History of Montgomery & Fulton Counties by F. W. Beers & Co. Montgomery County, Ch22

THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

CHAPTER XXII.

THE REMOVAL OF THE COURT HOUSE-MONTGOMERY'S REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS AND LEGISLATURE-COUNTY INSTITUTIONS.

The projectors of the village of Fonda conceived that the prospects of their enterprise would be brightened by making the embryo city the capital of Montgomery county. A petition for the removal of the county buildings from Johnstown was acccordingly presented to the Legislature in 1836. The immediate vicinity of the Mohawk was by this time so thickly inhabited that the old county seat was not central to the population of the county, and it was left comparatively out of the world by the construction of the Utica and Schenectady Railroad. The petition made a persuasive showing, on a statistical basis, of what proportion of the inhabitants would be accommodated by the proposed change; and an act authorizing the erection of a court house and jail at Fonda was passed during the session in which it was presented. The commissioners appointed to locate the buildings and superintend their construction were Aaron C. Wheelock, Henry Adams and Howland Fish. The act required them to raise and pay into the treasury of the county $4,500 as a preliminary step, and procure a site of at least three acres for the new county buildings. The comptroller was authorized on receiving a bond from the county treasurer to loan the county the sum required from the common school fund, to be repaid at any time, or times, within five years, that the supervisors might decide upon. Under these arrangements the court house and jail were built in 1836. The removal of the county seat from Johnstown was naturally very unsatisfactory to the northern part of the county, and resulted in the division of Montgomery two years later. An interesting view of the state of things in the county at the period now considered is afforded by the following extract from The Amsterdam Democrat:

"In 1836, Joseph Smith was postmaster at Amsterdam, David Crane at Cranesville, Jay Cady at Minaville, Henry Randall at Port Jackson, John C. Van Alstyneat Auriesville, Peter Enders at Fort Hunter, Thos. Bunn at Tribes Hill, Wm, M. Gardinier at Fultonville, Henry Veeder at Caughnawaga, John Hanchet at Glen, and T. A. Stoutenburgh at Johnstown (which was then in the county).

"The following papers were published in this county: The Intelligencer and Mohawk Advertiser, at Amsterdam, by John J. Davis and L. H. Nicholas, with the last named as editor; the Johnstown Herald, at Johnstown, by Philip Reynolds, Jr.; the Montgomery Republican, at Johnstown, by Peter Mix; the Montgomery Argus, at Canajoharle, by Abraham V. Putnam; the Northern Banner, at Broadalbin, by William dark; the Garland (semi-monthly), at Union Mills, by Wm. dark, and the Christian Palladium (semi-monthly), at Union Mills, by Joseph Badger.

" The Mohawk and Hudson railroad commenced in 1830, extended from Albany to Schenectady, and covered fifteen miles of the one hundred miles of railroad then in operation in this State. The Utica and Schenectady railroad was nearly completed. A writer says of it: 'This road, the importance of which entitles it to a conspicuous station among the many improvements of the age, is designed to form no inconsiderate link in the extensive chain of communication between the western world and the tide waters of the Hudson. Passing through a country famed for its fertility of soil and its exuberance of agricultural productions, the route can scarcely fail of presenting some interesting features to the contemplation of the most fastidious traveller. With the Mohawk river almost constantly in view, as it majestically sweeps onward in its course, confined on either side by a succession of lofty and precipitous hills, the eye of the amateur may frequently discern landscapes comprising almost every variety of picturesque and scenic beauty.' Erastus Corning was president of the Utica and Schenectady R. R. Co., and vice-president of the Mohawk and Hudson Co. The county contained 1,227,712 acres of land.; the value of the real estate was $3,753,506, and the personal estate $674,899. The county taxes amounted to $19,289.66, and the town taxes $13,023.00.

" There were four academies in the county, located at Amsterdam, Canajoharie, Kingsborough and Johnstown. Horace Sprague and W. A. Tweed Dale were principals of the first named. The county also contained eight woolen factories, thirteen iron works, five paper mills, sixty-two tanneries, two breweries, two hundred and seventy-four saw mills, seventy-four grist mills, thirty-one fulling mills, twenty-nine carding machines and four oil mills. Elijah Wilcox was collector of canal tolls at Fultonville, and Jubal Livermore was one of the superintendents of canal repairs. David Spraker, of Canajoharie, was one of the four senators from this, the fourth, district, which included the counties of Saratoga, Washington, St. Lawrence and Montgomery. Henry V. Berry of Caughnawaga, Joseph Blair of Mills' Corners, and Jacob Johnson of Minaville, were Members of Assembly. Abraham Morrell and David Spraker were masters and examiners in chancery. In the Courts of Common Pleas, Abraham Morrell was first judge, and Samuel A. Gilbert, John Hand, Henry J. Dievendorff and David F. Sacia, judges. Malachi Kettle was Sheriff ; Tobias A. Stoutenburgh, surrogate; Charles McVean, district attorney; and Joseph Farmer, county treasurer. All four resided at Johnstown. There were forty lawyers in the county, among whom were Howland Fish of Glen, David P. Corey and Deodatus Wright of Amsterdam, and Daniel Cady, R. H. Cushney and John Frothingham of Johnstown. Forty-four physicians looked after the physical welfare of the people. Benedict Arnold, of Amsterdam, was Major General of the second division of cavalry. Aaron C. Whitlock of Ephratah, was Brigadier General in the same division. Twenty-three clergymen were located in the county, not including the Methodist. Rev. James Wood was in charge of the Presbyterian church in this village. In the Troy conference the Troy district contained twenty-two Methodist clergymen, and the Albany district twenty-eight. Matthias J. Bovee, of Amsterdam, was Member of Congress."

MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN CONGRESS.

By the courteous care of Hon. John H. Starin, now representing thisdistrict in Congress, we are enabled to present the following summary ofMontgomery county's representation in the national legislature, from thetime of the adoption of the United States constitution :

CONGRESS. NAME. DISTRICT. YEAR.
I. JEREMIAH VAN RENSSELAER, 1789-91.
II. JAMES GORDON, 1791-93
III SILAS TALBOT, 1793-95-
IV WILLIAM COOPER, 1795-97
V JAMES COCHRAN, IX., 1797-99
VI JONAS PLATT, IX 1799-1801.
VII BENJAMIN WALKER, IX 1801-3.
VIII THOMAS SAMMONS, XIII 1803-5.
IX THOMAS SAMMONS, X11I 1805-7.
X PETER SWART, X1I 1807-9.
XI THOMAS SAMMONS, IX 1809-11.
XII THOMAS SAMMONS, IX 1811-13.
XIII JACOB MARKALL, XIV 1813-15
XIV DANIEL CADY, XIV 1815-17.
XV JOHN HERKIMER, XIV 1817-19.
XVI JOHN FAY, XIV 1819-21.
XVII ALFRED CONKLING, XIV 1821-23.
XVIII JOHN W. CADY, XVI 1823-25.
XIX HENRY MARKELL, XVI 1825-27.
XX HENRY MARKELL, XVI 1827-29.
XXI BENEDICT ARNOLD, XVI 1829-31.
XXII NATHAN SOULE, XVI 1831-33.
XXIII CHARLES McVEAN, XV 1833-35
XXIV MATTHIAS J. BOVEE, XV 1835-37
XXV JOHN EDWARD, XV 1839-39
XXVI PETER J. WAGNER, XV 1839-41.
XXVII JOHN SANDFORD, XV 1841-43.
XXVIII CHARLES BENTON, XVII 1843-45
XXIX CHARLES BENTON, XVII 1845-47
XXX GEORGE PETRIE, XVII 1847-49.
XXXI HENRY p. ALEXANDER, XVII 1849-51.
XXXII ALEXANDER H. BUELL, XVII 1851-53.
XXXIII PETER ROWE, XVII 1853-55
XXXIV THOMAS R. HORTON, XVIII. 1855-57
XXXV CLARKE B. COCHRANE, XVIII. 1857-59
XXXVI CLARKE B. COCHRANE, XVIII. 1859-61.
XXXVII CHAUNCEY VIBBARD, XVIII. 1861-63.
XXXVIII JAMES M. MARVIN, XVIIIxviXVIIIx 1863-65.
XXXIX JAMES M. MARVIN, XVIII. 1865-67.
XL JAMES M. MARVIN, XVIII. 1867-69.
XLI STEPHEN SANDFORD, XVIII. 1869-71.
XLII JOHN M. CARROLL, XVIII. 1871-73-
XLIIL HENRY W. HATHORN, XIX 1873-75
XLIV HENRY W. HATHORN, XX 1875-77.
XLV JOHN H. STARIN, XX 1877-79.

IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

Under the first State constitution New York was divided into four senatorial districts, Montgomery county being part of the IVth. Under the constitution of 1821, there were eight districts, each represented by four senators; one elected each year. Under the constitution of 1846, the thirty-two senators represent as many separate districts, and the whole number are elected on alternate years. Since the adoption of this consti tution, the district including Montgomery county, which is now the XVth, and is composed of Montgomery, Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga and Schenectady counties, has been represented as shown by the subjoined table:

1860-1. Isaiah Blood.
1848-9. Joseph Blair.
1850-1. Geo. H. Fox and John Sanford; the first of whom resigned soon after his election. 1862.
1863.
1864-5.
i866-7.
l868-9.
1870-1.
1872-3.
John Willard.
William dark.
James H. Cook.
Adam W. Kline.
Charles Stanford.
Isaiah Blood.
Isaiah Fuller.
1852-3. Simeon Snow.
1854-5. George Yost.
1856-7. Frederick P. Bellinger.
1858-9. George G. Scott.
1874-9. Webster Wagner.

Until 1846 each county, except Hamilton, elected one or more members of Assembly annually, the number being designated from time to time by law. The number alloted to Tryon, afterward Montgomery county, under the several apportionments, together with the names of the members and dates of their election, so far as can be ascertained, will appear from the following tabular statement:

1777-
Samuel Clyde,
Zephaniah Batcheler,
Michael Edie,
Jacob Snell.
1778.
George Henry Bell,
Samuel Clyde,
Michael F^die,
Jacob Snell,
Peter Waggoner, Jr.
1779-
George Henry Bell,
Abraham Copeman,
Peter S. Dygert,
Frederick Fox,
Jacob Gardineer,
Peter Waggoner, Jr.
1780.
Zephaniah Batcheler,
Abraham Copeman,
Peter S. Dygert,
Frederick Fox,
Jacob Gardineer,
Peter Waggoner, Jr.
1781.
Jacob Gardineer,
Abraham Garrison,
William Harper,
Peter Waggoner, Jr.,
Zephaniah Batcheler.
1782.
Zephaniah Batcheler,
Frederick Visscher,
John Frey,
Andrew Finck, Jr.,
Abraham Garrison,
William Harper.
1783-
Zephaniah Batcheler,
Frederick Visscher,
John Frey,
Andrew Finck, Jr.
1784.
Abraham Copeman,
Frederick C. Fox,
William Harper,
James Livingston,
Volkert Veeder,
Christopher P. Yates,
Isaac Paris.
1785-
Frederick C. Fox,
William Harper,
James Livingston,
Isaac Paris,
Volkert Veeder,
Christopher P. Yates.
1786.
Abraham Arndt,
John Frey,
William Harper,
James Livingston,
Abraham Van Home,
Volkert Veeder.

1787.
James Cannon
John Frey,
William Harper,
James Livingston.
1788.
Abraham Arndt,
John Frey,
William Harper,
John Livingston,
Isaac Paris,
Henry Staring,
Volkert Veeder,
John Winn,
Christopher P. Yates.
1789.
Abraham Arndt,
John Frey,
William Harper,
James Livingston,
David McMasters,
Henry Staring,
Volkert Veeder,
John Winn,
Christopher P. Yates.
1790.
Abraham Arndt,
James Livingston,
David McMasters,
Volkert Veeder.
1791.
Abraham Arndt.
John F'rey,
James Livingston,
John T. Visscher.
1792.
Jacob Eacker,
Douw Fonda,
John Frey,
David McMasters,
Silas Talbot,
Simon Veeder.
1793
Jacob Eacker,
David McMasters,
Silas Talbot,
Simon Veeder.
1794
Jacob Eacker,
Frederick Getman,
John McArthur,
David McMasters,
Simon Veeder.
1795.
Douw Fonda,
Frederick Getman,
David McMasters,
Simon Veeder.
1796.
David Cady,
Jacob Eacker,
Frederick Getman,
John C. Van Eps,
Peter Veeder,
Simon Veeder.

(The Below list is inserted as a graphic.)

A Democratic majority of from 350 to 400 is claimed for the county, but the sheriff and member of assembly have been elected by the other party about as often for the last twenty years.

THE CARE OF THE POOR.

Near the south bank of the Mohawk, about two miles below Fultonville, stands the Montgomery county poor house. Prior to 1866 the buildings and farm of one hundred and forty acres belonged to the county, but in that year the supervisors sold this property, under authority of a special act of the Legislature. Hiram Sammons was the purchaser, and also contracted for the support of the indigent. Each town arranges for the maintenance of its paupers through an overseer at a stipulated price per week,which varies from two dollars to three and a half, according to the mental and physical condition of the pauper. Mr. Sammons, the purchaser of the poor house and farm, died in 1868, and Robert Wemple bought the property, also contracting for the support of the inmates of the house, of which he is still in charge. A part of them are chargeable to the county at large, and the affairs of the poor in general are attended to by a county superintendent.

THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.

This association was organized on the first Tuesday of July, 1806, inconformity with an act of the Legislature, entitled " An Act to incorporate Medical Societies And to regulate the practice of Physic and Surgery," passed on the 4th of April in that year. The first meeting was held at the court house in Johnstown, and the following is a full list of the physicians present : Alexander Sheldon, Oliver Lathrop, Stephen Reynolds, Wm. H. Devoo, Wm. Reed, Benjamin Tucker, Horace Barnum, Abraham Sternbergh.

The following named persons were chosen officers of the society : Alexander Sheldon, President; William Reed, Vice-president ; Stephen Reynolds, Secretary ; Oliver Lathrop, Treasurer.

Alexander Sheldon, Stephen Reynolds and Benjamin Tucker were appointed a committee to draft a code of by-laws by which the society should be governed, and also to "procure a Seal with such device as they may think proper," and report at an adjourned meeting, which occurred on the 15th of October, 1806. At this meeting the membership of the society was increased by the addition of the following persons : Jonathan Eights, Benjamin Lyon, Joshua Webster, Daniel Guck, Jonas Far, of Minden, Elijah Cheadle, Thomas Conklin, Christian Tissure.

The regular meetings of the society were held but once a year, on which occasions one or more addresses were usually delivered by members chosen by the society for the purpose. Censors were appointed, whose duty it was to receive and examine into impeachments, the penalty for which, when sustained, was expulsion from the society, or a fine not to exceed $10. They were also required " to make diligent enquiry into the legal qualifications of all persons practising physic or surgery within this county," and if any were found who, "in their opinion, had not the qualifications required," they were to be published in the public journals throughout the State. Candidates for the medical profession were questioned by the Censors, and after passing a satisfactory examination .they were required to sign the following declaration : " I do solemnly declare that I will honestly, virtuously and chastely conduct myself in the practice of Physic and Surgery, with the privileges of practsiing which profession I am now to be invested, and that I will with fidelity and honor do everything in my power for the benefit of the sick committed to my charge ;" upon which the society gave them a diploma, granting them " the privilege of practising physic and surgery in this State." Members were required to " keep an accurate history of all important and singular cases " that occurred in their practice, and of " all useful discoveries " made by them, and report the same to the society.

The division of Montgomery county, in 1838, necessitated a division of this society and its property, and it was re-organized by electing Daniel Ayres, Pres.; Zadock Barney, Vice-Pres.; A. T. E. Hilton, Secy., and Morgan Snyder, Treas. The following is a complete list of the members of the society at that time : Abram J. Arndt, John Atwater, Daniel Ayers, Zadock Barney, Henry K. Belding, Thompson Burton, -- Burbeck, Richard Davis, Lebbeus Doty, Jas. Defendorf, -- Glaves, A. T. E. Hilton, Erastus Holmes, Aaron W. Hull, W. H. Johnson, -- Marcey, E. A. Mumford, -- Patterson, Uriah Potter, Abm. Pulling, John W. Riggs, Daniel Smith, Jacob G. Snell, Simeon Snow, Morgan Snyder, J. D. Stewart, Samuel Voorhees, Joshua Webster, Joseph White, David E. Houghtaling.

The place of meeting which up to this time had always been at Johnstown, was now changed to Fonda.