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 4
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DEAR OLD GREENE COUNTY.
In the Clove, Line of State Road,
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Cairo, N. Y., Jan. 18, 1: 15
Friend Gallt:
A sport came in one day claiming that a large trout broke an 18 lb. line for him. I showed him an old No. 7 Empire City Enameled Silk line which we tested at 5 lbs. Told him I could land the largest trout in the country on it. Some time after as we were starting for Potiek Creek for big ones, I thought of my assertion and put that line on my rod. (which weighs 9 ounces) I used single leader and No. 2 Sneck Single Hook.
I hooked the fish about 9 p. m. and brought him on a three quarter pound strain. Twice when he went to the bottom to rest I may have lifted one pound to start him up. Twice I led him to shore but he re- covered and went out again. The third time I landed him by slipping my finger through the gill and thumb in mouth. The first flop he nearly got away, twisting my fingers and hand. Time of fight one hour. He weighed 8 lbs. Brown trout, 29 inches in en
Yours Truly,
W. Burr Hall.
The Big Steam Roller Doing State Road Work on Nearby Road.
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DEAR OLD GREENE COUNTY.
The Dubois' and Overbaughs
We have gone at length into the history of the Du Bois family, because their generations have been the men and women who have made up very largely the history not only of Catskill, but also Greene county, and the surrounding counties, and thus extending are practically all over the entire country.
Louis DuBois born in 1626, at Wicres, France, a Hugenot refugee, landed at New Amsterdam in 1660, and there were then 200 houses scattered over Manhattan island and in all 1400 popu- lation. There was a fort and an old Dutch church, a wind mill and the virgin forests. Broadway was then Heere Straat, the Lord street.
The town had an inn keeper, a captain of the militia, Martin Kregiere, and the Rev. Megapoliensis dispensed the gospel in Dutch. There were many other refugees.
The DuBoises left NewAmsterdam (New York), found their way up the Hudson an a sloop, landing after many days in the "Esopus Country" sailing up the Rondout Creek. Others of the party went on to Saugerties.
Louis Du Bois took up his home at Wiltwyck, now Kings- ton, or at Hurley, and here his wife and three children were taken captives by the Indians, who destroyed Hurley, 1663. He helped to build the first church and the second and the third at Kingston.
The Indians wiped out Wiltwyck, the dead laying as sheaves behind the mower, 12 women and 31 children were carried away. The church was spared.
A Wappinger Indian who had been captured was impressed to guide a party of soldiers who went to the rescue of the captives. 45 men, and Louis Du Bois was among the number. The party started July 4 and on September 5 came up with the Indians. There was a bloody fight and the prisoners were recovered. Mrs. Du Bois was tied to a tree and surrounded with faggots and was singing hymns as a prelude to being burned to death. It was his descendents who came to Catskill. A great family it appears to have been.
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The Rev. Anson Du Bois was a member of the old Leeds Dutch church and became a preacher of note, being located at Kingston as pastor in 1854, and was also ordained as a home mis- sionary by the Classis of Greene, subsequently he was located at Flatlands, L. I.
We are able to show a very good picture of him, as also of several other early members of the Du Bois family who have achieved distinction.
Peter Du Bois was buried at Fishkill in 1837, and his generations are all over the country.
Cornelius Du Boise of whom we are able to show a picture became very wealthy and devoted his life to the relief of suffering humanity. He was one of the founders of the Humane Society, New York in 1787, and was an official of the house of refuge, New York City Hospital, Mariners Society, Eye Infirmary, Pauperism Society and of the chamber of commerce and many banks. He died in 1846.
Capt. Theodore Du Bois of whom we also present a portrait, was lieutenant commander of the Albatross which formed a part of Faragut's fleet and passed the batteries at Port Hudson. He was commander of the Suffolk which laid the cable to the West Indies.
Of Benjamin Du Bois of ('atskill we learn that he was not only the owner of all Catskill, but that he was one of the original members of the Dutch Church in Catskill formed in 1732 and was a deacon, under pastor Geo. M. Weiss . Over the Dutch church at Caatsban, built in 1732, is carved the names of Benjamin, Solomon and Huybartus Du Bois. He was very religious. He was also a Colonel of state troops and served in the Champlain, Mohawk Val- ley, Schoharie and other campaigns. The Indians one night de- termined to capture him but were deterred. He celebrated at his home the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. His son, Grant Du Bois was a missionary in the employ of the American Tract Society, 1836-53. Cornelius, another son was a scout under Tim Murphy the Indian fighter. He built the old block house on the Shafer farm at Schoharie.
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Of Isaac Du Bois we are told that he built the court house in 1812.
Ira DuBois in 1830 founded the Catskill Messenger later changed to Catskill Examiner.
Joel DuBois served in the revolution and lived at Kiskatom. He was regarded as the strongest man in the section, and 'of enor- mous physique.
Du Bois House, Cauterskill. Torn Down 1911.
The Loveridge Patent 1770 comprised five lots.
Lot 1, commenced on the Catskill Creek opposite the old Stone Jug, and continued along the same to Caters-kill, 915 acres. On this section were the lands of Huybartus Du Bois, with the old stone house now occupied by Miss Josephine Hopkins, and Ben- jamin DuBois opposite and beyond the Salisbury mill. Here was another old stone house, erected 1730 by Benjamin Du Bois, and torn down in 1911 (See picture)
Lot 2, comprised 1575 acres. The line ran from the Platte- kill in the Vly to the Caters-kill. Isaac Du Bois owned the river
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and creek front to the Dise place. Cornelius DuBois lands adjoin- ed. There were the lands of Jurian Overbaugh in the Fvyke of Smith and three lots of Overbaugh.
Lot 3 adjoined lot 2 and ran from the Hudson river to the Caters-kill, 1515 acres. On this were the Fieros, at Caters-kill, Trumpbours, Saxes, Spahns and Bergers.
Lot 4, adjoined and ran from the Abeel place in Caters-kill to the end or point of the Vly on the Hudson river, containing 1415 acres. Milligan occupied the Streeke, Van Orden Dumond and two families of Van Ordens occupied the balance of the land.
Lot Number 5 adjoined and ran from the Quatawicknaack and Cauterskill to Maquas Hook on the Hudson, 1215 acres. Dedrick, occupied a section on the Kings road Martin, Person and Van Vechten occupied the balance.
The old deed was signed by eight Indians: Wannachatquatin, Mamanuchaqua, Cunpaer Unsawanneck, Wanninmauwa,
Taw wequannis. Anneke Natokimoot.
This Deed to Wm. Loveirdge 1866, and recorded in the county of Albany, and is from "Thomas
We are indebted to Robert F. Story of Catskill for a picture of Madam Jane Dise, wife of Major John Dise of the English army who owned the old Stone Jug, one of the first five houses in Greene County. This picture was taken at the time Mrs. Dise was about 16 years of age, and hence is nearly 200 years old. The picture from which our copy is taken is an oil painting in splendid preservation as to color, canvass and frame, a full length portrait. two thirds life size. It was purchased by Mr. Story at the time the property was sold, and is one of the most valuable relics of the early colonial times. To Mr. Story we are also indebted for in- teresting facts in regard to the early residents of the Catskill sec- tion of the Loveridge Patent, as the descendents of these early families make up the generations of Catskill and Greene as well as other counties.
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The Old Du Bois Place at the Point, Re-modeled by Frederick Nelson Du Bois. One of the First Houses on Linzey Patent.
Present residence of Mr. Du Bois. Cottage of Person, Barns, Storage, Residence of Mrs. Abeel top of hill at Right, Yacht Rascal of Samuel C. Hopkins in Creek.
DEAR OLD GREENE COUNTY.
It is interesting to note in regard to the old deed that we referred to on page 111 that it was signed "Thomas Dongan, Capt General, Governor in Chief and Vice Admiral of the Province of New York under his Majesty, James the II. King of England, Ireland, Scotland and France, and Defender of the Faith."
A part of the consideration was the payment of 200 merch- antable beavers. And there are no more beavers in Greene county. Possibly Loveridge got them all.
Capt. Theodore DuBois.
In the inventory of the personal property of Benjamin Du Bois is listed "One negro girl and a pair of andirons 36 pounds
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and 10 shillings. Two negro boys at 50 and 30 pounds. A flax break, smothing iron, slice, 1 schipple, landthorn, 2 trammels hatchet, chamber pot, a weaver's loom, spinning wheels and reels. All these articles practically unknown today. This list was made in 1797.
Louis Du Bois first in America was born at Wicres, near Lille, France, 1626, came to America in 1660, located at Kingston, was father of 10 children. Solomon came to Catskill in 1759.
Benjamin Du Bois settled at Catskill 1727, and in 1762 built the old house still standing near the town bridge. (See picture)
The Benjamin Du Bois House.
Of the second generation at Catskill, Sarah Du Bois married Pietrus Overbaugh. Children, Benjamin Overbaugh, and Catherine Overbaugh.
Solomon Du Bois lived in the old house at Caterskill (1730) and had two children. On the grave of his wife is the inscription "Anno 1778, Merte, 27, is mein vrow in Den Heerin outslappen'' Translation: March 27, 1778. "Now is my wife sleeping in the Lord".
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The will of Huybartus Du Bois in 1806 witnessed by Barent Du Bois, John Bogardus and Egbert Bogardus, Dorrance Kirkland being Surrogate, probated the will in 1809.
Colonel Cornelius Du Bois.
Isaac DuBois took possession of the Hopnose farm in 1762. Joel Du Bois served during the revolution in the regiment of his uncle, Cornelius, which was stationed in the Mohawk valley. The Du Bois cottage of that date is the old homestead now owned by F. N. Du Bois and has always been in the posession of the family. It has been remodeled and is a most beautiful structure. A celebra- tion of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis took place within the
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walls of the old mansion. Col. Anthony Van Bergen of Coxsackie, and Capt. Samuel Van Vechten served with Lieut. Col. Cornelius Du Bois. A Block House at Cobleskill was called Du Bois Fort after Cornelius.
After the death of Isaac Du Bois his son John occupied and held the place for 45 years, then John D. Du Bois, and then Jacob Van Orden 1859, then the Whittakers and then F. N. Du Bois.
Rev. Benjamin Du Bois.
The children of Solomon Du Bois were Benjamin, Catelientie Sarah and Rachel, who never married and died at age 99 years. Catelientie married Edward Whittaker, and had 6 children, Solomon, Henry, William, Benjamin, Margaret and Joel.
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Sarah married Barent S. Salisbury. He was a prominent American officer of the Revolution, being in the battles of German . town and Monmouth.
The children of Huybartus Du Bois were John, who married Caty Dise, daughter of Madam Jane Dise. Treintje married Gosie Hermance 1st and had four children, Lana, John, Polly and Rachel. Polly married Ira Canfield. Rachel married Benjamin Sole. Treintje married Michael Phillips for her second husband.
Treintje had for her third husband John Du Bois a cousin, and lived with him 23 years at the Point.
Rachel Du Bois married Abram Hoffman and had 6 children.
Lana Du Bois married Abram Elmendorf, and had two children, Annatje and Huybartus.
Lidia married John Sole. Issue Huybartus Sole.
Geertrey Du Bois married but the record is missing.
Catharinetje Du Bois married Peter Bogardus and had three children. Egbert, Catty and Sally. Egbert was most of his life collector of taxes in Catskill.
Barent Du Bois was a scout, under Generals, Sullivan, Hand and Lafayette. Served with Murphy the Indian fighter.
Arraeynnje Du Bois married John Mallory. Abraham married Jennie Grant of Stamford. Annatje married Joel Du Bois.
Kana Du Bois married Abram Fonda, and had 4 children, of whom Lana married Gen. Wm. Salisbury. Of her children Cateline married Rachel Dewey. Rachel married Lewis Bennan. Ebellena married Henry Du Bois. And Helen Salisbury married Elbert Reed.
Achie Du Bois married Jacobus Bogardus, and had four children, of whom Jannett married John M. Donnelly, a prom- inent Catskill merchant 1842, and Betsey married Dr. Jacob Greene.
That record brings us to the 6th generation in America. In which the families named are: Du Bois, Whittakers, 4 generations Peter Eckler, William, Margaret and Benjamin Eckler, the Elys, Fieros, Goodwins, Darts, Hallenbecks, Van Loans.
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Barent Du Bois was Indian agent for the government.
Samuel Du Bois was sheriff of Greene county.
The generations of Abraham Du Bois were mostly in Dela- ware county.
Col. John Du Bois married sisters, Catty and Jeannette, daughters of Jane Dies. His children were John D. father of Frederick N. Du Bois, owner of the old homestead and who pre- sented Catskill with the Y. M. C. A. building. Jeannette, Jaines, Catherine, Ira, Joel, Isaac and Lanah. Jeannette married Cor- nelius Du Bois. Catherine married Oliver Ashley. Marcia Ashley married David Becker, and Libbie Becker married Johnathan Palen, who ran the tannery at Palenville around the 1830's.
Ira DuBois founded the Catskill Messenger, now Examiner. Joel Du Bois married Sally Hunter.
Isaac Du Bois married Catherine Hunter. He was justice at Kiskatom over 20 years.
Jeannette Hunter married Cornelius MI. Abeel at Kiskatom, Frances Hunter married Wm. Linzey.
Generations of Peter Du Bois and Catherine Van Orden, Benjamin, John P., Robert, Eliza, James, Mary, Edwin, Rhoda and Cornelius Cornelius became captain of the 53d Colored Inf. and served through the rebellion. He conducted the Pine Grove house, Palenville, up to the time of his death in 1913.
Ellen Du Bois married Isaac North. Emma married the Rev. O. Van Kuren, Joseph Allen married Julia Teator. Mary married Col. B. B. G. Stone the artist of Catskill.
Grant Du Bois married Catherine Lamouree. Isaac married Cathrine Van Voris.
The children of John D. Du Bois were Lewis, Philo, Ann Jeannette, William, James, Addison and Frederick Nelson.
Ann married Peter Whittaker, Mary married Henry Van Gorden.
Johan Peter Overbaugh settled at KayKout in 1722, and died in 1732, being buried on the East side of the KayKout in the
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cemetery on the Everts place below Catskill. This is said to be the first and oldest tombstone so far as the records show. His sons were two, Johanis and Johan Jurry. Johanis had four children, Marytje who married Peter Snyder. Catherine who married God- frey Brandow, Annatje who married Gystrect Osterhout, Elizabeth who married Johannas Dederick.
Johan Jurry married Catherine Smith, and his son Johan jr. married Hannah Conyes, grandmother to Mrs. F. N. Du Bois, and also of Robert Story's mother. Their children were Frederick Jacob, William, Rebecca, (mother of Nelson DuBois) Hannah and Rachel.
Frederick Overbaugh married first Catherine Mallory, 2d Hannah Overbaugh a cousin. Jane Overbaugh married Francis Story, whom many Catskillians remember and one of Catskill's foremost residents. Their children were Anna J., Robert F., John James, Frederick, Margaret, Martha, Francis, Bella and Jacob, all of whom are dead excepting Robert F. Story, many years loan commissioner, and Martha.
The extent of these generations is quite remarkable.
The Van Ordens and Overbaghs appear to have lived well and increased on the Loveridge lands from the Revolutionary period to the present time, and the Persons, and Posts have filled their generations and survive. Ignatius Van Orden served in Col. Van Bergen's regiment in the revolution.
The first tax list showed that in 1786 there was collected 61 pounds, 8240 and that 16 persons paid all the tax.
The Patron's store at Kiskatom is the oldest frame building standing and dates into the revolutionary period. Another frame building on the Godwin place near by was blown down a few years ago.
The Catskill patent taking in Leeds and the Potic region had several nations of Indians . more Dutch of whom the Bronks, Van Bergens, Van Deusens, Salisburys, Vedders, Van Vechtens and Whitbeck were the chief residents. There were five nations of In- dians, Delawares, Mohicans, Penacooks, Nanticokes etc., and re- cently the moving picture people made in this section pictures covering Cooper's Last of The Mohicans.
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A Picturesque Spot Along the Cauterskill.
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The Salisbury House built in 1705, is still standing, having been remodeled somewhat. It was famous for its age and also for the number of antiques of great value that its owners treasured. These were disposed of a few years ago and passed into the hands of speculators and treasure hunters, the descendents of the late Claudius Van Deusen getting some of them. Some of the furniture badly broken brought remarkable prices. This house, the old stone bridge and the stone church made history for the pretty hamlet of Leeds And descendents of the Colonial families re- main This strip of land continued south as far as High Falls, and west to Valje Kilje near the Wolcott mills.
The Falls at Woodstock.
Other settlers who came here to escape the privations of of P'alantinate were the Fieros, Webers, Newkirks and Sachs and Dominie Shuneman, whose grandchildren are said to state that his sermons were used by the negro servants to start fires in the kitchen of his tavern. He preached one Sunday in Old Catskill. And the next in Coxsackie. Ile carried a gun with him most the time. His remains are in the burial ground in Jefferson, where he was laid to rest at the age of 81 years, in 1794.
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The next minister George Michael Weiss also preached in ('atskill and Coxsackie. His salary included house, garden and fire wood. The old church at Leeds, still standing, was built during his pastorate in 1798.
On the road from Leeds to Kaaterskill were three houses at this period, Jurry Planck, Garritt Van Bergen, and Gysbert Osterhoudt, and at Kaaterskill falls was agrist mill, and saw mill built in 1733, and near this mill was the old stone house built in 1730 and torn down in 1911.
The story of the capture of David and Anthony Abeel by the Indians lends some excitement to the chapter of 1780, as well as the plan that failed, to carry off Cornelius Du Bois then living in the old stone house now occupied by Josephine Hopkins in West Catskill.
In all this early history we fail to find the names or mention of physicians, and it may have been that there were none. It is certain that the men and their noble wives lived generally to the 80's and 90's and that they were in their meager circumstances generous, industrious and hard working men, who had piety written on their faces and enacted in their living. They had few if any laws and needed none. Even the old intoxicants appear not to have affected their even frame of mind.
Within a stone's throw of the second Catskill Mountain railroad bridge is the Van Vechten house, 1690 and just across the railroad tracks on the summit of a knoll shaded by trees of per- haps a century's growth is the burial lot of the Van Vechtens. The residence of which we are able to show a fine view, taken by the writer of this book, is in excellent repair and has not undergone much change. The old grave yard is practically as it appeared 100 years ago. Many of the stones are broken off and the others are pointing in various angles. The stones have been gath- ered from the adjoining lots, and are without any inscription some of them, and others chiseled out by the Van Vechtens with- out doubt. The trees have grown since the last interment, and one stone is enclosed in the growth of a tree and cracked in two
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pieces. At the entrance of this plot is a painted slab announcing that :
The Van Vechten Plot Today.
Dircke Tunisse Van Vechten was born on the River Vecht, Holland.
A slab that is 24 inches in heigth and 6 inches at the top in breadth and about 9 at the bottom, an ordinary piece of blue stone, rough and ragged, announces :
W. V. Orden, Dyed 23 Oct. 1777.
There are 7 ordinary stones, small boulders that rise above the ground six or eight inches, other graves have no stones at all.
The last burial in this plot appears to have been John Van Vechten, in 1879, at the age of 93 years.
Others buried here whose graves are marked are Teunis Van Vechten and Judea, his wife, Jacob Van Vechten, Samuel Van
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Vechten, Eleanor, Anna and Catherine Van Vechten, Samuel Washington Van Vechten, William Schuneman Van Vechten.
On a slab in the old house is inscribed :
"'In Memory of the seven brothers, all born in this house:"
William Washington Van Vechten born Jan. 13 1799, died August 25, 1845.
Teunis Samuel Van Vechten born Jan. 20, 1784, died Jan. 25,1850.
Peter Van Vechten, born Feb. 15. 1794, died Aug. 29,1854.
Jacob Van Vechten, born July 31, 1788, died Sept. 14, 1871. John Van Vechten, born Nov. 24, 1785, died Feb. 3, 1879.
Abraham Van Vechten, born Oct. 12, 1791, died Sept. 29, 1885.
Rev. Samuel Van Vechten, born Aug. 4, 1786, died Jan. 18, 1875. Louisa Van Vechten, his wife born Aug. 30, 1803, died Jan. 18, 1875.
Catherine Van Vechten, born June 9, 1802, died Dec. 14, 1805.
Near the old house is a heavy granite monument announc- ing the place where the Indians and others forded the creek.
The old house is the property of a Mrs. Huntington and Mrs. Knox of New York, and has many old treasures the curious are not allowed to see.
VAN BERGEN HOUSE
In the year of 1678 Marte Gerritse Van Bergen and Silvest- er Salisbury, commander of the fort came down from Albany to purchase lands of the Catskill Indians.
A month later the bargain was concluded at the "Stadt- Huis" at Albany in the "presence of magistrates and Indians, and the "deed for the five great plains, and woodland for four miles around" near what is now known as Leeds, was signed by Mahak Ninimaw and his chiefs, "the purchase price, 300 guilders
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in wampum, several hundred ells of woolen cloth, ten blankets, ten fusees, ten axes and ten pairs of stockings.
Van Bergen House, Leeds. H. F. Vedder, Owner.
Interior of the Van Bergen House Today.
DEAR OLD GREENE COUNTY.
Van Bergen in 1680 built a barn fifty feet square and a small house of stone on the semi-circle of raised ground above the plain, the first buildings in "Old Katskill," excepting the log cabin of Jan Bronck. In those days Leeds was Catskill, spelled
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Interior of Van Bergen House, Leeds.
with a K, and Catskill, the "het-strand or landing."
Yeoman from Kingston and Coxsackie assisted in raising the heavy oaken frame of the barn, the timbers of which are still doing duty.
There is no record to fill a gap of 49 years, but in 1729 a 60 foot brick building was added to the one of stone. The first dwelling afterward used as a kitchen and place for slaves, was long since torn down. The latter "bears on its eastern wall" the initials of the builder, M. G.V. B., and date of building July 4th, 1729. Tradition saith the bricks were brought from Holland, some of which conform to the measurements of those made in that country. It was at the time of its building a story and a hal high, with long narrow casement windows, with leaden sashed
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panes, double doors, and a hipped red-tiled roof, the oaken floor timbers measuring eighteen inches square.
The estate passed into the possession of Aaront Vedder of Schoharie, in 1774, and is still owned and occupied by his descend- ant, H. F. Vedder. Vad 52
Parsonage of Rev. Schueman at Leeds 1786,
We are informed by one of the old residents of the Palen- ville section that within her recollection she heard old residents tell of a very considerable sized village located in the Clove near the camp of District Attorney Howard C. Wilbur where some of the old foundations are still to be found. The houses were occupied by men who worked in the old Tannery of Jonathan Palen, 1826, which employed a considerable number of men. There was a store, blacksmith shop, and in all about twenty dwellings.
One of the most interesting of the old frame buildings in Greene county is the old Britt, or Patron's Store, at Kiskatom. The building formerly was located near the bridge across the creek, but later on moved to the Corners. Just when it was erected no
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DEAR OLD GREENE COUNTY.
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The Old Patron's Hall at Kiskatom, Showing Also Many Descendents of the Early Period.
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