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 9
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He married Fannie Morgan of Catskill, 1801, made sea voy- ages to Charleston, Savannah and to St. Croix.
Then he was fourth owner of a packet sloop with T. B. and A. Cooke between Catskill and New York and he made money.
In 1813 however he purchased the sea going sloop, Rover, a condemned vessel in New York, which had broken timbers, no top mast and rotten planks covered with leather patches to keep out the sea water.
Into that tub he put 500 barrels of flour and 70 barrels of bread and ran the English blockade to Providence. He loaded with lumber and started to return. At Stonington he was taken by three war ships and after being allowed to go on shore and raise $100 as ransom he was permitted to sail back to New York, the English captain having taken pity on him. Not only that but he
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was given a passport for another trip. This stood him in good when a few weeks later the same man of war captured him again.
Later on after having made a lot of money he sold the Rover for $450, the boat haying cost him $125. And the boat went to dieces at once.
He then had a half interest in the Sloop New York with the Cookes of Catskill, and took a cargo of potatoes, onions, salt, cheese, ropes, etc. from Catskill to Norfolk, Va., and while he reached Norfolk all right after a rough experience, the boat was captured by a man of war, the Sophia 20 guns, and the Acton 16 guns. The capture of Captain Turner of the American brig com- mander put them in good spirits and Capt. Dunham and his men were put ashore and returned to Catskill.
STRONG
Capt. Dunham lined up before the Pirates, and informed that he is to be shot. Picture by courtesy of Judge Chase
Then he took charge of the Cyngus of New York and made a trip to Bermuda and Turks Island for salt. At Musquite Island they fell in with a privateer named Capt. Mitchell, and with hin made an attack on Gov. Gonzales at St. Andrea's island. They captured the governor and Mitchell caused him to be hanged from
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a yard arm. Captain Mitchell at that time boasted that he had killed 100 Spaniards with his own hands, because of ill treatment they had given him.
Dunham after having made a very successful trade at St. Andrea's was captured by the Indians and lost his ship. It was a long time before he found his way back to Jamaica.
In February 1817 he took charge of the sloop Governor Tompkins and again sailed for Old Providence. This trip was a success.
In 1821 he was again in partnership with Apollos Cooke of C'atskill and sailed the Combine, was captured by Portugese pirates who robbed them of everything, beat them and finally set them adrift.
The last voyage made by him was in 1842 in the sloop First Counsel, but this boat sunk, while at anchor near Pokeepsie, and after being raised, the wreckers charge not being met the sloop was siezed and sold for less than the charge.
Famous Wooden Bridges
The old bridge at Catskill was authorized to be built in 1801, by an act of the legislature, and was 550 feet in length, and 20 feet in width. It was a wooden structure, and a portion of the footpath was covered. The red store of Jacob Bogardus, now occupied by Grocer Fred Woolhiser, was on one side, and the residence of Terrance Donnelly on the other. Dr. Porter, of the Presbyterian Church, officiated at the opening of the bridge. There was a draw on the side next to the Raynor elevator, which swung on a pivot, or hinge. Foot passangers were required to pay 3 cents, and teams from 25 to 31 cents. It was torn down in 1881, and for a year the crossing was made on oil barrels, which formed a pontoon bridge. Hiram Van Steenburgh built this strange pontoon bridge. The new iron bridge was completed in 1882, and cost $52,000.
The upper iron bridge was built in 1869, and cost $22,500. This bridge was finally condemned, and the structure dynamited to make room for the $40,000 concrete bridge.
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Judge Chase has some of the old bridge tickets in his possession. One of these reads, "Catskill Bridge Company. This will pass two-horse wagon one way, 25 cents."
Charles A. Post.
The Post Family
While we are dealing with the early residents of the river section of Greene county, there are none that have figured more favorably, than the Posts. Just when they came to this country we cannot say, and all that we know is that Abram Post settled in the Embocght about 1800, and was the father of Abram Post who was born in Catskill in 1808. Abram Post, father of Charles A. Post occupied the farm in the Embocght and was a model farmer in every way.
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The Post homestead is situated about 4 miles south of Cats- kill and had been in their possession over 100 years, when Charles A. Post consented to the taking over of the property for the great million dollar cement plant at Alsen. He moved to the old historical Story farm which he purchased of Robert F. Story, and has lived there ever since. The old homestead farmhouse is occupied by the cement people.
Steady going, honest and honorable in everyway Posts have forged to the front and written nobly on the historical fabric of the county.
Ex-Sheriff Charles A. Post, many times supervisor of Cats- kill was born on the old farm in 1837. He was married April 7, 1859 to Hannah Winans, who passed away Sept. 19, 1914. They had 6 children, Mary M., who is dead, Edith P. who married Wm. G. Trumpbour, Annette, Charles E., Willis W. and Abram, the last named being sheriff of Greene county and also under sheriff under Hardy Stewart, his father-in-law and also under his father.
It is interesting to note that during the life of Abram Post father of Charles A. Post, on the night of October 17, 1873, at the old homestead occurred the great robbery that filled the news columns of the press of that period. It was one of the boldest robberies of the period. Mr. Post and his wife, and Edward Post and Sarah Post were at home, and they were the victims of the masked men, 6 in number who bound them and proceeded to take whatever they could find of value. They got gold watches, spoons, $400 in bonds, a check of $1200 and $400 in cash, and departed. Detectives trailed them for some time and finally after the gang had robbed a family named Ford in Connecticut, another named Sutton on Staten Island and Judge Emmett at White Plains, the gang was located in a house on Canal Street, New York City which they had made their rendezvous. They watched them by the aid of glasses for some time, and finally made a descent in in which the robbers were rounded up at the point of the revolver.
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They were convicted and sentenced to long termis in prison. Most of the property taken from the Posts was recover d.
Mr. Post is one of the few men who has been said to have carried the vote of Greene county in his pocket. And all of this was because of his personal magnetism, generous and whole souled nature. If "Charlie Post" -- always unassuming and retiring, modest to a fault-could be prevailed upon to become a candidate for office his election was only a question of how big his friends would make the majority, and the fact that the town was political- ly against him made not the slightest difference. As supervisor of the town of Catskill he gained the distinction of being the friend of all and the town profited immensely by his being at the helm. He would have been continued as sheriff indefinite1. had the law permitted. In fact he could have had most any office within the gift of his party had he desired it.
The Catskill Improvement Association
The Catskill Association was formed in 1837 for the purpose of improving Catskill and "other purposes"' according to the an- nouncement of the organization. It had a capital stock of 8746, 000 and 874,600 was appropriated for improvements of land of the association and the officers were George S. Doughty president, Evan Griffeth treasurer, L. B. Woodruff counsellor, and Thomas Duguid secretary.
The first object named and duly mapped was a railroad from Catskill to Canajoharie, work of which was under way. And the second object was a proposed canal to connect with the Erie Canal at Canajoharie, and this is duly mapped in the / papers that have been loaned to us. It was stated in the plan that Catskill had 3000 inhabitants, 40 shops and stores, 20 sloops and other river craft, and unlimited docking facilities. It was also announc- ed "That a steamboat would be able to go to New York and back the same day." The canal would be 65 miles in length and the railroad 80 miles. A meeting at the court house in the interest of this project was held and a resolution passed in favor of this project, being signed by Thomas Cooke, John Adams, Orrin Day,
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Ezra Hawley, Jacob Haight, Peter Breasted, Hiram Comfort, Isaac Van Loan, P. T. Mesick, Amos Cornwall, John M. Donnelly, Francis Sayre, Malbon Watson, Caleb Day, S. L. Penfield, Luke Kiersted, F. N. Wilson, Horace Willard, J. R. Greene, Joshua Atwater, John Thompson, Caleb Hopkins, Robert Dorland, Fred- erick Hill, Tuzar Buckley, S. Sherwood Day, Judson Wilcox, John R. Sylvester, Leonard Kingsley, Edmund Hatfield, John Van Vleck, Robert Harrison, Edgar Day, J. W. Baldwin, Geo. Har- denburgh, Wilkes Hyde, Henry Mc Kinstry, Francis Marvin, Ira Du Bois, Nathan Farrell, Peter Schaurman, George Marvin, Caleb Crosswel, John Abeel, T. C. Atwater, John Rowe, Stephen Bos- worth, Ephraim Beach.
Greene County's Constitutional Revisionist
H. Leroy Austin. There are few young men in the State of New York who
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have risen to prominence and have a more brilliant career before them than H L. Austin, of Catskill, and there have been many men who have been conspicious in every way. He is a favorite son of Greene county and it is with pleasure that we are able to in- clude him in the list of brilliant men who have made the county what it is.
Barely past the 40 year line, he has become one of the greatest corporation attorneys in the state, representing the great New York Central Lines the past three or four years, and just at present is conspicuous as having been selected by a splendid ma- jority to represent the Empire state in the Constitutional Conven- tion. Broad minded, public spirited and capable beyond the average man, he is of all others the one to fill with credit the post of responsibility.
He served eight years as chief of the finance bureau, State Comptroller's office; District Attorney of Greene County, by ap- pointment of Governor Hughes; conducted investigations into municipal affairs in Westchester and Broome counties by designa- tion of then Comptroller Martin H. Glynn, and in Schenectady county by designation of Comptroller Williams. As a result of his investigations a judgment for over $60,000 was recovered for fees illegally taken from the County of Westchester; in Broome county the County Treasurer and Clerk of Board of Supervisors convicted of misappropriation of county funds and over $25.000 recovered by the county; in Schenectady county, members of the Board of Supervisors and others convicted and about $10,000 recovered from a former sheriff.
In 1910 Mr. Austin was designated by Governor Hughes to investigate the purchases of lands in the Adirondacks by the State, and unearthed great frauds, leading Governor Hughes to appoint him Forest, Fish and Game Commissioner of the State.
It was during this sweeping reform that Mr. Austin brought about while he was at the head of the Forest, Fish and Game Com- mission that he had occasion to meet out a little justice in Greene county of the sort that has always stamped him as a great man.
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Just about the time he went into office there was a poor lumber- man named Walter Dederick of Leeds, who had cleared a piece of land and because of sickness had not been able to take care of the tops. Some game warden got in line and a fine of $200 was levied upon Mr. Dederick, who had the double misfortune of having lost his leg in a lumber camp. It was a graye injustice, and the first thing that Mr. Austin did was to proclaim it as such, and then he went down into his pocketbook and paid that little fine.
And there you have the calibre of the man who is going to go a good deal higher in the political field before he is through.
He is at present associated with Messrs. Visschner & Walen of Albany, under the name of Visschner, Walen & Austin.
Individual Money
It may be interesting to know that there was a very great scarcity of money in Catskill and all through Greene county dur- ing the period of the Rebellion, and that while the country was overrun with coins of the size of pennies, that became known as tokens, individual firms had shin-plasters and many issued tickets that went as money. Judge Chase has in his collection of curios, 167 varieties of these early tokens, and a collection of tickets that went as money.
Some of these read:
Due the Bearer 2 CENTS At Wicks Market
Good for 2 CENTS At Meech & Bagleys Store
Good for 2 CENTS
At My office in Leeds Or at the Fiero Stores
Good for 3 CENTS At Julius Sauls
He also has a collection of script of the Old Greene County Bank, and the Catskill bank: in denominations from One Dollar and a Half to $100.
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He also has one of the tickets used at the time of the Walsh trial. This read :
Supreme Court, Greene County, Admit Bearer Platt Coonley, Sheriff of Greene County
A Great Inventor From Prattsville
Wm. Bullock, we are informed was born at Greenville and subsequently removed to Prattsville where he worked in a printing office. He was a great genius and invented while at that place the first roatry perfecting printing press in the country, which printed from a roll and finished both sides at once. This was the greatest'invention in printing and many others have taken up the Bullock idea. In 1849 he is said to have removed from Pratts- ville to Catskill and to have been connected with a paper publish- ed at Prattsville and moved to Catskill. It is likely this paper was the American Eagle, though the historian has it that he pub- lished the Banner of Union in Catskill. The Eagle was changed to the Banner of Industry, also Democratic Herald by Lyman Tremaine, and subsequently merged with the Recorder. In 1867 Mr. Bullock was hurt while putting up one of his presses at Philadelphia, his death being the result.
William Bullock married Emily Rundell, a Greenville woman, and he had two sons, one of whom, William, was at Prattsville last summer, on a visit to the Maces, who are related to him. The other son is Harry Bullock. After the death of William Bullock, Mrs. Bullock moved to Prattsville, and sub- sequently married Danforth Frair. Through Sidney Crowell, she was able to recover $5000, and Mr. Crowell got $500 for getting it. The facts in regard to the suit, we do not know.
He was born in 1814 and died in 1867, and Mr. Crowell who recovered the money for the heirs was at that time practicing law at Prattsville. Mr. Bullock tried in vain to have the patent on his press renewed. At the time of the invention he was operat- ing a foundry at Ashland.
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First Catskill Steamer
Geo. Halcott of Catskill was engineer.
A man of considerable note, the town of Halcott being named after him.
The representation below of The Frank which we are in- formed was the first steamboat running from Catskill to New York and it was around 1837. The drawing is from a picture in the possession of Judge Chase and is prized by him, as there are few if any other pictures of the boat. This boat ran semi-weekly trips to New York. The first ferry was a scow propelled by oars, and then after many years that was succeeded by a horse power ferry, and then the A. F. Beach.
FRANK THE
FRANK.
J.F. BARBER
CATSKILL'S
FIRST STEAMBOAT
The Frank 1837,
Talk about Longfellow and Bryant and all the other great poets, in 1837 there was printed a big volume of poems entitled the "Farmers Muse" written by Benjamin Hine of Cairo. A well bound leather covered volume of 273 pages. And the book was a seller. Mr. Hine we find was a celebrated character in his native town, and familiarly known as Big Ben Hine, and also as Old Ben Hine.
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Cholera in Catskill
('atskill was visited by the cholera in 1832, 1834, 1849 and again in 18S4, and the plague was laid to the conditions that were permitted to exist in the neighborhood of the Hoponose and along Greene street. There were several slaughter yards in that section, and the enormous catches of herring, which were stored there, were allowed to rot. and create a very filthy condition. Captain John H. Bagley, in his reminisence says that in 1854 there were 300 cases of cholera in Catskill, and a very large pro- portion of that number died. There was no rain from May to September, and the cholera period extended over a part of May, June, July, August and September.
A great many people left Catskill and went into the mountain section, and were safe. Ministers and doctors were among the number leaving the place, though Dr. George A. Howard, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, is said to have return- ed to Catskill to assist in the funeral work. Of the physicians who remained, Dr. Bell was stricken and died. He revived, how- ever, after he had been placed in a coffin. and climbed out and got a gun to shoot the persons who had laid him out, but soon passed away. Men were walking the street, and a few hours later were dead. One woman, Mrs. Philip Brown recovered after being in her coffin, and lived for years. Cholera, yellow fever and small pox, appear to have been disease of filth, and made terrible ravages.
Harmony Lodge was organized in 1795, and Stephen and Ira Day were second and third on the record. There was another man named Whittemore, and the early scribe thus writes his immortal epitaph, possibly epithet :
"Mister Whittemore, Axed sixpence to bore a small gimlet hole thro a mop pole."
This certainly was shocking.
In 1718 an act was passed granting freeholders and inhabi- tants of the precincts of Catskill and Coxhackey in ye county of Albany the privilege of choosing yearly a supervisor.
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In Times of the Catskill Whig
From the Catskill Messenger, published by Ira Du Bois in 1830, a copy of which was preserved by the late Judson Wilcox, we are able to secure a number of interesting matters. The paper was 4 pages of 6 columns and the subscription price was $2.50 per year.
One of the most conspicuous matters advertised was Whea- ton's Itch Ointment, 25 cents "Cures in an Hour," The itch was called a loathsome disease. Also a cure for "Fever and Ague."
Croswell and Brace, druggists, of whom we are able to pre- sent pictures, sold "Jaundice Bitters." "Davenport's Celebrated Eye Water," and "Bilious Pills." Henry Mc Kinstry sold "Hy- giean Medicine" which was guaranteed to cure Small Pox, Kings Evil, Apoplexy, Palsy, Consumption, and other ills including St. Vitus Dance. This medicine was alleged to have been recommend- ed by a lot of Royal Eminent Gentlemen. $2 per packet.
The shipping was done by Penfield and Day who operated the sloops Buck Tail and Shakespeare.
The steamers Champlain and North America between Al- bany and New York landed at Catskill running day trips and the Dewitt Clinton and the Ohio and Robert L. Stevens night line on same route did not stop at Catskill.
T. C. Atwater sold saw mill cranks, iron and steel.
Griggs and Bullock sold ploughs.
J. W. Hunter sold crowbar drafts.
S. Bosworth and J. Gebbard sold satin beaver hats.
T. C. Atwater sold bark mills,
H. Comfort sold prepared floor plank.
Francis Sayre offered $1000 for any stove that beat his in- vention.
S. W. Bullock and Co. sold leather rollers.
Riesdolph and Van Kuren took care of the horse shoeing.
C. Trowbridge operated a soap and candle factory.
Thomas Reed taught a select school on William street, dis- trict school building.
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Dr. Abel Brace.
The block of stores occupied by William L. Du Bois, How- ard Smith, the Examiner and the old building on the Hasselman lot since remodeled, was built by Mackey Croswell, and the Cros- wells and Dr. Brace had their offices on Greene street. Here the first Catskill Packet was printed and this building was later moved to the corner where the express office now is where they opened a drug business. In 1822 they built the brick block, where they continued. Later Benjamin Wey and Wm. L. DuBois at the same stand, Mr. DuBois over 61 years.
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All Hail OHIO.
LIBERTY
CONSTITUTION
The Steam Boat OHIO, having been
artered by the Whigs of New York for the occasion, left that city this is morning at 7 o'clock for Albany. She will fire salutes at the differ- it Landings along the river, in honor of the GLORIOUS VICTORY tained by our Whig friends in Ohio. She will pass our landing between and 5 o'clock this afternoon, at which time the Whigs of Catskill are ·quested to assemble at the point, and give her a reception worthy of so orious a result. By order of the Committee.
Catskill, October 30, 1834.
The Whigs will also bear in mind the eeting at BEACH'S this evening.
Photo Reproduction Poster preserved by the late Judson Wileox 1834.
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Mr. Sturtevant had a classical school.
Henry Mc Kinstry sold dry goods.
T. (. Atwater sold Nott's Salamander Stoves and the Park- er's Prophesy Stoves.
John Wolcott sold flour at $6.50 per barrel.
Henry Mc Kinstry sold groceries.
Isaac Rice sold boots and shoes.
NO MONOPOLY.
NOTICE is hereby publicly given
¡ to fishermen. that the undersigned have become acquainted , with the existence of an odious monopoly in the ancient. respectable, and apos- lolic business of fishing. This monopoly is composed of a combination of a Trinity of two Deacons and one devil, and has for its object the total forestalling of fishing on the Plauchy. To obviate the disadvan- tages which the subscribers are subject by this precious trio of religion and iniquity, they hereby give notice that they wish to hire .twenty fisherman for the ensuing season, who can bring testimonials that they will chew as much tobacco, drink as much liquor, and whistle as good a tune as the devil himself, (who is a Walker about. seeking whom he may devour,) with the aid of his two arch-deacons. None other need apply, and those who come well recommended for the above precious qualifications, will be paid liberal wages.
MORGAN STOCKINGS & CO.
Catskill. February 9. 1835.
Poster Preserved by Judson Wilcox.
Of Reminiscent Interest
Solomon Chanler who conducted a hotel at Bridge street corner, Catskill, called the village tavern, is said by early writers to have had a club foot, hickory cane and voice like a Numidian lion. He spent most of his time groaning sacred music. He was grandfather of Henry Baker, whom the writer remembers 30 years ago as conducting a printing office near the Saulpaugh.
Ben Hallenbeck operated a scow ferry between the Point and the opposite side of the river, and it almost broke his heart when he had to give way to the horse propelled ferry.
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It is interesting to note that in 1807, Henry Ashley was a tanner, John Blanchard. Nathaniel Hinman, Lemuel Hall, Simon Sanford, David Thorpe and Shadrack White were cordwainers. Abijah Beach was a saddler, and so was John Bolen, Henry Home- diu was a wheelwright, Stephen Root was a tanner, Joshua Steb- bins was a nailor, James Cole a cabinet maker, Ephram Baker, Adonija Baker, John Hyde, and Jared Stocking blacksmiths, Peter Breasted a glazier, Caleb Croswell a gilder, Elisha Ferguson a cooper, David Horton a weaver, John Doane, who rounded the century and is remembered by some Catskillians was a ship joiner, Jehiel Preston made clocks, Mackey Croswell was a printer, John Lacy a ship builder, and also John Gager. There was quite a number of house joiners: Henry Selleck, Reuben Sanderson, Her- man Hinman, Nathaniel Eels, Benjamin Sole, ship carpenters, John Olcott made rope. Occupations that have passed, as well as men.
Dr. Croswell used to boast that he had a white horse, a white cow and a white nigger, and the latter took care of the others and at odd times blacked the doctor's shoes, pumped the soda fountain and rolled the pills. He also was an expert at kill- ing and dressing hogs.
Our reporter who spent many hours in the local cemeteries alleges that he was unable to start an argument. He listed the name of Hiland Hill who we find was an old builder of sloops and had a ship yard on the Creek near the Point, possibly where Benter now is. Richard Hill who was a brother is said to have represented the United States as Consul at Valpariso. He sent a couple of natives to Catskill to be educated by Dr. Porter. Hiland Hill jr. is remembered by the writer. as cashier of the Catskill Bank.
Charles Bliven one of the early residents of the West Side, Catskill, is said to have given the name Blivenville to that section which still remains. The Blivens were relatives of Mrs. R. D. Miller.
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