History of Columbia County, New York. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 97

Author: Everts & Ensign; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 648

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 97

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).

In politics the town is strongly Republican. In the first general election held for representative in Congress, in 1818, the vote stood : John I. Miller, 108 ; James Strong, 104 ; Robert Le Roy Livingston, 1; total, 213. In 1876 the vote stood : for Hayes and Wheeler, 208; for Tilden and Hendricks, 165; total, 373.

The town early adopted the plan of favoring the poor man by allowing his animals to graze in the highway. Sev- eral restrictive clauses were enacted at different times, one to limit the number to one cow, and another to allow none belonging to a person owning five acres of ground to run at large. In the year 1837, however, they inadvertently cast a serious slur upon the ones they meant to propitiate, and passed the following uncomplimentary law : " Voted, that no Cattle run in the Highway except the man which hus but one Cow."

In 1818 the town was divided into seventeen school dis- tricts, containing an aggregate of three hundred and thirty- four families. At present there are twelve districts, Nos. 1 and 2 being consolidated into a union school district at Spencertown. The apportionment of public money among the several districts aggregates $1157.22 for the present year (1878).

VILLAGES.

There are but two post-offices in this town. The first is located at Spencertown, which is a village of about two hundred inhabitants, and contains about forty dwellings, two stores, two hotels (one nearly used up), a shoe-shop, two churches (Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal), a school-house, a large academy, two grist-mills, and a wagon and blacksmith-shop. It is pleasantly situated in the valley of the Punsit creek, its main street running nearly parallel with the course of that stream, and is surrounded on all sides by gently-rolling hills. It is a pleasant place in which to spend a few of the hot summer months, and numerous boarders from the cities come here for that purpose. The first inn kept here stood at the junction of the two roads leading south from the village, and was known as "Seott's Tavern." It was kept by Colonel Matthew Scott. A few years since it was destroyed. It had been used for a dwell- ing for several years previons. The famous Elisha Wil- liams once practiced law at this place. The building

1840. Uel Lawrence.

1841. Jesse Bristol.

1812. William Dickerman.

1843. David Osborn.

William Dickerman.

1814. Jacob S. Bump.

1845. Lorenzo Kellogg.

Town Clerks. Benjamin Ambler. William Calkins. Collectors. Joseph Shelley. Benjamin Kellogg. James R. Philips. Aaron Bell. Robert F. Griswold. Hosea B. Parsons. Standish L. Kellogg. Wm. H. Philips. George Pettit. Orson Calkins. Michael Cook. Ezra A. Spencer. Elisha B. Kellogg. Tunis Moore. C. J. Varney, Jr. John M. Niles. James W. Shaw. Melancthon Shaw. William Vincent.

Lucien S. Griswold. Jobo H. Miller.

Win. G. Palmer.

1857. Edwin J. Ford.

1858. Isaac Mend.

William Niles.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

used for his office is still standing and is now used as a dwelling.

The first attempt to produce a machine to take the place of the mowers' scythe was made by a resident of this vil- lage, Matthew Beale. His invention consisted of a machine similar in principle to the present mowing-machines ; but the knives, instead of being V-shaped, were straight, and ent square against the stalk instead of with the drawing- cut they now have. Several of these machines were made, and worked well with the exception that the knives soon grew dull and had to be sharpened, necessitating frequent stops. It was, however, a long stride in the right direction, and deserves the honor of being called the first forerunner of an invention that has been so successfully perfected and is of so great utility to mankind.

The second post-office is located at the village of Anster- litz, near the east centre of the town. This village is a rather straggling settlement lying along the Green river, and con- tains two churches (Congregational and Christian), two stores, one hotel, one wagon and blacksmith-shop, one saw and shingle-mill, and twenty-three dwellings. Its popula- tion is about one hundred and ten. The village is pleasantly located at the head of the famous Green river valley, and many scenes of natural beauty and fine points of observation are within easy riding or walking distance. There was formerly an academy or select school kept here for several years. The building stood about ten years, and was then destroyed by fire.

The village of Austerlitz was formerly called " Upper Green River ;" but that name is now given to a little hamlet lying near the Hillsdale line, a mile north of " Green river" (formerly known as the " Lower Hollow"), in that town. Upper Green River contains one store, one saw and shingle- mill, one grist-mill, and half a dozen dwellings widely scat- tered. " Punsit" is a name applied to the southwestern part of the town. The derivation of the word is not known. A neighboring locality is also known as " Clipper Bush." In the northeast corner of the town is a locality known as " Fog Hill." It is said to have derived this name from the tendency of fogs to settle there at the close of a storm, and the appearance of a fog there is received as an indication of coming fair weather. Another version is that it was formerly the residence of a very quarrelsome family, who were said to be " continually in a fog," and that for this reason it was christened " Fog Hill."

SPENCERTOWN ACADEMY.

This institution was first conceived and brought into ex- istence through the efforts of' Rev. Timothy Woodbridge, D.D. He was, throughout the years of his connection with it, its mainspring, and by his energy and perseverance, com- bined with his scholarly attainments and cultured mind, was enabled to bring it to a state of efficiency that caused it to rank high among similar institutions in the State. Its standard of scholarship was high, and from among its students have gone forth into the world many who have attained success and j minence in their chosen walks in life.

Rev. Dr. Woodbridge was a lineal descendant of Rev. John Woodbridge, a nonconformist minister of consider-

able note in England, who came to this country in 1665. His father was Jahleel Woodbridge, of Stockbridge, Mass., and his mother was Lney, a danghter of Rev. Jonathan Edwards. He was born at Stockbridge, Nov. 24, 1787, and obtained his education at the classical school of Rev. Mr. Robbins, at Norfolk, Conn., and at Williams College. While pursuing his studies, at the age of about seventeen years, his eyes became affected, and he was made totally blind. He, however, contiuned his studies, and after a theological course was licensed to preach the gospel by the Andover association, in Angust, 1811. In 1816 he com- menced preaching at Austerlitz, and after twenty-five years' service there came to Spencertown, in 1842. He was pastor of the Spencertown church till 1852. He died Dec. 7, 1862, aged seventy-five years, and lies buried in the Spencertown cemetery.

The academy was incorporated by act of the Legislature, passed May 13, 1845. The first board of trustees, who were also the incorporators, were Rev. Timothy Wood- bridge, George Lawrence, Benjamin Ambler, Uel Law- rence, Samuel D. Dean, Smith Shaw, Isaac Clark, Chester B. Smith, Dr. Ebenezer Recd, George Wager, Jacob S. Bump, and William Raymond. The act limited the capi- tal stock to $4000. It was issued in $25 shares, and in a short time one hundred and twenty-one shares were taken. $3000 was the amount finally paid in.

The lot npon which the academy stands was purchased of Dr. Ebenezer Reed and George Wager, at a cost of $224. It was eighty feet front, and running back two hundred feet. George Lawrence, Samuel D. Dean, Jacob S. Bump, Dr. Ebenezer Reed, and Uel Lawrence were appointed as a building committee, and, after adopting a plan, they con- tracted with Benjamin Ambler to erect it. It was finished and accepted by the trustees Oct. 22, 1847, having cost $2459. It is a two-story frame building, thirty-five by fifty- two feet in size, with a piazza six feet wide across the front. There is an eight-foot basement under the whole building. The second story is finished off as a hall, with a stage and facilities for public speaking and entertainments. The building is surmounted with a bell-tower, containing a bell weighing two hundred and twelve pounds. The first elec- tion of officers was held Feb. 11, 1846, and resulted as follows ; Rev. Timothy Woodbridge, D.D., president ; Dr. Ebenezer Reed, secretary ; Uel Lawrence, treasurer. Dr. Woodbridge acted as president from 18-16 till his death, in 1862. He was succeeded by Dr. Ebenezer Recd, who served from 1863 till 1870. Jacob Willetts has been the president since that time.

The principals of the academy have been John L. T. Phillips (the first principal, who commenced the first term of the academy in September, 1847), Elias E. Warner, Robert L. Dodge, A. F. Carman, Alden B. Whipple, An- drew W. Morehouse, Rev. Thomas C. P. Hyde, Simeon F. Woodin, Andrew W. Morehouse, James M. Alexander, A.B., Irving Magce, James W. Grush, Levi S. Packard, Alexander Reynolds, Johu P. Lansing, W. B. Putney, A.B., aud Mr. Fowler. Others who have taught in the academy have been Albion Hand, Miss Waterbury, B. Roberts, Mrs. E. IF. Bailey, Mrs. L. L. Campbell, Miss E. A. Hooper, Charles W. McCarthy, Hiram Olmstead, Miss

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Sarah Booth, Miss Mary E. Sperry, Mrs. Jane E. Grush, Mrs. H. F. Holdridge, Miss Louise M. Phelps, John P. Freehting, Miss G. A. Magee, and Julia M. Ball.

In 1863 the building was repaired at a small cost. It was the intention of Dr. Ebenezer Reed to endow the school as a female seminary, to be called " Reed Seminary," but he died without carrying his beneficent scheme into effect, and about five years ago the school was converted into a graded union school, with an academic department. The transfer of the property has not, however, yet been completed, and there are two boards of trustees nominally in possession of the property.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SPENCERTOWN.

The first recorded action regarding a religious organiza- tion in this town is found in the records of the meetings of the original proprietors of the "Spencer's-town" grant. It occurs in the minutes of the meeting of April 16, 1760, and was the twelfth resolution adopted, and reads as follows : " Whereas, there is a Right and a half in Spencer's Town Ship that is without any owner in particular, but is owned by the propriety in general, by a grant for taking one gen- eral Deed of the natives, it is now voted, that one Right of said right and a half shall be given to the first gospel min- ister settled in said propriety." And also " Voted to give a deed to Mr. Jesse Clark, provided he settles here in the function of a minister." Mr. Clark did settle on the land, and in 1761, March 31, a meeting was called to " pitch the meeting-house," meaning, to select a site for a meeting- house. No action was taken, however, in that direction. The meeting voted to give Mr. Clark a salary of £50 for 1761, £55 for 1762, £60 each for 1763-64-65, and £65 yearly thereafter. Also to give him £60 towards building a house. It was further voted, " that we will meet on Sundays for publiek worship at Mr. John Spen- cer's house."

The first meeting-house was erected about the fall of 1771, the first mention of it being in March, 1772, when a proprietors' meeting was held in it. It stood a little east of the present church, and faced the north. It was re- paired in 1789, and again about 1825, the latter time at a cost of about $2500. At this time it was turned, facing the east, and moved back to its present position, and, as the resolution states, " fitted up in modern stile." It was again repaired in 1863, at a cost of $2500. The original frame is still in use. The parsonage was purchased in 1868, of Mrs. Lucretia P. Beach, for $1300. The present valuation of the church property, including its interest in the ceme- tery lot, is about $4000.

The first pastor was Rev. Jesse Clark, who was long and familiarly known as " Priest Clark." He served about thirty years. Rev. David Porter succeeded him in 1790, and remained thirteen years. In 1805, Rev. Alvin Somers became pastor, and remained nineteen years. Then Rev. Joel Osborne came, in 1826, and remained till 1835. Rev. L. H. Van Dyck then served a short time, and in 1843, Rev. Timothy Woodbridge, D.D., was installed. Ile served nine years. Since 1852, the pastors, in the order of their service, have been Revs. Samuel N. Steele (who died in March, 1854, while serving as pastor), William II. Clark,

James A. Clark, J. H. Goodell, and H. P. Bake, the pres- ent pastor, who began his ministry here quite recently. In. addition to these the church has been served by the follow- ing supplies, Revs. S. M. Gould, Charles E. Lester, T. S. Brittan, - Finch, Alonzo Welton, C. S. Sylvester, and H. Slauson.

The church was incorporated May 10, 1803, as " St. Peter's Church," and David Pratt, John Ambler, Daniel Morris (2d), Matthew Beal, Jabez Pierson, and Joseph Niles were elected trustees. The first recorded trustees were chosen in 1789, and consisted of Colonel David Pratt, Colonel Matthew Scott, Captain Joel Pratt, Deacon Moses Chittenden, Lieutenant Abraham Holdridge, Deacon Jabez Pierson, Lieutenant Joseph Niles, William Powers, Esq., and Major Beriah Phelps. At that time it must surely have been a branch of " the church militant."

At one meeting, previous to 1800, it was voted, “ that wiming should have one-half of the Galery (viz. ) half the frunt seet, and the Pews on the North Side of the meeting- house to the wiming." Four pews were also reserved " for widows and others," and " the northwest corner pew in the gallery" was "given to the Blacks." Previous to 1824 this church was Congregational, but at that time it placed itself under the charge of Columbia presbytery, and in 1827 adopted the discipline of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America.

The deacons of the church in the order of their ordina- tion have been Abiah W. Mayhew, Stephen Davis, William Bailey, William G. Bailey, M.D., Isaac Mead, Charles S. Davenport, Thomas M. Ostrander, John C. Gaul, and Chester Smith. Messrs. Davenport and Ostrander are the present deacons. The elders of the church have been Story Gott, Elisha Murdock, Abiah W. Mayhew, Stephen Davis, Josiah Shelton, William Dickerman, Dan Niles, George Cady, William Bailey, Samuel C. Ingersoll, Dwight War- ren, James W. Jones, Isaac Mead, John C. Gaul, Walter Fowler, and Judson Parks. The six last named are the present incumbents.

The present trustees are John C. Gaul, James S. Gris- wold, Thomas P. Niles, Lucien S. Griswold, James W. Jones, and Walter Fowler. Isaae Mead is the church clerk. The membership at present is about sixty. The Sabbath- school connected with this church is under the superin- tendence of Thomas M. Ostrander, and numbers about fifty scholars. It has a good library.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF SPENCERTOWN.

This church is supposed to have been established about the year 1834; the leading male members at that time being Zadock Knapp, William Sawyer, Stephen Willis, William P. Clark, Harvey Niles, and Ebenezer Soule. The church was built in 1836, and dedicated October 12 of that year. Its size is about thirty by sixty feet, and its cost prob- ably about $3000. It was repaired and the basement added in 1860.

The present membership is about one hundred, and the Sabbath-school has a membership of forty scholars, and a library of one hundred and fifty volumes.

The present officers of the church (probably trustees)

PHOTO BY J R ALLIS CHATHAM VILLAGE

ĐAN NILES

DAN NILES,

son of Thomas and Rhoda (Phelps) Niles, was born in Aus- terlitz, Columbia Co., New York, February 2, 1801. His ancestors were English, and settled in Connecticut, whence Thomas Niles came to this town about the time of the Revolution. He was the second resident on the farm, a part of which is now occupied by the residence of Mr. Walter S. Fowler, on which he lived principally till the time of his death. He died aged eighty-four years.

The subject of this notice was born and brought up on the same place, receiving such an education as the common schools of that period afforded. He married Cynthia, daughter of John Dean, of Austerlitz, in 1825, and reared a family of five children. Cynthia Dean's ancestors were of Puritan stock, and landed at Plymouth, in the " May- flower," in 1620, she being of the seventh generation in lineal descent. Her grandfather was among the earliest settlers in this portion of Austerlitz when the country was a wilderness. Mrs. Niles died in 1850, Mr. Niles surviving

her and marrying for his second wife Cynthia, daughter of Jabez Parsons, of Austerlitz, who died in 1867. Mr. Niles was a farmer by occupation, a man of quiet habits and genial disposition, but of great energy and decision of character ; a thorough business man, and honorable and upright in all his dealings. He was generous towards the poor and exemplary in his Christian character, being a prominent member and elder of the Presbyterian church of Spencertown. He was also decided in his political principles, being a Republican. He died in December, 1871.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Niles were as follows : William A. D., deceased, married Martha Angell, now Mrs. Nodiah Hill, of North Chatham; Wealthy Ann, wife of Dr. E. B. Cole, of Waterford, New York ; John Dean, deceased ; Lucy M., wife of Walter S. Fowler, of Auster- litz ; and Cynthia M., wife of David Blake, of Elizabeth, New Jersey.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

are John M. Niles, J. D. Pratt, Daniel Clark, I. E. Clark, W. B. Wager, and William S. Higgins.

The pastors in their regular order have been Reverends George Brown, Edward S. Stout, Albert Nash, Thomas Edwards, William McK. Bangs, Joshua Hudson, Phineas Cook, Joseph D. Marshall, Jeremiah Ham, Elijah Craw- ford, Iliram Lamont, Goodrich Horton, Thomas Bainbridge, Richard Wymond, Jonathan N. Robinson, Alexander H. Ferguson, Josiah L. Dickerson, Pelatiah Ward, James N. Shaffer, Isaac H. Lent, Marvin R. Lent, Delos Lull, N. S. Tuthill, John A. Edmonds, H. B. Mead, J. W. Jones, W. S. Stillwell, Alfred Coons, J. W. Smith, J. H. Lane, and E. B. Pierce, the present pastor. The present valuation of the church property is about $3000.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN AUSTERLITZ.

This society was organized March 21, 1792, by Rev. David Porter, of Spencertown, assisted by Rev. John Ste- vens, of New Concord (now East Chatham), the latter minister preaching the sermon on the occasion. Prayer- meetings had been previously held for several months. The names of the original members were Daniel Lee, Ithamar, Amos, Rebekah, and Dorcas Spencer, Gidcon, Samuel, Isaac, Sarah, Abigail, and Abigail (2d) Andrews, William Southworth, Jonathan Chamberlin, Matthew Fitch, Allen and Mary Graves, Jonathan and Mary Wise, Beriah and Sarah King, Eber and Mary Scofield, Solomon and Sarah Curtiss, Joseph and Abigail Dibble, Anna Chittenden, Mary Palmer, Sarah Drake, Phoebe Miller, and Philomela Davenport.

The first communion was on March 28, 1792, and on that occasion Rev. David Porter acted as moderator, and Jonathan Wise as olerk, Ithamar Spencer and Matthew Fitch acting in the capacity of deacons.

For several months of the preceding summer an uncom- mon religious interest was manifested among the people of this vicinity, and about forty were converted, many of whom united with this church.

The first church was built during the summer of 1792, on land donated for the purpose by Judah Swift In 1828 the church was thoroughly repaired at a cost of about $2000, and in 1873 it was again repaired and modernized at a cost of $1000. Its present valuation is about $2500. Previous to the organization, services had been held by Rev. Mr. Martin, who lived a little northwest of the vil- lage. The first pastor was Rev. John Morse, who began to preach May 6, 1792, and was regularly installed as pas- tor November 7 of that year. The following-named min- isters have since been pastors, viz. : Reverends Timothy Woodbridge, D.D., Joel Osborne, Jobn W. Davis, Samuel Uttley, C. S. Sylvester, James A. Clark, J. H. Goodell, Archibald H. Sloat, J. H. Goodell, Rufus King, and H. P. Bake, the present pastor.

From September, 1859, till the spring of 1861 regular services were held by the Methodists. Then Rev. P. O. Powers, a returned missionary, preached from November, 1861, till April, 1862. The church was then silent and unoccupied for a period of nearly ten years, when it was revived through the efforts of Rev. James A. Clark, who was then preaching in Spencertown. At that time the

membership had dwindled to but seven persons, but the number at the reorganization was twelve, three joining on profession of faith and two by letter. The number has increased until at present the membership is about thirty- five.

The deacons from the organization of the church to the present time have been Ithamar Spencer, Joseph Andrews, ('harles Topping, Thomas Lewis, James Platt, Ephraim Gleason, David Chamberlin, Joseph Gleason, John C. In- gersoll, James N. Barnes, George Woodin, Samuel C. In- gersoll, and Ozias Olds, the two latter being the present incumbents.

The church was incorporated January 19, 1801, at a meeting presided over by Moses Chittenden and Caleb Rogers, and at which James Platt was secretary. Matthew Fitch, James Platt, Ephraim Gleason, Caleb Rogers, Moses Chittenden, and William Tanner were elected trustees.

The present officers of the society are Alanson Osborn, E. S. Hamlin, David L. Osborn, Amasa Cook, J. Edwiu Ingersoll, and Gilbert Brown, trustees; David K. Lane, society clerk ; J. Edwin Ingersoll, church clerk ; E. P. Osborn, treasurer.

CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF AUSTERLITZ.

At a meeting held Oct. 30, 1851, in the house of Itha- mar Lane, in the village of Austerlitz, Revs. S. B. Hay- ward, G. N. Kelton, and A. Hayward, members of the New York Eastern Christian Conference, instituted a Christian church, with about forty members, and it was called the " First Christian church in Green River valley." The male members were James N. Barnes, Elisha C. Os- born, David C. Osborn, James L. Tyler, Henry D. Gott, George Tyler, Augustus Hawley, William Gardiner, Charles Kinne, Timothy Woodin, William Van Iloesen, William Tyler, Harvey G. Kinne, Amos Cain, Amos Halley, John H. Callender, Abram Palmer, Austin Damon, Thomas L. Smith, T. H. Thurston, Samuel D. Pierson, Morris M. Brainard. Elisha C. Osborn was chosen deacon, and still holds that office.

The first church building was erected at Green River, in the town of Hillsdale, and was in part owned by the Methodists. It was built in the spring and summer of 1852, and was dedicated July 15, 1852. It cost about $1200. The second chapel was built in the village of Aus- terlitz, in the spring of 1853, and was dedicated on the evening of June 6, 1853. The New York Eastern Chris- tian Conference was then in session here, and the dedication was conducted by the ministers in attendance. Rev. Isaac N. Walter preached the dedicatory sermon. Revs. G. N. Kelton, E. S. Fay, O. J. Wait, and A. S. Doan participated in the services. A collection amounting to $230 was taken, to assist in removing the debt incurred by the building of the chapel, which cost about $1200. The churches are still in use, and valued at $1500. The pastors of the church, in order of their service, have been Revs. Allen Ilayward, R. B. Eldridge, Jr., Richard Mosher, W. B. H. Beach, Joseph Stearns, Charles Peak, - IIoag, C. II. Havens, Leonard Thorn, Thomas Taylor, George Strevell, and E. E. Colburn, who commenced his services in April, 1877, and is the present pastor.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The first pastor was prostrated while preaching on the Fourth of July, 1852, in the school-house at Austerlitz, and did not recover sufficiently to resume his duties. Pre- vious to the organizing of the church, a series of " grove meetings" had been held by Rev. George N. Kelton, with good success, and created a degree of interest in religious matters that eventually, as we have seen, resulted in the formation of a church. The present membership is about fifty.

There has been a flourishing Sabbath-school connected with the church from the beginning. The first superin- tendent was James N. Barnes. Charles Kinne was superin- tendent for a score of years, and Rev. E. E. Colburn is the present one. The school now numbers about forty. They have no library, but distribute papers and tracts instead.

The church was incorporated under the general statute, Jan. 31, 1852. Jared Winslow presided at the meeting, and William Van Hoesen acted as clerk. Elisha C. Os- born, Amos Holley, Timothy Woodin, Lewis B. Adsit, and Samuel B. Rowe were elected trustees. The present trus- tees are Harvey Gott, Jr., John M. Varney, Hamilton McArthur, George Tremain, Charles T. Woodin, Henry Rowe, Cyrus Moore, and David L. Westover.

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History of Columbia County, New York. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 97

Author: Everts & Ensign; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign Number of Pages: 648

Author: Everts & Ensign; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 648