History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 106

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 106

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Another early settlement was made near the present hamlet of Gayhead or East Fishkill post office. Abram Van Vlack, now beyond four score years, in the vigor of mind and limb, lives upon the farm his grandfather-Aaron-settled, over one hundred and thirty years ago. He also came from Long Island and purchased several hun- dred acres of Madani Brett. He brought with him from Holland a Dutch musket which Mrs. Van Vlack has carefully preserved as an heir-loom. It was originally of such length that the gunner, although tall, was compelled to place the butt at some distance off to load. It was made of such length with the idea the longer the gun the farther it

540

HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

would shoot. Mrs. Phoebe Van Vlack, a relative of Abram Van Vlack, now living at the age of seventy-eight, was the daughter of John Miller, of Pine's bridge, a Revolutionary patriot, who was witness to the conflict between the Cow boys and a patriot force at Pine's bridge.

Tunis Van Vlack, a son of Aaron, built the first mill at Gayhead about the year 1770, and was the first settler of the place. It was a small mill with- out a bolt, but as the country became more thickly settled a larger one with all the then, " modern improvements," was built in its stead. We will here state that all of the mills built previous to the year 1760 were without a " bolting cloth " as they were called. The corn and wheat was ground, and the ingenuity of the housewife was taxed to sepa- rate the flour from the bran, which was done in a new country by either a fine splint sieve or a very coarse cloth, through which the flour was pressed by the hand.

Near the mill the Luyster family settled at an early day, of whom Peter Luyster is the eldest rep- resentative, now beyond four score years-and one of the unusual large number of aged people found in the southern part of the County.

But few farming communities present a more pros- perous appearance than around Gayhead, and none show more care and taste in the preservation of antique buildings, and other relics of the historic past, than the people of this town in general- Long years ago speculation was rife in the mining of iron ore found in the hills in the eastern part of the town, but after wasting much time and money, the project was abandoned. A few years after, another effort was made to work them with profit, but it was found the cost of transportation was too great to realize a paying profit, as it had to be done by teams to Fishkill and Poughkeepsie. A fur- nace was built a little to the east of Gayhead to manufacture pig iron from the ore, but for some reason or other much that was melted was brought from Beekman, instead of confining the works to the ore of Shenandoah. The furnace did a fair business, as it manufactured about four hundred tons of iron per annum on an average and gave employment to forty and fifty men. Yet the profit was not found as anticipated and the mines were closed. A company has of late been formed and are at present mining the ore, and drawing the same to the Hopewell station for shipment. Those interested in the ore bed are anticipating a rail- road track to be laid the coming season, from the " Clove Branch " through Stormville to the moun-

tain, which may better assure the mining enterprise a paying dividend.

Fishkill Plains was early settled by the Monfort family, who came from Long Island. The name appears in many old documents relating to the town from 1738 to 1760, and is differently spelled, as "Monfoort," "Monfort," "Munfort," "Mufford" and " Muffort." After the latter date it appears Monfort and Monfoort, and very frequently con- nected with the Reformed churches of Hackensack and Hopewell, of which they were prominent and faithful members. The family has been closely identified with the interest of the town and churches, and the hamlet now known as Fishkill Plains should have borne the name of the family, it being the first of the neighborhood, thereby connecting the present with the past in historic associations. The growth of the village has been slow, and the busy hamlets springing up on the line of the railroad will have a tendency to paralyze all business in such places, a few miles back, and draw from them everything that gives to them their life and energy.

Through the election of careful and methodical officials, the records of East Fishkill have been kept in better shape than in most towns. When- ever one person holds the office of clerk for a term of years, we invariably find the records more per- fect, than when the incumbent is annually changed. The present clerk of this town, Mr. John J. Car- man, was elected as will be seen in 1851-'53,-'54-'55, and again in 1866, and has held the office each year since, making twenty years in all. The perfect- ness of records and preservation of loose papers is ample evidence of the wisdom of electing good careful officers and keeping them in service.

This territory was set off from Rombout Pre- cinct in 1788 as Fishkill, and on the 29th of Nov., 1849, it was taken from Fishkill to form a separate town, by act passed by the Board of Supervisors, under a previous act of the Legislature. The sur- vey of the town was made by Elnathan Hasten of Beekman, and John Ferris, of Pawling. Benj. H. Strang, Jas. A. Emans, Garret Deboise and Has- brook Deboise were chain and flag-bearers. J. Wesley Stark, of Pawling, Wilson B. Sheldon, of Beekman, and Alexander Hasbrook, of Fishkill, were Supervisors of the three respective towns as a committee to superintend the survey, which was as follows, copied verbatim :-

"Commencing on the base line of Putnam county at a hemlock tree south-east of the house of James Besley on the farm now owned by Charles Baster,

MOSS ENG GO. NY.

RESIDENCE OF MRS. ELIZABETH

BARTOW, EAST FISHKILL, N. Y.

541

TOWN OF EAST FISHKILL.

and runs west 152 chains crossing the farm of said Baster, Seth Hoyt and Mathias Ladue to a stone set in a swamp now owned by said Ladue, then north Seventeen and three-quarters (172) degrees east, crossing the lands of Mathias Ladue, Samuel Ladue, Abraham Waldron, Thomas Cary, west side of Snake Hill, William Ladue, Isaac Cary, Charles L. Duboise, Henry D. B. Bailey, Adriance Bogardus, Stephen B. Waldron, Jeremiah Conklin, two hundred and sixty (260) chains to the east door of the Methodist Church on the South Fish- kill Road, then on the same course Thirty-seven chains 30 links (37,30) to the north bank of the Fishkill creek, near a small Hickory tree, marked. Thence up the said creek to the Sprout creek thirty chains and eighteen links (30,18) on the farm of Alfred Van Wyck, then north along the west bank of said creek as it now runs ninety- six chains (96) to Swartout's bridge, Thirty-six chains and thirty-six links (36,36) to Sleeght's bridge, Forty-seven chains and ninety-two links (47,92) to John Schoutin's bridge, Fifty-eight chains and thirty-nine links (58,39) to J. Scofield's bridge, Ninety-nine chains and sixty-seven links, (99,67,) to P. P. Monfort's bridge, Sixty-two chains and seventeen links to R. C. Van Wyck's bridge, One Hundred and nine chains to Chas. Robinson's bridge, One Hundred and twenty-six chains and twenty-eight links, (126,28) to a stake near a large elm on the farm of Bagly, late William Morforts, Thence south Seventy degrees and twenty-two (70° 22') East two hundred and three chains and sixty-six links, (203,66) to the corner of the town of Beekman; Thence South twenty-four degrees East, Forty-Eight chains (48) to the Giles road, Ninety- three chains & Sixty-four links, (93,64) to the Poughkeepsie road near the Wiltsey farm, One Hundred and sixty-nine chains and sixty-links, (169,60,) to the North Fishkill road, One Hundred and ninety-three chains, (193,) to the Haxtun road, Two Hundred and thirty-two chains, (232,) to the Fishkill creek, Two Hundred and eighty-six chains and fifty links, (286,50,) to the South Fish- kill road, Four Hundred chains (400,) to the Martin road, Four Hundred and eighty (480,) chains to the top of the mountain, five hundred and fifty-two chains and fifty links, (552,50,) to the Griffin road, Six hundred and ninety-six chains and ninety-four (696,94,) links, to Putnam county line on the road leading to Joshua White's near a chestnut tree on the north side of a hill, six rods north-east of Rus- sell Burtch house, Then due West on the Putnam county line six hundred and seventeen (617,) chains to the Hemlock tree, to the place of Beginning containing 35,650 acres of land."

The act appointed John V. Storm, James B. Montros and Isaac R. Adriance as commissioners, to hold the first town meeting, at the house of Jacob Tompkins, in Stormville, on the last Tues- day of March, 1850, which was accordingly held and the following elected as officers : Supervisor, Benjamin Hopkins; Clerk, William Hasbrook ;

Justices, Morgan Emigh, John S. Emans, Rushmore G. Horton and William Homan ; Collector, Orry N. Sprague ; Commissioners of highways, John An- derson, Charles Ogden and George VanNostram ; Assessor, Lewis Seaman ; Sealer, Jacob Wiltsie ; Overseers of poor, Abraham Pullings, Abraham Adriance; Constables, Daniel Weeks, Jacob Wilt- sie, John Van Vlack ; Inspectors of election, David Knapp, Orson H. Tappan, John K. Vermilyea, Peter Adriance, William B. Ashley and Abraham S. Storm.

The following gentlemen have been elected as supervisors and clerks :-

Supervisors.

Clerks.

1850. Benj. Hopkins, Wm. Hasbrook.

1851. do do John J. Carman.

1852. John V. Storm, Wm. Hasbrook.

1853. do do John J. Carman.

1854-'55. Nicholas H. Stripple, do clo

1856. Benj. Seaman, Abraham Bowne.

1857. Edmund Luyster, Orry N. Sprague.

1858. John V. Storm, do do

1859. Benj. Hopkins, do do

1860. do do John Gildersleeve.

1861. Lawrence C. Rapalje, do do

1862. do do Weston Lasher.

1863. John S. Emans, do clo

1864. do clo William R. Kelley.

I865. Benj. Hopkins, do

1866-'67. do do John J. Carman.

1 868-'69. Nicholas H. Stripple, do do

1870. John S. Emans, do

clo

1871-'73. Charles W. Horton, do do

1874-775. Peter A. Baldwin, do do

1876-'77. John S. Emans, do do

1878. Charles W. Horton, do clo

1879. Peter A. Baldwin, do

‹lo

1880. Charles W. Horton, do clo

1881. Storm Emans, do

clo

The Hopewell Reformed Church, as before stated, is the oldest organization in the town, dating back to the year 1757. Their meetings were held in barns and private houses until the year 1764, when the edifice was erected of which a description has already been given. The first preacher was Benj. Meinema who supplied the pulpits of Poughkeepsie and Fishkill from 1745 to 1758 and preached at Hackensack and Hopewell occasionally as a missionary. He was succeeded by Jacobus VanNiest, or VanNest, in the latter year and remained until his death which occurred in 1761. The year following, the church was built and in 1765 Isaac Rysdyck began his labors which continued till the year 1790.

During the Revolution regular exercises were a greater part of the time deferred. From 1800 to the present time the church has enjoyed a steady

542

HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

prosperity and for long years it was, in connection with that of Hackensack, the church of the County.

The next oldest organization of the town is the " First Fishkill Baptist Church," of Fishkill Plains, which bears the date of 1782. This being its cen- tennial year a brief history from its records should be given of it, but they were not found by us, except in parts, from which we could gather but little. It appears to have been an offshoot of the Pleasant Valley church, its officers and pastors officiating for several years. About the year 1800 it was a live and earnest working church and remained so for many years, but like all of the old religious organizations, it has seen many discouraging seasons. One reason, perhaps, more than all others for the slowness of growth in this church was that nearly all of the earliest settled families of this section were strict adherents to the Reformed faith and were connected with the Hopewell or Hackensack churches, and but few new settlers located after the year 1780 for a long term of years. We cannot learn that the society ever supported a pastor alone but in connection with that of Pleas- ant Valley or Beekman. Services are now held once each fortnight by the Rev. Lewis Selleck, of Beekman. The church edifice is a small building without a belfry and was erected about eighty years ago

Following the Fishkill Baptist organization after the period of forty-four years the Johnsville Metho- dist Church was organized at Johnsville through the labors of James Taylor, William, Samuel, Jacob and Oliver Ladue and Cornelins Ostrander. Long years before, however, the Methodists were not the least in activity in promulgating the Gospel regard- less of the "hold " other denominations had upon the people. Here in Duchess County, as in other sections, when they first appeared they were looked upon as a crazed, excitable people, and were listened to as much through curiosity as for spiritual instruction, but through the incessant labors of their " circuit riders " and local preachers, a foot- hold was obtained and the changes that have been made in a moral and spiritual point of view since, are as much due to this denomination as any other especially in temperance, as they were the first to cry aloud against the universal use of intoxicating liquors, by clergy and layman, in the latter part of the last, and fore part of the present century.

The Johnsville church was organized in 1826 and the following have officiated as pastors as given to us by Rev. Thomas Carter, viz :- Revs. Hunt, Alonzo F. Selleck, Wm. F. Collins, --- Chalker, L. M.

Vincent, Lull, Stebbins, James H. Romer, Isaac H. Lent, Hawkhurst, B. M. Genung, Turner, Mathews,

Bishop, Hearn, Ashton,

Daniells, Thomas Lent and the present Thomas Carter, D.D., who, in connection with his pastoral duties edits and publishes The Wayside Monthly, a magazine replete with religious and miscellaneous readings, highly commendable in tone of sentiment and purity of expression.

The history of the Bethel Baptist church we take from the minutes of the "Dutchess Baptist Association " of 1874, as written by the pastor, Rev. Samuel Sprague :-

The Bethel Baptist Church, of Shenandoah, is one of the most southern, or southwestern, Churches of the Dutchess Baptist Association. It is situated on the direct road leading from Matteawan to Car- mel, and about midway between those places. Its opportunities for growth are few, being surrounded in part, by Churches of other denominations.

In 1834, a number of brethren and sisters, be- longing to the Kent and Fishkill Churches, of the Union Association, finding it inconvenient to attend the former Churches at a distance of five or six miles, and over a very hilly road, resolved, together with some of their neighbors and piously disposed people of Fishkill-Hook, to erect a meeting house. This was done in the summer of 1834, Deacon Abram Pulling and Isaac Knapp contributing largely, and aiding much in the undertaking. On May 4th, 1835, fifteen brethren and sisters consti- tuted themselves a church, and were recognized by a council called for that purpose.

The meeting house being built before the Church was constituted, the records of the Church give no account of its erection. Its cost is estimated at $2,500. It was dedicated in December, 1835. The Church held its first covenant meeting May 23d, 1835. In 1837 the Church was duly incor- porated, and in September it united itself with the Union Association. In 1839 the Church accepted an invitation from the Patterson Church, to unite in forming and holding a yearly meeting in the As- sociation.

In 1862 the meeting house was repaired and painted.

In 1870 about a thousand dollars was spent in repairs upon the house of worship, and it was re- dedicated in June, 187 1.

In the forty years of its history, the Church has received two hundred and sixteen members.

It has chosen six Deacons : I. Charlack, 1835;

543

TOWN OF EAST FISHKILL.

A. Pulling, 1838; Abram Seaman, 1840; O. N. Sprague and Wm. H. Pulling, 1858; E. Jewel, 1871.

It has given a license to preach to four of its members: I. Charlack, 1838; Lewis W. Annie, 1842 ; W. B. Knapp, 1842; James Gregory, 1860.

It has ordained two to the Christian ministry, Elder Horton and Elder Sprague.

Since its constitution, the Church has had ten Pastors : Elder George Horton, 1835 to 1844; E. C. Ambler, 1844 to 1845; J. Warren, 1845 to 1848; D. W. Sherwood, 1848 to 1852 ; J. J. Eb- erly, 1852 to 1853; E. Beardsley, 1855 to 1860; D. Van Fradenburgh, 1860 to 1863 ; I. C. Smally, 1863 to 1864; A. Kelly, 1864 to 1871; Samuel Sprague, 1871.

EAST FISHKILL IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

The records relating to the part the town took in the war, are in better condition and more replete than are usually found. The following are the names of those who enlisted from the town, with dates and promotions as near as can be obtained :-

Henry Surcebox, enlisted Aug. 15, 1862 for three years ; was promoted to captain of Co. E, in the 128th Regt., in Aug. 1863 ; was engaged in the battle of Ponchatula, was in the Red River cam- paign and transferred to Sherman's command in Georgia.

Wm. East, enlisted in Aug. 1862, for three years as private of 128th Regt., and died in camp in Lousianna June 6, 1863.

Traver Murphy, private 128th, enlisted Aug. 18, 1862 ; was killed in action before Port Hud- son, May 27, 1863.

Smith W. Darling, private enlisted Aug. 18th, 1862, and went with 128th from Baltimore to New Orleans in November, 1862; was in battle of Pon- chatula, and through the Red River campaign and afterwards transferred to Sherman's command.

Sylvester Brown, private, was in siege of Port Hudson, and was killed June 10, 1863.

Webster Brundage, private, was in seige of Port Hudson, with Gen. Banks on Red River, and with Sherman through Georgia, was discharged July 27, 1865, and died Aug. 6, 1865.

Wm. Henry Bowne, private, served in battle of Ponchatula, Red River and Shenandoah Valley.

John J. Woodin, private, served at New Orleans, Port Hudson, and with Sherman.

Charles Stansbury, private, deserted at Hudson, Sept. 4, 1862.

James H. Brown, private, served throughout with 128th, was discharged June 6, 1865.

Richard Scofield, private, served with Regt., in New Orleans, Red River and with Sherman, dis- charged June 5, 1865.

Johannes Wilhelm, private, taken prisoner at the battle of Cedar Creek, October 1864, and died of starvation at Salisbury prison, N. C., Dec. 10, 1864.

Benj. Smalley, private, served at New Orleans, Red River and with Sherman, and was discharged June 6, 1865.

Valentine VanOstrand, private, was discharged for disability.

Levi Niver, private, served three years with the Regiment and was discharged in June, 1865.

Henry S. Hauver, private, served at Ponchatula, Red River, and with Sherman, and was discharged June 6, 1865.

Wm. Hauver, private, served as above and was discharged June 6, 1865.

Stephen Yelverton, private, died of typhoid fever at New Orleans, May 1, 1864.

Wm. Spreadbury, private, deserted at Baton Rouge, October 10, 1863.

Wm. Krouts, private, deserted at Baltimore, September 6, 1862.

John Dewitt Lent, private, served with Grant in front of Richmond.

Chas. Bush, private, served in Mcclellan's cam- paign and was discharged July 27, 1865.

Caleb Bush, private, served with McClellan and Grant, was discharged July 26, 1865.

John Dingy, private, died with fever.

Abraham Harris, private, served on the Potomac.

Charles Johnson, private, served in Louisanna, and was discharged November, 1864.

Charles Lent, private, served on Hart's Island, contracted disease and died at home in 1865.

Martin Root, private, accidentally shot and died on Hart's Island.

John S. Brundage, private, died in Hospital at Baltimore, July 27, 1864.

Levi Vredenburgh, private, wounded at battle of Cedar Mountain, August 8, 1872, and was dis- charged November 29, 1862.

Cornelius B. Dye, sergeant, taken sick on the Peninsula, returned home and rejoined his Regi- ment.

John Hunter, private, wounded at battle of Fair Oaks, and was honorably discharged.

John Mullen, private, discharged from disability. Frank Green, private, killed at Fair Oaks, May 31, 1863.

544

HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

Chas. W. King, private, wounded at battle of Petersburgh, and was discharged March 5, 1865. George King, private.

Walter B. Seaman, private, served with the 19th Corps, and mustered out at Savannah, October 18, 1865.

John Thayer, private, served at Port Hudson, Red River and with Sherman, discharged July 27, 1865.

John McGriffin, private, discharged at Fortress Monroe, February 9, 1862, for disability.

Isaac Daniels, private, was an escaped slave and was discharged August 8, 1865.

Wm. Williams, captain, killed at battle of Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862.

Harrison Bucher, private, promoted corporal in March, 1864, and served with Hancock.

James Gregory, private, served on the Potomac. Noah Wixon, private, killed in action.

John Griffith, Navy, enlisted Jan. 4, 1865.

Jacob Montross, corporal, served at Petersburgh, and with Sherman in Tennessee, was left at Atlanta in consequence of sickness.

Richard T. Van Wyck, corporal, promoted to sergeant and served at Gettysburg and with Sher- man in Georgia.

George Burroughs, corporal, served at Gettys- burg and with Sherman through his campaign.

Americus G. Mosier, private, served at Gettys- burg and with Sherman.

Aaron Lockwood, private, served as above and was last seen at Atlanta.

Jacob Rouk, private, deserted at Baltimore in March, 1863.

Lorenzo Horton, private, 6th H. A., Sept. 8, 1864, served with Sherman in the Shenandoah Valley.

Privates .- A. J. Runells, John S. Stoker, Geo. W. De Friege, John Morehead, Henry Dily, Theodore Anthony, Geo. Anthony, Walter Lait, Martin Kigan, John Kelley, John Peterson, John Ryan and Patrick Mack.

The war account of this town from April 15, 1861 to December 31, 1866, including town boun- ties, recruiting fees and expenses, principal and interest of town loans and other necessary expen- ses was $98,799.

CHAPTER XLVI.

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BEEKMAN.

HE town of Beekman lies in the southeast -

T part of the County, one corner extending to the south border. It is bounded on the north by

Union Vale ; on the east by Pawling and Dover ; and on the south and west by East Fishkill.

The town derived its name from Colonel Henry Beekman, of Kingston, Ulster county, who, in 1697, obtained a grant of all the land east of Rom- bout's Patent to the Connecticut line, embracing the present towns of Beekman, Union Vale, the northeast half of LaGrange, and all of the towns of Pawling and Dover, except a strip one and three- eighths of a mile wide along the east side of the two latter towns forming a portion of the Oblong, obtained from the State of Connecticut in exchange for a tract of land on and adjacent to Long Island Sound. Beekman being obliged to pay for this grant an annual rental of forty shillings to the Crown of England, surrendered the patent and obtained a new grant for the same property in 1703 .*

Beekman's Precinct was formed December 16, 1737. May 20, 1769, an act was passed divid- ing Beekman's Precinct into two precincts, the one to be called Beekman's and the other Pawling's Precinct. The latter included the towns of Paw- ling and Dover. Nineteen years thereafter, or on March 7, 1788, Beekman was formed as a town. A portion of LaGrange, then known as "Freedom," was set off in 1821, and March 1, 1827, the greater part of Union Vale was taken from the ter- ritory and, with a portion taken from LaGrange, was erected into a separate township.

The surface of the town is somewhat hilly and broken. The highest summit is Pleasant Hill, in the northern part. On nearly all of the hills is an outcrop of slate and limestone. The streams are nothing but small creeks, tributaries of the Fishkill which runs through the central part of the town from northeast to southwest. The soil in their vicinity is fertile, forming one of the richest agri- cultural sections in the County. Sylvan Lake, in the western part of the town, is a beautiful body of water of some hundred and twenty acres. It has a depth of one hundred and thirty feet, being, in fact, one vast spring. It is owned by Dr. C. A. Nicholson, and is underlaid by one of the best and most extensive deposits of shell marl known in the State, and is besides well stocked with fish.

The town also contains quite extensive deposits of iron ore, and several deposits of marble. The marble is mostly of a very good quality, but none of the deposits have ever been worked.

The Clove Branch Railroad and its extension runs through the center of the town from Clove

* The Patent was granted June 25, 1703.

545

TOWN OF BEEKMAN.

Branch Junction, on the Newburgh, Duchess & Connecticut Railroad, to Sylvan Lake, thence to Beekman and Clove Valley. The New York & New England Railroad running from Boston to the Hudson River at Fishkill, has just been fin- ished through the southern part of the town, run- ning east and west near the villages of Poughquag and Green Haven where there are stations.

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History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 106

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