History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 39

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 39

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The reverse indicates where his remains have found their last resting place, as follows :- " ( Fourth Corps Badge, Second Division, A. of the P.) The remains lie in his father's vault, west of the church."

As he discharged both line and staff, or medical duty, in one of the New York regiments which was considered as be- longing to the artillery, a ten- pounder Parrot gun which had performed service in putting down the "Slave-holders' Re- bellion," is planted at the cor- ner of this monumental plot, which is guarded from intrusion by an apparently simple but costly fence of strong wrought iron standards set in blocks of stone con- nected by heavy rods of the same metal.

Immediately south of the southern projection of the church, within an enclosure, and guarded by two ten-pounder Parrot guns, perhaps the very ones with which he served, is an obelisk of white marble, sculptured with appropriate military emblems, erected in honor of a young Union artillery officer. It bears the following inscription :-

In memory of JOHN WATTS DE PEYSTER, JR., Major First New York Vol. Artillery, Brevet Col-

onel U. S. V. and N. Y. V. "Greatly distinguished for gallantry and good conduct at the battle of Williamsburg, (Monday, 5th May, 1862, as Aid to his cousin, Maj. Gen. Philip Kearny,) 'and no less remarked for his coolness and courage under me (Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker,) at the battle of Chan- cellorsville,'" (2d, 3d, 4th May, 1863, as Chief of Artillery, 2d Div., 6th Corps,) to Maj. Gen. Albion P. Howe. After nearly ten years unremitted suffer- ing, the consequence of arduous service in the field, he died 12th of April, 1873, in his native City of New York, aged 31 years, 4 months and 10 days.

JOHN WATTS.

DEPEYSTER

MOSS ENG CO. N.Y.

(CHURCH OF ST. PAUL'S-VIEW FROM THE SOUTH.)

Immediately in the rear of the church and against the chancel wall is another marble tablet, lettered as follows :-

Third Corps, Ist Division, and 6th Corps, 2d Division.

In the Vault beneath rest the mortal remains of Brevet Colonel JOHN WATTS DE PEYSTER, JR., Major ist N. Y. Vol. Arty. Born 2d Decem- ber, 1841, in the city of New York, and died there 12th of April, 1873. " A young officer " (whom Kearny styled "as brave as himself,") "of zeal, energy, and fired with a patriotic ambition." (Major General Peck.) " A soldier of great force

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

in action, and capable by his personal heroism of inspiring others with his own fiery courage." (Brig. Gen. Josh. T. Owen.) " The chivalric gallantry of character and the patriotic devotion to duty which led Col. de Peyster in the voluntary perform- ance of more than duty, to sacrifice upon the altar of his country, his health and the bright promise of a noble manhood, justly entitle him to the favor- able consideration of his government and the kind consideration of his countrymen." (Maj. Gen. A. P. Howe.) In every position, as a Staff, Cavalry, and Artillery officer, equally distinguished, he died a martyr for the Union.

GEN JOHN WATTS ar PEYSTER. 1871.

Pass Eng Corry.

(CHURCH OF ST. PAUL'S-VIEW FROM THE WEST.)

In alluding to the vaults, mention should have been made of the plain but enduring appearance of the one in the immediate rear of the chancel and abutting against the foundation wall of the church, which belongs to Gen. de Peyster. It is constructed of enormous blocks of Hudson River bluestone, laid in courses, and looks as if it would

last as long as humanity requires a place of sepul- ture; the entrance is closed with a wrought iron door as strong as the structure itself, and bears a monogram of forged metal. Everything seems to be calculated to insure durability. On either side of the entrance are two other ten-pounder Parrot guns, conceded by the United States Government after the war. They are most appropriate in their position, as they seem to sentinel the last repose of two, who on terrible fields

" Knew their voices of old."

The façade of Gen. de Peyster's vault is sur- mounted by a very handsome sarcophagus in Italian marble, bearing the following inscriptions :

Facing west, obverse-

In memory of MARIA LIVINGSTON de PEY- STER, youngest daughter and child of John Watts and Estelle de Peyster, born 7th July, 1852, died 24th September, 1857.

Facing east, reverse-

In memory of our beloved aunt, ELIZABETH WATTS LAIGHT, daughter of John and Jane de Lancey Watts. Died 23d June, 1866, aged 82 years.

The first, on the obverse, is a record of one of the most remarkable children that ever gladdened the hearts of parents. She realized the hackneyed truism of Shakespeare so often quoted and too often misapplied,

"So wise so young, they say did ne'er live long."

The reverse commemorates the name of one of the best of women; one of the noblest ex- amples of self-denial and benevolence. Blessed with means, she employed them almost entirely in doing good and giving pleasure; not through a blind and indiscriminate charity, but by dividing among the needy and "God's poor" over six- sevenths of her income. Such examples of un- ostentatious generosity are very rare ; but her gifts were inherited, for she was the daughter of the Hon. John Watts, of New York, who, becoming possessed of a large fortune by the premature death of a noble son, would not appropriate the funds that came into his hands through such a calamity, but with them founded a Refuge for the Fatherless, the buildings of which on a crowning height overlook both Central and Morning-Side Parks. It is known as the Leake and Watts Orphan House, and was so entitled by John Watts, who furnished the endowment. He would not take to himself the sole credit for his disin- terestedness, but associated with his own name that of the connection from whom the fortune was originally derived and also the idea of such an institution.

197

TOWN OF RED HOOK.

BARRYTOWN.

Barrytown lies in the southwestern part of the town, on the Hudson River. It contains a popu- lation of 239,* and is important only as a railroad and river depot for the surrounding country. Not far from this place, near Cedar Hill, is the house erected by the wife of General Montgomery about the beginning of the present century, and known as Montgomery Place. To the south of Barry- town, on the Hudson, is the estate known as " Rokeby," at one time the property of General Armstrong, and now in the possession of his son- in-law, William B. Astor.

A destructive fire occurred here May 10th, 1872, destroying twenty-one buildings. A large paper- mill,t in which a considerable business was done, was burned some two years previous.

Judge Nathan Peabody Tyler, a prominent citizen of the town, and an old merchant and freighter at this point, died in December, 1864. Captain Phineas Lovejoy Tyler, his son, now living here, is his only immediate descendant.

The postmaster here is Robert Gerard Martin, appointed in 1868.

The place contains the depot, two stores-Wil- liam Strobel, Horace M. Bishop; the former in business here some fifteen years, the latter three years-the store house of Carnwright, Fraleigh & Co., freighters, the freighting establishment of Coon Bros., (Robert A., Virgil E., and Silas W.,) and the ice-house of the Mutual Benefit Ice Com- pany, one of those immense structures so frequent- ly seen along the Hudson.

Near by is the church of St. John the Evangelist, which is the outgrowth of work performed by the St. Peter's Brotherhood, an association of the students of St. Stephen's College, organized to do missionary work in the neighborhood, under the direction of the Warden.

The Barrytown district was called by them St. Augustine Ward, and was assigned each year, by the Superior of the Brotherhood, to a Ward Master and his assistants. Services were held by them and by the clergy of the college, on Sunday evenings from time to time in the hotel at Barry- town and elsewhere in 1870 and 1871, until, in 1872, the use of the district school house was obtained, in which services were regularly held by the clergy of the college until October, 1874, ex- cept in the summer vacation, and also for a short period when they were deprived of the use of the

school house, and held their services in a house of Mr. Aspin wall.

The late John L. Aspinwall manifested always the deepest interest in this work. He attended the services with his family, and gave valuable aid by his counsels, extensive influence, and his gen- erous benefactions. His death on the 5th of May, 1873, was a serious loss to the Church and com- munity, and was widely lamented.

In 1874 Mrs. Aspinwall erected, as a memorial to her husband's memory and a source of spiritual benefit to the people of Barrytown, the beautiful church edifice now standing here.

The corner-stone of the Church of St. John the Evangelist was laid May 9, 1874, by the Rev. John A. Aspinwall, in the absence and by the direction of the Bishop of the Diocese.

The building was carried on to completion dur- ing the summer and fall and was consecrated on the 4th day of October, 1874, by the Right Rev. Horatio Potter, D. D., LL. D., Bishop of New York, assisted by the Rev. Drs. Fairbairn, Breck and Oliver, and the Rev. Messrs. Aspinwall, Ols- sen and Hopson.

Much of the furniture of the church was pre- sented by relatives and friends of him to whose memory the church was erected. The chancel window was the gift of William H. Aspinwall ; the font was presented by Mrs. Roosevelt ; the organ, by Mrs. Woolsey; the bell, by the Rev. John A. Aspinwall and Mrs. John Minturn; the commun- ion service, by Lloyd Aspinwall, Mrs. Renwick and Mrs. Ambrose Kingsland; the Bible and Prayer Book, by Mrs. William A. Aspinwall ; the alms basin, by Dr. and Mrs. John T. Metcalfe.

The property, after the consecration of the church, was placed in the hands of trustees selected by Mrs. Aspinwall. These were Rev. Rob- ert B. Fairbairn, D. D., Rev. Henry C. Potter, D. D., Mrs. John L. Aspinwall, Wm. H. Aspin- wall, Samuel Breck, Meredith Howland and Charles E. Sands. The trustees placed the chapel under the pastoral charge of the Warden of St. Stephen's College, Annandale.

The death of William H. Aspinwall, on the 18th of January, 1875, took from the church a valued trustee. He showed his interest in the work by leaving a bequest of $5,300 in Government bonds, the interest on which is to be devoted towards the expenses of the parish.

Mrs. William H. Aspinwall, on the 13th of Oc- tober, 1875, was elected a trustee, to fill the va- cancy occasioned by the death of her husband.

* 1860, 250. 1870, 248.

t Conducted by David H. Shafer, who died in 1881.

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

In 1875 the Rev. George B. Hopson was ap- pointed to take charge of the morning services in the church, and the parochial charge of the con- gregation.

In the winter of 1875-6 Mrs. Aspinwall erected a handsome building near the church, to be used for week-day services and other church purposes. The first service was held in this building March 4, 1876.

On Christmas day, 1879, a new chalice was pre- sented to the church by Mrs. Susan Morrison, as a memorial to her daughter, Miss Fanny Morrison.

Mr. Samuel Breck died September 10, 1880, and in the following year Mr. Lloyd Breck was elected trustee and treasurer in his place.

In 1881, Mrs. John L. Aspinwall added $2,000 to the former endowment.

ANNANDALE.

Cedar Hill and Annandale lie in the western part of the town, near the Hudson River. The two places closely adjoin, the postoffice being at Annandale. The combined population is 221.

Here, in 1797, General Armstrong had a mill, having, about 1793, become the owner of the Bard farm, on which he built himself a mansion. A large flouring mill here is now run by White & Buckhout.

The old woolen factory which occupied the site of the present building on the Saw kill, was burned in 1866. In this factory, for many years, a large business had been done. When burned it was conducted by Hanson, Horsefield & Co., who were adding new machinery, and was owned by Mrs. Cora L. Barton.

The present building was erected by Mrs. Bar- ton shortly after, and for a year or two was run as a woolen factory. It is now used as a mill for the manufacture of mineral paint.

Cedar Hill has two hotels. The Union Hotel was built by James Conway some twenty years ago, in which he did business until succeeded by John Plass, the present proprietor.

The hotel kept now by Edward Harris was built by John Robinson over twenty years ago. C. P. Robinson was its first landlord. The store, which is in the same building, was also established by John Robinson and has been conducted by Ed- ward Harris seven years, succeeding Edgar Vin- cent, who, three years previously, had succeeded C. P. Robinson.

The only other merchant here is Charles H. Simmons, who began business here in December, 1880.

At Annandale* are situated the church and build- ings of St. Stephen's College, in one of the most beautiful sections of Duchess County. The ap- proach to the College from Cedar Hill is over a narrow road usual to this part of the country, shaded on either side by extensive tracts of massive trees. The warden's house, an elegant stone structure, and the college buildings stand on a rise of ground to the east of this road, while on the west is the noble church and the building of the Parish School-the nucleus of the present College.

The college buildings, thickly covered with ivy, the architecture of the church and warden's lodge, and the grand stretch of sloping, shaded lawn, constitute a picture which forcibly reminds one of the scenery characteristic of England.

St. Stephen's College grew out of the Church of the Holy Innocents and its Parish School. In 1853 Mr. John Bard came to live at Annandale, and almost immediately established a Sunday School, and, shortly after, instituted a religious service ac- cording to the order of the Protestant Episcopal Church. The first service was held by Rt. Rev. A. G. Spencer, the Lord Bishop of Jamaica, who was on a visit to Mr. Bard. From this time the ser- vices were regularly conducted by the Rev. James Starr Clark until 1854, when he was succeeded by the Rev. G. F. Seymour, now the Rt. Rev. G. F. Seymour, D. D. LL. D., Bishop of Springfield in Illinois. Under him the parish school house was built for a school for religious as well as. intellec- tual education. It continued in operation for twenty years. It was also under Mr. Seymour that the Church of the Holy Innocents was built, and which was burned on the day of its completion. It was built at the sole expense of Mr. and Mrs. John Bard, at a cost of $34,000. The church was rebuilt and consecrated February 2, 1860. The Episcopalians were at the time considering the propriety of establishing a training college for the ministry. At the suggestion of the Rt. Rev. Ho- ratio Potter, D. D., LL. D., of Oxford Univer- sity, and a native of the town of LaGrange, in Duchess County, Annandale was adopted as the seat of the new college.

Immediately twenty acres were given by Mr. Bard for the purpose, and the erection of the south wing of the college was begun. In 1868 an addi- tional building of dormitories was erected. In

* The postoffice was established here, through the influence of John Bard, in April, 1865. Robert B. Fairbairn was appointed P. M. in 1874 but was virtually postmaster from the establishment of the office.

199

TOWN OF RED HOOK.

1870 the Ludlow and Willink Hall was completed at a cost of $54,000 as a memorial of Elizabeth Ludlow and Cornelia Ann Willink. The most of the wood-work is made from oak brought from a grove in Duchess County, belonging to these two ladies. A spacious dining hall was erected in 1873 from funds left by Miss Preston, a domestic in the family of John L. Aspinwall. In 1875 a building was erected to receive a telescope pre- sented by John Campbell, of New York, one of the trustees of the college. The value of the property of the college in land and buildings was, in 1880, about $150,000.

Annandale was originally only the name of the estate of John Bard. It has now come to desig- nate the site of the college and the immediate neigh- borhood.

In 1880 nearly one hundred Episcopal clergy- men had been educated at this college.

Besides John Bard the other benefactors of the college, who lived in Duchess County, were John L. Aspinwall, of Barrytown, who was for a long time treasurer. He was succeeded by Col. Stephen Van Rensselaer Cruger. John C. Cruger, Edwin Bartlett and Mrs. Cora L. Barton, daughter of the distinguished statesman, Edward Livingston, were attendants at the service of the chapel.

The first Warden was the Rev. George F. Sey- mour. He was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Richey, D. D., in 1861. The third and present Warden is the Rev. Robert B. Fairbairn, D. D., LL. D., who entered on the duties of the office in 1863. Robert B. Fairbairn was born in the city of New York May 27, 1818. He is the son of William Fairbairn, of Jedburgh, Scotland, and Mary Mott Fairbairn, daughter of Captain Henry Mott, born in Poughkeepsie, December 25, 1776. He was educated at the Mechanics' School, New York, and at Trinity College, Hartford, where he graduated in 1840. He studied theology at the General Theological Seminary in New York, was ordained a clergyman of the Episcopal Church in 1843, and immediately became the Rector of Christ Church, Troy, N. Y. He subsequently held pas- toral charges on the Hudson, in Saratoga and Greene counties. He became the Professor of Mathe- matics and Natural Philosophy, in St. Stephen's Colleges in 1862, and became Warden in 1863, and also the Professor of Mental and Moral Phil- osophy and of Logic. He was made a D. D. at Trinity College in 1864, and at St. Stephen's in 1874, and LL. D. by Delaware College in 1876. He was married to Juliet Arnold, of Troy, N. Y.,

in 1849. He has two daughters, Mary Elizabeth and Alice, and one son, Henry Arnold, who gradu- ated A. B. at St. Stephen's College in 1875, and M. D. at the University of Virginia in 1877, and also at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, in 1878.

RED HOOK IN THE REBELLION.

For this record of Red Hook in the Rebellion we are indebted to the labors of General J. Watts de Peyster, who, at his own expense-an expense which each town was by law required to assume, and by so many shamefully neglected-had care- fully prepared an account of the town's personnel in that struggle ; and from whose address, delivered November 28, 1866, at the inauguration of a monument to Red Hook's defenders, we gather what may justly be considered a comprehensive re- view of the town's patriotic contribution to the suppression of the "Slave-holder's Rebellion."

When it is considered how general has been the apathy of the towns throughout the State in col- lating and preserving the names and deeds of those who fought and died in their defense-an apathy wholly inexcusable-a generous meed of praise should be awarded the citizen who patriot- ically declines to permit those names to pass into oblivion ; and who, at his own expense, prepares a record so comprehensive in its scope as the one from which we quote.

In the course of that four years' struggle, Red Hook sent forth as volunteers, by re-enlistment or substitutes, over 500 men. These were distributed in over 47 regiments, as so far discovered, besides four or more vessels of war.

Even with the first sound of alarm a number of the youth of Red Hook hastened to enroll them- selves, or hurried forward to the scene of the con- flict.

On April 21, 1861, the 12th N. Y. S. M. left New York city. On the 23d the 8th N. Y. S. M., (Washington Grays,) was on its way to Washing- ton. In the former was Warren W. Chamberlain, of Lower Red Hook, Lieutenant in the line. In the latter, Frederic de Peyster, Jr., of Tivoli, aged 18, Junior Assistant Surgeon.

Almost simultaneously with this enlistment on the 23d-28th of April, the Ulster Guard, 20th N. Y. S. M., was likewise in march for the theatre of hostilities. Eight young men from the village of Madalin volunteered in it, and eight more from the town in this and other regiments. These true patriots, who deserve to be remembered by their

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

fellow townsmen, were Andrew Decker, Charles Decker, Charles Houghtailing, Montgomery Mar- shall, Adam Moore, Charles Statley, William H. Stocking .* The second eight were, John Clark, Edward Curtis, LeGrand Curtis, Patrick Hayes, William Holdridge, George Kelly, Stephen Sher- wood, John Vradenburgh.

Previous to the month of August, 1862, volun- teering in the town of Red Hook was only the result of individual. patriotic impulse. This ren- ders the enlistments in the spring of 1861 the more remarkable, inasmuch as they were the result of mere energetic thought and action, and conse- quently, are the more worthy of attention and record.

On the 25th of October, when the 20th N. Y. S. Militia returned to the field as the 80th New York Volunteer Infantry, there were twenty-five young men from Tivoli, Madalin, and their vicinity in Company B, besides others in Company A, and dispersed throughout the organization. This consti- tutes one of Red Hook's three representative regi- ments. As representatives of this town in the above regiment, the following have been reported : Andrew Decker, before mentioned, enlisted three consecutive times and served faithfully until killed under Sheridan at Cedar Creek, in the Shenandoah Valley, October 19, 1864 ; Charles Decker; Mont- gomery Marshall ; Adam Moore; Edward Snyder, afterwards deserted ; Charles Statley, enlisted three consecutive times, and came home Orderly Ser- geant ; William H. Stocking, served faithfully three enlistments, at Gettysburg was shot through the leg above the ankle, and wounded so severely that he was offered his discharge, but refused it.

In the fall of 1861, the Ulster County Guard again took the field as a regular United States Volunteer Regiment, and was known as the Eightieth New York Volunteers. There were twenty-five men from the Upper District of Red Hook in Company B. Their names were as fol- lows :-

Wansbrough Bloxham, shot through the arm while carrying the colors at Gettysburg ; John Decker, shot by accident at Upton Hill, opposite Washington, died March 21, 1862, brought home and buried at the Old Red Church, northeast of Madalin ; Oswald Decker, wounded with a buck- shot in the breast at Manassas ; Morgan Denegar ; Charles Garrison ; Theodore Garrison, shot through fleshy part of the thigh at Manassas ; Christian Gruntler, Sr., died after his return home from

the effects of severe service ; Christian Gruntler, Jr., died of wounds received at Manassas ; John Hatton ; William H. Hoffman; George W. Kelly, killed at Manassas ; Alfred Lasher, killed at Man- assas ; Peter W. Lasher; Robert McCarrick ; Charles Macriff, wounded twice, slightly in the arm under Burnside at Fredericksburg Ist, and above the forehead at Gettysburg, was finally appointed Sergeant ; James (or Jacob) Minkler ; Adam Moore, twice severely wounded; Frederic Over- mier, (Sergeant,) twice wounded, slightly in the breast at Manassas, August 30, 1862, and in the foot at Gettysburg ; David A. Paulmatier ; Lewis Redder, killed at Manassas, August 30, 1862 ; Hiram Risedorf, died of typhus fever at Upton Hill, opposite Washington, and was buried at Falls Church, Va. ; Frederic Simmons ; John H. Swartz ; Rufus Warringer, killed at Antietam, September 17, 1862 ; David Wool, (colored). In Company A, which was entirely composed of Duchess county men, there were several, perhaps quite a number, from the Lower District of Red Hook. Their names have never been furnished, nor have we any means of ascertaining them. From the Upper District there were two brothers : Marcellus Stocking and William H. Stocking.

The other enlistments in 1861 were as fol- lows :-

20th N. Y. S. M .- Leonard B. Curtis, Con- rad Cookingham, Silas A. Garrison, John W. Moses, Marcellus Stocking, Frederic Simmons, Daniel L. Scott.

32d N. Y. Infantry, Co. D .- Richard E. Bar- ringer, (Sergt.,) Virgil Coon, George Cole, John Carrigan (dead), Absolom Dederick, John Gib- son, William Husted, Richard Haircout (died in service), Patrick Higgins, Carlis Hoffman, George L. Holmes (died at David Island, N. Y., Oct 8, 1862), Augustus Kipp, George Lown, John P. Lown, Ludlow Lewis, Amos Ludlow, Reuben Miller, William Near, Adam Plass, Edward Swart (wounded at battle of Antietam Sept. 17, 1862, discharged Dec. 19, 1862), Philip E. Strobel, John Vradenbergh, Ephraim Wagner (wounded in leg), John W. Waldorf, James Winford .*

7th N. Y. Infantry, Co. A .- John Elenberger, Henry Feller (wounded and discharged by reason of disability), Edward R. Holt (promoted to Cor- poral Sept. 1, 1861, to Sergeant Dec. 1, 1861, to Orderly Sergt. June 1, 1863, wounded at Gettys- burg July 2, 1863, discharged at end of term,

* One deserted.

* All not otherwise mentioned were honorably discharged at expiration of term of service.

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TOWN OF RED HOOK.

Oct. 2, 1864), James Harris, George Lovejoy, George Paulmier, Walter Proper, John Smith, Edward Van Kerwan.

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History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 39

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