NICK STONER
The Stoner Lakes were originally discovered by and later named after wilderness explorer and pioneer Nick Stoner over 150 years ago. One who has spent any time in this particular region of the Adirondacks is bound to hear the name Nick Stoner at least once. He is a local legend and many stories regarding his run-ins with the local Indians are still told around summer camp fires in the area. A monumental statue of Nick stands brilliantly at the Nick Stoner Municipal Golf Course in Caroga Lake and Nick Stoner's Island is found on Canada Lake. The Nicholas Stoner Senior Citizens meet in Caroga Lake and the original Gloversville High School fight song was "Old Nick Stoner, the Man whose Praise we sing." The Sir William Johnson Council of the Boy Scouts of America used his name for the charter chapter of The Order of the Arrow and a WW II Battleship was named after him (SS NICHOLAS STONER, Hull Number 2307, laid down May 12, 1944, launched June 17, 1944, scrapped 1964). Nick Stoner's Cave where he allegedly hid from Indians who were chasing him when exploring the area is located on Cranberry Lake and can be visited by canoe.
But who exactly was Nick
Stoner? Nick Stoner was born in 1762 on the Jersey seacoast.
He was brought to this area by his pioneer father who settled in the
Broadalbin area. His family later settled near the now Fulton
County Community College. Nick was a career military
serviceman and was stationed at King's Ferry, New York. While
in the service Nick's father, Henry Stoner, was slain by a group of
Indians. He was tomahawked and scalped and buried underneath a
Hemlock tree. Nick was known to visit the site often.
Nick's most infamous folk tale pertains to his encounter with the
Indian who killed his father. One night Nick was visiting
Fonciaiere's Tavern (near the original Fulton County Courthouse
and also known as
UNION
HALL) at
the same time a number of Canadian Indian trappers were being served
on the premises. He overheard a half-drunken Indian boast of the
notches in his scalping knife. The nine notches allegedly
accounted for the Americans the Indian had taken in the late war.
The last notch was the deepest, and it was said that Nick Stoner
overheard the Indian bragging how it was the notch from scalping
"Old Stoner." Nick entered the room just in time to hear the
Indian's tale. Nick who was angered at the presence of his
father's murderer, seized a red hot iron poker from the fireplace
and threw it at the Indian. The Indian was hit directly in the
neck area and his jugular artery was seared. Depending
upon what version of the story you hear, some report the Indian was
killed and others report he was saved by a local physician.
Some even report that the only thing Nick accomplished was giving
himself a nasty burn on his own hand. No evidence has ever
been published proving that Nick was an "Indian killer," although he
was jailed briefly for this act of retribution. He was such a
popular character however, that a group of his friends actually
freed him from jail by force before he voluntarily surrendered. Most
report that Nick simply had a strong disdain for the man who killed
his father. Nick was a distinguished soldier and served in the
Revolutionary War from 1777 to 1783 and the War of 1812. He
was present at key battles such as Saratoga and Yorktown. The
Battleship named after him during World War II had a "Nick Stoner"
placard which can now be seen on the lawn near the Fulton County
Courthouse. Nick obtained the rank of Major before leaving the
military.
When Nick officially retired form military service he became one of New York's first and most reputable outdoor guides. He is responsible for vast exploration of the Adirondack State Park. Nicholas Stoner was married to Hannah Frank on April 22, 1840 at the village of Johnstown at the House of Tunis Van Vleet. They were Married by James T. Hildreth, Esqr. a Justice of the Peace at Johnstown. Nick was approximately six feet tall and was rarely seen without his rifle and hunting knife. He explored the vast Adirondack wilderness well into his 80's.
Below is a list of Nick's worldly possessions when he filed for a military pension from the United States government on June 15th, 1820. He was successful in obtaining a military pension in the amount of $8.00 per month or $96.00 per year! When Nick passed away on November 24, 1853, Nick's widow Hanna Frank was able to collect the same pension.
One
mare ($40.00)
One
Cow ($12.00)
3
Hogs ($4.50)
1
Calf ($5.00)
Some
fowls ($1.00)
Some Old Knives & forks ($1.00)
1 chest of
drawers ($5.00)
Some pots and Kettles
Value ($7.00)
Some tea cups and Crockery ($0.50)
13 Traps for
Hunting ($9.75)
1 plough ($3.25)
1 chain
iron ($2.00)
Hunter, Trapper, and Indian Fighter, Nick died on November
24, 1853 at the age of 92! He is buried in the soldier's plot
at Prospect Hill Cemetery. If you ever visit the area, look
for Nick's statue on the golf course driving through Caroga Lake,
his Island on Canada Lake, and the Stoner Lakes that bare his name
on Route 10.
S.S. Nick Stoner Waymark
Fulton County Court House with Waymark
Union Hall, Johnstown, NY
American Heritage article
Prospect Hill Cemetery
The Nick Stoner monument at the Caroga Golf Course
Original Nick Stoner grave marker
Historical items present at the Caroga Lake museum
Nick Stoner Island, Canada Lake
Nick Stoner Island (historical) with caption