USA > New York > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and family history of New York, Volume II > Part 26
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George Mersereau, second child of David Mersereau, was born at Woodrow, in 1810. He was there reared to manhood under the parental roof, and there also spent the whole of his years of life. He was regarded as a good and upright citizen by all with whom he came in contact. He passed away at Wood- row, in April, 1881. George Mersereau married Mary Morgan, born September 15, 1819, died at Woodrow, October 11, 1904, daughter of and Alice (DuPuy) Morgan. Both of the latter named families were among the early settlers of Richmond county. Of this marriage were born children as follows: 1.
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William F., born September 12, 1853, married Mary Guyon, and had two children, both of whom died in infancy. 2. Rob- ert E., see forward.
Robert E. Mersereau, born July 13, 1858, at the family homestead at Woodrow, was educated in the schools of the neighborhood, and has there spent the whole of his life's career. He has worthily upheld the traditions of his family, and in every way has proved himself a worthy scion of a worthy sire. He has taken an active interest in public as well as the social affairs of the neighborhood, and has given of his time and sub- stance for the good and welfare of the community wherein he resides.
Robert E. Mersereau married, December 26, 1881, Gertrude Guyon, born February 3, 1856, daughter of John M. and Ann (Journeay) Guyon, both of the latter being members of old Staten Island families. Of this marriage there is no issue.
GEORGE W. BANTA.
George W. Banta, a lifelong and highly respected citizen of City Island, where he was born July 25, 1843, was a son of Cornelius and Amelia (Taft) Banta. His father, Cornelius Banta, was a native of New Jersey, and his mother, Amelia (Taft) Banta, was a descendant of an old New York family.
George W. Banta was educated in the schools of City Island, and reared to manhood years under the parental roof. Upon taking up the practical duties of life, he followed in the foot- steps of his father and, like him, engaged in the oyster planting business. In this line of enterprise he met with a well merited degree of success, being the logical result of his straightforward and honorable methods of transacting his business. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church at City Island. In 1862 Mr. Banta responded to the call of his country
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and enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth Regiment under Captain David E. Terry, New York Volunteers. He was honorably discharged November 16, 1863.
George W. Banta married, at New York city, March 3, 1884, Mary A. Lyman, born April 23, 1845, daughter of David B. and Lucretia L. (Smith) Lyman, the former a native of Connecticut, and the latter of Burlington, Vermont. David B. Lyman died April 13, 1852, having lost his life in a railroad accident while serving in the capacity of engineer. His wife, Lucretia L. (Smith) Lyman, died June 21, 1889. Children of George W. and Mary A. (Lyman) Banta were: 1. Lucretia Amelia, born June 19, 1865, died September 28, 1866. 2. Sarah Amanda, born August 30, 1870, died July 18, 1869. 3. Cornelia A., born Oc- tober 27, 1870, married Jonathan Bean and their children are G. Everett, John Otis, Mary Elizabeth, Harold, Jonathan, Cor- nelia Maud and Madeline Frances Bean. 4. George Carlton, born January 29, 1874. 5. Joseph Newton, born March 28, 1881, died November 12, 1901. George W. Banta died at City Island, August 3, 1900.
JOHN LIVINGSTON FLAKE.
John Livingston Flake was born in New York city, Febru- ary 14, 1813, and was an only son of John Livingston Flake, whose father, John Livingston Flake, came from Holland during the early colonial days and settled in New York city, where he was for some time engaged in mercantile pursuits. He died in New York at the age of twenty-two years.
John Livingston Flake, son of John L. Flake, who was the founder of the family in America, married Amy Osborn, who bore him two children, namely: Maria, married Abram Vreden- burg, of New York city ; and John Livingston, whose name intro- duces this review. Upon the death of John Livingston Flake,
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his widow married John King Vanderbilt, and of this marriage were born two children: Sarah Livingston, married Eder Vree- land, of Staten Island; and Mary Osborn, married Cornelius Simonson, also of Staten Island.
John Livingston Flake, of whom this sketch is written, was educated in the schools of New York city, where he was reared to manhood and resided till the age of twenty-three, when he came to Staten Island and took up his residence with his step- father, John K. Vanderbilt, who had purchased a large tract of land adjacent to where South Beach now is. Here Mr. Flake spent the remaining years of his life in pleasant retirement, passing away May 15, 1876.
John Livingston Flake married Mary Ann Simonson, daugh- ter of Jeremiah and Jane (Corson) Simonson, both representa- tives of old families of Staten Island. Of this marriage Mr. Flake had born to him a family of nine children: 1. Jeremiah Simonson, see forward. 2. Jane Simonson, married Daniel Pelton, had no issue. 3. Amy Osborn, born February 16, 1836, did not marry. 4. Catherine Fleetwood, married George W. Vreeland, and has children: Eugene, Harry Livingston and Frank Osborn Vreeland. The mother and the three aforemen- tioned children are all deceased. 5. Sara Maria, born June 15, 1840, married George F. Ockershausen, no issue, Mr. Ocker- shausen died March 30, 1899. 6. Mary Louise, did not marry, now deceased. 7. Margaret King, now deceased. 8. Josephine, died in childhood. 9. Evelyn Forrest, married Raymond Far- rar Brown, and has two children : Ethel Clare, married Godfrey C. White, of Mulbaston, England, September 12, 1906; and Ray- mond Farrar Brown, Jr. The father of the aforementioned children died July, 1899, and the mother, Mary Ann (Simon- son) Flake, died October 18, 1864.
Jeremiah Simonson Flake, a representative and enterpris-
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ing citizen of Richmond, borough of Richmond, was born at the family homestead, town of Southfield, at Rosebank. His ele- mentary educational training was acquired in the schools of his native county. He spent the active years of his life on the home- stead at Rosebank, formerly known as Camp Scott, where he died in March, 1864. Mr. Flake married Mary Elizabeth Cubberley, daughter of William and Phoebe (Hotchkinson) Cubberley, and of this marriage was born an only son, William Livingston Flake, see forward.
William L. Flake, born September 14, 1860, was given a liberal education in the schools of Richmond county, sup- plemented by a higher course of study in the schools of New York city. After pursuing various occupations up to 1880, Mr. Flake entered the employ of Jessup and La- mont, brokers and bankers in Wall street, with whom he re- mained for a period of three years, during which time he learned the various details of the business, and finally engaged in busi- ness on his own account in the brokerage and stock trade. In this undertaking he met with well merited success, and became favorably known to the consolidated stock exchange of New York city. In recent years he has become extensively engaged in the real estate and insurance business in the borough of Richmond. He became a member of Tompkins Lodge, No. 471, F. & A. M., at Stapleton, and received the degree of royal arch mason of Tyrian Chapter, No. 219, at New Brighton, and is an earnest member of the craft, and by his manly deportment in the com- mon walks of life has proved himself a credit to the order.
Mr. Flake married, October 20, 1821, Leah Stoutenborough, born August 23, 1860. Of this marriage were born two chil- dren: Lottie Crocheron, born December 16, 1884; William Liv- ingston, Jr., born March 17, 1887. Mrs. Flake is a consistent member of St. Andrew's Episcopal church of Richmond.
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ST. LUKE'S GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
St. Luke's German Evangelical Lutheran church, of which Rev. William Jentsch was pastor, is situated at the corner of Union avenue and Division street, New Rochelle, New York. The parish was organized in 1869 by Rev. Holls, and a small frame church building was erected in Division street in which divine services were held until December, 1899. The corner stone of the present edifice was laid on Whitsunday, 1899, with appro- priate ceremonies, and as soon as the basement of the structure was completed it was taken into use as a place of worship. Here the services were conducted until the building was completed and dedicated, March 25, 1900. Since that time the services have been held in the spacious and handsome body of the church, the basement being used for the Sunday school, meetings, and similar purposes. The structure is an imposing one of stone and brick and has a seating capacity of four hundred and fifty persons. The congregation is composed of one hundred and fifty members and there is an average Sunday school attendance of about one hundred and twenty-five. The services are con- ducted entirely in the German language, and there is a parochial school connected with the church in which instruction is given every Saturday. The following associations are also connected with the church: Ladies' Aid Society with a membership of ninety ; Young People's Society, forty members; Sick and Death Benefit Society for both men and women, thirty-eight members. The church is in a very flourishing condition and the member- ship is increasing rapidly under the guidance of the pastor, who is a most zealous and indefatigable worker. The welfare of the parish lies near to his heart and he is held in high esteem by his parishioners.
Rev. William JJentsch was born in Silesia, Germany, No-
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vember 20, 1867. He was educated in the Bolkenhain School, and this was supplemented by courses in languages under private tuition. He then pursued his classical studies in the theological seminary at Kropp, Schleswig Holstein, Germany, and gradu- ated from that institution in 1891. Desiring to proceed still further with his studies, he entered the University of Breslau, and in the fall of 1891 came to America. He located in Water- bury, Connecticut, where he was ordained to the ministry De- cember 16, 1891. During the seven succeeding years he was the pastor of the German Evangelical Lutheran church in that city, and succeeded in building a church and parsonage. He was elected to the pastorate of St. Luke's German Evangelical Luth- eran church, New Rochelle, New York, in 1898, and since taking charge of this parish his efforts have been productive of a vast amount of good. He has made a number of improvements in various directions, and it is mainly due to his personal efforts that the present church building and parsonage have been erected. His ready sympathy and unselfish helpfulness have endeared him to the hearts of his parishioners, while his inter- esting, forceful sermons have attracted many to the house of worship. He is a preacher and writer of more than ordinary ability, and is the author of a number of tracts. July 1, 1906 (much to the regret of his people), he was called to St. Peter's German Evangelical Lutheran church in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania (East End), one of the oldest and largest German parishes in Western Pennsylvania. His successor in New Rochelle is the Rev. H. O. Weber.
HIRAM WOODRUFF DECKER.
Hiram Woodruff Decker, for many years engaged in the mercantile business at Rossville, borough of Richmond, where he was well known and became recognized as one of the leading
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and representative citizens of that place, was born at the old family homestead at Springville, in the town of Northfield, bor- ough of Richmond, March 2, 1824, son of Andrew Decker, who was twice married, and Hiram Woodruff Decker was a son of the first union.
Having been left an orphan at an early age, Hiram W. Decker remained under the parental roof until the age of four- teen, when he became employed in a store at Fort Richmond, where he remained, however, but a short time. He next came to Rossville, where he entered the employ of Henry Stewart Se- guine and remained in his employ for a number of years, during which time he managed by his industry and practical economy to save sufficient capital with which to purchase an interest in his employer's establishment and became a partner with Mr. Se- guine in the mercantile business, which line of pursuit they con- ducted jointly up until the death of Mr. Seguine. Mr. Decker continued the business establishment alone until 1893, when he retired from active mercantile pursuits. During nearly sixty years of active mercantile life Mr. Decker became known as a straightforward and honorable man in all his business trans- actions. He died at his home near Rossville, January 24, 1900. He was a consistent member of St. Luke's Episcopal church at Rossville, and for many years served as one of the vestrymen.
Hiram Woodruff Decker married, June 18, 1870, Anna Guyon Seguine, born January 17, 1845, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Jane ( Mundy) Seguine. Of this marriage were born the following children: 1. Joseph Seguine, born November 5, 1871, married Florence Frances Frazee, daughter of Rev. Theodore Frazee, and has one child. Frazee Seguine Decker. 2. Alvin Stewart, born March 7, 1873. 3. Floyd Woodruff, born October 2, 1874, married Gertrude La Forge. 4. Mary Irene, born July 23, 1878, married Herbert M. Merselles, and has two children :
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Madeline Irene and Mason Peter Merselles. 5. Mason Guyon, born August 17, 1881. 6. Mabel Aline, born March 14, 1884. The faithful wife and mother of the aforementioned children survives her worthy husband, and resides on the homestead at Rossville. She is also a member of St. Luke's Episcopal church at Rossville.
CROOKE FAMILY.
The ancestor of the American branch of this illustrious family, which is allied with so many of the earliest families of New York, was John Crooke, who came from Oxfordshire, Eng- land, in 1670. In a former period a John Crooke (1601) appears as recorder of the city of London and speaker of the house of commons. In 1641 Sir George Crooke was a judge in the reign of Charles I., and died at Waterstoke, Oxfordshire. Lieutenant- Colonel Charles Crooke was a cavalier in Cromwell's time, 1651. In 1654 Major Fenton Crooke was an officer in Crom- well's army, and in 1658 Sir John Crooke, of Ailsbury, was member of parliament from Buckinghamshire.
John Crooke, the American ancestor, resided in the city of New York. In the history of Trinity church his name is found first as vestryman at the time of its incorporation, and afterward as warden, and he was one of the subscribers to the original building. His name, with those of others, among them Robert Crooke, Gabriel Ludlow, Richard Alsop, Charles Crooke and Nathaniel Marston, is found in an agreement for the pur- chase of a tract of land in Dutchess county, New York. The company was known as "The Nine Partners," and his allotment included lots 1, 2, 5, 15 and 24. The record and survey of that important and extensive tract is to be found in the office of the secretary of state in Albany.
John Crooke, who died in 1740, was the father of six chil- dren: Gabriel; Robert, married Catherine Richards; John,
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married Christina Jansen; Elizabeth, married Richard Alsop; Mary, married Nathaniel Marston; and Charles, of whom further. The names of the families with which they intermar- ried are all famous in our early history. The portraits of Nathaniel Marston and his wife Mary are now in possession of the Philipse-Gouverneur family. The home of John Crooke was in Wall street, at what is now No. 35, and was afterward owned by the Ludlow family.
Charles Crooke, son of John Crooke, married Ann (or Anche) Rutgers, and their children were: Cornelia, married Gabriel William Ludlow; Anthony, John and Charles.
Charles Crooke, son of Charles and Ann (Rutgers) Crooke, married Jane Van Valkenburgh, and their children were: Ann, married (first) Colonel Barber, and (second) William Broom; Charles, married Mary Marsh; and John.
John Crooke, son of Charles and Jane (Van Valkenburgh) Crooke, married Cornelia B. Livingston, and they were the parents of nine children: John; Robert L., married Maria Smith; Helen Mary; Charles. see forward; Cornelia; Jane; Philip S .; Eliza B .; Margaret.
Charles Crooke, third son of John and Cornelia B. (Liv- ingston) Crooke, married Ann Nehr, and they were the parents of a large family: Charles, died young; Charles L .; Julia; Margaret, wife of Augustus Doughty; Lewis, married S. E. Reynolds; Henry S., married Carrie E. Merritt, and their chil- dren are Charles and Anna J .; Robert, married Mary Van Kleek. and their children are William H., Mary Ann and Mary Helen; Cornelia A., wife of L. G. Dodge, and their children are Charles C. and Ann S., wife of John Kinkead; Mary H., wife of James Emott, and their children are James Edward, Charles C., married Leila Tuckerman, and Laura H., wife of J. Morgan Slade; lastly, John J.
Vol. II-25
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John J. Crooke, son of Charles and Ann (Nehr) Crooke, was born at the family homestead at Stuyvesant-on-the-Hudson, Columbia county, New York, January 22, 1824. He came to New York city with his parents in 1825, and there received his preparatory educational training under the direction of Pro- fessor Charles Anthon. He then spent some time with James B. Jarvis, a civil engineer, and was engaged with him on the Highland branch of the Hudson River railroad. Upon relin- quishing this work the young student returned to New York city, where he was engaged in a drug store for two years, dur- ing which time he took up the study of chemistry. In 1844 he entered Yale College, where he was for about two years en- gaged in study, and being far in advance of his class he volun- tarily relinquished his college course and came to New York city, where he engaged in the smelting of gold and silver ore and the sweepings from jewelry manufacturing establishments by original processes and methods of his own, being the first in this country to engage in such work. His first establish- ment was at the corner of Bank and West streets. Mr. Crooke next invented the process for manufacturing the webb tinfoil, which he manufactured for some time, also continuing the smelt- ing and refining of gold and silver ore, and was recognized as the leading refiner of the precious metals in the city, and as the first to successfully engage in the manufacture of webb tinfoil. Mr. Crooke next became interested in silver mining, and was among the pioneers of that industry in Colorado, erecting the first mill for reducing ore at the headwaters of the Rio Grande river. He subsequently established plants in several other local- ities, and at one time was one of the most extensive miners in Colorado, and through his thorough knowledge of chemistry and mineralogy rendered much valuable service toward developing the interests which have made Colorado one of the richest min-
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ing regions of the world. In short, the name of Mr. Crooke is inseparably associated with all the most momentous events of the early days of mining in Colorado and the west. After the demonetization of silver, Mr. Crooke, with others, found his financial interests greatly impaired, and after many years of hardship and untoward incident in mining affairs, he returned to the east, and took up his abode at Great Kills, borough of Richmond, and now, at the age of more than four score years, lives in pleasant retirement. His history is replete with asso- ciations and incidents of surpassing interest, and makes his conversation as instructive as it is entertaining.
Mr. Crooke has never married, and is one of the oldest surviving members of his family.
A few particulars, illustrative of mining and smelting vicissitudes in those early days, are worthy of mention :
John Crooke went to the Rocky mountains in the early sixties. His objective point was the "divide." The Rio Grande river at that point is about two feet wide; there is the parting of the streams, one for the Atlantic, one for the Pacific. The in- trusive "Baldy" mountain, with a glacier on one side, a gold vein fronting the early sun on the other, with New Mexico a border land. presented a fascinating spectacle. The mine was the famous "Little Annie," discovered by two Swedes pros- pecting for gold. Crooke at once arranged for the building of a ten stamp gold mill. The machinery was ordered from Chicago. In the meantime drifting on the vein was prosecuted, revealing great richness. The machinery arrived at Del Norte, hauled in on Mexican wagons, four-inch wooden tires to resist the sand of at that time the San Luis valley. Each vehicle was manned by "bull" teams of from fifteen to twenty yokes. A road was blazed for thirty-two miles to "south mountain" and "Baldy;" twenty yokes of Mexican cattle were hitched to the boiler with
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seventeen men with ontriggers to keep it from sliding down the mountain. It took this outfit six days to reach the mine. Then the engine, high mortars, stamps, dolly tubs and pipings were finally hauled on the ground, part of the way with block and tackle. All this was accomplished through an interminable wilderness of pine, spruce, aspen and mountain willow, at the edge of precipices, over canyons, gulches and breakneck bar- riers. The machinery was finally placed, the boiler set with stone and mud foundation, and all the heavy timbers whip- sawed from the rough. John Crooke fired this pioneer appar- atus. The altitude was thirteen thousand feet. Steam made very slowly, but at last the throttle was opened at fifty pounds and then the roar of the stamps, a battle cry for gold. After twelve hours' run the inside and outside plates were cleaned ; the amalgam retorted; the pay was a few hundred over three thou- sand dollars, yellow gold 99.50 fine. This mill was operated for years with great success, but finally went out on granite bed rock. The common history of very rich gold mines.
Mr. Crooke then went to the South Fork of the Gunnison river, and exploited two argentiferous galena mines on Hen'sen creek, a tributary fork of the Gunnison. Built a concentration mill at the mines, erected buildings, sunk shafts, encountered water, put in Cornish bob pump, eight-inch diameter discharge of water, drove levels, uplifts, winzes, in fact, mined and took out ore, made brick and set up six reverberatory furnaces and one blast, driven by a novel tool, a Baker blower. Everything was novel at that time. This plant was located at what is now Crookeville, under Crooke mountain, on the borders of the beau- tiful Gunnison. The only fuel was wood and charcoal. He commenced to make bullion. At this time, realizing the neces- sity for refining the very base arsenical and antimonial lead to fit it for economical extraction of gold and silver, he used his
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process previously devised and patented, set up desilverizing kettles and blowing tests and commenced to cast one thousand ounce silver bars and turning out bar lead fit for corroding. The refining process was subsequently stolen and is now in common use. The two mines on Hensen creek produced thirty- two tons of concentrates every twenty-four hours. About this time the Ute Indians on the White river reservation made the usual Indian raid on the outlying ranches, killing everything in sight. This affair is now remembered as the White River massacre. It originated from an attempt on the part of Greely, the agent, a most estimable gentleman, to educate the Indian children, this christian endeavor to be carried out by Greely's daughters. Every man at the agency was killed and the women spared for outrage. Greely was pinned to the ground by a stake driven through his mouth. Major Thornburg, with a company of soldiers, was lured and ambushed in a canyon and cut off to a man. The propinquity of the Crooke works called for instant defense. Mr. Crooke called a miners' meeting; one hundred men were enrolled under Captain John Crooke. The smelter building windows were bricked up and looped for rifles. Governor Pitkin sent in under escort one hundred Winchesters with forty rounds for each gun. An armory was established on the upper tank floor. The trails were scouted and reports made. The regular mining and smelting work went on as usual, and the fort held with a refuge established at the works for the women and children. Major Miles, now general, came in and looked over the preparation and pronounced it good. The af- fair, however, ended in smoke. The Indians fired the surround- ing forest and literally came near smoking them out. Subse- quently Miles patched up a peace with Uray. the Ute angel, and matters went on as usual. No one was punished for those fright- ful crimes. Lo! the poor Indian.
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