USA > New York > Dutchess County > History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 103
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 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121
The Fishkill and Matteawan Gas Light Co. was incorporated Nov. 16, 1878, with a capital of $20,000, in which there has been no change. The company purchased under mortgage sale the works of the Fishkill Gas Light Co., organized in 1871. G. A. Valentine was the first superintendent of the latter company and the works were erected in this village under his supervision in 1871. The manufacture of gas was commenced in January, 1872.
Matteawan and Fishkill Landing originally for many years constituted one appointment, which at first was on the Duchess circuit. For several years prior to 1819 meetings were usually held in the Tillott and Ketchum neighborhood, a short dis- tance from Matteawan, on the east side of the creek. An old stone house that had been vacated by John Tillott's family when their new dwelling was completed, was appropriated to that purpose. Services were generally held there, but occasion- ally on the adjoining premises of Mr. Ketchum, either in his house or barn. In 1819 the place of meeting was changed to the school house west of the creek and located on the old road, about mid- way between the two villages, which point and its surroundings on the south and west are now occu- pied by the Methodist burying ground. At that time it was changed front a six weeks' to a four weeks' appointment, and services were continued there until 1824, when, the new or main road
between the two villages having been opened, a favorable opportunity presented itself for the selection of a site for a church edifice.
March 29, 1824, a meeting was held at the school house and the following trustees were elected: John Tillott, Gerardus DeForest, Jacob Cooper, Henry McDonald and Wm. Doughty. A suitable lot was obtained of the late John P. DeWint, on which a house of worship was built and dedicated in the fall of that year.
In the spring of 1825 the Society was set off from the circuit and Wm. M. Willett was sent to the charge as stationed minister and was re-ap- pointed the following year ; but for some cause the pulpit was supplied by circuit preachers the two succeeding years.
In 1860 the society divided through non-agree- ment on the location of a new church, and the two societies in Matteawan and Fishkill Landing, were formed. After the division each branch re-organ- ized and proceeded to secure a house for itself. The old edifice, which had from necessity been en- larged once or twice was sold and is to-day known as Swift's Hall, having formerly been known as Mackin or Union Hall. It was the first church in the town of Fishkill erected by the Methodists. The Presbyterian church property at the Landing was then purchased on foreclosure sale by this branch of the society and regular services were soon instituted there. That building is still occu- pied by this society. It has been renovated and provided with new stained windows and in 1875, an addition previously made for a chapel, was en- larged. The church now ( December, 1881,) num- bers about 700 members ; and the Sunday School, of which John W. Spaight is superintendent, has an average attendance of 100.
The Matteawan branch obtained a lot from J. F. Gerow, which was virtually donated to them, and soon commenced the erection of a church edifice, which was completed in the latter part of 1861, and dedicated Jan. 16, 1862. Its cost was $7,000. In the course of a few years the ground on which it stood was purchased by the Duchess & Columbia R. R., for a depot. The society then purchased the old Episcopal church, a brick building, which was taken down, and erected on its site their pres- ent church edifice, in 1869.
The following is the succession of pastors of the Fishkill Landing Church : Wm. M. Willett, 1825-'6; circuit preachers names unknown, 1827-'8; Samuel W. Fisher, 1829-'30; Valentine Buck, 1831-'2; J. Z. Nichols, 1833-'4; Valentine Buck,
524
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
1835-'6 ; Julius Field, 1837-'8 ; Elisha Andrews, 1839-'40 ; Jno. M. Pease, 1841-'2 ; Seymour Van Dusen, 1843-'4; J. W. B. Wood, 1845-'6 ; C. F. Pelton, 1847-'8 ; B. M. Genung, 1849-'50 ; Leon- ard M. Vincent, 1851-'2 ; Matthew Van Dusen, 1853; Chas. C. Keys, 1854-'5; Z. N. Lewis, 1856-'7 ; G. W. Knapp, 1858-'9; J. Millard, 1860-'I; D. D. Lindsley, 1862-'3; Chas. K. True, D. D., 1864; Henry B. Mead, 1865 ; O. V. Amerman, 1866-'8; Edmund Lewis, 1869-'71; W. G. Browning, 1872-'3; Philip Germond, 1874- '5 ; Alfred Coons, 1876-'8; Angels Ostrander, 1879-'81.
The successive pastors of the Matteawan Church since the division are : E. L. Prentice, A. D. Vail, J. Y. Bates, O. Haviland, T. Lodge, W. E. Clark, C. W. Millard, J. J. Dean, C. R. North and J. P. Heermance, the latter of whom came upon the charge in April, 188 1.
The Reformed ( Dutch ) Church of Fishkill Landing, was an offshoot from the church of Fish- kill, with which it was connected until 1819, and like it, remained until the close of 1822 under the pastoral care of Rev. Dr. Cornelius D. Westbrook, under whose ministrations it was formed. Their first church edifice was built on the present site in 1813, through the principal agency of Messrs. John P. DeWint and Thomas Lawrence. Rev. Dr. Westbrook was scholarly and much esteemed. He was the father of Hon. Theodore R. West- brook, one of the present Judges of the Supreme Court.
The next pastor was Rev. William S. Heyer, who was ordained and installed in 1823, and re- mained until 1851. The third pastor was Rev. Dr. D. M. L. Quackenbush, who commenced his ministrations in 1851 and closed them in 1855. He was followed by Rev. J. Howard Suydam, who was ordained and installed in 1857. During his ministry, in 1860, the present substantial and com- modious edifice was built. His successor was Rev. Dr. Joseph Kimball, who was installed in April, 1863, and whose services closed in October, 1865. The sixth pastor was Rev. Martin L. Berger, who came in January 1866, and remained until April, 1869 ; Rev. Dr. J. Romeyn Berry was the pastor from 1869 to 1870. The present pastor, Rev. Charles W. Fritts, was installed in 1870. His ministry has been characterized by much talent and a deep earnestness.
The present officers of the church are : John Van Vliet, Walter Brett, John Place, Charles Stotesbury and Milton E. Curtiss, elders ; J. Hervey
Cook, William A. Jones, Maurice E. Dietrich, Geo. C. Smith and Charles E. Martin, deacons.
Zion M. E. Church of Fishkill Landing was or- ganized in 1840, and built their church edifice in 1844 .*
MATTEAWAN.
Matteawan, by far the most populous village in the town, is situated on the Fishkill, about a mile and a half east of the Landing, and a like dis- tance above the mouth of the creek, whose splendid hydraulic properties have given it its prominence as a manufacturing center. It lies at the foot of the North and South Beacons, two eminences of Fishkill Mountains, which tower above it in lofty grandeur. It is a station on the Newburgh, Duchess & Connecticut, and the New York & New England Railroads, and is connected with the Landing and Newburgh by stage, ferry and rail.
The first settlers, says Mr. Bailey, were Roger Brett and the Pines, the former of whom built the old Teller House before referred to in 1710. The Pines located east of the village, on the Fishkill road, one on the Birdsdall place, on which the original house is still standing, but sold in 1790 and removed to Delaware county ; the other on the Boice place, which, says Mr. Bailey, (in 1874,) was sold some sixteen years ago by the Pine family to John Boice, who demolished the old building and erected in its place the present stately mansion.
The Schencks, though less early, were among the most prominent settlers in this locality, and the name is still an important one in Matteawan soci- ety. It has been identified with most of the im- portant industries of the village, and some of its earlier members filled important niches as legis- lators.
In 1872, says Hough, its population was about 2,000 ; while in 1880 it reached 4,411, nearly double that of any other village and nearly half that of the town. It now contains five churches, (Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Methodist,; Baptist and Catholic,) a union free school, a private school-the Duchess Seminary -- established in the summer of 1881, of which P. N. Mitchell is prin- cipal, one hotel, the Dibble House, first kept by D. S. Jaycox, afterwards by William Ambler, and at present by W. S. Dibble, who purchased of Mr. Jaycox and remodeled it a few years since ; various
. * Promised data relative to this church has not been furnished.
t A history of this church is given in connection with that at Fishkill Landing.
525
TOWN OF FISHKILL ..
manufacturing establishments and stores, a job printing office, a circulating library, and a wagon and blacksmith shop kept by W. H. Jackson.
MERCHANTS .- Nathaniel Sackett was probably the first merchant in the vicinity of Matteawan. He was the son of a clergyman and was born at Corn- wall, Orange County, April 10, 1737.
The oldest and most prominent of the present merchants are: A. & C. F. Brett, natives of the
HOUSE
(DIBBLE HOUSE-W. S. DIBBLE, PROPRIETOR.)
place, S. G. &. J. T. Smith, S. A. Colwell, Dewitt C. Rogers, J. T. Yates, John B. Whitson & Co., A. Townsend, F. Colwell, William R. Brown, Sullivan & Brown, William H. Brown, H. B. Bevier, B. F. Green. Others are: G. C. Walker, C. H. Hoys- radt, King & Parsons, E. F. Davis, William B. Meyer, W. Bloomer, W. Warwick, H. Somers, B. J. Hubble, F. Loughran, P. J. Mayen, J. S. Budd & Co., J. M. Davis, G. Jackson, W. Grossman & Co., C. E. McLoud.
PHYSICIANS .- Dr. Bartow White, of Fishkill, was the principal physician through all this section of country for many years. Dr. John P. Schenck was the first physician to locate at Matteawan. He was soon followed by Dr. Daniel D. Annan. Dr. Schenck was born in Matteawan, Feb. 2, 1798, and was the son of Abraham H. Schenck, afterwards President of the Matteawan Co.
Dr. Annan, who was born in Fishkill, June 11, 1792, was the youngest child of John Annan, a na- tive of Scotland, who came to this country at an early age and settled at Baskin Ridge, N. J. He graduated in medicine in New York, and was a surgeon in the war of 1812. He was highly skilled in that branch of the profession. His practice in
Matteawan continued until his death, Nov. 23, 1834. He married Miss Ann Tuttle, of Orange county, who died young, leaving one child, who is also dead. He afterwards married Margaret, daughter of Theodorus and Mary Brett, who was born March 27, 1794, and died Nov. 14, 1867, leaving four children, all of whom are living : Louisa, widow of S. A. Benson, and Eliza A., widow of James W. Andrews, in Matteawan, and wo sons, Willam Cullen ind Alexander, the former n New York and the lat- er in Brooklyn.
Asahel Hall, who had practiced several years in Fishkill village, came to Matteawan some forty- five years since, but after a few years removed to Poughkeepsie, where he enjoyed an extensive prac- tice, which continued un- til his death, July 25, 1877, aged eighty-five years.
The present physicians are : John P. Schenck, Jno. H. Doughty, Henry C. Wilson, J. O. Davis, 'A. R. Tiel and A. B. Cutler. Dr. Schenck was born in Matteawan, Feb. 13, 1843, and studied medicine with his father of the same name. He graduated at the Medical Department of Col- umbia College in 1863. Entering the army he was detailed as Asst. Surgeon, serving during McClel- lan's Peninsula campaign, when he resigned. May 10, 1864, he entered the navy, as Asst. Surgeon on the receiving ship North Carolina, and the same year established himself in practice in Matteawan. Dr. Doughty is a native of LaGrange in this County, and graduated at Williams College in 1858. He studied medicine with Dr. J. W. Bidwell, of Win- stead, Connecticut, and graduated at the Medical Department of Michigan University in 1863. He entered the army as Asst. Surgeon of volunteers and was assigned to duty as post-surgeon at Wash- ington, N. C., afterwards serving in the same ca- pacity at Newbern, N. C., subsequently as senior medical officer of Foster General Hospital, at Newbern, N. C., and finally as Medical director on Gen. Crook's staff, at Wilmington, N. C., having in 1864 been promoted to Surgeon. He left the service in December, 1865, and commenced prac- tice in Matteawan in the spring of 1866. Dr. Wil-
1
526
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
son was born in Derby, Vt., in 1837. He entered upon a course of medical studies, but before their completion, in 1861, entered the army as Hospital Steward of the 102d N. Y. Vols. He served till the winter of 1862, when he left the army to re- sume his medical studies. He graduated at the Medical Department of the University of Vermont in 1863, when he rejoined the army as Acting Asst. Surgeon, and served in that capacity until the close of the war. He established himself in practice in New York in 1865, and removed thence to Mat- teawan in 1867.
LAWYERS .- E. S. Phillips was the first lawyer in Matteawan. He is a native of Fishkill, and was ad- mitted about the close of the war, establishing himself in practice here immediately after, and con- tinuing to the present time. Arthur L. Conine, a native of Queens county, entered the law office of Henry H. Hustis, of Fishkill Landing, as a stu- dent, in 1867. He was admitted in 1874, and opened an office in Matteawan in 1875, before he had attained his majority. Though young he ranks high in the profession and has before him a prom- ising future. He is a good office lawyer, careful and cautious, and enjoys the best practice in the village. Frank G. Rikert, a native of Bangall in this County, read law with L. B. Sackett, of Pough- keepsie, and opened an office here in 1875. Henry G. Wolcott, a native of Fishkill, read law with Cassidy & Brown, of Newburgh, and graduated from Columbia Law School in 1877, in the spring of which year he opened an office in Matteawan. Edward C. Kent, a great-grandson of Chancellor Jas. Kent, (whose remains lie in the Episcopal grave- yard in this village,) read law with E. A. Brewster, of Newburgh, and was admitted in 1878. He opened an office in this village in 1879, forming a law partnership with Henry G. Wolcott, which con- tinues to the present time. Samuel K. Phillips, son of E. S. Phillips, read law with his father, and was admitted in May, 1879, in which year he opened an office in Matteawan.
MANUFACTURES .-- Matteawan is emphatically the child of its mechanical industries, and has grown with the development of the hydraulic facili- ties of the creek, which, within its borders, has three dams, with an aggregate fall of about fifty- four feet, though the upper dam, known as the Clay mill dam, is not now in use. It formerly supplied the motor for an auger factory owned by John Lee and others, which was burned about 1860. The creek, though furnishing an immense power, is in- constant, and has to be supplemented with steam
in dry seasons. A grist-mill was in existence here at a very early day and is still in operation. It is owned by the Rothery Bros., and operated by M. E. Clearwater, who took possession in March, 1878. It is an old structure, one of the oldest in the County, the last addition to it having been made in 1800. It has erroneously been said to be the identical mill built by Roger Brett in 1710, familiarly called the Madam Brett mill, which was located at the mouth of the creek, a mile and a half below. It contains three run of stones, operated by water, and is the only grist-mill in the town, except the one at Brinckerhoffville, which is also an old structure, apparently more ancient than this, though dating back only to the Revolutionary period.
The Matteawan Co., formed in 1814, was the principal agent in developing the manufacturing interest of Matteawan. Prominent among those who then composed it were Peter A. Schenck and Henry Cowing, the former of whom, though origin- ally a shipping merchant in New York, resided in Fishkill, in the old Blossom house, which he built, now and for some years vacant. In 1814 the company erected the stone building now used by the National Felt Works and commenced the manufacture of cotton goods, soon after calling into requisition the building now used as a store- house by the Fishkill Landing Machine Works, which was also filled with hand looms, both buildings being run to their utmost capacity.
The operations of the company rapidly increased with the substitution of power looms and self-act- ing mules for the hand looms first used. In 1822 they erected the brick building immediately south- east of the stone one for a machine shop and engaged extensively in the manufacture of various kinds of machinery, making a specialty of cotton machinery, but manufacturing largely for woolen mills and sugar refineries in the South. It is said, though there is reason to doubt it, that the first locomotive used on the Hudson River Rail- road, was built in these shops, the company latterly engaging in the manufacture of loco- motives. At this time the company gave em- ployment to some four hundred persons. A few years later an addition was made to the latter building to enlarge the cotton works, the manu- facture of beavertines, a heavy and expensive cotton goods, having been commenced. About 1828, their machine business having so increased as to demand increased accomodations, they erected the main building of the Matteawan Manufactur-
527
TOWN OF FISHKILL ..
ing Co.'s Works (which has since been raised a story higher,) and removed their machine works to it, occupying the former machine shop with the cotton manufactory, which had been constantly encroaching on the space occupied by the machine works. About the time the machine works were started the company erected a wooden building on the site of Colwell's machine shop for a black- smith shop and foundry. That building was taken down to widen the street, and the semi-circular brick building now occupied by Mr. Colwell was erected and extended into the creek.
As other establishments in different parts of the County with better facilities sprung into existence the machine business of the company became unremunerative, and at the time of the failure in 1850, had dwindled into insignificance. At its failure the entire large property of the company went into the hands of a receiver-John A. C. Gray, a merchant of New York, who sold it to Homer Ramsdell, of Newburgh, for about a fourth of its cost. Abram L. Ackerman carried on the manufacture of Canton cotton goods one year for Mr. Ramsdell. Samuel B. Schenck, who was born in Matteawan Feb. 16, 1806, but spent the early part of his life in Manchester, Mass., soon after acquired the property and leased the cotton works for a term of years to The Seamless Cloth- ing Manufacturing Co., which was incorporated with a capital of $50,000, and failed after doing business a few years. In 1860 they employed ninety-five hands and turned out $350,000 of goods annually. John Falconer & Co. succeeded the latter company in the manufacture of felt goods, and were more recently succeeded by Fal- coner, Carroll & Co., who continued the business under the name of the National Felt Works, giv- ing employment when in full operation to about five hundred persons, the major portion of whom are males.
Samuel B. Schenck occupied the machine works, blacksmith shop and foundry of the Matteawan Co., in the manufacture of the Woodworth planer, removing from Mansfield, Mass., in 1851, the works established by him in that State in 1832. He continued the business until his death, March 25, 1861, when his brothers John B. and T. J. B. Schenck acquired it and continued it until 1870, from 1865 as an incorporated company, but without additional partners. John B. Schenck died Aug. 6, 1870, when H. B. Schenck purchased the estab- lishment and has since conducted the business, but occupies only a part of the original works, the
establishment having been removed from the ma- chine works to the foundry of the Matteawan Co., in 1864, and from thence to their present location in February, 1878. Mr. Schenck employs about twenty persons in the manufacture of wood-work- ing machinery of various kinds.
Rothery's File Works are among the oldest and most important of Matteawan's manufacturing industries. They were established about 1835 by John Rothery, a native of Sheffield, England, where his father carried on the manufacture of files until his death, after which the latter's wife, with the aid of her sons John and George, continued it till her death, when the two sons named removed to Calais, France, and there established and con- ducted the business six or seven years. Becoming disgusted with the indignities to which the hostile feeling the French then manifested toward the English exposed them, they resolved to leave that country. John established himself temporarily in Paterson, N. J., in 1827. In 1828, at the solicitation of Peter H. Schenck, then a principal factor in the Matteawan Co., he came to this village to re-cut files for that company, continuing until 1835, when he engaged in their manufacture on his own ac- count, leasing power of that company and after- wards of the Wiccopee Cotton Co. About 1853, he erected a portion of the building now occupied by his son for a cutting shop, continuing the busi- ness till his death, April 1, 1858, aged 58. His sons John and William succeeded to the business, and in 1868, purchased the old Matteawan grist- mill (now operated by M. E. Clearwater, ) and the residence of Abraham Schenck, together with the water privilege, carrying the water thence by means of a race to the file-cutting establishment, the capacity of which has been doubled since 1853. In 1869-'70 the large three story building to the east, adjoining the creek, was erected, and the lower floor also occupied by the file-works, the up- per floors having been used as store-rooms until Nov. 1, 1881, when they and the attic, and a boiler house and chimney, erected in 1881, were leased to L. H. King & Co., for the manufacture of straw hats, a business, which when in full opera- tion will give employment to about one hundred and fifty persons, some two-thirds of whom will be females. The Messrs. Rothery employ about eighty persons, mostly skilled workmen, only two or three of whom are females.
The Matteawan Manufacturing Co.'s Werks were established in 1864, by the present company, who were incorporated in 1868, with a capital of
1
528
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
$150,000. The first and present directors are John C. and Charles R. Henderson, and W. H. Mase. John C. Henderson has been the President and Treasurer, Charles R. Henderson, the Secre- tary, and W. H. Mase, the Superintendent since the establishment of the works, which occupy the building formerly occupied by the machine works of the Matteawan Co., and subsequently by the establishment of Samuel B. Schenck, after whose death, in 1861, it was sold, together with the black- smith shop and foundry of the Matteawan Co., to Messrs. H. H. Hustis, Wm. H. Rogers, James Mackin and Wm. D. Budd, who sold it in the winter of 1863-'4 to John C. Henderson. The Matteawan Manufacturing Co., employ about 350 to 375 persons, about 35 per cent. of whom are famales, and manufacture fine wool hats, which are marketed through the store of the company in New York. The product of the works is about 2,000 dozen per week.
Colwell's Machine Works were established in 1861, by H. M. Swift. He purchased that year of Messrs. Hustis, Rogers, Mackin and Budd, the building formerly occupied by the Matteawan Co., as a blacksmith shop, and commenced the manu- facture of lawn mowers and hat machinery. About 1872 he leased the establishment to the National Felt Works, and the manufacture of hat machinery and repairing was continued about two years, when, in June, 1876, W. S. Colwell under- took the manufacture of hat machinery and doing general repairing, in which he now employs sixteen men.
The Matteawan Pantaloon, Overall and Mechan- ics' Jacket Works were established in June, 1880, by Strain & Drislane, (Robert Strain and W. E. Drislane.) In November 1881, C. W. Rainey acquired Drislane's interest and the business is now conducted by Strain & Rainey, who employ some eighty persons, about nine-tenths of whom are females. The product of the establishment for the year from June, 1881, to June, 1882, will amount to about $200,000. The works first employed twenty-five persons ; the number has gradually increased as the introduction of their goods created a demand for them. They occupy the building, the main part of which was erected in 1857, by A. Vanderwater, for the manufacture of leather belting, a business which he has since carried on in a small way, but less extensively now than formerly, when he employed three or four persons in the manufacture of hand-made belting and in tanning hides.
The Matteawan Savings Bank was chartered March 21, 1871, with twenty-one trustees, who first met and organized April 5, 1871. The Bank opened for business in April, 1871, in the office of the National Felt Works, where it is still located. Mr. Laurens has been Treasurer to the present time. W. H. Mase is the President ; and Theo. Van Vliet, Secretary.
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.