.  They  had  comfortable 
homes,  good  farms,  plenty  of  horses, 
cattle  and  other   live  stock,   and   their 


houses  were  abundantly  furnished  with 
plain  hut  useful  and  substantial  furnit- 
ure. Indeed  they  were  considered  rich 
and  were  m  better  condition  than  they 
ever  before  had  been  in  this  country  or 
in  their  European  home. 

While  the  inhabitants  were  slumber- 
ing in  peace,  unconscious  of  danger,  at 
three  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  Novem- 
ber 12,  1757,  the  French  and  Indians 
coming  from  Canada,  by  the  way  of  the 
Black  River  country,  came  upon  the 
village  here,  and  with  a  wild  war  whoop 
entered  upon  their  savage  work  of  de- 
struction. When  the  inhabstants  were 
aroused,  they  found  their  cruel  enemy 
applying  the  torch  to  their  houses  and 
reaping  the  harvest  of  death.  The  en- 
tire village  was  destroyed.  Twenty  or 
more  of  the  inhabitants  were  killed.  At 
least  one  hundred  men,  women  and 
children  were  taken  captives,  and  the 
remainder  escaped  to  Fort  Herkimer  on 
the  south  side  of  the  river.  Among  the 
captives  were  Capt.  Henry  Barter  and 
his  wife  Abelone  and  they  with  the 
others  were  taken  on  their  lone:  jour- 
ney to  Canada.  While  Mrs.  Harter  was 
in  captivity,  at  Prescott,  in  Canada,  May 
4,  1758,  she  gave  birth  to  a  little  girl. 
She  and  her  husband  and  their  child 


83 


after  about  one  year  of  captivity,  were 
rpturned  to  their  home  here;  and  that 
child  grew  up  to  maturity  a  btautiful 
woman.  She  subsequently  became  the 
wife  of  General  Michael  Myers,  the  most 
prominent  and  important  person  in  the 
Mohawk  valley;  and  she  became  the 
mother  of  sons  and  daughters  who  were 
distinguished  for  their  beauty  and  the 
elegance  of  their  manners.  Long  years 
after  the  dtath  of  General  Myers,  I 
knew  his  widow  well.  She  died  Septem- 
ber 4th,  1839,  aged  eightj  -one  years  and 
four  months,  and  for  several  years  be- 
fore her  death  I  lived  near  her  upon  an 
adjoining  lot  in  this  village.  She  lived 
where  Mr.  Avery  now  lives  and  I  lived 
upon  the  lot  where  the  family  of  my 
deceased  brother  now  lives.  She  waa  a 
slender  woman  of  medium  stature  and 
delicate  and  handsome  features,  and  re- 
fined and  attractive  in  mind  and  man- 
ners. She,  like  most  of  the  old  Palatines 
talked  Mohawk  Dutch  better  than  Eng- 
lish. Her  descendants  living  in  this 
county  are  quite  numerous.  From  one 
daughter  are  descended  Mrs.  E.  A. 
Brown,  of  Dolgeville,  and  her  brothers, 
Mr.  Giles  Grisw  old  and  Mrs  C  R.  Snell 
and  their  brother  and  sisters;  Mr.  Frank 
Barry  and  his  brothers,  all  of  Herkimer; 
Mrs.  Mason  Van  Slyke  and  the  children 
of  the  late  Mrs.  Charles  Dorr,  of  Little 
Falls.  From  a  son.  Matthew  Myers,  is 
descended  Mrs.  Margaret  F.  Rawdon,  of 
Little  Falls.  From  her  son.  Peter  M. 
Myers,  are  descended  Mrs.  Dr.  Casey 
and  her  brother  Henry  M.  Bellinger,  of 
Mohawk.  From  another  son,  Henry 
Myers  is  descended  Mrs.  Henry  M.  Bel- 
linger; and  there  are  many  descendants 
elsewhere  in  this  and  other  states. 

Thus  my  memory  carries  me  back 
through  five  generations  of  descendants, 
from  grand  children  of  great  grand  chil- 
dren to  one  whose  romantic  history  has 
relation  to  a  great  war,  and  to  a  historic 
event  of  great  importance  in  the  early 
annals  of  this  region  of  country, 

JOHN  FINSTER. 

In  1764  Peter  Hassenclever,  a  German 
by  birih,  of  great  intelligence,  enterprise 
and  more  enthusiasm  than  good  judg- 
ment, came  to  this  country  in  the  inter- 


est of  a  London  company  of  which  he 
was  a  member,  to  engage  in  the  produc- 
tion of  pig  iron,  hemp  and  pot  and  pearl 
ashes;  and  in  that  year  he  imported 
from  Germany  a  large  number  of  Ger- 
mans with  their  wives  and  children  to 
work  for  him  as  miners,  carpenters  and 
in  other  capacities.  By  the  end  of  the 
yt  ar  1766,  he  had  in  operation  in  New 
Jersey  and  on  the  Hudson  river  furnaces 
and  forges  for  the  manufacture  of  iron, 
and  in  Schuyler,  in  this  county,  a  pot 
aud  pearl  ash  manufactory.  The  place 
where  he  locited  in  Sciiuyler,  was  called 
New  Petersburg,  and  there  he  built  two 
frame  houses  and  thitty-five  log  houses. 
He  placed  upon  this  settlement  some  of 
the  people  whom  he  had  imported  from 
Germany,  and  began  the  cultivation  of 
hemp,  flax,  madder  and  the  production 
of  pot  and  pearl  ashes.  In  1769  he, 
with  his  associates,  obtained  a  patent 
for  18,000  acres  of  land,  commonly 
called  Hassenclever  patent  located  in 
the  towns  of  Herkimer.  Newport  and 
Schuyler.  He  also  purchased  6755  acres 
of  land  in  and  about  New  Petersburg, 
in  Cosby's  Manor,  where  his  farmmg 
and  other  operations  were  cairied 
on.  He  also  purchased  50,000  acres 
of  land  in  New  Jersey,  11,500  acres  near 
Crown  Point,  on  Lake  Champlain,  and 
40,000  acres  in  Nova  Scotia.  He  had  in- 
timate relations  with  Sir  William  John- 
son and  was  a  frequent  visitor  at  John- 
son Hall.  His  was  among  the  earliest 
efforts  to  introduce  the  manufacture  of 
iron  into  this  coantry.  The  conditions 
were  unfavorable  and  through  various 
misfortunes  and  misadventures,  all  his 
enterprises  in  this  countrj-  came  to  grief, 
and  he  became  a  bankrupt.  He  returned 
to  Germany  and  there  engaged  in  the 
linen  manufacture  and  died  in  1792 
much  lamented.  New  Petersburg  was 
at  the  place  now  known  as  East  Schuy- 
ler. Hassenclever  established  a  store 
there,  the  first  within  the  present  limits 
of  this  county,  which  was  managed  for 
him  by  my  mother's  grandfather,  John 
Wolf. 

Among  the  persons  brought  over  from 
Germany  by  Hassenclever.  were  Freder- 
ick Oyer  and  his  stepson,  John  Finster, 


84 


then  about  five  years  old.  Oyer  built 
and  lived  in  a  log  house  near  where  the 
Oyer  cheose  factory  now^  is  That  house 
was  burned  down  by  the  Indians,  and 
his  eon  George  was  killed  by  them 
He  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Oiis- 
kany,  and  his  stepson  Finster  was 
also  in   the  same  battle.      Finster  came 


take  Montreal  and  then  go  down  the  St. 
Lawrence  and  meet  Arnold  before  Que- 
bec for  an  assault  upon  that  stronghold. 
Washington  in  his  letter  of  instructions 
to  Arnold  said:  "You  are  entrusted  with 
a  command  of  the  utmost  importance  to 
the  liberties  of  America.  On  your  con- 
duct and  courage  and  that  of  the  officers 


from  Germany  in  the  same  vessel  and  soldiers  detached  on  this  expedition, 
with  my  grandfather,  and  in  my  boy-  not  only  the  success  of  your  pi^sent  en- 
hood  he  frequently  came  to  my  home,  terprise  and  your  own  honor,  but  the 
He  was  then  an  old  man,  but  he  lived  safety  and  welfare  of  the  whole  country 
until  1855,  when  he   died  nearly  ninety-  tnay  depend." 

six  years  old.     He  left  many  descendants  Eleven  hundred  men  were  placed  un- 

in  this  county,  one  of   whom,  a  grand-  der  his  command  at   Cambridge,  Massa- 

daughrer   married   Alexis  L  Johnson,  a  chusets,  then  the  head  quarters  of  Wash- 

veneraDle  member  of  this   society.     His  ington.     From  that  place  this  little  army 

name  is  associated    with  the  early  settle-  started  on  the  11th  of  September,  1775,  for 

ment    of  Schuyler    and    with    interest-  Newburyport;  and   reaching  that  place, 
events   of    the     Revolu- 


ing    historical 
tionary  war. 

DAVID    PETTES. 

If   Benedict   Arnold    had 
battle   of 
seriously 


they  embarked   in   transports   and  were 

conveyed  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kennebec 

river.      Then   they   started    upon    their 

died  at  the   fearful  journey,    surrounded    by    every 

Saratoga,   in   which    he    was    difficulty  which  could   apall  the  stoutest 

wounded,    his    death    would    hearts.     The  way  was  unknown.     There 


have  been  mourned  by  aH  the  patriots  were  rugged  mountains,  dismal  swamps, 
of  the  country  and  he  would  have  been  rapid  rivers  and  tangled,  unbroken  for- 
remembered  in  history  as  one  of  the  ests  to  overcome.  The  weather  became 
most  gallant  and  heroic  soldiers  of  the  cold  and  they  had  to  contend  with  frost 
Revolution.  But  his  subsequent  treason  and  snow.  Their  provisions  became  ex- 
blotted  out  his  merits,  blackened  his  bausted  and  they  had  to  subsist  on  short 
character  and  ever  since  has  caused  his  rations.  They  even  ate  roots,  the  flesh 
name  to  be  justly  execrated.  of  dogs  and   some  of  them  boiled  and 

At  the  begining  of  the  Revolutionary  broiled  their  old  moose  hide  breeches 
war  the  patriotic  statesman  and  soldiers  and  ate  them.  During  the  whole  jour- 
contemplated  the  conquest  of  Canada  ney,  Arnold  shared  the  hardships  of  his 
and  her  union  with  the  colonies  in  resis-  soldiers  and  every  danger  to  which  they 
tance  to  British  Dominion  on  this  side  of  were  exposed.  His  heroism  and  forti- 
the  Atlantic.  One  of  the  earliest  to  sug-  tude  inspired  them  with)  confidence  and 
gest  this  project  was  Arnold,  and  it  re-  there  was  little  murmuring,  although 
ceived  the  hearty  approval  of  General  many  of  the  soldiers  died  and  some,  in  a 
Washington.  In  the  summer  of  1775  the  body  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Ebos, 
British  forts  at  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  deserted.  Finally,  after  a  march  of  six 
Point  had  been  taken:  and  thus  the  road  hundred  miles,  in  November  he  reached 
to  Canada  by  way  of  Lakes  George  and  Quebec  with  about  six  hundred  and  sev- 
Champlain  was  opened.  The  final  plan  enty-five  men.  In  the  meantime,  Gen- 
of  the  campain  against  Canada  was  to  eral  Schuyler  having  become  ill.  General 
send  two  armies,  one  under  the  com-  Montgomery  had  succeeded  him  in  the 
mand  of  General  Schuyler  by  way  of  command  of  the  army  which  went  by 
these  lakes,  and  the  other  under  Arnold  the  way  of  the  lakes.  He  had  taken 
by  the  way  of  the  Kennebec  river  Montreal  and  he  went  down  the  St. 
through  the  wilderness  and  over  the  Lawrence  river  to  Quebec  and  there, 
mountains  of  Main  to  Quebec.  The  early  in  December,  with  three  hundred 
forces  under  Schuyler  were  expected  to   men,   effected  a  junction   with  Arnold, 

85 


Montgomery  and  Arnold  were  both 
young,  the  former  thirty-seven  and  the 
latter  thirty-four  yfars  of  age.  The  city 
was  defended  by  two  hunored  cannon 
and  by  soldiers  twice  the  number  of  the 
assailants;  and  yet  these  heroic  leaders, 
with  their  brave  soldiers  .were  unappaled 
and  undaunted.  It  was  arranged  that 
on  the  last  day  of  the  year  the  forces 
should  be  divided  between  the  two  lead- 
ers and  that  they  should  lead  the  attack 
on  two  different  quarters  of  the  city. 
The  soldiers  were  put  in  motion  at  two 
o'clock  A.  M.,  and  the  carpenters  with 
Montgomery,  sawed  off  some  of  the 
pickets  protecting  the  city  in  that  quar- 
ter. Through  the  opening  thus  made, 
Montgomery  with  his  aids  entered,  and 
he  found  himself  in  advance  of  his  troops. 
He  paused  until  about  sixty  of  his  men 
joined  him,  and  then  shouting  "Men  of 
New  York,  you  will  not  fear  to  follow 
where  your  General  leads,  come  on  my 
brave  boys,  and  Quebec  is  ours."  He 
rushed  forward  with  his  men  towards  a 
battery  in  his  front;  and  the  cannon 
loaded  with  grape  shot  were  discharged 
into  their  breasts;  and  Montgomery  and 
several  of  his  officers  and  men  were  killed 
and  wounded.  Some  were  taken  pris- 
oners and  the  others  being  without  their 
leader  fled.  And  so  the  British  garrison 
was  left  free  to  concentrate  all  its  force 
upon  the  quarter  attacked  by  Arnold. 
Many  of  the  assailants  under  him  were 
killed,  wounded  or  taken  prisoners. 
Arnold  was  among  the  wounded  but 
was  not  taken  prisoner.  He,  with 
the  remnant  of  his  army  retreated  and 
reached  Montreal;  and  from  there  went 
up  Lake  Champlain,  Lake  George  and 
so  on  to  Albany,  reaching  the  latter 
place  in  November,  1776.  Arnold,  for 
his  skill  and  heroism  in  this  campaign, 
was  made  a  Brigadier  General. 

It  is  an  interesting  incident  that  Mont- 
gomery was  with  General  Wolf  sixteen 
years  before  when  the  English,  under 
his  command  took  Quebec  from  the 
French,  their  gallant  leader  dying  he- 
roically in  the  moment  of  victory.  Now 
Montgomery  lost  his  life  in  the  attempt 
of  the  Americans  under  his  command  to 
take  the  same  city  from  the    English. 


He  probably  heard  General  Wolf  the 
night  before  his  death  repeat  those  pa- 
thetic lines  from  Gray's  Elegy  in  a 
Church  Yard,  saying  to  his  men  that  he 
"Would  rather  be  the  author  of  that 
poem  than  take  Quebec." 

"The  boast  of  heraldy,  the  pomp  of  power 
And  all  that  beauty,  all  that  wealth  ere  gave, 

Await  like  the  ioevitable  hour. 
The  paths  of  glory  lead  but  to  the  grave  " 

The  mournful  sentiment  of  these  lines 
were  sij-jnally  illustrated  in  the  lives  and 
deaths  of  both  these  heroes. 

I  have  made  this  brief  sketch  of 
Arnolds  campaign  for  the  purpose  of 
introducing  David  Pettes.  He  was  with 
Arnold  in  his  Canadian  campaign,  and 
I  had  from  his  own  lips,  his  account 
of  his  experiences.  When  I  knew  him 
he  was  a  pensioner  and  lived  in  my 
home.  He  marched  with  Arnold  through 
Maine  to  Quebec  and  when  the  forces 
were  there,  divided  between  Montgom- 
ery and  Arnold,  he  was  among  those  as- 
signed to  the  former.  He  was  with  the 
few  soldiers  who  entered  with  Montgom- 
ery through  the  opening  made  by  saw- 
ing off  the  pickets  as  above  related,  and 
was  beside  him  when  the  cannon  of  the 
enemy  were  discharged  and  caught  him 
in  his  arms  as  he  fell  mortally  wounded. 
He  wa?  taken  prisioner  and  remained 
such  until  August  11,  1776,  when  he  was 
released  upon  his  parole;  and  in  1777  he 
was  exchanged.  He  subsequently  took 
part  in  the  battles  of  Bemis  Heights  and 
Saratoga  which  resulted  in  the  defeat 
and  capture  of  the  army  of  General  Bur- 
goyne.  Thus  I  knew  one  of  the  heroes 
of  the  Revolutionary  War,  who  was  en- 
gaged in  a  campaign  which  has  never 
in  the  world's  history  been  surpassed  for 
the  hardships  and  sufferings  endured 
and  the  fortitude  and  courage  displayd 
by  the  soldiers. 

HENRY  FREEMAN. 

It  is  hard  to  realize  now  the  diflSculties 
of  transportation  ia  the  early  part  of 
this  century.  Transportation  upon  water 
along  the  sea -coast,  and  upoa  the  naviga- 
ble rivers  was  comparatively  cheap  and 
easy.  But  inland  the  roads  were  so  poor 
that  the  cost  of  moving  products  to  dis- 
tant points  was  enormous,  and  frequent- 


86 


«l 


ly  consumed  their  eatire  value.  At  firs' 
the  difficulties  of  transportation  were 
sought  to  be  overcome  by  the  building 
of  turnpikes.  In  this  state  alone,  by  the 
year  1811.  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven 
turnpike  companies  had  been  organized. 
About  1811  the  freight  from  New  York 
to  Lewiston,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Niag» 
ra  river  nearly  all  the  way  by  water, 
was  $40  per  ton  besides  tolls.  It  cost 
$2.50  to  move  a  bushel  of  salt  and  $5.00 
to  move  one  hundred  pounds  of  sugar 
over  any  road  tjjree  hundred  miles.  The 
average  cost  of  land  transportation  of  a 
ton  was  $10  per  hundred  miles.  In  1816 
the  fare  for  one  person  Jupon  a  stage 
from  Boston  to  Washington,  was  $30.  In 
1817  the  freight  from  Fhiladelphia  to 
Pittsburg  was  $9.50  per  hundred  pounds, 
and  in  1818  from  New  York  to  Pittsburg 
$6.00  per  hundred  pounds,  and  $4.50  per 
hundred  pounds  to  Sandusky  or  Detroit. 
When  the  Atlantic  coast  navigation  was 
interrupted  by  the  war  of  1812,  all  the 
commerce  between  the  North  and  South 
was  carried  on  by  land;  and  it  was  esti- 
mated that  four  thousand  wagons  and 
twenty  thousand  horses  and  oxen  were 
used  for  that  purpose.  It  took  two 
months  for  a  wagon  to  go  from  Boston 
to  Augusta,  Georgia,  and  fifty  days  to 
go  there  from  New  York. 

Early  in  the  century,  enterprising  and 
inventive  men  began  to  consider  other 
means  of  transportation  than  those  be- 
fore used.  The  steam  boat  was  invented 
by  Fulton  and  the  first  steamboat,  the 
Cleremont,  went  upon  the  Hudson  river 
from  New  York  to  Albany  in  1809,  in 
thirty-two  hours  which  was  considered  a 
great  achievement.  Soon  there  was  a 
great  furor  for  navigation  by  steam,  and 
enterprising  men  and  capitalists  in  the 
North  and  South  formed  companies  for 
placing  steam  vessels  upon  the  principal 
navigable  waters,  and  the  Ohio  and  Mis- 
sissippi were  among  the  first  rivers  to 
attract  their  attention.  The  first  steam- 
boat that  passed  down  the  Ohio  and  Mis- 
sissippi was  built  at  Pittsburg  and  went 
down  those  rivers  to  New  Orleans  in 
1811;  and  I  knew  a  man  who  went  down 
those  rivers  upon  that  boat  on  her  first 
trip.     His  Dame  was  Henry  Freeman, 


an  intelligent  man  living  on  the  board- 
ers of  Schuyler  lake,  in  Richfield,  Otse- 
go county.  I  knew  him  ab  )ut  1853,  and 
for  some  time  af tt  r  that.  He  lived  to  see 
steamboats  upon  nearly  all  the  navigable 
streams  and  lakes  of  our  country  and  up- 
on the  ocean,  passing  to  and  fro  like  the 
shuttles  of  a  loom,  weaving  together  the 
commerce  of  the  world.  We  are  living 
in  a  time  when  freight  is  transported  up- 
on the  railroads  of  the  country  at  an 
average  cost  of  less  than  six  mills  (.579) 
for  a  ton  per  mile,  and  passengers  at  an 
average  cost  of  less  than  two  cents 
(1.955)  per  mile.  And  yet  there  is  great 
clamor  in  some  pans  of  the  country  for 
cheaper  transportation. 

Thus  I  write  of  Henry  Freeman,  as 
one  who  had  relation  to  a  great  historic 
event. 

THOMAS  ALLEN  CLARKE. 

It  is  impossible  to  say  now  who  first 
suggested  the  construction  of  a  canal 
connecting  the  waters  of  Lake  Erie  with 
the  Hudson  river  at  Albany.  General 
Phillip  Schuyler  was  amorg  the  earliest 
projectors  of  canals  in  this  state.  The  plan 
of  building  a  canal  from  Lake  Erie  to  the 
Hudson  was  agitated  as  early  as  1808. 
Subsequently  surveys  and  estimates  were 
from  time  to  time  made.  Efforts  were 
made  to  procure  the  assistance  of  the 
general  government  and  of  other  states 
in  building  the  canal,  but  they  failed. 
Prominent  among  those  engaged  in  th& 
project  was  DeWitt  Clinton,  who  by 
voice  and  pen  and  personal  influeace  and 
efforts  did  more  to  forward  the  work 
than  anyone  else;  and  hence  he  has  just- 
ly been  called  the  "'Father  of  the  Erie 
Canal."  Two  canal  projects  went  hand 
in  hand;  one  to  build  the  Erie  canal  and 
the  other  to  build  the  Champlain  canal 
connecting  the  Hudson  river  with  Lake 
Champlain.  In  1816  an  act  of  the  Leg- 
islature was  passed  entitled.  "An  act 
to  provide  for  the  improvement  of  the 
internal  navigation  of  this  State,"  in 
which  DeWitt  Clinton  and  four  others 
were  appointed  commissioners  to  con- 
sider, devise  and  adopt  measures  for  the 
construction  of  canals  to  connect  the 
Hudson  river  with  Lake  Erie  and  also 
with  Lake  Champlain.    They  were  au- 


e? 


horized  and  required  to  make  applica- 
tions on  behalf  of  the  state  to  Congress 
and  to  such^,  states  and  territories  as 
might  be  benefited  by  the  canals  or  either 
of  them,  to  the  proprietors  of  'and 
through  or  near  which  the  canals  might 
pass,  to  all  bodies  politic  and  corporate, 
public  or  private,  and  to  all  citizens  of 
this  or  any  other  of  the  United  States, 
for  cessions,  grants  or  donations  of  land 
or  money  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  in 
the  construciion  of  the  canals.  In  Feb- 
ruary 1817,  the  commissioners  made  to 
the  Legislature  their  report,  giving  the 
surveys,  plans  and  estimates,  and  other 
valuable  information  and  showing  the 
feasibility  of  the  canals.  William  D. 
Ford,  then  a  member  of  the  Assembly 
from  this  county,  who  had  also  been  a 
member  the  previous  year,  moved  in  the 
Assembly  that  the  report  be  refered  to  a 
joint  committee  of  both  houses;  and  his 
motion  was  adopted.  He  and  four  others 
were  appointed  the  joint  committee,  and 
he  was  made  chairman  of  the  committee. 
This  committe  examined  the  report  of 
the  canal  Commissioners  and  drew  up  a 
report  to  the  Legislature  recommending 
the  construction  of  the  Erie  and  Cham- 
plain  canals,  and  containing  the  outlines 
of  the  canal  fund.  On  the  19th  day  of 
March  1817,  Mr.  Ford  brought  in  a  bill 
for  the  construction  of  the  two  canals 
which  passed  on  the  15th  of  April,  1817. 
The  bill  was  entitled  "An  act  respecting 
navigable  communication  between  the 
Great  Western  and  Northern  lakes  and 
the  Atlantic  ocean;"  and  the  following 
was  its  preamble  showing  the  broad  en- 
lightened views  entertained  by  the  men 
who  framed  it:  "Whereas  navigable 
communications  between  Lakes  Erie  and 
Champlain,  and  the  Atlantic  ocean,  by 
means  of  canals  connected  with  the 
Hudson  river  will  promote  agriculture, 
matiufactures  and  commerce,  mitigate 
the  calamities  of  war,  and  enhance  the 
blessings  of  peace,  consolidate  the  Union 
and  advance  the  prosperity  and  elevate 
the  character  of  the  United  States:  and 
Whereas  it  is  the  incumbent  dutj'  of  the 
people  of  this  state  to  avail  themselves 
of  the  means  which  the  Almighty  has 
placed  ia  their  hands  for  the  production 


of  such  signal  extensive  and  lasting  ben- 
efits to  the 'human  race;  Now  therefore, 
in  the  full  confidence  that  the  Congress 
of  the  United  States,  and  the  states 
equally  interested  with  this  state  in  the 
commencement,  prosecution  and  com- 
ple  ion  of  these  important  works,  will 
contribute  their  full  portion  of  the  ex- 
pense; and  in  order  that  adequate  funds 
may  be  procured  and  properly  arranged 
and  [managed  for  the  prosecution  and 
completion  of  all  the  navigable  com- 
munications contemplated  by  this  act. 
Be  it  enacted''  &c. 

The  act  provided  that  there  should  be 
a  canal  fund  to  be  managed  by  the  com- 
missioners of  the  canal  fund,  which  fund 
should  consist  of  all  such  appropriations, 
grants  and  donations  as  might  be  made 
for  that  purpose  by  the  Legislature,  by 
Congress,  by  other  states  and  by  corpora- 
tions, companies  and  individuals.  The 
commissioners  of  the  canal  fund  were 
authorized  to  borrow  money  not  exceed- 
ing four  hundred  thousand  dollars  in 
any  year  and  the  canal  commissioners 
named  in  the  act  of  1816  were  to  proceed 
with  the  construction  of  the  canals. 
They  were  to  acquire  for  the  state  the  ti- 
tle to  the  property  of  the  Western  Inland 
Lock  Navigation  Company,  and  to  the 
necessary  lands  for  the  canals.  F>or  the 
payment  of  the  principal  and  interest  of 
the  canal  debt,  there  was  appropriated 
and  pledged  "A  duty  or  tax  of  twelve 
and  a  half  cents  per  bushel  upon  all  salt 
to  be  manufactured  in  the  western  dis- 
trict of  the  state;  ataxof  one  dollar  upon 
steam-boat  passengers  for  each  and 
every  trip  or  voyage  such  passenger  may 
be  conveyed  upon  the  Hudson  river  on 
board  of  any  steam-boat  over  one  hundred 
miles,  and  half  that  sum  for  any  distance 
less  than  one  hundred  miles  and  over 
thirty  miles;  the  proceeds  of  all  lotter- 
ies which  shall  be  drawn  in  this  state  af- 
ter the  sums  now  granted  upon  them 
shall  be  paid;  all  the  net  proceeds  of 
this  state  from  the  Western  Inland  Lock 
Navigation  Company;  all  the  net  pro- 
ceeds of  the  said  canals  and  each  part  j 
thereof  when  made;  all  grants  and  do- 
nations made  or  to-be  made  for  the  pur- 1 
pose  of  making  the  said  canals;  all  du-l 

88 


ties  upon  sales  at  auction  after  ileducting 
thereout  twenty-three  thousand  five  hun- 
<3red  dollars  aa-nually  appropriated  to 
the  hospital,  the  economicjal  scoool  and 
the  orph  n  asylum  society,  and  ten 
thousand  dollars  hereby  appropriated 
annually  for  the  support  of  foreign  poor 
in  the  city  of  New  York."  Ani  it  was 
made  the  duty  of  the  canal  commission- 
ers to  raise  the  sura  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  t4iousand  dollars  for  canal  purposes 
by  causing  the  same  to  be  assessd  upon 
the  lands  lying;  along  the  routes  of  the 
canals  on  both  sides  and  within  twenty- 
five  mile-i  thereof. 

Who  was  William  D.  Ford,  member  of 
Asembly  rom  this  county,  who  was 
so  prominent  in  the  legislation  inaugu- 
rating the  construction  of  the  Erie  canal  ? 
He  was  born  in  tthis  county  or  came  here 
early.  He  was  educated  at  the  Fairfield 
Academy.  He  studied  law  with  Gay- 
lord  Griswold  and  Simeon  Ford,  and 
was  admitted  to  the!bar  in  1809.  In  1817 
he  moved  from  this  county  to  Water- 
town,  in  Jefferson  county  and  there  en- 
tered upon  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion. Sudi  were  his  standing  and  ability 
that  the  next  year,  1818.  he  was 
elected,  as  a  Democrat,  to  Congress  from 
the  Eighteenth  District,  composed  of  Jef- 
ferson, Lewis,  and  St.  Lawrence  coun- 
ties. He  continued  to  live  in  Water- 
town  until  his  death 

In  pursuance  of  the  legislative  act  of 
1817  the  commissioners  proceeded  with 
the  construction  of  the  canals  and  made 
the  first  contract  for  that  purpose  upon 
the  Erie  canal  on  the  27th  day  of  June, 
1817.  The  first  ground  was  broken  on 
the  4th  day  of  July  thereafter  at  Rome, 
in  the  presence  of  the  canal  commission- 
ers and  a  large  concourse  of  citizens. 
The  middle  section  of  tke  Erie  canal 
extending  from  Utica  to  the  Montezuma 
marshes,  a  distance  of  ninety-four  miles 
was  completed  by  October  15,  1819;  and 
on  the  23rd  and  24th  days  of  the  same 
month,  the  commissioners  navigated  the 
canal  in  a  boat  from  Utica  to  Home;  and 
thereafter  boats  navigated  the  canal 
seventy-five  miles  west  of  Utica,  In 
1821  boats  descended  the  canal  as  far  as 
Little   Falls  and  the   whole  canal   was 


completed  about  the  middle  of  Oct:)ber, 
1825.  It  was  about  three  hundred  sixty- 
three  miles  long,  forty  feet  wide  at  the 
top  and  twenty-eighc  at  ili^  bottom  and 
four  feet  deep.  The  first  boat  that  ever 
pissed  from  Lake  Erie  to  the  Hudson  was 
called  the  Ser^eca  Chief;  and  it  went 
down  the  canal  the  latter  part  of  Oct- 
ober, 1825.  DeWitt  Climon,  the  Gov- 
ernor of  the  state,  with  several  other 
gentlemen  was  on  board.  Another  boat 
followed  with  the  Lieutenant  Governor, 
Mr.  Tatlmadge.  Canal  Commissioner 
Henry  Seymour  and  others  on  board. 
Cannon  were  placed  at  intervals  along 
the  canal  to  be  fired  in  succession  so  as 
to  convey  (o  the  city  of  New  York  the 
news  that  the  boats  had  started,  and 
thus  in  one  hour  and  twenty  minutes 
the  news  reached  New  York.  When  the 
Seneca  Chief  started  from  Buffalo  a  keg 
of  water  from  Lake  Erie  was  puc  on 
board  in  the  presence  of  a  vast  concourse 
of  people  and  all  along  the  canal  great 
interest  and  enthusiasm  were  manifested. 
At  each  of  the  successive  villages  there 
were  the  firing  of  cannon  and  other 
demonstiation.  Leading  officials  and 
citizens  would  go  on  board  the  boats  and 
go  along  from  one  village  to  another. 
When  the  boats  reached  Utica,  Mr. 
Clarke,  then  president  of  the  village, 
went  on  board  of  the  Seneca  Chief  and 
took  with  him  his  son,  Thomas  Allen 
Clarke,  a  young  lad.  They  remained 
on  board  during  the  remamder  of  the 
trip  to  New  York.  On  the  way  down 
the  Hudson  river  the  Seneca  Chief  was 
followed  b}^  a  large  number  of  boats  and 
steamers  with  flags  flying.  Cannon 
were  fired  and  during  the  night  bonfires 
were  lighted  on  the  shores  of  the  ^river. 
When  they  reached  New  York  there  was 
a  vast  concourse  of  people  to  witness 
the  great  event.  The  boats  proceeded 
through  the  narrows  to  Sandy  Hook  and 
there  Governor  Clinton  Knocked  m  the 
head  of  the  keg  and  emptied  the  Lake 
Erie  water  into  the  ocean,  making  suit- 
able remarks,  and  there  was  again  the 
booming  of  cannon  and  other  demon- 
strations; and  thus  was  inaugurated  the 
navigation  of  the  Erie  canal  which  made 
the  city  of  New  York  the  great  metrop9- 


lis  of  tbis  country.  More  than  sixty 
years  afterwards  I  became  acquainted 
with  the  young  lad  above  mentioned, 
and  found  him  one  of  the  most  interest- 
ing men  I  ever  met;  and  he  gaT*>  me  the 
principal  facts  above  related  as  to  that 
first  trip  through  the  canal.  He  studied 
law  and  v  as  admitted  to  the  bar  at 
Utica.  Afterward  he  went  to  New  Or- 
leans and  became  one  of  the  leaders  of 
the  bar  there  and  a  very  successful  and 
influential  citizen.  During  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion,  at  the  time  General  But- 
ler captured  the  city  he  was  president  of 
a  bank  there  and  for  disobedience  of 
some  command  issued  by  Butler,  which 
1  have  forgotten,  he  was  imprisoned, 
bail  being  refused.  He  was  soon  released 
and  sometime  after  the  war  came  North 
and  he  res  ded  in  Albany  where  I  knew 
him  until  his  death.  Thus  he  was  con- 
nected with  one  of  the  greatest  events  in 
the  history  of  our  state— an  event  even 
of  national  importance.  His  life  spanned 
many  years  and  few  persons  have  ever 
witnessed  greater  changes  than  those 
which  came  under  his  eyes,  and  of  which 
he  was  the  graphic  delineator. 

PHILLIP  DIXON. 

Prior  to  1836,  Texas  was  a  province  of 
Mexico.  But  for  sometime  before  that 
year  the  country  had  been  in  -'nsurrec- 
tion  against  the  Mexican  government. 
On  the  2nd  of  March,  1836,  a  convention 
representing  the  people  of  Texas  adopted 
a  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  Sam 
Houston  was  appointed  commander-in. 
chief  of  the  Texan  forces.  Then  the  Mex- 
icans under  General  Santa-Anna,  five 
thousand  strong,  invaded  Texas.  A  por- 
tion of  these  forces  on  the  6th  of  March 
took  fort  Alamo  and  put  to  death  185 
soldiers  who  defended  it,  among  whom 
was  Bowie,  after  whom  the  bowie  knife 


was  named,  and  David  Crockett  whose 
coon  has  furnished  the  staple  of  many 
a  jest.  A  few  days  later,  Goliad  was 
captured  and  five  hundred  men  were 
pur,  to  death  by  the  Mexicans.  On  the 
2l8t  of  April,  General  Houston,  with 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  men  met  eigh- 
teen hundred  Mexicans  on  the  borders 
of  the  San  Jacinto  under  Santa  Anna, 
The  Texas  battle  cry  was  "Remember 
the  Alamo."  The  fight  lasted  I  less 
than  an  hour  and  the  Mexicans  were 
completely  routed,  losing  six  hundred 
and  thirty  killed  and  seven  hundred 
thirty  prisoners  including  Santa  Anna. 
The  result  of  this  battle  was  a  treaty 
with  Santa  Anna  by  which  the  inde- 
pendence of  Texas  was  acknowledged. 
Texas  remained  an  independent  republic 
until  December  29,  1845,  when  she  was 
annexed  to  the  United  Statts;  and  war 
thereafter  ensued  between  this  country 
and  Mexico.  I  knew  Phillip  Dixon,  who 
was  the  father-in-law  of  Mr.  Charles 
Pierce  of  this  village.  He  was  a  soldier 
in  the  war  for  Texan  independence  and 
fought  in  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto.  He 
aided  m  the  capture  of  Santa  Anna  and 
I  think  he  said  he  was  in  a  tree  when  he 
was  captured.  He  lived  many  years  in 
this  village  and  died  in  ISTl,  aged  sixty, 
four  years.  He,  too,  was  related  to  a 
great  historic  event.  Sam  Houston  was 
one  of  the  most  interesting  men  that 
ever  appeared  on  this  continent.  His 
life  was  full  of  romance  and  strange  and 
interesting  incidents.  He  was  a  United 
States  Senator  from  1845  to  1859.  I  saw 
him  in  Washington  in  the  spring  of  1853. 
He  was  tall  of  stature  and  cordial  and 
dignified  in  his  manners.  He  was  a  type 
of  man  that  our  modern  conditions  and 
civilizations  will  never  reproduce. 


90 


A  HISTORICAL  MISTAKE  CORRECTED, 

AN  ADDRESS  BY  HON.  ROBERT  EARI,  OF  HERKIMER, 

I>elivered  before  the  Herkimer  Count}^  Historical  Society,  December  8,  1896. 


The  stories  of  the  past  re(3orded  in  his- 
tory are  full  of  mistakes.  The  historian 
has  soraetiiaes  to  I-ook  through  a  hazy 
atmosphere,  and  he  sees  inaccurately  or 
not  at  all.  He  frequently  mistakes  the 
import  of  what  is  passing  before  his  own 
eyes.  He  has  generally  to  rely  upon 
traditions,  or  th«  recitals  ot  others;  and 
errors  will  sometimes  inevitably  creep 
into  his  narative.  Renan,  himself  a 
great  historian,  said:  "When  I  read 
over  what  I  have  written,  I  perceive  that 
I  have  put  in  a  multitude  of  things  of 
which  I  am  not  certain." 

I  am  led  to  these  observations  by  the 
mistakes  some  of  our  local  historians 
have  made  as  to  the  first  liberty  pole 
raised  in  this  state.  It  is  recorded  in 
the  latest  history  of  Herkimer  county 
that  the  first  liberty  pole  in  this  state, 
and  the  first  but  one  in  the  whole  coun- 
try was  raised  at  Fort  Herkimer  in 
the  spring  of  1775.  That  mistake  was 
repeated  in  one  of  th^e  earliest  papers 
read  before  tbis  society;  and  t  followed 
my  predecessors  in  the  paper  I  read  on 
the  "Mohawk  Valley  In  History."  I  had 
some  misgivings  when  I  repeated  that 
incident,  and  upon  investigation  since 
made  I  have  found  my  error  and  have 
corrected  it. 

The  cap  has  been  the  emblem  of  liber- 
ty since  the  days  of  ancient  Rome;  and 
its  elevation  upon  a  pole  where  it  could 


be  seen  and  inspire  enthusiasm  and  de- 
votion was  a  natural  sequence.  Hence 
the  early  liberty  poles  in  this  country 
were  surmounted  with  a  liberty  cap, 
and  the  poles  were  called  liberty  poles. 

rhe  early  policy  of  England  was  to  get 
as  much  advantage  and  draw  as  much 
revenue  fiom  her  American  colonies  as 
she  could  regardless  of  their  welfare. 
She  insisted  upon  the  right  to  tax  them, 
and  this  in  all  its  forms  they  resisted.  In 
spite  of  their  remonstrances,  theSaraous 
Stamp  Act  which  •did  so  much  to  fan 
the  flames  of  Rebellion  and  Revolution 
in  this  country  was  in  March  1765, 
passed  by  the  English  Parliament.  It 
required  all  legal  and  mercantile  docu- 
ments and  contracts,  newspapers, 
pamphlets,  almanacs  etc.,  to  be  written 
or  printed  on  stamped  paper;  and  the 
stamps  were  to  be  had  only  of  agents 
appointed  for  their  sale  by  the  British 
Government.  The  Act  aroused  great  in- 
dignation and  hostility  in  the  Colonies 
and  extreme  measures  were  resorted  to 
to  defeat  its  operation  The  opposition 
to  it  was  so  general  and  decermined  that 
early  in  1766  the  English  Ministry  deter- 
mined to  recede  ;  and  on  the  20th  of  Feb- 
ruary the  act  was  repealed.  News  of 
the  repeal  reached  New  York  on  the  20th 
of  May  and  caused  great  rejoicing;  and 
on  the  next  day  the  people,  assembled 
upon  the  commons,  manifested  their  de* 


91 


lis^ht  by  all  kinds  of  detnoastrations. 
They  again  celebrated  the  event  on  the 
4th  of  June,  the  Kings  birthday,  and  on 
that  day  erected  upon  the  Commons  a 
liberty  pole— the  first,  so  far  as  I  can 
find,  erected  in  this  or  any  other  country, 
on  which  they  inscribed  "The  King, 
Pitt  and  Liberty."  That  pole  subsequent- 
ly served  as  the  rallying  point  for  the 
Sons  of  Liberty  and  other  patriotic  citi- 
zens. It  therefore  became  obnoxious  to 
the  British  soldiers  stationed  in  New 
York,  and  on  the  10th  of  August,  1766, 
a  party  of  them  cut  it  down.  The  next 
day  the  people  assembled  again  on  the 
Commons  and  were  preparing  to  erect 
another  Liberty  Pole  when  they  were 
attacked  by  the  soldiers  and  dispersed. 
Buc  September  1st,  1766,  the  people 
erected  upon  the  Commons  another  pole 
which  was  permitted  to  stand  until  it 
was  cut  down  by  the  soldieis  on  the 
night  of  Sepi ember  23rd.  Within  two 
days  another  pole  was  erected  by  the 
people  in  the  same  place.  On  the  18ih 
of  March  1767,  the  people  again  assem- 
l)led  on  the  Commons  and  celebrated  the 
first  Anniversary  of  the  repeal  of  the 
Stamp  Act  with  the  greatest  enthusiasm. 
This  aroused  the  ire  of  the  British  sol- 
diers, and  before  the  next  morning  the 
pole  was  again  leveled  to  the  ground. 
Oq  the  next  day,  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  a 
body  of  citizens  organized  to  defend  and 
foster  the  liberties  of  the  Colony,  erected 
another  more  substantial  pole  well  se- 
cured with  iron  bands.  On  the  same 
night,  an  unsuccessful  attempt  was 
made  to  destroy  it.  The  next  night  an- 
other attempt  was  made  to  blow  it  up 
with  gun  powder  and  that  also  failed. 
Then  the  Sons  of  Liberty  set  a  strong 
Kuard  around  the  pole.  For  three  suc- 
cessive nights,  the  soldiers  renewed  their 
attacks  upon  the  pole,  but  each  time 
were  beaten  off  by  the  ^people.  That 
pole  remained  unmolested,  so  far  as  I 
can  find,  until  the  13th  of  January,  1770, 
when  a  party  of  British  soldiers  again  at- 
tacked it  cutting  off  the  wooden  support- 
ers about  it  and  attempting  to  blow  it  up 
with  gun  powder.  Failing  in  this  they 
attacked  some  citizens  who  had  gathered 
in  front  of  a  hotel,  the  headquarters  of 


the  Sons  of  Liberty.  On  the  two  follow- 
ing nights  the  soldiers  repeated  their  at- 
tempts to  destroy  the  pole,  but  failed. 
Finally  on  the  night  of  the  16th  of  Janu- 
ary, they  succeeded  and  leveled  the  pole 
to  the  ground,  sawed  it  into  pieces  and 
piled  them  up  before  the  hotel.  This 
aroused  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  and  they 
called  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  for  that 
night  on  the  Commons  to  discuss  the  out- 
rage and  three  thousand  answered  to 
the  call.  Among  other  things,  they  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  request  of  the 
Common  Council  permission  to  erect  an- 
other pole  upon  the  Commons.  The  re- 
quest was  made  and  refused  Then  the 
Liberty  boys  bought  a  small  piece  of 
ground  near  the  site  of  the  former 
pole;  and  there  on  the  6th  of  February, 
1770,  a  pole  of  great  length  covered 
two-thirds  of  its  height  with  iron  hoops 
and  bars  firmly  riveted,  was  erected  and 
sunk  twelve  feet  into  the  ground;  and  it 
bore  this  inscription  "Liberty  and  Prop- 
erty." On  the  29th  of  March,  1770,  a 
party  of  British  soldiers  who  had  been 
ordered  to  embark  in  a  few  days  for 
Pennsylvania  made  an  attack  upon  the 
pole,  a  part  of  which  they  had  resolved 
to  carry  with  them  as  a  trophy.  They 
were  discovered  by  some  citizens  who 
gave  the  alarm,  and  the  Liberty  boys 
rallied  to  the  defense  of  the  pole.  More 
soldiers  and  more  citizens  came,  and  a 
serious  conflict  being  imminent,  the  Brit- 
ish ofSoers  ordered  the  soldiers  to  their 
barracks.  The  pole,  notwithstanding 
some  attempts  to  destroy  it,  was  there- 
after permitted  to  remain,  guarded  by 
the  Libel ty  boys,  an  emblem  of  Liberty, 
until  1776,  after  the  capture  of  the  city 
by  the  British,  when  it  was  destroyed. 

I  have  not  given  the  details  of  the 
fierce  conflicts  which  raged  around  these 
poles.  They  can  be  found  ia*  some  of 
the  local  histories  of  the  city  of  New- 
York.  The  ix)le3  were  the  rallying  point 
of  the  Patriots,  and  hence  were  offensive 
to  the  Bcrfdiers  and  the  British  authorit- 
ies. These  conflicts  constitute  chapters 
in  the  story  of  the  struggles  of  the  peo- 
ple of  this  country  to  achieve  their  liber- 
ty and  independence. 
It  is  clear,  therefcH-e,  that  at  least  five 


Liberty  poles  were  erected  in  the  city  of 
New  York  before  the  one  erected  at 
Fort  Herkimer;  and  there  must  have 
been  more  at  Boston  and  other  populous 
places;  and  our  local  histories  should  as 
to  this  matter  be  corrt'cted. 

If  it  had  been  stated  that  our  national 
flag  was  first  unfurled  in  the  Valley  of 
the  Mohawk,  the  interesting  statt-ment 
would  have  had  the  support  of  well  au- 
thenticated history.  The  flag  was 
adopted  by  the  Continental  Congress  on 
the  4th  of  June,  17T7,  and  was  fii'st  flung 
to  the  breeze  at  Fort  Stanwix  on  the  6th 
of  August,  1777,  the  day  of  the  Oriskany 
battle.     It   was  extemporized  out  of  a 


white  shirt,  an  old  blue  jacket  and  some 
strips  of  red  cloth  from  the  petticoat  of 
a  soldier's  wife,  and  was  defiantly  dis- 
played in  the  face  of  the  beleaguering 
army  of  St.  Ledger,  with  the  English 
flags  beneath  it,  which  had  that  day 
been  captured  by  Colonel  Willett  in  the 
sortie  he  made  from  the  fort.  It  was 
the  first  time  any  British  soldier  had 
seen  the  flag;  and  far  distant  be  the 
time  when  iS  shall  cease  to  wave  "over 
the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the 
hrave,"  the  sign  of  national  indepen- 
dence, the  emblem  of  freedom,  the  ob- 
ject of  heroic  devotion ! 


93 


JOHN  BROWN'S  TRACT. 

AN  ADDRESS   BY  CHARI^ES   E.    SNYDER,    OF  HERKIMER, 
Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Societj',  December  8,  1896. 


Considerable  misapprehension  exists 
as  to  the  location  and  extent  of  John 
Brown's  Tract;  and  little  is  generally 
known  of  its  history.  Sometimes 
Brown's  Tract  is  spoken  of  as  synony- 
mous with  the  whole  Adirondack  region, 
and  quite  frequently  it  is  associated  his- 
torically with  the  career  of  John  Brown, 
the  anti-slavery  agitator.  Both  of  these 
popular  conceptions  are  wrong.  Brown's 
Tract  in  area  comprises  210,000  acres  of 
land,  while  the  whole  of  the  Adirondack 
region  of  the  state  is  said  to  comprise 
some  3,000,000  acres.  Insteai  of  being 
associated  with  the  career  of  John 
Brown,  the  abolitionist,  it  is  connected 
historically  with  the  career  of  John 
Brown  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  a  famous 
Revolutionary  patriot  from  whom  the 
Tract  derives  its  name. 

Brown's  Tract  is  located  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  Herkimer  county,  extending 
east  into  Hamilton  county  and  west  into 
Lewis  county.  Three  thoueaud  acres  of 
the  tract  are  supposed  to  be  in  Hamilton 
county;  about  40,000  acres  in  the  county 
of  Lewis,  and  the  remaining  1G7,000 
acres  are  in  Herkimer  county.  Brown's 
Tract  comprises  about  one-sixth  of  the 
total  acreage  of  Herkimer  county.  For- 
tunately its  history  does  not  comprise 
one  sixth  of  the  history  of  the  county. 

Brown's  Tract  is  traversed  by  two 
watersheds,    the   Beaver  River    and   its 


tributaries  on  the  north  and  the  Moose 
River  and  its  tributaries  on  the  south, 
while  in  the  mountainous  portions  of  the 
central  part.  Independence  River  and 
Otter  Creek  have  their  origin.  Numer- 
ous lakes  and  small  bodies  of  water  are 
scattered  throughout  the  Tract,  ranging 
in  size  from  small  ponds  up  to  Big 
Moose  Lake  and  the  Fulton  Chain  of 
Lakes,  the  larger  portion  of  which  is  up- 
on Brown's  Tract.  Many  of  these  lakes 
and  streams  are  surrounded  by  hills  and 
mountains;  large  portions  are  covered 
with  primeval  forest  making  the  Tract 
famous  as  a  resort  for  sportsjien  and 
tourists. 

The  Valley  of  the  Moose  River  is  said 
to  have  been  one  of  the  principal 
thoroughfares  of  the  Indians  in  their  ex- 
pedition of  war  and  the  chase.  Begin- 
ning at  the  North  Branch  of  the  Moose 
River,  near  the  south  boundary  line 
of  the  Tract,  a  few  miles  above  the 
junction  of  the  rorth  and  south  branches 
of  the  River,  there  extends  a  water  com- 
munication for  lieht  canoes  direct  to 
Canada  over  the  Fulton  Chain  of  Lakes, 
thence  by  means  of  a  short  carry  to 
Racquette  Lake;  thence  down  Rac- 
quette  Lake  and  River  into  the  St.  Law- 
rence, or  else  by  carries  to  Tupper 
Lake,  Saranac  Lake  and  River  to  Lake 
Charaplain.  Along  this  route  the  con- 
tending Iriquois    and  Algonqum    must 


94 


have  paddled  tlieii-   birch   canoes;  and  if 
the  silent   hills   and  forests  could  speak, 
thny  would  tell   us  no   doubt  of   ainbus- 
L-ades  and  fierce  conflicts. 
The  local  trihe  of  Indians  which  origi- 


which  remained  for  several  years:  hence 
the  name  Racquette  Lake. 

After  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary 
War  huntinjr  parties  of  Oneida  and  Ca- 
nad  an  Indians   made    considerable    use 


nally  inhabited    this   region,  as  appears   of  this   line    of    communication   across 


liy  the  early  records  of  this  state,  were 
variously  spoken  of  as  Rondaxe  Indians, 
Adiron  laks  and  even  as  Adirundacs. 
The  meaning  of  the  term  is  said  to  be 
tree-eaters.  The  Rondaxe  Indians  be- 
long to  the  Algonquin  Division  of  the 
Indian  Race;  and  in  the  wars  that  oc- 
curred between  the  French  Algonquin 
Indians  and  the  Iriquois,  the  Rondaxe 
Indians  took  part  with  th  Canadian  In- 
dians and  bting  located  so  near  the 
Iriquois,  they  must  for  a  long  time  have 
borne  the  brunt  of  battle.  This  con- 
tinued fighting  apparently  cau^ed  them 
to  leave  this  region  of   the   state,  for  in 


Brown's  Tract  in  their  hunting  expedi- 
tions, which  practice  was  continued  to  a 
time  within  the  memory  of  a  few  old 
people  now  living.  Between  the  Cana- 
dian Indians,  the  remnant  of  the  Iriquois 
Indians,  and  the  white  pioneers,  fierce 
conflicts  f'rtquently  ensued  ending  in  the 
death  of  the  one  who  failed  to  shoot  first. 
Attention  will  be  called  later  on  to  inci- 
dents illustrating  this  phase  of  life  in 
Brown's  Tract. 

Prior  to  the  War  of  the  Revolution, 
nothing  was  done  towards  the  develop- 
ment or  settlement  of  any  part  of 
Brown's  Tract.     Soon  after  the  close  of 


1701.  we  find  from   the  report  of   Robert   that  war.  there  was  a  great  land  boom 


Livingston,   Secretary   of   Indian  affairs 
for  this  Slate  that  the  Rondaxe  or  Adri- 


throughout  the  State.     Acts  of  the  Legis- 
lature were  passed  for  the  purpose  of  in- 


ondaks  Indians  are  named  as  one  of  the  ducing  settlement  upon  waste  and  unim- 
seven  tribes  of  French  Indiaas  and  their  proved  lands;  and  from  such  glimpses 
location  was  then  said  to  be  in  Canada,  as  we  can  obtain  of  the  condition  of 
souih  of  Montreal.  things  at  that  time,  speculation  inland 

Tradition  has   it  that  this  old  Indian  niust  have  equaled  in  extent  our  own 
route,  above  mentioned  extends  souther-    western  land  booms  of   which  we  some- 


ly  through  Remsen  to  the  Mohawk  Val- 
ley and  is  said  to  have  passed  along  sub- 


times  hear  at  the  present  day. 
On  the  10th  of  January,  1792,  the  peo- 


stancially  in   the  same   place  as   the  old   pie  of  the  State  of   New   York  patented 


Brown's  Tract  Road,  which  will  later  on 
be  noticed.  During  the  Revolutionary 
War  this  route  must  have  been  consider- 
ably used  by  the  Torys  and  Indians  in 
their  attacks  upon  the  Colonist  in  this 
section  of  the  State.  It  is  along  this 
route  that  Sir  John  Johnson  passed  from 


and  conveyed  to  Alexander  Macomb,  a 
famous  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  War, 
1,920,000  acres  of  land.  The  price  paid 
was  seventy- two  thousand  pounds,  which 
was  at  the  rate  of  nine  pence  per  acre. 
This  grant  included  Brown's  Tract.  The 
land  conveyed  by  the   Macomb  patent 


the  Mohawk  Valley  through  the  wilder-  was  bounded  northerly  and  westerly  by 
ness  to  Canada;  and  from  an  incident  the  St.  Lawrence  River  and  Lake  On- 
connected  with  that  expedition,  Rac-  tario  and  extended  easterly  and  souther- 
quetie  Lake  just  east  of  Brown's  Tract  ly  to  almost  the  center  of  the  State.  Its 
,derives  its  name.  This  expedition  of  southern  corner  was  a  copper  pin  driven 
Johnson's  was  late  in  the  winter  and  on  into  the  rocks  in  the  center  of  the  Adir- 
reaching  the  Lake  the  party  was  over-  ondacks  near  what  is  now  the  middle  of 
.taken  by  a  sudden  thaw  which  made  the  west  line  of  Hamilton  county, 
travel  on  snow-shoes  impossible,  and  as  Brown's  Tract  was  subsequently  carved 
the  Indians  and  Torys  did  not  wish  to  out  of  the  southeastern  part  of  the  Ma- 
carry  tlieir  snow-shoes,  or  Racquettes,  as  comb  purchase. 

they  were  termed  in   French,  they  piled       Macomb's    various    land    speculations 

them  on  the  shores  of  the  Lake  covering  caused  him  to   become  financially  em- 

Jihem  up,  and   made  there  a  large  heap  barrassed  and  on   the  6th  day  of  June, 

95 


1792,  he  conveyed  the  whole  1,920,000 
acres  to  William  Constable,  of  the  City  of 
New  York,  for  fifty  thousand  pounds. 

Six  months  thereafter.  Constable  con- 
veyed 1,280.000  acres  of  this  land,  includ- 
ing Brown's  Tract,  to  Samuel  Ward,  of 
the  City  of  New  York,  for  one  hundred 
thousand  pounds,  thereby  doubling  his 
money  besides  having  64,000  acres  of 
land  left  over. 

Two  years  later,  November  25tti,  1794, 
Samuel  Ward  sold  210, OOG  acres  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  his  Tract  to  James 
Greenleaf ,  of  New  York  City,  for  twenty, 
four  thousand  pounds.  This  was  the 
commencement  of  the  boundaries  of 
Brown's  Tract.  Greenleaf  mortgaged 
the  land  to  Phillip  Livingston;  and  sub- 
sequently gave  a  second  mortgage  to 
John  Brown,  of  Providence,  R.  I.  The 
L  vingston  mortgaare  was  foreclosed  and 
Brown,  in  order  to  save  the  money 
which  he  had  invested  in  his  second 
mortgage  on  December  29th,  1798,  took 
the  land  at  a  foreclosure  sale  and  from 
that  date  the  local  history  of  this  land 
as  Brown's  Tract  may  be  said  to  com- 
mence. 

John  Brown  wa?  born  m  Providence, 
R.  I.,  in  1734.  He  was  a  descendent  of 
Chad  Brown,  an  associate  of  Roger  Wil- 
liams. The  Brown  family  have  always 
been  one  of  the  most  noted  and  distin- 
guished families  of  Rhode  Island.  It 
has  given  to  Rhode  Island  a  Gov- 
ernor and  a  United  States  Senator. 
Among  the  descendants  of  John  Brown 
are  the  Herreshoffs,  of  Bristol,  R.  I.,  the 
boat  builders,  whose  racing  yachts,  the 
"Vigilant"  and  "Defender,"  are  well 
known.  The  name  of  the  Rhode  Island 
College  which  founded  in  1764,  was  in 
1804  changed  to  Brown  University,  in 
honor  of  John  Brown,  who  was  a  liberal 
benefactor  of  that  institution.  John 
Brown  early  became  engaged  in  marine 
commerce,  so  far  as  he  could  under  the 
restrictions  imposed  upon  Co'onial  Com- 
merce by  the  Govfrnment  of  Great  Brit- 
ain. He  is  said  to  have  been  the  first 
American  Merchant-man  to  engage  in 
trade  with  the  East  Indies, 

In  the  troubled  times  immediately  pre- 
ceedicg  the  out- break  between  the  Colo- 


nies and  Great  Britain,  Brown  took  an 
active  part  on  the  side  of  the  Colonists. 
As  a  young  man,  disguised  as  an  Indian 
he  led  the  attack  on  the  British  Revenue 
Schooner,  "Gaspee,"  a  vessel  of  eight 
guns  which  was  captured  by  him  and  his 
men  and  burned.  One  author  says, 
"Brown  was  the  first  man  to  board  the 
schooner." 

Speaking  of  the  incident  as  among  the 
causes  which  lead  up  to  the  Revolution- 
ary War,  Bancroft  in  his  history  of  the 
United  States  says :  "Inhabitants  of 
Providence  in  Rhode  Island  had  in 
March  1772  complained  to  the  Governor 
of  Lieutenant  Duddington,  Commander 
of  the  'Gaspse.'  Hopkins  the  Chief 
Justice  on  being  consulted  gave  the  opin- 
ion that  any  person  who  should  come  in- 
to the  Colony  and  exercise  any  author- 
ity by  the  force  of  arms  without  show- 
ing his  commission  to  the  Governor,  and 
if  a  Custome  House  Officer  without  be- 
ing sworn  into  his  office,  was  guilty  of 
trespass  if  not  of  piracy.  The  Govern- 
ment therefore  sent  a  Sheriff  on  board 
the  'Gaspee'  to  ascertain  by  what 
orders  the  Lieutenant  acted,  Dudding- 
ton referred  the  subjer^t  to  the  Admiral 
who  answered  from  Boston,  'The  Lieu- 
tenant Sir,  has  done  his  duty.  I  shall 
give  the  King's  Officers  directions  that 
they  send  every  man  taken  in  molesting 
them  to  me.  As  sure  as  the  people  of 
Newport  attempt  to  rescue  any  vessel 
and  any  of  them  are  taken  I  will  hang 
them  as  pirates.'  Duddington  seconded 
the  insolence  of  his  superior  officer,  in- 
sulted the  inhabitants,  plundered  the 
island  of  sheep  and  hogs,  cut  down 
trees,  fired  at  market  boats,  detained 
vessels  without  a  colorable  pretext  and 
made  illegal  seizures." 

"In  the  afteruoon  of  the  9th  of  June, 
the  Providence  packet  was  returning  to 
Providence  and  proud  of  its  speed  went 
gaily  on  regardless  of  the  'Gaspee.' 
Duddington  gave  chase,  the  tide  being 
about  two  hours  on  the  ebb,  the  packet 
ventured  near  the  shore.  The  'Gaspee' 
confidently  following  ran  aground  with- 
out a  chance  of  moving  before  high  tide. 
Informed  of  the  accident  John  Brown 
immediately  raised  a  party  of  shipmast- 


96 


ers,  embaiked   after  nightfall   in  six  or    hissonin-law 


Francis.     The  story 


seven  boats;  they   boarded   the  stranded    is   told   by   the   descendants  of  Brown's 
schooner  and  after  a  fight  in  which  Dud-    family,  that  a  cargo  of  East  Indian  mtr- 


dington  was  wounded,  took  and  landed 
the  crew  and  their  personal  property 
and  then  set  ihe  schooner  on  fire."' 

For  bravery  and  daring  this  was  not 
excelled  by  the  Boston  Tea   Party  or  the 


chandise  had  been  landed  and  sold  by 
Frances,  who  was  an  agent  of  Brown. 
Frances  fell  in  with  some  land  specula- 
tors and  yieldin^^  to  the  real  estate^boom 
then  so   universally   prevalent,  is  said  to 


capture  of  Fort  Ticonderoga.     As  may  have  invested  $50,000.00  of  the  money  of 

well  be  imagined  a  great  storm   of  rage  John   Brown     n  a  second    mortgage  on 

arose  on   the  part  of    the    British;    in-  Brown's    Tract.     This    investment    was 

quiries  and  investigations  were  had;  and  from  the  start  disapproved  of   by  Brown 

five  hundred  pounds   were  offered  as  a  and  was  a  source   to  him  and  his  family 

reward  for  evidence  that  would   lead  to  of  considerable  loss. 

the  conviction  of  the  perpetrators.  After  Brown  had  acquired  title  to  the 
Threats  of  execution  as  pirates  were  land  upon  the  foreclosure  of  the  Living- 
made  on  the  part  of  the  British,  but  all  stone  mortgage,  he  began  to  take  meas- 
of  no  avail.  While  Brown  and  his  asso-  ures  to  develop  and  settle  the  country, 
ciates  were  well  known  as  having  com-  He  first  caused  a  survey  of  the  land  to 
mitted  the  act.  a  British  Commission  es-  be  made  by  Arnold  Smith,  Elkanah 
pecially  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  in-  French  and  John  Allen  The  210,000 
vestigation  was  powerless  to  obtain  any  acres  were  subdived  into  eight  Town- 
evidence  against  him  or  his  companions,  ships,  which   were  numbered   from  one 

As  will  appear  from  the  records  of  the  to  eight  consecutively,  and  also  named. 

State  of  Rhode  Island,  John   Brown  was  The  names  which   Brown  gave  them  are 

a  member  of  the  Assembly  during  the  mottoes,    which   are  said   to  have  been 

entire  war  and  served   on  its  important  used    by    him    in    his   business    career, 

committees;  he  was  the  head  and  front  Township   No.    1,  was   named    Industry 

of  the  Naval  committee.  and  was  surveyed  into   160  aero  farms. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  Township  No.  2,  was,  named  Enterprise 
on  Taxation,  Parole  of  Prisoners  and  and  was  surveyed  into  one  half  mile 
Division  of  captured  stores.  In  those  squares.  Township  No.  3,  was  named 
days  every  marine  merchant  was  obliged  Perseverance  and  was  also  surveyed  in- 
to have  on  hand  a  considerable  arsenal,  to  one  half  mile  squares.  Township  No. 
80  as  to  protect  his  vessels  against  pirates  4,  was  named  Unanimity,  Township  No. 
and  this  was  especially  so  in  the  East  5,  Frugality,  Township  No.  6,  Sobriety, 
Indies,  where  considerable  of  Brown's  Township  No.  7,  Economy,  Township 
trading  was  carried  on.     Brown  and  his  No.  8.  Regularity. 

brothers  supplied  the  Colony  with  guns,        After  surveying  the   land  Brown  built 

powder  and  ammunition.  a  road  through  the  forest  from   Remsen, 

After  the  close  of  the   Revolutionary  Oneida  County,  to  Township  7,  upon  his 

War,    Brown     was  a  representative    in  Tract  a  distance  of  about  25  miles.     The 

Congress  from   1799  to  1801.     He  was  a  road  terminated  near  the  south  shore  of 

personal  friend  of  Washington,  who  held  the  Middle  Branch  of  the  Moose  River 

him  in  high    esteem,    and    among    the  in  the  center  of  the  Township  about  two 

choicest  heirlooms  of  his  family,  are  let-  miles  from   the  south   boundary   line  of 

ters  written  him  by  Washington.  his  Tract,  at  which  place  he  planned  a 

Brown  died   in   1803.     His   will   is  an  settlemtnt.     The   building  of  this  road 

interesting  document  and   throws  a  con-  for  a  single   individual,  must   have  been 

siderable  light  on   the  business,  customs  a   great  undertaking.       It  crossed   two 

and  manners  of  the  early  days  of  the  considerable  rivers,  the  Black  River  and 

Republic.  the  South  Branch    of  the  Moose  River, 

Brown  became  interested  in   Brown's  besides     several    smaller     streams.       It 

Tract  through  a  supposed  investment  of  crossed  the  Black  River  near  the  place 

97 


•where  the  Mohawk  &  Malone  Railway 
now  crosses  that  stream,  and  went  from 
thence  in  a  northeaateriy  dirtction  to 
the  middle  branch  of  the  Moose  River, 
crossing  the  south  branch  and  following 
substantially,  it  is  said,  the  old  Indian 
Trail.  Two  settlements  on  the  Tract 
were  startei  by  Brown;  one  upjn  Town- 
ship 1,  the  other  upon  Township  7.  The 
one  upon  Township  1,  was  known  as  the 
Middle  settlement.  The  Middle  settle- 
ment is  now  a  mere  tradition  among  a 
few  old  people.  The  remains  of  three 
houses  are  i-aid  to  be  still  discernible  in 
the  woods,  about  six  mdes  west  of  the 
Fultou  chain  along  the  old  Remsen  Road. 
This  is  all  there  is  left  of  the  Middle  set- 
tlment.  What  was  once  a  clearing  has 
lapsed  into  a  forest  with  only  a  few 
traces  that  it  was  ever  tbe  abode  of  man. 
The  only  mention  made  in  the  records 
relative  to  th  s  settlement  that  I  have 
found  is  in  the  will  of  John  Brown 
wherem  he  spates  that  upon  Township  1, 
"There  are  two  log  houses,  a  good  barn 
and  a  considerable  of  chared  land,"  In 
one  of  the  conveyances  from  Brown's 
grandchildren  of  Township  1,  three  lots 
are  excepted  "at  or  near  the  Middle 
settlement,  sold  or  contracted  to  be  sold 
to  one  Wilcox,"  presumably  one  of  the 
settlers. 

At  what  is  now  Old  Forge  in  Town- 
ship 7,  Brcwn  built  a  saw  mill,  a  grist 
mill,  some  houses  and  a  frontier  store. 

All  this  was  done  prior  to  1803,  for  in 
his  will  dated  Jnue  12th,  1802.  we  find 
the  following  in  the  schedule  of  asset?: 
"Township  7,  Economy,  through  which 
the  large  and  fine  river  called  Moose 
River  runs  and  upon  which  I  have  made 
great  impi'ovements  of  a  grist  mill,  saw 
mill,  store  etc.'" 

Brown's  aim  was  to  make  permanent 
settlements  on  the  Tract  and  to  convert 
the  wilderness  into  farms.  A  mill  dam 
was  built  across  the  mouth  of  the  mid- 
dle branch  of  the  Moose  River  then 
called  Mill  Creek  on  the  site  of  the  pres- 
ent dam  at  Old  Forge,  for  the  purpose  of 
obtaining  power  to  run  his  saw  mill  and 
grist  mill.  The  saw  mill  which  he  built 
is  said  to  have  been  located  in  about  the 
same  place   as  the  present  saw   mill  at 


Old  Forge.  His  grist  mill  is  said  to  have 
been  erected  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river,  a  little  lower  down  stream. 

Brown,  as  far  as  I  can  find,  was  only 
once  upon  the  Tract  superintending^  its. 
settlement.  Its  development  here  was 
intrusted  almost  entirely  to  agents. 
Personally  Brown  was  a  man  of  short 
stature  and  weighed  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  three  hundred  pounds.  He 
drove  about  in  a  specially  constructed 
gig,  built  low,  so  as  to  make  it  i)o^sible 
for  him  to  get  in  and  out.  However, 
notwithstanding  these  physical  defects, 
his  decendants,  I  am  informed,  have 
recently  discovered  a  letter,  showing 
that  under  all  these  personal  disadvan- 
tages he  made  a  visit  to  the  Tract. 

Brown  did  not  long  survive  his  at- 
tempted settlement;  he  died  in  1803. 
Hoiv  many  settlers  there  were,  and  who 
they  were  and  whence  they  came,  is  not 
known,  so  far  as  I  have  learned.  The 
climate  was  cold  and  unfavorable  for 
agricultural  operations.  The  soil  was 
poor;  the  location  in  the  center  of  a 
lar^e  dreary  forest,  miles  and  miles  away 
from  any  settlement.  The  tide  of  immi- 
gration was  all  towards  the  west,  leav- 
ing this  little  community  far  to  one  side. 
Gradually  the  setilers  whom  he  brought 
there  left  the  place.  Tradiiion  says  that 
the  last  to  leave  were  two  families  by 
the  name  of  Clark.  According  to  the 
story  two  brotheis  of  that  name,  who 
were  among  the  settlers  whom  Brown 
brought  to  the  Tract  remained  long  after 
the  others  had  left.  One  of  the  brothers 
was  sick  with  cancer  and  while  he  was 
ill,  the  supplies  gave  out;  the  other 
brother  started  out  throut;h  the  forest  to 
Remsen,  miles  away  for  aid.  While  he 
was  absent  a  severe  storm  came  up  and 
swept  away  the  br  dge  across  the  South 
Branch  of  the  Moose  River,  which  con- 
siderably delayed  assistance;  and  finally 
when  relief  came  the  sick  brother  had 
been  dead  several  days  and  had  been 
buried  by  tl.e  wife  and  sister-in-law. 
The  Clark  families  then  moved  away 
and  the  settlement  was  deserted,  the 
houses  being  left  tenantless  and  the  mills 
being  left  to  crumble.  Trees,  which  are 
now  of  large  size,  began  to  grow  in  the 


I 


old  ReiTuseB  Hoid,  so  that  at  the  present  substantially  well   bailt.     The   ruins  of 

time,    in    many  pieces  only  woodsmen  many  of  the  bridges  are  still  to  be  seen; 

skilled   in    forest    craft    are   capable    of  the  ditches  on   the   sides  are    ii    s)rae 

tracino;  out  the  road.  places  well  defined,  and   growing  in  the 

The  fields  which  Brown  cleared  have  form<^r  traveled  way  are  trees  at  least  a 
become  again  a  part  of  the  forest,  foot  and  a  half  in  diameter.  Over  this 
Scones  which  were  picked  up  and  piled  road,  during  that  war,  soldiers  were 
m  heaps  bjMhe  farmeis  in  clearing  their  marched  and  munitions  of  war  irans- 
fields  are  now  all  moss  grown.  Run-  ported.  The  diuin  and  fife  for  a  time 
ning  through  the  forest  where  the  old  awoke  the  echoes  of  the  wood;  then 
clearings  were,  are  still  to  be  found  the  gradually  the  forest  began  to  re-assert 
back  furrows  of  tlie  plowmen.  A  few  itself  and  to  the  casual  observer  of  to- 
gnarled  apple  trees  started  by  these  day  ihisold  road  is  entirely  b'otied  out. 
early  settlers  are  occasionally  found  By  the  will  of  John  B  own  the  title  to 
struggling  among  the  other  trees  that  the  laiger  part  of  Brown's  Tract  passed 
have  since  grown  up.  The  remains  of  a  to  his  grandson.  John  Brown  Francis,  of 
few  old  chimneys  at  who?e  hearth  stones  Warwick,  R.  I.  Francis  was  at  one 
once  gathered  the  early  pioneer  and  his  time  a  Senator,  representing  his  State 
family  and  about  which  his  children  in  the  United  States  Senate,  and  subse- 
played  are  still  e-cat'ered  about.  Or  the  quently  became  iis  Govemor. 
grist  mill,  all  that  is  now  left  is  the  mill  :Soou-after  the  close  of  the  war  of  1813, 
stone  lying  in  the  b^d  of  the  river,  Francis   bej^an  plans  for  the  settlement 

April  8th,  1811,  the  Legislature  of   the  of  the  Tract.      During  the  intervening 

State  passed  an  act  entitled  "An  Act  for  years   the  road  cut  out  by  Brown  from 

the  Improvement  of   the  Internal   Navi-  Remsen,   had   bpcome    impas^ib'e    and, 

gation   of  the  State  for  the  purpose  of  preliminary  to  any  settlement  or  devel- 

«3tablishing  a  communication   by  means  opmeat  of  the  Tract,  this  road  had  either 

of    a    Canal     Navigation     between    the  tj  be   repiirel   or  a  new  road   huilt.     In 

Great  Lakes  and  the  Hudson  River."     A  the  meantime   Boonville   had   become  a 

commission   was   appointed  for  the  con-  lively   and    important   settlem*  nt,  being 

sideratioa  of  all  matters  relative  to  the  the  trade  center  for  all   that  section  of 

subj-ct,  the  State.     Accordingly  Francis  decided 

Robert  Fulton,  the  inventor  of  the  to  cut  out  a  nevv  road  from  Boonville, 
steamboat,  was  appointed  on  the  Com-  instead  of  repairing  the  Remsen  Road. 
mission.  Fulton  was  at  that  time  one  In  1816.  he  petitioned  the  Legislature 
of  ihe  for<  most  Engineers  of  the  nation,  for  authority  to  cut  a  road  from  Boon- 
He  had  made  the  building  of  canals  a  ville  to  the  State  road  above  mentioned, 
special  study.  Acting  under  this  Com-  running  from  Albany  to  the  St.  Law- 
mision  from  the  Legislature,  Fulion  vis-  rence.  Permission  being  given  in  that 
ited  and  explored  the  southern  part  of  year  and  the  succeeding  year  the  Boon- 
Brown's  Ti  act  for  the  purpose  of  ascer-  viik  Road  to  Brown  Tract  was  cut  out 
taining  the  adaptability  of  the  streams  and  openei. 

and  lakes  of  that  region  as  a  part  of  ihe  Charles  Frederick  Herresboff ,  an  uncle 
proposed  canal  system  Stretching  across  of  Francis,  a  son-m-law  of  John  Brown, 
the  southern  part  of  Brown's  Tract  was  and  a  grandfather  of  the  present  I  oat 
a  beautiful  chain  of  lakes,  which  Fulton  builders  at  Bristol,  R.  I.,  became  inter- 
explored  and  about  which  he  was  very  e?ted  in  this  proposed  settlement.  Per- 
enthusiastic.  Since  that  trip  the-e  lakes  sonally.  Herresboff  is  said  to  have  been 
have  been  known  as  the  Fulton  Chain.  a  fine  appearing  man  of  commanding 

During  the   war  of   1812,  a  road  was  size,  enthuastic  in   disposition,  tenacious 

cut  through  the  wilderness  for  military  of  purpose,  though  somewhat   visionary 

purposes  from   Albany   to  Sacket's  Har-  perhaps.     He   was  a  nun   of   many    ac- 

bor,  which  passed  just   east  of  Brown's  complishments,   a  fine  linguist, and  mu- 

Tract.     This    old    road    was  apparently  sician,  qualities  however,  of  not            li 

99 


practical  value  in   pioneer  life.     He  was   also  built  a  large  barn   a  short  distance 


a  Prussian  by  birth  and  came  to  this 
country  shortly  after  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  War.  Herreshoff  pur- 
chased a  considerable  portion  of  Town- 
ship 7,  and  came  on  from  Rhode  Island. 
8ometi"'e  about  1817,  for  the  purpose  of 
settling  and  developing  the  Tract.  Iron 
ore  had  been  discovered  near  the  old 
settlement  and  an  iron  works  was  pro- 
jected and  started.  Herreshoff  is  said 
to  have  gathered  together  some  forty 
families.  The  old  clearings  were  again 
occupied;  new  clearings  made  and 
cabins  built  An  iron  mine  was  opened 
nearly  opposite  the  site  of  the  depot  at 
Fulton  Chain,  and  on  the  westerly  side 
where  to  this  day  is  pointed  out  to  the 
tourist  a  large  hole  in  the  rocks  from 
which  the  ore  was  taken.  Old  drill 
marks  are  still  to  be  seen  about  the  mine 
at  the  entrance  of  which  is  a  tree  some 
eight  inches  in  diameter  growing  up 
among  refuse  thrown  out  of  the  mine; 
while  at  the  bottom,  fed  by  little  veins 
of  pure  cold  Adirondack  water  is  a 
well  of  some  little  depth.  The  place  is 
sometimes  spoken  of  as  John  Brown's 
well. 

There  was  no  power  near  the  mine  to 
operate  an  iron  works,  or  to  reduce  the 
ore;  and  Herreshoff  accordingly  built  a 
mill,  or  forge,  about  one  and  a  half 
miles  away  near  the  dam  across  the 
middle  branch  of  the  Moose  River  pre- 
viously built  by  Brown,  his  father-in- 
law.  His  forge  is  said  to  have  been 
located  just  below  the  grist  mill.  Heavy 
machinery  was  taken  through  the  woods 
and  set  up  here  in  the  heart  of  the  forest. 
Considerable  preparation  was  made  for 
the  manufacture  of  iron.  A  nail  shop 
was  started.  Herreshoff  built  for  him- 
self what  must  have  been  in  those  days 
and  for  that  place,  a  tine  house,  made 
of  timber  and  boards,  sawed  at  the  old 
saw  mill  built  by  his  father-in-law.  The 
house  was  located  nearly  opposite  the 
site  of  the  railway  depot,  at  Fulton 
Chain  and  on  the  westerly  side  and  sub- 
sequently became  known  as  the  Arnold 
House,  It  was  standing  until  about  a 
year  ago  in  a  dilapidated  condition  when 
it   was  destroyed    by    fire.     Herreshoff 


from  his  dwelling,  on  the  top  of  which 
was  a  cupalo  in  which  a  bell  was  placed 
for  the  purpose  of  summoning  his  men 
to  their  meals. 

Coal  was  of  course  necessary  for  the 
reduction  of  iron  ore,  and  for  this  pur- 
pose charcoal  was  manufactured.  A 
hill  a  short  distance  from  the  Fulton 
Chain  station,  known  as  coal  hill,  was 
entirely  cut  over  for  the  purpose  of 
manufacturing  charcoal.  The  visitor 
standing  today,  looking  at  this  hill,  un- 
less sKilied  in  wood  craft  would  never 
mistrust  that  any  of  its  timber  had  ever 
been  cut.  Occasionally  in  other  places 
in  the  woods  in  that  vicinity,  old  char- 
coal pits  are  to  be  met  with.  I  have 
seen  it  stated  that  Herreshoff  manu- 
factured a  ton  of  iron,  every  pound  of 
which  cost  him  a  dollar.  The  accuracy 
of  this  statement  I  have  been  unable  to 
verify.  In  any  event,  mining  and  the 
reduction  of  iron  ore  did  not  prove  profit- 
able. The  ore  was  of  low  grade  and  is 
said  to  have  contained  considerable  sul- 
pher,  which  made  its  reduction  difScult 
and  expensive.  About  this  time  large 
iron  mines  were  opened  and  worked  in 
other  portions  of  the  state  where  iron 
could  be  produced  much  cheaper  than 
upon  Brown's  Tract. 

Herreshoff  is  said  to  have  struggled 
heroically  here  against  great  odds.  He 
planned  for  the  conversion  of  the  forest 
into  farms  and  at  the  same  time  for  the 
development  of  iron  mines  and  iron 
works.  The  conditions  for  settling  the 
country  were  of  course  just  as  unfavor- 
able with  Herreshoff  as  with  Brown. 
The  settlers  whom  he  brought  upon  the 
Tract  became  discontented:  poor  soil, 
severe  climate  and  isolation  in  the  midst 
of  a  great  forest,  was  more  than  Herre- 
shoff could  successfully  contend  with. 
Then  he  became  indebted  considerably 
to  his  miners  and  iron  workers.  The 
funds  which  he  brought  with  him  be- 
came exhausted.  Drafts  which  he  drew 
upon  his  family  in  Providence  were  re- 
turned unaccepted;  and  he  was  con- 
fronted with  ruin  In  the  midst  of  his 
despair,  1819,  he  committed  suicide  by 
shooting  himself  in  the  head.     The  place 


100 


where  he  killed  himself  was  just  out- 
side of  his  house;  where  as  we  shall 
see,  sul'sequent  tragedies  were  enacted. 
Herresboflf's  body  was  brought  to  Boon- 
viile  and  buried.  So  ended  a  career  of 
disappointed  ambition.  With  the  death 
of  Herreshoff,  the  settlem  nt  broke  up. 
The  iron  workers  and  miners  left  and 
gradually  the  settlers  moved  away. 

One  of  the  most  noted  settlers  who 
came  upon  the  Tract  during  Herreshoff's 
time,  was  Major  Abiathar  Joy,  a  soldier 
in  the  Revolutionary  Army.  Maj  )r  Joy, 
originally  came  from  Vermont  and  set- 
tled in  Remden  m  1803.  He  purchased 
a  160  acre  lot  near  the  old  Forge,  in  1814, 
upon  which  he  subsequently  cleared 
about  fifty  acres  aad  built  a  substantial 
house  and  barn.  He  kept  his  Remsen 
farm  however,  where  a  portion  of  his 
family  resided  and  a  portion  went  with 
him  to  Brown's  Tract.  This  Joy  clear- 
ing is  on  the  road  going  from  Old  Forge 
to  Nick's  Lake. 

Among  the  people  attracted  to  Brown's 
Tract  by  Herreshoff's  developments,  was 
Nicholas  Vincent,  who  came  from  Rus- 
sia. Herkimer  CjunCy.  The  Vmcent 
place  in  Russia  is  now  occupied  by  Leroy 
Moon.  Vincent  was  by  trade  a  nail  work- 
er and  went  to  Brown's  Tract  and  opened 
a  nail  factory  or  shop.  In  those  days  all 
nails  were  made  by  hand,  each  nail  be- 
ing separately  fashioned  on  the  anvil. 
While  here,  Vincent  married  Elizabeth, 
the  daughter  of  Major  Joy.  This  so  far 
as  I  have  learned,  was  the  first  wedding 
upon  the  Tract,  save  perhaps  the  red 
man's  nuptials.  The  manner  of  the  cel- 
ebration of  this  event  I  have  not  learned. 
It  is  safe  to  say,  however,  that  the  wed- 
ding feast  must  have  been  replete  with 
game  and  fish  for  which  this  region  is 
so  famous.  Vincent  is  said  to  have 
been  a  great  hunter  and  fisherman,  and 
a  beautiful  lake  where  he  used  to  fish, 
now  known  as  Nick's  Lake  a  few  miles 
southwest  of  the  Joy  clearing  was  named 
in  honor  of  Nicholas  Vincent,  the  first 
bridegroom  of  John  Brown's  Tract. 
The  Joys  and  Vincents  kept  up  their 
Brown's  Tract  home  several  years.  The 
journey  in  and  out  must  have  been  a 
great  undertaking,  especially  in  the  win- 

101 


made  an  effort  to 
The  settlement  of 
begun  in  1822  and 
County,    near    the 


ter  time.  Their  descendants  remember 
many  stories  of  the  difficulties  met  with 
in  going  back  and  forth  from  Russia  to 
Brown's  Tract.  An  ox  team  was  gen- 
erally used.  The  journey  took  t))em 
thirty  miles  through  the  woods.  Snow 
three  or  four  feet  deep  had  to  be  shov- 
eled away  to  make  camp  for  the  night, 
and  stakes  and  poles  cut  to  build  a  tem- 
porary shelter  which  was  cove.ed  with 
hemlock  boughs.  Camp  fires  were  built 
with  flint,  steel  and  punk  wood,  with 
which  to  fiighten  off  the  wolves  and  to 
keep  themselves  from  freezing.  Their 
bed  was  hemlock  boughs.  Can  it  be 
wondered  at  when  the  journey  in  and 
out  was  attemied  with  such  hardships, 
that  the  settlement  was  not  a  success. 

Soon  after  Herreshoff  made  his  at- 
tempted settlement  at  Old  Forge  in 
Township  7.  Francis 
settle  Township  4. 
Township  No.  4,  was 
was  made  in  Lewis 
line  between  Herkimer  and  Lewis.  As 
this  portion  of  the  history  of  Brown's 
Tract  belongs,  properly  speaking,  to 
Lewis  County,  it  will  here  be  only  brief- 
ly mentioned.  Francis  first  cut  out  a 
road  through  the  woods  to  the  place  of 
his  proposed  settlement.  The  last  five 
miles  of  this  road  must  be  in  the  same 
primitive  condition  today  as  when  open- 
ed by  Francis.  A  tourist  describes  it  as 
follows  :  "The  road  the  most  of  the 
way  is  paved —by  nature— and  the  pav- 
ing stones  average  perhaps  two  feet  in 
diameter  *  *  *  The  ride  is  to  «ive 
one  the  feeling  of  being- sifted  out  along 
the  road  through  the  bottom  of  the 
wagon  *  *  *  As  a  means  of  bodily 
exerci.se  and  as  a  promoter  of  digestion, 
that  road  stands  out  in  bold  relief.  It 
winds  through  a  leafy  arch  all  lovliness 
except  the  bottom." 

The  plan  adopted  by  Francis  in  his 
settlement  of  No.  4,  was  to  give  outright 
a  farm  to  the  first  ten  settlers  This 
plan  was  apparently  quite  taking  for 
from  1822  to  1835,  some  seventy-five 
settlers  were  said  to  have  been  living  at 
No.  4.  Something  like  2,000  acres  were 
cleared  in  thf»  settlement  about  No.  4, 
A  school  was  started.     For  a  time  a  pas- 


or  was  stationed  at  the  settlement  and 
a  revival  was  lieli.  An  era  of  activity 
was  inaugurated,  wiiich  lasted,  however, 
for  only  a  few  years.  The  settlers  here 
found   the  same    discouraging    circum- 


charge  of  the  property  and  lived  in  the 
old  Herreshoff  place.  Thomas  had  two 
married  sons,  by  the  name  of  Lewis  and 
Isaac,  both  of  whom  moved  upon  the 
Tract  with  their  families  and  in  addition 


stances  as  were    met   with  on  Township  there    were    the    following  :      Ephriam 

7;  poor,   light    soil,    upon    which    little  Justin,    of    Boonville,    Green    White,  a 

could  be   produced;  cold,  backward  sea-  hunter  and  trapper,  Robert   Pritchard,  a 

sons  and   complete   isolation.     Stories  of  blacksmith,  Caleb  Sweet  and  a  few  oth- 

rich  lauds  in  the  west  circulated  among  ers.     I  am   indebted  to  the  daughter  of 

the  settlers  and  they  too,  like  the  settlers  Caleb  Sweet.    Mrs.    George    Hovey.    of 

on   Township    7,    gradually    abandoned  Forestport,   N.  Y.,  now   an  old   lady  87 

their  frontier  homes.  years  of  age,  for  an  account  of  this  third 

The  forest  bcfjan  to  re-assert  itself  attempted  settlement.  The  Sweet  settle- 
gradually,  and  crept  into  the  clearmgs.  ment  was  near  the  old  Joy  clearuig  and 
The  dwellings  and  buildings  passed  into  was  made  upon  a  clearing  that  had 
decay,  leaving  only  the  remains  of  eel-  formerly  been  occupied.  Most  of  these 
lars  and  hearthstones.  One  of  the  early  settlers  took  up  old  clearings.  One  man 
pettlers  of  No.  4,  was  Orrin  Fenton.  however,  is  said  to  have  gone  up  on 
Unlike  his  neighbors,  Fenton  seemed  to  First  Lake  and  to  have  made  a  clearing, 
be  possessed  of  the  spirit  of  thrift  and  At  that  time  the  saw  mill  that  had  been 
economy,  and  in  the  midst  of  discourag-  built  by  Brown  had  so  far  gone  into  de- 
ing  circumstances,  he  and  his  family  cay  as  not  to  be  used.  The  grist  mill  was 
prospered.  He  did  not  prosper  however,  in  poor  condition  but  could  still  grind, 
as  a  farmer,  but  later  on  as  a  hotel,  or  There  was  no  miller  and  each  settler 
boarding  house  keeper.  This  region  of  ground  his  own  corn.  The  Old  Forge 
the  country  early  became  famous  for  mill  built  by  Herreshoff  was  a  plaything 
sportsmen  and  tourists.  Fenton  enter-  for  the  children:  it  was  their  favorite 
tained  them  and  in  this  way  added  to  his  amusement  to  go  down  to  the  mill,  let 
prosperity.  The  Fenton  family  is  the  the  water  on  the  wheel  and  start  the 
only  family  of  the  early  settlers  at  No.  4,  machinery  to  see  the  big  hammer  play 
who  have  continued  there.  That  settle-  with  which  they  broke  up  stones.  A 
ment  has  dwindled  to  a  population  now  school  was  started.  It  was  taught  one 
of  only  five  families.  The  school  was  summer  in  the  deserted  barn  on  the  .Joy 
long  ago  abandoned.  In  the  summer  clearing  by  Emeline  Sperry,  who  came 
time  Fenton's  No  4,  has  from  100  to  200  from  Russia.  There  were  15  pupils  at- 
guests,  so  that  now  the  forest  therebouts  tending  school.  During  this  time  Indian 
is  lively  with  pleasure  seekers,  and  re-  hunters  were  frequently  met  with  in 
sounds  with  the  mirth  of  tourists,  instead  the  woods,  both  Canadian  and  Oneida 
of  the  lowing  of  kine  and  the  plowman's  Indians,  Moose  were  then  very  plenty, 
song,  as  was  anticipated  by  Francis.  The  children  of   the  settlement  had  at 

After  the  death  of  Herreshoff,  a  third  one  time  a  tame  moose  for  a  pet.     The 

and   last  attempt   was  made  in   1821  by  settlers  found  a  nursery  of  apple  trees 

the  Brown   family  to  settle  Township  7  which  had  been  planted  years  before  by 


Silas  Thomas,  originally  from  Rhode 
Island,  was  the  agent  in  charge.  He 
offered  as  an  inducement  160  acres  of 
land  to  the  first  ten  settlers  who  would 
go  there  and  settle  provided  they  re- 
mained two  years,  aod  also  to  each  fam- 
ily a  cow  and  ten  sheep.  Some  few 
settlers,  ten  families  in  all  were  gotten 
together.  The  settlers  so  far  as  I  have 
learned  were  Silas  Thoma 


Brown  in  his  attempted  settlement. 
Some  of  these  trees  were  taken  up  and 
in  a  few  instances  orchards  started.  The 
same  discouraging  features,  however, 
existed  as  in  the  former  settlements  and 
in  a  few  years  the  settlers  and  their  fam- 
ilies had  all  gone.  This  was  the  last 
attempt  at  settlement  made  by  the 
Brown  family.     As  one  ef  the  causes  of 


who  was  in   disintegration  attending  this  last  settle- 
102 


ment,  mention  should  be  made  of  the 
settlers  wives,  all  of  whom  it  is  said, 
protested  viojorously  against  this  isola- 
tion. Society  here  had  but  few  attrac- 
tions. The  only  social  event  occuring 
during  this  period  of  which  I  have 
learned  was  a  basket  picnic  on  July  4th, 
1821,  up  to  the  Fourth  Lake,  Fulton 
Chain.  This  was  the  first  known  picnic 
excursion  to  a  lake  which  has  now  be- 
come famous  for  such  purposes. 

After  the  abandonment  of  this  settle- 
ment, the  celebrated  hunter  and  trapper, 
Nathaniel  Foster,  became  a  resident  of 
Brown's  Tract  living  at  the  old  Herres- 
hoff  place.  Foster  is  a  man  about  whom 
much  has  been  said  and  written;  and  the 
history  of  Brown's  Tract  would  be  quite 
incomplete  without  an  account  of  Uncle 
Nat,  as  he  was  generally  called. 

The  father  of  Nathaniel  Foster,  Nath- 
aniel Foster,  Sr.,  originally  came  from 
Rhode  Island.  Prior  to  the  Revolution- 
ary War,  ho  settled  with  his  family  at 
Hensdale,  Windom  County,  N.  H.  At  the 
outbreaK  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  Fos- 
ter enlisted  in  the  Regular  Army,  leaving 
his  wife  and  four  children  to  support 
themselves.  He  remained  with  the  army 
seven  years  and  ten  months  without 
returnmg  home.  He  accompanied  Arn- 
old in  his  expedition  up  the  Mohawk  to 
the  relief  of  Fort  Stanwix,  While  on 
the  trip  he  became  so  well  pleased  with 
the  Mohawk  Valley,  the  fertility  of  its 
soil  etc..  that  he  determined  to  remove 
here  when  the  war  was  over.  Soon 
after  his  discbarge  from  the  Army,  he 
started  with  his  family  and  some  of  his 
neighbors  for  the  Mohawk  Valley.  He 
got  as  far  aa  the  east  branch  of  the  Hud- 
son River  when  the  funds  and  supplies 
of  the  family  gave  out  and  they  were 
obliged  to  temporarily  locate.  Indians 
were  then  quite  common  throughout  the 
country,  and  although  the  contending 
whites  had  ceased  hostilities,  it  took 
some  considerable  time  for  the  Indians 
to  comprehend  that   fighting  must  stop. 

During  this  time  bands  of  Indians 
still  prowled  about  and  committed  var- 
ious depredations.  At  this  period  of  his 
life  there  oocured  an  incident  which 
perhaps    explains     somewhat     Foster's 


hatred  of  Indians.  One  day  while  the 
family  were  engaged  in  the  fields  at 
work,  a  band  of  Indians  made  a  descent 
upon  the  Foster  home  and  carried  away 
their  daughter,  Sybil.  A  rescue  party 
of  which  young  Foster  was  a  member 
went  in  pursuit,  overtook  the  Indians, 
and  rescued  the  girl. 

As  young  Foster  and  his  brothers 
grew  up  so  as  to  begin  life  for  themselves 
they  started  for  the  Mohawk  Vallej-, 
which  had  so  long  b^en  a  land  of  prom- 
ise for  the  family,  but  when  they  reached 
the  valley,  they  found  that  since  their 
father's  expedition  with  Arnold  all  the 
land  had  been  taken  up.  Foster  first 
settled  in  Manheim,  near  where  William 
Peck  now  lives.  Here  for  a  time  he 
lived  a  pioneer  life.  For  a  few  months 
of  the  year  he  farmed  it,  while  the  rest 
of  the  time  he  hunted  and  trapped.  As 
game  became  scarce  in  Salisbury  and 
Manheim,  he  gradually  extended  his 
hunting  and  trapping  back  into  the 
woods,  and  finally  Brown  s  Tract  became 
the  scene  of  his  principal  operations. 
Foster  was  the  type  of  a  man  which  has 
long  since  disappeared.  He  was  one  of 
much  the  same  type  as  Nattie  Bumpo, 
who  supplied  Cooper  with  his  D^er 
Slayer,  Path  Finder,  Hawk  Eye  and 
Pioneer.  Foster,  however,  was  never 
immortalized  by  a  Cooper. 

During  this  time  hunting  parties  of 
Indians  were  frequently  met  with  in  the 
woods.  Between  these  Indians  on  the 
one  hand  and  the  white  hunters,  such  as 
Major  Stoner  and  Nathaniel  Foster  on 
the  other,  there  was  almost  continual 
fighting.  The  Indians  would  steal  Fos- 
ter's furs  and  traps  and  camp  outfit. 
The  only  security  against  such  thefts 
would  be  prompt  and  swift  retaliation. 
It  is  said  to  have  been  the  white  hunter's 
rule  never  to  let  the  same  Indian  steal 
twice.  We  are  also  to  bear  in  mind  that 
during  this  period,  there  existed  an  al- 
most universal  hatred ,  against  the  In- 
dians, fierce  in  its  intensity,  brought 
about  largely  by  the  bloody  and  cruel 
part  which  the  Indians  had  taken  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,  which  is  still  fresh 
in  the  minds  of  the  people.  Brown's 
Tract  was  a  rich  hunting  ground    and 


103 


many  are  the  border  fights  which  oc- 
curred there.  It  may  be  interes'ang  to 
note  that  this  custom  of  the  Indians' 
using  Brown's  tract  for  purposes  of  hunt- 
ing and  trapping  is  still  remembered  by 
a  few  old  people  now  living.  Canadian 
Indians  from  the  north  would  gradually 
work  their  way  through  the  forest, 
hunting  and  trapping  as  they  went, 
taking  their  furs  to  the  Albany  market; 
and  it  was  not  an  unfrequenc  sight  for 
the  early  settlers  at  No.  4,  to  see  at  times, 
Indians  proudly  walking  through  the 
forest  past  the  settlement,  guns  in  hand 
ready  for  an  emergency,  while  on  be- 
hind trudged  the  patient  squaws,  draw- 
mg  rude  sleds  made  of  birch  saplings, 
loaded  with  furs  and  camp  outfit.  These 
sleds  were  made  of  two]birch  saplings, 
over  the  lower  end  of  which  cross  pieces 
were  placed  and  upon  these  were  piled 
the  furs  and  camp  outfits,  while  between 
the  upper  ends  of  the  siplings  which 
projected  out  and  ujj  like  a  pair  of 
wagon  thills,  trudged  the  faithful  squaw, 
drawing  the  whole  by  means  of  a  band 
passed  over  h^r  forehead.  Fierce  drink- 
ing carousals  would  be  indulged  in  by 
the  Indians  ujion  reaching  the  frontier 
tavern,  and  for  these  sprees  they  would 
plan  systematicall)'.  They  would  plan  to 
always  have  one  sober  Indian  in  the  lot. 
Before  commencing  their  drunk,  they 
would  turn  over  to  tlie  Indian  who  was 
to  remain  sober  all  their  weapons  and 
place  themselves  absolutely  under  his 
control.  His  word  for  the  time  being 
must  be  obeyed;  and  power  of  execu- 
tion was  also  given  to  such  an  extent  it 
is  said,  that  if  they  did  not  obey,  he  had 
the  right  then  and  there  of  summarily 
killing  in  order  to  secure  obedience. 
The  same  Indian  stayed  sober  one  day 
only,  when  his  place  was  taken  by  an- 
other who  must  sober  up  and  refrain 
from  drinking  for  the  next  day.  In 
this  way  the  Indians  controlled  them- 
selves while  drinking  and  from  this  cus- 
tom originated  the  phrase  sometimes 
met  with  today,  "One  sober  Indian  in 
the  lot." 

In  February,  1833,  Nathaniel  Foster 
purchased  an  assignment  of  a  lease  of 
the  Herreshoff  place  on  Brown's  Tract. 


There  was  upon  the  Tract  at  that  time, 
three  other  hunters  and  trappers  who 
lived  in  the  abandoned  homes  of  the 
Herreshoff  settlers  Soon  after  Foster 
had  established  himself  in  the  old  Herres- 
hoff place  a  Saint  Regis  Indian,  named 
Peter  Waters,  familiarly  known  as  Drid, 
temporarily  located  in  that  vicinity  for 
a  hunt.  Between  Foster  and  this  In- 
dian a  quarrel  arose.  Drid  threatened 
the  life  of  Foster  on  seveial  occasions 
and  the  quarrel  reached  such  a  degree 
of  intensity  that  it  only  became  a  ques- 
tion of  who  should  shoot  first.  Foster 
was  then  sixty  years  of  age,  while  the 
Indian  was  about  thirty. 

One  morning  while  Foster  was  across 
the  river  from  the  Herreshoff  place,  at 
iheCaiupof  Johnson  which  must  have 
been  in  the  Sweet  house,  planning  a 
hunt  to  Fourth  Lake,  the  Indian  came 
in,  assaulted  Foster  with  a  knife  and 
made  a  furious  attempt  upon  his  life. 
Johnson  interferred  and  Foster  with- 
drew. Going  home  Foster  obtained  his 
rifie  and  cut  across  the  country,  nearly 
opposite  to  First  Lake  where  a  point  of 
land  projects  into  the  water;  here  he 
stationed  himself  behind  the  bushes  and 
waited  for  the  Indian,  whom  he  ex- 
pected was  on  his  way  to  Racquette  Lake. 
Soon  Drid  together  with  a  party  of 
others  came  paddling  along.  Drid  evi- 
dently was  expecting  trouble,  for  he 
kept  the  other  canoes  of  the  party  be- 
tween him  and  the  shore.  This  posi- 
tion however,  was  no  security  for  the 
Indian,  Foster's  aim  was  too  certain 
and  accurate.  As  Foster  arose  to  fire 
the  Indian  caught  a  glimpse  of  him, 
and  threw  up  his  hands  in  terror  just  as 
two  bullets  entered  his  body. 

Some  time  after  killing  the  Indian, 
Foster  was  arrested  by  the  authorities 
of  Lewis  County.  After  his  arrest  it  was 
found  that  the  killing  was  committed 
in  Herkhner  county  and  he  was  accord- 
ingly removed  here  to  the  Herkimer  jail. 
I  have  met  a  few  old  people  who  re- 
member him  while  here  in  jail. 

The  trial  of  Foster  vvas  a  remarkable 
one  from  a  legal  standpoint.  He  was 
tried  here  at  Herkimer,  February  1834. 
The  court  was  composed  of  Hon.  Hiram 


104 


i 


Denio,  presiding,  who  was  one  o'  the 
great  judges  of  this  state,  and  Jonas 
Cleveland,  of  Warren,  John  B.  Dygert, 
of  Frankfort,  father  of  Mrs.  Thomas 
Richardson,  of  Ilion,  Abijah  Osborn,  of 
Herkimer,  and  Richard  Herrenden.  of 
Newport,  were  the  side  judges  of  the 
Common  Pleas.  When  the  defence  was 
reached  one  of  the  witnesses  was  asked 
"Did  you  ever  hear  this  Indian  threaten 
to  kill  Foster  ?"  To  this  the  District  At- 
torney objected.  Judge  Demo  held  the 
testimony  to  be  inadmissible,  when 
much  to  his  surprise  and  astonishment, 
three  of  the  side  judges  announced  that 
it  was  admissible,  thereby  overruling 
Judge  Denio's  law.  Under  this  ruling 
of  the  side  judges.  Foster  was  permitted 
to  prove  that  the  Indian  had  threatened 
to  kill  him,  and  upon  this  evidence  was 
acquitted  It  is  intere3ting  to  note  that 
the  Court  of  Appeals  subsequently  in 
the  Fisk-Stoke's  murder  case,  substan- 
tially affirmed  the  law  promulgated  by 
these  side  judges.  After  his  release 
Foster  abandoned  his  Brown's  Tract 
home.  It  is  said  that  he  became  afraid 
of  the  Indian  relatives  of  Drid.  He 
went  to  the  vvilds  of  Pennsj^lvania  for  a 
time,  where  he  continued  his  life  as  a 
hunter  and  trapper.  In  his  old  days  he 
came  to  Boonville,  where  he  i-esided 
with  one  of  his  children  and  there  died. 
One  of  the  Foster  brothers  wen',  to  Ohio, 
from  whom  it  is  said  Ex- Secretary  Fos- 
ter is  descended. 

Many  stories  are  told  of  the  prowess 
of  Foster  as  a  hunter  and  trapper.  There 
appears  little  doubt  that  in  his  younger 
days  he  used  to  hunt  Indians  and  in  turn 
was  hunted  by  them.  He  used  to  be 
fond  of  telling  of  his  encounters  with 
Indians,  but  was  always  careful  not  to 
incriminate  himself.  For  example,  Fos- 
ter at  one  time  was  hunting  when  he 
discovered  that  he  was  followed  by  an 
Indian.  Foster  crossed  a  little  ravine  on 
a  fallen  log  and  waited  on  the  other  side 
behind  a  place  of  concealment.  Soon  he 
saw  the  Indian  cautiously  stealing  up 
from  behind  trees;  when  the  Indian 
came  to  the  ravine  and  discovered  Fos- 
ter's tracks  where  he  had  crossed  on  the 
log  he  gave   an   exultant   "humph"   to 


himself  and  started  to  cross.  As  told  by 
Foster  that  Indian,  when  he  reached  the 
middle  of  the  log  must  have  been  seized 
with  a  fit  of  some  kind,  for  he  suddenly 
fell  ofT  the  log  to  the  ground  below  and 
never  got  up  again.  Such  was  life  on 
Brown's  Tract  in  those  days. 

After  Foster  left  Brown's  Tract,  Otis 
Arnold  moved  into  the  HerreshofF's 
house,  and  for  years  he  and  his  family 
lived  there  alone  farming  on  the  clear- 
ings. Year  by  year,  however,  the  num- 
ber of  sportsmen  visiting  this  region  in 
creased;  so  that  later  on  he  did  a  good 
business  during  the  hunting  and  fishing 
season  in  entertaining  sportsmen 

Many  accounts  are  to  be  met  with  of 
visits  to  Arnold's  during  this  period,  all 
of  which  are  entertaining.  But  the 
length  to  which  this  paper  has  already 
reached  permits  of  only  a  mea^jer  refer- 
ence to  one  or  two.  In  the  Autum  of  1855 
the  Honorable  Amelia  M.  Murray.  Maid 
of  Honor  to  Queen  Victoria,  went  over 
the  lake  belt  of  the  wilderness  with  Ho- 
ratio Seymour,  Mr.  Seymour's  nieces  and 
other  friends.  On  their  way  out  they 
stopped  at  Arnold's  and  the  story  in  the 
diary  of  Lady  Amelia  is  in  these  words  : 
"Mr.  Seymour  remained  to  make  ar- 
rangements with  the  guide,  while  his 
niece  and  I  walked  on  to  Arnold's  farm, 
there  we  found  Mrs.  Arnold  and  six 
daughters.  These  girls  aged  from  12  to 
20  were  placed  in  a  row  against  one  wall 
of  the  shanty,  with  looks  so  expressive 
of  astonishment  that  I  felt  puzzled  to  ac- 
count for  their  manner,  until  their  moth- 
er informed  us  that  they  had  never  be- 
fore seen  another  woman  than  herself. 
I  could  not  elicit  a  word  from  them,  but 
at  last  when  I  begged  for  a  little  milk, 
the  eldest  went  and  brought  me  a  glass. 
I  then  remembered  that  we  had  met  a 
single  hunter  rowing  on  Moose  River, 
who  called  out  'Where  on  earth  did 
they  woman  come  from.'" 

Another  tourist,  Wallace  in  his  ''Babes 
in  the  Wood,"  gives  this  account  of  a 
visit  to  Arnold's.  "As  we  approached 
the  house  we  paesed  through  a  yard 
where  the  daughters  of  the  family  were 
engaged  in  milking,  with  a  little  smok- 
ing fire  beneath  every  cow.     Here  was  a 


105 


new  feature.  Such  remarks  as  the  fol- 
lowing greeted  the  ears  of  the  fair  milk- 
ers, 'if  they  are  not  smoking  their  beef 
with  the  skins  on  *  *  *  I  have 
heard  of  building  Sres  under  balky 
horses,  but  I  fail  to  see  the  necessity  of 
serving  cows  that  way'.  *  *  *  'Boys 
can't  you  see  that  this  is  done  as  a  mat- 
ter of  domestic  economy  ?  The  gradual 
and  increased  warmth  acts  upon  the 
udder  of  the  animal  and  through  this  up- 
on the  lacteal  contents  thereof,  produc- 
ing a  sort  of  coagulatioa  wherfcby  the 
creamy  globuis  are  precipitated.'  'By 
this  time  we  had  begun  to  learn  by  ex- 
perience that  the  smouldering  fires  were 
smudsjes  to  drive  the  punkies  from  the 
cows  so  that  they  might  be  milked  in 
peice."  Here  perhaps,  is  another  reason 
why  the  Brown  and  Herreshoff  settle- 
ments proved  disastrous.  Unless  they 
knew  how  to  manage  punkies  they  cer- 
tainly did  a  wise  thing  in  moving  away. 


Dave  Smith  and  Jimmie  0"Kane,  as  they 
were  commonly  known  in  the  woods. 

Wlien  the  early  sportsmtn  first  began 
penetrating,  into  the  forest,  above  Fen- 
ton's  No.  4,  they  found  at  Still  water. 
Township  No  5,  on  tie  Beaver  River, 
living  alone  in  a  little  cabin,  a  strange 
character  by  the  name  of  David  Smith, 
about  whom  many  romantic  stories 
cliug.  The  mystery  of  his  life,  no  one  so 
far  as  I  have  learned,  has  ever  discov- 
ered. Some  claim  that  he  went  to  the 
woods  oa  account  of  the  death  of  his 
fiancee,  others  maintain  that  he  sought 
refuge  there  because  his  wife  made  it 
too  interesting  for  him  at  home,  while 
still  others  insist  that  he  was  a  political 
refugee  from  a  foreign  country,  hiding 
here  in  the  midst  of  the  forest.  All  ac- 
counts of  him  agree  that  he  was  not  a 
hunter  and  trapper.  The  deer  it  is  said, 
used  to  come  about  his  place  without 
fear.  Smith  carefully  shunned  these 
September  18th,  1868.  another  tragedy   early  sportsmen  who  occasionally  came  to 


was  enacted  at  this  old  Herreshoff  build- 
ing. James  Short,  a  guide  of  Warrens- 
burg,  Warren  County,  stopped  at  Arn 
old's  in  making  a  trip  through  the  woods. 
While  there  he  purchased  of  Arnold's 
SDu  a  hound  and  subsequently  a  strap 
and  chain  from  a  man  working  on  the 
place.  As  Short  was  ready  to  go  he 
called  the  dog  and  commenced  putting 
OQ  the  collar,  when  Otis  Arnold  stepped 
forward  and  claimed  the  collar.  A  quar- 
rel ensued  in  which  Arnold  shot  the 
guide,  who  lived  about  five  hours  and 
died.  Arnold  then  left  the  house  and 
vs^ent  to  Nick's  Lake,  a  favorite  resort  of 
his,  where  he  filled  his  pockets  with 
stones  and  tied  a  large  boulder  around 
his  neck,  and  then  he  rowed  his  boat  to 
the  center  of  the  lake  "and  threw  him- 
self, a  victim  of  remorse,  into  the  clear 
water.  A  plunge,  a  gasp,  a  ripple  and 
Otis  Arnold  was  before  his  only  judge." 
Such  was  the  tragic  death  of  the  last 
resident  of  the  old  Herreshoff  place. 

From  time  to  time  ,  Brown's  Tract  has 
been  a  resort  for  hermits  and  refugees. 
During  the  late  Civil  War  men  occasion- 
ally fled  to  this  part  of  the  forest  to  escape 
the  draft.  Among  the  most  famous  her- 
mits and  recluses  of  Brown's  Tract,  wei;e 


his  place.  Year  b-  year,  however,  their 
number  increased  to  his  annoyance  so 
that  finally  to  avoid  them,  he  packed  up 
his  things  and  moved  on  farther  into  the 
forest,  going  up  the  river  to  ks  source 
to  a  large  lake  on  the  shores  of  whicli  he 
made  a  small  clearing  and  built  a  cabin. 
Here  he  lived  for  several  years  undis- 
turbed. But  gradually  the  sportsmen 
work*>d  their  way  back  farther  into  the 
woods,  where  they  again  found  Smith 
on  the  shores  of  this  lake.  Tht  lake  be- 
came known  as  Smith's  Lake,  now  Lake 
Lila,  upon  the  shores  of  which  Dr.  Webb 
has  built  him  a  beautiful  forest  lodge. 
Smith  endured  the  occasional  presence 
of  these  sportsmen  for  a  while,  hiding  in 
the  woods  when  the  hunters  were  about, 
until  returning  one  season  they  found 
Smith's  cabin  empty  and  deserted. 
Where  he  went,  what  became  of  him 
and  why  he  "took  to  the  woods"  are 
still  favorite  subjects  of  speculation 
around  the  cam  p  tires  of  this  portion  of 
the  Adirondacks. 

After  the  building  of  Beach's  road,  a 
romantic  character  by  the  name  of 
James  O'Kane,  found  his  way  here  into 
the  wilderness  and  at  Stillwater  on  the 
Beaver  River   in  Township  5,  took   pos- 


106 


session  of  one  of  the  shanties  built  by 
Beach  in  constructing  his  road  and 
lived  there  by  himself  for  several  }'ear8. 
Unlike  Smith,  he  did  not  hide  from 
bunting  and  fishing  parties;  but  on 
the  contrary,  sometimes  entertained 
them  and  mingled  wiih  them.  O'Kane 
Is  said  to  have  commenced  an  educa- 
tion in  Ireland  for  the  priesthood;  but 
before  taking  orders  become  involved 
in  an  unfortunate  brawl  and  i-i  said  to 
have  killed  a  man  upon  which  account 
tie  fled  and  came  to  this  country;  and 
here  in  Brown's  Tract  sought  refuge. 
He  lived  hei'e  by  himself  with  a  few 
books,  chief  among  which  was  a  well 
■worn  Bible,  until  1853,  when  a  party  of 
huntertj  going  past  his  shanty  and 
noticing  its  deserted  appearance  stopped 
and  went  in.  Here  they  found  him 
dead  on  his  couch,  his  hands  clasped  as 
if  io  prayer. 

The  settlement  and  development  of 
the  Adirondacks  was  for  a  long  time  a 
favorite  project  on  the  part  of  the  state, 
and  from  time  to  time  laws  having  this 
object  in  view  were  enacted.  The  inac- 
cessibility of  the  region  was  always  con- 
sidered a  serious  drawback,  and  to  open 
up  the  country  from  time  to  time  roads 
were  directed  to  be  built.  A  study  of 
the  Session  Laws  for  a  period  of  about 
40  years  will  disclose  many  contemplated 
projects  for  subduing  the  wilderness.  It 
was  substantially  gridironed  with  state 
roads,  nearly  ail  of  which  have  fallen  in- 
to a  condition  of  desuetude.  The  princ- 
ipal of  these  roads  crossing  Brown's 
Tract,  were  the  Carthage  and  Lake 
Champlain  Road  and  the  Herkimer, 
Hamilton  and  Lewis  Road. 

In  1841  the  Legislature  directed  a  road 
to  be  built  from  Lake  Champlain  to 
Carthage,  in  Jefferson  County.  It  was 
supposed  that  a  road  direct  through  the 
wilderness  from  Carthage  to  Lake  Cham- 
plain would  be  of  great  public  benefit  in 
placing  the  northeast  and  northwest  parts 
of  the  state  in  direct  communication, 
and  would  oi>en  up  the  country  for  set- 
tlement. The  work  of  building  this  road 
was  under  charge  of  Nelson  Beach,  of 
Lewis  County,  and  the  road  is  some- 
times   known    as    Btacli's    road.      This 


road  crosses  the  northern  part  of  Brown's 
Tract  through  the  valley  of  the  Beaver 
River.  Like  all  projects  of  development 
the  road  was  a  failure.  It  is  s^aid  that 
only  one  team  went  over  its  whole 
length  fiom  Carthage  to  Lake  Cham- 
plain. The  eastern  and  western  parts  of 
this  road  are  still  used  to  some  extent; 
the  middle  portion  however,  has  long 
ago  grown  up  to  trees  and  become  whol- 
ly impassible.  The  part  crossing  Brown's 
Tract  remamed  so  that  teams  could  drive 
over  it  until  a  few  years  ago  when  a 
State  Reservoir  was  built  on  the  Beaver 
River  at  Stillwater  which  submerged  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  road. 

In  1850  the  heirs  of  John  Brown  sold 
out  their  interest  in  Brown's  Tract  ex- 
cept Township  6,  to  Lyman  R.  Lyon,  of 
Lyons  Falls,  Lewis  County,  N.  Y.,  for 
the  sum  of  $18,500.  Today  the  Tract 
would  be  worth  about  $1,000,000,  at 
least. 

After  Lyon  purchased  the  Tract  he 
conveyed  a  two-thirds  interest  to  Fred- 
erick  HoUister  and  Theodore  P.  Ballou. 

In  1848  the  Sacketts  Harbor  &  Sarato- 
ga Railroad  Company  was  incorporated 
for  the  purpose  of  constructing  a  rail- 
road from  Sacketts  Harbor  to  Saratoga. 
The  right  of  premption  was  given  as  to 
certain  State  lands  by  which  means  con- 
siderable public  land  was  obtained.  It 
was  considered  that  a  railroad  through 
the  Adirondacks  connecting  Lake  On- 
tario with  the  Hudson  River  would  be  of 
great  benefit,  so  much  so  that  its  proper- 
ty was  exempt  fiom  taxation  for  a  con- 
siderable period.  This  railroad  company 
and  its  successors  subsequently  acquired 
title  by  various  intermediate  deeds  and 
conveyances  from  Hollistfr  and  Ballou 
to  about  two-thirds  of  the  entire  Brown's 
Tract.  The  history  of  this  company  and 
its  succespors  is  one  long  series  of  finan- 
cial failures  and  disappointments,  mort- 
gage foreclosures,  reorganizations  and 
receiverships.  So  far  as  an  active  oper- 
ating railroad  is  concerned  it  never  de- 
veloped beyond  a  short  branch  running 
north  from  iii'aratoga  to  the  North  Creek, 
now  known  as  the  Adirondack  Railroad, 
which  is  a  part  of  tbe  D.  &  H.,  systtm. 
The  route  of  the  old   Sacketts  Harbor  & 


107 


Saratoga  Railroad  Company  crossing 
Brown's  Tract  as  it  did,  considerable  was 
expected  from  it  for  the  development  of 
that  region.  Today  the  traveler  going 
from  Lowville  to  No.  4,  Brown's  Tract 
can  see  on  one  side  of  the  road  a  high 
embankment  grown  over  with  bushes 
and  small  trees  and  a  large  stone  culvert 
in  the  same  unfinished  condition  as  left 
when  the  funds  ran  out  nearly  fifty 
years  ago,  a  monument  of  an  ineffectual 
attempt  to  subdue  the  wilderness.  The 
Mohawk  &  Malone  Railroad  was  the  first 
and  only  railroad  to  be  built  and  op- 
erated across  this  Tract  which  was  con- 
structed some  forty  years  later  upon  an 
entirely  different  route. 

Such   is  a  brief  outline  of  the  history 
of  John  Brown's  Tract.     It  may  be  char- 


acterized as  almost  a  hundred  years  war 
between  man  and  the  rude  forces  of 
nature.  The  Tract  is  in  much  the  same 
condition  as  when  the  pioneer  first 
turned  to  it  his  attention.  Time  here 
has  wrought  less  changes  than  elsewhere. 
The  Indian  has  gone,  the  moose  has  dis- 
appeared, the  beaver,  panther  and  woll 
are  now  traditions  of  the  old  time  hun- 
ter and  trapper;  still  as  to  much  of  the 
Tract, 
"This  is  the  forest  primeval.     The  mui 

muring  pines  and  hemlocks, 
Bearded  with    moss    and    in    garment 

green,  indistinct  in  the  twilight. 
Stand  like  Druids  of  Eld  with  voices  sad 

and  prophetic. 
Stand   like   Harpers    Hoar  with    beards 

that  rest  on  their  bosoms." 


108 


1897  PAPERS 


ft 


THE  ROYAL  GRANT. 


AN  ADDRESS  BY  HON.    GEORGE  W.    SMITH,   OF  HERKIMER, 

Deivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  January  5,  1897. 


The  local  annals  of  man  wherever  he 
has  dwelt  furnish  incidents  and  details 
that  appeal  to  the  kinship  of  human  na- 
ture. From  a  narrow  to  the  broadest 
scenes  of  human  action  there  are  links  of 
interest  and  sympathy  that  bind  com- 
munities and  generations  together.  In  the 
life,  the  experience,  the  sacrifice  and 
peril,  the  defeats  and  the  triumphs  of  the. 
humblest  of  our  ancestors  are  found  the 
sources  and  materials  from  which  the 
philosophy  of  history  is  deduced,  and 
they  afford  an  abiding  charm. 

When  we  look  to  the  struggles  and  the 
harsh  experience  of  foregone  genera- 
tions and  contemplate  the  efforts  that 
founded  new  societies,  when  we  consider 
how  they  wrought  out  for  us  a  larger 
sphere  of  life  and  more  varied  oppor- 
tunities, when  we  see  how  they  opened 
the  way  to  a  future  of  liberty,  happiness 
and  greatness  for  their  successors,  we 
hail  them  as  a  common  ancestry  and 
yield  to  them  a  reverence  that  we  do  not 
accord  to  our  fellow  men  of  the  present 
day. 

The  actions  that  animated  that  fore- 
time when  studied  appear  with  larger 
significance,  its  leading  events  are  seen 
in  their  relations  to  their  wider  conse- 
quences and  are  marked  as  epochs  of 
progress.  The  nobler  are  hallowed,  and 
the  contrasting  lights  and  shadows  blend 
in  a  picture  that  becomes  the  delight  of 
posterity. 


The  grandeur  of  the  present  owes  a 
tribute  to  the  fortitude  and  self-denial,  to 
the  heroism,  to  even  the  humbler  labors 
that  laid  the  foundations  of  so  large  a 
fabric.  The  conspicuous  great  could  not 
have  builded  had  not  the  unnamed  com- 
mons worked  to  the  same  ends  ;  all  these 
ancestral  actors  played,  if  not  leading, 
still  essential  parts  in  the  opening  scenes 
of  a  drama  still  unfolding.  Military 
prowess,  wisdom  in  statesmanship,  could 
have  availed  little  without  the  fruitful 
labors  of  those  who  toiled  in  obscurity. 
Modern  historians  find  the  more  vital 
forces  of  the  social  and  political  system 
in  the  once  neglected  annals  of  the 
masses,  in  the  tendencies  that  unfold 
man's  capacities  and  open  a  path  for  the 
general  advance.  History  begins  to  dis- 
play the  progress  of  man,  as  man— that 
democracy  which  Bancroft  says  is  "  Hu- 
manity without  its  accidents." 

The  purpose  of  this  paper  is  to  give 
some  account  of  the  Royal  Grant,  that 
twice  royal  gift  to  Sir  William  Johnson, 
first  from  the  barharian  king  of  the  Mo- 
hawks, and  then  from  the  king  of  Great 
Britain.  Prior  to  1761  the  territory  lying 
to  the  north  of  the  Mohawk  river,  be- 
tween the  East  Canada  creek  and  the 
West  Canada  creek,  extending  to  the 
St.  Lawrence  river,  excepting  the  Bur- 
netsfield  Patent  granted  to  the  Palatines 
in  1725,  Glen's  purchase,  and  some  small 
tracts,  was  the  possession  of  tl  e  Mohawk 


ttibe  of  the  Iroquois  Confederacy,  or  Six 
Nations,  The  Algonquin  tribes  claimed, 
and  sometimes  tried  to  assert  dominion 
as  far  south  as  Lalie  George  and  the  Adi- 
rondack highlands,  but  the  Mohawks 
were  the  virtual  possessors  of  this  region. 
This  union  of  aboriginal  tribes  formed 
for  government  and  conquest,  and  mark- 
ing as  it  did  some  distinct  advance  from 
the  life  of  hunters  and  fishermen,  had  no 
parallel  in  the  history  of  the  North  Ameri- 
can Indians.  The  tribes  composing  the 
Six  Nations  were  more  largely  endowed 
with  intellect,  executive  capacity  and  en- 
terprising spirit  than  any  other  of  the 
aborigines.  At  what  time  they  assumed 
the  title  of  Oh  gue-hon-we,  "Men  su- 
perior to  all  others,''  cannot  be  known, 
as  this  tribal  league  existed  long  before 
Europeans  came  in  contact  with  them, 
but  we  may  suppose  it  was  after  they 
had  justified  this  proud  pretension  by  the 
opening  exploits  of  that  career  which 
carried  their  arms  to  Canada  and  to  Hud- 
son's Bay,  and  threatened  the  French  in 
Montreal  and  Quebec.  Their  forays  are 
said  to  have  been  pushed  beyond  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  near  to  the  Isthmus  of  Darien. 
They  made  themselves  masters  of  an  un- 
defined territory  about  and  beyond  the 
waters  of  the  Potomac,  and  along  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio  to  the  Mississippi,  and 
they  held  dominion  over  a  considerable 
territory  between  the  Ottowa  river  and 
Lake  Huron,  The  Hurons  of  the  Isle  of 
Orleans,  to  save  themselves  from  the 
fury  of  the  Mohawk  tribe,  asked  admis- 
sion into  that  tribe,  a  purpose  from  which 
they  were  dissuaded  by  the  French,  In 
a  war  at  that  time  the  French  were  com- 
pelled to  submit  to  their  terms  ;  they 
sent  thirty  of  their  warriors  to  Quebec  to 
demand  certain  Hurons  who  had  taken 
refuge  there  and  took  them  away  upon 
their  imperative  demand  addressed  to 
the  French  governor  and  with  which  he 
was  constrained  to  comply:  "Lift  up  thy 
arm,  Onontio,  and  allow  thy  children 
whom  thou  boldest  pressed  to  thy  bosom 
to  depart,  for  if  they  are  guilty  of  any 
wrong,  have  reason  to  dread  lest  coming 
to  chastise  them,  my  blow  fall  on  thy 
head." 


At  a  treaty  held  at  the  forks  of  the 
Delaware  between  the  governors  of  Penn- 
sylvania  and  New  Jersey  and  the  Six 
Nations,  in  1758,  the  controversy  among 
certain  trihes  claiming  lands  in  New  Jer 
sey  was  settled  by  the  imperative  dicta- 
tion of  the  Iroquois  chief  to  those  tribes, 
ordering  them  to  restore  prisoners  and  to 
be  at  peace  with  the  English.  Forty- six 
years  before,  when  the  governor  of  Penn- 
sylvania complained  of  the  Delawares. 
who  refused  to  remove  from  land  they 
had  sold  to  that  State,  a  chief  of  the  Iro- 
quois ordered  them  to  depart,  after  a 
reprimand,  and,  in  concluding,  said  : 
"After  our  just  reproof  and  absolute 
order  to  depart  from  the  land,  you  have 
now  to  take  notice  of  what  we  have 
further  to  say  to  you.  This  string  of 
wampum  serves  to  forbid  you,  your  chil- 
dren and  yeur  grandchildren,  to  the  latest 
posterity,  from  ever  meddling  in  land 
affairs,  neither  your  children,  nor  any 
who  shall  descend  from  are  ever  here- 
after to  aell  any  land.  For  this  purpose 
you  are  to  preserve  this  string  in  memory 
of  what  your  uncles  have  this  day  given 
you  in  charge.  We  have  some  other 
business  to  transact  with  our  brethren, 
and  therefore  depart  you  the  council  and 
consider  what  has  been  said  to  you." 

Having  conquered  the  Shawnese  on  the 
Wabash,  the  Iroquois  only  consented,  on 
the  mediation  of  Governor  John  Penn,  to 
allow  them  to  settle  in  the  western  part 
of  Pennsylvania,  but  compelled  them  as 
a  mark  of  their  subjection  to  wear  female 
attire.  Such  are  some  of  the  instances  that 
show  the  lofty  and  arbitrary  sway  of  the 
Iroquois  over  the  tribes  that  they  had  sub- 
dued or  intimidated  throughout  a  large 
part  of  North  America— an  imperial  tone 
that  reminds  us  of  the  language  by  which 
the  Roman  Senate  dictated  the  fate  of 
provinces,  and  gave  law  to  vanquished 
kings.  Of  this  savage  league,  exhibiting 
such  a  thirst  for  conquest  and  power,  the 
Mohawks  had  the  hegemonyand  exercised 
the  chief  leadership,  the  war  chief  of  the 
Confederacy  being  selected  from  that 
tribe.  At  the  council  held  at  Fort  Stan- 
wix  in  1768,  for  the  purpose  of  fixing  the 
boundary  line  between  the  English  and 
the  Six  Nations  the  Mohawks  were  de- 


ciared  by  the  other  tri  es  to  be  the  ''true 
ancient  head  of  the  Confederacy."  from 
which  it  may  be  inferred  that  they  were 
regarded  as  the  original  nucleus  around 
which  the  Confederacy  was  formed.  The 
name  of  Mohawk  was  often  used  to  rep- 
resent the  whole  Confederacy.  Acces- 
sions to  the  league  probably  occurred 
from  events  like  those  which  caused  the 
exodus  of  the  Tuscaroras  who  were  driven 
out  from  western  North  Carolina  after 
their  conspiracy  against  the  whites.  They 
were  admitted  to  the  league  about  1714, 
and  lands  were  assigned  them  by  the 
Oneidas,  lying  between  their  possessions 
and  those  of  the  Onondagas,  and  thus 
this  fugitive  tribe  became  the  sixth  mem- 
ber of  the  Contederacy,  afterwards 
known  as  the  Six  Nations. 

The  prowess  of  these  tribes  in  war, 
their  masculine  wisdom  and  oratory  in 
council,  their  sagacious  and  refined  policy 
in  framing  their  federal  government,  far 
surpassing  any  of  the  other  tribes,  their 
adoption  into  their  own  body  of  the  re- 
mains of  conquered  or  fugitive  tribes, 
the  popular  genius  that  controlled  their 
public  affairs,  jusiify  the  title  given  them 
of  the  "Romans  of  the  New  World."  and 
their  policy  of  annexing  other  communi- 
ties to  their  growing  league  is  no  remote 
suggestion  of  the  operation  of  our  own 
federate  system.  The  inquiry  what  this 
Indian  Heptarchy  might  have  become  by 
its  internal  development  and  external 
growth,  if  they  had  not  been  arrested  by 
the  invading  and  superior  power  of  ad- 
vanced civilizations,  might  form  an  in- 
teresting chapter  in  the  conjectural  his- 
tory of  the  possible  progress  of  races  and 
peoples,  whose  destiny,  like  those  of 
Mexico  and  Peru,  has  been  changed  by 
foreign    invasion.      We   might  imagine 

"  A  glory  that  hath  passed  away. 
While  yet  it  never  was; 
The  twilight  lustre  of  a  sua 
That  never  fully  rose." 

Chief  Hendrick,  later  styled  King  Hen- 
drick,  was  chief  of  the  Mohawks.  He 
was  long  and  intimately  associated  with 
the  English  ;  he  adopted  their  dref  s  and 
lived  in  a  house  near  the  Indian  Castle 
church  in  Danube,  He  attended  the  con- 
gress of  the  commissioners  from  eight  of 


the  colonies  convened  at  Albany  in  1754 
to  consult  on  Indian  affairs,  and  to  con- 
cert a  policy  of  colonial  union  in  view  of 
the  existing  war  between  Great  Britain 
and  France.  In  that  congress,  attended 
by  such  characters  as  Benjamin  Franklin 
and  Sir  William  Johnson,  the  one  the 
Great  Commoner  of  the  colonial  and 
revolutionary  era,  the  other  the  most 
eminent  and  illustrious  representative  of 
the  British  crown.  King  Hendrick  was 
heard  with  great  attention  and  respect, 
and  he  is  said  to  have  been  the  chief 
speaker  in  that  body,  whether  heard  for 
the  wisdom  and  weight  of  his  opinions  or 
from  a  politic  deference  to  the  greatness 
of  the  Confederate  chiefs,  we  need  not 
inquire.  Something  of  his  position  and 
tone  of  thought  we  discover  in  the  fol- 
lowing sentences.  He  did  not  hesitate 
to  reproach  the  supineness  of  the  colo- 
nists, and  said  :  '"We  thank  you  for  re- 
newing and  brightening  the  Covenant 
chain.  We  will  take  this  belt  to  Onon- 
daga, where  our  Council  fire  always 
burns,  and  keep  it  so  securely  that'neither 
the  thunder  bolt  nor  the  lighting  shall 
break  it.  Strengthen  yourselves  and 
bring  as  many  as  you  can  into  this  Cov- 
enant chain.  Look  at  the  French  :  they 
are  men  ;  they  are  fighting  everywhere. 
But  we  are  ashamed  to  say  it,  you  are 
like  women.  It  is  but  one  step  from 
Canada  hither,  and  the  French  may  come 
easily  and  turn  you  out  of  doors."  The 
following  year  he  fell  at  the  battle  of 
Fort  George,  where  he  fought  under  Sir 
William,  on  the  side  of  the  British. 

Hendrick  held  Sir  William  in  high  es- 
teem ;  and  from  him,  or  certainly  on  ac- 
count of  the  attachment  felt  for  him  by 
the  Mohawk  chiefs,  Sir  William  became 
the  donee  of  the  famous  Royal  Grant  to 
which  he  gave  the  name  of  Kings  Land. 
The  tradition  usually  accepted  as  to  this 
royal  gift,  is  to  the  effect  that  Hendrick's 
eye  and  savage  fancy  for  personal  adorn- 
ment were  attracted  by  a  finely  em- 
broidered coat  which  Johnson  had  lately 
procured  for  himself,  and  he  announced 
to  him  that  he  had  the  night  before 
dreamed  that  Johnson  had  made  him  a 
present  of  the  coat.  Knowing  the  super- 
stitious reliance    of    the    Indians  upon 

9 


dream?,  and  also  the  good  policy  of  com- 
plying with  this  virtual  request,  he  at 
once  handed  the  coat  to  the  chief.  Soon 
after  Johnson  visited  King  Hendrick  and 
informed  him  that  he  too  had  a  dream. 
Hendrick  asked,  "What  did  my  palt" 
faced   brother  dream?"      "I  dreamed," 


dent  and  council,  praying  th?.t  he  and 
thirty-nine  others  therein  named  might 
have  the  license  of  the  council  to  pur- 
chase in  the  king's  name,  from  the  In- 
dians, 40,000  acres  in  order  to  enable 
them  to  obtain  the  king's  letters  patent 
therefor.  The  assent  of  the  president 
said  Johnson,  "that  the  tract  of  land,"  and  council  having  been  obtained  the 
describing  the  lands  bounded  by  the  Mo-  petition  and  subject  of  the  grant  was 
hawk  and  the  two  Canada  creeks  and  considered  by  the  king  in  privy  council, 
northwesterly  by  objects  known  to  them,  and  letters  patent  were  issued  pursuant 
"was  all  my  own."  The  chief  would  not  to  the  application  in  1765. 
be  outdone  in  generosity,  even  at  this  This  grant  had  the  peculiar  distinction 
enormous  odds,  and  after  some  delibera-    of  bearing  the  sign  manual  of  George  III 


tion,  added,  "Brother,  the  land  is  yours, 
but  you    must  not  dream  again." 

This  tradition,  like  so  many  other  tra 
ditioDS,  has  been  discredited  as  a  mere 
fiction.  Writers  refer  to  the  fact  that 
Hendrick  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Fort 
George,  April,  1755,  while  the  petition  of 
Sir  William  for  liberty  to  make  this  pur- 
chase from  the  Indians  was  not  presented 
to  the  Colonial  Council  until  Julv,  1761  ; 
but  it  is  obvious  thai  the  assent  of  the 
other  chiefs  might  not  have  been  obtained 


in  person  which  does  not  appear  to  have 
been  attached  to  any  other  of  the  patents 
granted  during  the  Colonial  era,  and  the 
name,  "Royal"  Grant  was  pro!  ably  flue 
to  this  fact.  The  petition,  it  will  be  no- 
ticed, asked  for  40,000  acres  only,  and  it 
professed  that  the  purpose  was  to  secure 
to  each  petitioner  one  thousand  acres  If 
this  was  the  intention  it  does  not  seem  to 
have  been  observed,  as  by  the  will  of  Sir 
William  executed  in  1774,  he  disposes  of 
the  whole  of  the  Royal  Grant  to  his  own 


for  a  long  time  after  the  gift,  and  other  family  with  the  expression  of  his  will 

causes  of  delay  may  have  intervened,  and  and  desire  that  none  of  it  should  ever  be 

it  is  said  that  the  story  was  current  in  Sir  sold    or    alienated.       Besides    this    the 

William's  life  time  ;  and  as  it  was  of  a  boundaries    actually    contained    93,000 

character  not    wholly    favorable    to  his  acres,  53,000  acres  more  than  was  speci- 

reputation  for  just  dealing,  he  would  have  fied  in  the  petition. 

denied  it  if  untrue.     Again,  Stone's  life       The  boundaries  of  the  Grant  are  givf n 

of  Sir  William  states  that  he  received  in  the  petition  substantially  as  fellows  : 

only  3,000  acres   for  his  dream,  and  that  "Beginning  at  the  northwesterly  coiner 

the  lands  in  the  Royal  Grant  were  given  of  the  rear  line  of  a  patent  purchased  by 

to  him  by  the  Mohawk  chiefs  as  a  token  Teady  McGin,   surveyed   by  his  widow, 

of  their  esteem  ;  that  he  accepted  it  for  Sarah  McG  n,  which  said  corner  is  on  the 

fear  of  offending  them  by  refusing  it,  and  bank  of  the  creek   or  kill  called  by  the 


insisted  on  making  a  present  of  $12,000  in 
return.  Benton  cites  Judge  Haring  as 
authority  for  the  statement  that  Sir  Wil- 
liam dreamed  for  the  land  embraced  in 
the  Kingsborough  Patect  on  which  he 
built  his  mansion,  and  not  for  the  lands 
of  the  Royal  Grant.  The  balance  of  the 
evidence,  however,  seems  to  be  on  the 
side   of  the  dream,  and  it  will  be  popu- 


Indians,  Dekayaronwe,  about  thirteen 
miles  from  the  Mohawk  river,  which 
creek  falls  into  the  Mohawk  about  two 
hundred  yards  lelow  Fort  Hendrick,  or 
Canajoharie  Castle,  thence  running  from 
said  northwesterly  corner  of  said  McGin's 
rear  line,  a  westerly  course  to  the  west 
bank  of  another  creek  or  kill  called  by 
the  Indians  Dey  osh-ter-awan,and  by  the 


larly  regarded   as  the  source  of  Sir  Wil-  Christians  at  Burnetsfield,  Canada  kill, 

liam's  title  as  long  as  these  lands  shall  be  thence  along  the  west  side  of  said  creek 

conveyed  or  descend.  to  the  lands  patented  formerly,  so  down 

To  obtain  legal  sanction  to  the  Mohawk  to    the    Mohawk    river    then    running 

chieftain's  gift.  Sir  William  presented  a  around  the  several  tracts  of  land  already 

petition  in   1761   to  the  Colonial  presi-  patented   within  the    above    mentioned 

10 


two  creeks  froQi  the  rear  line  quite  to 
the  Mohawk  river,  containing  about 
40.000  acres  of  land."  From  the  fact 
that  the  west  boundary  was  run  on  the 
west  side  of  the  creek  it  is  like'y  that  bir 
William  was  aware  of  the  valuable  water 
power  of  this  stream  and  for  that  reason 
made  a  shrewd  extension  of  Hendrick's 
gift  so  as  to  include  its  waters. 

The  northerly  boundary  ran  from  a 
point  on  the  East  Canada  creek  in  the 
village  of  Devereaux,  a  pine  stump, 
whicD  the  writer  remembers  was  many 
years  ago  stated  to  be  the  point  of  de- 
parture, thence  northerly  to  the  West 
Canada  creek  by  a  line  running  north  of 
the  village  of  Prospect,  as  stated  by 
Benton,  and  in  fact  as  far  north  as  Gang 
Mills  or  Hinckley. 

The  settlement  now  the  village  of  Dev- 
ereaux was  in  the  early  j^tars  of  the  cen- 
tury designated  as  the  "Corner  of  the 
Grant,"  later  as  Nicholsville,  in  1833  as 
East  Creek,  and  in  1834  as  Devereaux, 
named  from  Henry  Devereaux.  This 
territory  embraced  all  the  territory  lying 
between  the  East  Canada  creek  and  the 
West  Canada  creek  south  of  the  Jersey- 
field  Patent,  north  of  the  Mohawk  ex- 
cepting Glen's  Purchase,  a  few  lots  in 
Burnetsfield  Patent,  and  some  small 
patents  in  Manheim.  The  towns  of  Nor- 
way, Newport,  Russia,  Fairfield  Man- 
heim and  Salisbury  lie  wholly  or  mainlv 
within  its  limits,  and  smaller  portions 
of  the  grant  lie  in  Little  Falls  and  Her- 
kimer. 

The  will  of  Sir  William  devises  his 
lands  in  this  grant  a=?  follows  :  To  his 
son.  Sir  John  Johnson,  50,000  acres  in 
the  northwesterly  part ;  to  Col  Daniel 
Claus  10,000  acres  adjoining  the  devise 
to  Sir  John;  10,000  acres  adjoining  the 
last  named  to  his  son-in  law,  Guy  Johns- 
son;  to  Peter  Johnson,  his  natural  son,  by 
Mary  (Molly)  Brant,  4,0u0  acres  next  to 
the  Mohawk  river,  and  another  strip  of 
land  "'almost  opposite  the  house  of  Hon- 
nical  (General)  Herkimer":  to  his  other 
Indian  children  by  Molly  Brant,  viz: 
Elizabeth,  Magdalene,  Margaret,  George, 
Mary,  Susanna,  Anne,  and  to  two  of  his 
Indian  children  not  children  of  Molly 
Brant,  viz.  :  Young  Brant  and  William, 


tracts  of  1,000  to  3,000  acres  each,  and 
"To  my  prudent  and  faithful  house- 
keeper, Molly  Brant,  mother  of  the  be- 
fore mentioned  eight  children,  lot  one, 
being  part  of  the  Royal  Grant,  now 
called  Kingsland,  and  is  opposite  to  the 
land  whereon  Honnical  (General)  Herki- 
mer now  lives." 

In  regard  to  these  several  devisee  of 
the  Kingsland  or  Royal  Grant  land,  the 
will  enjo'-  s  upon  the]devisees  as  follows  : 
"As  his  present  Majesty,  George  the 
Third,  was  graciously  pleased  as  a  mark 
of  his  favor  and  regard  to  give  me  a  pat- 
ent under  the  great  seal  for  the  tract  of 
land  now  called  Kingsland,  and  that 
without  quit  rent,  except  a  trifling  ac- 
knowledgement to  be  paid  yearly,  it  is 
my  will  and  desire  that  no  part  of  it  be 
ever  sold  by  those  to  whom  I  have 
devised  it,  as  that  would  be  acting  con- 
trary to  my  intentions  and  determined 
resolution." 

The  letters  patent  recite  that  by  a  deed 
poll  dated  on  or  about  the  27th  day  of 
December,  17(50,  "Brant  alias  Araghigfa- 
decka  aid  divers  other  native  Indians  of 
Canajoharie,  in  the  county  of  Albany, 
"calling  themselves  sole  and  absolute 
proprietors,"  in  consideration  of  the 
love,  good-will  and  regard  which  they 
had  and  bore  towards  their  affectionate 
Brother  and  Friend  the  Honorable  Sir 
William  Johnson, alias  Warraghrigagsy, 
of  the  Mobawk  country, Baronet,  as  well 
as  in  justice  and  gratitude  to  him  for 
the  well-timed  support  and  credit  he  had 
formerly  given  to  their  people,  many  of 
whom  being  dead  since  and  those  living 
unable  to  make  him  a  proper  recompense 
any  other  way"  did  make  to  Sir  William 
and  his  associates  a  grant  of  said  tract, 
"described  on  the  back  of  said  deed  by 
the  Indians  themselves,  to  prevent  any 
dispute,  containing  about  80.000  acres." 

The  specifications  of  the  grant  in  the 
letters  patent  are  in  great  detail  being 
"all  rights,  members  and  appurta  (sic) 
underwood,  trees,  timber,  feedings,  pas- 
tures, meadows,  marshes,  swamps, 
ponds,  pools,  ways,  passages,  waters, 
water-courses,  rivers,  rivulets,  runs  and 
streams."  The  grant  is  "in  considera- 
tion of   the  faithful  services    rendered 


11 


unto  us  by  the  ?aid  Sir  William  John-  ture  in  1798  passed  an  act  to  refund  Per- 
son," the  grantees  also  "yielding  and  teous  and  Ellice  the  amount  paid  for 
paying  two  beaver  skins  to  oe  delivered  those  shares.  Elizabeth,  Margaret  and 
at  our  castle  of  Windsor,  on  the  first  day  Magdalene  were  con  victe  J  of  adhering  to 
of  January  in  every  year,  and  also  the  the  enemies  of  the  state,  and  upon  that 
fifth    part  of  the  gold  and   silver    ore  attainder  their  estates  were  forfeited  and 


which  from  time  to  time  shall  be  found 
upon  the  said  tract. 

The  grant  was  divided  into  four  allot- 
ments. The  Vrooman  map  of  1797  found 
in  our  county  histories  shows  the  loca- 
tion of  the  tracts  laid  off  to  Margaret, 
George,  Mary,  Susanna,  Anne,  Brant 
and  William,  comprising  15,000  acres, 
said  on  the  map  to  be  devises  "to  a  part 
of  the  baronet's  Indian  children."  He  is 
not  supposed  to  have  remembered  them 
all.  The  towns  of  Salisbury  and  Man- 
heim,  in  which  those  tracts  mainly  lie, 
were  formed  from  the  town  of  Palatine 
in  Montgomery  county  in  1797,  and  both 
towns  were  annexed  to  Herkimer  county 


sold.  This  act  recites  that  certain  lands 
were  sold  by  the  commissioners  as  lands 
of  Peter  Johnson,  ratural  son  of  Sir 
William,  "as  part  of  the  forfeited  estate 
of  Sir  John  Johnson,  and  that  the  said 
lands  did  of  right  lelong  to"  the  seven 
children  named  surviving  Peter  John- 
son. For  this  reason  the  lands  of  the 
first  four  named  were  not  affected  by 
the  attainder  of  Sir  John,  and  the  State 
abandoned  the  forfeiture  against  them. 
A  similar  act  was  passed  in  1797,  and  on 
the  same  grounds,  for  the  relief  of  Jacob 
Markle  and  others. 

In  the  year  1854.  one  McKinnon.  who 
claimed  by  a  chain  of  conveyances  from 


tioas  have  confirmed  the  grants  made 
by  the  British  government  prior  to 
October  14,  1775,  and  the  title  of  the 
heirs  of  such  grantees  was  unquestion- 
able except  for  forfeiture  by  acts  of 
attainder.  By  the  act  of  October  23, 
1779,  Sir  John,  son,  and  Guy  Johnson 
and  Daniel  Glaus,  son  inlaws,  of  Sir 
William,  were  among  others  attainted 
as  public   enemies  of  the  State  and  ad- 


herents to  Great  Britain  in  the  war  plaintiff  introduced  the  wiil  and  convey- 
then  being  waged,  and  their  estates  ances  and  proved  a  fruitless  search  for 
were  declared  forfeited  and  vested  in  the  patent  to  Sir  William,  and  proposed 
the  people  of  this  State.  This  forfeiture  to  prove  by  Lauren  Ford  what  was  re- 
of  course  annuled  the  title  of  Sir  John  ported  among  the  settlers  on  the  Royai 
Johnson,  Guy  Johnson  and  Daniel  Glaus  Grant  as  to  the  disposition  made  of  the 
under  the  devises  to  them.  letters  patent,  the  purpose  of  the  proof 
It  was  long  supposed  that  all  the  In-  being  to  show  that  the  patent  was  buried 
dian  children  wer-^  attainted  and  con-  in  the  earth  at  the  time  of  Sir  John 
veyances  were  made  accordingly  by  the  Johnson's  flight  to  Canada,  and  that  it 
commissioner  of  forfeitures,  but  no  rec-  had  decayed  into  illegible  fragments, 
ord  of  convictions  could  be  found  against  This  evidence  was  excluded.  The  acts 
George,  Mary,  Susanna  and  Ann.  By  before  referred  to  were  then  read  to 
mesne  conveyances  Porteous  and  Ellice  show  a  legislative  recognition  of  the 
purchased  and  came  into  possession  of  ownership  of  Sir  William  and  of  his  de- 
seven  hundred  acres,  all  of  which  were  vises  to  his  children,  and  those  devises 
founded  on  the  assumed  attainder  of  the  were  claimed  to  be  good,  except  so  far  as 
last  four  named  children,  and  those  pur-  annuled  by  the  attainder.  The  plaintiff 
chasers  having  in  order  to  secure  and  was  nonsuited,  and  the  case  went  to  the 
quietfheir  title,  paid  those  children  for  Court  of  Appeals.  In  that  court  the  same 
their  share  of  four-sevenths,  the  legisla-  grounds  of  title  were  urged  in  behalf  of 


in    1817.      All    of    our    state    constitu-   Susanna,  devisee  of  3,t)00  acres,  brought 


an  action  of  ejectment  against  Justus 
Bliss.  Billious  Avery,  William  F.  Burrell, 
William  Mavnard  Smith  and  others, 
occupants  of  Susanna's  tract  in  Salis- 
bury. Of  the  plaintiff's  counsel  was  the 
distinguished  David  Dudley  Field,  and 
Bliss,  in  the  action  tried,  was  defended 
by  Arphaxed  Loomis,  attorney  of  record, 
and  associated  with  him  were  Samuel 
Earl  and  Robert  Earl.     On   the  trial  the 


12 


the  plaintif?,  and  his  counsel  rea  I  from 
Benton's  History  the  prevailing  tiadition 
among  the  occupants  of  the  grant  as  to 
the  manner  in  which  the  title  to  the 
Royal  Grant  had  been  acquired.  This 
historj'  was  held  to  be  inadmissible  for 
the  reason  that  it  treated,  in  this  re- 
spect, of  only  local  matters,  and  not  of 
such  as  relal^ed  to  public  and  general 
matters  affecting  the  whole  state.  The 
plaintiff's  counsel  was  able  on  this  ap 
peal  to  proiuce  a  duly  authenticated 
copy  of  the  letttrs  patent  to  Sir  William, 
recorded  in  the  public  records'  office  in 
London,  but  upon  the  decisions  rendered 
by  the  court  they  were  unavailable.  No 
attempt  was  afterwards  made  to  assert 
any  title  derived  from  these  four  child- 
ren. All  the  other  lands  passed  to  gran- 
tees under  the  attainder  of  Sir  John 
Johnson, Guy  Johnson,  and  Daniel  Glaus, 
and  the  three  Indiati  children.  The 
whole  number  of  lots  sold  in  the  Royal 
Grant  by  the  Commissioiaers  of  Forfei- 
tures was   451. 

The  ownership  of  the  Royal  Grant  by 
Sir  William  makes  his  remarkable  caner 
and  eminent  services  pertinent  to  our 
subject.  He  came  when  twenty-three 
years  of  age  to  aesume  the  agency  of 
lands  in  what  is  now  Florida,.  Montgom- 
ery county.  He  engaged  in  the  fur  trade 
and  in  selling  Indian  supplies,and  by  his 
just  and  considerate  dealing  won  the 
entire  confidence  of  the  surrounding 
tribes.  On  special  occasions  he  assumed 
the  Indian  costume  and  was  adopted 
SDto  the  Mohawk  Canton  or  tribe. 

The  fear  of  invasion  from  Canada  felt 
in  1746,  and  the  discontent  of  the  In- 
dians toward  the  co'onial  authority  in- 
duced Governor  Clinton  to  invoke  the 
well  known  potent  influence  of  Johnson 
with  the  Indians  and  he  was  appointed 
to  the  Indian  agency,  and  in  1748  col- 
onel of  the  militia  forces.  Intrigues 
against  him  at  Albany  constrained  him 
to  resign  in  1750.  This  caused  great  dis- 
satisfaction among  the  Indians  and  they 
laid  various  complaints  before  the  gov- 
ernor in  1753,  and  King  Hendrick's  omi- 
nous words  declaring  that  "the  old  cove- 
nant chain  between  them  and  the  Eng- 
lish was  broken,"  excited  general  alarm. 


All  the  branches  of  the  governrrent  and 
all  the  factions  at  Albany  tben  united  in 
naming  Johneon  as  the  one  man  who 
could  win  tack  the  alliance  of  the  Mo- 
hawks. At  Johnson's  summons  they 
met  him  at  what  is  now  Akin,  then 
Mount  Juhnson,  near  Amsterdam.  Hen- 
drick  tiien  declared  that  'for  any  other 
man  he  would  not  have  moved  a  foot." 
Difficultifs  were  adjusted  ard  in  the  fol- 
lowing month  at  a  general  meeting  of 
the  Six  Nations  at  Onondaga  friendly  re- 
lations between  them  and  the  colony 
weie  restored.  From  that  time  John- 
son's influence  o\er  the  Indians  contin- 
ued to  increase,  and  in  1755  he  was  ap- 
pointed majoi'-general  of  the  New  Eng- 
land and  New  York  troops.  In  Septem- 
ber he  defeated  the  French  under  Die- 
skau  at  the  battle  of  Lake  George  for 
which  signal  success  parliament  voted 
him  £5,000  and  the  King  cieated  him  a 
baronet.  The  Lords  of  Trade  in  1756 
made  him  colonel  and  sole  superinten- 
dent of  the  northern  Indians  with  an 
ample  salary.  In  17c9  at  the  siege  of 
Fort  Niagara  by  the  English  under  Gen- 
eral Prideaux  he  succeeded  to  the  com- 
mand on  the  death  of  that  general,  de- 
feated D'Aubry,  \^ho  had  marched  to 
the  relief  of  that  post,  and  compelled  its 
surrender.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  Sir 
William  captured  both  of  the  French 
commanders  in  these  decisive  battles. 
Upon  the  surrender  of  Fort  Niagara  he 
advised  an  immediate  advance  on  Mon- 
treal, but  the  more  cautious  policy  of 
General  Amherst  delayed  that  move- 
ment. In  1758  his  efforts  had  prevented 
fifteen  tribes  from  allying  themselves 
with  the  French.  How  much  of  death, 
suffering  and  desolation  was  stayed  by 
his  intervention  can  never  he  known. 
In  1760,  at  the  head  of  regulars,  provin- 
cials and  Indians,  he  took  part  in  the 
capture  of  Montreal  and  the  final  expul- 
sion of  the  French 

Nor  did  his  services  end  with  that 
event.  In  1764  he  marched  with  a  large 
force  to  Oswego,  Niagara,  Pittsburg  and 
Detroit  to  overawe  the  Shawnees  and 
the  Senecas  who  were  still  hostile,  and 
compelled  them  to  keep  the  peace.  In 
June  1774,  we  find  Governor  John  Penn 


13 


of  Pennsylvania,  calling  for  the  potent 
help  of  Sir  William  to  protect  the  west- 
ern settlers  against  the  Shawnees,  an  ap- 
peal that  reached  Johnstown  just  after 
Sir  William's  death,  July  11,  1774.  Such 
is  a  brief  account  of  the  greatest  of  the 
colonial  servants  of  the  British  crown, 
and  who  next  lo  Wolfe  was  the  most 
potent  personality  in  the  work  of  ex- 
pelling the  French  from  North  America. 
William  Pitt  in  his  sublime  egotism  said, 
"I  can  save  England,  and  no  other  man 
can,"  and  Johnson  and  Wolfe  were  his 
ablest  8ubordina':es  in  the  work  he  had 
to  accomplish  oa  this  continent. 

The  mother  of  Sir  John  Johnson  and 
of  the  wives  of  Guy  Johnson  and  Claus 
was  a  German  girl  named  Catherine 
Weisenfelt,  who  was  sold  into  service  to 
pay  her  passage  money  over  sea,  a  cus- 
tom as  prevailing  in  that  day  as  was  the 
servitude  of  the  blacks.  The  Ftory  cur- 
rent at  that  time  was  that  one  Phillips, 
who  had  become  her  master,  stated  that 

•'Johnson,  that  d d  Irishman,  came 

and  offered  him  '^£5  for  the  girl  and 
threatened  to  horsewhip  him  and  steal 
the  girl  if  I  would  not  sell  h^r,"  and 
thinking,  it  seems,  that  £5  was  better 
than  a  thrashing,  he-  accepted  Johnson's 
terms. 

This  rough  and  ready  courtship  is  sup- 
posed by  Simms  to  have  occurred  in  1789. 
In  1S63,  on  the  exhuming  and  reburial  of 
Sir  William's  remains  at  Johnstown,  a 
gold  ring  was  found  among  them  marked 
"June,  1739  —16,"  and  Simms  conjectures 
that  the  ring  may  have  been  given  to  the 
girl  at  that  date,  and  that  the  figures  16 
denoted  her  age.  Long  after  the  birth  of 
her  white  children,  and  to  legitimate 
them,  Sir  William,  shortly  before  the 
death  of  their  mother,  had  a  marriage 
ceremony  performed  between  them,  and 
still  later,  and  not  long  before  his  death, 
a  like  ceremony  was  performed  between 
him  and  his  Indian  wife,  Molly  Brant. 
This  Indian  wife  is  said  to  have  beeti  a 
woman  of  mind  and  of  elevated  chaiac- 
ter,  exemplary  in  life  at  Johnson  Hall, 
and  a'  communicant  of  the  Episcopal 
church.  This  superior  Indian  woman  ac- 
quired a  veneering  of  civilized  manners 
in  the   mansion  of  Sir  William,  but  the 


aboriginal  trails  asserted  themselves  when 
after  his  death  she  went  back  to  her  peo- 
ple. Broodmg  ha'rtd  iocited  her  to  give 
warning  of  the  advance  from  Fort  Day- 
ton and  caused  tne  ambuscade  and 
slaughter  at  Oriskany,  Indian  fa~hion, 
she  "dreamed"  for  the  head  of  Lieuten 
ant-Coloael  Stacie,  a  prisoner  tiken  at 
Cherry  Valley,  saying  she  had  twice 
dreamed  that  the  and  the  Indians  had 
kicked  it  about  the  fort  for  a  football. 
But  even  Butler  disobeyed  tho  supposed 
command  of  the  Great  Spirit,  and  Molly 
was  pacified  with  kegs  of  rum.  She  was 
cruel  towards  prisoners  and  lacked  the 
magnanimity  that  sometimes  relieved  the 
record  of  the  cruel  atrocities  of  her 
brother,  Joseph  Brant.  The  names  of 
Thayendanegea  aud  Molly  Brant  were 
both  of  ill  omen  to  the  Palatines  of  the 
Mohawk  Valley. 

The  early  settlers  of  the  Royal  Grant 
came  soon  after  the  Revolution,  and  were 
mostly  from  New  England.  They  made 
signal  efforts  for  the  promotion  of  learn- 
ing. In  this  respect  they  gave  distinction 
to  the  county.  It  is  said  of  the  English- 
man that  in  a  new  settlement  his  first 
business  is  to  build  a  dock  and  a  ware- 
house, the  Spaniard  at  once  builds  a 
church  and  a  Frenchman  a  theatre.  These 
New  Englanders  very  early  founded  a 
school  and  a  college— Fairfield  Academy, 
in  1808 -to  which  was  added  a  medical 
department  in  1809, and  this  was  raised  to 
the  rank  of  a  college  in  1812.  Both  insti- 
tutions were  among  the  earliest  of  their 
kind  in  the  State,  and  the  college  held  a 
leading  position  until  1838.  Among  its 
professors  are  the  names  of  Willoughby, 
Hadley,  McNaughton,  White,  Hamilton 
and  Beck.  The  lectures  of  T.  Romeyn 
Beck,  begun  in  1816,  were  the  foundation 
of  Beck's  Medical  Jurisprudence,  known 
to  all  physicians  and  lawyers.  Henry 
Hamilton  Hadley  and  George  Hadley, 
sons  of  the  elder  Hadley,  became  the  first 
Hebrew  professor  of  Columbia  College  ; 
the  second,  professor  in  the  Buffalo  Medi- 
cal College. 

Among  the  students  of  the  Academy 
were  Albert  Barnes,  the  distinguished 
biblical  scholar  ;  the  second,  James  Had- 
ley, who  became  Greek  professor  in  Yale 


U 


College,  one  of  the  most  eminent,  if  not 
first  in  rank,  of  the  Greek  scholars  of  this 
•country,  and  author  of  a  work  on  the 
Roman  Law  ;  At  a  Gray,  the  fort  most  of 
-our  botanists  ;  Henry  Wager  Halleck,  a 
writer  on  military  science  and  interna- 
tional law  and  general  of  the  Union 
armies  ;  Hiram  Denio,  Addison  Gardner, 
Elisha  P.  Hurlbut,  Celora  E,  Martin, 
Judgfs  of  the  Couit  of  Appeals;  Orrin 
Faville,  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Wiscon- 
sm  :  Luther  Bradish,  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor of  New  York  :  John  Swinburne, 
famous  in  America  and  Europp  for  his 
improvements  in  reparative  surgery ; 
Xerxes  A.  Willard,  a  writer  on  agricul- 
ture and  dairying,  whose  text  books  are 
authority  in  America  and  Europe. 

Chailes  A.  JMann,  a  native  of  Fairtield, 
was  a  fellow-student  with  Barnes  and 
Denio.  He  was  introductd  by  his  elder 
brother,  Abijah,  to  a  law  office  in  Utica, 
with  the  remark  that  he  "knew  nothing 
but  Latin  and  Greek,"  which  the  elder 
brother  did  not  highly  esteem,  but  he 
added  that  he  "was  willing  to  work," 
which  Abijah  evidently  thought  more  to 
the  purpose.  He  steadily  rose  in  his  pro- 
fession, and  acquired  the  reputation  of 
being  the  test  real  estate  lawyer  in  Oneida 
county.  In  1846  he  was  nominated  for 
the  conirtitutional  convention,  but  was 
defeated  by  lea^on  of  the  existing  split  in 
the  Democratic  party,  and  the  same  cause 
defeated  his  nomination  for  Congress  in 
1848.  He  was  elected  to  the  Assembly, 
and  afterward  to  the  Senate  in  1850.  He 
was  an  ardent  and  firm  supporter  of  the 
financial  school  of  Hoffman,  Loomis, 
Abijah  Mann,  Grain,  and  was  the  leading 
adviser  of  the  resignation  of  the  twelve 
senators  in  order  to  defeat  the  $9,000,000 
canal  bill  of  1851.  This  expedient  had 
the  sanction  of  leaders  such  as  Horatio 
t  Seymour,  but  Mr.  Mann  was  not  sus- 
tained by  the  popular  vote,  but  he  was 
vindicated  by  the  Court  of  Appeals,  which 
declared  the  act,  after  it  was  enacted,  to 
'  be  unconstitutional.  After  1851  Mr.  i'ann 
avoided  public  life,  though  name.:!  for 
comptroller  and  justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court.  His  long  connection  with  rail- 
roads and  banks,  the  lunatic  asylum 
board,  orphan  asylum,  the  academies  of 


Utica  and  with  its  manufacturing  enter- 
prises, as  pr  moter,  director  and  presi- 
dent and  chairman  of  most  of  them  at- 
tests the  universal  reliance  placed  on  his 
financial  skill,  executive  ability  and  in- 
tegrity. Mr.  Mann's  eminently  useful 
career  was  closed  oy  impaired  health  a 
few  years  before  his  death,  in  1860,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-seven. 

The  observation  has  been  made  that 
the  Palatines  from  their  settlement  in 
1725  to  the  founding  of  the  institutions 
at  Fairfield  had  done  nothing  for  the 
special  promotion  of  learning.  But  it 
must  be  said  that  the  scathing  devasta- 
tion that  wasted  the  Palatirate  hy  the 
ruthless  scourging  of  Louis  XIV.  and 
his  still  more  brutal  minister  Louvois, 
and  which  swept  away  village,  hamlet 
and  cottage,  were  revisited  upon  its  peo- 
ple in  the  new  world.  They  were  pur- 
sued by  ill  fortune  in  their  wanderings 
on  the  Hudson,  the  Schoharie,  and  the 
Mohawk.  They  bore  the  fierce  brunt  of 
French  and  British  invasions.  Indian 
ambush  and  the  tomahawk  hovered 
around  and  over  them,  and  there  was 
the  more  direful  hate  of  brother  warring 
upon  brother. 

The  story  of  this  much  enduring  peo- 
ple reads  like  the  roll  of  the  prophet, 
filled  within  and  without  with  lamenta- 
tions and  woe.  In  a  constant  struggle 
for  life,  they  had  time  only  to  learn  how 
to  live,  could  study  only  arts  to  ward  off 
impending  death.  Their  fields  were 
tilled  in  the  brief  intervals  when  peace 
for  a  time  "dropped  like  a  curtain"  upon 
the  troubled  stage  between  the  recurring 
scenes  of  blood  and  fire.  When  we  con- 
sider the  multiplied  calamities  that  be- 
set them,  it  is  the  marvel  of  history  that 
they  finally  held  their  ground: 

"Tantae  molis  erat  Romanum  condere  gen- 
tem." 

—such  and  so  arduous  was  the  task  of 
preparing  the  homes  in  which  we  abide. 
The  settlers  of  the  Royal  Grant  came 
under  the  auspices  of  newly  awasened 
enterprises  which  they  could  pursue  in 
peace  and  security.  They  came  from  a 
part  of  the  land  where  tlie  aspect  of  war 
had  been  less  terrible,  and  where  the 
culture   of    letters    was    less  disturbed. 


15 


They  founded  seats  of  leiruing  to  which 
the  desceodants  of  the  Palatines  resort- 
ed, which  in  happier  times  they  largely 
supported,  and  ihey  gathered  from  these 
fountains  the  same  benefits  that  have 
been  largely  felt  in  this  and  in  surround- 
ing communities,  down  to  our  own 
times.  The  academy  at  Fairfield  is  now 
under  the  vigorous  ana  enlightened  ad- 
mmistration  of  the  Messrs.  Warnes,  who 
have  restored  it  to  its  old  time  prosperity 
and  usefulness. 

Most  of  the  first  settlers  upon  the 
Royal  Grant  came  after  1784,  and  large- 
ly to  Norway.  There  were  only  a  few 
settlers  in  Manheim  and  Salisbury 
before  the  revolution.  These  later 
settlers  were  attracted  by  the 
fame  of  cheap  and  fertile  lands,  the 
confiscated  estates  of  the  Johnson  family 
which  were  offered  for  sale  in  1784  by 
the  Commissioners  of  Forfeitures.  The 
immigration  to  Norway  was  somewhat 
earlier  than  that  to  any  of  the  others  on 
the  Grant.  Norway  has  been  the  prolific 
mother  of  towns,  thirty-five  having  been 
carved  from  her  ancient  territory,  and 
much  of  this  immigration  to  the  Grant 
was  to  towns  not  within  the  present  limits 
of  that  town.  The  pioneer  in  what  is 
now  Norway  was  Christopher  Hawkins, 
who  came  in  1786.  In  1787  the  Potters 
settled  on  No  4  of  the  third  allotment, 
about  half  a  mile  north  of  Norway  vil- 
lage. Five  younger  members  of  the 
family  made  a  home  there  in  the  winter 
of  that  year.  The  winter  snow  still 
lying  four  feet  deep  in  April,  frozen 
potatoes  and  an  occasional  rabbit  for 
food,  no  neighbors  short  of  seven  miles, 
and  a  succeeding  frosty  summer,  tried 
the  souls  of  these  young  pioneers.  Some 
years  before  1786  a  tempest  cut  a  wide 
swath  through  the  forest  for  several 
miles  in  the  north  part  of  tbe  town,  and 
it  was  afterward  known  as  "The  Hurri- 
cane." The  same  tempest,  it  is  supposed 
prostrated  the  forest  at  what  is  called 
"The  Windfall"  in  Schuyler,  Many 
went  to  the  Hurricane,  thinking  perhaps 
that  a  hard  life  could  be  had  on  some- 
what easier  terms  on  lands  thus  provi- 
dentially cleared.  Among  them  was 
Noah  Smith,   the   writers  great-grand- 


father, who  had  settled  just  below  Fair-  i 
field  village,  but  lost  his  "betterments" 
there.  The  first  marriage  in  the  town 
of  Russia,  then  part  of  Norway,  was  that 
of  Farley  Fuller  to  Minerva,  daughter 
of  Noah  Smith.  It  was  not  always  easy 
to  keep  the  wolf  from  the  door  on  the 
Hurricane.  There  Philo  Smith,  Noah's 
son,  and  his  wife,  grandpirenis  of  the 
writer,  were  awakened  at  night  to  find 
a  wolf  on  the  door  step  of  their  log 
hcu-e  and  they  killed  him  there.  The 
honors  were  about  equal;  Philo  held  the 
wolf  by  the  tail  and  his  wife  split  the 
animal's  head  with  an  axe.  She  was 
Rachel  Hop^on  Smith,  one  of  the  eleven 
children  of  Alvarius  Hopfon.  who  set- 
tled in  Salisbury  in  1793.  Another  of 
his  daughters  was  Clotilda,  wife  of 
Linus  Yale,  of  Newport. 

Among  the  prominent  men  of  Norway 
was  Ira  Coe,  a  legal  oracle  in  the  north 
part  of  the  county,  largely  employed  in 
trying  causes  in  justices'  courts,  and  for 
a  time  one  of  the  associate  county  judges. 
He  was  candidate  in  1846  of  the  Whig 
party  for  member  of  assembly.  Thomas 
Manly  was  member  in  1800,  1810,  1830, 
and  Daniel  C  Henderson,  Henry  TiUing- 
hast  and  Jefferson  Tillinghast  in  1837, 
183^  and  184S  respectively.  Some  time 
before  1808  John  Nicholson  left  Norway, 
and  he  was  elected  to  Congress  in  that 
year  from  Herkimer.  The  research  of  the 
late  Samuel  Earl  could  find  no  further 
trace  of  his  career,  and  the  writer  knows 
of  none  except  a  shinplaster  for  fifty 
cents,  which  he  issued  at  Herki- 
mer in  1817.  Dudley  Burwell,  born 
in  Norway,  was  one  of  the  strong 
men  of  the  county,  a  distinguished 
lawyer  of  literary  tastes  who  was 
engaged,  after  his  retirement  from 
practice,  upon  a  biography  of 
Charles  James  Fox,  the  English  states- 
man, which  he  did  not  live  to  complete. 

Benton's  History  assumes,  and  the  later 
history  of  Judge  Fardin  and  Willard  re- 
peats, that  the  territory  now  Ohio  was  a 
part  of  Kingsland  during  the  revolution. 
If  the  Royal  Grant,  or  Kingsland,  was 
granted  in  1765,  it  is  not  perceived  how  it 
could  have  been  embraced  in  the  Jersey - 
field  Patent  granted  in  1770,  Kingsland 

16 


4 


then  remaining  intact.  The  map  published 
by  the  Forest  Commission  runs  the  north 
line  of  the  Royal  Grant,  from  Devereaux 
directly  to  near  Hinckley,  leaving,  of 
course,  Ohio,  wholly  to  the  north.  Why 
Ohio  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  part  of 
the  Royal  Grant  is  not  apparent.  Its  ter- 
ritory, taken  from  Norway  in  1823,  was 
first  named  New  Brunswick.  It  was  set 
tied  before  the  revolution,  it  is  believed, 
by  several  white  families,  among  them  by 
one  Mount.  The  murder  of  his  sons  by 
Indians,  in  1782,  is  a  tragedy  that  has 
often  been  rehearsed,  and  no  further  set- 
tlement was  made  until  1790.  Since  1832 
this  remote  town  has  sent  to  the  Assem- 
bly David  Thorp,  Asa  Vickery  and  Wil- 
liam Coppernoll. 

The  part  of  the  county  comprised  in  the 
Royal  Grant  had  greater  comparative  po- 
litical weight  in  early  years.  Newport 
sent  Willoughby  to  Congress ;  Norway, 
Nicholson ;  Fairfield,  Mann  and  Buell ; 
Booth,  of  Russia,  closely  contested  the 
Domination  with  Spinner,  Schuyler  turn- 
ing the  scale.  Wooster  from  Newport  was 
in  the  constitutional  convention  of  1821, 
and  in  the  senate  in  1823.  Varney  was 
Senator  from  Russia  in  1842.  In  early 
years  Nathan  Smith,  of  Fairfield,  was  a 
first  judge  of  the  county,  succeeded  by 
Hiram  Nolton  in  1825  and  Arunah  C.  H. 
Smith  in  1840,  all  from  the  same  town. 
The  Grant  has  been  numerously  repre- 
senced  in  the  Assembly,  but  all  of  whom 
have  held  the  position  only  S.  R.  Milling- 
ton  and  Solemon  Graves  are  now  living. 

Nathan  Smith  before  holding  the  pos- 
ition of  first  judge  of  the  county,  had 
been  a  member  of  the  assembly  from  this 
county  in  the  years  1798,  1801  and  1802. 
He  was  elected  senator  in  1805  and  held 
that  position  for  two  terms.  In  1808  he 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  council 
of  appomtment  and  was  in  all  these 
years  a  prominent  figure  in  the  politics 
and  legislation  of  the  state.  He  died  at 
Fairfield  in  1836  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
seven. 

In  the  early  years  •£  the  century  the 
gates  of  the  Northern  Wilderness  were 
on  the  borders  of  the  Royal  Grant.  There 
were  many  hardy  occupants  largely  en- 
gaged in  hunting,  fishing  and  trapping, 


about  the  Fulton  Chain,  Jeraeyfield, 
Piseco  and  Long  Lake  and  other  waters 
in  that  region.  Seventy  years  ago  the 
beaver  had  not  disappeared  from  the 
numerous  dams  they  had  built.  The 
meadows  which  »their  dams  of  immem- 
orial date,  had  cleared  of  timber,  are 
found  scattered  throughout  the  forest. 
Within  the  memory  of  the  writer,  moose 
were  there  so  abundant  that  deer  were 
deemed  game  of  minor  account.  Hunt- 
ing expeditions  broughc  in  every  season 
large  quantities  of  this  royal  game  and 
their  hides  were  tanned  in  the  small 
tanneries  and  made  into  the  moccasins, 
"mokisins,"  in  the  Indian  language, 
which  were  always  worn  by  the  hunters. 
In  these  days  meetings  of  these  sports- 
men were  frequent  at  Wyllys  Avery's 
gun  shop  where  Wyllys  Avery,  George 
Avery,  Erwin  Byington,  the  Dunnings, 
the  Bleekmans,  Wyllys  Bennett,  Nath- 
aniel Foster,  and  others,  tried  their  skill 
with  the  rifle,  using  Avery's  newly  in- 
vented rifle  locks  fitted  to  rifles  of  his 
manufacture.  He  bought  his  barrels  of 
Eliphalet  Remington  up  to  1834. 

In  these  assemblies  Foster  was  a 
marked  figure,  "straight  as  an  Indian," 
alert  and  prompt  in  manner,  with  a  wary 
and  piercing  glance  characteristic  of  the 
hunter's  eye  and  with  a  face  browned 
by  exposure,  he  might,  but  for  hisi  long 
yellow  locks,  well  pass  for  a  genuine  son 
of  the  forest.  Much  has  been  said  of  his 
skill  with  the  rifle  but  his  associates  did 
not  concede  to  him  special  rank  in  these 
encounters,  but  his  aim  at  live  game  was 
said  to  be  more  unerring.  The  story  that 
his  carrying  rifle  balls  between  his  fin- 
gers had  so  indented  them  that  he  habit- 
ually carried  them  that  way  for  con- 
venience in  loading,  had  no  foundation. 
His  trial  at  Herkimer  in  1833,  for  killing 
Waters,  one  of  the  St.  Regis  tribe,  an 
offishoot  of  the  Mohawks,  was  watched 
with  more  attention  than  any  capital 
trial  in  this  part  of  the  state.  The  idea 
of  hanging  a  white  man  for  shooting  an 
Indian,  aroused  men  who  had  heard  so 
much,  of  some  of  whom  had  witnessed, 
the  unsparing  raids  of  Sir  John  Johnson, 
Greens,  the  Butlers,  Brant  and  Claus, 
in  the  Mohawk  Valley  and  on  the  Royal 


17 


Grant.  Elisha  P.  Hurlbut  was  one  of 
Foster's  counsel.  His  plea  for  his  client 
which  was  published  in  Park  Benjamin's 
"World"  over  fifty  years  ago,  was  largely 
based  on  the  fact  that  Foster's  quarrel 
with  Waters  occurred  in  the  wilderness 
far  beyond  any  possible  protection  of 
law,  that  in  this  state  of  nature  the  com- 
batants were  remitted  to  the  rights  of 
private  warfare  and  to  the  unqualified 
use  of  all  means  of  self-preservation. 
Anticipating  that  it  would  be  urged  that 
Foster  followed  up  the  Indian  after  the 
first  struggle,  he  might  well  argue  that 
following  an  Indian  with  a  good  rifle, 
was  much  safer  than  to  have  him  on 
one's  own  trail  in  the  depths  of  the  for- 
est. A  weaker  argument  than  this 
would  be  likely  to  o')tain  the  assent  of 
the  jury  that  was  addressed  on  that 
occasion.  On  his  acquittal  Foster  finally 
retired  from  the  woods  in  which  Indians 
were  likely  to  be  prowling  and  he  died 
at  Ava,  and  was  buried  at  Boonville  in 
a  grave  near  that  of  Herrishoflf,  the  John 
Brown's  tract  suicide. 

Wyllys  Avery,  before  mentioned,  was 
a  man  of  remarkable  native  genius.  His 
active  mind  led  to  a  self-education  of  no 
mean  order.  He  was  an  expert  mechanic 
and  brought  cut  several  valuable  inven- 
tions. He  taught  himself  surveying  and 
as  a  surveyor  acquired  a  wide  reputation. 
He  made  the  compasses  he  used  and  sup- 
plied other  surveyors.  His  knowledge  of 
chemistry  was  extensive  and  Dr.  Hadley, 
of  Fairfield,  took  an  interest  in  discussing 
with  him  topics  on  that  science.  He  was 
well  versed  in  geology,  and  Lardner  Van- 
uxera,  when  making  his  state  geological 
survey,  sought  the  aid  of  his  local  knowl- 
edge and  suggestions.  He  was  for  many 
years  an  able  justice  of  the  peace  and 
his  acquaintance  with  the  statutory  and 
common  law  was  unusual  outside  of  the 
legal  profession,  and  he  was  largely  con- 
sulted upon  legal  questions.  When 
Dolphus  Skinner  edited  the  "Universal- 
ist  Magazine"  at  Utica,  that  celebrated 
divine  did  not  disdain  to  entertain  a  con- 
troversy with  Mr.  Avery  in  the  columns 
of  the  magazine,  upon  topics  in  the  field 
of  theology. 


This  back  woods  philosopher,  like 
Franklin,  whom  he  resembled  in  counte- 
nance and  mental  traits,  had  a  vein  of 
quaint  and  shrewd  humor.  When  he 
advertised  compasses  he  gave  notice  that 
he  made  all  kinds  of  compasses,  "except 
poor  ones."  When  he  had  fits  of  mental 
depression,  "the  blues,"  he  always  spoke 
of  them  as  "lucid  intervals.'"  When  con- 
sulted on  legal  questions  and  his  client 
cited  the  opinion  of  some  lawyer,  he 
would  reply  that  he  would  mucii  rather 
know  what  he  told  the  lawyer  than 
what  the  lawyer  told  him.  Mr.  Avery 
had  none  of  the  ambition  that  spurs 
mental  ability  to  its  highest  exertion. 
With  legal  knowledge  superior  to  many 
who  practice  law  as  a  profession,  he 
avoided  the  advocacy  of  suits,  public 
speaking  being  wholly  unsuited  to  his 
taste  and  temperament.  Content  with 
his  quiet  pursuits  and  the  reflections  of  a 
contemplative  uiind,  and  such  excur- 
sions to  the  outer  world  as  his  reading 
afforded,  he  kept  the  "even  tenor  of  his 
sequestered  way."  On  a  broader  thea- 
tre of  action  with  the  stimulating  con- 
tact of  intellects  equal  to  his  own  and 
if  he  had  not  deemed  contentment  suffi- 
cient riches,  he  might  have  been  famous 
as  a  mechanic  and  inventor,  or  trained 
to  the  law,  equal  to  high  judicial  labors, 
or  if  devoted  to  science  he  would  have 
stood  conspicuous  in  the  light  of  new 
and  important  discoveries. 

Another  and  more  famous  inventor, 
Linus  Yale,  was  a  native  of  Salisbury. 
The  Yale  lock  of  his  invention  is  known 
the  world  over  wherever  there  are  bank 
vaults  or  treasures  to  be  protected  by  in- 
ventive mechanical  genius.  Hamilton 
Ward,  formerly  attorney  general,  and 
now  justice  of  the  appellate  court  in  the 
4th  department  was  born  near  Dever- 
eaux  near  the  northeast  (!orner  of  the 
Grant.  Near  the  southern  boundary  of 
Salisbury  was  born  John  Krum,  mayor 
of  Alton  when  Owen  Lovejoy  was  killed 
and  who  became  afterwards  a  distin- 
guished lawyer  of  St.  Louis  and  circuit 
judge  in  Missouri. 

George  Griswold  was  a  son  of  Colonel 
Amos  Griswold,  of  Salisbury,  and  one  of 
the  anti-slavery  leaders  in  the  storm  and 

18 


stress  period  of  the  anti-slavery  contest. 
He  had  a  ke?n  and  comprehensive  intel 
lect,  and  stored  his  mind  with  literary 
models  and  a  vvide  knowledge  of  public 
affairs.  His  eyesight  was  injured  by  an 
accident  in  early  life  which  arrested  his 
progress  at  a  time  when  study  was  un- 
folding his  fine  natural  powers.  This 
misfortune  interrupted  the  legal  career 
on  which  he  entered  and  in  which  he 
was  fitted  to  excel.  A  natural  orator, 
his  diction  was  expressive  and  vigorous 
and  his  argument  powerful.  In  the 
early  forties  he  was  often  heard  on  the 
slavery  question  and  he  and  John  C. 
Underwood  were  in  those  years  the 
ablest  exponents  of  anti-slavery  senti- 
ment in  this  county.  Mr.  Griswold 
went  to  Wisconsin  about  the  year  1850, 
and  died  at  Columbus,  in  that  state,  in 
1891,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  His 
younger  brother,  William  M.  Griswold, 
also  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Arphax- 
ed  Loomis  and  when  admitted  to  the 
bar  he  became  a  partner  wiih  Mr. 
Loomis.  He  removed  to  Wisconsin  in 
1853  and  there  became  distinguished  and 
influential.  For  three  years,  1858-60,  he 
was  a  Member  of  the  Assembly  of  Wis- 
consin, and  a  member  of  the  Senate  dur- 
ing 1868-1872.  Possessed  of  highly  culti- 
vated minds  and  extensive  literary  ac- 
quirements, the  Griswolds  held  leading 
positions  both  in  their  native  county  and 
in  the  state  of  their  adoption.  Both 
were  graduates  of  Fairfield  Academy 
and  of  Union  College.  William  M.  died 
at  Columbus,  Wisconsin  in  the  year 
1889. 

Among  the  capable  and  forceful  men 
of  the  eastern  part  of  the  Royal  Grant 
was  Col.  Jeremiah  Drake,  of  Salisbury, 
one  of  the  robust  minds  and  strong  char- 
acters who  sixty  and  seventy  years  ago 
kept  up  in  our  country  towns  intelligent 
thought  and  reflection  upon  public 
affairs.  In  the  years  from  1834  to 
1844  the  writer  often  heard  his 
discussions  of  the  issues  in  state  and 
national  politics.  Familiar  with  our  na- 
tional and  with  general  history,  he  was 
able  to  enforce  his  views  with  great  men- 
tal acuteness  and  by  remarkable  facility 
in  speech    As   illustrative  of  the  features 


of  those  times  the  fact  is  recalled, occurr- 
ing in  the  canvass  of  1840,  when  the  elec- 
tion continued  through  three  days,  that 
in  the  night  following  the  poll  at 
Devereaux,  Col.  Drake  on  the  Whig 
side,  and  Atwater  Cook  on  the  side  of 
the  Democrats,  the  leaders  of  their 
respective  parties,  discussed  at  the 
Centre  the  issues  of  that  campaign 
Both  these  men  were  fully  competent 
to  expound  and  defend  the  creed  of 
their  respective  parties.  At  that  time 
the  country  towns  had  many  men  equal 
to  such  debates.  When  intelligent 
opinions  and  not  money  ruled,  these 
public  discussions  enlarged  the  views 
of  the  electors,  and  such  men  were 
heard  with  attention.  It  is  safe  to  say 
of  that  town  that  no  one  of  its  voters, 
then  more  numerous  than  now,  voted 
for  a  bribe,  and  the  same  is  believed  to 
be  true  of  all  the  country  towns  of  the 
county. 

Col.  Drake's  energetic  and  enterpris- 
ing spirit  was  displayed  in  the  project 
for  securing  a  railroad  and  water  navi- 
gation from  Finks's  Basin  to  the  St. 
Lawrence.  The  first  charter  was  ob- 
tained in  1834.  His  principal  associates 
were  Andrew  A.  Fink  and  Daniel  B. 
Winton.  Under  this  charter,  which 
was  for  a  line  from  Fink's  Basin  to 
Nicholsville  (now  Devereaux)  by  way 
of  Manheim  and   Salisbury  Centre.     In 

1836  the  scheme  was  extended  to  the 
Sacandaga  river  and  up  the  East  Canada 
creek  to  Morehouse  lake,  and  by  water 
through  and  along  Lake  Piseco  and  Lake 
Pleasant  and  in  1837  through  and  along 
Long  lake,  down  the  Racket  river,  in- 
cluding Tupper  Lake,  to  the  High  Falls 
on  the  Racket  river,  and  thence  by  rail- 
road, canal  or  slackwater  navigation  to 
the  St.  Lawrence.  By  these  acts  Jere- 
miah Drake,  Daniel  B.  Winton,  Andrew 
A.  Fink,  Elisha  P.  Hurlbnt,  John  Fine, 
Governeui'Ogden,  Andrew  K.Morehouse, 
Henry  Devereaux  and  some  others  were 
named  as  stock  commissioners.  The 
name  of  the  corporation  was  changed  in 

1837  to  "The  Mohawk  and  St.  Lawrence 
Railroad  and  Transportation  Company." 
A  considerable  part  of  the  line  was  sur- 
veyed    under   the    supervision    of    Col. 


19 


Drake,  in  1837,  but  the  financial  depres- 
sion of  1837-8  proved  fatal  to  any  pros- 
pects this  extensive  project  may  have 
had,  and  it  vsras  abandoned  vpith  consid- 
erable loss  on  the  part  of  its  promoters. 

About  1830  Col.  Drake  was  the  candi- 
date of  his  party  for  State  Senator.  He 
DQOved  to  Wisconsin  about  1843,  and  in 
1846  was  a  member  of  the  convention 
chosen  to  form  a  constitution  for  the 
new  state  and  was  prominent  in  that 
body.  His  son  Jeremiah  Clinton  Drake, 
was  born  in  Salisbury  in  1824; graduated 
from  Rochester  University  and  entered 
the  ministry  in  1852.  In  1861  he  re- 
cruited a  company  in  Chautauqua 
county  for  the  war,  was  made  captain, 
and  served  during  the  entire  campaign 
on  the  peninsula.  In  the  fall  of  1862 
the  112th  regiment  was  organized  at 
Jamestown, and  he  was  commissioned  as 
colonel.  He  served  nearly  two  years 
and  was  distinguished  for  efficiency, 
courage  and  bravery.  He  had,  during  a 
large  part  of  that  time,  the  command  of 
a  brigade  known  as  Drake's  Independent 
Brigade.  While  leading  this  brigade  on 
the  first  charge  at  Cold  Harbor,  June  1, 
1864,  he  fell,  mortally  wounded,  and 
died  the  next  day. 

Among  the  men  bearing  the  same 
stamp  of  native  worth  and  highly  useful 
in  his  day,  was  Atwater  Cook,  before 
mentioned.  He  was  a  man  strong  in 
saving  common  sense.  Besides  filling 
the  important  town  offices,  he  was  twice 
at  different  periods,  elected  to  the  As- 
sembly, in  which  he  served  with  credit. 
He  was  the  trusted  confidant  of  Arphax- 
ed  Loomis  and  of  the  other  men  of  his 
political  school.  A  reflex  of  his  traits  of 
character  may  be  seen  in  some  incidents 
which  the  writer  gives  from  personal 
statements  and  the  voice  of  cotemporar- 
ies.  An  oppressive  bill  of  legal  costs 
rendered  by  ona  of  his  neighbors  having 
come  to  his  notice,  he  brought  the  case 
to  the  attention  of  Mr.  Loomis,  and  this 
is  believed  to  have  been  one  of  the  causes 
that  turned  actively  the  attention'of  that 
eminent  jurist  to  the  legal  reforms  with 
which  his  name  is  identified.  In  another 
case,  a  prominent  man  in  his  dealings 
with  Mr.   Cook,   had  rendered  himself 


amenable  to  criminal  proceedings.but  Mr. 
Cook,  being  unwilling  to  resort  to  ex- 
tremeties,  gave  notice  in  the  proper 
quarter  to  have  his  name  left  off  the 
grand  jury  list,  so  that  he  should  not  be 
placed  where  his  official  duty  would 
compel  him  to  present  the  case  to  the 
grand  jury.  These  examples  were  char- 
acteristic of  the  cherished  integrity  and 
humane  public  spirit  of  the  man. 

Elisha  P.  Hurlbut  was  the  most  versa- 
tile, and,  in  some  respects,  the  strongest 
of  the  intellects  this  county  has  pro- 
duced. He  was  a  powerful  and  impres- 
sive orator  ;  he  rose  to  eminence  as  a 
lawyer  and  jurist,  and  but  for  the  dis- 
taste for  public  life  that  succeeded  his 
early  triumphs,  his  genius  and  mental 
power  might  have  secured  still  higher 
honors  in  the  State  and  Nation.  I  heard 
him  speak,  with  boyish  admiration  in 
1834,  and  in  1856  he  deliverd  a  speech  at 
Boonvillo  on  the  public  topics  of  that 
day,  which,  for  massive  strength  and 
for  stirring  and  sublime  appeal,  I  never 
heard  excelled.  He  affected  none  of  the 
small  arts  of  oratory,  but  full  of  his  sub- 
ject he  spoke  "right  on,"  and  filled  the 
minds  and  the  hearts  of  his  hearers.  His 
argument  was  indeed,   logic  set  on  fire, 

He  was  born  in  Salisbury  in  1807.  He 
was  at  first  attracted  to  medical  study, 
which,  for  a  time,  he  pursued  under  his 
uncle.  Dr.  Westel  Willoughby;  he  then 
studied  law  and  became  a  partner  of  Ar- 
phaxed  Loomis.  He  went  to  New  York 
in  1835,  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven,  and 
formed  a  co-partnership  with  Alexander 
S.  Johnson,  who  was  afterwards  a  Judge 
of  the  Court  of  Appeals,  and  after  a 
practice  of  twelve  years,  he  was  elected 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Ceurt,  the  young- 
est of  the  elected  incumbents  of  that 
office,  and  he  passed  from  that  court  to 
the  Court  of  Appeals.  His  opinions  writ- 
ten during  the  brief  time  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  that  court,  before  his  resignation 
on  account  of  ill  health,  showed  ample 
learning  and  a  characteristic  vigor  and 
clearness  of  mind. 

Judge  Hurlbut's  writings  in  various 
fields  were  striking  and  valuable.  la 
1836  he  delivered  a  course  of  lectures  onj 
the    basic    principles    of    government,' 


20 


which  he  afterwards  published  in  a  vol- 
ume entitled  "Human  Rights  and  Their 
Political  Guarantees,"  which  was  re- 
printed in  London  and  Edinburgh.  In 
1843-4  his  pregnant  essays  on  constitu 
tional  and  legal  reform  appeard  in  the 
public  prints  and  exerted  a  wide  influ 
ence.  In  these  he  urged  most,  if  not  all, 
the  reforms  secured  by  the  new  consti- 
tution and  the  new  legal  system,  the 
limitation  of  executive  power  by  decen- 
tralizng  executive  patronage,  as  well  as 
restraints  on  legislative  power;  the  curb- 
ing of  corporate  trusts  and  the  abolish- 
ing of  special  legislation.  The  only  limit 
he  would  place  on  the  voting  franchise 
was  the  ability  to  road  the  English  lan- 
guage. He  was  one  of  the  earliest  ad- 
vocates for  the  extension  of  complete 
legal  and  political  rights  to  women.  His 
efforts  were  influential  in  removing  the 
political  disabilities  of  the  clergy,  and 
the  test  of  religious  belief  in  the  cases  of 
witnesses.  In  short  Judge  Hurlbut  was 
the  constant  and  consistent  foe  of  every 
denial  and  abridgement  of  human  rights. 
Th«  issues  that  arose  in  1856,  soon  after 
his  retirement,  enlisted  his  most  pro- 
found moral  and  political  convictions, 
and  he  gave  an  earnest  and  zealous  ad- 
vocacy to  the  Union  cause.  He  was 
offered  the  nomination  for  Governor, 
and  would  probably  have  received  it  but 
for  his  determination  not  to  accept  pub- 
lic office. 

Abijah  Mann,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Fair- 
field in  1793,  was  Member  of  the  Assem- 
bly in  1828-39  and  was  in  Congress  from 
1832  to  1836.  The  training  of  a  capable 
mother  and  his  own  efforts  supplied  the 
lack  of  academical  instruction.  He 
early  became  a  power  in  the  state  and  a 
political  associate  of  VanBuren,  Marcy, 
Wright,  Flagg,  Hoffman,  Loomis,  Grain, 
Barry,  Beckwith,  Burwell;  and  one  of 
the  men  who  gave  tone  to  the  Herkimer 
school  of  politics  and  aided  in  securing 
for  it  a  marked  ascendancy  in  the  party 
and  in  the  state.  After  leaving  Con- 
gress he  again  entered  the  Assembly  in 
1838.  While  in  Congress  he  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  committee  to  examine 
the  condition  of  the  United  States  Bank. 
On  arriving  at  Philadelphia  he  was  re- 


fused admittance  to  the  bank.  Having 
a  good  deal  of  Jackson  in  him,  and 
Jackson  behind  him,  he  at  once  procured 
laborers  and  began  to  dig  his  way  under 
the  building.  The  doors  were  then 
opened.  His  account  of  the  report  he 
made  to  Gen.  Jackson  is  given  in  his  own 
words :  "I  had  been  desired  by  Gen.  Jack- 
son to  come  immediately  to  the  Presi- 
dent's house  at  any  hour  on  my  return 
to  Washington.  I  arrived  late  at  night 
and  was  denied  admittance.  'My  name 
is  Mann,'  said  I,  'and  the  President 
wants  to  see  me.'  I  was  admitted. 
Gen.  Jackson  had  just  risen  from  the 
bed  and  walked  up  and  down  the  room 
in  an  old  woolen  night  gown  that  made 
him  looK  like  a  ghost.  'Tell  me,'  he  de- 
manded, 'how  stands  the  case.'  I  told 
him  the  names  of  the  members  of  both 
houses  of  Congress  who  had  received 
money  from  the  bank,  and  he  made 
comments  as  I  told.  Naming  one,  a  most 
distinguished  senator,  I  added  $70,000. 
'That  money  is  well  spent,'  cried  Gen. 
Jackson,  'he  is  an  able  man.'  I  named 
a  southern  senator,  adding  $6,000.  'Too 
much,  too  much,'  cried  the  old  man,  'he 
is  only  a  country  village  lawyer.'  So  I 
went  on  through  the  whole  catalogue 
detailing  one  of  the  most  extraordinary 
cases  of  official  corruption  then  on  re- 
cord." 

In  the  Assembly  in  1838,  Mr.  Mann 
and  Preston  King,  the  two  Democratic 
leaders,  were  in  the  minority  and  i hey 
indulged  in  a  good  deal  of  fillibustering. 
Luther  Bradish,  the  polished  Whig 
leader,  was  speaker.  In  one  turbulent 
scene  the  speaker  declared  "the  gentle- 
man from  Herkimer"  out  of  order  with- 
out stopping  Mr.  Mann.  The  speaker 
then  ordered  "the  gentleman  from  Her- 
kimer" to  take  his  seat,  still  without 
effect.  The  speaker  th«^n  shouted, 
"Abijah  Mann,  Jr.,  take  your  seat,"  — 
the  "calling  members  by  their  names" 
being  the  last  resort  of  parliamentary 
law  short  of  sending  the  Sergeant  at 
Arms.  Mr.  Mann  respected  it  and  sat 
down.  From  these  details  it  is  quite 
clear  that  the  veteran  Herkimer  leader 
had  no  lack  of  self  assertion. 


21 


In  1855,  Mr.  Mann  was  nominated  by 
the  Republican  party  for  Attorney  Gen- 
eral, but  the  American  party  carried  the 
state.  In  1857  he  was  the  Eepublican 
candidate  for  Senator,  but  defeated. 
After  this  he  was  not  active  in  politics 
and  occupied  an  inde[>endent  attitude 
toward  parties. 

As  illustrating  the  modest  frugality  of 
the  times  and  to  show  the  small  begin- 
nings of  men  afterwards  eminent,  the 
writer  recalls  the  fact  that  he  heard  it 
said  after  Mr.  Mann  became  distin- 
guished, that  he  often  tried  causes  in 
the  eastern  part  of  Grant  for  two  and 
three  dollars,  and  this  millionaire  of  a 
later  day  set  up  hour.ekeepmg  having  a 
looking  glass  twelve  inches  by  ten,  as  a 
type  of  his  furniture.  No  rising  attor- 
ney of  our  day  would  dare^  to  show  his 
face  in  such  a  glass  as  that. 

In  1803  the  State  Road  was  authorized 
to  be  run  from  "Preston's  Tavern"  in 
Steuben  to  within  three  miles  of  the 
High  Falls  of  the  Black  River  and  thence 
to  Brownville  and  eastward  from  the 
same  starting  point  to  Johnstown.  It 
entered  the  Royal  Grant  at  Brockett's 
Bridge,  crossing  Manheim,  Salisbury, 
Norway  and  Russia  and  its  location  in 
1804-5  fixed  the  location  of  Salisbury 
Corners,  Norway  village.  Cold  Brook 
and  Russia  Corners.  This  road  came  to 
be  the  "grand  crossing"  over  the  Grant, 
and  between  the  Black  River  country 
and  Albany  by  the  way  of  Johnstown. 
Prior  to  1817,  Manheim  and  Salisbury 
had  Johnstown  for  their  county  seat 
and  it,  next  to  Albany,  was  the  objec- 
tive point  for  business  from  the  north 
and  from  the  Grant.  Seventy  years  ago 
besides  the  State  Road,  a  road  was  in 
use  leading  from  the  southeastern  part 
of  Salisbury  to  Johnstown  through  the 
'•Nine  Mile  Woods."  Before  the  con- 
struction of  the  Schenectady  and  Utica 
railroad,  the  state  road  was  a  thorough- 
fare thronged  with  teams  from  the  Black 
River  country  and  the  Grant.  Larg6 
numbers  of  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs,  the 
former  in  droves  of  many  hundreds, 
passed  over  the  road.  Norman  Butler, 
before  and  after  that  time,  collected 
large  droves  at  Fairfield   and  sent  them 


over  this  route.  The  carriage  of  grain, 
pork,  potash,  flax,  wool,  fish  from  Lake 
Ontario,  venison,  furs  and  other  pro- 
ducts of  the  field,  forest  and  waters 
made  an  animated  scene  along  the  whole 
road.  Taverns  stood  at  intervals  of  one 
to  two  miles.  At  these  hostelries  the 
men  of  the  northern  farms  and  hamlets 
£ound  good  cheer.  They  often  brought 
their  own  provisions,  paying  moderate 
sums  for  lodging  and  the  stabling  of 
their  teams.  Large  open  fire-places 
piled  high  with  cord- wood,  warmed  and 
lighted  up  the  spacious  bar  rooms  with  a 
ruddy  glow,  a  heated  iron  pendant  from 
an  iron  rod  converted  their  strong  ale 
into  "flip"  and  no  exciseman  hindered 
the  homely  festivity.  In  the  war  of 
1813,  cannon  and  munitions  of  war  were 
tiansported 'and  soldiers  marched  over 
this  road  to  Sacbetts  Harbor.  The 
soldiers  claimed  large  freedom  on  the 
whole  route  and  sometimes  took  forcible 
possession  of  the  taverns.  They  had, 
too,  a  festive  way  of  fishing  out  bottles 
with  nooses  on  the  end  of  their  ramrods, 
over  the  palings  that  the  tavern  keeper 
found  needful  to  protect  his  liquors. 

The  general  wayfarers,  the  forefathers 
of  those  old  hamlets,  who,  in  those  times 
traversed  this  road,  were  a  genial  and 
social  people.  They  had  no  reason  to 
envy,  if  they  could  have  foreseen,  the 
lives  of  their  successors.  They  enjoyed 
all  that  field  or  forest  or  waters  could 
afford,  all  the  fruits  of  their  brave  and 
patient  labor,  all  that  rural  life  so  blen- 
ded with  forest  sports,  and  all  that  the 
broad  and  social  concourse  of  those  early 
daj  s  could  confer.  These  men  no  longer 
meet,  nor  do  their  children;  the  old  tales 
and  traditions  are  no  longer  told  around 
the  hospitable  fires  of  those  frequent 
taverns.  They  have  mostly  faded  away, 
the  old  ties  are  broken,  and  with  them 
have  perished  the  charm  of  that  older 
day  and  the  more  kindly  light  that  once 
brightened  the  smiling  fields  and  the 
more  enlivened  and  more  cheerful  ham- 
lets of  the  Royal  Grant. 

The  northern  part  of  the  Grant  is  at 
the  limit  of  successful  agriculture  and 
grass  is  about  the  on^y  reliable  product. 
The  underlying  limestone  and  the  Utica 


slate  found  in  some  parts  of  the  Grant 
have  given  to  it  a  marked  adaptation  to 
the  production  of  cheese  and  butter. 
The  red-top,  timothy,  June  grass,  white 
and  red  clover  afford  in  this  soil  superior 
pasturage.  The  geology  a  d  the  topo- 
graphical formation  and  the  generally 
abundant  supply  of  pure  water  maintain 
fresh  pasturage  during  a  longer  season 
than  continues  elsewhere.  These  fav- 
oring conditions  prevail  throughout 
Manheim,  a  part  of  Salisbury,  in  Fair- 
field, Norway,  Herkimer  and  parts  of 
Newport  and  Russia.  As  early  as  1843 
Fairfield  produced  more  cheese  than  any 
town  in  the  United  States  and  in  propor- 
tion to  its  acreage  has,  probably  no 
equal  today.  The  foreign  export,  on 
which  pa3'ing  prices  continue  to  depend, 
was  begun  by  Harry  Burrell  of  Salis- 
bury, who  successfully  prosecuted  that 
trade  for  half  a  century.  His  sons, 
Seymour  Burrell  and  Isaac  Burrell,  en- 
gaged efficiently  in  extending  this  for- 
eign trade,  and  his  son,  David  H.  Bur- 
rell, has  largely  promoted  the  domestic 
.development  of  the  business  by  improved 
appliances  for  cheese  manufacture. 
Natural  conditions  and  the  skill  of  the 
dairymen  of  the  Royal  Grant  have  given 
to  this  region  and  its  chief  product,  a 
reputation  that  rivals  the  most  famous 
seats  of  this  industry.  The  sales  of 
cheese  at  Little  Falls  for  the  season  of 
1894  were  13,121.680  pounds,  being  303,- 
028  boxes;  value  $1,088,474.  The  sales 
of  1895  were  9,013,420  pounds,  being 
150,207  boxes;  value  $714,684.  The  sales 
of  1896  were  7,345,340  pounds,  being 
ij  130,754  boxes;  value  $564,259.  The 
causes  of  this  great  decrease  are  familiar 
and  they  have  been  general,  the  falling 
off  at  Little  Falls  last  season  being  only 
846  boxes  more  than  that  of  the  Utica 
market. 

The  extent  of  this  industry  has  made 
its  methods  subjects  of  careful  study. 
The  writings  of  Professor  Xerxes  A. 
Willard,  rank  high  and  probably  stand 
first.  His  publications  began  in  1859 
and  for  many  years  he  edited  the  dairy 
departments  of  various  publications  like 
"The  Rural  New  Yorker."  His  "Prac- 
tical  Dairy   Husbandry"   of  nearly  600 


pages  was  said  by  the  "London  Milk 
Journal"  to  be  '"the  most  complete  p  - 
lished."  Dr.  Edward  Smith,  F.  R  S., 
said  in  the  "London  Standard"  that  his 
"Condensed  Milk  Manufacture"  was  in- 
comparable for  "clearness,  detail,  and 
correctness."  In  1800  Professor  Willard 
traveled  through  the  dair}^  districts  of 
Europe  and  his  reports  upon  the  meth- 
ods in  use  there  were  published  by  the 
United  States  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture In  1869  he  was  employed  by  the 
Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England 
to  write  on  dairying  and  furnished  an 
essay  on  "American  Butter  Factories" 
and  another  on  "Condensed  Milk  Manu- 
facture." In  1875  he  published  the 
"Practical  Butter  Book,"  a  standard 
work.  Besides  these  labors  Professor 
Willard  addressed  County  Agricultural 
Fairs  in  almost  all  our  counties  and 
often  in  other  states.  He  gave  lecture 
courses  at  Cornell  University  and  before 
the  Agricultural  College  of  Maine.  He 
took  a  leading  part  in  organizing  the 
American  Dairymen's  Association,  or- 
ganized the  New  York  State  Dairymen's 
Association,  and  instituted  the  system 
of  Dairy  Boards  of  Trade. 

Among  Professor  Willard's  coatribu- 
tions  to  his  chosen  work  from  1859,  be- 
sides those  mentioned  were  "Essays  on 
Agriculture"  ''Cheese  Dairying  in  Her- 
kimer County"  and  "Associated  Dairies 
of  New  York."  The  night  before  his 
death  he  was  engaged  upon  an  article 
on  dairying  for  the  Encyclopedia  Brit- 
anica.  Most  of  his  works  were  original 
explorations  in  a  new  field  and  they  con- 
stitute a  distinct  literature  on  dairy 
farming.  His  whole  career  was  one  of 
great  practical  utility  and  exemplefies 
the  service  that  large  capacity  and  de- 
voted application  to  an  important  prac- 
tical subject  may  confer  on  mankind. 
Lauron  B.  Arnold  of  Fairfield,  also  con- 
tributed many  valuable  papers  and  dis- 
cussions for  the  improvement  of  this  in- 
dustry at  about  the  same  period. 

Xerxes  A.  Willard  was  one  of  the  most 
amiable  and  noble  of  men.  His  un- 
selfish and  useful  life,  -  his  genial 
manner  and  charming  personality 
invite    the    kindly    pen    of     contempo- 

33 


rary  biography.  Had  it  been  his  am- 
bition to  distinguish  himself  in  other 
fields  rather  than  to  be  useful  to  the 
generation  in  which  he  lived,  and  to 
succeeding  generations  of  farmers,  his 
fine  endowments  of  mind  and  his 
well  trained  intellect  would  have  made 
him  eminent  in  any  profession  he  might 
have  chosen.  He  was  one  of  those  rare 
characters  from  whose  graves  grateful 
memories  rise  and  maintain  a  lasting  re- 
gard in  the  hearts  of  all  their  surviving 
associates. 


It  will  be  noticed  that  this  paper  does 
not  undertake  any  appropriate  account 
of  the  career  and  public  services  of 
Arphaxed  Loomis,  whose  early  life  was 
spent  on  the  Royal  Grant.  A  proper 
presentation  of  his  labors  as  a  jurist,  as 
reformer  of  our  judicial  system,  as  well 
as  leader  in  the  remodeling  of  our  state 
constitution  could  not  be  attempted 
within  my  present  limits  but  may  be 
made  the  subject  of  a  subsequent  paper. 


24 


AN  OUTLINE  SKETCH  OF    THE    HISTORY    OF   TRYON 

COUNTY. 

AN   .ADDRESS   BY   HON.    J   D.    HENDERSON,    OF   HERKIMER, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  February  9,  1897. 

The  history     of    Tryron  County     has  Indian  title  to  all  lands   lying  east  of  a 

never    been  written.     "The  Annals    of  line  which   begun   at  the    mouth  of  the 

Tryon     County"    by  Judge     Campbell,  Cherokee    (Tenessee)     river,     where     it 

Stone's    "Life      of     Brandt,"      Simms,  empties  into  the  river  Ohio  and  running 

Frontiersman    of  New   York"   Benton's  thence  on  the  south  side  of  the  Ohio 

"History  of  Herkimer   County"  and  the  River,    up    that    stream    to    Kittaning 

several     biographies     of     Sir    William  above  Fort  Pitt  from  thence  by   a  direct 

Johnson  contain    many  incidents    con-  line  eastwardly  through  the  Alleghany 

nected  with  the  history  of  Tryon  County,  mountains   to  the   west     branch   of  the 

but  I  have  not  been  ahle  to  find  any  work  Susquehanna,    thence    along  the    south 

which  claims  to  give,   even  a  complete  side  of  that  stream  to  a  point  opposite 

outline  sketch    of    the   history  of    that  the   mouth    of  the  Tiadaghton     Creek; 

great    county  which    figured  so  promi-  thence  up  the    south  side  of  that  creek, 

nently  in  Revolutionary  times.  along  the  north  side  of   Burnetts   Hills 

The  object  of  this  paper   will    be  to  to  a  creek  called  Awadee;  thence  down 

partially,  supply  this  deficiency.  the  same  to  the  east  branch  of  the  Sus- 

TRE AT Y  WITH  THE  INDIANS.  quehauna,    across   that  stream,    and   up 

The  Treaty  made  with   the  Indians  in  the  east  side  to   Oswego,    thence   east- 

1T68  at  Fort  Stanwix  by    Sir  William  wardly  to  the  Delaware  River  and   up 

Johnson    and  the     Governors  of   New  that  river  to  a  point  opposite   where  the 

Jersey  and   Pennsylvania  and  Commis-  Tiandua    falls    into    the    Susquehanna, 

sioners  of  Virginia,  was  one  of  the  most  thence  to  Tiandua  (Unadilla)  thence  up 

important  treaties  made  before  the  Revo-  the  west  side  of  its   west   branch   to  the 

lutionary    War.     It  was    a    remarkable  head  thereof,   and    thence   by  a    direct 

conference,     attended     by    more    than  line  to  Canada  Creek,  where  it  empties 

three  thousand  Indians  and  the  result  into  the  Wood  creek  at  the  west  of  the 

of  it  was  a  deed,  executed   by  the  Six  carrying  place  of  Fort  Stanwix. 

Nations   who  claimed  by   right  of  con-  The  lands    of  the    Mohawks  around 

quest  all  the   territory  now   covered  by  their  villages    and    of     other     Indians 

the  Stales  of  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  similiarly    situated     were  to  remain  to 

West  Virginia,  Kentucky,  Ohio,  Indiana  them.     The  consideration    paid  for  this 

and  part  of    Michigan.     This  deed   re-  magnificient    territory,    which    covered 

llnquished  to  the  King  of  England   the  a  large  part  of  what  is  now  four  States, 

25 


was  ten  thou-a  \d  four  hunired  and 
sixty  pounds,  seven  shillings,  andthrte 
pence,  and  by  the  terms  of  tlie  treaty, 
Fort  Stanwix  near  the  site  of  the  present 
city  of  Rome  was  to  ba  dismantled 
This  treaty  pacifi-:;d  the  Indians,  and  it 
was  then  supposed,  fixed  for  all  lim-^, 
the  western  limit  of  the  Eiglish  stttle- 
ments,  and  guarantee  I  to  the  Indians 
the  undisturbed  possession  of  the  lnnds 
lying  west  of  the  line  described  in  the 
deed.  It  fixed  the  western  boundary  of 
the  colon}'  of  New  York  and  of  the 
county  of  Albany.  All  the  important 
p  itents  of  land  granted  by  the  King  and 
colonies,  wore  east  of  this  line,  and  the 
faithful  observance  of  this  treaty  by 
Sir  Wdliam  Johnson  secured  the  al- 
legiance of  the  Six  Nations  to  Briti-h 
crown. 

WILLI.\M  TRYON. 

William  Tryon,  who  had  been  Gover- 
nor of  North  Carolitia  and  had  distin 
quished  himself  in  that  colony  by  his 
efforts  to  suppress  the  Sons  of  Liberty, 
wa^  transferred  to  New  York,  and  be- 
c  ime  Governor.  He  reached  the  city  of 
New  York  July  8ch,  1772  and  because  of 
his  wicked  career  in  North  Carolina 
was  very  obnoxioas  to  the  patriots  of 
that  city.  He  was  known  among  the 
New  York  Sons  of  Li  lerty  as  "Blooly 
Billy".  Over  zealoas  in  the  cause  of 
King  and  Parliament;  more  than  will- 
ing to  execute  all  the  laws  for  taxing 
the  psople  of  the  colonies,  he  was 
idolized  and  admire  t  by  the  Tories,  and 
thoroughly  hatei  by  the  patriots.  He 
was  a  fit  tool  to  do  the  work  of  the 
oppressors  in  those  unsettled  times, 
which  preceded,  and  led  up  to.  the 
Revolutionary  War.  Before  his  coming, 
in  January  1772,  steps  had  been  taken 
or  a  division  of  Albany  County. 
SIR  WILLIAM  JOHNSON. 

Sir  William  Johnson  was  at  that  time 
the  most  influential  man  in  the  Mohawk 
Valley,  he  had  already  run  a  great 
career,  had  a  brilliant  military  record, 
was  the  possessor  of  a  very  large  estate, 
had  risen  from  an  humble  fur  trader, 
to  the  position  of  a  Baronet,  was  in  high 
-  avor  with  the  King,  had  received  from 


the  King's  own  hand  the  title  to  the 
Royal  Grant,  a  tact  of  over  ninety 
thousand  acr>^3  oa  th^  north  side  of  the 
Mohawk  river,  distinguished  as  "The 
Royal  Grant,"  beca  ise  it  was  the  onl)' 
patent  <>f  land  in  America  which  t  ore 
the  s  gnalure  of  the  King  himself.  Sir 
William's  son  John  had  been  knighted  in 
England  in  1765,  his  two  daughters  by 
his  wife  Catherine  were  well  married, 
Mary  to  her  cousin  Guy  Johnson,  and 
Anna  to  Col.  Daniel  Claus;  Johnson 
Hall,  Sir  William's  residence  at  Johns- 
town, was  a  magnificient  establishment 
where  the  rich  of  the  colony  visited  him 
and  held  high  revel.  Johnson  himself 
was  a  true  courtier,  and  knew  the  im- 
portance of  being  in  favor  with  the 
governor,  he  was  undoubtedly  ambitions 
to  br-come  the  head  of  a  great  house,  and 
perhaps  to  Duild  up  in  America,  an 
estate  and  title  which  might  rival  and 
bee  >me  as  impjrfant  a?  snme  of  the 
estates  and  titles  in  the  Old  World  He 
may  even  have  hope  I,  that  his  Bar oretcy 
might  some  day  grow  into  an  Earldom 
or  Dukedom,  and  his  descendants  rank 
among  the  highest  of  England's  nobility: 
at  any  rate  he  was  active  in  setting  up  a 
county  government  at  his  own  town  of 
Johnstown  and  carving  out  for  its  sup- 
port a  great  territory  which  in  honor  of 
the  coming  governor  was  call  Tryon 
County. 

TRYON  COUNTY  FORMED. 
On  March  12th,  1772  the  council  of  the 
colony  passed,  and  the  governor  ap- 
proved an  act  to  divide  Albany  county 
into  three  counties,  Albany,  Charlotte 
and  Tryon.  Charlotte  included  the  ter- 
ritory of  what  is  now  the  state  of  Ver- 
mont. The  easterly  boundry  of  Tryon 
county  was  a  line  drawn  from  a  point 
on  the  Mohawk  river  near  where  the 
present  village  of  Hoffman's  Ferry 
stands,  running  due  north  to  its  inter- 
section witn  t  e  St,  Lawrence  river  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Regis  river;  thence  up 
along  the  St.  Lawrence  and  Lake  Ontario 
to  Oswego;  thence  along  the  Oswego 
river,  Oneida  lake  and  Wood  creek,  and 
along  the  eastern  line  of  the  Indian 
country  to  the   Delaware  river;  thence 

26 


I 


up  the  west  branch  of  the  Delaware 
river  and  in  a  northeasterly  direction  to 
the  place  of  beginning.  This  covered  a 
very  large  territory,  and  in  a  report  to 
the  home  goverment  made  by  Gov, 
Tryon  June  Uth,  1774,  the  governor 
says,  "Tryon  .county,  though  thinly  set 
tied,  as  its  extent  is  areat  I  as  many  in- 
habitants." From  this  tt-rritory  has 
since  been  created  the  counties  of  Mont- 
gomery, Fulton,  flamilton,  St  Law- 
rence, Herkimer.  Lewis.  Jefferson, 
Or)eiHa,  Oswego,  O^spgo  and  parts  of 
several  others. 

BOOM  AT  JOHNSTOWN. 
All  the  civil  officers  save  one  were 
nominated  b}'  Johnson  and  they  were 
his  friends  and  henchmen.  Johnstown 
now  became  the  center  of  bustle  and 
activity,  new  roads  were  laid  out,  a  jail 
and  county  court  house  were  built;  the 
town  grew  rapidly.  Governor  Tryon 
and  his  wife  visited  Johnson  hall  and 
were  royally  entertained  by  the  baronet. 
Tryon  dipped  into  real  estate  specula- 
tion m  the  new  county,  he  reviewed  the 
militia  at  Johnstown  at  Burnettsfield 
and  at  German  Flatts,  some  fourteen 
hundred  in  all. 

Db:ATH  OF  SIR  WILLIAM  JOHNSON. 

Tiie  boom  was  on  in  the  new  country. 
Fir  William  was  friendly  with  thelndians, 
and  kept  faith  with  them.  The  line  of 
division  between  the  lands  of  the  whites 
and  Indians  had  been  drawn.  At  the 
great  council  four  years  before,  a  line 
which  the  Indians  fondly  supposed  was 
to  last  forever  had  been  fixed.  Johnson 
usfd  every  po-sible  «-ffort  upon  his  part 
to  prevent  encroacl-uients  of  whites  up- 
on Indian  lands  and  to  maintain  friendly 
rel.itions  between  the  Iroquois  and  the 
inhabitants  of  Tryon  countv.  He  lived 
openly  with  Molly  Brandt,  his  Indian 
mistress,  and  she  presided  over  his  house 
and  he  provided  for  her  children  in  his 
will,  but  he  was  nearing  the  end  of  his 
career  and  although  not  yet  sixty  years 
of  age  he  died  on  the  9th  of  July  1774, 
only  two  years  after  the  new  count}^ 
was  organized.  What  might  have  been 
the  historv  of  Tryon  county  had  Sir 
William  Johnson   lived,  is  only  a  matter 


of  speculation,    what   was  its  history  is 
the  subject  which  concerns  us  now. 

MILITIA  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

Governor  Tryon  in  his  report  to  the 
home  government  of  June  3rd.  1773, 
credits  the  county  vviih  three  regiments 
of  militia,  twenty-nine  compfinies  "and 
three  colonels.  This  report  must  have 
b^en  made  up  shortly  after  his  tour 
through  the  county  and  his  review  of 
the  militia  above  referred  to.  The  ter- 
ritory w  as  divided  by  a  law  passed  March 
24th,  1772,  into  live  districts,  the  Mo- 
hawk district  was  the  eastern  one  sit- 
uated ou  both  sides  of  the  river,  extend- 
ing from  the  eastern  boundaries  of  the 
county  to  the  place  known  as  Anthony's 
Nose,  The  Canajoharie  district  was  on 
the  south  side  of  the  river  and  extended 
from  the  western  limit  of  tne  Mohawk 
district  as  far  west  as  Little  Falls,  the 
Stone  V'abia  district,  afterwards  called 
the  "Palatine  District"  was  on  the  north 
side  of  the  river  between  the  Mohawk 
istrict  and  Little  Falls,  the  German 
Flatts  district  on  the  north  i?ide  and  the 
Kingsland  district  on  the  south  side 
took  in  all  the  remainder  of  the  terri- 
tory. On  March  8th,  1773  the  names  of 
these  two  last  districts  were  changed  and 
the  south  side  was  called  German  Flatts 
and  the  north  side  Kingsland. 

GERMAN    SETTLEMENTS. 

The  German  settlements  of  the  Pala- 
tines occupied  what  was  then  the  ex- 
treme frontier  in  and  about  Fort  Herki- 
mer and  Fort  Dayton,  now  the  site  of 
Herkimer  village. 

The  settlement  at  Fort  Dayton  and  the 
church  at  Fort  Herkimer  had  been 
burned  by  the  Indians  and  French  in 
1757  and  1758,  respectively,  hut 
the  church  had  been  rebuilt  and 
the  settlers  had  returned  to  their 
homes.  There  were  a  few  s?ttlements 
made  before  the  revolutionary  war  north 
and  south  of  the  Mohawk  river  in  what 
is  now  Herkimer  county  for  a  distance 
back  from  the  river  of  about  twenty 
miles.  On  the  south  side  there  was  the 
settlement  of  Androstowri  now  in  the 
town  of  Warren  and  a  settlement  in 
what  is  now  the  town  of  Columbia,  on 


27 


the  north  side  there  were  settlements  in 
what  is  now  the  town  of  Fairfield,  and  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Mount  had  settled 
on  the  creek  which  now  bears  his  name 
in  the  town  of  Ohio.  There  was  a  settle- 
ment where  Utica  now  is,  which  was 
then  called  Fort  Schuyler,  named  in 
honor  of  Peter  Schuyler,  and  an  outpost 
at  Rome  called  Fort  Stanwix.  There 
were  settlements  in  the  Schoharie  valley 
at  Cherry  Valley  and  in  the  western 
part  of  what  is  now  Delaware  county. 
At  the  breaking  out  of  the  revolution, 
Fort  Stanwix,  which  had  been  dis- 
mantled under  the  provisions  of  the  In- 
dian treaty  was  re^>uHt  and  named  Fort 
Schuyler  in  honor  of  Gen.  Philip  Schuy 
ler 

FIRST   OFFICERS  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

Guy  Johnson,  son-in-law  of  Sir  Will- 
iam, was  the  first  jud^je  of  the  new 
county,  and  he  was  followed  in  that 
office  by  Jacob  Klock,  Jellis  Fonda  and 
Frederick  Fisher. 

Alexander  white  was  the  first  sheriff, 
and  he  was  succeed  in  1775  by  John  Fry 
3rd,  in  1777  by  Anthony  Van  Vecthon 
4th,  in  1778  by  Anthony  Van  Vechton 
oth  in  1781  by  Abram  VanHorne  and  in 
1785  by  Samuel  Clyde. 

Hendnck  Fry  and  Guy  Johnson  rep- 
resented Tryon  county  in  the  31st 
colonial  assembly,  the  last  session  of 
which  closed  April  3rd,  1775.  Cad- 
wallader  Colden,  acting  governor  of 
New  York  after  Governor  Tryen  left  the 
country,,  in  his  report  to  the  home  gov- 
ernment said  that  Tryon  county  was  not 
represented  in  the  provincial  congress, 
which  met  May  23d,  1775,  but  we  find 
on  the  roll  of  that  body  the  names  of 
John  Marlett,  John  Moore  and  Chris- 
topher P.  Yates  as  representatives  from 
Tryon  county.  The  proceedings  of  that 
body  were  held  with  closed  doors  and 
none  but  members,  all  of  whom  were 
pledged  to  secrecy,  were  permitted  to 
take  copies  of  the  minutes.  Provision 
was  made  for  the  publication  of  the 
minutes  at  the  close  of  the  session,  ex- 
cept such  part  as  by  unanimous  vote 
were  to  be  kept  secret.  These  rules 
governed  the  succeeding  provincial  con- 


gresses but  the  journal  was  not  printed 
until  1842. 

In  the  second  congress  John  Moore, 
Isaac  Paris  and  WiUiiira  Will  repre- 
sented Tryon  county  and  in  the  third 
congress  John  Moore,  Willicim  Harper, 
Benjamin  Newkirk,  Volkert  Veeder, 
Isaac  Paris  and  Christopher  P.  Yates. 

In  the  fourth  congress  the  same  men 
were  present  except  Yates.  The  fourth 
provincial  congress  closed  its  labors  May 
13th  1777  and  gave  place  to  the  first  state 
assembly  which  met  at  Kingston.  Sep- 
tember 1st,  1777  and  in  which  Tryon 
county  had  six  representative-,  Samuel 
Clyde,  Michael  Edick,  Jacob  G.  Klock, 
Jacob  Snell.  Abrara  Van  Home  and 
Johannes  Veeder. 

The  county  was  entitled  to  six  mem- 
bers of  the  assembly  under  the  first  con- 
stitution and  was  represented  as  Trvon 
county  during  the  first  seven  sessions. 
In  the  first  state  senate  we  find  as  sena- 
tors from  the  western  district  the  famil- 
iar names  of  Isaac  Paris  and  Jellis 
Fonda  and  in  the  second  session  the 
name  of  Jacob  G.  Klock.  Fonda  sat 
again  in  the  third  senate  and  Fonda  and 
Klock  in  the  fourth. 

Christopher  P.  Yates  was  county  clerk 
and  held  the  office  for  many  years. 
From  this  showing  it  is  evident  that 
Tryon  county  participated  in  the  organ- 
ization of  the  new  state  government, 
and  that  although  the  influence  of  the 
Johnson  family  had  been  almost  supreme 
in  the  county  before  tie  breaking  out  of 
the  war,  and  althougn  there  were  many 
Tories  among  the  leading  families,  still 
the  people  were  faithful  to  the  patriot 
cause  and  had  men  among  them  a^^le 
and  willing  to  represent  them  in  the  halls 
of  legislation. 

COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  MEET. 

On  the  second  day  of  June  1775,  a| 
meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safetj 
from  the  different  districts  of  Tryot 
county  was  held  at  which  there  were 
forty-two  members  present.  Christophei 
P.  Yates  was  chosen  chairman  of  that? 
body  and  immediate  action  was  taken  tc 
organize  the  militia  and  resist  the  en- 
croachments of  the   crown.     The  RevJ 


28 


Samuel  Kirkland,  missionary  to  the 
Oneidas  was  requested  to  use  his  influ- 
ence with  that  trite  and  endeavor  to 
persuade  them  to  re  nain  neutral  during 
the  war.  They  were  induced  to  send 
delegates  to  Boston  to  visit  Washington. 
These  delegates  were  impressed  by  what 
they  saw  and,  convinced  that  the  British 
emissaries'  had  tried  to  deceive  them, 
they  returned  to  their  tribe  and  so  re- 
ported. 

NICHOLAS   HERKIMER   MADE  COLONEL. 

Most  of  the  Oneidas  and  some  of  the 
Tuscaroras  remained  neutral  during  the 
war  and  some  of  them  became  allies  of 
the  patriots  and  performed  very  impor 
tant  services.  Among  these  latter  were 
Skenando,  an  Oneida  chief  who  died  at 
his  residence  near  Oneida  Castle,  March 
11,  1816,  aged  110  years.  The  militia  of 
Tryon  county  was  organized  in  1775  and 
Nicholas  Herkimer  who  liad  seen  ser- 
vice in  the  French  and  Indian  war  was 
made  colonel.  In  1776  he  was  commis- 
sioned brigadier  general.  The  militia 
consisted  of  five  batallions  of  infantry, 
one  batallion  of  minute  men,  a  company 
of  associated  exempts  and  three  com- 
panies of  rangers. 

The  first  batallion  was  commanded  by 
Col.  Nicholas  Herkimer,  the  second  by 
Col.  Jacob  Klock,  the  third  by  Col.  Fred- 
erick Fisher,  the  fourth  (until  he  desert- 
ed to  the  enemy)  by  Col.  Han  Jost  Her 
kimer  and  then,  by  Col.  Peter  Bellinger, 
the  fifth  by  Major  Joseph  Harper.  The 
batallion  of  minute  men  t>y  Col.  Samuel 
Campbell,  the  corapany  of  associated 
exempts  by  Capt.  Jellis  Fonda  and  the 
companies  of  rangers  by  Capt.  John 
Winn,  Capt  Getman  and  Capt.  Kassel- 
man.  After  Col.  Herkimer  became 
brigadier  general  the  command  of  the 
first  batallion  fell  upon  Col.  Ebenezer 
Cox.  Gen.  Herkimer  was  a  member  of 
the  committee  of  safety  in  the  Canajo- 
harie  district  and  its  chairman;  these 
committees  exercised  many  of  the  pow- 
ers of  local  government  in  their  districts, 
they  organized  the  militia  and  took 
measures  to  preserve  order  and  to  pro- 
mote the  patriot  cause.  Gen.  Herkimer 
became  the  leading  military  man  among 


the  patriots  in  the  county  and  was  chair- 
man of  the  united  committees  of  safety 
for  the  several  districts. 

HERKIMER  MEETS  BRANDT. 

In  June  1777  with  about  four  hundred 
soldiers  he  went  to  Unadilla  to  have  an 
interview  with  Brandt,  the  Mohawk 
chief,  with  the  object  of  securing,  if 
possible,  the  friendship  and  if  not  that, 
at  least  the  neutrality  of  the  Mohawks  in 
the  war.  The  effort  was  unsuccessful 
and  although  Brandt  and  Herkimer 
parted  at  Unadilla  as  friends,  they  soon 
after  met  as  enemies  upon  the  battle- 
field of  Oriskany.  The  plan  for  the 
British  campaign  of  1777  was  intended 
to  divide  and  conquer  the  State  of  New 
York.  Burgoyne  was  to  move  down 
from  Canada  via  Lake  Champlain,  with 
an  aripy  supposed  to  be  sufficiently 
large  to  sweep  all  before  him.  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  was  to  come  up  the  Hud- 
son river  from  New  York  with  another 
army,  Col.  St.  Leger  with  his  Tory  and 
Indian  allies  was  to  advance  from  Os- 
wego and  sweep  down  the  Mohawk  val- 
ley, while  McDonald  with  his  Tory  con- 
tingent was  to  invade  the  Schoharie  set- 
tlements. The  plan  was  a  most  excellent 
one.and  had  it  been  successfully  executed 
the  southern  and  middle  colonies  would 
have  been  effectually  cut  off  from  the 
northern  and  eastern  ones.  But  it  failed, 
and  the  Tryon  county  miiitia  were  large- 
ly the  cause  of  its  failure. 

THE  BATTLE  OF    ORISKANY. 

Col.  St.  Leger  advanced  without  hind- 
rance and  invested  Fort  Stanwix  (then 
called  Fort  Schuyler)  which  was  garri- 
soned by  Col.  Peter  Gansevoort  with 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  men.  Ganse- 
voort would  not  surrender,  and  St.  Leger 
began  the  seige  August  2nd,  1797.  Gen, 
Herkimer  called  out  the  militia  of  Tryon 
county,  and  advanced  with  about  eight 
hundred  men  to  relieve  the  fort.  They 
were  undisciplined  farmers,  Herkimer's 
caution  was  misunderstood  and  misin- 
terpretered.  The  rendevous  was  at  Fort 
Dayton,  and  from  that  point  the  advance 
was  made  upon  Fort  Stanwix,  the  pat- 
riots were  brave,  and  ready  for  the  fray. 
Communication    with    the  fort    was   at- 


29 


prtrpted  and  Ga  nsevoort  was  r  quested 
to  send  out  a  dttatchment  to  make  a 
s  ortie  on  the  enemy's  camp,  the  .signal 
to  be  the  firing  of  canon,  but  Herkimer's 
followers  could  rot  wait  lor  the  signal 
and  while  moving  forward  on  the  onorn- 
ing  of  the  6th  of  Avigust,  1V77,  near  the 
crossing  of  the  Oriskany,  in  a  ravine, 
they  were  ambushed  by  the  Tories  and 
Indians  and  the  I  attle  of  Oriskuny  was 
fought.  It  vvas  one  of  the  most  sangui- 
nary battles  ef  the  revolutionary  war 
nnd  lasted  a'out  six  hours.  Tlie  patr  ots 
were  surprised,  divided  and  the  rear 
guard  was  beaten  and  fled  from  the 
field,  l.ut  Herkimer  took  a  position  upon 
rising  ground  and  held  it.  A  severe 
xtorni  of  rain  separated  the  combatants 
for  a  time,  but  after  the  storm  fighting 
was  re?umed,  a  sortie  from  the  fort  by  a 
deialchment  undtr  Col.  Wiliett  broke 
up  the  attack  and  the  enemy  retreated 
jrom  the  field.  Wiliett  regained  the 
fort  with  liis  command  an'i  whenGanse- 
voort  was  again  summoned  to  surrender, 
he  raised  in  defiance  five  British  ensigns 
captured  by  Wiliett  and  over  them  the 
American  flag, which  was  made  of  while 
and  hlue  shirts  an  i  a  scarlet  cloak  that 
belonae  I  to  a  soldiers  wife.  This  fl^g, 
the  stirs  and  stripes,  the  red,  white  and 
blue,  first  made  its  appearance  at  Fort 
Stanwix  raised  in  victory  over  British 
colors. 

Gen.  Herkimer  was  left  in  possession 
of  the  battle  field  of  Oriskany  but  he  was 
badly  wounded,  had  lost  nearly  half  of 
his  (iomraand,  and  without  attempting 
to  bury  his  dead  he  withdrew  down  the 
Mohawk,  was  taken  to  his  home  (the 
house  is  still  standing  about  two  miles 
belovv  Little  Fails)  and  about  ten  days 
after  the  battle  he  died. 

THE    TORIES     FRIGHTENED. 

About  two  weeks  after  the  battle  of 
Oriskany  Gen.  Arnold  with  an  array  of  a 
thousand  men  came  up  the  valley, 
stopped  at  Fort  Dayton,  and  from  thence 
sent  forward  a  captured  tory  refugee 
who  had  been  sentenced  to  d.^ath  but 
was  offered  pardon  in  case  he  faithfully 
performed  the  service  assigned  him. 
His  name   was  Han  Jost  Schuyler.     His 


brother  Nicholas  having  been  left  as  a 
hostage  in  Arnold's  hands,  Sohuy'er  went 
into  the  British  camp  and  reported  that 
Arnold  was  coming  with  a  large  body  of 
men  to  relieve  the  fort,  the  Tories  and 
Indians  were  frightened,  the  siege  was 
raised  and  Col.  St.  Leger  retreated  to 
Canada.  Whatever  may  be  said  of  the 
after  career  of  Benedict  Arnold,  it  is 
ci^rtain  that  the  inhabitants  of  Tryon 
cotinry  were  under  great  obligations  to 
him  for  his  services  on  this  occasion. 
Gen.  Gates  thought  that  no  troops  could 
be  spared  from  the  army  near  Saratoga, 
which  was  confroating  Burgoyne,  but 
Arnold  begged  to  be  assigned  to  this 
service  and  called  for  volunUers.  His 
expedition  was  entirely  successful  and 
he  should  receive  the  credit  which  is 
due  him.  About  the  same  time  Col. 
Harper  defeated  McDonald  near  Middle- 
burgh  in  the  Schoharie  country  and 
Tr}  on  county  was  saved.  After  Gen. 
Herkimer's  death  Col.  Marinus  Wiliett 
commanded  the  brigade  and  the  troops, 
assigned  to  th  perotection  of  Tryon 
county.  The  brigade  served  at  different 
times  until  1783. 

GARRISONS    MAINTAINED. 

Garri.-ons  were  maintained  at  Fort 
Stanwix,  Fort  Dayton,  Fort  Plain,  and 
other  places  along  the  border  and  thiough 
out  the  county.  These  forts  and  block 
houses  furnished  places  of  refuge  to 
which  the  inhai  itants  fled  for  safety 
when  surprised.  The  settlements  were 
contmnally  harrassed.  Sir  John  Johnson. 
Col.  Walter  Butler,  Joseph  Brandt  and 
other  Tory  and  Indian  leaders  made  in 
cursions  into  Tryon  county  and  many  a 
burning  home  and  murdered  settler 
marked  the  pathway  of  the  marauder. 
Gen.  Sullivan's  expedition  into  the  Indian 
country  in  1779  was  a  terrible  visitation 
and  retribution  upon  the  enemy.  He 
laid  waste  and  destroyed  their  country, 
they  were  driven  out  of  their  villages,  and 
in  a  starving  condition  many  of  them 
s  )ught  sa'"ery  in  Canada,  their  power  was 
broken,  but  they  continued  to  make 
raids  along  the  border  and  the  most  re- 
vengeful and  bitter  feeling  prevailed 
upon  botn  side^.     It  is  not  the  purpose  of 


30 


I 


this  skftch  to   gi%-e  the  details  of   any  of   drew    their    troop?    from    Oswego    and 


these  affairs.  The  Cherry  Valley  and 
Androstown  Massacres;  tlie  murder  of 
the  Mount  toys;  th  ■  brave  defense  of 
his  block  house  by  Ciiristiiri  Sehell;  the 
frequent  visits  of  the  enemy  to  ihe  vicin- 
ity of  Fort  Dayton:  the  pursuit  and  death 
of  Walter  Butler,  are  all  matters  of  local 
interest  which  might  receive  a  passing 
notice  i  ut  tJiey  are  familiar  stories  to 
most  of  you,  and  can  only  be  referred  to 
here. 

A    BirTER    BORDER   WAR. 

Col.  Willett  was  sometimes  ac  one  fort 
and  sometimes  at  another.  There  were 
surprises  at  all  hours  of  the  day  and 
night  and  at  all  seasons  ot  the  year.  There 
were  skirmishes,  battles  they  were  called, 
at  Sharon,  at  Johnstown,  in  the  Scho- 
harie Valley,  all  over  Tryoa  count}'.  It 
was  the  seat  of  an  active  and  bitter  bor- 
der war  and  Col.  Willett  was  a  t)rave 
and  vigilant  leader. 

The  inciients  of  this  strife  are  vividly 
depicted  by  Judge  Campbell  in  "The  An- 
nals of  Tryon  County"  and  by  Mr.  Simms 
in  his  "Schoharie  County  History"  and 
"Frontiersmen  of  New  York  " 

In  the  spring  of  1783  Col.  Willet  made 
an  attempt  to  capture  the  British  Fort  at 
Oswego  but  his  Indian  guide  led  him 
astray  and  being  short  of  provisions,  he 
was  compelled  to  abandon  the  enterprise. 
The  British  held  this  Fort  throughout  the 
war,  ani  for  many  years  after  its  close. 
It  was  a  strong  position  and  was  a  con- 
tinual menace  to  the  patriots  during  the 
war,  and  after  the  Treaty  of  Peace  it  was 
held  by  the  British  for  the  purpose  of 
enforcing  the  agreement  made  by  the 
Unite!  States  at  the  time  that  Treaty 
was  made,  to  pay  debts  owed  to  British 
subjects  before  the  war  and  the  recom 
mendation  of  the  general  government  to 
the  several  states  to  re-imburse  tory 
refugees  for  confiscated  property  The 
several  states  refused  to  acceed  to  such 
recommendation,  and  the  British  parlia- 
ment finally  appropriated  sixteen  mil 
lions  of  dollars  to  re-imburse  such  tory 
refugees  and  gave  them  large  grants  of 
land  in  Nova  Scotia,  the  West  Indies, 
and  in  Canada,  and  at  last  in  1796  with- 


abandoned  the  Fort.  It  was  the  last  ter- 
ritory in  New  York  evacuated  by  the 
British.  On  the  2J  day  of  December 
1784  the  Six  Nations  a^ain  met  the  whites 
in  conference  at  Fort  Stan  wix.  Sixteen 
years  had  passed  since  thit  line  which 
was  to  last  forever  had  been  drawn  be- 
tween the  lands  of  the  Indians  and  the 
white  man. 

TRYON  CHANGED  TO  MONTGOMERY. 

The  great  county  of  Tryon  had 
passed  into  history  for  on  the  2d  day 
of  April  1784,  during  the  seventh  session 
of  the  State  Assembly  the  name  had  been 
stricken  from  the  statute  hook,  and  the 
honored  name  of  Montgomery  had  taken 
its  place.  These  eventful  years  had  wit- 
nessed the  birth  of  a  new  nation,  and  the 
people  of  Tryon  county  had  done  their 
full  share  in  the  work  of  its  creation.  A 
war,  begun  because  the  people  would 
not  submit  to  taxation  without  represen- 
tation, had  cost  the  county  large  sums 
of  money,  and  the  lives  of  many  tirave 
men.  The  portion  allotted  to  Tryon 
county  in  the  state  tax  of  October  21st,  1779 
was$81,766.00,in  the  state  tax  of  April  6th, 
1780,  .1120,000.  These  were  large  sums, 
for  the  people  of  a  new  county  to  raise 
by  taxation,  And  besides  thej'  had  suffer- 
ed terribly  throughout  the  war  from  the 
ravages  of  the  enemy,  but  they  were 
victorious,  and  their  representatives 
came  to  this  conference  in  triumph.  But 
the  Indians  did  not  come  as  they  had  come 
in  1768.  now,  they  were  beaten  and  de- 
feated, many  of  their  warriors  had  been 
slain,  their  country  had  been  ravaged, 
their  villages  burned,  their  orchards  de- 
stroyed, their  great  ally,  the  Eiglish 
King,  had  been  forced  to  acknowledge 
the  independence  of  the  colonies,  and  all 
but  the  friendly  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras 
were  in  sorrow  and  in  humiliation. 

Oliver  Wolcott,  Richard  Butler  and 
Arthur  Lee  were  the  Commissioners  for 
the  United  States,  Gov.  George  Clinton 
and  General  Lafayette  were  present. 
Cornplanter  and  Redjacket  were  the 
principal  Indian  speakers.  Redjacket 
did  not  care  to  bury  the  hatchet,  but 
Cornplanter  siw  the  folly  of  waging  war 

81 


with  the  young  republic,  and  a  Treaty 
was  made  which  enlarged  the  borders  of 
the  Empire  State,  and  opened  up  to 
settlement,  the  fertile  lands  of  western 
New  York. 

The  history  of  Tryon  county  proper, 
is  confined  to  the  period  of  twelve  years 
from  the  time  it  was  organized,  until  the 
day  its  name  was  changed  to  Montgom- 
ery. Four  years  later  by  the  statute 
passed  March  7th,  1788,  defining  the 
limits  of  the  counties  of  the  state,  Mont- 
gomery was  to  contain  "All  that  part  of 


this  state  bounded  easterly  by  the  coun 
ties  of  Ulster,  Albany,  Wasliington  and 
Clinton,  sontherly  by  the  state  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  westerly  and  northerly  by 
the  west  and  north  bounds  of  this  state." 
If  Virginia  can  be  called  the  Mother  of 
States,  Montgomery  may  certainly  be 
called  "The  Mother  of  Counties"  For 
all  the  thirty-five  counties  of  northern, 
central  and  western  New  York  have  been 
carved  out  of  what  was  once  the  county 
of  Montgomery. 


CONTINENTAL  MONEY 


AN   ADDRESS    BY   HON.    WILLIAM   COWEN   PRESCOTT, 


Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  March  9,  1S97. 


Several  mouths  ago  Judge  Earl  sug- 
gested that  I  should  write  a  psper  to 
read  before  tlie  lierkinier  CountyrHis- 
torical  society  on  "Continental  Money." 
At  first  I  thought  ihat  the  subject  would 
not  prove  interesting  and  that  it  would 
be  difficult  to  get  hold  of  enough  ma- 
terial for  an  article,  but  a  very  brief  in- 
vestigation satisfied  me  that  my  chief 
difficulty  would  be  in  deciding  what 
matters  to  leave  out  rather  than  what  to 
put  into    the     paper. 

The  subject  of  money,  its  uses 
and  functions,  and  the  merits 
and  demerits  of  the  various  kinds 
of  currency  were  exhaustively  con- 
sidered and  discussed  in  the  newspapers, 
on  t!ie  platforms  and  bv  individuals  dur- 
ing the  presidential  c.iinpaigQ  of  1896, 
but  ver7  seldom  was  reference  made  to 
the  kind  of  money  which  is  the  subject 
of  this  paper. 

The  term  "Continental  Money"  is  ap- 
plied to  the  paper  money  or  bills  of 
credit  issued  by  the  authority  of  the 
Continental  Congress  of  the  United 
States  in  the  years  1775,  1776,  1778,  and 
1779.  The  adjective  "Continental"  was 
used  to  distinguish  this  paper  money 
from  that  issued  by  the  Colonies. 

COLONIAL  PAPER  MONEY. 
The  first  issue   of  bills  of  credit  in   the 
Colonies  was   by  Massachuseetts  in  1790. 
Her  troops   had  returned  from   an   ex- 


pedition against  Canada  and  there  was 
no  money  in  the  treasury  to  pay  tnem. 
They  demanded  p  y  and  to  quiet  them, 
the  General  Court  issued  forty  thousand 
pounds  in  due  bills,  which  were  taken 
for  taxes,  but  did  n  )t  bear  interest  and 
were  not  legal  tender,  and  passed  at  a 
discount  of  from  thirty  to  forty  percent. 
The  other  colonies  followed  the  ex- 
ample of  Massachuset  s  and  issued  bills 
of  credit  from  time  to  time.  This  money 
was  usually  below  par  and  in  many 
cases  was  never  redeemed,  and  it  caused 
a  great  deal  of  discord  and  discussion 
down  to  the  time  of  the  Revolution. 

REASONS       FOR       ISSUING       CONTINENTAL 
MONEY. 

The  first  Continental  Congress  met  in 
September  1774.  The  purpose  of  the 
meeting  was  not  separation  from  the 
mother  country,  but  to  obtain  a  redress 
for  grievances.  The  second  session  com- 
menced May  10,  1775.  The  war  with 
Great  Britian  had  then  com'menced  and 
money  was  needed  to  buy  arms,  am- 
munition and  other  supplies. 

It  is  estimated  that  at  this  time  there 
were  only  about  $10,000,000  in  specie 
in  all  the  colonies,  and  they  had  but  re- 
cently paid  the  debts  contracted  in  the 
war  with  France.  It  is  not  probable 
that  Congress  could  have  raised  money  by 
direct  tax  upon  the  colonies.  It  had  no 
chief  executive  and  no  financial  officer. 


The  people  had  rebelled  because   Parlia-    ornamental  portions   were   engraved  on 

type  metal  buc  the  body  of  the  lettering 
was  in  the  ordinary  movable  type.  On 
the  face  of  each  bill,  besides  the  form 
given  above,  was  a  device  and  motto 
The  following  are  some  of    the  devices 


ment  claimed  the  right  to  tax  the 
colonies  without  their  consent.  If  a  tax 
had  been  ordered  Congress  had  no  power 
to  enforce  its  collection.  Noah  Webster 
writing  only  a  few  years  after  the 
close  of  the  war  said,  "Money  could  not    and  mottoes  : 


be  raised    by    taxation,     could   not     tie 
borrowed." 

Willie  the  financial  question  was  be- 
ing discussed  in  Congress  one  delegate 
said,  "Do  you  think,  gentlemen,  that  I 
will  consent    to  load   my     constituents 


On  the   four   dollar   bill   a    wild    boar 
rushing   upon    the   hunter's   spear;    the 
motto,  ''Aut  Mors  Ant    Vita  Decora, 
"Either  death  or  an  honorable  life." 

On  the  five  dollar   bill,  an   open  hand 
attempting  to   grasp   a  thorny  bush  and 


with  taxes,  when  you  can  send   to  our    niade  to  bleed  thereby;  uie  motto,  -tins 


printer  and  get  a  wagon  loid  of  money, 
one  quire  of  which  will  pay  for  the 
whole  ?  " 

Congress,  therefore,  determined  to  is- 
sue Continental  paper  currency  and 
asked  for  suggestions  from  the  several 
Colonial  Assemblies.  One  of  the  plans 
recommended  by  the  Provincial  As- 
sembly of  New  York  was  adopted,  viz; 
the   money    to    be   issued   by   Congress; 


tine  Vel  Abstine,'"  "Bear  with  me,  or  let 
me  alone." 

On  the  six  dollar  bill,  a  •  eaver  gnaw- 
ing down  a  tree;  the  motto,  '  Persever- 
ando,'"  "By  persevering." 

On  the  seven  dollar  bill,  a  heavy  storm 
with  a  bit  of  clear  sky  in  the  distance; 
the  ttJotto,  ''Serenabit,'"'  "It  will  clear 
up." 

On  a  fifty    dollar    bill,     which  was  is- 


every   colony  to    be  bound  to  discharge    sued  September  26,    1778,    an   unfinished 


its  proportion;  and  the  United  Colonies 
to  be  bound  to  pay  the  part  which  any 
colony  might  fail  to  discharge. 

RESOLUTIONS  OF  CONGRESS. 

June  22,  1775,  the  Congress  resolved  as 
follows:  "That  a  sum  not  exceeding 
two  millions  of  Spanish  milled  dollars 
be  emitted  by  the  Congress,  in  bills  of 
credit,  for  the  defense  of  America,"  and, 
"That  the  twelve  confederated  colonies 
be  pledged  for  the  redemption  of  the 
bills  of  credit  now  directed  to  be 
emitted."  Each  colonv  was  required  to 
pay  its  proportion  in  four  annual  pay- 
ments commencing  in   November  1779. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  BILLS. 
One,  two,  three,  four,  five,  six,  s-'ven, 
eight    and    twenty     dollar     bills    were 
directed  to  be  issued,  their  form  to  be  as 
follows  : 
"No. $ 


This  bill  entitles  the   bearer  to  receive 
Spanish     milled     dollars,     or   the 


value  thereof  in  gold  or  silver,  accord- 
ing to  the  resolutions  of  Congress,  held 
at  Philadelphia  on  the  10th  day  of  May 
A.  D.  1775." 

A  gun  engraver  named   Smithers   was    i"  the  Gen^  ral  Assembly  of  the  Province 
employed   to  prepare   the  plates.      The   of  New  York  to   back   the  paper  money 


pyramid  with  thirteen  layers  of  stone 
representing  the  thirteen  colenies;  the 
motto,  "  Perennis,'''  "Everlasting." 

On  the  sixty  dollar  bill,  als  j  issued  in 
1778,  a  globe  in  the  heavens;  the  motto, 
"■Deus  Regnat  Exultet  Terra,'''  "The 
Lord  reigns,  let  the  earth  rejoice." 

On  a  sixty-five  dollar  bill,  issued  Jan- 
uary 14,  1779,  a  hand  holding  equally 
balanced  scales  over  the  earth;  the 
motto,  ''Fiat  Justitia,"  "Let;  justice  be 
done." 

On  an  eighty  dollar  bill,  also  issued 
January  14,  1779,  a  large  oak  tree;  the 
motto;  "Et  in  Secula  Seculorum  Flor- 
escebit,'^  "And  it  will  flourish  through 
ages  of  ages." 

The  paper  money  of  the  Colonies  had 
often  been  counterfeited.  To  guard 
against  this,  various  devices  and  marks 
were  printed  on  paper  similar  to  the  bills 
and  pasted  on  their  backs.  The  words, 
"To  counterfeit  is  death,"  or  "  'Tis  death 
to  counterfeit."  were  also  printed  on  the 
bills. 

In  1772  Col.    Philip  Schuyler  proposed 


34 


with  the  following  clieerful  (?)  emblems 
and  words  :  "An  all  teeing  eye  in  a 
cloud,  a  cart  and  coffins,  three  felons  on 
a  gallows,  a  weeping  father  and  mother 
with  several  small  children,  a  burning 
pit,  human  figures  poured  into  it  by 
fiends,  and  a  label  with  the  words,  'Let 
the  name  of  the  counterfeiter  rot.'"  To 
guard  against  counterfeiting  the  conti- 
nental money,  devices,  usually  a  branch 
with  leaves,  or  a  leaf  or  leaves  were 
printed  and  pasted  on  the  back  of  the 
bills.  AUo  the  name  and  address  of 
the  printer  and  the  year  of  the  issue. 
Secret  marks  devised  by  the  Board  of 
Treasury  were  also  placed  upon  the  bills. 
Congress  authorized  twenty-eight  citi- 
zens of  Philadelphia  to  sign  and  num- 
ber the  bills  and  the  names  of  two  per- 
sons were  required  to  be  written  on 
each  bill.  The  compensation  was  fixed 
at  one  dollar  and  one-third  to  each  per- 
son for  every  thousand  bills  he  num- 
bered and  signed 
AMOUNT  OF  CONTINENTAL    MONEY  ISSUED. 

When  the  first  issue  of  the  paper 
money  was  authorized  by  Congress  it 
was  believed  that  the  war  would  not  last 
long  and  that  it  would  not  be  necessary 
to  make  further  issues,  but  the  war  was 
prolonged  and  one  issue  followed  an- 
other in  rapid  succession  for  a  ppriod  of 
over  four  years.  The  first  issue,  two 
millions,  was  ordered  June  23,  1775,  and 
three  millions  more  were  issued  the 
same  year,  February  17,  1776,  an  issue 
of  four  millions  was  ordered.  In  order 
to  aid  in  getting  the  bills  into  circula- 
tion, and  to  give  the  peo})le  small  change 
in  place  of  the  silver  which  had  ceased 
to  circulate,  over  one  half  of  this  issue 
was  in  fractional  bills  of  one- sixth,  one- 
third,  one  half  aad  two  thirds  of  a  dol- 
lar. Ib  1778  fourteen  different  issues, 
aggregating  over  sixty- three  millions 
were  ordered.  The  largest  single  issue 
was  that  of  January  14,  1779,  fifty  mil- 
lions. The  last  issue  was  November  39, 
1779,  and  the  total  amount  issued  was 
|342,(i60,780. 
EFFORTS  MADE  TO  KEEP  PAPER   MONEY  AT 


the  paper  money  and  to  get  it  into  cir- 
culation. Congress  asked  the  States  to 
pass  laws  making  the  money  legal  ten- 
der in  payment  of  all  debts,  and  they  all 
did  so. 

In  1777  Congress  resolved  that  all  bills 
of  credit  emitted  by  authority  of  Con- 
gress ought  to  pass  current  in  all  pay- 
ments in  the  States,  and  be  deemed 
equal  in  value  to  the  same  nonainalsums 
in  Spanish  milled  c  oUars.  and  that  those 
who  should  refuse  to  receive  them  at 
such  valuations  should  be  deemed 
enemies  of  their  country.  In  the  same 
year  Congress  recommended  the  States 
to  stop  issuing  bills  of  credit  and  rely 
upon  the  paper  money  provided  by  Con- 
gress. All  of  the  states  followed  the  ad- 
vice of  Congress  and  ceased  to  issue 
paper  money. 

General  Putraan,  while  in  command 
at  Philadelphia,  ordered  that  "Should 
any  of  the  inhabitants  i  e  so  lost  to  pub- 
lic virtueand  the  welfare  of  their  coun- 
try as  to  presume  to  refuse  the  currency 
of  the  American  States  in  payment  for 
any  commodities  they  may  have  for  sale, 
the  goods  shall  be  forfeited  and  the  per- 
son or  persons  so  refusing  committed  to 
clos^  confinement." 

General  Washington  was  vested  with 
power  to  take  whatever  provisions  were 
needed  for  the  army  if  the  inhabitants 
were  unwilling  to  sell  them  for  a  reason- 
abl"^  price,  and  to  arrest  and  confine  all 
w(  o  refused  to  receive  the  Continental 
money.  Prices  for  labor  was  fixed  by 
law  and  many  of  the  States  attempted 
to  prevent  a  rise  of  prices  for  commo- 
dities by  legal  enactment,  and  Congress 
recommended  that  all  States  take  such 
action. 

In  the  city  of  Albany  a  committee 
was  chosen  to  regulate  prices.  Two 
persons  who  had  sold  rum  for  more  than 
the  established  price, were  publicly  cried 
through  the  city  and  being  placed  upon 
a  scaffold  in  the  market  place  confessed 
their  guilt  and  promised  amendment. 

As  the  attempt  to  fix  prices  by  legis- 
lation failed.  Congress  in  October  1778 
voted.  "That  all  limitations   of  prices  of 


PAR  WITH  GOLD   AND  SILVER. 

In  order  to  prevent  the  depreciation  of    gold  and  silver  be  taken  off.' 

35 


DEPRECIATION  IN  VALUE.  6  yards  chintz  at  150  . Is.  '.'00  on 

„    fi„^<.    „^      4W  J  ai-fls  moreea  at  100  ds        45ii  00 

As,  when  the   paper   money   first   ap-    , -^'^^kerchiefs  at  lOO  ds 400.0 

peared,  no  one  supposed  that  very  much    g  yards  quality  bindi.  gat  4  ds 32  00 

of   it   would   be     issued,    its   value   was    i  skein  of  silk 10  (O 

maintained  at   par    with   gold  and  silver  t3,144  oo 

for  some  time  Kamsy  says,  "I  he  Fiske  in  his  work  on  the  "American 
United  States  for  a  consideraMe  time  Revolution."  states  that  at  Boston,  in 
derived  as  much  benefit  from  this  paper  October,  1780,  the  wholesale  prices  of 
creation  of  their  own,  though  without  certain  commodities  were  as  follows  : 
any  established  funds  for  its  support  or  gugar  |10  per  pound,  butter  $12  per 
redemption,  as  would  have  resulted  from    pound,    tea  $90   per  pound,    Indian  corn 


a  free  gift  of  so  many  Mexican  dollars  " 
The  depreciation  of  the  paper  currency 
commenced  in  1776  and  notwithstanding 
all  the  efforts  to  Keep  it  at  par  it  steadily 
declined  ia    value.      In   November   1776 


$150  per  bushel,  flour  $1,575  per  barrel: 
and  that  Samuel  Adams  paid  $2,000  for 
a  hat  and  suit  of  clothes. 

Simms  in   his    "Frontiersmen   of  New 

>.^._„..^..  -^     York,"  frays  that  an  old  soldier  informed 

one  dollar  in  specie  was  worth  three  dol-    |,jj^  ^^^^   j^e   once   sent   an  eight  dollar 
lars  in  Continental  money;  in  April  1778    Continental    lill  to   buy  a  quart  of  cider 


four  dollars,  in  October  1778,  five  doi 
lars;  in  March  1779,  ten  dollars;  in  Sep- 
tember 1779,  eighteen  dollars;  in  Decetn- 
ber  1779.  twenty-six  dollars;  in  April 
17S0,  forty  dollars;  in  August,  1780, 
seventy  dollars,  and  in' Febru  ry  1781, 
seventy-five  dollars. 

The  di'preciation  became  so  rapid  that 
Professor  Sumner  sa^d  that,  "A  man 
might  lose  his  whole  wages  while  earn- 
ing them." 

In  May,  1781,  William  Cooper  wrot^ 
from  Boston  to  his  rother  in  Philadel 
phia,  that  "Dollars  till  lately  were  sev- 
enty-five for  one,  the  southern  gentry 
have  offered  ore  hundred  and  twenty  of 
the  old  bills  for  one  hard  dollar." 

BoUes  in  his  valuable  work  on  the 
Financial  History  of  the  United  States, 
says  tha^  the  final  blow  w  as  given  by 
merchants  and  brokers  in  the  Southern 
states  who  pushed  immense  quantities 
of  it  suddenly  into  New  England,  mak- 
ing enormous  purchases  with  it,  where- 
upon, as  stated  ly  Noah  Webster.  "In- 
stantly the  bills  vanished  from  circula 
tion."     James    Madison    states  that    oc- 


and  received  in  change  a  two  dollar  bill, 
Rhode  Island  currency;  and  that  an  offi- 
cer of  his  a'^qiiaintince  once  paid  sev- 
enty dollars  in  Contimmtal  money  for  a 
single  mug  of  flip.  Washington  said 
that  it  too  ^  a  wagon  loid  of  money  to 
buy  a  wagon  load  of  provisions. 

The  expression  "Not  worth  a  Conti- 
nental" still  in  common  use,  is  a  syno- 
nym for  aiisolute  worthlessness,  and  it 
originated  at  th-*  time  when  a  continen- 
tal bill  had  ceased  to  have  any  purchas 
ing  power. 

CAUSES    OF    DEPRECIATION. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  princi- 
pal reasons  for  the  depredation  in  value 
of  the  Continental  money. 

1.  The  large  quantity  issued.  The 
printing  presses  were  at  work  nearly  all 
of  the  time  and  then  could  hardly  print 
it  as  fast  as  it  was  ordered. 

2.  Counterfeiting.  Notwithstanding 
the  precautions  taken  to  prevett  coun- 
ter eiting,  tht-  bills  were  successfully 
counterfeited.  The  states,  upon  the 
recommendation     of    Congress,     passtd 


,  .    stringent    laws     against    counterfeiting 

casionally  paper   money    was  exchanged    ^^^    Congress   offered   a   reward  of  two 


to  a  very  small  extent  as  late  as  1782, 
but,  at  an  enormous  discount,  and  mere- 
ly to  serve  special  local  purposes. 

The  following  are  the  items  of  a  bill  of 
goods  dated  January  5,  1781;  the  prices 
being  given  in  Continental  money  : 

Ipair  boots 5    600  00 

t>%  yards  calico  at  85  ds        


thousand  dollars  for  the  conviction  of 
one  who  forged  or  knowingly  passed 
counterfeit  money;  but  they  were  un- 
able to  prevent  it. 

Lossing  says  that  Sir  Henry   Clinton. 

the   British  Commander   in  the   city   of 

752  00    New  York,  was   at  the  head  of  the  gang 

36 


of  counterfeiters  and  tlie  Loyalists  all 
over  the  country   were  his  accomplices. 

The  New  York  Mercury  of  April  14, 
1777,  contained  an  advertisement  stating 
that  "Persons  going  into  other  colonies 
may  be  supplied  with  any  number  of 
counterfeited  Congress  notes  for  the 
price  of  the  paper  per  ream." 

Phillips  in  his  work  on  "Continental 
Paper  Money"  states  "that  a  ship-load  of 
counterfeit  Continental  money  coming 
from  Britian  was  captured  by  an  Ameri- 
can privateer." 

The  British  government  encouraged 
and  promoted  this  counterfeiting,  not 
for  gain,  but  believing  that  if  their  paper 
money  could  be  destroyed,  the  Ameri- 
cans would  be  obliged  to  submit  on  ac- 
count of  a  lack  of  funds  to  carry  on  the 
war 

The  bills  issued  May  20,  1777  and 
April  11,  1778,  were  counterfeited  so  ex- 
tensively that  Congress  voted  to  retire 
thobe  issues.  Instead  of  preventing  de- 
preciation, this  action  by  Congress 
caused  these  two  issues  to  depreciate 
twenty-five  per  cent. 

3.  The  bills  when  first  issued  were 
not  made  legal  tender  in  payment  of 
debts. 

4.  The  several  states  continued  to  is- 
sue their  own  bills  of  credit  until  nearly 
the  year  1778;  and  individuals  also  is- 
sued tokens,  certificates,  etc., which  help- 
ed to  further  swell  the  flood  of  paper 
money. 

5.  No  adequate  provision  had  been 
made  for  the  redemption  of  the  bills  of 
credit  and  the  credit  of  the  government 
was  not  good. 

6.  Many  people  believed  that  the  war 
would  prove  a  failure  and  that  the  bills 
would  then  be  worthless. 

7.  The  action  taken  by  Congress  in 
March,  1780,  attempting  to  redeem  all  of 
the  Continental  money  by  new  issues 
based  upon  i lie  credit  of  the  states  and 
guaranteed  by  the  United  states  at  the 
rate  of  forty  dollars  of  the  old  issues  for 
one  of  the  new,  called  the  "Forty  for 
tone  Act." 

In  May,  1778,  in  an  address  to  the  peo- 
ple Congress  gave  the  following  reasons 


for  the  depreciation  of  the  paper  money. 
"Because  no  taxes  have  been  imposed  to 
carry  on  the  war;  because  your  com- 
merce hath  been  interrupted  by  your 
enemies  fleet;  because  their  armies  have 
ravaged  and  desolated  a  part  of  your 
country;  because  their  agents  have  vil- 
lainously counterfeited  your  bills;  be- 
cause extortioners  among  you,  inflamed 
with  the  lust  for  gain  have  added  to  the 
price  of  every  article  of  life  and  because 
weak  men  have  been  artfully  led  to  be- 
lieve that  it  is  of  no  value." 

Although  Washington  endeavored  to 
keep  the  Continental  money  at  par,  he 
became  convinced  that  the  effort  was 
useless.  In  speaking  of  its  depreciation 
he  said,  "The  law  undoubtedly  was  well 
designed.  It  was  intended  to  stamp  a 
value  upon  and  to  give  free  circulation  to 
the  paper  bills  of  credit,  but  it  never  was 
nor  could  have  been  intended  to  make  a 
man  take  a  shilling  or  a  sixpenre  in  the 
pound  for  a  just  debt  which  the  debtor 
is  well  able  to  pay  and  thereby  involve 
himself  in  ruin.  I  am  sure  no  honest 
man  would  attempt  to  pay  twenty  shil- 
lings with  one  or  perhaps  half  a  one." 

White  in  his  work  ou  "Mone}'  and 
Banking,"  says  that  "after  the  Revolu- 
tion and  to  the  end  of  his  life  Washing- 
ton was  an  inflexible  opf  onent  of  bills 
of  credit." 

A  great  deal  has  been  written  about 
the  evils  growing  out  of  the  use  of  the 
Continental  paper  money  but  to  enter 
upon  that  field  would  make  this  article 
much  too  long. 

W^HAT     BECAME     OF      THE     CONTINENTAL 
MONEY  ? 

It  is  probable  that  the  greater  part  of 
the  Continental  money  was  destroyed 
soon  after  the  peop  e  were  satisfied  that 
it  was  worthless.  Some  of  it  was  held 
for  many  years  by  persons  who  believed 
that  the  United  States  would  eventually 
redeem  it.  A  barber  in  Boston  papered 
his  shop  with  the  bills.  A  do^  smeared 
with  tar,  and  then  covered  with  the  bills 
was  led  up  and  do^vn  the  street.  Sam- 
uel Breck  of  Philadelphia  says  that  the 
sailors  jaraded  the  streets  with  their 
clothes  (covered  with  bills  ihat  once  re- 
presented thousands  of  dollars. 


37 


Sirams  says  that  in  an  inventory  of  the 
property  of  Jacob  F.  Lawyer  of  Sclio- 
harie  County  was  the  following  item, 
"306  Continental  dollars  and  one  New 
York  bill  of  five  dollars;"  And  he  says 
that  some  of  the  Schoharie  farmers 
had  large  amounts  of  it.  The  bills  are 
now  very  rare  and  are  seldom  fonnd  ex- 
cept in  collections  of  paper  money. 
B.  J.  Lossing,  writing  in  1868  says  that 
Dr.  Josiah  I.  Cohen  of  Baltimore,  Md.  had 
a  specimen  of  every  denomination  of 
every  issue  of  the  old  emission  of  Con- 
tinental monev  and  that  it  was  believed 
to  be  the  only  perfect  collection  in  the 
country,  as   that  of  Col.    Peter  Force  of 


Washington,    lacked   one  or  two  bills  of 
the  very  rare  issue  of  April  11,  1778. 

Thomas  W.  Grosvenor  of  Herkimer 
has  a  small  collection  of  Colonial  and 
Continental  money.  The  largest  collec- 
tion in  Herkimer  county,  so  far  as  I  can 
learn,  is  the  one  in  the  possession  of 
Fred  T.  Ingersoll  of  Ilion,  N.  Y.  His 
great  uncle,  Elias  Palmer,  who  lived  at 
Frankfort,  spent  a  great  deal  of  time 
and  money  on  this  collection.  He  made 
a  large  case  for  it  out  of  a  part  of  the 
first  canal  boat  which  navigated  the  Erie 
canal.  This  collection  includes  Colonial, 
Continental  and  other  paper  currency 
issued  from  1759  to  1800. 


HERKIMER  COUNTY  GEOLOGY  IN  PRIMITIVE  DAYS. 

AN  ADDRESS  BY  ALBERT  L.  HOWELI^,  OF  MOHAWK, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  April  13,  1897 

A  careless  observer  of  nature  in  all  lantic  rivers,  crosses  the  Mohawk  val- 
her  varied  scenes  may  see  much  to  ad-  ley.  in  the  ages  long- past  (ere  the  great 
mire  in  the  beauty  of  the  landscape,  falls  of  Niagara  existed)  no  doubt  was 
Spread  out  before  him  he  see's  the  moun-  formed  the  crown  of  a  cataract  as  mag- 
tain  ranges,  forests,  valleys  and  streams  nificent  as  Niagara.  The  rocky  bluffs 
which  are  ever  a  source  of  delight  to  on  each  side  of  this  gorge  rise  to  an  alti- 
view,  and  he  imagines  that  the  same  tude  of  nearly  four  hundred  feet  and  if 
beauty  in  form  and  outline  now  present-  the  overflow  of  water  was  from  this 
ed  has  always  existed.  He  will  look  at  height,  one  can  conceive  what  an  im- 
the  formation  of  the  rocky  hills,  but  mense  tract  of  land  l>ing  in  Central 
does  not  read  in  them  a  history  replete  New  York,  beside  the  Mohawk  valley 
with  interest  recorded  on  the  pages  of  west  of  Little  Falls,  was  entirely  suh- 
their  stony  books  revealing  their  hidden  merged. 

and      mysterious    formation     and    the  Taking  the  combined   number  of  feet 

changes  that  have  been  and  are  continu-  of  all  the  lock  levels  of  the   Erie  canal 

ally  at   work    everywhere    upon   them,  from   Little  Falls  to  Frankfort  village, 

through  the  agency  of  water.  there  is  only  a  rise  of  about  fifty  feet 

A  more  careful   observer   will  see  all  and   then    we  reach  a  water  level    ex- 

the  others  see   and  he   will  also  observe  tending     westward     sixty    odd     miles, 

that  the  same  view  presents  evidence  of  From  this   we   may  estimate  the  depth 

a  great  change  that   must   have  taken  and  extent  of  this  ancient  body  of  water 

place  at  some  remote  period  in  the  phy-  which  the  eye  of  man  may   never  have 

sical  condition    of  the  same  landscape  beheld. 

and  he  need  not  journey   far  to  witness  An  obstruction   at   Little  Falls  of  only 

the  proofs  of  the  change,  and  may  even  seventy  feet  in  height  would  cause  this 

behold  it  within   the  limits  of  his  own  vast  body  of  water  to  overflow  the  Rome 

county.  summit  and  mingle  with  the  waters  of 

The  geologists  say  that  we  are  living  Lake  Ontario    by   way   of   Wood  Creek 

at  the   bottom  of  what  was  once  a  deep  Oneida   LaUe    and   the    Oswego    River, 

lake,    and   that   the  barrier   which  held  And  if  these  streams  were  once  the  out- 

this  immense  valley   lake  was  at  Little  let  of  the  great  chain   of   lakes    there 

Falls.     At   this  point  in  the   valley,  the  must  have  heen  a  reversal  of  the  flow  of 

high  ridge  in   the   Alleghany  range  ©f  these  rivers  and  there  are  many  indica- 

mountains    which     divides     the    head  tions  that  this  theory  is  correct.      While 

waters  of  the   Mohawk  and  other  At-  sinking  a  well  at  Three  Rivers  there  was 

39 


recently  discovered  an  oak  tn^e  nearly 
three  feet  in  diameter,  fifty  feet  below 
the  ground,  proving  that  a  great  water 
course  must  have  existed  and  that  deep 
channels  v^  ere  filled  up  and  trees  cover- 
ed by  the  deposit  of  alluvium. 

The  existence  of  this  la(  e  in  Central 
New  York  adds  much  to  the  correctness 
of  this  theory.  The  valley  of  the  Mo- 
hawk and  Hudson  were  the  continuation 
of  this  flow  of  water  to  the  ocean  and 
meeting  with  this  I  arrier  at  Little  Falls, 
caused  the  set-oack  of  this  enormous 
volume  of  water.  Thf^  reversal  of  these 
rivers  must  have  been  caused  by  a  great 
depression  of  Lake  Ontario,  as  that  lake 
IS  three  hundred  and  thirty-four  feet 
lower  than  Lake  Erie,  thereby  opening 
the  outlet  of  the  chain  of  lathes  through 
the  St.  Lawrence  river  and  causing  the 
existence  of  Niagara  Falls.  No  accur- 
ate computation  can  be  made  of  the 
ages  it  must  have  taken  to  wear  away 
this  formidable  barrier  and  mountains 
of  hardest  rocks,  which  is  composed 
chiefly  of  gneiss,  granite  and  hornblend. 
Different  theories  have  been  advanced 
as  to  the  agencies  which  caused  the 
breaking  of  this  rocky  Carrier  and  the 
mighty  flood  which  took  place  in  the 
valley  below.  One  theory  is  that  it  was 
through  volcanic  action,  and  i  y  its  lift- 
ing power,  straining  the  rocoS  until  the 
barrier  was  rent  in  twain  and  the  water 
rushed  through.  But  the  indications  do 
not  support  this  theory  as  there  is  no  ap- 
pearance of  upheaval  in  the  vicinity  and 
it  is  not  in  the  region  of  volcanic  dis- 
turbance The  most  reasonable  theory 
is  that  it  was  by  the  constant  abrasion 
of  water  and  ice  in  its  s-^afoi,  for  a  long 
period  of  time.  In  fact,  the  same  agen- 
cies are  at  work  at  Niagara  Falls,  whose 
rocky  walls  are  receding  year  by  year 
and  which  will  eventially  cause  a  great 
change  to  take  place  in  the  face  of  the 
country,  in  the  region  of  these  lakes, 
causing  the  drainage  of  Lake  Erie,  which 
in  the  course  of  events  may  become  a 
beautiful  and  productive  valley,  trav- 
ersed by  a  continuation  of  the  St.  Clair 
and  Detroit  rivers  and  joining  the  waters 
at  Lake  Ontario  tlirough  the  terriffic 
rapids  of  Niagara  River. 


Immediately  below  where  this  once 
great  mountain  barrier  and  waterfall  ex- 
isted, there  is  a  basin  whose  depth  is 
said  to  be  more  than  a  hundred  feet, 
which  no  doubt  was  caused  by  the  con- 
stant overpour  of  water  and  ice  from 
this  precipice  and  there  is  still  to  be  seen 
in  this  deep  water,  rocky  cones  too  hard 
to  be  abraided,  resisting  the  attrition  of 
water  falling  from  this  precipice  and  in 
other  places,  high  above  the  water  of 
the  Mohawk  river,  may  be  seen  bowl 
shaped  cavities  worn  in  the  solid  rock 
by  the-  action  of  the  water  falling  w.th 
great  force  and  by  the  whirling  of  pieces 
of  stone  caught  in  eddies  below,  thus 
showing  that  at  some  period  there  was 
an  extensive  overpour  of  water.  What- 
ever the  extent  of  this  rocky  barrier 
may  have  been  it  is  evident  that  the 
breaking  away  was  sudden  and  caused  a 
mighty  flood  in  the  vallev  below  and  in 
time  transformed  that  which  was  a 
dreary  waste  of  water  to  the  beautiful 
valley  in  which  we  are  now  living, 
whose  grandeur  has  been  depicited  in 
glowing  words  by  the  poet  and  narrated 
by  the  historian  of  the  struggles  of  its 
first  white  settlers  against  invasion  and 
massacre  by  the  savage  Indian  tribes. 

For  many  miles  below  in  the  valley 
are  found  fragments  of  this  same  rock 
which  formed  this  r arrier,  the  largest 
pieces  lying  nearest  Little  Falls  and  di- 
minishing in  size  along  down  the  valley, 
demonstrating  that  an  immense  flood 
must  have  taken  place  to  have  caused 
their  removal  such  a  long  distance 

In  the  vicinity  of  the  old  home  of 
General  Herkimer  numbers  of  these  frag- 
ments may  be  seen,  some  of  which  have 
recently  been  used  to  fortn  the  enclos- 
ure of  his  burial  plot  and  monument, 
thereby  forming  a  link  in  the  chain  of 
events  which  transpired  in  the  days  long 
ago  in  this  vicinity  with  that  of  his 
eventful  life,  and  which  may  be  taken 
as  a  symbol  of  the  lasting  memory  held 
of  him  and  his  heroic  deeds. 

In  the  counties  of  Albany,  Green  and 
Ulster  there  is  a  valley  three  miles 
wide  extenriing  from  Guilderland  in  the 
countv  of    Ulster,    a    distance  of  about 


40 


I 


milfc's  along  the   base    of  the  Heklerberg  hawk,  correspomJs    with    that  which  we 

and  Catskill  mountains.  find   in    the    hills    and    valleys    of    the 

An  observer  will  readily   see  that  this  streams  flowing  into  the  Mohawk,  being 

beautiful  valley,    as   well  a?   that  of  the  very  rich  with  water  worn  cobblestones, 

Mohawk,  was  once  the  bottom  of  a  laige  each  locality  having  a  liberal  supply  and 

lake  illustrating   the   drainage   of    other  the  site  of   Herkimer  village  was  aj^pro- 


lakes  in  this  part  of  the  state. 

One  other  interesting  feature  of  this 
transformation  in  Herkimer  county  in 
connection  with  the  drainaije  of  this  im- 
mense lake  is  that  where  all  four  vil- 
lages in  the  vallpyare  locaced,  Herkimer, 
Mohawk,  Ilion  and  Frankfort,  the  stony 
sod  was  no  doubt  deposited  by  the  action 
of  water  flowing  from  streams  emptying 
into  tliis  lake  previous  to  its  drainage  or 
perhaps  subsequent!}'  by  some  great 
flood  caused  by  the  breaking  away  of 
other  bodies  of  water  lying  high  upon 
the  raoun  ains  which  border  the  valley, 
and  the  sources  of  the  present  streams 
which  empty  into  the  Mohawk  river. 
In  nearly  every  instance  where  this 
deposit  was  made  the  river  talies  a  bend 
to  the  north  side  of  the  valley  but  at 
Herkimer  to  the  south  side.  The  pres- 
ent sinuous  course  of  the  river  was  no 
doubt  caused  by  this  earth  deposit 
which  originally  covered  a  larger  area 
of  the  Mohawk  flats  than  at  present. 
And  when  the  Mohawk  river  took  up  its 
course  through  the  valley  subsequent  to 
this  drainage  much  of  this  soil  was 
washed  away  by  the  ice  in  its  annual 
freshets. 

It  is  probable  that  the  West  Canada 
creek  formerly  entered  the  valley  at  an- 
other point  than  the  present  one,  as  the 
high  ridge  about  a  mile  north  of  Herki- 
mer village  through  which  this  stream 
now  flows,  was  no  doubt  once  united 
causing  the  creek  to  take  the  coursa  of 
the  hydraulic  canal  around  this  high 
ridge  and  to  enter  the  valley  wliere  the 
dam  of  Mirror  Like  now  is.  Apparently 
its  course  was  then  north  of  where  Fort 
Dayton  was  located  and  extending 
thence  southerly  past  the  old  village 
cemetery  to  the  Mohawk  river.  The  in- 
dications that  this  was  the  course  of  the 
stream  was  more  marked  sixty  years 
ago  than  at  present. 

The  composition  of  the  soil  in  each  in- 
stance, especially  at   Herkimer  and  Mo  , 


priately  called  tlie  "8tony  Ridge,"  by  the 
first  settlers. 

Another  evidence  of  the  existence  of 
this  larae  lake,  rocky  barrier  and  high 
waterfall  is  to  be  found  near  the  north 
shore  of  the  Mohawk  river  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  New  York  Central  and 
Hudson  river  railroad.  From  thirty  to 
sixty  feet  above  the  present  bed  of  the 
river  is  a  large  circular  cavity  made  by 
the  action  of  the  water  flowing  from  a 
precipice  and  on  the  side  toward  the 
river  is  an  opening  about  ten  feet  square; 
over  the  entrance  is  the  appearance  of  a 
massive  head  piece  of  a  door  frame  ap- 
parently wrought  and  placed  there  b\' 
the  hand  of  man.  The  cavity  is  open  at 
the  top  and  there  are  smaller  cavities  on 
its  concave  sides. 

A  romantic  Indian  legend  is  connected 
with  this  spot.  "Long  years  ago  there 
arose  a  feud  between  the  Wolf  and  the 
Tortoise,  two  young  chiefs  belonging 
to  tribes  of  the  Indians  dwelling  in  the 
Mohawk  valley.  A  maiden  of  the  Bear 
tribe  was  the  cause  of  the  feud  (as 
maidens  of  ten  are.)  She  was  loved  i  y 
both  the  young  chiefs  and  for  a  time  she 
so  coquetted  that  each  thought  himself 
beloved  by  her  in  return.  Her  father 
was  a  stern  old  warrior  and  loved  his 
child  tenderly;  both  chiefs  fought  the 
Mingops  and  Mohegans  side  by  side,  and 
the  bravery  of  each  entitled  him  to  the 
hand  of  the  maiden.  Her  affections 
were  at  length  stirred  by  the  more  earn- 
est importunities  of  the  Wolf  and  she 
promised  to  become  his  bride.  i  his 
decision  reached  the  ears  of  Tortoise  and 
the  embers  of  jealousy  which  had  slum- 
bered while  both  were  unaccepted 
suitors,  burst  into  a  flame  in  the  bosom 
of  the  disappointed  lover.  He  deter- 
mined to  possess  the  coveted  treasure 
before  the  Wolf  should  take  her  to  his 
wigwam.  With  well  dissembled  acqui- 
escence in  her  choice,  and  expressions 
of  warm  friendship   for  herself  and  her 


41 


affianced  he  allayed  all  suspicions  and 
when  her  affiance  was  away  the  maiden 
rambled  with  him  in  the  moonlight  up- 
on the  banks  of  the  river  unconscious  of 
danger.  The  day  approached  for  the 
maiden  to  go  to  the  wigwam  of  her  lord, 
the  Tortoise  was  with  her  alone  in  a 
secluded  nook  upon  the  brink  of  the 
river;  his  light  canoe  was  near,  and  he 
proposed  a  voyaye  to  a  beautiful  little 
island  in  the  stream  where  the  fireflies 
sparkled  and  the  whippoorwill  whispered 
its  evening  serenade.  They  launched 
out  upon  the  stream  out  instead  of  pad- 
dhng  for  the  island  the  Tortoise  turned 
his  prow  toward  the  rapids.  Like  an 
arrow  they  sped  down  the  swift  current 
while  the  young  chief  with  vigorous  arm 
paddled  for  the  northern  shore  and 
skillfully  steered  his  canoe  to  the  mouth 
of  the  cavern.  Upon  the  water's  brink 
he  seized  the  affrightened  maiden  and 
leaped  ashore,  at  the  same  time  securing 
his  canoe  by  a  strong  green  withe.  The 
cave  was  dry,  a  soft  bed  of  skins  of 
beasts  was  spread  and  abundance  of  pro- 
vision was  there  stored.  At  the-  top  of 
the  cave,  far  above  the  maiden's  reach, 
an  opening  revealed  a  passage  through 
the  fissure  to  the  rocks  above.  It  was 
known  only  to  the  Tortoise  and  there  he 
kept  the  maiden  many  months  until  her 
affianced  gave  her  up  as  lost  to  him  for- 
ever. At  length  while  hunting  on  the 
southern  hills  in  the  flowery  month  of 
May,  the  Wolf  saw  the  canoe  of  the 
Tortoise  at  the  mouth  of  the  cave.  The 
evening  was  clear  and  the  full  moon 
shown  brightly.  He  waited  until  mid 
night  when,  with  an  arm  as  strong  and 
skillful  as  his  rival's,  he  steered  his 
canoe  to  the  mouth  of  the  cavern  which 
wa-?  lighted  by  the  moon,  and  by  its 
light  he  saw  the  perfidious  Tortoise 
sleeping  by  the  side  of  his  unwilling 
bride.     The  Wolf  smote  the  Tortoise  but 


the  wound  was  slight.  The  awakened 
warrior  unable  to  grasp  his  hatchet 
bounded  through  the  opening  at  the  top 
of  the  cavern  and  closed  it  with  a  heavy 
stone. 

The  lovers  embraced  in  momentary  joy, 
but  it  was  brief  for  a  fearful  doom  seem- 
ed to  await  them.  The  Tortoise  would 
soon  return  and  they  had  to  make  choice 
of  death  by  the  hatchet  of  the  rival  chief 
or  brave  the  perils  of  the  foaming  cata- 
ract. 

The  latter  was  their  choice  and  in  an 
affectionate  embrace  they  sat  in  their 
canoe  and  made  the  fearful  leap.  The 
frail  vessel  struciv  propitiously  upon  the 
boiling  waters  and  unharmed  passed  on 
to  the  quiter  waters  below.  Down  the 
broad  stream  they  glided  and  upon  the 
margin  of  the  lower  lake  they  lived  and 
loved  for  two  generations,  and  saw  their 
children's  children  go  out  to  battle  and 
the  chase.  In  the  long  line  of  their  de- 
scent, tradition  avers,  came  Brant  the 
Mohawk  Sachem,  ihe  strong  wolf  of 
his  nation." 

When  we  review  the  arrangement  and 
design  of  the  Creator  in  preparing  the 
earth  for  the  habitation  of  man,  with  the 
various  changes  and  modifications  which 
have  been  made  from  age  to  age  in  the 
physical  condition  of  the  same,  all  have 
been  in  accordance  with  the  plans  of  the 
great  Architect  of  the  universe,  to  serve 
wise  and  benevolent  purposes,  and  each 
successive  change  has  been  the  better 
adapted  for  the  habitation  of  man.  The 
whole  is  made  a  storehouse  of  treasures 
for  his  well  being,  and  he  has  only  to 
unlock  its  doors  with  the  key  of  industry 
and  science  to  satisfy  every  want.  Mil- 
lions of  years  may  have  passed  in  its 
preparation  to  tliis  end  as  is  everywhere 
apparent.  The  parental  attributes  of  His 
divine  character  is  here  illustrated. 


EARLY  NAVIGATION  OF  THE  MOHAWK  RIVER. 

AN   ADDRESS   BY   RUFUS   A.    GRIDER,    OF   CANAJOHARIE, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  April  13,  1897. 


Persons,  who  at  this  time  travel  by 
Railroad  through  this  fair  and  ^usy 
valley,  can  hardly  realize  the  difficulties 
the  traveller  formerly  met;  how  slowly 
he  progressed,  or  how  the  change  was 
brought  about. 

In  1788,  the  ^^tatesof  Massachussettsand 
New  York,  both  claimed  the  lands  of  this 
state  lying   beyond  Fort  Scanwix,    (now 


were  opened  to  settlers.  Many  had  al- 
ready located  themselves  among  the 
savages.  Mr.  Elkanah  Watson,  of  Prov- 
idence, R,  I  ,  a  gentleman  of  leisure, 
was  at  that  time  travelling  on  horseback 
in  the  Mohawk  Valley.  At  Johnstown, 
he  learned  of  the  treaty,  and  determined 
to  witness  it,  that  took  him  to  Fort 
Stanwix    (also    named    Fort    Schuyler). 


Rome,  N.  Y.,) containing  about  8,000,000    Mr.  Watson  bad  recently  returned  from 


acres,  then  inhabited  by  the  six  Nations. 
The  dispute  was  settled  by  an  amicable 
division.  Massachussetts  had  sold  their 
4,000,000  acres  to  a  Land  Company,  who 
bad  extinguished  the  Indian  title  to  their 
portion. 

TREATY  W^ITH  THE  INDIANS. 

In  September,  1788,  Gov.  Geo.  Clinton, 
and  other  officials  of  this  state,  held  a 
treaty  at  Fort  Stanwix  with  the  six  Na- 
tions, hundreds  of  Indians  attended,  the 
whole  plain  around  the  Fort  was  covered 


Europe,  where  he  travelled  in  France, 
England  and  in  the  Netherlands.  The 
canals  everywhere  attracted  his  atten- 
tion. He  travelled  alone  and  on  horse- 
back. He  observed  that  the  Mohawk 
River  presented  but  few  obstacles  to 
prevent  navigation  by  flat  botton  boats. 
While  at  Stanwix,  he  also  searched  be- 
yond that  point  and  soon  found  that 
in  that  vicinity  was  a  divide,  or  water- 
shed, the  head  waters  of  the  Mohawk 
running    eastward    to    the    Hudson;    a 


with  Indians  of  various  tribes,  (male  small  stream  near  called  Wood  Creek 
and  female),  fantastically  dressed;  wear-  went  westward  toward  Lake  Ontario, 
ing  a  profusion  of  brooches;  rings  in  After  his  return  to  Providence  he  became 
their  noses,  their  ears  slit,  their  heads  a  citizen  of  Albanj-.  He  began,  through 
decorated  with  feathers,  and  most  of  the  press,  to  prop  ^se  various  public  im- 
them  drunk.  The  French  Ambassador  provements,  and  also  the  feasabilit}'  of 
and  the  Marchioness  de  Biron  attended,  making  the  Mohawk  River  a  waterway, 
This  courageous  lady  had  exposed  her-  and  by  it  and  Wood  Creek,  and  other 
self  to  the  greatest  fatigueu  and  priva-    streams,  reach   the  great  inland  Ocean, 


tions,  to  gratify  her  curiosity,  by  com- 
ing all  the  way  from  the  City  of  New 
York  to  witness  this  great  and  unusual 
assemblage  of  savage  tribes.  Both  tracts 


Lake  Ontario.  These  articles  attracted 
public  attention.  The  journal  kept  by 
Mr.  Watson  was  in  evidence  of  what  he 
saw  on  his  trip. 


43 


EXPLOKING  THE  MOHAWK. 
Ill  September,  1791,  a  party  consisting; 
of  Mr.  E  WatFon,  Jeremiah  Van  Renss-e- 
lear,  Genl.  P.  Van  Cortland  and  Sleplie  \ 
N.  Ba3ard  left  Albany  to  exaroine  into 
the  fnasabilily  of  opening  a  waterway 
Mr.  Watson  was  the  journalist.  They 
hired  two  batf  aus  at  Scbenectady,  en- 
gaged six  men,  laid  in  a  supply  of  piovis 
ions  to  last  six  weeks  and  then  sent  the 
men  and  boats  up  the  Mohawk.  The 
four  principals  went  overland  to  Fort 
Herkimer.  Tliere,  they  embarked  On 
the  8th  day  out,  they  reached  old  Fort 
Sohuyler,  (nowUtica,  N.  Y.,)they  found 
the  river  nearly  competent  to  inland 
navigation  from  Schnectady  to  Forfc 
Stanwix,  with  the  exception  of  Wolf- 
srift,  at  German  Flats,  and  Little  Falls. 
From  Fort  Stanwix.  the  boats  v\ere  ar- 
ried  two  miles  to  Wood  CreeV,  which 
flows  toward  Lake  Ontario  there,  Wo  )d 
Creek  is  a  mere  brook,  across  which  a 
man  could  easily  jump.  It  is  however, 
an  important  creek,  being  the  link  con- 
necting by  vvaters,  the  immense  rt'giois 
beyond  with  the  Hudson  and  the  east. 
From  Fort  Stanwix,  the  party  proceed- 
ed overland  to  Canada  Creeu,  the  boats 
by  Wood  CreeU  assisted  by  the  water  of 
a  mill  dam,  yet  with  great  difficulty,  the 
windings  are  so  sudden  that  the  ^  ow  of 
the  boat  plowed  the  bank  on  one  side, 
while  the  stern  was  rub'^>ing  the  oppo- 
site shore.  The  men  had  to  drag  the 
boats,  at  some  places;  while  at  others  all 
had  to  lie  down  to  escape  the  limbs 
which  overarched  ihe  stream.  These 
difficulties,  together  with  the  sunken 
logs  and  trees,  msde  progress  very  diffi- 
cult and  almost  impossible. 

On  the  12th  day.  thej^  arrived  at  the 
east  end  of  the  Oneida  Lake;  or  the  13th 
day  they  met  a  boat  loaded  with  hemp, 
raised  at  Cayuga,  going  toward  the  Mo- 
hawk river  over  this  natural  waterway. 
They  descended  by  the  Onondaga  river 
to  the  junction  of  the  Seneca  river, 
which  empties  into  Lake  Ontario.  The 
falls  of  that  river  are  about  100  feet, 
they  oflfer  a  serious  difficulty  to 
reach  the  lake,  but  that  can  be  over- 
come, but  at  great  expense. 


They  returned  homeward,  going  up 
the  Seneca  river  to  the  Salt  Lake  (now 
Syracuse),  where  8,000  bushels  of  salt 
was  then  produced  in  one  year.  This 
shovvshow  easily  commerce  could  l>e  di- 
verted into  the  projected  waterwaj'  to 
Albany  and  New  York  They  saw  also 
that  the  commerce  of  the  St.  Lawrence 
river  and  the  lakes  could  '.e  diverted  into 
this  waterway  when  finished.  They 
reached  Cayuga  Lake  and  then  Si  neca 
Lake,  showing  that  the  trade  of  the  in 
terior  of  the  state,  in  that  direction 
could  be  made  to  flow  into  the  Hudson 
river.  Here,  the  explorers  dissolved  — 
the  expedition  resulted  in  their  advocat- 
ing the  construction  of  such  a  waterwaj^ 
upon  their  arrival  home.  They  repre- 
senf^d  that  "the  map  of  the  world"  does 
not  exhibit,  in  any  other  country,  two 
lakes  of  equal  magni  ude  to  Seneca  and 
Cayuga,  so  happily  situated.  They  are 
each  about  35  miles  long  and  from  two 
to  four  miles  wide,  stretching  north  and 
south  and  about  11  miles  apart. 

THE  STATE  INTERESTED. 
,  Mr.  Watson  directed  the  attention  of 
the  public  and  of  the  legislature  to  the 
subject  in  various  essays  and  memorials. 
These  and  the  original  journals  were 
submitted  to  Gen.  Philip  Schuyler,  who 
was  at  that  time  a  member  of  the  sen- 
ate and  weilded  by  his  patriotic  ardor 
and  varied  talents  and  political  in- 
fluence great  power  in  the  state 
in  1791;  the  state  appropriated  100 
pounds  and  ordered  a  survey  by 
the  land  office  at  Fort  Stanwix  and 
Wood  Creek,  under  the  directions  of 
three  commissioners,  Watson,  Schuyler 
and  Banyer. 

The  results  were  that  in  1792  an  act 
was  passed,  by  which  two  companies 
were  chartered;  one  for  opening  a  lock 
navigation  from  the  navigable  waters  of 
the  Hud  on,  to  be  extended  to  the  lakes 
Ontario  and  Seneca.  The  other  from 
the  Hudson  lo  Lake  Champ'ain.  While 
the  hill  was  struggling  in  its  progress, 
Mr.  Watson  attended  the  legislature  and 
with  the  greatest  assiduity  and  zeal,  sus- 
tained the  efforts  of  Gen.  Schuyler  in 
promoting  its  success. 


44 


New  difficulties  presented  themselves 
dn  obtaiaing  the  needed  subscriptions; 
the  illustrious  Robert  Morris  of  Phila- 
delt)liia,  became  a  subscriber.  Geu. 
Sehu\ier,  Mr.  Watson  and  Thomas  Eddy 
Sfem  to  have  been  the  mot  active  in 
furtliering  the  enterprise.  The  public 
hesitated  to  supply  the  needed  funds. 
The  question  was,  *  "Shall  it  be  made  be- 
fore the  oountrj'  through  which  it  passes 
is  settled,  or  shall  the  improvement  pre- 
cede the  settlers  ?"  One  thousand  shares 
of  stock  of  $25  eaoh  were  issued  by  the 
iMohawk  Company.  Gen.  Schuyler  be- 
came president  of  the  company.  He  and 
his  associates  exerted  themselves  to  the 
utmost,  yet  with  the  limited  means  pro- 
vided, the  enterprise  was  completed 
from  Oneida  Lake  in  1796  and  boats  car- 
rying 16  tons  were  passing  uninterrupt- 
edly. There  were  only  six  miles  of  can- 
ailing  .'iltogether. 

In  1796,  Engineer  Weston  explored 
and  planned  a  route  lor  a  canal  connect- 
ing Seneca  La':e  with  the  Mohawk— it 
was  s-peedily  constiucted.  That,  says 
Lossing,  became  the  living  genu  of  tbe 
Erie  canal. 

Improvement, — Consisted  of  a  canal 
at  Little  Falls,  4.752  leet  long,  of  which 
2,550  feet  went  through  solid  rock. 
Upon  it  were  five  locks,  with  a  total 
ri*e  of  4^  feet. 

NAMES     BY     WHICH     LITTLE     FALLS     WAS 
KNOWN. 

1.  By  the  native  Indians— Astenrogen 
("Swift  Water"). 

2.  By  the  white  navigators,  in  1758 
"Little  Carrying  Place." 

8.  By  Gov.  Moore  of  New  York,  in 
1768,  "Canajoharie  Falls." 

4.  At  iiresent,  Little  Falls. 

A  canal  1^  miles  long  at  Wolfs  Rift, 
German  Flatts;  one  at  Rome  If  miles 
long,  connectmg  the  Mohawk  with 
Wood  Creek.  On  Wood  Creek,  four 
locks  were  bui  t.  The  success  of  the  en- 
terprise is  best  shown  by  the  following 
letter  : 

Senaca  Falls,  June  6.  1818. 

Dear  Sir  :— In  pursuance  of  my  prom- 
ise, I  now  submit  to  you  the  following 
authentic  statement  of  facts  : 


Previous  to  the  cotistruc;tion  of  the 
canals  and  locks  on  the  Mohawk  river 
and  Wood  Creek,  transportation  was 
done  in  bateaus,  from  one  to  two  tons 
burden.  These  required  four  hands  to 
navigate  them.  Tbe  price  of  transport 
at  that  time,  was  from  *75  to  $100  per 
ton,  from  Schenectady  to  Seneca  Falls,  a 
distance  of  212  miles. 

Since  the  completion  of  the  locks, 
boats  of  a  diflferent  construction  have 
been  introduced,  capable  of  carrying  15 
to  16  tons  and  requiring  but  one  addi- 
tional hand  to  work  them. 

The  charges  for  transportation  have 
been  greatly  reduced,  notwithstanding 
the  high  tolls  charged  on  passing  the 
locks  and  canals,  viz.,  about  $4  on  each 
boat  and  $5  on  each  ton  on  cargo,  being 
about  $17  per  ton,  from  this  to  Schenec- 
tady and  nearly  that  sum  from  thence 
here.  Aliliough  these  valuable  improve- 
ments in  the  navigation  of  the  Mohawk 
river  and  Wood  Creek  have  been  vastly 
beneficial  to  this  part  of  the  state,  yet  it 
is  believed  that  proportionally  greater 
advantages  will  yet  result,  on  the  com- 
pletion of  the  middle  section  now  con- 
structing between  the  Seneca  and  Mo- 
hawk rivers.  I  think  it  may  be  safely 
estimated  that  the  transportation  will 
undergo  a  second  reduction  of  40  per 
cent.  I  am  with  great  esteem,  your  sin- 
cere friend, 

WiLHLEMUS  MYNDERSE, 

To  Elkanah  Watson. 

The  Indians  first  navigated  the  Mo- 
hawk from  FortStanwix  to  New  York, 
in  their  bark  canoes,  and  white  people 
in  flat  boats,  before  any  improvement 
was  made. 

The  Inland  Navigation  Company  of 
l'i92,  constitutes  the  first  period  of  com- 
mercial highways  of  the  Mohawk  valley. 
It  was  the  first  step,  which  led  to  all 
that  followed  and  as  all  experienced  per- 
sons know  the  truth  of  the  proverb 
"All  beginnings  are  difficult." 

The  improved  navigation,  when  com- 
pleted, was  looked  upon  as  a  vvonderful 
achievement,  and  indeed  it  was,  when 
compared  with  the  condition  of  fifty 
years  earlier. 


45 


The  volume  of  business  done  cannot 
be  stated,  as  no  records  cou'd  be  found. 
Judge  Wager  of  R'  me^  had  recorded, 
»hat  in  I&IS,  300  boats  with  1,500  tons  of 
merchandise  passed  through  it  »t  Rome, 
annually. 

Historian  "Muneell"  states,  that  in 
1796,  one  Albany  firm  received  $40,000 
worth  of  furs,  which  came  thereby,  and 
business  was  then  rapidly  increasing. 
Freight  rates,  formeny  $100  per  ton  had 
been  reduced  to  $16.  Boats  with  a  cabin 
for  carrying  passengers  had  been  intro- 
duced. 

SECOND  AND  THIRD  PERIOD. 

The  first  led  to  the  second  period. 
The  Mohawk  turnpike,  which  was  char- 
tered in  A.  D.  1800 -the  first  two  im- 
pravements  developed  western  New 
York  and  the  states  west  of  it.  The 
amount  of  business  called  for  and  war- 
ranted the  success  of  a  grander  and 
larger  enterprise  to  be  built  by  the  state, 
namely,  the  Erie  caiml.  That  consti- 
tutes the  third  period. 

BOATINO  ON    THE  MOHAWK. 

The  fourth  period,  that  of  railroads,  is 
the  present.  An  esteemed  gentleman 
named  Christian  Sehultz  kept  a  journal 
while  traveling  on  the  Mohawk  in  1807, 
which  he  describes  as  follows  : 

"I  have  noticed  three  different  boats 
being  used  in  navigating  this  river. 
Those  called  Sclienactady  boats  are  gen- 
erally preferred  and  will  carry  about  10 
tons  burden  when  the  river  is  high;  but 
when  it  is  low,  as  at  this  time,  they  take 
three  to  four. 

They  generally  advance  against  the 
stream  at  the  rate  of  18  to  35  miles  a 
day.  These  boats  are  built  very  much 
after  the  model  of  our  Long  Island 
round-bottom  skiflfs,  but  larger,  being 
from  40  to  50  feet  in  length:  are  steered 
by  a  large  swing  oar  of  the  same  length 
They  have  likewise  a  moveable  mast  in 
the  middle.  When  the  wind  serves  they 
set  a  square  and  top  sail,  which  at  a  dis- 
tance, gives  them  the  appearance  of  a 
square-rigged  vessel  coming  before  the 
wind. 

Our  galley,  which  I  am  just  now  in- 
formed,  is  called  the 'Mohawk  Regula- 


tor,''has  gone  at  the  rate  of  six  miles  ar 
hour  against  the  stream,  and  during  thi- 
time,  believe  me,  rothing  can  bemoit 
charming  than  sailing  on  the  Mohawk 
It  is  not  often  that  a  fair  wind  will  serve 
for  more  than  three  or  four  miles  to 
gether,  as  the  irregular  course  of  th* 
river  renders  its  aid  very  precariim^ 
their  chief  dependence,  therefore,  is 
upon  their  pike  poles  These  are  18  to 
22  feet  in  length,  having  a  sharp  ix)inted 
iron,  with  a  socket  weighing  10  to  12: 
pounds  affixed  to  the  lower  end;  he  up- 
per had  a  large  knob,  called  a  buiton,. 
mounted  upon  it,  so  that  the  poIen>ar> 
may  press  upon  it  his  whole  weight 
without  endangering  his  person.  This 
manner  of  impelling  the  boat  forward  i.-^ 
extremely  laborious  and  none  but  those 
who  have  been  for  some  time  accustiim- 
ed  to  it,  can  manage  these  poles  with 
any  kind  of  advantage.  Within  the 
boat,  on  each  side,  is  a  fixed  plank  run- 
ning fore  and  aft,  with  a  nuoiber  of 
cross  cleats  nailed  upon  it  for  the  pur- 
pose of  giving  the  poleman  a  sure  foot- 
ing in  hard  polling. 

The  men,  after  setting  their  poles 
against  a  rock,  bank  or  bottom  of  the 
river,  inclining  their  heads  very  low, 
place  the  upper  end  of  tlie  button  against 
the  back  (front)  part  of  their  right  or 
left  shoulder,  (accordiog  to  the  side  on 
which  they  are  poling)  then  falling  rlown 
on  their  hands  and  toes,  creep  the  whole 
length  of  the  gang  boards,  and  send  the 
boat  forward  with  considerable  speed. 

'•The  first  sight  of  four  men  on  each 
side  of  a  boat,  creeping  along  on  their 
hands  and  toes,  apparently  transfixed  hy 
a  large  pole,  is  no  small  curiosity,  nor 
was  it  until  I  had  observed  their  pertie- 
verence  for  two  or  three  hundred  yards, 
that  I  became  satisfied  they  were  not 
playine  some  pranks. 

"From  the  general  practice  of  this 
method,  as  likewise  from  my  o>-vn  trials 
and  observations,  I  am  convinced  that 
they  have  fallen  upon  the  most  poweifu) 
way  possible  to  exert  their  bodily 
strength  for  the  purpose  required. 

"I  have  met  with  another  kind  of  boat 
on  this  river,  which  is  called  the  Dorem 


46 


liST  Durham.  The  only'. difference  is  tliat 
itj  u  built  sharp  at  oth  ends  and  gener- 
«,lly  much  larger  and  stouter.  Thev  a'so 
have  flats,  similar  to  those  you  have  seen 
•on  the  Susquehanna^  but  much  lighter 
built  and  longer.  On  all  these  th*  y  oc- 
■casionally  carry  sails  before  mentioned. 

'•The  Mohawk  is  "y  no  means  danger- 
ous to  ascend,  on  account  of  the  slowness 
of  the  boats  progress,  but  as  it  is  full  of 
rocks,  stones  and  shallows,  there  is  some 
risk  in  descending  it  of  staving  the  boat; 
a,ad  at  tbis  season  ic  is  so  lo.v  as  to  re- 
quire it  to  bd  dragged  by  hand  in  many 
4>Iace3.  The  channel  at  some  instances 
is  noD  more  than  eight  feet  in  width, 
which  will  barelj'  permit  a  boat  to  piss 
fcy  ruboing  on  both  sides. 

"This  is  sometimes  caused  by  ratural 
•or  accidental  obstructions  of  rojks  in  ttie 
•channel,-  but  oftener  by  artificial  means. 
This,  whi<;h  at  first  view  would  appear 
to  be  an  inconvenience,  is  produced  by 
two  lines  or  ri<iges  of  stone  constructed 
on  sandy,  gravelly,  or  stony  shallows,  in 


with  merchandise  "by  naTigating  fhe 
Delaware.  I  think  they  could  carry  50 
barrels  of  flour.  That  river  is  deeper  and 
larger  and  less  difficult  to  navigate  than 
the  Mohawk. 
RELICS  AT  CANAJOHARIE  AND  LITTLE  FALLS 

The  people  of  Canajobarie  yet  possess 
a  relic  ot  tbe  river  navigation  on  the  low 
land  in  front  of  the  ruins  of  the  Kane 
Bros,  store  on  Round-lop  on  the  east 
end  of  the  village.  There,  a  canal  is  yet 
visible,  empty  when  the  water  is  low; 
when  the  river  overflows,  it;  fills  and 
boats  could  yet  navigate  to  higher 
grounds  near  that  store  if  the  bushes 
and  trees  were  removed,  which  have 
grown  in  the  bed  and  sides  of  the 
channel. 

A  story  connected  with  that  store  and 
those  times  was  current,  which  illus- 
trates why  the  Indian  who  toiled  to  ob- 
tain f u  s  to  carry  to  market,  yet  never 
obtained  much  lor  his  lal>ors. 

An  Indian  came  to  that  store  one  day 
with  bundles  of  peltry.     The  skins  were 


«uch  a  manner  as  to  couduot  the  water    ^^ammed  and  a  price  for  them  agreed 
to  a  point  and  deepen  it  where  the  boat 


nmst  pass.  The  water  being  thus  col- 
lected at  the  widest  part  of  these  ridges, 
aud  continually  pent  up  within  narrower 
limits  as  it  descends,  causes  a  rise  of  the 
p  issage;  so  that  the  depth  of  eight  inches 
of  water  rises  to  twelve  inches;  and 
strange  as  it  may  appear,  a  boat  drawing 
15  inches  will  pass  through  it  with  ease 
and  safety.  The  cause  is  simply  this : 
Tlie  i)Oat  being  somewhat  below  tlie  pas- 
sage is  brought  forward  with  consider- 
able velocity  and  the  moment  it  dashes 
into  the  passage,  its  resistance  to  the 
current  is  euch  as  to  cause  a  swell  of  4 
or  5  inches  more,  which  affords  it  an 
easy  passage  over  the  shoal. 

Old  people  yet  relate  that  the  should- 
ers of  those  who  poled  boats  were  coated 
with  calculus,  where  the  button  ot  the 
pole  rested  while  poling. 

THE  DURHAJtf  BOAT. 

The  boat  described  above  was  first 
made  at  Durham,  in  Bucks  county, 
Pennsylvania.  Durham  is  on  the  Dela- 
ware river.  These  boats  were  made  to 
carry  flour  to  Philadelphia  and   return 

4' 


upon. 

Rum  was  always  among  the  things 
first  purchased,  for  which  a  great  price 
was  charged.  The  Indian  also  required 
needles  for  his  squaw  and  others,  v,  hen 
he  inquired  the  price  it  was  one  dollar 
for  each.  When  he  asked  the  reason  for 
the  high  price,  he  was  told  that  only  one 
man  in  the  whole  world  was  able  to  drill 
the  eye  into  a  needle,  he  lately  died,  no 
more  could  be  made  -the  price  for  need- 
les would  be  higher  j^et. 

In  the  old  fort  at  Canajobarie,  a  tackle 
consisting  of  chains,  pully  and  clasps,  all 
made  of  iron,  used  by  the  river  boatmen 
in  loading  and  unloading  barrels  of  flour 
and  other  freight,  can  yet  be  seen.  The 
depression  where  the  Wolf's  Rift  canal 
lock  once  existed  can  be  yet  seen,  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  river,  north  of  Jack- 
sonburg  station  on  the  West  Shore  rail- 
road. 

One  of  the  many  accidents  to  which 
river  navigation  was  subject,  occurred 
at  Canajobarie  about  1824 -the  Durham 
boat  named  Butterfly,  in  descending  the 
river,    then  swollen,    laden  with    flour 


potash  and  wheat,  became  uninanage-  passengers  from  Lake  Erie  to  the  Hud- 
able,  swung  round  and  struck  its  broad  son  " 
side  against  a  pier  of  the  Canjoharie  summary. 
bridge  ami  broke  near  the  center.  The  Up  to  1740  the  early  setters  used  the 
contents  covered  the  surface  of  the  river  largest  sized  Indian  bark  canoes  on  the 
for  some  distance  and  three  hands  on  Mohawk  for  transporting  merchandise, 
the  t  oat  were  drowned.  Tht^y  were  light  and  capable  of  carr}  ing 
The  rates  of  toll  can  be  found  in  vol,  1  considerable  cargo.  One  or  two  men 
page  88,  of  "Simtas  Frontiers  Men  "  In  siting  in  the  baciom.  propelled  the  little 
1814,  tolls  for  passing  the  locks  at  Ger-  vessel  by  paddies  or  rifts  or  shallows, 
man  Flatts  and  Little  Falls  ;  they  waded,  pushed  and  pulled  it  over. 
For  six  handed  bateau f2.;}l  When  water  failed  or  the  rapids  could 

"    A  scow 2.(53  not  be  overcome,  the  cargo  was  unload- 

■'    w  hat  may  be  estimated  as  J4  ton...  ij-iy^  ed  and  carried  around  the  portage,  when 

'■    Flour  per  barrel 23 

*'    Wheat  or  graiQ  per  bushel 04 


"    Salt  per  bushel .23 

"    Plaster  per  ton        HO 

"    All  goods  bound  upward,  per  ton. . .  3J25 

The  same  rates  were  also  paid  for  pars- 
ing the  locks  at  Rome.  The  toll  on  a 
barrel  of  flour  carried  a  hundred  miles 
was   53   cents.     The   commissioner's   re- 


navigation  was  resumed.  As  there  were 
many  rilts  and  rapids  in  the  Mohawk  to 
be  overcome,  navigation  at  first  was  very 
difficult  and  dangerous. 


NAVIGATION    COMPANY. 
Ill   1792,  the  Northern  Inland  Lock  & 
Navigation    Company      was    organized. 
It    did  not    succeed   and    was  a^andon- 


port  of  1796  says,  that  the  freight  rate  ^^  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^  ^^^^^^  i^  ^.^^  f^,_ 
upward  was  $33.00  per  ton;  downward,  ^^^^^  ^^  j.gg  ^^  ^.^^  Western  Inland 
$16  00  per  ton.  One  of  the  six  locks  at 
Little  Falls  still  exists.  It  is  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river  close  to  the  Cen- 
tral railroad  tracks.  It  is  now  part  of  a 
mill  race. 

Mr.  Watson's  visit  in  1818.  When  go- 
ing by  the  packet  boat  on  the  route  he 
helped  to  originate 


Lock  Navigation  Company,  to  connect 
the  central  lakes  of  New  York  witli  the 
Mohawk  river  at  Schenectady.  The  en- 
tire cost  reported  by  1818  was  $480,000, 
of  that  amount  the  state  furnished  $92.- 
000. 

In  1808,  the  company  fjave  up  its  rights 
west  of  Oneida  lake  and  sold  out  to  the 


'•It  was  impossible  for  me  to  contem-  state  in  1830  for  $153,718.50.  These  im- 
plate  Syracuse,  Salina  and  Liverpool,  all  provements  opened  not  only  a  direct 
thriving  villages  in  the  vicinity  of  Onon-  water  communication  from  Schenectady 
daga  Lake,  and  devoted  to  the  manufac  to  Lake  Ontario  and  the  River  St.  Liw- 
ture  of  salt,  of  which  they  produce  per  rence,  but  permitted  the  use  of  larger 
year  nearly  1,000,000  bushels  and  not  re-  boats  for  transporting  merchandise,  and 
cur  to  my  expedition  by  water  twenty-  also  passei  gers  ir  well  constructed  and 
nine  years  ago.  What  a  transition?  furnished  cabins.  The  stockholders  re- 
The  country  was  then  roamed  over  by  ceived  only  seven  dividends,  mostly  8  to 
savage  tribes,  no  roads  existed  and  there  4.V  per  cent.  Owing  to  the  decay  of  the 
was  not  even  a  grist  mill  west  of  the  wooden  locks  and  afterwards  those  built 
German  Flatts.  Behold  now,  an  intelli-  of  brick,  and  tJie  last  those  of  stone  only 
gent  population,  fine  turnpike  roads,  endured;  but  the  resuitding  devoured 
prosperous  villages,  large  and  beautiful  the  income.  Upon  surrendering  their 
towns,  numerous  stage  coaches,  elegant  chart-^r  the  stockholders  received  only 
farm  houses,  highly  cultured  farms,  ma-  two-thirds  of  their  investment, 
tured  orchards  and  above  all,  the  Erie  This  was  the  first  commercial  highway 
canal  in  active  progression  with  1,.500  made  to  develope  the  interior  and  unite 
men  at  work  on  it"s  construction,  within  it  with  the  east.  The  development  was 
sixty  miles  of  this  place,  and  splendid  great,  but  the  public  required  lower 
packet  boats  now   building  to  transport   prices  for  transport  of  merchandise  and 

48 


a  route  open  every  day  of  the  year.  The 
boats  could  not  run  during  the  winter. 

The  first  enterprise  had  run  Its  course, 
it  had  also  created  the  demand  for  the 
second,  which  was  the  turnpike;  its  busi- 
ness hfe  lasted  33  years.  The  writer  was 
unable  to  find  any  records,  none  now  ex- 
ist. The  persons  who  promoted  it  have 
all  passed  away.  It  was  a  private  com- 
pany but  it  could  not  be  operated  in 
winter.  The  tolls  were  high— only  val- 
uable goods  could  be  sent  by  it  when  in 
operation. 

The  ne^  enterprise  caused  settlements 
along  its  route.  Wagon  roads  were 
opened.  A  new  factor  appeared  to  com- 
pete as  a  carrier  of  freight.  Heavy 
bodied  canvass  covered  Pennsylvania 
wagons,  drawn  by  four  or  five  horses, 
made  regular  trips  from  Albany  west- 
ward. By  those,  freight  rates  were 
greatly  reduced  and  traffic  continued 
during  the  winter.  All  those  influences 
of  the  first  were  leading  toward  the  sec- 
ond, which  was  the  era  of  turnpikes. 

The  development  which  resulted  of 
Elkanah  Watson's  trip  to  Fort  Stanwix 
in  1788  have  been  traced.  The  truth  of 
history  requires  the  statement,  that 
others  before  him,  saw  as  he  saw,  viz.: 
the  Colonial  Governor  Moore  and  Philip 


Schuyler  in  1768,  Mr.  C.  Collins  in  1772, 
Gen  Washington  in  17^2,  but  no  practi- 
cal results  followed  until  Mr.  Watson 
and  his  enterprising  associates  put  theory 
into  practice. 

The  statements  made  in  this  paper 
W(  re  gathered  from  "Sweet's  Documen- 
tary History  of  Canals  of  Now  York," 
Dr.  Bagg's  "'Utica,"  from  Simm's 
"Frontiersmen,"  Watson's  "Men  and 
Times,"  and  other  sources  found  in  the 
Mohawk  valley  and  in  the  state  library 
at  Albany. 

If  more  can  be  found  it  will  be  added, 
if  not,  we  here  close  this  imperfect  re- 
view of  the  first  period  of  "Commercial 
Highways  in  the  Mohawk  Valley." 

The  motive  why  this  paper  was  writ- 
ten, was  because  the  first  and  second 
periods,  embracing  more  than  45  years 
of  early  New  York  state  history,  is  bare- 
ly meniioned  by  authors;  others  do  not 
even  mention  the  matter.  Those  of  later 
date  who  wrote  our  school  histories  have 
omitted  the  first  and  second  periods  en- 
tirely, when,  in  fact,  the  business  de- 
veloped by  the  preceding  enterprises 
created  the  demand  for  the  grand  enter- 
prise, the  Erie  canal,  and  made  it  a  suc- 
cess from  the  start  and  the  crown  of 
glory  of  this  state  during  about  50  years. 


TWO  PROMINENT  CITIZENS  OF  HERKIMER   COUNTY, 

Who,  Nearly  One  Hundred  Years  Ago,  Played  an  Important  Part 
in  the  Politics  of  this  State. 


AN  ADDRESS  BY  HON.  ROBERT  EARI^,  OF  HERKIMER, 


Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,   May  ii,  1897. 


GAYLORD  GRISWOLD. 

After  the  revolutionary  war,  and  par- 
ticularly a'^ter  the  adoption  of  the  federal 
constitution,  emigrants  from  the  New 
England  states  began  to  pour  into  the 
central  and  western  part  of  this  state  in 
large  numbers.  Enterprising  young 
men  came  into  these  regions  to  make 
their  fortunes,  as  later  the  same  class  of 
men  went  to  Ohio,  Michigan  and  other 
western  states.  They  were  intrepid, 
wideawake,  hardy  and  intelligent,  and 
soon  built  up  prosperous  communities. 
They  came  in  wagons  drawn  by  horses 
or  oxen,  and  f  omecimes  men  and  women 
came  on  horseback,  occasionally  a  man 
and  nis  wife  riding  the  same  horse,  she 
upon  a  pillion  behind  him.  Among  the 
early  immigrants  to  this  region  was 
Gaylord  Griswold.  He  came  from 
Windsor,  Connecticut,  at  the  age  of 
about  twentj'-f our  years,  and  first  went 
to  Whitestown,  passing  through  this 
place  He  was  highly  educated,  and 
had  been  admitted  to  the  bar  !  efore 
leaving  his  home.  As  I  learn  from  a 
diary  kept  by  him  which  is  now  before 
me,  he  left  Windsor  August  12th,  1792. 
On  his  way  he  stopped  here  two  days; 
and  while  here  argued  a  case  before 
arbitrators.     He  reached  Whitestown  on 


the  21st  of  August  at  two  o'clock  p.  m. 
He  must  have  been  a  festive,  attractive 
young  man  for  in  one  hour  from  that 
time  he  went  out  into  the  country  about 
three  miles  with  a  party  of  gentleman 
and  ladies  and  spent  the  afternoon 
feasting  on  watermelons.  The  second 
day  after  he  reached  Whitestown,  he 
made  a  trip  into  what  is  now  the  town 
of  Steuben,  to  the  tract  of  land  granted 
by  this  state  to  Baron  Steuben  in  recog- 
nition of  his  services  in  the  revolutionary 
war;  and  there  he  feasted  on  trout  and 
pheasants.  He  must  have  seen  Baron 
Steuben  as  then,  or  soon  afterward  h<; 
purchased  some  land  of  him.  On  the 
following  Sunday  he  attended  a  religious 
meeting  in  Whitestown  in  Jurlge  White's 
barn;  and  the  next  day  he  attended  a 
dance  at  Colonel  White's  with  a  com- 
pany of  gentlemen  and  laiies  of  "all 
sorts  and  sizes"  as  he  describes  them. 
He  records  that  the  music  was  poor  but 
that  he  had  a  "very  merry  evening."  On 
the  13th  of  Septemner  he  again  attended 
a  dance  at  Colonel  White's,  spent  "a 
very  agreeable  evening,  had  a  good  sup- 
per and  plenty  of  good  wine."  Those 
Whitestown  people,  most  of  whom  had 
come  from  New  England,  had  evidently 
cast  out  some  of  their  puritanical  notions 


50 


and  were  disposed  to  make  tlie  most  of 
the  gcod  things  of  this  world.  He 
records  that  September  1-tth  was  the  day 
of  the  general  training,  and  that  all  was 
confusion, and  that  "people from  German 
Fiatts  arrived  in  the  rain"  ;  and  he  did 
not  fail  to  notice  the  fact  that  "Miss 
Morgan  and  Miss  Gale  accompanied 
them."  On  the  21st  of  September  he 
came  to  this  village,  which  was  then 
called  the  German  Fiatts.  and  as  re- 
corded by  him  "argued  a  cause  before  a 
jury  for  Mr.  John  Hicks,  obtained  a 
verdict,  jury  composed  of  half  Dutch 
and  half  English"  for  which  he  received 
forty-eight  shilling  and  nine  pence.  He 
evidently  came  here  to  settle.  He  was 
probably  the  first  and  only  lawyer  rf  sid- 
ing here  at  that  time  as  he  received  a 
retainer  on  the  very  day  he  came  here. 
On  the  22nd  day  of  October,  he  com- 
menced to  board  with  Judge  Myers. 
Whether  this  was  Judge  Michael  Myers 
or  Judge  John  Meyer,  cannot  now  be 
known  as  both  were  called  Judge.  He 
soon  entered  upon  what  was  for  that 
day  a  lucrative  law  business;  and  I  find 
from  his  entries  in  an  account  kept  by 
him  that  he  soon  had  occasion  to  visit 
Johnstown  and  Cooperstown  on  profes- 
sional business.  Within  about  a  month 
he  was  tngaged  in  two  actions  for  slan- 
der, in  each  of  which  the  sum  of  five 
hundred  pounds  was  claimed  as  dam- 
ages, and  he  had  retainers  in  other 
causes  blander  suits  in  those  early 
years  and  down  to  the  middle  of  this 
century,  and  even  some  years  later 
were  much  more  common  than  now. 
Other  lawver:^  came  here.  But  to  the 
time  of  his  death  he  continued  to  be  the 
ablest  lawyer  in  this  county.  Sometime 
before  the  close  of  the  last  century  he 
returned  to  Connecticut  and  married 
Miss  Mary  Hooker  and  brought  her 
here.  He  built  a  house  on  the 
lot  now  occupied  by  the  Episcopal 
church,  which  before  the  erection  of  the 
church  was  removed  to  the  lot  on  Main 
street  now  occupied  by  Captain  Horatio 
P.  Witherstine.  His  young  wife  must 
have  found  here  genteel  society  which 
has  scarcely  been  surpassed  in  this  vil- 
lage since.        Here    were    Matthias   B 


Tallmadge  and  his  wife,  a  daughter  of 
Governor  George  Clinton  afterward 
vice  president  of  the  United  States;  the 
families  of  General  Michael  Mj^ers,  of 
Simeon  hord,  Joab  Griswold,  Elihu 
Griswold,  David  Holt,  Philo  M.  Hackley, 
Abijah  Tombling,  Walter  Fish,  Sandford 
Clark,  all  people  of  refinement  and  more 
culture  than  was  common  in  those  days. 
The  gossip  of  the  whole  world  was  not 
then,  as  now,  served  up  in  daily  news- 
papers. The  men  were  intensely  inter- 
ested in  politics,  and  more  then  than  now 
they  discussed  theories  of  govern  ment  and 
the  blessings  of  civil  liberty.  The  ladies 
generally  did  not  have  more  than  one  silk 
gown,  and  they  heard  little  about  the 
Paris  fashions  and  did  not  talk  of  the  lat- 
est novel.  They  brought  their  knitting  to 
the  social  gatherings  and  Mrs.  Tallmadge 
could  entertain  them  somewhat  with 
stories  of  the  high  life  she  had  seen  at 
Albany  and  New  York  and  in  the  great 
families  upon  the  Hudson  river.  While 
the  lives  they  led  would  not  satisfy  the 
ambition  of  atypical  fin  desieele  woman, 
yet  they  found  agreeable  occupation  in 
the  discharge  of  their  household  duties, 
and  sufl[icient  diversion  in  their  simple, 
robust  and  hearty  amusements. 

Mr.  Griswold  was  an  active  federalist 
in  his  politJcs.  In  1797  and  1798  he  was 
member  of  assembly  from  this  county, 
and  in  1803  he  was  elected  to  congress 
froai  the  fifteenth  congressional  district, 
composed  of  the  counties  of  Herkimer, 
Oneida  and  St.  Lawrence.  His  talents 
gave  him  a  conspicuous  position  among 
the  federalists  of  the  bouse  of  represen- 
tatives, and  he  took  an  active  and  promi- 
nent part  in  the  debates  between  them 
and  their  republican  opponents. 

Prior  to  1802,  under  the  federal  con- 
stitution, the  presidential  electors  were 
required  to  vote  for  two  persons  for 
president  and  vice  president  without 
designating  which  of  them  was  to  be 
president  and  which  vice  president ;  and 
the  person  receiving  the  greatest  num- 
ber of  votes  was  to  be  president  and  the 
person  receiving  the  next  highest  num- 
ber was  to  be  vice  president  provided 
they  received  a  majority  of  all  the  votes 
ca=5t.      If  each  of  the  persons  thus  voted 


51 


for  received  an  equal  number  of  votes, 
then  the  election  devolved  upon  the 
house  of  representatives.  There  the 
members  voted  by  states  and  the  person 
receiving  the  votes  of  the  greatest  num- 
ber of  states  became  president  and  the 
person  receiving  the  vote  of  the  next 
highest  number  of  states  became  vice 
president.  At  the  election  of  1800  Jef- 
ferson and  Burr  were  the  republican 
candidates.  Among  the  voters  it  was 
understood  that  Jefferson  was  running 
for  president  and  Burr  for  vice  presi- 
dent. The  result  of  the  election  was 
that  each  received  the  same  number  of 
electoral  votes  and  hence  thee  was  no 
election,  and  it  devolved  upon  the  house 
of  representatives  to  choose  the  presi- 
dent and  vice  president.  There  was 
a  long  struggle  in  the  house.  Burr 
seeking  to  be  chosen  president;  and 
the  sta'iility  of  our  government  was 
brought  into  great  peril.  The  federal- 
ists generally  voted  for  Burr,  and  he 
came  near  to  being  chosen  president. 
That  calamity  was  escaj^ed  by  the  re- 
fusal of  a  few  federalists  under  the  lead 
of  Alexander  Hamilton  finally  to  vote 
for  him;  and  in  the  end  Jefferson,  by  the 
votes  of  the  representatives  of  a  majority 
of  the  states,  was  chosen  president  and 
Burr  vice-president.  Then,  to  avoid 
such  a  dilemma  in  the  future,  a  move- 
ment was  inaugurated  to  amend  the 
constitution  as  it  now  is,  so  that  the 
presidential  electors  should  designate  on 
their  ballots  the  candidates  for  president 
and  vice-president;  and  in  1803  a  resolu- 
tion proposing  the  Twelfth  Amendment 
to  the  Constitution  was  carried  through 
congress.  The  resolution  led  to  a  great 
and  exciting  debate  in  congress  in  which 
Mr.  Griswold  took  a  leading  part  on  the 
side  of  the  federalists.  The  proceedings 
and  the  substance  of  Mr.  Griswold's 
speeches  will  be  found  in  volume  three 
of  Mc Master's  History  of  the  People  of 
the  United  States,  at  pages  184.  etc. 

In  const quence  of  his  intrigues  with 
the  federalists  in  1801,  Burr  became  out 
of  favor  with  the  republicans;  and  in 
1804  when  he  sought  the  nomination  for 
governor  of  this  state,  they  generally  re- 
fused to  support    him  and  they  nominat- 

53 


ed  Morgan  Lewis  for  governor.  Burr 
sought  federal  support  and  the  leading 
federalists,  in  opposition  to  the  views  of 
Hamilton,  resolved  to  support  him. 
Griswold,  then  a  member  of  congress, 
wrote  a  letter  urging  the  federalists  to 
support  Burr,  as  the  only  means  of 
breaking  down  the  republican  party, and 
he  charged  the  opposition  of  Hamilton 
to  Burr  to  "personal  resentment."  The 
result  shows  that  the  republican  party 
gained  as  many  federalists  as  Burr  did 
republicans  and  Lewis  was  elected  gov- 
ernor. It  was  Hamilton's  opposition  to 
Burr  that,  in  July  1804,  led  to  the  dual 
between  them  which  resulted  in  the 
death  of  Hamilton  and  deprived  this 
country  of  one  of  its  greatest  statesmen. 
The  letter  of  Griswold  was,  subsequent- 
ly, in  1807,  made  public,  in  the  form  of  a 
handbill,  for  the  purpose  of  damaging 
the  leading  federalists.  The  political 
animosities  of  those  days  have  never 
been  equalled  since,  and  we  may  con- 
gratulate ourselves  that  we  live  in  times 
when  differences  in  political  views  so 
rarely  interrupt  friendly  relations. 

After  rt turning   from  congress,    Gris 
wold  continued   to   practice   his  profes- 
sion  here   with   great  success   until  his 
death   in  1809,   at  the   age   of   foity-on 
years.     He  left  a   widow  who  survived 
him   many  years,  and  several   children; 
Hooker  Griswold,  a  merchant  here,  Gay- 
lord  Griswold,  also  a  merchant  here  forJ 
many  years,  Sarah    Brooks,    the  wife  tif| 
Benjamin  F.    Brooks,    whose   grandson, 
Benjamin    F.    Brooks,    lives  in   this   vil- 
lage.   Hannah    Burrill,    wife    of    Jacob 
Burnll,  the   mother  of  Griswold  Burrill , 
of  this   village.     His  early   death  termi- 
nated a  career  full  of  promise. 

MATTHIAS  B    TALLMADGE. 
Afler  political  parties  were  formed  in] 
this  state,  in  the  latter  pa<t  of  the   last! 
century     and     early    in    this,     it    was] 
common  for  the  politicans  in  Albany  and] 
the  eastern   part  of  the  state,    like  the 
Clintons  and  Livingstons  and  their  asso- 
ciates, who  dominated  parties  and  shaped 
party  politics,  to  send  out  young  men  of 
culture    and    talent    into    the    growing 
central  and  western  parts  of  the  state  to 
shape  public  sentiment  and  to   lead  in 


political  conflicts.  They  were  generally 
young  lawyers, and  they  were  fostered  by 
offices  conferred  upon  them  by  the 
council  of  appointment,  and  by  pat- 
ronage received  or  placed  at  their  dis- 
posal. The  same  policy  was  later  pur- 
sued to  some  extent  by  the  famous 
Albany  Regency;  and  those  labor  under 
a  great  mistake  who  suppose  that  the 
politicians  of  the  early  days  of  our 
republic  were  less  crafty,  less  artful,  or 
h  8S  resourceful  than  their  successors  of 
this  day. 

In  pursuance  of  this  policy,  Matthias 
B.  Tallmadge  came  into  this  county  in 
the  year  1800,  and  took  up  his  residence 
in  this  village.  He  built  and  resided  in 
the  house  on  Main  street  now  owned  by 
Br.  Burgress.  That  house  and  lot  where- 
on it  stands  were  then  and  for  many 
years  afterward  the  finest  in  the  village. 
He  was  horn  in  Dutches  county  in  1774. 
He  yraduated  from  Yale  College,  and 
studied  law  with  Chief  Justice  Ambrose 
Spencer  at  Hudson.  Before  coming 
here  he  married  the  daughter  of  Govern- 
or George  Clinton  and  here  he  com- 
menced the  practice  of  the  law.  M!r. 
Benton,  in  his  history  of  Herkimer 
county  speaks  of  him  as  follows:  "Mr. 
Tallmadge  was,  no  doubt,  sent  into  the 
county  as  a  political  leader,  and  by  this 
movement  Governor  Clinton  extended 
hia  family  influence  to  an  important 
point  in  the  state,  then  fast  filling  up 
with  population  from  the  older  southern 
and  eastern  counties,  and  from  the  other 
states,  particularly  New  England.  It  is  g 
not  improbable  that  Evans  Wharry,  a 
native  of  Oian>jt*  county,  well  I- nown  to, 
and  a  fast  friend  of  Governor  Clinton, 
was  mainly  instrumental  in  bringing 
Mr.  TaUinadge  into  the  county.  Mr. 
Tallmadge's  contemporaries  do  not 
speak  of  him  in  terms  of  extrava- 
gant praise.  He  was  not  equal  in  point 
of  talents  and  energy  of  character  to  any 
of  his  opponents.  But  the  soil  was 
congenial  to  his  touch,  and  the  harvest 
ripened  to  his  hand,  and  such  was  the 
veneration  and  respect  for  the  name  of 
George  Clinton  in  the  Mohawk  valley, 
and  so  deep  seated  was  the  anti-federai 
feeling  in  the  county,  strengthened  and 


embittered  by  some  of  the  acts  of  the 
federal  government  under  the  admini- 
stration of  John  Adams,  and  particularly 
the  stamp  act,  that  it  only  •  remained  to 
select  the  candidates,  print  and  circulate 
the  ballots,  and  the  election  from  that 
moment  became  a  'fixed  fact'  so  far  as 
this  county  was  concerned." 

In  1801,  with  Evans  Wharry  and 
George  Rosecrants  he  was  a  member 
from  this  county  of  the  contention  call- 
ed to  revise  the  constitution  of  the  state. 
In  April,  1802,  he  was  elected  state  sena- 
tor. The  state  was  then  divided  into 
four  senatorial  districts,  the  southern, 
eastern,  middle  and  western.  He  was 
one  of  the  eleven  senators  from  the 
western  district,  which  comprised  all 
the  state  west  of  Schenectady,  including 
Jefl'erson  and  St  Lawrence.  The  term 
of  a  senator  was  then  four  years.  While 
he  was  not  a  man  of  great  talent,  his 
connection  with  the  Clintons  gave  him 
prominence  and  influence  as  a  senator. 
While  he  was  in  the  senate,  in  the  win- 
ter of  1803,  an  exciting  contest  took 
place  for  United  States  senator,  to  suc- 
ceed Governeur  Morris,  whose  term  of 
service  would  expire  March  4,  1803. 
There  were  then  two  political  partie.«, 
federal  and  republican  and  he  belonged 
to  the  latter.  The  candidates  for  the 
office  in  the  republican  caucus  were 
General  Thoodore  Bailey  of  Dutchess 
county,  brother-in  law  of  Tallmadge, 
and  John  Woodworth  of  Rensselaer 
cuunty,  who  was  afterward  attorney 
general  of  the  state  and  one  of  the  jus- 
tices of  the  supreme  court.  Bailey  re- 
ceived thirty  votes  and  Woodworth 
forty  five  and  the  latter  was  declared 
nominated.  Tallmadge  attended  the  re- 
publican cauous  and  supported  Bailey, 
tie  was  dissatisfied  with  the  result  of 
the  caucus  and  immediately  started  a 
movement  to  defeat  Mr.  Woodworth's 
election.  He  pursuaded  a  few  republi- 
cans to  CO  opera' e  with  him  and  by  a 
union  vvith  some  of  the  federalists  they 
secured  the  election  of  Bailey.  The  re- 
sult justly  aroused  much  fet-ling  against 
Tallmage  and  he  was  greatly  censured 
for  not  abiding  by  the  action  of  the  cau- 
cus   in    which    he    was   a    participant. 

53 


Some  account  of  this  election  ;is  given 
in  Hammond's  Political  History,  volume 
1,  page  191. 

In  1777  John  Sloss  Hobart,  although 
he  had  not  been  bred  to  the  law,  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  justices  of  the  su- 
preme court,  and  held  the  office  until 
January  1798.  more  than  twenty  years, 
when  he  was  elected  United  States  sena 
tor,  to  succeed  General  Phillip  Schuyler. 
In  April  of  the  same  year,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Adams  United 
States  District  Judge  for  the  District  of 
New  York  and  resigned  his  office  of 
United  States  senator.  He  held  the 
office  of  judge  untill  1805,  when  he  died. 
So  far  as  I  know  he  is  the  only  person 
holding  high  judicial  position  in  this 
state  who  was  not  a  lawyer  and  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  when  elevated  to  the 
bench.  After  his  death  Tur.  Tallraadge, 
through  the  influence  of  his  father-in- law, 
then  vice-president,  was  appointed  by 
President  Jefferson,  U.  S.  district  judge 
in  place  of  Judge  Hobart.  He  held  the 
office  until  his  death  in  1819.  He  is  said 
not  to  have  been  well  qualified  for  the 
office,  and  drew  his  salary  for  many 
years  while  rendering  but  little  service. 
He  removed  from  this  county,  after  his 


appointment  to  the  office  of  judge,  to 
the  city  of  New  York. 

Mr.  Bailey,  who  through  the  influence 
of  Mr.  Tallraadge  was  made  United 
States  senator,  resigned  his  office  the 
next  year  and  accepted  the  office  of  post- 
master of  the  city  of  New  York  which 
he  held  until  his  death  in  1828,  about  24 
years.  During  many  years  after  the 
adoption  of  the  federal  constitution  the 
office  of  United  States  senator  was  not 
so  highly  esteemed  as  now,  for  we  find 
Hobart  resigning  it  to  take  the  office  of 
United  States  judge  and  Bailey  to  take 
the  office  of  postmaster  of  New  York; 
and  in  the  early  history  of  our  govern- 
ment there  are  other  instances  of 
the  same  kind.  DeWitt  Clinton  resigned 
the  office  of  United  States  senator  to 
take  from  the  council  of  appointment 
the  office  of  mayor  of  the  city  of  New 
York. 

Mr.  Tallraadge  was  for  a  tirae  an  im- 
portant factor  in  state  noiitics.  He  can- 
not be  said  to  have  made  any  mark  upon 
the  history  of  our  county.  The  house 
he  huilt  remains;  but  so  far  as  I  know 
tliere  is  no  record  of  any  creditable  work 
he  did. 


ORGANIC  HISTORY  OF  THE  VILLAGE  OF  HERKIMER. 

AN  ADDRESS  BY  HON.  ROBERT  EARL,  OF  HERKIMER, 


Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,   June  8,  1897, 


Prior  to  the  formation  of  our  state 
government,  there  were  but  two  cities 
in  this  state,  Albany  and  New  York,  the 
two  oldest  chartered  cities  in  the  United 
States.  Prior  to  1807,  but  two  more 
cities  were  incorported,  Hudson  in  1785 
and  Schenectady  in  1798.  Neither  of 
these  cities,  so  far  as  I  can  find,  ever  had 
a  village  charter. 

The  first  villages  incorporated  in  this 
state,  so  far  as  I  can  learn,  were  Troy 
and  Lansingburg  incorporated  by  the 
same  act  of  the  legislature,  February  16, 
1798.  Poughkeepsie  was  incorporated 
March  27,  1799;  Newburg,  March  25, 
1800;  Salem,  Washington  county,  April 
4,  1803;  Colonie,  Albany  county,  April 
9,  1804;  Athens,  April  2,  1805;  Kingston, 
April  6,  1805;  Utica,  April  9,  1805;  Balls- 
ton,  March  21,  1807  and  Herkimer,  April 
6,  1807. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  Stone  Ridge  had 
increased  in  number,  and  among  them 
were  a  goodlj'  number  of  intelligent,  en- 
terprising men,  like  Gaylord  Griswold, 
lawyer  and  member  of  congress;  General 
Michael  Myers  and  his  two  sons,  Mathew 
and  Peter  M.,  the  former  a  graduate  of 
Union  College,  and  the  latter  county 
clerk;  Aaron  HacUley,  member  of  as- 
sembly, county  clerk,  district  attorney 
and  member  of  congress;  Dan  Chapman, 
merchant,  lawyer,  surrogate;  Joab  Gris- 
wold, county  clerk;  Elihu  Griswold, 
county  clerk;   Philo  M.    Hackley,  surro- 


gate and  member  of  assembly;  Henry 
Hopkins,  sheriff;  Ephraim  Snow,  sheriff; 
Chauncey  Woodruff,  sheriff;  Simeon 
Ford,  member  of  assembly  and  district 
attorney;  Jacob  G  Weaver,  merchant 
and  Indian  trader;  and  other  men  of 
strong  sense  and  good  judgment.  They 
dominated  the  politics  of  the  county 
and  appropriated  most  of  the  offices. 
They  evidently  felt  the  necessity  of  a 
village  corporation,  to  enable  them  to 
make  their  locality  convenient,  orderly, 
peaceful,  safe  and  beautiful,  and  thus  to 
realize  their  ideals  of  life.  They  were 
among  the  earlie-t  to  apply  for  a  village 
charter,  as  only  ten  villages  in  the  whole 
state  were  incorporated  before  this;  and 
this  was,  with  the  exception  of  Utica, 
the  first  incorporated  village  in  the  state 
west  of  Schenectady. 

The  territory  first  included  within  the 
corporation  of  Herkimer  was  not  so 
large  as  that  now  included.  It  embrac- 
ed all  the  land  granted  by  patent  to 
Gertrude  Petrie,  and  a  small  portion 
north  of  that  and  now  lying  north  of 
German  street.  It  did  not  extend  to  the 
Mohawk  river  or  the  West  Canada 
creek,  and  was  mainly  confined  to  the 
Stone  Ridge. 

The  village  was  incorporated  under 
the  name  of  '"The  Trustees  of  the  Vil- 
lage of  Herkimer";  and  all  the  adult 
male  residents  who  possessed  within  the 
village  a  free-hold   of  the  value  of  fifty 


55 


dollars,  or    rented    a    tenement    of   the 
yearly  value  of  five  dollars  for  the  term 
of  one  year,  were  authorized  to  meet  on 
the  second   Monday  of  May   then  next, 
and  choose  five  free-holders,  residents  of 
the  village,  to  be  trustees,  with  the  pow- 
ers and  rights  specified  m   the  act;  and 
trustees  were  to  be  elected  on  the  second 
Monday  of  May  in  each  succeeding  year. 
The  free-holders  and  inhabitants  author- 
ized to  vote  could    at  any  annual    or 
special   meeting  make  rules,  orders  and 
regulations  relative  to  cleaning  and  keep- 
ing in  order  and  repair,  the  streets,  and 
removing  nuisances;  and  also  to  compe 
the  housekeepers  to   furnish  themselve 
with  a  sufficient  number  of  fire  buckets, 
house  ladders  and  with  other  necessary 
tools  and  implements  for  extinguishing 
fires;  and  to  impose  penalties  on  the  of- 
fenders against  such   rules,  orders   and 
regulations,    not  exce  ding  five  dollars 
for  any  one  offense.       The  trustees  were 
authorized   to  appoint  a  clerk,   and  also 
not  exceeding  fifteen   firemen,    and   to 
make  rules  for  their  government;  and 
the  freeholders  and    inhabitants    being 
lawful  voters   were    authorized  at  any 
regular  meeting  to  determine  what  sum 
in  the  aggregate  should  be  raised,  levied 
and  collected  from   the  owners  or  occu- 
pants of  houses  and  land  for  procuring  a 
fire  engine  and  other  implements  for  ex- 
tinguishing  fires,  and   for  supplying  the 
village  with  water  and  erecting  and  cor- 
structing  a  sufficient  number  of  common 
reservoirs  for  containing  a  sufficiency  of 
water  for  extinguishing  fires      The  trus- 
tees  were  empowered   by  their   warrant 
to  appoint  and   to  authorize  some  person 
to  collect  the   taxes  thus  impost  d.     But 
the  sum   to  be  raised  in  any  one  year 
could  not  exceed   two  hundred  dollars. 
The  trustees  were  empowered  to  lay  out 
the  money   thus  raised,   to  purchase  a 
fire  engine  and  other  tools  and  imple- 
ments for  extinguishing  fire,  and  also  in 
supplying   the  village   with  water   from 
aqueducts  or  otherwise,  and  also  to  pur- 
chase   and    hold  any   lands  or  ptreams 
of   water    necessary  for  fire    purposes, 
and   for  such   purposes  also  to  construct 
a  sufficient  number  of  reservoirs  to  b3 
supplied   from   the  aqueducts  or  other- 


wise, and  to  rent  the  surplus  water  not 
needed  for  supplying  the  reservoirs  to 
such  persons  and  for  such  sums  and  in 
such  manner  as  they  should  deem  pro- 
per; and  the  money  arising  from  renting 
the  surplus  water  was  to  be  for  the  use 
and  benefit  of  the  freeholders  and  in- 
habitants of  the  village  to  be  expended 
in  keeping  the  aqueduct  in  repair,  and 
in  procuring  necessary  tools  and  imple- 
ments for  extinguishing  fires.  The  trus- 
tees and  the  clerk  were  to  receive  such 
compensation  as  the  legal  voters  should 
think  reasonable. 

It  must  be  observed  that  the  powers 
of  the    inhabitants    and    trustees   were 
very  limited;   that  there   was  a  property 
qualification  for  the  voters  at  all  village 
elt  ctions  and  meetings,  as  there  was  at 
that  time  for  the  voters  at  all  other  elec- 
tions of  public  officers;  that  the  trustees 
were  required  to  be  freeholders;  that  no 
officers   were  to  be  elected   but  the  five 
trustees,  and   the  only  persons  that  they 
could   appoint  to  any  office   w(re    the 
clerk,  collector  and  firemen.     There  was 
no  president,  no  treasurer  and  no  police 
officers  and  there  wereno  assessors  as  the 
trustees  were  to  act  as  such.     There  was 
no   provision  for   raising  any   mont-y  by 
taxation  except  for  fire  purposes;  and 
hence,  although   the  trustees  and   clerk 
might  have  compensation,  there  was  no 
way  of  getting  any   money  to  pay  them 
except  the  penalties  for  violations  of  the 
village    ordnances.     Personal   property 
was  not  liable  to   taxation   for  village 
purposes;  and  as  onlj-  two  hundred  dol- 
lars could  be  raised  in   any  year,  there 
was  little  temptation  or   room  for  pecu- 
lation  or   extravagance.     It  is  probable 
that   the  men  of   that  day   had  already 
conceived  the  sche-me  of  bringinj^  water 
into  the  village  from  the    Wt  st  Canada 
creek,  to  '  e  used  for  manufacturing  pur- 
poses, for  it  was  not  practicable  to  bring 
water  here   in   an  aqueduct  except  from 
that   source;  and    there  was   no  purpose! 
for   which   the   rented    water    could   bej 
u?ed   except   for   manufacturing.       Th€ 
bringing  in  of  the  water  was  to  be  a  vil4 
lage  enterprise  and  not  private  as  it  sub^ 
sequently  became. 

While  Herkimer   war^  incorporated  oi 

56 


the  9th  of  April  1807  it  is  probable  that 
the  people  of  the  village  did  not  get  in- 
formation of  their  incorporation  in  time 
to  hold  the  election  of  trustees  on  the 
second  Monday  of  May  following;  and 
hence  we  find  in  an  act  passed  just  one 
year  later,  entitled  "An  act  for  the  in- 
corporation of  the  village  of  Oxford  and 
for  other  purposes,"  a  final  section  reviv- 
ing the  act  of  1807,  and  declaring  it  to 
be  in  force,  and  authorizing  the  election 
of  the  five  trustees  on  the  second  Mon- 
day of  May  as  in  the  prior  act  provided. 
There  was  apparently  again  a  failure  to 
hold  the  annual  meeting  and  to  elect  the 
trustees  in  1820,  and  hence  on  the  13th 
day  of  April  1821,  another  act  was  passed 
reviving  and  re-enacting  the  act  of  1807, 
and  continuing  it  in  force,  and  author- 
izing the  election  on  the  second  Monday 
in  May  of  five  trustees.  The  inhabitants 
had  not  yet  learned  vigilance,  and  again 
in  1824  they  failed  to  hold  their  annual 
meeting  and  to  elect  trustees,  and  on 
April  13,  1825,  another  act  of  revival 
similar  to  that  of  1821  was  passed;  and 
to  prevent  the  necessity  of  such  legisla- 
tion in  the  future,  it  was  provided  in  the 
act  that  if  the  inhabitants  failed  in  any 
year  to  hold  the  annual  meeting  and 
election,  the  trustees  in  office  should 
continue  until  their  successors  should  be 
elected;  and  thereafter  there  does  not 
seem  to  have  been  any  further 
question  about  the  continued  ex- 
istence of  the  village  corpoartion. 
On  the  12th  of  March  1818  an 
act  relating  to  the  village  o'  Herkimer 
was  passed  which  authorized  the  free 
holders  and  inhabitants,  at  the  annual  or 
a  special  meeting,  properly  called,  to 
make  rules,  orders  and  regulations  for 
the  prevention  and  removal  of  nuisances, 
the  prevention  of  fires,  explosion  of 
powder  and  discharge  of  fire  arms  ex- 
cept by  the  militia  or  regular  soldiers, 
and  in  relation  to  the  racing  of  horses 
and  the  running  at  large  and  straying  of 
horses  and  cattle  in  tae  streets,  and  also 
authorizing  an  increase  in  the  number 
of  firemeo. 

Except  as  I  have  now  specified  I  have 
found  no  other  special  legislation  in 
reference  to  this  village  until  April  20, 


1832,  when  the  act  "To  consolidate  and 
amend  the  charter  of  the  village  of 
Herkimer"  was  passed.  The  act  en- 
larged the  territory  of  the  village  to  sub- 
stantially its  present  size,  and  gave  the 
corporation  the  powers  now  usually 
possessed  by  such  villages.  The  right  to 
vote  at  village  elections  was  limited  to 
inhabitants  who  had  diwing  the  prior 
year  paid  a  road  or  other  public  tax. 
The  officers  to  be  elected  were  president, 
four  trustees,  three  assessors,  a  clerk,  a 
treasurer,  a  collector  and  a  constable: 
and  the  inhabitants  could  at  any  regular 
meeting, vote  to  raise  by  tax  not  exceed- 
ing the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars  in 
any  one  year. 

There  were  amendments  to  the  village 
charter  in  1840  and  1851  which  were  not 
of  sufficient  importance  to  require  notice 
here.  In  1853  Charles  A.  Burton,  a 
talented  young  lawyer  residing  here  and 
I  were  appointed  to  draft  a  new  charter, 
and  we  drafted  one  which  was  enacted 
by  the  legislature  in  1854.  Under  that 
amended  charter  the  voters  were  still  re- 
quired to  be  taxpayers.  The  trustees 
could  raise  by  taxation  the  sum  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  the  ordi- 
nary expenses  of  the  village  in  each  year, 
and  an  additional  sum  not  exceeding 
three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  when 
authorized  by  a  vote  of  the  taxpayers  of 
the  village.  Besides  a  property  tax  for 
highway  purposes,  there  was  a  poll  tax 
of  fifty  cents  upon  every  male  inhabi- 
tant of  tile  village.  By  an  amendment  of 
the  charter  in  1859,  the  maintenance  and 
repair  of  all  the  bridges  in  the  village 
were  put  upon  the  town.  In  1860  the 
police  constable  was  required  to  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  trustees.  In  1863  ths 
trustees  were  authorized  to  license  cabs, 
carriages  and  other  vehicles  carrying 
passengers  to  and  from  the  railroad.  In 
1868  the  trustees  were  authorized,  on  a 
vote  of  the  taxpayers,  to  borrow,  by  is- 
suing bonds,  $15,000,  to  iring  water  into 
the  village  for  fire  purposes  In  1869  the 
trustees  were  authorized  to  raise  by  tax- 
ation in  any  year,  to  defray  the  ordinary 
expenses  of  the  village,  |750  and  such 
additional  sum  as  the  taxpayers  shoulc^ 
at  any  annual  meeting  sanction.    In  1872 


the  village  was  authorized  to  imDiove 
the  road  between  this  place  and  Middle- 
ville,  and  for  that  purpose  the  trustees 
were  empowered  to  issue  bonds  for 
^15,000,  upon  a  petition  of  a  majority  of 
the  taxpayers,  the  money  thus  raised  to 
be  expended  by  three  commiss  oners  to 
be  appointed  by  the  trustees.  In  1874 
"The  Herkimer  and  Middlevill-^  stone 
road"  was  incorporated,  with  Dean  Bur- 
gess, Peter  Countryman,  Samuel  Earl, 
Henry  D.  Ellison  and  Bela  Palmer  as  di- 
rectors, who  were  authorized  to  take 
tolls,  and  with  the  money  thus  realized 
to  keep  the  road  between  the  two  places 
in  repair.  In  1874  an  act  was  passed 
authorizing  the  election  of  three  ceme- 
tery commissioners  by  the  owners  of 
lots  in  the  cemetery,  and  in  1880  that 
act  was  amended.  In  1885  the  act  in- 
corporating the  Herkimer  and  Middle- 
-ville  stone  road  was  repealed.  In  1887 
the  board  of  police  and  fire  commission- 
ers was  established.  In  1891  the  board 
of  light  and  water  commissioners  was 
established,  and  in  1895,  the  muncipal 
commission,  consisting  of  four  commis- 
sioners belonging  to  the  two  political 
parties  was  established.  It  superseded 
the  prior  commissions  and  has  charge  of 
police  and  fire  matters  and  the  village 
lights,  water  and  sewers. 

Down  to  the  year  1875  the  village  was 
under  its  special  charter.  In  that  year, 
by  the  mistaken  action  of  its  inhabitants, 


at  a  special  election  held  April  29th,  by 
a  vote  of  270  to  34,  it  lost  its  special 
charter,  was  reorganized  and  placed 
under  the  general  village  law,  and  by 
that  law  it  is  now  governed. 

It  is  seen  how  small  the  amount  o'. 
money  authorized  to  be  expended  for 
village  purposes  was  jntil  recently.  The 
amount  raised  by  taxation  for  village 
purposes  and  village  expenses  for  the 
year  1896  was  $27,133.50,  and  the  popu- 
lation is  about  5,000. 

The  other  villages  in  the  county  were 
organized  m  the  following  years-  Little 
Falls,  then  in  the  town  of  Herkimer. 
1811;  Mohawk,  1844;  Ilion,  1852;  New- 
port, 1857;  Frankfort,  1863;  Middleville, 
1890. 

Such  is  briefly  the  organic  history  of 
the  village  of  Herkimer.  It  is  a  history 
of  growth  and  evolution.  Through  it 
all  we  catch  glimpses  of  the  enterprise, 
civic  virtues,  mauners  and  customs  of 
its  people.  We  who  live  here  must  be 
permitted  to  say  that  it  is  one  of  the 
pleasantest,  most  enterprising  and  most 
orderly  villages  in  the  State.  It  excels 
in  both  religion  and  politics,  particularly 
the  latter.  May  the  chronicler  who 
writes  our  history  in  the  next  century 
te  able  to  write  of  a  community  equally 
prosperous,  and  of  its  citizens,  in  public 
and  private  life,  equally  useful  and  hon- 
orable. 


ANDREW  FINCK,  MAJOR  IN  THE  REVOLUTIONARY 

WARS. 


AN   ADDRESS  BY  JOHN   B.    KOETTERITZ,   OF   LITTI^E  FALLS, 
Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,   June  S,  1897. 


On  the  first  gentle  rise  of  hills  from 
the  fiats  of  the  Mohawk  River,  vrhere  it 
leaves  its  rocUy  gorge  east  of  the  city  of 
Little  Falls  and  broadens  into  the  rich 
Manheim  River  bottom  lands  north  of 
the  turnpike  and  of  the  New  York  Cen 
tral  Railroad,  and  nearly  opposite  the 
spot  where    Geneal    Herkimer's  Monu- 


It  is  one  of  the  objects  of  our  Society 
to  preserve  the  memory  of  our  brave 
and  illustrious  citizens,  of  those  who 
have  been  leaders  in  war,  in  the  politi- 
cal arena,  in  cooimerce,  science  and 
law.  Pride  in  local  history  is  the  foun- 
dation of  true  patriotism:  love  for  the 
hearthstone,  the  family  house  and  an- 


ment   marks  the  final  resting  place  of  cestors  makes  good  citizens.     If  Major 

that  citizen-soldier,   lies  a  small  private  Finck  ha?  been  somewhat  neglected  by 

burying  ground   known    as  the  Finck-  historians,   and  my   modest  effort  shall 

ysLVL  Valkenburgh  cemetery.     Near    the  do  him  and  his  ancestors  justice,  I,  as 

west  end  of  it  stands  a  simple   marble  a  German-born  citizen,  shall  feel  espec- 


slab  containing  this  inscription  : 

■  •  In  memory  of 

;  ,.  ANDREW  FINCK, 

Major  in  the  Revolutionary  Wars, 

Who  died  February  3rd,  1820, 

Age  69  years.  3  days. 

Benton,  in  his  History  of  Herkimer 
County,  speaks  briefly  of  the  continuous 
and  valuable  services  of  Finck  during 
the  whole  of  the  Revolutionary  War, 
and  states  that  nearly  all  the  papers  re- 
lating to  his  military  and  public  life  had 


ially  grateful.  With  the  kind  and  able 
assistance  of  one  of  Major  Finck's  great 
grandsons,  and  liy  maMng  personally 
exhaustive  searches  through  the  Colonial 
and  Revolutionary  records  in  the  State 
Departments,  in  cliurch  registers,County 
Clerks'  offices  and  elsewhere,  I  have 
been  able  to  gather  the  facts  for  the  fol- 
lowing sketch. 

It  is  said  that  the  Finck  family  came 
over  with  the  second  and  large  Palatine 


become  scattered  and  could  not  be  found  emmigration  of  1710. 
and  that  consequently  the    account  of       The  Reverend  Joshua  Kockerthal,  aid- 

his  life  had   to  be  brief  and  incomplete,  ed  by  the   English  Queen,   led  his  small 

The    various    histories    of    Montgomery  flock  of  Palatines,  singing  hymns  and 

County,   of  which  Finck  was  a  citizen  psalms,  their  small  belongings  in  bun- 

for  sixty-six  years,  contain  only  meagre  dies,  poor,  destitute  and  illiterate,  from 

reference  to  his  service  as  Member  of  their  homes  in   the  Palatinate,    whence 

Assembly.  they  had  been  driven  by  religious  perse- 

59 


cution,  to  London  and  thence  to  Ameri-  explain  why  so  few  of  our  Palatine 
ca.  They  were  the  forerunners,  and  all  families  are  able  to  trace  their  original 
bfing  from  the  German  Palatinate,  the  home  and  connect  their  ancfstors  with 
name  'Palatines"  became  a  generic  the  original  stoclr.  Families  had  le- 
term  for  those  forming  the  large  second  come  scattered.  Not  only  homes,  but 
and  third  immigrations,  although,  only  towns  and  villages,  including  the 
a  part  of  those  composing  these  latter  churches  and  all  records,  had  been  de- 
immigrations  were  original  Palatines,  stroyed  long  before  the  immigrations  t<> 
the  rest  coming  from  all  the  different  this  country,  and  many  villages  and 
Principalities  of  Southwestern  Germany,  hamlets  have  never  been  rebuilt.  Only 
Alsace  and  the  Netherlands.  Desolated  nameless  ruins  indicate  the  places  where 
by  the  War  of  Thirty  Years  -the  cru^l  once  your  families  had  their  homes, 
effects  of  which  can  yet  l-e  traced  in  The  fate  of  the  immigrants  in  their 
some  parts  of  Germany  —again  ravaged  early  days  here  was  hardly  better  than 
by  the  war  in  the  time  of  Louis  the  their  experience  at  home  -hoping  to 
XlVth,  who  made  religion  a  pretext  for  settle  on  lands  of  their  own  and  become 
his  wrongs,  notably  in  1674,  when  a  a  free  people,  thej'  found  themselves  re- 
French  army,  under  the  cruel  Turenne,  duced  to  a  state  of  semi-slavery,  and  it 
marked  its  progress  by  such  acts  of  de-  was  not  until  they  disobeyed  the  orders 
struction,  pillage  and  murder  as  have  of  the  Colonial  Governor,  and  moved 
haidly  a  parallel  in  the  history  of  the  into  the  Schoharie  Valley,  that  any  im- 
world;  again  reduced  to  ashes  and  ruin  provement  in  their  condition  ^l^g^n. 
by  the  dauphin,  after  a  few  years  of  The  first  mention  of  the  name  of  Fin?k 
peace,  the  Palatinate  had  becone  a  dis-  occurs  among  the  volunt-'ers  of  Colonel 
mal  desert  and  its  once  proud  and  happy  Nicholson's  expedition  to  Canada  in  1711, 
people  wretched  and  hopeless  beyond  when  one  Frantz  Finck  from  Queens- 
the  power  of  words  to  describe.     Thous-  bury,   is   mentioned.     While   I  have  not 


ands  had  to  seek  homes  elsewhere,  home- 
less, destitute  and  objects  of  charity 
Finally  the  English  Queen  came  to  their 
help,  and  provided  for  their  mainten- 
ance in  London  and  their  passage  to  this 
country.  The  character  of  this  immi- 
gration was,  as  Kapp  says,  humbleness, 
despair  and  silent  suffering,   and  about 


seen  the  original  document",  I  have  been 
informed  that  the  name  "Andreas'* 
might  be  just  as  easily  made  out  of  the 
name  as  "Frantz." 

Tradition  in  Stone  Arabia  claims  that 
nearly  all  the  original  settlers  of  that 
patent  came  over  in  1710,  and  that  the 
Loucks,  Finck  and  Eaker  families  came 


all  they  brought  over  were  their  bodies  from  near  Itstein,  of  that  part  of  Ger- 
emaciated  by  want.  The  once  prosper-  many  which  was  later  part  of  the  Grand 
ous  inhabitants  had  become  paupers  and    Duchy  of  Hesse-Nassau  and  which  now 


wanderers  on  the  face  of  the  f  arth.  Is 
it  a  wonder  that  we  find  so  many  of  the 
early  German  immigrants  illiterate  and 
ignorant?  They  had  no  homes  to  sleep 
in,    no  bread   to  eat  but  that  of  pity,  no 


belongs  to  the  Kingdom  of  Prussia.  The 
frequent  intermarriages  between  tht  se 
three  families  make  this  story  probable. 
A  number  of  Palatine  fanailie^  had  s  t- 
tled  along  the    Mohiwk   River  prior  to 


schools  to  send  their  children  to,  and  no    the  settling  of  the  btone  Arabia  patent, 


hope  in  aught  save  God.  We  muse  con- 
sider these  facts  fully,  and  when  you, 
descendants  of  these  German  pioneers, 
read  now  of  the  cruelties  to  which  the 
Armenians  are  subjected,  you  can  find 


attracted  undoubtedly  by  the  other  Ger- 
man and  Swiss  settlers  who  had  loca- 
ted there  prior  to  the  coming  of  the 
Palatines. 

On    March    7,    1722,    John    Christian 


the  reason  why  your  ancestors  had  fallen  Gerlach,  Wm.  York,  Johann  Lawyer 
into  the  state  of  ignorance,  illiteracy  and  Johann  and  Bendrick  Schuffer,  Andre- 
destitution  in  which  they  had  existed  for  as  Finck,  Hendrick  Frey  and  Godfrey 
more  than  twenty  years  before  they  DeWulven  petitioned  for  a  tract  of 
came  to   this  country.     These  facts  also  meadow  and  wood  land  in   the  Mohacks 

60 


•Country,  between  the  Cayadutta  and 
Canada  Kill,  and  on  March  8th,  Rip 
Van  Dam,  Chairman  of  t\\e  Committee 
•of  Council,  makes  his  rejiort.  The  next 
<Iay  a  warrant  for  a  survey  was  issued, 
and  on  November  1,  of  the  same  year, 
John  Christian  Gerlach,  in  behalf  of 
himself  and  other  distressed  Palatines, 
petitions  for  a  license  to  purchase  the 
same  tract,  which  was  granted  the  fol- 
lowing day.  On  Fe^^rnary  12th,  1723, 
the  same  parties  obtained  a  deed  from 
the  Canajoharie  Indians  and  finally, 
on  the  19th  of  October,  1723,  the  patent 
was  granted  to  twenty-seven  patentees, 
amongst  whom  we  fir.d  Andreas  Feinck 
and  Christian  Feinck.  Christian  Feinck 
was  a  brother  of  Andreas,  and  as  I  do  not 
find  any  evidence  of  his  settling  at  Stone 
Arabia,  it  may  ie  assumed  that  he  re- 
mained in  Schoharie,  or  died  I  efore  the 
Stone  Arabia  patent  was  occupied  by 
the  patentees. 

The  allotment  maps  of  the  patent 
are  lost,  and  it  is  impossible  to  trace  the 
original  location  of  Andreas  Finck's 
homestead.  A  branch  of  the  Kanagara 
Creek,  which  runs  fast  of  Sprakers  in- 
to the  Mohawk,  is  still  called  "Finck's 
Creek,""  and  between  that  creek  and 
where  the  churches  are  located,  local 
tradition  places  the  new  home  of  the 
Fincks.  From  the  fact  that  Andreas 
Finck  was  one  of  the  original  petitioners 
for,  and  patentees  of  the  land,  it  may  be 
assumed  that  he  enjoyed  privileges  in 
selecting  his  own  share,  and  that  his 
land  would  be  in  the  very  center  of  the 
new  settlement  and  of    fine  quality. 

Andreas  Finck  was  married  before  he 
oame  to  Stone  Arabia;  his  wife  was 
Margaret  Acker,  and  their  marriage 
had  taken  place  at  Schoharie,  How 
many  children  he  hai  cannot  be  as- 
certained as  no  church  records  for 
those  early  days  can  be  foond. 

The  elder  Wilhelm  Finck,  who  mar- 
ried in  1753  Margaret  Snell,  was  one  of 
his  sons,  and  Lieutenant  Johannes 
Finck,  in  Col.  Jacob  Klock's  regiment, 
was  his  grandsou,  and  the  wife  of  Cap 
tain  Andrew  Dillenbeck,  who  wts  killed 
at  Oriskany,  was  his  granddaughter. 
His  eldest  son,   juding  by  the  custom  of 


the  Palatines  of  christening  the  oldert 
male  chi'd  by  the  fatlier's  name,  was 
Andreas,  who  was  born  on  September 
1st,  1721.  before  the  rimoval  to  Stone 
Arabia,  This  is  the  Andrew  Finck,  Jr  , 
who.  according  to  Simins,  appears  on 
early  maps  as  an  owner  of  land.  While 
we  cannot  ascertain  the  age  of  the  pa- 
tentee Andreas,  it  is  certain  that  he 
lived  until  after  1744,  when  his  name 
appears  for  the  last  tune  on  a  public  re- 
cord, and  that  he  died  before  1751, 
when  the  second  Andreas  settled  on 
Michael  Frank,  his  stepfather,  a  lifn 
lease  of  one  half  of  Lot  19.  No  record 
of  the  death  of  the  wife  of  the  elder 
Andreas  can  be  found. 

The  new  settlement  prospered,  the 
lands  were  well  adapted  for  the  raising 
of  wheat,  for  which  there  was  an  ever 
ready  market  in  the  east,  the 
people  were  frugal,  industrious  and  ex- 
tremely saving.  They  provided  them- 
selves with  none  of  the  comforts  of  life, 
married  early,  raised  large  families  and 
died  old.  Until  1729  the  people  con- 
sidered themselves  as  members  of  the 
Schoharie  church.  Then  some  of  their 
leading  men,  amongst  them  Andreas 
Finck,  the  patentee,  bought  of  Wm. 
Coppernoll,  of  Schnectady,  a  glebe  for 
church  purposes  of  fifty  acres.  The 
original  contract  is  still  in  possession  of 
the  Finck  family  and  reads  as  follows 

Memerantum  of  agreement  between 
William  Coppernoll  aud  Andreas  Feink, 
Henerick  Frey,  Hans  Diterirk  Cassle- 
man,  John  Yorg  Miller  and  all  the  rest 
of  the  company  of  this  said  patent  the 
said  William  Coppernoll  hath  so'd  to  the 
above  said  Andreas  Feink,  Henerick 
Frey  and  all  of  rest  the  foresaid  com- 
pany, a  certain  lot  of  land  number  in  our 
palent  num  er  twenty  for  a  cheicht  aud 
other  use  for  the  same  and  no  others  and 
the  said  William  Coppernoll  is  there- 
fore paid  aud  satisfeit  and  the  said 
William  Coppernoll  binds  him-elf  his 
heirs  and  assigns  in  the  sume  of  one 
hundred  pouads  good  lawful  money  of 
Newyer  togive  agood  lawful  transport 
for  the  above  said  lot  of  land  num'er 
twenty  att  or  before  the  ninth  day  of 
April  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 


61 


thirty  one  as  witens   my  hand  and  seale 
this  second  davof  June  annoa:  D  1739, 
S-^aled  and  delivered 
in  the  presei.ce  of 

his 

WlLXIAM  X  COPERNOLL 

mark 

The  original  deed  given  by  CopernoU 
is  also  still  in  existence  and  was  executed 
May  9th,  1732,  and  conveyed  the  same 
property  to  Antreas  Finck  and  others. 
Finally,  in  1744,  the  land  was  divided 
between  the  Calvinists  and  the  Luther- 
ans, deeds  were  given  and  taken,  on 
which  still  appears  the  name  of  the  elder 
Andreas,  who  was  also  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  Reformed  Church  and  was 
instrumental  in  the  erection  of  the 
church  in  1744,  as  shown  by  bonds  and 
contracts  still  existing.  With  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  churches  the  intimate 
connection  which  existed  between  the 
mother  settlement  at  Schoharie  and  the 
new  ones  at  Stone  Arabia  and  the  Ger- 
man Flats  became  gradually  severed — 
the  holding  of  the  lands  became  more 
stationary  and  the  shifting  forth  and 
back  between  the  new  and  the  old  loca- 
tions ceased.  Stone  Arabia  became  the 
central  place  for  all  the  Germans  in  the 
Mohawk  Valley  — its  citizens  were  the 
most  prosperous  and  the'poor  "distressed 
Palatines  of  1733"  had  become  comforta- 
bly well  off  twenty  years  later.  It  must 
have  been  a  life  of  toil  and  privation 
which  those  people  led,  only  occasionally 
Aroken  by  family  feasts  and  holidays, 
which  were  celebrated  with  eating,  drink- 
ing and  dancing  in  their  native  fashion. 
Such  a  day  of  feast  was  likely  the  14th 
day  of  December.  1743,  when  the  second 
Andreas  married  Catherine  Elizabeth 
Loucks,  daughter  of  Heudrick  Loucks 
and  sister  of  Adam  Loucks,  the  Colonial 
Justice  and  the  noted  local  leader  dur- 
ing the  Revolution.  The  Loucks  family 
were  not  among  the  original  patentees 
of  the  Stone  Arabia  patent,  but  they  and 
the  Eakers  came  over  soon  after  the  first 
settlement  was  made.  Catherine  E. 
Loucks  was  born  on  the  10th  of  March, 
1720,  at  Skorrie  (Schoharie).  Six  chil- 
dren were  the  result  of  this  marriage. 
Anna  Margaret  (born  1746),  who  married 


Judge  and  Lieutenant  Jacob  E;cker; 
Major  Andrew  (born  1751);  John  Jost 
(1753),  who  was  a  private  in  Van  Cort- 
lands  and  Klock's  regiments  during  the 
Revolution;  Christian  (born  1759),  who 
served  under  Col.  Klock  and  the  Levies; 
Maria  Magdalena,  who  married  Captain 
Nicholas  Coppernoll,  and  Catherine, 
who  married  Captain  John  Sealey,  "^ho 
had  charge  of  Fort  Keyser  during  the 
battle  of  Stone  Arabia.  Of  the  second 
Andreas  little  is  known — grown  up  dur- 
ing those  years  of  hardest  pioneer  life, 
he  could  have  but  little  education,  as 
there  are  papers  in  existence  which  he 
signed  by  making  his  mark.  It  is  said 
that  he  took  active  part  during  the 
French-Indian  War,  and  there  served  as 
Captain  under  Sir  William  Johnson 
While  I  do  not  find  his  name  as  occupy- 
ing such  a  position  on  the  few  existing 
records  in  regard  to  the  Mohawk  Militia 
under  Sir  William  Johnson,  an  officer's 
sword,  said  to  be  worn  by  him  during 
that  war,  was  preserved  for  many  years 
in  the  family  of  his  son  Christian,  which 
sword  bore  his  name  and  rank  of  Cap- 
tain. During  the  War  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, although  then  over  54  years  old, 
he  served  in  Col.  Jacob  Klock's  regi- 
ment. I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain 
how  long  he  served.  He  brought  up  his 
children  in  the  Reformed  Church,  and 
we  find  the  family  well  represented  in 
the  church  records. 

In  the  year  1786,  a  few  days  before  his 
death,  hp  makes  his  will,  by  which  he 
provides  for  his  widow  and  devises  to 
his  three  sons  700  acres  of  farm  and 
wood  land  and  to  his  three  girls  and 
three  boys  600  acres  more,  also  money 
and  valuables,  and  leaves  the  residue  of 
his  estate  and  ''his  small  arm  or  fowl- 
ing piece"  to  his  grandson,  Andrew  C, 
then  a  small  boy.  Ee  kept  slaves,  and 
leaves  one  negro  wench,  Anna,  to  Cath- 
erine Sealey.  and  Anna's  prospective  is- 
sue to  Mary  Coppernoll.  From  his  will 
it  appears  that  his  homestead  was  nearl; 
opposite  the  churches,  and  extender 
west  to  the  creek — on  which  a  mill  was 
operated.  He  died  on  the  t'3d  day  ol 
August,-  1786,  nearly  65  years  old,  ant 
was  followed  on  the  31st  day  of  March, 


I 


63 


1790,  by  his  wife,  a  little  over  70  years 
old.  Their  gravestones  stand  in  the 
Stone  Arabia  Cemetery,  and  are  the  old- 
est stones  in  that  ground.  They  are  a 
few  feet  from  the  grave  of  Colonel 
Brown,  who  fell  at  the  battle  of  Stone 
Arabia. 

Of  the  youth  of  Andrew  Finck,  the 
later  Major,  we  know  little.  From  gen- 
eral information  about  the  condition  of 
affairs  at  Stone  Arabia,  it  is  evident  that 
these  people  were,  during  the  years  of 
his  youth,  m  tha't  transitory  state 
between  the  crude  life  of  the  pioneer 
and  the  advancing  of  civilization  and 
learning.  School  teachers  were  some- 
times employed,  and  children  obtained 
some  instruction.  Many  of  the  families 
sent  their  children  away  to  schojl,  and 
it  is  probable  that  j'oung  Andrew  thus 
obtained  his  education.  There  is  a 
tradidon  in  some  branches  of  the  Finck 
family  that  an  English  Captain,  DuBois, 
who  was  drilling  the  militia  companies 
organized  by  Sir  William  Johnson, 
noticed,  while  at  Stone  Arabia,  a  young 
lad  who  was  repeating  with  great  pre- 
cision the  motions  of  the  drill.  Finding 
him  a  handsome  and  bright  boy,  he  took 
great  liking  to  him  and  offered  to  his 
parents  to  provide  for  his  education.  The 
}jarents  consenting,  he  took  young  An- 
drew to  New  York  and  kept  him  there 
for  years.  While  all  the  children  of  the 
second  Andreas  were  publicly  admitted 
to  the  church  (confirmed),  as  shown  by 
the  church  register,  young  Andrew's 
name  does  not  appear,  nor  as  a  witness 
to  any  christening,  and  he  must  have 
been  absent  from  home  for  a  long  period 
of  years.  Part  of  the  original  minutes 
of  the  Committee  of  Safety  are  in  his 
handwriting  and  evidently  o!'  his  com- 
position, and  the}'  and  letteis  written  by 
him  show  him  to  have  been  a  man  of 
superior  and  unusual  education,  consid- 
ering the  general  state  of  instruction 
among  the  Palatines.  Family  tradition 
says  that  he  was  educated  to  be  a  lawyer 
and  that  he  was  reading  law  at  Albany 
before  the  Revolution,  a  statement  that 
is  substPoUtiated  in  part  by  the  fact  that 
he  joined  the  Albany  Lodge  in  about 
1772.     It  is  not  until   the  early  days  of 


the  Revolution  that  we  have  any  authen- 
tic information  about  him.  So  from  the 
day  of  his  birth,  the  first  of  February, 
1751.  we  have  to  pass  to  the  27th  day  of 
August,  1774,  when  we  find  this  young 
scion  of  the  Palatire  yeomarry  in  the 
very  front  rauK  of  the  patriotic  leaders 
of  the  day,  sitting  in  council  with  his 
elders  and  laboring  henceforth  inces- 
santly for  freedom's  cause  until  he  left 
his  home  (or  the  army. 

He  attended  the  meeting  of  the  Pala- 
tine Committee  on  August  27,  1774, 
which  was  held  at  the  house  of  hid 
brother-in  law,  Justice  Adam  Loucks, 
at  Stone  Arabia,  and  acted  as  Clerk  of 
the  meeting,  and  he,  with  Christopher 
P.  Yates,  Isaac  Paris  and  John  Frey, 
were  appointed  a  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence. Again,  at  the  meeting  of  the 
Palatine  District,  on  May  11,  1775,  he 
was  made  a  member  of  the  Committee 
of  Correspondence.  The  third  committee 
meeting  was  held  on  May  19th,  1775,  and 
the  original  resolutions,  in  Finck's  hand- 
writing are  still  in  existence.  For  pa- 
triotic language  they  are  equal  to  the 
best  productions  of  those  stormy  days, 
and  breathe  such  sincere  feeling  tbat  I 
cite  here  the  concluding  sentences: 

"We  are  determined,  althoueh  few  in 
numbers,  to  let  the  world  see  who  are 
not  attached  to  American  Liberty,  and 
to  wipe  off  the  indelible  disgrace  brought 
on  us  by  the  Declaration  signed  by  our 
grand  jury  and  some  of  the  magistrates, 
who  in  general  are  considered  by  the 
majority  of  our  county  as  enemies  to 
their  country.  In  a  word,  gentlemen,  it 
is  our  fixed  resolutioa  to  support  and 
carry  into  execution  everything  recom- 
mended by  tlie  Continental  and  Provin- 
cial Congress,  and  to  be  free  or  die." 

He  was  also  present  at  the  District  and 
County  meetings  of  May  21st,  24th,  29th, 
June  2nd,  3rd  At  the  meeting  of  June 
11th,  1775,  held  at  Goose  Van  Alstine's 
house,  Nicholas  Herkimer  acted  as  Chair- 
man and  Andrew  Finck,  Jr.,  as  Secre- 
tary.  We  also  find  his  name  as  pret-ent 
at  the  meetings  of  July  3,  13  14,  15,  1775. 
At  the  latter  meeting,  held  at  the  house 
of  Warner  Tygert,  Yates  and  Herkimer 
in  the  chair,  a  letter  was  ordered  sent  to 


63 


the  Provisional  Congress,  recommending 
for  appointment  tbeuames  of  Christopher 
P.  Yates  as  Captain  nnd  Andrew  Fincii, 
Jr.,  as  Fiist  Lieutenant  of  a  company 
whicli  Mr,  Yates  was  enlisting,  and 
undtF  d:ite  of  the  21»t  of  October  follow- 
ing, as  the  fourth  company  of  Col.  Goose 


woald  have  been  favored  hy  stronger 
language  and  self-praise.  These  state- 
ments are  so  brief,  so  foldier-like,  so 
very  much  to  the  poinv,  and  at  the  same 
time  so  very  disappointing  to  the  histor- 
ian. From  the  time  of  his  death  in 
1820,  up  to  the  time  when  Benton  wrote 


Van  Schaick's  regiments  of  New  York  his  hif?tory,  his  papers  had  been  wasted, 
troops,  we  find  their  appointment  con-  relatives,  friends,  historians,  autograph 
firmed.     The  organizer  of  meetings,  the    hunters  and  others  had  made  away  with 


them,  and  now  only  a  small  number  of 
original  papers  can  be  found,  in  the 
hands  of  some  of  his  descendants -in 
New  Y'ork  city,  at  Utica,  and  atOsceoIa> 
Iowa.  From  these  and  searches  in  State 
archives,  we  glean  the  following  : 

The  warrant  by  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress was  issued  on  August  11th,  1775',. 
aad  received  by  James  Holmes  (see  Cal- 
endar Hist.  MSS.  I.,  108).  He  also  had  a 
commission  as  First  Lieutenant  in  the 
Fourth  Company  of  the  Second  Hegi- 
ment  of  the  New  York  forces,  dated 
Philadelphia,  July  11th,  1TT5,  and  sign- 
ed by  John  Hancock,  President.  It  is 
probable  that  the  appointment  by  the 
Colonial  Congress  preceded  the  recom- 
mendation by  the  County  Comittee  and 
the  Provincial  Commission.  We  have 
seen  above  that  young  Finck  received 
the  recommendation  of  the  County  Com- 
mittee for  the  appointment  of  First  Lieu- 
tenant on  July  15th,  1775.  Receiving 
the  same,  he  and  his  brother,  Honyost, 
started  immediately  for  iheir  regiment, 
as  shown  by  the  following  letter  : 

Albany,  16th  August,  1775. 
Honoured  Father  and  Mother  : 
I  hope  these  few  lines  will  find  you  in 


writer  of  fiery  resolutions,  changes  into 
the  oflBcer  of  the  Continental  Army,  who 
is  ready  to  pro've  by  acts  the  sincerity 
of  the  words  spoken  or  written  by  him 
at  those  gatherings  of  the  friends  of 
American  liherty.  Young  Andrew  Finek 
was  the  first  one  of  the  descendants  of 
the  Palatines  to  enlist  in  the  services  of 
the  Colonies  against  oppression  and 
tyranny,  and,  like  his  ances  ors,  he  had 
to  see  the  ohurcbes  and  schools,  the 
houses  and  barns  of  his  own  fan^ily  and 
neighbors  destroyed  by  fire,  the  families 
scattered,  the  women  and  children  slain 
or  carried  into  captivity,  until  finally 
the  just  cause  prevailed  and  his  country 
became  free.  Instead  of  the  fanatic 
Turenne  and  the  soldiers  of  the  most 
Christian  king,  Louis  the  Fourteenth, 
the  Butlers  and  Johnsons,  the  hired 
Hessians  and  bloodthirsty  Indians, 
played  this  work  of  carnage. 

Andrew  Finck  was  in  the  service  of 
his  country  fiom  the  beginning  to  the 
very  end  of  the  Revolution,  and  his 
record  show;3  that  he  was  one  of  the 
most  active  and  useful  officers  during 
the  whole  of  the  struggle.  It  is  to  be 
greatly  regretted  that  moat  of  his  letters 
and  documents  have  been  lost,  and  that 
from  existing  sources  it  is  impossible  to  a  state  of  good  health,  as  I  and  my 
give  more  than  a  mere  sketch  of  his  ac-  brother  are  at  present.  I  expected  to 
tual  service.  see  you  once  more   before   I    marched 

The  Major  preserved  all  of  his  corres-  from  Stone  Araby  but  was  not  able.  I 
pendence  and  had  stored  up  many  mem-  therefore  acquaint  you  that  we  are  in- 
oranda  relative  to  his  own  personal  ser-  camped  at  the  Patroons  Mills  in  this 
vice   in  the  army  and  for  the  State,  to    town.     I  have  slept  in    the  camp  last 


incidents  of  the  war  and  of  his  own 
later  life.  Tradition  says  that  he  had 
thus  accumulated  quite  a  treasure  for 
future  historical  research.  His  own 
statements  about  his  military  career, 
still  existing,  prove  that  he  was  entirely 
too   modest,    even    where   his  interests 


night  for  the  first  time,  upon  a  borrowed 
bed.  I  can  assure  you  that  every  article 
of  the  camo  occupage  is  very  scarce  in 
town  not  to  be  had  for  money.  I  have 
bought  me  a  Gun  at  a  high  price  and 
have  a  mattress  a  making,  sword  I  am 
not  supplied  with  yet. 


64 


As  for  news  I  can  tell  you  for  a  cer-    Schuylerhad  their  council  at  Schenectady 
tainty  that  Alexander  White  the  Sheriff    (Schuyler's  papers).     Shortly  afterward 


is  taken  prisoner  and  his  two  comrades 
from  Tripes  Hill,  Give  my  best  respects 
to  my  brother  and  sisters  and  to  all  in- 
quiring friends  in  general,  in  my  next 
I  will  be  more  particular  in  relating 
matters  to  you.  Expect  to  march  in  a 
few  days  to  Ticonderoga  if  no  applica- 
tion from   our  committee. 

From  your  affectionate  son 

humble  servant 
Andrew  Finck. 
Excuse  my  bad  writing 
had  but  H  hours 
time  to  go  to  breakfast 
and  return  again. 

To  Mr.  Andrew  Finck. 

The  regiment  that  Finck  had  ioined  was 
then  known  as  the  Second  New  York. 
After  February,  1776,  it  became  known 
as  the  First  New  York.  Its  comiiander 
was  the  brave  Colonel  Gozen  Van- 
SchaicK,  a  veteran  of  the  French  In- 
dian War.  This  regiment  did  effectual 
service  during  the  first  five  years  of  the 
Revolutionary  War  and  took  part  in 
some  of  the  most  important  events  in 
the  Mohawk  Valley.  Detachments  of 
it  served  in  Canada,  at  Saratoga,  on  the 
Htidson.  and  probably  in  the  New  Jer- 
sey campaigns.  With  the  exception  of 
two  or  tiiree  instances,  Finck  served  on 
detached  duty  while  he  was  connected 
with  the  regiment,  which  shows  that 
his  superiors  must  have  had  confidence 
in  his  judgment  and  bravery. 

Family  tradition  says  that  he  took 
part  in  the  campaign  of  Montgomery 
and  Arnold  at  Quebec.  I  think  this  is 
wrong;  young  Finck  staid  with  the 
main  body  of  the  regiment  at  Albany. 
His  name  is  not  mentioned  in  any  of 
the  documents  relating  to  that  campaign 
and  I  find  evidence  that  he  drew  his 
pay  at  Albany  on  January  1st,  1776,  the 
day  after  Montgomery's  death. 

Lieutenant  Finck  accompanied  Gen- 
eral Schuyler  in  January,  1776,  on  his 
intended  expedition  aj<ainst  Sir  John 
Johnson,  and  was  then  in  command  of 
a  company.  He  was  officer  of  the 
gu?.rd  when  Little   Abram  and   General 


he  was  appointed  recruiting  officer  of 
the  regiment,  as  shown  by  the  following 
order ; 

Albany,  February  2oth,  1776. 

Sir: -I  herewith  deliver  you  your 
recruitmg  orders  and  a  number  of  en- 
listments the  blanks  ot  which  are  to  be 
filled  up  and  then  subscribed  by  the 
person  enlisted. 

Such  men  as  you  may  from  time  to 
time  enlist  are  to  be  sent  to  Col.  Van 
Schaick  at  this  place,  that  they  may  be 
equipped  for  their  march  into  Canada 
with  all  possible  despatch.  Every  man 
that  is  able  to  furnish  himself  with  arms 
and  blankets  should  do  it,  I  am  sir 
Your  humble  servant 

P.  H.  Schuyler 
To  Capt.  Andrew   Finck, 

We  see  by  this  order  that  he  had  re- 
ceived in  the  meantime  his  commission 
of  Captain,  which  is  dated  February  16, 
1776,  and  ranges  him  as  3rd  Captain, 
which  from  14th  First  Lieutenant  eight 
months  before  shows  sufficiently  for  his 
military  worth.  The  commission  is  en- 
dorsed by  Philip  Schuyler,  Major  Gen- 
eral, and  also  contains  the  names  of 
Henry  Diffendorf,  First  Lieutenant; 
Tobias  Van  Veghten,  Second  Lieutenant, 
and  John  Denny,  Ensign.  The  above 
order  shows  that  the  General  selected 
the  young  Captain  for  the  arduous  duty 
of  recruiting  officer  of  the  regiment,  at 
the  same  time  leaving  him  in  charge 
of  his  company  and  doing  important 
frontier  duty.  The  following  order  was 
received  by  Finck  shortly  afterwards: 
Albany,  April  23.    1776 

Sir:— You  are  to  proceed  to  Fort 
George  with  your  company  without  de- 
lay, you  are  to  begin  your  march  early  to- 
morrow for  which  six  days  provisions 
will  be  necessary.  A  battow  will  be 
ready  at  the  lower  dock  to  take  in  the 
baggage  at  Sunrise,  you  are  to  march  by 
the  same  rout  which  the  troops  have 
taken  who  marched  before  you.  Great 
care  is  to  be  taken  that  your  men  com- 
mit no  depredations  on  the   inhabitants. 


65 


I  wish  you  a  pleasant  march    and  re- 
main your  well   wisher 

Goose  Van  Schaick. 
To  Capt.  Andrew   Finck. 

Pursuant  to  this  order  he  proceeded  to 
Fort  George,  where  we  find  him  on  RJity 
3rd,  1776,  as  President  of  a  Court  IV^ar- 
tial  appointed  by  General  Schuyler,  for 
the  trial  of  a  number  of  cases.  The 
court  ordered  that  John  Smith,  of  Gen- 
eral Arnold's  regiment,  and  Andries  G. 
Neal,  of  Capt.  Benedict's  company  (Van 
Schaick's  regiment),  receive  15  lashes 
each  with  the  cat  of  nine  tails  on  their 
bare  backs  for  thefts.  Also,  John  Mc- 
Donald, of  the  latter  regiment,  39  lashes 
for  desertion,  and  Reuben  "Wiley,  of 
the  Second  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  25 
lashes  for  the  same  offense. 

During  the  summer  of  1776  he  was 
stationed  at  Fort  George,  and  judging 
from  the  movements  and  orders  given 
to  the  regiment,  the  troops  w  ere  kept 
busy  with  drilling,  scouting,  conveying, 
transporting  and  watching  the  enemy 
and  the  Lories.  During  this  year  a  re- 
arrangement of  the  officers  in  the  New 
York  line  was  made,  evidently  for  the 
main  purpose  of  weeding  out  undesir- 
able material,  and  we  find  in  Calendar 
Hist,  MSS.  the  return  of  Col.  Van 
Schaick,  in  which  he  classifies  Third  Cap- 
tain Andrew  Finck  as  "good",  while  a 
number  of  others  he  designated  as  bad, 
middling,  indifferent,  and  one  even  as 
"scoundrel."  The  name  of  the  Captain 
was  consequently  forwarded  for  reap- 
pointment by  Major  General  Schuyler, 
on  October  7th,  1776,  and  on  November 
21st  of  that  year  he  was  re-commissioned 
Third  Captain  in  the  First  Battalion  of 
New  York  forces.  At  a  meeting  of  the 
Provincial  Military  Committee  with 
General  Schuyler  and  Lieutenant  Colontl 
Gansevoort,  at  Saratoga,  October  23, 
1776,  it  was  agreed  to  appoint  Captain 
Finck  to  recruit  for  Colonel  Van 
Schaick's  regiment,  with  garrison  at 
Fort  George,  and  money  was  appro- 
priated for  his  disbursements  for  this 
purpose.  There  was  little  encourage- 
ment to  the  patriots  in  the  events  of 
1776  and  the  first  half  of  1777.  Captain 
Finck  was  for  nearly  all  of  that  time  in 


command  at  Saratoga,  while  Captain 
Christopher  P.  Yates  was  staff  officer  of 
the  regiment  at  Fort  George,  as  shown 
by  letter,  dated  Fort  George.  April  11th, 
1777,  in  which  Yates,  as  senior  officer, 
informs  Finck  of  some  movements  of  the 
enemy  and  orders  him  to  send  a  large 
scouting  party  to  the  westward.  The 
next  day  Colonel  Van  Schaick  sends  him 
the  same  intelligence  and  orders  him  to 
take  personal  commxnd  and  march  with 
all  the  force  he  can  collect,  including 
batteaumsn  and  secure  all  the  dis- 
affected persons.  The  return  of  the 
Captain  is  missing,  but  the  regiment  re- 
ports two  weeks  later  that  the  scouting 
party  had  been  successful  and  cleared 
the  country  west,  of  all  the  royalists. 
This  raid  completed,  Finck  returned  to 
Saratoga,  to  which  place  in  the  mean- 
time the  larger  part  of  Van  Schaick's 
regiment  had  moved,  and  on  the  19th 
day  of  May  1777,  Captain  Finck  pre- 
sided at  the  Court  Martial  held  over 
Alexander  Jennison.  a  soldier  of  his  own 
company,  for  desertion,  who  received 
100  lashes  with  the  cat-of  nine-tails  at 
the  public  whipping  post. 

From  his  correspondence,  we  know 
that  Captain  Finck  remained  at  Saratoga 
until  June  25th,  1777,  and  possibly  later. 
With  the  advance  of  Burgoyne  the 
Americans  retreated  down  the  Hudson. 
In  the  meantime  the  victory  at  Benning- 
ton gave  new  hope  to  the  army  -  and  so 
did  the  report  of  the  bravery  of  the  Mo- 
hawk Valley  Militia  at  Oriskany  and  of 
the  final  flight  of  St.  Ledger.  All  but 
two  companies  of  Van  Schaick's  regi- 
ment had  been  ordered  west,  and  Cap- 
tain Finck,  as  senior  officer,  commanded 
the  same.  He  took  active  part  in  the 
two  battles  of  Saratoga,  October  7th  and 
9th,  1777,  and  his  two  c  ompanies  fought 
together  with  a  small  body  of  consoli- 
dated New  York  troops.  They  were 
present  at  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne, 
and  immediately  afterward  we  find 
Captain  Finck  again  in  command  at 
Saratoga.  Van  Schaick's  regiment  had 
in  the  meantime  been  ordered  down  the 
Hudson,  with  other  troops,  to  reinforce 
Washington's  army,  but  did  not  proceed 
from  Albany  until  February  1778.     Cap- 


66 


tain  Pinck  joined  the  Tegitntrnt  at 
Albany;  In  March  1778,  the  regiment 
«noved  southward,  and  likely  remained 
•on  the    Hudson  during  that  year.      In 

1779,  at  the  beginning  of  Sullivan's  cam- 
paign, we  find  Van  Schaick's  regiment 
at  Fort  Stanwix,  from  wht^nce  it  aided 
the  campaign  by  destroying  the  settle- 
ments of  theOnondagas.  Captain  Finck 
took  an  active  part  in  this  expedition. 
He  continued   with  the  regiment   until 

1780,  when  it  joined  again  ihe  forces  on 
the  Hudson,  and  Captain  Finck  by  right 
of  rank  became  Brigade  Major  of  General 
James  Clinton's  brigade,  interrupted  only 
in  May,  1780,  when  he  goes  with  his  old 
regiment,  under  command  of  Col.  Van 
Schaick,  to  pursue  Sir  John  Johnson, 
who  had  come  by  the  northern  route  to 
recover  personal  property  of  the  John- 
sons at  Johnstown  and  elsewhere.  It 
was  at  this  time  that  many  Stone  Arabia 
dwellings  and  barns  were  destroyed  by 
Johnson.  In  October  of  the  same  year 
the  rest  of  the  settlement  was  completely 
destroyed. 

The  depressed  period  of  the  Revolution 
reached  its  climax  in  1780  -the  treasury 
empty,  the  regiments  without  soldiers, 
and  the  people  without  hope.  Retrench- 
ments had  to  be  made,  and  with  the  end 
of  the  year  1780  it  was  decided  to  con- 
solidate the  five  New  York  regiments 
into  two.  Captain  Fmck,  who  was  then 
the  oldest  captain  in  the  line,  retired  on 
January  1st,  1781,  from  the  Continental 
Army  and  returned  to  his  parents,  at 
Stone  Arabia. 

Thus  closes  a  meritorious  service  of 
nearlj^  five  and  one-half  years  in  the  line, 
in  which  he  not  only  faithfully  served 
as  a  field  officer  but  did  most  useful 
work  as  a  recruiting  captain.  He  was 
during  that  time  often  absent  on  trips 
through  the  State,  as  shown  by  expense 
accounts.  He  enjoyed  fully  the  confi- 
dence of  the  Commander-in-Chief  and 
made  during  this  time  the  acquaintance 
of  many  of  the  leading  men  of  the  pe- 
riod, LaFayette.  the  Clintons,  and  others 
Returning  home  in  March,  1781,  after 
settling  his  accounts,  we  may  suppose 
that  he  resolved  to  stay  home  and  let 
others  fight  the  battles.     But  little  rest 


from  puhlic  duty  was  given  him.  The 
country  needed  then  just  such  men  as 
Finck  was— brave,  honest,  straightfor- 
ward and  modest  fighters  of  the  just 
cause,  who  could  not  be  swerved  from 
th^  path  of  duty  nor  y>e  di^couragpd  by 
adversity.  On  April  5th,  1781,  Finck 
was  appointed  one  of  the  Justices  of  the 
Peace  of  the  county,  and  as  such  he  took 
the  affidavit  of  the  tory,  Nicholas  Her- 
kimer, on  November  3rd.  1781. 

On  May  30th  of  the  same  year  he  was 
appointed  Commissioner  of  Conspiracies 
of  Try  on  County,  and  acted  as  such  for 
several  years.  The  appointment  was 
made  by  Governor  George  Clinton. 
These  commissioners  were  kept  busy  by 
the  many  acts  of  hostility  on  the  part  of 
the  tories  and  by  those  people  who  had 
relatives  who  had  been  made  prisoners 
by  the  enemy,  as  they  had  to  recom- 
mend the  exchange  to  the  Governor.  In 
the  fall  of  1781  a  flag  was  despatched  to 
Canada  to  negotiate  the  exchange  of 
prisoners,  with  letters  to  the  Governor 
of  Quebec  on  the  subject.  Captain  Finck 
furnished  such  a  list  and  recommended 
quick  action,  as  many  of  the  families 
were  great  sufiferers. 

In  1781  the  brave  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Marinus  Willett,  who  had  done  before 
gallant  service  in  the  Mohawk  Valley, 
and  in  whom  the  people  had  great  con- 
fidence, was  ordered  to  take  the  com- 
mand of  the  levies  which  had  been 
raised  for  the  defense  of  the  frontier,  on 
the  Mohawk  River  and  elsewhere.  The 
three-year  men  and  the  militia  were  also 
under  his  command.  The  condition  of 
the  country  at  that  time  was  deplorable, 
and  it  required  all  the  energy  and  in- 
fluence of  Willett  to  make  his  command 
a  success.  On  July  6th,  1781,  he  wrote 
to  General  Washington  that  while  form- 
erly the  militia  had  numbered  2,500, 
there  were  now  not  more  than  800  men 
able  to  bear  arms;  of  the  rest,  equal 
parts  were  prisoners,  had  gone  to  the 
enemy,  or  had  abandoned  for  the  pres- 
ent this  part  of  the  State.  Those  re- 
maining were  in  dire  distress,  and  all  he 
had  at  that  time  under  his  command 
was  250  men.  It  is  at  this  juncture  that 
Willett   prevails   upon   his    friend,    An- 


67 


drew  Frnck,  to  assist  him  in  his  work, 
and  with  the  consent  of  the  State  au- 
thorities he  became  Br  it;  ad  e- Major  and 
Inspector.  During  the  battle  of  Johns- 
town, in  October  20th,  17«1,  Captain 
Finck  took  an  active  part. 

The  official  appointment  of  Finck  for 
Brigade-Major  of  Levies  was  from  Sep- 
tember 1,  1781  to  January  1,  17s2. 

Again  retiring  to  his  civic  duties  for  a 
few  months,  the  dangerous  condition  of 
the  western  frontier  made  it  necessary 
for  Willett  to  conduct  a  vigorous  watch 
and  constant  patrolling,  and  accoraing- 
ly  he  again  asked  Captain  Finck  to  serve 
as  next  in  rank.  Finck  consented  and 
he  was  appointed  by  the  council  of  ap- 
pointment to  the  rank  of  Major  by  order 
of  May  1st,  1783.  As  such  he  served 
during  the  remainder  of  the  war,  acting 
as  Deputy  Muster  Master  and  Inspector, 
His  talent  for  organizing,  recruiting  and 
drilling  was  well  recognized  by  Willett 
and  he  left  these  matters  entirely  in 
Finck's  hands  Out  of  the  disorganized 
remnants  and  odda  and  ends  of  all  sorts 
of  troops,  from  the  tories  and  Hessians, 
from  black  and  white,  the  faithful  Finck 
recruited  this  frontier  army,  and  in  the 
summer  of  1781  we  find  Willett  in  com- 
mand of  1,100  men  against  250  of  the 
year  before.  The  troops  were  kept  busy 
by  constant  patrolling  and  when  in  gar- 
rison, Finck,  the  Steuben  of  the  Mohawk 
Valley,  drilled  them  until  they  became 
as  etlicient  as  the  regulars.  Both  Wil- 
lett and  Finck  were  loved  by  the  sol- 
diers, both  were  men  of  democratic 
manners,  of  dash,  pluck  and  energy, 
such  men  as  a  soldier  likes  to  follow  the 
world  over. 

The  treasury  being  empty,  the  troops 
were  raised  on  bounties  of  unappropriat- 
ed lands,  and  it  required  considerable 
persuasion  to  gain  recruits.  In  the 
spring  of  1782  Major  Finck  was  elected 
a  member  of  Assembly  from  Tjron 
County.  This  assembly  was  in  session 
from  11th  to  the  2oth  of  July,  1782,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  and  from  January  27th, 
to  March  23rd,  1783,  at  Kingston.  Short- 
ly before  the  latter  session,  on  January 
11th,  1783,  Major  Finck  married  Maria 
Markel,     daughter    of    Captain     Henry 


Markel.  Although  more  than  a  century 
has  passed,  still  faint  traditions  linger 
among  old  families  of  the  great  Finck — 
Markel  wedding.  The  old  German 
families  all  united  to  make  this  event  in 
the  life  of  the  young  and  brilliant  officer 
a  memorable  affair,  and  following  their 
customs  they  extended  the  celebration 
over  many  days.  It  ia  said  that  many 
high  officers  in  the  Army  and  some  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  the  State  honored 
the  Major  and  his  bride  by  their  atten- 
dance. Rev.  Abraham  Rosecrans  offi 
ciated. 

During  part  of  the  year  1782,  and 
early  in  1783,  Major  Finck  was,  at  times, 
in  command  at  Fort  Herkimer  and  Fort 
Dayton,  but  mostly  at  Fort  Plain.  In 
January.  1783,  the  Commander-in-Chief 
conceived  the  object  of  surprising  and 
obtaining  possession  of  the  important 
fortress  of  Oswego.  The  expedition  was 
intrusted  to  Col,  Willett.  His  troops 
were  assembled  at  Fort  Herkimer  on  the 
8th  of  February,  The  result  was  not  a 
success,  but  no  blame  was  cast  upon 
Wdlett,  although  he  felt  the  failure  very 
keenly.  After  his  return  he  remained  at 
Albany  until  spring,  and  the  command 
of  the  forces  devolved  upon  Major 
Finck  who  made  his  headquarters  at 
Fort  Plain.  I  do  not  think  Major  Finck 
took  part  in  the  expedition  to  Oswego. 
Returning  from  his  duties  at  Kingston, 
before  the  close  of  the  session,  he  as- 
sumed again  his  post  of  Inspector  of 
Brigade.  While  in  command  of  Fort 
Plain,  and  in  general  command  of  the 
troops  in  the  Mohawk  Valley,  he  receiv- 
ed orders  from  General  Washington  on 
the  17th  day  of  April,  1783,  to  send  an 
officer  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  Oswego,  to 
announce  to  that  garrison,  from  whence 
many  of  the  Indian  depredators  came,  a 
general  cessation  of  hostilities,  and  an 
impending  peace.  Major  Finck  sent  one 
Captain  Thompson  and  four  men  on  this 
errand.  He  was  busy  all  summer  and 
fall  with  the  mustering  out  of  the  mili- 
tia and  levies  and  attending  to  the  ardu- 
ous duties  of  Major  Muster  Master,  not 
only  for  Colonel  Willett's  regiment,  but 
for  all  the  different  bodies  raised  at  va- 
rious times  in  the  Mohawk  Valle}\     The 


68 


duty  of  the  recruiting  officer,  who  may 
induce  men  to  join  the  army,  by  prom- 
ises of  glory  and  prizes,  is  vastly  differ- 
ent from  that  of  the  discharging  officer 
at  whose  side  sits  a  paymaster  with 
empty  coffers  offering  ''Banker  certifi- 
cates and  Morris  notes"  to  the  soldiers 
for  their  pay.  Major  Finck  received  his 
final  discharge  at  Schenectady.  The 
Finck  family  was  certainly  one  of  the 
most  loyal  during  the  whole  Revolution- 
ary period.  Not  a  single  member  of  the 
family  is  mentioned  among  the  dis- 
affected, and  among  the  soldiers  we  find 
in  the  "archives  of  the  State  of  New 
"Xork"  and  in  "New  York  in  the  Revo- 
lution" the  following  names  : 

Andrew 

Two  Christians 

Two  Hanyosts 

Christopher 

John 

Peter 

Two  Williams  and 

Mattgred. 

Major  Finck  was  a  State  Senator  dur- 
ing the  seventh,  eighth,  ninth  and  tenth 
sessions,  being  elected  to  represent  the 
Western  District.  His  father  dying  in 
1786,  he  assumed  the  management  of 
his  farm?,  built  a  large  and  commodious 
brick  hou-e  just  south  of  the  Stone 
Arabia  Churches,  where  now  is  the  or- 
chard back  of  the  stone  house  of  Jacob 
Nellis,  and  after  his  return  from  his  last 
term  as  senator  he  settled  down  to  the 
life  of  a  farmer,  filling  a  few  town  offices 
and  being  for  several  years  highway 
commissioner  under  an  appointment  of 
the  Court  of  Sessions.  The  country  be- 
coming rapidly  settled  after  the  close  of 
the  war,  many  new  roads  were  opened 
and  the  best  men  were  required  to  fill 
the  office  of  Highway  Commissioner. 
This  was  the  reason  for  the  act  of  1787, 
which  made  this  office  appointive.  He 
also  acted  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  In 
1790  he  received  1,800  acres  of  bounty 
lands  in  the  townships  of  Dryden,  Ovid 
and  Cato  for  his  services  as  Major.  One 
of  the  intimate  frieods  of  the  Major  was 
Major  General  Steuben, —they  often  vis- 
ited each  other.  At  the  solicitation  of 
the  General,  Major  Finck  joined  in  1786 


the  German  Society  of  New  York,  and 
continued  a  member  thereof  for  many 
years.  In  the  year  1784  thirteen  noble 
hearted  Germans  had  founded,  after  the 
pattern  of  the  German  Society  of  Penn- 
sylvania, the  above  society,  which  has 
for  its  purposes  to  afford  to  the  German 
emigrant  advice,  protection  and,  as  far 
as  in  its  power  lay,  assistance,  allowing 
itself  to  be  deterred  by  no  obstacles  or 
hostile  actions  from  the  fulfillment  of  its 
self-chosen  duty.  Baron  Von  Steuben 
was  several  years  president  of  the  So- 
ciety and  among  the  early  members 
were  such  men  as  Col.  Frederick  Von 
Weissenfets,  Col.  Von  Lutterloh;  Pastor 
Gross,  Henry  and  John  Jacob  Astor, 
Edward  Livingston,  Generals  Peter 
Schuyler  and  Wm.  Wilmerding.  This 
society  is  still  in  existence. 

In  the  year  1799  he  was  appointed  by 
Governor  John  Jay,  a  commissioner  of 
taxation  of  Montgomery  County. 

By  inheritance,  by  good  management 
of  his  farms  and  sale  of  his  bounty  lands, 
and  by  shrewd  investments,  the  Major 
had  become  before  the  close  of  the  cen- 
tury a  wealthy  man.  His  loyal  and 
successful  career  entitled  him  to  still 
larger  honors  on  the  part  of  the  people. 
But  he  belonged  to  the  unpopular  politi- 
cal party,  l^ajor  Finck  was  an  ardent 
Federalist  and  could  not  have  been 
elected  to  his  terms  in  the  assembly  and 
senate  if  he  had  not  been  carried  through 
by  his  military  record  and  great  personal 
popularity,  but  as  time  passed  on  the  re- 
publican party  grew  stronger,  especially 
among  his  own  people,  his  chances  of 
filling  offices  in  the  gift  of  the  people 
grew  less,  and  only  once  did  he  run 
again  for  public  honors,  in  1798,  when 
he  was  defeated  for  congress  by  a  small 
adverse  majority. 

In  about  1772  Andrew  Finck,  Jr., 
joined  the  Union  Lodge  of  Albany  and 
his  name  appears  as  the  55th  signer  of 
the  By-Laws  of  that  society  of  which 
Peter  W.  Yates  was  then  master,  and 
Sir  John  Johnson  Provincial  Grand  Mas- 
ter. Many  of  the  later  comrades  in 
arms  of  the  Major  were  members  of 
this  lodge,  for  instance,  Peter  Ganse- 
voort,     Christopher    P.     Yates,     Henry 


Dievendorf,  Tobias  Van  Veghten  and 
others.  The  name  o'J  the  lodge  was 
changed  in  1806  to  Mount  Vernon  Lodge 
No  3.  of  ancient  New  York  Masons,  and 
is  still  occupying  a  prominent  position 
in  Masonic  Ranks.  In  the  year  1785  he 
was  transferred  to  St.  Patrick's  Lodge 
of  Johnstown,  N.  Y.,  to  which  he  be- 
longed to  the  time  of  his  death.  In  a 
deed  of  Michael  Rawlins  and  wife,  given 
in  1702,  we  find  his  name  among  the 
members  of  the  lodge  who  purchased  a 
lodge  site  in  that  village. 

In  order  to  explain  some  of  the  future 
movements  of  the  Major  it  is  necessary 
to  rely  almost  wholly  on  family  and 
local  tradition.  He  was  comfortably  lo- 
cated, well  connected  with  the  most 
prominent  families  of  the  valley,  had  a 
sufficient  income  to  maintain  and  edu- 
cate his  family,  and  to  entertain  in  good 
style,  and  in  the  lavish  way  of  the  Pa- 
latines, his  numerous  friends,  and  politi- 
cal and  military  comrades.  At  the 
same  time  he  grew  less  popular  at 
home.  Being  of  a  pronounced  aggres- 
sive temper  and  outspoken,  he  could  not 
fail  to  make  some  enemies.  Of  superior 
education  to  his  neighbors,  having  ac 
quired  different  tastes  during  his  youth, 
during  his  service  in  the  army  and  in 
the  legislature,  he  had  become  quite 
different  from  them.  He  was  decidedly 
public  spirited.  He  hoped  that  the  war 
and  the  new  condition  of  things  would 
bring  about  a  new  era  for  his  own  people 
the  Palatines.  A  great  many  of  them 
fell  back  into  the  same  rut  in  which 
they  had  traveled  since  their  first  arrival 
remaining  unprogressive,  excluding 
themselves  from  the  touch  of  the  world, 
failinj<  to  give  their  children  proper  in- 
struction, and  neglecting  to  occupy  that 
position  to  which  they  were  entitled, 
which  condition  lasted  for  several  de- 
cades more.  His  efforts  to  bring  about 
some  improvement  brought  him  little 
thanks.  When  he  argued  with  them 
that  they  must  have  their  children  learn 
the  English  language,  besides  the  Ger- 
man, they  called  him  a  "Yankee  Dutch- 
man." When  he  told  them  that  it  was 
a  shame  for  people  of  their  means  to 
build  log  houses,    they  told   him  that  he 


could  live  in  a  brick  house  like  the 
"Gentry"  but  they  were  satisfied  with 
log  houses  as  their  fathers  had  been. 
Among  the  lands  at  Stone  Arabia  owned 
by  Major  Finck  was  a  five  acre  Idt 
known  as  the  Dominie's  lot  and  house. 
It  was  centrally  located  and  well  adapt- 
ed for  school  purposes.  The  Major 
knowing  that  a  better  and  modern 
school  was  badly  needed  in  the  country, 
rigged  up  the  old  building,  hired  some 
teachers  and  during  the  year  1796  a  high 
school  was  kept  there.  The  Major  had 
interested  some  of  his  friends  in  New 
York  and  Albany  and  had  promises  from 
the  state  authorities  to  make  this  oie  of 
the  new  seats  of  learning  to  be  estab- 
lished by  the  legislature.  Everything 
was  apparently  on  a  promising  basis. 
The  Major  told  his  neighbors  about  this 
plan,  but  they  called  a  meeting  at 
which  it  was  resolved  that  too  much 
learning  would  make  bad  farmers  and 
his  offer  was  positively  declined.  He 
kept  on  right  along  with  his  school,  but 
most  of  them  did  not,  not  even  his  own 
brothers,  send  their  youngters,  and  only 
a  few  children  and  young  people  attend- 
ed it.  Finally  some  one  found  out  that 
by  flaw  in  Finck's  title  the  land  belonged 
to  the  Reformed  church.  In  order  to 
rid  themselves  of  the  school,  they  began 
a  suit  of  ejectment  against  Finck  and 
than  a  merry  war  began.  Numerous 
suits  on  old  justices'  dockets  of  1796,  in 
which  Finck  figures  on  one  side  or  the 
other,  doubtless  refer  to  this  exciting 
neriod.  Apparently  acting  under  advice 
of  counsel,  on  December  19th,  1796,  he 
gave  up  the  land  and  an  agreement  to 
that  effect  was  drawn  up.  It  is  said 
that  the  German  ministers  of  that  day 
were  at  the  botloiu  of  this  whole  affair 
as  they  feared  that  the  establishment 
of  an  English  Aca  iemy  would  injure 
their  own  influence.  For  a  year  or  so 
afterwards  Finck  maintained  the  school 
in  his  own  house,  but  finally  got  tired  of 
it,  as  those,  whom  he  sincerely  wanted 
to  benefit,  not  only  spurned  his  offer 
but  misinterpreted  his  motives.  The 
final  result  of  this  unpleasant  occurrence 
was  that  the  Major  lost  all  interest  in  his 
native  home,   and  about  1800   he   went 


70 


with  Ms  wife  and  hi.s  younger  children 
ito  ihe  western  part  of  the  state,  probably 
to  some  of  his  bounty  lands,  and  seldom 
thereafter  visited  the  old  home.  His 
efforts  in  regard  to  better  education  do 
iiot  bee  n  to  have  stopped  however,  as  he 
afterwards  gave,  or  sold  for  a  nominal 
«um,  the  lands  on  which  the  Western 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  now 
the  Fairfield  Academy,  stands. 

In  the  meantime  his  oldest  son,  An- 
drew Ackler  Finck.  born  in  1784,  had 
grown  up  and  settlt-d,  early  in  1804,  in 
the  present  town  of  Manheim.  and  mar 
ried  Delilah,  the  daughter  of  Captam 
Fr^-derick  Getman.  The  Mohawk  turn- 
pike had  become  the  great  west  rn  thor- 
oughfare, and  Andrew  had  wisely  chosen 
a  s^ot  to  locate  a  tavern  wheie  the 
4-outhern  and  northern  roads  connected 
with  the  turnpike.  Right  on  the  banks 
of  the  Mohawk  he  built,  in  1805,  the 
famous  tavern,  still  stan'  ing.  He  in- 
duced the  Major  to  move  with  his  fami- 
ly to  Manheim,  where  the  later  erected 
a  comtortanle  wooden  house,  which 
stood  a  little  east  of  the  Morgan  Biddle- 
man  residence.  It  was  plain  on  the  out- 
side, but  very  comfortably  furnished, 
full  of  books  and  portraits  of  generals 
and  pictures  of  battle  fields,  and  a  piano 
and  objectti  of  art  showed  the  refined 
tase  of  the  occupant.  The  door 
WHS  double,  so  that  the  upper 
part  could  be  opened,  and  this  door 
was  a  favorite  spot  of  the  IV^ajor 
watching  the  passing  world.  It  is 
said  that  the  purchase  of  the  land, 
known  as  the  Andrew  Finck  farm,  was 
somewhat  costly  to  the  Major,  as  he 
first  purchased  it  of  some  representa- 
tives of  the  heirs  of  Molly  Brant  and 
Peter  Brant,  to  whom  the  300  acres  had 
been  willed  by  Sir  William  Johnson.  It 
seems  that  this  land  was  sold,  like  the 
rest  of  the  forfei'ed  lands,  by  the  Com- 
missioners of  Forfeitures,  but  they 
failed  to  make  an  entry  of  this  sale, 
and  the  Major's  attorney  became  con- 
vinced thit  the  heirs  of  Sir  William 
Johnson's  dusky  housekeeper  and  of  his 
son  Peter  still  held  their  title.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  it  was  the  prevailing 
opinion  of  that  time  that  the  titles  based 


upon  the  acts  of  attainder  would  prove 
valueless. 

After  the  Major  and  Andrew  A.  had 
been  settled  for  several  years,  the 
agents  of  the  Ellice  estate,  the  same 
estate  which  so  mysteriously  obtained 
title  to  some  of  the  forfeited  lands, 
claimed  title  and  threatened  suit.  The 
outcome  was  that  the  Major  declined  to 
buy,  but  he  loaned  the  necessary  funds 
to  his  sons,  Andrew  A.  and  Henry,  and 
finally,  in  1813,  they  got  a  deed  for  the 
land  from  the  t^Uices.  His  Stone  Ara- 
bia land  he  gave  to  his  son  Christian  A. 
Here,  from  1805  on,  he  spent  the  de- 
clining years  of  his  life,  surrounded  by 
his  family,  once  more  witnessing  the 
clearing  of  a  homestead  out  of  a  virgin 
forest,  but  living  right  by  that  great  ar- 
tery of  commerce,  the  turnpike,  and  not 
a  day  passing  when  he  would  not  meet 
some  old  comrades  in  arms  or  some 
friend  of  younger  years.  In  his  new 
town  he  held  only  minor  oflSces.  We 
known  nothing  about  him  except  for 
the  few  surviving  people  who  still  re- 
member him.  He  was  a  man  of  medi- 
um height,  solid  but  not  fat,  of  very 
quick  and  sharp  movements,  with  clear 
cut  and  clean-shaven  face  and  dark 
complexion.  Erect  like  a  soldier  to 
the  last,  hisejes  clear  and  sharp  and 
somewhat  stern,  children  were  not  at 
first  attracted  to  him,  but  rather  afraid 
of  him.  His  voice  was  still  like  that  of 
an  officer  in  the  field,  and  in  argument 
apt  to  rise  to  a  battle  pitch.  Especially 
on  one  subject  he  was  very  irritable, 
which  was  that  the  tories  and  the  waver- 
ing of  Revolutionary  times  were  then  en- 
joying equal  rights  with  the  loyal,  and 
that  many  of  them  then  held  offices  of 
public  trust.  That  was  the  great  un- 
pardondonable  sin,  and  woe  to  him  who 
crossed  him  on  this  subject. 

In  his  dress  he  was  extremely  neat 
and  spruce.  He  attended  church  when 
he  could  find  English-speak  ng  minis- 
ters, but  he  had  got  through  with  the 
German  dominies. 

From  children  he  expected  obedience 
and  salute.  Says  one  of  the  oldest  in- 
habitants of  Sti afford:  "I  drove  as  a 
boy   a  few   times  my    father's  team  to 


71 


Little  Falls.  We  used  \o  water  the 
horses  at  a  trough  near  the  Major's  resi- 
dence. One  day  I  drove  up  and  I  saw 
the  old.  Major.  I  stared  at  him,  but  did 
not  speak.  He  thundered  out:  'What 
manners  have  you  got,  why  don't  you 
speak  to  an  old  gentleman?'  I  was  al- 
most scared  enough  to  fall  from  ray 
seat.  The  next  day  J  came  again,  only 
to  see  thi  Major  in  the  same  place. 
I  stammered  out:  'Good  day.  Major.' 
He  answered  me  in  the  most  pleasant 
way,  and  we  were  ever  afterwards  the 
best  of  friends,  he  giving  me  often 
apples  and  sweets." 

The  same  strictness  as  to  manners  he 
maintained  in  his  own  family,  and 
everything  was  regulated  in  true  mili- 
tary order.  He  kept  four  slaves,  one  of 
whom  he  gave  to  each  of  his  four 
children.  His  daughter  Mary,  born  in 
1793,  later  Mrs.  Chatfield,  was  educated 
at  Albany,  and  was  like  all  the  female 
membeis  of  the  Fitick  family,  a  striu- 
jngly  beautiful  girl. 

In  the  family  only  German  was  spoken 
and  he  aud  his  wife  conversed  both 
well  and  fluently  in  English  and  German, 
but  did  not  use  the' so-called  "Mohawk 
Dutch." 

He  was  an  inverate  smoker  but  only  a 
moderate  drinker,  Simms'  peculiar  re- 
marks notwithstanding.  On  the  con- 
trary, while  the  Major  enjoyed  his  toddy 
and  his  bitters,  he  would  drink  just  so 
much  each  day,  and  under  no  considera- 
tion more.  His  son  Andrew  A.  followed 
the  same  rule  and  said  that  his  father 
abhorred  the  immoderate  drinking  of 
many  of  his  own  people.  From  Simms' 
report  it  would  appear  that  the  fatal 
accident  to  the  Major  was  caused  in  the 
first  place  by  imbibing  too  much.  It  was 
the  Major's  stubbornness,  which  had 
grown  with  his  years.  He  met  on  a 
narrow  place  of  the  turnpike,  near  his 
house,  a  four- horse  stage  going  at  full 
speed.  Instead  of  turning  clear  out  of 
way  he  was  trying  to  exact  half  of  the 
road.  The  team  was  going  at  full  speed 
and  the  driver  could  not  possibly  stop 
them  in  time  to  prevent  the  serious  acci- 
dent. Horses  and  stage  went  over  the 
old  man    and    his    right    leg  was  badly 


broken  and  splintered  and  a  few  months 
later,  on  the  3rd  of  Fet)ruary,  1820.  he 
passed  away,  never  leaving  his  bed  after 
receiving  the  injury.  He  left  no  will, 
as  he  had  disposed  of  all  his  real  and 
personal  estate  eome  years  before  his 
death  to  his  wife  and  children,  saying 
that  he  wanted  no  quarrels  after  his 
death.  His  wife,  described  as  an 
amiable,  tall  and  good  looking  woman, 
followed  him  about  three  yeais  later,  on 
the  28th  of  January,  1823.  The  Major 
and  his  wife  were  survived  by  four 
children,  Andrew  A.,  Henry,  Christian 
and  Mary  (Mrs.  Chatfield.)  Thus  endeil 
the  active  life  of  an  earnest  patriot,  a 
brave  soldier  and  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent personages  in  this  valley  in  the  war 
of  the  revolution. 

Many  of  his  descendants  have  become 
well  known  and  respected  members  of 
the  commonwealth.  His  oldest  son, 
Andrew  A.  was  perhaps  one  of  the  best 
known  men  of  his  day  in  Herkimer 
County. 

In  the  glorious  days  of  coaching  and 
staging  on  the  great  Mohawk  turnpike, 
the  tavern  which  he  had  built  in  18o5 
became  widely  known  m  the  valley.  All 
the  best  stages  stopped  there,  and  as 
many  as  a  hundred  guests  could  be  en- 
tertained there  at  a  time  Many  noted 
men  of  the  time  stopped  at  that  inn, 
Jerome  Bonaparte  on  his  trips  to  the 
Black  River  and  t'ue  Marquis  de  LaFay- 
ette  on  his  visit  in  1825.  Andrew  A. 
Finck  told  often  how  LaFayette  in- 
quired if  he  was  a  relative  of  that  brave 
and  fiery  Major  Finck  whom  he  met  on 
the  Hud&on  in  1780.  Hearing  that  he 
was  dead,  he  had  Andrew  A.  show  him 
and  his  suite  his  grave  and  spoke  there  of 
him  in  feeling  and  praising  words. 

In  the  course  of  years  Andrew  A. 
Finck  became  a  very  prosperous  man, 
he  gave  up  keeping  his  tavern,  rented  it 
and  built  a  handsome  brick  house  on 
one  of  his  farms,  where  he  and  his  fam- 
ily for  many  years  kept  open  house  for 
their  many  friends  up  and  down  the 
river;  the  old  Palatine  hospitality  was 
still  continued  and  all  the  old  families 
of  the  valley  were  numbered  among 
their    intimate     friends.       Engaged   in 


72 


many  enterprises,  public  spirited  and 
successful,  Andrew  was  a  man  far  in 
advance  of  his  time.  He  undertook  a 
project  to  cross  the  Adirondack  wilder- 
ness by  railroad  and  canal,  a  scheme 
which  at  a  later  day  took  the  brains  and 
money  of  Dr.  Webb  to  accomplish,  by 
building  the  Adirondack  R.  R.  After 
investing  good  sums  of  money  the 
project  failed  on  account  of  bad  times 
and  was  abandoned. 

Hospitable  and  generous  to  his  friends 
and  family,  he  was  as  trusting  to  his 
business  associates.  In  independent 
position,  owning  large  and  fine  farms, 
and  numerous  other  investments,  he 
likely  never  dreamed   of  reverses.     But 


they  came.  Allowing  the  use  of  his 
name  on  endorsements  his  whole  for- 
tune was  swept  away  and  he  spent  the 
last  years  of  his  life  in  straightened  cir- 
cumstances. His  grave  is  in  the  same 
cemetery  as  his  father's  and  mother's, 
and  he  rests  by  the  side  of  his  first  wife. 
Thus  have  I  told  what  little  is  known 
of  four  generations  of  Andrew  Finck, 
all  of  clear  Palatine  stock,  honest  and 
useful  citizens  of  their  respective  times, 
without  a  stain  on  their  name,  whose 
descendants  are  justly  proud  of  them 
and  whom  we  are  pleased  to  honor  as 
citizens  of  our  present  County  of  Herki- 
mer and  of  our  mother  County  of  Mont- 
gomery. 


LOSS  OF  LIFE  IN  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  AND  OTHER 

WARS. 


AN  ADDRESS  BY  HON.  ROBERT  EARL,  OF  HERKIMER, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  September  14,  1897. 


Warlike  implements  of  destruction 
have  been  so  improved  and  brought  to 
such  a  degree  of  perfection  that  in  fu- 
ture wars  between  first  class  nations 
the  loss  of  life  will  necessarily  be  so 
great  that  peaceful  methods  by  negotia- 
tion and  arbitration  will  be  resorted  to 
for  the  settlement  of  international  dis- 
putes, and  the  conflict  of  armies  will  be 
avoided  whenever  possible.  Thus  the 
cause  of  peace  is  greatly  promoted  by 
the  improvement  in  arms. 

The  number  of  killed  and  mortally 
wounded  in  the  later  battles  of  moaern 
times,  in  proportion  to  the  number  of 
soldiers  engaged,  has  consulerably  in- 
creased. 

During  the  revolutionary  war,  1775  to 
1781,  130,711  regulars  and  164,080  militia, 
making  together  294,791  soldiers  were  en- 
rolled. During  the  war  the  killed, 
wounded  and  captured  or  missing,  in 
battles  and  skirmishes  on  land  and  sea, 
were  as  follows:  Americans  killed, 
3,282;  wounded,  7,709;  captured  or  miss- 
ing, 12,982;  aggregate,  23,973.  British 
killed,  3,286:  wounded,  8,913;  captured  or 
missing,  18.300;  aggregate,  30,499. 

In  the  single  battle  of  Gettysburg  in 
July,  1863,  the  greatest  battle  of  our 
civil  war.  there  were  more  persons  killed, 
wounded  and  missing  than  on  both  sides 


during  the  whole  revolutionary  war— 
the  union  loss  in  that  battle  being  23,186, 
and  the  confederate  loss  31,621.  There 
was  a  singular  resemblance  between 
that  great  battle  and  the  battle  of  Wa- 
terloo in  that  there  was  about  the  same 
number  of  soldiers  engaged  on  each 
side,  and  the  losses  were  about  same. 

It  has  been  estimated  by  competent 
authority  that  in  the  later  wars  in  this 
country  and  Eui-ope,  the  killed  in  the 
field  should  be  increased  by  about  60  per 
cent,  on  account  of  those  mortally 
wounded;  and  so  increasing  the  Amer- 
icans killed  in  the  revolutionary  war  in 
battle  by  60  per  cent  we  have  for  the 
total  number  killed  5,2.j1.  To  this  num- 
ber, however,  should  probably  be  added 
some  who  were  killed,  but  simply  re- 
ported as  missing;  and  I  think  a  fair  es- 
timate of  the  killed  in  battles  and  skir- 
mishes of  that  war  upon  land  and  sea  is 
about  5,500.  Thus  the  porportion  of 
killed  to  the  whole  number  enrolled  is 
about  1.90  per  cent.  To  get  at  the  total 
loss  of  life  during  the  revolutionary  war 
we  must  add  to  the  5,500  killed  those  who 
died  from  disease;  and  of  those  we  have 
no  statistics.  But  sufficiently  accurate 
statistics  of  our  civil  war  show  that  the 
deaths  from  disease,  including  those  who 
died  in  confederate  prisons,  were  double 


the  number  of  the  killed.  Applying  the 
same  rule  to  the  revolutionary  war,  and 
we  have  for  the  loss  of  life  due  to  cas- 
ualties in  battle  and  to  disease,  upon 
land  and  sea,  10,500.  It  is  certainly  safe 
to  say  that  the  whole  numtier  did  not 
much  exceed  that;  and  yet  Gordon  in 
his  history  of  America,  published  in 
1794,  (Vol.  3,  page  390,)  puts  it  at  70,000. 

In  our  war  with  the  British,  ISlS-l-T, 
the  number  of  our  soldiers  killed  in  the 
field  was  not  more  than  1,600,  and  the 
wounaed  were  3,500.  The  number  killed 
in  battles  upon  the  sea  is  unknown. 
There  were  not  more  than  30,000  soldiers 
in  the  army  at  any  one  time  and  not 
more  than  4,000  in  any  battle.  As  I  have 
not  been  able  to  find  the  number  of  sol- 
diers enrolled  during  the  war,  I  can  not 
give  the  proportion  of  killed  to  the  total 
enrollment;  but  it  was  evidently  very 
small  Military  arms  had  not  been  much 
improved  between  the  revolutionary  and 
the   later  war. 

In  the  Crimean  war  of  1854-5  the  allies 
lost  in  killed  and  mortally  wounded  3.2 
per  cent,  of  their  enrollment. 

In  the  French  and  German  war  of  1870  1, 
theGermans  lost  in  killed  and  raortaUy 
wounded  3.1  per  cent,  of  their  enroll- 
ment. 

The  number  of  killed  in  battles 
and  mortally  wounded  during  our  civil 
war,  1861-5,  was  about  100,000,  which  was 
about  4.5  per  cent,  of  the  enrollment, 
which  reduced  to  a  three  years'  standard 
was  3,320,272  men.  I'he  confederate  loss 
in  killed  and  mortally  wounded  was  over 
9  per  cent,  of  their  enrollment.  These 
percentages  of  loss  were  larger  than  for 
any  other  war  of  modern  times.  The  to- 
tal union  loss  during  the  civil  war  from 


casualties  in  bittle,  disease  and  all  other 
causes  was  about  325,000  -  about  14  per 
cent,  of  the  enrollment;  and  the  total  loss 
on  both  sides    was  over  500,000. 

The  regiment  which  lost  the  most  in 
the  civil  war  was  the  fifth  New  Hamp- 
shire. It  lost  in  actions  295  men  killed 
and  mortally  wounded,  18  of  whom  were 
officers.  The  regiment  suffering  the  next 
greatest  loss  was  the  83d  Pennsylvania, 
which  lost  282  men,  11  of  whom  were  offi- 
cers, two  colonels  having  been  killed  and 
another  wounded  and  crippled  for  life. 

The  number  of  killed  and  wounded  in 
some  of  the  battles  of  the  civil  war  were 
greater  than  in  any  other  battles  of 
modern  times,  being  as  high  in  some  of 
the  battles  as  from  50  to  80  per  cent.  In 
the  famous  charge  of  the  Light  Brigade  in 
the  Crimean  war  at  Balaklava  so  cele- 
brated in  poetry  and  prose,  there  were 
673  men,  133  of  whom  were  killed  and 
134  wounded— only  36.07  per  cent. 

The  battle  of  Borodino,  fought  Sept.  7, 
1812,  a  few  days  before  Napolean  en- 
tered Moscow,  is  said  by  historians  to 
have  been  the  bloodiest  battle  since  the 
introduction  of  gunpowder — the  killed 
and  wounded  on  both  sides  numbering 
82,000. 

The  time  will  come,  and  the  sooner  the 
better,  when  wars  will  be  regarded  as 
barbarous,  unworthy  of  civilized  peoples 
and  when  the  manufacture  of  warlike 
implements  will  be  superfluous.  Before 
we  have  entered  far  into  the  20th  cen- 
tury, I  believe  the  great  mass  of  rational 
beings  will  wonder  that  civilized  nations 
had  not  sooner  discovered  some  other 
way  than  the  bloody  resort  to  arms  for 
the  settlement  of  national  disputes. 


lUON  AND  THE   REMINGTONS. 


AN   ADDRESS   BY  ALBERT   N.    RUSSELL  OF   ILION, 


Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  September  14,  1897. 


The  history  of  Ilion  as  a  village,  both  ment  and  growth  of  the  village,    with  its 

as  to  its  origin   and  growth   up   to  the  great    industries,    viz:    Eliphalet  Rem- 

present  decade  is  so  intimately  connect-  ington,  (the  second  bearing   that  name) 

ed  with  the   lives  and  achievements  of  and  his  three  sons,    Philo,    Samuel  and 

the  Remingtons  as   to   warrant  the  com-  Eliphalet,  Jr. 

bination  in  the  title  to  this  paper,  as  well  The  father  of    the  Eliphalet  Reming- 

as  to  forbid   any   attempt  at  the  treat-  ton  referred  to,    also  named   Eliphalet, 

ment  of  the  first  independent  of  the  last,  was  born   in  SufBeld,  Hartford   county, 

The  proper  limits  to  a  paper  to  be  read  Conn.,  Oct  13,  1768,  and  his  wife,  Eliza- 

at  a  meeting  of   this  society,  however,  beth   Kilbourn,    in  Sandersfiield    in    the 

confine  me  to  the  statement  of  such  his-  same  state,    Aug.    20,    1770.     They  were 

torical    facts  regarding  the  growth    of  married   March    3rd,    1791.     Their  chil- 

the  village  as    are  coincident   with,  and  dren  were:    Elizabeth,  born  Feb.  2,  1792; 

inseparable   from,    the  progress  of    the  Eliphalet,    born    Oct.    28,    1793;    Aphia. 

Remington  works.     In  referring  to  the  born    May  13,  1800,   and   Samuel,    horn 

various  enterprises  and  industies   which  Jan.  11,  1808,  who  died  in  infancy, 

comprise  in   part    the    history  of    '"the  Elizabeth  married  Alanson   Merry  and 

Remingtons,"   I  shall  not  treat  each  in  was  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Aphia  Chismore, 

its  regular  sequence,   nor  in   detail,  but  now  living  in  Ilion,  aged  82  yeard;  John, 

shall  endeavor  to  make  a  brief  record,  living    in    Placerville,    Cal.;    Eliphalet, 


informally,  of  that  which  may  be  inter- 
esting to  those  who  may  consult  the  ar- 
chives of  this  society  in  years  to  come, 
and  with  a  conciousness  that  my  paper 
will  afford  but  slight  entertainment  to 
this  audience. 
The  appellation,   the   Remingtons,    is 


who  was  one  of  the  many  passengers 
lost  in  the  wreck  of  the  steamer  "Cen- 
tral America"  in  1857,  on  a  return  voy- 
age from  California;  EdwarH,  Charles 
and  Welthy,  deceased. 

Eliphalet  Remington,    the  founder  of 
the  Ilion   works,    married   Abigail  Pad- 


used  here  as  applying  principally  to  the  dock,  who  was  killed   by   being  thrown 

members  of  that  family  who  originated  from   a  buggy  by   a  runaway  horse  on 

and  conducted  the  manufacturing  enter-  Aug.  21,    1841.     Besides  the  three   sons 

prises,  the   development  of   which  have  his  children  were:     Mary  Ann,  now  liv- 

been  the  potent   factor  in   the  establish-  ing  and  widow  of  Rev.    Chas.    Austin, 

76 


and  Maria,  who  became  the  wife  of  the 
late  Lawrence  L.  Merry,  and  mother  of 
Seward,  now  living  in  lUon,  and  two 
daughters,  Carrie  and  Addie,  now  living 
in  Streator,  111.  Mrs.  Merry  died  March 
30,  1876.  Susanna,  another  daughter 
died  at  the  age  of  21,  unmarried. 

Aphia  P.,  his  sister,  became  the  wife 
of  the  late  John  S.  Avery  of  Litchfield, 
and  mother  of  four  eons,  William,  now 
deceased;  Sanford,  now  living  on  part 
of  the  homestead  in  Litchfield;  Samuel, 
living  in  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa;  Alanson, 
deceased,  and  four  daughters,  viz:  The- 
tis, wife  of  Lorin  True,  both  of  whom 
are  deceased;  Elizabeth,  now  living  in 
Ilion;  Mary  M.,  who  married  Thomas 
Davis  and  is  deceased,  and  Lucy,  the 
wife  of  James  Leveck,  now  living  at  or 
near  the  old  homestead. 

I  have  stated  that  the  first  Eliphalet 
Remington  and  Elizabeth  Kilbourn,  his 
wife,  were  natives  of  Connecticut,  and 
have  given  the  date  of  their  marriage. 
Their  first  three  children  were  born  in 
that  state.  In  1800  they  imigrated  to 
Herkimer  county,  first  making  their 
homes  at  Cranes  Corners,  where  Mr. 
Remington  worked  at  his  trade,  that  of 
carpenter,  and,  as  Mrs.  Chi&mora  in- 
forms me,  built  there  what  is  known 
now  as  the  "Old  Union  church." 

Previous  to  moving  here,  viz,  March 
22,  1799,  he  purchased  from  James 
Smith  of  Litchfield  50  acres  of  land,  the 
deed  for  which  is  of  record  in  180-1,  in 
the  first  book  of  records  made  after  the 
fire  which  destroyed  all  records  of  previ- 
ous date. 

His  subsequent  purchases  as  indicated 
by  the  records  gave  him  a  holding  of 
about  300  acres  of  land  covering  the 
territory  where  the  Columbia  Springs 
hotel  now  stands  in  the  gulph,  about 
three  miles  south  from  Ilioa,  and  suflfi- 
cient  land  along  Steele's  creek  at  that 
point  to  make  its  waters  available  as  a 
power  for  industrial  purposes. 

At  that  date  there  Vv'as  no  continuous 
road  leading  through  the  Gulph  toCedar- 
ville  from  where  Ilion  now  is,  but  in- 
stead one  crossing  Steele's  creek  to  the 
•  west  near  the  present  residence  of  Dennis 
H.  Dygert  and  following  near  the  creek 


to  where  the  Harrington  road  now  turns 
west  and  by  that  route  up  to  the  old 
Remington  farm,  then  down  the  hill  as 
now,  to  the  sulphur  springs  in  the  gulph 
and  along  the  creek  for  some  distance, 
then  again  taking  to  the  hills  on  the 
west  and  back  to  the  creek  at  Cedar- 
ville. 

This  made  the  senior  Remington's 
property  on  the  creek  a  suitable  place 
for  a  black-smiths  shop  and  gave  such 
control  of  the  steam  as  to  enable  him  to 
utilize  it  as  a  water  power  for  propelling 
machinery. 

The  foregoing  is  written  as  prefatory 
to  the  formal  introduction  of  Eliphalet 
Remington  the  second,  as  the  founder 
of  Ilion  and  its  industries  and^to. enable 
me  to  correct  some  errors  in  tradition 
and  written  history. 

The  first  relates  to  his  birth  place, 
which  has  been  given  as  Litchfield 
while  in  fact  he  was  7  years  old  when 
his  parents  emigrated  to  that  place  from 
Connecticut.  Other  errors  will  be  mani- 
fest as  I  proceed.  The  initiatory  step  to 
his  mechanical  and  business  career  was 
the  forging  of  a  gun  barrel  for  his  own 
use  which  was  done  in  the  blacksmith 
shop  referred  to. 

In  Beers  history  of  Herkimer  county 
it  is  stated  that  this  occurred  in  1816  and 
when  he  was  19  years  old.  If  that  was 
his  age  it  must  have  been  in  1812.  If 
in  1816,  bis  age  was  23,  for  he  was  7 
years  old  in  1800. 

From  all  the  informatioh  attainable, 
I  am  led  to  the  conclusion  that  the  black- 
smith shop  referred  to  was  in  fact  a 
forge  having  power  furnished  by  a 
water  wheel,  and  that  the  welding  of 
scrap  iron  into  bars  and  forging  the 
bars  into  crowbars,  pickaxes,  sleigh- 
shoes,  plow  shares  and  points,  was  car- 
ried on  there  as  well  as  horseshoeing  and 
general  repair  work  for  farmers  and  that 
the  industry  was  installed  by  [Eliphalet 
Remington  1st,  who  as  we  have  seen  was 
a  mechanic,  and  who  doubtless  was  well 
aware  of  the  mechanical  genius  of  his 
son  and  wisely  provided  for  his  estab- 
lishment in  a  congenial  business. 

The  association  of  the  father  with 
the  son,  and  his  active,  participation  in 


his  fentei-prises  continue (i  till  the  property 
where  the  great  manufactory  in  Ilion 
now  is,  was  purchased  in  1828,  and  his 
life  was  sacrificed  in  the  birth  of  that  es- 
tablishment. 

On  the  22nd  day  of  June  in  that  year 
while  engaged  in  hauling  the  timbers 
which  entered  into  the  construction  of 
the  first  shop,  he  was  thrown  from  the 
load  by  the  canting  of  one  of  them  and 
fell  in  such  a  position  that  the  wheel  of 
the  wagon  ran  over  him  and  injured 
his  spine  so  seriously  that  death  resulted 
after  5  days— on  the  27th. 

"Whether  young  Eliphalet  Remington 
forged  his  first  gun  barrel  and  with  his 
own  hands  produced  the  finished  gun 
because  of  his  father's  unwillingness  to 
buy  him  one,  as  stated  in  existing 
histories,  or  because  of  an  ambition  to 
achieve  such  a  mechanical  success  is  a 
question  of  minor  interest,  but  as  the 
initiatory  to  an  immense  manufactur- 
ing business  sending  its  products  to  the 
ends  of  the  earth,  and  the  founding  of  a 
village  ranking  among  the  first  in  the 
valley  of  the  Mohawk  it  becomes  of 
great  interest  auii  a  striking  illustration 
of  the  wonderful  developments  of  this 
age  and  of  our  locality. 

The  quality  of  this  first  gun  was  such 
as  to  create  in  the  neighborhood  a  de- 
mand for  others  of  like  efficiency.  In 
response  to  this  demand  barrels  both 
for  rifles  and  shot  guns  were  forged  and 
appliances  devised  and  put  into  use  finsh- 
ing  exterio)-  and  interior,  ready  for  stock- 
ing and  completing. 

In  those  days  no  factories  for  the 
manufacture  of  guns  were  in  exiotence, 
but  in  every  important  village  or  town 
was  to  be  found  a  gun  smith,  whose 
business  was  by  primitive  methods  to 
make  and  repair  fire  arras  for  those  liv- 
ing in  the  vicinity,  the  barrels  for  the 
same  being  imported  from  England  and 
Belgium  by  hardware  merchants.  Mor- 
gan James  was  the  leading  smith  in 
Utica  and  to  him  Mr.  Remington  took 
his  first  rifle  barrels  to  be  rifled,  often 
taking  as  I  am  told,  as  many  as 
he  could  carry  on  his  back  and  making 
the  journey  of  15  miles  on   foot,  return- 


ing with  a  like    load  of  those  left  on  the 
previous  trip. 

This  was,  however,  but  a  temporary 
expedient.  He  soon  had  a  rifling  machine 
of  his  own  in  operation,  and  was  pro- 
ducing more  efl'ective  barrels  than  could 
be  obtained  elsewhere.  Ponderous  grind- 
stones were  quarried  from  a  ledge  of 
red  sandstone  a  short  distance  up  the 
creek  from  the  forge,  and  used  to  grind 
the  exteriors  true,  and  to  the  desired 
form,  being  driven  by  water  power.  The 
reputation  of  the  Remington  barrels 
soon  became  so  great  and  extended  so 
far  that  the  gunsmiths  were  obliged  to 
use  and  the  hardware  merchants  to 
handle  them  in  order  to  retain  their 
customers. 

Thus  the  merits  of  these  products  be- 
came known  throughout  our  whole 
country  and  the  little  forge  assuuied  the 
dignity  of  a  factory. 

An  examination  of  an  account  book 
commencing  in  1823  shows  that  while 
the  making  of  gun  barrels  became  a 
prominent  part  of  the  industry,  the 
other  branches  of  work  were  kept  up, 
and  that  the  prevalent  method  of  paying 
workmen  in  part  with  "store  goods"  ob- 
tained with  them. 

Among  other  articles  manufactured 
there  was  one  the  use  of  which  is  little 
known  by  the  present  generation,  the 
cow  bell. 

The  work  was  carried  on  at  this  point 
till  1828  when  100  acres  of  the  John  A. 
Clappsadle  property  was  purchased  and 
removal  made  to  the  site  of  the  now 
village  of  Ilion.  To  this  purchase  several 
additions  were  subset^uently  made.  The 
firm  of  Hawes  &  Haines  succeeded  in 
the  occupancy  of  the  gulph  establish- 
ment, where  they  manufactured  carpen- 
ter's squares  and  edged  tools.  They  in 
turn  sold  to  John  F.  Brown  who  con- 
ducted the  same  business  till  about  1855 
and  then  sold  out  to  a  firm  who  re- 
moved the  works  to  North  Bennington, 
Vt.  This  Mr.  Brown  conceived  the 
idea  of  making  a  watering  place  by  the  I 
sulphur  spring  found  tlvere,  and  built 
the  brick  house  known  as  the  Columbia] 
Sprmgs  Hotel.  The  enterprise  was  un- 
successful and   the  establishment  is  at 


this  writing  in  a  seriously  dilapidated 
condition. 

Following  Mr.  Remington  to  his  new 
location,  we  find  at  "London"  now  the 
west  part  of  Main  street,  two  hotels  for  the 
accommodation  of  teamsters  and  canal 
men  and  a  third  near  the  site  of  the 
present  gas  works,  a  small  store  on  the 
site  of  the  new  Heacock- Walker  block,. 
a  canal  warehouse  where  the  recently 
built  brick  Hotaling  block  now  stands, 
and  perhaps  a  half  dozen  dwellings, 
mostly  farm   houses. 

The  first  structure  erected  by  Mr. 
Remington  was  a  dwelling  on  the 
ground  now  occupied  by  O.  B.  Rudd's 
jewelry  store.  Following  this,  came  the 
wooden  shop  directly  in  the  rear  of  the 
office  building,  in  the  tower  of  which  is 
the  town  clock. 

In  this  building  was  installed  the  ma- 
chinery for  forging  bar  iron  and  con- 
verting the  same  into  the  various  uten- 
sils previously  made  in  the  gulph  estab- 
lishment, and  for  making  and  finishing 
ready  for  market  barrels  for  rifles  and 
shot  guns,  comprising  in  part  a  large 
tilt  hammer,  several  light  trip  hammers, 
a  large  tub  bellows  and  grind  stones,  with 
the  necessary  horing  and  rifling  ma- 
chines. To  furnish  power,  water  was 
brought  from  Steele's  Creek  by  what  is 
known  as  the  "lower  race"  and  utilized 
for  driving  the  several  w^ter  wheels,  the 
waste  from  which  was,  by  an  arrange- 
ment with  the  canal  authorities,  dis- 
charged into  the  Erie  canal  as  a  feeder. 
Increasing  business  demanded  increased 
facilities;  a  stone  building  near  the  canal 
was  built  the  following  year  and  equip- 
ped with  water  wheels  and  trip  hammers, 
to  be  used  especially  for  welding  and 
forging  gun  barrels.  This  has  always 
been  known  as  the  "Stone  Forge." 

The  demand  for  the  Remington  gun 
barrels  had  by  this  time  become  so  ex- 
tended that  an  organized  shipping  de- 
partment became  necessary,  where  a 
supply  of  locks,  rough  gun  stocks,  butt 
plates,  patch  boxes  and  other  trimmings 
were  kept,  so  that  the  gunsmith  could 
obtain  his  complete  outfit.  For  many 
years  and  till  the  making  of  guns  passed 
from  the  gunsmith  to  the  factory,   this 


department  was  in  charge  of  Mr.  A.  C 
Seamans,  father  of  C.  W.  Seamans  of 
typewriter  fame. 

In  this  manner  the  business  was  con- 
ducted by  Mr.  Remington  with  such 
changes  and  improvements  as  exper- 
ience suggested,  till  in  1839,  he  entered 
into  a  partnership  with  Benj.  Harring- 
ton for  the  purpose  of  making  the  manu- 
facture of  iron  and  such  articles  as  were 
not  properly  connected  with  the  gun 
business,  a  separate  enterprise.  For  this 
purpose  they  built  a  dam  on  Steele's 
Creek  and  diverted  the  water  into  a  pond 
or  reservoir  on  the  land  now  owned  by 
the  heirs  of  John  Beihn.  near  the  pre- 
sent residence  of  William  Harrington, 
and  about  a  mile  south  of  the  Ilion 
works,  erected  thereby  the  necessary 
buildings  and  equipments  for  making 
bar  iron  from  scrap  and  from  the  iron 
produced,  made  the  utensils  commonly 
used  by  the  farmers  in  those  days,  also 
mill  spindles  and  such  other  irons  as 
were  used  in  grist  and  saw  mills. 

To  furnish  the  scrap  iron  used,  teams 
were  employed  to  traverse  the  surround- 
ing country  and  galher  it  in.  The  field 
of  supply  embraced  all  the  surrounding 
counties,  including  Oswego.  Il"fc)n  ore 
was  also  drawn  from  the  Clinton  ore 
beds  in  Oneida  county.  To  furnish  the 
fuel  the  timber  was  cut  from  the  sur- 
rounding hills  and  burned  into  charcoal. 
The  firm  also  built  and  operated  the 
saw  mill  known  as  "Harrington's  Mill," 
the  ruins  of  which  were  burned  about 
three  years  since. 

This  forge  was  operated  until  the 
manufacture  on  a  large  scale  and  in 
proximity  to  the  supplies  of  ore  and  coal 
rendered  it  unprofitable,  and  today 
nothing  remains  to  mark  the  spot  but  a 
remnant  of  the  diverting  dam  and  the 
banks  of  the  pond,  the  bed  of  which  is  a 
productive  market  garden. 

In  the  meantime  the  sons  of  Mr.  Rem- 
ington were  attaining  maturity.  Philo, 
who  was  born  October  81,  1816,  became 
of  age  in  1837;  Samuel,  born  April  11th, 
1818.  in  1839;  and  Eliphalet,  born  No- 
vember 12,  1828, in  1819. 

Philo  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools    and    at    Cazenovia    Seminary. 

7d 


Samuel  at  cotamon  schools  and  at  Wil- 
braham  Academy.  Eliphalet  attended 
Little  Falls  Academy  and  Cazenovia 
Seminary,  in  addition  to  the  home 
schools. 

Philo  remained  with  his  father  and 
became  master  of  all  branches  of  the 
mechanical  work,  while  Samuel  tried 
his  fortunes  for  a  time  in  railroad  con- 
struction in  the  west,  meeting  with  so 
little  success  that  he  soon  returned  to 
Ihon,  where  for  a  time  he  conducted 
busineFS  by  himself,  opening  a  store  on 
the  canal  bank  in  1845. 

In  1845,  war  with  Mexico  being  immi- 
nent, .our  government  entered  into  con- 
tract with  Ames  &  Co.,  of  Sprinlield, 
Mass.,  for  the  construction  of  several 
thousand  carbines,  the  invention  of  one 
William  Jencks.  For  some  reason  this 
company  desired  to  be  relieved  of  their 
job  after  having  commenced  to  execute 
it,  and  Mr.  Remington  purchased  the 
contract,  together  with  such  machinery 
as  they  had,  adapted  to  the  work.  The 
equipment  was  meagre,  but  combined 
with  his  own  facilities,  enabled  him  to 
execute  the  work  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  government.  Mr.  Jencks,  the  invent- 
or, came  on  to  supervise  the  work  and 
afterwards  built  the  brick  house  on  the 
north  side  of  the  canal  now  known  as 
the  John  A.  Rasbach  homestead. 

The  building  on  the  hill,  now  called 
the  old  armory,  was  built  to  enable  Mr. 
Remington  to  carry  out  this  first  con- 
tract, and  what  is  called  the  upper  race, 
constructed  to  bring  water  to  the  wheel 
by  which  the  machinery  was  driven. 

Thus  equipped,  Mr.  Remington  was 
ready  to  undertake  other  contracts  and 
before  he  had  finished  the  carbine  work 
he  had  an  order  for  5,000  "Harpers 
Ferry"  rifles,  and  before  they  were  de- 
livered, a  further  order  of  5,000  was  re- 
ceived, and  later,  an  additional  one  for 
2,500  of  the  same.  5,000  Maynard  self- 
priming  musket  locks  were  also  made 
during  the  years  1857  and  1858.  I  sum- 
arize  this  as  embracing  most  of  the  mili- 
tary work  executed  up  to  the  advent  of 
the  war  of  the  rebellion  in  1861,  but 
about  1857,  one  Fordyce  Beals,  invented 
a  revolver  which  Mr.  Remington  manu- 


factured under  the  inventor's  supervis- 
ion, and  the  making  of  pistols  of  various 
models  became  an  important  branch  of 
the  work  carried  on. 

Meanwhile  Samuel  had,  in  connection 
with  others,  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  broom  handles  and  brooms  and 
in  1851  or  1852,  in  one  of  the  buildings 
which  is  now  about  in  the  center  of  the 
group,  had  commeacedthe  manufacture 
of  Yales  patent  locks,  the  father  of  Louis 
Diss,  now  assistant  superintendent  of 
the  typeveriter  works,  having  charge  of 
the  work  After  a  year  or  so  be  also 
undertook  the  manufacture  of  safes  and 
vault  doors  for  banks,  John  F.  Thomas 
being  foreman  in  this  department. 
Among  the  establishments  equipped  by 
him  was  the  U.  S.  Mint  at  Philadelphia, 
In  1855  he  also  manufactured  200  breech 
loading  guns  of  a  model  patented  by  one 
Merrill,  but  the  system  did  not  prove 
praGtica't)le,  and  no  more  were  made. 

The  separate  enterprises  which  Samuel 
had  inaugurated,  were  abandoned  in 
1856  and  thereafter  all  the  business  was 
conducted  by  E.  Remington  &  Sons,  the 
three  sons  being  partners. 

About  that  time  Mr.  Charles  Sayre  of 
Utica,  invented  a  cultivator  tooth  which 
they  commenced  to  manufacture  on  the 
premises  where  the  safe  and  lock  work 
had  baen  done  and  Mr.  David  D.  Devoo 
became  foreman  of  that  work.  This 
may  be  considered  as  the  beginning  of 
the  agricultural  works  which  later  be- 
came so  extensive. 

During  the  period  between  1828  and 
1861  a  thrifty  little  village  wiih  about 
8(10  inhabitants  had  grown  up  around  the 
Remington  works.  A  postoffice  was 
established  in  1845  first  named  after  Mr. 
Remington,  but  at  his  urgent  request 
changed  to  Ilion,  a  name  suggested  by 
D.  D.  Devos,  who  was  the  first  postmas- 
ter, Mr.  Remington  had  built  himself  a 
substantial  residence,  the  brick  building 
on  Main  street  now  occupied  by  the 
Remington  Arras  Co.,  as  an  office,  the 
bank  block  and  the  Osgood  hotel. 

Philo  and  Eliphalet,  Jr.,  had  each  be- 
come established  in  homes  built  on 
Otsego  street  directly  opposite  the  first 
armory  buildings,    and  on  the  corner  of 


80 


Otsego  and  Second  streets,  where  tlie 
present  brick  Baptist  church  stands,  a 
Union  church  had  been  erected.  The 
stone  school  house  on  Morgan  street  pro- 
vided accommodation  for  educational 
purposes.  The  village  was  incorporated 
under  the  general  laws  in  1852,  but  sub- 
sequently a  special  act  of  incorporation 
was  obtained  which,  with  various 
amendments  and  substitutions,  remains 
in  force.  In  August  of  that  year  the 
Ilion  bank  was  incorporated  with  a  cap- 
ital of  $100,000,  with  Eliphalet  Reming- 
ton as  president,  he  holding  that  office 
until  his  death. 

With  the  advent  of  the  civil  war,  a 
new  impetus  was  given  to  the  work  of 
the  "Armory,"  the  new  name  now 
applied  to  the  woi'ks.  Orders  were  given 
by  our  government  for  army  and  navy 
revolvers.  For  the  manufacture  of  these 
many  new  and  special  machines  were 
purchased  and  tools  adapted  to  the  work 
made.  Additional  room  was  provided 
by  building,  and  steam  engines  installed 
as  auxiliary  to  the  water  power.  Work 
was  pushed  night  and  day,  but  the  re- 
quirements of  the  government  could  not 
be  met  in  full  and  a  building  was  rented 
in  Utica  and  equipped  for  pistol  work 
which  was  carried  on  there  for  a  short 
time  and  then  brought  to  Ilion.  Orders 
were  also  received  for  large  numbers  of 
the  regulation  U.  S.  Springfield  musket 
which  could  only  be  made  after  the  erec- 
tion of  several  large  buildings  with  cor- 
responding increase  of  expensive  ma- 
chinery and  the  necessary  tools  and  fix- 
tures. 

Under  the  pressure  of  these  new  de- 
mands upon  his  energies,  the  elder  Mr. 
Remington  was  prostrated  and  on  Aug. 
12th,  1861  his  remarkable  career  was 
ended,  the  second  sacrifice  to  an  enter- 
prise of  which  communities  and  nations 
were  to  be  the  beneficiaries.  His  burial 
place  was  in  the  village  cemetery,  in  a 
spot  selected  by  him  while  surveying  the 
land  first  purchased  in  Ilion. 

I  cannot  speak  of  the  personalities  of 
Mr.  Remington  from  the  standpoint  of 
an  acquaintance,  his  death  occurriog  a 
few  weeks  before  I  became  a  resident  of 
Ilion,  but  as  gathered   from  others  only. 


In  stature  he  was  tall,  of  muscular  build 
and  capable  of  great  endurance.  His 
manners  were  gentle  and  kindly,  but  his 
resolutions  were  firm,  and  obedience 
was  enforced  in  the  execution  of  his 
plans.  His  education  was  such  as  was 
afl"orded  by  the  local  schools,  but  he  was 
a  careful  reader  and  became  a  well  in- 
formed man.  His  habits  were  strictly 
temperate,  his  morals  pure.  As  a  neigh- 
bor he  was  always  kind  and  obliging.  In 
every  movement  to  promote  the  interests 
of  the  village  he  was  a  leader  and  co- 
worker. He  was  a  man  of  sterling  in- 
tegrity and  had  the  implicit  confidence 
of  his  employes  who  always  sought  his 
advice  and  counsel.  In  politics  ho  was 
an  old  line  whig  until  the  advent  of  the 
republican  party  with  which  he  early 
identified  himself. 

In  his  religious  views  he  was  liberal 
rather  than  sectarian  and  he  contributed 
generously  for  building  a  union  church 
to  be  free  for  the  use  of  all  denomina- 
tions, regarding  that  the  best  way  to 
promote  the  religious  interests  of  a  com- 
munity as  small,  as  Ilion  then  was.  A 
strict  economist  lie  wasted  neither  time 
nor  money,  but  I  am  persuaded  that  he 
was  not  greedy,  and  that  an  ambition  to 
be  rich  was  far  from  being  his  impelling 
motor.  With  men  of  his  type,  it  seems  to 
be  an  impulse  to  do,  to  develope,  to  pro- 
duce and  improve,  which  has  no  need  for 
avarice  as  a  motive  power  or  selfishness 
as  an  incentive  to  economy.  He  evi- 
dently had  but  little  taste  for  business  as 
conducted  b^  office  machinery.  It  has 
been  said  of  him  that  "he  carried  his 
office  in  his  hat."  This  saying  was 
doubtless  inspired  \ti  part  by  his  custom 
of  carrying  his  current  letters  and  papers 
in  the  tall  hat  which  he  commonly  wore 
instead  of  in  the  inside  pocket  as  many 
of  us  do.  ; 

In  looking  over  his  books  I  find  none 
of  those  special  accounts  nuw  so  gen- 
erally kept;  such  as  construction,  repair, 
tools  and  machinery,  etc.,  nor  of  inter- 
est or  expense  accounts,  bills  receiv- 
able and  payable  and  other  entries  serv- 
ing in  any  way  to  indicate  his  financial 
condition  or  business  profits.  An  un- 
usually retentive  memory  seems  to  have 


81 


etiabled  him  to  carry  under  his  hat  a 
greater  part  of  that  which  is  usually  con- 
lided  to  the  keeping  of  the  ledger. 

I  am  able  to  pronounce  no  greater 
euloj;y  upon  his  character  than  by  say- 
ing that  during  tlie  thirty-six  years  I 
have  Uved  in  Herkimer  county,  I  have 
never  heard  him  spoken  of  except  in 
terms  of  respect  and  commendation. 

The  management  of  the  manufactur- 
ing department  was  devolved  upon 
Philo,  the  oldest  son,  while  Samuel,  the 
second,  assumed  a  position  correspond- 
ing with  that  of  general  agent,  which 
made  him  the  negotiator  of  contracts 
with  the  government,  purchaser  of  ma- 
chinery materials,  etc.,  a  work  which 
required  him  to  spend  much  of  his  time 
at  the  capitol  or  in  the  business  centers 
of  the  country.  To  Eliphalet  was  left 
the  general  supervision  of  the  office  and 
particularly  the  correspondence,  for 
which  he  was  especially  qualified  by  rea- 
son of  superior  penmanship  and  great 
felicity  in  the  use  of  language.  The 
firm  name  "E.  Remington  &  Sons"  was 
retained  until  1865  at  which  date  the 
business  was  capitalized,  an  incorpora- 
tion being  effected  under  the  same  name 
with  a  nominal  capital  of  $1,000,1)00, 
and  a  plant  valued  at  about  |1, 500, 000. 
This  organization  covered  only  the  Arms 
business  and  properties,  other  interests 
being  retained  under  the  name  of  Rem- 
ington Brothers  or  by  the  brothers  in- 
dividually. 

The  work  was  pushed  with  unremit- 
ting energy  until  the  preparations  were 
complete  and  they  were  able  to  make 
regular  deliveries  of  muskets  to  the  war 
department. 

On  the  12th  day  of  April  1865,  immed- 
iately after  the  surrender  of  the  confed- 
erate army  by  General  Lee,  an  order 
was  issued  from  the  war  department 
stopping  all  further  purchase  of  arms 
and  munitions,  and  the  Remingtons 
were  notified  to  discontinue  the  produc- 
tion of  guns  and  revolvers  for  govern- 
ment use.  This  doubtless  as  a  neces- 
sary act  on  account  of  the  impoverished 
condition  of  the  treasury,  but  none  the 
less  cruel  in  is  effects  upon  the  company 
•which  had  incurred  a  large  indebtedness 


depending  upon  the  profits  of  govern- 
ment work  for  its  liquidation. 

With  resources  thus  cut  off  the  strug- 
gle for  life  became  intense.  The  liion 
bank  which  was  a  large  creditor  was  so 
deeply  involved  as  to  cause  its  suspen- 
sion and  Thomas  Richardson,  Esq.,  as 
receiver,  wound  up  its  affairs.  In  this 
connection  it  is  a  pleasure  to  record  that 
afterwards  when  returning  prosperity 
enabled  them  to  do  so,  the  Remingtons 
paid  the  stockholders  and  all  persons 
holding  claims  against  the  bank  in  full 
with  interest, 

During  the  progress  of  the  war  it  had 
been  clearly  demonstrated  that  the 
future  infantry  arm  must  be  breech  load- 
ing, and  in  anticipation  of  this  change 
the  company  had  already  availed  itself 
of  the  inventive  genius  of  Mr.  John 
Rider,  a  German  by  birth  and  a  resident 
of  Newark,  Ohio,  and  placed  under  hisi 
direction  a  corps  of  skilled  mechanics, 
John  V.  Schmidt  and  others,  who  were 
working  for  the  production  of  a  breech 
loading  rifle  with  the  qualifications 
necessary  to  secure  its  adoption  by  mili- 
tary authorities. 

The  company  possessed  the  confidence 
of  the  public  to  such  a  degree  that  credit- 
ors willingly  granted  extension  of  time, 
during  which  their  running  expenses 
were  met  by  the  proceeds  of  the  other 
branches  of  work,  and  in  due  time  they 
were  prepared  to  offer  the  governments 
of  the  world  the  simplest,  most  effective 
and  durable  fire  arm  the  inventive  genius 
of  the  age  had  produced. 

lo  should  be  stated  in  this  connection 
that  some  parts  of  the  mechanism  of 
these  guns  were  the  invention  of  parties 
outside  of  the  Remington  works,  the  use 
of  which  was  obtained  by  license,  with 
payment  of  royalty. 

The  manufacture  of  this  new  model  of 
gun  required  the  construction  of  a  com- 
plete set  of  tools  and  fixtures,  of  such 
accuracy  that  all  the  parts  would  be  in- 
terchangeable, that  is,  that  each  piece 
of  a  given  gun  would  fit  perfectly  into 
any  or  all  the  others.  The  cost  of  these 
tools  and  the  additional  machinery  re- 
quired a  further  outlay  of  many  thous- 
ands of  dollars,   but   with  a  faith  and 


82 


perseverence  that  yielded  to  no  dkcour- 
agements,  they  worked  on  till  in  1867  the 
government  of  Denmark  adopted  the 
gun  and  entered  into  a  contract  for  42,- 
000  stands  of  arms.  Mr.  Samuel  Rem- 
ington had  now  become  the  representa- 
tive of  the  house  in  foreign  lands  where 
he  remained  till  1877.  The  works  were 
run  night  and  day  and  the  contract  suc- 
cessfully executed. 

In   1867,   an   order  was  also  received 
from  the  naval  department  of  our  gov- 
ernment  for    12,000  rifles    which   were 
duly  delivered.     Spain  came  in  the  same 
year  for  85,000.     Next,    in   1868,    came 
Sewden  with  an  order  for  30,000,  follow- 
ed in  1869,  by  Egypt,  with  a  call  for  50,- 
000.     In  1870,  France  and  Germany  be- 
ing engaged  in  a  war,  for  which  France 
was    illy    prepared,     that    government 
came    to    Ilioa    for    help.       Unlimited 
orders  for    arms   were   given.     Neither 
buildings,  machinery  nor  tools  had  suf- 
ficient capacity  to  meet  the  demands. 
[     Large  additions  were    made  to  every 
department  and  the   working  force  in- 
creased till  1,300  to  1,400  men  were  em- 
ployed, a  large  number  of  whom  were 
skillful  mechanics.     The  regular  output 
of  rifles  was  800  to  1,000  per  day  besides 
great  numbers  of  pistols. 
■     So  excellent  was  the  management  and 
j  80  perfect  the  equipment  and  organiza- 
tion  that  the  product  per  day  for  each 
man  employed  was  largely  in  excess  of 
that  attained  in  the  Springfield  armory 
during   the   civil   war  or   of  any   other 
j  arms  factorv  in  the  world. 
I     A  most  marvellous  exhib  ition  of  capac- 
1  ity    and  skillfully  directed   energy  was 
made  during   the  latter  period   of  this 
undertaking   when   the  output  of  com- 
pleted rifles   was   1200  to   1300  per  day 
and   of  revolvers    about    200.     The  rec- 
ord  of  such  achievements  needs  no  com- 
mentary to  establish   the   reputation   of 
Philo   Remington    as  one  of  the   most 
capable  manufacturers  our  country  has 
!  produced.     The   work    was   done   under 
i  the  contract  system,  being  divided  among 
!  30  or  more    capable  contractors  under 
I  th?  direction  of  a  superintendent  and  the 
I  necessary  foreman. 


The  aggregate  number  of  arms  fur- 
nished France  was  145,000.  The  execu- 
tion of  these  contracts  had  resulted  in 
large  profits  by  which  the  debts  of  the 
corporation  were  liquidated,  and  the 
termination  of  the  transactions,  with 
France  left  them  with  a  surplus  which 
was  deemed  suflSciently  large  to  warrant 
a  dividend,  which  was  made,  approx- 
imating $2,000,000.00  to  which  smaller 
sums  were  subsequently  added. 

Previous  to  this  Col.  Watson  C.  Squire 
married  a  daughter  of  Philo  Remington 
and  became  prominently  connected  with 
the  business  management,  occupying 
the  positioti  of  secretary  and  treasurer 
and  by  virtue  of  his  position,  the  finan- 
cial executive.  He  also  acquired  the 
ownership  of  a  portiori  of  the  stock  of 
the  company  which  he  retained  for  a 
time  and  then  exchanged  with  Philo 
Remington  for  real  estate  in  Seattle 
Washington.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Eliphalet  Remington  in  the  office  of 
treasurer.  Incidently  it  may  be  stated 
that  by  appointment  of  President  Arthur 
Col.  Squire  became  governor  of  the 
territory  of  Washington  and  later  by 
election.  United  States  senator  from  the 
new  state,  which  position  he  held  for 
two  consecutive  terms. 

In  1872  the  state  of  New  York  having 
adopted  the  Remington  rifle  for  use  by 
the  national  guard,  made  a  contract  for 
21,000  which  were  duly  furnished, 

I  think  it  should  be  recorded  at  this 
point  that  in  the  spring  of  1870  a  board 
of  army  officers  appointed  to  test  the 
various  arms  which  had  been  invented 
and  were  seeking  adoption  by  our  govern- 
ment met  at  St  Louis,  Major  General 
Scofield  being  chairman.  About  fifty 
different  models  of  rifles  were  submitted 
to  the  most  severe  tests,  in  which  the 
Remington  was  victorious,  and  the  com- 
mission reported  decidedly  in  its  favor. 
This  report  was  fully  endorsed  by  General 
Sherman,  the  head  of  the  army.  This 
was  supposed  to  have  been  conclusive 
and  to  have  established  the  Remington 
as  the  national  arm,  but  by  methods 
which  are  not  subject  to  discussion  here, 
interested  parties  finally  procured  the 
adoption  of  what  is  known  as  the  '"Allin 


83 


Gun"  which  our  government  has  wasted 
millions  in  manufacturing,  and  now, 
strange  to  tell,  our  state  legislature  has 
committed  the  folly  of  providing  for  the 
exchange  of  her  Remingtons  for  these 
inferior  arms. 

Following  the  completion  of  the 
French  requisition,  came  in  quick  suc- 
cession an  order  from  Porto  Rico  in  1874 
for  10,000,  from  Cuba  the  same  year  for 
63,000,  followed  by  Spain  for  130,000, 
Egypt  for  55,000  and  another  from  Cuba 
for  26,5o0,  Subsequent  orders  executed 
for  the  government  of  Mexico  aggregated 
50,000  and  for  Chili  13,G00and  sales  were 
made  from  time  to  time  from  the  New 
York  office  and  by  Messrs.  Hartley  & 
Graham  aggregating  144,500.  The  dates 
given  above  are  of  the  first  deliveries  on 
the  several  orders.  For  work  executed 
subsequent  to  1875,  I  have  not  secured 
accurate  statistics,  but  I  am  informed 
by  Mr.  Frederick  Armstrong,  who  for  a 
long  time  was  book-keeeper  for  the  com- 
pany, and  who  has  kindly  furnished  me 
the  foregoing  data,  that  sales  to  the 
United  States  of  Columbia,  Honduras, 
China  and  other  governments  will  swell 
the  number  to  considerable  above  one 
million  arms  manufactured  and  deliv- 
ered. 

The  introduction  of  the  breeoh-loading 
rifle  was  accompanied  with  great  im- 
provement in  the  range  and  effective- 
ness of  military  firearms,  and  one  of 
the  qualifications  of  the  good  soldier 
must  be  expert  markmenship,  the  ability 
to  pick  his  man  at  a  distance  of  1,000 
yards  or  more.  Both  in  this  and  foreign 
countries  "ranges"  were  established 
where  both  soldiers  and  "teams"  of  men 
from  private  callings  engaged  in  prac- 
tice and  contests  for  superiority.  The 
Remington  "Creedmore  Rifle,"  of  which 
many  were  manufactured,  on  account 
of  its  great  accuracy  and  projectile 
force,  became  a  favorite  in  these  match- 
es and  with  it  victories  were  won  in 
both  national  and  international  matches. 
If  any  evidence  were  lacking  to  prove 
the  excellence  of  the  products  of  the 
llion  works  these  contests  furnished  all 
that  was  needed. 

The    conduct  of    a  business  of    sucn 


magnitude  and  so  intricate  in  its  details 
required  the  employment  of  numerous 
asistants  in  both  financial  and  mechani- 
cal departments.  Prominent  in  the  de- 
partment of  finance  was  Floyd  C.  Shep-  i 
ard,  who  retained  his  connection  with 
the  company  till  its  dissolution.  Thomas 
Richardson  Esq.,  was  their  legal  coun- 
sellor and  as  such  crossed  the  ocean 
several  times  in  their  interests.  i 

From  the  time  of  the  enlargement  of  i 
the  works  in  the  sixties  and  until  1877, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  W.  S.  Smoot, 
J.  M.  Clough  was  superintendent  of  tlie  j 
manufacturing  department.  Mr.  Smoot 
was  succeeded  by  John  Hoefler,  who 
continued  to  occupy  the  position  until 
the  business  passed  into  other  hands. 

For  several  years  John  F.  Thomas  was 
in  charge  of  the  machine  and  repair 
shop.  He  was  succeeded  by  Charles  E. 
Pettee. 

From  1861  to  1877,  the  writer  was  in 
charge  of  a  department  covering  freight  ^ 
and  transportation,  buildings,  fixed  ma- 
chinery and  millwright  work,  coal, 
lumber  and  supplies  of  a  general  nature, 
a  department  outsidfe  of  the  manufactur- 
ing line,  hut  intimately  associated  there- 
with as  an  auxiliary.  In  this  position  a 
general  knowledge  was  acquired  which 
was  doubtless  the  basis  of  an  appoint- 
ment to  which  reference  will  be  made 
hereafter. 

Mr.  Samuel  Remington  with  his  family 
made  their  home  in  London,  while 
abroad,  and  remained  there  till  1877,  a3 
stated,  when  they  returned  and  resid- 
ed in  New  York  city  till  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  December  1st, 
1892.  His  family  consisted  of  wife,  now 
deceased,  formerly  Miss  Flora,  daughter 
of  Benjamin  Carver;  three  sons,  Carver, 
Eliaphalet  and  Frank,  now  of  Chicago, 
and  one  daughter,  Jennie,  now  Mrs, 
Prettyman,  and  also,  I  believe,  residing 
in  Chicago.  My  acquaintance  with 
Samuel  Remington  was  less  thorough 
than  with  his  brothers,  hut  sufficient  to 
enable  me  to  estimate  with  some  degree 
of  correctness  his  qualities.  In  stature 
he  was  of  medium  hight,  with  an  incli- 
nation to  corpulency.  His  complexion 
was   fair,  his  hair  dark  and   a  pleasan 


84 


expression  of  the  eye  made  his  pies^encie 
agreeable.  I  think  he  was  an  ambitious 
man,  and  that  he  had  a  greater  desire  to 
maiie  money  for  personal  ends  than 
either  of  his  brothers.  He  taxed  his  phys- 
ical and  mental  powers  to  the  point  of 
utmost  endurance  and  chafed  and  wor- 
ried over  delays,  whether  unavoidable  or 
the  result  of  negligence  on  the  part  of 
others.  His  integrity  was  unquestioned 
and  his  success  in  negotiating  contracts 
with  foreign  potentates  testifies  to  his 
ability  in  that  line. 

During  the  Franco-German  war, 
France  not  only  gave  him  unlimited 
orders  for  arms  of  his  own  company's 
make,  but  made  him  purchasing  agent 
for  all  the  arms  and  munitions  which  he 
could  procure  in  this  country,  a  commis- 
sion of  great  responsibility,  involving 
transactions  amounting  to  many  mil- 
lions. 

He  was  not  in  harmony  with  his  broth- 
ers in  their  religious  convictions  and 
seemed  but  little  interested  in  church 
or  social  affairs.  He  was  a  friend  of  the 
common  school  and  a  liberal  supporter 
of  all  schemes  to  improve  the  village 
schools.  In  politics  he  was  a  republican, 
but  was  too  busy  a  man  to  devote  his 
time  to  political  work. 

In  the  settlement  of  his  estate  his  ad- 
ministrators sold  his  stock  and  all  his 
interests  in  the  business  of  the  corpor- 
ation to  his  brother  Philo  who  then  be- 
came chief  owner  as  well  as  manager  of 
the  business. 

Following  the  adoption  of  the  breech 
loading  rifle  as  an  infantr3"  arm  and  the 
systematic  manufacture  by  machinery 
with  interchangable  parts,  all  the  first 
class  governments  of  the  worldand  some 
of  the  lesser  ones  made  haste  not  only  to 
equip  their  armies  with  breeCh  loaders, 
but  to  establish  plants  for  their  manu- 
facture. Some  adopted  the  Remington, 
others,  models  devised  by  their  own  in- 
ventors. All  sought  to  make  themselves 
independent  of  foreign  countries  in  time 
of  war,  as  well  as  to  promote  manufac- 
turing industries  within  their  own  do- 
mains. 

The  Turkish  government  while  not  in- 
cluded in  the  first    class    is    among  the 


most  war  like,  but  too  near  barbarous 
and  destitute  of  skill  in  the  mechanical 
arts  to  be  competent  to  manufacture  her 
own  arms,  and  remained  an  open  field 
for  their  sale. 

At  one  time,  after  protracted  negotia- 
tions, the  Remingtons  were  at  the  point 
of  closing  a  contract  with  that  govern- 
ment for  400,000  rifles  when  a  party,  non 
official,  but  occupying  a  position  of 
great  influence  with  the  Sultan,  stepped 
in  with  a  demand  for  a  bonus  of  fifty 
cents  per  gun,  which  the  company  re- 
fused to  pay,  with  the  result  that  they 
lost  the  job.  Another  effort  to  secure  an 
order,  the  failure  of  which  was  of  great 
effect  in  determining  the  future  of  the 
company,  will  be  referred   to   hereafter. 

One  of  the  principal  and  most  em- 
barassing  features  of  negotiations  for 
government  contracts  was  the  almost  uni- 
versal existence  of  corrupt  and  secret  in- 
fluences which  never  could  be  measured 
nor  dealt  with  in  the  day  light.  With 
the  corruptionist  the  merits  of  things  to 
be  bought  or  the  price  to  be  paid  by  the 
governments  are  secondary  to  private 
plunder.  The  refusal  of  the  Remingtons 
to  pay  tribute  to  these  scoundrels  should 
ever  be  given  honorable  mention  in  a 
review  of  their  business  career. 

The  limitations  thus  put  upon  the  sale 
of  their  products  made  the  continued 
residence  of  Samuel  abroad  unnecessary 
and  led  to  his  return  as  before  stated. 
It  had  also  made  patent  the  fact  that 
new  lines  of  manufacture  must  be 
adopted  or  their  vast  pstablishment  be 
reduced  to  comparative  idleness.  Sport- 
ing rifles,  shot  guns  and  pistols  would 
employ  but  a  fraction  of  their  facilities. 
Machinery  and  appliances  for  making 
metallic  cartridges  were  added  but  this 
afforded  but  a  slight  reinforcement  to 
their  work. 

One  source  of  relief  to  which  I  have  not 
referred  was  however  thought  possible. 
The  great  sue  *ess  of  the  breech  loading 
arm  had  intensely  stimulated  inventive 
genius  in  the  line  of  improvement  of 
fire  arras,  and  the  magazine  rifle  gave 
promise  of  being  the  quick  successor  of 
the  breech  loader.  The  Winchester  and 
other  arms  manufacturers  were   quickly 


8.") 


in  the  field  with  successful  sporting 
rifles  of  that  type  and  the  Remingtons 
gave  inventors  in  this  line  employment 
and  mechanical  fatrilities,  hoping  there- 
by to  secure  for  themselves  a  position  in 
this  field  which  would  command  the 
patronage  at  least  of  the  minor  South 
American  governments  and  possibly 
some  of  those  of  the  old  world. 

Among  the  first  of  this  class  of  in- 
ventors was  one  John  W.  Keene  who 
produced  a  magazine  rifls  which  was 
deemed  of  sufficient  merit  to  warrant 
the  construction  of  tools  for  its  manu- 
facture. Numbers  of  guns  were  made 
both  for  military  and  sporting  purposes 
but  they  proved  to  lack  the  elements  of 
practicability  and  safety  and  their  manu- 
facture was  abandoned  leaving  a  lot  of 
unsalable  guns  on  hand  with  a  large 
amount  charged  to  profit  and  loss  ac- 
count. 

Another  and  more  successful  inventor 
in  this  line  was  James  P.  Lee  who 
brought  out  a  practical  and  meritorious 
military  arm.  Mr.  Lee  spent  several 
years  in  the  Remiington  works  utilizing 
their  facilities  for  experimenting  and 
model  making.  This  arm  was  what 
is  known  in  military  parlance  as  a 
bolt  gun,  common  so  far  as  this  feature 
is  concerned  in  various  forms,  in  Europe, 
the  distinguishing  feature  of  his  gun  be- 
ing a  detachable  magazine  or  case  carry- 
ing five  or  more  cartridges,  a  number  of 
which  could  be  carried  on  the  soldier's 
belt  and  when  required  instantly  at- 
tached to  the  gun,  the  case  being  de- 
tached when  the  cartridges  were  ex- 
hausted. 

After  securing  United  States  and  for- 
eign patents  covering  his  invention,  Mr. 
Lee  conveyed  his  rights  to  a  joint  stock 
company  organized  io  Connecticut  known 
as  The  Lee  Arms  Co.,  who  undertook 
the  manufacture  of  the  arm  at  Bridge- 
port in  that  state, 

That  compmy  was  unsuccessful  in  its 
attempt  to  manufacture  and  introduce 
the  gun,  and,  closing  their  works,  en- 
tered into  an  agreement  with  the  Rem- 
ingtons by  which  they  were  to  man- 
ufacture and  sell  under  license  with 
payment  of  royalty.     This  undertaking 


involved  the  investment  of  a  large  sum 
in  tools  and  fixtures,  with  a  capacity  for 
the  production  of  200  or  more  arms  per 
day. 

It  is  not  my  purpose  to  discuss  the 
wisdom  of  this  or  other  ventures  made 
by  the  Remingtons,  but  it  is  proper  to 
say  in  this  connection  that  the  fact  that 
the  government  of  Great  Britian  has 
since  adopted  the  Lee  gun,  with  some 
minor  modifications,  demonstrates  that 
in  this  case  their  estimate  of  the  merits 
of  the  arm  were  not  in  error. 

Believing  that  this  arm  would  find 
favor  with  the  governments  of  the  world, 
they  proceeded  to  manufacture  several 
thousand  stands,  but  military  author- 
ities seemed  to  be  in  a  waiting  rather 
than  a  buying  mood,  induced  in  part  by 
an  unusual  state  of  peace  among  the 
South  American  nations,  and  the  result 
of  the  whole  undertaking  was  disap- 
pointing with  a  serious  drain  upon  their 
resources. 

The  limited  and  imperfect  review  I 
have  made  of  the  Remington  industry 
from  its  incipiency  to  its  greatest  devel- 
opment is  sufficient  to  demonstrate  to 
the  candid  critic  of  the  management, 
that  from  first  to  last,  conditions  new 
and  untried  had  to  be  dealt  with,  de- 
cisions of  vast  importance  to  be  promptly 
made. 

Nations  had  confided  their  destinies  to 
their  keeping,  resting  the  powers  of 
their  armies  for  offense  and  defense,  up- 
on the  effectiveness  and  durability  of 
their  arms,  thus  making  them  respon- 
sible for  much  to  be  recorded  in  the 
current  history  of  the  world. 

In  the  conduct  of  this  great  business 
the  Remingtons  were  without  the  light 
of  experience,  were  not  schooled  in 
finance  or  diplomacy  and,  intensely 
burdened  with  the  cares  and  responsi- 
bilities of  the  present,  were  unable 
clearly  to  solve  the  extremely  difficult 
problems  which  the  future  presented. 

During  the  sojourn  of  Samuel  abroad 
as  well  as  after  his  demise  the  burden  of 
care  and  responsibility  rested  principally 
upon  the  shoulders  of  Philo,  Eliphalet 
being  led  by  his  tastes  as  well  as  con- 
victions of  duty  to  devote  much    of    his 


86 


time  and  energies  to  religious   and   phil-    people  that  for  which  he  wrought  and  to 


anthropic  enterprises. 

That  serious  mistakes  were  made  will 
not  be  denied,  but  those  who  indulge  in 
uncharitable  criticism  will  do  well  to  ask 
themselves  if  under  such  conditions  they 
could  have  made  as  creditable  a  record. 

In  making  statement  of  the  motives 
which  actuated  Mr,  Philo  Remington 
during  the  later  years  of  his  business 
career,  I  write  from  the  standpoint  of  a 
personal  friend  and  confidant  and  with- 
ut  the  necessity  for  res  orting  to  t  heory 
or  conjecture. 

After  the  point  was  reached  when  the 
debts     of  corporation    were    liquidated 


them  a  legacy  of  prosperity. 

I  have  referred  to  the  "Agricultural 
Works"  which  was  a  prominent  industry 
in  the  village  but  was  installed  previous  to 
the  period  just  considered.  The  instal- 
lation of  this  business  and  the  erection  of 
the  plant  was  by  a  joint  stock  company 
incorporated  Aug.  12,  1864,  the  first 
trustees  being  Philo  Remington,  Elipha- 
let  Remington,  D.  D.  Devoe,  James 
Sayre,  Henry  H.  Fish  and  Francis  Ker- 
Ban,  the  last  three  of  Utica,  The  busi- 
ness of  this  company  was  to  manufac- 
ture farm  implements.  The  plant  erected 
was  extensive  and  the  equipment  elabo- 


and  an  ample  surplus  was  in  hand  he  told  rate.  Making  horse  powers,  the  inven- 
tion of  Stewart  Perry  of  Newport,  and 
mowing  machines  under  license  from 
the  Walter  A.  Wood  Co. ,  and  the  Sayre 
Cultivator  tooth  constituted  the  prih- 
cipal  work  during  the    first  years  with 


me  that  every  selfish  impulse  prompted 
him  to  throw  off  the  cares  and  responsi- 
bilities of  business  and  spend  the  remain- 
der of  life  in  restful  retirement,  and  that 
but  one  consideration  prevented  him  from 


yielding  to  this  impulse.  A  large  vil-  plows  etc,,  as  a  minor  department, 
lage  had  grown  up  around  their  works.  In  1865  Mr.  Sayre  resigned  his  position 
the  inhabitants  of  which  were  dependent  as  trustee  and  was  followed  in  1866  by 
upon  them  for  a  livelyhood,  having  in-  Secretary  Fish.  At  the  annual  election 
vested  their  savings  in  homes  there.  In  on  Jan.  24,  1866  John  Dag  well,  R.  S. 
an  endeavor  to  insure  the  future  pros-  Williams,  Francis  Kernan  and  F.  T. 
perity  of  these,  he  felt  compelled  by  a  Woodford,  of  Utica,  and  Samuel  and 
sense  of  duty  to  labor  on,  and  if  need  be  Philo  Remington  were  elected,  thus  con- 
to  die  in  the  harness,  tinning  the  management  largely  in  the 
Anticipating  a  decline  in  the  demand  hands  of  Utica  parties. 


for  military  arras  he  could  see  no  way 
for  the  accomplishment  of  that  for 
which  he  felt  in  duty  bound  to  labor,  ex- 


From  the  first,  results  were  disappoint- 
ing and  the  business  a  loosing  one.  The 
causes  I  shall  not  discuss  further  than  to 


cept  through  a  change  from  the   manu-    say  that  the  rapid  development  of  agricul- 


facture  of  the  implements  of  war  to  those 
of  peace. 

The  effort  to  accomplish  his  noble  pur- 
poses was  marked  by  the  introduction 
of  the  manufacture  of  various  utensils  to 
be  used  for  domestic  and  business  pur- 
poses, to  which  reference  will  be  made 
liereafter.  Some  of  these  essays  proved 
slightly  remunerative  others  disaster- 
ously  unprofitable.  One,  eminently 
successful,  failed  to  attain  full  fruition 
during  his  life  and  ser^'e  as  a  reward  for 


ture  in  the  west  carried  with  it  the  es- 
tablishment there  of  factories  with  ad- 
vantages as  to  freight  and  supplies  of 
raw  material  so  great  as  to  place  eastern 
manufactures  almost  outside  of  the  range 
of  successful  competition.  The  Utica 
stock  holders  seeing  little  chance  for 
escape  from  greater  losses  conveyed 
their  interests  to  the  Remington  Broth- 
ers who  assumed  the  indebtedness  of  the 
corporation  and  operated  the  works 
thereafter.    The  reputation  of  the  stand- 


his  persistant  self  sacrifice.     But  it  can    ard  implements,  such    as    plows,    culti- 


not  be  said  that  his  efforts  were  in  vain. 
The  great  Typewriter  Works,  the  off- 
spring of  his  endeavors,  the  finest  man- 
ufacturing plant  in  Central  New  York 
and  the  pride  of  Ilion,  has  given   to  her 


vators,  hoes,  shovels,  etc.,  which  they 
made  was  always  good  and  they  doubt- 
less afforded  some  profit  but  efforts  in 
the  line  of  new  inventions  which  they 
were  induced  to  make,  more  than  offset 


87 


them  and  carried  the  profit  and  loss  ac- 
count to  the  bad.  Notable  among  these 
was  the  so-called  reversible  mower  the 
offspring  of  one  J.  F.  Crawford,  who 
succeeded  in  securing  the  confidence  of 
the  Remingtons  in  himself  and  his  ma- 
chine to  an  extent  that  probably  $350,000 
would  not  cover  their  losses.  The  Scat- 
tergood  Cotton  Gin,  an  invention  with 
apparent  merits  failed  to  realize  expec- 
tations and  helped  swell  the  losses.  The 
manufacture  of  iron  bridges  was  also 
carried  on  and  many  fine  structures 
erected,  prominent  among  which  were 
the  one  crossing  the  Mohawk  river  at 
Schenectady,  which  is  800  feet  long,  and 
locally,  those  crossing  the  river  at  Fort 
Herkimer  and  at  Mohawk  and  Ilion. 
The  works  were  kept  in  operation  with 
continued  efforts  to  introduce  new  and 
profitable  lines  of  manufacture  until 
April,  1886,  when  an  assignment  was 
made  to  Charles  Barter  by  \yhom  the 
plant  was  sold,  and  subsequently  passed 
into  the  possession  of  the  present  own- 
ers, Wyckoff,  Seamans  &  Benedict. 
During  most  of  the  time  A.  M.  Ross  had 
general  charge  of  the  manufacturing  de- 
partment, assisted  at  times  by  D.  D.  De- 
voe,  John  F.  Thomas,  Harrison  Brand 
and  others.  The  financial  management 
during  the  Utica  regime  was  by  John  C. 
Devereaux  as  treasurer  and  after  by  F. 
C.  Shepard  and  others  at  the  office  of  E. 
Remington  &  Sons. 

Among  the  first  and  most  important 
attempts  to  convert  the  armory  into  a 
manufactory  of  articles  for  domestic  use 
was  in  the  line  of  sewing  machines.  J, 
T.  Jones,  a  successful  inventor  and  for- 
mer employee  of  the  Singer  Sewing  Ma- 
chine Company  was  employed  and  the 
tools  and  good  will  of  a  company  operat- 
ing elsewhere  purchased.  At  that  time 
the  basal  patents  embraced  in  practical 
sewing  machines  were  owned  by  a  few 
companies  in  combination,  and  from 
these  licenses  bearing  large  royalties 
were  obtained.  Combining  the  inven- 
tion of  Jones  with  those  acquired  by 
license  a  machine  was  produced  sup- 
posed to  be  practical  and  placed  on  the 
market  through  an  elaborate  system  of 
agencies.     The  machine  failed  to  justify 


the  expectations  of  its  projectors  and  un- 
til in  later  times,  after  expensive  changes 
and  improvements,  obtained  no  stand- 
ing in  the  market. 

At  one  time  under  the  leadership  of  a 
man  by  the  name  of  W.  H.  Hooper,  a 
corporation  was  organized  called  "The 
Remington  Sewing  Machine  Company  of 
North  America,"  for  the  purpose  of  ex- 
ploiting and  selling  the  machine.  The 
Remingtons  were  the  principal  stock 
holders  in  this  concern,  but  at  their  so- 
licitation, blocks  of  stock  were  also 
taken  by  many  of  the  business  men  of 
the  village  and  by  others  outside.  Hoop- 
er proved  to  be  a  visionary  and  impracti- 
cable man  and  after  an  extravagant  ex- 
penditure in  the  equipment  of  offices  and 
agencies  the  project  fell  through,  the 
Remingtons  shouldering  the  losses  and 
refunding  the  subscriptions  of  outside 
stock  holders.  The  manufacture  of 
sewing  machines,  however,  was  not 
abandoned.  Mr.  Jones  was  relieved 
from  his  position  and  the  work  placed 
under  the  supervision  of  John  Hoetter. 
Under  his  direction,  improvements  were 
made  which  placed  it  in  the  list  of  first- 
class  machines.  In  the  mean  time  the 
basal  patents  on  sewing  machines  had 
expired  and  the  field  was  opened  for  an 
almost  ruinous  competition  which  quick- 
ly followed,  rendering  the  chances  for 
profits  exceedingly  meagre. 

In  1882,  Messrs.  Charles  Harter,  Addi- 
son Brill,  John  Hoefler,  John  V.  Schmidt 
and  O.  B.  Rudd  formed  a  company  call- 
ed the  "Remington  Sewing  Machine 
Agency,"  with  Mr.  Brill  as  manager  and 
from  that  time  all  sales  were  made 
through  their  agency.  This  proved  to 
be  a  practicable  arrangement  and  one 
that  if  earlier  adopted  might  have  avert- 
ed heavy  losses. 

In  investigating  the  causes  leading  to 
the  ultimate  failure  of  the  company,  1 
found  $734,000.00  charged  to  profit  and 
loss,  and  I  have  reason  to  believe  other 
items  not  included  make  the  loss  on  ac- 
count of  sewing  machines  a  round  sum 
of  $1,000,000. 

The  wonderful  discoveries  of  the  use  of 
electricitj"  for  lighting  the  streets  of 
cities  and  villages  seemed  to  open  a  field 


in  which  their  facilities  for  inaiuifactur- 
ing  could  be  profitably  employed  and 
electricians  were  employed  who  devised 
dynamos  and  lamps  together  with  the 
other  appliances  necessary  to  an  equip- 
ment, and  the  required  patterns  and  tools 
were  made.  The  village  of  Ilion  was 
partly  lighted  by  an  experimental  plant 
within  their  works,  with  such  effective- 
ness as  to  induce  its  adoption  in  Sche- 
nectady, Rome  and  Oswego,  and  in  some 
villages,  but  in  this  as  in  the  attempt  to 
introduce  their  sewing  machines,  they 
were  confronted  with  the  opposition  of 
the  powerful  Brush,  Edison  and  other 
competitors  and  no  permanent  success 
rewarded  their  efforts.  Profit  and  loss 
account  again  registered  to  the  bad. 

Omitting  reference  to  other  minor  es- 
says, the  typewriter  now  engages  our  at- 
tention.    In   the  year   1873,    Mr.  James 
Densmore,  with  whom  George  N.    Yost 
was  associated  in  some  manner,  came  to 
Ilion  to  induce  the  Remingtons  to  enter 
into   the  manufacture   of  an   instrument 
by  that  name,   of   which  Densmore  was 
in  part   inventor,    and    also    controlled 
other  patents  used   in  the  device.     The 
typewriter  he  brought    with    him    was 
crude  in  its  construction,    with  its  parts 
so  disproportioned  and  poorly  made  that 
!  it  barely  served  as   the  basis  for  a  model 
.  which  could   be  manufactured   by  ma- 
i  chinery.     But  it  would   write,  and  em- 
bodied  the   fundamental  characteristics 
of  the  machine  now  of  world-wide  fame 
J  and  utility. 

By  many  it  was  regarded  as  a  play- 
thing, with  little  prospect  of  ever  be- 
coming a  necessity  in  the  conduct  of 
business  correspondence  or  for  engross- 
ing legal  document". 

The     Remingtons     after    careful    de 

liberation  concluded   that  the  merits  of 

i  the  invention   warranted    them  in   em- 

'   barking  in  its   manufacture  and  entered 

'   into  acontract  giving  thtm  the  right  to 

:   make  and  sell  exclusively. 

j       The  work  of  remodeling   and    putting 

I   the  machine  into  a  praetiol  and   symet- 

i    rical  form  and  adapting  machinery   and 

;    tools  to  its  manufacture   required   much 

time  and  large  expenditures.     This  work 

was  confided  largely  to  W.  K.  Jenne  who 


has  superintende  1  the  manufacture  to 
this  date,  and  to  whose  practical  genius 
it  is  indebted  for  many  of  its  most  meri- 
torious features. 

With  this  as  with  other  products  the 
most  difficult  problem  was  hew  to  sell. 
The  public  must  be  convinced  of  its 
practicability  and  educated  in  its  use. 
Liberal  sums  must  be  paid  for  adver- 
tising and  agencies  established  and 
maintained  at  great  cost.  To  be  a  good 
manufacturer  is  one  thing;  to  be  a  good 
salesman,  another,  and  very  different 
qualification.  Philo  Remington,  pre- 
eminently a  manufacturer  was  without 
skill  as  a  vendor,  and  his  brother  whose 
health  was  not  good  and  whose  wife 
was  an  invalid,  had  neither  the  time  or 
endowment  for  an  undertaking  so 
difficult  and  extended. 

After  a  period  during  which  some 
machines  w'ere  marketed  through  the 
agency  of  Fairbanks  &  Co.,  of  New 
York,  and  the  New  York  office  of  E. 
Remington  &  Sons,  Clarence  W.  Sea- 
mans,  son  of  A.  C.  Seamans  of  Ilion, 
and  at  one  time  a  book  keeper  in  their 
office,  associated  with  himself  W.  O. 
Wyckoff  of  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  and  H.  H. 
Benedict,  then  engaged  in  the  Ilion 
office  of  the  company,  forming  a  part- 
nership under  the  name  of  Wyckoff, 
Seamans  &  Benedict.  Ihis  company 
entered  into  an  agreement  with  the 
Remingtons  by  which  they  became  the 
purchasers  and  sole  vendors  of  the  Rem- 
ingt'jn  typewriter.  These  gentlemen 
proved  to  be  well  fitted  for  such  an  un- 
dertaking and  readily  disposed  of  the 
then  limited  product  of  the  works. 
This  arrangement  continued  till  the 
spring  of  1886  when  Wyckoff,  Seamans 
&  Benedict  pirchisei  the  entire  in- 
terests of  E.  Remington  &  Sons  in  the 
typewriter  business. 

As  a  part  of  the  history  of  Ilion  it  is 
to  be  added  that  under  the  mangement 
of  these  enterprising  men  the  type- 
writer has  been  introduced  info  every 
part  of  the  civilized  world,  and  has 
become  a  necessity  in  conducting  every- 
department  of  public,  professional  and 
business  affairs. 


S9 


This  company  manufactured  type- 
writers for  three  years  in  buildings 
leased  from  E.  Remington  &  Sons,  and 
then  removed  to  the  plant  of  the  former 
agricultural  works  on  the  north  side  of 
the  canal  which  they  purchased  and 
equipped  with  a  complete  outfit  of 
machinery  and  tools,  especially  adapted 
to  their  wants 

To  the  already  extensiv^e  plant  they 
have  added  an  imposing  brick  factory, 
7  stories  in  height,  together  with 
several  auxilliary  structures.  This  added 
space  is  not  yet  fully  occupied  but  the 
equipment  is  most  elaborate  and  con- 
venient, and  when  complete  will  be 
second  to  no  manufacturing  establish- 
ment in  the  world.  In  every  depart- 
ment great  care  has  been  taken  to  pro- 
mote the  comfort  and  well  being  of  the 
employes  while  at  work,  and  the  sani- 
tary arrangements  are  both  elaborate 
and  scientific.  Notable  in  this  depart- 
ment is  an  equipment  of  free  baths  for 
the  use  of  the  workmen.  16  spacious 
bath  rooms  enclosed  with  polished  cy- 
press furnished  with  porcelain  tubs  with 
nickled  fixtures  and  supplied  with  hot 
and  cold  water  are  under  the  care  of  a 
special  attendent  whose  duty  it  is  to 
see  that  they  are  kept  scrupulously 
clean.  Here  the  workmen  may  culti- 
vate the  Godly  virtue  of  cleanliness  at 
their  pleasure.  Other  sanitary  con- 
veniences of  corresponding  complete- 
ness are  properly  distributed  through 
the  works.  In  response  to  the  generous 
efforts  of  the  proprietors  to  promote  the 
interests  of  the  workmen  a  cheerful 
compliance  is  given  to  the  rules  requir- 
ing neatness  and  decorum  on  their  part. 

B.  B.  VanDeusen,  the  general  manager 
ha^  displayed  great  ability  in  executing 
the  wishes  of  the  proprietors  in  these 
regards  and  in  organizing  the  various 
departments  in  such  manner  a^  to  pro- 
duce perfect  harmony  and  efficiency. 
The  present  output  is  100  improved 
typewriters  per  day  with  a  working 
force  of  about  800  men. 

With  the  business  of  the  country  now 
rapidly  improving  I  risk  little  in  promis- 
ing that  the  coming  year  will   witness  a 


swelling  in  the  number  of  employes    to 
1,000. 

With  a  full  and  hearty  recognition 
of  the  great  achievements  of  this  com- 
pany, let  us  not  forget  that  none  of 
these  things  were  possible  but  for  the 
beneficient  purposes  and  efforts  of  the 
Remingtons. 

Happily  the  privilege  to  be  noble  and 
generou3  is  not  exclu-^ive.  Clarence  W. 
Seamans,  with  a  liberality  prompted  by 
his  patriotic  regard  for  his  native  village 
in  1893  presented  it  with  a  beautiful 
"Free  Public  Library"  building,  erected 
at  an  expense  of  $30,000„  As  the  result 
of  public  subscriptions,  supplemented  by 
generous  gifts  of  books  by  Mrs.  Seamans 
and  others,  the  library  now  contains 
about  10,000  volumes  with  a  yearly  cir- 
culation of  43,000  volumes. 

The  management  is  by  a  board  of 
trustees  appointed  by  the  village  author- 
ities. The  present  incumbents  being  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  C.  W.  Seamans,  James  Conk- 
ling,  B.  B.  VanDeusen,  John  A.  Giblia 
and  Misses  Cornelia  Seamans  and  Harriet 
E.  Russell.  Mr.  Seamans  also  gives  gen- 
erous aid  to  other  public  institutions  in 
the  village. 

Mr.  Benedict,  without  the  inspiration 
of  nativity  has  won  the  gratitude  of  the 
people  of  Ilion  by  large  gifts  of  money, 
notably  to  the  Presbyterian  and  Baptist 
churches,  enabling  both  to  own  fine 
churches  free  from  debt. 

But  regard  for  your  patience  bids  me 
hasten  to  close  this  paper,  with  a  record 
of  events  relating  to  the  waning  career 
of  the  Remington?. 

The  undertakings  to  which  I  have  re- 
ferred rapidly  depleted  their  treasury 
and  reduced  them  to  the  ranks  of  debt- 
ors. Various  schemes  were  resorted  to 
in  order  to  bridge  them  over  what  wasj 
hoped  to  be  temporary  difficulties. 
Among  them  were  the  issuance  of  bonds 
as  security  for  loans.  Another  and  more 
hurtful  expedient  was  the  introduction 
of  what  was  known  as  '"the  order  sys 
tem"  by  which  employes  were  permit- 
ted to  purchase  their  supplies  of  the 
merchants,  giving  in  payment  orders  on 
the  company,  who  in  return,  issued  their 
notes    payable    in     one,    two    or    three 


00 


niintha.  This,  like  all  other  uusoiind 
financial  methods  simply  wrought  con- 
fusion and  financial  disorder. 

Not  anticipating    such   a  reversal  of 
conditions,  both  Philo  and  Eliphalet  had 
felt  at  liberty  to  make  disposition  of  the 
large  sums  received   from   the  dividends 
referred  to,  much  of  which  was  devoted  to 
I    educational,  philanthropic  and  religious 
I    institutions  (notably  to  the  Syracuse  Uni- 
versity.)   Some  large  investments  were 
!    also  made   which    brought  no  returns. 
!    Philo  was  also  seriously   embarassed  by 
yielding  to  the    solicitations  of  W.    S. 
I   King  of  Minneapolis  for  financial  aid  in- 
I   volving  large  amounts  just  at  the  time 
when  he   most  needed   all  his  available 
i   resources  for  the  protection  of  his  own 
i   interests.     The   reward  he  received  for 
his  self  sacrifice   was  an   ilL  stralion  of 
selfish  ingratitude  which   my   pen  is  in- 
j   competent  to  depict.     With  their  private 
resources  thus  depleted  they  were  not  in 
a  condition   to  relieve  the  situation  by 
the  use  of  peisonal  means. 

Apparently  bewildered  by  their  en- 
vironment they  entrusted  their  financial 
management  to  John  Brown  who,  less 
competent  than  themselves,  led  them  in 
a  kiting  down  liill  race. 

Just  then,  hopes  were  revived  by  the 
appearance  of  Turkey  in  the  market  as  a 
negotiator  for  600,000 stands  of  infantry 
arms.  Her  experts  had  reported  favor- 
ably upon  the  Remington  Lee  magazine 
rifle  and  hopes  were  indulged  that  the 
contract  could  be  obtained  and  thereby 
the  company  extricated  from  its  finan- 
cial stress.  Seeking  thereby  to  liquidate 
the  most  pressing  demands  and  gain 
time  for  obta'ning  more  p  ^rmanent  re- 
lief, early  in  March  1886  they  told  all 
their  interest  in  the  typewriter  busi- 
ness to  Wyckoff,  Seamans  &  Benedict  as 
heretofore  stated,  receiving  therefor  I 
think  1186,000.  This  move  failed  in 
its  purposes.  Some  creditors  were  paid 
from  this  fund  ;  all  wanted  to  be. 

At  this  juncture  Mr.  John  J.  Hannas 
came  to  the  front  with  a  scheme  for  an 
extension.  While  his  scheme  was 
deemed  chimerical  by  some,  and  of 
doubtful  practicability  by  others,  the 
company  determined  to   try   it,  and  in 


pursuance  thereof,  conveyed  a  m^ijority 
of  their  capital  stock  to  a  committee 
consisting  of  Addison  Brill,  John  L.  Mc- 
Millan and  myself,  who  were  to  assume 
the  management  of  the  business,  while 
Mr.  Hannas  was  to  secure  assent  from 
the  creditors  to  an  extension.  A  few 
days  sufficed  to  terminate  that  essay. 
Creditors  refused  to  be  put  off,  demand- 
ing immediate  payment,  and  failing  to 
realize,  they  resorted  to  legal  methods. 
But  one  course  remained  and  this  was 
promptly  taken.  Mr.  Brill  and  myself 
by  the  choice  or  Mr.  Remington  were  by 
Justice  Pardon  C.  Williams  of  the 
supreme  court  made  temporary  and  later 
permanent  receivers  of  the  estate,  with 
Thomas  Richardson  as  counsel.  Creditors 
were  restrained  from  farther  proceed- 
ings and  after  a  careful  survey  of  the 
existing  conditions  the  court  was  asked 
to  order  the  receivers  to  operate  the 
works  and  to  make  and  execute  con- 
tracts. Arrangements  were  made  with 
Hartley  &  Graham  of  New  York,  by 
which  they  took  a  leading  part  in  the 
negotiations  with  Turkey  which  at  times 
gave  promise  of  success.  The  co-opera- 
tion of  the  party  who  controlled  the  pre- 
vious contract  to  the  discomfort  of  the 
Remingtons  was  secured  and  success 
seemed  at  hand.  At  this  juncture  Ger- 
man influences  became  active  in  the  in- 
interests  of  the  German  Manufacturer 
Mauser.  The  German  minister  at  that 
court  actively  engaged  in  Mauser's  be- 
half, while  owing  to  the  vacancy  caused 
by  the  death  of  the  United  States  minis- 
ter S.  S.  Cox,  we  had  no  counteracting 
influences.  So  Mauser  carried  off  the 
prize. 

Thence  nothing  was  left  for  the  re- 
ceivers but  to  execute  such  minor  or- 
ders as  might  be  secured  ,  complete 
work  in  progress,  realize  on  assets  and 
wind  up  the  business  of  the  company. 
Two  years  elapsed  before  the  plant  was 
sold  and  owing  to  vexatious  litigation, 
four  more,  before  the  final  closing  of  the 
work  and  discharge  of  the  receivers.  The 
works  were  sold  at  auction  to  Hartley  & 
Graham  in  March  1888  for  the  sum  of 
$200,000.  Since  that  time  they  have 
operated  them  under  the  corporate  name 


91 


of  the  "Remington  Arms  Co  ,"  and  have 
continued  the  manufacture  of  small 
arms,  but  have  never  secured  large  gov- 
ernmental contracts.  They  have,  how- 
ever, made  bicycles  in  large  numbers 
and  have  employed  a  force  varying  from 
500  to  1,000  men. 

The  assets  of  the  corporation  as  shown 
by  an  inventory  based  upon  cost  with 
liberal  deductions  for  supposed  depre- 
ciation were  $1,711,783.94  with  liabilities 
amounting  to  $1,255,703.27  iibout  $450, 000 
of  which  was  secured  by  hypothicated 
goods  and  $65,000  was  due  for  labor, 
leaving  an  apparent  surplus  of  $456,- 
080.67.  From  such  an  exhibit  the  nat- 
ural conclusion  would  be  that  all  liabili- 
ties could  be  met.  But  here  comes  the 
difficulty;  guns  and  pistols  were  not 
staple  commodities  like  cotton  cloth  or 
pig  iron.  The  market  was  limited  and 
purchasers  could  fix  their  own  prices. 
So  also  with  the  plant :  there  were  no 
anxious  competitors  for  its  purchase  and 
it   had  to  be  sold  for  a  nominal  sum. 

The  receivers  were  able  to  pay  the 
labor  accounts  in  full  and  in  the  main 
the  secured  creditors  from  the  goods 
pledgeil.  Upon  all  unsecured  claims 
the  payment  was  36  per  c^nt.  Thus, 
after  nearly  70  years  of  life'  closed  a 
business  which  has  seldom  been  par- 
alleled as  to  ths  period  of  its  existence  or 
the  magnitude  of  its  operations. 

Let  not  the  clouds  of  misfortune  or 
mistakes  of  the  last,  obscure  the  vision 
from  the  masterly  achievements  of 
former  days. 

Philo  Rtmingtoa  saw  the  control  of 
the  great  business  pass  into  other  hands 
without  a  murmur,  and  cheerfully  ren- 
dered the  receivers  all  the  aid  in  his 
power  in  their  endeavors  to  administer 
the  estate  in  the  interest  of  creditors 
and  of  the  people,  with  whom,  and  for 
whom,  he  had  labored  so  incessantly. 
But  the  sudden  relaxation  was  more 
damaging  to  an  overtaxed  system  than 
continued  activity.  In  the  winter  of 
1888-89  accompanied  by  his  wife,  he 
visited  Florida  hoping  that  a  milder 
climate  would  aid  in  the  recovery  of 
waning  health.  For  a  time  it  was 
thouTrh    that  this  would  be    realized  but 


on  the  4th  day  of  April  at  Silver  Springs 
and  without  premonition  his  generous 
heart  ceased  to  beat.  His  stricken  com- 
panion with  his  remains  made  her 
cheerless  journey  to  thi.ir  home,  where 
impressive  funeral  services  were  held 
conducted  by  the  pastor  of  his  church 
assisted  by  former  pastors  and  those  of 
other  denominations  in  the  village. 

The  house  and  spacious  grounds  were 
crowded  with  the  people  of  his  own  and 
surrounding  villages  who  joined  the 
sad  procession  as  he  was  carried  by 
former  emploj'es  to  his  last  resting 
place  in  the  village  cemetery.  Never 
was  man  more  sincerely  respected  in 
life  or  mourned  in  death. 

The  personality  of  Philo  Remington 
was  peculiarly  attractive.  In  stature  he 
was  above  the  medium  with  every 
phj'sical  feature  well  developed.  A 
massive  head  crowned  with  a  luxuriant 
growth  of  waving  black  hair  which  lost 
none  of  its  beauty  as  time  tinged  it  with 
silvery  gray  and  white,  gave  harmony 
to  the  physical  endowment.  A  s^ympa- 
thetic  nature  beamed  through  kindly  ex- 
pressive eyes,  with  which  every  facial 
delineation  was  in  harmony. 

Modest  and  unassuming  in  his  man- 
ners he  led  without  pcmp  and  con- 
trolled without  force.  With  wonder- 
ful equipoise  and  self  control  he  main- 
tained alike  in  prosperity  and  adversity 
an  unruffled  temper  and  the  bearing  of 
the  true  gentleman. 

In  politics  Mr.  Remington  like  liis 
father  was  first  a  whig  and  afterwards 
a  repulilican.  For  many  years  he  was 
president  of  the  village,  but  aside  from 
this  he  neither  sought  nor  held  office. 
His  life  was  an  exempliticatioi  of  con 
sistent  Christian  character,  with  a 
membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  to  the  intere.'ts  of  which  he 
contributed    with   unstinted   generosity. 

On  December  28,  1841  Philo  Reming- 
ton married  Miss  Caroline  A.  Lathrcp 
who  survives  him  and  resides  in  Ilion. 
Their  children  were  Ida,  wife  of  Watson 
C.  Fquire,  and  Ella,  now  the  wife  of 
Howard  C.  Furman  of  New  York  City. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Squire  have  two  fons, 
Philo  R.  of  New  York   City  and  Shirley 


93 


of  Seattle,  Wash.,  and  two  daughters, 
Aidine  and  Marjorie,  at  present  re- 
siding with  their  grandmother  at  Ilion. 

Ella  has  been  twice  married,  Hrst  to 
E,  P.  Greene  of  Amsterdam,  N.  Y.,  who 
died  in  December,  1876,  leaving  three 
sons,  Frederick  Remington,  William 
Kimball  and  Harry  P.,  now  deceased. 

Eliphalet,  the  only  surviving  member 
of  the  family  whose  business  history  I 
have  so  imperfectly  sketched  still  resides 
in  his  native  village. 

As  has  been  seen  he  was  less  promi- 
nent than  his  brothers  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  business. 

A  zealous  Christian  he  has  devoted 
much  of  his  time  and  means  to  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  cause  of  education 
and  of  temperance  and  religion. 

Like  his  brother  he  possesses  a  fine 
physique  and  pleasing  manners.  He  en- 
joys to  an  unusual  degree  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him.  If 
I  am  privileged    to  name  his  greatest 


fault,  it  is  that  in  his  zeal  in  behalf  of 
others  he  is  too  forgetful  of  his  own 
interests. 

His  marriage  was  to  Catharine,  daugh- 
ter of  Louis  Stevens  of  Ilion.  They 
have  two  daughters,  Jessie,  now  Mrs. 
Wm.  I.  Calder  of  Harrisburg  and  Bertha, 
wife  of  T.  Elliott  Patterson  of  Phila- 
delphia, Pa,,  and  one  son,  Philo,  mar- 
ried and  living  in  New  York  City. 

I  have  already  made  this  paper  so 
voluminous  as  to  forbid  an  attempt  to 
bring  the  history  of  the  village  of  Ilion 
up  to  date.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  the 
present  population  is  about  5  000  and  is 
slowly  increasing.  The  proximity  of 
the  villages  of  Frankfort,  Mohawk  and 
Herkimer  which  are  connected  with  it 
by  an  electric  street  railroad  enables 
many  of  the  workmen  employed  to  re- 
side in  those  places  and  to  that  extent 
retards  the  growth  of  Ilion,  which  if 
isolated  would  doubtless  have  attained  a 
fifty  per  cent.  larger  growth. 


TWO  HISTORIC  HOUSES  IN  THE  MOHAWK  VALLEY. 

AN   ADDRESS   BY   MRS.    M.    B.    HEDGES,    OF   HERKIMER, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  May  ii,   1S97. 


In  much  of  our  patriotic  talk  about 
the  past  of  our  country  a  curious  as- 
sumption crops  out.  It  is  that  the  people 
who  colonized  this  country  were  as  new 
as  the  country  itself.  The  records  of 
their  past  before  coming  here  seem 
colorlebs  to  us. 

Pilgrims  and  Puritans,  into  whose 
blood  the  rigorous  climate  and  rocky 
shores  of  New  England  put  iron; 
cavaliers  sons  or  idle  commoners,  whom 
the  softer  airs  of  Virginia  and  the  South 
molded  into  aristocratic  plantation  mon- 
archs  or  "po  white  trash." 

This  is  not  a  true  view.  Men  change 
their  skies,  not  themselves.  We  put  too 
high  value  on  climate  and  environment. 
The  process  of  evolution  through  their 
means  is  age  long.  The  men  who  came 
to  these  shores,  Spanish,  French,  En- 
glish or  Dutch  brought  with  them  the 
ideas  of  their  kind,  the  traditions  of 
their  fathers,  the  asiiirations  of  their 
natures.  With  whatever  has  resulted 
from^  the  necessities  of  their  position, 
the  wars  which  they  inherited  and  helped 
carry  on,  the  mixture  of  races  that  en- 
sued, with  all  afcer  these  things,  that 
makes  the  American  of  today,  we  are 
not  now  dealing.  We  are  looking  back- 
ward—and not  around  or  before  us.  We 
have  chosen  to  turn  a  page  of  past 
history  that  we  may  put  ourselves  in 
the   mood  for   a    little    wandering  and 


sight  seeing  in  our  lovely  "Vale  of  the 
Mohawk"  and  for  the  story  of  two  of 
the  historic  houses  associated  with  the 
name  of  Sir  William  Johnson. 

Our  interest    is   not  with  the   houses 
alone.     Others  in   the  country  are  older 
and  far     more     imposing.     When  you] 
consider  that  the  primeval  forest  had  to] 
be  hewed  away  from  the  limestone  beds, 
and   roads  had   to  be  constructed  over 
almost  impassible  wilds  to  get  the  stones  1 
in  place,  they  are  wonderful,   but  then  1 
one    appreciates    the    exclamation     of 
Molly  Brant's  granddaughter,  who  after 
the  Revolution  returned   to  gaze  on  her 
lost  inheritance  and  Johnson  Hall. 

"How  have  I  lied  about  this  house," 
she  exclaimed.  "I  have  always  boasted 
that  there  were  none  as  big  nor  fine  in 
Montreal.  Why  !  there  are  whole  streets 
full  bigger  and  far  tiner." 

Our  interest  lies  not  then  with  the 
houses  but  with  the  founder  of  these 
houses  and  the  stirring  events  of  our 
history  which  transpired  within  and 
around  thtm. 

No  man  can  now  come  into  this  valley 
at  the  age  of  twenty-two  and  lay  the 
foundations  of  a  vast  fortune  on  an 
estate  surpassing  in  size  any  European 
noble's  demesne. 

No  man  living  here  will  be  consulted 
by  the  rulers  of  two  of  the  Great  Powers, 
or  kindle  on  his  home  hearth  the  council 


94 


fires  of  six  powerful  wild  nations,  rep- 
resented by  chiefs  of  bright  untamed 
and  unguided  intelligence. 

Such  a  career  Macaulay  should  have 
outlined  as  companion  piece  to-  that 
of  Warren  Hastings  in  India. 

New  lands,  or  newly  gained  pogses- 
sions  alone  afford  scope  for  such  spirits. 
In  tamer  times  of  peace  and  of  oppor- 
tunity to  small  men,  there  is  no  room 
for  ihe  adventure,  the  rude  hewn  states- 
manship, the  powerful  individual  con- 
trol, the  fierce    magnetism  of  such  men. 

Sir  William  Johnson  dealt  with  con- 
ditions forever  passed  as  regards  this 
valley,  vast  tracts  of  virgin  soil,  fertile. 
or  forested,  not  wholly  ignoble  wild 
peoples,  old  world  polit  cs  bringing  their 
clashings  into  a  new  arena. 

What  he  was  he  brought  here  from 
that  Old  World;  what  he  did  became 
part  of  the  history  of  the  New. 

As  a  forceful  man  who  deeply  im- 
pressed himself  upon  the  very  body  of 
our  Provincial  time,  who,  perhaps,  de- 
cided the  question  of  New  France  or 
New  England  and  New  York,  who  made 
it  is  claimed,  the  opportunity  for  this 
state  to  become  early  an  Empire  State, 
we  must  be  strongly  interested  in  John- 
son. 

We  do  not  judge  him  as  a  home  stay- 
ing Irish  Englishman  of  the  eighteenth 
century.  He  has  no  resemblance  to  any 
American  possible  in  this  valley  at  the 
present  time.  His  character  and  deeds 
must  be  examined  in  connection  with 
the  life  imposed  by  the  conditions  about 
him  and  we  must  turn  a  few  historic 
leaves  before  we  come  properly  to  the 
story  of  his  historic   houses. 

The  characteis  of  public  men  in  any 
age  are  proverbially  subjects  of  dispute. 
That  of  Johnson  is  not  an  exception. 
His  friends  have  lauded  his  services  to 
the  country  and  his  use  of  his  power 
over  the  Indians,  till  he  looms  in  biog- 
raphy a  figure  of  heroic  mould.  His 
enem'es,  on  the  contrary,  have  maligned 
his  motives,  exposed  the  blots  on  his  life, 
magnified  his  weaknesses  and  accused 
him  of  every  crime,  even  of  that  least 
plausibly    alleged,    disloyalty     to      the 


interests  of  the  Province  and  gross  self 
seeking. 

The  ignorant  have  confounded  the 
lines  of  his  life  and  policy  with  those 
widely  differing  of  his  son.  Sir  John 
Johnson  and  produced  a  monster,  which 
neither  friend  nor  enemy  can  recognize. 
Something  of  this  latter  spirit,  it  is  said, 
informs  the  traditions  which  still  linger 
about  the  neighborhood  of  his  residence 
during  life. 

For  succinctness  and  absence  of  harsh 
judicial  commeni  one  finds  of  value  the 
following  from  the  late  Francis  Park- 
man's  '"France  and  England  in  North 
America."  The  subject  is  the  expedition 
against  Crown  Point,  in  the  old  French 
war,  over  which  General  Shirley  ap- 
pointed Mr.  Johnson  commander.  The 
historian  says  : 

"He  had  never  seen  service  and  knew 
nothing  of  war.  By  birth  he  was  Irish 
of  good  family,  being  nephew  of  Ad- 
miral Sir  Peter  Warren,  who  owning  ex- 
tensive wild  lands  on  the  Mohawk  had 
placed  the  young  man  in  charge  of  them 
nearly  twenty  years  before.  Johnson 
was  born  to  prosper.  He  had  ambition, 
energy  and  an  active  mind,  a  tall,  strong 
person,  a  rough  jovial  temper  and  a 
quick  adaptation  to  his  surroundings. 
He  could  drink  fiip  with  Dutch  boors 
or  madeira  with  royal  governors.  He 
liked  the  society  of  the  great,  would  in- 
trigue and  flatter  when  he  had  an  end  to 
gain,  and  foil  a  rival,  without  looking 
loo  closely  at  the  means  ;  but  compared 
with  the  Indian  traders  who  infested  the 
border,  he  was  a  model  of  uprightness. 
He  lived  by  the  Mohawk  in  a  fortified 
house,  which  was  a  stronghold  against 
foes  and  a  scene  of  hospitality  for 
friends,  both  white  and  red. 

Here,  for  his  tastes  were  not  fastidious, 
presided  for  many  years  a  Dutch  or  Ger- 
man wench  whom  he  finally  married; 
and,  after  her  death,  a  young  Mohawk 
squaw  took  her  place.  Over  his  neigh- 
bors, the  Indians  of  the  Five  Nations, 
and  all  others  with  whom  he  had  to  deal, 
he  acquired  a  remarkable  influence.  He 
liked  them,  adopted  their  ways  and 
treated  them  kindly  or  sternly  as  the 
case  required,  but  always  with  a   justice 


95 


and  honesty  in  strong  contrast  with  the 
the  rascalities  of  the  commissiors  of 
Albany  traders,  who  had  lately 
managed  their  affairs  and  whom 
they  so  detested  that  one  of  their 
chiefs  called  them  "not  men,  but  devils". 
Hence  when  Johnson  was  made  Indian 
superintendent  there  was  joy  through 
all  the  Iriquois  confederacy.  When,  in 
addition,  he  was  made  a  general,  he 
assembled  the  wai-riors  in  council  to  en- 
gage them  to  aid  the  expedition. 

This  meeting  took  place  at  his  own 
house  known  as  Fort  Johnson  and  as 
more  than  eleven  hundred  Indians  ap- 
peared at  his  call,  his  larder  was  sorely 
taxed  to  entertain  them. 

The  speeches  were  interminable,  John- 
son, a  master  of  Indian  rhetoric,  knew 
his  audience  too  well  not  to  contest  with 
them  the  palm  of  insufferable  prolixity. 
The  climax  was  reached  on  the  fourth 
day  and  he  threw  down  the  war  belt.  An 
Oneida  chief  took  it  up;  Stevens  the  in- 
terpreter, began  the  war  dance,  and  the 
assembled  warriors  howled  in  chorus. 
Then  a  tub  of  punch  was  brought  in  and 
they  all  drank  the  King's  health." 

In  this  sumuiation  of  Johnson's  life 
and  affairs  all  is  touched  upon,  I  ut  much 
needs  a  further  word.  The  council  de- 
scribed was  in  1755,  twenty  years 
since  Johnson,  it  is  said,  driven  by 
the  pangs  of  love  forbidden  by 
his  father,  had  come  to  this  new 
country  and  after  spending  a  short  time 
with  his  uncle  at  the  historic  house, 
number  one,  Broadway,  had  begun  his 
career  in  the  Mohawk  valley,  at  first  as 
his  uncle's  land  agent.  He  was  at  this 
time  about  forty,  in  the  prime  of  his 
power  and  infiaence.  From  being  the 
boy  agent  of  his  uncle  he  had  become 
settler,  planter,  builder  of  houses,  forts, 
churches,  towns;  Indian  superintendent 
for  the  province  and  general  over  its 
white  and  Indian  troops. 

The  conclusion  of  this  very  battle  of 
Lake  George,  which  he  had  divested  of 
its  French  name.  Lake  St.  Sacrament  in 
order  to  pay  court  to  his  English  maj- 
esty, gave  the  king  occasion  to  confer  on 
him  a  baronetcy  and  a  fortune  of  5,000 
pounds. 


After  this  time  he  lived  in  true  baron- 
ial style,  If  his  tastes  were  not  fastid- 
ious in  the  matter  of  sharers  of  his  do- 
mesticity, chroniclers  of  that  day  speak 
highly  of  the  sense  and  womanly  charm 
of  Mary,  sister  of  the  famous  Brant.  Her 
presence  in  his  household  was  a  measure 
of  policy  towards  his  Mohawk  allies.  As 
such  it  was  successful  preventing  mau- 
rauding  and  bloodshed.  He  speaks  in 
his  will  of  his  beloved  wife,  mother  of 
his  three  white  children.  His  son,  John 
ennobled  and  enriched  by  the  King  of 
England,  played  the  part  of  tory  in  the 
v\-ar  of  the  revolution.  The  choice  was 
a  sharp  test  of  a  man,  on  one  side  f-eemed 
power  and  stability  on  the  other  up- 
heaval with  possible  death  and  ruin  im- 
minent. No  one  could  then  declare  his 
choice  fortunate.  Sir  John  chose  the 
part  of  self  and  the  odium  was  reflected 
on  his  father  whose  life  ceased  on  the 
day  in  which  it  is  conjectured,  he  had 
received  dispatches  from  England  that 
would  compel  him  to  declare  himself  for 
the  king  from  whom  he  had  received 
benefits,  or  for  a  country  as  yet  not  de- 
fined nor  consolidated,  in  whose  pioneer 
scenes  he  had  taken  so  prominent  a  part. 
What  his  decision  would  have  been  does 
not  entirely  appear  from  any  papers  he 
has  left,  but  we  like  to  think  from  his 
ready  and  bold  attitude  in  emergencies, 
the  integrity  of  his  conclusions  and  the 
fearless  good  sense  of  his  measures,  that 
he  would  not  have  been  found  wanting. 

His  daily  life  is  set  down  at  large  in 
his  letters  and  diaries  now  placed  in  the 
New  York  State  Library  at  Albany.  He 
was  a  man  of  affairs.  The  felling  of 
trees  and  clearing  of  vast  tracts  of  land 
was  done  under  his  supervision.  The 
hammer  of  the  builder  was  never  quiet 
through  the  length  and  breadth  of  his 
vast  estate,  nor  the  axe  of  the  settler  and 
the  great  natural  maize  lands  of  the  val- 
ley, cause  of  the  superiority  of  the 
Indians  of  the  Long  House,  were  fur- 
rowed for  the  sowing  under  his  direction. 
Almost  any  one  of  bis  days  at  any  period 
of  his  life  in  our  valley  would  unfold  a 
story  of  unmatched  novelty  and  prodigal 
energy.  This  is  equally  true  whether 
you  select  the  seventeen  years  from  1738 


to  '55,  when  he  was  land  agent,  Indian 
trader  and  superintendent  of  Indian 
affairs  for  the  province,  or  the  next 
thirteen,  when  general  over  the  allied 
forces  in  the  old  French  war,  or  from  '63 
to  '74  when,  after  building  for  himself 
his  last  and  mo«t  stately  mansion  and 
while  occupying  himself  in  teaching, 
pacifying  and  civilizing  his  Indians,  he 
^ied  after  a  long  exhausting  conference 
with  their  chiefs. 

Fancy  yourself  his  guest  at  some  time 
in  thesa  thirty  six  eventful  years.  These 
years  during  which  it  was  settled 
whether  we  should  now  or  not  be  speak- 
ing French  in  our  erstwhile  Dutch  State. 
Many  guests  were  entertained  at  John- 
son Hall  in  the  time  of  the  "Brown 
Lady  Johnson.'  Lady,  by  courtesy, 
«lear-eyed,  quick-witted  Indian  squaw 
in  verity. 

Lidies  of  gentle  English  birth  and 
stainless  breeding  did  not  disdain  the 
hospitalities  of  the  Valley  Baron,  though 
his  domestic  arrangements  were  known 
to  be  those  of  a  wild-wood  Bohemia. 
Imagine  yourself  one  of  these.  You 
might  write  thus  to  a  friend  in  the  home 
across  the  water  so  diverse  from  that 
now  sheltering  you  : 

Peovince  of  New  York,  America. 

The  ni>iht  of  my  arrival  here  was  star- 
lit and  Sir  William,  who  is  greatly  fond 
of  astronomy,  took  me  to  a  gentle  height 
above  his  house  to  point  out  the  constel- 
lations glowing  in  the  keener,  clearer 
air  of  these  western  skies, 

Thesa  few  moments  of  leisure  were, 
however,  snatched  from  him  hy  the  ar- 
rival of  a  tumultuous  mob  of  Indians, 
savage,  wiry,  boisterous,  accompanied 
by  the  glare  of  torches  and  barking  of 
dogs.  They  brought  news  of  a  quarrel, 
a  battle,  the  death  of  a  chief  and  dis- 
played a  bio  )dy  scalp  taken  as  scot  for 
kis  loss.  They  saluted  Sir  William  w.th 
ories  of  '"Warra,  Warra,"  an  abbrevia- 
tion for  Werraghara,  one  who  superin- 
tends or  cares  for,  his  Indian  name. 

The  task  of  pacifying  them,  of  separ- 
ating and  housing  in  batk  lodges  or  open 
«arap,  the  rank  and  file  of  the  rout  and 
bringing  the  chiefs  into  the  great  hall  of 
the   mansion:  of  ordering  food  and  ale. 


great  pewter  platters  of  steaming  meat 
and  huge  pewter  tankards  of  foaming 
drink  and  having  the  same  served  with 
unstinted  hospitality,  yet  with  consid- 
ered caution,  separated  my  host  from 
me  for  the  rest  of  the  evening.  In  the 
library'  I  was  joined  by  the  Brown  Lady, 
as  they  call  her,  for  whom  Sir  WMlliam 
exacts  due  observance  and  indeed  in  the 
charm  of  spirit  and  intelligence  she  is 
worthy  of  it.  She  soon  excused  herself 
on  the  plea  of  household  duty  but  I  im- 
agine that  her  aid  with  the  Indians  is  of 
value  to  Sir  William.  In  one  corner  of 
the  library  were  piled,  what  do  j'ou  im- 
agine ?  huge  bundles  of  skins,  pelts  of 
wolves,  beaver,  fox  and  of  many  a  soft 
brown  gliding  forest  thing  unknown  to 
me.  When,  afterward  I  begged  from 
Sir  William  an  explanation  of  this 
strange  furniture  of  a  library,  he  said 
they  had  just  been  brought  in  by  his  bos- 
iopers,  or  forest  runners,  white  men  who 
with  great  skill  and  swiftness  gather  in 
the  spring  the  fruits  of  the  Indian  win- 
ter hunting  and  bring  them  here  where 
they  are  packed  for  the  coast  towns,  or 
even  London  and  the  West  Indies.  I 
am  told  that  these  pelts  pay  twenty 
times  the  cost  of  getting  and  marketing 
them. 

I  did  not  sleep  heavily  in  this  forest 
mansion  beleaguered  by  dusky  forms, 
I  looked  out  at  their  camp-fires  and 
heard  the  guttural  tones  of  their  senti- 
nels and,  I  am  bound  to  add  of  savage 
roisterers. 

I  was  told  in  the  morning  that,  during 
the  night,  swift  runners  had  arrived  to 
tell  Sir  William  of  a  fight  between  the 
Iriquois  and  hated  Abenai-is  and  had 
bfen  heard,  refreshed  and  dispatched 
with  orders  and  advice  within  an  hour 
from  their  arrival.  I  breakfasted  abun- 
dantly, even  daintily,  fresh  fish  from 
the  rivers  and  game  from  the  forest  and 
my  host  constantly  urged  some  rare  old 
wine  to  give  me  courage  to  see  from  a 
shadowed  landing  of  the  staircase  my 
first  Iriquois  or  Mohawk  council. 

Grave  were  the  chiefs  and  solemn 
silence  prevailed  for  a  long  time  in  the 
great  hall.  In  silence  also  the  pipe  went 
round  from  mouth  to  mouth.     Although 


97 


prepared,  I  scarcely  could  recognize  my 
host,  painted,  plumed  and  dressed  in  In- 
dian costume  as  is  his  wont  on  impor- 
tant occasions.  Sir  William  spoke  first 
biiefly,  then  a  chief  arose.  He  spoke 
heavilj'  at  first,  but  warming,  threw  off 
his  duffle  blanket,  gesticulated,  shrieked, 
tears  even  ran  down  his  cheeks,  a  rare 
occurrence,  they  say,  his  brother  chiefs 
groaned  aloud,  sadly  he  proffei-ed  a  belt 
of  purple  wampum  to  Sir  William. 
Suddenly  another  brave  sprang  to  his 
feet.  His  voice  rang  like  a  trumpet  call 
to  war.  Here  and  there  others  sprang 
up  as  if  in  response.  There  was  a  clash 
of  sound  from  their  savage  harness.  He 
too,  presented  belts  of  wampum  at  every 
change  in  his  intonations,  each  belt 
sign  and  seal  of  a  compact  or  proof  of 
his  story.  His  speech  was  long,  fiery, 
tumultuous.  At  its  close  I  found  my- 
self with  clenched  hands  and  beating 
heart.  We  are  not  used  to  be  so  stirred 
in  our  languid  London  life. 

Sir  William  rejoined,  he  clasped  hands 
with  the  chiefs,  his  interpreter  also 
brought  out  strings  and  belts  of  wam- 
pum. A  belt  was  thrown  violently  on 
the  floor.  At  this  signal  a  wild  chorus 
of  unearthly  cries  arose  and  the  whole 
partj'.  Sir  William  at  the  head,  burst 
into  a  vigorous  war  dance. 

Afterwards  as  huge  flagons, ankers  and 
kegs  were  brought  into  the  hall  I  mide 
my  escape.  These  people  are  children 
but  there  is  in  their  manner  of  life  some- 
thing touching  and  heart-appealing  such 
as  belong  to  children  whom  we  pity  and 
would  help. 

This  morning  the  last  of  the  wild  pro- 
cession disappeared,  some  under  the 
near  forest  trees,  some  toward  the  road 
that  leads  to  the  Mohawk  River,  up 
which  thiy  will  go  in  canoes  and  bat- 
teaux. 

Sir  William,  himself  again,  has  just 
been  showing  me,  as  he  gave  audience 
to  a  number  of  masons  and  builders,  his 
plans  for  churches,  parsonages,  schools 
and  schoolmaster's  house,  inns,  court 
house  and  coopershops,  all  of  which  he 
is  building.  Presently  he  will  show  me 
details  about  dividing  this  great  county 
of  Albany,  making  treaties  and  receiv- 


ing a  visit  from  the  governor  and  his 
suite.  Then  he  will  lay  aside  all  these 
state  concerns  and  bring  me  some  flow- 
ers fromi  his  spacious  and  beautifully 
kept  garden,  will  show  me  some  speci- 
mens of  plants,  which  he  has  preserved, 
he  is  as  accomplished  as  a  botanist  as  he  is 
as  astronomer,  or  packets  of  rare  seeds 
lately  received  from  London. 

While  he  is  called  away  by  business  I 
amuse  myself  by  looking  over  his  num- 
erous philosophical  works  or  the  Gentle- 
men's Magazine,  Reviews  and  London 
newspapers  or  by  walking  in  the  grounds 
filled  with  choice  shrubbery  brought 
from  over  seav. 

Never  knew  I  such  a  man,  like  a 
seven  heated  furnace  consuming  all  fuel 
with  impartial  ardor  and  )4lowing  with 
the  fires  of  ceaseless  energies. 

No  two  days  are  alike  here  for  the 
swift  chances  of  the  savage  life  of  the 
Six  Nations  have  to  be  met  at  every 
turn,  as  well  as  the  pressure  of  negotia- 
tion between  Indians  and  English,  re- 
conciling the  swift,  fierce  hate  of  one 
side  with  the  calm  delays  of  the  other, 
and  it  were  enough  for  most  men's  activi- 
ties to  fill  the  part  sustained  by  Sir  Wil- 
liam toward  his  neighbors  of  deciding 
the  extent  and  bounds  of  their  purchas- 
ed tracts  and  whether  or  not  the  In- 
dians have  molested  their  rights  by 
passing  through,  or  using  their  lauds. 
Meanwhile  he  gives  ear  to  the  petition 
on  behalf  of  his  flock,  of  every  strug- 
gling minister  of  God  and  a  liberal  hand 
to  all  that  need  help. 

As  I  am  obliged  to  wait  until  Sir  Wil- 
liam's mail  is  made  up  and  he  has  an 
opportunity  to  dispatch  it,  you  must  im- 
agine some  time  passed  since  what  you 
have  read  was  written  and  I  continue 
my  letter  iu  diary  form. 

Last  Sunday  we  sec  out  in  Sir  Wil- 
liam's coach  and  six  for  the  church  at 
his  new  town  of  Johnstown,  built  by 
himself  and  said  to  be  the  "genteelest 
church  in  the  Province."  All  the  dwell- 
ers in  this  town  in  the  wilderness  are 
his  tenants  or  employed  by  him. 

The  school  which  was  built  for  the 
education  of  Molly  Brant's  children  is  free 
to  Indians  and  all.     The  parsonage  yard 


is  planted  with  trees  and  shrubs  brought  for  philosophical  book?.  One  of  his 
by  Sir  William  from  England.  The  blockhouses,  of  which  there  are  two, 
minister  came  out  of  its  door  in  gown  on 3  on  either  side  of  the  house,  is  full  of 
and  bands  as  we  drove  up.  He  was  fol-  philosophical  apparatus.  He  showed  me 
lowed  by  some  little  Indian  children,  an  underground  passage  to  the  block- 
whom  he  had  been  catechising.  I  was  houses  to  be  used  in  case  of  danger.  To- 
placed  in  Sir  William's  canopied  pew  morrow  we  go  with  a  large  party  of 
which  overflowed,  his  Brown  Lady  and  guests  to  his  elegant  house  on  the  Sacan- 
her  brood  of  nine  bemgall  in  attendance,  daga  called  Fish   House   where  he  has  a 

A  door  as  wide  as  the  entrance  to  a  shooting  cottage  in  a  spot  where  wild 
barn  was  a  novel  feature  in  the  side  of  duck  abound.  I  must  now  close  this 
the  church  and  during  the  service  Indian  long  epistle  with  my  duty  to  your  honor- 
men  went  in  and  out  of  this  door  or  able  mother  and  my  respects  to  yourself 
lounged  against  its  posts,  for  the  Indians  and  the  other  members  of  your  house- 
are  impatient  of  restraint  and  the  sittine  hold. 

posture  of  attention.  Outside  Indian  We  turn  from  this  possible  corres- 
children  played  around  tbe  few  tomb-  dondence  in  v\  hich  we  have  tried  to  look 
stones  yet  erected  in  the  church  yard,  into  the  life  of  an  eighteenth  century 
Opposite  was  the  pew  Sir  William  has  provincial  household  of  distinction  to 
had  erected  for  the  king's  majesty.  It  follow  the  history  of  Sir  William  John- 
is  handsomely  canopied  and  crowned  son's  remaining  days.  Troublous  times 
and,  of  course,    no  one  ever  occupies  it.  for  the  young  province   were  now   im- 

The  distractions    and    noise    were  so  pending, 

great  as  I  never  before   heard  in  a  place  Sir    William's    health    had    for  years 

of  public  worship,    but  Sir  William  will  been    undermined    and    the    bullet    re- 

not  have  the  Indians  restrained  against  ceived  at  Lake  George  caused  at  times 

their  natures  and  gains  them   so,  but  I  intense  suffering.     His  faithful  Mohawks 

could    scarcely    copy    his    devout   and  bore  him  on  their  shoulders  through  the 

hearty  manner  in  prayers  which  he  read  Adirondack  forests  to  a  healing  spring 

from  a  sumptuous  book.      It  is  part  of  which  they  alone  knew.  There  they  built 

his  influence  with   his  forest  children  to  him  a    bark  lodge  and  tenderly  nursed 

have  everything  about  him  of  the  very  him    while  taking  and    bathing  in  the 

best.  water.     Thus   he   inaugurated  Saratoga 

After  service,  the  minister,  the  doctor  and  made  the  virtues  of  its  waters  known 

and  some   friends  of  Sir   William  went  to  the  civilized  world.      Although  still  a 

back  to  the   hall   with  us,   most  of  them  sick   man  when   misfortune    had  over- 

in   their  own    carriages,    though   some  taken  his   Indians  he  listened   to   their 

were    on    horseback.      Dinner    was,   as  distressful   complaints  and  appointed  a 

usual  at  six,   every  one   in   full  dress,  a  day  of  July  for  what  proved  his  last 

surprising   variety   of  meats  and  wines,  meeting  with  them. 

a  dwarf,  whom  Sir  William  calls  "Billy"  Readers  of  history  will  remember  that 

enlivening  us  with  music  from  a  corner  the  conduct  of  the  notorious  Cresap  and 

perch    against    the    wainscot    and   two  other  land  agents  and  the  murders  of 

dwarfish  white  waiters  in  livery  assisted  the  famous  Chiefs,  Logan  and  Bald  Eagle 

by  a  number  of  black  slaves  as  servers,  were  the  occasions  of  this  famous  coun- 

There  was  a  chief  or  two  at  the  table  but  cil. 

fewer  Indians  than  I  have  seen  about  be-  Nearly  six  hundred  Indians  were  as- 
fore,  sembled  at  the  hall.    Saturday  the  9th  of 

Sir   William    is    now    writing    to  his  July,  1774,  was  occupied  in  laying  their 

bookseller  in  London  with  whom  he  has  grievances  before  their  "brother."    Sun- 

a  standing  order  for  all  new  books,  and  day  was  passed  without  conference,  but 

if  you  fear  miscarriage  you   may  send  on  Monday  at  ten  o'clock  the  baronet  be- 

your  packet  to  him  to  be  inclosed  to  the  gan  his  speech.     It  was  fervid,  but  tem- 

hall.     Sir  William  has  insatiable  appetite  perate,  bidding  them  refrain   from  out- 


rage  and  wait  for  justice  of  which  he  tary  exile  in  Canada  and  the  whole  glor- 
assured  them.  For  two  hours  he  spoke  ious  edifice  of  colossal  fortunes  lay  in  the 
earnestly  and  they  listened  intently  in  a  dust  under  the  trampling  feet  of  gather- 
broiling  sun.  Then  the  last  pipes  were  ing  armifs.  Never  was  there  such  com- 
smoked,  the  meeting  parted  to  give  their  plete  and  final  overthrow.  Sir  John 
reply  on  the  morrow  and  Sir  William  re-  Johnson's  retur   i  ad  march  of  hate,   re- 


tired to  his  library  —to  die. 

The  council  were  overwhelmed  with 
sorrow  and  turned  at  once  to  Sir  John 
Johnson  for  a  conclusion    of  their  busi- 


venge  and  massacre  through   the  valley 
made  his  tory  name    infamous    and    re- 
flect! d  dishonor  on  his  father. 
An  anecdote  heard  in  my  late   visit  to 


ness.     His  father's  burial   took  place  on  Johnstown  from  an  old  man   whose  still 

Wednesday  and    was  attended  by  about  ^lore  aged  informant    died    last  winter, 

two  thousand    persons    besides   the  as-  furnishes  a  fitting  pendent  to  this  historic 

sembled  Indians  and  distinguished  pro-  picture. 

vincial  dignitarifs  rp.  •           j                         i,       j  ^i    i.  •     u- 

^    ,                        .         ^          ,  ,  Ihia  aged  man  remembered  that  m  his 

The  Indian  ceremonies  of  condolence  ■       .      j     -i     •         ^u            •    i      i          ci^ 

^  ,,      .                  .  ,           ,  boyhood    during    the    period  when    St. 

took  place  the  following  day  with  marks  r  ,    ,      u       u          e          ^-               i     ^  j 

^  ^                               ,              ,    ,         „  John  8  church  was  for  a  time  neglected 

of  the  deepest  sorrow  and  many  belts  or  ,      .            ,           j    u-         u     i 

^                                   -^  and  ruinous,  he   and    his    school 


wampum  were  given  and  received.  Sir 
Guy  Johnson,  the  Baronet's  son-in-law 
took  upon  himself  the  conclusion  of  the 
Indian  business.  The  body  of  the  Baronet 
was  placed  in  the  ample  vault  he  had 
built  for  himself  and  his  ,  family  under 
the  chancel  of  his  church  at  Johnstown. 

His  will  made  six  months  before  his 
death  was  opened  according  to  English 
custom.  Besides  the  fervent  ascription 
with  which  it  begins  this  significant  sen- 
tence illumines  his  character.  I  do  ear- 
nestly recommend  my  son  to  show  lenity 
to  such  of  my  tenants  as  are  poor,  and 
an  upright  conduct  to  all  mankind, 
which  will  on  reflection  afford  more  sat- 
isfaction to  a  noble  and  generous 
inind  than  greatest  opulence.  But 
evidences  of  great  opulence  were 
not  wanting.  Over  170,000  acres  of 
land  ana  large  sums  of  money 
besides  houses  and  their  holdings  and 
other  valuable  property  such  as  two 
miles  "about  the  entire  salt  lake,  Onon- 
daga, where  now  Syracuse  and  other 
cities  stand  were  deviled  by  this  will 
which  covers  thirteen  pages.  The  larger  marked.  Then  its  site  was  settled  and! 
part  of  the  land  was  King's- land,  given  marked  at  the  four  corners  by  low  marblej 
him  by  the  king,  and  his  heirs  were  en-  posts.  The  first  Bishop  Potter,  of  New! 
joined  never  to  alienate  it.  York,  held  appropriate  services  beside  iti 

But  the  provisions  of  this  will  were  and  a  small  rectangular  slab  of  grayj 
never  carried  out.  In  less  than  two  years  marble  inclined  to  the  ground,  bears  thej 
the  cloud  of  war  had  burst,  the  son,  sons-    name  and  dates,  waiting  furt«»er  actionf 


mates 
were  in  the  habit  of  getting  throug  an 
aperture  which  gave  access  to  the  vault 
where  Sir  William's  coflin  had  been 
placed.  The  lead  envelope  of  the  coftin 
had  been  stripped  from  it  at  some  time 
in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  moulded 
into  serviceable  bullets. 

At  every  spring  and  fall  high-water  of 
the  Cayadutta,  the  vault  would  fill  and 
the  grim  bark  would  rise  and  float  to  the 
great  but  secret    delight    of    the  young 
navigators.     When    the  water  subsided! 
the  coffin  would  rest  again.     When   theJ 
church  was  repaired  after  the  first  tire  itj 
was  moved  so  that  She  chancel  vault  layj 
outside  the  building.     The  coffin  by  this 
time  ruinous  was  enclosed   with   the  re-| 
mains  in  a  new  case,  except  the  lid   witt 
Sir  William's  initials  anid    date    of  birthl 
and  death  on  it  in  brass  nails  according! 
to  use  at  that  time.     The  vauh  was  theal 
filled  up  and  the  lid  hung  in  the  chancel! 
to  perish  in  the    second  fire   whic  h    de-f 
stroyed  the  interior  of  the  church. 

Until    1863    the    grave    remained   un-J 


in-law,  the  brown  lady  and  her  brood 
and  many  adherents  of  the  Johnson  fam- 
ily had  been  swept  before  it  into    volun- 


of  Sir  William's  brother  masons,  fellow! 
churchmen,  descendants,  or  patriotic! 
markers  of  historic  spots. 


lOO 


Was  ever  a  story  of  overthrow  more 
complete,  more  epical.  From  a 
royal  province  to  a  great  free  state, 
from  one  feudal  domain  to  many 
farms,  home  steadings,  villages,  towns 
and  cities,  from  assured  fortunes, 
rank  and  honor  to  exile  and  infamy, 
from  stately  sepulture   brought    low   to 


Hudson  at  that  time.  It  is  2i  stories- 
high;  its  dimensions  64x34  feet,  the 
walls  from  foundation  to  garret  are 
two  feet  thick,  there  is  not  today  a  flaw 
in  them,  nor  has  there  ever  been  a  crack. 
The  roof,  now  of  slate,  was  previously  of 
shingles  and  at  first  of  lead  which  was 
used      for    bullets  in  the      Revolution. 


furnish  grim  sport  for  holiday  school  Around  the  house  he  planted  a  circle  of 
boys.  Such  changes  are  retold  in  his-  locust  trees,  two  or  three  of  which  re- 
tory  in  many  phases,  but  never  do  they  main."  (His  plantations  may  be  the  pro- 
cease  to  appal  us  with  images  of  the  genitors  of  the  locusts  seen  everywhere 
instability  of  all  things,  in  the  valley)  "His  gristmill  stood  on  the 

We  turn  with   relief  to  everyday  life  Chucuntunda      creek      which       flowed 

and  the  little  jaunt  for  the  inspection   of  through  his  grounds."    I  found   Akin   a 

the  two  best  known  remaining  houses  of  little  hamlet  of  perhaps  twenty  houses, 

the  great  provincial.  The  oldest  resident  said  that  its  name 

Fort  Johnson  or    Mount    Johnson,    at  should  be  Fort  Johnson  or  Johnson  but 

Akin,  three  miles  east  of  Amsterdam  is  the  other    old    inhabitant      said    some- 

a  large  house  built  of  limestone  now  dark  what    tartly    that  he  did    not   care    a 

with  age.     It  stands  a   few    paces  back  darn  what  you  call  it,  but  then  he   was 

from  the  great   "Four    Track"    road  on  locking  up  his  post  office  at  about  5  p.  m. 

sunken  ground    covered    by    a  leaning,  from  which  some  idlers,  dispossessed  by 

ungraceful  growth  of    old    locusts  and  his  action,  were  strolling   slowly  away, 

black     walnuts.       Behind     is    the    low-  What  could  you  expect  of  a   man  jaded 

browed  stone   barn,   often    occupied   by  by  the  heavy  responsibilities  of  postal 

Indian  guests  and  to  the  rear  rises  above  business  at  Akin. 

the  roofs  a  green  broken    hill   covered  Both    old  inhabitants  were    doubtful 

■with  the  same  dark  leaning  growth,   be-  as  to  a  possible  cup  of  tea,   thought  per- 


hind  the  house  are  now  mills  on  the  hill 
foot  and  by  the  banks  of  the  Chucun- 
tunda which  courses   towards  the  near- 


haps  I  might  get  it  at  the  tavern,  but 
the  uncertainty  prevented  my  making 
an  untimely  demand  on  the  resources  of 


by  Mohawk  forming  the  eastern  bound-  the  place. 

ary  of  the  grounds.     The  stir  of  young  As  I  sat  sketching  upon  the  low  stone 

life  coming  and  going  over  those  sunken  fence  that  encloses  Fort  Johnson  a  wo- 

grassy  lawns    overshadowed    by     grim  man  passed  me   wearing    shears  at   her 

boughs  may  make  the  spot  cheerful  but  side  in  the  old  tailoress  fashion.     Every- 

in  itself  it  is  a  most  dismal  place  seen  in  thing  about  Akin  seemed  primitive.  One 


a  cloudy  day  of  spring. 

There  are  now  no  traces  of  block  houses 
or  of  the  old  log  fort  which  stood  on  the 
mount. 


could  scarcely  imagine  the  bustle  of  the 
bygone  days  when  "Johnson's  Mohawk 
Valley  Flour"  was  barrelled  here  and 
shipped  to  the  West    Indies    and  Nova 


Compared  to  Johnson  hall  the  place  is    Scotia  and  when  twenty  or    thirty  men 
quite  unchanged  and  gloomy   enough  to   in  the  guard  house  oa  the  hill  were  ready 
bring  from  the  past  images  of  shouting    to  descend  to  the  help  of  the  young  set- 
savages  and  echoes  of  wild  war  whoops,    tlemt nt  if  needed. 
The  family  of  Mr.  Aikm,  who  resides  there 
in   summer,  not   having     yet      arrived, 
I  could  not  see  the  interior  but  after  hav- 
ing seen  that  of  Johnson  Hall  I  imagine 
that  I  lost  little  on  that  account. 

Mr.  Griffis  in  his  "Makers  of  America" 


The  Rev.  Washington  Frothingham, 
familiarly  and  affectionately  known 
iti  Fonda  and  Johnstown  as  Dom- 
inie Frothinghara,  and  said  to  be 
authority  on  all  matters  of  valley  his- 
tory,  told   me   that  Fort  Johnson    was 


thus  describes  Fort    Johnson    "probably   least  changed  of  all  the  historical  build- 
the  only  edifice  of  cut  stone  west  of  the    ings  attributed  to  Sir   William.      Earlier 

101 


in  the  day  I  had  visited  Johnstown,  a 
busy,  cheerful  city  of  about  25.000  in- 
habitants situated  about  nine  miles  back 
from  the  Central  railroad  in  the  folds  of 
rolling  hills  and  on  the  banks  of  the 
Cayadutta  creek  which  gives  power  to 
numerous  lumber,  furniture  and  glove 
making  factories.  The  creek  is  some- 
times lined  with  skins  of  deer  and  other 
animals  lying  along  its  banks  to  bleach, 
for  Johnstown,  Gloversville  and  the 
country  about  are  the  largest  glove  man- 
ufacturing places  in  the  world.  It  is 
from  this  locality  that  we  get  our  ''gants 
de  Paris'",  even  whee  we  carefully  bring 
them  over  and  duly  pay  duty  upon  them. 

It  was  this  bright,  tumbling,  rushing 
stream  of  the  hills  that  decided  the  loca- 
tion of  Johnstown  in  the  sagacious  mind 
of  our  Baronet  miller. 

Here  he  passed  the  last  years  of  his 
life  still  powerful  in  Indian  affairs,  but 
with  leisure  to  build  many  mansions, 
Guy  Park  and  the  houses  at  Sacandaga 
and  Broadalbin.  Here  he  laid  deep  the 
foundations  of  family  and  fortune  so 
soon  to  crumble. 

Johnson  Hall  is  changed  almost  be- 
yond recognition  of  who  looks  at  the 
early  prints.  Shutters,  porticos  and  bay 
windows  have  destroyed  the  ancient  fea- 
tures of  the  old  spacious  Manor  House. 

Mrs.  Wells, whose  late  husband's  fami- 
ly have  occupied  it  for  nearly  a  hundred 
years,  bears  the  nuisance  of  living  in 
a  house  subject  to  the  constant  intrusion 
of  strangers,  in  a  most  courteous  spirit. 
The  wide  old  fireplaces  are  gone,  gone 
the  loophole  and  undergroumi  passages, 
but  the  heavy  hewn  heams  of  the  gar- 
ret, the  mahogany  stair-rail,  hacked  its 
entire  length  by  the  hatchet,  it  is  said, 
of  Brandt,  and  the  rich  wainscoting  re- 
main. Also  the  five  old  poplars  still 
soar  in  sight  from  Johnstown  and  the 
circle  of  black  twisted  ancient  elfin 
lilacs  of  Sir  William's  planting.  These 
poplars,  like  lumber  piles  on  end  and 
these  elfin  twisted  lilacs  were  fresh  in 
bud  as  any  May,  after  their  century  and 
a  quarter. 


After  leaving  Johnson  Hall  I  visited 
St.  John's  church  which  after  two  fires 
still  preserves  in  its  walls' its  original  cut 
stone  brought  from  Tribes'  Hill  quarry. 

The  Black  Horse  tavern  is  now  a  tene- 
ment on  private  grounds.  The  jail  on  a 
commanding  hill,  once  the  old  fort  with 
its  newly  pointed  masonrj^  and  its  smart 
sheriff's  residence  looks  of  today. 

The  court  house,  once  of  Tryon  county 
and  whose  first  presiding  judge  was  Col. 
Guy  Johnson,  seems  not  very  ancient 
and  houses  the  collection  of  the  Histori- 
cal Society. 

The  leading  photographer  had  no 
photographs  of  especial  historic  interest. 
One  anecdote  gleaned  from  an  old  gen- 
tleman seemed  rather  interesting.  Al- 
though Sir  William  was  an  Episcopalian 
he  had  the  good  sense  considering  the 
interests  of  his  diversely  thinking  tenants 
to  make  his  church  edifice  as  well  as  his 
school  free  to  all.  This  led  in  after  times 
to  the  Presbyterians  in  good  faith,  no 
doubt,  claiming  the  ownership  of  the 
edifice-  A  lawyer  brought  the  suit  to  a 
close  by  showmg  that  as  the  original 
church  possessed  an  organ  then  con- 
sidered by  the  plaintiffs  a  "dell's  kest  of 
whistles"  it  could  not  have  belonged  to 
them.  This  same  old  gentleman  char- 
acterized Sir  William  as  just  a  loafer 
fond  of  rum  and  rustic  sports  such  as 
pig  and  pole  greasing,  etc. 

At  Fonda  I  visited  the  reverend  his- 
torian of  the  valley  mentioned  before. 
He  was  most  kind  and  next  to  his  own 
pleasant  old  colonial  mansion  pointed 
out  that  of  Jelles  Fonda,  a  historic 
house.  From  the  cars  in  returning  I 
saw  many,  among  them  Guy  Park,  Gen- 
eral Herkimer's  house,  the  very  inter- 
esting Palatine  stone  church  and  across 
the  river,  Fort  Herkimer.  The  material | 
of  history  lies  thickly  along  the  triple! 
roads  of  steel,  water  and  ancient  road  to 
Albany  that  divide  this  valley.  It 
should  be  gathered,  classified  and  stored 
without  further  delay. 


SLAVERY  IN  THE  COLONY  AND  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK. 

AN  ADDRESS  BY  HON.  ROBERT  EARL,  OF  HERKIMER, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  October  12,   1897. 

Slavery  iu  some  form  formerly  existed  the  Dutch,  as  afterwards  of  the  English 
among  all  nations.  History  does  not  government,  to  encourage  the  importa- 
carry  us  back  to  a  time  when  it  did  not  tion  of  slaves  as  much  as  possible.  The 
exisr.  It  must  have  had  its  origin  about  leading  merchants  of  the  city  of  New 
as  early  as  domestic  animals  were  sub-  York  were  engaged  in  the  slave  trade 
dued  and  forced  to  aid  and  facilitate  the  which  was  regarded  as  strictly  respect- 
labors  of  man.  able  and  honorable. 

Negroes  were  brought  to  this  country  The  Dutch  West  India  Company  was 
from  Africa  and  the  West  Indies  and  in-  organized  by  the  States  General  of  Hol- 
troduced  as  slaves  into  the  earliest  set-  land  in  1631  with  almost  unlimited 
tleraents.  The  Dutch  and  English,  power.  It  was  a  trading  and  colonizing 
sovereigns,  cabinet  ministers,  traders,  company  and  was  clothed  with  sovereign 
pirates,  and  all  kind  of  adventurers,  and  power  of  legislation.  lb  was  given  juris- 
even  a  city  in  its  corporate  capacity  be-  diction  of  the  province  of  New  York 
came  interested  in  the  slave  trade  and  and  other  territories,  and  it  bought  Man- 
derived  profits  therefrom.  hattan    Island    from    the    Indians    for 

I  have  not  been  able  to  find  that  slav-  twenty-four  dollars.  A  large  share  of 
ery  was  ever  established  anywhere  by  its  business  was  the  African  slave  trade, 
positive  law.  It  certainly  never  was  The  early  emigrants  to  this  province 
declared  right  by  any  statute.  It  was  from  Holland  were  generally  persons 
based  upon  might,  and  had  the  sanction  not  willing  to  engage]  in  common,  man- 
of  force  for  its  existence.  It  did  not  owe  ual  labor.  They  were  principally 
its  origin  to.  or  depend  for  its  exist-  traders,  adventurers,  sailors  and  specu- 
ance,  in  any  state  of  this  country,  upon  lators  m  pursuit  of  sudden  fortunes  m  a 
any  statute  law.  Down  to  near  the  be-  new  land.  Hence  for  many  years  after 
ginning  of  this  century,  negro  slavery  the  settlement  of  the  province  there  was 
was  recognized  and  tolerated  by  the  a  lack  of  servants  ;  and  to  supply  this 
common  law  and  customs  of  nations.  It  lack,  the  West  India  ConipsBny  intro- 
was  not  introducea  into  the  colony  of  duced  slavery  first  in  1629.  There  was 
New  York  by  statute.  It  simply  came  constant  complaint  by  the  Patroons  and 
here  under  the  auspices  of  the  Dutch  other  inhabitants  that  there  were  not 
West  India  Company,  and  then  was  rec-  slaves  enough.  In  1634  the  West  India 
ognized  and  regulated  by  ordinances  and  Company  instructed  its  subordinates  to 
statutes.     It  was  the  constant  policy  of  furnish  to  eacli  Patroon    twelve    black 

103 


men  and  women  "for  the  advancement 
of  t3ie  colonies  in  New  Netherlands;"'  and 
in  1640,  to  exert  themselves  "to  provide 
the  Patroons  and  colonists  on  their  or- 
der with  as  many  blacks  as  possible." 
In  1647,  the  Chambers  of  Account  of  the 
West  India  Company  complained  that 
^'jobbers  and  Jews"  bought  up  slaves  for 
cash  and  sold  them  for  an  advance  upon 
credit  at  one  per  cent,  per  month,  the 
slaves  being  hypothicated  to  them  for 
their  purchase  price.  Pirates,  engaged 
in  the  slave  trade,  brought  their  slaves 
here  for  sale  in  the  open  market. 

During  the  Dutch  rule,  I  can  find  no 
regulations  or  ordinances  for  the  pro- 
tection of  slaves  or  for  their  religious 
welfare.  They  were  generally  treated 
with  great  rigor  and  severity,  and  not 
uncommonly  with  brutality.  They  were 
frequently  branded  with  the  names  of 
their  owners  and  they  were  treated  to  all 
intents  and  purposes  as  merchandise. 
They  were  purchased  in  Africa  with  in- 
toxicating liquor  taken  there  for  that 
purpose,  and  they  were  exchanged  here 
for  pork,  beans  and;  other  provisions; 
and  in  1664  the  director  Stuyvesant,  in 
the  war  with  the  English,  recommended 
a  loan  of  5,000  or  6,000  guilders  for  the 
company  to  be  paid  "in  good  negroes  or 
other  goods  in  case  the  gracious  God  as 
we  hope  and  wish  will  grant  a  favorable 
result." 

These  wild  African  slaves  were  not 
well  fitted  for  manual  and  agricultural 
labor;  but  they  were  mainly  employed  as 
household  servants,  and  such  servants 
were  in  those  days  mostly  slaves. 

While  the  Dutch  colonists  were  con- 
stantly haunted  with  the  fear  of  a  slave 
insurrection,  they  frequently  feared  the 
Indians  still  more ;  and  in  1650,  it  was 
resolved  by  the  Commonalty  of  New 
Amsterdam  that  the  director  "shall  em- 
ploy against  the  Indians  as  many  of  the 
strongest  and  most  active  of  the  negroes 
as  he  can  conveniently  spare,  and  pro- 
vide them  with  a  small  axe  and  half 
pike." 

In  1664,  this  province  was  taken  from 
the  Dutch  by  the  English,  and  very  soon 
some  little  attention  was  paid  to  the  pro- 
tection of  the  slaves.     In  1686,  Governor 


Dongan  reported  to  the  home  govern- 
ment that  no  care  was  taken  for  the 
conversion  of  the  slaves  ;  and  in  the 
same  year,  the  second  of  the  reign  of 
James  II,  he  and  his  Council  were  in- 
structed to  pass  a  law  "for  the  restrain- 
ing of  inhuman  severity  wjiich  by  all 
masters  or  owners  may  be  used  towards 
their  Christian  servants  or  slaves  where- 
in provision  is  to  be  made  that  the  will- 
ful killing  of  Indians  and  negroes  may 
be  punished  with  death,  and  that  a  fit 
penalty  be  imposed  for  the  maiming  of 
them;"  and  also  "to  find  out  the  best 
means  to  facilitate  and  encourage  the 
conversion  of  negroes  and  Indians  to  the 
Christian  religion."  We  may  infer  from 
these  instructions  that  prior  to  that  time 
there  was  no  law  for  restraining  the 
cruelty  which  masters  could  practice 
upon  their  slaves,  and  that  it  was  not  a 
crime  for  a  white  man  to  kill  or  maim 
and  Indian  or  negro;  and  in  these  in- 
structions we  find  the  first  official  or 
governmental  step  taken  here  for  the 
conversion  of  the  slaves  to  Christianity. 
These  instructions,  however,  were  not 
altogether  effectual,  for  we  find  that, 
in  1699,  the  Earl  of  Bellomont,  then  gov- 
ernor of  the  province,  in  writing  to  the 
Lords  of  Trade  in  England,  said  that  the 
Provincial  Assembly  refused  to  pass  a 
law  facilitating  the  conversion  of  the 
slaves  to  Christianity  on  the  ground  that 
their  conversion  would  emancipate  them 
and  loose  them  from  their  service  "for 
they  have  no  other  servants  in  this 
country  but  negroes;"  and  when  Lord 
Cornbury  came  here  in  1703  charged 
with  the  administration  of  the  govern- 
ments of  New  York  and  the  Jerseys,  he 
received  a  long  list  of  instructions  from 
his  Queen,  and  among  others,  to  en- 
deavor to  get  a  law  passed  for  restrain- 
ing inhuman  severity  to  Christian  ser- 
vants and  slaves,  and  to  make  the  will- 
ful murder  of  Indians  and  negroes  an 
offense  punishable  wtih  death.  He  was 
also  instructed  to  encourage  the  trade  of 
the  Royal  African  Company  of  England 
whose  main  business  was  the  slave  trade, 
and  to  recommend  to  the  company  to 
see  that  the  colony  had  a  constant  and 
sufficient  supply  of  merchantable  slaves 


104 


**at  moderate  rates.^'  But  tlrese  mstrac- 
tions  for  the  protection  of  the  negroes 
still  failed  to  secure  their  purpose,  and 
in  1709,  Queea  Ann's  government  in- 
structed the  colonial  governor,  Hunter, 
"to  endeavor  to  get  laws  passed  for  the 
restraining  of  any  inhuman  severity 
which  by  ill  masters  or  overseers  may  be 
used  toward  Christian  servants  and  their 
slaves,  and  that  provision  be  made 
therein  that  the  willful  killing  of  Indians 
and  negroes  may  be  punished  with 
■death,  and  a  jusi  penalty  imposed  for 
maiming  them;"  and  "also  to  find  out 
the  best  means  to  facilitate  and  encour- 
age the  conversion  of  Indians  and 
•negroes  to  the  Christian  religion." 

The  slave  code  here,  as  embodied 
in  ordinances  and  statutes  was  as  bar- 
barous and  cruel  as  existed  anywhere  in 
this  country,  as  a  review  of  the  ordi- 
nances and  statutes  and  of  what  was 
done  under  them  will  show. 

I  have  not  been  able  to  find  any 
colonial  statute  regulating  slavery  here 
earlier  than  1684.  There  were  municipal 
ordinances  and  there  may  have  been 
regulations  of  the  Dutch  West  India 
Company  concerning  negro  slaves  at  an 
earlier  date.  The  slaves  were  placed 
under  the  most  rigid  restrictions.  Not 
more  than  four  were  allowed  to  assemble 
at  a  time;  and  they  were  not  permitted 
to  pass  the  city  gates  without  the  per- 
mission of  their  masters,  nor  to  bear 
weapons  of  any  kind,  nor  to  own  either 
houses  or  lands;  and  their  masters  were 
forbidden  to  set  them  free  under  a 
severe  penalty.  If  as  many  as  three  of 
them  were  found  together,  they  were 
punished  with  forty  lashes  on  the  bare 
back;  and  the  same  legal  liability  at- 
tended the  walking  with  a  club  outside 
of  the  master's  grounds  without  a  per- 
mit. They  could  not  buy  anjthing,  even 
the  necessaries  of  life,  they  could  not  be 
witnesses  against  a  free  man,  and  they 
were  punishable  by  master  or  mistress 
to  any  extent  short  of  life  and  limb.  In 
1711  a  public  market  for  slaves  was 
established  at  the  market  place  at  the 
foot  of  Wall  street  where  all  negroes 
who  were  to  be  hired  were  ordered  to 
stand  in  readiness  for  bidders.     In  1712, 


a  city  ordinance  was  passed  providing 
that  any  negro  slave  who  should  pre- 
sume to  appear  in  the  streets  after  night- 
fall without  a  lantern  with  a  lighted 
candle  in  it  should  be  committed  to  jail 
to  remain  there  until  released  by  the  pay- 
ment of  :p.  fine  by  his  master  ;  and,  as  an 
equivalent,  the  authorities  pledged  them- 
selves that  the  culprit  should  receive 
thirty-nine  lashes  at  the  public  whip- 
ping post  should  his  master  desire  it. 
The  negroes  did  not  always  tamely  sub- 
mit to  their  degrading  bondage  and  cruel 
treatment,  and  they  occasionally  mur- 
dered their  stern  and  inhuman  masters; 
Then  they  were  seized,  tried,  condemned 
and  sometime  executed  with  the  most  hor- 
rible tortures.  They  were  hung  or  chained 
to  a  stake  and  burned  alive,  or  broken 
on  a  wheel,  or  suspended  to  the  branches 
of  a  tree  and  left  there  to  perish.  An 
old  newspaper  of  January  28th,  1733 
records  the  case  of  a  negro  who  was 
seized  on  Monday,  tried  on  Tuesday  and 
burned  on  Thursday  in  the  presence  of  a 
crowd  of  witnesses. 

The  Indians  stole  slaves  and  occasion- 
ally killed  them;  and  on  one  occasion  at 
least  the  negroes  retaliated  upon  them, 
as  appears  from  a  touching  but  authentic 
story  told  of  ^^a  Sachem  of  the  River 
Indians  who  was  murdered  by  four 
negroes  in  1702.  The  Indian  being 
mortally  wounded  said  "that  he  was 
now  going  the  way  of  all  flesh  and 
had  been  a  faithful  servant  to  the 
English,  and  enjoined  all  his  friends 
and  relatives  whom  he  left  be- 
hind to  follow  his  example  and  to  be 
courageous;  that  nothing  troubled  him 
more  than  to  be  so  treated  by  negroes 
that  have  no  courage  nor  heart;  if  he 
had  died  with  arms  in  his  hands  it 
would  have  been  more  satisfaction." 
The  negroes  were  condemned  to  be  exe- 
cuted for  this  murder;  but  the  Indians  of 
the  tribe  through  their  Sachem  asked 
the  Governor  not  to  execute  the  sentence 
upon  them  saying;  "True  it  is  ^\'>e  have 
lost  a  great  Sachem.  But  he  upon  his 
death  bed  desired  that  no  revenge  should 
be  tahen  of  the  four  negroes  that 
killed  him;  and  we  therefore  entreat  his 
Excellency  that  all  the  four  negroes  may 


105 


be  saved,  and  pray  that  they  may  be  re- 
prieved accordingly."  The  Governor, 
after  considering  the  petition,  told  the 
Indians  that  he  could  "not  gratify  them 
in  the  whole,  since  blood  had  been  shed, 
and  blood  must  be  shed  again,  and 
therefore  but  one  negro  should  be  exe- 
cuted   and    the   others   should    be     re- 


this  discrimination?    I  leave   the  ques- 
tion unanswered. 

^In  1741,  there  were  about  10.000  in- 
habitants in  the  city  of  New  York,  about 
one-fifth  of  whom  were  negro  slav^es; 
and  there  was  in  that  year  another  panic 
from  a  supposed  negro  plot  which  de- 
prived even  the  most  discreet  persons  of 
prievedfandsofar  the  petition  of  the  their  senses;  and  it  ran  its  disasterous 
Indians  was  granted.  Bere,  on  the  part  course  like  the  witchcraft  panic  in  New 
of  these  untutored  Indians,  was  an  exhi-  England,  and  the  Popish  plot  in  En-- 
bition  of  magnanimity  and  forbearance  land  concocted  by  Titus  Oales.  Tuere 
nirely  seen  in  the  annals  of  the  most  vvas  a  veritable  reign  of  terror.  The 
civilized  nations.  panic  was  fostered  by  terifitd  or  hysteri- 

In  February  1707  four  slaves,  one  of  cal  witnesses,  and  came  to  an  end  final- 
whom  was  a  woman  and  one  an  Indian  ly  when  the  witnesses  to  the  plot  began 
were  convicted  of  murdering  their  to  accuse  men  of  influence  and  undoubt- 
master,  mistress  and  five  children  in  ed  respectability,  and  thus  their  perjury 
New  York.  The  men  were  hung  and  became  manifest  to  the  most  prejudiced 
the  woman  was  burned.  or  feeble-minded   magistrate.     But    be- 

In  1713  in  the  City  of  New  York,  where  ^^^^  "^^e  end  came,  one  hundred  and 
tne  negro  had  become  quite  numerous,  fifty-four  negroes  were  committed  to 
there  were  rumors  of  a  negro  plot  P"son.  fourteen  of  whom  were  burned 
against  the  whites,  and  they  excited  ^t  the  stake,  twenty  hung  and  seventy- 
great  alarm.  A  riot  occurred  between  one  transported.  Three  whites,  two  of 
negroes  and  whites  in  which  a  house  whom  were  women,  were  convicted  of 
was  burned  and  nine  whites  were  killed  complicity  in  the  plot  and  were  also 
and  several  wounded.  The  negroes  executed,  the  man  being  hung  in  chains, 
were  driven  off  and  pursued  into  the  ^  Catholic  priest  was  also  convicted  for 
woods  where  six  of  them  in  tenor,  t^'s  plot  and  bung.  The  fact  that  he 
rather  than  be  arrested,  committed  had  administered  the  rites  of  his  religion 
suicide  before  they  could  be  seized.  The  to  the  negroes  prejudiced  his  case.  No 
rest  of  them  were  caught,  and  in  the  student  of  history  doubts  now  that  the 
midst  of  great  excitement  and  alarm  supposed  plot  was  a  mere  fiction  which 
were  brought  to  trial,  and  twenty-seven  found  credence  from  fear  and  panic, 
of  them  were  convicted  of  complicity  ^°^  that  all  the  persons  executed  were 
in  the  plot.  Of  these,  twenty-one  were  innocent  of  the  crimes  for  which  they 
executed,   one   being  a   woman.     Some    ^°  cruelly  suffered. 

were  hung,  some  mcluding  the  woman  The  first  act  on  the  subject  of  slavery 
were  burned  at  the  stake,  one  was  *°  the  colony  of  New  York  was  passed 
broken  on  the  wheel,  and  one  hung  alive  October  24,  1684.  It  provided  for  cor- 
in  chains  so  to  die.  The  impartial  P^""**^  punishment  at  the  discretion  of 
historian  now  doubts  whether  any  plot  *^o  justices  of  the  peace  upon  any  slave 
actually  existed.  that  should    "give,   sell    or   truck    any 

„,<,,.,.  ■  ^  A  e        1      1  commodity  whatsoever";   that  no  person 

We  find  that  convicted  female  slaves  ' 


should  credit  or  trust  any  slave  for 
clothes  or  drink  or  any  other  commodity; 
that  if  a  slave  should  run  away  from  his 
master  or  dame,  every  justice-  of  the 
peace  within  the  colony  was  authorized 
and  empowered  to  grant  "hue  and  cry' 
ing  to  stamp  out  heresy,  female  heretics  ^fter  the  slave;  and  all  constables  and 
were  buried  alive,  while  male  heretics  inferior  officers  were  "strictly  required 
were  executed  by  the  sword.     Why  was    and   commanded,    authorized    and   em- 

106 


were  burned  while  males  equally  guilty 
were  hung  ;  and  I  have  found  a  similar 
discrimination  between  the  sexes  in 
other  lands.  In  the  Netherlands,  while 
the  Emperor,  Charles  V,  was  endeavor- 


powered  to  press  men,  horses,  boats  or 
pinnaces  to  pursue  such  slave  by  sea  or 
land  and  to  m  ike]  diligent  hue  and  cry 
as  by  the  laws  required." 

Tire  next  act  of  any  importance  was 
passed  Nov.  33,  1703,  at  the  first  session 
of  the  first  colonial  assembly  in  the  first 
year  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Ann,  and  it 
was  entitled  "An  Act  Regulating  Slaves." 

It  provided  that  no  person  should  pre- 
sume to  trade  with  any  slave  without 
leave  of  the  master,  oa  penalty  of  for- 
feiting treble  the  value  of  the  thing 
traded  for  and  the  sum  of  five  pounds  to 
the  master;  that  it  should  be  lawful  for 
any  master  to  punish  his  slavt  s  for  their 
crimes  and  offences  at  discretion,  not 
exceeding  to  life  and  limb;  that  it  should 
not  be  lawful  for  above  three  slaves  to 
meet  together  at  any  other  time  or  at 
any  other  place  than  when  it  should 
happen  they  meet  in  some  servile  em- 
ployment for  their  masters  and  by  their 
consent,  upon  penalty  of  being  whipped 
upon  the  naked  back  at  discretion  of 
any  justice  of  the  peace  not  exceeding 
forty  lashes;  that  it  should  be  lawful  for 
any  city  or  town  to  have  and  appoint  a 
common  whipper  for  the  slaves;  and  for 
his  salary,  it  should  be  lawful  for  any 
city  or  town,  in  its  common  council  or 
town  meeting,  to  agree  upon  such  sum 
to  be  paid  him  ly  the  master  per  head 
as  it  should  think  fit  not  exceeding  three 
shilli<ng8  per  h«ad  for  all  such  slaves  as 
should  be  whipped;  that  in  case  any 
slave  should  presume  to  strike  or  assault 
any  free  man  or  woman  professing 
Christianity,  it  should  be  in  the  power 
of  any  two  justices  of  the  peace  to  com- 
mit such  slave  to  prison,  not  exceeding 
fourteen  days  for  one  fact,  and  to  inflict 
such  other  corporal  punishment,  not  ex- 
ceeding to  life  and  limb,  as  to  the  jus- 
tices should  seem  meet  and  reasonable; 
that  "Whereas  slaves  are  the  property 
of  Christians  and  cannot  without  great 
loss,  or  detriment  to  thtir  masters  or 
mistresses  be  subjected  in  all  cases 
criminal  to  the  strict  rules  of  the  law  of 
England,"  therefore,  "If  any  slave  by 
theft  or  trespass  shall  demnify  any  per- 
son or  persons  to  the  value  of  five 
pounds  or  under,  the   master  or  mistress 


shall  be  liable  to  make  satisfaction  for 
such  damage  to  the  party  injured,  and 
the  slave  shall  receive  corporal  punish- 
ment at  discretion  of  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  immediately  thereafter  be 
permitted  to  attend  his  or  her  master's 
or  mistress's  service  without  further 
punishment'";  that  no  slave  should  be  al- 
lowed to  give  evidence,  excepting  in 
cases  of  plotting  or  conspiracy  among 
themselves,  iu  which  case  the  evidence 
of  one  slave  should  be  allowed  good 
against  another.  It  is  easy  to  read  be- 
tween the  lines  of  this  act,  as  well  as  to 
see  by  its  letter  how  much  cruelty  could 
be  practiced  upon  the  slaves  by  their 
Christian  owners. 

In  1705,  an  act  veas  passed  entitled 
"An  act  to  prevent  the  running  away  of 
negro  slaves  out  of  the  city  of  Albany  to 
the  French  at  Canada,"  with  this  pre- 
amble :  "Whereas  the  City  and  County 
of  Albany  are  the  frontiers  of  this  pro- 
vince towards  the  French  of  Canada, 
and  that  it  is  of  great  concern  to  this 
colony,  during  this  time  of  war  with 
the  French,  that  no  intelligence  be  car- 
ried from  said  city  and  county  to  the 
French  at  Canada";  and  it  provided  that 
any  slave  belonginij  to  any  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  city  and  county ^of  Al- 
bany who  should,  after  the  first  day  of 
August  then  next,  be  found  traveling 
forty  miles  above  the  city  of  Albany  or 
at  or  above  a  certain  place  called  Sarach- 
lage  (unless  in  company  with  his  mas- 
ter) and  should  thereof  be  convicted 
should  suffer  death  as  in  cases  of  felony. 
Then  to  save  the  thrify  dutchmen  of  Al- 
ban}-  from  serious  loss,  the  act  provided 
that  in  case  of  the  execution  of  any  such 
slave  under  the  act,  his  value  to  be  ap- 
praised in  the  manner  specified  in  the 
act  should  be  collected  by  taxation  from 
all  the  slave  holders  of  the  City  and 
County  of  Albany  and  paid  to  the  owner, 
every  slave  of  the  age  of  fifteen  years 
and  upwards,  fit  for  service,  to  be  val- 
ued at  thirty  pounds. 

An  act  was  passed  October  34th,  1706, 
entitled  "An  act  to  encourage  the  bap- 
tizing of  negro,  Indian  and  mulatto 
slaves";  with  the  following  preamble  : 
"Whereas  divers  of  her  Majesty's  good 


107 


subjects,  inhabitants  of  this  colony,  now 
are  and  have  been  wilhng  that  such 
negro,  Indian  and  mulatto  slaves  who 
belong  to  them  and  desire  the  same 
sBould  be  baptized,  but  are  detained  and 
hindered  therefrom  by  reason  of  a 
groundles&ppinon  that  has  spread  itself 
in  this  colony  that  by  the  baptizing  of 
such  negro,  Indian  or  mulatto  slave, 
they  would  become  free  and  ought  to  be 
set  at  liberty;  in  order  therefore  to  put 
an  end  to  all  such  doubts  and  scruples, 
as  have  or  hereafter  at  any  time  may 
arise  about  the  same,  be  it  enacted,' 
etc.;  and  then  it  is  provided  that  the 
direful  consequence  of  freedom  should 
not  follow  the  baptism  of  any  slave. 
The  colonial  assembly  having  thus  dis- 
charged a  pious  duty  to  benefit  the  souls 
of  slaves  and  to  ease  the  tender  con- 
sciences of  their  masters,  then,  to  make 
sure  that  children  with  free  fathers  and 
slave  mothers  should  not  inherit  free- 
dom from  their  fathers,  provided  that 
every  negro,  Indian,  mulatto  and  mes- 
tee  bastard  child  should  follow  the  state 
and  condition  of  the  mother;  and.  that 
no  slave  could  have  redress  against  free- 
men for  any  wrong  or  outrage,  further 
provided  that  a  slave  should  not  in  any 
case  or  matter  be  a  witness  for  or 
against  a  free  man. 

The  morals  of  the  slaves  were  not 
wholly  neglected  by  the  colonial  assem- 
bly, and  September  18th,  1708  "An  act 
for  the  surpressing  of  immorality"'  was 
passed ;  and  it  provided  that  every 
negro,  Indian,  or  other  slave  that  should 


the  conspiracy  of  slaves."  which  provided' 
that  any  slave  that  should  murder  or 
kill  his  or  her  uiaster  or  mistress  or  any 
other  person  except  a  negro,  mulatto  or 
slave  should  suffer  death  in  "such 
manner  and  with  such  circumstance  as- 
the  aggrevation  and  enormity"  of  the 
crime  in  the  judgment  of  the  justices  of 
the  court  should  merit  and  require  ;  and 
the  master  was  to  be  compensated  for 
the'slave  so  executed  by  taxation  upon, 
other  slave  holders  not  exceeding  twenty- 
five  pounds. 

On  May  19th,  1715,  an  act  was  passed 
prohibiting  Indian,  negro  and  mulatto 
slaves  from  selling  any  oj^sters  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  This  act  was  not  in- 
tended for  the  protection  of  the  citizens 
but  obviously  for  the  safety  of  the 
oysters. 

An  act  was  passed  October  29th,  1730,. 
substantially  re-enacting  an  act  passed 
in  December  1712,  entitled  "An  act  for 
the  more  effectual  preventing  and  pun- 
ishing the  conspiracy  and  insurrection  of 
negroes  and  other  slaves,  f»r  the  better 
regulating  them,  and  for  repealing  the 
acts  therein  mentioned  relating  thereto," 
which  among  other  things  provided  that 
if  any  person  should  sell  any  ram  or 
other  strong  liquor  to  any  Indian,  negro 
or  mulatto  slave,  or  should  buy  or  take 
in  pawn  from  them  any  wares,  merchan- 
dise, apparel,  tools,  instruments,  or 
other  kinds  of  goods  whatever,  he  should 
forfeit  and  pay  the  sum  of  forty  shill- 
ings for  every  such  offense.  Subse- 
quently to  the  act  of  1702,  it  is  probable 


be  found  guilty  of  drunkenness,  cursing   that  some  Jews  had  come  into  the  colony 


or  swearing,  or  talking  impudently  to 
any  Christian  should  suffer  so  many 
stripes  at  some  public  place  as  a  justice 
of  the  peace  there  should  determine 
meet  and  proper.  It  must  be  noticed, 
that  while  this  act  bad  a  tender  regard 
for  the  pious  ears  of  Christians,  all  the 
rest  of  mankind,  Jews  and  Gentiles, 
could  be  cursed  and  impudently  talked 
to  by  the  slaves  with  impunity. 

In  1708  a  family  on  Long  Island  had 
been  murdered  by  slaves  and  great  alarm 
was  created  among  slave  owners  in  the 
colony  ;  and  hence  on  October  30,  of  that 
year  an  act  was  passed   "for  preventing 


or  that  they  had  come  to  be  more  favor- 
ably regarded  ;  and  hence  it  was  made  a 
criminal  offense  for  a  slave  to  strike  a 
Jew,  the  same  as  it  was  before  to  strike 
a  Christian.  It  was  also,  provided  that  if 
any  person  should  be  found  guilty  of 
harboring,  entertaining  or  concealing 
any  slave,  or  assisting  or  conveying  any 
slave  away,  if  such  slave  should  happen 
to  be  lost,  dead  or  otherwise  destroyed 
such  person  for  harboring,  etc.,  should 
be  liable  to  pay  the  value  of  such  slave 
to  the  master,  to  be  recovered  by  action 
of  debt.  Then  there  is  a  further  pro- 
vision   with     this     curious    preamble: 


108 


"Whereas  it  often  happens  that  through  should  wilfully  murder  any  negro,  In- 
the  lenity  of  the  master  or  person  under  dian  or  mulatto  slave,  and  should  be 
whose  care  the  said  negroes  or  slaves  thereof  convicted,  he  should  suffer  the 
are,  the  persons  entertaining  or  dealing  pains  of  death  in  such  manner  and  with 
with  them  are  forgiven  and  not  brought  such  circumstances  as  the  aggravation 
to  condi^jn  punishment,  to  the  very  great  or  enormity  of  his  crime,  in  the  judg- 
hurt  not  only  of  said  master,  but  of  ment  of  the  magistrates  trying  him, 
others,  his  majesty's  liege  people  own-  should  merit  and  require."  Under  this 
ing  negroes  and  other  slaves",  that  if  act  the  convicted  slave  could  be  subject- 
any  master  or  person  under  whose  care  ed  to  the  most  extreme  cruelty.  He 
any  slave  is,  should  forgive,  make*  up,  could  be  hung,  burned,  broken  upon  the 
compound,  compromise  or  receive,  or  wheel,  or  tortured  in  any  other  way.  It 
take  any  other  or  less  consideratioti  than  was  further  enacted  :  "That  upon  corn- 
was  by  the  act  prescribed  he  should  for-  plaint  made  to  any  justice  of  the  peace 
feit  double  the  sum  the  pereoti  for  enter-  agamst  any  negro,    Indian   or    mulatto 


taining,  etc.,  ought  to  have  forfeited; 
and  that  if  any  persons  knew  of  such 
entertainers  of  slaves  and  did  not  dis- 
cover the  same  to  the   master,  he  should 


slave,  he  should  issue  a  summons  and 
examine  into  the  uharges  and  if  any  of 
the  crimes  mentioned  in  the  previous 
section  were  proven  against  him  before 


forfeit  the  sum  of  forty  shillings  :  and  a  jury  summoned  to  try  the  charge,  the 

then    follows     this    further    preamble  :  magistrates    presiding    should  adjudge 

"Whereas  there  are   many  negroes,  In-  him  guilty  of  the  offense  complained  of 

dians  and  mulattos    who  have  formerly  and  should  give  sentence  of  death  upon 

been  manumitted  and  made  free  within  him,  and  by  their  warrant  cause  imme- 

this  colony  by  their  masters  and  owners,  diate  execution  to  be  done  by  the  com- 

and  it  is  found   by  experience  that  they  mon  or  any   other  executioner  in  such 

entertain,  harbor,   support  and   encour-  manner  as  they  should  think  fit;  provid- 

age  negro,  Indian,  and  mulatto  slaves  to  ing,  however,  that  if  any  master  of  any 

the  great  damage  and  detriment  of  the  slave  should  be  inclined  to  have  his  slave 

masters    or    owners    of  slaves,    and    of  tried  by  a  jury  of  twelve  men,  it  should 

other  his  majesty's  liege  subjects  within  be    granted,    such    master    paying    the 

this  colony"   and  it  was  enacted  that  if  charge  of  the  same  not  exceeding  nine 

any  free  negro,  Indian  or  mulatto  should  shillings  to  the  jury."    It   was  further 

knowingly  entertain  any  slave,  he  should  provided  that  the  charge  of  prosecuting 

forfeit  ten  pounds;  and  that  if  any  mas-  and   executing  slaves  for    such   crimes 

ter  should  manumit  any  slave,  he  should  should  be  defrayed  by  the  city  or  county 

enter   into  a  bond  to  his  majesty  with  where   they   should    be    convicted,    the 

two  sureties  in  the  sum  of  not  less  than  charge  to  be  distributed  by  the  order  of 

two  hundred  pounds,  to  keep  and  save  the  justices  so  that  it  should  not  exceed 

such  slave  from  becoming  a  charge  to  the  sum  of  three  pounds  current  money 

the    public.     Then     came    a    provision  for  each  conviction  and  execution;  that 

which  gave  the  magistrates  power  to  in-  the  owner  of  a  slave  so  executed  in  all 

flict  the  most  extreme  and  cruel  pimish-  the  state  but  the  city  and  county  of  New 

ments   without  any    limitations    or  re-  York  should  be  paid  for  the  same  in  like 

straints  and  it  was  this  :     "That  every  manner  as  the  charges  for  prosecution 

Indian,    negro    or    mulatto    slave    that  and  execution   were  by  the  act  directed 

should  murder  or  otherwise  kill,  or  con-  to  be  assessed,  levied  and  paid  provided 

spire  to  or  attempt  the  death  of  any  per  the  value  of  such  slave  did  not  exceed 

son  not  a  slave,    or  should  attempt  or  the  sum  of  twenty-five  pounds  current 

commit  any  rape  upon  any  free  person  money;  that  in   the  city  and  county  of 

or   should   wilfully   burn  any   dwelling.  New  York  the  charge  for  convicting  and 

house,  barn,  stable,  out-house,  stacks  of  executing  slaves  should  be  raised  in  the 

corn  or  hay,  or  should  wilfully  mutilate,  same  manner  as  was  prescribed  in  an  act 

mayhem,  or  disoiemberany  free  man,  or  entitled  "An  act  for  settling  a  ministry 

109 


and  raising  a  maintenance  for  them  in  slaves,  there  shall  be  and  hereby  is  given 
the  city  of  New  York;"  and  that  the  to  his  majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors 
owner  of  a  slave  who  should  happen  to  a  duty  of  five  pounds  on  every  slave  up- 
be  executed  by  virtue  of  the  act  in  that  wards  of  four  years  old  that  shall  be  ira- 
city  and  county  should  be  paid  for  in  the  ported  by  land  in  the  county  of  Albany 
same  way;  thus  placing  the  compensa-  or  in  the  county  of  Ulster  or  in  Dutchess 
tion  of  the  master  for  his  executed  slave  county;"  and  that  "Every  such  slave 
and  that  of  the  christian  minister  for  his  which  shall  be  imported  by  land  shall 
holy  services  upon  the  sams  financial  within  three  days  aft 'r  the  same  shall  be 
basis.  It  was  further  provided  in  the  ^rought  within  the  limits  of  those  coun- 
act  that  it  should  not  be  lawful  for  any  ties,  be  reported  by  the  importer,"  to  the 
slave  to  have  or  use  any  gun,  pistol,  projjer  officers,  and  a  certificate  given 
sword,  club  or  any  other  kind  of  weapon    for  such  slave. 

whatsoever,    but  in  the  presence  or   by       Then  came  the  act  of  March  8th,  1773 
the  direction  of  his  master   and  in   his    entitled,    "An  act   to   prevent  aged  and 
own  ground   on  penalty   of  being  whip-   decrepit  slaves  from    becoming  burden- 
ped  for  the  same  at  the  discretion  of  a    some  within   this   colony"   with  the  fol- 
justice  of  the  peace  before  whom  such    lowing  preamble  :  "Whereas  there  have 
complaint  should  come  or  upon  the  view    been  repeated    instances   in   which   the 
of  the  justice,    not    exceeding   twenty    owners  of  slaves  have  obliged  them  after 
lashes  upon  the  bare  back  for  every  such    they  have  grown   aged  and   decrepit  to 
offense:   and  that  every  such  justice  of   go  about  begging  for  the  common  neces- 
the  peace,  constable,  or  any  other  officer   saries  of  life    whereby    they    have    not 
as  should  neglect,    delay   or  refuse  the   only   been   reduced    to  the  utmost   dis- 
several  duties  and  services  enjoined  by    tress  themselves,  but  have  become  bur- 
the     act    should     for    every    such   of-    dens  upon  the   humanity  and  charity  of 
fense  forfeit  the  sum  of  forty  shillings,    others;  and  sometimes  also  such  owners 
The  next  act  was  that  of  December   by  collusive  bargains  have  pretended  to 
12th,  1753,  entitled  :  "An   act  for  grant-    transfer  the  property  of  such  slaves  to 
ing  to  his  majesty  the  several  duties  and    persons  not  able  to  maintain  them,  from 
impositions  on  goods,   wares  and  mer-    which  the  like  evil  consequences  have 
chandise     imported     into     this    colony    followed ;    for  the    prevention    whereof 
therein  mentioned"  ;    and   it  granted  to    and   effectually  surpressing  such  unjust 
his  majesty,    his   heirs  and  successors  a    and   inhuman     practices;"    and  it   was 
duty  for   every   slave  of  four  years  old    enacted  that  if  any  person  should  know- 
and    upwards    imported    directly    from    ingly  and  willingly  suffer  and  permit  his 
Africa  five  ounces    of    Sevil  Pillar  or   slave  to  go  about   begging  of  others  vie- 
Mexico  plate,  or  forty  shillings  in  bills  of   tuals,  clothing  or  other  necessaries,  such] 
credit  made  current  in  the   colony;  for   person,  being    thereof    convicted  before' 
every  such  slave  of  four  years  old  and    two  magistrates,  should  forfeit  for  everyj 
upwards  imported  from  all  other  places    such  offense  the  sum   of   ten  pounds  toj 
by  land  or  water,  the  sum  of  four  pounds    be  levied  by   distress;  and  if  any  person 
in  like  money,    and  then  provision  was    should  by  such  collusive  convejance  orj 
made  for  any  dispute  as  to  the  age  of    fradulent  agreement  pretend  to  sell  orj 
the  slave   imported,   and    to  prevent  the   dispose  of  any  such   aged  and  decrepil 
clandestine   importation  of  slaves  with-    slave  to  any   person   who  was  unable  to| 
out  the  payment  of  the  duty.        Then  it    keep  and  maintain  such  slave,  such  sal( 
was  further  enacted  that  "As  all  due  en-    should  be  absolutely  void,   and  the  per- 
couragement  should  be  given  to  direct    son  making  such  pretended  sale  shoul( 
importations,    so    a    proper    distinction    incur  the  penalty  of  twenty  pounds,  an( 
ought  to  be  made  on  importations  which    should   moreover   be  deeaied   to  be  th( 
may  be  attended  with  frauds  as  the  case    owner  of  such  slave  within   the   intent 
has  too  often   happened"  and    that 'In-    and  meaning  of  the  act. 
stead  of  the  duty    hereinbefore  laid   on       By  the  act  of    March  9th,  1774,  it  wi 

110 


provided  that  a  slave  l)realiing  or  defac- 
ing milestones  upon  any  highway  should 
upon  conviction  he  imprisoned  in  the 
•county  jail  and  receive  thirty-nine 
lashes  upon  his  bare  back. 

In  an  act  passed  April  1st,  1775,  mak- 
ing provision  for  a  bounty  to  he  paid  for 
killing  wolves  and  panthers,  it  was  pro- 
vided that  in  case  of  the  killing  of  a 
wolf  or  panther  by  a  slave,  the  boanty 
should  be  paid  to  the  master. 

The  act  of  April  3rd,  1775,  provided 
for  the  assessment  of  slaves  for  taxation 
in  the  county  of  Orange;  and  they  were 
to  be  assessed  as  follows  :  Males  fifteen 
jears  old  and  under  forty  years,  thirty 
pounds  and  females  of  the  same  age, 
twenty  pounds;  males  forty  years  old 
and  upwards  and  under  fifty  years, 
fifteen  pounds  and  females  of  the  same 
age,  ten  pounds;  males  ten  years  old 
and  upwards  and  under  fifteen  years, 
eighteen  pounds  and  females  of  the 
same  age  twelve  pounds;  males  above 
seven  and  under  the  age  of  ten  years, 
ten  pounds  and  females  of  the  same  age, 
eight  pounds. 

We  now  begin  to  see  a  more  benevo- 
lent spirit  pervading  the  laws  enacted 
in  reference  to  slaves.  Slavery  is  com- 
ing to  be  regarded  as  an  evil.  The  dawn 
of  freedom  begins  to  appear.  There  is 
recognition  that  the  slave  has  some 
rights  which  his  master  ought  to  respect; 
and  more  humane  laws  are  made  for  his 
benefit  and  protection.  By  the  act  of 
April  12,  1785,  the  importation  of  slaves 
into  this  state  was  forbidden  under 
severe  penalties  and  the  slaves  so  im- 
ported were  declared  free;  and  masters 
were  authorized  by  deed  or  will  to  man- 
umit their  able  bodied  slaves  under  fifty 
years  of  age  under  certain  regulations 
prescribed  in  the  act;  and  slaves  in  all 
capital  cases  were  given  the  privilege  of 
trial  by  a  jury  of  twelve  men  according 
to  the  course  of  the  common  law. 

By  the  act  of  February  22,  1788  the 
prior  slave  statutes  were  revised;  and  in 
that  act  the  purchase  of  slaves  in  this 
state  for  removal  out  of  the  state  was 
forbidden  under  severe  peualties  and  the 
slaves  so  purchased    were  declared  free. 

It  was  provided  in  the  act  in  reference 


to  forfeited  estates  that  the  slaves  of 
loyalists  who  had  fled  from  the  state  and 
whose  estates  have  been  seized  should  be 
supported  out  of  the  proceeds  of  such 
estates  so  far  as  was  needful  to  protect 
the  public  from  their  burden. 

The  act  of  March  9th,  1798,  has  this 
preamble  showing  the  attitude  of  Quak- 
ers towards  slavery  :  "Whereas  the 
people  comprising  the  society  commonly 
called  <5uakers,  and  others,  did  a  con- 
siderable time  past  manumit  their  slaves 
and  in  several  instances  not  in  strict 
conformity  to  the  statute  in  such  case 
made  and  provided  whereby  doubts  have 
arisen  whether  the  slaves  so  manumited 
and  their  offsprinij  are  legally  free;"'  and 
it  declared  such  manumission  valid. 

Then  came  the  act  of  manumission 
passed  March  29,  1799,  entitled  "An  act 
for  the  gradual  abolition  of  slavery," 
which  provided  that  every  child  born  of 
a  slave  mother  after  July  4th,  then  next, 
"shall  be  deemed  and  adjudged  to  be 
born  free"  provided,  nevertheless,  "that 
such  child  shall  be  the  servant  of  the 
legal  proprietor  of  the  mother  until  such 
servant,  if  a  male,  shall  arrive  at  the 
age  of  twenty-eight  years,  and  if  a 
female  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years; 
and  that  such  proprietor  shall  be  entitled 
t9  the  service  of  such  child  until  the 
ages  specified  in  the  same  manner  as  if 
the  child  had  been  bound  to  service  by 
the  overseers  of  the  poor."  The  person 
entitled  to  such  could,  however,  within 
one  year  after  the  birth  of  such  child, 
elect  to  abandon  such  service,  in  which 
case  the  child  would  become  a  pauper 
and  could  be  bound  out  by  the  overseers 
of  the  poor  like  other  pauper  children, 
and  until  so  bound  out  it  was  to  be  sup- 
ported at  the  expense  of  the  state  not  ex- 
ceeding $3.50  per  month.  And  it  was 
made  lawful  for  the  owner  of  every 
slave  immediately  after  the  passage  of 
the  act  to  manumit  such  slave  by  a  cer- 
tificate under  his  hand  and  seal.  At  the 
time  of  the  passage  of  that  act  there 
were  21,903  slaves  in  the  state  and  the 
whole  population  was  nearly  1,000,000. 

On  the  8th  of  April,  1801,  "An  act 
concerning  slaves  and  servants"  was 
passed,  which,  while  it  was  a  substantial 


111 


revision  of  all  the  laws  then  in  force  re- 
lating to  slaves,  also  contained  some  new 
provisions.  That  slaves  might  not  be 
sold  into  perpetual  slavery  out  of  the 
state,  their  exportation  was  prohibited 
under  severe  penalties.  Under  that  act, 
for  striking  a  white  person,  a  slave  could 
be  sent  to  jail  by  a  justice  of  the  peace. 
In  all  other  cases,  he  had  the  right  of 
trial  by  jury;  and  he  could  be  transport- 
ed out  of  the  state  upon  conviction  for 
any  oiiense  not  punishable  with  death 
or  imprisonment  in  the  state  prison. 

The  protest  against  slavery,  in  the  lat- 
ter part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  be- 
came more  and  more  clamorous,  and  it 
resulted,  not  only  in  the  act  of  1799  for 
the  gradual  abolition  of  slavery,  but  also 
in  infusing  into  the  slave  code  a  more 
benign  and  tolerant  spirit.  During  that 
time  a  society  was  formed  composed  of 
influential  citizens  of  the  state,  the  pur- 
pose of  which  was  to  promote  the  manu- 
mission of  slaves,  and  to  protect  such  of 
them  as  had  been  or  might  be  manumit- 
ted; and  that  society  was  incorporated 
by  the  act  of  February  19,  1808  with  a 
preamble  as  follows:  "Whereas  a  vol- 
unteer association  has  for  many  years 
existed  in  this  state,  ( as  above  mention- 
ed), and  whereas  the  said  society  has 
represented  to  the  legislature  that,  be 
sides  its  exertions  to  further  the  humatie 
intentions  of  the  legislature  by  aiding 
the  operations  of  the  just  and  salutary 
laws  passed  for  the  gradual  abolition  of 
slavery  in  this  state,  it  has  estaolished  a 
free  school  in  the  city  of  New  York  for 
the  education  of  the  children  of  such 
persons  as  have  been  liberated  from 
bondage  that  they  may  hereafter  become 
useful  members  of  the  community;  and 
whereas  the  said  society  has  prayed  to 
be  incorporated  that  it  may  be  enabled 
more  effectually  to  support  the  said 
school,  and  to  fulfill  the  benevolent  pur- 
poses of  its  association;  therefore"  etc. 

During  the  war  of  1812  it  came  to  be 
believed  that  negroes  could  fight  for 
their  country,  and  that  they  could  safely 
be  intrusted  with  arms;  and  hence  an 
act  was  passed  October  24th,  1814,  en- 
titled "An  act  to  authorize  the  raising 
of  two  regiments  of  men  of  color."    It 


authorized  the  raising  by  voluntarj'  en- 
listments of  two  regiments  composed  of  ; 
men  of  color  consisting  of  1,C08  men 
each  to  be  commanded  by  while  officers. 
Slaves  could  enlist  in  these  regiments 
with  the  written  consent  of  their  mas- 
ters who  were  to  receive  their  pay  and 
bounty,  and  upon  their  discharge  they 
were  to  be  free.  This  was  not  however, 
the  first  time  the  slaves  were  armed  to 
fight  on  the  side  of  their  masters.  In 
175i)  a  gunner  engaged  in  the  battle  of 
Lake  George  in  the  war  with  the  French 
in  a  letter  to  his  brother  wrote  that 
"Our  blacks  beliuave  better  than  the 
whites,"  They  fought  also  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war  on  both  sides.  By  an  act 
of  the  legislature  of  this  state  in  1781  it 
was  provided  that  every  slave  who  would 
enlist  and  serve  for  three  years  or  until 
discharged  should  be  declared  a  freeman 
of  the  state. 

By  the  act  of  March  7th,  1813,  it  was 
provided  that  all  manumitted  slaves 
could  take  real  and  personal  e&tate  by 
devise,  descent  or  otherwise  ;  and  all 
marriages  before  or  thereafter  con- 
tracted between  slaves  or  between  slaves 
and  free  negroes  were  declared  valid  and 
the  children  of  such  marriage  legitimate. 
It  was  also  provided  that  the  children  of 
slave  mothers  born  after  July  4th,  1799, 
which  were  declared  free  by  the  act  of 
that  year  and  yet  held  to  service  as  in 
that  act  provided,  should,  by  the  per- 
sons entitled  to  such  service,  be  taught 
reading  so  as  to  be  able  to  read  the  holy 
scriptures  before  such  children  reached 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years;  and  if  not 
so  taught,  such  children  should  be  free 
from  the  service  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one. 

And  now  came  the  final  blow  to  slav- 
ery by  the  act  of  March  31st,  1817, 
which  provided  that  all  slaves  born  be- 
fore July  4th,  1799,  should  be  free  after 
July  4th,  1827;  and  thus  after  that  date 
slavery,  which  had  existed  in  this  state 
for  about  two  hundred  years,  ceased  to 
exist  here,  and  there  was  no  further 
legislation  on  the  subject  of  any  import- 
ance. 

The  number  of  slaves  in  proportion  to 
free  population  varied  much  at  different 


112 


periods  in  the  history  of  our  state.  It  is 
said  that  in  the  17th  century,  they  were 
sometimes  nearly  if  not  quite  one  half 
of  the  entire  population.  In  1698  there 
were  15,897  whites  and  2,107  negroes. 
In  1701,  1,014  slaves  were  brought  here 
from  the  West  Indies  and  620  from 
Africa.  From  1701  to  1726,  1,573  slavfs 
were  brought  here  from  the  West  In- 
dies and  828  f-om  Africa.  In  1712.  there 
were  in  the  five  counties  of  New  York, 
Kings,  Richmond,  Orange  and  West 
Chester  1,775  slaves  and  10,511  whites. 
In  1720  there  were  27,000  whites  and4,000 
slaves;  in  1731  there  were  43,040 
whices  and  7.202  slaves;  in  1737  there 
51,496  whites  and  8,941  slaves;  and  in 
1746  in  all  the  counties  except  Albany, 
there  were  51  872  whites  and  9,717 
slaves;  in  1749  there  were  62,756  whites 
and  10,692  slaves  in  the  colony.  In  1734 
a  tax  of  one  shilling  yearly  was  imposed 
for  "every  negro,  Indian  or  muUato 
slave  above  14  years  of  age." 

After  1740,  the  importat  on  of  slaves 
diminished.  From  March  11th,  1746  to 
March  31st,  1749,  only  49  slaves  were  im- 
ported of  whom  only  five  were  brought 
here  for  speculation  and  the  rest  were 
servants  or  seaman.  During  that  time 
the  duty  on  imported  slaves  was  four 
pounds  each.  In  1735,  the  duty  was  forty 
shillings  on  slaves  imported  from  Africa 
and  on  those  imported  from  any  other 
place  four  pounds. 

The  price  of  slaves  like  other  chattels 
varied.  I  find  that  it  was  $92  in  1663, 
from  $75  to  $87  in  1678,  and  in  1699  the 
price  of  imported  slaves  was  only 
twenty-five  dollars. 

Slavery  was  never  very  profitable  in 
thisstate,  and  no  master  held  many.  They 
were  owned  throughout  the  state,  so  far 
as  it  was  then  sett  ed.  But  they  were 
mainly  on  Long  Island,  and  in  and  about 
New  York,  Kingston  and  Albany.  Most 
masters  had  but  one  adult  slave  and 
they  rarely  had  more  than  two  or  three. 
It  is  recorded  that  James  Graham,  a 
prominent  and  noted  character  in  this 
and  other  colonies  owned  at  his  death, 
in  1701,  33  slaves.  He  had  large  landed 
estates  in  Ulster  county,  on  Staten 
Island  and  in   New   Jersey.      It  is  not 

1 


stated  whether  he  held  these  slaves  at 
the  time  of  his  death  for  sale  or  for  use. 
I  have  found  but  one  other  case  in  this 
state,  where  a  master  owned  as  many  as 
eight  slaves  above  fourteen  years  of  age. 
In  the  rural  districts  of  the  state  gener- 
ally, the  slaves  were  humanly  treated. 
They  worked  with  their  master.?  and 
mistresses  upon  the  farms  and  in  the 
homes  and  to  some  extent  joined  in  their 
amusements  and  festivities. 

Thus  at  the  end  of  more  than  seventy 
years  after  the  last  slave  disappeared  in 
this  state,  I  have  given  this  brief  por- 
traj'al  of  slavery  as  it  existed  here,  as  I 
have  learned  it  from  history,  tradition, 
and  by  reading  the  statutes.  I  have 
sought  for  information  from  many  quar- 
ters, and  I  have  endeavored  to  throw 
light  upon  a  subject  quite  unfamiliar  ta 
the  people  of  this  generation. 

The  last  servant  born  in  this  town  was 
the  late  Jack  Grannis,  father  of  William 
and  Albert  Grannis,  twin  brothers,  still 
residents  here.  He  was  born  of  a  slave 
mother  owned  by  Hezekiah  Talcott,  on 
the  22nd  day  of  May,  1804.  as  I  learn 
from  a  record  in  the  town  clerk's  ofiice. 
He  was  a  noted  character  and  was  well 
known  to  all  the  older  inhabitants  of 
Our  villagB." 

We  must  not  judge  our  slave  holding 
ancestors  too  harshly.  We  must  meas- 
ure them,  not  by  our  standards,  but  by 
those  of  the  times  in  which  they  lived. 
Prejudices  against  the  negros  have  not 
yet  entirely  disappeared.  But  thev  are 
no  longer  embodied  in  any  statutes. 
Prior  to  1821,  there  was  no  distinction 
on  account  of  color  between  free  negros 
and  the  whites  in  the  matter  of  suffrage, 
as  a  property  qualification  was  required 
for  all  voters.  But  that  distinc- 
tion was  first  introduced  into  the 
constitution  of  1821.  The  requirement 
of  a  property  qualification  for  white 
voters  was  entirely  abrogated  in  1826, 
leaving  it  still  in  force  as  to  colored 
voters.  In  1845,  the  question  whether 
the  property  qualification  for  colored 
voters  should  be  continued  was  sub- 
mitted to  the  people,  and  was  decided 
in  the  affirmative  by  a  vote  of  230,834 
to     85,306.       The    same    question    was 

13 


again  submitted  to  the  people  in  1860,  into  slavery;  some  of  tliem  were  sold 
and  decided  in  the  same  way  by  a  vote  into  slavery  for  crime.  In  some  cases 
of  327,934  to  197,505.  It  was  again  the  Indians  pledged  their  children  for 
submitted  to  the  people  in  1869  and  was  the  payment  of  supplies  furnished  to 
decided  in  the  same  way  by  a  vote  of  them,  and  failing  to  redeem  them,  they 
282,403  to  249,802.  The  distinction  were  sold  into  slavery;  and  laiave  found 
between  colored  and  white  voters  was  complaint  that  in  some  cases  Indian 
finally  wiped  out  by  the  fifteenth  amend-  childen  were  bound  out  to  service  with 
ment  to  the  Federal  Constitution  in  a  view  to  their  education,  and  then  con- 
1870.  Congress  ha  previously  sub-  trary  to  the  contract  were  sold  into 
mitted  the  amendment  to  the  states,  slavery;  and  they  were  doubtless  some 
Here  it  had  a  curious  history.  In  1869  children  of  Indian  fathers  and  slave 
our  legislature  gave  its  consent  to  the  mothers  who  for  great  certainty  were 
amendent,  but  in  1670  it  withdrew  such  intended  to  be  covered  in  the  statutes 
consent.  In  1872  it  recinded  the  with-  under  the  term  "Indian  Slaves,"  just  as 
drawal  and  this  ended  the  controversy,  in  the  statutes,  mulatto  and  mestee 
One  more  matter  must  be  noticed  be-  slaves  are  spoken  of,  mestee  slaves  being 
fore  closing  this  paper,  already  I  fear  the  offspring  of  free  white  men  and 
too  long.     Indian  slaves  are  mentioned  quadrooms. 

in  several  of  the  early  statutes;  and  the  A  little  more  than  a  century  ago,  slav- 
question  may  be  asked,  were  there  in  ery  was  sanctioned,  as  I  have  before 
this  state  any  Indian  slaves  in  the  same  stated,  by  the  customs  of  all  nations, 
sence  that  there  were  negro  slaves?  There  Now  it  is  under  the  ban  of  all  civilized 
were  undoubtedly  some  Indian  slaves,  nations.  The  problem  of  slavery  has 
There  could  not  have  been  many,  as  been  solved,  tfoe  Anglo  Saxon  race  to 
they  were  poor  material  out  of  which  to  which  we  belong  taking  the  lead  in  its 
make  slaves,  and  there  Is  scarcely  any  solution;  and  so  in  the  sweep  of  time,  all 
mention  in  any  book,  except  the  statutes,  the  other  social  and  political  problems 
of  Indian  slaves.  There  were  several  which  confront  our  race — the  problems 
ways  in  which  Indians  could  become  of  finance,  currency,  tariffs,  and  the  re- 
slaves.  In  some  parts  of  our  country,  lations  between  labor  and  capital  which 
they  were  captured  in  war  and  sold  frighten  so  many  pfssimists  will  be 
as  slaves,  and  they  may  have  come  into  solved,  and  rightly  solved  in  the  inter- 
this  colony  in  that  way.  Occasionally  ests  of  all  mankind  and  in  the  fulfill- 
they   were    ruthlessly    seized   and   sold   nient  of  the  Divine  purpose,- 


114 


PRINTING  AND  ITS  DEVELOPMENT  IN  THIS  COUNTRY. 

AN    ADDRESS   BY  JOHN    L.    M'MIM.AN,    OF    ILION, 
Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  November  9,    1897. 

If  this  paper,  which  your  Chairman  Europeans,  the  contentions  of  the 
of  the  Committee  on  Addresses  requested  Dutch,  French,  Germans  and  Italians, 
me  to  read  and  which,  with  coosider-  but  will  fall  into  line  with  the  majority 
able  modification,  was  read  before  the  of  historians  and  concede  the  practical 
Board  of  Trade  of  Ilion  recently,  should  invention  of  art  to  John  Guttenberg, 
prove  a  departure  from  your  customs,  a  native  of  Mentz,  who  was  born  about 
and  be  but  a  hasty  view  of  ihe  develop-  1399.  It  matters  not  whether  the  prin- 
ment  of  the  art  of  printing,  and  have  ciples  were  known  in  China  hundreds 
little  local  color  or  interest,  I  can  at  of  years  before,  whether  every  foot- 
least  plead  ignorance  of  your  require-  print  was  an  imprint,  or  whether  the 
ments,  though  I  confess  a  deep  interest  art  was  suggested  in  a  thousand  ways, 
in  many  of  the  papers  published  as  em-  John  Guttenberg  was  the  first  in  its 
inating  from  this  society.  practical     application      to    commerical 

A  history  of  the  art  of  printing  can-  uses,  the  pioneer  in  supplanting  the 
not  come  within  the  scope  of  a  paper  laborious  process  of  writing  books  by 
of  this  kind,  but  a  hurried  glance  at  hand,  letter  by  letter,  and  as  such  as 
what  appear  to  me  some  of  the  most  we  may  join  the  majority  in  honoring 
striking  features  in  its  development,  him.  It  is  supposed  that  bis  first  script 
the  importance  it  has  in  the  fields  of  printed  from  movable  type  appeared 
business  enterprise,  a  reference  to  what  about  14i6,  and  without  reference  to 
some  Herkimer  county  men  have  done  history  we  may  mark  from  this  time 
toward  it,  and  a  suggestion  of  its  im-  the  greatest  practical  development  of 
portance  as  a  civilizing  influence  is  all  the  world,  the  spread  of  education 
I  can  hope  to  touch  upon.  among  the    masses,     and     the  general 

The  first  printing  from  blocks  or  growth  of  the  idea  of  civil  and  religious 
movable  type  was  done  in  China.  The  liberty  While  the  development  to  our 
emperor,  Wen-ti,  as  early  as  A.  D.  present  high  standards  of  almost  univer- 
593.  is  credited  with  thus  directing  the  sal  primiry  knowledge  of  letters  was 
printing  of  the  most  important  papers,  slow,  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the 
The  process  was  abandoned,  owing  pro-  first  people  capable  of  reading  the  work 
bably,  to  the  multiplicity  of  characters  of  this  man's  genius,  and  his  early  sue- 
in  the  Chinese  language.  cessors,  represented   but  a  «mall  class. 

We  need  not  consider  the  various  It  need  not  seem  remarkable  to  the 
claims  to  the  discovery  of  the  art  by  American  observer  of  today  whose  eyes 

115 


are  filled  with   the     daily     bulletin  of  from  a  crucible  by  hand,  up  to  the  pres- 

political  and  social  events,  that  the  first  ent  time  when  automatic  devices  deliver 

uses  of  the  art  were  directed  to  printing  the  cast  types  at  the  rate  of  from  60  to 

religious  literature,    and   that  the  first  140  letters  a  minute,  depending  on  the 

book  of     importance     printed     by   the  size  of  the  body. 

pioneer  was  the  Bible,    for  at  that  time  The  first  attempt  at  type-founding  in 

comparatively  few  of  those  able  to  read  America  was  about  1768,  but  was  unsuc- 

were  outside  of  religious  vocations.  cessful.     The  first  practical  foundry  was 

Without  attempting  to  trace   the  art  established  in  1772,  at  Germantown,  Pa., 

of  printing  through  all  its  various  stages  by  Christopher  Sower,  Jr. 


of  development,  I  will  refer  briefly  to 
some  of  the  most  striking  inventions 
which  have  marked  its  progress,  point 
to  its  early  uses  in  this  country,  and 
allude  to  the  marvellous  growth  of  the 
manufacture  of  books  and  newspapeis 
made  possible  because  of  the  inventions, 
and  because  of  the  reading  habits  and 
demands  of  our  people.  In  order  to 
briefly  aud  consistently  trace  the  most 
important  steps  leading  up  to  the  im- 
mense results  of  the  present  era  of  print- 
ing, I  will  treat  of  first  some  of  the  chief 
factors  necessary  to  the  art  under  sep- 
arate heads  as  follows:  Type,  ink, 
paper,  stereotyping,  electrotyping,  me- 
chanical type-setting. 

TYPE. 

The  first  movable  types  were  made 
from  blocks  of  wood,  and  the  letters  en- 
graved on  the  block  by  hand.  It  is  in- 
teresting to  note  that  Guttenberg's  first 


It  is  interesting  in  view  of  Gutten- 
berg's early  attempts  to  print  a  Bible,  to 
note  that  the  first  font  of  type  cast  here 
was  German  pica  for  printing  a  Bible, 

The  I'ype  Trust  with  its  |6,000,000 
capital,  two  large  and  a  dozen  small 
houses  supply  chiefly  the  type  used 
in  this  country. 

INK. 

Not  least  among  the  difficulties  of  the 
pioneer  printers  was  providing  a  suit- 
able ink  which  would  print  clearly  and 
not  blur  when  the  imprint  was  taken. 
Ink-making  developed  as  the  art  pro- 
gressed, but  Thomas,  in  his  '"History  of 
Prmting"  states  that  Rogers  &  Fowle.  of 
Boston,  were  the  first  printers  in  this 
country  who  made  an  acceptable  ink. 
This  was  about  1750,  and  before  that 
time  it  was  chiefly  imported  from 
Europe. 

The  abominable    specimens    of  revo- 


attempt  at  printing  was  from  engraved  lutionary  printing  are   to  be   accounted 

blocks  of  wood,  and  it  is  said  that  his  for  by  the  fact  that  its  manufacture  was 

discovery  of  movable  type  was    made  not  generally  understood  by  the  printers 

through  accidentally  breaking    one    of  of  that  period,    materials   were  scarce, 

the  blocks  he  was  experimenting  with,  and  they  were  unable  to  draw  on  Europe 

The  second  step  was  a  metal  body  for  for  their  supplies. 

the  type,  the  third,  casting  from  molds.  To-day  its  manufacture  is  a  distinct 
The  process  of  type-making  now  em-  branch  of  business,  and  prices  range 
ploj'ed  consists  of  taking  a  die  on  which  from  a  few  cents  to  several  dollars  a 
the  letter  or  character  has  been  en-  a  pound,  according  to  quality, 
graved  in  relief  and  forcing  it  into  a  paper. 
block  of  Tsofter  metal  to  make  a  matrix,  The  earliest  form  of  manufactured 
or  letter  intaglio  which  is  used  in  con-  paper  was  probably  the  papyrus  of  the 
nection  with  a  suitable  mold.  The  mol-  Egypuans,  and  it  continued  to  be  used 
ten  metal  is  forced  between  the  four  until  the  twelfth  century, 
walls  of  the  mold  to  form  the  body,  and  Paper  was  almost  wholly  imported  in- 
agamst  the  matrix  to  form  the  face  of  to  this  country  until  the  year  1700,  and 
the  type.  chiefly  imported  for  100  years  there- 
Type  founding  progressed  through  var-  after.  The  first  paper  mill  of  the  col- 
ious  stages  of  development  from  the  onies  was  built  by  William  Rittenhouse, 
earliest  attempt  when  crude  molds  were  at  Germantown,  Pa.,  in  1090.  William 
used,  and  the  metal  for  each  type  poured  Bradford,  the  only  printer  of  the  col- 

116 


«niest>utside  of  New  England,  aided  in 
the  enterprise. 

In  1770  the  mills  of  the  colonies  were 
supposed  to  produce  about  |500,000  worth 
of  paper  a  year,  while  to-day  the  annual 
product  exceeds  |80,(K)0,000. 

The  importance  of  this  great  industry 
as  applied  to  printing  is  suggested  by  the 
results  of  the  Census  inquiry.  In  1880 
the  paper  us«d  for  newspaper  and  peri- 
odicals aggregated  189,145,048  pounds, 
and  in  1890  the  consumption  had  grown 
to  552,876,161  pounds. 

This  state  has  128  of  the  567  paper 
manufacturing  establishments,  or  more 
than  22  per  ce.nt.  of  the  woole  number. 

Compare,  if  you  please,  the  laborious 
process  of  making  sheets  of  paper  by 
hand  with  the  results  of  the  wonderful 
devices  which  turn  out  miles  of  it  in  a 
day. 

Without  going  into  a  detailed  compari- 
son of  'the  cost  of  this  article,  and  its 
relative  cost  at  various  periods  of  its  use, 
I  will  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that 
in  1880  the  average  price  paid  for  paper 
by  twenty  of  the  leading  dailies  of  New 
York  was  7  9-20  cents  per  pound,  while 
today  it  is  probably  less  than  2i  cents 
per  pound. 

1  cannot  leave  this  subject  without  a 
reference  to  the  relation  of  one  of  your 
distinguished  members  to  this  most  im- 
portant industry,  the  Hon.  Warner 
Miller.  "Wood-Pulp  Miller"  of  the 
satirist  is,  to  my  mind,  the  proudest  title 
he  ever  won.  He  was  the  pioneer  in  the 
introduction  of  wood  pulp  paper  for  or- 
dinary uses  in  the  country  ;  through  his 
efforts  largely,  and  on  account  of  his 
persistence  mainly,  this  most  desirable 
product  was  early  brought  into  common 
use.  Its  importance  may  te  imagined 
when  I  say  to  you  that  it  came  at  a  time 
when  the  gleanings  of  the  world  were 
inadequate  to  supply  the  demand  for 
rags,  when  paper  had  advanced  to  an 
almost  prohibitive  price  for  ordinary 
publication  uses.  The  absorbent  qualities 
of  this  paper  made  the  fast  press  con- 
sistent, and  its  cheapness  made  the  won- 
derful growth  of  newspapers  and  books 
possible. 


IPRINTING    PRESSES. 

,  The  press  used  by  Guttenberg  was  a 
crude  device  made  of  wool  having  a 
screw  mounted  in  a  frame  for  lowering 
the  platen  to  make  the  imprint. 

The  earliest  printing  press  known  to 
have  been  made  in  this  countrj'  was  for 
Christopher  Sower,  Jr.,  in  1750.  The 
revolutionary  war, marks  the  period  of 
the  greatest  activity  in  press  making, 
but  it  was  not  until  early  in  the  present 
century  that  iron  was  substituted  for 
wood  in  their  construction. 

Tracing  these  machines  through  their 
most  prominent  stages  of  development 
in   this  country,  I  submit  the  following 
table  as  marking  their  steps  by  date  : 
1803  screw  press,  35  per  hour,  2  men 

lS-26  patent  lever  press,       .120     "       "     2    " 
Is3t5  Adams  press,  400     "        "     3    ** 

1843  Hoe  single  cylinder      600     "       "     2    " 
1H46  Hoe  double       *'  1200     "       "     3    " 

1853  Hoe  eight  "         10000     "        "    14    " 

1870  Bullock  press,  10000     "        "     3    '* 

1872  Walker  press,  2000O     "        "     3    " 

1879  Hoe's  fast  press,         3O00O     "       "     3    " 
1«97  Octuple  press,  96060     "        "     3    " 

During  the  earliest  use  of  the  printing 
press  a  screw  was  provided  to  lower  the 
platen;  then  followed  the  lever;  then  the 
cylinder  operated  by  men  by  means  of  a 
crank;  then  the  application  of  steam 
power,  then  the  adaptation  of  the  press 
so  that  more  than  one  person  could  feed 
it;  then,  in  1870,  the  Webb  press  which 
printed  from  a  continuous  roll  of  paper, 
tbe  introduction  of  cutting,  pasting  and 
folding  devices  so  that  the  papers  were 
delivered  complete,  up  to  the  marvel- 
lous octuple  press  of  today  which  de. 
livers  96.000  complete  papers  in  a  single 
hour.  Think  of  it,  1  600  papers  a  min- 
ute,   or  26  while  your  watch  ticks  once. 

The  development  of  speed  in  presses  is 
not  confined  to  those  used  on  newspa- 
pers. I  have  seen  a  press  taking  fine 
paper  from  a  roll  and  delivering  pages 
of  the  Century  Magazine,  printed,  cut, 
folded  and  perforated  at  the  rate  of 
about  64  a  second.  On  this  press  curved 
electrotype  plates  were  used. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  first 
newspaper  in  this  country  to  adopt 
steam  power  to  propel  its  presses  was 
the  New  York  Sun  in  1835. 


11'; 


In  closing  this  topic  I  desire  to  call 
your  attention  to  a  matter  of  much  local 
interest  as  marking  an  era  in  the  ad- 
vance of  printing  that  will  become  a 
matter  of  much  historical  comment  in 
time,  and  that  is  that  the  liion  Citizen 
of  September  26,  1884,  was  the  tirst 
newspaper  in  the  world  to  apply  an 
electric  motor  to  the  propulsion  of  its 
press.  This  is  not  an  uncommon  power 
today,  and  the  Citizen  may  proudly 
claim  to  have  been  the  pioneer. 

I  take  pleasure  in  presenting  to  your 
society  a  copy  of  this  paper,  which  has 
a  double  interest,  to  which  I  shall  refer 
under  another  topic. 

STEREOTYPING  AND  ELECTROTYPING. 

This  process  was  early  used  in  Europe, 
and  developed  through  various  stages  of 
imperfection  to  the  ordinary  use  of 
papier-mache  at  the  present  time. 

Let  me  explain  briefly  the  process  and 
its  importance  and  value  as  making  the 
modern  newspaper  with  its  large  editions 
and  prompt  deliveries  possible.  A  page 
of  composed  types  is  securely  locked  in 
a  steel  frame  called  a  "chase"  a  thin 
layer  of  papier-mache  is  spread  on  the 
page  and  made  to  conform  to  the  irreg- 
ularities of  the  type,  this  sh<  et  is  dried 
while  still  on  the  type  and  forms  a  per- 
fect mould  of  the  page;  the  sheet  is  then 
put  in  a  box  which  is  curved  to  conform 
to  the  cylinder  of  the  presses,  and  a  cast 
is  made:  this  cast  is  a  perfect  counter- 
part of  a  page  of  type  and  has  the  let- 
ters on  its  outside  surface.  Any  number 
of  these  casts  may  be  made  from  the 
mold,  and  it  will  be  seen  that  as  many 
presses  may  work  on  the  same  matter  as 
casts  are  made.  Jn  well  conducted 
newspaper  offices  al.out  eight  minutes 
elapse  between  the  time  the  type  form 
leaves  the  composing  room,  and  the  first 
stereotype  forms  are  on  the  presses. 

Stereotyped  columns  of  matter  are 
largely  used  by  the  smaller  newspapers 
and  they  are  thus  enabled  to  present 
their  readers  with  much  excellently 
edited  and  selected  matter  at  very  slight 
expense.  Indeed  the  large  weekly  news- 
papers of  to- day  would  not  be  consis- 
tent with  the  returns  their  proprietors 
receive  if  it  were  net  for  their  ability  to 


avail  themselves  of    this   excellent    sya 
tern. 

The  New  York  Tribune  1861  was  the 
first  newspaper  in  this  country  to  adopt 
stereotyping  for  its  presses,  and  it  is  now 
universally  used  tiy  newspapers  having 
a  circulation  of  upwards  of  10,000  copies. 

Electrotyping  is  chiefly  used  for  fine 
cuts,  where  a  clear  and  distinct  result  is 
called  for,  and  for  books,  and  gives  the 
highest  results  typographically.  By  this 
process  a  wax  mould  of  the  page  is 
made,  the  mold  dusted  with  black  lead 
and  placed  in  a  soluiion  of  sulphate  of 
copper  where  a  thin  film  of  copper  is 
deposited  by  electrolycis.  The  film  is 
removed  from  the  wax  and  strengthened 
by  pouring  molten  type  metal  on  its 
back,  and  when  it  is  mounted  on  a 
wooden  block  forms  a  perfect  and  dura 
ble  counterpart  of  a  page  of  type.  The 
wooden  I  locks  may  be  removed,  and  the 
pages  filed  to  be  used  when  new  editions 
are  required. 

The  cost  of  electrotype  plates  is  esti- 
mated at  li  cents  per  square  inch. 

TYPE  SETTING   MACHINES. 

Notwithstanding  the  wonderful  pro- 
gress in  every  other  branch  of  the  art  of 
printing,  until  very  recently  type  con- 
tinued to  be  set  as  it  was  by  Guttenberg, 
450  years  ago.  While  many  'attempts 
have  I  een  made  to  set  tyi)b  mechanic- 
ally, it  is  only  during  the  past  decade 
that  the  commercial  use  of  these  ma- 
chines has  become  common. 

In  1821,  Dr.  William  Church  announced 
an  invention  for  casting  and  setting  type 
automatically,  but  its  commercial  use 
never  was  developed. 

Two  distinct  types  of  machines  are 
now  in  use,  those  which  handle  movable 
type  represented  by  Burr,  Thome  and 
McMillan,  and  line  casting,  represented 
by  the  Mergenthaler  Linotype.  In  all 
these  machines  a  key  board  is  used  to 
call  the  letters  from  their  respective 
channels.  The  McMillan  is  the  only 
device  in  commercial  use  which  justifies 
the  lines  automatically,  the  other  type- 
handling  machines  require  a  second 
operator  to  justify  the  lines  as  they  arej 
assembled  by  the  operator  of  the  ke; 
board. 


118 


j  The  Linotype  machine  aasernbles 
matrices  into  lines,  justifies  them  by 
means  of  compound  wedges,  and  casts  a 
solid  line  with  the  letter  faces  on  its 
edge.  It  is  largely  used  on  daily  papers 
in  this  country. 

It  is  probable  that  abuut  4,000  type- 
setting machines  of  all  patterns  are  used 
in  this  country  at  present,  and  that  they 
effect  an  aggregate  saving  over  hand 
composition  of  upwards  of  $5,000,000  a 
year. 

That  the  best  results  are  secured  from 
the  use  of  some  of  these  devices  is  at- 
tested by  the  fact  that  machines  made 
in  your  own  county  compose  the  types 
for  that  highest  example  of  typograph- 
ical excellence,  the  Century  Magazine. 
During  the  past  year  a  complete  Bible 
was  set  on  these  machines. 

The  economy  effected  varies  according 
to  location,  wages,  class  of  work,  etc., 
and,  roughly  speaking,  the  average  out- 
put of  the  machines  is  four  times  that  of 
hand  compositor. 

You  will  excuse  me  if  I  refer  with 
some  satisfaction  to  the  fact  that  the 
Ilion  Citizen  of  September  26,  1884,  the 
edition  which  was  printed  from  power 
furnished  by  an  electric  motor,  was  the 
first  newspaper  in  this  country  to  have 
all  the  body  or  text  type  of  its  paper  set 
on  a  typesetting  machine.  The  machine 
was  made  at  the  Armory  in  Ilion. 

And  again  November  24,  1893,  the 
Ilion  Citizen  was  set  complete  in  twenty 
hours  by  a  young  woman.  Miss  Frauds 
Fallon  of  New  York.  This  was  the  first 
paper  in  the  world  set  on  a  machine 
which  automatically  justified  the  type. 
It  would  have  taken  eight  average  com- 
positors the  same  time  to  set  this  paper. 

1  shall  be  pleased  to  have  you  accept 
a  copy  of  this  pajjer  too  as  marking  a 
step  towards  the  perfection  of  the  art. 

BOOKS. 

It  is  supposed  that  the  oldest  book 
printed  in  English  was  "De  Proprietati- 
bus  rerum."  Its  author  was  Bartho 
lonaeus  de  Glauville,  and  the  book  was 
printed  by  Caxton  in  1440. 

The  first  book  printed  in  the  New  Eng- 
land colonies  was  the  "Bay  Psalm  Book" 
in  1640,  at  Cambridge,  Mass. 


There  is  positive  evidence,  however, 
that  a  press  existed  in  Mexico  as  early 
as  1535.  The  first  printer  in  the  New 
World  was  Juan  Pablos,  and  the  first 
book  printed  was  entitled  "Spiritual 
Ladder  to  Ascend  to  Heaven."  Prmting 
was  conducted  in  Mexico  and  Peru  pre- 
vious to  1600. 

The  earliest  books  printed  after  the 
invention  of  the  art  were  chiefly  theo- 
logical, and  this  continued  to  be  the 
chief  class  for  two  centuries  thereafter. 
Books  did  not  become  popular  until 
in  the  present  century  because  of  the 
large  cost  of  materials,  and  their  grad- 
ual cheapening  increased  the  purchas- 
ing power  of  money  and  brought  them 
within  the  reach  of  a  larger  class.  A 
pound  of  book  paper  today  may  cost  five 
cents,  while  in  early  colonial  times  it 
represented  an  equivalent  to  one-third 
of  a  days'  wages  of  an  ordinary  work- 
man. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  first  books 
printed  were  in  the  German  character, 
it  is  interesting  to  note  that  not  less  than 
250,000,000  of  the  population  of  the 
world  today  use  the  Roman  character, 
and  nine-tenths  of  the  printing  of  the 
globe  is  done  in  this  text;  the  bulk  of  the 
other  tenth  is  in  German  text 

In  the  twelve  years  from  1830  to  1843' 
the  entire  number  of  books  printed  in 
this  country  was  about  1,300,  an  average 
of  a  little  more  than  100  a  year.  In  1853 
their  publication  had  increased  to  879,  in 
1860  to  1,350,  in  1892  to  4,682,  and  in 
1896  to  5,703.  In  the  past  five  years 
ending  in  1896  the  total  publication  of 
books  in  this  country  aggregated  25,562, 
or  thirty-six  times  as  many  as  were  pub- 
lished in  any  five  years  sixty  years  ago. 

The  value  of  books  published  in  the 
United  States  in  the  year  1820  was  esti- 
mated at  $2,500,000;  in  1840.  $3,500,000, 
and  in  1871  it  had  increased  to  $40,000,000. 

In  1890  the  number  of  establishments 
engaged  in  printing  (I  refer  to  general 
printing  exclusive  of  newspapers)  was 
4,098,  with  a  capital  of  $67,146,455,  fur- 
nishing employment  to  more  than  66,000 
people  and  turning  out  an  annual  pro- 
duct of  $93,540,831.  The  present  ratio 
of  increase  in  the  publication  of  books  ia 


119 


more  than  35  per  cent,  a  decade.  It  is 
estimated  that  more  than  6.000,000  dis 
tinct  books  have  been  published  in  the 
world  since  the  invention  of  printing. 

I  have  given  these  figures  on  printing 
and  book making  as  distinct  from  peri- 
odical literature  and  its  manufacture, 
and  ihey  serve  to  suggest  the  wo'iderful 
advance  which  is  taking  place  in  this 
important  branch. 

While  we  have  books  by  the  million, 
and  while  we  may  approximate  their 
value  as  a  commercial  commodity,  who 
can  venture  an  opinion  as  to  their  im- 
portance to  the  generation  of  today,  who 
dare  suppose  their  influence  and  worth 
for  past  ger.erations,  and  who  can  pre- 
dict their  effect  on  future  generations? 
Book-making  is  more  than  a  business,  it 
is  more  than  an  art.  Through  boobs  we 
trace  the  development  of  the  world,  the 
achievements  and  mistakes  of  mankind, 
the  advance  in  science,  art,  thought  and 
individuality.  We  sometimes  hear  pessi- 
mistic remarks  about  the  publications  of 
today,  but  there  is  ro  cause  for  alarm  ; 
the  majority  are  good,  better  indeed  than 
the  majority  of  indivitluals  we  come  in 
contact  with  from  day  to  day,  and  even 
the  most  rigid  Puritan  who  eschews  fic- 
tion has  no  cause  for  complaint,  for  less 
than  one-fifth  of  the  books  published  at 
the  presf  nt  time  are  of  that  class. 

We  someiimes  hear  the  wail  that  the 
newspaper  is  superseding  the  book,  but 
if  this  is  so,  we  still  have  no  cause  for 
alarm,  for  newspapers  are  increasing 
over  books  less  than  1  per  cent. 

Before  the  art  was  discovered,  a  monk 
often  spent  a  lifetime  in  writing  out  a 
single  Bible.  Guttenberg  and  his  asso- 
ciates spent  five  years  on  their  first  one, 
and  today  a  single  operator  on  a  type- 
setting machine  can  compose  the  types 
for  a  Bible  in  five  mouths. 

The  early  books  had  illunninated  init- 
tial  letters  for  the  beginning  of  chapters, 
some  of  them  very  elaborate,  but  para- 
graphs and  punctuation  marks  were  un- 
known. Todav  the  majority  of  books 
are  plainly  printed,  and  are  paragraphed 
and  punctuated  with  the  greatest  intelli- 
gence and  care. 


I  am  unwilling  to  close  this  brief 
sketch  regarding  books  without  an  allu- 
sion to  a  matter  of  the  deepest  local  in- 
terest and  value  to  Herkimer  county — 
the  Public  Libraries.  It  is  my  confident 
belief  that  the  founders  of  the  Herkimer 
Free  Library,  in  which  1  have  the  pleas- 
ure of  reading  this  paper,  and  the  Ilion 
Free  Public  Library  have  contributed 
more  to  the  su'  stantial  welfare  of  this- 
community  than  any  two  single  indi- 
viduals in  the  history  of  this  county. 
The  influence  of  these  institutions  can 
not  be  measured  or  calculated,  the 
pleasure  and  profit  they  contribute  to 
their  localities  can  never  be  determined, 
and  if  both  were  wiped  off  the  face  of 
the  earth  a  few  years  henee,  their  benifi- 
cent  influence  would  still  extend  for 
generations.  Benjamin  Franklin  never 
originated  a  better  thing  than  the  circu- 
lating library,  and  your  president.  Judge 
Robert  Earl,  the  donor  of  the  Herkimer 
Free  Library,  and  Clarence  W.  Seamans. 
the  giver  of  the  Ilion  Free  Public  Li- 
brary never  did  a  better  thing  than  when 
they  founded  tl  ese  institutions. 

THE  PERIODICAL  PRESS. 

It  is  said  that  the  "newspaper  idea' 
originated  in  Venice  in  1573.  The  paper 
was  called  the  "Gazetta,"  but  it  was  not 
printed.  It  was  written  out  with  a  pen. 
and  each  person  paid  a  small  coin,  a 
gazetta,  to  have  it  read  to  him. 

The  first  newspaper  printed  in  the 
American  colonies  was  "Publick  Occur- 
rences Both  Foreign  and  Domestic,"  in 
1690.  It  was  immediately  suppressed. 
The  second  newspaper  printed  in  the 
colonies  was  a  republication  of  an  Eng- 
lish Gazette  at  New  York  in  1696. 

We  may  date  the  real  birth  of  the 
American  press  April  4,  1704,  when  the 
first  issue  of  the  Boston  '"News-Letter" 
was  published.  John  Campbell,  the 
postmaster  of  Boston  was  its  editor  and 
proprietor. 

The  "New  York  Gazette,"  issued  by 
Wm.  Bradford,  weekly,  was  the  first 
newspaper  published  in  this  state.  It 
first  appeared  October  16,  1725,  and  was 
printed  on  a  foolscap  sheet.  The  real 
prototype  of  the  political  journal  of  to- 
day was  the  second  newspaper  published 


120 


in  this  state.  It  was  called  "John 
Peter  Zenger's  New  York  Weekly  Jour- 
nal," and  was  first  published  in  New 
York  November  5,  1733.  The  first  daily 
newspaper  in  America  appeared  in  1784 
at  Philadelpeia,  and  was  called  the 
•'American  Daily  Advertiser." 

The  first  actual  stimulus  to  newspapers 
in  America  is  marked  by  the  period  of 
the  Revolution  when  the  country  was 
cut  off  from  the  mother  country,  and 
political  excitement  was  intense.  The 
American  people  for  the  first  time 
realized  the  importance  of  these  bulle- 
tins of  news,  but  the  facilities  for  sup 
plying  them  were  meagre,  the  specimens 
of  papers  of  that  time  were  crude, 
materials  were  scarce  and  high,  and 
transportation  facilities  slow  and  imper- 
fect. This  condition  existed  for  many 
years  after  the  war.  Previous  to  this 
time  the  censDrship  of  the  press  by  the 
colonial  governors,  and  the  exactions 
of  the  "Stamp  Act"  hindered  activity  in 
newspaper-making,  while  the  chief  in- 
terest of  the  largest  class  of  readers  was 
in  European  events.  It  must  not  be 
understood,  however,  that  the  Revolu- 
tion and  the  years  immediately  follow- 
ing marked  a  substantial  growth  in 
newspapers,  or  made  their  publication  a 
profitable  business,  for  many  years 
elapsed  before  it  became  a  remunera- 
tive enterprise.  But  the  revolutionary 
period,  and  the  questions  of  inter  colo- 
nial interest,  the  discussion  of  matters  of 
such  momentous  importance  that  the 
colonists  were  willing  to  sacrifice  their 
lives  in  their  adherance  to  what  they 
considered  their  rights,  must  have  been 
the  seed-time  for  the  American  journal, 
and  the  creation  of  that  spirit  of  inter- 
est in  afliairs  which  has  grown  with  the 
years. 

We  cannot  take  the  time  necessary  to 
trace  the  difficulties  which  beset  the 
early  journalists,  nor  consider  in  detail 
the  steps  which  mark  the  growth  of 
journalism  in  this  country,  but  will  sug- 
gest for  your  consideration  some  data 
which  will  indicate  the  progressive 
character  of  the  newspaper  and  periodi- 
cal press. 

In  the  year  1775,  37  newspapers  were 


published  in  the  colonies,  in  1810,  359; 
in  1828,  861;  in  1830,  1,403;  in  1850.  2,526; 
in  1860,  4,501;  in  1870,  5,871:  in  1880, 11,- 
314;  in  1890,  17,616  and  in  1896  it  is  esti- 
mated that  i?0,000  newspapers  and  peri- 
odicals were  published.  It  is  interesting 
to  note  that  one-half  the  periodicals  of 
the  world  are  published  in  the  United 
States. 

Without  going  into  details  as  to  the 
periods  of  issue  or  the  classification  of 
the  American  journals,  I  will  give  a  few 
figures  which  will  suggest  the  growth  of 
this  great  enterprise.  At  the  beginning 
of  the  decade  ending  in  1880  it  was 
estimated  that  the  amount  of  capital  in- 
vested in  periodical  publication  was 
$53,000,000.  and  in  1890  it  had  increased 
to  1126,269.885.  In  1880  the  number  of 
hands  employed  was  65,015,  while  in 
1890,  106,095  were  employed,  and  the 
wages  had  increased  from  $28,559,336  in 
1880  to  $68,601,532  in  1890.  The  gross 
vaUie  of  the  periodical  press  in  1880  was 
$89,009,074,  and  in  1890  it  was  $179,859,- 
750.  While  this  increase  in  gross  pro- 
duct between  1870  and  1880  was  3.60 
times,  and  between  1880  and  1890  was 
but  2.02  times,  it  must  not  be  understood 
that  there  has  been  a  falling  off  in 
growth,  as  the  prices  for  this  class  of 
literature  have  steadily  declined  in  the 
interval. 

The  growth  in  size  from  the  earliest 
colonial  papers  to  the  metropolitan  daily 
of  the  present  is  suggested  by  the  fact 
that  the  early  newspapers  contained 
from  3,000  to  6,000  ems  of  type,  while 
the  average  composition  of  the  larger 
dailies  is  upward  of  700,000  ems  at  the 
present  time. 

This  paper  would  be  incomplete  with- 
out a  passing  reference  to  the  improved 
postal  and  telegraph  facilities  enjoyed 
by  the  journals  of  the  present  day.  In 
the  old  days  carrier  pigeons  were  em- 
ployed to  transmit  news,  the  pony-ex- 
press was  used,  special  locomotives  were 
called  into  service,  and  finally  the  tele- 
graph with  its  constantly  extending  in- 
fluence. It  is  interesting  here  to  note 
the  fact  that  the  publisher  of  that  early 
Boston    paper,     to    which    I    referred. 


121 


apologized  on  one  occasion  for  puMish- 
ing  European  news  thirteen  months  late. 

Reft-rring  briefly  to  our  own  locality, 
the  first  newspaper  in  Herkimer  county 
was  the  I'elescojje,  published  in  Herki- 
mer village  about  1802.  Its  editor  was 
Benjamin  Corey.  The  life  of  the  paper 
was  about  three  years. 

The  second  appeared  in  1805,  was 
called  the  Farmer's  Monitor,  and  its 
publishers  were  Holt  &  Bobbins.  Its 
life  was  about  two  years.  Herkimer 
village  may  also  felicitate  itself  on  being 
the  birthplace  of  the  next  three  papers 
in  the  county.  One  appeared  in  1807 
and  two  in  1810.  Eleven  more  were 
started  in  the  county  up  to  the  year  1859. 
This  village  may  also  claim  one  of  the 
oldest  editors  in  the  state,  Mr.  C.  C. 
Witherstine.  Mr.  C.  S.  Hunger  of  the 
Ilion  Citizen  and  Herkimer  Citizen,  has 
more  than  once  been  honored  by  election 
to  responsible  positions  in  the  Editorial 
Association  of  this  state. 

advertising  and  subscriptions. 

We  often  hear  the  expression  "news- 
papers derive  their  chief  revenues  from 
advertising".  This      is       not      true. 

In  1880  the  receipts  from  sub- 
scriptions exceed  those  from  advertising 
by  more  than  12  ijer  cent.,  and  in  1890 
the  relation  was  still  maintained,  though 
it  was  cut  to  less  than  3  per  cent,  in 
favor  of  subscriptions.  This  may  be 
accounted  for  by  the  decline  in  prices 
for  periodicals,  and  the  increase  in  the 
average  circulation,  which  made  higher 
prices  for  advertising  consistent.  In 
1890  the  receipts  from  subscriptions  ag- 
gregated $72,343,087,  while  those  from 
advertising  were  $71,243,361. 

There  are  some  interesting  and  unac- 
countable facts  regarding  the  distribu- 
tion of  newspap  rs  in  this  country; 
for  instance.  New  York  state  has  183 
dailies,  while  Pennsylvania  with  a  pop- 
ulation of  a  million  and  a  quarter  less 
has  201.  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire, 
states  lying  side  by  side  and  with  sub- 
stantially the  same  population,  show  a 
striking  difference,  Vermont  having  4 
dailies,  and  New  Hampshire  15.  The 
state  of  Massachusetts,  whose  inhabi- 
tants boast  of  supeiior   enlightenment. 


has  only  88  daily  papers,  while  Cali- 
fornia, with  less  than  one-half  the  pop- 
ulation of  the  Bay  state,  has  113.  Dela- 
ware, with  scarcely  any  foreign  or  il- 
literate population,  and  with  25,000 
more  inhabitants  than  New  Mexico, 
whose  population  is  generously  distrib- 
uted with  Indians  and  half  breeds,  has 
the  same  number  of  dailies.  We  can- 
not account  for  the  distribution  of  news- 
papers in  this  country  in  given  areas,  by 
population,  relative  number  of  cities  and 
villages,  or  comparative  illiteracy  of  the 
people. 

We  may  take  an  optimistic  view  of 
the  press  and  its  influence.  The  daily 
press  is  usually  a  true  statement  of  the 
happenings  of  interest  to  the  locality  it 
represents,  with  a  judicious  amount  of 
general  news,  and,  notwithstanding  the 
"yellow  journals"  with  their  large  dis- 
tribution, in  the  main,  the  press  is  high- 
minded,  and  its  influence  good.  1  am  of 
the  opinion  that  a  large  proportion  of 
the  patrons  of  these  sensational  news- 
papers are  influenced  by  curiosity  to  see 
what  they  will  do  next,  for  no  one  will 
deny  their  originality  and  enterprise, 
and  a  large  class  are  entertained  by 
their  racy  "stories",  In  the  old  days, 
before  the  general  distribution  of  news- 
papers, the  prolific  liar  in  a  community 
could  get  a  considerable  audience,  but  no 
one  would  accept  from  him  a  serious 
opinion.  It  is  true  that  these  journals 
are  bad,  but  the  total  percentage  of  their 
distribution  compared  with  the  better 
class  leaves  no  present  cause  for  real 
alarm. 

The  best  talent  in  the  world  is  sought 
for  periodical  work.  The  place  for 
mediocrity  is  growing  narrower  every 
day.  The  standards  of  education  and 
qualification  are  constantlj^  being  raised. 
The  strife  for  interesting  and  valuable 
matter  is  growing  with  the  develop- 
ment of  the  press,  and  readers  are  broad- 
ening in  their  ability  to  discriminate  and 
think  for  themselves. 

conclusion. 

In  concluding  this  paper  I  desire  to 
call  your  attention  to  the  relative  me- 
chanical conditions  at  the  beginning  of 
the  present  century,    and  those   of  the 


122 


present  time,  and  illustrate  the  real 
meaning  of  this  improvement  in  appli- 
ances, and  the  impossibility  of  the  news- 
paper of  today  without  them.  To  fur- 
nish an  edition  of  a  metropolitan  paper 
of  150,000  copies,  to  be  printed  in  an 
hour,  150,000  people  would  be  required, 
and  their  wages,  based  on  the  present 
average  earnings,  would  amount  to  more 
than  the  whole  mechanical  labor  of  such 
a  paper  for  a  year  under  the  prevailing 
conditions  of  the  present.  Imagine 
acres  of  presses  of  the  type  of  the  screw 
press  of  1808,  which  was  capable  of 
turning  out  35  impressions  an  hour  with 
two  persons  to  operate  it,  the  army  of 
pasters  and  folders,  the  number  of  du- 
plicate pages  of  tj'pe  requiring  a  citj'-full 
of  people  to  set,  the  copyists  to  rewrite 
the  copy  of  the  editorial  staff,  and  you 
will  see  the  impossibility  of  the  newspa- 
per of  today  under  the  mechanical  con- 
ditiousof  that  period.  But  leaving  these 
out  of  consideration,  the  lack  of  news- 
gathering  facilities  would  be  prohibitive. 
The  growth  of  newspapers  and  books 
has  been  identical  with  the  development 
in  labor-saving  devices  and  processes, 
and  their  increase  in  numbers  has  kept 
pace  with  the  outgrowth  of  invention. 

I  am  unwilling  to  close  this  paper 
without  a  thrust  at  the  fallacy  of  our  so- 
cialistic philosophers,  including  Bishop 
Potter  and  Henry  George— the  delusion 
that  labor-saving  machinery  tends  to  de- 
press wages  and  demoralize  labor. 
While  I  admit  that  we  may  find  num- 
erous instances  where  the  introduction 
of  labor-saving  devices  has  wrought 
hardship  in  individual  cases,  and  that  it 
appears  to  hasten  the  action  of  the  law 
of  "the  survival  of  the  fittest,"  I  main- 
tain that  there  is  nothing  to  justify  the 
opinion  that  its  influence  has  been  inimi- 
cal to  the  interests  of  the  workingman. 


Its  eff'ect  is  invariably  to  increase  the 
purchasing  power  of  money,  and  its 
practical  workings  have  made- the  in- 
crease of  wages  possible.  In  no  branch 
of  industry,  perhaps,  has  greater  pro- 
gress been  made  during  the  present  cen- 
tury than  in  printing  and  its  auxiliaries, 
and  I  will  show  you  that  in  the  past 
half  century,  which  represents  the  most 
material  growth,  wages  have  steadily 
appreciated.  In  1850  the  average  yearly 
earning  of  the  workingmen  engaged  in 
general  printing  was  P31,  in  1860  $376, 
in  1870  |489,  in  1880  $520  and  in  1890  the 
average  yearly  earnings  of  those  em- 
ployed on  periodicals  was  $646. 

In  the  days  of  Guttenberg  the  number 
of  people  in  a  community  like  this  who 
were  able  to  read  was  probably  less  than 
the  number  in  this  village  who  are  un- 
able to  read.  I  venture  the  statement 
that  it  would  puzzle  some  of  your  mem- 
bers to  name  half  a  dozen  adults  in 
the  village  who  cannot  read.  This  re- 
versal of  conditions  is  due  to  "the  art 
preservative  of  arts."  Its  service  to 
mankind  is  past  finding  out.  No  mere 
man  can  calculate  its  effect  on  the  his- 
tory made  since  its  inception,  the  influ. 
ence  it  has  wielded  on  the  nations,  or  its 
potence  in  shaping  their  courses. 

The  glorious  possibilities  of  the  pres- 
ent, when  the  humblest  citizen  may 
have  the  bulletin  of  the  chief  daily 
events  of  the  whole  world  before  his 
eyes,  when  no  industrious  person  is  cut 
off  from  the  best  thoughts  of  the  best 
writers,  when  advance  in  art,  science 
and  literature  is  accurately  chronicled 
and  within  the  reach  of  those  who  seek 
it,  are  impressive. 

We  are  compelled  to  fix  the  growth  of 
the  art  of  printing  by  commercial  statis- 
tics, but  its  increasing  power  cannot  be 
gauged  by  figures. 


123 


THE  MOHAWK  TURNPIKE. 

AN   ADDRESS   BY   RUFUS   A.    GRIDER,    OF  CANAJOHARIE, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  December  ii,  1897. 


A  few  years  after  the  close  of  the  revo- 
lutionary war,  a  great  many  families 
who  resided  in  the  New  England  states 
began  to  move  to  central  and  western 
New  York. 

The  cause  for  that  movement  was  two 
fold.  Many  of  General  Sullivan's  army, 
when  he  marched  into  the  Indian  coun- 
try in  1779,  saw  the  beautiful  and  pro- 
ductive lands  of  the  Genesee  and  other 
valleys,  and  upon  their  return  home 
lauded  them  highly. 

It  appears  that  when  a  charter  was 
granted  to  Massachusetts  as  a  colony, 
the  British  government  (being  ignorant 
of  the  geography)  named  the  Pacific 
Ocean  as  its  western  boundary. 

When  a  charter  for  New  York  was 
granted,  the  western  boundary  of  New 
Y^ork  also  extended  to  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
as  the  latter  state  lay  west  of  Massa- 
chusetts. A  dispute  arose  between  these 
two  states,  both  claiming  the  unsettled 
territory  lying  west  of  Fort  Stanwix. 
(Now  Rome,  N.  Y.)  After  the  close  of 
the  revolution— the  two  states  agreed  to 
settle  the  dispute  amicably.  The  tract 
was  estimated  at  8,000,000  acres.  Mas- 
sachusetts was  to  take  its  one-half  on 
the  south,  and  New  York,  the  northern 
portion  towards  the  lakes.  In  tbe  year 
1778,  Massachusetts  had  already  extin- 
guished the  Indian  title  and  sold  its 
share  to  a  land   company;   New   Y'ork 


treated  with  the  Indians  at  Fort  Stanwix 
and  purchased  the  Indian  title  in  that 
year,  and  opened  its  4,000,000  acres 
to  settlers.  Then,  a  great  movement  of 
emigration  began;  New  England  people 
took  up  those  western  lands,  which 
could  be  purchased  from  10  cents  up- 
ward to$l  per  acre.  Munsell's  "County  of 
Albany,"  page  310,  says:  "It  is  recorded 
that  in  the  winter  of  1795,  twelve  hun- 
dred sleighs  passed  through  Albany  in 
three  days  with  emigrants  to  Genesee 
Valley.  They  were  from  New  England, 
ancestors  of  the  present  prosperous  citi- 
zens of  the  farms  and  shops  of  western 
New  Y^'ork.  They  soon  had  abundant 
products  to  sell  and  demanded  a  high- 
way of  trade." 

"At  Fink's  Tavern,  below  Little  Falls, 
New  England  people  came  on  horseback, 
prospecting,  with  well  filled  saddle-bags 
and  portmanteaus— he  entertained  fre- 
quently thirty  to  forty  in  a  single  night.' 
— Simms. 

Following  the  enterprise  of  a  few  pub- 
lic benefactors,  improved  facilities  for 
transportation  on  the  Mohawk  river, 
from  Schenectady,  were  began  in  1792 
by  the 

INLAND    NAVIGATION 

Company,  who  improved  the  Mohawk 
river  and  extended  navigation  to  Lakes 
Oneida,  Ontario,  Seneca  and  Cayuga, 
and  the  St.  Lawrence  river  trade  which 


124 


formerly  went  to  Montreal,  was  diverted 
to  Albany  and  New  York, 

The  tide  of  immigration  continued  un- 
abated. The  roads  were  very  had — no 
bridges  had  been  constructed  beyond 
Schenectady,  until  1798,  when  a  bridge 
was  built  over  the  Schoharie  river  at 
Fort  Hunter. 

About  that  time,  two  young  men,  resi- 
dents of  Litchfield,  Conn.,  named  Seth 
Whetmore  and  Lew  Norton,  were  on 
their  way  west  to  take  up  land.  Hear- 
ing much  talk  about  the  construction  of 
a  great  turnpike,  they  became  interested 
in  the  turnpike  enterprise  and  remained. 
Whetmore,  being  a  surveyor  and  civil 
engineer,  superintended  its  construction. 
They,  with  Ozias  Bronson;  Hewills  Hills 
and  three  others,  formed  the  first  board 
of  directors.  'Ihe  roadbed  was  made  of 
broken  stone,  60  feet  wide,  18  inches 
higher  in  the  center,  sloping  to  the 
edges.  A  better  road  was  needed  be- 
tween Albany  and  Schenectady,  the  dis- 
tance 16  miles.  A  charter  for  a  turn- 
pike was  granted  in  1797.  It  connected 
Albany  with  the  inland  navigation  com- 
pany by  a  macadamized  road,  other 
lateral  branches  connecting  therewith. 
It  soon  became  the  leading  highway  lor 
travel,  and  kept  up  with  the  wonderful 
progress  then  developing  in  the  western 
part  of  the  state.  The  navigation  com- 
pany had  developed  trade  greatly,  but 
charges  were  so  high  that  costly  material 
only  could  be  conveyed  over  that  route. 

A  turnpike,  all  thought,  would  meet 
the  want.  A  charter  was  obtained  in  A. 
D.  1800,  to  build  a  turnpike  from  Schen- 
ectady to  Utica,  the  distance  being  about 
68  miles.  When  that  was  obtained  the 
Albany  and  Schenectady  pike  of  16 
miles  was  already  completed  and  did  a 
thriving  business.  The  public  readily 
subscribed  for  building  turnpikes.  Char- 
ters were  granted,  one  adjoining  an- 
other, until  the  main  western  line  ex- 
tended to  Lake  Erie  at  Buffalo.  Many 
branches  were  constructed  leading  into 
the  main  line.  Good  roads  increased  the 
flow  of  emigrants.  Trees  were  falling, 
lands  made  productive,  demand  for 
everything  raised  by  the  farmers,  de- 
mand   for     laborers     and     mechanics; 


activity  and  life  prevailed  everywhere. 
After  such  activity  did  rpaction  set  in  V 
No,  the  price  of  land  advanced  from 
year  to  year,  the  advance  was  real  rot 
speculative.  The  great  wagons  now  be- 
came larger  and  more  numerous;  4,  5, 
6.  7,  8,  and  teams  with  9  horses  traveled 
on  the  Mohawk  turnpike.  The  teams 
"were  continuous."  Other  evidence 
says,  "at  times  12  to  20  were  in  sight.'' 
It  was  difficult  to  find  stabling  for 
horses  and  floor  room  for  team- 
sters to  sleep  (they  occupied  no  beds), 
who  slept  on  their  overcoats  or  home- 
made blankets,  which  they  spread  on  the 
bar  room  floor.  Regular  freighters  car- 
ried a  sort  of  mattress  about  two  feet 
wide  to  sleep  upon.  It  was  rolled  up 
and  strapped  into  a  roll  each  morning 
and  put  into  the  wagon. 

The  number  of  teams  increased  each 
year,  so  did  the  taverns,  until  they  num- 
bered one  in  every  mile  of  the  road;  even 
the  teamsters  to  obtain  accommodations, 
detached  a  horse  and  sent  a  person  in 
advance  to  engage  night  quarters. 

All  teamsters  desired  stable  room  for 
their  horses.  If  they  could  not  be  had. 
they  were  compelled  to  leave  them 
without  covering.  The  farmers  who 
carried  their  products  to  Albany,  also 
carried  food  and  hay  for  their  horses 
and  provisions  for  themselves,  which 
were  cooked  at  home  and  carried  in  a 
wooden  box.  At  the  stopping  places, 
hot  coffee,  beer  or  strong  drink  could  be 
added  to  the  meal.  A  farmer  on  his  re- 
turn from  Albany,  when  he  left  Schen- 
ectady, tried  in  vam  to  get  stable  room 
for  his  horses  at  every  tavern  imtil  near 
Amsterdam.  His  two  Horses  at  last 
were  stabled:  he  fed  th  m  oit^s  which  he 
brought  from  home,  he  ha  i  no  hay  left. 
The  stable  provided  enough  hay  for 
night  and  morning.  His  bill  was  18 
cents. 

The  regular  freighters  carried  a  feed 
trough  which  could  be  fastened  upon 
the  wagon  tongue.  Hay  and  oats  were 
obtained,  and  also  their  meals  at  a 
tavern.  They  could  not  carry  horse 
feed  as  did  the  farmers,  who  onh* 
traveled  a  short  distance  from  home. 


125 


As  it  was  at  times  impossible  to  ob- 
tain stable  room  for  horses,  freighters 
supplied  themsplres  with  oil  cloth  cover- 
ings for  protecting  their  horses  during 
the  night. 

WAGON  TIRES. 

The  turnpike  company  found  that  the 
common  road  wagons  with  narrow  tires 
soon  cut  grooves  into  the  track.  To 
overcome  that,  they  offered  to  pass  all 
wagons  free  which  had  tires  six  inches 
or  greater  in  width.  These  benefited 
the  roadway.  Such  wagons  were  not 
compelled  to  turn  out  unless  they  met 
one  of  like  width  of  tire. 

CARGOES. 

The  cargoes  of  the  wagons  when  go- 
ing eastward  consisted  chiefly  of  wheat, 
oats,  hemp,  whiskey,  potash  and  salt. 
Going  west  they  carried  merchandise 
for  the  western  stores. 

RATES. 

Freight  rates  from  Albany  to  Buffalo 
were  at  first  five  dollars  per  hundred 
weight;  competition  reduced  the  price 
lo  11.25;  from  Albany  to  Utica,  $1.00 
per  112  pounds. 

WAGONS. 

The  regular  freight  wagon  boxes  were 
painted  light  blue  or  slate  color.  The 
rear  end  could  be  lifted  from  its  sockets, 
on  it  hung  the  feed  trough.  Under  the 
rear  axletree,  a  tar  bucket  and  water 
pail  were  suspended.  In  the  center  of 
one  side  of  the  body  was  a  small  tool 
chest  with  a  slanting  lid.  It  contained 
hammer,  wrench,  pincers,  currycomb, 
etc.  Such  were  known  as  Pennsylvania 
wagons. 

BELLS. 

Many  of  the  regular  freighters  decked 
the  two  rear  horses  each  with  three  open 
bells;  such  were  suspended  from  the 
iron  arch  fastened  upon  the  hames  and 
collar.  The  sound  was  musical  not  rat- 
tling like  sleigh  bells.  I  remember  see- 
ing freighters'  teams  with  five  horses 
all  wearing  bells.  I  can  speak  somewhat 
from  experience,  having  made  purchases 
for  one  wagon  load  of  merchandise; 
collected  it  by  drays  to  one  place,  then 
saw  to  its  being  loaded  to  be  carried  to 


its  destination  by  a  freighter    from  the 
city  of  Philadelphia. 

HORSES. 

The  horses  of  the  freighters  were  gen- 
erally large  and  fat.  The  load  weighed 
three  to^  four  tons.  They  were  known 
as  Pennsylvania  horses.  Their  harness 
was  broad,  t>eavy  and  strong. 

BAR    ROOMS. 

As  already  slated,  the  taverrs  num- 
bered one  in  every  mile.  Within  fifty 
miles  of  Albany,  there  were  53  taverns 
and  52  bar  rooms.  Whiskey  cost  only 
25  cents  per  gallon.  New  England  rum 
was  the  usual  drink.  Without  it  no  one 
thought  it  was  then  possible  to  do  work 
or  hold  a  funeral.  For  Col.  Peter  Wag- 
ner's funeral,  who  lived  and  died  near 
Fort  Plain,  six  gallons  were  purchased 
for  |;9  in  1813.  Such  rooms  were  mostly 
heated  by  a  large  open  fire  place;  stoves 
had  njt  yet  been  invented,  or  at  least  had 
not  been  introduced.  Some  had  a  large 
stone  or  bricked  base  in  the  center  of  the 
bar  room,  slightly  higher  than  the 
wooden  floor.  On  it  was  a  sheet  iron 
box;  in  it  the  wood  fire  was  made.  A 
pipe  carried  off  the  smoke.  It  heated 
the  room  better  than  the  other  method. 

Another  method  was  to  heat  the  bar 
room  from  the  kitchen,  by  means  of  an 
iron  box,  consisting  of  four  cast  iron 
plates  about  six  feet  in  length,  and  one 
end  plate  which  closed  up  the  end  in  the 
bar  room ;  the  end  in  the  kitchen  was 
not  closed— there  the  cooking  was  done. 
A  stone  wall  divided  the  two  apartments. 
This  method  was  practiced  also  on  farms. 
Authority,  the  late  John  A.  Failing. 
Such  existed  in  Fort  Kayser  in  Stone 
Arabia. 

Some  taverns  had  bunks  with  wooden 
covers  along  the  side  of  the  room.  On 
the  cover,  the  teamster  eat  his  lunch; 
when  he  opened  the  lid,  he  bad  a  box 
raised  from  the  floor  to  sleep  in.  Such 
luxurious  accommodations  were  not  the 
rule,  but  the  exception.  One  favorite 
stopping  place  wasMcGowan's,  in  winter 
noted  for  its  warm  bar  room  and  good 
fare  and  drinks.  His  fire-places  were 
adjoinmg  each  other,  showing  a  heat- 
ing front  of  a^^out  15  feet.  To  keep  up 
the   fire,  he  collected  quantities  of  dry 


12e 


pine  stumps;  those  consume  slowly,  and 
■once  on  fire,  never  stop  burning.  The  bar 
room  was  large,  but  onh*  about  7^  feet 
high;  a  tall  man  with  a  hat  on  his  head 
nearly  touched  the  ceiling.  It  was  be- 
spattered with  blood,  the  effect  of  the 
many  fights  which  occurred,  for  it  was 
the  headquarters  of  the  bullies  of  the 
turnpike.  When  asked  'why  the  stains 
were  not  removed,  he  said  :  "They 
showed  that  persons  had  been  there  who 
understood  business  "  Fights  were  fre- 
quent, the  people  were  rough  hewn. 

At  another  much  frequented  place,  an 
intoxicated  Irishman  without  money, 
asked  the  landlord  for  a  drink.  He  said 
"I  will  give  you  a  drink,' roughly  put- 
ting the  fellow  out  by  force,  took  him  to 
the  water  trough  in  front  of  the  house, 
forced  the  Irishman's  head  under  the 
water  exclaiming,    "Now  drink." 

Some  time  thereafter,  another  tipsy 
Irishman  asked  for  a  drink,  he  had  no 
money  to  pay.  Til  give  you  a  drink 
said  the  landlord, marching  out  the  tipsy 
man  to  the  water  trough,  intending  to 
treat  him  as  the  former  man  -the  fellow 
quickly  laid  the  landlord  into  the  water 
trough— he  was  not  drunk,  it  was  a  reg- 
ular plan  to  obtain  revenge. 

VOLUME  OF  BUSINESS  DONE- 

As  no  reports  could  be  found,  it  is  im- 
possible to  state  it;  one  can  only  surmise. 
An  aged  citizen,  son  of  a  former  land- 
lord at  Palatine  Bridge,  remembers  that 
his  father  stabled  83  horses  one  night. 

Stage  lines  existed  east  and  west  of 
Albany  ere  the  turnpikes  were  construct- 
ed, before  1790.  Persons  traveled  on 
horseback  (both  male  and  female); 
others  by  their  own  conveyance,  but 
after  the  pike  was  completed,  traveling 
greatly  increased.  Then  a  better  class 
•of  taverns  were  built  to  accommodate 
that  trade  and  private  travel. 

The  first  mail  received  in  Schenectady 
was  in  April,  1783,  over  one  hundred 
years  after  its  first  settlement.  In  1790, 
the  first  stage  that  carried  mail,  ran 
from  Albany  to  Schenectady,  Johnstown 
and  Canajoharie,  once  each  week.  Fare 
three  cents  per  mile.  In  1792,  the  route 
extended  to  Fort  Plain,  Old  Fort  Schuy- 
ler,  (now  Utica)  and  Whitestown,  once 


every  two  weeks.  In  1794,  the  route  ex- 
tended to  Geneva  and  Canandaigua.  In 
1812,  says  Munsell,  "It  was  not  an  un- 
usual sight  to  see  8,  12  and  even  14  stages 
on  the  Scotia  Dyke  at  Schenectady,  at 
one  time."  The  average  fare  was  four 
cents  per  mile. 

In  1811,  a  fast  line  ran  day  and  night, 
from  Albany  to  Buffalo  in  three  days. 
The  same  company  sent  four  coaches 
east  and  four  west  each  day.  The  horsts 
were  kept  on  a  trot  nearly  all  the  time, 
the  speed  was  ten  miles  per  hour. 
The  horses  were  changed  every  nine  to 
twelve  miles.  The  fare  in  1831  was  re- 
duced to  four  cents  per  mile,  probably  to 
compete  with  Erie  canal  packets.  The 
route,  according  to  Gordon's  Gazeteer  of 
1836,  was  via  Onondaga,  Auburn,  Seneca 
Falls.  Canandaigua,  Rochester,  Batavia 
and  Buffalo. 

In  1833,  the  turnpike  company  sur- 
rendered its  rights  to  the  railroad  com- 
pany, the  latter  paid  $22.50  per  share 
for  the  turnpike  stock. 

The  foregoing  shows  the  beginnings 
and  progressions  on  earth  roads  and  its 
general  growth  after  the  pike  was  built. 
As  the  competing  lines  were  established 
reduced  rates  followed;  the  business  was 
growing  until  the  completion  of  the  Erie 
canal  in  1825.  While  the  canal  was  open 
the  stages  carried  fewer  passengers. 
During  the  winter  and  early  spring  the 
stages  were  still  supported,  but  business 
became  less  and  less,  and  in  about  1843 
they  stopped  running.  Tolls  were  col- 
lected long  after  that  date. 

TAVERN   SIGNS. 

The  tavern  signs  were  of  the  swing  or- 
der, painted  on  both  sides.  Those  named 
after  animals,  such  as  R^-d  Lion,  Black 
Horse,  White  Horse,  White  Bear  and 
Black  Bear  were  most  numerous. 
Among  the  unusual  ones  was  one  in 
the  town  of  HerKiraer,  at  North  Ilion. 
On  one  side  was  painted  a  gentleman 
on  horse  back,  richly  clad  and  elegantly 
mounted.  Below  it  was  the  motto  :  "I 
am  going  to  law."  On  the  reverse  side 
was  a  dilapidated  man  and  horse  with 
the  motto  :     "I  have  been  to  law.  ' 

Another  represented  a  traveler  on 
foot  on  one  side;  on   the  other  a  lepre- 


127 


sentation  of  a  '•Frolic;"  a  darkey  fiddler,  the  twelve  gates  between  utica  and 

couples  dancing,   the   females  in   short  Schenectady. 

gowns,  one   fellow   sitting  with  his  best      1     Schenectady. 

girl  on  his  lap.  2    Swartz's  8  miles  west  (now  Cranes 

I   remember  seeing  one  that  is  pre-  village), 

served;  on  it  is  a  bee  hive  and  the  name  3    Caughnawaga  (now  Fonda), 

of  the  landlord;  on  the  other  :  4    Schenck's  Hollow,  (a  little  east  of  it) 
8ugar  is  sweet  west  of  the  Nose. 

And  so  is  honey;  5     East  of  Wagner's  Hollow  road  (now 

Here's  the  place  cheese  factory). 

To  spend  your  money."  ^    Garoga  Creek,  a  little  east  of  it. 

HORSE  TRADING  ^    ^^'  Johnsville,  lower  end  of  it. 

Was  much  practiced.  It  is  related  that  ^    ^^^^  ^^^^^  Bridge, 

two  persons,  each  trying  to  get  the  bet-  ^    Fink's   Ferry,  east   of  Little  Falls, 

terof   the    bargain;  A,    who    spoke    in  ^^    West  Canada  Creek  (Herkimer), 

broken  English,  brought  out   his  animal  ^^     Sterling,  six  miles  east  of  Utica. 

saying:  -'He's  an  awful   good  horse,  he  ^^     ^^^^^  (formerly  Old  Fort  Schuyler), 
is,  only  he  doesn't  look  very  good."     B       ^"  ^^^  beginning  of  the  19th  century, 

traded,    but  soon    found    that    he    had  '"^"y  charters  were  granted  by  the  state 

traded  for  a  blind  horse.     He  tried  to  re-  ^^  ^^"^  ^^^^^  ^^^  constructing  turnpike 

cover  damages   by  suit,    but  A  proved  ^^o^^^-     The  Great  Western  was   located 

that  I  e  told  B  that  "he  didn't /ooA;  very  further    south.      It    started    at    Albany 

good."     No  damages  for  B.  touched  Carlisle,  Cherry  Valley,  Otsego, 

Nailed   upon   the    wall   of   every  gate  Chenango,     Owego,     Dansville,    Aurora 

was  a  white  oblong  board  containing  the  ^"^  Buffalo.     At  Chenango,  a  branch  to 

rates  of  toll  on    the    Schenectady    and  Utica  connected  both  roads.     The  above, 

Utica  turnpike,  as  follows  :  ^°'^  ^'^o  ^^^  ro"^®  ^^  the  northern  road 

Cents  were  found  in    "Gorden's  Gazetee"  for 

Sheep,  per  score 8  1836 

Cattle     •'       "    IS  ^^   statistics    have   been   found,  they 

Horses,  "       "    18  were   private   corporations.     No  reports 

Mules,    "       •'    18  were  required  by  the  state,  and  the  turn- 
Horse  and  rider 5  pike   officials   have  all  gone  to  a  land 

Tied  horses,  eacb  5  where  wings,  not  wheels  are  used. 

Sulkies 12U  ,  ,       »,              o  r^     ,  ■             T^      „ 

(^jjjjjpg  J2U  John  Meyer  of  Herkimer,  Dan  1  Pans 

Chariots 25"   of  Johnstown   and   James   Murdoch   of 

Coaches 25      Schenectady,    were   officers  of  the  Mo- 

Coachees    35      j^awk   turnpike  in    1803.    In  1843,  stages 

?ioTorae  stages  '[y/.'.[[^:Z\y.'.'. .'.'.'.  lly,  ^«^«   t^'^^"  ^^  ^^e  Mohawk  pike. 

Four  horse  staff es 18J^  Benton's  history  of  Herkimer  county. 

One  horse  wagons  9  says:     "It   was   an   immense  thorough- 
Two  horse  wBgons 1214  fare  for  travel.'' 

Three  horse  wagons        I5Ui  t->       ■        ■      t^>   ^xt-^^    •      i  oa~           j 

„            ..         ..      ^.            J     ^> .     u  Jt  Benjamin  DeWitt,  m  1807,  made  out  a 

Four  tires  under  &  laches  75 

Five       "         "         •'         "         >•  87U    complete  statement    of.the  then  existing 

Six         *•         "         •'         "         "        fi.no      roads,  published  in  "Transactions  of  the 
Onehorsecart 6      society  for  the  promotion  of  useful  arts 

;?::*' °^'''*''^  -^  in  the  state  of  New  York." 

Three  ox  carts 8  t-.ii 

Four  ox  carts  10  "Koads   then  existed  from  the  Hudson 

Six  ox  carts    u  river  to   Lake   Erie,   a  distance   of  350 

One  horse  sleigh 6  miles.    Eighty-eight  companies  had  been 

Two  horse  or  ox  sleighs G  incorporated    for   turnpikes   and  bridges 

Three  horse  or  ox  sleighs '8  ■.<  -^    i       e                ^            •,,• 

Four  horse  or  ox  sleighs     10  ^'^^  ^  ^^P'^^^    ^^    °^^''   ^""^  millions  and 

Five  liorse  or  ox  sleighs 12  one-half  of  dollars,    all  within  the  period 

Six  horse  or  ox  sleighs 14  of  seven  years,   embracing  more   than 

128 


3,000  miles  of  road.  Of  these,  900  miles 
were  then  completed  and  were  taking 
toll. 

The  longest  continuous  road  was  from 
the  Massachusetts  line,  near  Lebanon 
Springs  to  Albany,  Schenectady,  Utica, 
Canandaigua  to  Black  Rock  on  Lake 
Erie — length  334  miles.  This  transient 
review  of  our  turnpike  roads  will  enable 
us  to  form  a  competent  idea  of  the  flour- 
ishing condition  of  the  state,  and  the 
accelerated  progress  of  her  improve- 
ments. It  will  enable  us  to  estimate 
how  far  these  improvements  are  calcu- 
lated to  favor  the  new  settlements,  to 
promote  the  increase  of  tluj  state  and  to 
facilitate  the  transportation  of  produce 
and  merchandise  from  its  interior  and 
remote  parts,  as  well  as  to  draw  large 
supplies  from  the  neighboring  states." 

REMINISCENCES 

The  distinguished  editor  of  the  Albany 
Evening  Journal,  Thurlow  Weed,  in  nis 
autobiography,  describing  a  trip  down- 
ward in  1824,  says:  "Distance  traveled 
in  one  day  64  miles.  At  Cayuga  Bridge, 
the  stage  drove  up  to  the  tavern  to  water 
the  horses.  It  was  a  dark  and  rainy 
night,  the  stage  was  full  inside  and  out. 
A  lady,  closely  veiled,  came  up  to  the 
steps,  who  was,  as  the  keeper  of  the 
hotel  said,  very  anxious,  on  account  of 
sickness  in  the  family  where  she  resided, 
to  get  to  Goodwin's  that  evening.  The 
passengers  said  it  was  impossible,  as 
there  were  already  nine  of  them  inside, 
but  Mr.  Spencer  prompted  by  his  sympa- 
thies or  his  politeness,  as  it  was  but  four 
miles,  thought  a  lady  ought  not  to  be 
refused  a  passage  and  offered,  if  she 
chose  to  accept  it,  a  seat  on  his  lap.  The 
ofifer  was  accepted,  the  lady  took  her 
seat  and  the  coach  dashed  off.  At  Good- 
win's tavern,  where  the  lady  got  out.  a 
light  was  brought  to  enable  her  to  find 
some  baggage.  When  she  remeved  her 
veil,  a  very  ebony  colored  individual  of 
the  female  gender  was  revealed  to  the 
consternation  of  Mr.  Spencer  and  the 
amusement  of  the  other  passengers." 

'•A  stage  driver  with  four  live  horses 
was  an  institution.  They  would  dash  up 
to  the  post  office  and  while  waiting  for 
the  mail,  gracefully  throw  his  whip  lash 

129 


over  the  front  horses  playfully,  and  when 
approaching  a  place  blow  his!horn,  crack 
his  whip  and  crack  jokes." 

STAGE    CONVERSATION. 

He  relates  a  phrenological  discussion 
in  which  Gov.  Yates  floored  his  antago- 
nist by  saying  :  "My  head  is  not  as  long 
as  Gov.  Clinton's  but  it  is  a  good  deal 
t'icker."  There  were  generally  several 
intellectual  persons  aboard.  One  Myron 
Holly,  a  cultured  man,  could  recite  from 
memory  by  the  hour,  gems  from  British 
poets.  A  Mr.  Grenger  would,  in  the 
evening,  recite  from  Burns,  Moore  and 
others,  and  a  Mr.  Richard  L.  Smith  of 
Auburn,  with  his  wit  and  drolleries 
would  shorten  the  miles.  The  jokes  and 
jibes  of  the  stage  drivers  would,  ae  a 
class,  be  as  racy  and  quaint  as  "Samuel 
in  Pickwick." 

At  Couch's  tavern.  East  Canada  Creek, 
a  good  meal  was  always  served. 
Failing's,  St.  Johnsville,  was  noted  for 
warm  rooms  in  winter  and  good  fare. 
At  Kane's  store,  (Canajohane)  there  were 
five  brothers,  who  resided  at  different 
cities,  distinguished  merchants.  They 
were  all  gentlemen  of  education,  accom- 
plished and  refined.  Sprakers,  above 
the  "Nose"  was  a  noted  place.  Many 
anecdotes  are  related  of  the  landlord, 
Han  Yost.  The  landlord  had  a  dispute 
with  a  person,  without  coming  to  an 
agreement.  Spra/ker  ended  the  discus- 
sion by  saying  :  "I  tell  you  there's  worse 
men  in  hell  than  you  are,  Wagner," 
(pausing  with  eyes  toward  the  floor) 
"but  they  are  all  chained," 

Stage  travel  as  described  by  an  English 
gentlemen,  named  Fowler  in  1831: 

"Roads  to  Utica  very  rough— it  is 
called  Baggtown.  Stage  driver  does 
not  look  for  fees,  as  in  England  say- 
ing, "Please  I  stop  here."  At  Inns, 
look  for  no  bowing  landlord  or  waiter, 
the  bar  room  is  the  only  inhabited  room. 
Within  it  are  conveniences  for  washing, 
a  comb  and  brush  attached  together  by 
a  string  from  the  ceiling  used  by  all 
comers  and  goers.  The  walls  are  covered 
with  advertisements,  lectures,  quack 
medicines,  auctions,  stage  lines,  new 
shad,  Wads  worth's  cheese,  stray  horse, 
a  trunk  gone,  etc." 


TOLL   GATES.  the  means  of  going  have  changed,   but 

"Toll  gates  do  not  swing  on   hinges,  the  direction  is  the  same, 
as  in  England,  but  lift  up  by  the  port-        These  are  important   features   in  the 

cuUis-a    custom  used  in  countries,  re-  early  history   of  the  state  of  New  York 

ferred  to  by  that  beautiful  and  sublime  ^""^    ^f  the    Mohawk    Valley,   scarcely 

passage  in  Psalms,  "Lift  up  your  heads,  "^ticed  by  historians  and  not  mentioned 

O  ye  gates,  and  be  ye  lifted  ^up  ye  ever-  ^^  all  by  school  histories,   by  which  the 

lasting    doors  and  the  King  of  Glory  scholars  of  the  state   of    New   York   are 

shall  come  in."  supposed  to  be  correctly  instructed,  they 

.    ,      ,  do  not  even  mention  the  matter.      They 

We  close  the  second  period  of  com-  ,      .        .^.   ,,     ,     .,,.         „   .,      „  .     ^ 

.     ,  .  .  ,  ,  ,.         ,    .    ,    . ,  begin  with  the  building  of  the  Erie   Ca- 

merical  highways  by  noting  their  feeble       ?     „.,    ^  u  u    <-u     ^i  i- ^e  „  ui„4^^^„ 

,./v>     Tl  .      •      •  ^-    ^    m,     X  nal.     What  would  be  thought  of  a  history 

but  difficult  beginnings:     First -The  In-  ^f  ^he  American  Revolution,   the  writer 

land    Navigation    company    comprising  beginnin  g with  Washington  crossing  the 

211  miles  of  which  b   miles  only  were  by  „  ■  o    mu        •  p    .- u-  <-      .. 

,     „,  .,  -^         ,  .  f  Delaware?    These  imperfect  histories  are 

canal.      Second— The    turnpikes    which  ^,  u      ^u  ..*. a   r ^^ 

„     .       .  the  cause  why  the  present  and  former 
competed     with  the    Navigation    com-  ..  ,.  ■   e  a  4^u-r, 

*^    ,  .       ,  ,     .       .         .^  generations  were  not  informed  on   this 

pany,  those  existed  during  40  to  45  years.  ..     ^     u-     4.     p         i      -xx^^  -v^-^^i, 

f^,    -  '  ,        ,    ^,       .  ^    .  i    ^,  important  subiect  of  early    New    York 

Thev     developed    the    interior    of     the  ,  .  \, 

"  insLorv 
state  so  that  the  building  of  the  Erie 

Canal    became    a     necessity    in    1825.       The  school  histories  are  the  fountains, 

The     canal     was     the      lever     which  ^hi^h  if  revised,   would  at  once    mend 

raised   this  state  to  an    Empire.      The  ^^^  matter;  it  could   be  done  by  an  ap- 

cana      in     time     was     succeeded    by  P^^^*^  ^^  ^  ^^^  P^^^'"^    ,     ,         , 
^.             -,       J         ^1          ,        ,            -J       Let  us  direct  our  efforts  toward  re- 
the      railroad,        the       foufith     period  ^.  ,        . ,-  ,         j.    ■        ^      u  ^ 

questing  such  publishers  to  insert  what 

which  exists  at  this  time.    The  direction  bas  been  omitted,  that  seems  to  be  a  duty 

of  travel  first  adopted  was  followed  by  societies  and  educators  owe  to  the  which 

all,  by  it  we  go  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  to  present    and  future  generations  of  New 

China  and  Japan.  It  encircles  the  globe,  York. 


130 


RELIGION  IN  THE  COLONY  OF  NEW  YORK. 

AN  ADDRESS  BY  HON.  ROBERT  EARI,,  OF  HERKIMER, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  December  14,  1897. 

Religion  in  some  form  is  the  great  con-  after  emigrants  from  Holland  continued 

cern  of  mankind.     It  is  the  most  potent  to  come  here. 

factor  in  the  growth,  social  development  In  1626,  there  was  neither  a  clergy- 

and  civilization  of  nations.     It  may  be  man  nor  schoolmaster  in  the  province, 

embryonic  and  crude,   and  yet  it  enters  and  two  laymen  were  appointed  to  read 

into  the  web  and  woof  of  national  char-  the  scriptures  and  the  creeds  to  the  peo- 

acter;  and  the  historian  who  fails  to  give  pie  on  Sunday.     The  first  minister.  Rev. 

it  attention  will  but  imperfectly    write  Jonas  Michaelius,   came  here  from  Hol- 

the  story  of  any  people.     It  played  an  land  in   1628.     At  the  first  administra- 

important  part  in  the    early  settlement  tion  of  the  Lord's  Supper  by  him,  soon 

of  this  country,  and  many  of  the  early  after  his  arrival,   there  were  fifty  com- 

settlers  came  here  under  its  influence,  municants.     In  a  letter  written  by  him 

They  brought  their  religion  with  them,  to  a  Dutch  Reformed  clergyman  at  Am- 

and  however  much  they  may  have  failed  sterdam,  he  described  the  Indians  as  fol- 

to  practice  its  precepts,  their  belief  in  its  lows  :     "As  to  the  natives  of  the  coun- 

tenets  was  intense  and  unfaltering.     For  try,    I  find   them  entirely   savage   and 

more    than    one    hundred    years    after  wild,  strangers  to  all  decency,  yea,  un- 

Luther,  in  1517,  nailed  his  theses  to  the  civil  and  stupid  as  posts,  proficient  in  all 

door  of  the  castle  church  at  Whitten-  wickedness    and    godlessness;    devilish 

berg  and  offered  to  defend  them  against  men  who  serve  nobody  but  the  devil, 

all  opponents,  there  were  no  neutrals  in  that  is,  the  spirit  which  in  their  language 

religion   and  men   fought    bravely  and  they  call  Maneto,  under  which  title  they 

died  heroically  for  their  religious  opm-  comprehend  everything  that    is   subtle 

ions.  and  crafty,  and  beyond  human  skill  and 

Hendrick  Hudson,  an  Englishman  in  power.     They  have  so  much  witchcraft, 

the  service  of  the  Dutch  East  India  Com-  divination,  scoroery  and  wicked  tricks 

pany,  sailed  into  the  Bay  of  New  York  that  they  cannot  be  held  in  by  any  bands 

and  up  the  Hudson  River  in  1609.     For  or  locks.     They  are  thievish  and  treach- 

several  succeeding    years   trading   ven-  erous  as  they  are   tall;   and  in  cruelty 

tures   were  made   by  the   Dutch   to  this  they  are   more  inhuman  than  the  people 

province,    but  no  attempt  was   made  to  of  Barbary  and  far  exceed  the  Africans." 

colonize   it   until   1623  when   the  Dutch  In  1608,  the  Puritans,  with  their  min- 

West  India  Company,  chartered  in  1621,  ister,    Rey,,^John  Robinson,    fled    from 

sent  over  here  thirty  families;  and  there-  England    to    escape    from    persecution 

131 


there  to  Holland,  and  settled  at  Leyden. 
There  they  organized  a  congregation, 
and  enjoyed  the  religious  freedom  which 
was  denied  them  in  their  native  land.' 
They  were  not  however  entirely  satisfied 
with  their  home  in  Holland;  and  in  1619, 
they  applied  to  the  Dutch  government 
for  permission  to  go  to  and  settle  on  the 
Hudson  River  in  New  Netherlands, 
promising  to  take  with  them  four  hun- 
dred families.  The  government  declined 
to  comply  with  a  portion  of  their  re- 
quests; and  then  in  1620,  a  portion  of 
them  crossed  the  Atlantic  and  landed  at 
Plymouth  and  stamped  their  character- 
istics upon  the  religioa  and  politics  of 
New  England  It  would  be  an  interest 
ing  speculation,  in  which  I  cannot  now 
indulge,  to  consider  what  would  have 
been  the  course  of  politics  and  religion 
here  if  the  Puritan  Pilgrims  had  come 
here,  and  what  it  would  have  been  in 
New  England  if  they  had  not  gone  there. 
A  room  was  first  fitted  up  for  religious 
services  in  New  Amsterdam  in  1626  in 
the  loft  of  a  horse  mill  within  the  fort, 
where  prayers  were  read  for  seven  years. 
Then,  in  1633,  a  wooden  church  was 
erected  much  in  appearance  like  a  barn 
on  the  shore  of  the  East  River;  and  Do- 
mine  Everardus  Bogardus  was  installed  as 
minister.  That  church  edifice  was  used 
until  1642  when  a  new  edifice  was  erect- 
ed within  the  walls  of  the  fort.  Some 
difficulty  was  encountered  in  raising  the 
money  to  build  the  church.  After  many 
subscriptions  of  money  had  been  ob- 
tained for  the  purpose,  much  yet  re- 
mained to  be  raised;  and  it  is  said  that  a 
little  management,  which  would  do 
credit  even  to  the  church  builders  of 
these  days,  extricated  the  projectors 
from  their  difficulty.  A  daughter  of 
Domine  Bogardus  was  opportunely  to  be 
married.  The  principal  citizens,  were 
invited  to  the  wedding,  and  wiue  circu- 
lated freeh'  and  all  were  merry.  When 
the  festivities  had  reached  their  height, 
the  subscription  paper  was  produced  and 
the  excited  guests  vied  with  each  other 
in  the  amount  of  their  donations.  There 
were  some  the  next  morning  who  would 
feign  have  recalled  their  reckless  liber- 
ality.    But  it  was  too  late.     The  hilar- 


ious Dutchman  had  been  caught  and 
they  were  held  to  their  subscriptions. 

Domine  Bogar.ius  was  a  forceful  char- 
acter and  administered  his  ministerial 
ofiice  with  a  high  hand.  He  rebuked 
Governor  VanTwiller  for  his  conduct  in 
public  affairss,  and  anathamatized  him 
from  the  pulpit  as  a  child  of  the  devil, 
and  declared  that  he  would  give  him 
"such  a  shake  from  the  pulpit  on  the 
next  Sunday  as  would  make  him  shud- 
der." And  from  the  pulpit  he  also  af- 
terward denounced  Governor  Keith  as 
a  vessel  of  wrath  and  a  fountain  of  woe 
and  trouble.  Keith  retorted  by  having 
cannon  fired,  drums  beaten,  and  all 
kinds  of  noisy  games  carried  on  about 
the  church  on  Sunday.  In  the  govern- 
mental records  of  the  year  1838,  it  is  re- 
corded that  "for  slandering  the  Rev- 
E.  Bogardus  a  woman  was  obliged  to 
appear  at  the  sound  of  a  bell  in  the 
fort  before  the  Governor  and  Coun- 
cil and  to  saj^  that  she  knew  that  he  was 
honest  and  pious  and  that  she  lied  false- 
ly." Domine  Bogardus  was  the  second 
husband  of  Aneke  Jans,  who  at  her 
death  transmitted  to  her  heirs  the  real 
estate  which  now  so  enriches  Trinity 
church  in  New  York  city. 

The  first  church  in  Albany  was  the 
Dutch  church  erected  about  1642,  and 
Domine  Magapolensis  was  its  first  min- 
ister. The  first  English  church  there 
Avas  St.  Peter's,  completed  in  1716,  and 
its  first  rector  was  Rev,  Thomas  Barclay. 

The  Dutch  who  came  here  were  gen- 
erally tolerant  in  matters  of  religion:  and 
all  the  inhabitants  generally  enjoyed 
freedom  of  conscience.  The  consequence 
was  that  the  colony  was  the  asylum  of 
those  who  fled  from  persecution  in  Eu- 
rope and  the  Provinces  of  New  England; 
and  here  were  found  Huguenots, 
Quakers,  Catholics,  Baptists  and  other 
sects  generally  living  together  in  har- 
mony. Governor  Stuyvesant.  the  last 
of  the  Dutch  go'^ernors  was  a  stern  Cal- 
vanist,  and  he  cruelly  persecuted  Bap- 
tists, Lutherns,  and  Quakers,  and  endeav- 
ored to  mabe  his  church  the  state 
church.  But  he  was  rebuked  by  the  di- 
rectors of  the  West  India  Company. 
They  wrote  him,  "Let  every  one  remain 


132 


free,  so  long  as  he  is  modest,  moderate, 
his  political  conduct  irreproachable,  and 
as  long  as  he  does  not  offend  others  or 
oppose  the  government.  ***** 
Let  every  peaceable  citizen  enjoy  free- 
dom of  conscience.  This  maxim  has 
made  our  city  the  asylum  for  fugitives 
from  every  land.  Tread  in  these  see  us 
and  you  shall  be  blessed."  When  the 
English  took  this  colony  from  the  Dutch 
in  1664.  the  Dutch  secured  in  the  articles 
of  capitulation  a  provision  that  *'The 
Dutch  shall  enjoy  the  liberty  of  their 
•consciences  iadivine  worship  and  church 
•discipline." 

During  the  Dutch  ascendency  here 
there  were  but  few  churches,  all  Dutch 
Reformed— one  in  New  York,  one  at 
Albany,  one  on  Long  Island,  and  possi- 
bly one  more  ;  and  but  three  or  four 
ministers.  As  late  as  1650  there  was  a 
time  when  there  was  but  one  minister  in 
the  entire  colonJ^ 

The  Dutch  ministers  made  no  serious 
efforts  to  christianize  the  Indians,  con- 
sidering the  task  to  be  hopeless.  They 
sent  no  missionaries  to  live  or  labor 
among  them,  and  did  not  much  come  in 
contact  with  them,  except  that  the  mm- 
ister  at  Albany  devoted  some  attention 
to  them.  It  is  said  that  the  clergy  at 
New  York  succeeded  in  teaching  one 
young  savage  the  prayers  so  that  he 
could  repeat  the  responses  of  the  church 
and  also  read  and  write  well.  He 
was  furnished  with  the  bible  and  was 
sent  to  evangelize  the  heathen,  but  he 
pawned  the  book  for  brandy,  became  a 
thorough  beast  and  did  more  harm  than 
good. 

The  Dutch  were  generally  Calvanists 
belonging  to  the  Reformed  church 
and  their  ministers  were  treated  by 
their  people  with  great  consideration. 
Thei^  was  much  formality  in  their  ser- 
vices, which  were  always  conducted 
in  Dutch  until  the  year  1664  when  the 
first  English  sermon  was  preached  in  a 
Dutch  church  in  the  colony  Their 
church  customs  were  peculiar.  The 
officiating  minister  was  always  clothed 
in  a  black  silk  gown  with  large  flowing 
sleeves;  and  he  preached  from  a  high 
circular  pulpit  covered  with  a  sounding 


board.  A  pew  was  set  aside  for  the 
deacons,  and  the  clerk  occupied  a  place 
in  that  p'^w.  The  clerk  prefaced  the 
sermon  in  the  morning  by  reading  a 
chapter  from  the  bible,  and  in  the  after- 
noon by  chanting  the  apostoHc  creed. 
All  notices  designed  to  be  publicly  read 
were  received  by  him  from  the  sexton, 
then  inserted  into  the  end  of  a  long  pole, 
and  thus  passed  to  the  minister  in  his 
lofty  pulpit.  Before  entering  the  pulpit, 
the  minister  raised  his  hat  t)efore  his 
face  and  silently  asked  a  blessing  upon 
his  labors.  After  uttering  the  conclud- 
ing words  of  his  text,  he  exclaimed, 
"Thus  far  3"  before  proceeding  with  his 
sermon.  He  had  an  hour  glass  at  hli 
right  side  and  was  entitled  to  an  hour 
for  his  sermon  ;  and  when  the  last  grain 
of  sand  had  run  out  of  the  glass,  the 
clerk  gave  three  raps  with  his  cane  and 
brought  the  sermon  to  a  close.  Then 
the  deacons  rose  in  their  pew,  listened 
to  a  short  address  from  the  minister, 
and  with  velvet  bays  and  bells  hung  to 
long  rods  went  among  the  congregation 
from  pew  to  pew  collecting  alms  for  the 
poor.  A  story  is  told  of  a  domine,  who, 
one  hot  summer  day,  seeing  the  clerk 
asleep  and  the  people  drowsy,  quietly 
turned  over  the  hour  glass,  and  after 
seeing  the  sand  run  out  for  the  second 
time,  remarked  to  the  congregation  that 
since  they  had  been  patient  in  sittmg 
through  two  glasses  he  would  now  pro- 
ceed with  the  third. 

Some  of  these  customs  came  down  far 
into  this  century.  I  can  remember  when 
the  deacons  in  the  Dutch  church  here 
sat  in  their  pew  and  took  the  Sundaj- 
collections  in  bags  at  the  ends  of  long 
poles  with  bells  to  attract  the  attention 
of  the  drowsy  or  reluctant  givers  of  alms 
for  the  poor  and  the  expense,  of  the 
church. 

After  the  government  of  the  province 
passed  to  the  English  in  1664.  the  Dutch 
Reformed  church  soon  ceased  to  be  the 
dominant  church,  and  other  denomina- 
tions came  here  from  England  and  Hol- 
land. Chaplains  of  the  E^nglish  cihuich 
came  here  with  the  soldiers  and  offici- 
ated in  the  forts  at  New  York  and  Al- 
banj';   and  that  church  became  and  re- 


183 


mained  during  the  colonial  period  sub- 
stantially the  established  church,  sup- 
ported by  taxation  where  it  existed;  and 
its  church  edifices  were  in  some  cases 
built     y  taxation. 

After   the  reformers   in  the  sixteenth 


to  the  fort  of  the  Church  of  England, 
secondly  a  Dutch  Calvanist,  thirdly  a 
French  Calvanist,  fourthly  a  Dutch 
Luthern.  Here  be  not  many  of  the 
church  of  England,  few  Roman  Catho- 
lics,  abundance  of  Quakers,    preachers 


century  broke  away  from  the  church  of  men    and    women,    women    especially, 

Rome,  being  released  from  the  shackles  singing  Quakers,  ranting  Quakers,  Saba- 

of  authority,  they  followed  many  differ-  tariaas,  anti  Sabatarians,  some  Anabap- 

ent    paths.      There      was    independent  tists,  some  Independents,  some  Jews,  in 


thinking  in  matters  of  religion.  The 
bible  was  taken  as  the  only  standard  of 
faith,  and  every  reformer  in  Germany 
and  Holland  claimed  the  right  to  inter- 
pret it  according  to  his  best  lights.     The 


short  of  all  sorts  of  opinions  there  are 
some   and   the   most  part  none  at    all. 

******  The  most  prevailing 
opinion  is  that  of  the  Dutch  Calvanists. 

*****    jj;  ig  (;jje   Budcavor  of 


result  in  a  few  years  was  many  warring  all  persons  here  to  bring  up  their  child- 
sects;  and  representatives  of  those  sects  ren  and  servants  to  that  opinion  which 
soon  found  their  way  to  this  colony,  at-  themselves  profess,  but  this  I  observe 
tracted  here  by  the  toleration  practiced  they  take  no  care  of  the  conversion  of 
in  matters  of  religion.  their  slaves." 

In  1678,  Governor  Andrus  answering  In  January  1689,  after  William  and 
certain  questions  of  the  Lords  of  Trade  Mary  became  the  sovereigns  of  England, 
concerning  the  province,  wrote  that  the  militia  of  the  city  of  New  York  ad- 
"There  are  religions  of  all  sorts— one  dressed  a  memorial  to  them  complain- 
church  of  England,  several  Presbyter-  ing  of  the  arbitrary  and  oppressive  rule 
ians  and  Independents,  Quakers,  Ana-  of  the  papists  and  the  exclusion  of  pro- 
baptists  of  several  sects,  some  Jews,  but  testants  from  all  participation  in  the 
Presbyterians  and  Independents  most  government.  It  was  then  that  Liesler 
numerous  and  substantial.  *  *  *  *  headed  an  insurrection  against  the  pro- 
I'here  are  about  twenty  churches  or  vincial  government,  took  possession  of 
meeting  places,  of  which  about  half  are  the  fort  and   administered  the  govern- 


vacant,  their  allowance  like  to  be  from 
forty  to  seventy  pounds  a  year  and  a 
house  and  garden." 

In  a  memoir  by  M.  Lamonthe,  a 
Catholic,  on  Acadia,  New  England  and 
Virgmia,  in  1693,  he  said  :     "The  plan- 


ment  and  disarmed  the  Catholics.  In 
the  instructions  given  by  the  home  gov- 
ernment in  January  1689  to  Col.  Henry 
Sloughter,  Governor  of  the  Colony,  he 
was  commanded  to  give  liberty  of  con- 
science to    all  persons   except    papists; 


tation  of  New  York   was  composed  of  and  in  1693,  the  fourth  year  of  the  reign 

Calvanists,  Lutherns,  Anabaptists,  Jews,  of      the     same    sovereigns.      Governor 

Quakers,   Abadiens,  French  Protestants  Fletcher  was  similarly  instructed;  and 

aud  some  Catholics,   and  that  each  sect  so   was  Governor  Hunter  in    1709.     In 

had  its  church  and  freedom  of  religion."  1697  Governor  Bellomont  was  instructed 

Col.  Thomas  Dongan  was  governor  of  not  to  prefer  any  minister  to  any  eccle- 

the  province  during  the  reign  of   James  liastical   benefice  here   without  a  certifi- 

II,  and  he  was  a  Roman  Catholic.  While  cate  from  the  Bishop  of  London  that  he 

he    was  here,   the  Catholics  increased  in  was  conformable  to  the  doctrine  and  dis- 

numbers  and  most  of  the  colonial   oflfi-  cipline  of  the  church  of   England;   and 

cers  including  the   mayor  aud   collector  all  schoolmasters   were  to  be  licensed  by 

were  Catholics,   and    the  city    of  New  the  same  Bishop. 

York   was  practically   under  their  con-        On  account  of  the  hostility  between 

trol.     In  a  report   made  by   him  to  the  the  English    and    French,    the    Roman 

home    government    in     1686,    he    said:  Catholics  who  were  mostly  French  were 

"Every  town  ought  to   have  a  minister,  always  regarded  by  the  other  colonists 

New  York  has  first  a  chaplain  belonging  with    suspicion.       Except     during    the 

134 


reign  of  King  James,  they  were  here  as 
in  England,  excluded  from  all  public 
employment.  There  was  always  fear 
that  they  might  communicate  informa- 
tion to  the  Frenc  h  in  Canada,  and  that 
French  Catholic  missionaries  among  the 
Indians  might  incite  hostility  to  the  Eng- 
lish and  ally  the  Indians  to  the  French. 
Hence  the  English  made  constant  en- 
deavor to  thwart  the  Roman  Catholic 
missionaries  among  the  Indians.  After 
the  English  revolution  in  1688,  when 
King  James  II  was  driven  from  the 
throne  and  took  refuge  with  the  French, 
the  few  Roman  Catholics  here  were  put 
under  strict  surveillance.  At  an  alder- 
mauic  election  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
in  1689,  they  were  excluded  from  the 
right  to  vote.  Their  number  must  have 
considerably  diminished  for  in 
W96,  Governor  Fletcher  found  but  ten 
Roman  Catholics  in  the  city  of  New 
York.  He  caused  them  to  be  disarmed 
and  required  them  to  give  bonds  for 
their  good  behavior  or  to  be  conlined  in 
prison;  and  at  that  time  they  were  not 
permitted  to  come  into  the  province, 
and  liberty  of  conscience  was  secured  to 
all  the  colonists  but  Catholics. 

In  1698  Governor  Bellomont  writing 
to  the  English  Board  of  Trade  said : 
"Some  French  that  passed  for  Protestants 
in  this  province  during  the  war  have 
since  been  discovered  to  be  Papists,  and 
one  would  suppose  their  business  was  to 
give  intelligence  to  Canada,"  and  he  re- 
fused denization  to  French  Catholics. 

On  August  37th,  1700,  the  sachems  of 
the  five  nations  came  to  Albany  to  meet 
Governor  Bellomont,  and  they  asked 
him  for  Protestant  ministers  to  be 
located  at  Onondaga.  They  were  evi- 
dently looking  for  some  material  advan- 
tages for  they  said  :  "It  was  the  French 
custom  to  clothe  all  those  Indians  that 
are  baptized  and  received  into  their 
church.  This  we  presume  is  a  great  in- 
ducement for  our  people  to  turn  Papists. 

*  *  *  *  We  fear  that  Corlear  will 
not  clothe  the  converts  as  the  governor 
of  Canada  does,  for  when  our  Indians 
are  hunting  and  have  bad  luck,  taking 
nothing,  they  go  to  Canada  and  the  gov- 
ernor clothes  them  by  which  means  they 

135 


are  induced  to  turn  Papists."  In  170  ) 
the  same  governor  complained  that  Irish 
recruits  just  come  from  Ireland  were 
Papists  and  that  they  were  mutinous. 
Lieutenant  Governor  Clarke  writing  to 
the  English  Board  of  Trade  in  1741  said 
there  was  reason  to  suspect  that  "Popery 
had  a  hand"  in  the  great  Negro  plot  of 
that  year,  and  upon  the  confession  of 
two  negroes  "that  the  Roman  Catholics 
told  the  Negroes  that  there  was  no  sin 
or  wickedness  in  burning  the  homes  and 
taking  the  lives  of  the  white  people." 
No  one  now  believes  there  was  any 
ground  for  this  suspicion  which  was  in- 
dused  by  the  prejudice  then  existing 
against  the  Catholics  and  the  excited  and 
prejudiced  state  of  the  public  mind. 

The  Catholics  during  the  time  of  the 
English  dominion,  were  not  permitted 
to  build  any  church  in  the  colony;  and 
they  built  their  first  church  after  the 
formation  of  the  state  government  in 
1786  in  the  city  of  New  York  and  their 
second  church  in  1797  in  the  city  of  Al- 
bany, 

The  number  of  the  clergymen  of  the 
English  church  was  at  no  time  great 
during  the  colonial  period.  After  the 
conquest  of  the  colony  by  the  English, 
not  one  in  ten  of  the  inhabitants  was  an 
adherent  of  that  church.  After  Fletcher 
came  here  as  governor  in  1692,  one  of 
his  chief  aims  was  to  establish  the  Eng- 
lish church  here.  This  was  opposed  by 
a  majority  of  the  inhabitants  who  spoke 
Dutch  and  regarded  the  Dutch  church 
as  the  established  church;  After  some 
difficulty,  he  succeeded  in  genting  the 
colonial  assembly  to  pass  an  act  which 
furthered  his  aim.  The  act  was  passed 
Sept.  22,  1693,  the  fifth  year  of  Wil- 
liam and  Mary,  and  was  entitled  "An 
act  for  Settling  a  Ministry  and  Raising  a 
Maintenance  for  them  in  the  City  of 
New  York  and  the  Counties  of  Rich- 
mond, Westchester  and  Queens."  Its 
preamble  was  as  follows  :  "Whereas 
profaness  and  licentiousness  hath  of  late 
overspread  this  province  for  want  of  a 
settled  ministry-  throughou  he  same;  to 
the  end  that  the  same  may  be  remedied 
and  the  ordinances  of  the  Lord  duly  ad- 
ministered" ;  and  it   was  enacted   that  a 


Protestant  minister  should  be  called  and 
inducted  within  one  year— one  for  the 
City  of  New  York;  one  for  tb«  County 
of  Richmond;  two  for  tb«  County  of 
Westchester,  one  of  whom  was  to  have 
the  care  of  Westchester,  Eastchester, 
Yonkers  and  the  Manor  «  f  Pel- 
ham,  and  the  other  to  have  the 
oare  of  Rye,  Mamarenock,  and 
Redford,  and  two  for  Queens  County, 
one  of  whom  was  to  have  the  eare  of 
Jamaica  and  the  adjacent  farms  and 
towns,  and  the  other  to  have  the  care  of 
Hamstead  and  the  adjacent  towns:  and 
the  following  salaries  were  provided  in 
the  act  :  For  the  City  and  County  of 
New  Y'^ork  one  hundred  pounds;  for  the 
two  precincts  of  Westcheater  one  hun- 
dred pounds— to  each  fifty  pounds  to  be 
paid  in  country  produce  at  money  price; 
for  the  county  of  Richmond  forty 
pounds  to  be  paid  in  the  same  way ;  and 
for  the  two  precincts  of  Queens  County 
one  hundred  and  twenty  pounds  -to 
each  sixty  pounds  to  be  paid  in  the  same 
way.  The  salaries  were  to  be  raised  by 
taxes  upon  the  city  and  counties.  The 
word  Protestant  in  this  act  was  con- 
strued to  mean  a  minister  of  the  Church 
of  England,  and  all  the  inhabitants  of 
the  four  counties  were  compelled  by  the 
payment  of  taxes  to  support  that  church 
whatever  might  be  their  religious  opin- 
ions. 

In  pursuance  of  that  act  Trinity 
Church  in  New  Y^ork  City  was  incorpor- 
ated and  built.  It  was  completed  and 
opened  for  worship,  February  6th,  1697, 
Rev.  William  Vesey  having  been  in- 
ducted as  its  first  rector;  and  he  contin- 
ued to  be  rector  until  July  11th,  1746, 
nearly  fifty  years.  The  church  thus 
erected  in  1696  and  1697  was  a  small 
square  edifice  with  a  very  tall  apire.  A 
pew  in  it  was  appropriated  to  the  mayor 
and  common  council  and  a  sermon  was 
annually  preached  to  them  on  the  day 
of  the  city  election,  which  was  supposed 
to  quicken  their  consciences  and  stimu- 
late them  to  the  discharge  of  their  civic 
duties.  By  the  act  above  mentioned  the 
English  church  became  the  established 
church.  In  1671,  Col.  Lovelace,  then 
Governor,  bought  the  land  left  by  Aneke 


Jans   of  her   heirs  aid    it  was   incorpor-;] 
ated  with  the  King's  farm;  and  in  1703v 
Queen  Ann  presented   to  Trinity  Churcb| 
the  King's  farn>,   which  now  coustilutea 
its  great  wealth. 

The  salary  of  the  English  minister  in 
New  Y'^ork  remained  ©ne  hundred 
pounds  raised  by  taxation,  until  1703, 
when  it  was,  by  an  act  of  the  colonial 
government,  raised  to  on«  hundred  and 
sixty  pounds,  during  the  life  of  Mr. 
Vesey,  then  rector;  but  it  was  subse- 
quently reduced,  because  I  find  that  in 
1762,  the  salary  was  oue  hundred  pounds- 
in  the  city,  and  elsewhere  in  the  \'icinity 
but  fifty  pounds,  raised  by  taxation. 
Governor  Bellomont,  writing  in  1700  to 
the  secretary  of  the  English  Board  of 
Trade,  said  he  did  not  like  ministers 
bred  at  Cambridge  College,  in  New  Eng- 
land for  Church  of  England  ministers, 
"for  in  New  England  the  ministers  pray 
extempore  and  mightily  decry  set  forms 
of  prayer  inasmuch  that  they  never  use 
the  Lord's  prayer  at  any  time." 

The  society  "for  propogating  the  gos- 
pel in  foreign  parts,"  was  organized  in 
London  sometime  before  1758  and  its 
plain  purpose  was  to  fight  infidelity  and 
popery,  and  it  fostered  the  early  church 
of  England  churches  in  this  country  and 
sent  missionaries  here.  And  Kings, 
now  Columbia  College,  in  the  City  of 
New  York,  was  chartered  in  1754  for  the 
same  purpose.  The  Presbyterians  op- 
posed its  incorporation. 

The  Quakers  as  early  as  1686,  were 
quite  numerous  in  the  colony;  and  they 
were  found  mostly  in  the  counties  of 
Westchester  and  Queens.  Sometimes, 
then  as  since,  the  garb  of  the  Quaker 
was  worn  for  effect  by  those  not  entitled 
to  it.  In  1699,  Governor  Bellomont  com- 
plained that  many  Jacobites  in  Queens 
county  pretended  to  be  Quakers  to  avoid 
taking  the  oaths  of  allegience  to  King 
William,  "hut  soon  after,  at  the  elec- 
tion of  assemblymen,  these  very  persons 
pulled  off  the  mask  of  Quakerism  and 
were  got  very  drunk  and  fought  blood- 
ily." In  1733,  complaint  was  made 
against  the  sheriff  of  Westchester  coun- 
ty that  he  refused  to  take  the  votes  of 
thirty-eight   Quakers  at  the  election  for 


136 


members  of  assembly,  although 
they  were  well-known,  reputable  citi- 
zens, and  in  fact  qualified  voters.  His 
answer  to  the  charge  was  that  they  re- 
fused to  take  the  proper  oath  when  ten- 
dered to  them.  In  1734,  a  colonial  act 
was  passed  granting  to  Quakers  the 
same  privileges  which  they  possessed 
under  the  statutes  of  England.  Prior  to 
that  they  could  not  vote  without  taking 
the  oath  required  of  other  voters  and 
that  their  conscentious  scruples  forbade 
their  taking.  Governor  Cosby  said  of 
them:  "It  is  certain  they  are  not 
the  most  tractable  people  where  they  are 
numerous,  as  in  one  or  two  counties  they 
are." 

The  Presbyterians,  during  most  of  the 
colonial  period,  were  the  most  numerous 
denomination.  Their  first  minister  in 
this  colony  came  here  in  1706  and  was 
Rev.  Francis  McKemie.  The  first  Pres- 
byterian church  in  the  colony  was  built 
in  the  city  of  New  York  in  1719.  The 
first  Baptist  church  was  erected  in  New 
York  City  in  1760.  The  first  Methodist 
church  in  the  colony  was  erected  in  New 
York  in  1768  and  was  called  Wesley 
chapel. 

A  few  Jews  came  here  at  an  early  day, 
and  their  first  synagogue  was  erected  in 
the  City  of  New  York  in  1730.  In  1737 
it  was  decided  in  a  contest  over  the 
oflace  of  member  of  assembly  that  the 
Jews  had  no  right  to  vote  for  assembly- 
m  n;  and  they  were  excluded  from  office 
as  they  were  in  England.  There  was  at 
that  time  great  prejudice  against  them 
in  the  colony,  and  they  occasionally  suf- 
fered acts  <  f  violence  and  indignities 
which  went  unredressed  in  the  courts. 
Their  talent  for  money  getting  had  an 
interesting  illustration.  In  1765  a  Jew 
by  the  naaie  of  Myers  took  two  Mohawk 
Indians  to  England  for  exhibition,  where 
they  excited  great  interest  and  curiosity. 
While  he  was  exhibiting  them  in  a 
tavern  in  London,  the  attention  of  the 
King  was  called  to  the  matter,  and  he 
caused  them  to  be  returned  to  this  coun- 
try, directed  to  Sir  William  Johnson,  at 
the  public  expense. 

I  cannot  find  that  during  the  Dutch 
ascendency  much  attention  was  paid  to 

137 


the  conversion  of  the  slaves  to  Christian- 
ity, or  to  the  irreligious  instruction.  Soon 
after  the  conquest  of  the  colony  by  the 
English,  the  Colonial  Governor  was  in- 
structed to  have  laws  passed  looking  to 
the  spiritual  wellfare  of  the  slaves;  but 
the  colonists  were  reluctant,  fearing  that 
the  baptism  of  slaves  would  emancipate 
them;  and  it  was  not  until  1706  that  a 
Colonial  law  was  passed  quieting  their 
scruples  by  providing  that  the  baptism 
of  a  slave  should  not  result  in  emancipa- 
tion. After  that,  slaves  were  frequently 
found  kneeling  at  the  same  altar  with 
their  masters. 

After  the  colony  passed  under  the  do- 
minion of  the  English,  there  was  much 
missionary  effort  among  the  Indians, 
stimulated  by  pure  religious  zeal  for 
their  spiritual  welfare,  and  also  by  the 
desire  to  counteract  the  influence  of  the 
Jesuits  who  came  among  them  from 
Canada,  and  whose  efforts  were  sup- 
posed to  be  directed  to  attract  their 
trade  from  Albany  to  Canada,  and  their 
friendship  to  the  French  in  the  war  with 
the  English.  This  missionary  work  was 
greatly  fostered  by  Sir  William  John- 
son, effectually  aided  by  Rev.  Dr.  Wi  ee- 
lock  who  established  a  school  at  Le- 
banon, Conn.,  for  the  education  of  In- 
dian boys,  aB  which  the  famous  chief 
Brant  was  educated;  and  by  Rev.  John 
Christopher  Hartwick,  the  founder  of 
Hartwick  Seminary  in  Otsego  County; 
and  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  KirUland,  the 
founder  of  Hamilton  College.  The  lat- 
ter learned  their  language  and  was  a 
missionary  among  them,  particularly 
the  Oneidas,  for  forty  years  commenc- 
ing in  1766.  The  Rev.  Dr.  John  Stew- 
art was  the  last  missionary  among  the 
Mohawks,  and  he  could  preach  and  con- 
verse with  them  in  their  own  language. 
The  book  of  Comtnon  Prayer  was  print- 
ed after  much  difficulty  ia  the  Mohawk 
tongue  about  1769;  and  was  used  among 
the  Indians.  It  was  printed  in  New 
York  by  William  Weyman  and  Hugh 
Gaines.  The  whole  of  the  bible  was 
never  translated  into  the  language  of 
any  of  the  Six  Nations.  A  small  por- 
tion of  it  was.  There  were  many  de- 
voted and  self  sacrificing  Catholic   Mia- 


sionaries  among  the  Six  Nations,  the 
most  famous  of  whom  was  Father 
Jogues.  He  was  a  Jesuit  Missionary 
who  came  from  France  to  Quebec  in 
1636.  While  on  his  way  to  his  labors 
among  the  Hurons  in  1643,  he  was 
captured  by  tlie  Mohawks;  and  after 
suffering  the  most  excruciacing  tortures 
he  was  in  1643  taken  to  Eort  Orange, 
from  whence  by  the  kindly  aid  of  the 
Dutch  and  the  payment  of  a  large  ran- 
som by  them  he  was  enabled  to  escape 
from  the  Indians,  and  he  returnad  to 
France.  After  remainmg  in  France  for 
a  time  recuperating  his  health  and 
strength,  he  was  again  impelled  by  his 
religious  zeal  to  return  to  the  Mohawks 
as  a  missionary  amon,^;  those  most  cruel 
savages,  and  after  enduring  much  ex- 
treme cruelty  from  them  he  was  killed 
at  Caughnawaga,  Montgomery  county. 
Thus  died  the  first  and  only  missionary 
martyr  in  this  colony,  as  the  historian 
Parkman  says  "one  of  the  purest  ex- 
amples of  Roman  Catholic  virtne  which 
this  western  continent  has  seen."  Pil- 
grimages of  pious  Catholics  are  annual- 
ly made  to  his  shrine  at  Auriesville. 

While  witchcraft  was  extensively  be- 
lieved in  this  colony  as  it  was  all  over  the 
Christian  world  in  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury, the  belief  never  produced  the  dis- 
asterous  results  here  which  it  did  in 
New  England.  So  far  as  I  can  learn, 
there  was  never  but  one  trial  for  witch- 
craft in  this  co'ony,  and  that  was  in  the 
City  of  New  York  in  the  year  1665, 
many  years  before  witches  were  hung 
at  Sa'em.  The  prisoners  were  Ralph 
Hall  and  Mary  his  wife,  and  they  were 
indicted  for  causing  the  death  by  witch- 
craft of  George  Wood  and  his  infant 
child,  at  a  place  on  Long  Island.  They 
both  plead  not  guilt  and  according  to 
the  legal  forms  of  that  day  "threw 
themselves  to  be  tried  by  God  and  the 
country."  The  case  was  brought  tc 
trial  before  a  jury  and  the  jury  brought 
in  the  following  verdict  :  "We  have 
seriously  considered  the  case  submitted 
to  our  charge  against  the  prisoners  at 
the  bar,  and  having  well  weighed  the 
evidence,  we  find  that  are  some  suspici- 
ons by  the  evidence  of  what   the  woman 


is  charged  with,  butnoihing  considerable 
of  value  to  take  away  her  life.  But  in 
reference  to  the  man.  we  find  nothing 
considerable  to  charge  him  with."  One 
would  have  supposed  that  this  verdict 
would  have  resulted  in  the  discharge  of 
the  prisonerss;  but  not  so.  The  court 
thereupon  gave  this  sentence  :  "That 
the  man  should  he  bound  body  and 
goods  for  his  wife's  appearance  ac  the 
next  sessions  and  so  on  from  session  to 
session  as  long  as  they  stay  within  this 
government;  in  the  meanwhile  to  be 
of  the  good  behavior."  So  thpy  were 
returned  into  the  Sheriff's  custody  and 
upon  entering  into  a  recognisance  they 
were  released  The  proof  upon  the 
trial  seems  to  have  been  as  strong  aginst 
Ihem  as  it  was  against  the  witches  who 
sufferred  death  at  Salem.  Subse- 
quently in  the  year  1670,  Katherine 
Harrison,  a  widow,  moved  from 
Weathersfield  in  the  Colony  of  Connect- 
icut to  Westchester;  and  her  neighbors 
made  complaint  against  her  that  she 
was  a  witch;  and  she  was  summoned  to 
appear  before  Governor  Nic  )lls  at  the 
f oi  t  in  New  York;  and  by  him  was  re- 
quired to  give  a  bond  for  her  good  be- 
havior, until  the  charge  against  her 
could  be  investigated.  The  case  was 
subsequently  examined  and  nothing 
being  found  against  her,  she  was  released 
from  her  bonds  and  permitted  to  re- 
main in  the  colony;  and  so  ended  all 
the  prosecutions  here  for  witchcraft; 
and  this  colony  was  spared  the  ignominy 
of  executing  witches  which  stained  the 
judicial  annals  of  England,  and  New 
England  and  of   many   other   countries. 

We  have  here  an  illustration  of  what 
I  have  frequently  observed  in  my  read- 
ing that  in  prosections  for  witchcraft, 
women  were  in  all  countries  the  most 
frequent  sufferers.  In  Salem,  of  the 
nineteen  who  were  hung  in  1693  for 
witchcraft,  thirteen  were  women. 

The  Dutch  were  a  merry  people.  They 
were  not  ascetics  like  the  Independants 
and  Puritans.  They  were  fond  of  dan- 
cing and  other  amusements.  They  went 
to  church  on  Sunday,  and  afterwards 
visited  their  neighbors,  or  indulged  in 
innocent    recreations,      and    sometimes 

138 


sports  which  refreshed  both  soul  and 
body.  I  cannot  find  that  during  the 
Dutch  ascendency,  th«  observance  of 
Sunday  was  ever  enforced  by  the  im- 
position of  any  penalties.  But  in  1682, 
while  Thomas  Dongan  was  Governor, 
a  case  occurred  at  Southbold  on  Long 
Island  which  must  have  been  due  to 
New  England  Puritanism  transplanted 
there.  An  ox  of  Nathaniel  Baker 
strayed  from  his  fold  on  Saturday 
and  he  went  in  pursuit  of  it  and 
r  ot  finding  it  on  that  day  he  stayed 
out  over  night;  and  the  next  day, 
Sunday,  finding  it  he  drove  it  home. 
For  this  work  on  Sunday,  he  was  ar- 
T-ested  and  fined  by  the  Court  of  sessions 
with  costs  nine  pounds,  three  shillings 
and  three  pence  which  he  was  obliged  to 
pay.  He  was  also  required  to  enter  in- 
to bonds  in  the  penalty  of  twenty  pounds 
for  his  good  behavior.  This  was  not  a 
typical  case,  and  it  has  no  fellow  in  the 
annals  of  this  state. 

I  will  now  call  attention  to  a  few 
colonial  acts  bearing  upon  the  subject  of 
religion  and  illustrating  our  colonial  his- 
tory and  the  manners  and  social  condi- 
tion, of  the  people.  November  3rd,  1685, 
an  act  "Against  Sabbath  Breaking"  was 
passed  with  this  preamble:  "For  as 
much  as  there  is  nothing  more  accept- 
able to  God  than  the  true  and  sincere 
service  and  worship  of  Him  according  to 
His  holy  will,  and  that  the  holy  keeping 
of  the  Lord's  day  is  a  principal  part  of 
the  true  service  of  God  which  in  very 
many  places  of  this  province  hath  been 
and  now  is  profaned  and  neglected  by 
unlawful  traveling  or  journeying  upon 
the  day  aforesaid,  by  shooting,  horse 
hunting,  horse  racing,  riding  on  steeds, 
unnecessary  hunting  and  tippling  in  ale 
houses,  taverns  and  other  public  houses, 
and  other  unlawful  exercises  and  pas- 
times, also  exercising  worldly  labor,  busi- 
ness or  work  of  ordinary  calling  except 
work  of  necessity  and  charity  or  other 
extraordinary  occasions  to  be  allowed 
by  some  justice  of  the  peace  on  the 
Lord's  day"  ;  and  it  was  enacted  that 
any  person  who  should  be  convicted  of 
any  of  the  Sabbath  breaking  mentioned 
in  the  preamble  "before  any   one  justice 


of  the  peace,  or  constable  in  his  absence, 
of  any  town  by  view,  confession  or  proof 
of  one  or  more  sufficient  witnesses" 
should  for  every  offense  forfeit  and  pay 
the  sum  of  six  shillings  and  eight  pence 
to  the  use  of  the  town  or  place  where 
the  olfense  was  committed.  On  the 
same  day  another  act  was  passed 
"Against  Swearing  and  Cursing"  with 
this  preamble  ;  "For  as  much  as  all  pro- 
fane swearing  and  cursing  is  forbidden 
by  the  word  of  God";  and  it  was  enacted 
"That  if  any  person  or  persons  shall  at 
any  time  hereafter  profanely  nwear  or 
curse  in  the  hearing  of  any  justice  of 
the  peace  in  the  county,  or  any  mayor 
or  head  officer  in  any  city,  town  or  vil- 
lage where  such  offence  shall  be  com- 
mitted, or  shall  be  thereof  cnnvicted  by 
the  oath  of  two  witnesses,  or  by  con- 
fession of  the  party  before  any  such 
justice  of  the  peace,  or  head  officer, 
every  such  offender  being  above  the  age 
of  twelve  years  shall  for  every  time  so 
offending  forfeit  to  the  use  of  the  poor 
of  such  place  where  such  offense  shall  be 
committed  the  sum  of  one  shilling"  : 
and  upon  the  refusal  of  the  offender  to 
pay,  it  was  provided  that  the  sum  should 
be  "collected  of  his  goods,  and  in  de- 
fault of  goods  that  the  offender  should  be 
committed  to  the  stocks  for  the  space  of 
three  whole  hours."  And  it  was  fur- 
ther enacted  that  if  the  offender  was  un- 
der the  age  of  twelve  years  and  should 
be  convicted  and  should  not  forthwith 
pay  the  penalty  of  one  shilling,  he  should 
be  whipped  by  the  constable,  or  by  his 
parent  or  master  in  the  presence  of  the 
constable. 

October  27th,  1695,  another  act  was 
passed  "Against  profanation  of  the 
Lord's  day  called  Sunday",  with  the  fol- 
lowing preamble:  "Whereas  the  true 
and  sincere  service  and  worship  of  God 
according  to  His  holy  will  and  com- 
mandments is  often  profaned  and  neg- 
lected by  many  of  the  inhabitants  and 
sojourners  within  this  province  who  do 
not  keep  holy  the  Lord's  day,  but  in  a 
disorderly  manner  accustom  themselves 
to  travel,  laboring,  working,  shooting, 
fishing,  playing,  horse  racing,  frequent- 
ing of   tippling    houses    and   the  using 


139 


many  other  unlawful  exercises  and  pas-  it  was  enacted  that  every  Jesuit  and 
times  upon  the  Lord's  day  Jo  the  great  seminary  priest,  missionary  or  other 
scandal  of  the  holy  Christian  faith";  and   spiritual  or   ecclestical  person    made  or 


it  was  enacted  that  every  person  includ- 
ing slaves  that  should  be  guilty  of  the 
Sabbath  breaking  mentioned  in  the  pre- 
amble should  forfeit  for  every  i.ffense 
the  sum  of  six  shillings  to  be  collected  of 
the  goods  of  the  offender;  and  if  not  so 
collected,  the  offender  being  a  white 
person,  was  to  be  set  publicly  in  the 
stocks  for  the  spa^e  of  three  hours.     But 


ordained  by  the  Pope  or  See  of  Rome^ 
residing  in  the  Province,  shall  depart 
therefrom;  and  all  such  as  shall  abide  or 
come  into  the  province  after  the  first 
day  of  November  then  next,  shall  be 
deemed  an  incendiary  and  disturber  of 
the  public  peace  and  safety,  and  an 
enemy  to  the  true  christian  religion  and 
shall  be  adjudged  to  suffer  perpetual  im- 


if  he  was  an   Indian   or  Negro  slave,  he  prisonment;  and  if  any  person  being  so 

was  to  receive   thirteen    lashes  on   the  sentenced  and  actually  imprisoned  shall 

bareback.     And  ir   was  made  lawful  for  break  prison  and    make  his  escape  and 

any  person  to  travel  on  the  Lord's  day  or  he  be  afterward  retaken,  he  shall  suffer 

to  do  any  act  of   necessity,  and  to  go  to  the  pains  of  death,  penalties  and  forfei- 

service  and  worship   God   in  any  church  tures   as   in   case   of   felony;  that   every 

or  lawful  meeting    within   the  province  person  who  shall  wittingly  receive,  har- 

and  thence  to  return  provided  such  jour-  bor,  conceal,  aid,  su  -cor  and  relieve  any 

nev  did   not  exceed   twenty   miles;  and  Romish  priest,  knowing  him  to  be  such, 

also  that  it  should  be  lawful  for  the  post  and   be  thereof  convicted,  shall   forfeit 

or  any  other  person    employed  in   his  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds 

majesty's  service,  or  for  any  other  per-  — one  half  to  the  government  and  the 


son  employed  to  bring  a  pliysician  or  a 
midwife  to  travel  upon  the  Lord's  day; 
but  this  permission  did  not  extend  to 
any  native  or  free  Indian  not  professing 
the  Christian  religion. 
The  next  act  is  one  we  would  scarcely 


other  half  to  the  informer;  and  such 
person  shall  be  further  punished  by 
being  set  in  the  pillory  on  three  several 
days,  and  also  be  required  to  give  secur- 
ity for  his  good  behaviour  at  the  discre- 
tion of  the  court;  that  it  shall  be  lawful 
expect  to  find  among  the  statutes  of  a  for  any  justice  of  the  peace  to  cause  any 
colony  which  had  to  so  large  an  extent  person  suspected  of  being  a  Romish 
been  the  home  of  toleration  from  its  priest  to  be  apprehended,  and  if  such 
earliest  settlement.  Its  intolerent  spirit  person  shall  fail  to  give  satisfactory  ac- 
was  due  largely  to  the  fact  that  war  count  of  himself  to  commit  him  for  trial; 
then  existed  and  for  a  long  time  had  ex-  that  it  shall  be  lawful  for  any  person  to 
isted  between  England  and  France,  and  apprehend  without  a  warrant  any  Rom- 
the  Romanists  were  in  the  popular  mind  sh  priest  and  to  bring  him  before  the 
identified  with  the  cause  of  France,  governor  or  any  two  of  the  council  to 
The  act  was  passed  August  9,  1700,  and  be  examined  and  imprisoned  in  order  to 
was  entitled  "Against  Jesuits  and  Pop-  his  trial  unless  he  can  give  a  satisfac- 
ish  Ministers,''  and  it  had  this  preamble :  tory  account  of  himself;  and  that,  as  it 
"Whereas  divers  Jesuit  priests  and  Pop-  will  be  esteemed  and  accepted  as  a  good 
ish  missionaries  have  of  late  come  and  service  done  for  the  King  by  the  person 
for  some  time  have  had  their  residence  who  shall  seize  and  apprehend  any  Rom- 
in  the  remote  parts  of  this  Province  and  ish  priest,  the  Governor  with  the  advice 
other  of  His  Majesty's  adjacent  colonies,    and  consent  of  the  Council  may  suitably' 


who  by  their  wicked  and  subtle  insin- 
uations industriously  labor  to  debauch, 
seduce  and  withdraw  the  Indians  from 
their  due  obedience  unto  his  most  Sac- 


reward  him,  provided  that  the  act  shall 
not  extend  to  any  Romish  clergy  who 
shall  happen  to  be  shipwrecked  ©r 
through   other  adversities  shall  be  cast 


red  Majesty  and  to  excite  and  stir  them  on  shore  or  driven  into  the  Province  "so 
up  to  sedition,  rebellion  and  hostility  as  he  continue  or  abide  no  longer  within 
against  His  Majesty's  government ";  and    the  same  than  he  may  have  opportunity 

140 


of  passage  for  his  departure;  so  also  as 
such  person  immediately  upon  his  arriv- 
al shall  forthwith  attend  the  Governor 
if  near  to  the  place  of  his  residence,  or 
otherwise  on  one  or  more  of  the  Council 
or  next  justices  of  the  peace,  and  ac- 
quaint him  with  his  ciicumstances  and 
observe  the  directions  which  they  shall 
give  him  during  his  stay  in  the  Pro- 
vince." I  cannot  find  that  this  act  was 
ever  specifically  repealed.  It  probably 
remained  in  force  for  more  than  three 
quarters  of  a  century  until  it  was  nulli- 
fied by  the  adoption  of  the  first  state 
constitution  in  1777,  by  which,  in  obed- 
ience to  a  public  sentiment  based  upon 
broader  views  of  public  policy  and  hu- 
man rights,  the  freedom  of  religious  be- 
lief and  practice  was  secured  to  all  the 
people  of  the  state. 

I  must  not  omit  to  mention  a  few  facts 
of  local  interest.  During  the  Colonial 
period  there  were  but  two  churches  in 
the  territory  now  comprised  within  this 
county,  one  in  this  village  and  one  at 
Fort  Herkimer,  called  Fort  Kouari. 
The  first  settlement  was  made  in  this 
village  by  the  Palatines  in  17t';3,  and 
soon  after  that,  a  church  was  built  here 
on  the  site  of  the  present  Reformed 
church.  A  church  was  also  built  at 
Fort  Herkimer  about  the  same  time;  and 
during  the  whole  colonial  period  and 
for  many  years  after  the  two  churches 
were  served  by  the  same  minister 
The  present  stone  church  at  Fort 
Herkimer  was  completed  in  1767 
and  is  one  of  the  oldest  if  not 
actually  the  oldest  church  edifice 
in  the  state.     These   were   probably   not 


the  first  churches  built  by  the  Palatines 
after  their  arrival  in  this  country.  It  is 
an  interesting  fact  for  the  descendants 
of  the  Palatines  residing  here  that  the 
Palatines  who  came  over  with  Governor 
Hunter  in  1710  built  a  church  on  Broad- 
way in  the  City  of  New  York  on  the 
present  site  of  Grace  Episcopal  church 
which  was  after  the  English  Conquest 
taken  away  from  the  Dutch,  as  other 
churches  also  were,  by  the  adherants  of 
the  dominant  English  church.  The 
Palatines  who  were  sent  over  here  by 
the  English  Governmf^nt  in  1708,  gen- 
erally settled  at  New  burg;  and  King 
George,  the  first,  in  1719,  granted  them 
a  tract  of  2,190  acres  of  land  to  live  on, 
and  to  Andrais  Volk  and  Jacob  Webber 
as  trustees  and  to  their  successors  to  and 
for  the  benefit  and  behoof  of  the  Luthern 
minister  to  serve  the  people  living  on 
the  tract,  he  granted  a  glebe  of  five 
hundred  acres.  It  is  noteworthy  that 
Volk  now  spelled  Folk  and  Webber 
have  always  been  common  names  amone 
the  descendants  of  the  Palatines  who 
came  here,  and  as  the  Palatines  to 
whom  the  tract  was  granted  all  sub- 
sequently sold  their  lots  therein  and  re- 
moved therefrom,  it  is  not  improbale 
that  Volk  and  Webbsr  came  here.  Sub- 
sequently the  glebe  was  conveyed  by 
the  Governor  of  the  Colony  to  trustees 
for  the  benefit  of  the  English  church. 

I  must  now  bring  this  paper  to  a  close. 
I  have  not  exhausted  my  theme.  I  have 
given  the  outlines  which  could  be  filled 
up  with  much  interesting  matter.  But 
the  necessities  of  this  occasion  forbid 
greater  detail. 


141 


1898  PAPERS 


JOHN  JOST  HERKIMER. 

AN  ADDRESS  BV  HON.  ROBERT  EARI,,  OF  HERKIMER, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Societ}-,  January-  ii,  1898. 


Who  and  what  sort  of  man  was  John 
Jost  Herkimer,  the  father  of  Gen. 
Nicholas  Herkimer,  the  hero,  in  the 
revolutionary  war  of  the  Mohawk  val- 
ley? He  was  born  in  GernVany  in  the  lat- 
ter part  of  the  seventeenth  century.  He 
came  to  this  country  with  the  Palatines 
in  1710,  and  with  them  settled  on  the 
Livingston  Manor  in  what  is  now  Colum- 
bia county.  From  Ihence,  after  a  few 
years,  he  and  other  Palatines  emigrated 
to  Schoharie  county.  While  residing 
there,  in  1731,  he  and  other  Palatines 
petitioned  Governor  Burnet  for  leave  to 
purcha-ie  land  of  the  Indians  within  this 
county;  and,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Gov- 
ernor and  his  Council,  leave  was  granted 
September  9th,  1721.  In  pursuance  of 
such  leave,  a  grant  from  the  Indians  was 
obtained  July  9,  1722,  The  land  granted 
was  on  both  sides  of  the  Mohawk  river 
beginning  below  Little  Falls  and  extend- 
ing to  Frankfort,  then  called  Gerren- 
dagaraeu.  The  Indian  grant  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  colonial  patent  dated  April 
30ch,  1725,  called  the  BurnetsBeld  pat- 
ent, to  94  persons  among  whom  was 
Jurgh,  John  Jost,  Madelana  and  Cather- 
ine Herkimer.  One  hundred  acres  was 
intended  for  each  of  the  patentees,  and 
there  were  9.400  acres  covered  by  the 
patent.  The  land  was  divided  among 
the  patentees  by  lot;  and  John  Jost  Ber- 
kimer  drew  the  lot  of  one  hundred  acres 


located  about  one-half  a  mile  east  of  the 
Stone  church  at  Fort  Herkimer  recently 
owned  by  James  H.  Steele  and  another. 
Soon  after  the  date  of  the  patent  or 
about  that  time,  he  moved  upon  his  lot 
and  there  he  built  a  house  and  livpd  for 
many  years.  His  children,  five  sons  and 
eight  daughters,  were  probably  all  born 
there,  Nicholas  being  the  eldest.  That 
house  survived  the  revolution,  being  the 
only  one  in  that  vicinity  to  which  the 
torch  was  not  applied  by  the  Indians 
during  the  revolutionary  war.  It  has 
disappeared  now,  although  standing  as 
late  as  about  1850.  While  his  children 
were  still  young,  and  som^tim?  before 
the  French  and  Indian  war  of  1757,  he 
built  a  stone  mansion  on  the  Mohawk 
river  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  west 
of  the  Stone  church  which,  before  the 
year  1756,  was  included  within  Fort 
Herkimer.  In  1760  he  conveyed  500 
acres  of  land  in  the  present  town  of 
Danube  to  his  son  Nicholas  where  his 
monument  now  stands.  He  accumulated 
considerable  wealth  in  land  and  chat- 
tels including  slaves,  and  he  died  in 
August  1775  when  the  first  echoes  of  the 
revolution  began  to  reverberate  through 
the  land. 

Until  recently  these  were  about  all  the 
facts  accessible  relating  to  a  long  and 
useful  life  exposed  to  many  hardships 
and   perils  and   crowned    with   unusual 


success  atnon;?  the  stalwart  men  of  his 
time.  Now,  by  the  recent  publication 
i)f  the  colonial  laws  and  from  other  pub- 
lic documents,  other  facts  are  obtainable 
which  throw  li-^ht  upon  his  character 
and  his  standing  among  the  men  of  his 
day,  and  show  him  to  have  been  a  real 
leader  among  the  men  of  the  Mohawk 
valley. 

A  trading  post  was  established  at  Os- 
wego on  Lake  Ontario,  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Oswego  river,  soon  after  1722,  find  a 
fort  was  built  there  by  Governor  Burnet 
in  1727.  That  fort  was  maintained  until 
August,  1756,  when  it  was  captured  and 
demolished  by  the  French  and  Indians 
under  Gen.  Montcalm.  Soon  after  that 
year,  Oswego  came  again  into  the  pos- 
session of  the  English,  and  they  rebuilt 
the  fort  and  were  in  possession  of  it  in 
1760  when  Canada  having  been  con- 
quered by  the  English  came  under  the 
English  Crown.  In  1777,  Col.  St.  Leger 
started  from  Oswego  upon  his  expedition 
to  the  Mohawk  Valley.  And,  after  his 
defeat  at  Oriskany,  he  returned  there, 
and  then  his  forces  scattered  and  the 
fort  was  left  unoccupied  In  July,  1778, 
the  Americans  under  Lieut.  McCleland 
destroyed  the  fort  to  prevent,  so  far  as 
possible,  its  reoccupation.  Some  time 
between  1780  and  1782,  the  fort  was 
again  restored  by  the  English  and  it  re- 
mained in  their  possession  until  1796, 
when,  thirteen  years  after  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  treaty  of  peace  between  this 
country  and  Great  Britain,  in  pursuance 
of  the  famous  Jay  Treaty,  it  was  surren- 
dered to  our  government,  being  the  last 
post  occupied  by  the  British  within  our 
territory.  During  our  war  with  Great 
Britain,  in  1814,  the  fort  was  attacked  by 
the  British  forces  under  Sir  James  Yeo, 
and  was  captured  and  again  demolished. 
It  was  rebuilt  in  1839,  and  has  since  been 
occupied  as  one  of  our  frontier  fortifica- 
tions and  is  called  Fort  Ontario. 

The  trading  post  at  Oswego  was  estab- 
lished to  secure  the  friendship  of  the  Six 
Nations  and  to  divert  their  trade  with 
the  French  at  Montreal  to  Albanj,  and 
it  well  accomplished  its  purpose.  The 
fort,  when  first  established  there  had  a 
garrison  of    twenty-five  men  besides  a 


doctor;  and  at  that  time,  the  Palatines 
here  were  the  nearest  white  settlem^nt. 
The  food  supplies  of  the  garrison  had  to 
be  drawn  from  this  region.  They  were 
carried  in  bateaux  up  the  Mohawk  river 
to  the  present  city  of  Rome,  thence  to 
Wood  creek,  and  through  Oneida  Lake 
and  down  the  Oswego  river  to  Lake  On- 
tario and  the  fort.  There  were  several 
carrying  places  where  the  boats  and 
supplies  had  to  be  transported  by  land. 
Among  the  earliest  contractors  with  the 
Colonial  government  for  furnishing  sup- 
plies to  the  garrison  at  the  fort  was  John 
Jost  Herkimer.  He  was  associated  with 
prominent  men  at  Albany  and  in  the 
Mohawk  Valley;  and  with  thcra  he  car- 
ried on  tt>at  business  for  several  years. 
He  must  have  commenced  soon  after  the 
fort  was  built,  as  in  September,  1728,  in 
an  act  of  the  Colonial  Assembly  making 
provision  for  the  supplies  furnished  to 
the  garrison,  I  find  this  appropriation  : 
"To  John  Jost  Herkimer  in  full  of  two 
accounts  for  riding  goods  amounting  to 
23  pounds,  five  shillings  and  six  pence, 
the  sum  of  seventeen  pounds,  eleven 
shillings."  I  infer  that  these  accounts 
were  not  for  supplies,  but  for  transpor- 
ting, "riding"  them.  I  find  hy  an  act 
passed  in  December,  1737,  that  John  Jost 
Herkimer,  Henry  VanRensselaer  Jr., 
and  John  Harmanus  Wendel  had  the 
contract  for  three  years  to  furnish  at  the 
fort  each  year  for  victualling  the  troops, 
the  following  supplies:  "Wheat  meal. 
156  bushels;  peas,  117  bushels;  Indian 
corn.  39  bushels;  pork,  3,224  pounds; 
beef,  4,836  pounds;  rum,  104  gallons; 
sugar,  104  pounds;  and  candles  of  8  and 
10  in  a  pound,  104  pounds."  They  were 
also  to  furnish  at  Schenectady,  in  each 
of  the  three  years  :  Brown  biscuit,  1,050 
pounds;  peao,  Id^  bushels;  pork,  750 
pounds;  and  rum,  12  gallons.  These 
supplies  were  for  the  twenty-five  men 
and  the  doctor  going  to  the  fort  to  re- 
lieve the  garrison  there  and  for  the 
troops  so  relieved  on  their  return  to 
Schenectady.  They  were  also  in  each 
of  the  three  years  to  furnish  a  sufficient 
number  of  bateaux  to  transport  the 
twenty-five  men  and  the  doctor  with 
their   baggage  and   also  to  provide  two 


6 


able  men  to  assist  in  going  to  and  com- 
ing from  Oswego.  They  were  also  in 
each  of  the  three  years  to  carry  the  bag- 
gage of  the  soldiers  and  doctor  in  wag- 
ons each  way  between  Albany  and  Sche- 
nectady, and  also  to  furnish  sleds  or 
other  carriages  to  transport  the  bateaux 
and  baggage  over  the  carrying  places 
both  ways,  "provided  that  the  soldiers 
march  on  foot  between  Albany  and  Sche- 
nectady and  over  the  carrying  places;'* 
and  for  all  these  supplies  and  services, 
they  were  to  receive  annually  the  sum 
of  456  pounds.  This  compensation  may 
seem  small,  but  the  value  of  money  was 
much  greater  then  than  it  is  now.  The 
doctor  residing  at  the  fort  received  an 
annual  salary  of  not  more  than  forty- 
five  pounds.  The  two  associates  of  John 
Jost  Herkimer  were  evidently  from  Al- 
bany, as  they  bear  family  names  that 
have  always  been  known  there.  This 
contract  was  renewed  with  the  same 
persons  together  with  Garret  A.  Lan- 
sing, also  a  citizen  of  Albany,  for  two 
terms  of  two  years  each  in  November, 
1740,  and  October,  174S.  In  September, 
1744,  the  same  contract  for  two  years 
was  made  with  John  Jost  Herkimer  and 
Garret  A.  Lansing;  and  during  the  same 
time,  John  Jost  Herkimer  and  Jost 
Petree,  a  leading  man  among  the  Pala- 
tines here,  also  furnished  supplies  to  the 
garrison  for  the  payment  of  which  the 
Colonial  Assembly  in  April,  1748,  appro- 
priated the  sum  of  seven  hundred  and 
fifty-eight  pounds  and  three  shillings. 

Where  did  these  contractors  get  the 
rum  which  they  were  bound  to  furnish 
under  their  contracts  ?  Rum  on  this  con- 
tinent was  first  manufactured  in  the 
New  England  colonies.  It  was  a  general 
beverage  among  the  people  and  it  was 
served  as  rations  to  the  soldiers  and  was 
used  in  trade  with  the  Indians  for  the 
purchase  of  furs,  and  in  the  slave  trade 
for  the  purchase  of  Negroes.  It  was  not 
manufactured  in  the  colony  of  New 
York  prior  to  the  eighteenth  century; 
and  there  was  probably  not  more  than 
two  distilleries  of  rum  in  the  colony  be- 
fore the  revolutionary  war.  I  cannot 
find  that  the  business  of  distilling  rum 
was  ever  carried  on  in  the  Mohawk  val- 


ley; and  hence  the  rum  in  which  the 
contractors  dealt  was  undoubtedly  ob. 
tained  from  Albany  which  was  a  great 
mart  for  the  supply  of  goods  used  in  tiie 
trade  with  the  Indians.  The  sale  of  rum 
to  the  Indians  constituted  a  large  share 
of  the  traffic  of  the  Indian  traders  and 
out  of  it  they  made  large  profits.  The 
Indians  were  very  fond  of  it,  and  would 
pay  the  most  extravagant  prices  for  it. 
They  traded  for  it  nearly  if  not  quite 
half  of  all  their  furs  ;  and  they  would 
make  great  sacrifices  and  endure  great 
labor  to  obtain  it.  It  made  them  drunk 
and  quarrelsome  and  their  chiefs  some- 
times protested  against  its  sale  to  them. 
This  traffic  was  encouraged  and  regu- 
lated by  the  colonial  government.  The 
Indians  called  good  rum,  good  milk,  and 
poor  rum,  bad  milk;  and  while  they  pre-, 
ferred  the  good,  they  were  so  passion- 
ately fond  of  it  that  they  would  take  the 
bad  rather  than  have  none.  They  must 
have  been  in  some  measure  the  proto- 
types of  the  Kentucky  statesman  who 
said  there  was  good  whiskey  and  whis- 
key not  so  good  but  no  positively  bad 
whiskey. 

I  find  that  the  contractors  generally 
furnish  the  beef  at  the  fort  by  driving 
the  cattle  there  from  this  region  and 
there  slaughtering  them,  and  in  driving 
the  cattle  and  performing  their  contracts 
they  were  to  some  extent  aided  by  the 
Indians. 

I  cannot  find  that  after  1746  John  Jost 
Herkimer  was  engaged  in  furnishing 
supplies  to  the  fort.  He  must  hav^e  been 
exposed  in  the  business  to  many  hard- 
ships and  perils,  and  it  is  probable  that 
he  began  to  feel  the  infirmities  of  age, 
and  that  he  surrendered  the  business  to 
younger  hands.  In  the  performance  of 
his  contracts  he  was  able  to  find  market 
for  the  produce  of  his  farms,  and  for 
much  of  the  produce  of  his  neighbors  in 
this  region;  and  thus  he  brought  here  a 
supply  of  money  much  needed  among 
the  poor,  industrious  and  frugal  Pala- 
tines. 

Oswego  was  at  that  time  the  most  im- 
portant post  for  trade  with  the  Indians 
in  this  country,  and  about  the  fort  were 
clustered  the  huts  of  traders  and  Indians. 


It  is  probable  that  John  Jost  Heikimer  similar  act  was  passed  and  in  that  John 
and  his  associates  transported  the  goods  Jost  Herkimer  was  ajain  appointed  one 
of  the  traders  to  and  from  Albany,  then  of  the  commissioners  for.  the  same  dis- 
the  principal  fur  market  on  this  conti  trict,  and  with  the  same  powers  and 
nent,  and  in  that  line  also  they  had  a  duties  as  in  the  prior  act.  and  he  con- 
profitable  business.  tinued  to  hold  that  office  until  April 
Before  the  year  1770,  there  were  no  1775,  about  four  months  before  his  death, 
public  highways  wpst  of  this  place,  and  His  sons  Nicholas  and  Henry  are  known 
very  few  wf st  of  Schenectady,  and  on  to  have  served  in  the  French  war  and 
the  24th  of  March  1772  an  act  was  passed  his  sons,  Nicholas,  John  and  George  and 
"For  the  better  laying  out,  regulating,  several  of  his  grand-children  are  known 
clearing  and  keeping  in  repair  the  pub-  to  }iave  served  in  the  revolutionary  war. 
lie  roads  and  highways  in  the  counties  of  His  son,  John  Jost  adhered  to  the  British 
Albany  and  Tryon."  The  act  divided  cause  and  by  an  act  of  the  legislature 
these  counties  into  districts  and  ap-  passed  October  22,  1779,  he  with  other 
pointed  commissioners  for  each  district,  lories  was  attainted  ard  convicted  of 
John  Jost  Herkimer  was  appointed  one  treason  and  his  estate  forfeited.  Prior 
of  the  commissioners  for  the  Kingsland  to  the  revolution  he  filled  many  county 
district,  which  was  on  the  south  side  of  offices.  He  went  to  Canada  with  bis 
the  river,  bounded  on  the  east  by  a  line  family  and  died  there  between  1784  and 
extending  southerly  from  Litstle  Falls  1787  and  some  of  his  descendants  now 
and  on  the  south  and  west  by  the  limits  residing  in  Canada  are  prosperous  and 
of  the  colony.     By  the  same  act,  his  son   wealthy. 

Nicholas  was  appointed  one  of  the  com-  I  have  thus  given  the  brief  outlines  of 
inissioners  of  the  Canajohane  district,  a  busy  life  commencing  in  Germany  in  a 
which,  with  other  territory,  included  country  devastated  by  dynastic  and  re- 
the  present  town  of  Danube  where  he  ligious  wars,  and  transplanted  to  this 
lived.  It  was  the  duty  of  these  commis-  country  into  rude  frontier  settlements 
sioners  to  regulate,  lay  out  and  alter  where  it  was  attended  with  many  perils 
highways  within  their  respective  dis-  and  much  hardship  and  achieved  a  large 
tricts.     On  the  6th   of  February  1773,  a  measure  of  success. 


THE  DUTCH  IN  NEW  NETHELANDS. 

AN  ADDRESS  BY  HON.  JOHN  DRYDEN  HENDERSON,  OF  HERKIMER, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  February  8,  1S98. 


Have  you  ever  been  through  the 
Hudson  Valley  in  September?  Have 
you  gazed  on  the  noble  river  under  an 
autumn  sky,  and  seen  that  ever  chang- 
ing landscape  of  rock  and  forest  and 
mountain?  Have  you  looked  on  the 
Catskills  and  Storm  King  and  Crows 
Nest,  and  the  Palisades  ?  Have  you 
noted  the  rich  hues  and  many  colors  of 
the  ripening  leaves  ?  the  beautiful 
points  of  land  extending  into  the  water, 
and  the  river  broadening  in  places  like 
a  sea.  the  bays  and  the  islands  ?  The 
vales  where  villages  and  cities  nestle 
and  the  rugged  faces  of  those  rocks 
which  rise  in  a  solid  wall  from  the 
water's  edge  ? 

If  you  have  seen  all  this,  you  have 
been  indeed  fortunate,  for  there  is 
nothing  on  earth  more  interesting, 
more  beautiful,  more  magnificient. 

It  was  in  September,  1609,  that  Henry 
Hudson,  an  English  Captain,  under 
Dutch  pay,  and  with  a  crew  of  only 
30  men,  hardy  Dutch  and  English 
sailors,  in  the  sturdy  little  ship,  the 
Half  Moon  from  Amsterdam  passed  the 
island  of  Manhattan,  and  sailed  up  the 
broad  river.  They  were  the  first  white 
men  to  embark  upon  its  bosom,  and  to 
be  charmed  with  that  beautiful  scenery 
which  has  since  delighted  thousands 
of  men  and  women. 
No   villages,    no  cities,     no   beautiful 

9 


residences  greeted  the  eye;  no  culti- 
vated fields,  CO  vineyards,  no  orchards 
dotted  the  landscape,  no  craft  but  the 
bark  canoe  plied  upon  the  water,  no 
sknek  of  engine,  no  rumble  of  train, 
no  busy  hum  of  humanity  disturbed 
the  stillness  of  that  forest,  which  start- 
ing at  the  very  shore,  crept  up  aad 
clothed  the  lofty  peaks. 

Here  and  there  a  startled  deer  sprang 
into  the  woods,  and  an  equally  startled 
red  man  stood  and  gazed  in  curiosity 
at  the  wonderful  ship  and  strange  be- 
ings who  had  invaded  his  country. 

Hudson's  men  had  been  attacked  by 
the  fierce  Manhattans,  and  poor  John 
Coleman  had  been  killed  by  an  arrow 
and  buried  on  Sandy  Hooke  at  the  place 
since  known  as  Coleman's  Point,  but 
the  river  Indians  treated  the  strangers 
more  kindly  and  the  little  ship  sailed 
up  the  river  150  miles.  Hudson  landed 
in  several  places,  traded  and  feasted 
with  the  natives,  and  then  dropped 
down  the  stream.  He  spent  three  weeks 
along  the  banks  of  the  river  mostly  in 
friendly  intercourse  with  the  natives. 
The  Iriquois  of  the  upper  valley  were 
especially  well  disposed  and  here  began 
those  peaceful  dealings  between  the 
Dutch  and  the  Mohawks  which  were 
never  disturbed  by  war. 

The  Algonquins  of  the  lower  river 
were  subject  to  the  Iriquois,   but  they 


were  more  savage  and  troublesome. 
While  near  Stony  Point,  on  the  return, 
an  Indian  was  caught  stealing  goods 
through  the  cabin  window,  the  mate 
of  the  vessel  shot  the  thief,  and  the 
Indians  were  terrified  by  the  sound  of 
the  whiteman's  guns.  Hudson  held 
two  Indiana  who  came  on  the  ship  with 
the  idea  of  taking  them  to  Europe,  they 
escaped  on  the  way  up  the  river,  and 
collecting  their  friends  they  attacked 
the  ship  with  a  large  force  on  its  re 
turn  near  the  upper  end  of  Manhattan 
Island,  but  they  were  driven  off  with 
the  loss  of  nine  or  ten  of  their  number, 
and  Hudson  promising  to  return  the 
next  year  got  off  safely  and  sailed  away 
across  the  ocean  to  tell  of  his  adven- 
tures, and  report  to  the  Dutch  East 
India  Company  by  whom  he  was  em- 
ployed; but  he  never  again  saw  Hol- 
land, for  putting  in  at  Dartmouth,  an 
English  port,  he  was  arbitrarily  de- 
tained, and  after  much  delay,  the  Half 
Moon  returned  to  Amsterdam  without 
him. 

Hudson  himself  sailed  in  1610  in  "The 
Discovery,"  an  English  ship  with  an 
English  crew  to  find  the  north-west 
passage,  so  persistently  sought  by  the 
early  navigators.  He  sailed  through 
Davis  strait  and  into  the  great  northern 
bay  which  now  bears  his  name,  thinking 
that  he  had  almost  found  that  elusive 
passage  to  India.  He  explored  the  bay 
and  wintered  in  those  icy  waters,  in- 
tending to  pursue  the  search  in  the 
spring.  When  the  summer  of  1611  came 
the  crew  demanded  to  be  taken  back  to 
England,  and  Hudson  with  tears  in  his 
eyes,  yielded  to  their  demands,  gave  up 
the  search  and  began  the  return  voyage, 
but  the  crew  did  not  trust  him,  they 
mutinied,  and  taking  him  and  his  son, 
with  seven  others,  they  put  them  in  a 
small  boat  and  cut  them  adrift  to  perish. 
It  was  one  of  the  most  pathetic  tragedies 
of  those  perilous  times. 

There  is  no  record  of  the  re -appearance 
of  the  Dutch  in  the  waters  about  Man- 
hattan until  the  summer  of  1613  when 
Hendrik  Christianson  in  "The  Fortune" 
and  Adrian  Block  in  "The  Tiger"  came 
over.     Block  lost  his  ship  and  built  an- 

1 


other  which  he  called  "The  Unrest"  and 
launched  her  in  the  East  rivtr.  bhe  was 
the  first  American  built  ship  to  plow  the 
waters  of  Long  Island  Sound,  and  with 
her,  Block  explored  the  Connecticut 
shore,  Narragansett  Bay.  discovered  the 
island  which  bears  his  name,  and  sailing 
along  the  Massachusetts  coast  was  over- 
taken near  Cape  Cod  by  "The  Fortune" 
and  leaving  his  little  vessel,  he  returned 
to  Holland  in  the  larger  ship. 

While  Captain  Block  was  exploring 
the  sound,  Jl^hristianson  had  ascended  the 
great  river,  then  called  the  Mauritius, 
and  had  built  a  fort  on  Castle  Island,  a 
little  below  where  Albany  now  is,  and 
garrisoned  it  for  a  trading  station. 

In  1614,  the  country  was  formally 
named  New  Netherlands,  and  soon  after 
the  "United  New  Netherlands  Com- 
pany" was  formed  with  a  charter  to  last 
three  years. 

In  1617,  at  a  place  called  Tawasentha, 
(Albany),  a  treaty  of  peace  and  alliance 
was  made  with  the  Iroquois  which  con- 
tinued as  long  as  the  Dutch  dominion  in 
New  York  lasted. 

In  1618,  the  charter  of  the  company 
expired  by  limitation  and,  in  1631  the 
Dutch  West  India  Company  was  chart- 
ered, and  granted  sovereignty  over  the 
country  from  Virginia  to  New  England. 

In  1623,  thirty  families  of  Walloons. 
French  protestants,  came  over,  to  colon- 
ize the  country.  Christian  Jacobson 
Mey,  was  the  first  director  of  the  pro- 
vince, but  in  1624,  he  returned  to  Hol- 
land and  was  succeeded  by  William 
Verhulst,  and  in  1626,  by  Peter  Minuit, 
who  is  known  as  the  first  Dutch  Gov- 
ernor, and  was  director  general  of  the 
province.  Manhattan  Island  was  bought 
of  the  Indians  for  60  guilders,  $24.00. 

Fort  Amsterdam  was  built  near  what 
is  now  the  "Battery"  and  New  Amster- 
dam became  a  thrifty  Dutch  village. 

These  Dutchmen  were  essentially 
traders.  Amsterdam  at  that  time  was 
the  greatest  commerical  city  of  the 
world,  and  these  visitors  to  Manhattan 
saw  large  profits  in  securing  the  furs 
which  the  Indians  possessed.  Trading 
posts  were  established  up  the  river,  and 
Fort  Orange   was   built.      In   1626  New 

0 


Amsterdam  took  upon  itself  the  charac- 
ter of  a  permanent  colony ,  and  it  was 
evident  that  the  Dutch  had  come  to  stay. 

These  traders  were  not  more  honest 
than  others  who  a'ealt  with  the  natives; 
they  paid  the  Indians  for  their  peltries 
in  trinkets  and  goods  of  little  value  and 
sold  the  skins  in  Europe  for  a  good 
price. 

The  veracious  author  of  Knicker- 
bockers' History  of  New  York  gravely 
says  :  "A  brisk  trade  for  furs  was  soon 
opened.  The  Dutch  traders  were  scrupu- 
lously honest  in  their  dealings  and  pur- 
chased by  weight,  establishing  it  as  an 
invariable  table  of  avoirdupois  that  the 
hand  of  a  Dutchman  weighed  one  pound 
and  his  foot  two  pounds.  It  is  true  the 
simple  Indians  were  often  puzzled  by 
the  great  disproportion  between  bulk 
and  weight;  for  let  them  place  a  bundle 
of  furs  ever  so  large  in  one  scale,  and  a 
Dutchman  put  his  hand  or  foot  in  the 
other,  the  bundle  was  sure  to  kick  the 
beam.  Never  was  a  package  of  furs 
known  to  weigh  more  than  two  pounds 
in  the  market  of  Communipaw,  This  is 
a  singular  fact,  but  I  have  it  direct  from 
my  great-great-grand-father,  who  had 
risen  to  considerable  importance  in  the 
colony,  being  promoted  to  the  office  of 
weighmaster  on  account  of  the  uncom- 
mon heaviness  of  his  foot." 

Minuit  opened  negotiations  with  Gov. 
Bradford  of  Plymouth,  and  tried  very 
early  to  establish  friendly  relations  with 
that  colony,  but  the  New  Englandera  re- 
garded the  Dutch  as  interlopers  and 
England  claimed  the  entire  Atlantic 
coast  as  having  been  originally  dis- 
covered by  Cabot.  Bradford  was  in 
no  position  to  attempt  the  conquest 
of  the  country,  and  the  Dutch  were  not 
disturbed  by  their  English  neighbors. 

In  1629  the  Dutch  West  India  Com- 
pany adopted  a  scheme  by  which  any 
member  of  the  company  who  should 
found  a  colony  in  the  New  Netherlands 
with  fifty  persons,  actual  settlers,  should 
have  the  title  of  Patroon,  with  feud  id 
rights  over  a  tract  of  land  16  miles  on 
one  side  or  8  miles  on  both  sides  of  a 
navigable  river,  and  extending  as  far  in- 
land as  they   choose,   anywhere   within 


the  limits  of  the  province  except  on  the 
island  of  Manhattan.  This  the  company 
reserved  to  themselves,  together  with  the 
exclusive  right  to  the  fur  trade  and  five 
per  cent,  duty  on  all  trade  carried  on  by 
the  Patroons. 

The  Patroons  were  required  to  satisfy 
the  Indians  for  their  lands  by  actual  pur- 
chase and  might  import  negro  slaves. 

This  policy  was  far  reaching  in  its  ef- 
fects. It  gave  the  colony  the  institution 
of  negro  slavery,  with  all  its  attendant 
woes,  and  it  built  up  petty  states  within 
the  province,  whose  rulers  made  a  world 
of  trouble  for  the  company  and  the  gov- 
ernment. 

The  Patroons  were  feudal  lords  over, 
and  owned  both  the  soil  and  its  tenants. 
Several  such  colonies  were  established. 
Killian  Van  Renssellaer  founded  the 
Manor  of  Renssellaerwick  near  Fort 
Orange,  and  David  Piderson  de  Vries 
the  Manor  of  Swanandael,  on  the  Dela- 
ware, or  South  River,  as  it  was  then 
called. 

Killian  Van  Renssellaer  had  seven  suc- 
cessors, the  last  of  whom  Stephen,  died 
in  1868,  but  long  before  the  death  of 
Stephen  Van  Renssellaer,  the  Patroon 
had  been  shorn  of  his  power  and  his 
dignity. 

The  office  of  a  feudal  lord  maintaining 
his  own  little  army,  and  floating  his  own 
flag,  was  not  compatible  with  Yankee 
civilization.  Under  the  English  rule, 
the  dominrion  of  the  Patroon  became  an 
English  Manor  in  1685,  and  the  oldest 
son  inherited  the  estate,  but  after  the 
American  revolution  this  way  of  perpet- 
uating power  could  not  endure,  and  in 
1839,  at  the  death  of  the  then  Patroon, 
the  estate  ^was  divided  among  the  nine 
heirs,  and  the  distinction  of  being  Pat- 
roon fell  to  Stephen  and  died  with  him 
in  1868.  Today  it  would  be  very  diffi- 
cult, if  not  impossible,  to  tell  just  where 
the  palatial  Mansion  of  the  Patroon 
stood.  The  liouse  has  been  taken  down 
and  set  up  again  at  Williamstown,Mass., 
and  is  now  used  for  a  club  house  by  a 
college  secret  society.  The  beautiful 
grounds  which  surrounded  the  rransion 
are  covered  by  business  blocks  and  fac- 
tories, the  estate  has  been  broken  up  and 


11 


Soon  after  Van  Twiller's  arrival,  one 
Jacob  Eelkins,  who  had  been  the  agent 
at  Fort  Orange,  and  had  been  dismissed 
by  the  company,  and  had  gone  into  the 
English  service,    appeared  in  the  harbor 


the  Van  Renssellaers  are  scattered   like 
other  American  families. 

In  1630,  the  imports  from  Amsterdam 
amounted  to  $45,000  and  the  exports 
from  Manhattan  to  $52  000.  but  the  peo- 
ple had  no  voice  in  the  government  and  in  an  English  ship.  He  announced  that 
were  forbidden  to  make  any  woolen,  it  was  all  English  territory,  and  that  he 
linen  or  other  cloth,  or  to  weave  any  was  going  up  the  Mauritius  to  trade  with 
other  stuffs  under  penalty  of  punishment  the  Indians.  Van  Twiller  forbade  him 
and  exile,  but  now  they  began  to  build  to  do  so,  and  attempted  to  prevent  his 
their  own  ships   and  "The  New  Nether-    passing  up  the   river,  but  Eelkins  sailed 


land,''  a  ship  of  800  tons,  was  launched 
and  sent  to  Holland.  It  was,  at  that 
time,  one  of  the  largest  merchant  ves- 
sels in  the  world. 

While  the  company  governed  the  col-  courage  up,  and  sent  the 
ony  with  the  sole  purpose  of  getting  all  after  Eelkins  with  orders 
they  could  out  of  it,  the  fullest  religious 
toleration  was  granted,  and  refugees 
from  the  persecutions  of  the  Puritans, 
and  from  Europe  were  welcomed  at 
Manhattan.  There,  also,  came  adven- 
turers and  scamps  of  all  kinds,  so,  that 
the  little  city,  even  then,  began  to  take 
on  that  cosmopolitan  air  and  tone  which 
has  ever  since  distinguished  it.  Money 
was  scarce,  and  wampum  became  the 
common  currency  of  the  settlement. 
The  settlers  gradually  adopted  many  of 
the  Indian  customs,  they  ate  hominy  and 
succotash,  and  smoked  large  quantities  ticut. 
of  tobacco.  "^^^  English  also  attempted  a  settle- 

In  1633,  Peter  Minuit  was  recalled  and  °^«"<^  ^^  ^ort  Nassau,  DeVries'  abandon- 
in  1633,  Wouter  VanTwiUer  succeeded  ^^  settlement  on  the  Delaware,  but  they 
,  .  were  removed  by  the  Dutch  and  taken 

him.  •' 


by,  in  defiance  of  the  guns  of  Fort  Am- 
sterdam and  Van  Twiller  dare  not  fire 
on  the  English  flag.  DeVries  advised 
war,  and  VanTwiller  finally  got  his 
"Southberg" 
to  drive  him 
out  of  the  river.  The  Dutch  found  Eel- 
kins near  Fort  Orange,  captured  his 
company  and  his  ship,  destroyed  his 
tent  that  he  had  set  up  on  shore,  brought 
his  vessel  back  to  New  Amsterdam, 
took  away  his  peltries  and  sent  him  to 
sea  with  a  warning  never  again  1o  tres- 
pass upon,  or  trade  in  Dutch  territory. 

Trouble  soon  broke  out  with  the  Eng- 
lish settlers  on  the  Connecticut  river, 
but  it  was  a  bloodless  war,  and  both 
Dutch  and  English  occupied,  and  con- 
tinued to  claim  the  valley  of  the  Connec- 


Minuit,  a  few  years  later,  entered  the 
Swedish  service,  and  appeared  as  gov- 
ornor  of  a  colony  of  Swedes  and  settled 
on  the  Delaware  river. 

The  first  clergyman  at  New  Amster- 
dam was  Jonas   Michaelius  in   1627,  but 


as  prisoners  to  Point  Comfort.  Flourish- 
ing settlements  were  established  up  the 
Mauritius  and  on  Long  Island  and  the 
province  was  prosperous. 

Van  Twiller  was  a  thrifty  man,  a  bet- 
ter merchant  than  governor,  but  his  ra- 
pacity became  so  great  that  DeVries  and 


was  succeeded   by   William  Kieft  who 
was    cruel,    unscrupulous    and    utterly 
wanting  in  either  principle  or  capacity 
to  govern. 
At  first  he  was  very  active  in  correct- 


he  stayed  only  a  short  time  and  Dominie   others  complained  of  him,  and  in  1687  he 
Bogardus  came   with  VanTwiller  to  be 
the  permanent  clergyman  in  1633. 

David  Pieterson  de  Vries,  the  Patroon 
of  Swanandael,  was  a  man  of  good  sense, 
prudence  and  ability,  but  having  gone 
to  Holland  in  the  New  Netherland,  the  ing  what  he  considered  abuses,  and  very 
Indians  burned  his  settlement  and  mur-  soon  had  made  a  large  number  of  ene- 
dered  the  inhabitants.  When  he  re-  mies  among  the  colonists. 
turned  to  the  Delaware  he  found  the  Minuit  came  about  this  time,  and 
place  in  ruins  and  abandoned  it,  taking  established  his  colony  of  Swedes  on  the 
up  his  residence  on  Staten  Island.  Delaware,   against  this  Kieft  protested, 

13 


but  the  Swedes  did  not  go,  and  Sweden 
was  then  too  powerful  in  Europe  for  the 
States  General  to  go  to  war  wi  th,  about 
a  little  colony  in  America. 

Kieft  also  tried  to  prevent  the  en- 
croachment of  the  English  on  Long  Is- 
land, but  their  settlements  increased  on 
the  eastern  end  of  the  Island,  and  many 
New  Englanders  came  to  live  at  New 
Amsterdam,  among  them  Capt.  John 
Underbill  who  had  distinguished  him- 
self in  the  Pequod  war. 

In  1641,  Kieft  recklessly  provoked  a 
war  with  the  neighboring  Indians. 
These  Indians  were  tributaries  of  the 
Iroquois,  and  being  threatened  with  an 
attack  from  the  Mohawks,  they  took  re- 
fuge with  the  Dutch  at  Pavonia,  where 
a  large  number  were  treacherously  mur- 
dered by  Kiefts  orders.  DeVries  saved 
several  who  had  fied  for  protection  to 
his  residence  on  Staten  Island,  but  he 
could  not  stay  the  bloody  hand  of  Kieft, 
and  the  province  became  involved  in  a 
war  which  at  one  time  threatened  the 
ruin  of  the  colony. 

Indian  villages  were  attacked  in  the 
night,  and  men,  women  and  children 
were  murdered  in  cold  blood.  Kieft 
killed  friend  and  foe  alike,  until  all  the 
tribes  in  the  vicinity  of  Manhattan  were 
his  enemies,  but  in  March,  1643.  Kieft 
became  alarmed  at  the  situation.  Dutch 
settlements  in  every  direction  had  been 
destroyed,  houses,  barns  and  crops 
burned,  and  the  settlers  driven  into  New 
Amsterdam.  He  implored  DeVries  to 
help  him  make  peace.  This  DeVries 
consented  to  do,  and  secured  a  short 
peace,  but  in  August  the  war  broke  out 
afresh.  Underbill  then  attacked  and  de- 
stroyed the  Indian  villages  on  the  Con- 
necticut, and  on  Long  Island,  and  the 
tide  of  battle  turned  so  strongly  against 
the  natives  that  they  sued  for  peace  and 
finally  a  treaty  of  peace  was  made. 

Kieft  quarreled  with  DeVries  who  re- 
turned to  Holland  a  ruined  man;  he 
quarreled  with  Bogardus  who  denounced 
him  from  his  pulpit  and  finally  his  un- 
fitness became  apparrent  to  the  com- 
pany, and  in  1647  he  was  recalled,  and 
was  wrecked  and  lost  with  his  ship  on 
the  return  voyage. 


Peter  Stuyvesant  now  became  gov- 
ernor. He  was  a  brave  soldier  and  an 
honest  man.  He  had  lost  a  leg  in  the  at- 
tack on  the  Portuguese  settlement  at  St. 
Martin  and  had  been  governor  of 
Curacoa. 

He  came  prepared  to  cultivate  peace 
with  the  Indians,  and  energetically  to 
defend  the  rights  of  the  Dutch  in  "The 
New  Netherlands"  against  all  European 
claimants.  He  told  the  colonists  on  his 
arrival  "that  he  would  govern  them  as 
a  father  did  his  children"  but  they  were 
in  no  mood  for  such  a  government. 

They  saw  the  people  of  other  colonies 
governing  themselves,  they  came  from 
the  freest  country  in  Europe,  they  were 
restless  under  the  tyranny  of  the  West 
India  company,  and  already  the  contest 
against  "taxation  without  representa- 
tion" had  begun. 

Stuyvesant  at  once  tried  to  settle  the 
boundaries  between  the  province  and 
the  English  colony  on  the  east,  and 
finally  succeeded  in  making  a  treaty  and 
a  boundary  hne  by  which  he  gave  up  all 
claims  to  the  Connecticut  valley  and  the 
eastern  end  of  Long  Island,  but  the  Eng- 
lish were  in  no  case  to  approach  within 
ten  miles  of  the  river  Maritius. 

In  1646  a  charter  was  conferred  upon 
the  village  of  Breuklaen,  and  in  1652  a 
burgher  government  was  established  in 
New  Amsterdam. 

About  this  time  a  war  broke  out  be- 
tween England  and  Holland  and  the  New 
Englanders  took  advantage  of  the  situa- 
tion to  break  the  treaty  with  "The  New 
Netherlands."  They  falsely  charged 
Stuyvesant  with  having  plotted  with  the 
Narragansetts  for  the  destruction  of  the 
English  settlements  and  they  planned 
for  the  conquest  of  New  Amsterdam. 
Underbill  turned  against  his  late  allies, 
and  tried  to  stir  up  the  settlers  on  Long 
Island  against  the  Dutch,  but  before  war 
actually  broke  out  peace  was  proclaimed 
in  Europe  and  trouble  at  Manhattan  was 
postponed. 

Internal  troubles  now  occupied  the  at- 
tention of  Stuyvesant;  he  tried  to  serve 
faithfully  his  employers,  the  company, 
while  he  no  doubt  sympathized  to  some 
extent  with  the  people 


13 


They  wanted  to  manage  their  owa 
affairs,  choose  their  own  officers,  say 
how  their  own  revenues  should  be  ex- 
pended and  they  demanded  that  New 
Amsterdam  should  enjoy  the  same  muni- 
cipal privileges  as  Old  Amsterdam  and 
be  a  free  city. 

In  1654  a  portion  of  these  demands 
were  reluctantly  granted,  a  seal  for  the 
city  was  adopted  and  a  stadt  huya 
erected. 

la  1650  Stuyvesant  had  built  Fort 
Casimer  near  the  mouth  of  Brandy  wine 
river  and  some  five  miles  from  Minuit's 
Swedish  colony  at  Fort  Christina.  In 
1054  Minuit  was  dead  and  buried  at 
Fort  Christina,  and  one  Rising  was  gov- 
ernor. He  attacked  and  captured  the 
Dutch  fort  on  Trinity  Sunday,  and 
changed  its  name  to  Fort  Trinity. 

Stuyvesant  retaliated  by  seizing  a 
Swedish  &hip  that  entered  Sandy  Hook 
bay  by  mistake,  and  in  September  1655, 
having  received  instructions  from  Hol- 
land, he  sailed  with  seven  ships  to  the 
Delaware,  captured  the  fort,  made  the 
colonists  swear  allegiance  to  the  Dutch 
government,  took  Rising  prisoner  and 
sent  him  to  Europe  and  placed  a  Dutch 
officer  in  command  of  the  conquered 
territory,  but  while  he  was  absent  on  his 
campaign  the  Indians,  who  had  been 
quiet  for  the  past  ten  jears  determined 
to  avenge  the  death  of  a  squaw  whom 
Hendrick  Van  Dyck  had  shot,  while  she 
was  stealing  peaches  from  his  orchard, 
just  below  where  Rector  street  now  is, 
and  on  the  15th  of  September  sixty-four 
canoes  with  nearly  2.000  armed  warriors 
landed  before  daybreak  at  Fort  Amster- 
dam  and   spread    themselves    over  the 

town. 

The  alarmed  burghers  by  friendly 
words  and  promises  induced  them  to  go 
over  to  Governors  Island,  but  they  re- 
turned in  the  evening,  shot  Van  Dyck 
with  an  arrow  and  killed  another  man 
with  an  ax. 

Ihe  people  were  now  aroused  to  a 
desperate  defense  and  rallying  in  force 
they  drove  the  Indians  into  their  canoes 
and  across  the  river.  The  savages  then 
attacked  Hoboken  and  Pavoni^,  mur- 
dered the  inhabitants  and  burned  houses. 


barns  and  crops.  The  whole  country 
was  terrified  and  the  people  flocked  t» 
the  fort  fer  safety.  In  three  days  lOO 
settlers  were  killed  and  28  bouwerries 
with  their  cattle  and  crops  destroyed.  A 
messenger  was  sent  for  Stuyvesant  and, 
the  governor  returning,  found  all  in 
confusion  at  Fort  Amsterdam;  but  his 
policy  was  not  like  that  of  the  head- 
strong and  cruel  Kieft,  for  while  he  pre- 
pared for  war  he  sought  for  peace,  and 
by  kind  words  and  presents  he  concil- 
iated the  Indians.  Satisfied  by  I  i^ 
promises,  and  terrified  by  his  prepara- 
tions to  punish  them,  they  were  induced 
to  release  their  prisoners  and  stop  their 
depredations.  Several  years  of  peace 
and  prosperity  followed. 

In  1656.  the  first  map  of  the  city  was 
made  which  showed  17  streets,  and  ^ 
market  was  established  for  country 
wagons  at  the  foot  of  Whitehall  street. 

In  1658,  two  hundred  and  fifty-fire 
buckets  were  imported  from  Holland  for 
the  use  of  the  city,  and  a  fire  company 
of  eight  men  was  organized,  and  in  the 
same  year  a  Latin  school  or  academy 
was  established  with  Dr.  Alexander 
Carolua  Curtius  in  charge,  on  a  salary  of 
$300  and  perquisites. 

A  small  part  of  the  Island  only  was 
under  cultivation.  The  lots  below  Wall 
street  worth  .$50.00  apiece  were  large 
enough  for  orchards  and  gardens. 

Every  settler  kept  his  cows,  and  a 
herdsman  was  appointed  by  the  city  to 
drive  them  to  the  public  pasture— the 
present  park  and  land  in  its  vicinity. 

The  Reformed  Dutch  religion  was  the 
established  church  of  the  province  and 
Stuyvesant,  an  earnest  Calvinist,  was 
less  tolerant  than  his  predecessors,  but 
the  people  were  of  all,  and  of  eg  relig- 
ious views,  and  there  was  no  hanging  of 
Quakers  or  burning  of  witches  in  New 
Amsterdam. 

In  1664,  Charles  II  of  England  granted 
to  his  brother  James,  Duke  of  York,  a 
patent  of  the  territory  lying  between  the 
Connecticut  River  and  Delaware  Bay, 
and  without  giving  any  notice  to  the 
government  of  Holland,  the  Duke  dis- 
patched four  ships  and  450  English  sol- 


14 


<Jiers  to  take  possession  of  New  Nether- 
lands. 

They  arrived  at  Coney  Island  in  Au- 
gust. 1664,  occupied  Staten  Island,  and 
immediately  laid  seige  to  New  Amster- 
dam. Stuyvesant  was  not  prepared  for 
war;  he  had  not  more  than  400  men  able 
to  bear  arms,  his  fort  and  wooden  walls 
which  were  good  enough  against  Indian 
arrows  were  no  defense  against  English 
war  ships,  but  he  was  not  willing  to  sur- 
render, he  wanted  to  fight.  He  called 
his  council  together  and  proposed  resis- 
tance, he  tried  to  rally  the  citizens,  but 
the  people  were  weary  with  the  arbi- 
trary exactions  and  despotic  government 
of  the  West  India  Company,  they  sym- 
pathized with  the  English  invaders,  they 
would  not  fight  and  the  council  advised 
a  surrender.  Then  came  Winthrop  the 
governor  of  Connecticut  with  his  assur- 
ances that  the  privileges  of  the  Hollan- 
ders should  not  be  abridged,  and  their 
property  rights  be  fully  protected,  and 
on  the  8th  of  September,  1664,  the  city 
was  surrendered  to  the  English  and 
Stuyvesant  marched  his  soldiers  out  of 
Fort  Amsterdam  with  all  the  honors  of 
war.  Nichols  became  deputy  governor 
of  the  province.  The  English  flag  was 
run  up  over  the  fort,  its  name  was 
changed  to  Fort  James  and  New  Am- 
sterdam became  New  York.  The  River 
Mauritius  was  henceforth  called  the 
Hudson  and  the  province  of  New  Neth- 
erlands for  the  next  hundred  years  the 
colony  of  New  York. 

The  city  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Dutch  again  in  1673,  and  was  held  by 
them  for  about  a  year.  Anthony  Colve 
was  governor  and  he  tried  to  call  the 
place  New  Orange,  but  it  was  restored 
to  the  English  by  the  treaty  of  1674  and 
became  again  New  York. 

The  city  in  1664  contained  abeut  1,500 
inhabitants  and  the  entire  colony  some 
three  or  four  thousand. 

At  the  time  of  the  cession  to  the  Eng- 
lish, eighteen  different  languages  were 
spoken  in  the  city,  it  was  a  cosmopoli- 
tan, commercial  city  and  the  foundation 
was  already  laid  for  what  has  become 
the  chief  city  and  the  Empire  State  of 
the  Union. 

15 


The  city  on  Manhattan  Island  domi- 
nated the  province  more  completely, 
perhap'!,  during  those  years  than  it  ever 
has  since,  but  may  be,  no  more  than 
"Greater  New  York"  will  don  i  ate  this 
state  in  the  future. 

These  Dutchmen  who  discovered,  set- 
tled and  named  New  Netherlands  were 
a  different  people  and  came  from  a  dif- 
ferent country  than  those  Dutch,  the 
Palatines,  who  came  later  into  the  Mo- 
hawk valley. 

The  Palatines  were  farmers.  The 
Hollanders  were  traders.  The  Hol- 
landers made  New  York  a  commercial 
city  and  gave  it  the  impetus  to  become 
the  metropolis  of  the  new  world.  The 
Hollanders  gave  us  negro  slavery  which 
cursed  the  state  until  1820.  The  Hol- 
landers gave  us  the  patroon  system,  and 
that  system  was  the  cause  of  the  anti- 
rent  troubles  of  1840,  That  disturbance 
is  within  the  memory  of  men  now  living. 

At  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary 
war  a  large  part  of  the  land  in  the 
counties  of  Albany,  Rensselar,  Columbia, 
Green,  Ulster,  Delaware,  Schoherie, 
Montgomery,  Herkimer,  Otsego  and 
Oneida  was  in  large  estates,  and  the 
tenants  paid  an  annual  rent  to  the  lords 
of  the  manors.  The  Legislatures  of 
1788-9  passed  laws  to  relieve  the  situa- 
tion, but  the  landlords  devised  a  per- 
petual lease  which  avoided  the  law  and 
was  very  oppressive  to  the  tenants. 

About  1839  the  tenants  rebelled.  A 
riot  occured  at  Grafton  in  Rensselaer 
county  and  one  man  was  killed.  There 
was  great  excitment.  At  the  investi- 
gation which  followed  more  than  200 
witnesses  were  sworn  but  the  murderers 
were  not  discovered.  Gov.  Seward  dis- 
cussed the  subject  in  his  messages  in 
1841  and  42 and  recommended  legislation. 
Disguised  bands  of  rebellious  tenants 
marched  through  the  country  and  com- 
mitted depredations.  Gov.  Wright  in 
1845  declared  martial  law  in  Delaware 
county  and  in  1846  the  matter  became  a 
political  issue  and  Governor  Young  was 
elected  by  10,000  majority.  He  held 
that  the  disorderly  acts  of  the  Anti- 
Renters  were  political  offenees  rather 
than  criminal,   and  pardoned   those  who 


were  in  jail.  A  provision  was  ingrafted  in 
the  state  constitution  abolishing  feudal 
tenures,  and  prohibiting  the  leasing  of 
agricultural  lands  for  a  period  longer 
than  twelve  years,  and  the  large  estates 
becoming  unprofitable  were  gradually 
broken  up  and  the  system  abolished. 

But   while     the    Hollanders  gave  us 
these   legacies     of    trouble,     they    also 


brought  with  them  positive  ideas  of 
personal,  political,  and  religions  liberty, 
and  fixed  habits  of  thrift  and  enterprise, 
and  they  gave  to  their  one  colony  on 
the  mainland  of  North  America  teu- 
dencies  and  characteristics,  which 
placed  and  have  kept  it,  the  first,  in  the 
front  rank  of  A  merican  States. 


< 


16 


THE  TOWN  OF   RUSSIA. 

AN   ADDRESS   BY   HON.    JAMES   N.    WAI^TERS,    OF   PROSPECT, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  March  12,  1898. 


My  native  town  is  Russia  where  I  re- 
sided from  my  birth  in  1824,  until  I 
came  to  Prospect  in  April  1891. 

As  I  look  back  over  the  town  as  it  was 
in  my  younger  days,  I  see  a  hardy,  in- 
dustrious honest  people  ;  a  people  whose 
strong  Gharacteristics  of  families  and 
persons  stand  out  in  hold  relief.  The 
leading,  active  men  from  all  parts  of  the 
town  appear  to  be  of  nearly  uniform  age 
with  families  of  children  growing  up  to- 
gether. But  now  I  see  a  change.  The 
old  families  are  broken  up  by  intermar- 
riages with  later  settlers  so  that  the  dis- 
tmctiveness  of  family  traits  is  largely 
lost  and  their  predominance  has  given 
way  under  influences  of  more  dense  pop- 
ulation. 

The  history  of  Russia  by  its  inhabi- 
tants, has  never  been  written;  there  were 
no  striking  events  occurring,  no  Baron 
or  titled  personages  to  stir  our  people 
to  write  their  own  history  for  future 
reference.  They  were  a  home  loving 
people,  quietly  attending  to  the  affairs 
of  the  town  and  making  no  demands 
upon  the  attention  of  the  outside   world 

About  1871  there  was  published  a 
work  purporting  to  be  a  history  of  Her- 
kimer county,  but  it  was  compiled  in 
such  a  way  (chiefly  from  information 
supplied  by  subscribers  and  others  who 
paid  for  mention,)  that  many  who  could 
have  furnished  valuable  information  were 


given  no  opportunity  to  do  so,  and  many 
persons  of  large  influence  in  the  county's 
history  were  ignored;  and  the  book  was 
incomplete,  inaccurate  and  unsatisfac- 
tory. 

Very  little  can  be  known  of  the  pri- 
vation and  hardships  the  early  settlers 
had  to  endure,  clearing  up  the  virgin 
forest,  cutting  down  the  trees,  burning 
the  wood,  planting  their  crops  by  digging 
holes  among  roots  of  trees.  Many  had  no 
chairs  or  plates,  but  used  blocks  of  trees 
for  seats  and  cut  out  chips  for  plates. 
This  history  lingers  now  only  in  vague 
family  traditions  and  cannot  be  written 
out  with  sufficient  accuracy  to  be  of 
value. 

I  am  able  through  my  ancestors  on 
my  mother's  side  to  name  some  of  the 
first  settlers  of  this  town,  and  on  my 
father's  side  those  of  a  few  years  later. 

Previous  to  the  year  1793,  there  were 
no  white  people  in  this  town,  which  was 
then  the  town  of  Norway,  Montgomery 
county.  Herkimer  county  was  set  off 
from  Montgomery  the  15th  of  March 
1798.  The  town  of  Russia  was  taken 
from  Norway  April  7,  18C6  and  namei 
Union  and  on  April  6,  1808  the  name 
was  changed  to  Russia 

The  first  settlers  came  from  Connecti- 
cut and  Massachusetts  in  the  year  1792 
and    made   a  settlement    on    the    Cold 


17 


brook,  a  little  south  of  the  present  vil- 
lage. 

With  this  company  were  my  mother's 
father,  Amos  Carpenter,  and  Phineas 
Briggs,  whose  daughter,  Charlotte,  was 
the  wife  of  Amos  Carpenter. 

Phineas  Briggs  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war  and  was  afterwards 
pensioned  by  the  government,  and  died 
at  Cold  Brook  at  the  age  of  93  years. 

There  were  other  residents  of  Russia 
in  that  war,  Mr.  Buck  and  Mr.  Osborn, 
also  pensioners;  William  Cory,  who 
was  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  and 
John  Walters,  who  had  a  musket  and 
bayonet  taken  from  the  British  at  Stoney 
Point,  which  are  now  in  our  family. 

Amos  Carpenter  died  at  Cold  Brook  in 
1857  at  the  age  of  82  years  and  my 
mother  Fanny  Carpenter  Walters  died 
at  the  same  place  in  1877  in  her  75th 
year. 

Amos  Carpenter  assisted  in  the  first 
burial  service  in  this  town.  The  first  mar- 
riage was  in  1794,  Farley  Smith  and 
Miranda  Smith  being  the  contracting 
parties. 

The  Millington,  Russell,  Squire,  Stod- 
dard and  Ruscom  Slocum  families  set- 
tled in  1795  and  the  Walters  and  Robins 
in  1799. 

Millington,  Russell,  Waltersand  Robin 
located  one  or  two  miles  east  of  Russia 
village,  their  farms  all  joining.  Reuben 
Robin's  family  afterward  went  to  Cold 
Brook  and  from  there  to  the  state  of 
Ohio  where  he  died. 

The  record  of  our  family  reaches  back 
to  John  Walters,  who  with  his  brothers 
James  and  Nathaniel  came  from  Eng- 
land about  the  year  1750.  We  are  the 
descendants  of  John  Walters,  who  set- 
tled in  Orange  county,  N.  Y. ,  where  my 
grandfather  Nathaniel  Walters,  one  of 
six  children,  was  born  in  1773.  John 
Walters  moved  across  the  river  to  Fish- 
kill,  Dutchess  county  in  1787  and  later 
%o  Stillwater,  Saratoga  county  where 
Nathaniel  Walters  married  Esther  Robins 
and  where  my  father,  William  Walters 
was  born  in  1798.  John  Walters  with 
all  of  his  family,  settled  in  Russia  in 
1799  where  he  died  in  1816. 


Three  brothers  of  Esther  Robins  came 
with  them,  William,  who  was  the  father 
of  the  Adam  Robins  family;  David,  who 
settled  on  the  Dorman  farm  but  returned 
to  Saratoga,  where  he  died  at  96  years 
and  Reuben  who  has  been  previously 
mentioned. 

Reuben  Robins,  had  a  son  William, 
who  married  the  daughter  (Julia)  of  John 
Russell  and  a  daughter  Matilda,  who 
was  the  wife  of  Richard  Millington,  who 
was  the  father  of  Hon.  S.  R.  Millington 
now  of  Poland,  N.  Y.  There  was  another 
brother  Thomas  in  Saratoga  who  died 
there  in  the  100th  year  of  his  age  Their 
father  died  in  Saratoga  at  93  years  and 
my  grandmother  in  Russia  at  65  years. 

The  longivity  of  both  branches  of  my 
ancestors  is  quite  remarkable. 

Nathaniel  Walters'  family  consisted  of 
nine  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  early 
age,  leaving  seven  members,  who  were 
all  married  and  lived  with  their  first 
companions  in  marriage  with  only  one 
exception. 

The  united  ages  of  these  seven  mem- 
bers is  474  years  and  from  the  birth  of 
Nathaniel  Walters  in  1772  down  to  1877 
is  one  hundred  and  five  years,  during 
which  time  only  eight  deaths  oc- 
curred in  these  several  fam- 
ilies, one  being  his  own,  two  of  his 
children,  four  of  his  grand  children  and 
one  his  great  grand  child. 

My  grandfatlier's  age  was  77  years,  my 
father's  age  90  years,  and  I  have  now 
passed  my  73rd  year  making  the  heads 
of  these  three  families  240  years.  Two  of 
Nathaniel  Walters'  family  are  now  liv- 
ing, M.  C.  Walters,  of  Cold  Brook,  aged 
78  years,  and  Judith  Walters  Hunt,  of 
the  state  of  Ohio,  aged  91  years. 

The  first  tavern  in  this  town  was 
opened  by  Stephen  Smith  2nd,  and  the 
first  store  by  a  Mr.  Smithburn,  both  in 
the  year  1797.  The  first  doctor  was 
William  Frame  in  1806.  The  state  road  J 
was  laid  through  this  town  in  1806. 

The  villiage  of  Russia  was  settled  in 
1800  by  Samuel  Wright. 

The  Baptist  society  (Free  Will)  was 
organized  in  1799  by  Elder  Benjamin 
Corp,  and  in  1850  was  merged  into  the 
close  communion  branch  of  the   BaptistJ 


18 


church,  by  Elder  Jonathan  Carpenter 
and  Deacons  Nathan  Millington  and 
Daniel  Corp. 

The  Baptist  church,  the  largest  build- 
ng  then  in  town,  was  erected  about  the 
3'ear  1820,  ray  father  being  one  of  the 
builders. 

When  I  look  at  this  structure,  which 
to  day  would  cost  $6,000  or  more  I  am 
led  to  ask  how  this  was  accomplished 
by  a  people  so  few  in  number  and  of  so 
limited  resources.  There  must  have 
been  among  them  unity  of  mind  and 
action. 

Gravesville  was  settled  in  the  year 
1796  by  Major  Geer,  a  tanner;  Poland  in 
1807  by  Moses  Mather,  and  Grant,  then 
called  Potters  Bush  in  1816  by  Isaac 
Wooding.  It  also  was  called  Black 
Creek,  but  received  the  official  name 
Po3tville  in  1820  in  honor  of  John  Post 
the  first  postmaster.  The  name  of  the 
place  and  postoffice  was  again  changed 
to  Booth  in  honor  of  Elihu  Booth,  a 
leading  business  man.  In  1864  the  name 
was  once  more  changed  to  Grant  in  honor 
of  General  Grant. 

The  small  streams  running  through  the 
villages  of  Cold  Brook  and  Gravesville 
furnished  power  for  many  industries  for 
the  early  settlers,  and  were  the  probable 
reason  for  the  first  settlements  being 
made  in  these  places. 

The  most  important  manufacturing 
plant  of  this  town  and  Trenton  was  the 
gang  sawing  and  lumber^  planing  mills 
of  Hinckley  &  Ballou,  which  I  built  in 
1848-1849,  where  I  passed  forty  years  of 
my  business  life.  These  were  the  first 
gang  saws  set  up  in  northern  New  York 
except  on  the  Hudson  river  at  Fort  Ed- 
ward. 

There  was  a  mill  and  dam  at  this 
place,  said  to  have  been  erected  by  a  Mr. 
Jones,  about  fifty  years  previous  to  1848, 
which  would  reach  back  to  about  the 
year  1790.  Settlers  may  hav^e  come  in 
by  way  of  Trenton,  before  Russia  was 
settled  in  1793.  This  was  probably  the 
first  dam  across  the  West  Creek,  unless 
there  was  one  at  the  foot  of  Trenton 
Falls. 

There  was  quite  a  section  covered  with 
large  pine  trees  at  this  place,  and   the 


old  mill  cut  the  lumber  for  the  settlers. 
Many  wide  boards  for  doors  and  ceilings 
can  be  found  in  the  old  buildings  today, 
made  of  this  pine. 

The  Walters  family  combined  the  oc- 
cupations of  mechanics,  builders  and 
farmers.  My  father  was  the  principal 
millwright  in  this  part  of  the  country 
and  he  and  his  family  erected  nearly  all 
the  buildings  and  mills  in  this  town  un- 
til more  recent  date. 

Some  of  the  prominent  men  in  my 
early  days  were  Judge  Varney,  Col. 
Thayer,  Capt.  Walker,  Capt.  Forest, 
Doctors  Sears,  Coon,  Varne^^  and  Booth, 
Deacons  Johnson,  Betticher,  Corp,  Mil- 
hngton  and  While. 

Fink  &  Fausdick,  Stanton  &  Betticher 
were  the  merchants.  Mothers  and 
daughters  spun  the  flax  and  wool  and 
wove  the  cloth,  Lockwood  &  Hubbard 
carded  the  rolls,  colored  and  dressed  the 
cloth,  for  our  clothing.  Deacon  Betti- 
cher wa?  the  tailor,  Amos  Carpenter 
made  the  boots  and  shoes,  Polley  tanned 
the  leather,  Overton  made  the  hats, 
Lanckton  the  tinware,  McMasttr  plas- 
tered the  houses  and  Benjamin  Hull, 
called  "the  governor,"  put  shoes  on  the 
horses. 

In  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  Russia 
ranks  with  her  sister  towns  in  loyalty 
and  patriotism.  The  34th,  81st,  97th 
ana  121st  regiments  took  many  of  her 
sons,  and  one  brave  soldier  from  Pros- 
pect. I  refer  to  Julius  A.  Jones,  a 
brother  of  our  memorable  hostess,  Mrs. 
Farley.  Julius,  with  about  forty  of  our 
best  mill  boys,  enlisted;  Julius  going  out 
as  corporal  in  company  C,  in  the  12l3t. 

These  regiments  were  in  many  battles, 
one  of  the  first  being  at  Fredericksburg, 
in  May,  1863.  Several  were  killed, 
Julius  and  others  wounded,  a  ball  pass- 
ing through  his  leg  just  above  the  knee. 
I  visited  these  wounded  boys  from  Rus- 
sia, rendered  them  all  the  assistance  I 
could  and  have  always  held  them  in 
grateful  remembrance,  for  they  were 
faithful  in  their  work  and  home  and 
brave  in  battle  and  for  this  reason  few 
of  them  returned   to  their  native  homes. 

The  war  debt  of  our  town  was  paid  m 
full;    I   was  supervisor  after  the   war  in 


19 


186G,  1867.  18(i8  and  1869,  and  sett'ed 
this  war  account  Those  who  were 
drafted  in  1863  and  commuted  by  pay- 
ing three  hundied  dollars,  were  repaid, 
and  those  that  reported  under  the  draft 
received  the  same  amount. 

The  draft  that  was  ordered  in  1864, 
was  filled  by  procuring  su  stitutes  at 
prices  ranging  from  .|1,3()0  to  f  1,700  each 
was  refunded  and  paid  by  the  town. 

We  used  our  best  efforts  to  have  this 
debt  paid  at  an  early  day.  One  hundred 
dollars  was  paid  with  less  hardship  at 
that  time,  thai  fifty  dollars  m  later 
years. 

HINCKLEY. 

Hinckley  &  Ballou  located  the  Gang 
Mills,  now  called  Binckley,  in  the  year 
1848,  as  before  stated.  Mr.  Gardner 
Hinckley  was  the  first  to  build  a  saw 
mill  in  the  town  of  Wilmurt  on  the 
West  Canada  Creek  in  1840.  T.  P.  Bal- 
lou of  Uiica.  built  another  mill  on  the 
west  branch  of  this  stream  at  Nobles- 
borough,  in  1843.  The  lumber  from 
these  mills  was  hauled  to  Utica  market 
by  teams,  two  days  being  necessary  to 
make  a  trip.  These  gentlemen  united 
their  lumber  business  under  the  firm 
name  of  Hinckley  &  Ballou  in  1846, 
with  the  expectation  of  floating  logs  to 
or  near  Herkimer,  and  building  mills 
there  to  lessen  the  expense  of  marketing 
lumber.  In  1847  they  erected  piers  and 
booms  on  West  Creek,  about  two  milts 
north  of  Herkimer,  but  in  February,  1848, 
the  boom  of  logs  at  Wilmurt  broke  and 
these  logs  went  down  over  Trenton 
Falls,  many  being  broken  and  damaged; 
but  tliey  did  not  stop  at  the  booms  at 
Herkimer,  as  was  expected,  the  water 
being  too  rapid  and  not  sufficiently  deep. 
This  plan  was  then  abandoned  and  a 
more  suitable  place  was  found,  above 
Trenton  Falls,  the  present  location, 
where  the  mills  and  booms  were  built  in 
1848-49.  In  18,0,  the  planing  mill  was 
added  to  the  plant.  In  1851  the  Trenton 
and  Prospect  plank  road  was  laid,  inter- 
secting at  Trenton  the  northern  plank 
road  from  Utica.  Lumber  was  taken 
over  this  road  until  the  R  W.  &  O.  RR. 
was  opened  for  traffic,  when  it  was 
taken  to  Trenton  station,  later  yet  to 


Prospect   station,  until   the   building    of 
the  A  &  Sc  L  RR.  to  Hinckley  in  1891. 

Mr.  Hinckley  with  his  family  came  to 
live  at  this  place  in  18.")4,  after  being 
burned  out  in  Wilmurt  in  1853.  I  was 
married  in  1853  and  began  houseket  ping 
in  1854,  there  b.-ing  only  four  otht-r  fam- 
ilies here  then. 

Mr.  Hinckley  was  in  the  legislature  in 
1855,  when  an  act  was  pa'^sed  making 
the  West  Tana'^a  Creek,  from  the  i  ooras 
at  thes^  mills,  a  public  highway  and  an 
appropriation  was  made  of  five  thousand 
dollars  for  removing  rocks  and  obstruc- 
tions from  the  stream. 

In  1857,  the  panic  in  the  state  banks 
occurred,  and  to  feed  50  teams  and  150 
men  was  no  sm  ill  matter  in  those  d  <ys, 
but  hy  exchanging  lumber  with  the 
farmers  for  their  farm  products  (which 
they  dared  not  sell  for  bank  bills)  and  by 
means  of  the  credit  given  by  our  neigh 
bors,  the  firm  was  prevented  from  fail- 
ing. 

There  was  no  public  road  across  the 
creek  at  this  place,  the  road  from  Grant 
passing  over  the  hill  south  to  Prospect. 
The  company  maintained  a  private 
bridge  for  their  business,  which  the  pub- 
lic a!so  used  until  the  towns  of  Trenton 
and  Russia  built  a  covered  wood  bridge 
in  1856,  which  having  proved  of  faulty 
construction,  was  replaced  by  the  pres- 
ent iron  bridge  in  1871,  built  by  Mr. 
Whipple  of  Boonville,  N.  Y. 

The  store  building  was  built  and 
opsned  for  business  in  1860.  The  M.  E. 
church  was  erected  in  1873,  Rev.  Pom- 
eroy  Wright,  pastor.  Mail  was  received 
from  Prospect  by  private  carrier  until 
1872,  when  a  postoffice  by  the  name  of 
Gang  Mills  was  established,  William  H. 
Stanton  being  postmaster  until  1883, 
when  J.  N.  Walter  was  appointed  and 
held  the  office  to  1891,  at  which  date 
the  name  of  the  office  was  changed 
to  Hinckley  and  Fred  M  Smith  was  ap- 
point'-d  postmaster. 

The  mills  had  many  changes  and  re- 
pairs up  to  1874  in  which  year  they  were 
built  new  from  the  foundation,  and 
made  the  most  complete  mills  in  the 
state,  the  product  of  this  plant  being 
lumber  of  all  kinds,planed  and  matched, 


20 


mouldings,  casings,  clapboards,  shingles, 
latiis,  broomhandles,  etc.,  with  a  large 
home  trade.  Also  in  connection  with 
the  mills  a  large  farming  business  was 
conducted  in  Wilmurt  and  Russia. 

The  highest  water  ever  known  in  the 
West  Canada  Creek  was  on  the  21st  day 
of  April,  1869,  part  of  the  boom  being 
lost  and  five  to  ten  thousand  logs  carried 
away.  High  water  of  nearly  the  same 
volume  occurred  again  in  August,  1874. 

The  business  of  this  firm  has  been  ex- 
ceptionally free  from  casualties,  no 
buildings  havmg  been  burned  and  only 


four  deaths  resulting  from  accident  in 
over  forty  years  of  logging  and  lumber- 
ing. 

Mr.  Hinckley  died  in  March,  187o,  and 
the  firms  business  having  been  settled, 
Mr.  Ballou  continued  alone  from  1880 
until  his  death  in  February,  1887.  The 
mill  property  was  sold  by  H.  C.  Ballou, 
executor,  to  the  Trenton  Falls  Lumber 
Company  in  1889.  This  company  and 
others  expended  several  hundred  thous- 
and dollars  enlarging  the  plant  and  erect- 
ng  one  of  the  largest  sulphite  pulp  mills 
in  the  country. 


21 


THE  TOWN  OF  SCHUYLER  AS  A  FACTOR  IN  THE 
HISTORY   OF   HERKIMER   COUNTY. 


AN   ADDRESS   BY  J.    H.   J.    WATKINS,    OF   SCHUYI.ER, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  April  12,  1898. 


History,  generally  speaking,  is  a  great 
panorama  of  the  centuries  representing 
scenes,  too  extended  to  be  seen  at  once 
and  so  pictured  a  little  at  a  time  that  we 
may  be  enabled  the  better  to  appreciate 
the  separate  parts  of  the  great  whole.  I 
will  endeavor  to  throw  upon  the  canvass 
for  your  consideration  a  few  small  views 
of  the  past  and  present  of  the  town  of 
Schuyler  in  our  county  and,  perhaps, 
may  see  fit  to  prognosticate,  from  known 
signs  and  systems,  something  of  its 
future.  Some  people  think  that  patriot- 
ism is  love  for  the  land  of  one's  birth. 
If  that  were  absolutely  true  I  should  feel 
very  sad,  for  having  been  born  over  three 
thousand  miles  away  and  under  the 
Britisli  flag  and  always  having  been 
proud  of  an  inherent  aversion  to  the 
brag  and  swagger  of  the  average  John- 
nie Bull,  I  should  feel  doomed  to  spend 
my  days  without  the  pale  of.  that  de- 
lightful spirit  realm  in  which  souls  are 
set  on  fire  with  the  spirit  of  '76,  '61,  and 
'98.  But  if  patriotism,  as  I  believe,  is 
love  of  home  or  country  whether  of 
one's  birth  or  adoption  I  can  claim  kin- 
dred with  the  brave  hearts  who  are  will- 
ing to  endure  suffering  or  even  lose  life 
itself  to  maintain  the  honor  of  their 
homes.  I  hate  the  man  who  belittles  by 
word  or  deed  the  town  in  which  he  lives. 
He  is  a  traitor,  not  pure  but  very  simple. 


The  man  who  lives  in  Herkimer  and 
does  his  trading  in  Little  Falls  or  Utica 
deserves  six  months  at  least  once  if  not 
twice  a  year.  Infidelity  to  home  inter- 
ests is  the  prolific  cause  of  so  many 
failures  in  small  towns.  If  these  last 
thoughts  seem  an  apparent  digression  I 
crave  your  pardon  on  the  theory  that 
indomitable  allegiance  to  one's  home 
town  I  believe  to  be  one  of  the  cardinal 
principles  in  the  doctrine  of  true  pa- 
triotism. 

In  compiling  a  record  of  events  in  the 
early  history  of  one's  town,  difficulties 
almost  insurmountable  are  always  met. 
In  the  ever-increasing  distance  from 
primitive  times  there  is  great  danger 
that  false  traditions  may  creep  into 
authenticated  narrative  and  that  such 
clouded  stories  as  "William  Tell  shoot- 
ing the  apple  from  the  head  of  his  son," 
be  incorporated  into  the  historic  annals 
of  a  country.  It  is  therefore  difficult  to 
establish  a  correct  prineipuum  cognos- 
cencli.  Tradition  is  not  authentic  in  any 
essential  particular.  The  paradosis  of 
the  Greek  and  the  cabala  of  the  Jew  may 
have  been  important  before  the  advent 
of  the  New  Testament,  but  as  Augustine 
fitly  remarked,  that  they  could  not  be 
relied  upon  in  the  great  distance  from 
the  age  of  the  Apostles,  so  we  say  that 
tradition  is  not  history,  and  is  valuable 


32 


I 


only  as  it  corroborates  the  established 
ancals  of  a  period.  Stories  handed  down 
orally  from  father  to  son  are  liable  to 
material  changes  with  each  generation. 
True  history  is  a  record  of  undisputed 
facts  crystalized  upon  tables  of  stone  or 
indelibly  stamped  upon  the  printed  page. 
But  so  much  of  tradition  has  insinuated 
itself  even  into  the  established  account 
that  there  is  ample  room  to  doubt 
whether  there  is  any  absolutely  correct 
history  antedating  the  memory  of  the 
oldest  inhabitant.  In  writing  this  paper 
I  have  been  signally  favored  with  the 
companionship  of  reliable  octogenarians 
and  nearly  all  the  facts  which  I  shall 
present  for  your  consideration  have  been 
taken  from  the  lips  of  those  aged  people. 

The  present  town  of  Schoyler  is  a 
tract  of  land  consisting  of  something  less 
than  25.000  acres,  situated  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Mohawk  river  and  just  west 
of  the  town  of  Herkimer.  It  was  origi- 
nally nearly  half  as  large  as  the  whole 
county,  the  towns  of  Trenton  and  Deer- 
field  in  Oneida  county  and  a  part  of 
Newport  in  this  county  having  been 
taken  from  it  within  fourteen  years  of 
its  organizfition  in  1793. 

John  Jurgh  Kass  had  followed  the 
Indian  trails  up  the  Mohawk  vall«y  as 
early  as  1720,  over  70  years  before 
Schuyler  was  known  as  a  town.  The 
earliest  purchase  of  land  by  white  peo- 
ple in  what  is  now  central  New  York 
was  recorded  in  the  Burnetsfield  patent 
which  began  on  its  west  boundary  at 
the  Mohawk  river,  on  the  line  or  nearly 
so  between  the  Sandford  Getman  and 
Andrew  Davison  farms  just  east  of  the 
old  Frankfort  depot,  running  east  almost 
to  the  village  of  Little  Falls.  The  next 
purchase  was  by  John  Jurgh  Kass  in  the 
present  town  of  Schuyler,  a  tract  of  1100 
acres.  This  was  in  1724,  after  Kast,  had 
satisfied  himself  for  four  years  that  he 
had  struck  an  earthly  paradise.  Kast,  as 
he  afterwards  wrote  his  name,  made  lots 
of  money  trading  with  the  Indians  and 
did  not  need  to  occupy  the  land  for  a 
great  length  of  time.  Joseph  Kast  of 
Mohawk  is  a  descendant.  The  thrift  of 
the  original  John  Jurgh  seems  to  have 
been  transmitted  to  his  entire  progeny, 


for  to  be  named  Kast  is  an  evidence  of 
wealth  and  prosperity. 

It  was  a  long  time  oefore  any  further 
settlements  were  effected  in  the  present 
town  of  Schuyler.  About  forty  years 
had  elapsed  after  Kast  bought  his  1100 
acres  before  Peter  Hasenclever,  a  shrewd 
and  adventurous  old  German  of  Wir- 
temberg,  pushed  his  way  westward  from 
his  iron  works  on  the  Hudson  and  ob- 
tained a  site  for  a  settlement  on  the 
Luther  P.  Sterling  and  D.  I.  Bridenbecker 
farms,  about  a  mile  west  of  the  Frank- 
fort depot.  This  was  the  first  settlement 
of  any  account  in  the  town  and  marked 
the  western  boundary  of  the  white  settle- 
ment before  the  revolutionary  war. 
Hasenclever  seems  to  have  been  author- 
ity on  mineral  as  well  as  vegetable  sub- 
stances and  knew  well  how  to  utilize 
both,  as  his  iron  works  at  Poughkeepsie 
and  potash  factory  at  New  Petersburg 
(now  East  Schuyler)  abundantly  testified. 

All  supplies  were  then  transmitted  up 
the  Mohawk  in  flat-boats  and  I  have 
often  seen  hand  made  nails  taken  from 
some  of  the  old  houses  built  at  New 
Petersburg.  During  the  revolutionary 
war,  a  few  years  later,  the  inhabitants 
of  New  Petersburg  suffered  intensely, 
mostly  from  the  ravages  of  the  treach- 
ous  and  marauding  Iroquois,  although 
the  tories  were  not  much  less  severe. 
And  here  it  may  be  proper  to  remark 
that  circumstances  have  a  great  deal  to 
do  with  our  opinions  of  who  are  the 
rebels.  In  '76  the  rebels  succeeded  and 
became  patriots  because  their  cause  was 
right:  in  61  the  rebels  were  defeated  and 
never  became  anything  but  rebels  because 
their  cause  was  wrong.  The  right  or 
wrong  of  it  makes  a  great  difference. 
In  the  vicinity  of  the  house  now  owned 
by  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Gilbert  was  the  much 
talked  of  New  Petersburg  fort.  This 
was  a  crude  affair  looking  very  much 
like  children's  work.  It  consisted  of  two 
or  three  log  houses  around  which  was 
constructed  a  picket  fence  made  of 
narrow  boards  or  plank  sawed  at  the 
Hasenclever  saw  mill  and  about  twelve 
feet  high,  but  the  north  side  was  made 
of  young  tree  about  six  inches  through, 
sharpened     and      driven       into       the 


23 


ground.    In   this  enclosure  the  inhabi-    ests   of    the  world.     Erasmus   W.    Day, 


tants  huddled  at  night  and  worked  day 
times  in  the  field  with  fire  arras  at  easy 
command.  This  was  farming  under  dif- 
ficulties bat  perhaps  as  profitable  as  it 
has  been  for  a  few  years  back  Luther 
P.  Sterling  shoived  me  the  stump  of  the 
tree  the  other  day  just  outside  of  the 
old  fort  into   which   an   Indian  climbed 


the  old  political  war  horse  of  the  town 
represented  us  in  1869.  Mr.  Day  was 
exceptionally  candid  and  outspoken  but 
he  never  went  back  on  a  friend.  If  he 
was  for  you  you  knew  it  and  if  he  was 
ay;ainst  you  you  surely  did.  Last  but  not 
least  among  our  assemblymen  was  John 
M.  Budlong  in  1885  and  '86.  He  is  a  man 


and  picked  off  the  whites  as  they   went   eminently  fitted   to  grapple   with  great 


down  to  the  spring  after  water  ;  after 
awhile  Baltis  Brideubecker  picked  off 
the  Indian  and  his  comrades  came  in  the 
night  and  carried  him  off.  On  the 
farm  which  I  now  occupy  the  men  were 
at  work  one  time  in  the  field  when  the 
Indians  swept  down  upon  them.  One 
young  fellow  by  the  name  of  Peter  Rima 
hid  in  and  adjacent  thiclset  Wh  n  the 
Indians    had    bound    the    Germans     as 


questions  and  justly  enjoys  the  enviable 
reputation  of  always  standing  for  the 
right  as  his  conscience  dictates.  The 
proportion  of  public  men  sent  out 
by  the  town  of  Schuyler  has  been 
remarkable  considering  the  cir- 
cumstances. It  is  emphatically  an 
agricultural  district.  The  men  are 
farmers,  not  office-seekers,  and  when 
chosen,  the  office  has  sought  the  man  and 


prisoners,  they  ordered  the  captive  to  call  not  the  man  the  office.     Lawyers  locate 

the  youngster.     In  the  German  language  ia  villages.     To  be  sure  they  are  a  nec- 

they  shouted  "Peter  Bleib  wo   du   bist  !"  essary  evil  and  therefore   must   be  en- 

which    being   translated     means,  "stay  dured,  but  one  thing  is  certain,  they  are 

where  you  are"  and  the  young   fellow  more  than    willing  to   appropriate   the 


lived  to  tell  the  tale.     When   by   legisla 
tive  enactment  the   town   was  founded 
in  1793    temporary     officers     were     ap- 
pointed   who    served    until    April   3nd, 
1793  when   a 
elected   with 


honor  and  the  salaries  of  all  the  public 
offices.  Schuyler  neither  has  nor  has 
had  any  lawyers,  so  we  have  not  had  to 
be  charged  with  the  office  of  district  at- 
full  set  of  officers  were  torney,  county  judge  and  surrogate,  or 
Isaac    Bray  ton    as  super-    any  of  the  positions  for  which  only  law- 


visor.     Isaac  Brayton  was  also    member   yers  are  supposed  to  be  fitted.     The  first 


of  assem*^'ly  in  1797  but  the  present  town 
lays  no  claim  to  Isaac  Brayton  because 
he  never  lived  within  its  limits.  The 
first  assemblyman  the  town  claims  as  her 
own  was  Robert  Burch  in  1811  and  again 
in  1812.  He  was  a  man  of  great  mental 
power  and  superior  business  abilities. 
Then  came  Olmstead  Hough  in  1813.    The 


man  ever  elected  to  a  county  office  from 
our  town  is  the  present  county  clerk. 
(A  member  of  assembly  is  in  a  meas- 
ure a  state  officer  because  he  is 
elected  to  legislate  for  the  whole  state.) 
His  record  is  an  open  book,  known  and 
read  by  all  men.  D.  M.  Richardson  is 
not  only  an  honor  to  the  town  of  Schuy- 


towu  was  in   the  incipient  stages  of  its   ler,   in  which  he  was  born,  but   to  the 


political  career  but  seemed  to  have  quite 
a  voice  in  the  agency  of  making  the 
laws.  In  1840  George  Buroh  was  as- 
semblyman from  Herkimer  county  and 
the  town  of  Schuyler.  Like  his  father 
he  attended  to  public  business  as  he  did 
his  own,  earnestly,  methodically, 
successfully.     In  1857  and  again  in   1858 


whole  county,  as  an  exceptionally  capa- 
ble public  officer. 

The  town  of  Schuyler  is  remarkable 
for  the  cleanliness  of  its  political  char- 
acter. It  is  neither  bought  nor  sold  at 
primaries  or  in  conventions.  It  may 
take  sides  with  existing  political  fac- 
tions, but  whichever  faction  receives  its 


the  veteran  agriculturist,   Harris  Lewis,  support,  receives   it  purely  on  principle, 

was  our  assemblyman.     He  was  a  model  One  thing  remarkable  about  the  town 

assemblyman  because   he  looked    after  is  its  political  stability.   It  is  overwhelm- 

the  interests  of  the  farmer   whose    busi-  ingly  republican.     It  can   be  depended 

ness  is  the  basis  of  all  the  business  inter-  upon.     Other  towns  are  like  a  weather- 

24 


vane  on  an  April  day;  Schuyler  is  as 
steadfast  and  uniform  as  the  needle  to 
the  pole.  But  the  most  remarkable 
thing  about  Schuyler  is  its  attitude  on 
the  temperance  question.  This  question 
of  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  intoxi- 
cating beverages  is  the  burning  question 
of  the  hour.  The  town  of  Schuyler  has 
solved  it.  The  sentiment  against  the 
traffic  is  so  pronounced  that  a  man  who 
favored  it  in  that  town,  should  he  be 
running  for  office,  would  be  buried  so 
deep  that  even  Gabriel's  trumpet  would 
have  to  sound  an  extra  blast  to  reach 
him.  It  may  be  said  that  it  is  exclu- 
sively a  farming  district,  that  there  are 
no  villages  and  therefore  there  are  no 
facilities  for  the  traffic.  Well,  if 
farming  is  a  safeguard  agamst  in- 
temperance, let  us  all  become  farmers. 
I  would  rather  be  a  nomad  than  a  drunk- 
ard. But  the  insinuation  is  groundless 
as  applied  to  Schuyler  I  have  been  a 
member  of  the  town  board  for  nearly 
thirty  years.  In  1869  a  man  applied  to 
the  board  for  license  to  sell  liquor  in  the 
village  of  West  Schuyler.  The  town 
board  then  had  the  power  to  grant 
licenses.  I  was  late  that  day.  The 
board  stood  two  and  two.  I  felt  that  the 
proudest  moment  of  my  life  had  come  to 
me.  I  felt  that  I  had  the  sole  power  to  pre- 
vent a  covenant  with  death  and  a  league 
with  hell.  The  man  did  not  get  a  license. 
It  is  not  that  the  town  lacks  the  facili- 
ties, but  its  leading  men  lack  the  dis- 
position. There  are  men  in  town  who 
would  like  to  see  liquor  sold.  It  has 
been  inti-mated  that  some  would  like  to 
sell  it.  It  is  the  only  temperance  town 
in  the  county,  and  yet  one  of  its  marked 
features  is  the  absence  of  wliat  are 
politically  called  prohibitionists.  One 
man  talks  prohibition  and  is  credited 
with  voting  the  democratic  ticket,  and 
on  especial  occasions  I  have  known  as 
many  as  half  a  dozen  votes  to  be  cast 
for  the  nominees  of  that  party.  And  yet 
I  thank  God  for  the  prohibitionists.  I 
believe  they  have  a  mission  to  perform, 
and  they  perform  it.  Great  reforms  fol- 
low in  the  paths  previously  blazed  by 
agitators.     The  agitators  themselves  sel- 


dom accomplish  much  other  than  the 
blazing. 

William  Lloyd  Garrison  was  as  anti- 
slavery  as  John  G.  WooUey  is  anti- 
liquor,  but  William  Lloyd  Garrison  or 
any  of  his  eccentric  and  almost  if  not 
quite  erratic  followers  ever  freed  a  slave, 
and  yet  they  blazed  the  pathway  for  the 
republican  .  party,  and  there  are  grave 
doubts  that  the  republican  party  would 
have  ever  been  wrought  up  to  the  noble 
work  without  the  previous  labors  of  the 
anti-slavery  agitators. 

The  following  is  the  position  Schuyler 
takes  on  the  liquor  traffic.  When  the 
Raines  liquor  law  was  enacted  it  pro- 
vided for  local  option  ;  that  is,  about 
five  separate  propositions  were  submit- 
ted to  the  people  at  the  election.  A  town 
need  not  have  liquor  sold  by  the  drink 
but  it  could  have  it  sold  by  measure 
or  it  could  sell  it  to  be  swallowed  off 
of  the  premises,  or  it  could  license  drug- 
gists to  sell  it  for  medicinal  purposes; 
but  every  separate  proposition  was 
defeated  by  the  voters  of  Schuyler. 
Name  me  the  otner  town  that  did  as 
well.  But  the  mere  fact  of  defeat 
is  not  .iust  the  thing  of  which  Schuyler 
is  so  intensely  proud.  If  a  hundred 
votes  were  cast,  fifty  one  might  have 
defeated  forty  nine  and  still  the  public 
sentiment  would  have  baen  almost 
evenly  divided.  In  our  town  the  pro- 
position most  favored,  that  of  selling 
by  druggists  for  medicinal  purposes  was 
defeated  by  over  six  to  one,  and  that  of 
selling  by  the  drink  as  a  beverage  by  over 
ten  to  one. 

Schuyler  has  three  churches,  all  Metho- 
dist The  town  was  divided  into  school 
districts  in  1813  and  but  few  changes 
have  since  been  made.  The  best  school 
house  and  grounds  is  that  at  East 
Schuyler  but  great  improvement  ought 
to  be  made  in  the  school  buildings  of 
the  town.  Like  too  many  other  towns 
the  disposition  to  hurry  off  the  pupil  to 
larger  towns  and  schools  of  higher 
grade  is  far  too  prevalent.  I  am  proud 
of  the  general  trend  of  improvement  of 
the  age  but  I  believe  that  many  of  the 
fads  of  modern  schools  are  a  positive 
detriment     to    the     pupils.      The    best 

35 


spellers  and  the  best  grammarians  I  have 
ever  met  grew  up  to  be  almost  men  and 
women  before  they  said  good  bye  to  the 
old  red  school  houses  in  the  country 
districts.  The  town  was  named  after  the 
oft  maligned  but  always  exoner- 
ated Gen.  Philip  Schuyler.  He  was  born 
in  Albany  and  for  the  valuable  services 
rendered  during  the  revolutionary  war 
was  rewarded  with  a  large  tract  of  land 
in  this  region.  A  number  of  his  re- 
latives for  awhile  occupied  the  territor}^ 
among  them  the  Bleeckers,  and  others 
who  have  helped  to  make  Albany  fam- 
ous for  its  high  toned  society. 

The  East  Schuyler  Literary  society  I 
think  deserves  mention  as  an  important 
factor  in   the   progress     of    the    town. 

Among  the  pioneers  who  settled  the 
town  were  Henri  Staring,  first  judge  of 
Herkimer  county,  appointed  by  Gover- 
nor Clinton,  Robert  Burch  assembly- 
man from  the  county  in  1811-12,  Elisha 
Ladd,  Stephen  Rose,  Nehemiah  Rich- 
ardson, Nathan  Budlong,  Thomas  Wood, 
John  Goo,  Daniel  Smith  and  others. 
These  hardy  pioneers  were  the  ances- 
tors of  the  East  Schuyler  Literary  so 
ciety  and  its  members  delight  to  trace 
back  the  honored  relationship  that  exist 
between  them  and  the  brave  and  hardy 
tillers  of  the  virgin  soil.  The  society 
was  formed  for  general  literary  culture 


but  makes  a  speciality  of  studyir  g  the 
works  of  modern  authors.  One  of  the 
remarkable  things  about  it  is  that  while 
it  has  celebrated  its  sixth  anniversary  and 
has  bi-weekly  meetings  it  has  never 
missed  a  session.  Most  societies  of  this 
character  have  their  ebb  and  flow  tides, 
this  one  is  as  stable  and  uniform  as  the 
politics  of  the  town.  The  ablest  his- 
torian in  town  is  Alexis  Johnson,  who 
makes  a  specialty  of  the  early  historv 
of  the  town.  Edgar  Jackson  Klock  is  our 
antiquarian  and  a  visit  to  his  residence 
and  a  look  at  his  collection  of  relics  is 
always  a  treat.  In  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  the  town  has  always  been 
an  important  factor.  It  has  had  the 
honor  of  more  chairmen  than  any  other 
town,  all  of  which  it  has  received  with 
thanks.  The  rising  generation  of  the 
town  of  Schuyler  bid  fair  to  out  do  their 
ancestors  in  political  sagacity  and  a  de- 
sire for  a  large  comprehension  of  politi- 
cal ecomony.  In  case  of  a  war  with 
Spain  which  is  now  more  than  probable 
Schuyler  can  be  relied  upon  to  furnish 
its  full  quota.  We  believe  in  the  future 
of  Schuyler.  With  due  deference  to 
the  rights  and  accomplishments  of 
other  towns  she  is  anxious  to  march  in 
the  van-guard  and  prove  herself  worthy 
of  the  position  she  occupies. 


26 


FRAGMENTS  OF  NORWAY'S  EARLY  HISTORY. 


AN   ADDRESS   BY   FRED   SMITH,    OF   NORWAY, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  Ma}-  14,  189S. 


The  town  of  Norway  was  organized 
April  10,  1792,  by  act  of  the  legislature. 
Its  original  boundaries  included  the 
towns  of  Fairfield,  Russia,  Ohio,  Wil- 
murt  and  Webb  and  that  porlion  of 
Newport  lying  easterly  of  the  West 
Canada  Creek,  in  Herkimer  county;  por- 
tions of  Oneida,  Lewis  and  Clinton  coun- 
ties, all  of  Hamilton  and  the  most  of  St 
Lawrence.  About  36  towns  are  now  lo- 
cated within  its  form^'r  limits.  Fairfield 
was  taken  off  in  1796,  Remsen  in  1798, 
Russia  as  Union,  and  part  of  Newport  in 
1806,    and   Ohio  as  West  Brunswick    in 


and  cedar  on   its  eastern  and  northern 
bounds  covered  the  whole  territory. 

The  first  attempt  to  settle  was  made 
in  the  year  178f),  by  a  Mr.  Whipple  and 
Hawkins  from  Rhode  Island,  on  the 
farm  recently  owned  by  Munson  Bun- 
nell. After  erecting  a  log  shanty  and 
making  a  small  clearing,  they  found 
they  had  located  on  the  wrong  lot  and 
abandoned  their  enterprise.  The  next 
year,  1787,  witnessed  the  first  perma- 
nent settlement  It  was  made  by  Fisher, 
Jeremiah  Jr.  and  Angel  Potter  of  Rhode 
Island,  all  young  unmarried  men.    Their 


1823.  No  boundary  changes  have  since  sisters,  Mary  and  _Sarah,  accompanied 
occurred.  them  They  leased  lot  No,  4  of  the  third 
The  "greater"  Norway  of  1792,  was  allotment  of  the  Royal  Grant,  contain- 
about  125  miles  in  length,  with  an  aver-  ing  300  acres,  for  a  period  of  21  years, 
age  width  of  50  miles,  the  "lesser"  Nor-  with  the  privilege  of  purchase  at  the  ex- 
way  of  the  past  75  years  is  scarce  6  miles  piration  of  that  time  for  $2.50  an  acre, 
square;  of  the  town   as  now  constituted.  They  built  their  log  cabin  near  the  south- 


its  early    settlement  and    pioneers    we 
shall  only  write. 

The   surface   is  elevated   and  rolling. 
A  broad  platteau  of   high  land  extends 


east  corner  of  said  lot,  about  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  directly  north  of  Nor- 
way village.  Their  first  year  in  the 
wilderness    was    a    trying    time.       The 


from  southeast  to  northwest  through  the  nearest  neighbors  were  seven  miles  dis- 
centre,  fro'u  which  numerous  trout  tant.  Tneir  stock  of  provisions  ran  short, 
brooks  flow  northward  and  eastward  to    Forest  game  supplied  in  part  their  press- 


Black  and  Spruce  creeks  and  southward 
and  westward  to  White  creek.  No 
town  in  the  county  is  better  watered. 
Before  settlement,  an  unbroken  forest  of 
splendid  timber,  mostly  hard  wood,  with 


ing   wants.     Their    parents   came    from 
Rhode  Island,  in   April,  1788 

Before  1790  Thomas  Manley  came  from 
Vermont  in  conpany  with  David  Un- 
derbill,  a   cousin.     They   located  a  mile 


a  generous  border  of  hemlock  along  the   south   of   Norway  village.     John,  Amos 
streams,  and  a  border  of  spruce,  I  alsam    and  Andrew  Coe  Jr.  and  Captain  David 

27 


Hinman  came  from  Southbury,  Conn., 
in  1789  and  settled  a  short  distance 
northerly  of  the  village.  The  Manley 
and  Coe  families  were  important  factors 
in  the  towns  early  history. 

Marvelous  accounts  of  the  fertile  soil, 
healthy  climate  and  cheap  lands  of  the 
Royal  Grant  spread  through  New  Eng- 
land and  eastern  New  York,  and  re- 
sulted In  a  large  emigration  of  desirable 
settlers  between  the  years  1790  and  1800. 
The  dread  of  that  bane,  fever  and  ague, 
was  unknown  on  our  healthy  hills.  A 
few  of  the  procniaent  settlers  a^ter  1790, 
were  Henry  Tillinghast,*Sylvauu8  Ferris, 
Edward  Henderson,  Henry  G.  Gardiner 
and  George  W.  and  William  H.  Cook. 
Noah  Smith,  great  grandfather  of  Judge 
George  W.  Smith  of  Herkimer,  was  a 
resident  of  the  Hurricane  district. 
Jojiah  and  Dudley  Smith  were  the  pio- 
neer settlers  on  the  land  on  which  Nor- 
way village  is  built.  la  1794  they 
bought  lot  No  31,  of  the  second  allot- 
ment of  the  Royal  Grant,  containing  300 
acres,  of  Peter  I.  Vosburgh  of  Kinder- 
hook,  N.  Y.,  agreeing  to  pay  $650  for 
the  same.  The  deed  states  that  the 
grantor  received  title  June  1,  1785,  of 
Jeremiah  VanRensealaer  and  Henry 
Oothoudt,  commissioners  appointed  by 
the  state  to  sell  the  forfeited  estates  of 
the  Johnsons.  The  north  and  south 
road  through  our  village  divided  the  lot 
in  equal  parts,  Josiah  taking  the  east  and 
Dudley  the  west  lot.  They  little  thought 
that  the  flourishing  (?)  village  of  Norway 
would  be  built  on  their  purchase.  By 
common  consent  the  location  of  Cook's 
store,  half  a  mile  north,  was  expected  to 
be  the  future  village  of  the  town,  but 
the  partial  failure  of  the  Cooks,  and  the 
laying  out  of  the  State  Road  in  1806 
changed  the  program, 

The  largest  board  of  supervisors  that 
ever  convened  m  the  county,  the  num- 
ber being  24,  met  in  1797  In  point  of 
population'  and  taxes,  Norway  was  the 
eighth  town  of  the  number.  Oneida 
county  was  formed  in  1798  and  Herki- 
mer county  reduced  to  eight  towns.  In 
1799,  this  town  was  second  in  valuation 
and  taxes,  Herkimer  being  first.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  present  century  over 


three-fourths  of  the  town  was  thickly 
doited  over  with  clearings  and  log 
houses.  Cutting  off  the  splendid  forests 
was  the  main  business  of  those  days. 
By  night  the  fires  and  by  day  the  smoke 
could  be  seen  from  a  hundre  i  cboppings. 
The  air  was  full  of  the  music  of  ringing 
axes,  the  crash  of  falhng  limber  and  the 
tinkle  of  sheep  and  cow  bells.  The  log 
houses  resounded  with  the  melody  of 
wheels  and  loom,  and  the  merry  prattle 
of  children,  for  babies  were  in  style  in 
the  days  of  yore.  The  census  of  1800 
found  1,008  inhabitants,  of  which  more 
than  900  resided  within  the  present  town 
limits.  Of  this  number,  over  500  were 
less  than  16  years  of  age  and  only  65 
over  the  age  of  45.  Included  in  the  Hat 
were  three  slaves,  George  W.  Cook, 
Josiah  Curtiss  and  Josiah  Smith  owning 
one  each.  Norway  slavery  was  proba- 
bly of  a  very  mild  type. 

Thomas  Manley  was  the  first  super- 
visor within  present  town  limits;  chosen 
in  1797,  and  the  two  following  years. 
He  held  this  office  in  all  for  nine  years 
and  many  other  positions  of  trust  and 
honor.  He  became  a  recognized  leader 
of  the  Federal  party  in  town.  Manley 
had  a  fair  education  for  the  times  and 
sufficient  quiet  energy  to  insure  success 
in  the  farming  line.  He  was  rather 
large  in  stature,  sedate  and  dignified  in 
appearance  and  intercourse:  from  these 
tra:ts,  some  have  likened  him  in  de- 
meanor to  Washington  His  townsmen 
had  the  utmost  confidence  in  his  integ- 
rity and  wisdom. 

Henry  Tillinghast  came  from  Dorset, 
Vt.,  to  Norway  in  the  fall  of  1794.  He 
was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island.  He  was 
a  man  of  good  sense,  correct  habits,  of 
sterling  integrity,  untiring  industry, 
strict  economy  and  positive  eneregy. 
He  was  direct  and  impulsive  in  style, 
bordering  on  rudeness  in  business  tran- 
sactions. Politically,  he  was  an  ardent 
democrat  and  in  addition  to  minor  offi- 
ces, held  the  position  of  supervisor  for 
15  years.  In  the  board  of  supervisors  he 
was  so  persistent  in  having  extravagant 
bills  cut  down,  that  he  was  named  by 
his  brother  supervisors  the  "Old  Dock- 
ing Machine."     Would  that  there  were 


28 


more  of  this  kind  of  machine  politicians 
at  the  present  time.  His  business  was 
divided  between  farming  and  quite  an 
extensive  tannery  for  early  dayp,  and  in 
both  he  was  quite  successful.  Two  years 
after  coming  to  town  he  married  Miss 
Sarah  Dyer  of  Vermont,  and  reared  a 
family  of  ten  children  to  mature  years. 
Perhaps  no  family  identified  with  our 
early  history  in  social,  political  and  re- 
ligious matters  occupied  so  prominent  a 
position  for  50  years  after  1795,  as  that 
of  Henry  Tillinghast. 

Sylvanus  Ferris  came  from  Westches- 
ter county  in  1798  and  bought  110  acres, 
a  part  of  the  farm  now  owned  by  Super- 
visor Smith.  The  purchase  price  was 
$6  an  acre.  The  avails  of  his  potash  in- 
dustry soon  paid  for  the  land,  Other 
farms  were  purchased  and  in  1824  he 
was  the  owner  of  about  700  acres.  He 
was  a  man  of  ability, and  success  attend- 
ed all  his  business,  including  the  buying 
and  selling  of  country  produce.  For 
many  years  he  was  a  partner  with 
Robert  Nesbitt  in  the  butter  and  cheese 
trade.  He  gave  each  of  his  sons  a  farm 
when  they  married.  In  1836  he  induced 
his  sons  to  sell  their  farms  and  with  five 
of  them,  removed  to  Galesburg,  111.,  and 
located  on  government  land  there,  he 
giving  each  of  his  sons  a  section  of  land. 
The  change  was  extremely  fortunate  in 
a  money  sense.  The  Ferris  family  were 
originally  from  Connecticut.  The  young- 
est son  of  Sylvanus,  George  W.  G.,  re- 
cently died  in  California.  This  enter- 
prising family  had  crossed  the  continent 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  before 
the  day  of  railroads.  Ferris  of  World's 
Fair  wheel  notoriety  was  a  grandson 
of  the  su'iject  of  this  sketch. 

No  lawyer  ever  resided  in  Norway, 
but  several  able  pettifoggers  in  justice 
courts  flourished.  Among  the  number 
was  John  Coe  and  Ira  Coe,  his  naphew, 
and  Daniel  C.  Henderson,  grandfather  of 
the  somewhat  honest  Herkimer  attorney, 
Hon.  John  Dryden  Henderson.  Of  the 
early  history  of  this  vicinity  no  man  was 
as  conversant  as  Daniel  C.  Henderson, 
and  to  him  we  are  indebted  for  many 
historical  facts.  Of  large  stature,  com- 
manding presence  and    superior  social 


qualities,  he   was  a  horn   leader  in  poli- 
tical and  local  affairs. 

The  town  has  been  represented  eleven 
years  in  the  assembly  dei  artment  of  the 
state  legislature  as  follows  : 

Thomas  Manley  in  1799,  1809,  1820. 

Nicoll  Fosdick  in  1818,  1819. 

Henry  Tillinghast  in  1823,    1835. 

D.  C.  Henderson  in  1827. 

Jeflferson  Tillinghast  in  1847. 

S.  R.  Millington  in  1860. 

Henry  Tillinghast,  Jr.  in  1865. 

The  two  last  Tillinghast  named  were 
sons  of  Henry  Tillinghast. 

In  1802  Wm.  H.  Cook  was  appointed 
sheriff  and   held  the  oflSce  four  years. 

NicoU  Fosdick  was  elected  presidential 
elector  in  1816.  He  was  a  native  of  New 
London,  Connecticut;  a  scholarly,  digni- 
fied man,  and  a  relative  of  our  old  time 
merchant,  Frederick  Mason,  with  whom 
he  resided. 

This  town  has  been  favored  with 
oflScial  political  honors  in  the  past,  and 
is  ready  and  willing  for  further  service. 

Westel  Willoughby  was  the  first  doc- 
tor. He  located  on  the  hills  some  two 
miles  north-east  of  the  village  in  1792. 

Amos  Coe  and  Thomas  Brayton  in 
1793  opened  taverns. 

Capt.  David  Hinman  built  a  saw  mill 
on  Sulphur  Spring  brook  and  Carpenter 
Cole  a  grist  mill  near  ex-Supervisor 
Comstock's  the  same  year. 

The  first  prominent  merchants  were 
W.  H.  and  Geo.  W.  Cook.  They  came 
from  Dutchess  county  in  1793  with  capi 
tal  and  enterprise  and  located  one-half 
mile  north  of  our  present  village.  Cook's 
store  was  the  rallying  point  for  all  town 
business  for  some  fifteen  years  there- 
after. 

Frederick  Mason  bought  out  Cooper  & 
Sanford  and  opened  a  store  in  our  vil- 
lage in  1816  and  continued  business  un- 
til about  1840.  Charles  Bradley  built 
the  store  now  occupied  by  J.  H.  Bliss  in 
1816  and  was  a  prominent  merchant 
here  for  nine  years  after.  He  died  sud- 
denly in  1825.  Within  the  memory  of 
persons  now  living,  more  mercantile 
business  was  done  at  Norway  Corners 
than  in  the  villages  of  Cold  Brook, 
Poland  and  Middleville  combmed. 


29 


The  first  school  was  taught  by  Janette 
Henderson  in  1793.  In  1806  Phebe  Smith 
taught  in  the  Barnes  district  near  Byron 
Comstock's,  boarding  around  and  receiv- 
ing $1  a  week,  payable  in  any  kind  of 
farm  produce  at  the  close  of  the  year. 

Arnold  Willoughby  was  a  noted  wheel 
maker  at  the  beginning  of  the  century, 
supplying  this  section  of  country  with 
wool  and  flax  wheels. 

Several  cheese  box  shops  flourished  in 
former  years.  Now  we  have  no  manu- 
facturing mterests  and  no  prospects  of 
any  in  the  future  save  cheese  factories. 

Within  town  bounds  we  can  point  out 
the  deserted  sites  of  one  distillery,  three 
grist  mills,  three  wool  carding  mils,  six 
saw  mills  and  ten  tanneries. 

Josiah  Smith  opened  the  first  tavern 
in  Norway  village  in  1806,  the  year  that 
the  state  road  was  laid  out. 

Our  first  and  only  postoflSce  was  estab- 
lished in  1813  with  Josiah  Smith,  post- 
master. The  mail  route  for  30  years 
was  over  the  state  road  from  Johnstown 
to  Trenton. 

The  census  of  1825  showed  a  popula- 
tion of  1,168,  greater  than  at  any  future 
enumeration.  The  number  today  would 
not  exceed  850.  At  the  last  census  in 
1890  it  was  817.  In  these  times  of  debt, 
doubt  and  depression,  it  is  not  likely  to 
increase. 

The  first  religious  meetings  were  held 
in  1793.  Presbyterian  and  Methodist  so- 
cieties were  formed  previous  to  1800. 
The  first  Methodist  church  in  the  county 
was  built  in  1808  a  mile  and  a  half  east 
of  Norway  village  on  the  Jerseyfield 
road.  This  road,  extending  from  the 
Mohawk  river  due  north  to  the  Jersey- 
field  patent,  was  thickly  settled  and  a 
number  of  the  families  were  prominent 
Methodists.  The  old  Cnion  church  at 
the  village  was  built  in  1814  and  used  by 
all  denominations,  except  Methodist,  un- 
til 1831.  At  least  half  the  settlers  prior 
to  1800  were  natives  of  Rhode  Island  and 
Baptist  in  sentiment.  The  Norway  Bap- 
tists became  members  of  the  Newport 
church.  In  1829  a  Baptist  society  was 
formed  in  town  and  their  church  built 
in  1831.  The  prominent  members  of  the 
early  Baptists  here  were,  Osee  Bronson, 


Christopher  Cadman  and  Samuel  Wes- 
tern and  families.  The  Episcopalians  or- 
ganized a  church  in  1819.  For  a  time  it 
was  quite  strong  in  membership,  but 
was  discontinued  over  twenty  years 
since.  The  Presbyterians  were  the 
strong  denomination  of;  former  days. 
Their  organization  was  abandoned  some 
fifty  years  ago.  The  Free  Will  Baptists 
at  one  time  had  quite  a  society,  long 
since  out  of  existence.  The  M.  E. 
church  at  the  village  was  built  in  1838 
and  at  HIack  Creek  the  same  year.  The 
first  Catholic  came  to  town  in  1842  ; 
they  now  constitute  one-fourth  of  our 
population  and  materially  lessen  atten- 
dance at  the  Protestant  churches. 

Noted  religious  revivals  occurred  in 
1830  conducted  by  Rev.  Augustus  Little- 
john  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  in 
1834  at  the  Baptist  church  conducted  by 
the  Rev.  Jacob  Knapp.  These  old 
time  religious  excitements  were  called 
protracted  meetings. 

The  early  settlers  soon  found  that  our 
stony  uneven  service  was  poorly  adapted 
for  grain  raising,  with  Albany  for  our 
nearest  market.  Our  soil  is  adapted  to 
grazing.  Some  of  the  New  England 
emigrants  brought  the  art  of  cheese  mak- 
ing with  them.  Several  small  dairies  of 
from  six  to'  ten  cows  were  established 
before  1810. 

Colonel  Jared  Thayer,  a  native  of 
Berkshire  County,  Mass. ,  was  our  pioneer 
cheese  dairyman.  About  the  year  1812 
he  had  a  dairy  numbering  20  cows,  the 
first  of  that  size  in  the  county  or  state. 
It  was  located  on  Dairy  Hill  on  the  farm 
owned  by  W.  P.  VanVechten.  Before 
1830  cheese  dairying  became  universal 
and  this  town  is  entitled  to  the  credit  of 
being  the  pioneer  town  that  gave  Herki- 
mer county  cheese  a  reputation  in  for- 
mer years.  Ferris  &  Nesbitt  were  the 
first  buyers,  followed  by  Harry  Burwell. 
The  first  cheese  factory  was  erected  in 
1864;  there  are  now  seven  in  town. 

Our  ancestors  endured  privations,  but 
their  poverty  was  hopeful.  They  were 
self  supporting.  Their  fields  furnished 
wheat  and  flax,  their  flocks  and  herds, 
wool,  meat  and  leather;  their  trees, 
maple    sugar.        Our    hatters,     tailors, 


30 


coopers  and  shoemakers  made  us  com- 
paratively independent  of  the  outside 
world.  Every  home  was  a  manufactur- 
ing factory;  in  the  year  1824  over  16,000 
yards  of  home  made  cloth  was  produced. 
Winter  work  of  threshing  and  flax 
dressmg  was  in  demand.  Taxation  was 
light  and  politicians  honest.  The  curse 
of  vote  buying  and  selling  was  unknown. 
The  effeminate  luxuries  of  these  days 
did  not  prevail.  The  years  of  our  great- 
est prosperity  extended  from  1800  to 
1850. 


Now  how  different;  we  are  dependent 
on  bob  veals,  the  store  and  cheese  fac- 
tory. Not  a  bushel  of  wheat  is  raised  or 
a  yard  of  cloth  made.  We  are  staying 
in  the  world  without  a  doctor,  shoe- 
maker or  tailor.  Who  will  blame  us  for 
feeling  pessemistic  as  we  think  and 
write  of  former  days. 

This  crude  sketch  of  our  history  refers 
mainly  to  events  prior  to  1840.  Let 
other  historians  tell  of  later  ones. 


31 


PIRACY  IN  ITS  RELATION  TO  THE  COLONY  OF 
NEW  YORK. 

AN  ADDRESS  BY  HON.  ROBERT  EARI,  OF  HERKIMER 


Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society  May  14,  1898. 


Piracy  has  been  practiced  ever  since 
vessels  began  to  sail  the  seas;  and  during 
the  sixteenth,  seventeenth  and  eight- 
eenth centuries  and  the  first  quarter  of 
the  nineteenth,  the  civilized  govern- 
ments of  the  world  were  frequently  en- 
gaged in  fighting  pirates  and  in  attempts 
to  suppress  piracy.  These  rovers  of  the 
sea  plundered  not  only  merchant  ves- 
sels, but  sometime  successfully  engaged 
government  frigates  and  cruisers  and 
defied  the  skill  and  prowess  of  the  most 
renowned  naval  commanders. 

In  the  settlement  of  this  country, 
many  adventurers  and  desperate  men 
flocked  hither  from  nearly  all  parts  of 
Europe;  and  soon  the  coasts  and  ports  of 
this  country  b«came  the  rendezvous  of 
pirates  who  preyed  principally  upon 
the  commerce  of  Spain,  France,  Eng- 
land and  Holland.  Their  wicked  trade 
was  carried  on  along  the  coasts  of  this 
country,  among  the  West  India  Islands, 
along  the  coasts  of  Africa,  and  even  as 
far  east  as  Madagascar,  the  Red  Sea  and 
the  Indian  Ocean.  They  prowled  about 
in  the  tracks  of  commerce  upon  all  the 
seas,  and  they  usually  found  some 
friendly  port  where  they  could  enjoy  or 
dispose  of  their  plunder. 

In  the  seventeenth  century,  the  city  of 
New  York  was  a  famous  resort  of  pir- 
ates.    There  piratical  vessels  were  fitted 


out  and  supplied  with  men;  and  there  and 
upon  Long  Island  they  sold  their  (lun- 
der  to  friendly  traders.  They  were 
largely  popular  with  the  people,  and 
usually  escaped  arrest;  and  when  ar- 
rested and  put  upon  trial,  friendly  juries 
failed  to  convict  them.  Judges,  con- 
stables, sheriffs,  jailers  and  high  colon- 
ial officials  befriended  them  and  some- 
times shared  in  their  plunder.  They 
were  in  fact  more  popular  than  honest 
traders. 

In  1655  pu-ates  under  Sebastian  de 
Raeff,  after  a  bloody  engagement  near 
the  island  of  Jamaica,  captured  a  Span- 
ish ship,  killed  her  captain  and  seven  of 
her  crew,  and  captured  sixty  negroes 
whom  they  took  to  New  York,  then  New 
Amsterdam,  and  sold  for  slaves.  The 
Negroes,  although  subsequently  identi- 
fied, were  not  restored  to  their  owner; 
and  although  the  Spanish  government 
made  complaint,  the  pirates  were  never 
brought  to  justice. 

While  the  piratical  operations  were 
usually  distant  from  the  coasts  of  this 
country,  in  August,  1686,  pirates  took 
and  robbed  three  American  vessels  off 
the  coast  of  Rhode  Island.  In  1687, 
King  James,  the  second,  complained  of 
the  partiality  of  juries  here  for  pirates, 
and  of  the  facility  with  which  they  were 
acquitted.    About    1695,   while  Colonel 

32 


Fletcher  was  govercor  of  the  Province, 
pirates  came  to  New  York  with  their 
plunder, and  a  member  of  the  Provincial 
Council  is  said  to  have  acted  as  their 
broker  in  the  disposition  of  their  plun- 
der and  in  procuring  them  protection. 
It  is  said  that  the  governor  entertained 
them  at  his  house  and  drove  them  in  his 
carriage  through  the  streets  of  the  city, 
and  that  his  wife  and  daughter  received 
presents  from  them;  and  it  was  suppos- 
ed that  even  the  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Province  favored  the  pirates.  At  that 
tme  they  had  rendezvouses  on  Long  Is- 
land and  Block  Island;  and  New  York 
was  a  nest  of  pirates. 

In  July  1699,  the  Earl  of  Bellomont, 
then  Governor  of  New  York,  reporting 
to  the  Lords  of  Trade  in  England,  said; 
"I  understand  there  are  about  thirty 
piratts  come  lately  into  the  east  end  of 
Nassau  (now  Long)  Island,  and  have  a 
great  deal  of  money  with  them.  But  so 
cherished  are  they  by  the  inhabitants 
that  not  a  man  of  them  is  taken  up." 
About  the  same  time  it  is  represented 
that  the  famous  pirate,  Captain  Kidd, 
had  dropped  some  pirates  there,  and 
that  Arabian  gold  was  plenty.  In  Au- 
gust 1699,  the  Earl  of  Bellomont  again 
reporting  to  the  Lords  of  Trade,  said: 
"Piracy  does  and  will  prevail  in  the 
Province  of  New  York  in  spite  of  all  my 
endeavors  unless  three  things  be  done, 
viz  :  Good  judges  and  an  honest 
and  able  attorney  general  from 
England;  a  man  of  war  commanded  by 
an  honest,  stout  captain:  and  pay  and 
recruits  for  four  companies.  Captain 
Giles  Shelly  who  came  lately  from  Mad- 
agascar with  fifty  or  sixty  pirates  has  so 
flushed  them  at  New  York  with  Arabian 
gold  and  East  India  goods  that  they  set 
the  government  at  defiance.  My  Lieu- 
tenant Governor  is  under  great  discour- 
agement. He  would  punish  Shelly  if 
he  could  ;  but  he  has  not  a  man  to  ad- 
vise with.  Those  that  are  honest  are 
not  capable;  and  those  who  are  capable, 
whose  duty  it  is,  are  false  and  corrupt. 
When  any  seizures  are  made  and  they 
are  brought  to  trial,  the  King  is  sure  to 
be  cast.  So  everything  is  wrong  for 
want  of  honesty  chiefly  in  the  oflficers  of 


justice.".  In  the  same  month  of 
August  a  piratical  ship  ai  rived  in  Dela- 
ware Bay  and  landed  twenty  pirates  in 
Pennsylvania  where  "the  people  were 
so  kind  to  them  and  so  helpful  in  carry- 
ing them  from  place  to  place  that  he  had 
been  able  to  find  out  but  only  two." 
About  that  time  Captain  Kidd  also  ar- 
rived in  the  bay  with  about  forty  men 
and  vast  treasures,  and  he  was  supplied 
with  what  he  wanted,  and  his  men 
went  back  and  forth  openly  between  the 
vessel  and  the  land. 

It  was  in  such  an  age  and  under  such 
conditions  that  Kidd  whose  fame  is 
celebrated  in  fiction,  poeti-y  and  history 
was  developed  into  a  pirate.  He  was 
horn  in  Scotland  and  is  said  (o  have 
been  the  son  of  a  minister.  He  had 
followed  the  sea  from  his  youth  and  had 
drifted  like  so  many  other  daring  navi- 
gators into  New  York;  and  he  had  be- 
come a  hold  and  successful  shipmaster 
from  that  port.  In  1691,  he  distinguished 
himself  as  a  privateersman  against  the 
French  in  theWest  Indii  s;and  he  received 
one  hundred  and  fift}'  pounds  from  New 
York  for  protecting  the  colon}-  against 
pirates.  In  the  sixteenth,  seventeenth 
and  eighteenth  centuries,  England  was 
almost  constantly  at  war  with  France  or 
Spain,  and  she  commissioned  privateers 
against  her  enemies;  and  when  once 
upon  the  ocean  they  frequertly  turned 
pirates  and  preyed  indiscriminately  up- 
on the  commert^e  of  all  nations. 

In  1695.  the  Earl  of  Bellomont,  Robert 
Livingston,  the  founder  of  the  great 
American  family  of  that  name,  and  Cap- 
tain Kidd  entered  into  an  agreement  to 
share  in  certain  proportions  in  the 
profits  of  privateering,  after  giving  the 
government  one  tenth;  and  subsequently 
Kidd  received  under  the  great  seal  of 
England  a  ccmmission  as  a  privateer 
against  the  French.  They,  Bellomont, 
Livingston  and  Kidd,  bought  the  Adven- 
ture Galley,  a  new  ship  of  two  hundred 
and  eighty- seven  tons  and  thirty-four 
guns,  and  Kidd  sailed  in  her  from  Ply- 
mouth, England,  in  April  1696,  and 
came  first  to  the  coast  of  New  Found- 
land  and  then  to  New  York.  Governor 
Fletcher  writing  from   New  York  to  the 


33 


Lords  of  Trade  shortly  after  said  :  after  a  trial  said  to  have  been  grossly 
"Many  flocked  to  him  from  all  parts,  unfair  he  was  convicted  and  he  was 
men^of  desperate  fortunes  and  necessity,  hung  protesting  his  innocence  to  the  last 
in  expectation  of  getting  vast  treasure,  with  nine  of  his  associates.  He  was  not 
He  sailed  from  hence  with  one  hundred  allowed  counsel  upon  his  trial,  and  was 
and  fifty  m'^n  as  1  am  informed.  Great  not  permitted  to  send  for  papers  or  wit- 
part  of  them  are  of  this  province.  It  is  nesses.  His  defense  was  that  he  killed 
generally  believed  here  thev  will  have  one  of  his  crew  in  a  mutiny  and  that  he 
money,  perfas  aut  nefas  ;  that  if  he  miss  was  forced  into  piracy  by  his  men.  At 
of  the  design  intended  for  which  he  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  several 
has  commission,  it  will  not  be  in  Kidd's  houses  in  New  York  City  which  were 
power  to  govern  such  a  hoard  of  men  forfeited  to  the  crown.  After  his  death 
under  no  pay."  It  turned  out  as  was  search  was  made  in  many  places  for  his 
predicted,  that  in  a  short  time  Kidd  was  buried  treasures, upon  Long  Island  and  in 
engaged  in  piracy  ;  and  rumors  to  that  the  lower  Hudson  valley  and  at  other 
effect  reached  England  m  1698.  After  places,  but  they  were  all  fruitless  al- 
being  engaged  in  various  piracies  in  dif-  though  continued  from  time  to  time 
ferent  parts  of  the  world,  he  came  again  down  to  the  middle  of  this  century.  It 
to  the  coast  of  this  country  in  1699.  He  is  believed  that  the  treasure  found  on 
visited  New  York,  Long  Island.  Boston  Gardner's  Island  before  his  execution 
and  other  places,  and  buried  some  of  his  was  all  that  was  concealed  on  this  con- 
plunder  on  Gardiner's  Island  in   Long  tinent. 

Island  Sound  where  it  was  subsequently  Piracy  has  now  disappeared  from  the 
found,  amounting  in  value  to  a  large  seas  except  in  the  China  and  India  seas 
sum.  The  Earl  of  Bellomont,  then  where  pirates  occasionally  still  appear, 
governor,  took  measures  to  arrest  him,  and  even  privateering  is  condemned  by 
and  by  his  artifice  he  was  entrapped  and  the  general  sentiment  of  civilized  nations 
arrested  at  Boston  in  July  1699.  He  and  has  not  anywhere  been  practiced  in 
claimed  to  have  vast  treasures  hid  which  many  years.  Pirates  are  the  enemy  of 
he  offered  to  disclose  if  allowed  even  as  mankind  and  they  will  never  again  be 
a  prisoner  to  go  to  the  places  where  he  tolerated  by  the  powers  of  the  earth ; 
had  concealed  them.  In  May  1700,  and  hence  this  paper  deals  with  a  state 
Bellomont  sent  him  to  England.  He  was  of  things  which  will  not  again  appear  in 
there  indicted  and  put  upon  his  trial,  and  our  modern  civilization. 


34 


I 


JOHN  CHRISTIAN  SHELL  AND  HIS  BLOCK  HOUSE. 

AN   ADDRESS   BY   AI.BERT   L.    HOWELI,,    OF   MOHAWK, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society  September  lo,  1898, 


Of  the  many  bloody  encounters  by  the 
Indians  and  Tories  with  the  first  settlers 
of  the  Mohawk  valley  during  the  revo- 
lution, none  were  mere  worthy  to  be  re- 
corded by  the  historian  for  acts  of  cour- 
age and  heroism,  in  defending  the  home 
and  fireside,  than  that  of  John  Christian 
Shell  and  his  wife,  a  brave  and  patriotic 
couple,  who  in  1780  with  their  six  sons, 
lived  in  the  settlement  now  called  Shells 
Bush,  about  four  miles  northeast  of  Her- 
kimer village. 

It  was  with  them,  as  with  all  the  de- 
fenseless inhabitants  then,  throughout 
the  country,  except  those  living  quite 
near  to  American  forts.  They  v^ere 
constantly  exposed  10  the  raids  of 
maruading  bands  of  hostile  Indians  and 
Tories,  making  their  murderous  incur- 
sions with  rapine  and  slaughter.  And 
Shell,  possessing  the  true  American  spirit 
of  independence,  determined  to  with- 
stand the  attacks  of  these  mercenaries  of 
the  British  orown,  with  becoming 
bravery.  Confident  of  his  ability  to  re- 
sist successfully,  he  erected  a  strong 
blockhouse  on  his  farm,  well  constructed 
for  purposes  of  defense  against  any  at- 
tack that  might  be  made,  and  resolved 
to  ''hold  the  fort,"  with  the  aid  of  his 
wife  and  sons  whenever  surprises  might 
occur,  and  not  be  forced  to  flee  to  Fort 
Dayton  for  protection. 

The  structure  was  made  of  hewn  logs, 
two  stories  in  height.       The  first  storv 


had  no  windows,  but  small  loopho'es  on 
all  sides  through  which  the  besieged 
could  fire  upon  their  assailants. 

The  floor  of  the  second  story  projected 
three  feet  over  the  first,  and  had  aper- 
tures affording  ample  means  of  firing 
perpendicularly  down  upon  the  enemy, 
or  of  casting  missiles  upon  then-  heads, 
when  attempting  to  fire  the  building  or 
force  open  the  massive  entrance  door. 

Shell  kept  in  reserve  at  all  times  an 
ample  supply  of  ammunition  to  stand  an 
ordinary  siege  whenever  the  enemy 
should  give  them  battle. 

In  a  raid  on  the  6th  of  August  in  1T80, 
Donald  McDonald,  a  Scotch  refugee 
from  Johnstown,  and  two  other  noted 
traitors,  Empie  and  Casseleman,  with 
about  sixty  Indians  and  Tories,  made 
their  appearance  in  the  settlement  for 
the  purpose  of  destroying  the  Shell  block- 
house and  killing  or  capturing  the  Shell 
family. 

At  the  time  of  this  descent  by  McDon- 
ald most  of  the  inhabitants  had  taken 
refuge  in  Fort  Dayton,  the  report  hav- 
ing been  circulated  that  this  hostile 
movement  was  to  be  made  upon  the  set- 
tlement. Shell  resolved  to  stand  the 
seige  and  fight  in  his  own  fort  with  the 
aid  of  his  wife  and  sons,  being  a  firm  be- 
liever in  the  old  saying  that  "every 
man's  house  is  his  castle." 

He  and  his  sons  were  at  work  in  the 
field    when    McDonald    and    his    party 


35 


made  their  appearance  a  little  after 
noon.  They  immediately  fled  to  the 
blockhouse,  anl  all  were  gathered  with- 
in, except  the  twin  lads  eight  years  old, 
who  were  unfortunately  separated  so 
widely  from  the  rest  of  the  family,  as  to 
fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Hav- 
ing secured  the  entrance  door,  they  saw 
an  Indian  within  the  range  of  their 
guns,  holding  the  boys,  one  on  each  side 
by  the  hands.  Shell  immediately  shot 
the  Indian  while  still  in  this  attitude, 
but  did  not  succeed  in  ti-eeing  the  twins, 
who  were  at  once  stized  by  others  of  the 
enemy.  Then  the  battle  commenced. 
Shell  and  his  little  garrison  resolved 
to  give  their  besiegers  a  warm  re- 
ception, and  kept  up  a  spirited  fight 
throughout  the  afternoon  until  night, 
Mrs.  Shell  being  very  active  in  loading 
the  guns  to  be  fired  by  her  husband  and 
eons.  The  enemy  were  many  times 
•compelled  to  retreat  beyond  their  well 
aimed  and  galling  fire.  McDonald  hav- 
ing procured  a  crowbar  attempted  to 
force  the  entrance,  and  while  thus  en- 
gaged, was  shot  in  the  leg  by  Shell  and 
felled  to  the  ground,  and  as  none  of  his 
associates  were  near  to  rescue  him,  Shell 
quickly  unbarred  the  door  and  pulled 
the  wounded  Tory  into  the  fortress,  a 
prisoner. 

This  capture  not  only  saved  the  fort- 
ress from  having  a  breach  made  in  it, 
but  also  prevented  its  being  set  on  fire 
by  the  besiegers,  as  they  would  not  be 
willing  to  burn  the  structure  while  their 
leader  was  held  a  prisoner  within.  It 
also  gave  the  besieged  an  additional  sup- 
ply of  ammunition,  as  McDonald's  life 
was  spared  on  condifon  of  giving  up  his 
ammunition. 

After  a  short  respite  the  enemy,  mad- 
dened by  the  loss  of  several  of  their 
number  and  the  capture  of  their  com- 
mander, returned  and  made  a  vigorous 
effort  to  take  the  fortress  by  assault. 
They  came  up  to  the  walls  and  thrust 
their  guns  through  the  loophohs,  when 
Mrs.  Shall  by  well  directed  blows  with  an 
axe  ruined  every  musket  by  bending  the 
barrels,  a''ter  which  several  well  aimed 
shots  from  tiie  little  garrison  compelled 


the  besiegers  to  retire  beyond  the  range 
of  their  guns. 

Just  at  dark  and  while  the  enemy  still 
linger  in  sight,  Shell  used  a  little  strata- 
gem which  caused  them  to  suppose  the 
American  troops  from  Fort  Dayton  were 
approaching  to  their  aid.  He  went  to 
the  upper  storj'  and  called  out  to  his 
wife  in  a  loud  voice,  saying  that  Cap- 
tain Small  was  appearing  m  si^ht  from 
Fort  Dayton.  In  a  few  momets  with  a 
louder  voice,  he  exclaimed  :  "Captain 
Small,  march  your  company  on  this  side 
of  the  house;  Captain  Getman  you  had 
better  wheel  your  company  ofi  to  the 
left  ard  come  up  on  that  side."  De- 
ceived by  this  artifice  the  enemy  fled 
from  view,  taking  with  them  the  twirs. 
After  providing  for  the  wounded  Mc- 
Donald as  best  they  could  and  setting 
before  him  the  best  provisions  they  had. 
Shell  and  his  family  lost  no  time  in  re- 
pairing to  Foit  Dayton  which  they 
reached  in  safe'y  under  cover  of  dark- 
ness. Some  of  McDonald's  Indians  lin- 
gered about  to  ascertain  the  fate  of  their 
leader,  and,  finding  that  Shell  and  his 
family  hatl  evacuated  the  fortress,  ven- 
tured within,  and  finding  his  condition 
too  critical  to  permit  his  removal  by 
them,  they  left  him  to  the  mercy  of  the 
Americans,  with  a  message  to  be  given 
by  him  to  Shell,  that  the  welfare  of  his 
little  boys  depended  on  the  best  treat- 
ment possible  being  given  McDonald. 

The  wounded  Tory  was  conveyed  to 
Fort  Dayton  the  next  day.  where  ampu- 
tation of  his  leg  was  performed  by  the 
surgeon  of  the  fort,  but  the  loss  of  blood 
was  so  great  that  he  died  in  a  few  hours 
after.  He  wore  a  silver  mounted  toma-, 
hawk  which  Shell  took  from  him,  on  the 
handle  of  which  were  thirty-two  scalp' 
notches,  the  tally  of  horrid  deeds  com- 
mitted by  him  in  imitation  of  his  Indian 
associates.  Few  Indians  could  have 
been  more  industrious  in  gathering  that 
kind  of  trophies. 

The  enemy's  loss  in  this  attack  on  the 
Shell  blockhouse  was  quite  severe, 
eleven  killed  and  twelve  wounded.  Not 
one  of  the  defenders  was  injured.  The, 
twin  sons  returned  after  the  war  anc 
stated    that    nine    out     of    the    twelve 


36 


•W'ounded,  who  were  returning  to  Can- 
ada, died  before  reaching  there. 

In  the  following  year  Shell  was  again 
surprised  by  a  band  of  hostiles  who  were 
determined  on  revenge  for  the  affair 
of  the  previous  year.  At  this  time  no 
warning  was  given  and  no  opportunity 
of  retreating  to  the  blockhoute.  While 
Shell  and  two  of  his  sons  were  busy  at 
work  in  the  field  the  murderous  hostiles 
steathily  approached  theni  through  a 
wheat  field  and  fired  upon  them  from 
ambush.  Shell  received  a  mortal 
wound.  The  sons  remained  with  their 
father,  as  he  requested  them  not  to  leave 
him  to  be  scalped.  They  held  the  In- 
dians at  bay  with  their  guns  by  advanc- 
ing and  firing  alternately,  until  a  guard 
and  medical  aid  could  be  had  from  Fort 
Dayton  ;  but  before  it  arrived  one  of  the 
sons  was  killed  and  the  other  wounded. 
Shell  and  the  surviving  sou  was  duly 
■cared  for  together  with  the  rest  of  the 
family  at  the  fort.  He  did  not  long  sur- 
vive, his  wound  proving  fatal,  and  his 
death  following  quickly  after  that  of  the 
son.  And  thus  closed  the  lives  of  father 
and  son,  sacrificed  on  the  altar  of  de- 
votioa  to  kindred  against  the  assaults  of 
the  enemy. 

While  Shell  was  sufi'ering  from  his 
wound,  h-  quietly  and  cheerfully  praised 
God,  using  the  words  of  the  famous 
hymn  o^  Martin  Luther,  "Ein  Feste 
Burg,"  composed  during  the  perils  and 
atflictions  of  this  great  reformer;  Shell 
being  a  descendant  of  the  German 
Lutheran  emigrants  who  came  to  this 
country  in  1722. 

Soon  after  this,  the  surrender  of  the 
■entire  army  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown, 
Va.,  October  19th,  1781,  so  discouraged 
the  loyalists  that  there  were  no  further 
demonstrations  against  any  of  the  settle- 
ments b}'  armed  i  ces.  The  Indians  in 
small  baods  still  ^  ontinued  to  appear 
around  the  borders  of  some  of  the  set- 
tlements in  the  following  years,  but  they 
did  not  attempt  any  hostile  movements 
on  the  inhabitants  beyond  creating 
alarm. 

Peace  being  finally  declared  the  hos- 
tile Indian  tribes  returned  to  their  re- 
treats in  the   wilderness  and  such  of  the 


tories  that  became  siibmisbive  returned 
to  their  homes.  And  the  valley  of  th« 
Mohawk  and  the  country  throughout, 
soon  smiled  with  the  abundance  pro- 
duced by  the  industry  of  its  undisturbed 
and  peaceful  inliabitants,  whose  burdeiis 
and  long  suffering  imder  the  British 
yoke  were  at  last  thrown  off. 

The  Shell  blockhouse  long  ago  suc- 
cumbed to  the  ravages  of  time,  and 
nothing  marks  the  spot.  If  there  is  no 
monument  raised  to  commemorate  the 
heroism  of  its  occupants,  their  lives  and 
deeds  yet  live  in  the  hearts  of  his  Ger- 
man descendants  and  the  people  of  Her- 
kimer county. 

At  a  recent  visit  to  Shells  Bush,  the 
writer  called  upon  Mr.  Marcus  Rasbach 
and  Mr,  Sanford  Ey?aman,  both  l:fe 
long  residents  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
where  the^e  events  occurred,  and  learned 
from  them  much  unwritten  history  con- 
cerning the  Shell  blockhouse,  the  tradi- 
tional account  of  the  battle  and  the  ex- 
act location  of  the  building.  It  stood  on 
the  lands  now  owned  by  Mr.  Rasbach, 
about  sixty  rods  north  of  his  residence. 

These  events  like  many  other  similar 
ones  which  occurred  during  the  revolu- 
tion, not  having  any  rank  as  military 
engagements  by  the  American  forces, 
the  story  of  them  was  left  almost  wholly 
to  tradition.  Hence  the  many  differing 
accounts  given  of  it.  In  the  mairi  the 
story  as  here  given  is  believed  to  be  cor- 
rect. 

There  is  in  possession  of  Mr.  Eysa- 
man,  son  of  Sanford  Eysaman,  now  re- 
siding about  two  miles  south  of  Mohawk 
village,  a  relic  once  owned  by  Shell.  It 
is  an  elaborate  hand  engraved  powder 
horn,  upon  which  is  cut  the  name  in  old 
English  capital  letters  "John  Christian 
Shell,"  encircling  the  large  end.  The 
horn  measures  about  sixteen  inches  in 
length.  The  CLtire  surface  of  it  is  cov- 
ered with  well  executed  designs  of  hunt- 
ing scenes,  animals,  trees,  etc.  The  date 
is  g  ven  1759.  Any  further  attempt  to 
describe  it  on  paper  would  fail  to  do 
justice  to  the  artist's  work.  It  is  highly 
prized  by  its  possessor,  and  is  said  to  be 
the  only  souvenir  preserved  of  this  Shell 
family. 


37 


FORT  DAYTON. 

AN  ADDRESS  BY  HON.  ROBERT  EARL,  OF  HERKIMER, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  September  lo,  1S98. 


The  land  in  and  surroundiog  the  vil- 
lage of  Herkimer  was,  prior  to  and  dur- 
ing the  revolutionary  war,  known  as  the 
German  Flatts.  It  was  situated  on  the 
western  border  of  the  territory  of  the 
Mohawks,  and  the  Mohawk  river  was 
one  of  the  principal  highways  for  the 
Iroquois  Indians.  This  locality  was  ex- 
posed to  Indian  raids  from  all  directions. 
The  settlers  here  were  loyal  to  the  revo- 
lutionary cause.  Throughout  the  Mo- 
hawk valley  there  were  tones,  largely  in- 
fluenced by  the  family  of  Sir  William 
Johnson,  who  stimulated  and  aided  the 
Indians  in  their  sas'age  forays.  The 
Palatines  here  and  in  this  vicinity  were 
on  the  borders  of  civilization -all  west 
and  north  of  this  place  being  substan- 
tially an  unbroken  wilderness,  the  home 
of  wild  beasts  and  more  savage  men. 
It  was  this  exposed  position  of  the  set- 
tlements here  that  induced  General 
Schuyler  early  in  the  revolutionary  war 
to  provide,  so  far  as  he  could,  for  their 
protection,  and  for  that  purpose  in  the 
fall  of  1776,  he  sent  Elias  Dayton,  colonel 
of  a  New  Jersey  regiment,  tohere  build 
and  repair  forts.  Fort  Herkimer  and 
Fort  Stanwix  built  during  the  French 
war  having  become  dilapidated  were 
substantially  rebuilt  by  him;  and  here 
he  built  Fort  Dayton  which  took  his 
name,  and  Fort  Stanwix  in  honor  of 
General  Schuyler  was  named  after  him 


and  was  there  afterknown  as  FortSchuy 
ler. 

I  have  after  most  diligent  search  been 
unable  to  find  anywhere  any  paiticular 
description  of  Fort  Dayton.  It  was  a 
stockaded  fort  occupying  the  land  now 
bounded  by  German,  Washington,  Court 
and  Main  streets  in  this  village  and  prob- 
ably more.  I  have  heard  it  said  that 
th<i  land  where  the  court  house  and  the 
Reformed  church  now  stand  was  within 
the  stockade.  No  remains  of  this  fort 
came  down  to  the  time  of  anyone  now 
here  except  the  well  which  was  dug  for 
the  use  of  the  fort.  That  was  in  the 
rear  of  the  houses  on  Main  street  now 
owned  by  Mr.  Patrick  upon  land  owned 
by  Jasper  Ausman,  and  it  remained  un- 
til within  a  few  years  when  he  filled  it 
up  and  built  a  house  over  it. 

Prior  to  the  building  of  Fort  Dayton 
there  was  no  governmental  fort  here. 
Some  of  the  houses  were  prob- 
ably fortified  by  their  owners  for 
protection  against  the  Indians,  and, 
during  the  French  war,  for  protec- 
tion against  the  French  and  Indians. 
M.  deBelletre,  in  the  account  he 
gave  to  the  French  government  of  the 
destruction  of  the  Palatine  settlement 
here  by  the  French  and  Indians  under 
his  command,  in  November  1757,  speaks 
of  five  forts  standing  here  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  settlement,   and  says  he 


took  them  all  and  burned  them.  This 
was  an  exageration,  like  much  of  the 
rest  of  his  narrative,  for  the  purpose  of 
magnifying  his  achievements.  There 
were  no  real  forts  here,  and  if  there 
were  forts  of  any  kind,  they  were  mere 
dwelling  houses  somewhat  fortified. 

October  21,  1776,  Captain  Allen,  who 
VI  as  in  command  at  Fort  Dayton,  wrote 
to  Major  General  Schuyler  that  he  had 
123  effective  men  and  four  swivel  guns. 
but  not  more  than  12  bis,  of  powder  and 
a  few  cartridges,  and  no  ammunition 
for  the  swivel  guns. 

It  was  at  Fort  Dayton  that  General 
Herkimer,  about  the  last  of  August  1777, 
assembled  his  troops  for  their  march  to 
the  relief  of  Fort  Schuyler  at  Rome 
against  the  attack  of  Gen.  St.  Leger. 
Here  were  the  members  of  the  Tryon 
county  committee  of  safety,  and  about 
800  militia  with  their  officers  who  re- 
sponded to  Gen.  Herkimer's  call.  All 
was  bustle  about  the  fort,  and,  as  the 
brave  soldiers  marched  out  under  their 
heroic  leader,  many  anxious  hearts  and 
tearful  eyes  of  fathers,  mothers,  wives 
and  children  were  left  tiehind.  Of  those 
who  marched  out,  about  two  hundred 
gave  their  lives  upon  the  Oriskany  bat- 
tle field  and  nearly  the  same  number 
were  brought  back  wounded.  When 
the  news  of  the  battle  reached  the  fort, 
and  also  that  Fort  Schuyler  was  still  in- 
vested by  the  British,  tories  and  Indians, 
consternation  prevailed  in  the  fort. 
Confidence  was  again  restored  when  it 
was  learned  tViat  Gen.  Benedict  Arnold 
was  on  his  way  up  the  Mohawk  valley 
with  continental  troops  for  the  relief 
of  Fort  Schuyler.  He  arrived  at  Fort 
Dayton  about  the  23rd  of  August,  and 
here  he  found  some  of  the  men  who  had 
been  in  the  battle  of  Oriskany  and  other 
brave  men  of  the  valley,  and  he  took 
command  of  them.  He  moved  from  the 
fort  on  the  23rd  of  August  and  had  pro- 
ceeded but  half  a  day  when  he  learned 
that  the  siege  of  Fort  Schuyler  bad  been 
abandoned.  As  he  retraced  his  steps  to 
take  part  in  the  campaign  against  Gen. 
Burgoyne,  he  took  with  him  nearly  all 
the  soldiers  who  had  been  in  the  fort 
and  left  but   a  small   garrison  there   to 


guard  the  public  property  and  keep  the 
fort.  Col.  Watson  with  part  of  a  Massa- 
chus  tts  regiment  remained  in  Fort 
Dayton  during  the  siege  of  Fort  Schuy- 
ler. 

During  the  remainder  of  that  year  and 
durinj?  the  first  eight  months  of  the 
year  1778,  the  soldiers  were  the  only 
tenants  of  the  fort.  The  inhabitants 
felt  secure  and  lived  in  their  homes  and 
planted  and  cultivated  their  fields.  But 
about  September  1st,  1778,  the  fort  again 
became  the  center  of  exciting  scenes. 
The  famous  chieftain  Brant,  with  his 
warriors  had  planned  the  destruction  of 
the  settlements  here,  and  notice  of  his 
approach  had  been  brought  to  the  settle- 
ments by  the  famous  scout,  John  Adam 
Helmer,  a  little  before  sundown  on  the 
day  preceding  the  intended  attack.  He 
rushed  into  the  settlements  torn  and 
bloody  from  the  wounds  he  had  received 
from  the  brambles  and  bushes  through 
which  he  had  plunged  informing  the 
settlers  that  the  Indians  would  be  upon 
them  in  a  few  hours.  All  was  again  ex- 
citement and  bustle  in  and  about  the 
fort,  and  the  terrified  inhabitants  here 
were  hastily,  during  the  night,  gathered 
into  the  fort  with  such  articles  of  house- 
hold furniture  as  they  could  carry,  leav- 
ing their  flocks  and  herds  and  grain  and 
houses  behind  them  a  prey  to  the  In- 
dians. The  Indians  came  for  this  at- 
tack down  the  ravine,  on  the  south  side 
of  the  Mohawk  river,  which  comes  into 
the  valley  a  short  distance  west  of  the 
house  BOW  owned  by  Mr.  David  D. 
Spencer,  and  they  remained  at  that 
house  during  the  night  until  dawn  when 
they  entered  upon  their  work  of 
destruction  here;  and  from  the  fort  the 
inhabitants  saw  the  flames  and  bmoke 
of  the'r  burning  houses  and  barns,  all 
of  which  were  destroyed.  Among  other 
buildings  destroyed  were  the  dwelling 
house,  barns  and  gristmill  of  Dr.  William 
Petrie,  ray  grandfather,  which  were  sit- 
uated about  a  half  a  mile  north  of  Ger- 
man street  on  the  stream  which  passes 
southerly  just  east  of  the  dwelling  house 
of  Mr.  Horrocks  in  this  village.  The 
foundations  of  the  mill  and  dwelling 
house  are  still  visible.      His   barns  were 


39 


filled  with  grain  and  his  farai'y  and 
furniture  v\  ere  moved  to  the  fort  in  the 
nitiht,  and  as  the  last  load  proceeded  on 
its  way  the  Indians  could  be  h^ard  in  the 
woods.  Fortunately,  in  consequence  of 
the  timely  notice  given  by  Helmer.  only 
two  lives  were  lost  in  the  settlement, 
one  man  having  been  killed  by  the  In- 
dians and  another  having  perished  in 
the  flames.  The  Indians  having  no  fire- 
arms but  their  rifles,  made  no  demon- 
stration against  the  fort,  but  contenied 
themselves  with  the  burning  of  the 
buildings,  driving  off  all  the  live  stock 
they  could  find  and  taking  such  other 
articles  of  pergonal  property  as  they 
deemed  useful  and  could  carry. 

The  inhabitants  being  thus  deprived 
of  their  homes,  thereafter,  until  the 
practical  termination  of  the  war,  gener- 
ally lived  in  the  fort,  men,  womtn  and 
children  with  the  soldiers  and  some 
horses  and  cattle.  The  men  would 
sometimes  go  out  upon  the  surrounding 
land,  usually  carrying  their  rifles,  to 
plant,  cultivate  and  gather  crops;  and 
several  in  this  way  lost  their  lives.  The 
Indians  would  come  upon  them  while 
they  were  engaged  in  their  labors, 
stealthily,  and  shoot  them  down  before 
they  could  escape  or  assume  an  attitude 
of  defense.  The  firmg  would  be  heard 
at  the  fort,  when  the  soldiers  would  rush 
out  to  rescue  the  persors  thus  exposed 
and  sometimes  they  returned  with  their 
dead  and  mutilated  todies.  In  my 
young  days  I  frequently  heard  the 
stones  of  these  encounters  outside  the 
fort,  and  of  the  tragic  deaths  or  hair- 
breadth escapes  of  the  persons  who  thus 
exposed  themselves. 

The  year  1781  was  full  of  exciting 
events  at  the  fort.  In  May  of  that  year, 
Fort  Schuyler  was  destioyed  by  fire  and 
flood:  and  thtn  the  garrison  there  was 
removed  to  this  fort,  wh  ch  by  the  direc- 
tion of  General  Lafayette  was  enlarged 
and  strengthened;  and  it  thereafter  be- 
came the  main  defense  of  the  frontier 
settlements. 

About  the  first  of  July,  1781,  Captain 
Woodworth  marched  from  Fort  Dayton 
with  forty-nine  white  soldiers  and  six 
Oneida  Indians  going  up  the  West  Can- 


ada Creek  in  pursuit  of  Indians  and 
tories;  and  when  about  three  miles  from 
the  fort  on  the  east  side  of  the  creek 
they  were  caught  in  an  ambuscade  and 
Captain  Woodworth  and  more  than  half 
of  his  men  were  killed  and  several,  not 
more  than  eight,  were  taken  prisoners, 
and  about  a  dozen  only  returned  to  the 
fort.  The  place  of  the  ambuscade  can 
not  be  accurately  located;  but  it  was 
probably  about  midway  in  a  straight 
line  between  the  West  Canada  Creek 
and  Eaton's  Bush.  This  was  one  of  the 
bloodiest  skirmishes  of  the  war. 

Christian  Schell  was  one  of  the  sturdy 
heroic  characters  developed  by  the  hard- 
ships and  perils  of  frontier  life.  Early 
in  the  war  he  had  erected  a  log  house  in 
Schell's  Bush  upon  the  farm  now  owned 
by  Marcus  Rasbach ;  and  there  he  resided 
with  his  family  after  bis  neighbors  had 
removed  to  the  fort  for  protection.  The 
house  was  stiongly  built  for  defense. 
He  had  lived  there  with  his  wife  and 
children  undisturbed,  until  August  6th, 
1781,  when  Lieuienant  McDonald  with 
over  sixty  tories  and  Indians  attempted 
to  storm  the  house.  The  heroic  and 
successful  defense  of  Sehell  with  his 
wife  and  three  sons  has  no  parallel  for 
heroism  upon  land  in  the  annals  of  our 
country.  The  story  is  too  well  known 
to  need  repetition  here.  McDonald  was 
wounded  and  dragged  into  the  house  a 
prisoner.  After  the  retreat  of  the 
enemy,  Schell  and  his  family  in  the 
night-time  fled  to  the  fort;  and  the  next 
morning  a  strong  party  went  from  the 
fort  to  Schell's  Bush  and  found  McDon- 
ald where  he  had  been  left,  and  tcey 
took  and  removed  him  to  the  fort. 
There  his  wounded  leg  was  amputated 
by  Dr.  Petrie  and  he  died  from  the  loss 
of  *>lood.  I  heard  one  of  my  uncle's 
who  was  in  the  fort,  say  that  he  saw 
McDonald  when  he  was  brought  there, 
and  I  knew  John  Doxtater,  the  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  A.  M.  Gray  of  this  village, 
and  Adam  Hartman,  ancestor  of  the 
Hartmari's  also  living  here,  who  were 
among  those  who  pursued  the  tories  and 
Indians  in  their  retreat  after  the  attack, 
both  of  whom  lived  to  be  upwards  of 
ninety  years  old. 


40 


In  the  latter  part  of  October  of  the 
same  year  Col.  Willett,  with  400  of  his 
meu  and  60  Oneida  Indians,  marched 
from  Fort  Dayton  in  pursuit  of  Major 
Ross  and  Walter  N.  Butler  and  the  tories 
and  Indians  with  them  up  the  West 
Canada  creek,  and  overtook  them  in  the 
town  of  Norway,  and  pursued  them  in 
their  retreat  until  compelled  by  fati^^ue 
and  want  of  food  to  give  up  the  pursuit. 
Butler,  one  of  the  cruelest  and  most 
dangerous  tories,  who  had  been  enga>^ed 
in  ravaging  the  border  settlements,  was 
killed  on  the  banks  of  the  West  Canada 
creek,  about  ten  miles  above  Trenton 
Falls.  Willett  returned  to  Fort  Dayton, 
having  lost  but  one  man.  There  was 
great  rejoicing  at  the  fort,  particularly 
over  the  death  of  Butler.  The  soldiers 
were  famished,  having  had  scarcely 
anything  to  eat  for  two  days,  and  a  great 
feast  was  made  for  them  in  the  fort,  in 
the  preparation  of  which  all  the  house- 
wives living  there  took  part,  which  was 
enjoyed  amidst  much  rejoicing.  Dr. 
Petrie  was  with  this  expedition  as  sur- 
geon. 

There  were  many  other  occurrences 
during  the  revolutionary  war  having 
relation  to  Fort  Dayton  of  less  import- 
ance, which,  with  a  single  exception,  I 
must  omit.  At  some  time  during  the 
war,  probably  in  1778,  Peter  F.  Bellin- 
gt-r,  grandfather  of  Henry  Bellinger  of 
this  village,  was  upon  the  ramparts  of 
the  fort,  when  he  discovered  some  Indi- 
ans prowling  at  some  distance  at  the 
foot  of  the  hill  at  the  north  of  the  fort, 
and  he  fired  at  them,  but  missed.  Then 
one  of  thr!  Indians  fired  at  him,  and  his 
body  being  partly  exposed  above  the 
ramparts,  be  w  as  shot  through  the 
shoulder.  He  was  a  very  brave  and 
athletic  man,  and  was  so  enraged  that 
he  made  an  efl'ort  to  get  out  of  the  fort 
to  pursue  the  Indians,  but  was  restrained 
by  Jiis  comrades. 

To  guard  against  such  scouting  Indi- 
ans, late  in  the  war,  a  block  house  was 
built  upon  the   Weber  hill,  north  of  the 


fort,  and  manned  with  a  few  soldiers- 
In  that  there  was  a  cannon  that  could 
fire  shots  across  the  valley,  and  there- 
after there  was  no  trouble  from  maraud- 
ing enemies. 

I  regret  that  my  researches  about  Fort 
Dayton  have  been  so  meagre  in  results. 
In  my  youth  I  knew  several  of  the  peo- 
ple who  were  in  the  fort  and  took  part 
in  the  stirring  events  which  clustered 
about  it.  But  then  I  did  not  realize  the 
importance  of  the  information  which 
they  could  impart.  Now  most  of  the 
facts  have  passed  into  oblivion,  and  it  is 
too  late  even  to  get  any  description  of 
the  fort  which  protected  our  ancestors. 

Before  closing  I  must  state  a  few  in- 
teresting facts  about  Col.  Dayton  and 
his  family.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
ga'lant  and  meritorious  ofScers  in  the 
revolutionary  war.  He  had  previously 
had  service  under  General  Wolfe  in  the 
taking  of  Quebec.  He  was  promi- 
nently engaged  in  the  battles  of 
Springfield,  Monraoutb,  Brandy  wine 
and  Yorktown,  and  during  the  war  had 
three  horses  shot  under  him.  He  be- 
came a  brigadier  general  and  a  member 
of  the  continental  congress.  His  son 
Jonathan  was  also  an  officer  in  the  re\7^o- 
lutionary  army  and  was  in  many  bat- 
tles, being  under  Lafayette  in  the  battle 
of  Yorktown.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
convention  to  frame  the  federal  consti- 
tution, a  member  of  congress  for  several 
terms  and  for  two  terms  speaker  thereof 
and  a  United  States  senator  from  New 
Jersey.  A  grandson,  William  Dayton, 
was  also  a  United  States  senator  from 
the  same  state,  was  the  candidate  in 
1856  of  the  republican  party  for  vice  presi- 
dent on  the  ticket  with  Gen.  Fremont 
and  was  minister  to  France,  appointed  by 
President  Lincoln,  dying  at  his  post  of 
duty  in  Paris  in  1864.  It  is  very  rare  in 
the  history  of  our  country  that  so  much 
honor  and  distinction  have  come  to  one 
family.  Fort  Dayton  was  thus  honored 
in  the  name  it  bore  and  in  the  heroic 
men  and  women  it  sheltered. 


41 


THE  TOWN  OF  DANUBE. 


AN   ADDRESS   BY   EDWARD   SIMMS,    OF   THE   TOWN   OF    MANHEIM, 

Delivreed  before  the  Herkimer  Count)-  Historical  Society  September  lo,  1898, 


Of  the  aboriginal  history  of  what  is 
now  known  as  t'ae  town  of  Danube,  but 
little  save  tradition  is  known.  At  the 
time  of  the  advent  of  the  Palatine,  com- 
mencing about  the  year  1712  and  con- 
tinuing for  several  years  thereafter 
King  Hendrick,  the  great  chieftain  of 
the  Mohawks,    had  his  home  at  or  near 


Danube,  like  all  of  their  neighbors  up 
and  down  the  Mohawk  valley,  were 
subjected  to  the  inhuman  treatment  of 
the  traitorous  Tories  and  their  Indian 
allies. 

The  land  lying  upon  both  sides  of  the 
Mohawk  was  patented  about  the  year 
1730,  and   settlements   were  soon  after- 


the  present  mouth  of  the  Nowadaga  ward  rapidly  made.  The  town  of  Man- 
creek.  Her.e  for  generations  unknown  heim  was  more  fully  settled  at  an  early 
the  Mohawks,  then  by  far  the  most  date  than  the  town  of  Danube.  The 
numerous  and  powerful  of  all  the  tribes  flat  lands  on  the  north  of  the  river 
afterwards  known  as  the  Five  Nation?,  afforded  greater  inducements  to  the 
had  hunted  the  wild  beasts  of  the  for-  keen-eyed  Hollander  than  the  rough 
est,  paddled  their  birch  bark  canoes  and  rugged  shores  upon  the  south  side, 
upon  the  stream  that  yet  bears  their  and  though  a  number  of  families  were 
name,  and  made  war  upon  their  savage  located  near  the  mouth  of  the  Now- 
neighbors  east,  west  and  south  of  them,  adaga  early  in  1700,  the  greater  portion 
But  with  the  advent  of  the  sturdy  EIol-  of  Danube  was  unbroken  forest  until 
lander  from  the  lowlands  and  their  Ger-  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution, 
man  neighbors  from  the  highlands  of  The  Herkimer  family  were  among 
Central  Europe,  a  mighty  change  was  the  earliest  settlers,  and  while  they 
brought  into  the  history  of  these  sons  accumulated  a  large  property  and  mem- 
of  the  forest.  Civilization  opened  up  a  bers  thereof  became  prominent  in  the 
great  gap,  and  where  the  war-whoop  history  of  our  count.y  and  state,  they 
had  once  rung  out  could  now  be  heard  showed  a  great  lack  of  judgment  in  the 
the  whack  of   the  axe  and  the  roar  of  location  of  their  lands— for  of    all  the 


the  falling  forest  tree. 

History  gives  mention  of  naught  but 
peace  between  the  native  and  the  for- 
eign residents  of  the  valley,  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  French  and  Indian 
war,  abouf  the  year  1755.  From  thence 
forward  until  the  close  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary  struggle,   the    early  settlers  of 


rough  and  rocky  farms  lying  in  the 
Mohawk  valley,  the  Herkimer  farm  can 
easily  take  the  lead. 

History  both  local  and  national  have 
time  and  again  given  to  the  public  a 
record  of  the  prominent  events  in  the 
life  of  our  favorite  general  and  a  rep- 
etition  here   would  be  entirely   out  of 


43 


•order.  The  Herkimer,  Van  Alstyne, 
Seeber,  Schuyler  and  Htss  families 
were  among  the  earliest  settlers,  and 
the  most  of  them  were  loyal  to  their 
adopted  country  at  the  time  of  the 
commencement  of  thw  Re%'olutionary 
struggle,  but  it  was  not  an  uncommon 
occurrtnce  to  find  one  or  more  of  the 
members  of  each  family  who  chose  to 
oast  their  lot  with  the  followers  of  the 
crown,  and  thus  cast  a  shadow  upon  the 
history  of  many  an  otherwise  honored 
family. 

Soon  after  the  treaty  of  peace  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  and  colonies, 
settlers  from  the  Hudson  river  coun- 
ties, Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island  be- 
gan to  found  new   homes  for  themselves 


At  about  the  same  date  as  before 
mentioned,  the  families  of  the  Ostran- 
dfrs,  Mesicks,  Delongs,  Ha-ders,  Wal- 
teis,  Johnsons  and  Spoors  settled  upon 
the  broad  uplands  of  what  is  now  known 
as  Fire  Hill.  Whence  or  why  th  s  name 
I  cannot  tell,  but  for  the  past  fifty  years 
that  term  has  been  in  common  use  to 
designate  the  southern  part  of  the  lown. 

At  about  the  same  time  that  the  east- 
ern portion  of  the  town  was  taken 
possession  of  the  families  of  Acker- 
mans.  Deckers,  Carvers,  Snells,  Bushes 
and  Bellingers  settled  in  the  western 
part  of  the  town.  These  families  were 
less  fortunate  in  the  selection  of  their 
land.  They  were  possessed  of  less 
means,    and     in    most     instances    they 


and  their  descendants   upon  the  hitherto   occupied  land    leased  from   the  Bleeker 


unoccupied  lands  lying  both  north  and 
south  of  the  Mohawk  river,  and  within 
twenty- five  years  the  lands  within  the 
present  limits  of  Danube  had  been  en- 
tirely taken  up. 

The  German  settlers  in  the  selection 
of  farming  lands  by  far  out-generaled 
the  New  Englanders.  The  former  were 
reared  upon  the  rich  bottom  lai.ds  of 
Holland,  and  the  latter  had  never  seen 
aught  but  the  rocks  and  clay  of  sterile 
New  England,  and  thought  that  New 
York  state  was  all  built  on  the  eastern 
plan.  The  finest  farms  in  Danube  at 
this  date  and  lying  adjacent  to  Mont- 
gomery county  are  owned  and  almost 
exclusively  occupied  by  the  descend- 
of  the  early  German  families.  As  the 
Hollanders  for  generations  past  have 
used  wind  mills  for  procuring  water  for 
the  use  of  the  dairy,  so  these  descend- 
ants of  the  thrifty  Lowlander  today  use 
wind  mills  for  a  like  purpose. 

The  name  of  the  first  family  to  found 
a  home  in  eastern  Danube  I  have  been 
unable  to  ascetrain,  but  during  the  time 
from  1790  to  1810,  the  families  of  the 
Cronkhites,  Davies.  Snells  Smiths, 
Bellingers,  Dillenbeckn,  Dueslers, 
Wagoners  and  Country  mans  settled  in 
what  is  now  known  as  the  western  por- 
tion of  Dutchtown.  Lying  partly  in 
Danube  and  partly  in  Minden  are  about 
5,000  acres  of  as  fine  farming  lands  as 
the  state  of  New  York  can  boast  of. 


estate  at  a  yearly  rental  of  so  many 
l^ecks  of  wheat  per  acre,  payment  of 
which  was  made  at  Albany.  For  many 
years  the  occupants  of  the  land  sought 
to  purchase  the  title  in  fee,  and  it  is 
only  within  the  past  thirty  years  that 
the  last  full  title  has  been  acquired.  In 
nearly  every  instance  the  laiul  thus 
leased  and  afterward  purchased  is  now 
occupied  by  tenant  farmers,  while  as 
before  mentioned,  lands  lying  in  the 
eastern  and  southern  portions  of  the 
town  are  almost  without  an  exception 
owned  and  occupied  by  the  descendants 
of  the  original  settlers. 

The  general  appearance  of  the  above 
mentioned  locality  is  quite  marked,  and 
I  can  partially  attribute  it  to  two  causes: 
First,  the  soil  is  less  productive,  and  dis- 
couragement soon  follows  a  scanty  crop. 
Second,  there  was  a  mixture  of  Yankee 
blood  among  the  last  mentioned  settlers, 
and  mankind  everywhere  knows  tiat 
the  Y'anbee  is  satisfied  only  with  <iuick 
returns  and  large  profits.  If  the  soil 
fails  to  respond  it  is  leased  to  a  foreigner 
and  the  owner  seeks  nome  other  field  of 
labor,  either  public  or  private. 

The  families  of  Landt,  Jones,  Baum, 
Garlock.  Gaidinier  and  Stafford  came 
into  town  early  in  1800,  and  occupied 
the  land  in  the  central  part  of  the  town. 
In  the  case  of  the  last  above  named  fam- 
ilies the  greater  portion  have  sold  the 
original  farms,  which  are  now  occupied 


4.3 


"by  tenants.  The  exception  is  the  Gar- 
dinier  family,  who  still  own  and  occupy 
about  500  acres  of  the  original  purchase. 

Among  the  early  settlers  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  town  were  the  Hess  fam- 
ily, more  prominent  in  early  history 
than  some  of  the  others,  from  the  fact 
that  Augustine  Hess  is  mentioned  as  one 
of  the  patentees  of  the  Burnetsfield 
Patent.  One  member  of  the  family 
was  one  of  the  committee  of  safety  at 
the  commencement  of  the  revolutionary 
struggle.  The  elder,  Augustine  Hess, 
was  killed  by  the  Indians  in  1782. 

The  Reed  lamily  came  from  Dutchess 
county  about  the  year  1800.  The  Wal- 
raths,  Devendorfs,  Shalls,  Foxes  and 
Cramers  were  all  early  settlers,  and  like 
their  German  neighbors  of  the  eastern 
part  of  the  town,  they  selected  choice 
lots  for  farms,  and  the  large  red  barns, 
white  houses  and  neat  outbuildings  of 
today  attest  the  good  judgment  of  the 
original  owners. 

The  Green  family,  once  one  of  the 
largest  in  point  of  numbers  in  Danube, 
several  members  of  which  in  former 
years  occupied  positions  of  trust,  have 
at  this  date  nearly  all  removed  to  other 
localities. 

In  and  around  what  is  now  known  as 
Newville  settlements  were  begun  in  1792. 
The  first  who  came  were  Isaiah  and 
Nathan  Wilcox,  brothers.  They  came 
from  the  barren  and  rocky  shore  at 
Watch  Hill,  in  Rhode  Island,  now  one 
of  the  most  fashionable  seaside  resorts 
upon  the  Atlantic  coast. 

In  the  summer  of  1791  these  two 
brothers,  with  their  ox  teams,  journeyed 
from  their  New  England  home  into  the 
upper  valley  of  the  Nowadaga.  They 
had  secured  a  lease  from  the  Bleeckers 
of  two  lots  of  land.  Here  alone  in  the 
forest  they  built  a  log  house  for  each  of 
the  brothers,  cleared  and  burned  a  few 
acres  of  land,  sowed  sufficient  wheat 
for  the  next  year's  crop,  and  in  the  early 
autumn  they  returned  to  their  Rhode 
Island  home.  The  first  snow  of  winter 
found  them,  with  their  young  wives  and 
children,  one  a  babe  of  three  months 
old,  safely  packed  with  all  their  earthly 
belongings  in  their  ox  sleigh  on  the  road 


to  their  Danube  home.  Christmas  day 
they  crossed  the  Hudson  river  at  Albany 
on  the  ice,  and  a  few  days  more  brought 
them  to  their  future  home.  Here  (or 
over  fifty  years  the  brothers  and  their 
wives  toiled  and  prospered. 

Of  the  family  of  the  eldest  of  the 
brothers,  Nathan,  I  am  more  particu- 
larly acquainted,  and  you  will  pardon 
this,  my  allusion  to  him  and  his  family 
of  ten  children.  Three  sons  and  seven 
daughters  were  born  to  him,  all  of  whom 
lived,  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood, 
married  and  had  families  of  their  own. 
Nathan  Wilcox  was  gathered  to  rest  in 
1842,  and  sixty-seven  grandchildren 
blessed  his  name.  The  youngest  grand- 
child of  Nathan  Wilcox  owns  and  occu- 
pies the  fifty- acre  farm  leased  from  the 
Bleeckers  over  one  hundred  years  ago. 
A  peculiar  feature  of  this  family  was 
that  the  parents  and  the  ten  children 
were  all  Free  Will  Baptists:  that  of  seven 
daughters  six  married  Baptists  and  the 
seventh  married  a  Universalist. 

About  the  year  1797  Samuel  Houpt,  a 
Low  Dutchman  from  Berks  county, 
Pennsylvania,  settled  in  Newville.  He 
was  the  second  new  comer.  He  ^'ro■Jght 
a  brijiht  and  thrifty  young  wife  with 
him.  They  settled  upon  the  best  farm- 
ing land  in  the  valley.  He,  probably, 
in  a  business  way  was  the  smartest  man  in 
the  settlement,  and  did  more  to  advance 
the  interests  of  the  neighborhood  than 
any  of  his  neighbors.  He  built  a  saw- 
mill, two  grist  mills,  fulling  and  carding 
mill,  a  large  tannery,  and  last,  but  not 
least,  a  distillery.  He  was  for  many 
years  the  head  man  of  the  settlement  in 
money  matters.  He  could  build  mill 
dams  and  lay  out  courses  for  water 
power  without  consulting  an  engineer. 
He  owned  about  three  hundred  acres  of 
land  and  all  of  the  available  water  privi- 
leges along  either  side  of  the  Nowadaga 
creek  belonged  to  him,  and  for  over 
fifty  years  they  were  utilized  for  the 
benefit  of  the  owner  and  the  general 
public.  But  time  brings  old  aee,  and 
"Uncle  Sam,"  as  the  men  and  boys  all 
called  him,  was  in  due  time  gathered  to 
his  fathers.  A  favorite  tonic  and  laxa- 
tive of  the  old  man  was  a  lump  of  aloes 


44 


as  large  as  a  walnut  and  a  glass  of  home- 
made whis 'iey.  Seated  in  his  arm  chair 
unier  the  porch  of  his,  the  grandest 
house  in  the  Nowadaga  valley,  lo- 
cated so  that  he  could  see  about  all 
that  was  going  on  in  the  village  that 
he  had  almost  entirely  built  up;  he 
seemed  the  picture  of  contentment. 
Like  a'l  the  Low  Dutchmen  and  some 
of  the  High  Dutchmen,  "Uncle  Sam'" 
was  quite  willing  that  his  cheery  little 
wife  should  do  full  one-half  of  the  out- 
door work  and  all  the  indoor  work  be- 
side. The  idea  that  women  were  made 
for  ornament  had  never  suggested  itself 
to  him. 

Of  all  the  mills  and  shops  that  once 
made  music  in  Newville,  the  grist  and 
sawmills  alone  remain.  The  coopers, 
cabinet  makers,  tanners,  tailors,  harness 
makers  and  shoe  makers,  have  passed  to 
the  other  side  and  none  came  to  take 
their  places.  A  small  country  store  sup- 
plies the  wants  of  the  people  for  the 
time  being,  and  Little  Falls  is  but  an 
hour's  drive  away.  Among  the  German 
farmers  who  settled  upon  leased  lan<i  in 
the  western  part  of  the  town,  the  Bel- 
linger family  were  lathermore  promi- 
nent than  many  others.  Captain  Daniel 
Bellinger,  noted  for  his  conservative 
Democracy,  and  the  uncommon  faculty 
of  making  money  from  the  poorest  tract 
of  land  in  Danube,  is  a  worthy  example. 
Nature  and  cultivation  had  advanced 
him  a  few  grades  above  his  German 
neighbors.  He  came  straight  down 
from  the  Revolutionary  struggle  without 
any  of  the  faults  or  follies  of  modern 
times,  and  was  what  some  people  call  a 
gentleman  of  the  old  school.  He  repre- 
sented the  second  district  of  Herkimer 
county  in  the  legislature  in  1840.  Cap- 
tain Bellinger  was  the  pioneer  cheese 
manufacturer  of  Danube.  The  exact 
date  when  he  commenced  the  business 
cannot  be  ascertained.  Danube,  like  all 
of  the  country  towns  of  Herkimer 
county,  is  gradually  lessening  in  popu- 
lation. In  1855,  the  inhabitants  num- 
bered about  1,800;  at  the  present  date 
they  number  less  than  1,200.  Ezra 
Holmes,  Benjamin  Klock,  John  Dyslin, 
Jeremiah   Landt,    James    H.    Mattison, 


Jacob  Guiwits,  Ralph  Simms,  Levi  Ack- 
ernian  and  Dw.  C.  Jones,  were  old-time 
merchants  at  Newville,  and  William 
Kretsinger  was  a  merchant  at  the  In- 
dian Castle.  The  Doctors  Holmes, 
father  and  son,  at  the  Indian  Castle  and 
the  Doctors  Abraham  Snyder  and  his 
son  Horace  at  Newville,  ministered  to 
the  physical  wants  of  the  people  for 
many  years.  They  traveled,  at  an  early 
date,  on  horseback  with  their  saddlebags 
behind  them.  A  visit  to  a  patient  a  few 
miles  distant,  generally  took  the  better 
part  of  the  day.  The  doctor  and  his 
horse  were  regaled  with  the  best  that 
the  house  and  the  stable  could  afford. 
The  lancet  and  the  calomel  bottle  were 
duly  brought  forth,  and  if  the  patient 
had  a  good  hardy  constitution  he  or  she, 
as  the  case  might  be,  generally  recov- 
ered. Times  and  methods  have  changed; 
slowly  but  surely  the  sugar  pills,  the 
pa' arable  little  tablets  and  the  quick 
come  and  go,  have  taken  the  place  of 
"the  old  style." 

Much  of  the  history  of  Danube  has 
long  since  become  public  property.  B. 
J.  Lofsing,  J.  R.  Simms,  N.  S.  Benton, 
and  others  of  lesser  note,  have  gathered 
and  garnered  the  most  important  events 
connected  with  its  early  history. 

In  educational  matters  the  early  Ger- 
man settlers  were  not  as  far  advanced 
as  their  neighbors  of  New  England  de- 
scent, and  even  at  this  late  day  the  Mo- 
hawk Dutchman  takes  more  pride  in  a 
well-kept  and  well-stocked  farm  and 
dairy  than  he  does  in  the  country  school 
house. 

In  matters  political,  Danube  had  in- 
variabl}^  been  true  to  Democracy,  until 
the  advent  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
even  now  the  name  of  "Democrat," 
when  attached  to  some  popular  candi- 
date at  election  time,  will  cause  some  of 
the  elder  members  in  each  community 
to  return  for  a  brief  season  to  their  early 
love.  Within  the  past  seventy  years 
Danube  has  furnished  but  four  members 
to  the  assembly.  Twice  has  the  county 
clerk  been  selected  from  that  town,  and 
our  present  honored  county  judge  hails 
Danube  as  his  birth  place.  Much  that 
is    commendable    can    be    written    and 


45 


-spok«n    of    botJi    her   early    sons    and  Lightly   will   we  tread  over  their    last 

daughters;  of  the  hardships  and  trials  resting  places,  and   day  by  day  we  will 

they  endured,  of  how   they  strove  early  bless  the  Good  Father  who  gave  to  us 

and  late  indoors  and  out  to  build  up  the  brave  and  true  fathers  and  motliers 

iiomes  for  themselves  and  their  children,  of  Danube's  early  days. 


46 


FORT  HERKIMER. 

AN   ADDRESS   BY  HON.    ROBERT  EAR!,  OF  HERKIMER, 
Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society  October  8,  189S. 

Fort  Herkimer,  called  hy  the  French  attack  upon  the  German  Flatts,  on  the 

Fort  Kouari,   was  built  in    1756,  under  north   side  of  the  river.     At  that  time 

the  direction   of  Sir    William  Johnson,  the  settlers   who  escaped   death  or  cap- 

for  defense  against  the    Fiench^  and  at  tivity,  to  the  number  of  about  one  hun- 

that    time  it   was  the   most    important  dred,  fled  across  the  river  to  the  fort, 

fortification  for  the  defense  of  the  fron-  The  fort  then  contained   about  one  hun- 

tier  settlements,  as   Fort  Stanwix   was  dred  and   fifty  soldiers  and  at  least  two 

not  built  by  General  Stanwix  until  1758.  hundred  of  the  settlers,  and  a  garrison 

Some  time  before  1756  John  Jost  Herki-  remained  in  the  fort  during  the  remain- 

mer  built  a  stone  mansion  a  few  rods  der  of    the  war,   generally    under   the 

south  of  the    Mohawk  river  and  a  short  command  of  Nicholas  Herkimer,   who 

distance  west  of  the  stone  church  at  the  was  commissioned  a  lieutenant  in  the 

present  settlement  called  Fort  Herkimer,  militia    January  5,   1758.     During  that 

and  the  stone  church  was  not  then  fully  war  the  fort  was  the  place  of  refuge  for 

completed.  The  mansion  and  the  church  the  people  residing  on  both  sides  of  the 

and  some  othor  buildings  were  included  Mohawk  river  within  the  present  limits 

within  the  stockade  of  the  fort.     Except  of  this  county,  and   they  had  frequent 

on  the  river  side  the  fort  was  surrounded  occasion   to  flee  thither.     In  the  spring 

by  a  ditch  six  feet  deep  and  seven  feet  of  1758  the  French  and  Indians  attacked 

wide,  and   upon  the  inside  bank  of  the  the  settlement  on   the  south  side  of  the 

ditch  and  upon  the  river  bank  the  pali-  river  and   killed  thirty  of    the    inhabi- 

sades   were  placed.       Behind  the   pali-  tants.     They  were   finally  driven  off  by 

sades  there   was  a  parapet  of  earth,  so  soldiers  from  the  fort,  under  the  com- 

that  the  soldiers  inside  could  fire  over  mand    of    Lieutenant     Herkimer,     and 

the  palisades,   and  at  the  four  corners  about    fifteen    of   their     number    were 

there  were  bastions.     The  stone  mansion  killed  or  wounded. 

had  walls  nearly  two  feet  thick,  and  was  The  capture  of  Fort   Frontenac,   now 

two  stories  high,  with  a  basement,  and  Kingston  in  Canada,   in  the  same  year, 

it  had   port  holes   in  each  story  and  in  and  of  Quebec  the  following  year  by  the 

the  basement  so  arranged  as  to  give  op-  soldiers  led  by  the  heroic  Wolf,  followed 

portunity  for  cross  firing.  by  a  general  pacification   of  the  Indian 

The  fort  was  not  called  upon  to  ren-  tribes,  secured  to  the  Palatine  settle- 
der  any  service  until  the  Fall  of  1757,  ments  on  both  sids  of  the  river  the  bless- 
when  the  French  and  Indians  made  their  ings  of    peace;  and  Fort  Herkimer,   no 

47 


longer  needed  as  a  place  of  refuge,  was 
suffered  to  go  to  decay  until  1776  when 
Gen.  Schuyler  directed  its  restoration  by 
Col.  Dayton.  During  the  revolutionary 
war  it  was  the  place  of  refuge  for  the 
people  who  lived  on  the  south  side  of 
the  Mohawk  river,  and  numerous  sad 
tragedies  of  Indian  and  tory  massacres 
took  place  in  its  vicinity,  many  of  which 
are  related  in  our  local  histories. 

It  was  at  Fort  Herkimer  in  1775,  dur- 
ine  the  opening  scenes  of  the  revolu- 
tionary war,  that  the  first  liberty  pole  in 
the  Mohawk  valley  was  erected,  which 
was  cut  down  by  the  Tory  Sheriff  White, 
who  came  from  Johnstown  with  a  body 
of  militia  for  that  purpose. 

In  1773,  Gov.  Tryon  went  to  Fort  Her- 
kimer and  there,  with  Sir  William  John- 
son, reviewed  a  regiment  of  militia  com- 
posed of  the  Palatines  living  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  fort.  It  was  to  Fort  Herkimer  that 
General  Herkimer  and  Captain  Seeber 
and  some  of  the  other  soldiers  wounded 
in  the  Oriskany  battle  were  carried  in 
boats  down  the  river.  After  a  brief 
rest  Gen.  Herkimer  was  carriea  to  his 
home  in  the  present  town  of  Danube, 
where  his  leg  was  amputated  and  he 
died.  Captain  Seeber's  leg  was  ampu- 
tated at  Fort  Herkimer  and  there  he  bled 
to  death. 

In  January,  1783,  General  Washington 
conceived  the  project  of  capturing  the 
British  fort  at  Oswego,  and  selected  Col. 
Willett  to  command  the  troops  detailed 
for  that  purpose.  He  assembled  his 
troops  at  Fort  Herkimer  on  the  7th  day 
of  February  and  on  the  8th  started  up 
the  river  for  their  destination.  The  ex- 
pedition failed  in  consequence  of  the 
cold  and  the  deep  snow  and  other  un- 
forseen  accidents,  and  Col.  Willett  with 
his  forces  returned  to  find  that  prelimi- 
nary articles  of  peace  had  been  signed 
between  the  two  countries  on  the  20th 
of  January. 

In  April  1783,  about  two  months  after 
Col.  Willett's  attempt  to  surprise  the 
fort  at  Oswego,  an  express  arrived  at 
Fort  Plain  from  General  Washington 
with  a  command  that  an  officer  be  sent 
to  Oswego  to  announce  to  the  British 


commander  there  the  cessation  of  hos- 
tilities and  impending  peace.  Captain 
Thomson  was  selected  for  that  duty, 
and  he  started  with  four  companions 
and  a  pack  horse  which  he  left  at  Fort 
Herkimer.  At  the  fort,  eight  days  ra- 
tions for  the  partj'  were  put  into  their 
knapsacks,  and  one  short  musket  was 
concealed  in  a  blanket,  with  which  to 
kill  game  if  by  any  means  their  provis- 
ions failed.  Captain  Thomson  reached 
his  destination  in  safety,  and  he  was  the 
first  to  carry  the  news  of  the  treaty  to 
the  fort  at  Oswego.  In  the  summer  of 
the  same  year.  General  Washington  be- 
ing at  Newburg,  the  headquarters  of  his 
army,  conceived  the  plan  of  a  tour  with 
Governor  George  Clinton  and  other  offi- 
cers, through  the  Mohawk  valley  and 
the  northern  part  of  the  state  to  visit 
the  frontier  posts  and  the  places  which 
had  been  the  theatre  of  important  tran 
sactions  during  the  war.  He  went  as 
far  north  as  Crown  Point,  and  as  far 
west  at  Fort  Schuyler.  He  established 
a  magazine  of  supplies  at  Fort  Herki- 
mer for  the  western  garrisons,  sufficient 
for  five  hundred  men  for  ten  months. 
Col.  Willett  was  in  command  there  at 
that  time.  The  visit  of  General  Wash- 
ington with  his  retinue  was  a  very  in- 
teresting incident  in  the  history  of  the 
fort,  and  many  stories  were  told  about 
it  in  the  Mohawk  valley  for  many  years 
afterwards.  Every  place  touched  by 
the  revered  father  of  our  country  on 
this  journey  was  hallowed  in  the  minds 
of  the  people. 

In  1785.  the  Tuscaroras  and  the  Onei- 
das  met  at  the  fort  and  ceded  to  New 
York  all  the  territory  lying  between  the 
Chenango  and  Unadilla  Rivers. 

The  old  stone  mansion  constituting 
the  most  important  feature  of  Fort 
Herkimer  remained  until  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  Erie  Canal  about  1839  when 
it  was  taken  down,  and  some  of  the  ston^ 
were  used  in  building  a  canal  lock 
near  by,  and  the  bed  of  the  canal  as 
then;,enlarged  covers  the  site  where  the 
mansion  stood.  ^  "    ,_„  * 

Many  years  ago  I  was  told  of'  an  in,- 
teresting  incident  which  occurred  in 
this  fort  about  1778,      The  great  grand- 


48 


father  and  great  giandmother  by  the 
name  of  Nelli3  of  Mrs.  Michael  Foley  of 
our  village  were  married,  and  the 
people  in  the  fort  were  engaged  in  cele- 
brating the  nuptials,  in  the  hilarious 
and  uproarous  way  customary  in  those 
and  later  times  in  this  region,  with 
horns,  tin  pans  and  firing  guns,  a 
genuine  charivari.  While  this  was 
going  on  a  partv  of  Indians  having 
learned  that  there  were  few  soldiers 
there  came  to  surprise  the  fort,  and 
hearing  the  nois^  and  uproar  in  the 
(fort,  they  concluded  that  it  had  been  re- 


inforced and,  fearing  a  sortie,  they  beat 
a  hasty  retreat  and  fled  in  terror  to  the 
woods.  Tnis  is  the  only  case  that  has 
come  to  my  knowledge  where  a.  chari- 
vari served  a  good  purpose. 

I  have  thus  given  a  brief  story  of  the 
principal  events  connected  with  this 
fort.  It  furnished  shelter  during  the 
French  and  Revolutionary  wars  to  the 
brave  and  hardy  ancestors  of  many 
persons  now  living  in  this  vicinity  and 
we  should  not  willingly  lee  it  pass  into 
oblivion. 


! 


49 


THE  FEETER  FAMILY. 


AN  ADDRESS  BY  JOHN   B.    KOETTERITZ,   OF  WTTLE   FAI,LS, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  October  8,  1898. 


Of  equal  importance  as  the  Puritan 
were  to  New  England,  as  the  Huguenota 
were  to  several  of  the  Atlantic  states 
and  the  Quakers  to  Pennsylvania,  were 
the  Palatines  and  their  early  successors 
to  parts  of  the  Colony  and  State  of  New 
York.  Is  it  not  strange  that  many  of 
the  best  works  on  American  history 
hardly  mention  the  early  German  immi- 
grations ?  The  influence  of  the  German 
pioneers  as  a  factor  in  the  civilization  of 
parts  of  this  great  country  and  especially 
of  the  beautiful  Mohawk  Valley,  is 
passed  over,  and  the  present  generation 
knows  little  of  their  early  struggles,  of 
the  hardships  and  privations  they  had  to 
suffer,  and  the  many  patriotic  services 
which  they  rendered. 

It  is  our  aim  to  reclaim  from  oblivion 
the  early  history  of  this  advance  guard 
of  white  men's  supremacy  and  to  collect 
all  such  data  and  tradiiions  which  can 
still  be  ascertained.  Time  has  effaced 
too  many  of  them. 

Sometime  last  winter  a  member  of  the 
Feeter  family  asked  me  about  the  cor- 
rect German  spelling  of  the  family  name. 
Making  some  investigations  and  corres- 
ponding with  some  members  of  the  fam- 
ily, I  became  interested  in  the  history  of 
it,  pursued  it  far  as  I  could  and  I  pre- 
sent to  you  now  what  1  have  been  able 
to  ascertain  by  diligent  research.  The 
name  of  the  family  was  originally  "Vet- 


ter"  and  I  shall  use  this  name    in  this 
paper  until    the   actual    change    of  the       j 
name  occurs. 

The  Vetter  family  can  be  traced  to  one 
Lucas  Vetter,  whose  death  occurred  in  I 
the  year  1483  near  Derdingen,  in  the  , 
present  Kina;dom  of  Wuertemberg,  in 
the  southwestern  part  of  Germany.  He 
evidently  was  the  father  of  many  chil- 
dren, nearly  all  of  whom  had  descend- 
ants and  the  name  Vetter  (meaning  ^ 
cousin)  appears  not  only  frequently  in  I 
his  native  land,  but  can  be  found  in 
many  parts  of  the  present  German  Em- 
pire. Many  men  of  note  and  more  than 
local  fame  trace  their  origin  to 
this  Lucas  Vetter.  The  late  prime 
minister  of  Wuertemberg,  von  Vet-  m: 
ter,  several  well  known  artists,  and  f 
the  general  of  that  name,  famous 
during  the  Hungarian  Revolution  of 
1848,  belong  to  the  same  family.  The 
original  Lucas  Vetter  was  a  blacksmith 
and  free  holder.  It  was  the  custom  in 
families  to  name  the  oldest  son  after  the 
father  and  he  would  generally  follow 
the  trade  of  his  father.  So  we  find  that 
one  Lucas  Vetter,  blacksmith,  would 
succeed  the  other;  starting  with  the 
Roman  Catholic  church  records,  in 
which  we  find  the  first  one  of  that  name, 
we  have  to  continue  our  searches  after 
the  end  of  the  16th  Century  in  the 
Lutheran     church     books.      Numerous 


50 


Vetters  appear  as  "births'"  upon  those 
ledgers  of  our  existence  and  again  they 
disappear  as  "deaths,"  but  through  all 
this  tangle  of  records  runs  steadily  the 
name  of  the  oldest  son  of  the  oldest 
branch — the  Lucas  Vetter,  blacksmith 
and  freeholder.  Counting  the  Lucas 
Vetter,  who  dies  in  1483  as  the  first,  we 
find  that  Lucas  Vetter  the  8th  was  born 
in  the  year  1696,  on  November  23rd,  and 
was  married  in  1722  to  Katharina  Len- 
ninger  (name  is  indistinct  in  the  origi- 
nal record).  It  is  probable  that  he  re- 
moved from  his  home  in  or  near  Derdin- 
gen  to  Schojnaich  because  we  find  the 
subsequent  entries  relating  to  this  branch 
of  the  family  va  the  records  of  the  Luth- 
eran church  at  Schcenaich,  Kingdom  of 
Wuertemberg.  His  oldest  son,  was 
Lucas  Vetter  the  emigrant.  It  is  cer- 
tain that  he  had  at  least  one  brother. 
John  and  possibly  another  John  Jost  or 
Hanjost.  Lucas  Vetter  the  8th,  had  one 
brother,  William,  who  served  all  during 
the  wars  of  that  period  under  the  great 
chieftan,  Prince  Eugene  of  Savoy. 

A  prominent  branch  of  this  Vetter 
family  in  Germany  descends  from  him 
and  I  am  to  that  branch  indebted  for 
great  assistance  in  my  research. 

Lucas  Vetter  the  8th  died  prior  to 
1753.  In  the  Lutheran  Church  Regi?ter 
of  Schcenaich  we  find  under  date  of  Nov- 
ember 8th,  1753,  the  following  entry  : 
"Married,  Lucas  Vetter,  blacksmith,  son 
of  the  Jate  Lucas  Vetter  freeholder  and 
blacksmith,  and  Agnes,  daughter  of  the 
late  freeholder  and  farmer  Jacob  Wack- 
er.  Text  of  my  sermon.  Psalms  128:5-6. 
"The  Lord  shall  bless  thee  out  of  Zion; 
and  thou  shalt  see  the  good  of  Jerusalem 
all  the  days  of  thy  life." 

"Yea,  thou  shalt  see  thy  childrens' 
children,  and  peace  upon  Israel." 

There  is  something  prophetic  in  those 
verses,  as  if  the  new  groom  then  con- 
templated the  long  trip  to  America. 
During  the  summer  of  1754  he  and  his 
young  bride  left  their  native  land  and 
sailed  on  the  good  ship  Neptune  for  the 
new  world.  On  board  of  ship,  as  shown 
by  the  following  certificate,  a  daughter 
was  born: 

"September  19,  1754,  was  born  on  the 


high  seas,  in  ship  Neptune,  of  Christian 
and  honorable  parents,  Anna  Ciitharina, 
her  father  was  Lucas  Vetter,  her  mother 
Agnes  (born)  Wacker,  from  Schcenaich 
in  the  county  of  Wuertemberg.  The 
witnesses  to  her  baptism  were  Michael 
Nestle,  blacksmith  and  his  wife  Doro- 
thea. "May  the  Lord  grant  that  this 
child  may  remain  faithful  to  her  God 
and  its  Baptismal  Covenants.  Extract 
from  Church  Register,  S.  W.  Best, 
Chaplain  of  the  Vessel." 

While  many  of  the  emigrants  became 
"white  slaves"  for  their  passage  money, 
Lucas  Vetter  must  have  been  blessed 
with  the  goods  and  riches  of  this  world, 
as  we  find  that  within  the  first  year  of 
residence  in  this  country  he  purchased 
two  farms.  He  settled  to  the  north  of 
Stone  Arabia  and  probably  devoted  his 
time  to  farming  and  followed  his  trade 
which  is  alwajs  one  of  the  most  useful 
ones  but  which  was  one  of  great  import- 
ance in  a  new  country.  It  is  stated  that 
he  became  at  an  early  time  well  ac- 
quainted with  Sir  William  Johnson.  By 
Chapter  1089  of  the  Colonial  Laws, 
passed  on  July  3rd,  1759.  he  became  a 
naturalized  citizen.  In  1761  he  appears 
in  records  as  one  of  the  original  appli- 
cants for  the  Royal  Grant  and  in  1768  he 
became  one  of  the  three  principal 
patentees  of  the  Byrne  Patent  in 
Schoharie  County.  (See  land  papers, 
office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  Albany, 
N.  Y. 

From  the  various  records  it  appears 
that  in  1762  one  Johannis  and  Johannis 
Yost  Weeder  or  Vetter  lived  near  Lucas. 
Tradition  in  the  family  here  says  that 
all  Feeters  descended  from  Lucas,  the 
immigrant.  It  is  more  than  probable 
that  John  came  to  this  country  and  had 
descendants,  who  have  changed  their 
name  to  Veeder  or  Vedder  and  mis- 
takenly are  considered  as  part  of  the 
well  known  Holland  Dutch  family  of 
that  name.  John  Jost  or  Hanjost  came 
over  here,  but,  according  to  tradition 
preserved  in  the  German  branch,  re- 
turned soon  to  his  native  country.  John 
Jost's  oldest  son,  Lucas,  born  in  1758, 
died  in  1800  in  Germany  and  one  of  his 
sons  died  in  the  war  of  Napoleon  against 

61 


Russia  in  1812  aud  a  grandson  died  only 
last  year  at  Schoenaich.  The  trade  of 
"smith"'  is  siill  followed  by  that  branch 
of  the  family  which  is  now  only  n  pre- 
sented by  one  malo  descendent,  Lucas 
Vetter,  living  at  Musberg,  Germany. 

From  the  records  of  the  Stone  Arabia 
Lutheran  church  we  have  the  following 
about  the  family  of  Lucas,  the  immi- 
grant :  Wilhelm,  his  oldest  son,  was 
born  January  5th,  1756.  Consequently 
Lucas,  the  other  son  must  have  been 
younger  than  William.  The  records  do 
not  state  when  he  was  born. 

Prior  to  about  1765.  Agnes  Vetter  must 
have  died.  In  1765  Lucas  Vetter  mar- 
ried again  and  his  second  wife  was 
Maria  Eva,  the  daughter  of  Captain 
Peter  and  Lena  Serviss.  By  this  inter- 
marriage with  the  Serviss  family,  which 
was  related  to  the  first  wife  of  Sir  Will- 
iam Johnson,  Lucas  Vetter  became  still 
more  closely  attached  to  the  Johnsons, 

In  1767  a  daughter  was,  born,  named 
Anna,  and  it  is  possible  that  another  son 
was  the  offspring  of  this  marriage.  I 
have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  what  be- 
came of  the  two  girls,  and  whether  or 
not  such  a  son  existed  and  reached  man- 
hood, is  based  upon  very  faint  tradition 
in  the  family.  Consequently  we  can 
follow  with  certainty  only  the  two  sons, 
"Wilhelm  and  Lucas.  The  elder  Lucas, 
bound  by  many  ties  to  the  Johnson 
family  and  influenced  by  a  Tory  wife, 
followed  the  fortunes  of  Sir  John  and 
removed  in  1780  to  Montreal  where  he 
died  in  about  1785.  His  son  Lucas,  had 
grown  up  at  Johnson  Hall  as  a  favorite 
of  the  old  baronet  and  a  playmate  of  the 
younger  members  of  Sir  William's 
household  and  as  soon  as  hostilities  be- 
gan, he  enlisted  m  the  Johnson  Green's 
and  fought  on  the  side  of  the  British 
during  the  whole  of  the  war.  After  the 
revolutian  he  settled  on  bounty  lands 
near  Matilda,  Canada,  which  lands  are 
still  in  possession  of  the  family.  He 
died  in  1842  leaving  many  descend- 
ants Jiving  in  many  parts  of  Canada  and 
the  United  States,  respected  and  useful 
citizens  of  their  respective  communities. 
This  branch  of  the  family  spells  the 
name  "Feader." 


Wilhelm,  the  oth^r  son,  and  the  an-- 
cestor  of  all  the  United  States  branch  of 
that  family,  was  brought  up  on  the 
home  farm  &nd  enjoyed  such  educatiori 
as  the  Stone  Arabia  schools  afforded. 
The  great  majority  of  the  citizens  of 
that  vicinity  were  like  the  Vetters,  of 
sturdy  German  stock  and  many  of  them 
descendants  of  Palatme  forefathers. 
They  objected'  fcO'  the  feudal  manor 
which  Sir  Wilhelm  tried  to  create,  they 
feared  and  they  detested  especially  the 
foppish  and  arrogant  manners  of  Sir 
John  and  his  set.  When  the  storm  be- 
tween the  mother  country  and  the  col- 
onies began  to  rise,  there  were  no  more 
patriotic  and  loyal  Americans  in  the 
Colony  than  the  Germans  in  Stone 
Arabia.  With  them  Wilhelm  had  grown 
up  and  likely  as  a  boy  had  listened  to 
their  discussions  and  complaints.  Pos- 
sibly home  life  with  a  Tory  stepmother 
had  separated  Mm  early  from  home  in- 
fluences and  prejudiced  his  father 
against  the  boy  who  associated  with  the 
so-called  rebels. 

In  1776  the  Vetter  family  lived  at 
Johnstown  village  and  removed  the 
same  year  to  where  now  the  city  of 
Amsterdam  is.  William's  affiliation  did 
not  suit  the  rest  of  the  family  and 
he  left  home.  The  tradition  among 
his  descendents  is  that  he  a'one  of  the 
family  embraced  the  cause  of  the  colony 
and  that  finally  he  alone  remained  in 
the  United  States.  The  Canadian  branch 
believes  that  only  the  father  and  mother 
and  the  son  Lucas  went  to  Canada;  that 
William  and  the  rest  of  the  children  re- 
mained here.  I  have  not  been  able  to 
ascertain  which  story  is  true. 

In  the  latter  days  of  his  life.  Mr. 
Feeter  dictated  to  one  George  Heller,  a 
school  teacher,  a  short  narrative  of  his 
experiences  during  the  revolution, 
which  has  since  been  arranged  by  Jacob 
W.  Feeter,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  his 
grandson,  and  from  which  I  quote  freely 
and  partly  verbatim  :  During  the  spring 
of  1776  William  enlisted  in  the  com- 
pany of  Captain  Emmanuel  De  Graff  at 
Amsterdam,  Tyron  county  and  took  part 
in  scouting  exhibitions  to  Jo'nnstown, 
Caughnawaga  and  the  Sacondaga  River 


52 


In  June  1777,  he  was  drafted  into  the 
militia  and  joined  the  company  com- 
manded by  Captain  Abraham  Yates, 
which  went  up  to  Fort  Stanwix  and 
from  there  to  the  Wood  Creek,  to  ob- 
struct the  passage  of  that  river  by  fell- 
ing trees  across.  From  there  he  return- 
ed to  Amsterdam.  His  parents  and 
biotlier  were  enraged  at  him  for  taking 
up  arms  against  the  king  and  he  was 
ordered  to  leave  his  home  forever,  an 
outcast.  He  left  Amsterdam  and  went 
to  his  former  home  at  Stone  Arabia, 
staying  sometimes  at  tlie  old  homestead, 
but  more  often  at  the  home  of  the  patri- 
otic Gray  family  living  in  his  neighbor- 
hood. At  Stone  Arabia  he  enlisted  in 
the  company  of  Captain  Suffrenus 
Cook  in  Col.  Klock's  regiment.  Wheth- 
er or  not  he  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Oriskany  is  uncertain,  but  he  mentions 
in  his  memoirs  that  he  took  part  in  nu- 
merous scouting  expeditions  of  that 
time.  In  the  spring  of  1778  he  was 
drafted  for  three  months  and  went  with 
Captain  Samuel  Gray's  company  to 
Unadilla  to  look  for  Tories  and  Indians. 
When  the  company  reached  Fort  Herki- 
mer, William  was  sent  with  an  Indian 
prisoner  back  ti  Stone  Arabia,  After 
he  returned  from  there,  the  fort  was  at- 
tacked by  Indians  and  Tories.  The 
company  did  not  go  to  Unadilla,  but 
was  finally  ordered  to  the  Geisenberg 
near  Fort  Plain,  in  the  present  locality 
known  as  Dutch  Town,  and  remained 
there  until  the  massacre  of  Cherry  Val- 
ley, to  which  place  they  marched  after 
that  affair  with  the  rest  of  the  regiment 
Feeter  and  another  man  were  sent  ahead 
as  scouts  to  locate  the  enemy.  The  mi- 
litia buried  the  dead  and  returned  to  the 
■Geisenberg. 

An  Indian  band  had  made  five  prison- 
ers at  Stone  Arabia  and  the  company  to 
whicli  Feeter  belonged  was  sent  in  pur- 
suit, but  the  redskins  escaped. 

In  February,  1779,  Feeter  enlisted 
again  in  Samuel  Gray's  company  which 
was  to  convey  and  protect  ;30  batteaus 
of  provisions  and  ammunition  from 
Schenectady  to  Fort  Stanwix.  The 
opening  of  the  river  did  not  occur  until 
April  and  the  company  was  furloughed, 


While  on  furlough,  Feeter  went  with 
Captain  Gray  and  others  in  pursuit  of 
some  Indians  to  Tillaborongh.  The 
transports  arrived  at  Fort  Stauwix  on 
April  18th,  1779,  and  Colonel  Van 
Schaick  of  the  Continental  Army  look 
his  command  and  the  boating  party  to 
Fort  Brainington  on  Oneida  Lake,  from 
whence  he  set  out  to  destroy  Onondaga 
Castle,  leaving  the  boatmen  and  convoy 
as  a  rear  guard.  The  whole  party  re- 
turned to  Fort  Stanwix  on  April  2."5th, 
after  complete  destruction  of  the  Indian 
villages.  The  Gi*ay  company  returned 
with  the  boats  and  30  Indian  prisoners 
to  Schenectady.  Twice  more  that  spring 
they  brought  such  transports  to  Fort 
Stanwix.  In  June.  1779,  the  whole  of 
Captain  Gray's  company  volunteered  to 
join  the  division  of  Geii-eral  James  Clin- 
ton' and  took  part  in  Sullivan's  famous 
campaign.  History  records  the  valient 
services  of  the  boatm-n  who  moved  this 
big  body  of  troops  from  Cooperstown 
down  to  Tioga  and  Wyoming  and  dur- 
ing this  campaign  carrifd  provisions, 
ammunition,  prisoners  and  the  wounded. 
The  company  finally  reached  Easton, 
Pennsylvania  and  from  there  marched 
home  to  Stone  Arabia  which  they  reach- 
ed in  November,  1779.  During  the  bat- 
tle of  Newton,  so  family  tradition  says, 
the  two  brothers  met,  Lucas  being  there 
as  a  soldier  in  the  Johnson  Green's. 
Verily  not  the  only  instance  during  the 
revolution  wh^re  brother  met  brother 
face  to  face  as  foes. 

Again,  in  January,  1780,  Feeter  en- 
listed in  Gray's  company  and  all  sum- 
mer they  were  busy  navigating  the  river 
to  Fort  Stanwix,  Fort  Schuyler,  Fort 
Dayton,  Fort  Herkimer  and  Fort  Plain. 
On  one  of  their  trips  they  were  warned 
by  friendly  Indians  that  Brant  wiih  a 
large  force  laid  in  am^)ush  for  them 
above  Fort  Schuyler,  and  they  quickly 
sent  for  reinforcements.  The  company 
'•being  soldiers  and  sailors  too,"  to  quote 
Kipling,  had  only  a  small  fiiihting  force. 
General  VanRenselaer  with  some  quick- 
ly collected  militia  came  to  their  assis- 
tance and  convoyed  the  party  safely  to 
Fort  Stanwix.  During  Ocober,  1780, 
William    spent     a    furlough     at    Stone 


53 


Arabia,   and   while  there  the   battle   of  Major  Finck  arrived  with  succor.  Fincfc 

Stone  Arabia  look  place.     He  joined  im-  and  Feeter  were  in  advance  of  the  troop* 

mediately  the  pursuing  party  and  went  who  pursued  the  British  until  they  were 

with  them  to  Fort  Herkimer.     Until  ice  checked  by  superior  numbers  and  until 


stopped  navigation  he  continued  in  the 
boating  service.  Early  in  1781  he  en- 
lisied  in  the  Levies  commanded  by  Mari- 
nus  Willett  and  took  part  in  many 
scouting  partita.  In  July  of  that  year, 
he  helped  in  the  surprise  a  d  pursuit  of 
Jacob  Klock,  a  former  militia  officer 
who  had  turned  Tory.  Feeter  was  one 
of  the  scouts;  they  routed  Klock's  party 


Fmck  gave  orders  to  retreat,  which  was 
done.  Soon  Col.  Willett  came  up  with 
eome  militia  and  dro'<  e  the  enemy  from 
the  field.  Many  of  Feeter's  friends 
and  neighbors  from  Stone  Arabia  had 
been  wounded  and  he  was  ordered  to 
proceed  there  to  bring  help  and  assist- 
ance for  the  wounded.  Without  rest  or 
food  he  started   for  that   place  and  re- 


completely,  captured  arms  and  one  scalp  turned  early   next   mornina:,   but  to  bis 

which  Andrew  Gray   took  with   him  to  regret,  too  late  to  join  in   the  pursuit. 

Scone  Arabia.  Before  the  end  of  the   war  many  Tories 

Another  Tory  party  attacked  early    in  had  returned    and    occupied    their    old 

September  the  fortified  house  of  Jacob  homes  again.      This  enraged    the  loyal 

Timmerman  in  St.   JohnsviUe.     A  troop  party  and  parties  similar  to  the  White 

of  levies  among   which   Feeter  was,  fol-  Caps  of   today   would   visit  nights  the 

lowed  the  Tories  to  the   northern  part  of  homes  of  the  Tories  and  flog  thtm  with- 

thi-  Jerseyfield,  but  they  escaped.  in  an  inch  of  their   lives.      Proceedings 

It  would  he  too  lenj^thy  to  enumerate  were  begun  against  some  of  the  Whigs 


all  the  different  scouting  parties  of 
which  Feeter  was  a  member.  Willett 
kept  his  soldiers  constantly  moving  and 
the  service  was  very  hard,  long  marches, 
lack  of  shelter  and  proper  food  and 
many  false  alarms  proved  great  h^rd- 


and  a  number  were  cast  into  jail,  but 
liberated  soon  afterwards  by  their  friends 
under  the  leadership  of  Wilhelm  Feeter 
who  opened  the  jail  with  bars  and 
sledges.     That  was  the  end  of  it. 

With  the  ending  of  the  war,   Feeter 


ships  to  the  troops.  Feeter  was  variously  returned  to  peaceful  pursuits.  All  the 
stationed  at  Fort  Plain,  Fort  Plank  and  lands  owned  by  his  father  had  been  con- 
Fort  Herkimer  during  the  years  1781  fiscated  by  the  state  under  the  acts  of  at- 
and  1782.  tainder,  and  he  had  no  property  of  his 
In  October  1782  a  large  force  composed  own.  He  had  to  make  a  hard  fight  for 
of  British  troops,  Indians  and  Tories  un-  the  recovery  of  his  own  share.  He  sold 
der  Butler    and    Ross    appeared    in  the  soon  after  the   war     all  his   interests  in 


Mohawk  Valley.  Feeter  and  two  young 
men  started  for  Stone  Arabia  and  travel- 
led 12  miles  to  join  Willett  at  Anthony's 
Nose  on  the   Mohawk  river.     He  moved 


Stone  Arabia  and  elsewhere  and  pur- 
chased his  homestead  farm  near  Little 
Falls,  northwest  of  the  Revolutionary 
Fort  Riemensnyder  on   Glen's  Purchase. 


towards  Caughnawaga  along  the  south  It  is  the  farm  now  in   possession  of  the 

side  of  the  river,  when  he  was  informed  Goodale  family,   pleasantly   located  and 

that  the  enemy    was  marching  towards  being  fine  dairy  land.      Of  course  only  a 

Johnstown  by  way  of  Tribes  Hill.     Wil-  small  part  of  the  land  had  been  cultJ- 

lett  sent  from    Caughnawaga   William  vated    before    the    revolution    and    the 

Feeter  and  William  Wallace  as  scouts  to  young  soldier  farmer   had  to  clear  the 

find  the  enemy,    which   they  located  at  forest  and  break  the  virgin  soil. 
Johnstown  near  Johnson  Hall.     Wallace       Early  in    1762    he    married   Elizabeth 

returned  and   Feeter  stayed  at   the  jail  Bellinger,  daughter  of  Philip  or  "Lips" 

with  Captain   Liddle  and  his  guard  of  Bellinger,  born  March  23d,  1765,  who  for 

six  men.     When   Willett  arrived  in  ad-  49  years  was  his  loving   wife  and  help - 

vance  of  his  troops,   Feeter   guided  him  mate.      Twelve  children  were  born  to 

within  sight  of  the  British  and  he  and  them,  five  sons  and  seven  daughters  : 

Captain  Liddle  observed  the  enemy  until  Adam,  Eva,   wife  of  Jacob  Scott,  Wil- 

54 


liam,  George  Henry,  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Daniel  Timnierman,  Catharine,  (Katy) 
wife  of  Peter  Stauring,  Nancy,  wife  of 
William  Himes,  Dorothea  (Dolly)  wife  of 
Abram  Eysaman,  Delia,  wife  of  Jacob 
Small,  Johannes  (John)  Feeter  and  Peter 
Feeter.  Nine  of  these  had  numerous 
children  and  all  his  descendants  number 
nearly  one  thousand. 

His  new  home  was  located  in  a  Ger- 
man neighborhood,  all  their  friends  were 
descendents  of  the  early  emmigrants 
and  there  at  the  Riemensnyderbush, 
around  that  old  Lutheran  church,  and 
the  old  burying  ground,  existed  in  those 
early  days  a  larger  settlement  than  at 
the  present  City  of  Little  Falls.  William 
Feeter  soon  occupied  a  leading  position, 
his  earthly  goods  mcreased  from  year 
to  year  and  he  became  the  owner  of 
many  good  and  broad  acres  of  land  and 
when  his  children  started  in  life  he  had 
given  them  a  good  start  for  the   future. 

Feeter  was  appointed  Justice  of  the 
Peace  in  1791  and  held  that  poiition  for 
many  yeais.  Soon  after  the  war  he 
joined  the  militia  and  rose  gradually 
to  the  rank  of  Colonel  of  the  Harkiraer 
Regiment  of  Infantry  (the  later  27th) 
which  he  comma  ded  until  and  during 
the  beginning  of  the  second  war  with 
Great  Britain. 

Colonel  Feeter  was  not  only  prosperous 
but  public-spirited  and  contributed  liber- 
ally to  all  worthy  enterprises.  He  was 
one  of  the  original  contributors  to  the 
Octagon  church  at  Little  Falls;  he  con- 
tinued his  association  with  the  Stone 
Arabia  church  during  his  life  and  was 
the  main  support  of  of  his  own,  the 
Yellow  church,  near  his  home.  One  of 
his  descendants,  who  remembers  him 
well,  describes  him  as  a  man  not  above 
medium  size,  dark  hair  and  complexion, 
quick  in  motion,  and  quick  of  temper 
but  kind  of  heart.  He  loved  sociability 
and  liked  to  enjoy  the  good  things  of  life 
in  wise  moderation.  His  greatest  en- 
joyment seemed  to  be  the  social  gather- 
ings on  German  holidays.  Easter,  Christ- 
mas and  New  Years,  and,  in  the  fall,  a 
harvest  festival  for  all  his  numerous 
family,  help  and  neighbors  and  at  each 
time  be  offered  plenty  of  good  cheer  and 


a  hearty  welcome.  One  of  his  grand- 
daughters still  living  described  the  cele- 
bration of  a  New  Year's  evening  to  me. 
The  large  and  commodious  house  was 
tlirown  open,  fires  blazed  in  all  the 
fire  places,  candles  lighted  the  rooms, 
the  tables  were  set  in  nearly  every 
room  of  the  house  and  turkeys,  chickens, 
roast  pigs,  hams  and  numerous  "Mo- 
hawk Dutch"  dishes  loaded  the  tables 
and  in  the  middle  of  each  stood  a 
steaming  bowl  of  punch.  After  the 
meal  was  disposed  of,  the  Colonel  arose 
and  sang  a  short  German  hymn  and 
said  a  short  prayer  of  thanks. 
Teen  he  would  wish  them  all  a  happy 
New  Year,  usually  adding  for  each  a 
separate  joke  which  set  all  in  the  best 
of  humor.  Later  on  the  tables  would  be 
cleared  away  and  the  dancing  began. 
Abram  Eysaman  and  Peter  Stauring, 
two  of  his  sons  in-law  would  play  the 
fiddle  and  everybody,  old  and  young, 
would  join  the  fun.  In  the  intervals, 
the  Colonel,  who  was  a  fine  singer, 
would  sing  to  theirgreat  delight  patriotic 
and  German  folk  love  songs  and  often 
he  would  call  on  Katty  Stauring  and 
Dolly  Eysaman  and  have  them  perform 
some  so'o-dances  as  they  were  graceful 
and  skilled  dancers.  He  became  a 
communicant  of  the  Lutheran  church 
on  November  1st,  1778  at  Stone  Arabia. 
He  was  a  regular  attendant  at  church 
and  insisted  that  all  his  family  and  help 
joined  him  which  was  not  always  agree- 
able to  the  younger  set  on  account  of 
the  lengthy  sermons. 

In  politics  he  was  always  a  Fedeaalist. 
There  was  no  man  more  highly  respected 
in  the  community  than  the  colonel  and 
no  father  more  beloved  than  he  and  it 
is  not  the  idle  word  of  a  chronicler  that 
with  his  death  which  occurred  in  1844, 
in  his  Both  year,  there  passed  away  one 
of  the  sterling  characters  of  his  time, 

Ic  would  extend  this  paper  too  far  if 
I  attempted  to  mention  many  of  his 
numerous  offspring.  There  was  George 
Henry,  well  known  as  an  attorney,  a 
public  and  after-dinner*  speaker, 
Johannis,  the  last  to  depart  of  all,  Adam, 
a  soldier  of  1813,  the  oldest  son  and 
father  of  James  and     grandfather     of 


55 


James  D.  Feeter,  who  is  now  the  oldest 
male  descendant  of  the  oldest  branch  of 
all  the  Feeters  and  Feaders  in  North 
America  and  well  known  to  you. 

A  number  of  his  descendants  enlisted 
during  the  present  war  and  several 
fought  during  the  War  of  the  rebellion 


in  the  Union  army.  While  his  scions 
have  all  reason  to  be  proud  of  their  an- 
cestor, the  Old  Revolutionary  soldier, 
the  patriotic  citizen  of  the  new  repub- 
lic has  equal  right  to  be  proud  of  his 
offsprmg. 


56 


THE  MOHAWK  VALLEY  AND  THE  PALATINES. 


AN  ADDRESS  BY  HON.  ROBERT  EARI,  OF  HERKIMER. 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  November  12,  1898. 


The  Palatines  who  came  from  the 
Palatinate  in  Germany  in  the  early  part 
of  the  eighteenth  century  had  before 
their  exodus  been  subjected  to  great 
suffering  and  misery  for  many  years. 
Their  country  had  been  many  times  de- 
vastated by  religious  and  dynastic  wars. 
Their  houses  and  villages  had  repeatedly 
been  given  to  the  torch  and  their  per- 
sonal property  plundered  or  destroyed. 
In  an  age  when  religious  toleration  was 
little  practiced,  there  were  wars  between 
Luthernism  and  Galvanism,  between 
Protestantism  and  Romanism,  and  wi  h 
the  French.  Their  lives  became  intolor- 
able  there,  and  in  large  numbers  they 
emigrated  to  escape  their  wretched  con- 
dition. When  they  landed  in  Englard, 
they  were  miserably  poor,  and  they  be- 
came objects  of  sympathy  and  charity. 
Most  of  them  were  shipped  to  this  coun- 
try, reaching  here  the  poorest  and  most 
miserable  emigrants  that  ever  landed 
in  any  part  of  our  territory.  A  large 
number  of  them  were  settled  on  land 
now  embraced  within  the  counties  of 
Columbia  and  Ulster.  There  they  were 
oppressed,  cheated  and  wronged;  and 
after  toiling  several  years  they  were 
unable  much  to  improve  their  condition. 
Then  a  large  number  of  them  removed 
to  Schoharie  county ;  and  after  re- 
maining there  several  years,  and 
again  suflferiog  wrongs,   and  being   un- 


able to  adjust  their  land  titles  satisfac- 
torily, a  portion  of  them  came  to  the  Mo- 
hawk valley  here  upon  land  covered  by 
the  Burnetsfield  patent.  They  reached 
here  about  the  year  1733  and  were  again 
obliged  to  commence  the  struggle  for 
existence  anew.  They  were  ignorant, 
and  had  little  property  of  any  kind. 
But  here  they  could  for  the  first  time 
get,  what  they  had  at  all  times  longed 
for  since  their  arrival  in  America,  good 
title  to  their  land;  and  they  went  ta 
work  with  a  will  to  improve  their  condi- 
tion. They  were  hardy,  industrious, 
pious  and  brave,  and  the  many  perils 
and  trials  to  which  they  had  been  sub- 
jected in  Germany  and  in  this  country 
had  in  some  measure  made  them  heroic. 
Here  they  cleared  the  forests  and  lived 
in  peace  with  the  Indians,  their  only 
neighbors;  and  by  the  year  1757  they 
had  become  prosperous,  comfortable  and 
comparitively  rich.  In  that  year,  dire 
misfortune  again  overtook  them.  Their 
settlements  here  and  in  this  vicinity 
were  ravaged  by  the  French  and  In- 
dians in  what  is  called  the  French  war, 
and  nearly  all  their  property,  but  their 
land,  was  destroyed;  and  they  were 
again  reduced  to  poverty.  After  the 
termination  of  that  war,  they  made  a 
new  start  and  with  great  industry  and 
courage  cultivated  their  lands  and  again 
acquired  comfortable  homes  and  consid- 


57 


erable  property.  Then  came  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  and  during  that  war  their 
settlements  were  several  times  raided  by 
Tories  and  Indians  and  their  homes 
burned  and  property  carried  ofif  or  de- 
stroyed; and  they  were  again  reduced  to 
poverty.  So  it  may  be  truthfully  said 
that  no  people  ever  suffered  more  from 
the  ravages  of  war,  and  from  savage 
and  cruel  men  than  the  Palatines  and 
their  descendents,  during  the  hundred 
years  preceeding  the  close  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  At  the  end  of  that  war, 
and  as  one  of  its  sad  results,  there  were 
in  the  Mohawk  valley  three  thousand 
orphans  and  three  hundred  widows. 
The  settlers  had  poor  homes,  do 
churches,  no  school  houses,  no  taverns, 
and  little  to  make  life  comfortable.  A 
traveler  through  the  valley  at  that  time 
would  have  found  little  of  interest  but 
fertile  land  occupied  by  a  poor,  ignor- 
ant, industrious,  hardy  race  of  men  and 
women,  with  mental  and  physical  char- 
acteristics which  gave  promise  of  what 
they  subsequently  achieved. 

I  have  given  this  brief  sketch  of  the 
Palatines  and  their  immediate  descend- 
ents for  the  purpose  of  introducing  the 
substance  of  two  narratives  written  by 
two  men  of  great  distinction  who  trav 
«lled  through  the  Mohawk  valley  soon 
after  the  Revolutionary  war.  These 
narratives  are  not  now  easily  accessable, 
and  I  have  thought  it  best  to  place  the 
substance  of  them  before  this  society. 

Eikanah  Watson  was  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts in  1758  and  died  at  Port  Kent 
on  Lake  Champlain  in  1842.  At  the  age 
of  15,  he  was  apprenticed  to  John  Brown, 
who  was  extensively  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile business  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  and 
who  subseejuently  became  the  patentee 
of  John  Brown's  tract  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  county.  Such  was  his  ability 
and  the  confidence  Mr.  Brown  had  in 
him  that,  when  he  was  but  19  years  old, 
in  1777,  he  sent  him  to  Charlston  and 
other  places  in  the  south  with  over 
$50,000  to  invest  in  cargoes  of  southern 
products  for  shipment  to  Europe.  Two 
years  afterward,  when  he  was  but 
twenty- one  years  of  age,  with  Mr.  Brown 
and  others  as  partners,  he  opened  a  com- 


mercial house  at  Nantea  in  France  where 
he  carried  on  a  large  and  profitable  busi- 
ness for  several  years,  returning  to  this 
country  in  1T84. 

He  was  on  intimate  terms  with  George 
Washington,  Benjamin  Franklin,  John 
Adamd,  and  ma'iy  others  of  the  promi- 
nent men  of  the  Revolutionary  period. 
He  traveled  extensively  in  Europe  and 
this  country  and  he  was  a  sagacious  and 
careful  student  of  the  facts  which  came 
under  his  observation;  and  his  diary  and 
memoirs,  a  most  interesting  volume, 
were  published  by  his  son  after  his  death. 
He  first  passed  up  and  down  the  Mo- 
hawk valley  in  1788,  and  the  following 
is  the  substance  of  what  he  says  of  the 
valley.  He  speaks  of  it  as  "A  rich 
region  under  high  cultivation  and 
adorned  with  luxurious  clover  pastures. 
This  lovely  valley  was  almost  on  a  level 
with  the  river  and  was  bounded  on  the 
north  by  a  lofty  range  of  hil!s  whose 
cliffs  at  times  seemed  impending  over 
him.  The  fields  were  separated  by  gates 
only,  with  no  fences  on  the  roadside. 
The  beauty  of  the  country,  the  majestic 
appearance  of  the  adjacent  mountains, 
the  state  of  advanced  agriculture  ex- 
hibited in  a  long  succession  of  excellent 
farms,  and  the  rich  fragrancy  of  the  air 
redolent  with  the  perfume  of  the  clover, 
all  combined  to  present  a  scene  which 
he  was  not  prepared  to  witness  on  the 
banks  of  the  Mohawk. 

The  valley  was  subjected  to  inunda- 
tions which  not  unfrequently  wasted 
the  labors  of  a  season,  and  much  depre- 
ciated theapparant  value  of  these  estates. 
Traveling  the  whole  day  through  this 
land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey,  he 
was  not  only  surprised,  but  seriously 
distressed  at  the  total  absence  of  all  ac- 
commodations for  the  relief  and  com- 
fort of  the  traveler." 

"The  country  known  as  the  German 
Flatts  had  long  been  inhabitated,  and 
was  densly  occupied  by  a  German  popu- 
lation. This  people  had  suffered  severely 
during  the  war  of  independence  from 
the  ravages  of  the  Tories  and  Indians, 
and  had  been  nearly  extirpated.  Im- 
pressive vestiges  of  these  events  were 
exhibited  throughout  the  entire  district. 

58 


Their  safety  was  only  secured  by  the 
erection  of  numerous  block  houses  which 
were  constructed  upon  commanding  po- 
sitions, and  often  mounted  with  cannon. 
Many  of  the  se  structures  were  yet  stand- 
ing and  were  seen  in  every  direction. 
Th-e  sufferings  and  sacrifices  of  this 
population  have  few  parallels  io  the 
atrocities  of  civil  war.  He  entered  no 
familj'  in  which  he  did  not  hear  thrilling 
recitals  of  the  massacre  of  some  branch 
of  it  by  ferocious  barbarians  who  carried 
fire  and  the  sword  through  their  settle- 
ment, or  of  some  appalling  scene  of  dan- 
ger and  suffering  connected  with  its 
own  history.  This  entire  people  were 
for  many  years  exposed  to  constant 
alarm  and  agitation  without  any  knowl- 
edge or  suspicion  of  the  immediate  ap- 
proach of  their  ruthless  foe.  Settlements 
were  burst  upon  and  devastated  in  one 
swoop  in  blood  and  flames,  while  the 
same  tragic  scene  was  often  renewed  the 
succeeding  night  by  the  same  bands  in 
some  remote  and  equally  unsuspecting 
community." 

He  says  he  reached  a  miserable  log 
tavern  in  the  present  town  of  Schuyler 
and  that  from  that  place  he  began  to 
travel  in  the  wilderness  bordering  upon 
the  Indian  Territory;  that  the  road  was 
almost  impassable,  and  he  was  upwards 
of  three  hours  in  going  about  six  miles 
to  the  Mohawk  river  opposite  the  pres- 
ent site  of  Utica,  and  that  there  be  ford- 
ed the  river,  both  shores  being  alive  with 
savages.  A.s  theie  was  no  tavern  and 
there  were  only  a  few  scattered  houses, 
he  proceeded  to  an  old  German  log  house 
on  the  margin  of  the  river  and,  not  hav- 
ing had  anything  to  eat  for  twenty-four 
hours,  he  implored  for  something  to  eat. 
At  length,  after  much  difficulty,  he  pre- 
vailed on  an  old  native  German  woman 
to  spare  him  two  ears  of  ereen  corn  and 
some  salt. 

At  Fort  Schuyler,  called  by  him  Fort 
Stanwix,  therw  was  a  treaty  in  progress 
with  the  Six  Nations  for  the  cession  of 
their  territory  lying  west  of  Fort  Stan- 
wix.  Gov.  Clinton  and  eight  other  com- 
missioners, and  a  large  number  of  Indi- 
ans, male  and  femah>,  were  there;  and 
the  result  was  that  the  Indian  title   to 


eight  million  acres  of  land  was  extin- 
guished. He  thought  the  site  of  Fort 
Stanvvix  would  become  the  emporium  of 
commerce  between  Albany  and  the  vast 
western  world. 

He  again  passed  through  the  valley  in 
1791;  and  sp3aking  of  the  Germans  and 
Dutch  in  the  Mohawk  valley  at  that 
time,  he  said  :  "Thus  far  the  German 
and  Dutch  farmers  have  been  in  a  man- 
ner remiss  in  cultivating  the  first  rudi- 
ments of  literature,  while  the  descen- 
dents  of  the  English  in  New  England 
have  cherished  it  as  a  primary  duty. 
Hence  the  characteristics  are  very  dif- 
ferent. When  literature  shall  begin  to 
shed  its  benign  rays  over  this  benighted 
race,  then  and  not  till  then,  the  Ger- 
mans and  Dutch  and  the  Yankees  will 
dismiss  all  local,  illiberal  prejudices  and 
distinctions;  and  in  twenty  or  thirty 
years,  the  shades  of  discordance  will  be 
hardly  perceptible." 

He  more  than  other  men,  at  that  early 
day,  foresaw  the  importance  and  feasi- 
bility of  canal  navigation  connecting  the 
lakes  of  the  west  with  the  Hudson  river, 
and  he  says:  ''I  am  induced  to  believe, 
should  the  western  canals  ever  be  made, 
and  the  Mohawk  valley  in  one  sense  be- 
come a  continuation  of  the  Hudson  river 
by  means  of  canals  and  locks,  that  it 
will  most  clearly  obviate  the  necessity  of 
sending  produce  to  market  in  winter  by 
sleighs.  On  the  contrary,  it  would  be 
stored  upon  the  margin  of  the  Mohawk 
in  winter,  and  be  sent  in  the  summer 
months  in  bateaux  to  be  unloaded  aboard 
vessels  in  the  Hudson." 

He  says  it  was  the  most  thickly  settled 
on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  and  that 
going  up  the  river  from  Fort  Herkimer 
the  bateaux  were  taken  up  stream  against 
the  current,  each  boat  being  manned  by 
three  men,  two  in  the  bow  and  one  in 
the  stern  to  steer;  that  these  boatmen 
occasionally  rowed  in  still  water,  setting 
with  short  poles  at  the  rapids  with  sur- 
prising dexterity;  that  the  average  pro- 
gress was  three  miles  per  hour,  and  the 
work  was  extremely  laborious  and  fa- 
tiguing; that  at  night  they  encamped  in 
a  log  hut  on  the  margin  of  the  river 
about  ten  miles  east  of  Utica;  that  Utica 


59 


and  Fort  Stanwix  were  rivals  as  a  site  Yale,  he  traveled  in  various  parts  of  our 
for  a  toivn  for  the  western  trade;  but  country:  and  among  other  journeys  be 
that  he  thought  Fort  Stanwix  had  the  made  one  through  the  Mohawk  valley, 
advantage  and  was  destined  to  become  a  about  1790;  and  he  published  four  vol- 
great  city.  He  states  that  the  first  mail  umes  giving  an  account  of  his  travels, 
wagon  and  public  conveyance  between  I  here  give  the  substance  of  what  he 
Schenectady  and  Albany  was  started  in  says  of  the  Mohawk  valley  :  "The  set- 
1791  and  that  it  was  doubted  whether  it  tlements  along  ihe  river  are  almost  uni- 
would  pay  to  run  it  once  a  week,  versally  scattered  plantations,  almost  all 

He  mentions  the  fact  that  oxen  were  the  inhabitants  being  farmers  of  Dutch 
first  introduced  into  the  Mohawk  valley  extraction.  In  most  of  the  older  settle- 
by  New  Englanders.     As  is  seen  from    ments,    the   houses  are   generally  good, 


his  narrative,  there  were  no  fences  along 
the  sides  of  highways.  But  the  division 
lines  of  farms  extended  across  the  high- 
ways with   gates  to  be  opened  and  shut 


comfortable  Dutch  houses.  The  cultiva- 
tion is  moderately  good  also;  and  is  pur- 
sued in  exactly  the  same  manner  in 
which  it  was    begun  by  their  ancestors. 


by  travelers.  He  also  mentions  a  matter  and  confined  almost  entirely  to  wheat, 
of  interest  about  the  ba  tie  of  Oriskany.  peas  and  grass,  the  latter  of  which,  how- 
He  was  shown  over  the  battle-field  in  ever,  is  always  an  inferior  object  of  at- 
1788  by  two  Germans  who  were  in  the  tention.  The  circumstances  of  the  in- 
battle;  and  the  tree  was  pointed  out  to  habitants  appear  to  be  easy  and  their 
him  against  which  General  Herkimer  life  quiet  and  enterprismg."  He  found 
was  placed  upon  his  saddle  and  from  but  four  churches  between  Schenectady 
which  he  directed  the  battle  after  he  was  and  Utica:  one  at  Caughnawaga,  one 
wounded;  and  he  saw  upon  the  battle-  at  Canajoharie,  one  at  Herkimer  and 
field  bones  of  those  who  were  killed  in  one  across  the  river  at  Fort  Herkimer; 
the  battle.  It  is  a  well  authenticated  and  four  villages  at  these  places.  He 
fact  that  the  killed  in  that  battle,  Tories,  says,  "He  passed  a  few  miserable  look- 
Indians,  British  and  Patriots,  officers  ing  school  houses  which  plainly  owed 
and  men,  were  left  where  they  fell,  and  their  appearance  to  the  want,  not  of 
were  never  interred.  It  was  expected  wealth,  nut  of  a  sufficient  attachment  to 
thar-  General  Arnold,  who  reached  the  education."  and  that,  "An  observing 
battle-field  about  two  weeks  after  the  traveler  could  not  fail  to  conclude  that 
battle,  would  bury  the  dead.  But  when  these  people  must  be  extensively  desti- 
he  reached  there,  the  weather  being  hot  tute  both  of  knowledge  and  morals.  If 
in  the  month  of  August,  the  dead  bodies  the  informat'oa  which  from  respectable 
had  become  so  decomposed  and  putrid  sources  I  received  on  the  spot  may  be 
as  to  cause  an  unbearable  stench;  and  credited,  low  vices  are  unhappily  preva- 
his  soldiers  gave  the  battle-field  a  wide  lent  among  them.  Fathers  have  not 
berth,  leaving  the  bodies  of  friends  and  very  unfrequently  been  seen  at  the  gam- 
foes  a  prey  to  the  birds  and  beasts;  and  ing  table  with  their  sons,  endeavoring  to 
eleven  years  afterwards  their  bones  in-  win  money  from  each  other,  swearing 
termingled  whitened  the  ground.  at  each  other,  charging  each  other  with 
Timothy  Dwight  was  a  noted  man  in  cheating  and  lying,  and  both  at  very 
the  revolutionary  era  and  afterward,  late  hours  intoxicated." 
He  was  born  in  1752  and  died  in  1817.  "Among  the  causes  which  here  as- 
Ha  was  a  clergyman, teacher  and  scholar  sembled  multitudes,  with  high  pulsa* 
before  and  during  the  war;  and  he  be-  tions  of  hope  and  pleasure,  a  horse  race 
came  president  of  Yale  College  in  1795,  is  one  of  the  most  memorable.  This  di- 
and  held  that  position  until  his  death,  version,  when  least  exceptionable,  is  a 
He  was  a  grandson  of  Jonathen  Ed-  deplorable  exhibition  of  human  debase- 
wards,  and  the  ancestor  of  many  schol-  ment.  The  gentleman  here  dwindles  at 
arly  and  distinguished  descendents.  once  into  a  jockey,  imbibes  his  spirit,  as- 
During  his  vacations  while  president  of  sumes  his  station  and,   what  is  worse, 

60 


sinks  to  the  level  of  his  morality.  The 
plain  man,  at  the  same  time,  becomes  a 
mere  brute,  swears,  curses,  cheats,  lies 
and  geta  drunk,  extinguishing  at  once, 
virtue,  reason  and  character.  Horse 
racing  is  the  box  of  Pandora  from 
which  more  and  greater  mischiefs  flow 
than  any  man  ever  counted  or  measured. 
You  are  not  to  conclude  that  this  is  the 
universal  character  of  these  people.  The 
exceptions  are  numerous  but  fewer  than 
a  man  of  candor  would  expect  to  find.' 
Speaking  of  the  settlers  on  the  Ger- 
man Flatts,  he  says  :  "Their  distance 
from  other  settlements  prevented  them 
also  from  all  those  l^enefits  of  knowledge 
and  improvements  which  are  derived 
from  civilized  society.  The  settlers 
themselves,  were  extremely  ignorant. 
Their  children  became,  if  possible,  more 
and  more  ignorant;  for  they  were  desti- 
tute for  a  long  time  even  of  the  means 
of  a  parochial  education.  Their  own 
langua^^e  they  spoke  with  increasing 
imperfection,  and  the  English  they 
scarcely  spoke  at  all,  A  specimen  of 
their  ignorance  was  communicated  to 
me  by  one  of  their  own  countrymen 
who,  in  more  auspicious  circumstances, 
had  risen  to  intelligence  and  respecta- 
bility. He  was  one  day  attempting  to 
convince  some  of  them  that  the  Con- 
gressional Stamp  Act  was  a  reasonable 
and  useful  law;  and  observed  particular- 
ly that  it  required  nothing  to  be  stamped 
except  such  papers  as  were  employed 
either  to  convey  or  secure  property. 
They  answered  that  they  did  not  care 
for  that;  if  the  government  stamps 
papers  now,  it  would  soon  put  stamps 
upoa  their  wagons,  on  their  horses,  on 
their  wheat,  and  on  everything  which 
they  had.  Their  village  on  the  south 
side  of  the  river  is  composed  of  ordinary 
houses  built  in  the  Dutch  manner  with 
few  windows,  many  doors,  dark  sheds 
over  the  principal  doors,  leantos  behind, 
and  awkward  additions  at  the  ends. 
They  are  of  one  story,  and  in  a  few  in- 
stances a  story  and  a  half,  and  generally 
look  like  a  collection  of  kitchens."  New 
Hartford,  in  Oneida  county,  was  settled 
in  1785  and  he  says  that  village  surpass- 
ed  all  other   villages  west  of  Albany  in 

61 


eprightliness,  thrift  and  beauty.  In 
1799,  he  states,  there  were  thirty  houses 
where  the  village  of  Herkimer  now  is, 
chiefly  Dutch  buildings,  and  that  the  vil- 
lage was  "filling  up  with  colonies  from 
New  England."' 

At  an  early  day,  the  travelers  up  and 
down  the  valley  were  greatly  pleased 
with  the  view  from  the  hill  near  Senator 
Miller's  house  in  this  village,  and  it  was 
claimed  by  some  of  them  that  there  was 
not  a  finer  view  in  any  part  of  our  coun- 
try. The  river,  the  valley,  the  slopes  on 
both  sides,  and  Fall  Hill  in  the  distance, 
gave  a  prospect  rarely  to  be  found  any- 
where. 

I  cannot  close  this  article  without  tak- 
ing exception  to  some  of  the  remarks  of 
Dr.  Dwiglit.  He  was  a  typical  New 
England  Puritan;  and  the  ways  and 
manners  of  our  German  ancestors  here 
evidently  did  not  please  him.  I  do  not 
believe  they  were  quite  as  ignorant  as 
he  described  them.  And  yet  they  were 
undoubtedly  ignorant.  They  had  had 
but  few  schools  and  they  poor.  There 
were  no  books  except  the  bible  and  some 
devotional  books.  There  was  no  news- 
paper west  of  Albany  until  1802;  and 
that  was  published  here  first  in  that 
year.  But  they  had  good  sense  ade- 
quate to  their  humble  condition  and 
simple  employments.  I  am  sure 
that  their  piety  and  morals  were  sub- 
stantially as  good,  measured  by  any 
proper  standard,  as  the  New  England 
type  of  the  same  period.  He  was 
undoubtedly  misinformed  by  tbe 
Yankees  between  whom  and  the 
Germans  there  was  not  at  that  day 
mutual  respect  and  cordial  fellow- 
ship; and  what  he  regarded  as  types 
were  mere  sporadic  cases  of  exceptional 
character.  The  Mohawk  Germans  were 
not  Puritans,  and  they  certainly  did  not 
believe  that  their  religion  ought  to  take 
the  sunshine  out  of  their  lives.  They 
were  robust  men,  fond  of  robust  sports. 
They  feared  God  and  read  their  bibles, 
were  generally  honest,  good  neighbors, 
thrifty  and  industrious,  and  their  vir- 
tues, I  believe,  were  as  little  shaded 
with  vices  as  those  of  any  body  of  people 
at  that  time,   anywhere  in  this  country 


or  England.  If  Dr.  D wight  were  here  1 
would  certainly  teach  liim  a  lesson  of 
charity  by  reading  to  him  some  things 
written  about  his  Puntan  neighbors, 
showing  them  to  have  had  human  frail- 
ties as  great  as  those  he  attributed  to  the 
Palatines  and  Dutch  of  the  Mohawk 
valley.  John  Dun  ton,  a  bookseller,  in 
his  "Letters  from  New  England,"  about 
1686,  says  that  incontinence,  among  the 
unmarried  was  very  common  in  Massa- 
chusetts, and  that  hardly  a  court  day 
passed  but  some  were  convicted  and 
punished  by  fine  and  whipping  for  that 
offence;  and  Rev.  Dr.  Burnaby  in  his 
"Travels  in  America,'*  describing  the 
manners  and  customs  in  the  same  colony 
says  :  "For  lying  and  cheating,  they 
outvie  Judas  and  all  the  false  other 
cheats  in  hell.     Nay,  they  make  sport  of 


it,  looking  upon  cheating  as  a  commend- 
able piece  of  ingenuity,  commending 
him  who  has  the  most  skill  to  commit 
a  piece  of  roguery,  which  in  their  dialect 
like  those  of  our  Yea  and  Nay  friends 
in  England,  they  call  by  the  gentle 
name  of  outwitting  a  man  and  won't 
own  it  to  be  cheating."  And  John 
Adams  in  the  time  of  the  revolution, 
having  on  his  way  to  the  Continental 
Congress  at  Philadelphia,  met  Gen. 
Alexander  McDougal  in  New  York,  says 
of  him  in  his  diary  :  "He  has  none  of 
the  mean  cunning  which  disgraces  so 
many  of  my  countrymen,"  meaning  the 
people  of  Massachusetts.  These  author- 
ities and  others  which  might  be  cited, 
make  it  quite  clear  that  no  Puritan 
should  cast  the  first  stone  at  our  Pala- 
tine and  Dutch  ancestors. 


62 


NEWSPAPERS  OF  HERKIMER  COUNTY. 


AX  ADDRESS  BY  HON.  GEORGE  W.  SMITH,  OF  HERKIMER, 

Delivered  before  the  Herkimer  County  Historical  Society,  December  lo,  i8 


A  notable  fact  in  the  affairs  of  man- 
kind is  the  common  neglect  to  make  a 
timely  record  of  passing  events.  Ab- 
sorbed by  present  concerns,  men  think 
little  of  the  value  to  the  future  of  per- 
petuating the  memory  of  what  goes  on 
before  them.  If  the  founders  of  states 
that  have  filled  a  large  space  among  na- 
tions had  been  careful  to  note  the  things 
done  when  they  planted  the  germs  that 
grew  to  greatness,  whata  light  would  be 
thrown  upon  the  historical  canvas !  Much 
of  what  we  call  history  is  only  myth  or 
fable,  or  the  conjectures  of  later  chron- 
iclers. Much  of  what  is  knosvn  has  been 
preserved  rather  by  accident  than  by 
forecast.  A  nation  rises  or  it  falls,  and 
at  the  triumph,  or  the  catastrophe  men 
are  so  affected  by  the  play  and  the  pres- 
sure of  imminent  forces,  that  they  often 
fail  to  trace  either  the  outlines  or  the  de- 
tails of  the  passing  scenes.  A  page  of 
cotemporary  narrative  is  often  worth 
more  than  volumes  of  conjecture  ar>d 
speculation.  Something  of  this  occurs 
to  one  who  attempts  to  rescue  from 
growine  oblivion  the  history  of  the  news- 
papers of  this  county,  only  two  or  three 
generations  ago. 

The  writer  remembers  the  facination 
felt  sixty-seven  years  ago  in  |>erusing 
cast  aside  numbers  of  the  old  "Herkimer 
Araeriean,"  and  the  awe  with  which  he 
listened    a  little    later    when    Benjamin 


Cory,  then  residing  at  Salisbury,  the 
patriarch  of  our  county  press,  related 
with  pride  and  cherished  memories  his 
experience  in  publishing,  in  1803-6,  the 
"Herkimer  Telescope."  and  later  the 
"Herkimer  Pelican,"  at  Herkimer,  a 
place  that  then  seemed  far  away.  Much 
greater  things  have  since  been  less  im- 
pessive.  There  was  before  me  a  real 
printer,  a  successor  of  Faust  and  Frank- 
lin, a  veritable  editor  of  a  newspaper, 
two  of  them,  coming  from  that  land  of 
letters  where  he  had  created  that  won- 
derful thing  a  newspaper.  We  would 
prize  highly  copies  of  the  "Telescope"^ 
and  the  "Pelican,"  but  no  research  could 
now  bring  to  light  any  one  of  those 
vanished  records.  Some  of  the  contents 
of  the  later  "Herkimer  American," 
printed  probably  in  1829,  recall  my  earl- 
iest memory  of  a  newspaper,  especially 
an  account  of  the  passage  of  the  Balkans 
by  the  Russian  general,  Diebitsch,  in  the 
summer  of  that  year,  in  the  war  against 
Turkey — the  Balkans  then,  as  today,  "a 
coign  of  vantage"  in  the  struggle  for 
empire  in  Europe,  and  which  report  by 
the  means  of  communication  in  those 
times  might  have  reached  [this  country 
in  the  fall  of  that  year.  The  writer  was 
then  young  enough  to  inquire  if  our 
near-by  Russia  had  any  concern  in  that 
war. 
The  newspapers  of  the  early  years  of 


the  19th  century  were  strikingly  diflfprent  message  in  full  of  Presidents  and  Gover 
from  those  we  have  now.  Then  weekly  nors,  party  addresses  put  f <  r  h  by  their 
editions  of  a  few  hundred  diminutive  partisans  in  the  Legislature  by  the  broad- 
sheets, laboriously  worked  off  by  a  hand  side,  speeches  at  large  on  national  topics, 
lever,  answered  the  local  demand;  now  even  noted  speeches  in  the  British  parl- 
steam  power  and  the  lightning  press  lament,  and  more  or  less  extensive 
give  in  minutes  more  than  the  work  of  summaries  of  foreign  affairs,  to  the  al 
hours  by  those  primitive  appliances,  and  most  entire  exclusion  of  matters  of  local 
every  day  scatter  over  the  land  broad  interest.  Fifty  and  sixty  years  ago  the 
sheets  thick  as  the  leaves  of  autumn.  The  speeches  of  Webster,  Clay,  Calhoun,  Ben- 
contrast  between  the  face-  of  the  old  ton,  Cjrwin  and  such  foreign  speeches 
newspapers  and  the  metropolitan  issues  as  Sir  Robert  Peel's  on  the  repeal  of  the 
of  the  present  day;  between  the  narrow  Corn  Laws  in  1846,  were  to  be  found  in 
and  humble  tenements  of  the  newspaper  their  over  burdened  columns, 
of  less  than  a  century  since,  and  the  tow-  In  1846  the  messages  of  President  Polk 
ering  printing  houses  from  which  they  and  of  Governor  Wright,  each  filled 
issue  today;  between  the  Franklin  lever  some  eighteen  columns  of  the  local  news- 
press  and  the  giant  machines  that  now  paper  and  the  country  editor  was  bound 
cast  forth  newspapers  in  such  infinite  to  get  them  out  in  full,  though  their  col- 
profusion.,  attest  as  strikingly  as  any-  umns  were  sometimes  two  weeks  in  la- 
thing else  how  vastly  steam,  electricity  bor  in  accomplishing  the  task.  With 
and  invention  have  enlarged  man's  pow-  this  space  devoted  to  such  documents, 
er  in  nature  and  widened  the  sphere  of  only  a  few  lines,  sometimes  nothing,  was 
his  mental  forces.  given  to  the  recording  of  the  local  affairs 

The  political  leaders  of  two  generations  and  occurrences  which  are  now  looked 
ago  paid  special  attention  to  the  news-  for,  and  which  at  this  day  present  the 
papers  in  their  respective  bailiwicks.  The  chief  attractions  of  the  country  newspa- 
newspaper  then  had  only  a  contracted  per.  The  editors  of  former  days  felt  it  a 
field,  but  they  gave  to  the  politician  and  duty  to  write  long  editorials  on  national 
the  statesmai  their  widest  reach  and  affairs  and  these,  next  to  massive  politi- 
their  chief  means  for  moulding  public  cal  documents,  they  no  doubt  regarded 
opinion.  The  Federal,  Democratic  and  as  the  most  valuable  features  of  their 
Anti-Masonic  journals  were  real  organs  journals.  They  might  be  surprised, 
of  the  party  for  which  they  spoke.  When  were  they  to  com©  back,  to  find  these 
other  patronage  failed,  the  party  leaders  essays  wholly  obsolete  and  forgotten, 
supplied  the  needful,  when  the  organ  while  such  megre  annals  sa  thej^  gave  of 
collapsed  they  reinstated  it,  when  the  or-  town  and  county,  traces  of  personal  his- 
dinary  editoral  was  not  pungent  enough  tory,  and  family  names,  are  eagerly 
to  meet  the  exigency  the  congressman,  read,  that  advertisements  of  mills,  stores, 
senator  oc  the  lawyers  of  the  party  gave  shops  and  of  every  o  her  business?,  even 
a  more  pronounced  utterance  or  echo  of  the  old  time  announcements  of  wives 
the  party  policy.  The  local  press  was  deserting  the  bed  and  board  of  their 
inspired  from  Washington  and  Albany,  lords,  and  of  the  flight  of  truant  slaves 
and  it  was  relativly  more  influential,  and  and  apprentices, — that  all  those  speak- 
the  city  press  less  so,  than  now.  ing  vestiges  of  the  common  lite,  still  had 

Up  to  about  1850  the  local  newspaper  the  lasting  interest  that  makes  other 
had  hardly  begun  to  cultivate  its  proper  generations  pore  with  pleased  but  unsat- 
field  and  had  ignored  the  special  advan-  isfied  curiosity  over  the  newspaper  files 
tage  of  which  it  might  have  availed  itself  that  have  chanced  to  survive, 
in  giving  the  full  local  news  of  the coun-  What  was  si  laboriously  penned  on 
ty  in  a  sphere  of  its  own,  which  the  city  the  Embargo,  the  argumen's  pro  and 
press  could  not  overshadow.  The  coun-  con  as  to  the  n-'cessity  of  war  in  1813, 
try  editor  continued  to  print  ponderous  on  the  Panama  Mission,  the  Adams  and 
documents  too  great  for  bis  space,  the-   Clay  "Coalition,"  on  Jackson'sproclama- 

64 


tion  against  the  Soirfh  Carolina  nullifiers, 
the  U.  S  Bank,  Van  Buren  and  the  Sub- 
Treasury,  Oregon  and  the  line  of  5t  de- 
grees 40  minutes,  the  Wilmot  Proviso, 
Squatter  Sovereignty,  and  the  rest,  th(y 
would  find  only  in  the  dust  heap,  and 
that  all  that  was  to  survive  of  these  was 
to  be  found  only  on  the  larger  canvas  of 
general  hisory.  But  such  impress  as 
home  topics  and  the  ordinary  life  of  the 
day  had  left  on  their  pages  without 
much  care  or  thought  on  their  part,  they 
would  And  the  ch'ef  objects  of  search 
by  later  generations,  and  that  'these 
were  among  the  most  vital  of  the  bonds 
that  connect  the  sympathies  and  curios- 
ity of  posterity  with  the  life  of  their  an- 
cestors 

More  than  fifty  years  ago  the  practical 
sagacity  of  Horace  Greeley  saw  that  the 
country  newspaper,  by  a  careful  record 
of  the  daily  events  and  affairs  of  its  own 
locality,  could  secure  a  field  of  its  own 
where  it  could  not  be  supplanted  by  the 
city  journals.  He  advised  country  pub- 
lishers to  avail  themselves  of  this  van- 
tag  ground  and  to  forego  any  attempt  to 
compete  with  the  city  press  in  giving 
general  news.  He  predicted  that  in  this 
field  the  country  newspaper  would  cre- 
ate a  genuine  interest  and  acquire  a 
more  substantial  importance.  This  ad- 
vice was  not  always  well  received.  Some 
thought  this  more  exclusive  attention  to 
local  affairs  would  lower  the  dignity  of 
the  country  newspaper,  and  they  in- 
quired with  some  asperity  if  Greeley 
meant  to  intimate  that  it  was  vocation 
enough  for  them  to  publish  newspapers 
on  the  model  of  the  primer,  entitled 
•'Farm  Yard  Journal !"  But  the  change 
came.  Local  editors  began  to  give  more 
attention  to  their  own  parish,  and  it  was 
found  that  if  their  journals  could  not 
reflect  very  much  of  the  vast  panorama 
of  the  worlds  affairs,  they  could  be 
made  the  constant  and  speaking  mirror 
of  local  life  and  activity.  They  finally 
took  up  their  more  effective  work  of  re- 
cording the  occurrences  that  make  the 
sum  of  ordinary  human  life  on  the  com- 
mon plane,  the  events  and  doings  of 
town  and  neighborhood,  and  in  preserv- 
ing the  annals  of    our    county  affairs. 

65 


Now  the  country  newspaper  conducted 
with  this  vi.^w  is  read  with  an  attention 
and  interest  that  fully  prove  the  wisdom 
of  the  new  departure. 

The  first  newspaper  published  in  Herk- 
imer county  was  the  "Telescope,"  estab- 
lished in  1802  by  Benjamin  Cory.  It 
was  devoted  to  the  support  of  the  Fed- 
eral party.  It  would  be  of  interest,  at 
any  rate  to  the  writer,  to  know  just  how 
Jefferson,  then  President,  appeared  to 
old  Ben  Cory's  eyes,  looking  through  h  s 
Federal  "Telescope,"  and  how  did  Ben 
Cory  explain  whj-  Tom  Jefferson  had  not 
burned  up  all  the  Bibles  as  was  predicted 
if  he  should  be  elected  ?  It  is  likely  that 
the  great  abilities  of  Gaylord  Griswold 
then  in  Congress  and  the  Federal  leader 
in  this  county,  gave  tone  and  authority 
to  the  Federal  organ,  Cory  sold  to  David 
Holt  and  J.  R.  Robins.  In  1805  th. 
"Telescope"  was  continued  by  David 
Holt  as  editor  and  publisher  under  the 
name  of  the  "Farmer's  Monitor."  The 
only  copy  of  the  "Monitor"  known  to  be 
in  existence,  ia  dated  S  'ptember  2,  1S06. 
and  is  in  the  collection  of  this  society. 
It  contains  an  extended  obituary  notice 
of  Dr.  William  Petry,  ancestor  of  the 
Earl  family.  It  does  not  contain  another 
line  on  local  matters,  except  legal  notices 
and  advertisements,  and  it  is  significant 
of  the  changes  of  times  and  business, 
that  a  considerable  part  of  the  former 
are  dated  as  of  the  town  of  Norway.  The 
"Monitor"  was  discontinued  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1807  for  the  want  of  support, 
caused,  it  would  seem,  by  the  diversion 
of  patronage  to  the  "Pelican,"  which 
Cory  started  after  selling  the  "Tele- 
scope." The  "Pelican"  is  understood  to 
have  had  most  of  the  patronage  of  the 
merchants  and  lawyers,  who  were  most- 
ly Federalists. 

The  "Pelican"  enlisted  on  the  side  of 
Governor  Morgan  Lewis,  the  representa- 
tive of  the  Livingston  family,  who  was 
nominated  for  Governor  in  1804.  His 
partisans  in  the  Republican  party  were 
known  as  Lewisites  or  "quids."  The 
opposition  to  Governor  Lewis,  fully  de- 
veloped in  1805,  was  led  by  Ambrose 
Spencer  and  Dewitt  Clinton,  represent- 
ing the  ClintOT  family.     The  "Monitor" 


was  on  the  side  of  the  Clintonian  fac- 
tion. The  'Peh'can"  was  discontinued 
1810.  Benjamin  Cory  came  to  Herki- 
mer from  Vermont.  Another  Benjamin 
Cory,  a  member  of  the  same  family,  for 
a  time  conducted  a  newspaper  in  Vir- 
ginia and  afterwards  published  the 
"Register"  at  Watertowu,  N.  Y.,  an 
Anti-Masonic  organ,  and  later  a  Whig 
paper.  The  ''Register  '  was  sub  equent- 
ly  merged  in  the  "Northern  State  Jour- 
nal" edited  by  the  writer  from  1848  to 
1851. 

The  "Herkimer  American"  was  estab- 
lished in  1810  by  John  H.  and  H.  Pren- 
tiss. Dewitt  Clinton,  in  his  diary  of 
that  year,  kept  on  his  prospecting  tour 
west  for  a  route  for  the  Erie  canal,  re- 
fers to  it  as  a  Federal  paper  at  Herki- 
mer. Coi.  William  L.  Stone,  afterwards 
of  the  "Commercial  Advertiser"  of  New 
York,  and  biographer  of  Sir  "William 
Johnson  and  of  Joseph  Brant,  had  for  a 
time  the  management  of  the  "American. " 
Thurlow  Weed  worked  upon  the  "Amer- 
ican" in  1812.  He  courted  his  wife  here, 
then  a  Miss  Ostrander,  and  Francis  E. 
Spinner,  a  neighbor  of  his  fiandee,  was 
the  friend  of  Weed  and  the  bearer  of  the 
letters  that  passed  between  them.  A 
few  years  after  the  "American"'  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Edward  P.  Seymour, 
who  conducted  it  to  1831,  when  it  was 
discontinued. 

The  "Bunker  Hill"  was  brought  out  in 
1810,  at  Herkimer,  by  G.  G.  Phinney. 
Mr.  Benton,  it  seems,  had  copies,  as  he 
speaksof  its  political  key  as  "pretty  high 
toned,"  and  quotes  its  motto,  "Live  Free 
or  Die.  Death  is  Not  the  Greatest  of 
Evils."  Phinney  brought  out  the  "Hon- 
est American"  about  1812.  This  sugges- 
tive title  was  of  course  adopted  as  an 
antithesis  to  Prentiss'  "American."  How- 
ever, some  hostile  print,  name  unknown, 
edited  by  one  Charles  Holt,  disputed  the 
title  in  the  following  paragraph:  "A 
DISHO^fEST  American  !  The  foolish  ras- 
cal who  to  the  disgrace  of  the  name  of 
an  editor,  is  the  lickspittle  of  the  "Pub- 
lic Advertiser,"  cannot  expect  further 
newspaper  notice,  but  will  be  silenced 
without  disturbing  our  readers  with  so 
pitiful    a   subject."    This  called    out  a 


counterblast  quite  in  kind  in  which 
"mean  blackguard"  answers  to  "foolish 
rascal,"  the  whole  passage  at  arms  be- 
ing very  much  in  the  vein  of  the  ficti- 
tious editorials  imputed  to  the  "Arizona 
Kicker."  The  editor  of  the  "Honest 
American"  refers  to  his  antagonist  as 
"Charley  Holt,"  but  we  have  no  account 
of  an  editor  of  that  name  connected  with 
tbe  "American,"  and  the  one  referred 
to  may  have  been  the  editor  of  the 
"Bunker  Hill."  Both  the  "Honest  Amer- 
ican" and  the  "Bunker  Hill '  disappeared 
it  is  probable,  some  years  before  1831. 

The  "Herkimer  Herald"  was  brought 
out  in  1828,  at  Herkimer,  by  John  Car- 
penter, and  was  devoted  to  the  support 
of  Andrew  Jackson  and  the  rising  Jack- 
son party.  Mr.  Carpenter  began  the 
publication  of  the  "Herald"  under  the 
auspices  of  Michael  Hoffman,  who  not 
long  before,  and  after  some  misgivings 
as  to  the  expediency  of  that  choice,  had 
taken  a  decided  stand  for  General  Jack- 
son for  President.  The  "Herald"  was 
discontinued  about  1830.  Why  this  spec- 
ial organ  of  the  Jackson  party  trium- 
phant that  year,  had  so  sudden  an  exit, 
is  not  known.  From  1831  until  the 
"Frankfort  Democrat"  was  brought  to 
Herkimer  in  1844,  there  was  no  Demo- 
cratic organ  at  the  county  seat.  From 
1830  and  years  following  the  Democratic 
organ  was  the  "People's  Friend,"  edited 
by  Edward  M.  GriflSng  at  Little  Falls,  su- 
perseding the  "Herkimer  Herald."  Mr. 
Griffing's  editorial  efforts  are  much  criti- 
cised in  Mr.  Hoffman's  letters  in  those 
years,  which  may  be  to  some  degree 
accounted  for  by  this  transfer  of  the  edi- 
torial tripod  from  Herkimer  to  Little 
Falls.  The  Federalists  and  Whigs  had 
no  organ  at  Herkimer  from  1831  to  1838i 

The  Anti- Masonic  crusade  that  fol- 
lowed the  abduction  and  alleged  mur- 
der of  William  Morgan  in  1826,  brought 
out  a  multitude  of  Anti- Masonic  news- 
papers. Among  them  appeared  at  Herk- 
imer, in  1828,  the  Republican  "Farmer's 
Free  Press,"  printed  by  David  Holt  and 
edited  by  B.  B.  Hotchkiss.  After  it  had 
been  published  a  short  time,  its  utter- 
ances were  so  exasperating  to  the  craft, 
that  a  mob  gutted  the  office  and  threw 


69 


I 


the  type  into  the  street.  The  press  and 
recovered  material  were  removed  to  Lit- 
tle Falls  and  afterwards  used  in  the  pub- 
lication of  the  "Herkimer  County  Whig," 
published  in  1833  by  Earned  W.  Smith 
for  tbe  Whigs,  then  organizins?  for  their 
contest  with  the  Jackson  party,  the 
strenuous  personality  of  Jackson  for  the 
time  giving  to  his  party  his  own  name. 
Among  the  contributors  to  the  columns 
of  the  "Whig"  were  Elisha  P.  Hurlbut, 
then  active  by  voice  and  pon  in  the  Whig 
cause,  Jarvis  N.  Lake,  and  Elisha  S.  Cap- 
ron,  the  latter  a  former  Democrat,  who 
joined  the  Whigs  in  1833.  Mr.  Capron 
about  1849  visited  California,  wrote  a 
history  of  that  state,  and  going  to  New 
York  soon  after,  became  city  judge  by 
the  appointment  of  Gov.  Clark.  The 
"Whig"  was  published  about  two  years. 
The  "Inquirer,"  a  publication  patronized 
by  free  thinkers  on  religious  topics,  was 
issued  from  the  office  of  the  "Whig" 
and  it  expired  at  the  same  time. 

The  founder  of  the  "People's  Friend" 
was  Edward  M.  Griffing,  who  began  its 
publication  at  Little  Falls  in  September, 
1821.  He  continued  it  about  ten  years, 
when  it  was  brought  out  by  an  associa- 
tion of  Republicans  on  the  eve  of  its  be- 
ing sold  at  forced  sale.  It  may  be  read 
in  the  letters  referred  to  that  the  Repub- 
lican leaders  thought  that  "Brother 
Griffing"  hardly  filled  the  bill  as  a  politi- 
cal editor,  and  were  looking  for  an  or- 
gan with  a  stronger  tone.  They  gave 
the  title  of  "Mohawk  Courier"  to  the 
new  organ,  and  it  was  published  by 
Charles  S.  Benton  &  Co.  Charles  S 
Benton  was  a  brother  of  Nathaniel  8. 
Benton,  and  represented  this  district  in 
Congress  in  1843-7.  "Charlie"  Benton, 
as  he  was  familiarly  called,  was  said  to 
have  "laughed  himself  into  Congress."  a 
jest  founded  on  his  very  jovial  manner 
and  popular  address.  The  "Courier" 
came  to  the  proprietorship  of  Josiah  A. 
Noonan  about  1833,  and  he  disposed  of 
it  to  Horatio  N.  Johnson  in  1830,  about 
which  time  Mr.  Noonan  went  west. 
Whatever  else  he  may  have  accomplished 
there,  he  was  the  occasion  of  the  bring- 
ing out  of  a  newspaper  at  Milwaukee  on 
one  of  the    narrowest    platforms   ever 


known.  It  was  devoted,  so  the  pro- 
spectus ran,  to  the  sole  purpose  of  "re- 
moving Josiah  A.  Noonan  from  the  Mil- 
waukee postoffice,  and  it  was  to  be  con- 
tinued until  he  was  ousted."  Johnson 
sold  to  Elias  G.  Palmer  in  April,  1839. 
He  bought  it  back  in  1840,  some  time 
after  March  of  that  year,  and  was  then 
associated  with  Allen  W.  Eiton,  which 
connection  was  continued  to  1856.  John. 
son  was  postmaster  at  Little  Falls  and 
adhered  to  Buchanan  and  the  partisans 
who  supported  him,  His  partner,  Eaton 
enlisted  on  the  side  of  the  Democrats 
who  joined  the  Republican  party  formed 
in  1855,  and  his  paper  supported  Fre- 
mont for  the  presidency  in  1856.  For 
some  weeks  of  that  year  Mr.  Johnson 
and  Mr.  Eaton  had  separate  columns  in 
the  "Courier"  in  which  they  expressed 
their  conflicting  views  of  party  policy. 
Johnson  soon  sold  to  Eaton,  and  under 
his  control  the  "Courier"  became  an 
organ  of  the  new  Republican  party.  In 
March,  1861,  Eaton  sold  to  William  Ayer 
and  T.  S.  Brigham,  and  on  their  selling 
to  Jean  R.  Stebbins  in  1864,  Mr.  Steb- 
Dins  united  the  "Courier  with  the  "Jour- 
nal" as  hereinafter  related.  In  1839  Mr. 
Griffin*  again  entered  the  field  with  the 
"Rockton  Enterprise,"  which  persistently 
urged  the  adoption  of  the  names  of 
Rockton  for  the  village  of  Little  Falls. 
In  1850  that  name  was  given  the  village 
by  legislative  act,  but  in  1852  the  origi- 
nal i\ame  was  resumed.  This  "Enter- 
prise" lasted  two  years,  audit  was  some- 
time afterwards  succeeded  by  Mr.  Grif - 
fing's  last  effort,  the  "Mirror,"  which 
Benton  suggestively  says  he  "pub'ished 
or  pretented  to  publish"  twice  a  month 
until  1844-  The  press  and  material  then 
came  to  the  hands  of  O.  A.  Bowe,  and 
they  were  used  by  him  in  the  publica- 
tion of  the  "Herkimer  Freeman."  Mr. 
Griffing  h&d  respectable  literary  skill  and 
he  devoted  the  active  part  of  his  life  to 
his  various  newspaper  ventures. 

The  "Herkimer  Journal"  was  estab- 
lished by  an  association  of  Whigs  m 
1837-8,  among  whom  were  Bloonifield 
Usher,  Col.  James  A.  Suiter,  Harvey 
Doolittle,  Jared  B.  Moss,  L.  L.  Merry, 
Charles  B.  Ingham.  Theodore  Orlswold, 


67 


Jacob  Devendorf  and  Ira  Coe,  the  latter 
two  the  Whig  candidates  for  the  atsena- 
bly  in  1846.  The  first  editor  was  John 
C.  Underwood,  who  became  one  of  the 
conspicuous  champions  of  the  anti- 
slavery  cause,  and  in  1846  the  candidate 
of  the  Liberty  party  for  represent  itive 
m  Congress,  for  the  Berkimer  and  Mont- 
gomery district.  Eiward  P.  Seymour, 
of  the  old  "Herkimer  American"  was 
the  printer.  Mr.  Underwood  was  born 
in  Litchfield,  in  this  county,  but  for  a 
time  prior  to  18S7,  had  resided  in  Virgin- 
ia. About  1848  he  returned  to  Virginia, 
but  his  anti-slavery  sentiments  were  so 
offensive  that  he  was  driven  from  the 
state  in  1856  and  returned  north.  When 
the  Federal  authority  was  re-established 
in  Virginia,  President  Lincoln  appointed 
him  United  States  district  judge  for  that 
district.  Judge  Underwood  was  a  man 
of  sood  abilities  and  devoted  a  large  part 
of  his  life  to  advocating  the  anti-slavery 
cause.     He  died  in  December,  1873. 

In  1838  Obadiah  A.  Bo  we  became  the 
editor  and  publisher  of  the  "Journal, ' 
the  owners  having  presented  the  plant 
to  him  and  Thurlow  Weed  also  gave  him 
pecuniary  aid.  The  Whigs  bought  back 
the  establishment  in  1844.  Bowe  having 
conti'iued  it  to  that  year.  The  Whigs 
employed  Richard  U.  Shearman,  after- 
wards of  the  "Utica  Morning  Herald," 
the  "Oswego  Whig"  and  other  newspa- 
pers, to  conduct  the  "Journal"  in  the 
Clay-Polk  campaign  of  1844.  Mr.  Shear- 
man was  succeeded  in  April,  1845,  by 
George  W.  Smith,  who  was  editor  until 
1848.  Many  of  the  editorials  of  the 
"Journal"  of  those  years  are  found  in 
the  columns  of  the  "Albany  Evening 
Journal'  of  those  years.  Sanford  Hel- 
mer  was  associated  for  two  years  in  the 
publication  of  the  "Journal.'"  In  June, 
1848,  Smith  became  for  two  years  one  of 
the  publishers  of  the  "Northern  New 
York  Journal"  and  editor  to  the  fall  of 
1850.  In  1851-3  he  furnished  the  chief 
editoral  matter  of  the  "Boonville  Ledfi- 
er."  In  the  Matteson- Huntington- John- 
son congressional  campaign  of  1854,  he 
had  charge  of  the  columns  of  the  "Utica 
Morning  Herald,"  from  August  to  the 
close  of  the  canvass  and  afterwards  to 


the  end  of  the  year.  In  1861-2  he  wrote 
many  of  the  editorials  of  the  "Utica  Tel- 
egraph;" from  1866  to  1872  he  wrote  a 
large  share  of  the  political  and  other 
matter  of  the  'Utica  Daily  Observer," 
and  furnished  during  that  period  numer- 
ous editorials  for  the  Democratic  press 
of  Central  New  York.  Amos  H.  Pres- 
cott  edited  the  "Herkimer  Journal"  in 
the  summer  of  1848  and  during  the  Taj- 
lor-Cas  -Van  Buren  campaign  of  that 
year,  and  for  some  time  after. 

In  1849  Orlando  Squires  obtained  con- 
trol of  the  establishment,  and  removed 
the  "Journal"  lo  Little  Falls.  In  1858, 
Xerxes  A,  Wiilard  took  charge  of  the 
literary  and  political  departments  of  the 
"Journal,"  and  continued  editor  for  two 
years,  Daniel  Ayer  having  as  jwoprie- 
tor,  the  management  of  the  local  col- 
uinns  and  the  business  of  the  establish- 
ment. Daniel  Ayer  died  in  January, 
1861,  and  Jean  R.  Stebbins  purchased  the 
"Journal"  from  his  widow  in  that  month, 
and  continued  its  publication  until  Jan- 
uary, 1864.  In  the  meantime  the  "Mo- 
hawk Courier"  had  passed  into  the  hands 
of  William  Ayer  and  T.  S.  Brigham, 
from  whom  Mr.  Stebbins  purchased  it 
in  January,  1864.  and  he  then  united  the- 
two  papers  under  the  present  title  of 
"Journal  and  Courier.'"  Those  paper* 
had  been  rivals  in  the  Republican  party, 
and  this  consolidation  removed  some 
elements  of  discord  in  the  party,  and 
under  Mr.  Stebbins'  a'ole  administration 
the  "Journal  and  Courier"  became  the 
most  successful  newspaper  enterprise  in 
the  county.  George  Griswold  Steboius 
acquired  an  interest  in  1866  and  the  pa- 
per was  conducted  from  that  time  by  J. 
K.  and  G.  G  Stebbins,  until  May,  1883, 
when  Ivan  T.  Burney  came  inta  the 
firm,  its  business  style  being  Steobi  la  & 
Co.  In  November,  1886,  J.  R.  Stebt)in3 
sold  his  interest  to  his  partners  and  re. 
moved  to  Wat^rtown  to  assume  the  presi- 
dency of  the  Agricultural  Insurance 
Company.  The  "Journal  and  Courier" 
has  since  been  conducted  by  Messrs. 
Stebbins  &  Burney  with  marked  ability 
and  success. 

The  "Herkimer  Freeman"  was  started 
at  Little   Falls  in  1844,  by  Obadiah  A. 


68 


Bowe,  upon  his  retiring  from  the  Herki- 
mer "Journal."  It  was  an  earnest  advo- 
cate of  the  anti-slavery  and  temperance 
cause,  and  was  continued  by  Mr.  Bowe 
until  1850.  At  that  time  the  "Free- 
man's" vocation  was  to  a  large  degree 
superseded  by  the  attitude  of  the  Fiee 
Soil  party,  and  a  considerable  portion  of 
the  Whig  party  taking  anti-slavery 
ground,  and  it  was  suspended  for  want  of 
patronage.  In  1850,  Mr.  Bowe  began 
the  publication  of  the  Mohawk  "Times," 
at  Mohawk,  as  a  free  soil  organ,  which 
he  did  not  long  continue.  After  the 
collapse  of  the  "Times"  he  left  the  state 
and  resumed  his  journalistic  work  in 
Vermont,  and  was  afterward  engaged  on 
the  "New  York  Tribune."  Mr.  Bowe 
was  a  breezy  and  trenchant  writer,  and 
the  "Freeman,"  under  his  editorship, 
was  a  characteristic  type  of  the  aggras- 
sive  anti-slavery  and  temperance  litera- 
ture of  that  day. 

Iq  the  fall  of  1842,  Joseph  M.  Lyon 
came  from  Utica  to  Frankfort  and  began 
there  the  publication  of  the  "Frankfort 
Democrat."  With  him  was  associated 
William  B.  Holmes,  a  lawyer  of  that  vil- 
lage, as  editor.  In  1844,  Mr.  Lyon  re- 
moved the  plant  to  Herkimer,  and  con- 
tinued the  paper  under  the  title  of 
"Herkimer  Democrat."  It  was  then  as 
before,  an  advocate  of  the  Hunker  fac- 
tion of  the  Democratic  party,  until 
March  15,  1848,  when  the  plant  was 
bought  and  the  paper  issued  by  Robert 
Earl  as  proprietor  and  editor,  who  main- 
tained it  on  the  same  lines  From  Herki- 
mer Mr.  Lyon  went  to  Rochester  and 
engaged  in  the  publication  of  the 
"Rochester  Daily  Courier,"  with  Judge 
Warner,  and  retired  in  1849.  Mr.  Lyon 
was  in  1856  connected  with  the  "Utica 
Observer,"  and  was  postmaster  of  Utica 
in  1859,  under  Buchanan.  Subsequent- 
ly he  published  a  daily  newspaper  in 
Milwaukee,  where  he  died. 

Robert  Earl  was  sole  publisher  and 
editor  of  the  "Democrat"  until  1850, 
when  C.  C.  Witherstine  acquired  a  half 
interest,  and  in  1853  he  became  sole 
owner.  In  1854  he  transferred  an  inter- 
est to  Jacob  S.  Hays,  who  was  associated 
with  the  establishment  until  his  death  in 


1856.  In  1860  Mr.  Witherstine  sold  to 
Henry  G.  Crouch,  now  of  the  "Kings- 
ton Argus,"  and  removed  to  Illinois. 
Mr.  Crouch  published  the  "Democrat" 
until  1864.  At  that  time  Mr.  Wither- 
stine, having  returned  to  this  state, 
again  become  proprietor.  On  may  1, 
1869,  he  bought  the  "Little  Falls  Ga- 
zette" from  Luce  &  Gilmore,  and  merged 
them  in  the  style  of  "Herkimer  Demo- 
crat and  Little  Falls  Gazette."  In  1872 
the  former  title  was  resumed.  The  "Ga- 
zette," published  a  few'  years  at  Little 
Falls,  it  is  believed  was  founded  by  B. 
F.  Maxon  and  others,  who  sold  to  Luce 
&  Gilmore. 

In  October,  1875,  Horatio  P.  Wither- 
stine became  one  of  the  publishers  of 
the  "Democrat"  and  the  business  was 
carried  on  by  H.  P.  Witherstine  &  Co., 
until  1892.  In  that  year  C.  C.  Wither- 
stine sold  his  interest  to  John  W.  Com- 
ings, who  retired  in  1894,  and  the  busi- 
ness was  then  conducted  by  H.  P.  With- 
erstine until  the  establishment  was  or- 
ganized in  1896  as  the  H.  P.  Witherstine 
Publishing  Company. 

In  the  year  1852,  General  Scott  and 
Franklin  Pierce  being  the  candidates  of 
the  Whig  and  Democratic  parties,  the 
"Democrat"  started  a  branch  campiign 
paper  at  Mohawk,  in  June  of  that  year, 
and  continued  it  to  the  close  of  the  cam- 
paign. The  editorial  aid  reading  mat- 
ter was  furnished  by  Judge  Earl  and 
William  L  Fish  was  business  manager. 
It  was  named  "The  Tenth  Legion."  In 
the  Jacksonian  era,  and  for  many  years 
after,  this  name  was  a  compliment  paid 
to  the  Herkimer  Democracy  then  as 
steadfast  to  that  party  and  as  reliable  in 
all  emergencies,  as  the  famous  Tenth 
Legion  to  the  standard  and  fortunes  of 
Caesar. 

The  "Herkimer  Democrat"  has  for 
nearly  fifty -five  years  held  a  high  po- 
sition, and  is  now  the  oldest  Democratic 
organ  of  the  county.  Under  the  man- 
agement of  Mr.  Lyon,  Judge  Earl,  Mr. 
Crouch,  and  the  Messrs.  Witherstine,  it 
ha»  always  been  a  vigorous  and  stead- 
fast advocate  of  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party. 

The  "Herkimer  County  Record"  was 


69 


founded  bj  George  W.  Nellis.  the  first 
issue  being  December  20,  1888,  and  it 
was  continued  by  him  to  July  1,  1890, 
when  Mr.  Nellis  sold  a  half  interest  to 
Walter  E.  Harris.  Later  in  that  year 
Nellis  sold  out  to  J.  B.  Fanckboner,  pre- 
vious to  whic-h  Edwin  Knight,  now  of 
the  St.  Johnsville  "Enterprise."  was  as- 
sociated with  Nellis  for  some  six  months. 
In  the  summer  of  1897,  Mr.  Emanuel 
Lyons  purchased  the  interest  of  his  asso- 
<jiates,  Fanckboner  and  Harris  and  is  now 
successfully  conducting  the  "Record." 
Mr.  Nellis  is  now  the  editor  and  publish- 
er of  the  Johnstown  "Daily  News."  and 
the  "Fulton  County  News"  at  Johns- 
town. 

On  the  first  day  of  November,  1898, 
Charles  M.  Redfield  began  the  publica- 
tion of  the  first  daily  newspaper  in  Herk- 
imer, under  the  title  of  the  "Evening 
Telegram."  With  him  was  associated 
Thos.  C.  Murray  as  local  editor.  On  the 
21st  day  of  January,  1899^  tne  "Tele- 
gram" was  transferred  to  Edward  Small 
and  John  L.  Getman,  who  now  conduct 
it  with  flattering  prospects  of  permanent 
success. 

The  Frankfort  "Star"  was  started  by 
Charles  M.  Redfield  in  1883.  It  was  a 
small  folio  not  long  continued.  J.  G. 
Harden  began  the  publication  at  New- 
port of  the  "Newport  Advertiser,"  Jan- 
uary 1.  1881,  issued  monthly,  and  con- 
tinued in  January,  1883,  as  a  weekly.  It 
was  enlarged  to  eight  pages  September 
8,  1883,  and  the  name  was  changed  to 
"Newport  Register."  Mr.  Hardell  re- 
moved his  establishment  in  1885  to 
Frankfort  and  there  publishes  his  news- 
paper under  the  title  of  the  "Frankforc 
Register."  The  "Register"  has  always 
been  independent  in  politics. 

At  Newport  the  "Register"  has  been 
succeeded  by  the  "Newport  Journal," 
which  was  started  in  1894  by  L.  B.  Tut- 
tle  and  has  since  been  continued  by  him 
in  that  village.  Newport  has  had  its 
share  of  newspaper  ephemera.  The  first 
newspaper  was  the  achievement  of  two 
youths  of  about  fifteen,  Merton  Jackson 
and  W.  D.  Holt.  It  was  published  in 
the  old  Yale  lock  shop  for  four  or  five 
months.       Their    young     ambition     is 


worthy  of  a  record.  The  "Adirondack 
Echo"  was'heard  Octooer  15,  1892,  edited 
by  E.  Braie  Rogers  with  John  G.  Fenner 
as  manager.  It  was  printed  at  Little 
Falls  and  survived  a  few  months.  In 
1888  George  W.  Nellis  and  Fred  G.  Wil- 
lard  bought  out  the  "Newport  News," 
which  Nellis  sold  to  Willard  before  its 
appearance.  It  was  a  creditable  sheet 
mechanically  and  otherwise,  but  con- 
tinued only  about  six  weeks. 

The  first  newspaper  at  Ilion  was  the 
"Ilion  Independent,"  issued  by  George 
W.  Bungay,  under  the  patronage  of  the 
Remingtons,  in  January,  1855.  It  was  a 
distinctively  temperance  and  free  soil 
organ  and  the  poetical  tastes  of  the 
editor  gave  it  a  literary  character  in 
that  direction.  Its  columns  were  gar- 
nished by  so  much  of  the  editor's  poetry 
that  these  effusions  seemed  to  be  the 
raison  d'etre  of  the  "Independent" 
quite  as  much  as  concern  for  the  cause 
of  temperance  or  free  soil.  It  was  re- 
moved to  Utica  by  Mr.  Bungay  in  1858, 
its  title  changed  to  "Central  Indepen- 
dent," and  was  soon  after  merged  in 
the  "Utica  Herald."  Mr.  Bungay  read 
a  poem  at  the  Centennial  celebration  at 
Herkimer  in  1876.  He  died  in  1893.  At 
this  centennial,  Horatio  Seymour  also 
contributed  a  paper  which,  on  account 
of  his  illness,  was  read  by  his  brother, 
John  F.  Seymour. 

In  1858  the  Remington  brothers 
brought  out  at  Ilion  the  "Loyal  Citi- 
zen." a  Republican  paper,  S.  B.  Loomis 
being  editor  and  nominal  owner.  It 
was  sustained  by  pecuniary  aid  from  the 
Remingtons,  under  various  managers, 
and  finally  adopted  the  name  of  "Ilion 
Citizen,"  which  it  still  retains.  In  1878 
Rev.  Albert  E.  Corse  was  editor  and  C. 
D.  Rose  business  manager.  George  W. 
Weaver  and  F.  L.  Mead  were  pu  ilish- 
ers  in  1884,  and  on  January  1,  1889,  Mr. 
Weaver's  interest  was  purchased  by 
Arthur  T.  Smith  and  Frank  E.  Easton, 
who  with  C.  S.  Munger,  formed  the 
Citizen  Publishing  Company,  and  now 
publish  the  "Citizen"  at  both  Ilion  and 
Herkimer.  They  are  both  ably  edited 
and  influential  journals. 

The  "Ilion  Citizen"  has  the  distinction 


70 


of  having  first  used  electricity  as  a  mo- 
tive power.  Its  edition  of  March  14, 
1884,  was  printed  by  electrical  power, 
and  the  matter  of  the  edition  of  Septem- 
ber 26,  1884,  was  set  up  entirely  by  a 
type-setting  machioe,  the  first  example 
in  the  world  of  the  combination  of  elec- 
trical motive  power  and  machine  type- 
setting, in  the  making  of  a  newspaper. 
Copies  of  the  latter  edition  were  engerly 
sought  for,  to  be  placed  in  museums, 
public  libraries  and  collections  of  curios, 
and  a  large  edition  fell  far  short  of  sup- 
plying the  demand  coming  from  many 
parts  of  the  globe. 

The  "Watchword,"  a  periodical  de- 
voted to  the  cause  of  temperance,  was 
begun  at  Ilion,  May  25,  1870,  and  pub- 
lished in  the  office  of  the  "Citizen."  It 
was  one  of  the  philanthropic  enterprises 
of  Eliphalet  Remington,  though  his 
name  did  not  appear  as  its  founder. 
Rev.  S.  McKean  had  editorial  charge, 
with  Rev.  Dwight  Williams  as  associate. 
It  was  removed  to  Albany  in  April  1871, 
and  continued  under  the  same  editorial 
charge  for  two  years,  when  it  was  re- 
moved to  another  field.  Besides  the 
editors  above  named.  Rev.  C.  T.  Moss, 
Rev.  A.  E.  Corse  and  Rev.  A.  Parke 
Burgess  were  connected  with  the  "Citi- 
zen" and  "Watchword,"  one  or  both,  as 
editors  or  contributors. 

The  "Ilion  News"  was  established 
March,  1889,  by  Clarence  A.  White.  It 
was  a  patent  eight  page  paper,  the  out- 
side printed  in  New  York.  It  was 
bought  May  1,  1890,  by  C.  D.  Monsel, 
under  whose  management  it  is  wholly  a 
b^me  publication  and  has  been  greatly 
improved.  It  comprises  eight  to  sixteen 
pages  and  is  a  successful  enterprise. 

The  first  newspaper  published  in  West 
Wm6eld  was  the  "Standard  Bearer," 
issued  August  23,  1859,  by  C.  Ackerman. 
In  1870  it  passed  to  the  hands  of  Wm. 
McLaughlin,  and  within  that  year  to 
John  H.  Cunningham,  who  changed  the 
name  to  "W  infield  Standard"  and,  in 
1872,  sold  to  Miles  A.  Davis.  Soon  after 
the  latter  sold  to  McLaughlin,  who 
transferred  it  to  R.  W.  Ackerman,  son 
of  the  first  publisher.  There  were  suc- 
cessive transfers  to  H.  D.  Kellogg,  as  a 


partner,  in  1874,  to  Wm.  R.  Merrill  in 
1875,  and  to  Frank  Spooner  who  re- 
moved it  to  Brookfield,  Madison  county. 
On  April  1,  1883,  Mr.  Lansing  started 
the  "West  Winfield  News"  and  in  about 
a  year  sold  toC.  D.  Wheeler,  and  H.  H. 
Wheeler  was  afterwards  associated  in  its 
publication.  In  1888  Stillman  and  Fitch 
became  proprietors,  and  in  April  1889, 
Clarence  G.  Fitch  became  sole  owner  of 
the  "News"  and  conducted  it  to  the 
winter  of  1892-3,  when  the  paper  was 
discontmued. 

The  next  newspaper  in  that  village 
was  the  "West  Winfield  Star,"  started 
with  a  new  plant  by  Frank  L.  Brace, 
August  18,  1892.  Mr.  Brace  continued 
its  publication  until  November  23,  1897. 
At  that  date  the  establishment  was  pur- 
chased by  William  E.  Ames  and  in  the 
last  issue  of  that  year  he  gave  an  ex- 
tended and  interesting  history  of  West 
Winfield  and  of  its  business  men,  and 
good  assurance  that  the  "Star"  was  to 
continue  to  shine. 

In  1874  Rich  and  Tucker  started  at 
Mohawk  the  "Mohawk  Independent." 
It  was  sold  by  them  in  18—  to  William 
E.  Churchill  and  Clarence  White,  and 
they  transferred  the  establishment  to 
Miss  Clara  E.  Morgan,  in  January,  1892. 
The  paper  was  ably  and  creditably  con- 
ducted by  Miss  Morgan,  under  the  title 
of  the  "Mohawk  Eagle,"  until  she  sold 
to  Daniel  S.  Jones  in  January  1896. 
Shortly  after  Miss  Morgan  entered  the 
ministry  and  now  occupies  the  pulpit 
of  the  Universalist  society  at  Potsdam, 
N.  Y.  The  various  other  newspaper 
enterprises  at  Mohawk  are  elsewhere 
mentioned. 

The  "Herkimei  County  News,"  now 
at  Little  Falls,  was  started  at  Mohawk 
in  1868,  by  Williams  &  Pickens  and, 
on  the  suggestion  of  the  Democrats  of 
Little  Falls,  it  was  transferred  to  that 
place  in  1870.  In  the  spring  of  1871, 
L.  W.  Flagg  became  owner,  aad  in 
August  of  that  year  it  was  purchased 
by  T.  M.  Chapman  and  William  R. 
Chappie.  In  1874  Chapman  sold  his 
interest  to  Harry  A.  Tozer,  whose  in- 
terest Mr.  Chappie  bought  in  December, 
1877,  and  conducted  It  as  sole  editor  and 


71 


propriftor  until  September  3,  1892,  when 
he  sold  an  interest  to  Norman  D.  01m- 
stead,  and  the  pajaer  has  since  been  con- 
ducted by  Chappie  &  Olmstead.  The 
"News"  represents  the  Democratic  party 
in  our  county  and  county's  city,  and 
sustains  the  Democratic  cause  with  sig- 
nal industry  and  ability. 

The  "Dairyman's  Record,"  a  semi- 
monthly publication,  was  bes;un  at  Lit- 
tle Falls  for  the  purpose  indicated  by  its 
title,  m  1859,  by  Allen  W;  Eaton.  The 
name  was  soon  after  changed  to  the 
"Dairy  Farmer."  In  1861  Eaton  sold  to 
Ayer  &  Bngham.  It  was  thought  that  a 
publication  of  this  character  in  the 
midst  of  an  extensive  dairy  region  could 
be  sustained,  but  though  «ided  by  the 
large  acquirements  of  Xerxes  A.  VVillard, 
in  that  field,  and  his  prolific  pen  devoted 
to  the  subject  of  dairying,  ii  failed  to 
reach  a  sufficiently  wide  field,  and  it  was 
discontinued  about  1863. 

The  Little  Falls  "Evening  Times,"  the 
first  daily  newspaper  of  the  county,  was 
founded  May  10,  1886,  by  the  Coopera- 
tive  Printing  Company,  composed  of 
Robert  Currie,  Thomas  Highland,  Owen 
H.  Highland,  J.  B.  McGuire  and  Henry 
Langdon.  The  type  and  material  were 
those  of  the  "Mohawk  Independent" 
previously  published  by  C.  A.  Tuclier. 
The  first  editor  was  John  F.  Devlin,  but 
after  a  very  short  service  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  E.  Marshall  Pavsy.  In  No- 
vember, 1887,  the  "Times"  was  bought 
by  an  association,  Mr.  Pavey  continuing 
as  editor  for  about  a  year  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  John  M.  Lee  as  editor  and 
manager.  Mr.  Lee  conducted  the 
"Times"  until  August,  1889.  when  Jay 
E.  Klock  bought  an  Interest  and  was 
editor  and  manager  until  June  15,  1891, 
when  he  retired  to  become  editor  of  the 
Kingston,  N.  Y.  "Freeman."  He  was 
succeeded  by  John  Crowley,  jr.,  as  edi- 
tor and  manager.  In  July,  1892,  Mr. 
Crowley,  then  one  of  the  owners,  bought 
the  interests  of  his  associates  and  became 
editor  and  sole  proprietor.  The  "Times" 
is  ably  conducted  and  under  Mr. 
Crowley's  management  it  has  become 
successful,  and  a  permanent  institution 
as  a  daily  newspaper  of  the  county. 


In  the  fall  of  1889,  a  number  of  Little 
Falls  citizens  formed  a  stock  company, 
with  a  capital  of  |3,000,  and  in  October 
of  that  year  began  the  publication  of  the 
second  daily  paper  in  Rerkimer  county, 
also  published  at  Little  Falls,  under  the  , 
title  of  the  "Evening  Herald,"  with  John  I 
W.  Lee  as  editor.  Mr.  Lee  was  after  a 
time  succeeded  by  John  E.  Willoughby, 
who  continued  to  edit  the  paper  until  its 
publication  was  discontinued.  Mr. 
Willoughby  is  now  one  of  the  editors  of 
the  "Amsterdam  Daily  Democrat."  The 
"Herald"  was  a  pronounced  Republican 
paper  and  had  the  support  of  some  of 
the  most  influential  Republican  politi- 
cians, in  fact  was  started  as  a  Republi- 
can "organ,"  yet  in  a  little  more  than  a 
year  the  $3,000  capital  was  exhausted 
and  the  enterprise  was  so  far  from  being 
self-sustaining  that  it  was  discontinued. 

November  26th,  1894,  still  another 
daily  paper,  the  "Evening  Sun"  was 
started  at  Little  Falls  by  James  J. 
Neville,  who  was  both  editor  and  pub- 
lisher. The  "Sun"  was  issued  for  a  few 
months  only  and  was  then  discontinued 
because  of  lack  of  support. 

Early  in  the  year  1893  the  "Saturday 
Budget"  was  started  in  Little  Falls  by 
E.  Brate  Rogers,  formerly  a  printer  in 
the  "News"  office.  It  was  issued  weekly 
as  a  Cleveland  organ,  the  editorial  and 
political  department  being  conducted  by 
Ezra  D.  Beckwith.  It  failed  to  receive 
sufficient  support  for  its  maintenance, 
and  its  publication  was  continued  but  a 
few  months. 

The  "Catholic  Telegraph"  was  first 
issued  at  Little  Falls,  June  8,  1878,  and 
was  edited  by  James  M.  Ludden  and  M. 
J.  Louden,  It  was  continued  at  Little 
Falls  until  January,  1881,  and  then  re- 
moved to  Albany  where  its  publication 
was  discontinued  about  a  year  later. 

The  "Norway  Tidings"  was  begun 
January  1,  1887,  by  Fred  Smith,  as  a 
temporary  publication  designed  to  col- 
lect such  facts  and  events  of  the  early 
his'ory  of  Norway  a?  were  still  available, 
to  revive  the  names  and  memories  of  its 
first  settlers,  and  to  give  some  account 
of  their  descendants.  The  motto  at  the 
kead  of  the  columns  of  the   "Tidings" 


72 


was  so  apt  and  even  pathetic,  that  it 
may  be  repeated  here  :  "Remember  the 
days  of  old.  Consider  the  years  of  many 
generations  :  ask  thy  father  and  he  will 
show  thee,  thy  elders  and  they  will  tell 
thee."  It  was  published  monthly  for 
four  years  and  was  read  with  eager  in- 
terest in  this  county  and  in  many  re- 
mote parts  of  the  country.  No  effort  in 
the  line  of  periodical  publications  ever 
more  fully  accomplished  its  special  pur- 
pose. It  was  a  history  of  Norway  that  can 
never  be  excelled,  and  it  would  befortu 
nate  for  our  society  if  the  history  of  the 
other  towns  of  the  county  could  be  writ- 
ten with  the  same  research  and  skill  in 
narration.  The  '"Tidings"  prepared  the 
way  for  the  centennial  of  Norway.  Sep- 
tember T,  1887,  the  only  town  in  the 
county  that  has  had  a  similar  celebra- 
tion. An  assemblage  of  3,000  people 
was  received  and  entertained  with  un- 
bounded hospitality  by  the  citizens  of 
Norway,  and  the  occasion  was  signalized 
by  appropriate  ceremonies  and  by  ad- 
dresses delivered  by  Fred  Smith,  Hon. 
Henry  H.  Holi;,  of  Michigan,  Hon,  Pat- 
rick H.  McEvoy  and  George  W.  Smith, 
and  poems  by  Hon.  J.  Dryden  Hender- 
son and  Rev.  Charles  H.  Austin. 

David  Holt  who  was  a  pioneer  pub- 
lisher in  Herkimer,  came  here  from 
Hudson,  in  1805  and  was  the  most  nota- 
ble of  the  men  connected  with  our  early 
newspapers.  Those  in  which  he  was  en- 
gaged have  been  mentioned.  He  was 
postmaster  many  years  at  Herkimer, 
collector  of  internal  revenue  under  the 
general  government,  and  justice  of  the 
peace.  He  was  appointed  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  common  pleas  court  in 
1817,  first  judge  of  that  court  in  Febru- 
ary, 1821,  and  held  that  position  until 
March,  1825.  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
Hiram  Nolton.  Judge  Holt  was  a  Clin- 
tonian,  and  the  ascendency  of  the  anti- 
Cliutonian,  or  "Bucktails,"  excluded  him 
from  further  political  consideration. 
His  official  employments  had  not  ad- 
vanced his  pecuniary  fortunes,  and  re- 
tiring from  office  poor,  he  went  back  to 
his  "case"  and  types.  He  was  for  a 
time  engaged  on  the  "Mohawk  Courier," 
worked  afterwards  ten  years  in  a  print- 


ing office  in  Albany,  and  finally  went  to 
Wisconsin,  where  he  died  sometime 
after  1849.  His  son  Charles  Holt,  pub- 
lisher of  the  Kankakee,  Illiaois,  "Ga- 
zette," is  well  known  to  the  readers  of 
the  "Herkimer  Citizen,"  by  his  interest- 
ing reminiscences  and  sketches  of  life  in 
Herkimer  sixty  years  ago,  contributed 
to  that  paper.  Benton's  history  over 
forty  years  ago  said  of  Judge  Holt,  that 
he  'enjoyed  a  large  share  of  confidence 
worthily  bestowed  and  exerted  an  in- 
fluence in  political  afairs  net  yet  forgot- 
ten." 

The  newspapers  of  Dolgeville,  com- 
mencing with  the  monthly  publication 
of  the  "Dolgeville  Herald,"  in  May,  1889, 
have  filled  a  notable  space  in  this  field 
in  our  county.  Edward  S.  Schermer- 
horn  was  the  first  editor  of  the  "Herald." 
The  increasing  circulation  soon  war- 
ranted a  weekly  issue,  which  appeared 
August  5,  1891.  John  C.  Freund  was 
editor,  Van  Cullen  Jones  assistant,  and 
E.  S.  Schermerhorn  had  charge  of  the 
local  department.  In  1892  its  circula- 
tion was  about  12,000  copies,  reaching 
all  parts  of  this  state  and  having  a  cir- 
culation in  many  others.  In  1895  Mr. 
Jones  became  chief  editor,  and  suc- 
ceeding him  were  G.  B.  Pelton,  E. 
D,  Leeke,  E.  Marshal  Pavey  and  Ed- 
ward Nietack,  In  August,  1898,  Wil- 
liam Dolge  assumed  charge  of  the 
editorial  and  business  departments  and 
is  now  succesfully  conducting  them. 
The  "Herald"  is  Republican  in  pol- 
itics, and  has  been  especially  devoted  to 
the  support  of  the  protective  system  and 
to  the  discussion  of  economic  questions. 
It  gave  much  attention  to  the  relations 
between  labor  and  capital,  profit  shar- 
ing, to  sociological  topics  and  to 
forestry.  It  haa  always  maintained  a 
high  literary  standard.  The  "Herald" 
was  mainly  sustained  by  Mr.  Alfred 
Dolge  during  his  great  business  career 
at  Dolgeville,  and  the  expense,  largely 
unremunerative,  amountmg,  it  is  said, 
to  near  $70,000  from  1893  to  1898,  was 
borne  in  order  to  bring  to  general  notice 
the  rise  of  Dolgeville  and  its  numerous 
industries.  In  September,  1897,  Harry 
L.  Everest  commenced  the  publication 


73 


of  the  "Dolgeville  Rppublican,"  of 
which  Warren  H.  Bacon  is  editor.  It 
has  flourished  since  its  first  issue  and 
bids  fair  to  be  successful  and  perma- 
nent. Dolgeville  has  also  had  its  share 
of  ephemeral  newspapers.  G.  W.  Ed- 
wards gave  a  brief  existence  to  the 
"Dolgeville  Record"  in  1894,  and  Geo. 
W.  Nellis  and  Emanuel  Lyons  brought 
out  the  "Dolgeville  Independent"  in 
iy96.  Both  were  printed  at  Herkimer 
and  each  disappeared  in  a  few  months. 
When  the  "Independent"  was  discontin- 
ued, Mr.  Lyons  bought  an  interest  in 
the  "Herkimer  County  Record." 

Of  all  the  numerous  ventures  in  news- 
papers in  this  county  before  1843  only 
the  ^'Herkimer  Democrat,"  the  "Mo- 
hawk Courier,"  and  the  "Herkimer 
Journal"  survive,  the  latter  two  only  in 
their  union  as  "The  Journal  and  Cour- 
ier." But  though  the  life  of  newspapers 
is  short,  the  art  of  printing  them  is  long. 
Baffled  enterprise  renews  the  experi- 
ment in  new  fields  or  resumes  it  in  the 
old.  There  is  indeed  more  persistent 
effort  in  the  publicatitm  of  newspapers 
than  in  most  undertakings.  There  is  a 
fascinating  interest  in  the  regular  offer- 
ing of  a  newspaper  to  a  circle  of  readers, 
the  editor's  peculiar  world,  something 
that  gratifies  the  natural  egotism  which 
impels  all  who  think  to  proclaim  their 
thoughts.  If  the  newspaper  does  not  fill 
the  highest  department  of  letters,  it  is 
more  constantly  and  more  closely  in 
touch  than  any  other  with  the  general 
movement  of  ideas  and  affairs.  The 
preparation  of  matter  for  his  paper 
absorbs  and  concentrates  the  attention 
of  the  true  editor  quite  as  much  as  does 
the  work  of  those  engaged  in  other  pro- 
fessions. His  successive  numbers,  all 
en  rapport  with  the  map  of  busy  life, 
and  inspired  by  his  growing  mental  cul- 
ture, are  a  rythmical  series  that  consti- 
tutes the  poetry  of  an  editor's  life.  Each 
recurring  issue  is  the  emanation  of  his 
hand  and  brain  and  brings  with  it  the 
bliss  of  mental  creation,  a  peculiar  per- 
sooal  charm,  such  as  is  felt  in  hardly 
any  other  work.  Experience  forms  a 
kabit  that  makes  the  editor  reluctant  to 
leave  his  field  of  labor  even  for  those 


that  afford  larger  pecuniary  profit 
Ooce  initiated  into  the  printing  guild,, 
the  editor  is  likely  to  be  more  or  less  de- 
voted to  it  for  the  rest  of  his  life. 

Down  to  1830  the  country  journals- 
were  distributed  largely  by  post-rider& 
who  reached  districts  to  which  mail 
routes  had  not  been  extended.  The 
postrider's  horn  vied  with  the  horn  of 
the  stage  driver  in  waking  the  echoes  of 
the  neighborhood.  These  sights  and 
sounds  were  a  welcome  relief  to  the 
monotony  of  country  life.  Sometimes, 
as  we  learn  from  the  historian  of  Nor- 
way, a  horn  sounded  from  the  steeple  of 
a  country  church  to  summon  the  rural 
population  to  the  Sabbath  service  held 
where  the  pioneer  dead  of  the  vicinage 
reposed. 

As  we  take  this  glance  backward,  our 
attention  lingers  until  we  seem  to  hear  a 
dietant  undertone  that  recalls  the  fea- 
tures and  the  simple  incidents  of  that 
homely  life  of  English  yeomanry  com- 
memorated by  Gray's  Eleg3\  That  im- 
mortal ideal  of  the  lives  of  former  gen- 
erations of  farmers,  has  a  more  solemn 
cadence  and  touches  us  more  deeply 
than  even  Tennyson's  "In  Memoriam."^ 
though  that  be  framed  in  loftier  verse. 
We  feel  as  we  read  that : 
"Each  in  his  narrow  eell  forever  laid. 

The  rude  forefathers  of  the  hamlet  sleep. 

*  «  # 

The  breezy  call  of  incense  breathing  morn. 
The  swallow  twittering  from  the  straw  built 

shed. 
The  cock's  shrill  clarion,  or  the  echoing  horn 
No  more  shall  rouse  them  from  their  lowly 

bed." 

In  these  days  the  editor's  patrons  and 
neighbors  enlivened  publication  day  by 
visiting  the  printing  office  for  their 
papers.  They  came,  too,  to  learn  what 
had  transpired  from  the  great  world 
outside,  all  of  which  they  were  certain 
"the  printer"  knew.  This  was  the  idyl- 
lic age  of  the  country  newspaper.  If 
the  editor  was  less  an  oracle  than  the 
"minister"  or  the  lawyer,  be  was  a& 
much  consulted. 

In  recalling  the  scenes  of  that  olden 
time,  when  farming  life  was  more  of 
our  country's  life;  when  the  social  senti- 
ment had  more  points  of  ccmtact  and 


74 


S3'mpathy,  and  was  diffused  on  an  evener 
plane,  we  think  of  the  rural  cemeteries 
wheie  the  ashes  of  silent  generations 
rest  and  mingle  with  their  native  earth. 
After  these  simple  headstones,  after, 
even,  the  more  ambitious  sculptures- 
vain  attempts  to  immortalize  the  com- 
mon dust— shall  be  worn  to  oblivion  by 
nature's  unceasing  war,  the  names  of 
past  generations  will  be  longer  perpet- 
uated in  the  records  of  marriages  and 
deaths,  of  accidents  by  flood  and  field, 
and  war,  contained  in  the  county  news- 
paper, which  will  remain  the  faithful 
and  the  enduring  annalist  of  the  home 
and  the  home  life. 


Judge  David  Holt,  Col.  William  L. 
Stone,  Judge  John  C.  Underwood.  Gen. 
Richard  U.  Shearman,  Judge  Amos  H. 
Prescott,  Hon.  Charles  S.  Benton,  Judge 
Robert  Earl,  Xerxes  A.  Willard,  Jean  R. 
Stebbins  and  others  have,  as  editors  and 
publishers,  honored  the  press  of  Herki- 
mer county,  while  men  like  Gaylord 
Griswold,  Arphaxed  Loomis,  Michael 
Hoffman,  Elisha  P.  Hurlbut  and  Nathan- 
iel S.  Benton,  by  contributing  to  the  col- 
umns of  their  party  organs,  and  to  the 
press,  have  enforced  their  ideas  of  pub- 
lic policy  upon  the  public  mind,  and 
largely  moulded  the  political  and  legal 
history  of  the  state. 


76 


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