USA > New York > Columbia County > Gazetteer and business directory of Columbia County, N.Y. for 1871-2 > Part 9
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
Leap Years have two letters ; the drat is ared till the end of February, the second during the remainder of the year.
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COLUMBIA COUNTY.
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COLUMBIA COUNTY.
THIS COUNTY was formed from Albany, April 4th, 1786, by an act which defined the north boundary'as the north line of " Kinderhook District," and the south boundary as the south line of " King's District.". The latter line was more accurately defined April 1, 1799. It is centrally distant north from New York 125 miles, and south-east from Albany 34 miles, its great- est length on the east line is 36 miles, on the west about 30, and its medial width is 18 miles. It lies on the east bank of the Hudson River, between Dutchess County on the south, and Rensselaer, on the north, and extends cast to the Mass. line. It contains an area of 688 square miles. The surface of the Courtv is diversified, though no part can be called mountainous, consisting of two longitudinal valleys. The Taghkanick Mountains enter the State in the north-east corner of Rensselaer County and par- sue a south course, sometimes within this State and at others within the State of Mass., to the south-east corner of this County, a distance of 50 miles, where it divides into two ridges. One continues south through Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester Counties, sinking in its course and terminating on the Hudson, north of Harlem River, forming the water-shed between the tributaries of Long Island Sound and those of the Hudson. The other bends to the Hudson, crossing the County of Dutchess obliquely, and forms the Matteawan or Fishkill Ridge, rising in the Beacon hills, near the river, to more than 1500 feet. In the north the Taghkanick is called the Williamstown Mountain, and in Sheffield, Mass., has an altitude of 3000 feet. The Peter- borough Ridge, another link of the chain, rises in Washington County, passes through Rensselaer and Columbia Counties, and curves through Dutchess County, with the Matteawan Ridge, to the Hudson River; west of that stream it may perhaps be re- cognized in the hills east of the Wallkill. It is low, frequently broken by the streams, and sometimes sinks to the general level of the country. The peculiar formation of the surface of the County suffers none of the streams to escape into the adjacent country.
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COLUMBIA COUNTY.
The County is a basin, retaining all the waters which rise in it, to be poured by two outlets into the Hudson, and to these waters Rensselaer County, by Kinderhook and Valatie Creeks, and Dutchess, by some small branches of Roeliff Jansens Creek, are tributaries. The principal streams are Ancram, Claverack and Kinderhook Creeks.
Ancram Creek rises in Austerlitz and flows south at the west foot of Taghkanick Hills, through Hillsdale and Copake, to the town of Ancram, where, taking the name of the " Roeliff Jansen," from the Dutch Receiver-General, it turns to the south-west and dips into Dutchess at Montrose; thence deflecting north-east, flows through Gallatin, Clermont and Livingston, to the Hudson River, about six miles below the city of Hudson; having a semi-circular course of about 35 miles, giving motion to many mills, and receiving several tributaries.
Claverack Creek has its source in the west part of Ghent, by two branches, which, flowing south-west, unite near Claverack village, thence, turning north-west, it runs about 18 miles to the Kinderhook at Columbiaville, where the streams unite about one mile from the Hudson. The Claverack receives near the village, from the south, the Copake Creek, which, issuing from a pond in the north-west angle of Hillsdale, and crossing south- west the town of Copake, receives the waters of Copake Lake ; thence it runs north-west through Taghkanick and Livingston, into Claverack, having a very crooked course of about 22 miles.
Kinderhook Creek rises by several branches in Berlin and Stephentown, Rensselaer County, and flowing south-west into New Lebanon, receives Lebanon Creek, thence, turning north- west, re-enters Rensselaer County to receive the Taghkanick Creek; thence it deflects south-west through Chatham, Kin- derhook and Stockport, to the Hudson River, augmented on the way from the east hy Stony and Kline Kills, from the north by Valatie, and from the south by Claverack Creeks. Its whole course is about thirty miles, in which it furnishes many excellent water privileges, which have been and still are con- tributing largely to the material growth and prosperity of the County. It is said that no stream of equal size in the State has as much capital invested in manufacturing enterprises on its banks as this. Its upper course, except when breaking the Peterborough Ridge in Chatham and Kinderhook, is over fertile alluvial flats; its lower through deep ravines.
Stony Creek issues from Whiting Pond and flows west across Canaan, into Chatham, to its recipient, having a course of eight or ten miles.
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COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Kline Kill rises in Austerlitz, and running through the south-west angle of Canaan, crosses the north-west angle of Austerlitz into Ghent; and thence, by a north-west course, enters Chatham and unites with the Kinderhook, having a devious route of about ten miles.
Valatie Creek flows from a small pond near the north line of Nassau, forming, in part, the boundary between Nassau and Schodack, Rensselaer County, and Chatham and Kinderhook in this County, and through Hoag's Pond, to the Kinderhook Creek, having a course of about sixteen miles. At its junction with its recipient, is a fine mill stream, turning several mills and having a fall of about 37 feet.
In the east and north part of the County are several pictur- esque sheets of water, the principal of which are Kinderhook, Copake and Charlotte Lakes, and Whitings, Robinson, Snyder and Rhoda Ponds.
The prevailing rocks are the Hudson River shales. The slate rocks in this County crop out toward the west, usually at an angle of 45 deg., but sometimes almost vertically. Lime- stone crops out in different parts of the County.
The whole country, except the Taghkanick Mountains, (about which geologists differ in opinion, as to whether they should be classed with the primary or transition system,) belongs to the transition formation. Granite and granular limestone give the constituents of the soil on these. mountains, whilst graywacke and blue limestone, much of which is shelly, and much metalliferous, superimposed on slate, form the very various soils of the remainder. There are some excellent lands and much the larger portion is susceptible of great fertility. Nature, in the abundant beds of lime, has furnished the means of tempering the cold and ungrateful constituents of clay ; and in many places the lime in the form of marl does not re- quire burning to become a stimulent. The suppression of the anti-rent difficulties and the concessions made to the occupants of manorial lands, which secures a more uniform distribation among the working classes, have infused a spirit of energy into the tillers of the soil, which is manifested in the high state of cultivation of the lands, a condition which could not obtain with so much perfection under the old feudal system. Scarcely any portion of the State is better adapted to the culture of sheep, and the profits from this source, already great, are yearly increasing.
Lead ore has been mined from a limestone gangue in Ancram, Gallatin, Hudson and other parts of the County, and is said to have yielded eighty per cent. of metal. As usual these ores
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`COLUMBIA COUNTY.
contain a small portion of silver. Iron ores are abundant in Ancram, Copake and elsewhere ; and that of Ancram is much valued. Marl is found in Canaan, Kinderhook and New Leban- on ; marble in Greenport ; and epsom salts in efflorescence on the clay banks of the river above the city of Hudson. Herma- titic ore, frequently occurring in crystals of fantastic and beautiful form, usually appearing in the lower limestones of the transition system, and improved in quality when in combination with the magnetic oxide; manganese, in the form of manganese wad, and used to some extent for bleaching ; and peat, though less widely distributed, is found in the County. Considerable search has been made in the vicinity for mineral coal, in con- sequence of supposed indications of that substance, but with- out success. The thermal spring at Lebanon Springs, and the mineral spring in Stockport, near the line of Ghent, (which are noticed more fully in the history of the towns to which they belong,) have acquired considerable notoriety and become favorite summer resorts.
The various branches of agriculture form the leading indus- trial pursuits of the people. Hay, (of which large quantities are pressed and sent to market,) rye, oats, corn, potatoes and buck- wheat are the staple productions. Stock raising and dairying receive considerable attention. The manufacture of paper, cotton fabrics, vegetable extracts and iron is largely carried on. A greater quantity of paper, principally straw, is made in this County than in any other in the State, and the facilities for its manufacture are being increased; the County also takes preced- ence of all others in the amount of tinctures and extracts pre- pared from medicinal plants. The latter is confined to New Leb- anon, the establishment of Tilden & Co.
The County Seat was formerly at Claverack, but is now located at Hudson, where the principal County buildings are erected. The building containing the Court House, Jury Rooms, Jail, and offices of the District Attorney, County Clerk and Sheriff, is a sightly structure, fronting on Court House (formerly Wash- ington) Square. It is built of limestone, with marble facing in front, two stories high, 116 feet long, and 60 feet high, and is surmounted by a dome. A portico extends in front of the main building, which is supplemented by two wings, the left one be- ing occupied by the Jail and Sheriff's family, and the right, by the District Attorney, County Clerk and Sheriff. It was erected in 1835 at a cost of 840,000. The square fronting the building extends from Allen Street, on which the Court House stands, to Union, and its handsome shade trees and well laid walks constitute it a magnificent park. F'rom the rear of the building a splendid view is obtained of the South Bay, Mt. Merino, the
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COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Hudson, the distant Catskills bathed in misty splendor, and the Mountain House, nestled near the summit of their rugged peaks. The Jail is kept clean and well ventilated, and the physical comfort of the prisoners studied. It does not, however, seem to afford ample security, or prove to be impervious to the skill of its desperate inmates, for prisoners have several times broken through its walls and effected their escape. The number of prisoners incarcerated in its dungeons (May 1871) is twelve, nine males and three females. The offences are mainly of a petty character and result principally from intemperance.
Notwithstanding the difficulties under which this County has labored in consequence of the anti-rent troubles which, in the winter of 1844-5, necessitated the presence of 700 troops, only four criminal executions have taken place within it; two of them Dec. 18, 1789, viz; Henry Mckinsey and Timothy Jackson, who were executed for horse stealing, at Claverack, in accord- ance with the order of Dec. 5, 1789. The third case was that of Margaret Houghtaling, alias Peggy Dinsmore, who was in- dicted for murder Sept. 10, 1817, tried the 12th, found guilty the 13th, and on the l5th of the same month, sentenced to be hung, which sentence was carried into effect Oct. 17, 1817. The fourth case was that of Joseph Brown, who was found guilty of murder and hung May 30, 1868. In these executions we have a significant exhibition of the spirit of progress in our reforma- tory methods, and we may predict at no very distant day the entire supersedure of the revolting and demoralizing influences of capital punishment by more humanizing and effective measures.
The Poor House, a spacious brick building, is located in Ghent, upon a farm of 200 acres, which is worked mostly by the inmates. The building was erected in 1857 at a cost of 822,000, and, together with the surrounding buildings, has accommodations for 500 persons. The Committee appointed to visit and report upon the condition of the County Poor House, in their report to the Board of Supervisors, as published in the report of the pro- ceedings of the Board for 1870, "express their entire satisfaction with the management of the Superintendents during the past year, and award to them great credit for ability and economy. The cost of maintaining the County poor is 84,000 less than the previous year. This reduction of expense your Committee are confident has been effected without any sacrifice of comfort to the unfortunate persons under their care." We extract from the report of the County Superintendents of Poor for 1870 the following facts: The amount expended for the support of the poor during the past year is 811,638.11. The amount received from produce raised on the farm and from other sources con-
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COLUMBIA COUNTY.
nected with the Institution was $2,981.38. The whole number relieved at the Poor House was 552, and the number remaining at the end of the year was 151. Of the number relieved, 30 ab- sconded, 349 were discharged and 22 died. The average number of panpers during the year was 164, and were supported at a cost of $1.53 a week There were four births during the year, and the mothers were, in each case, of American nativity. "The Matron reports the following articles made in the house, in ad- dition to the mending, during the past year, viz ; Men's shirts, 135; boy's pants and waist, SO; women's dresses, 79; women's aprons and waist, 87; women's chemises, 56; men's overalls and pants, 140; women's night gowns, 10; children's dresses, 37; bed quilts 18; bed ticks, 35; sheets, 60 ; pillow slips, 100." The inventory of property belonging to the house, accompany- ing the report of the Superintendents, exclusive of sundry articles whose values are not enumerated, amounts to $4,716.70.
The amount of County indebtedness in May 1811 was $165,000, the balance due on sum raised for bounties during the late war.
This County with Dutchess form the Twelfth Congressional District, and the Eleventh Senatorial District; it is in the Third Judicial District; and it is divided into two Assembly Districts, the first comprising the towns of Ancram, Claverack, Clermont, Copake, Gallatin, Germantown, Greenport, Hudson City, Livingston and Taghkanick ; and the second, Austerlitz, Canaan, Chatham, Ghent, Hillsdale, Kinderhook, New Leban- on, Stockport and Stuyvesant.
The most important works of internal improvement are the Hudson River Railroad, extending through the west part of the County, along the left bank of the Hudson River; the Boston & Albany Railroad. entering the County about the center of the north line of Kinderhook, running south-east to Chatham village, thence east, in a circuitous course, to State Line, near the line of Austerlitz and Canaan ; the New York and Harlem Railroad, extending in a general south-east course from Chat- ham village to Boston Corners, at which point it leaves the County; the Harlem Extension, extending from Chatham village, through the north-east part of the County, to Lebanon Springs, near which place it leaves the County and continues to Rutland, Vt .; the Hudson & Chatham branch of the Boston & Albany Railroad; and the Housatonic Railroad, enter- ing the County near State Line and terminating at Chat- ham village. Two new railroads are proposed and it is probable they will be built. The first is a short line from Und- son to the marble quarries in Greenport, which the interests of the proprietors of the quarries demand shall be built; the
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COLUMBIA COUNTY.
second, the Rhinebeck and Connecticut Railroad, whose pro- posed route enters this County on the south line, at the june- tion of the towns of Clermont and Gallatin, and extends along the course of Roeliff Jansens Kill, which it crosses twice, through the latter town and Ancram, to Boston Corners, where it leaves the County, and turning south and running nearly parallel with the Harlem Road as far as the south line of the County, deflects east into Connecticut. Both routes have been surveyed, and it is proposed to extend the former road to Phil- mont, and thence to the Kinderhook line, but the route has not been decided upon. The citizens of Hudson, those who possess the means, with characteristic parsimony which prompts them to sacrifice, or rather ignore, all prospective wealth and advantages, because attended with some risk, for the immediate but meager profits resulting from invested capital, discourage the project and, as our informant says, "are effective only in throwing barriers in the way." The Company is incorporated under the name of the Hudson & Kinderhook Railroad Co. Another, the Lee and Hudson Railroad, is projected and a company of incorporators elected.
Stimulated by great prosperity, the enterprising inhabitants constructed many turnpike roads from the city in various directions, too numerous for public or private interest. Not producing funds adequate to their reparation, they are either falling into disrepute, or becoming public property by mere abandonment.
" Among the millions who are in the habit of consulting the columns of a newspaper, doubtless there are few, comparatively, who are acquainted with its origin. According to D'Israeli, we are indebted to the Italians for the idea ; although in an- cient Rome, reports of important events, and the doings of the Senate, were frequently published, under the title of Acta Diurna. The periodical press properly commenced at Vienna and Augsburg, Germany, in 1524; these bulletins were, how- ever, not printed. About the year 1563, at the suggestion of the father of the celebrated Montaigne, offices were first estab- lished in France, for the purpose of making the wants of individuals known to each other. The advertisements received were pasted on the wall to attract attention ; as in the case of the Romans, this ultimately led to a systematic and periodical publication of advertisements in sheets. The epoch of the Spanish Armada, is also the epoch of the first orthodox news- holler; although we are told by Chalmers, and it is often re- peated, 'to the wisdom of Elizabeth and the prudence of Bur- leigh,' we are indebted for the first English newspaper, yet it is
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COLUMBIA COUNTY.
also claimed that the first English newspaper was the Liverpool Mercurie, begun May 28, 1576, forty-five years after the Gazetta at Venice. It is also said on very good authority that the copies of The English Mercuric in the British Museum are forgeries. The circumstance of their being printed in the modern Roman character, instead of the black letter of that period (1588), awakens suspicion of their authenticity. As to their orthodoxy, it is the first time we have seen it alluded to. During the reign of James I. newspapers in the quarto form were occasionally issued; but during the thirty years' war, when the exploits of Gustavus Adolphus attracted the eyes of the civilized world, we find a regular weekly paper edited by Nathaniel Butler, and published under the title of ' The Cer- tain Newes of this Present Week,' which may be regarded as the first regular weekly newspaper. During the civil war in Eng- land in 1643, there were, however, a score of the 'Diurnals' and ' Mercuries' in circulation. So important an auxiliary was the press considered, indeed, that each of the rival armies carried a printer along with it. In the reign of Queen Anne, 1:02, there was but one daily paper published in London, the others being weekly issues. Steele introduced politics as an essential element of the press, aud Addison sought to devote it to purely literary purposes ; the result has been the establish- ment of distinct vehicles for both. The first journal having the character of a magazine or review, was the Journal des Savants, established in Paris 1693; in England the first month- ly of this sort appeared in 1749. From these simple elements, has grown up an engine whose potency and influence is now felt throughout all classes of the civilized world."-Typographi- cal Miscellany, p. CO.]
In view of the immense influence exerted by the Press. whose power, says Douglas Jerrold, " is as boundless as that of society," we have thought it not inappropriate to preface the history of the Press in this County with the foregoing extract.
There are seven newspapers printed in the County, two dailies and five werklies, and a monthly medical journal.
THE HUDSON GAZETTE, (weekly,) the first paper pub- lished in the County, was established in June 1784, by Ashbel Stoddard and Charles R. Webster, who had been apprentices together in the office of the Connecticut Courant, at Hartford. Mr. Webster, being at the same time engaged in the publication of the Albany Guzette, soon retired, and Mr. Stoddard continued it alone .* In size it was 15 by 12 inches, was printed on coarse
*French's " State Gazetteer." Miller's "Sketches of Hudson," and Munsell's "Typographical Miscellany," state that Stoddard continued it till 1803 or '4, when A was discontinued. The present editor is the authority on which we have relied Wm. B. stoddard, son of Ashbel, at present residing in Hudson, in a letter dated Dec. 7. 1:50,
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paper with a bluish tint, and was delivered to country sub- seribers by post riders. Its first impression is dated Thursday, April 7, 1785. In 1793 the office was burned out, but was soon replaced by public subscription. This was the first fire which occurred in the city, and led to the organization of the first fire department. In September 1796, the printer first styled himself "The Editor." About the year 1822 the Gazette was temporarily suspended or merged in the Bee; but in March, 1824, the leading members of the Republican party became dissatisfied with the course their organ was pursuing, und, raising a fund of some 8500, purchased the old establish- ment and resuscitated the Hudson Gazette. On the 7th of Sep- tember in that year, the first number of the new series was issued, with John W. Edmonds (now Judge Edmonds of New York city,) as editor, at a salary of three dollars per week, and Peter Sturtevant as publisher. In 1826 Hiram Wilbur became its publisher, and Mr. Edmonds dissolved his connection with it. In 1834 the paper passed into the hands of P. Dean Car- rique, who continued its publication until the year 1851, when it passed into other hands, and continued without any settled publisher until Sept. 7, 1857, when the establishment was pur- chased by M. Parker Williams, its present editor and proprietor. Throughout its varied career, the Gazette has always sustained a high reputation among the newspapers of its time and wield- ed a wide political influence.
THE HUDSON DAILY REGISTER was established May 26, 1866, by Williams & Clark, having its birth in the demand created by the growing business interests of the city and Coun- ty for an organ to creditably represent them. April 10, 1869, the interest of Mr. Clark was purchased by M. Parker Williams, who is now its editor and sole proprietor. The Register is inde- rendent in politics and still maintains its distinctive feature- the advocacy of business men and business measures.
The Bee was removed from New London, Conn., to Hudson, Aug. 17, 1802, and was published by Chas. Holt until 1810, when he sold the establishment to Samuel W. Clark, and moved to New York. Mr. Clark was its proprietor until 1821. It was the organ of that class who justified the war of 1812, and num- bered among its contributors Martin Van Buren, Benj. F. But- ! r, John W. Edmonds, and others of equal talent and position. It next passed into the hands of John W. Dutcher, who changed 's name to the
filched in " Doc. Hist. of New York," vol. 3, p. 527, says: " My father. * * * print- e : Ho. paper after the first year, in his own name, as Mr. W. went to Albany. It was ; : 1.5! until 1803, when it was sold out to the " Ballance," printed by Croswell, Samp- + .It & Chittenden."
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COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Columbia Sentinel, and two years afterward united it with the Columbia Republican.
The appearance of the Bee in Hudson, provoked from the Wasp, a small paper, less than letter sheet in size, issued from the office of Mr. Croswell, and edited by "Robert Rusticoat Esq.," the following humorous couplet :
" If perchance there come a Bee ; A Wasp shall come as well as he."
The Bee had been published by Mr. Holt, with some interrup tions, during the five years previous, at New London, Conn. whence, having incurred fine and imprisonment under the sedition act, and consequent loss of business, which rendered id expedient to remove from his native city, at the solicitation of the Republicans of Hudson, he transferred his paper and ma- terials to that place, occupying the upper part of the store of Judge Dayton, which stood near the site of the present residence of Mrs. Peter G. Coffin .* The lower part of the store was used for many years as the headquarters of the Democratic Club. "' There,'" says Miller in his sketches of Hudson, " "round a red hot stove, in an atmosphere blue with tobacco smoke, seated upon old pine benches and wooden-bottom chairs, with the dust and! cobwebs of twenty years remaining undisturbed upon the shelves, met the great Anti-Federal fathers of the city." Promi- nent among them were Robert Jenkins, described as 'abrupt and decisive in his tone and manner'-Judge Dayton, ' a good citizen and upright man, fond of argument ; never convinced and nev- er convincing'-Robert Taylor, well-dressed, portly-looking, a little obstinate and a little crusty' -- David Lawrence, 'a man of great respectability, keen observation, strong sense and ready .wit,' -- John Hathaway, 'a worthy citizen and honest man,'- Squire Worth 'a man of integrity, good sense, but excessively odd; short, round-shouldered and red-haired ! who once quarreled with an artist for making him look, in his portrait he said, like a one-story house with the chimney on fire,'-and lastly Capt. Alexander Coffin, 'frank, generous, warm-hearted and brave.'"
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