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 107
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It is not definitely known when or by whom set- tlements were first made within the present limits of the town, as all records relating thereto have been lost or destroyed. It is supposed that settle- ments were begun about the year 1710. A man by the name of DeLong settled here in 1716, and kept at an early day an inn, whose location is now unknown. James DeLong is found as supervisor of the town in 1802, probably a descendant of the settler of that name. It is probable that from this family also descended the Japanese diplomatist, ex- minister DeLong, who was a native of Beekman. Among others who were early residents of the town, and who held town offices at an early date, were Mau- rice Pleas, Jesse Oakley, Jonathan Dennis, Gideon Hall, and Ebenezer Cary. Maurice Pleas was for many years town clerk of the precinct and of the town after its formation in 1788. Jonathan Den- nis was the first supervisor at the erection of Beek- man as a town. Other early settlers were the Cornwalls from Long Island, the Uhls, from Ger- many, the Haxtuns, Sweets, Gardners, Bakers and Brills.
The records in the town clerk's office give the proceedings of precinct meetings from April 7, 1772, to the formation of the town. At that date the following officers were elected :-
Joshua Carman, Supervisor ; Maurice Pleas, Town Clerk ; Samuel Dorland, James Vander- burgh, Assessors ; Simeon Noxon, Constable and Collector ; Thomas Clements, Maurice Pleas, In- spectors of intestate estates.
From that date to 1788 the precinct supervisors and clerks were as follows :---
Supervisors. Clerks.
1773-'74. Joshua Carman, Sen., Maurice Pleas.
1775-'79. James Vanderburgh, do do
1780-'83. Jonathan Dennis, do do
1784-'86. Ebenezer Cary, do do
1787. Jonathan Dennis, Jesse Oakley.
In the following year Beekman was formed as a town. The Supervisors and Clerks from that time to 1882 have been as follows :- Supervisors. Clerks.
1788. Jonathan Dennis,
Jesse Oakley.
1789-'91. do do Maurice Pleas.
1792-'96. Jesse Oakley, do do
1797. Ebenezer Cary, Maurice Pleas.
1798-1801. do do Gideon Hall.
1802-'03. do do
James DeLong.
1804. do do
Gideon Hall.
1805-'07. Samuel A. Barker,
do do
1808-'IO. do do
John G. Hall.
1811-'13. do do Adam Crouse.
1814. Thomas Flagler, John Cooper.
1815. Samuel A. Barker, Joseph Potter.
1816. Egbert Cary, do
do
1817-'19. do do Gilbert B. Noxon.
1820. John Wilkinson, do do
1821-'22. Egbert Cary, do do
1823. Thomas Lee, do do
1824. do do James Peters,
1825-'26. Egbert Cary, do do
1827-'28. John Cooper,
do do
1832-'33. James De Long,
do do
1834. Egbert Cary,
1835-'39. Elnathan Haxtun, Rob't M. Van Kleeck.
1840.
Egbert Cary, Thomas J. Doughty. do do
1841-'42. James H. Denton,
Joseph T. Lee.
1844. Gilbert B. Noxon, Chas. J. Benjamin.
1845. Joseph C. Doughty, do do
1846. Gilbert B. Noxon, do do
1847.
Joseph C. Doughty. do do
1848-'49. Wilson B. Sheldon, do do
1850.
Wm. A. Holmes, do
do
1851. do do T. J. Doughty, 2nd.
1852. James F. Dakin, do do
1853.
do Lewis H. Sherman.
1854
Elnathan Haxtun, do do
1855. do do Smith Cronk.
1856-'57. Wilson B. Sheldon do do
1858-'59. Smiith Cronk, Dewitt C. Noxon. do
1860. De Witt C. Cary, do John Ellison, Jr.
1861. do do
1862-'65. Jeremiah Sheldon, Joseph Dodge, 1866-'67. Wm. W. Haxtun, do do
1868. George Tabor,
John S. Van Wyck.
1869. Wm. E. Haxtun,
Wm. H. Wright.
1870-'72. Geo. T. Doughty, Chas. A. Müller.
1873-'74. James E. Dutcher, Wm. H. Wright.
1875. David Ludington, Jacob T. Benjamin.
1876-'77. John H. Draper, Chas. A. Müller.
1878. E. L. Williams, Jacob T. Benjamin. do do
1879-'80. Joseph H. Storm,
1881. Isaac Vail,
Charles A. Müller.
Beekman contains no villages of great import- ance. Green Haven, Beekman Furnace, Pough- quag and Beekmanville are hamlets with but a small population.
Green Haven, near the south-western border, contains a store, postoffice, grist mill, and some twenty or thirty dwellings. The postmaster and merchant is George Lawrence. The grist mill is run by Christopher Brown.
Beekman Furnace, also called Clove Valley Post- office, near the north line of the town, contains the
1
do do
1843.
Egbert Cary,
Elnathan Haxtun.
1829-'31. Egbert Cary,
546
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
Clove Spring Iron Works, organized in 1873, which consists of one anthracite furnace and one charcoal furnace, the latter being the old " Beek- man Furnace," built by Elisha Sterling & Co., in 1831. There is a population here of about two hundred, chiefly in the employ of the company.
The charcoal furnace has a capacity of about ten to twelve tons per day, and the iron made here is of a very superior quality, the uses to which it is devoted requiring the best iron made in the United States. The anthracite furnace turns out some twenty-five tons per day.
Poughquag is a pretty little hamlet* in the eastern part of the town, containing two stores, postoffice, a church and a population of some one hundred and fifty.
The postmaster here is C. F. Rassell, who was appointed in April, 1881. The merchants are John H. Draper, a native of Union Vale, born in 1849, who has been in business here nine years ; Charles H. Slocum, general merchant, who began business in March, 1881, succeeding Hamilton Colwell ; Charles F. Rassell, stoves and general hardware, in business since April, 1881, succeeding F. S. Merwin .¡ Mr. Rassell was born in Greene county, N. Y., in 1847.
The Methodist Society was formed here some time previous to 1839. The organization is now known as the "Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church." The edifice of this society stands a little north of the hamlet within the enclosure of a beautiful cemetery. It was erected in 1839. The corner stone was laid on the 24th of July of that year, and the building was dedicated on the 15th of January, 1840.
The society is prosperous, and, like many another of that denomination throughout the County, has never preserved, if it has ever kept, any extended records of its origin and achievements.
A short distance northeast of this hamlet lived during the Revolution, Col. Vanderburgh, an offi- cer of some prominence in that struggle. He left the comforts of his home to battle for a cause shrouded in darkness, in which there seemed to be more chances for an ignominious death on the scaffold than for the acquisition of fame and for- tune. It is said that Col. Vanderburgh did not falter in his choice, though he had everything to woo him to ease and repose at home. He enjoyed the friendship and confidence of Washington, who, in his diary mentions stopping with him at Pough-
quag to take dinner, when on a hasty visit to Hartford.
While the army lay at Fishkill, Col. Vanderburgh was taken ill, and was obliged to return to his home for nursing and medical treatment. While in this disabled condition Vaughn and his gang concluded it would be an appropriate time to rob and murder him. The house was strongly guarded and forti- fied, and Mrs. Vanderburgh, who had an idea of their intentions, and fearing they might reach her husband through the walls of the house, built a barricade of beds and bedding about her husband's resting place to check the force of the bullets. The robbers came and fired into the house, but without injury to the inmates, and finding the stronghold too impregnable decamped for easier booty. The descendants of Col. Vanderburgh rank among the most prominent citizens of the County.
Beekmanville has a population of a trifle over a hundred .* The postmaster here is Charles A. Müller, who was appointed in 1868.f The mer- chants are Charles A. Müller, who has been in busi- ness here sixteen years, succeeding John S. Van Wyck. He was born in Saxony May 4, 1831, came to America in December, 1849, and to Beek- man in April, 1866 ; Charles F. Benjamin, a native of Fishkill, born in 1836, harness and horse fur- nishing goods, in business here since 1880.
The only resident physician of the town is Dr. Clark A. Nicholson, who resides here. Dr. Nich- olson was born in the town of South East, Putnam county, December 29, 1821. He graduated from the medical department of the University of New York City in 1847, and on the second of July of that year became a resident of Beekman, where he began the practice of his profession. On Jan. I, 1 849, he married Caroline M. Bryant,¿ of Beekman, daughter of Amos J., and Harriet [Hamlin] Bry- ant, by whom he had one son, William A., who is a civil and mining engineer and assayer, and super- intendent and manager of a gold mine. Dr. Nicholson has been a member of the State Medi- cal Society since 1861. In addition to the duties of his profession he has been largely interested in the development and sale of iron mines in this and adjoining towns ; and has also turned his attention to agriculture, having in his possession over four hundred acres of land.
* The name of this hamlet was derived from " A-po-qua-gue"-round lake-the Indian name for Sylvan Lake, in the western part of the town. + Now a hardware merchant in Pawling village.
* One hundred and five according to the last census. The population of the town is one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight. 1870-one thousand eight hundred and forty-six ; 1875-one thousand five hundred and forty-eight.
t Dr. C. A. Nicholson was postmaster here for a number of years. # Caroline Bryant Nicholson, died February 13, ISS2. She was born June IO, IS25.
١
SUMMER RESIDENCE OF A. TOWER, ESQ., BEEKMAN, N. Y.
547
TOWN OF BEEKMAN.
In this place was born Benson J. Lossing, the historian. The house in which he was born, now old and decaying, is still standing, an object of in- terest to the intelligent tourist.
The Beekman Iron mine, one of the most valu- able in the County, was discovered by W. E. Haxtun in about 1846. It was opened in 1869, by Albert Tower, the present owner.
The ore unearthed here is that known as the
(BIRTHPLACE OF BENSON J. LOSSING.)
hematite .* From twenty-six to thirty hands are employed in this industry, The summer residence of Mr. Tower, a sketch of which appears here, was purchased from W. E. Haxtun in 1867-'68.
The hamlet contains one church, the Baptist, which was organized in 1840. The constituent members of this church, previous to the organiza- tion, held their membership with the First Baptist church in Fishkill. The first movement towards the erection of a house of worship in this place originated with some of the prominent citizens, none of whom professed Christianity. In the winter of 1838-'39 the residents of Poughquag built in their village a house of worship, which stimulated in the dwellers in Beekmanville a desire to have also in their midst a church edifice. Hav- ing conferred together, they made their wishes known to a few members of the Baptist denomina- tion in the town, promising generous aid in the work. A plan for the prosecution of the work was at once
matured, and the title for the site of a church building was secured and held by a committee of trust for a Baptist church thereafter to be organized. The edifice was completed the following autumn, at a cost of $3,000, all paid. The success of the undertaking was largely due to Nicholas German and Abner Osborn. The church was dedicated December 25, 1839, by Rev. Daniel T. Hill.
On the 12th of February, 1840, ten persons were recognized as a regular church by a council con- vened for that purpose. Those constituent mem- bers were as follows :-
Abner Osborn, Nicholas German, Joseph Ger- man, Robert Seaman, Pamelia German, Mary Osborn, Hannah German, Cornelia Sherman, Malvina Seaman and Caroline Taylor.
Rev. Daniel T. Hill served as the pastor over this new church three years. He was succeeded by Rev. Lewis W. Annan, licentiate of Shenandoah church, who was ordained pastor June 20, 1843. He remained but one year. To him succeeded Rev. A. M. Brown, licentiate, as stated supply for ten months. In August, 1845, Rev. John Warren, Jr., was called to the pastorate, and remained two years, serving the church acceptably. He was suc- ceeded in May, 1847, by Rev. John Lagrange, who labored with the church a year and eight months with marked success, some fifteen being added to the membership during his administration. The pulpit was then for three months supplied by Rev. Joseph I. Grimley. The following November, Rev. Richard Thompson became the pastor, remaining nearly six years when he was dismissed.
The next pastor was Rev. Samuel T. Patterson, a licentiate of a Poughkeepsie church. It is said he proved to be an impostor, and after about three months service left this church unexpectedly and unceremoniously. Rev. Alexander Smith next ministered to the church as stated supply for one year. In May, 1858, Rev. John Donnelly, a stu- dent from Hamilton, commenced supplying the pulpit, serving the church acceptably for five months. The next regularly installed pastor was the Rev. Sullivan L. Holman, who was ordained to the pastorate February 9, 1859. He remained six years.
To him succeeded, after six months interval, Rev. German N. Seaman, who labored with suc- cess until his sudden death January 15, 1868. In May, 1868, Rev. William H. Parsons was engaged as stated supply, remaining five months. The fol- lowing April Rev. P. C. Bentley, of Madison Uni- versity, labored here during his six weeks' vaca-
* The town contains several hematite ore mines. This of Mr Tower's, and one owned by the Sylvan Lake Ore and Iron Co., being the most extensively worked. Two other mines, not yet fully developed, -one owned by Dr. C. A. Nicholson and the other by the heirs of Wayman Dodge, -are believed to be quite extensive and valuable.
1
548
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
tion, and was succeeded in November, 1869, by Rev. Charles F. Hall, of New York city, who was ordained on the ninth of the following month. He remained with the church two years and nine months, and resigned the pastorate to enter upon a course of theological studies. He was followed by Rev. E. D. Noxon, 1875 ;* Rev. P. C. Bentley, six months, 1876 ; Rev. Daniel T. Hill, 1877; and Rev. Lewis Sellick, 1878-'81.
This church has licensed to preach the gospel, G. N. Seaman and G. W. Holman, May 22, 1860 ; Theodore F. Woodin, Sept. 23, 1860 ; Edward D. Noxon, September 23, 1872.
The present membership of the church is seven- ty-three.
At Sylvan Lake, in the west part of the town, is a Roman Catholic church. The structure was originally a select school house in Beekman, from which place it was brought in sections and rebuilt on the present site in about 1860. To accommo- date the increasing attendance, Father Sheehan, the first pastor, added a new portion in 1872. The land on which the church stands was donated by the late Daniel De Long, who supplemented the gift with about one and three-fourths of an acre of land for a cemetery. Shortly before his death in 1875, Father Sheehan severed his connection with the church of St. Denis, and the Rev. Father Healey was appointed in his place, serving at the same time the churches in Pawling and Dover Plains. In the year 1877 another change occurred, Father Healey going to Brewsters, Putnam county, and Father McSwiggan, the present incumbent, taking his place in St. Denis church. Since that time the church edifice and grounds have under- gone extensive repairs, and, to the great delight of the people, nearly the entire debt of $3,000 has been paid. Here, as in other parts of the County, the number of Catholics is rapidly increasing, and in this section does not fall far short of eight hundred persons.
BEEKMAN IN THE REBELLION.
During the war of the Rebellion, Beekman raised and expended nearly $35,000 to volunteers and substitutes. No authentic record was ever kept of the various enlistments, and the appended list of soldiers is, therefore, necessarily meagre.t
150th Reg't., Co. G .- John Sweet, 2nd Lieut., died of typhoid fever in the hospital near Atlanta, Ga., August 13, 1864; Alonzo Sweet, 2nd Ser-
geant ; George Bierce, 4th Sergeant; James L. Wood, Ist Corporal; Cornelius Peters, died at Alexandria, Va., September 26, 1863, 4th Corporal; James R. De Long, 5th Corporal ; Isaac S. Warner, 6th Corporal; Henry Hirtzel, 7th Corporal; Zebulon Washburn, 8th Corporal ; Privates : Thomas S. Buckley, William E. Burnett, William W. Donaldson, Amos D. Griffith, Harvey Hill, Thomas Rosell, died after returning home ; William H. Simpson, Philip Spencer, John S. War- ner, died after his return home ; Edward Williams, died at Beaufort ; Warren C. Woodin, William Isaac Woodin, died at Wilmington, N. C .; Henry A. Wilcox, died from measles, at Baltimore, Md .; Thomas W. Wright, died at Atlanta, Ga.
128th Reg't., Co. D .- Charles A. Smith, 3d Corporal.
Co. H .- John S. Fosbay, 5th Corporal; John James Woodin, William Henry Woodin, Isaac Guernsey.
Scattering .- Isaac Gardner, 16th Reg't., Battery B, Heavy Artillery, died from fever, at Yorktown, Va., January 13, 1864; George Washburne, 90th Reg't., Co. E, died from wounds in the fall of 1864 ; Gilbert F. Morey, first enlisted in Co. C, 57th Reg't., N. Y. Infantry, and re-enlisted in Co. G, 18th Regiment Cavalry; Charles King (colored,) Co. I, 3Ist U. S. Colored Infantry ; George King, (colored,) Co. I, 31st U. S. Colored Infantry.
Regiments Unknown .- Peter Davis, died in army ; John Davis, John Baker, John D. Baker, John M. Griffin, Philip Davis.
Besides the above named volunteers, residents of this town, the town also furnished all of its reg- ular quota under the different drafts for soldiers -- mostly hired as substitutes for those that were-or otherwise would have been-drafted.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
LUMAN B. ODELL.
Luman B. Odell was born in the town of Union Vale, Feb. 23, 1826. He was a son of Daniel Odell, and spent his early life, until twenty-one years of age, in attending school and assisting his father on the farm, and when of age took charge of the farm and conducted it very successfully for the ten or twelve years following.
April 21, 1853, he was united in marriage with Mary, daughter of Jacob and Margaret Uhl Able, of Union Vale, by whom he had three children as
* Died in 1880.
+ For this account we are indebted to Dr. C. A. Nicholson, of Beek- manville.
LITTLE
MRS. MARY ODELL.
1
LUMAN B. ODELL.
١
Photo. by Merritt & Myers.
SAMUEL BROWN.
549
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
follows :- Daniel J. born Nov. 11, 1859, now living West'; Wright B., born June 17, 1866 ; and Flora M., born Feb. 7, 1871. Mr. Odell was a farmer of more than ordinary ability, and a man of good habits and great industry. He conducted the farm formerly known as the VerPlanck farm, in East Fishkill, for about eight years. While attending the raising of a barn owned by Sylvester Haight, of the latter town, he was struck by a falling timber and so severely injured as to cause his death in about an hour. He left many friends who greatly missed him in the daily routine of life, and a great gloom was cast over the commu- nity where he was best known. He died May 30, 1 876.
Mrs. Odell, with her three children remained on the farm during two years following the death of her husband, when she purchased a farm of Henry C. Brill, in Poughquag where she still resides. Her residence which is built of brick, with a mansard- roof, is regarded as the finest in the town of Beek- man. Mr. and Mrs. Odell both united with the Clove Christian church of which Mrs. Odell is still a member.
SAMUEL BROWN.
Samuel Brown was born in Centre county, Pa., May 29, 1822, and was son of Geo. W. Brown, a practical mechanic and superintendent of the best furnaces in the County. Samuel spent seven years working under the superintendence of his father, and receiving such instructions in the skill and proper management of a furnace that he was capa- ble, at the expiration of that time of taking charge of any hard or soft coal furnace. When twenty- three years of age he was given charge of a furnace at Mill Hall, Penn., using hard coal; was afterward for six years superintendent of a furnace in Wash- ington, and from there went to the Howard fur- nace, Centre county, Penn., where he remained five years as manager and superintendent. Soon after this Gen. John S. Shultz, now president of the Clove Spring Iron Works, being informed of Mr. Brown's qualifications as master mechanic in the manufacture of pig-iron sent for him to take charge of the works then owned by Brown & Beckley, in the town of Beekman. This position he accepted and in 1871 came with his family, taking charge as superintendent and manager of the mines and fur- nace and conducting them with great credit to him- self and general satisfaction to the company, till his death March 7, 1881.
Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Sarah Britton of Centre county, Jan. 18, 1845, by whom he had ten children, eight of whom are now living as follows: Geo. W., who married Miss Aman Lewis; Caroline, wife of Henry McMullen; Mar- garet, wife of Solomon Grubb ; John who married Elizabeth Sprague ; Jennie C., wife of Walter E. Purvis ; Mary C., wife of Henry Rudisill; Wharton M., who married Clara A. Purvis, and Sarah, the youngest of the family, wife of William Holman.
Wharton M. Brown is now superintendent of the Clove Spring Furnace. The other children all reside in Beekman.
Mr. Brown early embraced the religious views of the M. E. Church, of which he was a consistent and conscientious member, as is proved by the in- dustrious and frugal life he lived.
PETER A. SKIDMORE.
Peter Akin Skidmore was born in the town of Beekman, Duchess County, April 14, 1832, in a
Photo. by Vail, Poughkeepsie.
(PETER A. SKIDMORE.)
house standing on a part of the farm now owned by Amos Denton, near the Clove Spring Iron Works. Shortly after his birth his parents removed to near Beekmanville where he now resides.
He was married Dec. 26, 1856, to Ruth, daugh- ter of Alfred and Charlotte Moore. They had four children born to them, only one of whom is now living, Alfred M.
Mr. Skidmore has spent most of his life on his farm, quietly pursuing his peaceful avocation and not entering into the turmoil of political life except in worthily holding some of the minor offices of his own town, but has always taken a keen interest in the great questions of the hour.
Jesse Skidmore, his father, married Sarah, daughter of Peter Akin, by whom he had four children, but two of whom still survive, Peter A. and Andrew I. Skidmore.
This old and well-known family is of German decent and was originally settled in the northern part of Long Island, at a place called Great Neck. Andrew Skidmore and his wife Judith, great-grand-
1
550
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
parents to the subject of our sketch, came from there about the middle of the last century. Mr. Skidmore, who was a shoe-maker by trade, bought a farm and mill in the town of Union Vale. The mill, which was one of the first built in the Country, was well known as the " Skidmore Mill." Mr. Skidmore died in 1815 and was buried on his farm, the one now owned by his grandson, Zophar Skidmore. He had one brother, a bachelor, who was murdered for a small sum of money in the latter part of the last century.
Andrew Skidmore, son of the pioneer of the same name, married Elizabeth Clapp, and always lived in Beekman and the adjoining towns, and now sleeps with his wife and son, Jesse, in the Clove cemetery.
CHAPTER XLVII.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PAWLING.
T HE town of Pawling lies in the southeastern part of the County. It is bounded on the north by Dover, on the south by Putnam county, on the east by Connecticut, and on the west by Beekman. A range of mountainous hills flank the eastern and western borders, between which is a broad and beautiful valley. The principal streams are Swamp and Croton rivers, which have their source in this valley. The bodies of water are Whaley, Oblong, and Little Ponds, and Green Mountain Lake. The latter lies near the village of Pawling, and derives its name from a mountain crowned by a growth of evergreens. Whaley and Little Ponds, in the western part of the town, form the source of the Fishkill. The former is the larg- est of these ponds, and contains some natural curiosities, in the shape of floating islands, densely covered with verdure.
On the 20th of May, 1769, an act was passed dividing Beekman's Precinct * into two precincts, the one to be called Beekman's, and the other Pawling's Precinct. The latter included the present towns of Pawling and Dover. Nearly twenty years thereafter, or on the 7th of March, 1788, Pawling was formed as a town, embracing within its limits the present town of Dover, which was taken off and erected into a separate township in 1807. The town derived its name from the Paulding family. In a history of a member of this family-James K. Paulding-it is stated that the original family name was Pawling, to which ren- dition, so far as is known, custom has always con- formed.
The pioneer settler of this town was probably Nathan Birdsall, who located on Quaker Hill in the Autumn of 1728. He was a native of Long Island, born of Quaker parents about the year 1700. He received the education of a common school, to which he afterward added surveying.
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