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 62
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1810. Henry P. Mesick. Richard Storm. Calvin Brookins. Jonathan Pinsley. 1813. llenry P. Mesick. Joseph Horton. 1815. Jacob P. Mesick.
Calvin Brookins.
George Decker. Edward Gernon. Ambrose Root. Elbridge G. Studley. George Decker.
1852. Peter Poueher.
1854. Anson Martin.
Andrew Sagendorph. Elbridge G. Studley. J. H. Sagendorph. Richard S. Simon. Tobias Esselstyn. Abram Martin. Henry P. Horton. Elbridge G. Studley. Stephen Storm.
Henry P. Horton. Abram Martin.
Robert Bennett. Elbridge G. Studley. Henry P. Horton. Sylvanus Lock wood. Robert Bennett. Elbridge G. Studley. David C. Necfus. Henry P. Horton. Sylvanus Lock wood. Jeremiah M. Storm. David Van Deusen.
46
Ambrose Root. Georgo HI. Tator. Solomon C. Barton. Edw'd Sagendorph. Juhn Milham. Peter Snyder. George P. Philip. Sylvanus Smith.
Edw'd Sagendorph. Ambrose S. Russell. George P. Philip. Edward Gernon. John B. Sharpe. Erastus W. Stannard. Harvey Richmond.
238
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Hudson and Boston railroad follows its general direction, and has stations at Claverack and Mellenville. The line has easy grades in town, and a well-ballasted road-bed The New York and Harlem railroad enters the town from Hills- dale, near the southeast corner, and has a northwesterly di- rection into the town of Ghent, where it converges with the former railroad. On the line there are stations at Phil- mont and Martindale, in the town of Claverack.
THE UNION CEMETERY
embraces ten acres of ground, pleasantly located at Mellen- ville, on the Philmont road. It is neatly inclosed, and other improvements have made it an attractive spot. The grounds are controlled by the Union Cemetery Association, organized Aug. 20, 1860, with the following trustees : Cornelius Clum, Jacob P. Shufelt, S. Rossman, Jeremiah Stever, Cyrus Groat, F. S. Miller, and G. P. Philip. These chose F. S. Miller president, and G. P. Philip secretary and treasurer. These offices are at present held by Walter V. Ten Broeck, president, and George Southard, secretary and treasurer.
At Claverack, Churchtown, and Martindale are fine cem- eterics, in connection with churches at those places, con- taining the graves of the first settlers. There are, also, a number of fine private burying-grounds, and several which belonged to families whose descendants have removed that are much neglected.
THE CLAVERACK MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
was organized in April, 1857. The first board of directors was composed of Frederick S. Miller, Wm. E. Miller, Wm. M. Miller, F. R. Miller, John Conklin, Abram Mar- tin, W. W. Merfield, E. L. Dann, and Adam Sagendorph. Frederick S. Miller was chosen president, and Wm. E. Miller secretary. Since it has been doing business the company has taken five hundred and sixty-one risks, aggre- gating $1,167,350. The total losses incurred have amounted to $17,482.50. The affairs of the company are in a pros- perous condition. The present (1878) officers are: Presi- dent, Almon Miller, and Secretary, George Southard.
THE VILLAGE OF CLAVERACK.
is delightfully situated in the western part of the town, on the elevated ground north of the flats, on Claverack creek. It is four miles east from IIundson, on the Columbia turn- pike, and is a station on the Hudson and Albany railroad. The agent here, since 1855, has been J. J. Studley, and the office and its surroundings are remarkable for their neat- ness. A number of trains daily afford easy access to Hud- son and the northern points of the county.
This locality is one of the oldest in the county, and in its early history was one of the most important within its bounds. In 1786 it was selected as the first county-seat, and at the first meeting of the board of supervisors held here, at the house of Gabriel Esselstyne, provision was made to erect a court-honse. Two thousand pounds was voted for this purpose, to be expended by a committee composed of William B. Whiting, Abram T. Van Alstyne, John Living- ston, Henry I. Van Rensselaer, Matthew Scott, Seth Jenkins, and William H. Ludlow. Sixteen hundred pounds more was subsequently appropriated, and the honse was not com-
pleted until 1798. It was used by the county until 1805, when the seat of justice was removed to. Hudson. It is a very large and almost square brick structure, standing in the western part of the village, on the north side of the Columbia turnpike. A little to the rear of the court-house stood the old jail, from which two men were taken to be hanged, by order of the court, on the branches of a neigh- boring tree, for the crime of horse-stealing. The court- room itself was the theatre of several important trials, and its walls have resounded to the pleadings of some of the most gigantic intellects the legal profession has produced in this country. In the last trial conducted there, Alexander Hamilton appeared in a case between the patroon and his Nobletown tenants, and delighted all by the brilliant dis- play of his stately intellect. In 1803, Dr. Crosswell was tried here, before Chief-Justice Lewis, for a libel upon President Jefferson, and found guilty. It was here that Elisha Williams, James Spencer, Francis Silvester, Wm. W. Van Ness, the Vanderpoels, and others of great legal eminence engaged one another in the discussion of the difficult legal problems of their day.
After yarions uses, the court-house and the spacious grounds upon which it stands have been transformed into an elegant home, which is at present the property of Peter Hoffman, and there is now nothing attaching to it to indi- cate its former use. On either hand of this building, about the same time, were crected a number of substantial residences, which, though nearly a hundred years old, are yet in a well-preserved condition. Eastward eighty rods was the business centre of the place. This too, like the western cluster of the village, was affected by the removal of the county-seat, and then lost the importance which bad formerly attached to it in this respect.
Claverack has never regained its former business pros- perity, but it has become noted for its elevated moral tone, and for the quiet and comfort which characterizes so many of the homes of its citizens. It is the seat of the " Hudson River Institute," a school of great celebrity ; has three fine churches, several stores and shops, and contains about four hundred inhabitants.
Aside from the ordinary mechanical pursuits, Claverack has not had any manufacturing interests within its imme- diate bounds. A mile east, on the old Van Rensselaer place, have been mills for more than a century. The pres- ent " Red mills" were first erected by Gen. Jacob R. Van Rensselaer, but have been much enlarged, and are now capacitated to grind three hundred bushels of grain per day, besides having a run of stone to grind plaster. P. S. Pulver is the present proprietor. South from the village are the equally well-known "Stone mills," and one mile southwest was the " Claverack Hosiery-Mill," established in 1857, by Robert Aken. It was successfully operated about sixteen years, when it was destroyed by fire, and has not been rebuilt.
Some time during Dominie Gebhard's residence at this place, as pastor of the Reformed church, he invented and had in successful operation a press for extracting the oil from the castor bean, which was here cultivated to some extent, and is said to have derived considerable revenue from this source.
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H. ROGERS, DEL.
BIRDSEYE VIEW OF PHILMONT & MELLEI
ILE, COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
LITH BYL H EVERTS &CO PHILADELPHIA PA
239
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Cornelius Miller, and others of that family, had brew- houses for the manufacture of the beer of that period ; and a few lesser interests abounded.
Stephen Miller is credited with having kept one of the first stores on the hill, half a mile east from the main cor- ners. He transacted a very heavy business for those times, having also an ashery and other adjuncts to the trade, com- mon in those days. Among others, Stephen Van Wyck was here in trade, and the place is now occupied as a private residence by his family. On Claverack hill, where the stores are at present located, George Harder followed merchandising, and was succeeded in time by Thomas Sedge- wick and others. Several of the early store-houses yet occupy their original sites at this place. In the vicinity of the county buildings were also store and warehouses, the latter being used chiefly for the storage of grain. Among the heaviest dealers in that article was William Henry Lud- low, who removed to this place from New York city, a short time before the Revolution. He occupied the store- house once owned by Gabriel Esselstyne, and after the war did an extensive business. In common with other interests this also declined with the removal of the county-seat,- Hudson thereafter becoming the grain-mart.
Numerous taverns abounded, about 1800, at Claverack, and on the post-road and turnpike in its vicinity. Besides the regular inns, nearly every large farmi-house was thrown open to accommodate the extensive travel of that period. An amusing incident is related of Aaron Burr in this con- nection. While on his way to Albany, from New York, he stopped for dinner at one of these places, kept in a farm- house south of the village, and now belonging to the Essel- stynes. " The Dutch language was then the common speech in use in these parts. While Burr was dining, he called for a napkin. The good hostess did not understand him, so she called her husband, and they had an earnest conversation over the puzzling request. At length they discovered that he wanted a ' kniptong'; and so they brought him a pair of sugar pincers, instead of a napkin."
It is said that in 1796 a man named Gordon kept a famous tavern in the village, and that after the presidential electors had cast their votes at Hudson they came out to Claverack to get their dinners. On the old hotel-stand was, in early times, a large white house, having painted on its side in large letters the words " Columbia Hotel." For many years it was kept by Phineas Freeland, who became connected with the place probably as early as 1800. In one form or other this house stood until its destruction hy fire in 1869, while occupied by John H. Moore. A few years later, Henry Lawrence erected a large hotel on the site of the burned building, and supplied it with all the appliances of a city house, making it at that time the finest country hotel in the county. In 1876 this was also burned, and the site remains unoccupied. The building on the opposite corner was formerly used for a tavern, and was kept at an early day by John M. Schumacher and others.
About 1786, Claverack became the post-office station for this section of the country, and on the 13th of July of that year Killian Hogeboom, the postmaster, published the first list of letters in the county. The mail for Hudson was supplied from this place until 1793. On the 31st of July,
1792, a regular post-office was established, Elihu C. Good- rich receiving the appointment of postmaster. At a later period, Jacob R. Van Rensselaer was appointed, who placed the office in charge of Thomas Sedgewick, as deputy.
Among the first, if not the first, to engage in the practice of medicine at Claverack was Dr. Walter Vrooman Winiple. He was a surgeon in the American army in 1776, but re- moved to Claverack a few years later, where he resided until his death, in 1798. Dr. George Monell was a contemporary in practice, living here as early as 1780. A few years later Dr. Joseph Mullins was added to the profession, and later still, Dr. William Bay. After 1800, Drs. Abram Jordan, Gerry Rowan, John H. Cole, and S. A. Mcclellan lived in the village, and within the last thirty-five years Drs. William Wright, Abram R. Van Deusen, James F. Philip, and Thomas Wilson have been in practice, the latter still continuing. Members of the Gebhard and Bay families, who trace their nativity to this town, became eminent in the medical profession abroad.
In the legal profession, John Bay was an early represent- ative, having a law-office at Claverack in 1785. That year, and the year following, Ambrose Spencer was one of his law.students. William W. Van Ness was born in Claverack in 1776, and having attained his manhood, studied law with John Bay. In 1797 he opened an office in Claverack, but soon after removed to Hudson. He died in 1823, and his remains now repose in the Claverack cemetery. General Jacob Rutsen Van Rensselaer was born in this town in 1767. He was a lawyer of great practice at Claverack, and had among his students Ambrose L. Jordan and Joseph D. Monell. The latter was born in town in 1781, and became one of the most distinguished lawyers in Hudson, where he removed after completing his studies. Among others who were born in Claverack and who attained great eminence in the profession were John C. and Henry Ilogeboom, Killian Miller, and William P. Van Ness. A brother of the latter, John P. Van Ness, who was born in Claverack in 1770, practiced law in the village in 1792. He removed to Wash- ington, where he became a millionaire.
PHILMONT.
This flourishing village is in the northeastern part of the town, about nine miles from Hudson, and the same distance from Chatham village. It is a station on the Harlem rail- road, and a point of great and increasing importance on account of the extensive manufactories located here. More than $1,000,000 are invested in the different industries, which give employment to hundreds of men and women.
Philmont has a very pleasant situation on the foot-hills of this section, which elevate it above the Claverack valley, and afford a magnificent view of the rich country below and the distant cloud-capped Catskills. It is principally on the north bank of the Eastern, or Ockawamick creek, a rapid mountain-stream, whose descent to the Claverack is here marked by a series of falls of wonderful beauty, ag- gregating more than two hundred and fifty feet in the course of half a mile. Excellent water-power is thus af- forded, which has been still further improved and multi- plied by a fine system of hydraulics. This has been the means of elevating the place from a mere hamlet, in 1850,
240
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
to its present fair proportions, with a population numbering more than one thousand. George P. Philip was the pro- jector of this enterprise. While the place was yet a com- parative forest, in 1845, he caused a large dam to be erected above the high fall, from which a canal was dug along the hill-slope, at an angle with the course of the stream, across the terraced rocks. This gave him a succession of water- powers, having from forty to sixty feet fall. Until this period, the only manufacturing industries were a small grist- mill, known as Gifford's, where Rogers' paper-mill now is, and a small satinet and carpet-factory, by James Philip & Co., farther up the stream. The latter being the chief in- dustry caused the place to be known as " Factory Hill." The present name was given it by the Harlem railroad com- pany in compliment to George P. Philip, whose industry and enterprise first gave the place importance.
The water privileges of Philmont are controlled by a company composed of the different mill-owners, each pos- sessing franchises according to the number of feet fall his mill site represents. Provision has been made against seasons of drouth by constructing a reservoir of thirty-six acres, at the village, and another of fifty-six acres, a mile and a half above. Their combined capacity is 37,000,000 cubic feet, and they usually afford a sufficient volume of water to enable the different mills to work uninterruptedly the year around.
The satinet-factory, above alluded to, was afterwards converted into the Ockawamick Hosiery- Mills, George W. Philip proprietor, and employed forty-five operatives in the manufacture of shirts and drawers. The building was destroyed by fire, and in 1876 the present substantial brick factory took its place. It contains six sets of ma- chinery for the manufacture of underwear, varying from two and a half pounds to ten pounds per suit. Fifty opera- tives are employed.
About 1847, George P. Philip erected a large factory building on what was known as " high rock," and supplied it with machinery for the manufacture of fine woolen goods. A large quantity of excellent work was produced, but being found unprofitable, it was changed into a hosiery- mill. As such it was last operated by P. M. Harder & Son, until its destruction by fire, in 1875. The factory has not been rebuilt.
The celebrated Nelson P. Akcen's Philmont Hosiery- Mills, which are reputed among the most complete in the country, date their establishment from the humble begin- ning made by Mr. Aken in 1861. That year he put up a small frame factory on the site of his lower mills, which contained two small sets of machinery. The enterprise was a success from the beginning, enabling Mr. Aken to erect the splendid lower mills in 1865. The main part is fifty by one hundred and sixteen feet, four stories high, and is surmounted by a French roof. On the west is a side tower, six stories high. The knitting and finishing build- ing attached is a three-story brick, thirty-six by one hun- dred and twenty feet in extent; the machine-shop and lapper-rooms are thirty-six by eighty feet, with three stories and basement ; and there is besides. a two-story bleaching-house, thirty by one hundred and sixty-two feet. There are twenty-four sets of machinery, employing three
hundred operatives, and producing four hundred dozen of underwear per day. The quality varies from a fine gauze to a very heavy weight, for wear in the coldest climate. Mr. Aken's success is due in a great measure to his selec- tion of an able corps of assistants. H. F. Wilkinson has rendered efficient service, the past twelve years, as super- intendent. W. S. C. Wiley is the head machinist ; Thomas White, foreman of knitting department ; John Hays, fore- man of finishing department ; Isaiah Merrill superintends the cutting ; and C. S. Vanderpool is the inspector of the goods, nothing of an inferior quality being allowed to pass out of the mills. Mr. Aken is at present erecting a second mill, also of brick, four stories high, whose dimensions are one hundred and ten by two hundred and forty feet. It is designed to accommodate the operatives on the goods after they have been knit. About two hundred more persons will thus be afforded employment, while the manufacturing facilities will be greatly increased. Both mills are supplied with the most approved apparatus for use in case of fire, and all the surroundings indicate the most scrupulous at- tention to the sanitary condition of the factories.
The manufacture of paper was first begun at this place about 1855, by George P. Philip, who built a mill on the site at present occupied by the Philmont Paper Company's Mills. The Philip mill was burned in 1859, and the pres- ent one was soon after erected by Horton Harder. It is a first-class establishment, having large and well-arranged buildings, and an excellent power from a forty-two-foot fall of the canal. There are two forty-eight-inch machines and two thirty-six-inch engines. A fine grade of straw wrap- ping-paper is produced, varying from five hundred to seven hundred tons per year. Twelve men are employed. The business of the company is managed by Horton Harder, agent, and W. H. Harder, secretary.
The Philmont Paper-Mills are on the main stream, on the site of the old Gifford grist-mill. They were estab- lished in 1858, by Samuel Rogers, but have since been enlarged. The mill contains a sixty-eight-inch machine and two engines. Six hundred tons of rye straw are con- sumed annually in the manufacture of a strong wrapping- paper, giving employment to nine men and three women. H. W. Rogers is the proprietor.
The Philmont Machine- Works were erected about 1860, by Harder & Ellsworth, and were subsequently operated in an extensive manner, by J. F. Ellsworth, in the manufac- ture of paper-mill and woolen machinery. The main shop is a three-story frame, twenty-four by seventy feet, besides having adjoining shops. Twelve men are employed, prin- cipally on repair-work and paper machinery. The shops are at present run by C. F. Ellsworth and Edward Herrick.
The Philmont Scale- Works are conducted by George II. Snyder, who began the business, at Troy, in 1872, remov- ing to this place in 1877. Twelve different kinds of plat- form and counter scales are manufactured, employing seven men. Mr. Snyder also conducts a foundry in connection with his scale-works.
A Needle-Factory was established by E. F. Connelly, in March, 1876, and is still continued by him. The product is one hundred thousand knitting-needles per month, giving employment to four men.
241
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
The place has alse several large mechanic shops, and for- merly contained another paper-mill, operated by L. M. Fritts & Ce., which has been allowed to go down, and the power is at present unemployed.
Philnent is well supplied with steres, and has a post- office, which was established in 1858, with Cornelius M. Horten postmaster. His successors in office were John T. Snyder and Henry P. Horten, the present incumbent.
A short distance east of Philmont are the Highland, er South Bend Grist- Mills, areund which are a cluster of houses and a blacksmith-shop.
MELLENVILLE
is a small but pleasant village, at the cenfluence of Claver- ack and Eastern creeks, a mile west from Philment, and eight miles northeast frem IIudsen. It is a statien on the Hudson and Albany railroad, and has an active though limited trade. Formerly the place was locally known as Centerville, receiving its present name in 1837, in cempli- ment to a Mr. Mellen, who built the railroad through this point. Settlement here was made very early, among the families being the Millers, Storms, Philips, Harders, and Hortons, but ne special importance attached to the place until after it had the railroad. At present it numbers sev- eral hundred inhabitants.
Among the first to engage in trade were George Philip and Stephen Miller, in a small red building in the lower part of the place. After many years' successful merchan- dising they were succeeded by their sons, and afterwards by William Philip, who was long in trade. Other pioneer merchants were Sterms & Miller, Jeremiah Groat, and Her- man Best. At present there are several stores, in one of which is the pest-office, which was established about 1840, with Herman Best postmaster. A. W. Ostrander helds the position at present.
Captain George Philip kept one of the first public-honses, which ether members of the family continued. Mellenville has now two taverns.
The practicing physicians ef the place have been Doctors R. H. Mesiek and E. J. Palmer.
In the eastern part of the village, on Eastern creek, is the Harder Hosiery-Factory, occupying a large frame build- ing. It has a good power, and being supplied with excel- lent machinery, is capacitated to produce a large ameunt of werk annually.
The Mellenville Hosiery-Mills were erected on the site of a former grist-mill, a part of the buildings being converted to this purpose in 1872. It is supplied with twe sets ef machinery, which enable it to produce twelve thousand dezen pieces per annum. S. D. & A. A. Miller are the pre- prieters.
Above this point Thomas Storm had a grist-mil erected many years ago, which, in 1867, was converted into a paper- mill by Wm. Smith, and is still eperated as such.
The place has also several good mechanic shops, [ nd con- tains a Reformed church.
HOLLOWVILLE
is a large hamlet, near the centre of the tewn, on one of the affinents ef Claverack creek, which here affords limited 31
power. It is on the Columbia turnpike, in a vale sur- rounded by hills rising to a considerable height. It was formerly known as Smoky Hellow, and being on one of the principal routes to eastern points, it was, before the railreads were built, of more importance than at present.
At an early day Wm. Z. Holsapple opened a tavern at the lewer part of the hamlet, in a hense which yet remains, and has always been used for this purpose. On the hill another public-house was opened, in which David Blunt, Dr. Sharp, John M. Smith, and others were among the early landlords. In 1844 this hense was kept by Jonas and Simeen Miller, and was the scene of the Rifenburgh tragedy, en the 18th of December ef that year. The anti- renters came from the direction of Churchtewn, disguised as Indians, and rendezvoused in an upper roem of this house. A large crowd congregated in front, among them the boy Rifenburgh, to see the " Indians" dismennt. In the hurry of the moment a pistol was accidentally discharged, killing the young man. " Big Thunder" afterwards made a speech in front of the tavern, and then, having laid aside his dis- guise, was arrested in one of the rooms ef the house. This building is still used as a tavern. A third tavern was built by Wm. P. Snyder, which has been changed into a private house.
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