USA > New York > Greene County > Dear old Greene County; embracing facts and figures. Portraits and sketches of leading men who will live in her history, those at the front to-day and others who made good in the past > Part 18
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S. L. Lee, general store. John Jordon, blacksmith.
There is a mail route from Ashland to Hunter. Free Rural route from Prattsville to Ashland. D. D. Tompkins carries the mail and Vernon Chatfield the free rural.
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There are three cemeteries in the town, Pleasant Valley Sutton Hollow, and West Settlement.
The oldest house in Ashland is that of Darius B. Prout.
The farm occupied by Supervisor H. Clay Ferris has been occupied by five generations of Ferrises, and the first house was of logs, and constructed by the great grandfather of Mr. Ferris, and who was one of the pioneers of the town.
Athens
Reaching Athens from Catskill over the state road the first place that comes into prominence is a large brick structure that was built by General Haight in 1812, and which is known as the Gantley House, being the property of Daniel W. Giantley, another war veteran, who came up from New York and spent most of his life at Athens, passing to the other side in 1881 at the age of 94 years. The marble steps, the old brass knocker on the front door, and the entire interior are exactly as Mr. Haight construc- ted them. The interior of the man- Frank Nichols sion has the exqusite charm of the most elaborate architecture and furnishings of the Colonial period. The place is owned by Thomas Van Loan, and occupied by Eugene Van Loan and family, and it was the courtesy of Mrs. Van Loan which gave the writer access to the building, and a description of it. The beauty of the interior is heightened by the display of 105 paintings, the work of the world's great artists. The first parlor has its old time red velvet carpet, and the rear parlor or gallery floor a beautiful mosiac of inlaid work of highly polished wood of
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different colors. The winding stair case at the end of the great hall is most impressive. The brick were brought from Holland.
The General Haight House.
Mrs. Haight was Jane Van Loan, one of the well known family, so closely interwoven with all the history of Athens. For the Van Loans, the Nichols, Spoors, Hallenbecks, Van Woerts, have the honor place among the early comers to the county.
Early as 1800 Athens village was simply a farm, owned by the Van Loons. The old stone house, of which we present a view was the first structure in 1726, and it is at the upper end of the town, and was in modest proportions to the Gantley house. The present occupants are Nelson Hotaling and Lester Kisselburgh.
John Van Loan paid $3000 for the farm that is now the village of Athens. A burying ground being reserved from the land,
Condrai Flack was buried in Episcopal ground May 4, 1789 at the age of 76 years. He operated a ferry across to Hudson.
Teunis Van Vechten, Johannes Brandow and Joachim Jansen owned Lot one, of what was the town of Athens.
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Van Vechtens deed was dated October 15, 1757, and the lot extended from the Hudson River nearly to the Potic creek. The Van Vechtens appear to have gone south as far as far as the Catskill creek, where the Van Vechten house now stands.
In 1780 there were about 20 families settled in the entire town. The Hallenbecks and Van Loons predominated and remain today. Also Cloughs, Brandows and Van Bergens.
The town Esperanza was projected before Athens village, and a part of this land was Dooper Island upon which the steam- er Swallow was wrecked in April, 1845, 40 lives being lost. We present a picture of the wreck from an old print. Benjamin Hav- iland built the first house in Esperanza. John G. Voogd started the brick industry, followed by Wm. P. Alcott. Joseph Colson had a hotel in Esperanza and Samuel Hamilton was a magistrate in 1811. He died in 1851.
The Old Brick Row, Athens.
In 1801 John Spoor made a map of a portion of Athens which is in existence at Washington. Joseph Seeley built the first hotel in Athens and his son, Castle Seeley, was postmaster of Athens for 20 years.
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In 1802, and for 12 years, Russell Leffingwell carried on a distillery near the ship yard, and he also erected a dwelling about the time that the Haight house was erected.
The first supervisor of the town' was Isaac Northrup in 1815, then came Henry Wells, William Tolley, Sylvester Nichols, Castle Seeley, Eli Pierce, John Clough, Benjamin Haviland, Casper Van Loan, Wm. Morton, Henry Van Loan, Alonzo Green, Isaac Whitbeck, Geo. S. Nichols, 1851, Isaac Whitbeck, David Whitein, John I. Hallenbeck, Isaac VanSchaack, Prentiss Hallen- beck, Wm. K. Reeves, Dr. John H. Wheeler, Joseph Robbins, Enos Edwards, John Beardsley, John Pennington, Henry Straban 1871-73, Harmon Van Woert 73-83, Clark Porter, William T. Nichols, Thomas H. Briggs, Harmon Van Woert, Jere Brooks, W. C. Brady, H. I. Van Loan, John K. Van Woert, W. C. Brady, Elmore Mackey now Sheriff, and Frank Nichols.
The village officials are Frank S. Howland president Claude Whiting, Mark Brennan, James Lynch and Frank Beards- ley trustees. Henry R. Van Woert clerk, W. C. Brady treasurer, Nelson Clow collector. Assessors, the board of trustees.
The first clerk of the village of Athens was Henry Wells.
So far as the church organizations are concerned the first church was the Lutheran and that was organized in 1704 and was one of the few between New York and Albany, and the Rev. Justice Faulkner was the preacher. The particular spot being known as Loonenburgh, after the Van Loons undoubtedly. The church of the Palentines at West Camp was in this circuit.
Albert, Matthias and Jan Van Loon in 1721 gave deed to the church lands. The first church was erected in 1724. This building was square and had four roofs shaped to a V and with a spire steeple. This building gave place to the present structure. The Rev. Jacob S. Paul is the present pastor.
The Trinity Episcopal church was organized in 1806, at Loonenburgh, and the building was erected in 1813. The Rev. Mr. Prentice was rector and General Samuel Haight was the
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principal contributor, $275 being for pew rent. Dominie Prentice was killed in 1837 when a stage tipped over at Coxsackie. From 1833 to 1835 the Rev. John Griggs was rector. Rev. Howard Whitney is now rector.
The Methodist church was organized about 1820. The Rev. W. A. Greenleaf is the present pastor.
The Dutch Reformed Church was organized in 1826. The Rev. David Abeele was the first pastor and he went out as the first missionary to China. Other pastors were the Rev. C. Von Kleef, Joseph Wilson, Jefferson Wynkoop, Edwin Holmes, Joseph Wilson, Wm. A. Cornwell, J. R. Tallmadge, Rev. Mr. Betts, W. D. Buckalew, C. Spaulding, Allen D. Campbell, Herman Vanderwoert. The Rev. H. G. Hergie is the present pastor.
The Baptist church was organized in 1832, and its full list of ministers has not been preserved. The present pastor is the Rev. Walter C. Bishop.
The Roman Catholic church was organized in 1871. Rev. Father Gillin, present pastor.
The old burying ground on the Northrup place contains the mortal remains of Jan VanLoon, Matthias Van Loon and many of the early settlers.
The Athens Rural Cemetery is a part of that lot, and was incorporated in 1847.
Mt. Hope Cemetery is also a part of the same lot on the Esperanza purchase. More of the Van Loons are buried here, and it is announced on one of the stones that Albertus Van Loon departed this life with a cancer.
The Clark family, honored residents, trace back to Samuel Clark 1615, William Clark_ 1712, Reuben Clark 1743, Nathan Clark 1787. He started a pottery at Athens in 1808. His partner Ethan Fox founded the Baptist Church at Athens. Edward Clark
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was born in 1811, and he became a part owner of the Singer Sew- ing machine company, the copartnership being I. N. Singer & Co. and to Mr. Clark goes the credit for organizing the Singer Sewing Machine Company with a capital of $500,000. Nathan Clark died in 1891.
The brick industry of Athens is conducted by three pros. perous firms. William W. Rider whose plant has a capacity of 100,000 brick per day, and who has had the plant since 1875,
N. Gladfelter has a plant of 50,000 capacity.
Joseph Moyonne has a patent dryer with a capacity of 50,000.
Wm. C. Brady and his father before him, an undertaking firm of long standing, have conducted the interment of more than 3000 persons mostly in these cemeteries, and W C. Brady has buried more than the entire present population of Athens. He has a complete alphabetical record with dates and ages which is most remarkable.
Morton Steamer Company, of Athens, has the following officers: President, Charles Hitchcock; vice president, Charles B. Miller; forman, Ray Weeks; 1st ass't, Alex. Fyfe; 2nd ass't, Leonard Ford; secretary and trustee, Theodore Gritman; treasur- er, James Holmes.
The Ice industry is one of the most important. The big houses are: American Ice Company, Willis A. Winne, Hudson River Ice Company, J. Brooks Co. Theo. Evory Ice Company, E. E. Briggs, F. R. Howland and Son, Dwyer Brothers and Rafferty, Arrow Ice Company, and Avery & Eichhorn.
The Athens Textile Company employs a large number of persons.
The H. F. Dernell Company manufactures ice tools, and Mr. Dernell invented the ice plow.
Travis Brothers operate a foundry.
C. F. & M. G. Webber also have a foundry.
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Howland and Son, Marine railway.
Richard Lanahan, ship yard and marine railway.
Henry I. Van Loan, wholesale fruits.
T. A. Briggs and Son, barrel mirs, and garage.
John Self, motor builder.
Wm. (. Brady, undertaker.
M. Harvey, newspaper.
Estate W. H. Stewart, hotel, Abram Post.
Alvin Brooks. Norman Cooper, and Frank . Howland are grocers.
Henry Du Bois, Henry Edwards, druggists.
F. W. Leek, dry goods. . Thomas Low, hotel. Gifford & Porter, law. Orin Q. Flint, law. E. C Van Deusen, physician.
EVARTS
ATHENS NY
Evert's Memorial Library, Athens.
One of the splendid buildings that attracts attention in Athens is the Evarts Library, of which we present a very good engraving. This building costing, a large sum of money, is com= plete in every way and endowed to the extent that it costs the
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village not a penny in any way. It was the splendid gift of Daniel Evarts and wife of Norwich, Ct., both of whom are deceased, and were formerly residents of Athens. The fund is in bonds that produce every three years a surplus of about $500, and this amount is further invested by treasurer Wm. C. Brady as it comes in. The building was constructed by Reilly & Acker, of Utica. The Librarian is Mrs. Mary B. VanLoan, and the trustees are Frank Nichols, Emory E. Briggs, W. C. Brady treas., Henry R. Van Woert, clerk.
Previous to 1862 the crossing of the river at Athens had been by means of primitive ferries the first of which were operated by large scows, and up to 1862 the locomotion for the ferries was obtained by means of a horse power similar to that used on thresh- ing machines. The J. T. Waterman was built by W. A. Fletcher and the engine of that date is still in use on the J. T. Power which was built in 1872 and is the oldest ferry boat on the river. The Power in 1914 carried 2862 automobiles across the river. Frank Beardsley is captain, Martin Cooke, engineer, Herman Lanfare, pilot.
One of the big fires was that of 1874 in which the White Elephant property was destroyed.
Another big fire in 1870 wiped out a block of frame build- ings which may be seen in the cut presented elsewhere.
Still another large fire occurred in 1913.
The Osborn House which was one of the old time hotels was destroyed in the fire of 1878, and the Brooks opera house building was erected on the site of that hotel.
Among the prominent residents who have passed since 1883:
Wentworth Allen, ship builder 1884,
Abram Bedell, 1890.
Col. John Beardsley graduate of the West Point, Military academy, a veteran of the Mexican and Seminole war, Col. 9th
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Cavelry in the Civil war. . He was one of the West shore Railroad Commissioners who apprised the lands during the construction of the road. He laid out Fort Worth. Died in 1906, aged 89 years.
George C. Brady, father of Win. (. Brady. Died 1880, aged 89 years.
Capt. John Benjamin Briggs, oldest river pilot, and was on the old Vibbard. Died 1903, aged 78 years.
Thomas Brasier, 1905.
Caleb Coffin, glue manufacturer, president village, died 1885, aged 60 years.
Nathan Clark in pottery business, and early settler, part owner Singer Sewing machine business. Died 1891, aged 72 years. Two Nathan Clarks are still honored residents of Athens.
Capt. Ira Cooper, died 1903, aged 80 years. He was a brick manufacturer and operated a fleet of sloops around 1820.
Enos R. Edwards, ship builder with his brother, and also supervisor and postmaster. Died 1898, aged 76 years.
Theodore Evory, built half the ice houses in Athens. Died 1908, aged 62 years.
Augustus Goeller, justice and police justice 30 years. Died 1914, aged 73 years.
Charles W. Howland, firm Howland and Son, hardware, groceries, lumber etc. Died 1905, aged 70 years.
Woodbridge Little King, a prominent farmer, died 1905, aged 93 years.
Richard G. Low brick manufacturer, old line Democrat, died 1896, aged 85 years.
Peter Magee, ship builder, sheriff for 3 years, died 1899, aged 61 years.
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Wm. Mackey, father of Sheriff Mackey, died 1903, aged 80 years.
Samuel H. Nichols, justice of peace, village clerk, assessor, member of assembly, member of Governor's commission to con- demn W. S. Lands. Died 1911, aged 89 years.
Prosper Peloubet, pres. Mt. Hope Cemetery Assn. , President of trustees, and Old Line Democrat, died 1884, aged 76 years.
Joel W. Porter, brickmaker, died 1889, aged 61 years.
Wm. S. Rainey, died 1876, aged 75 years.
Robert Titus, pres. of village, brick manufacturer, died 1901, aged 73 years.
Lewis Wolf, builder, pres. of village, trustee, director of Evening Line Steamers, also Hudson River Ice Co , died 1904, aged 75 years.
The Athens Casualty List of 1914:
Charles Smith engineer Storm King crushed to death April 13th.
Martin McDonald, strangled in coal bin, August 14th.
Charles Destadio, a brick kiln caved in on him Aug. 19th. W. Ray Hallenbeck, shot to death by Worthy Tolley, Sept. 15th.
Louisa Kroll, killed in auto accident Oct. 13th. and her husband died under operation Aug. 13th.
In 1814 it was discovered that the middle ground between Athens and Hudson was very inconvenient to river travel and an act was passed by the legislature granting to Athens and Hudson the right to establish a lottery for the purpose of raising $10,000 which was to be used in removing the middle. The middle ground is still there.
Mrs. M. E. Harvey conducts the Athens News.
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Cairo
The town of Cairo was formed in 1803, portions of Catskill, Cox- sackie and Freehold being taken, and it was called C'anton up to 1808 when the name was changed to ('airo. The town contains over 36,- 000 acres of land and a considerable portion was held under the Salis- bury, Van Bergen and Barker pat- ents, the Barker patent being over 6000 acres of land. This extended from Woodstock to Durham, and Mr. Barker figured yery largely in the early history of the town. He lived to be 93 years of age and his descendants the Taylors, Dedericks, Floyd F. Jones Whites, Olmstead, Salisburys, as well as the Barkers are to be found throughout Greene county today. The Barker burial ground was located in a meadow on the MeWilliam's farm north of Cairo.
James Barker, who is great, great grandfather of Mrs. Ira T. Tolley, matron of the almshouse, was given a grant of land under Governor Andros in 1680 of 6000 acres of land which now forms a large part of Cairo. There were other patents and sub- divisions of land but James Barker was the only one to settle on the grant. James Barker was a member of the English bar, and came to this country previous to the Revolution. He settled first at Catskill and later on went to Cairo. Abram and Francis Sal- isbury had lands to the east of the Barker patent. James Barker was a patroon, and a slave owner, and it was he who defended one of the Salisburys, who was accused of the murder of one of his slaves, and he secured an aquittal. Barker died at the age of 93 years. There were 23 families that came to this country with Mr. Barker. Their names we are unable to state.
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The old graveyards may have some of them in the follow- ing list :
Samuel Earle died 1858, aged 100 years.
Benjamin Upham died 1799.
John Balis died 1789.
David Brewster, born 1758, aged 83. Hannah Brewster, his wife, aged 96. Catherine Earle, born 1764, aged 92. John Pine, born 1773.
In 1823 there was made up a list of the slaves in the town. There were 11 of them, all minors.
The Strope family, who lived in the first log house, were murdered by Indians. Early industry comprised chiefly getting out hemlock bark for the tanneries.
One of the most conspicuous of ('airo men was Judge Daniel Sayre, who was born at Southampton in 1765. He owned 1000 acres on the Shinglekill and organized a church at Acra in 1804. He was a member of the Assembly in 1804 and in 1806 judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Greene county. Four of his children were burned to death in a fire that destroyed his home in 1808.
One of the honored families of Cairo is the Schermerhorn. Frederick in 1780 was captured by the Indians after the massacre of other members of the family (Stropes) and carried into captiv- ity, was sold to the English and was forced to enlist. He served with 50 whites and 100 Indians and finally managed to escape, returning to Cairo. He lived for a time on the Barringer place at Kiskatom and erected a log house near Round Top. He died in 1846, aged 76. Ifis son went into the cattle business and then into mercantile lines at Cairo.
In 1832, Col. Ira Day and John Palen had tanneries that turned out 18,000 sides of leather annually. The Forge, Wood- stock and Acra were the points of these industries. The grist mill, wood turning of mountain souvenirs and saw mill are about all that remain. Hon. Lyman Tremaine was the owner at one time of the mill at Woodstock.
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The Columbian, H. K. Lyon, prop., Cairo, and Falls in Vicinity.
Men living in Cairo today still cherish the memory of the Hon. Augustus Hill, who was born in 1810 and died in 1899, an old line Democrat and a member of the legislature in 1871. His grandfather, Obadiah Hill, witnessed the execution of Major An- dre, the British spy, who had plans of the fortifications at West Point, given him by Benedict Arnold.
Cairo has no regular fire company although it has an or- ganized effort of citizens that has as its headW. Burr Hall as chief, and Gaston Wynkoop and Druggist R. A. Austin are assistants. Fire protection is from water works and a hand engine of the old times, and good work is accomplished.
The school system is excellent, and at the head is Edward E. Richmond, principal, Hope L. Fordham, preceptress, Mary D. Halloran, pre-academic, Mary C. Timmerman, 4th and 5th grades,
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and S. Edna Story, primary. Geo. W. Squires, Andrew P. Freese and N. M. Howard are trustees and R. A. Austin, treas- urer.
Little Falls, South Cairo.
The Cairo Electric Light company gets its power from the large dam at Woodstock, which furnishes power for Catskill, Tan- nersville, Palenville, Haines Falls and other places.
The Greene County Agricultural Society which has been the great county fair of generations was organized in 1819, and John Bagley of Durham was its first president. Daniel Sayre of Cats- kill was one of the first exhibitors of premium grade cattle. Th
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first premium award was $149.The organization received from the state 8200. The organization has been uniformly prosperous and has a splendid plant accommodating about 10,000 persons, and the annual fair is still a red letter event, with the horse trot a feature always.
There is but one landmark of the period of 1867 left in the ('airo business world and that is O. Post who has been condueting a harness shop since that time and for 43 years in the building where he now is. The business of Cairo at that time comprised Ed. and Jason Stevens, general stores, Tremaine and Weeks, store, George Person, hotel, now Walter Brothers, Benjamin Wal- dron, hotel, David Grannis and Elijah Wells, wagon shops, Har- low Hine, painter, Henry Steele, shoemaker, Charles Nailor, blacksmith, Henry Hotchkin, undertaker, Dr. King, physician, Dr. Noble, physician. One Hotaling ran a stage line of four horse coaches from Catskill to Cairo and there were two lines from Cairo west, one to Windham and the other to Gilboa. Later on these lines were operated by Churchill.
The Hon. Luke Roe was supervisor of Cairo 5 years, 1858- 70 and 1866-67. Also Loan Commissioner of County.
Dr. Levi King was famed the county over for his medical skill. He had 9 children, and practiced in Cairo for 52 years. He celebrated his golden wedding in 1876. His father served in the Revolution. Dr. King was born in 1799 and was 78 years of age.
Francis G. Walters, whose death occurred last fall, was 82 years of age, and was for many years with his brother Ambrose Walters, owner of the hotel that bears their name. He was sher- iff of Greene county and also member of assembly.
Samuel Earle built a log house in Cairo in 1793. He lived to be 100 years of age and owner of 900 acres.
Other of the old timers were John Howell, Harvey D. Peck, Orman Burhans and John Rouse. Born in the 1700's and round- ing out the century.
The father of Thurlow Weed, later of Catskill, is said to have been one of the early settlers.
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GREENE COUNTY ALMS HOUSE, CAIRO, N. Y.
Building erected in 1883, Supervisors Committee: Harmon Van Woert, Athens, Albert Parker, Coxsackie, Samuel S. Mulford, Hunter. Architect: John Halcott, Catskill. Contractors: Mull & Fromer, Catskill. Present Superintendent, Ira T. Tolley, Matron, Mrs. Ira T. Tolley,
DEAR OLD GREENE COUNTY.
The Greene county alms house is located at Cairo. It is in line with the other splendid buildings that stand as a credit to the county. The situation is not only charming, but everything that could lend a charm to the place and make it attractive for those whose last days are to be spent as the wards of the county, has been done by the men who have represented the county in the board of supervisors, and the very capable man who for the past seven years has had the management of the place. The beautiful grounds and entire premises are swept and garnished as for par- ade, and throughout the house everything is as snug and inviting as the best home to be found in the county. From the reports that are filed every year by the several committees, local, county, and state, there isn't an institution of the sort that makes a better show. Mr. Ira T. Tolley and his estimable wife, who is matron of the institution, deserve lasting praise for their care and pains- taking effort. The house usually has from 74 to 90 inmates, who are well housed, well fed, contented, and happy. Our view of the building shows the splendid shape it is in. And it is most re- markable that the care of these people, and of the dairy of 12 cat- tle and the tilling of 196 acres, should be taken care of by 4 per- sons outside of Mr. and Mrs. Tolley. One farmer, and one assis- tant, one cook and a woman to assist Mrs. Tolley, do it all. The annual report shows that the farm produce goes a long ways toward paying for the upkeep of it all. The house has electric lights, fire protection, fine water, sanitary plumbing, and com- modious and well kept outbuildings, and the evidence of great care is everywhere. Mr. Tolley was elected in 1906 and took the office in 1907. He was re-elected in 1909 by about 600 and in 1912 by over 1200. Mrs. Tolley, in addition to the cares of the place, is very active in church work. She is organist for the Pres- byterian church, and a worker in the Sunday School, as well as the King's Daughters. Mr. Tolley is also a member of the Pres- byterian church and a contributor to every worthy object. Before he was chosen superintendent of the county house he was for 25 years in charge of the business of the Catskill Mountain railroad at Cairo, and for 12 years a justice of the town. Religious services are held at the county house every two weeks by the Rev. Mr.
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Edgeton, rector of the Episcopal Church. It may be interesting to note that James Barker, who was great great grandfather of Mrs. Tolley, held the original grant of land, some 6000 acres, ex- tending from Cairo to Durham.
The Great Shinglekill Falls at Purling.
There were several factories started at the forge, and at that place is standing at the present time a very old mill of which we have not the date. Several of these mills have been destroyed by fire. Frank S. Decker of Catskill formerly owned one of these mills. Capt. Byington had a wooden clock factory for making the Grandfather clocks. There was a factory that made spinning wheels and looms, a nail factory, and Lucius Byington had a saw mill that has been operated by many generations of Byingtons. It was built in 1808. Anson Wright had a furniture factory, Egbert Paddock made grain cradles, and Egglestone, Porter and Ackley made buckets, of which they made 5000 per year. Paul Raeder for 20 years had a scythe factory and a grist mill.
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