History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 104

Author: Smith, James H. (James Hadden); Cale, Hume H; Roscoe, William E
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 868

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 104

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PRESS OF MATTEAWAN .- Several papers have been started here, but none have survived to the present time. The Matteawan Daily Herald was started June 14, 1869, by Charles G. Coutant, and printed five weeks at the Fishkill Standard office at the Landing, when an office was opened in Matteawan. It was soon after changed to a weekly paper and passed into the hands of Louis G. Contairini, who published it but a short time. In 1872, James H. Woolhiser started The Matteawan Enterprise with the same material, which he sold in 1874 to Peter A. Vosburgh, who kept a job office till its destruc- tion by fire, January 1, 1875. The Matteawan Observer was started in the fall of 1876, by Peter H. Vosburgh, and published by him fourteen months, when it was sold to George W. Owen, of The Fishkill Journal who discontinued it. Sub- sequently The Matteawan Review, a weekly was published a short time by Louis G. Contairini ; and The Matteawan Chronicle about two months by a Frenchman named Louis Charlouis.

Highland Hospital was founded May 1, 1871, having been incorporated under the general act in April of that year, its object being "to establish a hospital * * * for the reception of the sick and injured, and for rendering all necessary care, assistance and medical attention." The property consists of a story and a half frame house and a lot pleasantly situated on Washington street, which was purchased by Joseph Howland, a large proper- ty holder in this town, who fitted it for hospital purposes at a cost of $2,000, and presented it to the town, which has since expended $1,500, the contribution of its citizens, in its improvement.

The Howland Circulating Library was found- ed in 1872, through the munificence of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Howland, of Fishkill. The erection of the building was commenced in the summer of 1871 and completed in the spring of 1872. It is sixty-five by forty feet, with two stories and attic. The building and ground cost about $23,000. The library comprises 4,229 volumes, and these have been purchased and the current expenses met with funds received from stockholders and subscribers.

The Matteawan Union Free School was organiz-

529

TOWN OF FISHKILL.

ed in 1870, and formed by the union of two com- mon school districts. The present school building, a fine structure of pressed brick, was erected that year, and cost, including the lot and furniture, a little more than $26,000. The school was opened in the fall of 1870, under the principalship of Prof. John G. Murphy, who was succeeded at the ex- piration of a year by E. B. Rowell, who likewise remained a year. In 1872, W. S. Allen assumed and has since discharged those duties. He has nine assistants. The attendance at school is seven hundred and forty-seven, the average attendance being four hundred and eighty. The school is graded into primary and senior departments, with six classes in the primary and four in the senior department.

CHURCHES .- The Presbyterian Church of Mattea- wan was organized Aug. 27, 1833, with twenty- four members, not one of whom is living. Previous to about 1832 the Presbyterians of Matteawan attended the Reformed Church at the Landing. They then obtained and held occa- sional services in the upper part of the old Matteawan store. Rev. Joseph D. Wickham was installed the first pastor November 16, 1834. He was the uncle and tutor of Major Wickham of New York, and became famous as an educator. The second pastor was Rev. S. I. Prime, senior editor of The New York Observer, who was in- stalled May 23, 1837. He was followed, but only for three months, by Rev. A. B. Van Zandt, who died as professor in the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, N. J., July 21, 1881. Rev. James Harkness was called Dec. 12, 1842, and remained until Nov. 19, 1845. He afterwards practiced medicine at the Landing .* After an interval of two years Rev. J. T. M. Davie was installed pastor and remained until the spring of 1855. In July, 1855, Rev. F. R. Masters, on whom Union Col- lege afterwards conferred the degree of D. D., was installed and continued the pastoral care until February, 1872, when his health failed and Rev. J. L. Scott became his assistant. He resigned October 8, 1872. Mr. Scott was called to the pastorate Nov. 7, 1872, and ordained and installed Dec. 2, 1872. He has since had the pastoral charge. It is worthy of note that Mr. David Davis of Matteawan, has been an officer of the church over forty years.

The first church edifice was erected in 1833, and dedicated on July 16, 1834; the present one in 1871-72, at a cost of about $40,000,

and dedicated July 17, 1872. It is a sightly stone structure, combining the Gothic and Nor- wegian styles of architecture, and is supplied with an organ of rare beauty and power. The audience room seats five hundred persons ; the lecture room, two hundred and eighty. The church numbers about two hundred members. The attendance at Sunday school, of which Robert J. Halgin is Super- intendent, is about two hundred .*

St. Joachim's Church (Catholic.)-The few Catholics at Fishkill Landing, Low Point, Mattea- wan and Fishkill village before 1850, depended on St. Patrick's Parish, Newburgh, for the services of a priest. Rev. Father Duffy, pastor of that church, attended on both sides of the river in Orange and Duchess counties. In 1850, Rev. George Brophy, then pastor at Channingville, received the pastoral care of these places, and occasionally celebrated mass at the Landing in a school house kept by a lady named Meagher, located at the five corners, and near the present Cliff and Main streets. In September, 1853, Father Brophy was appointed pastor of St. Paul's church, Harlem, and Rev. Dennis Sheehan took charge of the vacant mission. Finding his congregation rapidiy increasing, and the little temporary church inadequate to accom- modate it, he purchased in 1855, from Matthias Toohey, the site of the present church in Mattea- wan, at a cost of $1,200, and immediately began the erection of a house of worship. This location was selected as best suited from its central posi- tion to the surrounding missions. In August, 1857, the building was inclosed, the basement finished with pews, and a neat altar erected. The people assisted the pastor to the extent of their means, and up to 1857 had contributed nearly $8,000.

In October, 1860, Archbishop Hughes consti- tuted Matteawan, Fishkill Landing, Low Point and Fishkill village an independent parish and ap- pointed Rev. James Coyle as first resident pastor. At that time the church was not plastered, con- siderable debt was incurred, and there was no resi- dence for the pastor. Nov. 30, 1860, Father Coyle purchased the present parochial residence from Milo Sage for $2,500. In 1862 the chancel and gallery of the church were erected, making the entire cost of the building, as it then stood, about $10,000.

In September, 1861, Father Coyle purchased a lot in Fishkill village from Mrs. Oppie for $200 and set about building a church upon it. October

* A very interesting history of the church, prepared by the pastor, was published in The Fishkill Journal, July 7, 1881, and gives fuller de- tails than we can devote space to.

* See page 520.

530

HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

17, 1874, that edifice was dedicated by Very Rev. Wm. Starrs, V. G., under the title of St. Mary's. The building, 25 by 30 feet, cost about $1,500.

In February, 1865, Father Coyle purchased 6.3 I acres of land near Matteawan from Everett Smith, for $2,524, four acres of which he laid out for burial purposes and the rest he divided into build- ing lots. It is known as St. Joachim's Cemetery, and was blessed by Very Rev. Wm. Quinn, V. G., October 16, 1877. March 23d, a church organ was purchased from St. Peter's, Jersey City.

July 8, 1867, Father Coyle was appointed to the pastoral care of Rondout, and Rev. Christopher Farrell took charge of the parish and missions of Matteawan, June 11, 1871. Rev. Peter McCourt was appointed pastor of the parish, Father Farrell having retired on account of ill health. In Sep- tember, 1874, the erection of a parochial school was commenced. Itis a brick building, 50 by 100 feet, two stories high, and is attended by 300 chil- dren, who are instructed by three teachers, one gentleman and two ladies.

Father McCourt died December 19, 1876, and was interred on the north side of the church. Feb. 15 1877, Rev. John C. Henry was appointed pastor, and in May of that year, Rev. A. J. Canary, a fine vocalist, was appointed his assistant. In September, 1878, Father Canary was removed to Cornwall, and Rev. T. F. Kelley, now pastor at Hyde Park, was appointed to his place. In Sep- tember, 1880, St. Joachim's Young Men's Literary Society was organized with fifty members. In October, 1880, it was resolved to enlarge and im- prove the church edifice by an addition of 30 by 40 feet, and a suitable portico 12 by 15 feet. These improvements were commenced in November, 1880, and completed in 1881, at a cost of $5,000, all of which was cheerfully paid by the people.

Nov. 1, 1880, Father Kelley was transferred to St. Reymonds, Westchester, and Rev. John J. Mc- Grath appointed Father Henry's assistant. The church has a present membership of about 2,500. The Sabbath-school is attended by 30 teachers and 400 children. St. Joachim's Temperance Benev- olent Society was organized in 1875 and numbers 60 members.

The mission church at Fishkill village has been served by the pastors of this church. Services are held there twice a month. The membership is about 100.

The First Baptist Church of Matteawan per- fected its legal organization Oct. 26, 1853, at which time Rev. D. W. Sherwood was pastor. The

church was erected in 1854,but was not completed until 1855. Most of the subscriptions therefor were collected by the pastor, Rev. D. W. Sher- wood. Previous to the erection of the church meetings were held in the district school-house at Matteawan. The pastors who succeeded Mr. Sherwood under this organization were Revs. Frank Fletcher, Hiram Haynes, John B. Pittman, J. L. Benedict, the latter of whom was called Oct. 20, 1864, and resigned June 13, 1866, and Wm. Jones, who served as late as March, 1869.

Oct. 26, 1868, the church authorized the trustees " to make over " their church property to the Pil- grim Baptist Church of Matteawan, which was organ- ized Oct. 19, 1868. March 1,1869,the First Baptist Church of Matteawan disbanded. Articles of faith were adopted by the newly organized church Sept. 7, 1870, and a church covenant Sept. 18, 1870. The church was recognized by a council represent- ing nine churches Sept. 21, 1870, and the same day the edifice, which had been refitted, was re- dedicated. Rev. Thos. S. Rogers was the pastor at this time. He was succeeded by Rev. Jabez B. Marshall, who resigned Dec. 27, 1874. Rev. F. Kratz was called March 21, 1875, and resign- ed Dec. 29, 1875. Rev. Stephen B. Almy was called April 18, 1876, and remained till his death in the fall of 1879. Rev. E. N. Harding was call- ed to the pastorate Jan. 2, 1880, and resigned June 30, 1881, since which time there has been no pastor, though the pulpit has been regularly supplied. The number of members is about seventy- five. The attendance at Sabbath-school, of which Deacon Joe Bently is superintendent, is about seventy-five.

St. Anne's Church (Episcopal), was incorpo- rated June 11, 1833, under the temporary rector- ship of Rev. John Brown. The first permanent rector was Rev. R. B. VanKleeck; the present one is Rev. Edward Bartlett .* The society owns eleven acres of land in the south-east part of the village on which a fine church edifice and parson- age have been erected.

GLENHAM.

Glenham, early known as Red Rock, from the color of the rock in that vicinity, is situated in a romantic glen in the Fishkill valley, on the New- burgh, Duchess & Connecticut and the New York & New England railroads, by which it is distant two miles north-east of Matteawan. It is the seat of the extensive woolen manufactory of A. T.

* We have been unable to obtain further data relative to this church.

531

TOWN OF FISHKILL.

Stewart & Co., and contains three churches, (Dutch Reformed, Episcopal and Methodist Episcopal,) a union free school, a large store, known as the Glenham store, a grocery, kept by T. H. Alexander, a stove and tin store, kept by Mark Brierly, a drug store kept by Chas. D. Cooper, a shoe shop kept by Robt. Doyle, a wagon shop kept by Jno. Mosher, a blacksmith shop kept by Geo. Gildersleeve, a meat market kept by Wm. Haight, and a tobacco manufactory, of which the Marsh Bros. are proprietors. In 1880 it had a population of 1,353. R. H. Marsh & Co. have conducted the store here since Mr. Stewart acquir- ed the property. Geo. W. Westcott first engaged in mercantile business here in 1835, and con- tinued it some thirty years.

About 1811, --- McGill, Peter H. Schenck, Dr. Bartow White and Benj. Brown, the latter of whom occupied the house next west of the Glen- ham store, established a woolen mill and saw-mill at Glenham, the former of which is still in use, having been several times enlarged, and forms a part of the extensive works of Messrs. Stewart & Co. The woolen mill was built of stone and the saw-mill of wood. The latter is not now in exis- tence. The company continued the business in a modest way until 1826, when they were succeeded by the Glenham Co., formed that year, with a capi- tal of $140,000, and was composed at different times of John Jacob Astor, Peter A. Schenck, Philip Hone, Joseph Karnochan, Gardner and Samuel Howland, and Russell and Nathan Dart, all except Mr. Schenck, of New York. The com- pany greatly increased the capacity of the works, and in place of Mr. McGill, who had previously superintended the establishment, employed Augus- tus L. Ulrich, a native of Jena, Saxe Weimar, Ger- many, as agent, a position he filled until his death, Sept. 16, 1841. Jirah Stearns, who is still living in Newburgh, was a manager under the Glenham Co., and during his superintendence the business was successful. Russell and Nathan Dart eventually acquired the sole ownership of the property, which at their death, passed into the hands of Wm. and Russell Dart, sons of Nathan, who survived his brother Russell. The Darts still further increased the business, erecting during the war the present extensive buildings, except the storehouse, which was built by Mr. Stewart. "Between the years 1860 and 1873," says the New York Herald of April 27, 1876, "over $450,000 were expended for new buildings and the best British machinery." "About six hundred operatives were employed,"

says the same paper, "and the company owned dwellings sufficient to accomodate all the families working for them."

The mill at Glenham employs some 380 persons in the manufacture of all kinds of woolen fabrics, cassimeres, flannels, blankets, etc.

Union Free School No. 3 of Glenham, was formed Nov. 13, 1866, by a vote of eighty-four to one, and the following trustees elected : C. Bartow, F. K. Scofield and E. H. Bedford. H. Gaunt was then the principal and continued to serve in that capacity until Oct. 1, 1867. His successors have been Wm. Darach, Jno. B. Quick, Geo. W. Pier- son, who closed his services July 18, 1870; Derrick Brown, from Aug. 17, 1870, Smith Sherman, in 1873, and L. D. Wymbs, who has filled the posi- tion since the fall of 1873. He has four assistants. The school building, a fine brick structure, was erected in 1872, and is valued, with the site, at $9,500. The old school house was sold and con- verted to a dwelling. The number of children of school age in the district Sept. 30, 1881, was 605, of whom only 365 attended school, a large num- ber of children being employed in the mills. The number of volumes in the district library was 793, valued at $1,000. The assessed value of taxable property in the district was $518,386.83.

CHURCHES .- The Dutch Reformed Church of Glenham was organized February 7, 1837, with ten members, who withdrew from the churches at Fish- kill and Fishkill Landing. The early meetings of the church, at the time of the organization, were held at the district school house in Glenham. June II, 1838, the corner-stone of a church fifty by forty feet was laid by Elder Peter Cromwell. The church was dedicated by Rev. Abraham Polhe- mus, of Hopewell, Feb. 28, 1840. In 1851, a parsonage with three acres of land attached, was purchased, G. Smith contributing $450 towards its payment.

Owing to its feeble condition, the church, through most of its early existence, received aid from the Board of Missions, and although it resolved in 1853 to "henceforward decline that assistance," the effort was successful for only a few years. Not until about 1865, did it free itself from debt .. The pres- ent membership comprises forty-five families and fifty-two communicants. The Sabbath school is superintended by Sidney Scofield, and has an at- tendance of IIO.

The following is the succession of pastors :-

Rev. J. G. Johnson, a licentiate, Nov. 1839, to Jan., 1846.

532

HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

Rev. William A. Miller, May 20, 1846, to Dec., 1849.

Rev. J. F. Pingry, (supply,) Dec., 1849, to March, 1851.

Rev. J. G. Duryee, March, 1851, to Oct., 1852. Rev. J. F. Pingry, (supply, ) Oct., 1852, to June 16, 1853.

Rev. Jno. H. Bevier, June 16, 1853, to Jan. 9, 1860. Rev. Edwin Holmes, Feb. 1, 1860, to Oct. I, 1865. Rev. Francis A. Horton, Oct. 1, 1865, to - 1867.

Rev. Abram N. Wyckoff, Sept. 5, 1867, to 1871.

Rev. Joseph Scudder, D. D., February 1872, to March, 13, 1875.

Rev. Jno. C. Van Deventer, May 19, 1875, to spring of 1879.

Rev. Wm. W. Schomp, Nov. 11, 1879, present pastor.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Glenham was an organized society in 1828, and then had about thirty members. John Reynolds was the circuit preacher. The society worshipped in the district school house, which now stands unoccupied, having been used for a short time as a dwelling after the present school building was erected. It is the building next north of the residence of the late Patrick Murphy, at "Red Rock Corners." In 1842, during the pastoral labors of Rev. Mr. An- drews, the church perfected a legal organization and built a house of worship on the knoll a little north of the old school-house at "Red Rock Cor- ners." In 1872, the building was removed to its present site. The present pastor is Rev. William Stevens, pastor of the church at Fishkill, with which charge this is connected. The present membership is forty-eight .*

The Episcopal church of Glenham, rector, Rev. Robert B. Van Kleeck, (who is also the postmaster at Glenham,) was organized in 1855, under the title of Free Church of St. John the Baptist. The church edifice was erected in 1858.

GROVEVILLE.

Groveville is pleasantly situated on the Fish- kill, .79 mile by rail, below Glenham, through which it enjoys postal facilities. It derives its name from the extensive oak grove which formerly occupied the site of the Stewart carpet works, which, with the dwellings occupied by the employés therein, constitutes all there is of it. There was a grist mill at Groveville from a very early day. It was owned about 1820 by Samuel Upton, a Quaker,

who acquired it from Abraham Dubois. Upton tore down the old mill and replaced it with a larger one. He also erected on the opposite side of the race a stone building which he used as a fulling mill. Between 1830 and 1840, Upton sold the property, which also comprised six acres of land, to Peter Cromwell and Epenetus Crosby. Messrs. Crom- well and Crosby sold it to the Glenham Co., who converted it to a woolen mill, and did carding, spinning and weaving. It subsequently passed through the same changes in proprietorship as the Glenham mill property, and like it was purchased by A. T. Stewart, who purchased additional land on the south, making in all about twenty-two acres, all of which formerly belonged to the Rogers farm, and in 1874-'75 commenced improvements which have evolved the magnificent and extensive works which employ nearly 700 persons.

Previous to the improvements inaugurated by Mr. Stewart there were but two or three houses be- sides the woolen mill, on the site of Groveville. In 1880 the population was 379.

WICCOPEE.

Wiccopee, situated a half mile below Matteawan, is the seat of the New York Rubber Co.'s Works, which occupy the site of the old Wiccopee Cotton Mill, which was built in 1845, by Robert G. Rankin and Charles M. Wolcott, was well constructed and supplied with the best of machinery. The New York Rubber Co. was incorporated in 1851, by Benj. F. Lee, Jno. F. Grecian and Charles Porter, to whom Charles Goodyear had previously granted the right to manufacture respectively rubber dolls, balls and toys. In 1851 the company commenced business on Staten Island, removing thence in 1857 to their present location. They purchased the brick build- ing of the Wiccopee Cotton Co., two stories and basement, which has been increased in size by an addition made that year and others subsequently to two hundred and twelve by forty-five feet, with three stories and basement. At first the company employed about seventy-five persons, while they now employ one hundred and twenty-five. The present capital is $300,000, and that, like the me- chanical facilities for prosecuting the business, has been largely increased. The business now com- prises the manufacture of belting, hose, and all sorts of rubber articles. The value of the manu- factured product reaches $350,000 to $400,000 per annum. The officers of the company are: Henry A. Alden, President ; William H. Acker, Treasurer ;

* The records of this church were not accessible at the time of our visit ; hence the meagre sketch we give of it.

مممم

MOSS ENCOM

RESIDENCE OF JAMES B. BRINCKERHOFF, JR., EAST FISHKILL, N. Y.

533

'TOWN OF FISHKILL.

Jno. P. Rider, Secretary. The motive power is supplied solely by water.

BRINCKERHOFFVILLE.

Brinckerhoffville (Brinckerhoff Station) is a post station, 1.78 miles by rail above Fishkill, contain- ing a grist mill, store, kept by C. C. Van Voorhis, about a dozen houses and a population of sixty. The first settlement in this locality was made from the Brinckerhoffs, from whom the place derives its name. Earlier members of the Brinckerhoff family were somewhat prominent as military men and Legislators. Abraham, who was a Member of As- sembly from this County in 1784-'85, carried on in addition to his extensive farming operations, the mercantile and milling business. He was a mer- chant here during the Revolution. His store stood a little east of the present one, and was demolished a few years ago by Matthew Brinckerhoff, who still occupies a part of the homestead farm at Brinck- erhoffville. He was likewise engaged in the milling business during the same period. His mill and its contents were destroyed by fire, which, it is sup- posed, was accidentally set by soldiers, who imme- diately rebuilt it. That structure has survived to the present day, and, like its predecessor of a hun- dred years ago, is kept busy in grinding the grists of the neighboring farmers. It is known as the "Star Mills," and has been owned for some eight- een years by Alex. H. Dudley. It contains four run of stones, which are propelled by water from the Fishkill, which has a fall at this point of seven and one-half feet.

The present store was built about 1831, by the widow of Dirck Brinckerhoff, and has been kept by various individuals, niostly for short periods, but not continuously-by the present proprietor since 1872. The occupants of the old store, among whom, in addition to Abraham Brinckerhoff, were Garrett Van Voorhis, Coert Du Bois, Thorn Pud- ney, Richard Pudney, Jacob Scofield and Isaac Brinckerhoff, did a much more extensive business than has been done in the new one, which was first occupied by Isaac Brinckerhoff, as this was then the center of a large and fertile section of country with nothing to divert trade from it. The post- office here was established in 1873, and S. A. Van Voorhis, who was then appointed postmaster, has held that office continuously since.

A Presbyterian church was formerly located here-the first of its denominational character in this County. Tradition says that its original mem- bers were gathered together about 1746, by Rev.

Elisha Kent, grandfather of the late Chancellor Kent. The frame of the church edifice was raised on the 17th and 18th of Sept. 1747, on an acre of ground given for the purpose by Jacob Terbos, on condition "that the church be organized in accordance with the order of the Kirk of Scot- land." That historic structure was destroyed by fire March 1, 1866, and neverrebuilt. The society still maintains its organization and occasional ser- vices are held under its auspices at Johnsville. The church has a most interesting history, but, though we have the materials, we have not the space to give it .*

BYRNSVILLE.

Byrnsville, or Tioronda, is a hamlet near the mouth of the Fishkill, about a mile south of Fish- kill Landing, and contains a union free school, which is also used as a chapel, a small store, kept by Richard J. Horton, and the Tioronda Hat Works. In 1880 it had a population of two hun- dred and seventeen. The union free school build- ing is an elegant structure and was erected some sixteen years since through the liberality of Gen. Joseph Howland. The upper story is open to all denominations for religious purposes. The Hat Works occupy the site of the old cotton-mill at this place, which was built at a comparatively recent date by a stock company, of whom Epene- tus Crosby, George W. Pine and one or two others were members, and run for several years. It was once burned and rebuilt by the same company, who failed before 1850. The building was after- wards used for some years as a white lead factory, and was destroyed by fire Sept. 9, 1862. A grist and saw-mill were subsequently built on the site by the late - - Scofield, and these were torn down by Lewis Tompkins in 1878, when the present building was erected. A little below these works is the site of the Madam Brett grist-mill, for which this has been mistaken.

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History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 104

Author: Smith, James H. (James Hadden); Cale, Hume H; Roscoe, William E Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 868

Author: Smith, James H. (James Hadden); Cale, Hume H; Roscoe, William E
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 868