m F127 .S3 S48 ■°A 'J.'* ■^o • / ^^^ --^ R|« \.<- <^ *" o « o ' -( I SOLOMON SI AS, A. M., M. D. A SUMMARY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY, GIVING THE Organization, Geography, Geology, History. PRKPARED AT THK RKOUHST OF THE ; '. , COUNTY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION BY SOLOMON SIAvS, A. M., M. D, PRESS OF PJBRJ?!; W. DANFORTH. Aliddlelnirgli, N. Y. 1904. s nwaarwap. i u ii ■■■iim i iiii n iwii LiBS?a^ nf QONGRESS TVW) Ooeies Hereiv«J OCT 19 ^904 OoByrfeht Entry GLASS «. XXo. No. COPY B •..tJSpy right, 1904, Bv SOLOMON SIAS, tt^..., 'J\ ikAa. PREFACE. At a meeting of the County Teachers' Association I was requested to prepare a booklet respecting the County. The following pages are the result. When the work of collecting the material commenced I thought it would be easy to prepare the book et^ but soon found the question was not so nuKh-What to put in, as What to leave out; and next, How best to arrange the material used. I do not claim there are no errors in statement, data, or in arrangement, but have endeavored to avoid them. The following is a partial list of the authorities con- sulted: Roscoe, Sims, and Warner's 1"^'' "^f; °^"- forth's Directory; Kimm's Iroquois; Cady's Old Stone Fort- Hendricks, Roberts, and other histories of the State; State publications- such as Coloni^al and Docu- mentary histories. New York in the Revolution, Su h^ van's Expedition, Centennial Cekb at.ons, and the Legislative Manual; the Regent^ and the State Super- intendent's publications; Cobb's Story of the Palatines; Srrington'; Battles of the Revolution; Montgomery, Fiske. and other American histories. I thank Dr. H. F. K»§sley, Secretary of th^^oun ty Historic^ Sodety, for Swoks and material; Prot. b. II C. Kimm for suggestions and assistance; Mr. Charles E. Kniskern for the cut of the oldest building in the county; the Supervisors, School Commissioners, and Teachers for assistance in collecting and authenticat- ing the material used. Schoharie, N. Y. SOLOMON SIAS. SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Origin and Organization. I, Name; -II, County, history of formation; -III, Formation of Towns; -IV, Political,- Town;- County, legislative, judicial;-State, legislative, judicial; -United States, legislative, judicial, U. S. District Court, U. S. Circuit Court;-V, Incorporated villages; -VI, Miles of highway in towns; -VII, Post offices, list of;-VIII, Ed- ucational; -School Commissioners District., Schools in; Superintendance, history of;- Early school buildings ;- School nioneys;-State appropriation, sources of ;-Tax;- Regents;- IX, Educational Wave; -present disposition; -X, Political Representation, history of;- XI, Public buildings;- XII, Holidays, law of;- XIII, Latitude and Longitude, table of;- XIV, Calendar from 1770 to 1784. CHAPTER II. Geography.— I, Relief; -II, Rivers and tributaries;- III, Lakes;- IV, Inhabitancy and In- dustries;- V, Natural curiosities, falls, caves, springs, subterranean rivers;- stone heap. CHAPTER III. GKOI.OGY.— I, Introduction;- Forces;- III, Divisions;- IV, Early continent;- V, Or- igin and position of rocks;- VI, Table of Formations;- Vlt, Schoharie County Geology;- VIII, Trip across the County;- Formations to be found in each town; - IX, Glacial phenomena; - X, Tlie great continental glacier;- XI, Effect of glacier. CHAPTER IV. Historical.— I, Indian trails; - II, Use made of them;- IH, Indian inhabitancy;- IV, Fort at Central Bridge;- V, Settlement by the white man;- VI, The Palatines in New York,- Settlement, Dispersion; -VI I, Palatines in Schoharie Valley,- Set- tlement, Dispersion;- VIII, Early incidents;- IX, In- dians join the British,- reasons for their action;- X, Preparation for trouble,- Committee of Safety;- Arm- ing the Citizens,- Division into Districts;- XI, Forts in Schoharie Valley,- Signals of danger;-- XII, Des- cription of the Forts-- Upper-- Middle-- Uower,— Block- houses, Fort Du Boise;-- XIII, The forts as strategical points. CHAPTER V. Raids During the Revolution. 1777, McDonald's raid,-- effect of engagement. 1778, Battle of Cobleskill,-- Act of heroism,-- Troops sent to Schoharie Valley. 1779, no raids. 1780, Brant' s,-- Crysler's,- Seth Henry's,-- Brant's second raid,-- Johnson's,— criticism of a tradition. 1781, Sharon battle,- Cobleskill raid,-- Brant and Crysler's raid. 1782, Crysler's raid;.- Treatment of prisoners; --Routes taken carrying off prisoners. CHAPTER VI. The Towns. Blenheim; --Broome --Elerson, Williams, Shay;-- Carlisle;- Cobleskill;- Conesville;-- Esperance,-- the Albany and Susquehan- na railroad;-- Fulton;— Gilboa;-- Jefferson;-- Middle- burgh;-- Richmondville;-- Schoharie;- Seward; — Sharon;- Summit;- Wright. SUMMARY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. CHAPTER I. Origin and Organization. I. NAME. The word "Schoharie" is said to be of Indian origin, and its meaning "Driftwood." A little south of where the present village of Middle- burgh is situated a stream "Line kill" enters the river on the west side. Almost directly opposite another stream "Little Schoharie" enters on the east side. The conflicting currents of the three streams caused the drift-wood brought down by them to accumulate until it became a continuous and permanent raft stretching across the river and so firm it could be used as a bridge. The position of the streams, raft, and mountain west of the river are quite well represented on the seal adopted by the County Historical Society. I I . COUNTY. Prior to 1772 all that part of the province lying north of Ulster County was called Albany County. 14 NUMMARY OF In 1772 all that part west of the north and south line of the Schoharie river and its continuation was formed into Tryon county and so named in honor of William Tryon at that time the popular governor of the prov- ince. In 1784 the name was changed to Montgomery in honor of Richard Montgomery, the Commander of the New York forces in the Canadian expedition, and killed in the disastrous attack upon Quebec, December 31st, 1777. In 1 79 1 Otsego county was formed out of Montgom- ery. In 1 795 Schoharie county was formed out of Otsego and Albany counties. Otsego furnishing that part ly- ing west of the Schoharie river and Albany that part lying east of it. In 1836 a small part of Greene county was annexed and used in the formation of the town of Conesville. For several years prior to 1795 petitions were sent to the State Legislature urging the formation of the County, but little attention however was paid to them until the session of 1795. Among those most active for its formation were George Tiffany, who had been a student in the law office of Aaron Burr in New York city and was now settled near the old stone fort in Schoharie; Jacob Gebhard, a well educated lawyer who had settled in the present village of Schoharie; Jona- 1 SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 15 than Danforth, an educated law3'er that had located in the present village of Middleburgh; William Beekman, John Rice, and Calvin Rich, lawyers and stirring men that had settled in Seward and Sharon. April 6th, 1795, the legislature passed the act form- ing Schoharie County out of Albany and Otsego coun- ties, and on the loth of June Governor Clinton ap- pointed William Beekman as first Judge and Abram B. Vroman, John M. Brown, David Sternberg, and Jona- than Danforth as Assistant Judges. Mr. Beekman was 28 years old when he was thus appointed and held the ofBce for 43 years. The first court house is still standing in the village of Schoharie. It was used for both Court house and jail until the building of the Court house in 1800. The first court was held May 31st, 1796, with William Beekman, First Judge, and Adam Vroman and Jonathan Dan- forth, Assistant Judges. III. TOWNS. From Schoharie, which was organized as a town in Albany County in 1788, was taken at the organization of Schoharie County in March, 1797, the towns of Middleburgh, Blenheim, Broome, Cobleskill, and Sharon. The county was thus divided at first into six towns, and these are frequently called "The Original 16 SUMMARY O^ Towns." Middleburgh was called Middletown, but the name was changed in iSoi to the present one. Broome was called Bristol, but in honor of Lieut. Gov- ernor John Broome it was changed in 1808 to its pres- ent name. Since 1803 ten more towns have been formed in the county. The following table gives the date of the formation of tlie 16 towns now comprising the county, and from what they were formed. But some of the boundary lines have been changed since the towns were first formed, so that a map giving the boundary lines of the different towns at their formation would not in every case exactly coincide with one of recent date. The map accompanying this booklet is designed to give the towns as they now are. Date. Town, Fkom what takex. 1788 Scholiarie 1797 Blenheim Sdjoharie. 1707 Broome Sclioharie. 1797 Col)leskill S'chohario. 1797 Middleburgli Schoharie. 1797 Sharon Sclioharie. 1803 Jefferson l^lenheim. 1807 Carlisle Cobleskill and Sharon. 1819 Summit Cohleskill and Jefferson. 1828 Fulton Middleburgh. [Co. 1830 .. Conesville Broome, and Durham in Greer.e SCliOHARiE COUNTY. if 1840 Seward Sharon. 1846 Esperance Schoharie. 1846 Wright Schoharie. 1848 Gilboa x... Blenheim and Broome. 1849 Richmondville Cobleskill. IV. POLITICAL. 1. Towns. At the town meeting held in February the voters elect a Supervisor, whose term of office is 2 years; Justices of the Peace, term 4 years; and various other officers, whose term of service is limited by law. There is no age limit to any town officer. 2. County, a. legislativk. The Board of Sup- ervisors, consisting of the 16 Supervisors of the towns, meets annually at the County seat as a Local Legisla- ture for the Count3^ It has power to choose a Clerk who is not a supervisor, has jurisdiction over high- ways, the protection of fish and game, and various other matters conferred upon it by law. It also meets after a General Election as a Board of Canvassers. The following was adopted at the session of the Board held November, 1902 : ''Resolved, That the Town meetings, in and for the County of Schoharie, be held on the third Tuesday of February for the next four years, and thereafter until otherwise ordered. ' ' b. judicial. The County Judge is elected by the 2 18 SXJMMARY OF voters in the Several towns for a term of 6 years; his salary is fixed by law and payable out of the County treasury; age limit is 70 years. The Sheriff ^ County Clerk, and District Attorney are elected for 3 years. The Sheriff cannot be elected for the term next suc- ceeding that in which he holds the office. The Coun- ty Clerk also acts as clerk of the Supreme Court when held in the county. 3. State. c7. lkgIvSLATive. The poHtical year and legislative term begin on the first day of January, and the legislature must assemble on the first Wednes- day in January each year. The assembly consists of 150 members, elected for one year, and Schoharie County is entitled to one Assemblyman. The Senate consists of 50 members, elected for two 3'ears, and Schoharie County belongs to the 27th Senatorial Dis- trict — comprising the counties of Hamiltou, Fulton, Montgomery, and Schoharie. The salary for members of the legislature is $1500, with ten cent mileage once each way during a session. The election is held on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday of November. /;. JUDICIAL. The State is divided into 8 judicial districts. Schoharie County belongs to the 3rd district — comprising the counties of Schoharie, Albany, Ren- sselaer. Greene, Coknnbia, vSullivan, and Ulster. SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 19 The salary of the Justices is $5,ooo per year, and in addition they receive $1,200 each for expenses. 4. United States, a. legislative. The State is divided by the Laws of 1901 into 37 Congressional Districts, each of which elects a Member of the House of Representatives. Schoharie County belongs to the 24th district, which comprises the counties of Scho- harie, Delaware, Otsego, and Ulster. Senate. The State Legislature, in joint session, elects two Senators. Length of term is 6 years. The salary for Representatives and Senators is $5,000 per annum, and 20 cents mileage in going and return- ing once each session. For each day's absence, except when caused by sickness, eight dollars per day may be deducted from the salary. d. JUDICIAL. "United States District Court." — Schoharie County belongs in the "Northern District of New York." The district embraces twenty-nine coun- ties lying in the north-eastern part of the State. The southern tier of counties in this district consists of Rensselaer, Albany, Schoharie, and Delaware: the western tier of Cayuga, Tompkins, and Tioga. "United States Circuit Court."— The States of Ver- mont, New York, and Connecticutt constitute the "Second District." % SUMMARY O't V. INCORPORATED VILLAGES. According to the Legislative Manual for 1902, com- monly called "The Red Book," there are six Incor- porated Villages in the County. Arranged alphabeti- cally they are: Cobleskill, Esperance, Middleburgh, Richmondville, Schoharie, Sharon Springs. In point of time Esperance leads, having been incorporated by the Legislature in 18 18. The Manual for 1903 gives the total population of the whole 16 towns in the County as being 26,854. VI. HIGHWAYS. Historian Roscoe, quoting from surveys made by S. N. & D. G. Beers, for map purposes, gives the fol- lowing as the number of Miles of Highways in each town. Blenheim, 59i. Broome, 100^. Carlisle, GO. Cobleskill, 53^. Conesville, 73. Esperance, 37}. Fulton, 104. Gilboa, 115^. Jefferson, 8I.t. Middleburoh, 77. Richmondville, 58J. Schoharie, 58}. Seward, 61. Sharon, 82]-. Summit, 7-^}. Wright, 62]. Total number of miles in the County 1161}. SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 21 VII. POST OFFICES. There are 55 post offices in the county, of which 27 are Money Order offices. Cobleskill, Middlebiirgh, and Schoharie issue Foreign as well as Domestic Money orders. In the following list the Money Order offices are marked with a star. •■■Argnsville. Barnerville. Bates. Beard's Hollow. *Breakabeen. Broome. Center. ■'Carlisle. Carlisle Center. ■■'•Central Bridge. -'■'Charlotte ville. ^Cobleskill. Conesvillc. East Cobleskill. Dorloo. ■Eminence. •■Esperance. Fdirland. Franklin ton. Fultonham. ■'•Gallupville. -Gilboa. Grovernors Corners 'Howe's Cave. Hunterland. •Hyndsville. ♦Jefferson. Jerome. Lawyersville. '■Livingstonville. Lutheran ville, 'Mackey. INIanorkill. -Middleburgh. jVlineral Sprinjjfs. "■'•North Blenheim. Patria. Proper. •••Richmondville. Ruth. ■'•Schoharie. ■Seward. ■■'•'Sharon. Sharon Center. "■•■Sharon Springs. Shutter's Corners ■■■•'Sloansville. South Gilboa. 'South Jefferson. Stewart. ■■•Summit. Vinton ton. ' Warnerville. We^t (^onesville. ■West Fulton. West Uichm'dville VIII. EDUCATIONAL. I. Commissioner Districts. The County is di- vided into two School Commissioner Districts. The following list gives the towns and the number of school districts having school houses in the town in each Commissioner' s District. 22 SUMMARY OF First District. Blenheim, ii; Broome, 15; Cones- ville; 12; Esperance, 7; Gilboa, 16; Middleburgh, 11; Schoharie, 6; Wright, 10. Total number of districts, 88. Second District. Carlisle, 9; Cobleskill, 9; Fulton, 15; Jefferson, 12; Richmondville, 9; Seward, 11; Shar- on, 14; Summit, 14. Total number of districts, 93. There are therefore at present 181 school districts in the Count}'. 2. School Super intkndknck. Schools were started by the early settlers almost as soon as they had made permanent settlements, but they were the schools of the locality where they were started, they had no relation to other settlements, and had no common sup- ervision or superintendance. All through the British Colonial period there was no system of education for the young, and the requests of the people were met with indifference or open dis- like by those in authority. It was Governor George Clinton— the first governor of the new State of New York — who laid the founda- tion of the system of Common Schools. No sooner was the war ended than this gallant soldier and farsee- ing statesman devoted his energies to this subject and called upon the Legislature to act. He said — "The neglect of education of youth is an evil. The establish- SCHOHARIE COT^NTY. 23 ment of Common Schools throughout the State will be attended with the most beneficial consequences." In 1784 the Legislature incorporated the Regents of the University. They were not primarily established for common school purposes. The prevailing idea at that time was that the State should confine its efforts to colleges and academies and not be responsible for common schools. The Regents however in 1793 sent to the Legislature a strong plea in behalf of common schools, and recounted the benefits that would result from their establishment. In 181 2 a Legislative Commission— headed by Jedid- iah Peck, a plain farmer of Otsego — presented a Report to the Legislature that gave a comprehensive statement of the educational needs of the State, and practical means of supplying them; recommended State care and -supervision; and mapped out the most essential points ■of the present system. The lyCgislalure established the office of State Superintendent and Gideon Hawle}', of Albany, was elected, at a yearly salary of 300 dol- lars. He served eight years when he was removed for political reasons and a person of so little ability ap- pointed Superintendent that the Legislature the next year — 1821 — abolished the ofhce and transferred its •duties to the Secretsiry of State. The different towiis ^elected a town Superintendent 24 SUMMARY OF who granted licenses, visited the schools, and reported their condition to the County Clerk, and he in turn re- ported to the State vSrp^rintendent. In 1 841 the Legislature created the office of County Superintendent of Schools, who reported directly to the State Department after receiving the reports of the dif- ferent town Superintendents. Ezra Smith, John H. Salsbury, Luther Ilartwell, and Bartholomew Becker were successively the Superintendents in this County. In 1847 the office of County Superintendent was abol- ished, but the Town Superintendents continued to act. In 1854 the Department of Education was set off by itself under a "Stat^ Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion" elected by a joint session of the Legislature for a term of three years, — and Victor M. Rice of Buffalo was made the first Superintendent. In 1856 the office of Town Superintendent was abolished by the Legislature and the law passed creat- ing the present system of County School Commission- ers. Under this act the Board of Supervisors divided the county into two "School Commissioner Districts," and the first election under the law to fill the position in the County was held in November 1857. The Legislature in February 1904 passed an act changing the system of school supervision. A "Com- missioner of Education" was elected for a term of 6 SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 25 years, service commencing xA.pril ist, 1904, salary $7,500 with $1,500 additional for travelling expenses — making a total of $9000 per year. The Regents were red need to eleven, and their term of service to eleven years, one going out each succeeding year and his suc- cessor to be chosen in joint session of the Legislature. The Secretary of the Regents has hitherto been the Ex- ecutive officer of the Regents and the only one of them to receive a salary for the service rendered. This of- fice is now abolished and its duties given to the Com- missioner. The work hitherto done by the "State Superintendent of Public Instruction" is also transferr- ed to the Commissioner. The Commissioner is given power to create such departments as he thinks neces- sary, appoint deputies and heads of such departments, fix the salaries of all deputies, appointees, and employ- es of the departments, and distribute all moneys appro- priated by the State for Educational purposes that have been hitherto distributed by either the Regents or the Superintendent of Public instruction. 3. Early School Buildings. Jefferson Academy. This was the pioneer of academic schools in the county. The building was three stories high and stood a little in front of the present Union School House. It was occupied in 18 17 and closed in 1852. While the school was in existence it was an excellent one, and was well 26 SUMMARY OF patronized uutil near its close. Esperance Academy. The old stone building on the north side of main street in the village of Esperance is something cf a landmark. Joshua M, Donaldson — a graduate of Union College — opened a school in it in 1 835 under the name of " ' Esperance Academy. ' ' Under his mangement the school flourished, had a good at- tendance, and did excellent work. Under his success- ors it declined, ceased to be a financial success, and finally closed. Schoharie Academy. The building — a substantial brick structure two stories in height, was erected in 1835. There were 55 original stockholders, a capital stock of $3,450, and eight citizens of Schoharie consti- tuted the first Board of Trustees. The school w^as or- ganized in August 1836, with Horatio Waldo, Jr., as Principal. The Academy was incorporated by the Legislature April 28th, 1837, ^^^^^^ admitted under the Regents in 1839. ^^^ 1873 a Union Free School was established in the district in which the Academy was situated, and the Board of Education authorized by a vote of the district to adopt the Acale:n>- as the Aca- demic Department of the school. The transfer was made by the Trustees of the Academy July 9th, 1873. In 1 904 the building was taken down and a larger structure erected on nearly the same site. Thus SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 27 SCHOHARIE ACADEMY. passed out of existence the last of the old educational landmarks of the County. Cobleskill School Building. In 1845 John H. Sals- bur}' in his report as County Superintendent referring to school buildings in the county says — "That of Co- bleskill reflects credit upon the inhabitants, particular- ly those by whose voluntary subscription a sum suffi- cient was raised to rear it." In 1867 the present com- modious brick structure was erected and the old school house abandoned. 4. School Moneys. There are two, and, in a few cases, three sources of money that can be used for the 28 SUMMA.RY OF support of the schools in the county, — ( i) State appro- priation, (2) Local tax, (3) Regents appropriation. I. State Appropriation. This is three fold in its source, (i) The State Tax. The rate and the a- niount to be raised is fixed each year by the Legisla- Uire. (2) School Fund. This is the outcome of the sale of State lands. In 1805 the Legislature laid the foundation of this fund by setting apart as a perma- nent fund the net proceeds of 500,000 acres of State lands. The income of the School Fund is used for Educational purposes. (3) The United States Deposit Fund. In 1836 the surplus in the United States Treasury was distributed among the States. New York received $4,000,000. This is an inviolable deposit, the capital cannot be used for general or State goverment. The State apportioned the deposit among the countiesaccording to their popu- lation. The County appropriations were to be placed in the hands of two Loan Commissioners, who were to be appointed by the Governor, and whose duty is to in- vest it to the best possible advantage. The Legislature apportions a part of the income from this fund for Edu- cational purposes. The State moneys for Education derived from these three sources are apportioned by the State Superinten- dent of Public Instruction. The County Treasurer re- ^'CHOilAklE a)UNTV. 2^ ceives from the State Treasurer the amount apportion- ed to the County by the Superintendent. The County School Commissioners apportion this amount to the dif- ferent towns and school districts. The County Treas- urer then pays to each Supervisor the share for his town, and the Supervisor pays it out on the orders of the Trustees of the several districts. 2. Local Tax. The Annual School Meeting by vote raises such sums as it may deem necessary for the support of the district school the ensuing year. All votes that involve the expenditure of money or the levy- ing of a tax nuist be by ballot, or by taking and record- ing the ayes and nays. 3. Regents Appropriation. This is made only to the schools under the visitation of the Regents, andean be used only in the Academic department and for such purposes as are designated by the Regents. IX. EDUCATIONAL WAVE. In 1850 an Educational wave struck the State and became almost "a craze" in the eastern part. The demand was for mammoth Boarding Schools capable of accommodating from 300 to 800 boarders, cheap rates for board and tuition, and a large faculty cap- able of teaching any branch or language that might be desired. In this countv it bes^^an with the erec- 30 SUMMAKY OF tion of the New York Conference Seminary at Cbarlotteville in 1850. Richmondville, Carlisle, and Warnerville followed. The one at Charlotteville sur- vived until 1875; the others earlier proved financial loses and were closed. Following this great wave came the demand for a more diffused class of schools capable of imparting higher education, and what are called "Regents Schools" and "Graded Union Schools" came into existence. Regents Schools. These are schools that are recog- nized by the Regents of the University of New York, hold at stated times examinations — the Regents office furnishing the questions and having the final revision of the answer-papers. The successful applicants are granted Regents Certificates and Regents Diplomas. In the First School Commissioner's District there are two of these schools — Middleburgh and Schoharie. In the Second School Commissioaer's District there are four-— Cobleskill, Jefferson, Richmondville, and Sharon Springs. Graded Union Schools. In quite a number of the larger villages in each of the Commissioner Districts Graded Union Schools under the control of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction have been estab- lished; each employs several teachers, has a fixed SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 31 course of study, and advances the pupils from grade to grade until they finish the course or leave the school. X. POLITICAL REPRESENTATION. Before the adoption of the State Constitution in 1777, the settlements on the Schoharie and its branches were considered part of Albany County and were represented in the Albany Council or Committee of Safety; but by whom represented, and for how long each representative served I have been unable to posi- tively determine. From the adoption of the State Constitution in 1777 to the formation of the County in 1795, one member from Schoharie represented the settlements in this sec- tion. For ten years (from 1777 to 1787) the repre- sentative was that staunch patriot, gallant and fearless hero — Col. Peter Vroman. who had been secretary of the local Committee of Safety, the defender of the Middle Fort in Johnson's raid in 1780, and who now lies buried in the cemetery of the Old Stone Fort at Schoharie. From the formation of the County in 1795 to 1802 the County was represented in the State lyCgislature by one member; from 1802 to 18 16 the County w^as allow- ed two representatives; from 1816 to 1822 it was al- lowed three; from 1823 to 1858 it was allowed two; S^ SUMMARY OF since 1858 it lias been allowed one only. XI. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The Board of Supervisors have the charge, care, and supervision of what are termed the "Public Buildings;" they enact rules and regulations respecting the build- ings; ascertain what repairs, alterations, and equip- ments are needed, and levy a tax upon the County to meet the necessary expenditures. I . Court House. An act was passed by the State Legislature, April 4lh, 1798, authorizing the Super- visors in the several towns in the County to raise by tax a sum for the purpose of building a Court House and Jail, and appointed a Commission to supervise their construction. A question having arisen as to the location of the buildings, the Legislature appointed Abraham A. Post, of Ontario, Alexander H. Buell, of Herkimer, and William Duer, of Oswego, as Commis- sioners to examine the different localities and select the location. These Commissioners selected the pres- ent location for the buildings. The fall of 1800 found the buildings occupied but not yet completed, and a further sum was authorized to be raised by tax for their completion. In 1845 the building was burned by a prisoner, and .a larger and more connnodious building was erected in SCHOHARIE COL^NTY. 33 1846. This was burned in the disastrous fire in 1870 that laid waste a large portion of the business part of Schoharie village, and the present building was erected the same year. It is constructed of limestone procured from quarries near the village, and is calculated to be fire proof. It contains the County Clerk's office and records, the Surrogate's office, Court library, Sheriff's office, Supervisors' room, the Court room proper, Grand and Petit jury rooms, and apartments for the Sheriff and his family. 2. Jail. This is a small two- story stone building in the rear of the court house. It was erected in 1846 and escaped the conflagration of 1870. It has been remodelled within the past few years, and is now pro- vided with running water, heating apparatus, steel cells, and all that is supposed to be necessary for the safe and respectable confinement of prisoners. 3. Poor House. This is situated in a command- ing site on the west side of the river between the vil- lages of Schoharie and Middleburgh. The present building was erected in 1838, was thoroughly repaired a few years since, and now gives a neat, quiet, and respectable home for its inmates. 4. Old Stone Fort. This is situated on the main highway about one mile north of the court house, and is at present used as the Museum of the Schoharie 3 34 SUMMARY OF County Historical Society. The building was erected in 1772 by the Dutch Re- formed Church as a house of worship. The material was contributed by the inhabitants of the valley, and upon many of the stones in its walls may be seen carv- ed in deep letters the name of the donor, as plainly visible now as when cut more than one and a quarter centuries ago. During the Revolution the building was surrounded by a wall and pickets, and was known as the '%ower Fort." An account of this and the stirring events that occurred there will be given in another chapter. In 1785 the wall, block houses, and pickets were re- moved and the building became once more a place of worship. In 1857 the church, having removed to a structure nearer the court house, sold the old stone building to the State. The pulpit and seats were re- moved, and the building used as an arsenal. In 1873 it was donated by the State to the County, and came into the care and keeping of the Board of Supervisors. In 1888 by a vote of the Supervisors, it was made the Museum of the County Historical Society, and now contains a valuable collection of documents, imple- ments, curios, maps, and relics connected with the early history of the County and surrounding section of the State. SCHOHARIE COUNTY. S5 XII. HOLIDAYS. The question is frequently asked by teachers and pupils, "What are the legal holidays in this State?" Section 24 of Chapter 39, stating what they are became a law in February 1902, and reads as follows: "The term Holiday includes the following days in each year: — the first day of January, known as New Year's day; the twelfth day of February, known as Lincoln's Birthday; the twenty-second day of February, known as Washington's Birthday; the thirtieth day of May, known as Memorial day; the fourth day of July, known as Independence day; the first Monday of September, known as Labor day; and the twenty-fifth day of December, known as Christmas day; and if either of such days is Sunday, the next day thereafter; and each General Election day; and each day appoint- ed by the President of the United States or by the Governor of this State as a day of General Thanks- giving, General Fasting and Prayer, or other Religious observance. The term Half Holiday includes the period from noon to midnight ofeach Saturday that is not a holi- day. The days and half days aforesaid shall be considered as the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, S6 SUMMARY OF and as public holidays or half holidays for all purposes whatsoever as regards the transaction of business in the public offices of this State, or counties of this State. On all other days and half days, excepting Sunday, such offices shall be kept open for the transaction of business. Where a contract by its terms requires the payment of money or the performance of a condition on a pub- lic holiday, such payment may be made or condition on the next business day succeeding such holiday with the same force and effect as if made or performed in accordance with the terms of the contract." XIII. LATITUDE AND LONGITUDR. The Earth is an oblate spheroid. Owing to its ob- lateness the degrees of latitude increase in length as w^e pass from the equator toward the poles. As the meridians meet at the poles, degrees of longitude de- crease in length as we pass from the equator toward the poles. lyoomis, in his Practical Astronomy, gives the length of a degree of latitude at the equator as 68.81 miles, and a degree of longitude as 69. 16 miles. At latitude 42 degrees 30 minutes, he gives a degree of latitude as 69. 13 miles, and a degree of longitude as 51.07 miles in length. The position of the following places is taken from the Reports of the State Survey, SCHOHARIE COUNTY 37 and from them we can easily ascertain the approximate latitude and longitude of other places in the County. The place and building is given in the table. Albany Esperance Schoharie Middleburgh Cobleskill Richmondville Summit Carlisle Sharon Springs Capital M. E. Ciiurch. . . Lutheran Church... . M. E. Church Hotel Augustin Hotel Hotel Presbyterian Church HoteL Latitu de. Longit ide deg- mill sec deer mm sec 42 39 05 73 45 25 42 45 38 74 15 30 12 39 51 74 18 41 42 35 47 74 20 00 42 40 40 74 29 07 42 38 02 74 33 53 42 35 41 74 35 00 42 45 22 74 26 46 42 47 52 74 36 49 XIY CALENDAR. We frequently wish to know on what day of the week a historical event occurred. For this purpose I have arranged the following calendar extending from 1770 to 1784. On what day of the week did the battle of Bunker Hill occur, June 17, 177;? Look in the column of years for 1775; then lun horizontally across the page to the column headed June. We find the figure 5. Now turn to the table of days; pass down to the 17th; run horizontally across the page to the 5th column. We find Saturday. It was therefore fought on Satujd.gy, June 17, 1775- SUMMARY OF Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Ocl.Nov.Dec 1770 2 5 5 1 3 6 1 4 7 2 5 1771 3 6 6 2 4 7 2 5 1 3 6 1772 4 7 1 4 6 2 4 7 3 5 1 1773 6 2 2 5 7 3 5 1 4 6 2 1774 7 3 3 6 1 4 6 2 5 7 3 1775 1 4 4 7 2 5 7 3 6 1 4 1776 2 5 6 2 4 7 2 5 1 3 6 1777 4 7 7 3 5 1 3 6 2 4 7 1778 5 1 1 4 6 2 4 7 3 5 1 1779 6 2 2 5 7 3 5 1 4 6 2 1780 7 3 4 7 2 5 7 3 6 1 4 1781 2 5 5 1 3 6 1 4 7 2 5 1782 3 6 6 o 4 7 2 5 1 3 6 1783 4 t 7 3 5 1 3 6 2 4 7 1784 5 I 2 5 7 3 6 1 4 6 2 SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 39 )ays. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 * M T W T F S 2 M T W T F S <\i 3 T W T F s vi^ M 4 W T F S ^i: M T 5 T F S ^ij M T W () F S M T W T 7 S M T W T F 8 I\l T W 20 F S * M T W T 21 s ■:i:- i\I T W T F 22 ^■; M T \V T F s 23 M T W T F s ■:v 24 T W T F s ii ]\r 25 w T F S <;> M T 2(> T F S ^ M T w 27 F s * u T \V T 28 29 30 31 S M T M T W M X w T T W T F AV T F S T F F S * M CHAPTER II. Geography. I. RELIEF. To give the relief of the towns separately would in- volve a needless repetition of similar features, all that is needed in Town relief will be given in another chapter. The County, as a whole, slopes toward the north. It is quite elevated in the southern part which is almost a plateau if it is not really one, and is hilly in the north- ern part. It is traversed from south to north by two ridges, one east and the other west of the Schoharie river, which flows in a northerly direction through the central depression. The eastern ridge is the lower one. Its highest point is said to be Sager Warner, situated in the northeastern part of Middleburgh, and having an elevation of 2 1 1 7 feet above sea level. The wCvStern ridge is the higher one, having an elevation of 2428 feet at Summit and an elevation of 1217 feet at the Sharon Springs hotel. It has commonly b£en said that these ridges were spurs of the Catskills, but geographers now tell us they be- long to that ridge of the Appalachian system which en- ters the State from Pennsylvania, crosses it in a north- SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 41 eastern direction, and finds its culmination in this state in the Adirondacks. Both of these ridges are crossed by transverse valleys through which flow streams that enter the Schoharie river lying in the central depression which is largely a glacial valley modified in later geological times by lacustrine and fluviatile deposits. Along these streams on either or both sides are more or less extended mead- ows or flats rich in fertility and under good cultivation. Occasionally these streams have falls so beautiful they attract the frequent visitor. II. RIVERS. I. Catskill Crekk. This rises in Broome, fiows southeasterly through the town into Albany county, and finally empties into the Hudson at Catskill. In its passage through Broome it receives the inflow of several streams on both its northern and southern sides, the largest of which enters it at Livingstonville. "Cr3stal Lake," a small but pretty sheet of water ly- ing in Rensslaerville, Albany County, empties through the branch that enters the Catskill creek at Livingston- ville. Along the banks of the Catskill creek was one of the chief Indian trails mentioned in the Historical chapter as connecting the Hudson with the Susque- hanna and Charlotte rivers. 42 SUMMARY OF 2. Schoharie Rivek. This rises in the Catskill mountains in a small pond about i2 miles west of the Hudson in the town of Hunter in Greene County. It enters Schoharie County on the southern border and forms part of the boundary between Gilboa and Conesville; then flows across Gilboa, Blenheim, and Fulton; forms part of the boundary between Fulton and Middleburgh; then flows across Middleburgh, Schoharie, and Esperance; forms part of the boundary between Esperance and Schenectady County; then flows northerly to its junction with the Mohawk at Fort Hunter. During its passage across the County it receives the inflow of several streams on its eastern side, among which the principal are Manorkill, Plattenkill, Keyer's Creek, Little Schoharie, Stony Creek, and, lastly, Fox's Creek — which rises in Albany County, flows westerly through Wright, and enters the SchoharieRiver a little north of Schoharie village. Upon its western side the river receives several streams, among which the principal are Mine Kill, West Kill, Kenhuragara, Line Kill — which forms part of thj Louiidiry between Fulton and Middleburgh, and empties into the Scho- harie River almost directly opposite to the Little Scho- harie, the meeting of whose currents formed the raft of wood already mentioned; and, lastly the Cobleskill SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 43 Creek — which rises in the town of Worcester, Otsego County, at an elevation of 1475 feet above the sea level, flows easterly through Richmondville, the central part of Cobleskill, and enters the Schoharie River at Cen- tral Bridge in the northern part of Schoharie. The principal branches of the Cobleskill Creek are Bear Gulf — which enters it at Richmondville, Stony Creek — which enters it just above Warnerville, and West Creek — which rises in Sharon and comes in at Warnerville. 3. Charlotte RivKR. A short distance west of the village of Summit is a spring from which the Char- lotte River takes its rise, flows southwesterly, and where it leaves the town of Summit marks the junction of the three Counties of Schoharie, Delaware, and Otsego. Along its course it receives the inflow of several streams, and becomes one of the main branches of the Susquehanna. When Sir Wm. Johnson obtained his grant to lands in the valley he changed the Indian name of the stream to Charlotte in compliment to the Queen, wife of George in. One of the Indian trails across the county passed from the Schoharie to the Charlotte River, and down that stream to the main trail. 4. Delaware River. This rises in Jefferson, flows south through the town into Utsyantha Lake, 44 SUMMARY OF thence southerly into Delaware Bay. The waters of Schoharie County thus flow into the Mohawk, Hudson, Delaware, and Susquehanna Riveis. III. LAKEvS. But two bodies of water in the County are of suffi- cient size to have received the name of ' Xake." One is "Utsyantha," vSituated on the southern border of the county, in the southeastern part of Jefferson. It has an elevation of about 1800 feet above sea level, is re- ferred to in early deeds, is given in official maps, and is mentioned in historical documents. The other is "Summit Lake," with an elevation of a little more than 20CO feet, situated in the town of Summit, and, flowing through the West Kill, empties into the Scho- harie River at Blenheim. Visitors at Summit, beholding the natural beauty of its lake and its surroundings, and unacquainted with the early history of the county, the trails across it, the early land deeds, the maps, and the historical documents connected with the settlement ard history of the coun- ty, have thought L^ke Utsyantha and Summit Lake were one and the same. In this th?\- have been mis- taken. Utsyantha Lake and Summit Lake are two distinct bodies of water, are situated on what were two distinct lines of travel, and empty into two different bodies of water. SCMOHARiE COUNTY. 4h The legend connected with Lake Utsyantha is briefly this. A white man wooed and won an Indian maid. A child was born. The maiden's father, a chieftain, was enraged that she had married a white man and slew him; then taking the child, rowed to the center of the lake and threw it into the water. The maiden followed in her canoe, reached the spot where it had sunk and plunged into tlie lake. The chieftain recover- ed the body of his dead daughter and bore her to the top of Mount Utsyantha, where beneath a lonely and unknown mound she lies to-day. The historical events connected with Lake Utsyantha are given in another place. IV. INHABITANCY AND INDUSTRIES. In a general way the relief of a countiy determines its inhabitancy and its industries. The relief of Scho- harie County is such that no part is uninhabitable, no part unproductive. The flats on either side of its streams are rich in fertility, the hillsides are productive, and the summit of its hills — where not preserved for woodland — are arable. The streams furnish abundant power for mills and factories, and the rocks are laden with untold wealth although no metals are found in the county. The final factors in determining the industries of cnj^ 46 SUMMARY OF locality are — (i) Cost of production; (2) Outlets fof the products; (3) Competition. In the days when small mills, tanneries, and factor- ies were remunerative the county was dotted with them. With the passing away of these industries the people turned their attention more to the different kinds of farming, nnd, more recently, to quarrying some of its vahiable rocks where the outlet permitted them to com- pete with other places. A stranger passing through the county and not tak- ing into consideration the effect of consolidation of capital in large factories, might think the industries of the county were declining. But decaying mills, crumbl- ing dams, and nearly forsaken buildings that were once filled with the hum of business, are more a protest against centralization than an indication of decline. It is to the praise of the inhabitants that as one industry has declined another, although perhaps less showy, has risen in its place. V. NATURAL CURIOSITIES. We may safely say Schoharie County possesses phy- siographic examples excelled by no County in the State and equalled only by few. Some of its valleys were hewn out by the slowly advancing glacier and the de- bris scattered all alons^ southward even as far as New SCtlOilAklE COUNTY. 4? Jerse}'; and as the great ice-sheet retired the water left in lakes or river courses formed the deep rich soil of the valleys and the upland plains. 1. FalIvS. On «rome of the streams areprett}^ falls, like those on Mine Kill, nestling in their rock seclu- tion, never wild and turbulent but alwa3's beautiful. Among those best known and most frequenth' visited is Bouck's Falls on the Kenhuragara. Here the water dashes down in a twi-:ted descent over 120 feet into a pool it has excavated at its base. The cliffs on either side, rugged and shelving inward, present a setting for the picture that is enchanting as the foam white water dashes between them, now hidden by projecting rocks, now bursting into view. Other falls may be larger, and the descending sheet of water more continuous, but none in quiet beauty more attractive. When the stream is swollen the scene is entrancing in the rush of the water as it beats against the rock sides of the cleft or tumbles in tumultuous roar over the precipice. But in mid-summer, when we can encamp on the rocks beside the stream, it pleases the aesthetic sense. 2. Cavks. In those portions of the county where limestone is the prevailing rock caves are numerous. Some of them are large and are known beyond their immediate locality, others are small and insignificant. All have been formed by imderground streams of water I 48 SUMMARY OF flowing through cracks and seams in the rockj,. Where the rock beside the seams was hard winding ways and narrow passages were formed, where circum- stances were more favorable, the sides were worn away and rooms of varying shape and height were formed. In many of these rooms the water, laden with dissolved limestone and slowly oozing from the sides or ceiling, has found stalactites varying in beauty, <^ize, shape, and transparency; or, the water dropping on the floor has formed solid masses of white and beautiful stalag- mite. Underground distance, size, and height are em- inently deceptive. It is not plain, smooth walking with something at the farther end to be speedily reach- ed; the dark sides of the cavities seem far away in the dim light used; and the distance above is an unknown quantity in the torch-light glimmer. Imagination finds her garden of dt^light in these subterranean rooms. There are perhaps many undiscovered caves in the northern half of the county; the geological formation of the rocks and the hilly surface of the count}' favor their exi.stence; but of the twelve or more known to exist,, the four that have attained notoriety bej'ond their immediate locality are Nethaway's, about two miles southeast of the court hous^ at Schoharie; Geb- hard's. or as it is also called Ball's, on Barton Hill a- SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 49 bout four miles east of the court house; Sellick's, as it is called from the first explorer, or McFail's, as it is also called from the accident that befell Professor McFail in exploring it, in Carlislt-; and Howe's Cave in Cobleskill, so named from Lester Howe the first ex- plorer and promoter of cave interests. From its ease of access, less danger in traversing, and being situated on the line of railroad Howe's Cave is by far the most noted. 3. vSprings. There are several springs of mineral or sulphur water, mosth^ situated in the northern part of the county, that have obtained some celebrity as re- medial agents. The most noted of these are Mineral Springs in the southeastern part of Cobleskill — first de- veloped by Simeon Deyo, and the well known Sharon Springs in the northwestern part of the county. 4. Subterranean Rivers. In the limestone dis- trict in the northern part of the county are several streams, which, after flowing as surface streams a con- siderable distance, sometimes several miles, disappear, flow underground for awhile, and then reappear as sur- face streams. Some of these streams when they re- appear are no larger than when they disappeared, in other cases the}' are considerably increased in volume. Three or four such streams are reported as existing in Carlisle and some in Sharon. 4 ^6 BUMMARV OF Sims in his History of Schoharie Coiinty gives the following story of one that reappears at Batnerville and flows into the Cobleskill Creek; — "Brown's Mills — a grist and sawmill built by Captain Christian Brown, and the first erected in that part of the county — were situated on the road now leading from BarnerviUe to Cobleskill, about two miles from the latter place. They were erected on a stream of water a few rods from a deep pool whence it issued. It was unknown for many years where the water came from, until a saw- mill was erected by Abraham Kniskern in Carlisle on a stream which near the mill sank into the earth and disappeared. After this mill began to operate sawdust made its appearance in the pool near Brown's mills, three miles distant." 5. Stone Heap. When the Schoharie valley was first settled by the white man a large stone heap, about 4 rods long, 2 rods wide, and lo feet high was found a little north of the present village of Sloansville, by the side of the trail leading from Schoharie to the Mo- hawk. Although it was not a natural curiosity and has now disappeared it deserves mention as it gave a name, "The Stone Heap Patent," to the tract of land granted in 1770 to John Bowen, and also marked an angle in the division line between Albany and Tryon counties. SCHOtlAKIE COUNT\^ 5i It was made by the Indians adding to it small, flat, water-worn stones as they passed back and forth over the trail that went by it from the Sohoharie Valley to that of the Mohawk. Traditions vary as to the cause of its formation. One tradition is that it marked the grave of a noted chief. But it was not the usual cus- tom of Indian life to make such heaps for such pur- poses, and whenever it was done tradition was very careful to recount his deeds. The reason given by Roscoe in his "History of Schoharie County" for its formation agrees more nearly with Indian custom in other localities and is probably nearer the correct ex- planation for its existence. The following is condensed from Mr. Roscoe' s ac- count. Rev. Gideon Hawley, a missionary among the Mohawk and other tribes, accompanied by another missionary and an indian guide traveled the path that led by the heap in 1753. In his account Mr. Hawley says ' 'We came to a resting place aud slaked our thirst at the stream, when we perceived our indian guide looking for a stone, which having found, he cast it on a heap which for ages had been accumulating by pass- engers like him. I have observed in every part of the country and among every tribe of indians such heaps of stones to which stones are cast by indians who pass by. This custom or rite is an ackonwledtrment of an invisi- h2 SUMMARY OF ble being. The heap is their ahar, and the stoile that is added is the oblation of the traveller. ' ' CHAPTER III. Gkology. i. introduction. 1. The study of the rocks is interesting. Whenever children see a geologist collecting specimens they gather around, watch him at work, examine curiously and carefully the specimens, and ask more questions and sometimes more difficult ones than he can readily answer at the time. Frequently they will run off and come back laden with rocks from which he can get specimens, or will tell him where he can successfully work. 2. The study is profitable. Many have seen pieces of slate or shale in loads of coal and thought the pieces looked like the black shale near their homes, and have spent time and money in useless digging. Many have gone to bed dreaming of wealth in the gold or silver vein they erroneously thought they had found on their faims. Many have been sure tliere was gas or oil to be obtained by a little boring because they had seen bubbles rising through the water or an oily scum float- .in^ off upon it. Others ]Lave opened quarries with 54 SUMMARY OF the expectatian of getting good flagging or building stone where they do not exist. 3. The material for the study is found everywhere. It is in the stone walls beside the road, in the stone heaps in the field, as well as in the solid masses of rock. Some of the best specimens in the State Collection at Albany have been found in walls or in the loose stones of the plowed field. 4. The study of nature is being more and more de- manded in our schools. Botany is very interesting. But it can only be pur- sued for a short time; the specimens collected fade, crumble, and soon lose their value. To properly mount and perserve them is too difficult for the greater number of our pupils. The collecting and studying of Insects is exceedingly interesting. But the specimens are liable to decay; few can mount them properly, and a still smaller number be able to preserve them for any length of time. Not so geological specimens, whether minerals or fossils. They can always be procured, do not fade nor crumble, will stand considerable hard us- age, and can be easily boxed or shelved. II. GEOLOGICAL FORCKS. Geologists assume the three following things. — I. The physical forces now in action have been the SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 55 same aud have been governed by the same laws through all past time. 2. These forces — whether water, whid, heat, or chemical action — have produced results through all the ages like those observed about us now. 3. While these forces are uniform in their nature some of them may have acted with greater intensity and some with less intensity in different geological times. The effect produced by the forces may therefore in some cases have required less time, and in other cases more time than is required now for the same re- sult. III. DIVISION OF GEOLOGY. 1. Structural Geology. This treats of the different kinds of rock, their structure, and arrangement in beds or in unstratified masses. 2. Historical Geology. This treats of the succession of events in the history of the rocks, and in the forma- tion of mountains and valleys, continents, coast lines, 'Climate, and animal and vegetable life. 3. Dynamic Geology. This treats of the causes, forces, or methods by which changes were brought ab^ut. 4. Economic Geology, This treats of the character of the different kinds of rock, the uses to which they 56 SUMMARY OF can be put, and their comparative value. Needed as these divisions may be in a geological text book we cannot in this short chapter make any se- parate or distinctive use of them. IV. THE KARLY CONTINENT. When North America first appeared above the waters of the new made Earth it was only a narrow V shaped strip of land extending from Labrador south- west to what are now the Great Lakes, then making a vSharp turn extended the other part of the V ^^ the northwest. So far as known this was the earliest dry land that ever appeared above the surface of the storm - tossed water, and it has therefore been said — "While America is historically the New World, from a scien- tific point of view it may truly be called the Old World." South of the narrow V shaped continent was a vast but shallow ocean. As the land gradually rose above the water the sediment deposited by the waters that beat upon its shores gradually extended the continent southward. But while this narrow strip gave a de- finite shape to the continent, how long it took for the continent to grow to its present size is beyond the power of man to estimate. Only He to whom "a thousand years are as a day' ' knows the time required. SCHOHARIE COUXTY. 67 V. ORIGIN AND POSITION OF THE ROCKS. All of our rocks that lie in layers or beds, whether the layers are as thin as sheets of paper or are several feet tliick, have been deposited from water as sediment, and Geologists ascertaining their position in respect to each other have made out a consecutive series reaching from the lowest — or earliest deposited, to the highest — or latest deposited. This series they have divided into groups, formations, systems, and given to them distinc- tive names derived either from the places where they are best developed, from their fossil contents, or from their relation to each other. Professor Merrill, in a Bulletin issued by the New York vState Museum, says —"New York is the mother state in Geologic nomenclature, and the names chosen by its early corps of geologists have beeii adopted in a large degree throughout the whole of the United States. It has moreover, exposed within its borders, a more complete and extensive series of formations below the Carboniferous and above the base of the Cambrian than any other State in the Union. It is therefore evident that a complete and representative colletion of the New York rocks is of no small importance and the descrip- tion of its formations is a matter of much interest." The following table gives in a descending order the 58 SUMMARY OF position of the different chief formations or classes as they would be were all the rocks of the series found in any one place. The omission of[]any one of the forma- tions, or the absence of an entire system, at any given locality does not disturb the order for the remaining. vi. table of the rock formations. 4. Cenozoic time. Present period or era. Champlain peroid. Glacial period. (Great ice-sheet covering northern United States ) Tertiary period. 3. Mesozoic time. Cretaceous peroid. Jurassic period. Triassic period. 2. Paleozoic time. Carboniferous period. ( Formation of coal. ) Devonian period. Chemung formatio:i. Portage. Hamilton. Corniferous. (The last great liinestone formation in New York.) SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 69 Onondaga. Oriskan}^ Silurian period. Lower Helderbnrg formation. Water lime. Niagara. Medina. Hudson river. Trenton. Calciferous. I. Archean Time. VII. SCHOHARIE COUNTY GEOLOGY. There probably is no County in this State more in- teresting in its geology. Savans come from Europe to study it, and carry back with them specimens gathered from the stone walls, the stone heaps in the fields, and from the more solid cliffs. The County lies in what is called the "Paleozoic Age," or Paleozoic time. Some of the rocks in the series are lacking or but poorly developed in this County, although found in places east or west of it. Many of the layers contain fossils. Some that in other localities have fossils are what are called "barren rocks" in this County, as they have but few if any well defined fossils in them. 60 SUMMARY OF VIII. A GEOLOGICAL TRIP ACROSS THE COUNTY. If we were to take a Geological trip across the Coun- ty commencing on the northern border we would find the rocks in the northern part belotig to the Hudson River group of the Lower Silurian. Passing south- ward on our journe}^ we reach the Helderberg forma- tion of the Upper Silurian. The fossils consist chiefly of sea- weed, shells, corals, crinoids; orthoceras, and trilobites-the earliest forms of life in the Paleozicseas. No land plants or animals are found. As far as Science know\s the earth was then a silent world, no insect in the air, no animal moving on the ground, no vegeta- tion to beautify the scene, only the sea-weed beneath the water, the shell- fish crawling over ihe sands, the coral building its stony mansion in the warm shallow waters, the trilobite, the pteropod, and the oithocerati- tes floating about in the water. Continuing our journey southward we leave the Silurian period and enter the Devonian, passing over in our journey the Oriskany, Co:niterv)US, Hamilton, and Portage groups, finding at last near the southern boundary of the County some of the earlijst land plants that have ever been discovered. The line of demarkatiou between the formations is irregular, but its general direction is southeasterly in the Count3\ Owing to its irregularity places that are SCllOlIARiE COUNTY; ^l but a few miles apart may have very different rock formations, and in some places a person going from the foot to the top of a hill may pass over several forma- tions. One of the best illustrations of this latter fact is found in the hills around Schoharie village, where the formations range from the Hudson River slate to the Hamilton, and where the development has given a distinctive name to one of the formations. The following grouping of rocks and places will pro- ba1)ly give a good idea of what we may expect to find, although perfect accuracy is not attempted in the grouping. Ravines, hillsides, and scattered rocks may give to the searcher specimens from formations not tabulated for that locality, and in some instances there may be an error in the tabulation. For convenience in reference the places are given in alphabetical order. 1. Hudson River and Lower Silurian: Argusville, Central Bridge, Esperance, Sloans- ville. The underlying rock in the river bed at Schoharie. 2. Helderberg and Lower Devonian. Barnerville, Carlisle, Cobleskill, Gallupville, Gardnersville, Howe's Cave, Lawyersville, Schoharie, Sharon, Shutters Corners, Warner- ville. — Mineral Springs, East Cobleskill, and Seward are on the l)order of the Hamilton. ^2 SUMMARY OF 3. Hamilton and higher formations. Bates, Blenheim, Breakabeen, Broome Center, Charlotteville, Conesville, Eminence, Franklin- ton, Fulton, Gilboa, Huntersland, Jefferson, lyivingstonville, Manorkill, Mine Hill, Morris- ville, Middleburgh, Richmondville, Schoharie, Summit. IX. GLACIAL PHENOMENA. There is a group of geological phenomena which has not so far in this chapter been mentioned, and yet it has done much to change the surface appearance of the Count}^; form its valleys; round off the tops of the hills; produce the arable soil on the sides and tops of the hills; produce the deep, fertile soil of the river valleys; scatter over the ground large rounded or angular masses of rock unlike those found in the cliffs; and to furrow, scratch, or polish the solid ledges. These ■phenomena were done by forces in action during the Cenozoic time. X. The Great Continental Glacier. During the glacial period of the Cenozoic the north- ern part of the Continent was covered by an immense glacier, the southern border of which reached to Long Island and extended in an irregular line eastward and westward . SCHOHARIE COUNTY; i^ The glaciation of North America was not due to d great polar ice-cap investing all the regions of high parallels of latitude. There were two great centers; The ice sheet which formed the drift of Canada and northeastern United States had its center in the high- lands which form the watershed between the St. Law- rence basin and Hudson Ba}', and is called the "Laur- entide Glacier. ' ' The other had one or more central points in the Rocky Mountains. The general laws respecting the accumulation of perpetual snow and its relation to climate and topography were the same then as now. The Laurentide Glacier was of immense thickness. The occurrence of boulders and other glacial phenom- ena on Mount Washington in New Hampshire prove that in that region the upper surface had an altitude of at least 6,000 feet, while thos3 in the Catskills in this State show that in this section it was at least 3,000 feet. XI. KFFKCT OF THK GLACIER. The stones and earth transported by the glacier were gathered up mostly by its lower part from the surface of hills or ridges it pavSsed over. Soft rocks would be deeply plowed by it and the fragments ground to pow- der as it bore them away. The surface of the ledges 64 STIMMARY OF passed over "would be scratched or furrowed by the rock fragments held fast on the underside of the gla- cier, and the lines of this striation would be nearly parallel. Where the material held bj^ the glacier is finer and of a sandy nature the rocks would be planed off, smoothed, and perhaps even polished. Rocks plowed from the ledges at Schoharie have been carried to Gilboa, and, in fact, as far south as New Jersey. Boulders from the Adirondacks have been brought across the Mohawk valley and scattered over our county. Everywhere we find the smaller rounded cobblestones. Where the ledges of solid rock have been recently uncovered, or wdiere they consist of rock so hard it resists the action of the weather good .specimens of smoothing and striating can be procured. In the solid limestone cliffs at Schoharie excellent specimens of the smoothing, striating, and poli.shing can be procured, and of any desired size, some of thes^ have all the poli.sh of a lapidary's art. CHAPTER IV. - ■ Historical. i. indian trails. There were six or seven Incliaii paths or trails through the County. 1. The one that began on the Hudson at the mouth of the Catskill Creek, lollovved that stream up to its source or to where I^ivingstonville now is, then crossed over to Keyser's creek which it followed down to the Schoharie river, and thence to the Indian settlement at Middleburgh. A branch from this at the mouth of the West Kill in Blenheim passed up that stream to Summit I^ake, thence to the Charlotte Valley, and dowm that stream to the Susquehanna. A branch also at the mouth of the West Kill went to Lake Utsyantha and down the Delaware, or across to the Susquehanna. 2. The one that began at Albany, led over the Helderberg, and thence down Fox's creek to Schoharie. 3. The one that began at Sch-nectady, and passing through Duanesburgh, came into the Schoharie Valley a little north of Fox's creek. 5 66 feUMMARY OF 4. The one that commenced at Schoharie, passed down the Schoharie River to Sloansville, and thence through Charleston to Fort Hunter on the Mohawk. 5. The one that led from near the mouth of the Cob- leskill creek to Canajoharie and the German Flats on the Mohawk. 6. The one that led from Middleburgh up the Schoharie River to the Kenhuragara creek and thence to Summit Lake, — or to the West Kill and thence to the lake, — and then crossed over to the Charlotte River, down which it passed to the Susquehanna, and thence to the Genesee Valley and Niagara. 7. The one that led up the Cobleskill creek to its source and thence to Otsego Lake. A branch from this left where Richmondville now is, passed up Bear Gulf to Summit Lake, aiid joined the Charlotte and Susquehanna trail. II. usp: madk of the trails. It w^as along the second and third of these trails that the early German and Dutch settlers came. It was over the third the early settlers passed back and forth from the Schoharie Valley to Schenectady, carrying their grain from Schoharie to Schenectady to have it ground; making the trip either way in a day, or, if belated, camping by the path over night. SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 67 it was over the fourth that missionary Hawley in 1753 entered the valley, passing by the stone heap at Sloansville. And it was over this route that Johnson and Brant passed out of the valley after their destruc- tive raid in 1780. It was over the fifth the Germans living in Scho- harie passed to visit their friends and relatives that had settled on the Mohawk. The sixth was the great war-route by which the tories and hostile Indians repeatedly entered the valley during the Revolution, coming from Niagara and the lake, and, returning, took their prisoners and booty back to Niagara. It was partly the object of Sullivan's expedition in 1779, by laying waste the Susquehanna and Genesee Valleys and destroying the Indian settle- ments found in them, to close more or less effectually this great route. III. INDIAN INHABITANCY. It is not known when the Indians w^ho were in the Schoharie Valley when the Whiteman came located there. There is undoubted evidence that the valley was occupied by them repeatedly for fishing and hunt- ing purposes long before they made a regular tribal settlement in it. Brown in his history says the first regular or perma- fe8 SUMMARY Of iient Indian settlement was made under the leadership of Ka-righ-on don-tae, a Canadian Chief who had been taken prisoner by the Mohawks. He married a Mo- hawk squaw, and his father-in-law gave him lands in the Schoharie Valley. Families from the Mohawk, Mohegan, Tuscarora, Delaware, and Oneida tribes joined him, so that it is said he had a tribe of about three hundred warriors gathered about him. Although in some repects it was a new and independent tribe, it held allegiance and was subordinate to the tribes in the Mohawk Valley. Sims in his history says the Mohegans settled not far from the Little Schoharie in Middleburgh and were living separate from the main body of the tribe. In addition to this Mohegan village the tribe had several other villages. One was on the west side of the river where Central Bridge now is; another nearly opposite on the east side of the river. One was farther up the river near where the Schoharie railroad depot now stands. This one they occupied for a long time after the two near Central Bridge were abandoned, and here they had a fruit orchard and a burial ground. The largest and most important village of the tribe, the one where Ka-righ-on don-tae and his chiefs lived was situated on what was afterw^ard known as SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 69 "Vroman's land" — a tract of land in the Line kill Valley, on the west side of the Schoharie River, and within the limits of the present town of Fulton. Here on an angle of land formed by a bend in the river, and called by the Dutch "Wilder Hook" — signifying "Indian Corner" — they had their principal village, a burial ground, and a strong wooden structure called a "Castle." Their two principal settlements therefore were on Vroman's Land near Middleburgh and at Schoharie near where the present village is situated. At each of these they had more permanent structures, burial grounds, cornfields, and fruit orchards. Whether the}^ had a fort or "Castle" at Schoharie is uncertain. It is probable however the expression "the Castle at Scho- harie' ' meant the structure at Wilder Hook for the ex- pression "at Schoharie" sometimes meant the settle- ment at what is now called Schoharie, and sometimes included all the vSettlements in the valley and its near- by localities. If they had one at Schoharie it was similar in its construction to that at Wilder Hook. The term "Castle" as applied to structures built in the Indian settlements means simply a strong enclosure capable of being used as a fort or place of refuge in case of necessit}^ The one at W^ilder Hook was built by Sir William Johnson at the commencement of the 70 SUMMARY OF French and Indian War. Was about one hundred feet square, built of wood, the timbers sunk endwise in the ground, and the touching sides of the timbers squared so as so stand close to each other. IV. THE FORT AT CENTRAL BRIDGE. In the strong enclosure or "fort" left by the Indians when they abandoned the settlement near Central Bridge was raised the first wheat in the County. Lam- bert Sternbergh, in the fall of 1713, brought on his back from Schenectady a skipple of wheat — about three pecks. It was sown on the ground within the aban- doned enclosure as there was but little grass there, the ground was rich, and the walls of the enclOvSure would protect it from deer and other destructive agents. In the spring and early summer it was carefully culti- vated, and when at harvest time it was threshed it was found the one skipple had yielded eighty-three. The other settlers in the valley procured seed from Stern- bergh, and it was not long before there were waving fields of grain in addition to the well known Indian corn. V. SETTLEMENT BY THE WHITES. From what records and historical data we can find it appears that three classes of settlers came to the SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 71 County and subsequently formed its towns. They were the Germans, the Dutch, and immigrants from New England. The German and Dutch came over the Albany and Schenectady routes, settled the Schoharie valley in its northern and middle parts and gradually extended up the Cobleskill Creek and its branches to Richmond- ville, Sharon, and Seward. The chief part of the New England immigrants probably came over the trail from Catskill as they settled mostly in the southern part of the County and kept along the plateau to Jefferson and Summit. The German and Dutch came first. A few New England settlers came before the Revolution, but the great inflow from New England came from Connecti- cut after the Revolution. Taking thi.? view of the early settlement we devote a part of this chapter to the history of the Palatines. Not however, entering upon their early history, strug- gles, and migration from the Palatinate on the banks of the Rhine in Germany, although the incidents are connected with what are known in American histories as the wars of King William and Queen Anne. Nor have we the space to give the story of their migration from Holland to England and thence to this country, — the wrongs .the^^ suffered, the frauds and oppression 72 SUMMARY OF they endured. Those who wish to learn their almost tragic history are referred to Ccbb's ''Story of the Pal- atines," one of the most interesting and reliable authorities upon the subject. VI. THE PALATINES IN NEW YORK. 1. Arrival. The Palatines arrived in New York in June and July, 1710, and were located for a time by the Governor and those in authority on the east and the west sides of the Hudson. Three settlements were made on the eastern side of the river, within the do- main of the Patroon I^ivingston, and two on the west side of the river wiihin what is now the town of Saug- erties. From their position on nearly opposite sides of the river these settlements were called by the Palatines the East and West Camps. The reason the authorities located them on the Hud- son was to have them employed in the manufacture of "Naval Stores," as pitch, tar, and turpentine were called. It was a costly experiment by the government and doomed to failure. Several political and financial reasons can be given for its failure; but if these could have been overcome the undertaking still must have failed from the botanical fact our northern pine is not a tree rich in resinous products. 2. Dispersion. In September, 1712, Governor SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 73 Hunter wrote to Mr. John Cast — the Commissioner having the Palatines in charge — stating to him that both the treasurer and the credit were exhausted, and advising him to call the people together, state to them the facts, and inform them they must shift for them- selves; as man> as could find support on the manor to remain there, the rest to seek employment among the farmers living within the provinces of New Yoik and New Jersey. The Palatines in both camps received the order as a proclamation of freedom. Although there is noreco-d to prove it, their movements seem to show that a coun- cil was called and concerted action decided upon. A little les^ than one-third of their number were to re- main on the Livingston Manor and make for them- selves a permanent home there. A few miles south of the Livingston Manor were lands covered by a grant or patent to Henry Beekman. Receiving from him more favorable terms than were given on the Living- ston Manor thirty families moved upon his land, and, mingling their gratitude to him with fond memories of their early home beyond the sea, they gave the name of "Rhinebeck" to the settlement. A committee or deputation of their principal men was sent to the Schoharie valley to examine the land and to deal with the Indians there if they found the re- 74 SUMMARY OF gion desirable for a settlement, and also to find the best route for the people to take when they came. The deputation proceeded on their mission b}' way of Al- bany, and procuring an Indian guide there were led over the Helderberg and down Fox's Creek to its junc- tion with the Schoharie. Entering the valley in the early fall, a beautiful scene lay before them. The hills, where they stood on the eastern side of the valley, sloped gently downwards to the broad, rich flats through which a stream wound its way to the north. On the opposite side of the vStream the hills rose more abruptly, and in one place formed a genuine cliff. It seemed the haven of their hopes. The Indians treated them kindly and readily gave them permission to form a settlement there. On their return to Livingston Manor the deputies made a favorable report, and it was determined the migration should be made in two companies. The first, consisting of fifty families, started as soon as pos- sible after the return of the deputies, arrived later in the season, and spent the winter in the valley. Of their hardships and privations during that first winter we know but little save that the Indians were kind to them and gave to them freely of their own scanty store of corn and supplies. In March, 1713, the second company started from the Manor, travelled over the same route, and joined those that had wintered in the valley. SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 75 VII. THE PALATIXES IN SCHOHARIE. I, The Palatines were now in the valley where they hoped to live quiet, honest, and industrious lives; and gathering around their chief men built seven small villages or dorfs. Brown in his history says, ' 'Dorf or dorp means a small, compact village; flejken, a larger village; and stadt, a city." X Kneiskern's Dorf. X Oarlock's Dorf. X Fox's Dorf. Fox s Creek. s X Smith's Dorf. (L> O X Brunnen Dorf. Stony Brook. X Hartman's Dorf. X Weiser's Dorf. Little Schoharie. 76 SUMMARY OF The most southerly settlement called "Weiser's dorf ' ' was at the Ltaad the exposed condition of the settlers. 3. It led to more vigorous action in the construction and the armament of what afterward were known as the "Upper," the "Middle," and the "Lower" forts. Previous to the raid there were no forts or fortified structures in the valley, although there were some strongly built dwelling houses in which those neaiby ot m Nummary op could gather for mutual protection and defence. 4. It led to the detailment and stationing in the valley of small bodies of troops belonging to the regular Continental army; thereby encouraging the patriots; restraining the uncertain; and causing the tory element to realize it was more than a scattered population they were combatting. 5. It cleared the valley of some that were a danger- ous element, as about twenty or more active tories went off with McDonald. 1 1. RAIDS IN 1778. T. Battxk AT COBLHSK11.L. The first appearance of the enemy in the Schoharie settlements in 1778 was at Cobleskill. The settlers there as we have already shown, had sometime before organized a compau}- for their home defence and made Christian Brown, Cap- tain. In the latter part of May several hostile indians were seen, and Captain Brown thought it prudent to send to the fort at Middleburgh for assistance. In reply Captain Patrick — an officer in the Continental service, was dispatched with about 30 men, and arriv- ed at the 26th of May. On the 29th, a scouting party of the American forces encountered an Indian scouting party, shots were exchanged and one Indian was killed. On the next d-ay, Saturday, May the 30tli, the force SCEIOHARIE COUNTY. 101 of Captain Patrick and Brown, numbering less than 50 men, while marching along the creek met the whole force of the enemy commanded by Brant and number- ing more than 350 tories and indians belonging to the Seneca, vSchoharie, and Oquago tribes. A sharp en- gagement followed, each party fighting under cover of the trees. Captain Patrick was shot, and two of his soldiers met a like fate while endeavoring to remove him from the field. Captain Brown now ordered a re- treat, and it was most timely, for had he delayed a few moments the little band of patriots would have been completely surrounded and but few would have sur- vived. As it was, more than one hair of the American force was killed or wounded. The American loss was 22 killed, 6 wounded, and 2 taken prisoners. The full loss of the enemy is not positively known; but they buried 25 of their dead, and 7 of their number are known to liave died on their Avay back to Canada. After the engai^ement the in- dians burned 10 dwellings and as many barns, making * '20 buildings burned." As soon as they heard the firing in the engagement the families in the settlement started in flight to the woo Is and through them to Schoharie, 10 miles away. 2. Act of Heroism. Connected with this en- gageLiient at ppbleskill an act of self-sacrificing heroism 102 SUMMARY OF occurred that deserves to be recorded and kept in mem- ory. Five men — 3 of them Capt. Patrick's Continentals, and two of them Capt. Brown's men — gave their lives in behalf of the fugitives. Taking refuge in a house on the way they opened fire on the pursuing Indians. The in- dians stopped to dislodge them. Failing to drive them out of the building, the indians at length set it on fire. Three men were killed in the burning building; two attempted to escape, one of these was shot, the other taken prisoner, and his body when found showed he had been killed in the most barbarous manner. III. TROOPS SKNT TO SCHOHARIE. Shortly after the battle of Monmouth, which occurred June 28th, Washington sent to Schoharie the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment, commanded by Colonel Wil- liam Butler, and four Companies of Morgan's corps of sharp shooters. One of the companies of Morgan's riflemen was Commanded by Lieutenant Thomas Boyd, and to it belonged Timothy Murphy and David Eler- son — two men that figured largely in the subsequent history of Schoharie Valley, and who are buried in its historic soil, Murphy in the Middleburgh cemetery, and Elerson a short distance from Mackays Corners in Gilboa. SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 103 The next year — 1779 — Col. Butler and the chief part of the forces that had been sent to vSchoharie were ordered to join General Sullivan in his expedition through the Genesee Valley. And while on a scout vShortl> after the battle at Elmira Lieut. Boj^d and 24 of his men were surrounded by 800 indians. In the engagement that followed 17 of his men were killed, 6 escaped, while Lieut. Boyd and Sergeant Parker were taken prisoners and murdered with the most horrible tortures imaginable. Among the six who succeeded in escaping were Murph}^ and Elerson. In the Fall of 1778 Colonel Lewis Duboise with the 5th Regiment of the New York State troops went into winter quarters at Schoharie. In the following year — 1779 — Col. Duboise and the greater part of his regi- ment were added to the force of General Sullivan. Throughout the war the forces at the ''Middle Fort" — Middleburgh — were under the command of Colonel Peter Vroman when there was not an Officer of the Continental army having an equal or higher rank stationed there. IV. RAIDS IN 1779. I find no well authenticated raids into the valley or its surrounding settlements in 1779. During that year the tories and indians were too much occupied in their 104 SUMMARY OF endeavors to meet Gen. Sullivan in his expedition through the Genesee Valley, or too much intimidated by the movements cf the American forces to and from that expedition, to attempt anything but small preda- tory or revengeful raids on nearby neighbors. In 1780 however their operations, accompanied by commission- ed officers and men of the British forces, were on a larger and more disastrous scale, and were continued through 1 78 1 and 1782. V. KAiDS IN 1780. I. Brant's Raid. April 2nd, 1780, a scout of 14 men commanded by Lieutenant Alexander Harper was sent from the "Middle Fort" by Col. Peter Vro- man to the vicinity of Harpersfield to ascertain, among other things, what was being done by certain suspect- ed persons. They were captured by Brant with a force of tories and Indians, 3 being killed and 1 1 made prisoners. The object of Brant and his force was to invade the Schoharie settlements, but being assured by Lieut. Harper — at the imminent peril of his own life — that the forces in the Schoharie Valley had been increased I by the arrival of 300 Continental troops Brant gave up the expedition and hurried back to Canada. After the conclusion of peace in 1783 those of the SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 105 prisoners taken on this raid that survived the barbari- ties inflicted on them in that retreat to Canada and their subs3quent confinement were returned on a cartel ship to Boston and on foot made their way back to their homes. Among these was Freegift Patchin, wdio, although he never fully recovered from the bar- barities, became a member of the State Legislature, a General in the State troops, and in many ways proved a valuable citizen. 2. Cryslkr's Raid. Ju!y 4th, 1780, a party of indians and tories, under the command of the tory, Captain Adam Crysler, arrived in Sharon, in hopes of securing certain well known patriots. Disappointed in not finding them at home tliey took William Hynds and his family prisoners, plundered the house, and, taking several horses to carry the plunder, started with their 9 prisoners for Canada. Mrs. Hynds and four of the family died in captivity; and, after about three years Mr. Hynds, a son, and two daughters returned. 3. Seth Henry's Raid. July 25th, 1780, Wil- liam Bouck — said to have been the first white male child born in Schoharie valley — went with part of his family from the "Upper Fort," near Fultonham, to his dwelling house about two miles from the fort to secure his crops. As they were making preparations in the evening to retire to rest, the tory Indian, Seth 106 SUMMARY OF Henry, with a company of Indians took them prison- ers, secured what plunder the house contained, and started for Harpersfield. As soon as information was conveyed to the Upper Fort, Captain Hagar, who was in command of it, despatched Lieut. Ephraim Vroman with twenty men in jDursuit. These met a scouting party under command of William Bouck, Jr., son of the prisoner, and after an eager pursuit the marauders were overtaken and the prisoners rescued and brought back to the fort. 4. Brant's Raid. August 9th, 1780, Capt. Hagar sent out from the Upper Fort a party of three men. They met a force of 78 tories and Indians under Brant, and sought by different routes to regain the fort. Some of them reached it, but they were so hotly pur- sued there was no time to give the usual cannon alarm before the indians began their deadly work. Captain Tunis Vroman and Uieutenant Ephraim Vroman, as there was no sign of an approaching ene- my, had taken their families in the earlier part of the day and gone to their respective farms to secure their crops. Capt. Tunis Vroman, his wife, and one child were killed and scalped, the rest of the family taken prisoners. From his house the enemy went to that of Lieut. Vroman, Hearing the alarm the Lieutenant had caught up his infant child and fled to a cornfield; SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 107 followed by his wife and daughter. They might have escaped detection had not his wife, in her motherly anxiety for the safety of her infant, called to her hus- band. Her call revealed to the indians her place of refuge. She and her daughter were killed and scalp- ed, the Lieutenant and infant taken prisoners. The enemy burned 9 dwellings and as many barns filled with an abundant harvest, all the stacks of grain they could find, and took away with them a goodly number of prisoners and about 90 horses. The next day, when about halfway from the river to Harpers- field, Brant permitted nearly all the women and child- ren—about one-half of the prisoners — to return to the fort, the rest were taken to Niagara, and thence the first of December to Montreal. The next summer, 1 78 1, they with others were exchanged, brought to the head of Lake Champlain — Skenesborough, now White- hall, and thence returned on foot to their homes, ar- riving the last of August. 5. Johnson's Raid IN October, 17S0. For the purpose of taking the forts in Schoharie valley, and ravaging the Schoharie and Mohawk valleys after the farmers had harvested their crops and it was too late to do any planting. Sir John Johnson started in the latter part of September from Niagara wdth 500 British, Royal, and German troops. On reaching the Susque- 108 SUMMARY OF hanna he was joined b}^ Brant with asmanj-more tories and indians, so that his effective force for the incursion was at least i,ooo men. From the Charlotte River they crossed over, coming down the Kehhuragara to the Schoharie River and en- camped in the evening of October i6th, near the upper end of Vroman's land. Thinking that if he could take the Middle Fort, which was the most heavily garrisoned, the others must surrender, Johnson endeavored to pass the Upper Fort unobserved on the morning of, Tuesday, October 17th, 1780, but his movements were discovered and the alarm gun fired thrice. It was replied to by the Mid- dle Fort at Middleburgh, and the Lower Fort at Scho- harie. On the discharge of the alarm guns the indians and tories began their work of devastation, firing ei^ery building, barn, and grain or hay stack they could find, and killing all the domestic animals except the best horses. Fortunately for the defence of the garrison at Mid- dleburgh, Major Joseph Becker, in command of the fort at Schoharie, knowing the scarcity of ammunition at the Middle Fort, had sent early that morning two men to the fort, each laden with a bag of powder. Hearing the alarm guns fired from the fort they quick- ened their speed and arrived just as Johnson's forces SCHOHAKIE COUNTY. 10^ were sweeping across the flats above it. At the time of Johnson's invasion there were in all about 600 soldiers and militia in the valley; distributed as follows: At the Upper Fort under command of Capt. Jacob Hagar, an akrt and valiant soldier, were about 100 men; at the Middle Fort, under command of Major Woolse3\ a Continental office but an arrant coward, were about 200 continental and between 100 and 200 militia. Fortunately Colonel Peter Vroman, Lieut. Colonel Peter Zielie, and a few officers and men of Col. Vroman' s regiment, all true and courageous men, were also there, together with Murphy and Eler- son. At the lyOwer. Fort, under command of Major Joseph Becker, a thoughtful and energetic man, were from 150 to 200 militia. Thus to meet Johnson's 1,000 merciless men were not over 400 at either fort. Coming out on the flats to the south of the fort at Middleburgh, Johnson, with his more regular forces, crossed the plain obliquely, passing between the fort and the hills east of it, and halted on a small eminence in an orchard north of it, while the Indians and tories scattered in every direction applying the torch and killing the stock. For artiller}' Johnson had a small mortar and a brass six-pounder, the carriage for which was carried in parts and was put together when wanted. Placing his no StJMMAt^Y 0^ artillery in the orchard, Johnson commenced a cannon- ade of the fort while his forces opened a musket fire upon it from several directions. After the firing had continued briskly for a time it ceased and an officer in uniform, a fifer, and a soldier bearing a white flag started from Johnson' s position toward the fort. Major Woolsey was in favor of re- ceiving the flag. Not so the little force of soldiers stationed there, nor the settlers whose wives and child- ren had come to the fort for protection. Knowing what would befall them all if they fell into the hands of such a foe, and knowing how dangerous it would be to let Johnson find out how weak were their defen- ces, how few their numbers, and how scanty their am- munition, Timothy Murphy fired upon the trio when they came within range. Not however with the in- tention of killing nor even wounding them, but simply to say to them: ''Thus far but no farther can you come." The trio took the hint and went back. Major Woolsey was enraged. Pistol in hand he demanded who fired. Murphy told him. Threatening words passed between them both. Twice afterward the flag advanced, and twice Murphy sent it back. I-iring was then resumed by Johnson. Woolsey, after his alterca- tion with Murphy, went to the building where the women and children were. Their laughter, jeers, and SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Ill satire drove liim out. Meeting Colonel Vronian he re- signed the command to him and sought a place of safe- ty. The next day Major Woolsey left the fort and never returned, nor is it known what report he made to those in higher authority. Professor Kimm, in his brief but excellent "History of the Iroquois" speaking of this raid gives the follow- ing account: "Johnson had ordered that the church should not be destroyed. How well his commands w^ere obeyed is shown by the following quotation from a paper read by the Hon. George L. Danforth at the centennial of the Old Dutch Church at Middleburgh: 'And now coming down to the terrible but glorious 17th day of October, 1780, terrible in its work of de- struction and desolation, glorious in the perfect defence and triumphant resistance of the three forts. Before the sun begins his career that day we hear the boom of the alarm gun at the Upper Fort five miles away, and the guns of our fort over there answer. Aye! Aye! We wait and watch in feverish suspense, and soon we .see the advance down the valley of the British, Tories, and Indians working their way by smoke and flame. They reach Weiser Dorf; and barns and dwellings, stacks of hay and straw, yield to the barbarous torch; and with an additional pang of sorrow we see the lurid flames mount the sides and circle the .steeple of the old il2 StJMMARY OF butch meeting house, dear to the hearts of the herioc band who stand at the Middle Fort read}^ to receive and able to roll back the shock and charge of the com- ing foe. ' ' ' Johnson remained at Middleburgh until after two o'clock in the afternoon, when, having destroyed all he could find of every kind <;f property, he moved down the valle}^ toward the Lower Fort at Schoharie. When he came onto the plain a little north of where the court house now stands, about where the road to the railroad station branches at a right angle from Main Street, the well directed shots from the larger cannon at the fort caused the forces to divide. The more regular portion went to the left of the fort, across the fiats, and halted just after crossing Fox's Creek, where, putting together the parts of their six-pounder, they opened fire on the fort. Brant and the Indian force went to the right, over the flat between the fort and the hills to the east, and, after crossing Fox's creek later in the day, united with the other troops. Here I beg leave to express doubt as to the accuracy of a tradition which says the six-pounder of the fort was taken outside of the enclosure and for a time can- nonaded the advancing indians and tories. I doubt it for the following, among other reasons; — I. It was unmilitary. For a time it dismantled apart SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 11(] of the fort; exposed those who handled the gun to greater danger; and ran the uncalled-for risk of losing the piece. 2. Men and time are each valuable in an assault or siege. It required more men than the usual number of gunners to run the gun speedily by hand back within the enclosure. It necessitated opening the gates, drawing in the gun, closing and fastening the gates again. An unnecessary withdrawal of men from other parts of the fort where their service was needed every moment for defence, and also running the risk of the entrance of a hostile force. 3. It prevented the use of the gun when most need- ed. It would not be withdrawn from its outside posi- tion until it would be necessary to do so to save it from capture. This would be at a time when its discharges were most needed and would do the most execution on the advancing enemy. The time spent in getting the cannon within the en- closure and onto the elevated gun -platform in the cor- ner was too valuable to be lost and the men required to do the work were too much needed with their muskets elsewhere. 4. The range of the gun — that is the distance to which it would carry ball or shot — would be consider- ably greater when on its elevated platform within the 8 114 StJMMARY OF^ fort than it possibly conld be on the ground outside. For thes2 and other reasons I do not think the gun was taken outside of the enclosure. Having completed his work of devastation in the valley and found the forts could not be readily taken Johnson went north about six miles on the trail lead- ing past Sloansviile to Fort Hunter and encamped. It was a sad day for the settlers of the valley. Where in the morning had been substantial dwell- ings, well filled barns, numerous stacks of grain and ha}^ horses, cattle, and the conveniences of life, now were smouldering heaps and dead stock. So complete had been the work of destruction it was with difficulty the inhabitants procured enough for their subsistence during the winter and until next year's early crops ripened. VI. RAIDS IN I 78 I. I. Sharon Batti.k. July 9th, i78i,a party of 500 tories and indians under command of the tory cap- tain John Doxtader entered a small settlement in the present town of Root in Montgomery County, murder- ed some of the inhabitants, took others prisoners, plun- dered and burned about a dozen houses, and killed or drove off what stock they found. On the morning of the same dav Col. I\Iarinus Willett, in command of the SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Il6 forces at Fort Plain on the Mohawk, sent Capt. Law- rence Goss with about 40 men from the fort for the double purpose of scouting and of procuring provisions. Capt. Gross struck the trail of Doxtader's force and pursued it until he saw where they were encamped. He then sent two mounted men in haste to inform Col. Willett of his discover}', Col. Willett was one of the most energetic and daring officers in the Continental service, and seemed alwa5's ready for any emergency. He at once started with a force of 260 men and ar- rived in the vicinity of Doxtader's force about day light. Doxtader's party was encamped in a cedar swamp near the center of the present town of Sharon, and about two miles east of Sharon Springs, Skillful- ly placing his men in ambush and sending out a decoy of a few men Col. Willett drew Doxtader's force from their camp. Both parties fought from behind stumps and trees for about two hours, when Doxtader retreat- ed; and his force was so hotly pnrsued by the Ameri- cans led by Col. Willett in person that most of their camp equipage and the plunder obtained the day be- fore, fell into the hands of the Americans. Col. Wil- letts loss was 5 men killed and 8 wounded — two of them mortally. The loss of the enemy is uncertain, al- though it was afterwards found to be 50 or more. 2. Raid on Cobi^kskili.. As alreadv stated when il6 SUMMARY OF Col. Diiboise was in command of the forces in the Schoharie Valley, he built several block-houses for the better protection of the inhabitants, and to which they could fly in case of danger. One of these was near the present Village of Cobleskill and was called by the settlers "Fort Duboise." September I st, i 781, a party of 30, mostly indians, but under whose command is unknown, entered unex- pectedly the settlement where Cobleskill Village now is, surprised and killed several, took a few prisoners, plundered and burned what buildings they could, and passing near Fort Duboise — at that time feebly garri- soned — fired a few times at it, then passed up the stream and at Richmond ville passed over the hills into Charlotte Valley. 3. Brant and Crysler's Raid. Although there were no white settlers in the present town of Jefferson until after the Revolution an engagement was fought within it on the banks of Lake Utsyantha. November 1st, 1781, a party of about 70 tories and indians under Brant and the tor}' Captain Adam Crys- ler entered Vroman's Land a short distance above the Upper Fort. One object of their coming was to re- move Crysler's family, which up to this time had lived at Breakabeen. They did not tarry long in the vicinity of the fort, l^ut, after killing and scalping Isaac Vro- SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 117 man, and taking a few prisoners and Crysler's family, passed up the river on their way back to the Susque- hanna taking with them whatever plunder was avail- able on the way. As soon as information came to the fort. Timothy Murphy and a small party was sent in pursuit. They overtook Brant's force on the Kenhur- agara, and in the short engagement that followed one of Murphy's men was wounded and carried back to the fort where he died the next day. On receiving information from Murphy respecting the movements of the enemy. Col. Vroman sent out a party under the command of Capt. Hagar, consisting of 15 or 20 Schoharie Rangers and about 60 eastern troops under Capt. Hale in pursuit. They marched a good part of the night and on arriving at a fork of the roads — one branch leading to Harpersfield and the other to Lake Utsyantha, Capt. Hagar halted and waited for da^dight as it was uncertain which way the enemy had gone. When it was light enough to see the trail it was found they had gone toward the lake. Pursuit was now renewed, and several horses laden with plunder and a number of cattle abandoned by the enemy were recovered. Ascending a ridge of land near the lake Capt. Hagar's force was fired upon. Capt. Hagar or- dered Hale to "Plank to the right and march on." 118 SUMMARY OF Instead of obeying the order Hale retreated. Brant seeing his cowardly retreat at once advanced upon Capt. Hagar, who had now less than 20 men with which to withstand Brant's force of 60 or more. Capt. Hagar and Murphy ran to overtake the cowardly Hale, and compelled him and his men to "about face." Having restored order and infused a portion of his own fearless spirit into the troop, Capt. Hagar was re- newing the pursuit when Colonel Vroman with 40 men arrived on the ground. Reinforced and now com- manded by Col. Vroman the pursuit w^as vigorously re- newed, but after going about two miles was given up as the enemy had left the usual path and taken to the woods or some concealed path and there was great danger of the American forces being caught in some kind of an ambush. VII. RAIDS IN 1782. I. Crysler's Raid. July 26th, 1782, the notori ous tory Captain Adam Crysler with a party of about 25, mostly indians, made a raid into Fox's creek val- ley, commencing their murderous work at the house of David Zimmer, near the present village of Gallupville, and coming down the creek to the stone house of Major Johannes Becker about two miles from the Lower Fort. At or near this point they left Fox's creek, passed over SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 119 the hill, and went up the Cobleskill Creek to Rich- mondville, killing several persons on the wa}-, taking a few prisoners, and burning houses and barns where- ever possible. From Richmondville they passed over the hill to the Charlotte River. 2. There were several other raids during the year, but they were made by small parties, and in character did not differ from those recorded. VII r. TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. Crysler was an active tory leader. We find him with McDonald in his raid in 1777, also at Wyoming, Cherry Valley, Seward, the German Flats, Lake Utsyantha, and several other places, and always the same pitiless tory. Brant was an indian, fierce, able, and tireless, but he has been considered much more cruel and bloody than he really was. There was a manliness in his action that towered far above the tory leaders, and he fre- quently exhibited traits of humanity and tenderness in behalf of the defenceless and^ toward the unfortunate prisoners that are redeeming qualities in his character and separate him widely from the tory forces with which he so often made incursions into the settlements. W^arner in his history of 'rSchoharie County Veter- ans of Four Wars" says the JRatriots could divide the 120 SUMMARY OF enemy into three classes so far as degrees of humanity might govern their acts, and tells us — 1. The ludian would take the first or highest rank for true, positive humanity; 2. The Regular Army of the King would follow next; 3. The Tory — the neighbor and fellow countryman of the Patriot — would win the championship for out- Heroding them all in barbarity. He gives the following as the four routes of travel taken with the prisoners; the first three converging in the valley of the Charlotte River and then continuing down to the Susquehanna: — 1. The route from the Schoharie and Cobleskill valleys by way of what are now Richmondville and Summit. 2. By way of West Fulton and Summit to the Charlotte River. 3. By way of Blenheim and Summit to the Char- lotte River. 4. From Harpersfield down the head waters of the Delaware and thence across the mountains to the Sus- quehanna. All four routes passed down the Susquehanna to the mouth of the Chemung and thence in a northwesterly SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 121 direction to the Genesee River and to the British post at Niagara. lie says, — "A large number of the prisoners taken from the Schoharie settlements were non-combatants, not belonging to the militai}' nor enrolled for service. A few old men, many women, boys, and girls made the terrible journey of between two and three hundred miles under the goad of their captors, with the shrieks of their murdered wife, brother, sister, mother, or neighbor still ringing in their ears, and witli no hope of life before them." "If the prisoners escaped the gauntlet at the indian villages they were taken to the British post and paid for." "After the delivery to the officers the prisoners were disposed of in various ways," — and among these ways he gives the following — 1. Some were rented out as laborers and servants to persons residing in the vicinity. 2. Some were required to do menial service for the government. 3. Some were kept in close confinement and sub- jected to severe treatment. 4. A few were comparatively well treated. CHAPTER VI. The Towns. I. Blenheim. As previously stated Blenheim was one of the first towns formed in the County. It was taken from Schoharie March 17th, 1797, and received its name from the Blenheim Patent, part of which lies in the northern part of the town. The surface is hilly, broken by deep ravines; the soil is fertile; and the chief occupation of the inhabitants is farming. The West Kill — the outlet of Summit Lake — enters the town about the middle of the western boundary line and flows southeast through a valley or depression nearly parallel with the southern boundary line, and enters the Schoharie River at North Blenheim near the eastern border of the town. The earliest settlers were the children of the Dutch and German inhabitants of Middleburgh and Scho- harie. Although no actual engagement occurred dur- ing the Revolution within the limits of the present town, the greater part of the early settlers were driven off or made prisoners during the struggle. Some re- turned after peace was declared and we find German, SCHOHARIE COt'NTY. 123 Dutch, Scotch-Irish, and New England immigrants making up the bulk of its inhabitants. The foUowino^ is taken from an article written by one who in youth was a "Blenheim Boy" and now is Principal of one of the flourishing schools in the cen- tral part of the State. "There is in Schoharie County a plateau like area known as Blenheim Hill. A climb of several miles is necessary to its approach from any direction, but once on the summit the land is comparatively level, remark- ably fertile, and well watere:l by never failing springs. The scenery approaches in its grandeur any found in the State. On the west, south, and east the Catskills range themselves, their wooded ridges and domes out- lined against the sky ten, twenty, and even forty miles away. The one thing lacking in American farm homes to- day is an incentive to patriotism. We measure success by wrong standards; we set false lights before the youth of our land; we forget the meaning of Home. The man who owns a farm, who lives upon it, who makes it in every sense a Home, who brings up his family there and teaches his sons its value, does all that a man can do for himself, his kindred, and the State." 2. Broome. One of the six original towns of the 124 SUMMARY OF County — was formed from Schoharie March 17, 1797. It was first called Bristol, but the name was changed April 6th 1808, to Broome in honor of Lieutenant Governor John Broome, who was much admired in this portion of the State for his sterling honesty, strict integrity, and high political ability. Catskill Creek rises in the northern part of the town, flows southeastward, through Albany County, and emp- ties into the Hudson. Keyser's Creek rises in the southern part of the town, flows northwestward, and empties into the Schoharie River at Breakabeen. Little Schoharie — also called Stony Creek — rises in the eastern part between branches of the Catskill Creek, flows northward through the town; then westward through Middleburgh, and empties into the Schoharie River opposite to the Line kill, the boundary line be- tween Middleburgh and Fulton. The great Indian trail establishing connection be- tween the Hudson, the Indian and white settlements on the Schoharie River, and those in the Charlotte and Susquehanna Valleys, passed through this town follow- ing up the Catskill Creek and down Ke} ser's Creek to the Schoharie River. Of that path nothing is now left but the rippling waters of the diminished streams that once guided the warrior and the early pioneer. The first settlements w^ere made before the Revolu- SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 125 tioii, but during the war only a few settlers remained. One only figures in history — Derick Van Dyke, whose home was near the present village of Livingstonvillej whose house was burned by the tories in 1781, and at whose home Timothy Murphy frequently stopped when out on his scouting expeditions. But when danger was imminent Van Dyke himself was obliged to go to the Upper or to the Middle fort for protection. After the Revolution settlers came from the older settle- ments along the Schoharie River, but the chief inflow was from New England. Three names in history are worthy of record here as they had homes or possessions within the limits of the town — David Elerson, David Williams, and Daniel Shay. David Elerson — the almost inseparable companion of Murphy in his daring expeditions, settled in 1793 on the Flatten kill within the limits of the original town of Bristol, or Broome, but by a division of the town in the formation of Gilboa, March 16th, 1S48, that part of the town became part of Gilboa. Elerson died in 1838 and is buried near Mackey's corners, therefore, although he died and was buried in Broome his grave is in Gilboa. David Williams, who with his companions Isaac Van Wart and John Paulding captured Major Andre, came 1^6 SUMMARY 0^ to the town in 1806 and settled near Ivivingstonvilleori a farm previously owned by General Shay. He died August 2nd, 1 83 1, and was bnried at Livingstonville, but in July 1876 the remains were removed to the "Old Stone Fori" at Schoharie and a beautiful monument erected by the State over his grave. Paulding and Van Wart were never residents of this county. Paulding died in 18 18 and is buried at Peekskill. A monument was erected over his remains in 1827. Van Wart died 1828, and is buried at Greenburgh, near Tarrytown, in the grounds attached to the Presbyterian church, of which he was for many years an efficient officer. General Daniel Shay — a brave and efficient off.cer in the Revolution, is mentioned in our school histories as the leader of "Shay's Rebellion" in western Massa- chusetts in 1786 and 1787. A brief statement respect- ing the rebellion is proper here as its character is but little understood. The Revolutionary war had ended. Congress had no power. The Confederation of States existed in name but not in realit3\ Each State w^as an independent sovereignty and made its owm laws irre- spective of the others. The county was rapidly drift- ing to anarchy and ruin. The People had become im- poverished by the war; debts could not be paid; the money — or what claimed to be such — issued by one State was worthless in another; farms were being .sold SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 127 to pa}^ to creditors the debts due from impoverished soldiers; business was paralyzed; property was sinking in value; and ruin stared the whole county in the face. The farmers demanded relief. In August 1786 the malcontents in western Massachusetts rose in rebellion, gathered several thousand strong at Springfield, placed General Daniel Shay at their head, and declared they would march to Boston and compel the State Legisla- ture to redress their grievances. The Governor order- ed the State Troops under General Ivincoln to march against them. Lincoln met tlie forces at Petersham. Unable to successfully resist the well-armed State troops the forces under General Shay scattered. Gen- eral Shay left MassachUvSetts, came to New York, bought a large tract of land a considerable part of which was in Broome, settled upon it where the vil- lage of Preston Hollow now is, won the respect of all he met, and, according to Danforth's Directory "died in 1821 in Preston Hollow, where his remains lie be- neath a plain head-stone." 3. Carlisle.. Carlisle was formed from Cobleskill and Sharon by an Act of the Legislature passed March 31st, 1807, and named for Mr. Carlisle Pierce — a highly esteemed resident. The first town meeting was held March ist, 180S, "agreeably to an Act of the 128 SUMMARY OF Legislature" to elect a Supervisor and other town of- ficers. The surface of the town is a high ridge lying be- tween the Mohawk and Cobleskill valleys; its soil is chiefly a sandy loam; its streams are small brooks, and the peculiarity of a number is that they are surface streams for awhile, then disappear and come to the sur- face again several miles distant — perhaps in Carlisle, perhaps in an adjoining towaa. A large part of the rock in the town is limestone. In this rock are ' 'sink holes' ' of various sizes in which the surface water dis- appears and pursues an underground course. From the character of the rock and the position in which it lies, it is thought quite a number of caves exist. Only a few have been even partially explored, and so diffi- cult and hazardous are the entrances to these they have mostl}^ been filled up with logs, brush, and stone. The early settlers were Germans from the ' 'Camps' ' on the Hudson, who settled in the southwestern part of the town; the next were from Rhiuebeck, and after the Revolution a large number of immigrants came from New England attracted by the idea that gained credence during the w^ar that it was a wonderful coun- try for growing wheat. But the roads were few and bad. It was difficult for the immigrants to move their families, and equally difficult after locating to get their SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 120 farm products to market. The State came to their aid. An Act was passed by the Legislature in April 1792 for the construction of a road from Albau}' to Cherry Valley. This is the "Great Western Turn- pike," now simply called "The Turnpike," that enters the County at Esperance village and passes in nearly a straight line westward through Sloansville, Carlisle, Little York, and Sharon. It seemed destined to be the "great thoroughfare," and thriving, bustling vil- lages sprung up along its course. All went well until settlements were made "too far west" and traffic di- verted to the Mohawk valley. Now the Erie Canal and the railroads of the Mohawk valley on the north, and the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad on the south have drawn away the great business of the Turnpike and the villages have become nearly dor- mant. 4. CoBLKSKiLL, one of the six "original towns," was formed from Schoharie, March 17th, 1797. The surface, like the other towns in the County, is a hilly upland broken by deep valleys. The principal valle}' reaches in an east and west direction through the cen- ter of the town, and through it flows the Cobleskill Creek, which rises in Worcester, Otsego County, at an elevation of about 1475 feet above sea-lei-el. Some question has arisen as to the origin of the 9 130 SUMMARY OF name Cobleskill. One tradition says a German, Jacob Kobell, settled near the mouth of the stream and built or talked of building a mill upon it. Another tradition is that an Indian chief named Cobus lived where War- nerville now is. Another, that the cattle that roamed along the banks of the stream were provided with bells. Another, that it w?s named from the water- worn peb- bles lying in the stream. Now — if it is a fact that the Germans settled in the Schoharie Valley; if one of these settlements was at or near the mouth of the stream, and as they increased in numbers their farms extended up the stream; if one of these settlers was named Kobell and he built or talked of building a mill for the greater accommodation of the inhabitants, — it would have been quite natural if an absent settler was inquired for, or the inquiry made for the location of the home of the new-comer, the answer would be re- turned "Down at Kobell's kill," and we need not be led away by an iron cow-bell nor seek to cross the stream on slippery stones. The historical events connected with the town have been given elsewhere; and its chief natural curiosities, Howe's Cave situated at the eastern border of the town, Mineral Springs about two miles south of Co- bleskill Village, and the outburst of subterranean SCHOHAHIE COUNTY. i3i streams along the banks of the creek have already been mentioned. While farming is the chief industry of the town ex- tensive manufacturing and quirrying industries are situated along the line of the railroad. At Cobleskill Village are prosperous agricultural works; a sash, blind, door, and builder's supply factory; an extensive shirt factory; and a stone quarry. A little east of the Village is the Klondike stone quarry, and on the east- ern border of the town Howe's Cave cement, lime, and stone quarry. Situated on the direct line of the Albany and Sus- quehanna railroad, aud at the junction of the Sharon branch, and easy of access from all directions by stage and teams Cobleskill Village is well located for a school. Consequently we find there a flourishing High School having an Academic Department under the Regents of the Universit}'. 5. C0NESVII.1.K. Owing to the distance the inhab- itants were compelled to go to transact their town bus- iness a petition was sent to the Legislature for the for- mation of a new towm, and on March 3rd, 1836, an act was passed dividing the towns of Broome in Schoharie County and Durham in Greene, and uniting the parts thus taken in the formation of the new town of Cones- ville. It was named in honor of Rev. Jonathan Cone, 1^2 SUMMARY OF a minister dear to the hearts of the people Hving in that part of the County. The first annual town meet- ing for the election of officers was held Tuesday, April i8, 1837. But the history of the town goes back further than its formation. In 1754 letters patent were given to a German, named Ury Richtmyer, for two tracts of land, one lying in the western part of the present town, and the other in the eastern. He settled upon one of these in 1764, and died at his home August 14, 1769. Dur- ing the Revolution the greater part of the settlers that remained true to the American cause fled to the Middle Fort — at Middleburgh — for better protection and safe- ty. After the war closed quite a number of families from the older settlements in the County and immi- grants from New England located in the town and be- gan clearing up its forests. The town is hilly with a transverse valley running east and west a little south of the central line. Through this flows the Manorkill in a westerly direc- tion, and emptying into the Schoharie River. Near its mouth is a beautiful cascade or fall fully sixty feet high. Farming is the chief industry, and as the town is quite hilly the farmers have given more attention to stock and sheep raising than to other branches of the schoiiarip: county. 133 work. In butter, stock raising, and the produition of wool the town ranks above the average in both quan- tity and quality. The outlet for the farm products is at Grand Gorge on the Ulster and Delaware railroad, but the station is distant, and the steep and heavy grades that abound on the highways render exporta- tion difficult. There are also quarries of good stone, but the cost oi tranportation has prevented their de- velopment. 6. ESPKRANCE. Esperance was formed from Scho- harie by an act of the I^egislature passed April 4th, 1846, and in area is the smallest of the sixteen towns in the county. As part of the Kueiskern dorf in the Schoharie Val- ley is embraced within the limits of the present town the earliest settlers were the Palatine Germans. In 1739 Jacob and Hendrick Ten Eyck received a land grant embracing the present village of Esperance. In 1803 the heir — Harmon us Ten Eyck laid out between '60 and 70 acres in building lots where Esperance A'il- lage now is. In Februar}^ 1806 the same was sold by him to General William North, who had been, an Aid to Baron Steuben during the Revolution. Settlers came in from New England. The Village was pros- perous, and situated about midway on the main line of travel between AJbaiij and Cherry Valley gave promise 134 SUMMARY OF of substantial growth. General North therefore gave it the name of Esperance from a French word meaning "Hope," and when the town was formed in 1846 the name of the village was given to the whole town. Of the six incorporated villages in the county Esperance is the oldest having been incorporated by a Legislative Act April 21st, 1832. "Esperance Academy" estab- lished in 1835 in the old stone building on the north side of main street in the village has already been mentioned. The chief industry is farming. The outlet for hay and similar products is the Albau}^ and Susquehanna railroad, but large quantities of butter and eggs are sent to cities in the Mohawk Valley. There are also quarries in the town that annually ship large amounts of stone for curbing, flagging, and foundation work. The Albany and Suequehanna railroad — or, as it is now more commonly called "The D. and H." as it is leased to and operated by the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company — enters the County on the eastern border of Esperance, south of the Schoharie River, and pursues westward its winding way through the northwest corner of Schoharie, follows up the Cobles- kill Creek, through the central part of Coble^kill, and the northern part of Richmondville, The elevation of the road above sea-level where it enters the town of SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 135 Hsperance is given by the railroad surveyors as 700 feet, about 600 at Central Bridge, 900 at Cobleskill, 1 1 75 at Richmoadville, and 1470 where it leaves the western border of Richmond vi lie and enters Otsego County. The road is 143 miles in length, and was opened for traffic to Central Bridge in 1863, toOneonta in 1865, and to Binghamton in 1869. In February I870 it was leased to the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. It was built under most discouraging cir- cumstances and strong opposition. Hon. Joseph H. Ramse}^ was its acknowledged Champion. Without his strong support and financial ability it is doubtful if it would, have been constructed. In his efforts he w^as ably assisted by Hon. W. C. Lamont, Charles Courter, and a few others. Until the road was built the whole produce of the county was drawn by teams to Albany — the nearest market. Now, with branches running to Middleburgh and Sharon Springs, a large portion of the county is furnished with convenient railroad communication. The road has had a marked ceffect on the thrift and enterprise of the county, has developed new lines of business and industry, has en- couraged the growth of several villages, and given an outlet for products that oihervvisa would have been valueless. The farmer, the merchant, and the bus- iness man have alike been benefited by it. 136 SUMMARY OF 7. FuivTON. This town was originally a part of Middleburgh but was sej^arated from it April i5tli, 1828. By elevation of surface it would almost seem the town could be divided into two parts. The east- ern, comprising about one twentieth of the whole town, lying along the Schoharie River, embracing the rich broad flats, and finding an outlet for its products at Middleburgh. Tlie Western, more hilly and broken forming part of the plateau that extends through the county, and finding an outlet for its products at Sum- mit or Cobleskill. Farming is the chief industry of the whole town, and it ranks fifth or sixth in the value of its products. In the eastern part corn, the different kinds of grain, hops, apples and other kinds of fruit are the chief products, and are easily taken to Middle- burgh. In the Western part stock raising and dairy- ing are more largely engaged in. Summit is the butter market, while the outlet for its potatoes, hops, buck- wheat, and other products is found at Cobleskill. There are several quarries of first class flagging stone in the town, but the coj^t of transportation is so great they are of but little value. There are also several mineral springs in the town; but they are small, un- developed, and have nothing more than a local reputa- tion. The Kenhuragara, or Panther Creek, as it was form- SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 137 crly called, rises in the southwestern part of the town, flows southeasterl}' nearly parallel with the southern boundary of the town, and enters the Schoharie River a little south of Bouck's Island, or about halfway be- tween Breakabeen and Fultonham. The position of this stream on one of the great Indian trails has al- ready been mentioned. On this stream, about one mile west of the Schoharie River are Bouck's Falls described in a former chapter. The historical events connected with the stream, with Breakabeen, and the "Upper Fort" which was situated near Fultonham in the eastern part of the town have also been given in a former chapter. The town has the honor of being the birth place, home, and burial ground of Governor William C. Bouck, whom no one that has occupied the Governor's chair has excelled in purity of purpose, nobility of character, strict integrity, and sterling worth. 8. GiLBOA. Blenheim and Broome were so large it was inconvenient for the settlers of the present town of Gilboa to transact business in them. A petition was therefore sent to the Legislature asking for their division and the formation of a new town from the parts set off. A bill to accomplish this passed March 1 6th, 1848, and as the village of G'lboa was the busi- ness center its name was given to the town. The first 138 SUMMARY OF town meeting for the election of officers was held April 2oth, 1848. The Ulster & Delaware Railroad enters the town about the middle of the southern bor- der, sweeps in a curve through the southern part of the town, and leaves it at the southwest corner. The Schoharie River flow^s northward across the middle of the town, receiving on its eastern side the Plattenkill and on the western, Minekill. The first settlers were the Dise family in 1760. Be- coming tories tlie}^ left at the commencement of the Revolution and went to Canada. After the Revolution there was an inflow of New Knglanders, who settled on the plateau extending along the southern and southwestern part of the County. They became there- fore the early settlers of the town. Farming is the chief industry; the branches of it that are best adapted to an upland country well sup- plied with springs of pure water are the ones selected. The chief outlet for the farm products is the Ulster & Delaw^are Railroad. In 1840 the "Gilboa Cotton Mill Company" was formed and erected a mill on the v'^choharie River, which soon became prosperous, and the busy hum of the spindle was heard in the valle}-. The flood of 1869 injured the property, entailed heavy loss, and no at- tempt has been made since to carry on the enterprise. SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 139 9. Jefferson. A petition was sent to the State Legislature in January, 1803, asking for the fonration of a new town in the southwestern part of the County, and on February T2th an Act was passed setting off a portion of Blenheim and giving to the new town the name of Jefferson. On March ist a town meeting was held and officers elected. A curved ridge lying nearly east and west extends through the town and forms the watershed between the Delaware and Mohawk systems of rivers. The real source of the Delaware is a spring that flows from under a large rock near the foot of the slope on the northwest side of Mine Hill — a prominence whose sum- mit is about 3,200 feet above sea level. From this spring it flows nearly south for about two miles and empties into Utsyantha Lake situated on the southern border of the town. About one mile from its source the Stamford Water Company has constructed a rCvSer- voir and there is water enough to give the village an ample supply. The surface of tlie town is hilly, the soil fertile and under a good state of cultivation. Farming is the chief industry; the special branch being the manufac- ture of butter and the exportation of cream. Large quantities of both are shipped although they have to be taken to the railroad station at Stamford, in Dela- 140 SUMMARY OF' ware Count}-, some seven miles from the village of Jef- ferson. Such is the quantity and quality of the cream and butter produced in the town Jefferson ranks among the fir^t, if, in fact, it is not the first in the County. Indian trails from the Hudson and from Middle- burgh led through what is now the town of Jefferson, but there were no white settlers within its limits until after the Revolution. The first settlers came from New England in 1794. Some located in the eastern part, some around Lake Utsyantha, and some near where the present village of Jefferson is situated. Although the early .«^ettlers were poor they were in- terested in education. Herman Hickok w^as the first schoolteacher, and in 181 1 a subscription paper was drawn up by him for the building of ' 'Jefferson Acad- emy" — that pioneer c;f schools of higher grade within the limits of our County. In 181 7 the school was in operation with Rev. William Salsbury, Principal. In November, 1824, the school was incorporated by an Act of the State Legislature. In May, 1852, the "Jef- ferson x\cademy" ceased to exist and became a thing of the past. 10. MiDDLEBURGH, one of the six "original towns" in the County, was formed from Schoharie, March 17, 1797- The Schoharie River flows northward across the SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 141 town dividing it into ridges of upland with a broad in- tervale or flat upon the sides of the stream. On the eastern side, a little south of the present village of Middleburgh, the river rsfceives the inflow of the Little Schoharie, and almost directly- opposite the Linekill enters. The effect of the meeting of these streams has alread}^ been given. The first settlers were the Palatines. Their most southern settlement, called Weiser's Dorf, was situated where the village of Middleburgh now is. Hartman's Dorf, about two miles north of Weiser's, was also with- in the present limits of the town. About halfway be- tween these two dorfs was what is known as the "Mid- dle Fort." The Indian name of the hills surrounding the village of Middleburgh are given in Danforth's Di- rectory as follows: "The hill opposite the village of Middleburgh was called by the Indians On-can-ge-na meaning 'Mountain of Snakes.' A mountain just a- bove Middleburgh, on the west side, was called 0-nis- ta-gra-wa; the next west was called To-wok-now-ra, or 'Spring Hill;' and one southeast of Middleburgh, Mo- he-gau-ter." The historical events connected with the settlement of Middleburgh, the thrilling incidents of its early his- tory, the part it bore in the tragic events of the Revo- lution, have been given elsewhere. 142 SUMMARY OP Middleburgii village is the southern terminus of the Middleburgh & Schoharie Railroad, connecting at Central Bridge with the Albany & Susquehanna Rail- road. It is thus an easy outlet for the farm produce of the rich alluvial fiats and for the farms upon the hillsides that slope toward the great central depression that reaches in a north and south line through the County. Owing to its position and ease of access the village of Middleburgh has become one of the educational cen- ters of the County, and maintains a first class High School with a large Academic Department under the Regents. II. RiCHMONDViLLE. April nth, 1849, ^^ Act was passed by the Legislature dividing the tov>ai of Cobleskill, forming a new town from the portion set off, and giving it the name of the post office already established in it — Richmond ville. October 21st, 1851, a portion of Seward was annexed, thus giving to the town its present territory. A little north of the center it is crossed from west to east by the Cobleskill Creek, which rises in Worcester, Otsego Count3^ The largest branches of the creek in this town are on the southern side and have their head waters in the northern part of Summit. The Albany & Susquehanna Railroad, located on the northern side SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 143 of the creek, passes through the towii and leaves its western border at an elevation of 1470 feet above sea level. The valley through which the Cobleskill Creek runs is a home illustration of the wonderful manner in which the earth has been prepared for man. Rich- mondville belongs to the great plateau which lies along the southern and western part of Schoharie County. In the glacial period the sheet of ice thousands of feet in thickness, which covered the county, in its slow movement south and southwest, not only rounded the hill-tops, striated rocks, and made from the ground- up material the rich soil we find in everj^ part of the county, but also plowed two great valleys. Through one of these flows the Cobleskill Creek. Had not the glacier cut through the solid rock at Richmondville, it is doubtful whether a direct route could have been found for a railroad connecting Albany and Bingham- ton and thus opening the Susquehanna valle}^ and its tributaries to eastern travel and trade. The first settlers were Germans, George Warner and John Zeh, who in the spring of 1764 settled near where the present village of Warnerville is situated. Warner was a patriot, one of the Schoharie Committee of Safe- ty, and several attempts were made to either capture or kill him. xVt last they were successful in his cap- 144 StJMMARY 0^ ture, for December T 8th, 1782, Setli's Henry with a band of fellow savages surprised him at his home and carried him off to Canada. About eleven months afterward he was exchanged and allowed to return to his home. The "Battle at Cobleskill," fought May 30th, 1778, between the American forces under Captains Patrick and Brown and the Indian forces under Brant, was fought near Warner's house, so that while Cobleskill has the honor of the engagement, Richmondville now claims possession of the battle field. 12. Schoharie. Schoharie was originally a dis- trict in Albany County, afterward a town, and at the time the Legislature formed Schoharie County out of Albany and Otsego Counties, the town of Schoharie embraced a large part of the present county. At the organization in March, 1797, five towns were set off from it — Middleburgh, Blenheim, Broome, Cobleskill, and Sharon. These with Schoharie constitute what are sometimes called "The six original towms." It must not however be thought the present boundary of these towns is the same as that given at the formation of the county. The early settlers were the Palatinate Germans who came in 1713, as stated in another chapter. Five set- tlements upon the east bank of the Schoharie River SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 145 were made by them within the limits of the present town. "Brunnen Dorf," or ''Fountain Town" was situated where the village of Schoharie now is. The first Lutheran Church — a stone structure erected in, 1 75 1 — stood within the limits of the present Lutheran cemeter}^, covering the lots where Dr. Lintner and John Gebhard are now buried. Part of the stones used in its construction were used as foundation stones of the present Lutheran Church, erected in 1796, and still bear deepl}- cut in the blue limestone the names of the persons furnishing them for the walls of the first church. The wooden building erected in 1743 and used as a parsonage and place of worship until the stone church was built, is still standing in the south- east corner of the Lutheran cemetery lot, near the cold spring that gave a name to the settlement, and is th^ oldest building in the county. Its sides were original- ly covered with home hand- made shingles, fastened with hand-made nails. Time and the weather have caused the lower shingles to decay, and they have been replaced with boards, but those in the upper part on the ends of the building still remain as when first put on. The building was erected on the arrival of Rev. Peter Nicholas Sommers, the first settled minister, who served as pastor of the church more than forty years, and now with his wife lies buried under an appropriate 10 SCHOHARIE COUKTY. 14? monument in the cemetery where his first church stood. Why this wooden building was not burned in Johnson's raid in October, 1780, we cannot tell. Per- haps the tories and Indians obeyed Johnson's and Brant's order to "spare the churches" better at Scho- harie than they did at Middleburgh where the Dutch Church w^as burned by them. The geological exposure of strata in the town is un- excelled, if, indeed, it is equalled in any of the other towns in the county. The series ranges from the Hudson River shale to the Hamilton, and is found in an undisturbed order; some of the layers are rich in fossils; and the limestone is so fine grained, compact, and hard it furnishes most excellent examples of gla- cial action. The surface of some of the layers is smoothed, striated, furrowed, polished by the glacier; some of the layers have all the polish of a modern lapi- dary's art, and specimens can be procured of any de- sired size. The Schoharie Valley Railroad connects with the Albany & Susquehanna Railroad at Schoharie Junction on the east side of the river opposite the village of Central Bridge, and gives an easy outlet for travel and for farm produce. The Schoharie River flows in a northerly direction through the central part of the town, receiving in its passage the inflow of Stony 148 SUMMARY OF Creek and Fox's Creek on its eastern side and Coble- skill Creek on the western. At Central Bridge are agricultural works and flouring mills that do an exten- sive business, and at Schoharie village are flouring mills, and just east of the village a quarry that is ca- pable of sending out carloads of dressed and undressed limestone of superior quality for building and other architectural purposes. 13. Seward. By an Act of the Legislature Sew- ard w^as formed from Sharon, February nth, 1840, and was named in honor of William H. Seward, who was Governor at the time. The first settlements were made in the northwestern part of the town not far from the present villages of Seward and Dorloch by honest, industrious, and frugal Germans, 1754, and the settlement was called New Dorloch in memory of their okl home. The Westkiil, the chief northern branch of the Co- bleskill Creek, flows southeast through the center of the town, crosses the northeast corner of Richmond- ville, and enters the Col)leskill at Warnerville. The Sharon and Cherry Valley branch of the Albany & Susquehanna Railroad, after leaving the junction at Cobleskill village, crosses the Westkiil and follows up the western side of the stream through the town, giv- ing a quick and easy outlet for the farm products. SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 149 Farming is the chief industry of the town, dairying and hop raising being the principal branches. Seward, in both the quantity and the quality of hops produced, is one of the leading towns in the county. The apples also are good; and a vinegar factory makes and ships to the cit}^ markets large quantities of excellent vine- gar. There are no quarries of any extent in the town. Yet it is said there are localities near the railroad where good flagging stone of any required thickness or desired size can be procured. If this should prove cor- rect here is an opportunity for a profitable industry. The history of Seward during the Revolution shows again how insecure was human life on our frontier. At least three times during the war Seward was visited b}^ Indian and tory bands, and each time mangled forms, dead stock, and burned buildings told where they had been. While by far the greater part of the inhabitants were true to the American cause, here was the home of the tory leader Philip Crysler, brother of the Adam Crysler that lived at Vromau's Land. Both were notorious tor^^ leaders more brutal, fiendish, and pitiless than the indians with whom they associated or whose bands they led. 14. Sharon. When Otsego County was formed Seward, Sharon, aud part of Carlisle were included within its boundarv. When vSchoharie County was 150 SUMMARY OF formed this territory fell within its limits and formed part of the town of Schoharie. At the organization of the county in March, 1797, the town of Schoharie, as we have already seen, w^as divided into six parts, one retaining the original name and the other parts form- ing the towns of Middleburgh, Blenheim, Broome, Co- bleskill, and Sharon. Before the Revolution there were a few settlers within the limits of the present town, but during the war the greater part of these went to Schoharie or to Fort Hunter on the Mohawk for greater safety. Shortly after the war Colonel Cal- vin Rich and some other settlers came with their fami- lies from Sharon in Connecticut; and other settlers came from Schoharie, Cobleskill, and the Mohawk val- ley; and when the town was organized in 1797, it was named Sharon in behalf of Col. Rich and his Connec- ticut friends, who had been active in securing the form- ation of the new county and its subdivision into towns. The Westkill, the main northern branch of the Co- bleskill Creek flows southerly through the western part of the town. The Sharon and Cherry Valley branch of the Albany & Susquehanna Railroad is lo- cated in the western part of the town, comes within one-half mile of Sharon Springs, and then bearing westerly enters Otsego County. Hop raising is the SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 151 principal industry, and in quantity and quality Sharon ranks first in the county. Owing to the quick and easy outlet by railroad large quantities of milk and butter are shipped to Albany and other large cities. There are also a few stone quarries but none extensive- ly worked. Sharon Springs, located a little southwest of the cen- ter of the town, is noted for its sulphur, chalybeate, and magnesian springs. To accommodate the crowds that flock to it ever}^ summer for health and pleasure there are several large hotels and many smaller board- ing houses. The largest of the hotels stands upon an elevation that overlooks a landscape of rare beauty, and it will easily accommodate 600 boarders. The engagement described in another chapter and known as the "Sharon Battle," fought between the forces of Col. Marinus Willett numbering about 260 men, and a force of over 500 indians and tories led by the notorious tory Doxtader, was fought about two miles east of Sharon Springs on the northern side of the present Western Turnpike. 15. Summit. This town was formed by an Act of the Legislature passed April 13th, 1819, from Jefferson and Cobleskill. It is very properly named as it is part of the great plateau readbing around the southern and .southw^ester;n sides of the £)Ounty, and, while its gener- 152 SUMMARY OF al surface is elevated, the top of Mount Wharton, situ- ated near Summit village, according to the New York Survey Reports, has an altitude of 2,428 feet above sea level. A good sized spring a short distance west of Summit village is the head of the Charlotte River, which flows southwesterly through the town. Where it leaves the town it marks a corner in three counties — Otsego, Del- aware, and Schoharie. In its further progress the riv- er receives the inflow of several streams and becomes one of the main branches of the Susquehanna. Summit Lake, along whose western shore lies Sum- mit village, is a beautiful sheet of water covering about 75 acres. Its outlet is the Westkill which emerges from its southern extremity, flows south and then southeast through the central part of Blenheim, and empties into the Schoharie. There was no settlement in Summit until after the Revolution. Frederick Prosper from Dutchess County made the first settlement in the spring of 1794. He was shortly afterwards followed by other immigrants from the Hudson and from New England. Almost from the start dairying has been one of the leading in- dustries of the town. There are quarries of excellent flagging stone near the villages of Summit and Char- lotteville, where blocks of any thickness and size can SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 153 be procured, but the lieav}^ grading between the quar- ries and their outlet on the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad prevents their being worked to their full ca- pacity. 16. Wright. By an Act of the Legislature Wright was formed from Schoharie, April 4th, 1846, and named in honor of the Governor Silas Wright, The first settlement was made by Jacob Zimmer about 1735, on the outskirts of the German settlements in the Schoharie valley. Farming is the chief industry, and the soil is said to be unusually well adapted for the raising of winter grain. Fox's Creek, which rises in Albany County, flows in a western or northwestern direction through the center of the town, and receives near the village of Gallup- ville a good sized branch that rises in the more north- ern part of the town. Gallupviile is the principal vil- lage, and receives its name from the Gallup family that came from New England about 18 17, purchased the land upon which the village is built, and through their enterprise and industry built up a thriving and progressive village. The town suffered from Indian and tory depredations during the Revolution. The Indians and tories led by the notoiious Adam Crysler began the bloody work of their raid on July 26th, 1782, in this town, then passed 154 SUMMARY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY. down Fox's Creek to near Shutter's Corners, and crossed over the hill to the Cobleskill Creek on their way to the Charlotte valley. Upon the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga quite a number of his German troops, instead of returning to Europe, came to this town, settled south of Fox's Creek, and became thrifty farmers. W '^' cOV. -^^ r.^ ..'. % . -ov^^ ^4" ... % ''-' ^0 <. ^^f!T^\G^ % ~ .rv o 7/// /^ .^^ ... ''-^, .^'\ 'igiiiiili^^Mil