USA > New York > Columbia County > Gazetteer and business directory of Columbia County, N.Y. for 1871-2 > Part 14
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Breasts, or, in winter, with their stuffed cloaks and ponderous wmnnets, and foot stoves replenished at the parsonage fire; and the men with their suits of homespun, their broad hats and knee breeches, and ruffled shirts, and buckles on throat and shoon ; and the goodly array of children, all baptized and all brought to church, and young and old alike speaking in a for- wgn tongue which would be utterly unintelligible to nine out of ten of us to-day. And now the tinkling bell has ceased its clatter in the little, old belfry, the neighborly gossip around the doors is over, and the congregation is seated decently and in order, the elders and deacons at the right and left of the pul- pit, the Van Rensselaer of the day in his elevated and canopied Dew among his army of lease holders. The men are ranged around the walls, and the women in orderly rows around the center. Above their heads is a wooden ceiling with prodigious rafters. The walls are plastered and meant to be white; the wood work is painted blue; if galleries have yet been intro- duced, they tower even further above the people than the pres- ent ones; the pews differ in shape and size almost as much as their occupants. If prior to 1780, the worshipers depend solely upon salt pork and foot stoves to save them from freezing. If as late as 1800, a ten-plated box stove, which scarcely serves to do more than make the cold more appreciable, stands raised on long legs upon a platform in the very center of the building, with pipe going out of the window. The pulpit stands at the north end, is painted blue, as if to indicate its celestial origin, shaped like a wine glass, and surmounted by a sounding board on which ' Holiness to the Lord' is appropriately inscribed. At the further end is a great window, which would look out into the tower, were it not for the red curtain by which it is covered.
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And now the Deacons step forth with their money- bags, suspended to long poles, and furnished with little jing- ling bells that make a suggestive sound as they pass from pew to pew. * There are no Sabbath-schools yet. Robert Raikes had not gathered his little vagrant neighbors about him till this building was fourteen years old. The Dominie is all the Sunday-school the children know, as they sit in awe struck lines before him, and lisp in Dutch the long and intricate answers of the Heidelburg Catechism. He is superintendent, teacher, library, singing book, and child's paper to them, and, I am afraid, pic-nic and Christmas-tree also." The following jrotation from the same author evinces the earnestness with which these early residents, thirty in number, undertook the vrection of a church edifice. They made a covenant "actually binding themselves to the church for the accomplishment of the undertaking instead of subscribing a specific amount. The
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building committee were empowered to determine what each one should give in work or money, and they ' bound themselves to fulfill the agreement under penalty of three pounds current money of the province of New York.'" It was dedicated b; Dominie Van Driessen, of Albany, February 7, 1727. It con- tained twenty-six pews, six long ones, ranged round the wall: for the men, and twenty others, mostly facing the pulpit, for the women. Each member of the congregation had his own seat, allotted to him by a committee. The pulpit was reached by a ladder. From 1728 to 1756, the pulpit was without a pastor. This was doubtless due to the fact that the churches were supplied from Holland with all their ministers, and the supply had become inadequate. In 1756 the religious en- thusiasm of the people was revived and Rev. Johannis Casparus Fryenmoet was installed pastor. His call, like Van Driessen's, was a joint one from Claverack, Kinderhook and Livingston Manor. " It stipulated to pay him, first, the sum of forty pounds each, or about $300 in all ; second, to provide him with a dwelling-house 'becoming a preacher,' with a kitchen, stable, etc., together with several acres of land for a ' garden. pasture, mow-ground, orchard,' etc., which should be situated in Claverack, the congregation to provide these things for the privilege of having the preacher dwelling among them; the other congregations to provide the preacher with entertainment 'becoming his office' while laboring among them. Third, the three congregations to bear his expenses of moving. Each one an equal share." During his ministry the present house of worship was erected and was dedicated by him Nov. 8, 176 ;. The removal of the edifice so, inflamed the animosity of some who were averse to a change and felt discommoded thereby. that it is thought they never entered its door again ; while others who continued to attend cherished this feeling with a singular pertinacity. More particularly was this animus manifested toward Mr. Van Rensselaer, by whose name the Church was long known, and "whose elevated and canopied pew became so obnoxious to one of his humbler neighbors that-she uttered the iconoclastic threat of taking an ax to church and hewing it down." It would be as great a pleasure to us, as it would doubtless be a profit to our readers, did our space war- rant it, to trace in detail the history of this Church to the present time, but we are admonished to desist. Though having sent out many ofshoots it now has 175 members, who are enjoying the ministrations of Rev. F. N. Zabriskie. The present estimated value of the church edifice, which will seat 1,000 persons, is $20,000.
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The Second Reformed Church of Claverack, located at Mellen- ville, was organized in 1838, by the Classis of Rensselaer, with 112 members, and its pulpit was supplied by (Richard ?) Sluy- ter until 1842 ; when he was succeeded by P. S. Wynkoop and Vandevoort; - - Himrod, in 1845; J. H. Pitcher, in 1832; and Rev. A. J. Sebring, the present pastor, in 1862. The first house of worship was erected in 1838, and was enlarged and rebuilt in 1870. It will seat 450 persons, and its present estimated value is 810,000. The present membership is 138.
The M. E. Church of Claverack was organized in 1860, by Rev. Alonzo Flack, with 20 members, and Rev. J. Y. Bates as its first pastor. The first and present house of worship, which will seat 300 persons, was erected the same year at a cost of $6,800. The present pastor is Rev. Thomas La Monte, and membership, 52.
Trinity Church (Episcopal) was organized as a Parish July 23, 1856, by Rev. Frederick F. Tiffany, the first pastor. The first and present house of worship, which will seat 130 persons, was erected in 1857; its present estimated value is 85,000. Wm. C. Prout is the present pastor.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Thomas, located at Churchtown, erected their first edifice in 1750. The present one, erected in 1836 and modified and rebuilt in 1860, will seat 500 persons ; its present estimated value is $16,000. Rev. John F. Ries was the first pastor, an office which he held for thirty years. Rev. John Frederick Ernst became the second pastor in 1793; and was succeeded by Rev. John G. F. Uhl, who. ministered to them thirty-five years. The subsequent pastors in the order of succession, were Revs. J. Berger, H. Wheeler, J. C. Duy, Levi Schell and J. A. Rosenberg, the present one. The number of members in 1793 was 87; the present number is 380.
CLERMONT was formed from the Livingston Manor, March 12, 1787. By an act of the Legislature, passed March 2d, 1858, a triangular tract, now constituting the north part of Germantown, was taken off. It lies in the south-west corner of the County, the southern part of its western line being washed by the Hudson. Roeliff Jansens Creek forms its eastern bound- ary and separates it from Livingston. The soil is various, but consists commonly, of an argillaceous grit or a fat loam, and is very well watered by small rivulets. The surface is agree- ably diversified, with gentle undulations, and without waste of ground.
The population in 1870 was 1,021; of which number 956 were natives, and 65, foreigners ; 1,014, white, and 7, colored.
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During the year ending Sept. 30, 1870, the town contained fir school districts, and employed five teachers. The number o children of school age was 348; the average attendance 100.589; and the amount expended for school purposes $1,753.07.
Clermont, (p. v.) situated in the east part of the town, about six miles from Germantown and twelve from Hudson, contains one church, (Episcopal) one hotel, three stores, one harness shop, a wagon shop, blacksmith shop, a school, a Lodge of F. & A. M, in a flourishing condition, a half mile trotting course and about 137 inhabitants.
Pleasantrale is a hamlet in the south-east corner of the town.
Robert Livingston, "the first lord of the manor," by his last will, left a tract of land containing about 13,000 acres to his son Robert, the grandfather of Chancellor Livingston, to form the Lower Manor of Clermont. After receiving this estate he built a large stone house at Clermont, which, in his old age, he gave to his son Judge Robert R. Livingston, from whose con- nection with the Manor the town derived its name. This old manor house was located on a grassy spot upon the bank of the Hudson, environed with grape vines, bowers and gigantic trees, at the mouth, and upon the north side of Roeliff Jansens Creek. Robert R. Livingston, after his marriage, built a mansion for himself a little south of the old manor house, and connected with it by a beautiful walk.
The Livingstons were deeply interested in the war for Inde- pendence, and their efficient aid and ardent sympathy with the patriot army was rewarded by the destruction of the old home- stead and Robert R. Livingston's mansion by a detachment of the British troops from Kingston, who, in 1777, under General Vaughan, came up the Hudson on a marauding expedition to produce a diversion in favor of Burgoyne, then environed by the American army at Saratoga. They proceeded as far up the river as Clermont, when, hearing the news of the capitulation of Burgoyne's army, they retreated to New York.
From Clarkson's "Clermont, or Livingston Manor," we copy the following description of this incursion :
"Clermont," he says, "might have been untouched, as at that time two British officers, a wounded captain named Montgomery, and his surgeon, had been for some time very hospitably entertained by Mrs. Livingston, at Clermont. They proposed to extend their protection to the house and family, but Mrs. Livingston and son both refused to have their property protected by the enemies of their country, and her son, the future Chancel- lor, sent them to the house of a Tory neighbor. The preparations for the quick departure of the family were made. All were busy. The females of the household all giving a hand, to assist in the general packing, for the
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removal of clothing and all movable valuables. Silver and other articles of value were buried in the wood, books were placed in the basin of a dry fountain and covered with rubbish ; wagons and carts were piled up with baggage and all necessary articles required by so large a family, both for immediate use as well as preservation. Even at this hour, Mrs. Livingston burst into a hearty laugh, at the odd figure of an old black woman perched upon this miscellaneous assortment of trunks and bundles. There was not much time to spare, for as the last load from the house had disappear- ed, and when the carriages containing the family had reached the top of the hill overlooking the house they beheld the smoke already rising from its walls. It had been fired as soon as entered by the British soldiers, one party of whom had arrived by land from Rhinebeck, which place they had burned, and another party landed from the British ship of war, which lay south of the point.
" Large looking-glasses had been carefully hung in an out-house, by the family before their departure, and an inside frame made to conceal them from view, but the soldiers dischaged their muskets at the building and reduced to splinters the valuable mirrors. With heavy hearts the family lett a home, endeared to them by all the associations which make a home one of cheerfulness, happiness and contentment. They took refuge in the town of Salisbury, in Berkshire, just beyond the border of Massachusetts, where they made a temporary home, in a house which is still standing, a stone house near the picturesque lake; here they remained but a short time. The hasty retreat of Vaughan's forces rendering Clermont a safe residence again, Mrs. Livingston and her family returned to her farm house and at once commenced to rebuild the Mansion House, and in a year removed into it."
The new house was built on the site of the old one, the same side walls being used. . On the lawn at Clermont is still standing a locust tree, whose limbs were removed by a cannon ball fired at the house from the British vessel, before a landing was made by the troops. Mr. Livingston also built another house, after the close of the war, a little north of the ruins of the former one. In describing it, in 1813, Spafford says :
"Its front on the river is 104 feet, depth 91; and it consists of a main body of two stories, and four pavilions. The south, or garden-front is & green-house, with bathing rooms and offices adjoining; over these is a large elegant breakfasting-room, and four bed rooms. The second story is conveniently divided into rooms, connected by a long gallery. One of the pavilions contains a well chosen library of about 4,000 volumes, in Various languages. The north faces a fine lawn, skirted on one side by a beautiful wood on a bank raised about ten feet, terminating in a second lawn, from the rear of which springs, precipitately, a rocky ridge, covered with shrubs, trees and evergreens, affording a fine rich back-ground. This is balanced on the opposite side of the lawn by a beautiful avenue of locust trees, planted irregularly, through which winds the road to the house. The Hudson is seen in broken views through the branches of these trees. From the front of the house, which faces the river, the view is extensive and highly picturesque. The Hudson is partially hidden by contips of trees on its bank, and some islands, covered with wood, add a pie ting variety to ity scenery ; while the opposite shore is in full view, with the adjacent fields, farms and forests, rising like an amphitheatre toward the Catskill mountains, which terminate the view, by an altitude of about 3,000 feet. The elegant display of light and shade occasioned
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by their irregularity, their fine blue color, the climbing of the mists un their sides, the intervention of clouds which cap their summits or sbron their sides only, with their occasional reflection from the surface of the Hudson, succeeded by the bursting terrors of their thunder-gusts, all com- bined from this point of view, associate a mass of interesting, picturesque and sublime objects. The south front of the house overlooks the pleasure grounds and a fine grassy vale in the highest cultivation, skirted with a flowering shrubbery, with a rich and extensive back-ground of various fruit-trees. The bold and lofty banks of the Hudson, affording a greater variety of forest trees than I recollect ever to have seen in the same ares, have given to Mr. Livingston the ready means of forming an elegant walk of near two miles long under their shade, from which, at every step, you catch a new view of the Hudson and the scenery on the opposite side. In the style of all these improvements, art is so blended with nature that it is difficult to discriminate their respective beauties; the natural features are everywhere preserved, though softened and harmonized by the happiest efforts of art."
" In this house, and upon the grounds," says Clarkson, "was the grand reception given to Lafayette, upon his last visit to this country, in 1824, when the lawn for a half mile was crowded with people, and the waters in front were white with vessels, freighted with visitors from the neighboring counties, and all the cups, plates, ladies' gloves and slippers, bore the im- age or name of Lafayette."
It was purchased by the Misses Clarkson, in 1858, who have put the house and grounds in complete repair.
The St. Luke's (Episcopal) Church was connected with the Church at Lower Red Hook, until 1859, when it was formed into a separate parish, with 28 members, and Rev. H. DeKoven as its first pastor. The first and present house of worship, which will seat 250 persons, was erected in 1859, at a cost of $2,400, and was consecrated, Nov. 10, 1860. Rev. W. S. Rowe is the present pastor.
COPAKE was formed from Taghkanick, March 26, 1824. It lies on the east border of the County, south of the center. It3 surface is broken by ranges of hills, separated by broad and fer. tile valleys. A high and nearly unbroken range extends along the east border. There are several small sheets of water in the town, among which are Copake Lake and Rhoda, Robinson and Snyder Ponds. Copake Lake, in the west part, is a fine sheet of water, which covers about 600 acres, and embosoms an island containing about 20 acres, which has been the residence of members of the Livingston family. Rocliff Jansens Creek, and a tributary to it, traverse the town in the north and south direction. These, with its lake and ponds, furnish an abundance of good water. The soil is a gravelly and clayey. loam. south of Copake, near Ancram line, are exten- sive beds of iron ore, operated by the Columbia County Iron Mining Co. The ores obtained from these mines are hematites.
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The population in 1870 was 1,847; of this number 1,685 were natives, and 162, foreigners; 1,837, white, and 10, colored. During the year ending Sept. 30, 1870, the town contained 10 school districts and employed 9 teachers. The number of children of school age was 605 ; the average attendance, 196.110; and the amount expended for school purposes, 83,992.55.
Copake Station, (Copake Iron Works p. o.) in the east part, contains the Copake Iron Works, one store, one hotel, a shoe shop, two churches (Episcopal and Catholic,) and about 250 inhabitants. It is a station on the Harlem R. R. The furnace ut the Copake Iron Works was erected in 1845, by Lemuel, Sen., Theodore and Robert Pomeroy, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and Lemuel Pomeroy, Jr., of Copake. The first blast was made in 1846. The surrounding country was, at this time, a complete wilderness, neither house, nor railroads being in existence. The company now manufacture about 2,500 tons of hot blast iron each year. In the vicinity are extensive beds of ore, of the first quality used in the manufacture of car wheels.
Copake Flats, (Copake p. o.) in the south part, two miles south-west from Copake Station, contains two hotels, three stores, two saloons, three blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, two shoe shops, one church, (M. E.) and about 200 inhabitants. About a mile north of the village is a one mile trotting course.
Craryville, (p. v.) (formerly Baines Station and North Co- jake p. o.) in the north-west corner, is a station on the Harlem R. R., and contains one hotel, two stores, two blacksmith shops, one shoe shop, one wagon shop, one harness shop, a half-mile trotting course, and about twelve houses.
Anderson's Corners, (West Copake p. o.) about two miles west of Copake Flats, contains one store, two wagon shops and two blacksmith shops.
About a mile north of Copake is McArthur & Van Deusen's grist and saw mill. The grist mill has four runs of stones, three for flour and one for feed, and has a grinding capacity of 800 bushels per day. The motor is furnished by water equivalent to 125 horse power.
Among the first settlers in the town were families by the name of Snyder, Briese and Lapman, who came here about the middle of the present century. This town, in common with others in the County, suffered from the internecine incursions incident to the anti-rent difficulties in 1814.
"On the 19th day of December, 1944," says Miller in his "Sketches of Hudson," " the first forcible resistance to the Sheriff, Henry C. Miller, was offered in the town of Copake, where he attempted to serve processes and make sale of property belonging to disaffected parties. It was deemed ad-
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visable that he should undertake the duty without an accompanying force and he proceeded to the spot with a single individual. On their approard pickets were discovered stationed along the road, and upon arriving at ( pake they were met by a force of three hundred ' Indians' and a concours of about fifteen hundred people not in disguise. He was taken into a room of a public house in the vicinity, by Big Thunder and six other Chiefs, who stated that he would not be permitted to proceed in the discharge of his duties. Swords were drawn, pistols placed at his breast, his papers de manded and given to them, which were subsequently burned in the pres ence of the crowd.
"The return of the Sheriff and the report of his reception produced the most intense excitement in the city [Hudson.] It was evident that force would have to be met by force, and & general determination would have to be manifested upon the part of the citizens to uphold and vindicate the law at any sacrifice."
A Reformed Prot. Dutch Church was the first organized in the town, and Rev. Jeremiah Romeyn was the first pastor.
The St. John's in the Wilderness Church, (Episcopal) located at Copake Iron Works, was organized in 1850, with six or seven members, and Rev. William Ludlum as its first pastor. The first and present house of worship, which will seat 150 persons, was erected in the same year, and consecrated by Bishop Chase. Its present estimated value is 84,000 and of the parsonage, $3,000. There are but ten or twelve members, and there is no settled pastor.
The M. E. Church of Copake Flats, was organized in 1832, by Revs. Richard Hayter and -- Stout, with six or eight mem- bers, and Rev. Joseph B. Wakeley, as pastor. The first hous: of worship was erected about 1835, and the present one, which will seat 350 persons, about 1858 ; its present estimated value is $7,000, and that of the parsonage $3,000. Rev. Thomas Ellis is the present pastor, and the present membership, 91.
The St. Bridget's Church, (Catholic) located at Copake Irou. Works, was organized by Rev. John, or William Howard, its first pastor, and the first and present house of worship, which will seat 250 persons, was erected in 1867 or 1868, at a cost of $5,000, which is also its present estimated value. The present number of members is 150, and Rev. James S. O'Sullivan, vi Hudson, supplies the pulpit. The people were ministered to by Rey. Mr. Howard, as early as 1849.
GALLATIN, named in honor of Hon. Albert Gallatin. was formed from Ancram, March 22, 1830. It lies near the center of the south border of the County. The surface :- broken by several ranges of hills, which extend in a north as .. south direction. The highest point is Mattashuk Hill, south of Lake Charlotte. Rocliff Jansens Creek is the principsi
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stream ; its banks are steep and in some places rocky. Char- Jotte Lake, in the north part of the town, is a fine sheet of water, surrounded by gentle slopes, cultivated to the water's vilge. The soil, which is of various qualities, is moderately fertile. A large portion of it consists of a warm shistic gravel, and is capable of being rendered an excellent farming country with judicious culture.
The population of the town in 1870 was 1,416. Of this number 1,375 were natives, and 41, foreigners ; 1,412, white, and 4, colored. During the year ending Sept. 30, 1870, there were S school districts in the town, and 5 teachers employed. The number of children of school age was 472; the average attendance, 116.131; and the amount expended for school pur- poses, $1,644.56.
Gallatinville, (p. v.) in the east part, on Roeliff Jansens Creek, and on the proposed line of the Rhinebeck & Connecti- cut Railroad, contains one hotel, one church, (Reformed) one grist and plaster mill, one paint shop, one carriage shop, two Blacksmith shops and one store.
Weaver Hollow, near the north-west border, on a creek whose source is Lake Charlotte, and which empties into Roeliff Jan- sens Creek, is a hamlet.
The town was settled at a very carly day, by emigrants from Germany and Holland, among whom were the Knickerbackers and Snyders. An Englishman, named Ross, was one of the first settlers in the vicinity of Gallatinville.
The Greenbush Reformed Church was organized in 1748, by Rev. J. C. Fryemoet, who was its first pastor. The present house of worship, which will seat 250 persons, was erected in 1823, at a cost of $3,000. Dewitt B. Wyckoff is the present pastor, and the present number of members is 130.
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