USA > New York > Columbia County > History of Columbia County, New York. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 61
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116
A good Sunday-school, having one hundred members, is in charge of the pastor.
THE ST. JOHN'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
of Valatie was formed as the result of missionary labors from the parish of Coxsackie, by Fathers Finnegan and Roach. The former erected a plain frame church, in the western part of Valatie, standing on two acres of ground. There is also a good parsonage near the church, the esti- mated value of both being six thousand dollars.
About 1871 a parish was formed, and placed in care of Rev. John J. Brennan, who was the spiritual guide of this people until 1874. Since that period, Rev. M. J. Griffith has held the priestly office. The parish now includes the churches at Stuyvesant and Stuyvesant Falls, and has seven hundred communicants.
THE NIVERVILLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH and society was organized in September, 1877, with Trus- tees Lucas Vandenburgh, John Raeder, Bradley Nichols, J. D. Reynolds, and R. H. Reynolds.
A very neat chapel was built by the society, and dedi- cated Nov. 29, 1877, by the Rev. F. Widmer, of Rome. It can accommodate one hundred and eighty persons, and cost two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars.
Before the formal organization of this church preaching was held here at the school-house, in connection with the charges at Valatie and North Chatham. It is at present served with the latter place, and the Rev. J. G. Fallon is the pastor of the fifty members composing the church.
Hiram Shnfelt superintends a Sunday-school having seventy-five members.
30
234
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
DAVID W. GARDENIER
was born on the 17th of November, 1812, in Kinderhook, at the old family homestead, built in 1753 by his father's uncles.
The place has remained in the family since the above
date, and is one of the oldest family residences in the town. It has stood the storms of a century and a quarter, and is still a good and substantial structure.
Mr. Gardenier married in 1843 Miss Elizabeth A. Bene- dict, who died April 13, 1855, leaving two children,- Aaron B. Gardenier, an attorney and counselor at law, residing at Valatie, Columbia Co., N. Y., and Mary R. Gardenier.
CLAVERACK.
CLAVERACK was one of the original divisions of the county. It was formed as a district March 24, 1772, and at that time constituted the lower part of Albany county, embracing all the territory lying south of Kinder- hook and King's district, and north of the manor of Liv- ingston, which was then in Dutchess county. In 1782, Hillsdale was set off on the cast, and in 1785 all the terri- tory lying west of Claverack creek was taken from it to form the city of Hudson. It thus became an interior divi- sion, a little south of the centre of the county. On the 7th of March, 1788, Claverack was erected as a town, and in 1818 it was reduced to its present area, thirty thousand two hundred and twenty-four acres, by the formation of the town of Ghent.
Claverack (Claw'-ve-rack) is a Dutch term, signifying lit- erally a clover reach or field (Dutch, racken), and was ap- plied to this country by the discoverer of the Hudson and his followers, on account of the presence of the indigenous white clover which covered the comparatively bare land so as to resemble fields. Others suppose that the name was suggested by the fancied resemblance to trefoil of these bare places, or bluffs of land, in sight of the river. From the nature of the country at that time, the former is the more probable reason for the name. Along the streams were extensive glades but sparsely timbered by copses of thorn-apple and other wild-fruit shrubbery, and much of the land was altogether bare, or used by the Indians for the cultivation of maize. Beyond Claverack creek, in the east- eru and southern parts of the town, the surface has greater diversity, appearing in the form of hills of moderate height and extensive intervals. The general surface is elevated and sufficiently undulated to afford good natural drainage. The natural features of the town present a very pleasing aspect, and the many fine surroundings constitute it one of the most attractive regions of the State.
The principal streams are Claverack creek and its trihu- taries. The former enters the town from the north, near its centre, and has a southwesterly course to its junction with Copake creek, on the western boundary of the town ; thence it flows northward to the Kinderhook, in the town of Stock- port. Both streams have low banks, bordered by extensive
flats, which are subject to the overflow from spring freshets, and but little water-power is afforded. Eastern creek is the main tributary of Claverack creek. It is an impetuous mountain-stream, rising in the Taghkanic range in Hillsdale, and flows west through the northeastern part of the town. Its descent from the foot-hills at Philmont is characterized by several cataracts of great height and surprising beauty. Nothing but a greater volume of water is required to dis- tinguish them as being among the grandest water-falls in the country. Near the centre of the town, flowing westward, is another good mill-stream, and in the southern part are several large brooks, the principal one of which flows into Copake creek near its union with the Claverack. Hoff- man's pond is near the southeast corner of the town. It has an area of about seventy-five acres, and is in places very deep. Its eastern banks are high and rocky, but on the west and south the lake has a dry and gravelly beach, be- yond which are fertile lands. The waters of the pond are discharged into Copake creek by means of a small outlet.
Along these streams are alluvial flats, easily cultivated, and of surpassing fertility, the luxuriance of their products being excelled by no other part of the county. The soil of the uplands is not so fertile, but, with skillful cultivation, yields rich returns. In the western part of the town it is somewhat clayey, which adapts that section best for grass, but in other portions it varies from an argillaccous loam to a gravelly or a clear loam, and produces the common cercals and the hardier varieties of fruit in great abundance.
Claverack was comprised in the purchase made by Kil- lian Van Rensselaer in 1630, and until 1704 was subject to the general conditions of the Rensselaerwyck. That year the patroon conveyed to his brother Hendrick a large tract of land in the southern part of his manor, called by the Indians Pot Koke, and which in the Dutch language was described as Claverack. It comprised all of the original division known hy that name, and is said to have included one hundred and seventy thousand acres. This territory was crected into the lower manor of Rensselaerwyck, to distinguish it from the old manor, by John Van Rensselaer, a son of Hendrick, who was known as the first proprietor of Claverack. Settlements were invited, and perpetual
235
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
leases were given for the land thus occupied. In conse- quence of the vagueness of the Massachusetts boundary line, squa ters from that State took possession of a portion of the tract. At a later day some of the tenants or lease- holders became disaffected, and serious disturbances resulted. These troubles, and the conditions pertaining thereto, are treated at length in the general history of the county.
It must not be supposed, however, that
THE SETTLEMENT OF CLAVERACK
did not begin until after 1704. It appears from the journal of two Labadist priests, who visited this section in 1680, that in the vicinity of Claverack village there were at that time fine farms and other evidences indieating early posses- sion. But no data can be found as to the names of these " boors" (farmers), and whether they subsequently removed or remained in town. It is not improbable that some of the immigrants to New Netherlands prior to the period named above, whose names are still perpetuated in the town, may have composed the community of which these priests speak, and that some of the ancestors of the people of to- day were among the very first settlers.
The settlement of the town was slowly made, and even after the patroon had held out his flattering inducements to the sturdy Lowlanders was meagre in numbers. It appears from the eensus of 1714 that in all Claverack there were but two hundred and sixteen persons, and that nine- teen of these were slaves. The large proportion of children given in the list indicates that there were many young families, whose settlement must have been comparatively recent. A few of those who lived in the town about that period may be briefly noted.
After Hendrick Van Rensselaer had received his land, he removed to it with his family and such of his friends as he could induce to leave the older community at Albany. He was active in promoting the establishment of a church and other measures for the good of the settlers, and did not seek the full benefits of his lordly privileges. His son, John, seems to have been the first to exercise these privi- leges, and was known as the proprietor of the town. One of his sons, John I., succeeded to the manorial rights, and sold them out of the family. The latter was the father of Gen. Jacob Rutsen Van Rensselaer. The manor-house erected by this branch of the family is a mile cast from Claverack village, and is at present the property of Allen S. Miller. Others of the Van Rensselaers lived where Stottsville now is, owning for many years a large tract of land in that locality. A portion of this, in Claverack, on the Union turnpike, yet belongs to Jacob F. Van Rens- selaer, a lineal descendant in the sixth generation, and is the only land of the old patroon's broad domain that has never been out of the family.
About 1715 many of the Palatines and others on the Livingston manor removed to Claverack. Among these were the Conyns, who settled in the neighborhood of Hum- phreyville. Casparus Conyn was a captain in a provincial regiment, and warmly espoused the American cause in the Revolution. In 1766 he erected a large house in that section, which yet stands in good condition. It is a gan- brel-roofed structure of brick, two and a half stories high,
and is now owned by A. H. Van Rensselaer, a maternal descendant. Not far from the Conyns was the Van Dusen family, which was prominent in the early history of the town. Cornelius Van Dusen was killed by the anti- renters in 1791.
The Esselstynes came to America in 1660, and in 1710 a member named Jacob settled in the central part of Clav- eraek. One of his sons, Richard, was a major in the Continental army, and died the year peace with England was declared. Among his sons were Jacob and Cornelius. The former remained on the homestead, and was the grand- father of the present owner, Tobias Esselstyne, who is in the sixth generation of the family that has occupied this place, and which has never been in any other name. Some of the descendants of the Cornelius Esselstyne branch became prominent citizens of the county.
One branch of the numerous and well-known Miller family, in Claverack and Hudson, originated from Cornelis Stephanis Muldor, who obtained a lease of one thousand acres of land east of the village of Claverack in 1718, a large por- tion of which is yet in possession of his direet descendants. Four of his sons, Jeremias, Stephanis, Christophel, and Killianem, came with their father, who was an aged man, and settled in various parts of the town. From the first named have come the Judge John I. Miller branch and others living in the northern part of the town and in Ghent. Among the children of Stephanis was Cornelius S., who was a member of the committee of safety during the Rev- olution. His farm was south of the village of Claverack, and included the house now occupied by Jeremiah M. Race, who is a maternal descendant. This building was erected in 1767, and being a very substantial structure, the cellar was used to confine the troublesome Tories of this vicinity in 1776-79. Stephen Miller, a son of Cornelius S., was taken prisoner by the Indians in the Revolution, and held by the British about six months, when he effected his escape. He afterwards lived on the present Van Wyck place. He was the ancestor of Judge Theodore Miller, Hon. John Gaul, and Henry C. Miller. The latter was sheriff of the county in 1844, and arrested " Big Thunder" at Hollowville that year. Christophel was the great- grandfather of Killian Miller, who became an attorney of distinguished note.
Another branch of the Millers came from Holland very early, and found homes in one of the lower counties of the State. Before the Revolution some of their descendants settled in the eastern part of Claverack, where their pos- terity have since resided, and are esteemed among the leading citizens of the town. A third family of that name traces its descent from Germany. Its descendants live in the neighborhood of Mellenville.
The Ten Broeck family is one of the most ancient in town. Samuel Ten Broeck was a son-in-law of Hendrick Van Rensselaer, and the grandfather of Adam Ten Broeck, who served all through the Revolution. On the 26th of June, 1766, Cornelius Ten Broeck was killed by the anti- renters.
The Philip family also came from Germantown. It comprised four brothers, George, William, Henry, and David, from whom have descended those bearing that name.
236
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
George was a captain in the American army in the Rev- olution, and was a commissary of subsistence.
The Hortons came from England, and became connected with the Philips by marriage. Michael Horton also held a commission in the American army, and was at the Sara- toga engagement.
The Hogebooms were early and important members of the Claverack settlement, and were the descendants of Kil- lian Hogeboom, who came from Holland some time after 1712, bringing his son Jeremiah, who was born that year, with him. Another son, Johannes, was born in Claverack, and was the ancestor of the Hogebooms who removed to Ghent. Jeremiah Hogeboom was the colonel of a provincial regiment in 1772, and the father of Captain Stephen Hoge- boom, who was the grandfather of James Watson Webb. A son of Stephen's, Killian, was in charge of the post-office station in Claverack after the Revolution. Peter, another son of Jeremiah, became a well-known citizen of Hudson. Cornelius, a son of Johannes Hogeboom, and cousin of the last named, was one of the first sheriffs of the county, and was killed while in the discharge of his duty, Oct. 22, 1791. His son, John C., became one of the most prom- inent men of the State, and was the father of Judge Henry Hogeboom, one of the foremost jurists of the country.
The Mesick family deserves a place in this connection, as one of the oldest and best known. Peter Mesick held a lieutenant's commission from Cadwallader Colden, dated 1762, and also served as an officer in the Revolution. The distinguished Van Ness, Storm, Sagendorph, Vanderpoel, Ostrander, Jacobie, and Harder families were among the early settlers in the northern part of the town, and their successive generations have always ranked among the fore- most citizens of Claverack and the surrounding towns. Farther south, and on the flats of the Claverack, the Herdick, Van De Carr, Delameter, and Van Hoesen fami- lies settled. The latter is now known as the Mosely place, and the house which stands on it was erected soon after 1700. Near by lived Jndah Paddock, in a house which ranks with the Van Hoesen house in age and general architecture. This became the property of Robert Morris some time before 1800, and is now the property of William Jordan. A son of Morris, Robert H., became a distin- guished attorney and mayor of New York city. The grandfather of the latter was Richard Morris, who came to Claverack in 1776, settling on the Waldo farm. The Morris family was very noted in those times, and, having espoused the American cause, was obliged to flee from their home in New York city. The state of the country is shown from the following rare letter of Richard Morris to his " Excellency George Clinton, Esq., att Albany" :
" August 25, 1777.
" MY GOOD SIR,-When I heard you was going to Alby. I flattered myself a Little that my Cottage might possibly Entertain you one night, which would have given infinite pleasure both to Mrs. Morris and myself. I am sett down upon a farm about two miles north of the town of Claverack, but I think too near the river, not being above half a mile from it, where, if it is possible in your return, I must begg to see you. I would selt out in the morning to pay my respeets to you at Albany, but I am really afraid to leave my House at night for fear of those Rascally tory Robbers that are Rambling about the country. I have had a very bad opinion of our Affairs to the North, and had some thoughts of sending sowie of my things south again,
but when I heard you was moving North, I was Determined to wait till I heard your sentiments and Advice in the matter. Mrs. Morris joins me in our best Respects to Mrs. Clinton when you see her, and be Assured, my Good Sir, among your many friends none is more Really pleased with the Honble Testimony your Country hears for you tban your Affe. Hum. Servl., RD. MORRIS.
" If I cannot see you, do Lett me bave the pleasure of Hearing from you.
" Direct to the Care of Henry Ludlow, Jr., at Claverack."
It is related of Richard Morris that when the news of the treaty of peace with England came, he procured a barrel of tar and made a bonfire of it on the adjoining hill. It is also reported that Robert Morris had a cannon, which he was accustomed to fire off on this hill on Independence day, and that this circumstance gave it the name of " Mount Bob." The Ludlows came from New York about the same time as the Morrises, and settled at Claverack village, where some of the descendants yet live. In the southern part of the town, Christopher Hagadorn, John Anderson, Frederick Prosseus, and Johannes Rossman settled before 1750, and in some instances the descendants of these names yet possess the land of their first ancestors.
Among others residing in Claverack prior to 1776 were the Hess, Williams, Webb, Martin, Race, Spoor, Ham, Plass, Whitbeck, Melius, Gardner, Monell, and Vosburgh families, most of whom have representatives in the fourth and fifth generations yet living in town, and are closely identified with its interests.
The names of many other early citizens appear in the published muster-roll of Colonel Jeremiah Hogeboom's regi- ment of militia, in 1772, which was composed largely of men residing in Claveraek, in the civil list, and in the his- tories of the churches. They are here omitted to avoid repetition, and it is believed that these and the foregoing embrace all who came prior to the Revolution. As they number several hundred, the possibility of an extended per- sonal notice is unavoidably precluded.
The population of the town in 1875 was 3817. Of this number 2044 were females, and 352 had a foreign birth.
TIIE CIVIL GOVERNMENT
of Claverack began with its formation as a district, in the old county of Albany, March 24, 1772. Before that time the affairs of the people were managed in a domestic way, under the general direction of the patroon and some of the leading men, selected for this purpose. At a later period these were known as the committee of safety or tithing-men. Very unfortunately, the transactions of these committees have not been preserved, and the records of the district and town, before 1834, have been destroyed. Their loss makes a full history of a most interesting period impossible, as the data can be supplied from no other source. Nothing but the names of some of the principal town officers, after the organization of the county, can be given in this connection. These, since 1786, have been as follows :
SUPERVISORS .- Stephen Hogeboom, till 1790 ; George Monell, 1791-98; John C. Ilogeboom, 1799-1800 ; George Monell, 1801-6; Peter Mesick, 1807-16; An- thony Boucher, 1817-23; John Martin, Jr., 1824; Jacob P. Mesick, 1825-26; John Martin, 1827; Abraham Jordan, 1828; Leonard Freeland, 1829-30; Philip W. Pulver, 1831-33.
N. ROGERS, DEL
LODGE.
RESIDENCE of NELSON P.AKEN
HILMONT, COLUMBIA CO., N.Y.
COACH HOUSE.
LITH. BY L.N EVERTS & CO. PHILA, PA
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
237
Supervisors. 1834. Philip W. Pulver.
Town Clerks. Justices. Ambrose S. Russell. W. II. Race.
1835.
E. W. Stannard.
1836.
Cornelius Race.
1837. Stephen Storm.
1838. John Martin.
John P. Mesick.
1839.
Stephen Storm.
1840. John Milham.
Jerome B. Tuttle.
1841. Wmn. W. Rockefeller. Wm. J. Miller.
1842. Samuel Rowley.
1843. Ambrose Roos.
David C. Neefns.
1844.
Fred. N. Mesick.
1845. Milton Martio.
1846.
1847. Ambrose S. Russell.
1848.
David C. Neefus.
1849. Obed Gardner.
44
1850. Frederick Mesick.
=
Edward Gernon.
1851. Obed Gardner.
=
40
Jer. 11. Sagendorph. Elbridge G. Studley. Philip J. Shufelt.
1853.
John H. Dickie.
Eben'r F. Bartlett. Peter Whiting.
1855.
T.V.C.V'Rensselaer. C. C. Shaver.
1856. Edward L. Demarest.
1857.
James J. Studley.
1858. Samuel M. Miller.
Nicholas S. Race.
1859. Peter Mesiek.
James J. Studley.
1860.
46
1861.
=
Charles G. Melius.
1862.
66 =
Wm. H. Melius. =
1863.
46
1864.
44
Charles G. Melius.
1865.
44
16
Wm. H. Van Tussell. Elbridge G. Studley.
1866.
66
Robert Bennett.
G. G. Hermance. Henry P. Iforton.
1867.
1868. Allen S. Miller.
Ab'm R. VanDeusen. Edw'd L. Vandeboe.
1869. Nelson P. Aken.
Ruluf Neefus. ..
1870.
1871. Peter S. Pulver.
Aug. W. Lasher.
1872.
1873. Ilenry P. Ilorton.
Wm. II. Melius.
1874. Edw. L. Demarest.
Ruluf Neefus.
1875. llenry P. Ilorton.
Wm. H. Melius.
1876. Nelson P. Aken.
66
1877. John Sagendorph.
46
1878. Peter S. Pulver. George M. Harder.
John S. Colgrove. David C. Neefus. Abram Martin.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1786. Henry P. Van Rensselaer.
Stephen Hogeboom. Peter Wismore. Israel Spencer.
Peter Ilogebroom, Jr. James Martin.
1789. Henry P. Van Rensselaer. Stephen llogeboom. Peter Wismore. Israel Spencer.
George Monell. Claude Delameter. 1792. Stephen Hegeboom. Israel Speneer. George Monell.
1792. Claude Delameter. Lawrence Hogeboom. 1795. Stephen IIogeboom. Israel Spencer. George Mouell. George Philip. 1798. Stepben Hogeboom. Henry P. Van Rensselaer. William Cautine.
Johu C. Hogeboom. Lawrence Ilogeboom. Peter Mesick. 1801. John C. llogeboom.
Tobias L. Hogeboom. Jeboiakim Miller.
1801. David Humphreys. Peter Van Rensselaer. 1804. Martin Il. Hoffman. Jobn I. Miller. William P. Van Ness. Jacob Mesiek. 1808. David Humphrey. Anthony Boucher. David Wager. Jobn I. Mesick.
1815. Harman Sagendorph. Jacob C. Platner. David Wager. Martin I]. Hoffman. 1818. Jacob P. Mesiek. John Martin. llarmon Sagendorph. John I. Rossman.
1821. Anthony Poucher. Jacob P. Mesick. Harman Sagendorph. John Martin, Jr. 1827. John Martin. Jacob P. Mesick. J ihn Poucher. Ileary G. Emeriek. William W. Rockefeller.
CLAVERACK ROADS.
From an old parchment-bound book, dated 1772, we learn that the road commissioners appointed Feb. 6, 1773, were Robert Van Rensselaer, Peter Van Ness, Casparus Conyn, Isaac Vosburgh, John Van Alen, W. H. Ludlow, Richard Esselstyn, Henry Dibble, Martin Krum, and Abram Carley.
The record of the first survey, made June 22, 1773, reads : " One certain road, beginning at the now dwelling- house of Bartholomew Heth; thence northerly so as the roads run now along the east side of the meeting-house to the now dwelling-house of John Mckinstry, and so run- ning into the Albany road."
Ten more roads were located the same year, but the di- rections are so vaguely described that they are not deemed worthy of reproduction in this connection. The later records are equally unsatisfactory and obscure. The Al- bany road above referred to is better known as the old " Post road," from New York city to Albany. Its general direction through this town is along Claverack creek, a mile and a half east from it, on the first elevation above the flats, or meadow-lands. It formed a very important thoroughfare, and at certain seasons was lined with teams going to the metropolis with the produce of the northern counties. With the building of the railroads and increased shipping facilities on the river these conditions have become changed, yet it still forms one of the principal roads of the town. The first road is crossed, near the northwest corner of the town, by the Union turnpike in its course from Chatham to Hudson. The privileges of the company are yet exer- cised on this part of the turnpike, and the roadway is kept in excellent condition. East from Hudson runs the route of the Columbia turnpike. It passes through Claverack south of the centre of the town, crossing the Post road at Claverack village; thence east through Hollowville and Martindale into the town of Hillsdale and Massachusetts. It was, in early times, one of the principal highways from the east, and was much patronized by the farmers of that section who had to draw their produce to Hudson. The western part of this road is yet controlled by the turnpike company. Another important early road was located along the course of the north branch of Claverack creek, on the north side of that stream, the general direction being north- east. In a modified form this highway yet remains. The
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.