Three Rivers
Hudson~Mohawk~Schoharie
History From America's Most Famous Valleys
Town
of Saint Johnsville
Sesquicentennial
History
1838-1988
INTRODUCTION
The Town of St. Johnsville's early pioneers have left a rich heritage which we should pass on, strengthened, for future generations.
This Sesquicentennial history has been researched and compiled to restore our pride in the Town of St. Johnsville and its people. It is essential to preserve the traditions, records, deeds of valor and public spirit of the early pioneers and of those who have followed in their footsteps.
A series of maps have been used to illustrate the growth patterns of commerce, industry, travel and the resulting construction of each time period in the town's history.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We are indebted to the late Howard Shaffer whose series of articles "The Township of St. Johnsville 100 Years Ago" were printed in the local Enterprise & News from April 13, 1938 to February 8, 1939. His research of the early town, Averell family and post office records have provided valuable information for a major part of this book.
A special thank you to the 1988 Town of St. Johnsville Board for their support and assistance.
Thanks also go to the many others who have donated information and photographs. Their clear memories of the past seem almost more important to us than to them, for we have borrowed the memories which they have lived for this book.
We appreciate the assistance of Anita Smith, Betty Bilobrowka, and Dianne Smith in the preparation of this book.
INDIANS
At the opening of the 18th Century, the Mohawk Valley was a wilderness. The Mohawks had refused to allow any white settlers to come into their valley, only traders (called Bos Loopers) were welcome, for they brought many necessary items for the Indians. The Indians traded their furs for guns, steel traps, cooking pots, blankets, beads and run. Men carrying these items could come and go in safety but settlers were absolutely forbidden.
By 1700, the Mohawks were very weakened by their constant wars and from the French raids upon their villages. The four villages on the north side of the Mohawk River were abandoned and the Indians settled at three new sites at Fort Hunter, Fort Plain and Indian Castle on the south side of the river. This was a very important event, for it led to the development of the Mohawk Valley by the early settlers.
There was a road along the north side of the river as early as 1703. The records of this road can be found in the highway law of Albany County. Montgomery County was still a part of Albany County at this time. By 1721, the road had extended as far as Fonda. This road was known as the King's Highway.
Indian names for the town of St. Johnsville area are Decanohogo, Tvenindoke, Tionondoge and Teonontoge. I believe the last three are the same and are just three different phonetic spellings. The Indian castle of Tionondoge (1689-1693) was on the eastern end of Fort Hill. This is west of the present west St. Johnsville and in an area to the southwest of the bus garage along the gravel ridge of the valley.
Decagjoharow (East Canada Creek), At-he-dagh-que (Zimmerman Creek) - All of the Indian names can be found on early maps and deeds.
The Palatine Germans were the earliest settlers and were of the same importance to New York State as the Pilgrims were to New England. They chose to be the farthest outpost of white men in this country.
The English governors were always glad and willing to use the Palatines as a buffer against the Indians and the wilderness.
Jacob Zimmerman, Pioneer
The first settlement of the town was probably before 1720 by Palatine Germans. Many of the town's present inhabitants have descended from these pioneer families. The first settler was Jacob Zimmerman (Timmerman). Family tradition has it that Jacob, the pioneer was married a second time to an Indian princess named Anna Marragrieta. They had two daughters, Christina and Eve.
Their home, a typical fortified farmhouse, was built on the site of the present Methodist Church parsonage. Their home was also used as a public house, or turnpike tavern in later years. The home has an interesting, story for in the mid 1800's it was divided in half and moved 300 feet to the east. These homes are now #11 and #13 Washington Street.
In 1722 Jacob paid 200 English pounds for Harrison patent lots #15, 16 and 18. He was a man of great ability and stamina and the owner of vast tracts of land. He cleared the land and had a prosperous farm- in what is now the village of St. Johnsville and built a grist mill on the creek which still bears his name.
In 1729 he was an important landowner and was appointed as a Commissioner of Highways. Sir William Johnson also accepted such an appointment on several occasions, so one can surmise the status of such an appointment.
Jacob and his family lived in what the Indians called Tyenindoke (or Tionontoge) for some years prior to 1734. This was in the vicinity of the castle of Tionondoge.
On March 12, 1734, Indian Chief, King Hendrick, and the other Sachems (leaders) of the Kannajoharie Castle conveyed a large tract of land, on the north side of the Mohawk River, as a gift to Anna Marragrieta Timmerman of Tyenindoke.
The Palatine Germans were very fortunate to have as their friend King Hendrick who did so much to keep the peace between the pioneers and the Indians.
King Hendrick was the great Chief of the Mohawk tribe. He was a Christian who directed his life by Christian ideals, believing that friendship rather than war must settle tensions between his people and the white race. In all his relations with the, at times, none-too-scrupulous aliens he always kept his word, always acted with wisdom and dignity in seeking to protect his people. The Palatines were fortunate to have a man of King Hendrick's stature living intimately among them in their early difficult days. His name is closely associated with theirs in the history of the Valley.
The British Crown map of 1757 proves that a mill was built in the St. Johnsville area at a very early date and by 1757 the little hamlet was called Timmerman's Mill.
The
King Hendrick Deed of Gift
DOCUMENTARY PROOF OF EARLY WHITE OCCUPANCY OF PRESENT SITE OF
ST. JOHNSVILLE.
Copy of Original Indian Deed Drawn in 1734 by King Hendrick and Other Mohawk Indians Giving Land Now Occupied by St. Johnsville to Marragrieta Timmerman. Cut Loaned for Publication by Manley Timmerman of Fort Plain, N.Y. who Owns Photostat Copy of Original.
Several translations of this deed have been published all varying in both language and meaning, and the one given herewith which has never been published is believed to be the most reliable. It was recently translated by Mr. A. J. F. van Laer of the State Historical Department. Mr. van Laer translates not only Dutch but also Dutch of the period in which written and we must recognize that there has been many changes in the language since 1733.
Mr. van Laer's translation with certain foot notes which have been gathered through correspondence follows:
Timmerman Indian Deed
We, the undersigned, sachems of Kannajoharie, in the county of Albany, in the province of New York, in the seventh year of the reign of his Majesty King George the Second, acknowledge that out of pure love and affection with the consent of the entire Castle of Kannajoharie, both Indian men and women, we give and make over, in the name and on behalf of his majesty King George of Great Britain, to our friend Anna Marragrieta Timmerman of Tyenindoke, spinster in the county of Albany, for her and her heirs, executors, administrators and assigns forever, a parcel of flat land and the woods belonging thereto; the land being situated on the north side of the Maquasse River (Mohawk River), in the county of Albany, commencing at a kill called *Athedaghque, and a farm on the south side of the said kill, and thence upwards along the river to a tree marked with the bear, wolf and turtle, thence northwards from the river into the woods about three English miles, and then eastward, keeping the same distance from the river, to another marked tree, and thence toward the river to the cast and of the farm which formed the point of beginning, which land we acknowledge has been given by us to our beloved friend Anna Marragrieta Timmaremans for herself, her heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, forever. In witness whereof we have signed these with our hand and fixed our seals this twelfth of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty three, thirty-four.
Signed and sealed
in the presence of
David Schuyler
Bong Mattesz
**urwalt Jung
his
Hendrick (bear) Pieters mark his
Seth (wolf) mark
her
Marragriet (turtle) mark
* I wish to state in reply to your inquiry that as far as I can determine, the kill call Athdaghque is Zimmerman Creek. The only reference I can find to the Indian name of Athdaghque is in William M. Beauchamp's "Aboriginal Place Names of New York," p. 119, in which it is noted as being a place in St. Johnsville in 1733.
HOWARD F. ROWSE Head, Manuscripts and History Section, State Department Education.
**Teowalt Young of Canajohare.
Letters of administration granted to his wife, Margaret, November 5, 1771. (See Abstracts of Wills, 1766-1771, 7:471 NY Hist. Soc. Collections 31.)
Klock's Church
The Palatines were Christians and always seemed to have done something about a place of worship soon after they were settled in a new area.
It is assumed that there was a place in St. Johnsville where the early settlers gathered to worship not too many years after 1725. Certainly a church stood east of St. Johnsville in 1756. It was built through the efforts of Christian Klock, George Klock, Jr. and Colonel Jacob Klock and was on lot number 13 of the Harrison Patent. The land was owned by George C. and Jacob Klock.
In 1787 there was a record of incorporation and the trustees named were Jacob Klock, Jacob Fehling, Jacob G. Klock, Peter Schuyler and Christopher Fox. The church was called the Reformed Calvinist Church of the upper part of Palatine in the County of Montgomery and was known as Klock's Church. According to historian Jeptha Simms, the log church had neither a steeple nor bell but had a sounding board over the raised pulpit. Benches were used for seats and some were always reserved for Christian Indians.
The first pastors of the church were probably Reverend Van Driesen, Reverend Schuyler of Stone Arabia, and Reverend Rosenkrantz of German Flats, who also supplied other valley churches. Reverend John Henry Dysslin was the second preacher from 1788 to 1812. He also supplied the German churches at Manheim and Indian Castle. For the first two years, his salary was $117, with the use of the glebe (church) lands. The third year he received $119. A receipt dated June 12, 1810 shows that he received $120 in salary with additional payments in wood, wheat and labor to plow the land.
Reverend Dysslin lived in the Klock Church parsonage or house which his wife, Anna, had inherited. In 1798 Colonel Jacob Klock gave his land, lot number 13 of the Harrison Patent, to his two granddaughters, Anna Dysslin and Eva, the wife of Christian Klock. It is believed that the church parsonage was the former home of Colonel Jacob Klock. There is same speculation, though, that the Klock's Church parsonage still stands and is now number 17 Kingsbury Avenue, next door to the Reaney Library.
A German school was also taught at Klock's Church by Henry Hayes (Hees) at an early date. Lot Ryan, an Irishman, taught the first English school here in 1792.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Montgomery County was formed from Albany County March 12, 1772 under the name of "Tryon County," in honor of Governor William Tryon. Following the signing of the Revolutionary War Peace Treaty, the name was changed to Montgomery County on April 2, 1784 in honor of Major General Richard Montgomery, who was killed in the attack on Quebec in 1775. All the territory west of the Stanwix line was then added to Montgomery County and extended west to Lake Erie. This district was called Whitestown in honor of the pioneer Hugh White.
Tryon County was the 11th county to be formed under the English Law. Montgomery and Washington Counties were the first to be named under the Laws of New York State. The other counties retained their original names.
The ten original counties were Albany, Dutchess, Kings, New York, Orange, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk, Ulster, and Westchester and they were formed under the English Laws on November 1st, 1683.
Tryon County was divided into the Caughnawaga, Mohawk, Palatine, Canajoharie, German Flatts and Kingsland Districts. In 1775 another division or district was made, known as the Old English District.
There was a rapid development of New York State after the Revolutionary War and as the population of certain sections increased, it became necessary to erect a new county. This was done in order to have a supervising body brought nearer to its actual administration territory.
Travel in the early days was slow and expensive as well as toilsome and hazardous. It was often very difficult for people in the western and northern parts of the State to travel all the way to their county seat at Johnstown for legal and governmental business transactions.
Thirty-seven counties have been formed from the original Montgomery County and now Montgomery County is the smallest county in New York State. The town of St. Johnsville is situated in the northwest corner of Montgomery County.
In 1776 Jacob Zimmerman, Jr., was the owner of his father's grist mill. He and his wife, Magdalena Polly Hager, built their home along the King's Highway about 1790. This Georgian style home had a Palladian window on the second floor and was probably the grandest home in the village at that time. In the mid 19th century, the home was modernized in the Victorian style. The home is now owned by Milford Decker and is located at the corner of West Main and John Streets.
The late Milo Nellis, a noted local historian, believed that because some of the Zimmerman's -married Klock daughters that this helped to influence the selection of Zimmerman land for the new location of the Reformed Church. Klock's Church had become old and when the Mohawk Turnpike was built in 1800, it left the church 20 full rods from the highway. Mr. Nellis felt this also encouraged the selection of a new site for the church in the village.
Local tradition was that the lot owned by Jacob Timmerman, Jr. (or Zimmerman) was donated to the church. However, further research of the church treasurer's account book reveals the following: the church land was paid for either partly or wholly by a note to Jacob Zimmerman, the owner of the land, given by the trustees and dated March 5, 1792; the note was for $49.52. The note was purchased by John L. Bellinger, treasurer, and charged off by him in his accounts of money expended towards building the new church. Jacob Zimmerman practically gave the land to the church for the payment was very small. His home was in the center of the glebe (church) lot.
The 7 acre glebe lot extended from Church Street to Zimmerman Creek and from West Main Street to the hill. In 1803 work was started on the new church and it was completed in 1804. The church parsonage still stands on Cottage Street and was the home of the late Donald Lenig. The church cemetery was on both sides of Zimmerman Creek along what is now West and William Streets, near the bridge. All bodies interred here were removed to the St. Johnsville Cemetery on the hill in 1874. I've been told that some homes along West Street have gravestones in their cellar walls.
On August 1, 1874 the church trustees had sold the glebe lot to William H. Saltsman and Clark H. Markell for $6,025. These monies were used to build a new parsonage of brick facing Main Street and to pay off other notes.
The second church of the Palatine pioneers was demolished in early 1881, the same year that the present, or third, church edifice, also of brick, was built.
ROADS
The King's Highway, for the remainder of the 18th Century, was in constant use and the revolutionary history of the Mohawk Valley is connected with it.
As the century closed, there was a great demand for a better road. New York State granted charters to 88 turnpike companies and 21 bridge companies. In 1800 the Mohawk Turnpike and the bridge over East Canada Creek were one of the first to be completed.
To raise funds for the turnpike company, there were eight tollgates along the whole 80 mile length of the turnpike. In our area, there was a toll house at Palatine Church, another near Nellis Tavern and a third at the East Canada Creek bridge.
Along the turnpike rolled stage coaches and great freight wagons which could carry 4 or 6 tons. These were drawn by 4, 6 or 8 horses. Many people traveled the turnpike on horseback and there were also great herds of cattle and other livestock.
Here are some of the rates of toll
The turnpike was not constructed so much for the stages as for the transportation of the immense quantities of cattle, grain and produce from Albany to Utica and beyond to the west.
Turnpike Taverns
To accommodate this great traffic, houses were built along the way and those already built were utilized for toad houses, as they were called, for the accommodation of man and beast. These were equipped with a bar, a few beds and large sheds.
The farmers in those days would drive their own teams and take along provisions for themselves and their horses, and by paying a sixpence for a bed and buying a quart of whiskey would find a place under the shed for their teams.
There were many taverns (or wayside inns), probably one about every mile. Here the thirsty wayfarer could buy the best brandy, gin, rum, scotch, ale, flip, punch and many other concoctions. Each tavern prided itself on the good and abundant meals they provided their guests, and many of them were known for a special dish.
One of the travelers was Thurlow Weed and he wrote of his experiences along the turnpike. In 1824 he made a trip from Rochester to Albany. He mentions stopping at East Creek in the following words: "We dine at East Canada Creek where the stage house kept by Mr. Couch was always to be relied upon for excellent ham and eggs and fresh brook trout from the creek." In the early 1800's East Creek was a hamlet of considerable size and was larger than what is now St. Johnsville.
Another tavern at East Creek was that of Chauncey Jerome, where you were always sure of venison and trout. A Roof's Hotel was at the four corners in West St. Johnsville.
Watering troughs along the turnpike were a prime necessity for the oxen and horses that furnished the motive power for the carts, wagons and stages, and for the flocks and herds that many New England emigrants drove along the highway to the west. To any property holder who would provide a watering trough with a supply of well water, or better still, spring water deposited by gravity, there was a certain exemption in taxes.
Failing's Tavern at St. Johnsville provided such facilities, as would be expected of a public house soliciting patronage of the traveling public. Speaking of this old hostelry, Mr. Weed continues: "Still further east, we stop at Failing's Tavern to water. Though but an ordinary tavern in summer season, all travelers cherish a pleasant remembrance of its winter fare; for leaving a cold stage with chilled limbs, if not frozen ears, you are sure to find in Failing's bar and dining room 'rousing fires'; and the remembrance of the lively 'hot and hot' buckwheat cakes and the unimpeachable sausages, would renew the appetite even if you had just risen from a hearty meal."
Failing's Tavern was located at what is now the northwest corner of West Main Street and Failing Avenue.
One half mile east of St. Johnsville was Christian Klock's Tavern as well as Nellis Tavern. The next tavern to the east in the township was the Edward's Tavern, at the corner of Fox Road and the turnpike. On an 1853 map, another tavern is shown diagonally across the road. This building today is a pet shop. J. C. Best's Eagle Hotel is also shown on the north side of the road and closer to Mother Creek. The next tavern was out of the township and at Fox's Mills on the Caroga Creek. The building is now the Old Mill Inn.
In 1803 there were 52 taverns or inns in the Town of Palatine. At that time, the present Towns of St. Johnsville, Ephratah, Oppenheim and Stratford were part of the Town of Palatine. While this seems to be a large number of inns, it must be remembered that in 1803 the roads were poor, travel was slow and the roads were full of teams of oxen and horses. Many stopping places were necessary to accommodate the travelers. Also, many people from New England and foreign countries were moving westward with their families, herds of cattle and flocks of geese and chickens and they needed shelter on their long journey. Numerous inns were close together because travel was slow and there were many travelers. Back then it took local farmers a full week to take their grain to Albany and return with their purchases. It often took three hours to go only six miles. A problem was also caused when the winter snows made the roads impassable.
In 1803, $258.50 was the license revenue from the 52 inns. Licenses cost $5.00 or $6.50 each. By 1807, the revenue amounted to $273. In 1808, the Town of Oppenheim, then including the Town of St. Johnsville, was set off from Palatine and the first meeting of the Commissioners of Excise was at the house kept by Jacob H. Failing.
On May 3, 1808, there were 22 licensed inns and the following were the proprietors: John F. Bellinger, James Lee, Jacob H. Failing, Adam Staring, Jacob Timmerman, John B. Klock, Christian Klock, Joseph G. Klock, Clark Bates, Bradock Dickson, Andrew Zabriskie, Thomas T. Ballard, William Aultenburgh, Jacob C. Nellis, Peter W. Nellis, James Johnson, Jacob Best, Nancy Brown, James Billington, Peter Cline, Benjamin Churchill and Ebenezer Ayers.
Andrew Zabriskie opened the first store at Oppenheim Center and was the first Town Supervisor in 1808.
Peter Cline opened the first inn in Oppenheim in 1805. Most of the other inns were probably along the Mohawk Turnpike.
Licenses for Inns
That much thought was given to restrictive measures in granting licenses is shown by the oath taken by the Commissioners of Excise in 1803. The oath was:
"We, the Commissioners of Excise of the Town of Palatine, in the County of Montgomery, do solemnly swear, in the presence of Almighty God, that we will not, on any account or pretense, whatever, grant any license to any person within the said Town of Palatine, for the purpose of keeping an inn or tavern, except when it shall appear to us to be absolutely necessary for the benefit of travelers; and that we will, in all cases, while acting as Commissioners of Excise, do our duty according to the best of our judgment and ability, without fear, favor or partiality, agreeable to law."
The Commissioners of Excise on concluding their labors made the following certificate:
"We, the Commissioners of Excise, have examined and find the hereunder named persons of good moral character, and of sufficient ability to keep inns or taverns, and that inns or taverns are absolutely necessary, at the several places where they now reside, for the accommodation of travelers."
License Bond
In securing a license to operate an inn or tavern, the landlord was required to give a bond, the penalty of which was due to be forfeited for the benefit of the people in case of any violation of its terms. The restrictive provisions of the bond are interesting as reflecting the attitude of that early day. The bond was 3 by 7-, inches in size, indicating economy in the use of paper for public business.
The following is a copy of the bond license granted to Christian Klock in 1818:
COUNTY 0F MONTGOMERY, ss:
Be it remembered, That on the fifth day of May, 1818, came before me, Ezekiel Belding, Esquire, one of the Justices of the Peace for said county, Christian Klock, who acknowledges himself indebted to the People of the state of New York, the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars lawful money of the state aforesaid to be levied on his goods and chattles, lands and tenements, to the use of the said People, if default shall be made in the condition following.
WHEREAS, the above bounden Christian Klock is licensed to keep an Inn or Tavern from the present fifth day of May, until the first Tuesday of May next, in the house where he now dwells, at Oppenheim, aforesaid: NOW the condition of this recognizance is such, that if said Christian Klock shall not, during the time he shall keep an Inn or Tavern, keep a disorderly Inn or Tavern, or suffer or permit any cock fighting, gaming or playing with cards or dice, or keep any billiard table, or other gaming table or shuffle board, within the Inn or Tavern, by him to be kept, or within any outhouse, yard or garden belonging thereto-then this recognizance shall be void, otherwise to remain in full force and effect.
Taken and acknowledged
the day and year above written, before me.
Ezekiel Belding, Justice of the Peace.
W. Klock also had been granted a license under the Town of Palatine in 1807 the Town of Oppenheim in 1808. This was the same inn licensed by his son, Christopher Klock, in the Town of St. Johnsville where the first town meeting was held in 1838. Other town meetings were also held here up until 1843.
It is believed that the Christian Klock Tavern was northeast of the present town barn and along the base of the Klock's Churchyard Cemetery about midway along the Route 5 turnoff.
From the date of the first settlement at Zimmerman's Mill to March 7, 1788, what is now St. Johnsville was a part of the Palatine District. On that date, the Town of Palatine was created out of the Palatine District. It covered all the land from the "Noses" on the east to Little Falls on the west and northward from the Mohawk River to Canada. This area was settled by people from the German Palatinate. They were known as the Mohawk Dutch (Deutch)
The Town of Oppenheim was set off from the Town of Palatine on March 8, 1808. The German settlers of the area naturally gave the new township a name from their ancestral Rhine valley.
From the establishment of the Town of Oppenheim in 1808 until April 18 of 1838, St. Johnsville was a part of that township and the local history of that time will be found in the records of the Town of Oppenheim.
The northern Town of Oppenheim was practically a virgin wilderness. With the exception of the communities of Crum Creek, Oppenheim Center and Youker's Bush, most of the inhabitants lived in the southern part of the town along the river in the area that is now St. Johnsville.
On April 8, 1808, the first Oppenheim, town meeting was held at the house of Jacob Zimmerman in this village, then known as Zimmerman's Mill. Jacob Zimmerman was the proprietor of a local tavern or inn. Years ago, town meetings were held in a "public house" or tavern. Tradition is that this tavern was on the site of the present Methodist Church parsonage.
Most of the elected town officers were from the most populous area of the town. The list of officers were:
The result of this first town meeting was certified by Henry Beekman and Jacob G. Klock, Justices of the Peace. As no justices appear to have been elected at the first town meeting, it is assumed that the certifying justices had been elected under the Town of Palatine (from which the new town was separated), and became justices of Oppenheim. By virtue of residence and incumbency when the new town was created.
A Pound Master was in charge of stray farm animals. He held them for the owners to prove their missing property and then retrieve their missing stock.
Fence Viewers decided disputes over fences between contending landowners. The duties of Pound Masters were later given to Road Overseers (or Pathmasters) who were appointed by the Commissioners of Highways.. The Justices of the Peace took over the duties of the Fence Viewers.
Andrew Zabriskie, the first Supervisor, built the first store at Oppenheim Center and lived there when elected. Richard Hewitt, Assessor, and Daniel Guile, Highway Commissioner, also came from the Oppenheim area. The other officials came from the St. Johnsville area.
A number of the family names of the officials are not German or Dutch but are English, Scotch and Irish in origin. About 1800, the number of English speaking people in the area had increased. For many years, only German had been spoken in the schools and churches. After this influx of people, both German and English were used in the pulpits on alternate Sundays.
There was still a need for better travel. Something more comfortable and faster than the stage coach was needed. The progressive spirit of the times demanded that some method of transportation be provided that would insure cheapness and speed in the handling of freight. The possibility of a canal from tidewater at Albany to tap the Great Lakes at Buffalo was uppermost in the minds of far-sighted public men and legislators. After much debate extending over a period of years, the State Legislature, on April 15, 1817, authorized the building of the Erie Canal. Excavation was started at Rome on the 4th day of July, that year. In the spring of 1823, the canal was in operation between Sprakers on the east and the western part of the state, and in 1825, it was completed and in successful operation. The canal improved travel and the transportation of freight. This, in turn, gave a great boost to the economy of New York State.
Nathan Brown, an ancestor of Mildred Walrath, owned the Pilot Line Company. It was in his boat, under his direction, that Governor DeWitt Clinton was conveyed from Buffalo to Albany, celebrating the opening of the Erie Canal. By 1830, Brown retired to his farm in the Town of Oppenheim.
The canal was to mean much to St. Johnsville in an industrial way for in 1825 James Averell & Sons located here. They built a distillery and tannery on Zimmerman Creek and took advantage of the Erie Canal's shipping facilities.
This firm, later operated by the sons, Horatio and Lewis, continued in business until the death of the brothers in 1854. After the death of the last Averell, the business was continued by others and as late as 1869, DeWitt C. Cox operated the distillery which had a capacity of 225 bushels of grain per day and a daily output of distilled spirits approximating 900 gallons. In addition, the proprietors of the distillery fattened cattle for market and had accommodations for 280 head.
Railroads
In 1826, the Legislature granted a charter to the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad to build a 17 mile line between Albany and Schenectady. The work was completed in 1830 and on August 9 of that year the famous locomotive the "DeWitt Clinton" drew the first train over the new railroad.
The prospect of this revolutionary method of transportation fired the nation of other adventurous spirits. In 1831, the Legislature was petitioned for a charter by the Utica and Schenectady Railroad to build 77 miles of track. This line passing through St. Johnsville was opened on August 1, 1836. Because the State had spent so much on building the Erie Canal and they wanted to protect their investment, the new railroad charter limited the company to carry only passengers and their baggage.
The Legislature knew that the Canal wouldn't be used in winter, so in 1844 they granted the railroad permission to also carry freight, but only in the winter. After three more years, they were able to carry freight year-round but the railroad had to pay the State the same rate of toll per ton, per mile for the freight carried.
In 1853, ten railroad companies merged into the New York Central Railroad, business increased and another line of track was laid.
When the Mohawk Valley Turnpike was chartered in 1800, its owners were required to widen the existing read to a width of 60 feet and to raise the center 18 inches above the sides to provide drainage. The center was raised with broken stone and capped with gravel. Four stages operated an schedule, daily, in either direction, and there were also private conveyances to swell the revenues of the company.
The building of the railroads cut into the traffic on the Canal and into the Mohawk Turnpike Company's revenues. The Legislature, with a fine regard for the interests of the turnpike company, decreed that the Utica and Schenectady Railroad, before it could begin operations, must buy all of the stock of the turnpike corporation at $22.50 per share. This was to save the stockholders from loss. On taking over the rights of the road corporation, the railroad assumed the responsibility of keeping the turnpike in repair, as had been required of the original owners, and was permitted to collect tolls. This was done for many years but became unprofitable and the turnpike was finally abandoned by the New York Central Company in 1890. The upkeep of the roads then went to the towns through which they passed.
Moving of the County Seat
In 1835, when the speculative fever was at its height, the Fonda Land Association was formed to build a village, fondly dreamed of as a future city, on the site of old Cauqhhawaga. It was to be called Fonda. Business was flourishing. The Utica and Schenectady Railroad was due to be completed the following year and it appeared that the Legislature could be induced to move the county seat from Johnstown to the embryo city. There was plenty of money to be had and a loan of $25,000 was secured from the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company of New York to aid in financing. The county seat was ordered removed from Johnstown to Fonda. Of course there were persuasive "arguments" advanced by the promoters and their political friends, but the fact remains that the move was a matter of "politics." In 1836 a courthouse was built and the real estate company constructed the Fonda Hotel that for many years was to be a conspicuous landmark of the county capital. This courthouse is now called the old courthouse at Fonda.
The removal of the county seat caused a storm of protest by the residents in and about Johnstown . To repair the damage that had been done, what was simpler than to create another county and restore the heritage that rightfully belonged to the home town of Sir William Johnson.
The Legislature created the County of Fulton with a capital at Johnstown with a full complement of county officials.
Real Estate Boom in St. Johnsville
The real estate fever was not confined to Fonda. A well defined case also developed in St . Johnsville. On December 10, 1835, Plate Potter and Isaac Yates filed a map with the County Clerk (yet at Johnstown) showing the possibilities of city building at St. Johnsville. They had projected a suburban addition to St. Johnsville and proceeded to "put it on the map." The title of the map is "Map of the Village of St. Johnsville in the County of Montgomery and Town of Oppenheim."
The title discloses the fact that the survey for the map was made by R. Higham, in October, 1835 and that the map was printed by Miller & Co., Lithographers, 46 Exchange , New York, New York.
Particulars of the Map
Practically the entire area of the map, showing size and location of the lots, represents territory east of Kingsbury Avenue which was then known as Ferry Street, and shown on the map as crossing the Utica and Schenectady Railroad, and terminating on the north bank of the river.
What is now East Main Street is shown on the map as the Mohawk Turnpike. Facing the turnpike, and on the west side of Ferry Street, the "Old Stone Store," built by the Averells in 1831, is shown . Just south of the store, on Ferry Street, the Averell residence appears. Across the street, three buildings are shown on the east side of Ferry Street. One of them was the old Schram residence still in use as a dwelling.
It is an early saltbox style of architecture and is now #9 Kingsbury Avenue East of Ferry Street, on the south side of the turnpike, before reaching Ann Street, there were two buildings. One of these is now #52 East Main and the other is #56 East Main Street. As disclosed by the map, there were no other buildings on the site of the building project.
Our present Ann Street is shown as Anne Street and Lion Avenue as John Street. Ninety three building lots out of a total of me hundred and forty appearing on the map, fronted on the Mohawk Turnpike and the two streets named. At the point where our present Ann Street swings to the west and joins Kingsbury Avenue, Manheim Street, with eight lots , is shown running due east across the foot of Anne Street and terminating at the foot of John Street. Manheim Street has never been known to any of us. East of John Street was the farm land of James Averell & Sons.
Beginning at a point about opposite the Margaret Reaney Library, and running from Ferry street, to the river bank, was a narrow street called Averell's Road, leading to the "Rope Ferry" which furnished transit across the Mohawk River.
The Eating House
A little farther south on the east side of Ferry Street, just north of the Utica and Schenectady Railroad tracks and covering a greater part of three of the mapped lots, is a diagram of a "Public House." Just across the tracks is the space reserved for the "Utica and Schenectady Railroad Depot," the railroad being due to be completed the following year. From this it will be noted that the first railroad station or depot was just east of what is now Kingsbury Avenue, on the south side of the tracks.
A local historian, Robert Rowland, remarked that the bay window on the house behind 41 Monroe Street was once part of the original depot. It was the extended part of the depot where the station master could view the tracks in both directions.
On a map made in 1837, the space that was being reserved for the "Public House" is shown as "Station House of Messrs. Kingsbury," and indicates that this old time influential family furnished the first proprietors of the station restaurant which was locally called the "Eating House." It was owned by William and Charles Kinsgbury and was the largest and best in the State.
All trains of all classes stopped at St. Johnsville for fuel and water and to give the passengers an opportunity to secure meals at the restaurant. Trains stopped every 20 minutes. This was the practice for many years and the "Eating House," furnished an outlet for the produce of the local farmers which was a considerable asset to the town. Charles Sutherland said that the Lincoln funeral train stopped at the station and that all of the employees of the restaurant, each wearing a mourning badge, were permitted to enter the train and look at the dead President.
Upon the establishment of a station restaurant at Utica, not so many trains stopped here, and the business fell off, and when the building burned in the late sixties, it was not rebuilt. The story is that a spark from the 4 p.m. train set the roof on fire.
The Kingsburys
Charles Kingsbury was of the firm of the Kingsbury Brothers, who conducted the "Eating House" or restaurant at the New York Central Railroad Station Charles Kingsbury resided in the old Kingsbury home on Railroad Street, now Kingsbury Avenue, the fine old home later being the residence of the late Isaac E. Smith, and later razed for the library park. William Kingsbury built the home that was occupied by Misses Kate and Lena Nellis and is now the Dr. Keba home.
Saw Mill Project
At the foot of John Street (Lion Avenue) and just north of the Utica and Schenectady Railroad a "Basin" is shown, about 150 feet square, to be filled with water.
It was the intention to use this basin for the reception of logs drawn from the north country. They were to be floated through a narrow canal, shown on the map, to the river, and then across the river to a saw mill, the lumber to be transported to market by boats on the Erie Canal.
To safeguard the logs and prevent them from being carried away by the river current, and to facilitate handling in the sawing process, a dam across the river was necessary. The map shows such a dam running diagonally southeast, from the north bank of the river, to a point of land on the south bank where a dock and saw null had been built, or were due to be erected.
Extending from the south side of the right of way of the Utica and Schenectady Railroad, in direct line with the diagonal spillway of the dam, and joining it on the north bank of the river, was a "State Dyke." Just who built this dyke, and for what intended purpose it was erected, is a mystery. However, as early as 1792, there was considerable agitation about improving the river for the use of batteaux-flat bottom boats, propelled by man with spiked poles against the river bottom. They had been used in transportation up and down the river from the early 1700s, and dykes and dams had been suggested as possible aids to navigation in surmounting the difficulties in making headway upstream where rifts or rapids were encountered. At this point there was a rift with a strong current. The "State Dyke" may have been constructed by the State of New York as one of such proposed aids.
The remains of the old dam were in evident until the building of the Barge Canal. The dam site was a famous old swimming place known as "The Rift." Just below, where the turbulent waters of the rift quieted down and the surface of the Mohawk became placid again, was the "Lower Sand Bar," and both were favorite spots with the boys more than eighty years ago. Harry Carter, now over 90, lived on Ann Street when he was young. He said that he and his friends often swam at the rift.
After the lapse of 153 years, we wonder why the building plan of St. Johnsville failed.
It is natural to wonder whether the dam was constructed by the promoters of the real estate venture, and whether they were financially interested in the saw Mill project, or whether a separate company of early industrial planners were the sponsors. One also wonders about what disaster overtook the dam and what was the ultimate fate of the sawmill and lumber enterprise. As to the dam, one who has witnessed the power of the river filled with floating ice can venture a good guess. As to the lumber manufacturing end of the project, there is no historical account, not even tradition, to tell us. Maybe, the devastating "Panic of 1837" swept away the investment of these pioneer business adventurers.
Whatever may have been the fate of these enterprises, the basic idea of a Lumber Mill at St. Johnsville to utilize the timber then abounding was sound and the plan, years later, appealed to another planner, Absalom Thumb. Mr. Thumb and his associates, among whom was a former governor of Massachusetts, formed the St. Johnsville and East Canada Creek Lumber Company with a capital of $100,000 and embarked upon a similar undertaking.
As a source of supply for raw material, the company bought several thousand acres of virgin forest lands on Canada Lake. The plan was to float the logs down the East Canada Creek and stop them by a boom stretched across the river, just below the outlet of Zimmerman Creek. The boom was a series of logs fastened end to end with chains, and anchored to the opposite banks of the river, with support in midstream by artificial islands or piers. The piers were made of heavy framed timbers filled with stone. Just east of the creek was a "basin," the excavation being quite close to the river. The logs were to be floated into this basin from the river and then transported to the saw mill that was to be built a little farther to the north. Unfortunately the current of the river was so Strong when the logs were floated. The boom broke and practically all of the logs were lost, and the company was ruined financially.
The piers and the basin were a favorite swimming place for many years, however they were filled in when the Barge Canal was built in 1912.
Although the personal fortune of Mr. Thumb was lost, he was still instrumental in making improvement in the village of St. Johnsville.
The First Town Meeting
The organization of the Town of St. Johnsville was completed at a special town meeting held at the house of Christopher Klock, the son of the pioneer Christian Klock, on May 1, 1838. The Klock house was a mile below the village and was in the center of the old Route 5 turnoff to the northeast of the present town barn.
At this meeting, the town 's first officers were elected. They were Town Clerk, Barney Becker; Justices of the Peace, Peter Klock, Daniel Ayers and Josiah Loomis; Collector, Daniel C. Fox; Assessors, Peter Radley and Simeon Klock; Commissioners of Highways, Joseph W. Nellis and John F. Bellinger.
The following is taken from the official record of "Election Returns":
May 1, 1838
"At a Special Town Meeting held pursuant to an act of the Legislature, occasioned by the division of the County of Montgomery, in and for the Town of St. Johnsville, said county, on the first day of May, 1838, at the house of Christopher Klock, in said town , Bartholomew Schram, a Justice of the Peace of said town, attended and them being no Town Clerk, John Nellis was chosen by the electors of said town, on the Town Meeting being opened according to Law, voted for the following persons, inhabitants of said Town , for Town offices to supply vacancies, occasioned by the division of said County and which vote is as follows, viz:
Town Clerk- Barney Becker . . 158
Jacob H. Failing . . . . . .113
Justice of the Peace, 3 Year Term
Daniel Ayers . . . . . . . . 145
Peter Klock . . . . . . . . .147
Justice of the Peace, 1 year Term -
Josiah Loomis . . . . . . . 140
Stephen W. Champlin. . 121
Joseph Bauder. . . . . . . . 15
Henry Failing, . . . . . . . .115
Collector Daniel C. Fox. . . . . . .140
Peter Lampman . . . . . . 128
Assessors - Peter Radley . . . . . 147
Simon Klock . . . . . . . . 144
John Klock . . . . . . . . . .127
Moses Davi . . . . . . . . . 126
Commissioners of Highways-
Joseph W. Nellis . . . . . .149
John F. Bellinger. . . . . . .146
David Fox . . . . . . . . . . .126
Jams Billington . . . . . . . .119
The record does not show any vote for the office of Supervisor, but later entries in town records show that John W. Riggs was Supervisor for that year. He was probably elected at the preceding March town meting of the Town of Oppenheim and thus became, our first Supervisor without candidacy at the special town meeting, by virtue of residence and incumbency. Supervisor Riggs was one of our early physicians and built and occupied the building that was operated as a store by Roy W. Sutherland and later was part of Smith's Market. It is #11 West Main Street.
For years, it has been stated that the number of votes polled was 271. However if one reviews the votes for Justices of the Peace, 3 year term, you will find the count was actually 292.
At that time, the two political parties were the Democrats and the Whigs. The Parties were evenly divided in voting strength in the Town of St. Johnsville.
From 1838 to 1905, town meetings were held each year in early February to conduct the town business and elections. The meetings were held for many years at a local "house" (a hotel or tavern) . By 1896, the election records show that the meting was held on February 11, 1896 in the engine house on Center street. At each election, the people voted where they wanted the next town meeting held.
In 1896, 2,146 votes were polled from all of the districts. As the place of the next town meeting, the engine house received 489 votes and 340 people voted for the appropriation of $75 to defray the expenses of a proper observation of the Memorial Day celebration on May 30, 1896.
In 1905, the general election and town meting were combined and held on November 7.
Work on the Highways
One hundred fifty years ago, and for many years thereafter, very little money was raised by taxation for maintaining and improving the highways. The money that was available for roads was mostly used for the purchase of quarry stone, lumber for bridges - culverts, and scrapers. Scrapers were used with horses or oxen to drag dirt from the sides of the roadway to fill depressions and to elevate the center of the mad or "crown" it, to provide drainage. It sometimes happened that the supervisory officers - the commissioners and the road district overseers - had "worked out" the quota of days" labor assessed against them before the season's work was completed. When this happened, they and the other workmen were paid in cash for the extra labor.
Each year, the Commissioners of Highways made out a list of taxpayers assigned to a particular "road district," and after each name was shown the number of days- labor that was required of the individual for that fiscal year The taxpayer named first on the list for the particular mad district was designated "overseer" or "pathmaster." This official had charge of a particular section of the town's roads and at an opportune time in the year "summoned" or "warned" all of the taxpayers in his district to report for work on a given day. Work was done on the roads between the planting and harvesting season and the people were also given time off for haying. If any taxpayer assessed for road duty did not elect to "work out" his assessment, or employ a workman in his stead, he was permitted to pay the cash equivalent to the commissioners. This fund was known as "commutation money," and used for general road purposes. A day's work the roads in 1838 was valued at 50 cents.
Each overseer kept an account to show the number of days' work performed by each taxpayer in his district, in "working out" his assessment, and later submitted this to the Commissioners of Highways. If any delinquency was noted in performance on the part of any taxpayer in working out his quota of days, the Commissioners reassessed the failure against the taxpayer under the head of "arrearage," to be liquidated the following year.
In electing the Commissioners of Highways, three in number, it was the practice to choose one from the western part of the town , one from the eastern part and one from the northern part. Each commissioner had supervision over the overseers and road work in a particular geographical sector. At the beginning of each fiscal year, each commissioner took approximately one third of the cash available for road purposes, and disbursed it. At the end of the fiscal year (end of February) each commissioner gave an accounting, to be verified by the supervisor and justices who were the Board of Town Auditors.
While a single Superintendent of Highways can handle the supervisor of all road maintenance and repairs today, in the earlier day of mud roads and slow transportation, the three commissioners seem to have been justified from an administrative viewpoint.
The First Commissioners of Highways
The first commissioners were George Chawgo, who had been elected the previous March under the setup of the Town of Oppenheim, and Joseph W. Nellis and John F. Bellinger who had been elected at the special town meeting on May 1, 1838 : When the special town meeting was held on May 1, the plowing, planting and sowing season was just opening and there was no time to spend on public business for some weeks to come . The first formal meeting was delayed until the 25th of June, just before the haying season. The record reads:
"The undersigned Commissioners of Highways of the Town of St. Johnsville having met at the house of Christopher Klock, in said town, on the 25th day of June, A.D. 1838, do hereby order that said town be and hereby is, divided into mad districts as follows, to wit:
District No. 1
Commencing at the Mohawk Turnpike on the line between the Town of St. Johnsville and Palatine, running north to Eygabroat's orchard. Then Palatine takes the same to a jog in the same. Then No. I takes the same and goes halfway down the hill north of John I. Nellis's.
District No. 2
Commencing on the Mohawk Turnpike near Nancy Markle's running thence northerly to the New Turnpike near Christopher Fox's. Then commences again on the road near Joseph W. Nellis's, thence northerly to the road leading to Peter Radley's.
District No. 3
Commencing at John C. Nellis's, thence easterly to the town line comprising .It is commonly called the New Turnpike, also to include the private road of Jacob J. Klock, running from said New Turnpike to Jonas Klock's.
Commencing near Jacob C. Nellis's on the Mohawk Turnpike, thence northerly to the Potash Road, thence easterly to Abram Powell's.
District No. 5
Commencing on the Mohawk Turnpike near Barry Caldwell's, running thence northerly to the Town and County line. Also the Potash Road commencing on the line between John A. Vedder and Joseph G. Klock, running thence northwesterly to Harmanus Vedder's.
District No. 6
Commencing at Henry Failing's store on the Mohawk Turnpike, running northerly to the Town and County line.
District No. 7
Commencing on the Mohawk River at Sanders' Ferry, running thence northerly across the Mohawk between Daniel Leonard's and George Lake's thence northerly to the Head Line road near James Wilson's.
District No. 8
Commencing at the Mohawk Turnpike and running northwest to the Town and County line
District No. 9
Commencing at the Mohawk Turnpike and running north across Zimmerman's lands, intersecting District No. 8.
District No. 10
Commencing at the Mohawk Turnpike near John Staring's and running north till it intersects the Billings and Borst roads.
District No. 11
Commencing at the north end of No. 10 and running northwest to the head line of Henry I. Klock, Jr.
District No. 12
Commencing on the head line of Henry I. Klock, Jr. and running thence north to the town and county line.
District No. 13
Commencing at the southeast corner of Tefft's farm and running to the East Creek and running from thence north to a brook.
District No. 14
Commencing at the highway near Elijah (Elisha) Easterbrooks and running thence east across the bridge at James Wilson's.
District No. 15
Commencing at the east side of the bridge at James Wilson's and running east to the Town and County line.
District No. 16
Commencing at the Town and County line and running thence south until it intersects the highway commonly called the Klock Road.
District No. 17
Commencing on the north at the Town and County line on the west and running east to the highway running past Joseph I. Nellis's.
District No. 18
Commencing on the north at the Town and County line and thence running south to Sharp's Corners and east to Peter Radley's and thence south to the school house on the New Turnpike, including the Edwards Road.
Residents in 1838
In the absence of a census of a hundred years ago, the foregoing lists of taxpayers assigned to particular districts, give the names, and, excepting those who resided in the village or lived along the turnpike approximate locations of the property owners and those paying poll tax. This will be of value to those interested in genealogy and local family history. In the interim of one hundred fifty years, there have been many changes in ownership and many families have disappeared from our midst. The opening of new roads; and the discontinuance of others adds to the confusion. It is difficult to get a correct picture of the road map of our township as it was in 1838, but some of our older residents who are acquainted with the country roads and the and the old family homesteads may find some satisfaction in the lists.
The Road Districts
It will be noted that in numbering the road districts, the commissioners started the line between St. Johnsville and Palatine and followed the Mohawk Turnpike westward until the first ten districts had been laid out, the residents of East Creek and vicinity being included in District No. 10. In view of the fact that the Mohawk Valley Turnpike Company was obligated by the terms of its charter to maintain the turnpike for its entire length through the township, no inhabitant of the town was assigned to work on that road. All of the districts were entirely north of the turnpike, with the exception of No. 7 which began at Sanders' Ferry on the Mohawk River. All of the residents of the then hamlet of St. Johnsville were assigned to Districts 5, 6, and 7. The first district that included any taxpayers who resided in what is now our village was District No. 5, which began "on the Mohawk Turnpike, near Barry Caldwell's." Caldwell Creek runs through the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park and forms the eastern boundary of the village.
The Caldwell house is the present John Rockefeller home. The outline of old Kringsbush Road dugway ran up along the eastern side of Caldwell Creek. Traces of this road can still be seen in some places. The Potash Road is now called Vedder Road. The Widow Lasher's barn was at the present comer of East Main and Averell Streets.
District No. 6
The Henry Failing's store was at the corner of Church and West Main Streets and was later the residence of the Allter family. The road to the north is now Church Street.
The Sanders' Ferry starting point was on the Mohawk River. It was located at the foot of Mill Street, now west St. Johnsville. Mill Street is now called Mill Road. At one time it crossed the Mohawk Turnpike and ran to the river.
The ferry was probably serviced by someone named Sanders who may have kept a canal grocery on the opposite bank of the river, and fronting the canal. Canal groceries were numerous before the building of the Barge Canal and their owners did a thriving business with the boatmen. They furnished hay, wood and groceries as well as whiffle trees and repair parts for harnesses, because horses and mules provided the power for the canal boats.
District No 7
For years, there was also a canal grocery at Countryman's Lock, one mile east of the village, kept by Joseph Kyser (not the Kyser House proprietor). There was another at Mindenville Lock, kept by Henry (Buckeye) Winnie. There were several others between here and Little Falls and all along the canal.
Under date of March 28, 1839, James Klock, Jacob H. Flander and Benjamin Groff being commissioners, an entry reads: "Application by persons residing in said Town of St . Johnsville, and liable to be assessed for highway labor therein, having been made to the Commissioners of Highways of said town, for the laying out of the alteration of the highway leading from Messrs. Leonard & Curran's grist mill to the Mohawk Turnpike, and thence to Sanders' Ferry, across the Mohawk River. " Then follows the surveyor's technical description of the road in which he mentions "a stake and a stone in the ground in the Mohawk Turnpike in front of Daniel Leonard's dwelling house." From this it is clear that Daniel Leonard lived at the four corners and that the grist mill of Messrs. Leonard and Curran was what was later known as Beekman's Mill and then McCrones Mill. Mr. Curran lived on the farm which now belongs to Stanley Shuster.
The highway records for 1839 definitely establish the partnership of Leonard and Curran in the operation of the old grist mill, but from 1838 to 1841, inclusive, the assessment of highway labor on account of the joint ownership appears to have been against the partners as individuals. In other words, the assessment against each represented the assessment on his home property, plus his tax liability on the mill property. In 1838 Daniel Leonard was assessed 40 days, and James Curran, 26 days. In 1842 and 1843, the partnership is recognized by the commissioners and the property assessed accordingly. In 1844, there is no partnership assessment, and the name of Daniel Leonard disappears from the list, and an assessment against James Curran and Samuel Sadler indicates joint ownership of the mill. That same year, the name of Anthony Beekman (1798-1864) is listed and in 1845 the firm of Anthony Beekman & Co. appears to be in possession of the property. Anthony Beekman was succeeded by his sons, Noah W., Benjamin and John Groff, under the firm name of Beekman Brothers, who also conducted a grocery and feed store in St. Johnsville for many years.
In June, 1884, A. E. Seaman took possession of the old mill and operated it until October 1, 1921 when it passed into the ownership of McCrone Brothers. Mr. Seaman operated the mill for 37 years, the longest period under one management.
On acquiring the property, Mr. Seaman learned the history of the ancient structure, and recalls that it was built by Leonard and Curran, and that a memorandum made by the original owners, or by some workmen, showed that the mill was completed in February, 1835. Mr. Seaman also recalls that Samuel Sadler was the first miller employed and that his home was at Ingham's Mills, to which place he returned when Beekman Brothers entered into possession of the mill after the death of their father. Loami Beekman, another son of Anthony but not a member of the firm of Beekman Brothers, was employed as the miller by his brothers, until the property passed into the hands of Mr. Seaman.
The mill, at the time it was built, was regarded as me of the finest and best equipped flouring mills in the State. In the early part of the last century, wheat growing was one of the most important products of agriculture in the Mohawk Valley. Local flour had a fine reputation for its quality and was in great demand.
The milling of wheat was a profitable business. In the early days, when money was scarce, the farmers paid for the grinding of their grain by giving the miller one-tenth part of the grain offered for processing. Each mill had a measure holding exactly one-tenth of a bushel which was used in the tithing process and the portion deducted by the miller Was known as "toll."
In Mr. Seaman's day as miller, most of the farmers paid cash for the grinding. During this same period the local farmers stopped growing wheat and became dairy farmers. The shortage of local wheat forced Mr. Seaman to install roller machinery for the grinding of buckwheat flour . Farmers had begun to raise this grain and it was milled in large quantities at the old mill. The shift to dairying also made it necessary to grind other grains for cattle.
The Old Water Wheel
One of the outstanding mechanical features of the old mill was the large overshot water wheel that furnished the power for grinding. It was 30 feet in diameter and 8 feet broad, built around a shaft or axis that was a foot and a half thru, all poised on metal bearings. Along the face of the wheel were wooden pockets that filled as water was admitted from the raceway. When the weight of the water was sufficient, the wheel began to revolve and transmit power to turn the heavy "upper and nether millstones" to produce the flour.
Because of the severe winter weather in this section, the wheel was enclosed in a wheel house. Even with this precaution, ice did form on the wheel in very cold weather.
When Mr. Seaman displaced the old mill stones with the roller machinery, he also removed the old mill wheel and installed a modern turbine. This furnished greater and more dependable power.
Tax Assessments
Opposite the name of each listed taxpayer was entered the number of days of labor required of the particular person. For the year 1838, 261 names of taxpayers were listed with a total of 1966 days of work to be performed. Out of the 261 names appearing, 126 taxpayers were assessed one day only, the latter representing small property owners and those subject to the poll tax only. Of the one day assessments, there were 72 days assessed on Districts 5, 6 and 7 which were in the village and represented local employees who didn't own property. In 1839, only 253 names appear on the lists with 2146 days of assessed labor.
Just what formula was used in arriving at the number of days of labor to assess is unknown. Later boards of commissioners stated that the assessments were according to "the last assessment roll of said town" and that the number of days labor assessed were "at least three times the number of taxable inhabitants in said town."
As the road lists were based upon "the last assessment roll of said town the days labor assessed would represent the relative values of the taxable properties. A few of the largest assessments listed show the holdings of the more opulent landed class, and there is also a list showing the comparative holdings of several of the public officials, in 1838:
District .......Days assessed
Commissioners of Highways -
Supervisor-
John W. Riggs. . . .5 ..............4
John C. Nellis seems to have been rated the wealthiest man in the town, even overshadowing the Averells, who had a farm of 250 acres besides a distillery and tannery. Christopher Klock, the keeper of the tavern or inn where the first town meeting was held, was attached to Road District No. 5, and assessed 6 days of labor in 1838.
A clue to values may be found in the assessment of a parcel in District No. 14, owned by Jacob Bates, valued at $360 and assessed at one day of labor. On the basis of this assessment, the value of John C. Nellis's holdings were $15,120. On January 21, 1854,an entry in the Horatio Averell day book journal shows the taxes for assessment on $13,000 for 1853 in the amount of $65.65 had been paid.
Although the Utica and Schenectady Railroad was completed and in operation on August 1, 1836, the town records do not show any assessment of highway labor until 1839. By the terms of its charter, the railroad company was obligated to buy all of the Mohawk Valley Turnpike Company stock and was compelled to keep the turnpike in repair, but the company was permitted to collect tolls, which it did until 1890. In view of the fact that the railroad company maintained the turnpike, any assessment against it was for the benefit of mad maintenance on other roads in the township.
In 1839, Jonas Klock, Benjamin Groff and Jacob H. Flander, Commissioners of Highways, added two road districts to the eighteen original district. That had been created by the first Board of Highway Commissioners. A total of 861 days of highway labor had been assessed against the Utica and Schenectady Railroad and the total days assessed were parceled out to the twenty road districts, except Districts No. 6 and No. 20.
The basis of assessment and the use of the days assessed is set out in the record by Christian, Vedder, Melchoir L. Bauder and Henry Kennedy, the commissioners for 1844, by the following entry:
"We, the undersigned Commissioners of Highways of the Town of St. Johnsville, on the 5th of March, 1844, in our assessment of the highway labor for the said town have assessed the U. & S. Railroad Company 1388 days according to the last assessment roll of said town. Of which we have distributed among the several road districts in said town, 960 days. The rest of the days we intend to apply to the improvement of the reads generally in building and repairing bridges."
In submitting their account to the Board of Auditors on February 4, 1845, the three commissioners named state that the total of highway labor assessed in the township mounted to 3,116 days, which included the 1,388 days assessed against the railroad company.
A day's labor on the highway was valued at 50 cents in 1844. The railroad company was required to furnish laborers to the several road districts as required by the overseer of the particular district, or was permitted to pay cash in lieu of the number of days assessed. Furnishing laborers was an inconvenience to the company, and later the company paid to the commissioners the total mount of cash involved, the commissioners, in turn, disbursing it.
The final accounting of these commissioners shows that a small sum was raised by general tax for highway purposes. This money was spent for materials, for the payment of any mount due laborers ever and above the highway assessment charged against such individual, for the amount due surveyors, and sums paid for damage on acquirement of land for highway purposes. Their final accounting reads:
Received of Daniel Hyde (District No. 19). $193.75
Received of Benjamin Lampman, collector... 242.50
Received for plank belonging to the town......... 3.00
..................................................................$439.25
We have paid out and expended for said town and road purposes $409.12
$ 30.13 Remaining on our hands
The Town of St. Johnsville was formed at the division of Montgomery and Fulton Counties on April 18, 1838. At the division of Montgomery and Fulton Counties, the Town of St. Johnsville was eliminated from the Town of Oppenheim.
Colonel Jeremiah Nellis, a member of the New York State Assembly from 1837 to 1839, was from this area and it is said that he introduced the bill into the New York State Assembly.
Jeremiah was the great-grandson of Christian Nellis, who was born in 1697 and was one of the Palatine German early pioneers of the Mohawk Valley. Jeremiah born in 1809 to Jacob and Lany Keller Nellis in the Neillis farm house east of the village. He was prominent in the New York State Militia, held the rank of Colonel, was in charge of militia training in this area and was well liked by all. Colonel Jerry (as he was called) held many political offices at the State, County and Town levels.
Jeremiah married Margaret Fox, and their children and grandchildren lived on the Nellis farm+ for many years, This farmhouse is called Nellis Tavern and is now owned by the Palatine Settlement Society. The Society plans to restore this historical building and site and to preserve the history of the early Palatines.
A copy of the act to erect a new county from a part of the county of Montgomery, by the name of Fulton appears next in the book. It is not included in this copy.
Early Schools
The Town of St. Johnsville Commissioners of Common Schools ledger dates from August 1, 1838 to November 1918.
It is a record of setting up the original school districts in the new Town of St. Johnsville, and establishing each district's boundaries. The first entry records the transfer of funds from the Town of Oppenheim.
In the ledger, each district is listed along with teachers wages and teachers names, as well as the amount for the library (school books) . Teachers wages and the amount for the library were computed by the number of children m each district and the number of days they attended school .
In the early years of the town, citizens petitioned the commissioners to join or leave certain districts. I surmise that this was done in order to have their children attend the school which was closest to their farm or home.
There were also combined school districts such as the Manheim and East Creek district, Oppenheim and Ephratah district, and an Oppenheim and St. Johnsville district. The names of residents in the school districts are familiar to me for they are the names of those I have just studied on the 1838 town road district lists. It would be interesting to compare the two lists and thus locate each school and district.
The following information is from the first page of the ledger. Because it is interesting to compare the wages and costs of books with today's school expenses, I have also included the statistics of one hundred years ago. Before free schools were established in 1867, each parent or guardian had to pay a "rate bill , at the end of the school year for the pro rata cost of the instruction given to the children of the particular family.
1838 - Copied from the Superintendent of Common School's first ledger
To the Superintendent of Common Schools of the State of New York
We the Commissioners of Common Schools of the Town of St. Johnsville in the County of Montgomery in conformity to the statute in relation to common schools and report that the number of school districts in our town is three and number of parts of school districts