Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 182

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452

USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations > Part 182

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Here are located the Cedar Point Mills, a large frame building, supplied with ample water-power from Coeymans Creek, and furnished with machin- ery for manufacturing flour and meal and grind- ing plaster. Formerly mills were in operation above the present one, and connected with them

were mills for carding and grinding plaster; but these are of the past, having disappeared forty years ago. They were built by Conrad Ten Eyck, and John Aldridge and Whiteman were millers. The present mills have been owned by Israel Lawton, Briggs & Colvin, A. Willis, and are now owned by the heirs of N. H. Johnson. At pres- ent these mills are idle. Among the forgotten industries of Coeymans was the manufacture of hats by Mr. Cartwright. In passing along the thoroughfares of the village, the attentive observer will note the moral standing of the people by the three churches, Reformed, Methodist and Roman Catholic ; the intelligence is represented by a school-house and a weekly newspaper; the wants and needs are supplied from two grocery and provision stores, one general and mixed merchan- dise, one shoe store, one drug and fancy store, tin and hardware, paint shops, two blacksmith and one wheelwright shop, two broom factories, the needed millinery and dressing parlors, one gen- eral undertaker, four hotels, barber shops, coal dealers and general shipping merchants. The professions are represented by four lawyers, two physicians and one dentist.

The general business interests of the village are conducted by the following persons: Attorneys and Counselors at Law-S. Springsted, J. M. Harris, Charles Thompson, and C. M. Barlow, notary public. Physicians and Surgeons-F. G. Mosher and N. H. Johnson. Dentist-C. C. Willis. Powell & Johnson, drugs, medicines, paints, oil and glass. William B. Hull & Co, dry goods, groceries, provisions and general merchandise. W. H. Keller, dealer in groceries and provisions. Baumes & Brother, groceries and provisions, crock- ery and glassware. Alfred A. Sherman, fancy goods, notions and stationery. J. B. Holmes, tin, copper, zinc and sheet iron. W. W. Snyder, boots and shoes. A. Vandyck, harness and sad- dlery of all kinds. Alonzo Southard, general funeral director. L. E. Gould and Charles Zeigler, meat markets, fish and oysters. Henry Slingerland, general forwarding, freight and com- mission merchant. J. N. Briggs, dealer in coal and ice, and lessor of Barren Island. Coeymans Herald, S. H. & E. J. Sherman, editors and proprietors.

Hotels .- Hotaling's Hotel, Richard S. Hotaling, proprietor ; Union Hotel, Samuel Gedney, proprie- tor ; Whitbeck House, Verplank Whitbeck, pro- prietor ; Niles House, Gilbert Cronk, proprietor.

The post-office has been established many years. Levi Blaisdell and Nathan Stephens were

829

THE TOWNSHIP OF COEYMANS.

early postmasters. The present postmaster is William B. Hull, who has held the office since 1853 ; he is also an early resident.

Among the first settlers were the Koeymans family and those with whom they married, An- dreas and Lendert Witbeck, the Ten Eycks, Van Allens, Verplanks, Bronks, Barclays, Hotalings and Van Daalston. These were followed by Waldrons, Huycks, James Teft, who kept a tavern, and McMichael, who kept a store ; Oliver Lauton, John Fanning, Palmer Utter, Joseph Hazelton, Levi Blaisdell, and others who have been succeeded by their descendants and later residents. The village numbers at present about 900 inhabitants.

A new era has dawned over the past, and an epoch in the history of this old settlement will transfer the business of the future from the immedi- ate scenes of the Dutch historic landmark. The construction and operation of the West Shore Rail- road have produced changes already, that are to be followed by improvements and enterprises of a general character.

Formidable barriers of physical structure no longer baffle the skill of the civil engineer, when he is assured of the means to break through ob- structions or override the traditions of successive generations. Skill and capital overcome moun- tains of opposition, as well as level public opinion, to the general necessities of a common interest. Progress marks human sentiment, and internal im- provements are bound and girdled by a network of steel. The skill and ingenuity of man subject the elements to his uses, control as a plaything the subtle fluid, electricity, and encircle the globe with wires of thought, and illumine the darkness of night by its incandescent light, soon to be fol- lowed by greater wonders.

The completion of the New York, West Shore and Buffalo Railroad in 1883, through the town, gives Coeymans more commercial importance and marks an era in the business interest of trade, as well as concentrates at the place of transfer the products and commodities of a wide region of country, that will give an impetus to future invest- ment, and open other important sources for mate- rial prosperity, thus laying the foundation for other industries connected with the development of the surrounding vicinity. These are considerations which connot be controlled by mere external in- fluences, and the forward movement must continue so long as the resources of the country are being developed, and the demands of trade find a ready market for agricultural supplies, domestic manu- factures and mineral products.

For two hundred years, a few men of enterprise have controlled the business interests of the place. Slow progress consequently has been made, yet a steady growth of the village has been quietly going on, which gives assurance of prosperity and con- centration of wealth.

Coeymans Junction .- The construction of this new line of railroad necessitated at this point a di- vergence to Albany ; therefore a junction with the main line was made a mile west of Cocymans, at a location promising superior facilities and advan- tages for the convenience of transfer and the erec- tion of necessary buildings connected with the road. Here is a fine level tract of land, specially adapted for building purposes, and already is seen the sharp forethought of the enterprising capitalist and the investments of men with limited means. Besides the station, freight and engine houses be- longing to the railroad, Peter Pulver has erected three dwellings and a building for hotel and res- taurant purposes, near the passenger station, which were the first buildings (1883) and the nucleus to the future village. Two other dwellings followed, and these have been increased the present year, 1884, by two frame buildings and a large double three-story brick, for store and hotel, near the railroad and fronting on the stone road. This fine brick edifice was built by Peter Putman, a former resident of the township, but now of New York. At the present time, ten houses west of the railroad compose the little settlement. A short distance west of this point, at the corner of the road near Schoonmaker & Brothers' store, a tavern was kept more than a hundred years ago; this was the main road leading to Buffalo, and it is said Jerome Bonaparte, in his travels, stopped here for dinner. Early settlers here, Ambrose Wiltsie, Job Baker, and widow Lodeman, who kept tavern.

Ache-que-tuck, P. O. (local, Peacock's Corners), was established as a post-office in 1879, with Willis Nodine as postmaster, who continues to serve. This place is west of the railroad station about two miles. Here is a hotel kept by D. Baumis, a store, blacksmith and wheelwright shop and toll- gate. Early tavern keepers here were Baldwin and Nicholas Huyck. From this point up to the eastern extremity of Coeymans Hollow, extending north, is a tract of very superior farming land, which by old deeds is described as Hagh-a-tuck, the true Indian name ; and here we find the Witbecks, Ten Eycks, Van Derzees, Verplanks, Shears, Wiltsies, Schoonmakers and other descendants of the first settlers. Here also stands the old stone house of the Ten Eycks, which was built many years before the

830

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Revolution ; it is not occupied, and will soon be one of the forgotten monuments of the past. Other houses of interest are the brick dwellings of Ver- planks and Witbecks, built many years ago. In this vicinity, in former years, were grist and saw- mills, tannery and flax mills, the property of Isaac D. Verplank ; these mills were on the Haanakrois.

Coeymans Hollow, P. O., extending for a dis- tance of two miles or more, in the valley of the Haanakrois, is located upon either side of the creek. The village of Coeymans . Hollow dates its settle- ment only a few years later than the possession of the patent by Koeymans and his family. The valley possesses remarkable water-power privileges, which may have been a consideration with the first settlers in choosing this locality, and the heavy- timbered forest, with its valuable growth of trees, may have been another inducement, as well as the fertility of the soil, after the land became cleared.

Mills were accordingly erected at an early date by Verplank and others interested in the settlement of this locality; vestiges of these mills remain at several places along the creek. Other mills for different purposes have been erected and operated for a time, or until the special purpose for which they were intended was fulfilled, or the conditions of the surroundings rendered them of no further use, and then abandoned. Carding mills and tan- neries were quite numerous; it was then customary for the women to spin and weave the necessary clothing, blankets, spreads and sheets, and the household linen. As the cheaper fabrics of cotton were brought into use, these gradually superseded those of home-made manufacture, and the carding mills have almost wholly disappeared. So with the making of leather; once the shoemaker and harness-maker had a small tannery in which they manufactured their own leather, and also did the tanning for the farmers of the neighborhood, and then worked it into boots and shoes.

Now that bark necessary for this purpose has become scarce, science has introduced new meth- ods and machinery which require combined capital.

On the premises of Harvey Shear, many years ago, Francis DeLong, a man by the name of Sherman, and Garret Witbeck manufactured hats. Here in the Hollow, grist, saw and clothing mills were owned and operated by John Blodgett and Mr. Leslie. At the upper end of the village, Ver- plank had a grist and saw-mill, which, during a freshet, were carried down the stream; remains of the dam and race-way are there yet, and are utilized by Andrew Carey for driving machinery.

for turning spokes, hubs and other work; he also has a mechanic and blacksmith shop. During 1861 and 1862 several flax mills were erected at convenient points on the creek, which, in a few years, were abandoned. There are at present no mills or manufactures in operation in the village. In traversing the length of the street, which is the public road, there are upon either side about fifty dwellings, with two hundred inhabitants. The busi- ness is conducted through the usual stores and shops, containing mixed merchandise; there are three stores, one hotel, one school-house and Methodist church, shoe store and shop, meat market, three blacksmith and wheelwright shops, one physician. The post-office was established about 1840, with John B. Shear, P. M. The present post- master is Electus Shear. Among the early settlers were Verplanks, Witbecks, John Blodgett, Josiah Hinckley, Gerrit Witbeck, Jonas Shear, Jedediah Davis, John Colvin.

Stephensville (Alcove P. O.) is a small hamlet situated in the bend or elbow of the Haanakrois Creek, in the south western part of the town, and is almost a continuation of Coeymans Hollow. It de- rives its name from Archibald Stephens, who for- merly operated mills here. The post-office and name were established in 1881. Stanley Green, postmaster.

Here, near the stone road, eight miles from Coeymans Landing, are located the Valley Paper Mills, and saw-mill of Amos D. Briggs. About 1844 Ephraim Andrews erected mills here on a small scale for the purpose of cloth-dressing and carding wool. In 1848 John E. Andrews enlarged and converted them, with the necessary improve- ments and machinery for the manufacture of straw wrapping paper.

In 1854 W. S. Briggs and Andrews made ad- ditions, repairs and improvements by the introduc- tion of steam and many other appliances of recent invention. In 1871 W. S. Briggs & Sons (Newton S., Ralph B. and Amos D.) commenced a partnership, which continued three years, when the property and business were transferred to Amos D. Briggs, the present proprietor, who operates and conducts the business. During the year 1883 extensive improvements, with increased capacity, at a great outlay, were made. The works contain one steam engine and two turbine water-wheels, the steam engine of 125 horse-power and the water- wheels of 150 horse-power. The capacity of the mill is five tons of straw daily, from which three and one-half to three and three-fourth tons of straw wrapping paper are made. About twenty-

831

THE TOWNSHIP OF COEYMANS.

five men are employed for ten months during the year. The paper is carted to Coeymans for shipment, and coal brought by the return trip. That these works have been a financial success is proven by the fact that the former operators have retired with a competency.

Three-fourths of a mile south of these mills are the post-office and residence of W. S. Briggs, Esq., who owns the grist-mill and other valuable prop- erty. Casparus Ackerman was an early settler, coming here in 1790; soon after, he erected the first mills, which in time passed into the possession of Archibald Stephens, and now owned by W.S. Briggs. The present mill is a massive stone structure, with three run of stone. The hamlet has ten or twelve dwellings, with a store, wagon and blacksmith shops, and besides the mill two other stone buildings, a building formerly a flax mill, Union Church, and one physician represents the profession. Just above the valley mills, on the stone road, is a saw-mill, the property of Jefferson Powell; and a short distance up this small stream, in the ravine, and east of the toll-gate, is the tannery built by Daniel Tompkins seventy years ago. They were sold to a man by the name of Caswell; then to John Huyck & Son, the present owners, who continue the business.

Indian Fields (P. O.) is a hamlet nine miles from Coeymans, in the west part of the town, containing a Baptist church, hotel, three stores, one harness shop, three blacksmiths, one general wood-work, two foundries, carding mill, saw-mill, harness shop, drug store and one physician, eighteen dwell- ings and eighty inhabitants. The business of the place is conducted by J. O. Stiles, proprietor of hotel and store; Huyck & Dorman, post-office and general merchandise; Anthony Davis, merchandise; Christian Scharbauer, manufacturer of harness; Caleb Snyder and Norris & Brother, proprietors of foundries; F. A. W. Rivets, physician, with drug store; J. J. Huyck, postmaster.

Here are located the foundry and carding mill of Caleb Snyder. It was here, in the early settlement of this vicinity, that Isaac Verplank built a saw- mill, and afterward carding and cloth-dressing mills were operated. In after years Houck & Trenchard operated a woolen cloth manufactory and saw-mill. Subsequently Huyck & Norris reconstructed the works into a foundry, after which they were sold to Caleb Snyder, who does general foundry work, making plow, cultivator and land-roller castings. The machinery is operated with steam and water power.

Henry and Isaac Norris, located on the public road, own and conduct a foundry and wood-shop

for the manufacture of plows, cultivators, land- rollers and fitting machinery for mills, etc.

Among the early settlers were John and Thomas Witbeck, W. Searles, George Lamoreaux, Jedidiah Davis, Daniel Green, Daniel Wickham, Robins, Gideon Schofiel, Josiah Hinckley, Huycks, Tomp- kins and others.

This village is located in the valley of the Haanakrois, which has tributaries from the north, and surrounded by fair agricultural lands, which was an inducement to the settlers for occupying this region. The farmers have their farms under good tillage, and are generally prosperous.

ANDREW H. WITBECK.

ANDREW H. WITBECK is known as one of the most influential and highly esteemed citizens of the town of Coeymans. His family has for generations been among the foremost of the old families of Albany County. His father, John W. Witbeck, was born, April 10, 1773, at Manhattan Hook, a little valley in the northern part of Coeymans, about four miles from where Mr. Witbeck now lives. On the 20th of May, 1795, in company with his father (Mr. Witbeck's grandfather), he purchased the farm, now the homestead of Andrew H. Wit- beck. At about the age of twenty-one he married a Miss Palmateer, who bore him one son, who is now living. After her death he married Hannah Callanan, who was born November 19, 1781. By this marriage there were eight children, four sons and four daughters, five of whom are living. Of these Andrew H. Witbeck is the youngest. He was born in the house in which he has since lived, November 12, 1824. He was reared on the farm and obtained his education in the neighboring common school. February 5, 1851, he married Lydia E. Powell, who was born at Medway, Greene County, N. Y., January 5, 1826. Their family consists of one son and three daughters, named as follows : Hannah Esther, John W., Sarah E. and Jennie. Mr. Witbeck has been a life-long farmer, and, as such, ranks among the leading agriculturists of Albany County. He is a man of considerable business experience and of undoubted good judgment in all important affairs, and his aid has often been invoked in the settle- ment of questions in dispute in his locality, and the settlement of several valuable estates has been intrusted to him, with firm reliance upon his dis- crimination and integrity. Though never min- gling actively in politics, and steadfastly refusing to accept offices at the hands of his fellow townsmen, he is an adherent of the Democratic party, and takes a deep and liberal interest in all questions of public moment, upon which he is fully informed and has pronounced opinions. Though not a

member of any religious organization, he has ever been a most cheerful and ample supporter of the means of worship in his vicinity, and is an attend- ant, with his family, upon the services of the Dutch

832-

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Reformed Church, for he clings to the faith of his forefathers, who were Hollanders, and who were among those hardy pioneers who implanted the banner of this denomination upon the soil of Albany County when it was largely an unsettled wilderness. The cause of education has also found a firm friend in Mr. Witbeck, whose influence has not been slight in elevating the standard of public instruction in his portion of the town of Coeymans. All other worthy local objects have his encourage- ment and financial aid.

Keefer's Corners (P. O.) was named in honor of Balthus Keefer, who settled here in 1791. It is located two miles north of Indian Fields, in the northwest part of the town, and has a Methodist Church, school-house, and formerly a store, hotel, a wheelwright and blacksmith shop, and a few houses. This was a remote part of the town and was slow of settlement, only two other families hav- ing located here previous to Mr. Keefer. Roads were followed by marked trees, and civilization, with its improvements, was centered at other points. Among those who settled here were Daniel Traver, Jacob Schermerhorn, Dampa Mead, Stephen Hanes, George Lamoreaux, Lanson, Hogan and others.

The post-office was established in 1842, Peter Keefer first postmaster, and continues to serve in that capacity. He is a son of Balthus, and was born where he resides.

We append the names of a few others who were early settlers in different parts of the town. The first were almost exclusively Dutch or Hollanders, who came before the Revolution; those who came after hostilities ceased were mostly of English de- scent, many of them coming from the New Eng- land States or adjoining counties. These brought with them the doctrines peculiar to their several forms of faith and modes of worship, as well as ideas relating to social and moral questions, which were rapidly diffused and entered into the spirit of conscientious freedom, and were soon manifest in the elevated and enlarged Christian views that were followed by a unity of purpose and religious co- operation. This sentiment, so early introduced, has not been without a moral effect upon the prosperous growth of the churches, upon the social relations, and its educational progress. Many of the men whose names are recorded here have (with others) occupied in the affairs of the town and in the church positions of trust, honor and responsibility. Among them were the Vroomans, Waldrons, Hotalings, Wagoners, Vanderpools, Gedneys, Schoonmakers, Wiltsies, Powells, Jolleys, Coonleys, Briggs, Carharts, Nodines, Springsteds, Hulls and Fredenburghs.

Since the organization of Coeymans into a town- ship, in 1791, the following citizens have served one or more terms in the offices designated : The first town meeting (of which there is any record) was held April, 1811, and the first supervisor, Jobn T. Van Dalston, was elected in 1817. Previous to this the office was one of appointment by the Governor, as well as Justices of the Peace, who were first elected in 1827. The following have been supervisors : John T. Van Dalston, Archi- bald Stephens, John N. Huyck, Israel Shear, Abram Verplank, Andrew Witbeck, Henry Niles, Cornelius Van Derzee, Jonas Shear, Garret Wit- beck, John Mead, Elwell Blodgett, John Van Derzee, Nathaniel Niles, Willet Searls, John B. Shear, David A. Witbeck, Peter Keefer, Nelson Schermerhorn, James H. Powell, John A. Hunt, Estes H. Strevell, Lansing Shear.

Justices of the Peace, appointed-John T. Van Dalson, Henry Gage, Archibald Stephens, John Van Dalssen, David Springsted, Jr., Jacob C. Ten Eyck, John Gibbons, Robert Copeland, Barrent Mull, Nathan Niles, Samuel Blodgett.

From 1827 the following were elected: Alexander Copeland, Peter Van Antwerp, Samuel Blodgett, Garret Witbeck, Joshua Collins, John Van Ant- werp, Henry Halstead, Dwight Bachelor, John Mead, Cornelius Van Derzee, John Van Derzee, William S. Briggs, Peter Keefer, Elijah D. R. Converse, Wolsey Blodgett, Ira Gregory, John T. Witbeck, Conrad T. E. Huyck, Anson Green, James Emery, Willet Searls, Samuel F. Powell, Isaac L. Davis, Frank Huyck, John A. Hunt, Jacob B. Holmes, Edgar Powell.

Town Clerks .- John Beekman, Isaac D. Ver- plank, John N. Huyck, Abram Verplank, Andrew Witbeck, Jonas Shear, Israel Lisk, Henry Niles, Cornelius Van Derzee, Robert Keefer, Elwell Blod- gett, William N. Briggs, John Van Derzee, Alfred D. Tompkins, John L. Witbeck, Edwin D. Shear, John Ham, John S. Powell, Leonard Carhart, Joslin Nodine, John M. Witbeck, Gilbert C. Vin- cent, Israel Shear, Alfred A. Sherman, Hugh H. Mosher, George H. Johnson, Lansing Shear, Isaac T. Davis, John A. Loucks, Samuel Lasher, Abram Lawton.

Benjamin Stanton, delegate to Constitutional Convention of 1846. Members of Assembly-Israel Shear, Tobias T. E. Waldron, Jonas Shear, Cor- nelius Vanderzee, Isaac Whitbeck, Willis Searles, John Vanderzee.

School Commissioners-John B. Shear, Leonard Carhart, William E. Whitbeck, Samuel F. Powell.

833

THE TOWNSHIP OF COEYMANS.

Real.

Personal. Total.

Assessed valuation for 1865 $1,017,475 $202,273 $1,219,748

1883 1,004,945

82,750 1,087,695

Equalized “

1883

2,200, 132

82,750 2,282,882

Assessed "

1884

2,026,770

333,005

2 339,775

Equalized “

2,251,228

333,005 2,584,289

The latitude and longitude of the following stations in Coeymans are taken from the "Report of New York State Survey for the year 1882:"

Latitude.

Longitude.

Barren Island pine ...... 42º 27' 51.53", 73º 47' 09.41" Brigg's Monument Ceme-

tery. 42° 28' 00.20"

73° 47' 43"

Cupola of Civil Academy.42º 28' 21.8r"

73" 47' 56"

Shad Island.

' 52.16" 73° 46' 23"

Coeymans dock flag-pole .. 42º 28' 23"

73° 47' 24"

Boha Hook light.

.42º 28' 49"

73° 47' 20"

Blodget

.42ª 30' 35"

73° 53' 46"

Mull's school-house. .42° 30' 24" 73° 47' 17"

Churches .- What has been said of the early set- tlers in other townships will apply with equal force to those who followed Koeymans and located upon his patent. They were largely of the Dutch, and possessed courage and devotion, though they held with tenacity to the traditions of their fathers.

It is evident that for many years the Dutch and Huguenot element prevailed, and that the religious ministrations of those early days were by visits and supplies, as they had no settled ministers until after the hostilities ceased, or about 1790. At this time many changes had taken place; the country was at peace, prosperity smiled upon the land of free- dom, a home was offered and obtained upon easy terms, freedom of worship was established and all united to partake of the blessings that flow from Christian civilization and national independence.

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Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 182

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1452

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452