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 76
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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Becker, and George C. Clyde as trustees. A church build- ing was erected the same year, which was thoroughly re- paired in 1875, at a cost of $2000. It is a very neat frame, with a tower and bell, and is worth $5000. A fine par- sonage, erected in 1877, is worth $1500. The controlling trustees are Jesse Crandell, Albert Harris, Moses Thomas, E. A. Shaver, and William Van Alstyne.
The church was formerly served, in connection with other appointments, as a circuit. Since 1849 the ministry have been Revs. T. Seymour, W. W. Pierce, Samuel Stover, E. Goss, William A. Miller, John W. Belknap, P. P. Har- rower, Iliram Blanchard, Richard T. Wade, Berea O. Meeker, Sylvester P. Williams, Merritt B. Mead, David Lytle, Frederick Widmer, George W. Brown, David P. IIulburt, Joseph B. Sylvester, William H. Washburne, William Bedell, J. G. Fallon, and P. F. Youlen. A Sun- day-school, superintended by Edgar A. Shaver, was organ- ized about the same time as the church. A good library is maintained.
THE CHATHAM VILLAGE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was organized as the " White Mills" church, by the Rev. Jesse Carley, June 18, 1835. The trustees chosen were George Humphrey, Martin Harder, Stephen Shipman, Cor- nelius Shufelt, Mark K. Crandell, Jehoiakim H. Blass, James Van Valkenburgh, Theodore Pomeroy, and David Crego. A small frame church was built a short distance west of the " White Mills," which is yet standing, although used only for occasional services.
About 1850 the interests of the society were transferred to Chatham village, where a frame meeting-house was erected, which was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1853. The following summer the present edifice was erected in its stead, Benjamin Rogers, Henry Porter, and Peter C. Tomp- kins serving as a building committee. It is estimated to be worth $4500, and the parsonage $3500.
Until 1875 the church was connected with the one at Spencertown as a circuit, but that year it became a station. There are at present one hundred and forty-four members, who are under the pastoral care of the Rev. S. J. Me- Cntchen. From 1853 until this period (1878) the clergy were Revs. Peletiah Ward, James N. Shaffer, Isaac H. Lent, Delos Lull, N. S. Tuthill, John A. Edmonds, H. B. Mead, J. W. Jones, W. S. Stillwell, Alfred Coons, J. W. Smith, and W. Stevens.
A Sunday-school of more than two hundred members is maintained by the church, and is at present superintended by Francis I. Park. It has a good library of three hun- dred and fifty volumes.
THE LUTHERAN CHAPEL
at Chatham village is used by that religious body for ser- vices, in connection with the church in Ghent, in the history of which a more extended account is given.
THE EAST CHIATHAM METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Methodist services were first established at New Concord about 1840. On the 24th of March, 1845, a legal society was formed, with Albert Cady, Peter C. Tompkins, Harrisou Cady, Ferdinand Mesick, and Talcott G. Starks as trus-
tees. A meeting-house was erected in that hamlet about this time, which in 1856 was removed to its present site at East Chatham, and dedicated November 13 by the Rev. S. D. Brown. The house has since been improved, and now affords a comfortable place of worship.
The pastors of the New Concord appointment were Revs. Thomas Ellis, Nathaniel Mead, Alexander H. Ferguson, and Thomas Geralds. In 1850 the name was changed by the conference to that of East Chatham, and has since been served, as before, with the Red Rock church as a circuit. The pastoral succession from 1850 to 1878 has been as follows : Revs. Wm. G. Browning, Peletiah Ward, Wm. Brush, Philip L. Iloyt, Thomas W. Chadwick, Amos N. Mulnix, James G. Bates, M. A. Lent, Aaron Rogers, W. S. Bouton, Abraham Davis, W. F. Harris, William A. Mackey, George Daniel, and G. D. Townsend.
A Sunday-school was organized in the church in 1856, which has been superintended for the past twelve years by Henry C. Smith.
The circuit parsonage is located at East Chatham, and, with the church property, is estimated to be worth $6000. The trustees of the society are Harrison Cady, Henry C. Ham, P. R. Cornell, A. M. Carpenter, W. P. Kirby, H. D. Lovejoy, and Joseph W. Philips.
THE EAST CHATHAM BAPTIST CHURCH
was organized in 1813, and was a comfortable place of worship in the village of East Chatham, having in 1875 fifty-three members. The pastor in 1877 was Rev. C. W. Ashley. We have been unable to secure a full history of this body, and at the last moment insert this brief notice.
THE FRIENDS' MEETING OF RAYVILLE
was established about 1777, and was composed of members from the Finch, Reynolds, Wilbor, Mosher, Coffin, Swain, and Barnard families. Later the Ray, Gardner, Smith, and Cornell families were added to the meeting. A house of worship was built abont 1800, by Palmer Holmes, in which semi-weekly meetings have since been held, generally with silent worship. The meeting at present numbers about forty members.
At North Chatham was formerly a flourishing Baptist society, which erected a meeting-house in the village ; but the society became so feeble years ago that the services were discontinued, and occasional meetings only held. The house has lately been used for the services of the Congregational and other churches, but no regular organization has been effected.
THE ST. PATRICK'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Catholic missionary work was begun at Chatham village, under the auspices of Hudson parish, in 1855. The fol- lowing year a church edifice was erected under the direction of Father James S. O'Sullivan, priest of the parish, which was consecrated by the bishop, now Cardinal McCloskey. This house was enlarged in 1868 by Father J. J. Mori- arty, and now has sittings for five hundred persons. It is reported worth $5000, and the parsonage, purchased in 1867, an equal amount.
Chatham village and the surrounding country became a
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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
parish in February, 1867, at which time Father J. J. Mori- arty became the resident priest, and still serves in that capacity. The bounds of the parish at present extend southward to Boston Corners, having a church at Copake, which was added in 1873. The communicants of the parish number about one thousand souls.
A Sabbath-school at Chatham village was organized in February, 1867. It has seventy scholars, and is super- intended by Miss Kate Moriarty.
THE ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF MALDEN BRIDGE
was incorporated Oct. 10, 1871, with the bishop, vicar-gen- eral, John J. Brennan, Thomas Russell, and Peter Dunn, trustees. A neat meeting-house was erected in the southern part of the hamlet, in which mission services have since been held by Father J. J. Brennan, of the New Lebanon parish.
Missionary services are also held at Chatham village and Malden Bridge by the Protestant Episcopal church. At the former place the services were first held Feb. 3, 1873, by the Rev. James H. Smith. The communicants at present number eighteen at Chatham village, and eight at Malden Bridge, and are under the ministerial care of the Rev. Joseph Hooper, rector of the New Lebanon parish.
THE REFORMED CHURCH OF CHATHAM VILLAGE .*
In the spring of 1842, Rev. Richard Sluyter, of Claver- ack, addressed a communication to the classis of Rensselaer at their spring session, on the subject of establishing a missionary station at Chatham Four Corners. After a full discussion of the matter the classis appointed a committee, of which Mr. Sluyter was chairman, to visit the ground, and report concerning the feasibility of the place. Having examined into the probabilities of success, the committee reported favorably, and the classis resolved to procure a preacher to occupy the grounds. Mr. E. S. Porter (now Dr. Porter, of Brooklyn), having been recently licensed, was prevailed upon to accept the appointment.
He accordingly came to Chatham Four Corners, and commenced preaching there on the 1st of September, 1842. A district school-house was used for the purpose. On the 27th of October, 1842, Mr. Porter was ordained as an evangelist, and continued his labors, although no church was instituted. But it pleased God that his cause should be established there, and a small number of believers were found willing to come forward and be united into a distinct flock.
Accordingly, on the 22d of January, 1843, Rev. John C. Van Dervoort, of Mellenville, as one of the committee of classis appointed for the purpose, came and organized a church by the appointment and ordination of Martin Mesick and Peter Gardenier, elders; and John S. Wilkin- son, deacon; and the church was organized under the style and title of the " First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Chatham." A subscription for building a church, or house for divine worship, was commenced September, 1842, and a contract for building the same was formed on the
12th of March, 1843. In due time the edifice was com- pleted, and on Saturday, the 7th of October, 1843, it was dedicated to the service of the Triune God. The Rev. Mr. Crandell, pastor of the Congregational church at Con- cord, offered the invocation. Rev. Theodore Wyckoff, of the Second Dutch church of Ghent, read the eighty-fourth psalm, Rev. Dr. Gosman, of Hudson, preached the ser- mon, and the Rev. E. S. Porter offered the dedicatory prayer.
The Rev. E. S. Porter, having been presented with a call from the church, and having accepted the same, was installed in the pastoral office on Tuesday, the 17th day of October, 1843.
The pastors have been as follows: Rev. E. S. Porter, 1843-49 ; N. D. Williamson, 1850-51 ; John W. Schenck, 1851-53; Edwin Holmes, 1853-59 ; C. S. Mead, 1859- 70; James B. Campbell, 1870-73; N. H. Vanarsdale, 1874.
The present elders are Peter Gardenier, Jacob S. New, Martin C. Garner, William C. Bailey, J. Wesley Jones. Deacons : Wm. H. Ten Broeck, John K. Pierce, Henry C. Pierson, William B. Howland.
The congregation consists of one hundred families ; one hundred and seventy communicants.
THE MILITARY HISTORY.
From the pension-list of 1840 we learn that Isaac Breman, James Simpson, Guy Lester, Hosca Birge, Ed- ward Loy, and Harvey Gaylord served in the Revolution. The names of others are mentioned among the settlers of the town. Joshua Palmer, who died at New Concord in 1825, served three years on board the " Constitution," and rendered other naval service.
In the late civil war Chatham made a good record. A special meeting was held, July, 1864, when resolutions were passed authorizing a large bounty, whereby eighty-five men were procured to fill the call for five hundred thousand men, at a cost to the town of $43,640. The subsequent call was also promptly met. The military list of the county shows the names of all the resident soldiers in the service credited to the town in the adjutant-general's office.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
HORACE WHITE PEASLEE
was born on the 4th of November, 1807, in the town of New Lebanon, Columbia Co., N. Y. His paternal ances- tors were English, while those on his mother's side were a mixture of English and Irish. The former emigrated to this country at an early time, Ebenezer Peaslee, his grand- father, settling at Quaker Hill, in Dutchess Co., N. Y., and two brothers, who came over with him, settling in the vi- cinity of Boston. One of them was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill. Mr. Peaslee's maternal grandmother was a Buell. At an early period of the settlement of the country one of her brothers was captured and killed by the Indians,
# By Rev. N. II. Vanarsdale.
It. I. Peastic
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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
whose barbarous mode of execution consisted in filling his body with pine-knots, and by that means burning him to death.
Jephthah Peaslee, the father of Horace White Peaslee, was the first of the family who settled in Columbia county. Ife was born in Dutchess county, and removed thence to Chatham, at what date we are not informed. He married for his first wife Lois Weed, by whom he had nine children, all born in the town of Chatham. Of this large family, Orra, now residing at Medina, Orleans Co., eighty-six years of age, is the only surviving member.
Mr. Peaslee married for his second wife Anna Patrick, and by this marriage had ten children, several of whom died young. William, Robert, and Horace W. are all of this family now living.
Horace W. Peaslee was reared on a farm till seventeen years of age, and became thoroughly versed in every de- partment of practical agriculture. From a boy he was characterized by great energy and thoroughness in whatever he undertook, and his advantages of early education, though limited to the common schools, were well improved. At the age of ten he began to work out for a living, doing such service as boys of that age could perform. From his natural force and activity of temperament, he was able to do a man's work long before he had arrived at a man's age and estate. Part of the time during his boyhood he worked nights and mornings for his board while attending school, and when at home assisted his father, who was a hatter by occupation.
At the age of seventeen he went to learn the trade of millwright, and soon becoming a machinist, entered into partnership with Samuel Hanna in a foundry and machine- shop at Valatie, Columbia Co., N. Y., and continued in that business, under the firm-name of Hanna & Peaslee, till 1843. The firm then purchased the Malden Bridge prop- erty, at Malden Bridge, Chatham, Columbia Co., consisting at that time of an old cabinet-shop and a grist and saw- mill. They tore down the grist-mill and cabinet-shop, and in 1845-46 built the present paper-mill, a brick structure, three stories in height, thirty-eight by sixty-eight feet, to which other buildings have been added, to wit, a boiler- house; office, etc., twenty-six by forty-six feet, and two stories high ; a scale-house and tool-room, twenty-six by thirty feet ; engine-shop, for repairs, thirty by forty feet ; and bleach-house, forty by forty feet in dimensions. All these buildings are covered with slate roofs except the blacksmith-shop, which is roofed with gravel. Connected with the paper-mill by an arch of masonry under the road, there is on the opposite side a machine-room for making paper, the main building of which is thirty-six by ninety feet, having a linter on each end, one of which is twenty- two by thirty-four feet, and the other twenty-six by thirty- six feet, the main building being roofed with slate and the linters with tin.
The Kinderhook creek here, which forms the water- power, has been improved by a costly dam extending its entire width, and the banks made permanently secure by solid walls of masonry which have cost many thousand dol- lars. The premises about the house are terraced up from similar substantial stone walls. Altogether, the premises
of Mr. Peaslee, including his mills and residence, separated by a fine iron bridge spanning the stream just below the beautiful and unbroken sheet of water, which rolls over the whole length of the dam like a flashing crystal cylinder, to the constant murmur of its own music, have been fitted up and put in their present state of improvement at great expense.
In the fall of 1846, Mr. Peaslee commenced the manu- facture of paper in company with Samuel Hanna, and the firm so continued till 1857, when Mr. Hanna sold his in- terest to James Benson, his nephew. The firm then became Peaslee & Benson, which it remained till October, 1860, when Mr. Peaslee bought out Mr. Benson, and has since remained sole proprietor. Since the commencement of these operations the business has been more than doubled. The present average product of the mills is about twenty tons of wrapping-paper and boards per week.
Mr. Peaslee is one of the most thorough-going business men in the State. His losses have been heavy at one time and another, in one instance involving a hundred thousand dollars, but his energy and spirit have always been equal to such emergencies, and he has risen from his disasters with fresh courage, only to assert more vigorously his indomitable energy and that irrepressible persistence and enterprise for which he is noted. In addition to his manufacturing busi- ness he is carrying on a large farm of three hundred and fifty acres, all under his own personal supervision, together with the multitudinous calls upon his time and attention in business and in the affairs of the neighborhood. He still finds time to be courteous and obliging to all callers, and is liberal and public-spirited towards all enterprises for the general welfare, a patron of charities, schools, and churches. He takes great pleasure in seeing everything improved and brought up to a high standard, and the thought and en- ergy of his active mind and will are constantly brought into requisition to conserve and advance the various in- terests with which he is concerned. Few men, especially at his present age, bave such an aptitude for business and work, and such powers of endurance, both mental and physical.
Mr. Peaslee was married in January, 1832, to Ann Car- penter, daughter of Dexter Carpenter, of Brainard's Bridge, Rensselaer Co., N. Y. Her grandfather, Oliver Carpenter, came from Rhode Island and settled at Brainard's Bridge among the pioneers of that locality. He married Joanna Ballou, a descendant of Hosea Ballou, of Boston, the noted Universalist preacher, and had a family of eight children,-two sons and six daughters. He followed the pursuit of an agriculturist, in which he attained consider- able wealth. He died in 1845, aged ninety-four years. His wife died in 1832.
Dexter Carpenter was born in 1774, in Rhode Island. He married Drusilla Kelley, in the year 1800, and had twelve children,-seven sons and five daughters,-five of whom are living at this writing, and reside in the State of New York.
Mrs. Peaslee is connected with a large and highly-re- spected family, and is highly esteemed for her own personal attainments and character by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
38
298
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Daniel Reed
DANIEL REED
was born on the homestead now occupied by his son, Phi- neas D. Reed, in the town of Chatham, Columbia Co., N. Y., March 9, 1801. His ancestors were of English descent. John Reed, the first of the family in America, removed from England, and settled in Abington, Mass., whence the descendants scattered over different portions of the United States. Gershom Reed, the grandfather of Daniel Reed, was born in Dutchess county, March 10, 1749, and removed to Chatham in 1791, locating on the farm now owned by Tabor Parks. He here reared a family of seven sons and three daughters. He died July 27, 1829, aged eighty years, four months, and seventeen days. His wife, Jerusha, was born Jan. 3, 1751, and died Oct. 17, 1831, aged seventy-nine years, eleven months, and fourteen days.
Phincas Reed, the father of Daniel Reed, was the fourth son, and was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., June 18, 1775. He was a farmer by occupation, and married Abigail Mills, daughter of John Mills, of Chatham, by whom he had five children,-two sons and three danghters. A year or two after his marriage he purchased the present home- stead, on which he reared his family and resided till his death, which occurred Dec. 19, 1817, aged forty-two years and six months. His wife, Abigail Reed, died Sept. 25, 1824. Phineas Reed was a captain of militia, and a man highly esteemed by his townsmen.
Daniel Reed was brought up as farmers' boys usually are in the country, receiving his education at the common schools. His father died when he was sixteen years of age, and he was placed in charge of the farm for his mother, under the direction of his grandfather, till the other heirs became of age, when he bought their interest in the estate and became full possessor of the homestead. On the 8th of November, 1826, he was united in marriage to
MRS. DANIEL REED.
Katy M. Walker, daughter of James Walker, of Chatham. Their marital relations were blessed with two children,-a daughter and a son,-viz .: Carrie, now Mrs. John H. Rowe, of North Chatham; and Phineas D. Reed, his father's successor on the old homestead.
Daniel Reed was an active and enterprising farmer, fol- lowing that occupation through life. He was a Repub- lican in politics, and held several town offices, being a member of the board of supervisors in 1851, 1852, and 1859. He departed this life on the 12th of June, 1877, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. Mrs. Reed, whose likeness appears with his, above, was born Sept. 11, 1807, and lived with her husband in married life over fifty years. She still survives him, and is remarkably active for one of her age and feeble health.
Phineas D. Reed was born Mareh 16, 1839, and was married, June 1, 1858, to Phebe A. Rowe, daughter of George L. Rowe, of Chatham, who was born Sept. 23, 1838. They have four children, born respectively as fol- lows: Carrie D. Reed, Jan. 26, 1862; George L. Reed, Sept. 11, 1863 ; Fannie S. Reed, Sept. 25, 1872; Mattie A. Reed, Marchi 13, 1875.
Mr. Reed is one of the prominent farmers of the town of Chatham.
DAVID RAY
was born in the town of Chatham, Columbia Co., N. Y., Ninth month 18, 1804, and has always resided there. He is the son of Francis Ray, who was born on the island of Nantucket, Mass., Ninth month 17, 1776. The family were of Scotch descent.
David Ray was married to Lydia M. Anthony, the 5th of Fifth month, 1831. She was the daughter of Daniel Anthony, of Saratoga, N. Y., who was born at Dartmouth, Mass., First month 2, 1776. His family were of English descent.
DAVID RAY
MRS. DAVID RAY
PHOTOS BY J RAILIS CHATHAM VILLAGE ILY
46
20
LITH. BY L H EVERTS &CO PHILA PA
RESIDENCE OF DAVID RAY, RAYVILLE, CHATHAM, N. Y
ยท 299
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
In early life his educational advantages were very limited, being such only as were afforded by the low standard of the common schools of that day. But he possessed a mind eager for knowledge, and by his own exertions made him- self thoroughly conversant with the progressive, practical, general knowledge of the times, so that there were bnt few subjects not of an abstruse character which had not re- ceived his careful attention. Later in life he has thought, read, and reflected much upon the problems which occupy the greatest minds of the age, and few among his contem- poraries are better qualified to pass a critical judgment upon them. Bred to the occupation of a mechanie, in the same line which had been pursued by his ancestors for several generations, it was his intention to follow his trade for a livelihood; but soon after arriving at manhood he changed this purpose and became a merchant, which pur- suit he followed with a fair share of success for half a cen- tury. The latter portion of his business years he was also interested in agricultural pursuits.
In his religious convictions he is earnest and decided. He made choice of his religious faith because of its adapta- bility to the needs of man. From early life he became convinced of the doctrines promulgated by the religious society of Friends, and of the great and paramount princi- ples taught by Fox, Penn, and their coadjutors,-obedience to the light of Christ in the soul of man as sufficient for saving grace; opposition to all wars and fightings; the best rule of life, " Peace on earth and good-will to men." In all the varied relations of life,-social, moral, and relig- ious,-it is safe to say that he has striven to perform his dnty among men according to his ability and best convic- tions of right and justice. It has been a maxim with him, " Whoever is willing to labor can always find something to do," and this he has seen often exemplified in the case of earnest, industrious young men thrown upon their own re- sources. They have proven that " where there is a will there is a way," and have not only found employment, but in it have risen to stations of responsibility and honor. This doctrine becomes of especial interest now, when there are so many tramps excusing themselves for idleness on the ground that they cannot find employment. While Mr. Ray would be the last to be uncharitable or unhelpful to- wards this class of persons, he would nevertheless strenu- ously inculcate the doctrine that many of them might find employment in some honest occupation if they were really willing to work.
An ardent devotee of the science of pomology, Mr. Ray has exerted a large influence in that direction. The public are much indebted to him for the dissemination of new and choice varieties of fruits in the neighborhood. Few, if any, in the town have accomplished more in this respect than he. In the erection of buildings, according to his temporal ability, he has also done his full share to improve and beautify the neighborhood. In the economy of time he has been ardently laborious, and has rarely found leisure from the constant demands made upon him by the ever- near and varied interests of the age.
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