USA > New York > Columbia County > Gazetteer and business directory of Columbia County, N.Y. for 1871-2 > Part 21
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"The water which has hitherto attracted most attention, is that of & large sulphur spring, recently discovered on the farm of Berry Chase, about 4 miles to the northward of Hudson [Stottville.] It boils up through perforations in a rock, at the bottom of a low bog or morass; this water is unquestionably possessed of valuable medicinal qualities; besides the sulphurated gas and Epsom salt, it also contains a slight proportion of the carbonate of lime, and a quantity of uncombined carbonic acid gas; though very transparent, it resembles both in smell and taste the rinsings of a foul gun-barrel ; it readily loses its hepatic smell by being kept in an open bottle, but thereon deposits no sediment; its temperature is cold, the thermometer standing in it at 54°, and in the atmosphere at the same time at 75°; when taken in sufficient quantity, it often operates as a gentle emetic, but is more commonly diuretic and purgative. Not more than two months have elapsed since it first began to be visited, and the concourse.of people which daily throng it is numerous and increasing. It is said to afford complete and speedy relief in all cutaneous affections. The writer of this has known many obstinate cases of Erysipelas, Itch, Herpes, and two cases of Rheumatism, where cures have been obtained by drinking it."*
The population of the town in 1870 was 1,438 ; 1,167 of whom were natives and 271, foreigners ; 1,383, white and 55, colored. There were in the town, during the year ending Sept. 30, 1870, four school districts, and four teachers employed; the number of children of school age was 454; the average attendance, 124 .- 670; and the amount expended for school purposes, $3,118.09.
Stockport, (p. v.) situated at the junction of Claverack and Kinderhook Creeks, five and one-half miles north from Hudson, contains about 600 inhabitants, two churches, (Episcopal and M. E.) two hotels, one school, two stores, a saw mill, a paper mill, a grist mill, with two runs of stones, two mattress manufactories, a manufactory for spiral corn huskers, a heddle factory and a loom manufactory.
The Empire Loom Works, Rensselaer Reynolds, proprietor, were established in 1852, by Benjamin & Reynolds, and in 1867 came
*The following is the result of the analysis of one gallon of spring water :
Chloride of Sodium, ..
.84.719 grains.
$6 " Potasea, ..
1.193 ..
" Magnesium, 81.430
21.794
46
Se-qui Chloride of Iron,
3.415
Sulphate of Lime,.
.64.911
l'hosphate of Soda,
2.140
Hyposulphate of Soda,
8.149
Loss,
0.814
218.598
Hydrosulphuric Acid,
4.401 cubic inches.
Carbonate of Lime,
1
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into the hands of Mr. Reynolds solely. They give employment to eighty skilled mechanics and twenty laborers; the daily wages paid to the former is $2.50, and to the latter, $1.50. The facilities of the works are such as to enable the proprietor to produce two hundred looms per month, valued, according to style and finish, at from 860 to $150 each.
The Eureka Paper Mill, Henry S. Van De Carr, proprietor, employs twenty-eight operatives in the manufacture of wrap- ping paper, of which about 1,000 tons are produced annnally, and consume about 1,700 tons of straw each year. The mill is located on Claverack Creek, near its junction with Kinderhook Creek. A constant motive power is secured by the construc- tion of an eighteen feet dam. It employs two machines of four cvlinders each. Mr. Van De Carr is also engaged in the manu- facture of mattresses and corn husks for mattresses, at the same place, in which business five operatives are employed and 250 tons of husks used.
The Empire Heddle Works have a capacity for manufacturing 5,000 heddles per hour.
The first cotton print works in the County were erected in this village, by Benjamin and Joseph Marshall, in 1828. These gentlemen were connected with the establishment of the first line of packet ships between New York and Liverpool. When they made the proposition to run vessels between these points once a month, the New York merchants remonstrated because, as they thought, there was not sufficient business to warrant or support such an undertaking.
Chittendens Falls, situated on Kinderhook Creek, about one mile north from Stockport village, contains one church, (Union) two paper mills and about 87 inhabitants.
The Stockport Paper Mill, A. Mather Granger; proprietor, em- ploys twelve operatives in the manufacture of manilla paper, of which it is capacitated to produce 3,500 pounds per day of twenty-four hours, though it is now producing but 2,000 pounds. The stock used is manilla rope and bagging. The motive power is constant and is supplied by a twenty-eight feet natural fall, which is supposed to constitute as good a water power as is to be found in the County.
The same fall furnishes the motor for Jacob W. Rossman's paper mill, which is located on the opposite (east) side of the creek, and which gives employment to sixteen operatives in the manu- facture of straw wrapping paper, of which it is capacitated to produce Ino reams per day.
The bridge at this place, which was destroyed by the freshet, is being replaced by an iron structure, with a single span of 170 feet.
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Stottville, (p. v.) located on Claverack Creek, in the south-east corner of the town, four miles north-east from Hudson and about two miles south from Stockport village, contains one church, (Episcopal) a school house, about 500 inhabitants and Stott's Flannel Mills, C. H. & F. H. Stott, proprietors, which give employment to 270 operatives in the manufacture of flan- nel goods, of which about 6,000 yards are produced each day. The motive power is supplied by two falls, one of which is partially artificial, giving a twenty-five feet fall of water, and the other wholly so, giving an eleven feet fall of water. They run nineteen sets of cards.
In 1827, Jonathan Stott, who was engaged in the manu- facture of satinets in Hudson, purchased ten acres of land, with half this water power from the Van Rensselaer family, who had improved the water privilege. He immediately com- menced the erection of a mill for the manufacture of flannel goods. A portion of the mill used by him was formerly used as a grist mill. The present building, on the site of the old one, was erected in 1865, by the present proprietors. Three mills are operated by this firm, two of which are on the twenty-five feet dam and used for the manufacture of the goods, the other, on the eleven feet dam and is used for finish- ing them.
Columbiaville, near the west center, is situated on Stockport Creek, about three-fourths of a mile east from Stockport Station. It contains a school house, a hotel, a store, twenty- two houses, 103 inhabitants and the Stockport Cotton Mills, N. Wild's Sons, proprietors, and Joseph Wild, agent, which give employment to about 100 operatives in the manufacture of printing cloths, of which 1,200,000 yards are produced an- nually. There are two mills, one on each side of the Creek, the one being supplemental to the other. They run 130 looms and 5,000 spindles. A twelve feet dam affords an excellent and constant supply of water and furnishes the motor for the mills.
The iron bridge which spans the creek at this place was con- structed in 1870, is 245 feet long, and is supposed to be the longest single span road bridge in the State.
Stockport Station, near the west center, is situated at the mouth of Stockport Creek and on the Hudson River R. R.
The fruit farm of Augustus Judson is located here. He has wont two hundred acres of land along the Hudson, a large hirt of which is devoted to the choicest fruit. He has sixty hores in grapes alone. These are mostly cut for the New York market. The vineyard of Frederick Judson, covering ++ acres, joins that of his brother's.
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The pressed brick works of Akin, Kellogg & Co., near Stockport, are capacitated to produce 30,000 bricks per day. They make front brick only.
Smith Bros. candle factory and tannery are located about one mile north of Columbiaville.
This town was settled at an early period by the Dutch. In 1629, Killian Van Rensselaer obtained by charter and pur- chased land on both sides of the Hudson, at which time it is probable the old stone house now occupied as a residence by Augustus Judson, at the mouth of Stockport Creek, was built for and used as a fort against the Indians. It is said to be the oldest house on the North River, it being the first house built after the settlement of Albany. The ground about it is full of Indian relics, indicating that it was once the scene of a battle, or a camping ground. Recently a human skeleton was found, in a sitting posture, not far from this interesting architectural antiquity, which is doubtless preserved more for its historical associations than its domestic conveniences. Soon after the above date, ship loads of emigrants from Holland, with stock, seed and farming implements, began to settle these shores.
George Chittenden came to Hudson in 1801 and engaged in the book-binding and printing business. He was one of the proprietors of the Balance. He severed his connection with it in 1806 and moved in the vicinity of Chittendens Falls, where he purchased at different times about 140 acres of land, inclu- ding the falls which bear his name. He, with his family, were the first settlers in this vicinity. In 1809 he erected the first paper mill at this place, the second in the County, on the west side of the falls. The erection of the mill brought other set- tlers.
The Hudson River Agricultural Seminary, located in this town, was incorporated by the Legislature May 6, 1837, but never got into full operation.
The Church of St. John the Evangelist, located at Stockport village, was organized in 1845. The first and present house of worship, which will seat 275 persons, and whose estimated value is $12,000, was erected the following year. It has Si cominu- nicants. Its first pastor was Rev. Henry Townsend; the present one is Rev. George Fisher. The St. Barnabas' Chapel, at Stort- ville, valued at 87,000, and a parsonage and lot, at Stockport, valued at 83,000, are the property of the parish.
The Union Church, located at Chittendens Falls, has neither an organization nor a settled pastor. The pulpit is supplied by Rev. Mr. Fowler, Methodist, and Rev. Mr. Mattice, of the Ref. Dutch Church, each alternating. It is occasionally sup-
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plied by Rev. Mr. Van Buren, Baptist, in whose charge is the Sunday School. The edifice was originally occupied by the Universalists, who suffered it to fall into disuse. Its estimated value is $2,000.
STUYVESANT, named in honor of Gov. Peter Stuy- vesant, was formed from Kinderhook, April 21, 1823. A part of Stockport was taken off April 30, 1833. It is the north-west corner town of the County, is situated on the bank of the Hud- son, and includes the adjacent islands east of the middle of the river. The surface is generally level, except along the river bank, where it is broken by ravines and low hills. Kinderhook Creek crosses the south-east corner of the town and is the only stream of any considerable size in it. Three small streams, two of which unite near the Hudson, traverse the town in a general east and west direction and discharge their waters into that river. The soil is generally clayey, but in some places it is a light, sandy loam.
The population of the town in 1870 was 2,263; 1,846 of whom were natives and 417, foreigners; 2,143, white and 120, colored. During the year ending Sept. 30, 1870, the number of school districts in the town was seven, and the number of teachers employed, eight; there were 857 children of school age; the average attendance was 223.089; and the amount expended for school purposes, 83,593.03.
Stuyvesant Falls, (p. v.) situated near the south-east corner, on Kinderhook Crock, eight and one-half miles north of Hudson, contains two churches, (Dutch. Reformed and M. E.) two schools, two stores, six grocery and liquor stores, a hotel, which is being built and is nearly completed, Van Alen & Co.'s cotton mills, three in number and giving employment to 300 opera- tives; A. W. Van Hoesen's woolen mill and about 700 inhab- itants.
The Columbia Mill, A. W. Van Hoesen, proprietor, is situated on the Kinderhook Creek. It is the outgrowth of the cloth- dressing shop established here about 1800, by Wm. Van Hoesen, who subsequently introduced hand looms for the manufacture of satinets. When power looms were introduced he was among the first to adopt them. The business gradually increased until his two sons, Isaac and Abram, were old enough to take a share in its management. In 13: re vas a financial crisis and the business changed honda Fit was bought in by the present proprietor, who has since conducted it alone, aided only, in its management, by his son George L. Van Hoesen. At the time above referred to, there was only one set of machinery, and the
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179
facilities for manufacturing were comparatively rude, but Mr. Van Hoesen at once proceeded to improve and enlarge the mill, adding the most effective machinery in every department. He now gives employment to 65 operatives in the manufacture of fancy cassimeres, of which 10,000 yards per month are produced, to whom the average amount paid each month is $18,000. The entire product of this mill is shipped to A. T. Stewart & Co., New York, and this fact alone is evidence of the excellent quality of the goods made here.
In the manufacture of woolen cloths, the wool is first assort- ed, then scoured or cleaned and passed into large vats to be dyed. It then goes to the Extractor, (Rice, Barton & Co.'s patent is used,) which consists of a circular, iron tub, whose circumference, or perpendicular surface, is perforated, and which, when caused to revolve with great rapidity, extracts, by means of centrifugal force, the water and superfluous coloring much more effectually than could be done by the ordinary process of wringing. From the Extractor it is removed to a drying room where heated air soon divests it of all remaining moisture, when it is ready for picking, carding and spinning. After it is spun it is spooled ready for doubling and twisting. The twisting is done with the aid of a pair of patent twisters, with 160 spindles each. Yarns of two different colors are twisted together. It is next subjected to a dressing process which prepares the yarn for the loom. The warp and filling are separated, the former being drawn in by hand. It is now ready for the loom: Twenty-three Crompton looms, with im- proved double drop boxes, capable of weaving an unlimited number of patterns, are employed. The device by which each loom is easily adapted to the change of figure is too compli- cated and would require too much space to warrant its descrip- tion here. But it operates with perfect accuracy and produces a uniform style of goods according to the set given it by the weaver. The pattern list of Mr. Van Hoesen comprises 000 different varieties. Any new pattern desired can be produced to suit the constantly varying taste of the public. From the loom the cloth is inspected, measured, weighed and passed to the finishing room, where it is prepared for the fulling mill, and from thence goes to the nappers, where, by the action of vegetable teasels, the nap is raised while the cloth is wet. It is again placed in the Extractor. Formerly at this stage it was stretched on tenter-hooks in the sun to complete the dry- ing, but this is obviated by the use of Windsor's Patent Positive Tenterer and Dryer, supplied with heated air, through which the cloth passes in a continuous roll and is rapidly and thoroughly dried. After leaving the drying machine the cloth
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is again inspected, measured, rolled, labeled and conveyed to the packing office for invoicing and shipment. The motive power is furnished by a dam which gives a fall of eighteen feet and affords a constant supply of water.
There are two natural falls at this place, one 26 feet and the other 45, in height, both of which are supplemented by a seven feet dam, and afford an admirable and constant water power. One of these is utilized by Van Alen & Co.'s cotton mills; the latter has been nnoccupied since the paper mill supplied by it was burned in 1863.
At the foot of the 45 feet fall, the waters of the creek are divided and form two channels, but unite again a short distance below, inclosing an island which covers an area of about twenty acres. A point of rocks, about a hundred feet in height, forms the head of the island and divides the stream.
The first paper mill in the County was erected at Stuyvesant Falls, by Messrs. Pitkin & Edmonds,* (the latter was the father of Judge John W. Edmonds, formerly of Hudson, now of New York,) or an old grist mill was transformed into one. In 1802, George Chittenden, who was one of the proprietors of the Balance, purchased a paper mill of one vat,f of Elisha Pitkin. doubtless the one referred to above. It was located on the " upper great fall" at this place. The lease of the water power expiring in 1806, Mr. Chittenden purchased a mill site two miles below, on Kinderhook Creek, (Chittendens Falls,) where his established the second paper mill in the County, which went into operation in 1810.
Stuyvesant Landing, (Stuyvesant p. o.) situated south of the center, on the Hudson River, is a station on the Hudson River R. R., nine and three-fourths miles north of Hudson. It contains one church, (Presbyterian) one district and one select school, five stores, one hotel, a steam flouring mill, S. W. Gibbs & Co.'s stove, range and furnace manufactory, a blacksmith shop, about sixty houses and 450 inhabitants. A large freight- ing business is also carried on here.
Coxsackie Station, in the south-west corner, on the Hudson River and Hudson River R. R., is seven and one-half miles north of Hudson. At this place is a ferry to Coxsackie, (Greene Co .. ) on the opposite side of the river.
A United States Light House is situated about two miles north of Stuyvesant Landing. on the east side of the river. It is con- structed of stone and brick : was built in 1829, and refitted in
*French's State Guzettrer, p. 241, note 5. says the first paper mill in the county was erevier at this place, by George Chittenden, in 1403, but this is doubtless incorrect,
+Formerly the capacity of a mill was designated by the number of vats it contained, hand work requiring a vat for each engine.
18]
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1854. The color of the tower is white; its height from base, thirty-two feet, and from water, thirty-eight feet. It has a fixed light which is visible from a distance of ten nautical miles. The order of its lens is indicated by the figure six.
The brick-yard of Edward Brousseau is situated on the river road, four miles north of Stuyvesant Landing. Operations were commenced about five years since. It gives employment to twenty-three operatives, who manufacture about 24,000 bricks per day.
The first settlement was made by the Dutch about the period of the English conquest. Among the carly settlers were fami- lies named Van Alstyne, Van Allen, Van Ness, Van Slyke, Van Dyke, Van Valkenburgh, Vosburgh and Schermerhorn.
The following extract from The Columbia Republican of Jan. 24, 1841, in which is a communication from Rev. J. Edson Rockwell, D. D., is supposed to contain the earliest existing record descriptive of this locality. We quote:
" To the early records of the settlement of this region there has lately been added one of pleasant interest, for which we are indebted to the Long Island Historical Society, and especially to the Hon. Henry C. Murphy, long our Minister in Holland. During his residence there he found in his scholarly researches among ancient documents a manuscript copy of a journal of a voyage to New York in the years 1679 and 1680, by Jasper Dankers and Peter Sluyter, two Labadist brethren who came thither in search of a home for the religious sect to which they belonged. * *
* After visiting various sections around New York they resolved to explore the shores of the Hudson River, and on the 15th of April went in search of a boat to go to Albany, and found one ready to leave immediately. The natne of the skipper, the journal adds, was . Meus Hoogboom, to whom we agreed to pay for the passage up and down One Beaver, that is twenty-five guilders in zeewant, and find ourselves. We gave in our names to have them inserted in the passports,' on the 19th, or four days after the boat was ready to 'sail immediately,' the journal proceeds: 'We left New York about 3 o'clock in the afternoon with about twenty passengers of all kinds, young and old, who made great noise and bustle in a boat not so large as a common Ferry boat in Holland, and as these people live in the interior of the country, and somewhat nearer the Indians, they are more wild and untamed, reckless, unrestrained, haughty and more addicted to mis- using the blessed name of God and to cursing and swearing.' As the wind slackened they came to anchor in order to stem the ebb tide.
"On the 20th they entered the Highlands, and on the 21st reached Kin- derhook, [which then included Stuyvesant) and on the 22d came to anchor at Fort Orange or Albany. After a visit to Schenectady and Cohoes, they set out for their return on the 30th, and came to anchor at Kinderhook when a certain female trader had some grain to be carried down the river. While waiting the process of loading, the journal adds: 'We stopped i-here to amuse ourselves; we came to a creek where near the river lives h man whom they usually call the Child of Luxury (0' kinder van waldle .! He had a saw mill on the creek or a waterfall which is a singular one. The water falls quite steep in one body, but it comes down in steps with a broad rest sometimes between them. These steps were sixty feet or more high and were formed out of a single rock. We saw chrystal
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lying in layers between these rocks, they sparkled brightly and were as clear as water.' No one familiar with the scenery around Stuyvesant Falls can fail to recognize the description here given of that spot as it appeared nearly two hundred years ago. 'We set sail,' continues the journal, 'in the evening, and came to Claverack, sixteen miles further down the river, where we also took in some grain in the evening. We were here laden full of grain which had to be brought in four miles from the country [Claverack then included Greenport and Hudson. ] The boors who brought it in their wagons asked us to, ride out with them to their places, which we did. We rode along a high ridge of blue rock on the right hand, the top of which was grown over. The stone is suitable for burning lime. Large clear fountains flow out of these cliffs or hills, [Becroft's Hill, in Green- port, whose springs supply the city of Hudson with water,] the first real fountains and the only ones we have met with in this country. We arrived at the places which consist of fine farms; the tillable land is like that of Schoon-ecten-deel, low, flat, and on the side of the creek, very delightful and pleasant to look upon, and especially at the present time when they are all green with the wheat coming up. The wood land also is very good for (making) tillable land, and it was one of the locations which pleased me most with its agreeable fountains."
The Reformed Church of Stuyvesant, was organized May 13, 1827, by Rev. Asa Bennett, with 65 members, and Rev. G. I. Garretson as its first pastor. The first and present house of worship, which will seat 275 persons and whose estimated value is 812,000, was erected in 1831 and repaired in 1869. It has 150 members, and Rev. Elbert Nevins is its pastor.
The Reformed Church, located at Stuyvesant Falls, was organ- ized in October 1859, by a committee of the Classis of Rens- selaer, consisting of Revs. B. Snyder and C. Wiltsie, with four- teen members, and Rev. E. D. Bates as its first pastor. The first and present church edifice, which will seat 200 persons, was erected in 1847. It has 54 members. Its pulpit is vacant.
TAGHKANICK* was formed from Livingston as Granger, March 19, 1803. Its name was changed March 25, 1814, and Copake was taken off in 1824. It is an interior town, lying south of the center of the County. The surface is hilly. Copake or Taghkanick Creek is the principal stream. Its banks are low and rocky and upon it are numerous mill sites. The soil is a gravelly and slaty loam. The hills are generally arable to their summits, although some are wooded and rocky.
West Taghkanick, (p. v.) in the south-west part, on Copake Creek, ten miles south-west from Hudson, contains one church, (M. E.) one hotel, two stores, a carriage and blacksmith shop, a shoe shop and about a dozen houses.
*Pronounced Toh-konnick, and supposed to signify " Water Enough." Upon this "'d. of " Mr. Tom," in Copake, was formerly a spring which was a favorito resort of the Indians ; and hence the name of Taghhanick for the locality.
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