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 42
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LOSS E NG CO
("ROSE HILL "- RESIDENCE OF JOHN WATTS DE PEYSTER.)
ROSE HILL, the country-seat of Gen. John Watts de Peyster, is one of the loveliest spots con- ceivable. It is especially so through the care taken to preserve the primeval trees, of which there were nearly fifty varieties upon the grounds. The latter are suffered to remain, as far as possible, in their natural and romantic wildness. There are ravines spanned by simple bridges, precipices, a small arti- ficial lakelet, hills, dales, dells, and curious roads climbing rough elevations ; all under the shade of a forest in which evergreens predominate, so that the demesne, overhead, appears almost as green
posite trees-wild pear and silver pine-which spring up and mingle their varied green to consti- tute a massive span such as is rarely seen without the assistance of careful cultivation.
The domain takes its name from the country- place of the owner's great-grandfather, Hon. John Watts, Senior, in the city of New York, on a por- tion of which property the General's city residence is erected. This original estate gave its name to a large district of N. E. New York a half century since, and embraced the grounds now occupied by Bellevue Hospital. The original title was derived from an estate in Scotland, just outside, but now within the limits of Edinburgh, wherein the old mansion, " Rose Hill," is still standing, massive and almost intact, although the grounds have been perverted to utilitarian purposes. About two hundred years ago its owner was known from this property as "John Watt, of Rose Hill," in con- nection with the marriage of his daughter, Margaret to Sir Walter Riddell, Bart., whose family charter dates back to between 1124 and 1153, and to David, King of Scotland. A number of poems by Burns were addressed to members of this family.
So dear was their original home, " Rose Hill," to all the " Watt " or "Watts " family, that, wher- ever they locate, they testify their affectionate re-
* Compare : I. " The American Conflict : a History of the Great Re- bellion "'in the U. S. A., by Horace Greeley, II, 1867, pp. 737-8. 2. " Harpers' Pictorial History of the Great Rebellion," 1868, part I1., pp. 765-6. 3. " Pictorial History of the Civil War in the U. S ," by Benson J. Lossing, vol. III., 1868, pp. 547-50. 4. " History of the American Civil War," by John William Draper, M. D., LL. D., N. Y., 1870, pp. 577-8. 5. Atlantic Monthly: "Incidents of the Capture of Richmond," by Maj .- Gen. George F. Shepley, July, 1880, pp. 18-28. 6. "The His- tory of the First Regiment of [U. S.] Artillery," Fort Preble, Portland, Maine, 1879, pp. 218, 463. etc. 7. "Boys in Blue." 8. "The Volun- teer." 9. " The Soldier's Friend."
211
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
gard by naming their country-places after the ances- tral house near " Auld Reekie."
Few private residences, on any river, stream or estuary, have been or could be placed in such a position as the Rose Hill Mansion on the Hudson, exactly 100 miles above New York. It stands on a bluff between seventy and eighty feet above tide- water, and about the same dis- tance from the original edge of the steep bank. It commands a view up and down the Hud- son of about twenty miles of water, although the eye can detect the course of the stream much farther than this, as the eminences, on either side, which mark its course, are plainly visi- ble from the piazza for nearly twenty-five miles to the south- ward. From the same spot a sea of mountains are in sight ; the highest summits of the Catskills ; " Hunter Mountain or the Liberty Cap," or " Round Top," 4,050 feet, and "High Peak or the Man of the Moun- tain," are almost directly oppo- site, while to the south-west stretches away the Shawangunk range. On the night of a National festival, for instance the 4th of July, the symbols of rejoicing, such as bonfires, illuminations and rockets, are plainly visible throughout a
vast area.
Rose Hill House itself has grown like one of the old Eng- lish family houses, with the increase of the family, until in strange but picturesque out- line-the prevailng style being the Italian-somewhat in the shape of a cross, it is now 114 feet long by 87 feet deep. The tower in the rear, devoted to library purposes, rises to the height of about sixty feet. This library, first and last, has con- tained between twenty and thirty thousand volumes. Such indefinite language is used, because the owner has donated over half this number to the New York Historical Society, the New York Society Library, and a number of other similar institutions in dif- ferent parts of the United States. As a working library, replete with dictionaries and encyclopædias, in many tongues and on almost every subject, it is a marvel. It is likewise very valuable for its col- lections on military and several other special topics. From it was selected and given to the New York Historical Society, one of the finest possible collec- tions on the History of Holland, from the earliest period down to the present time. In spite of all
these donations it is still a curiosity shop, not only for a bibliophile, but for a curio-seeker.
The figures vary from the vast basalt image of Centeotl, the Aztec Goddess of Plenty, from the " House of the Gods," at Toluca-brought thence by Major-General (then Major, U. S. A.) J. W. Phelps-down to exquisite miniature modern
("ROSE HILL"-TOWER AND LIBRARY.)
bronzes ; the swords from the most valuable Damascus blades down to the rude Javanese wood- knife, and Kabyle yataghan brought home from Algiers by the General himself ; the firearms, from the first breech-loading rifle ever used by troops in line of battle-invented in 1775, and a present from the inventor, Col. Patrick Ferguson, (who fell in command at King's Mountain, October 7, 1780) to the General's grandfather, a young and trusted captain under him-down to the most approved breech-loaders of the present time ; the pistols, from diminutives of exquisite workmanship (one pair richly inlaid) presented by Governor, the Earl
212
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
of Bellomont, to Colonel de Peyster, over 180 years ago, down through a series representing vari- ous changes of locks and mountings, to the "level- ing " last improvements in revolvers ; the flags, from Union colors which bear the marks of years of battle, down to Rebel standards brought out of captured Richmond by the General's youngest son, who hoisted the first REAL American FLAG over the captured Rebel capitol and capital; the curios, from the seal, cup and fork of the first de Peyster, through seven generations and changes of form and engraving, to curiosities of similar kinds
early youth, was one of the first British officers to visit and record in verse the beauties of Lake George, embodied in his rare and valuable " Miscellanies."
1 Among the portraits referred to, embracing likenesses of a number of distinguished soldiers, is one of the General's uncles, George Watts, who, as First Lieutenant, First U. S. Light Dragoons and Aide-de-Camp to General Winfield Scott, by his coolness and courage saved the life of his su- perior officer from the tomahawk and scalping- knife of Indians in British pay-as Scott has often
White
(THE OLD CHATEAU OF TIVOLI-RESIDENCE OF COL. JOHNSTON L. DE PEYSTER.)
of recent date. A long series of family portraits cover the walls, beginning with a reproduction rep- resenting " The Six Worthy de Heers," who drew up the earliest charter of the city of New York-of whom one was Johannis de Peyster, first of the name and race in the country-through many a distinguished civilian and soldier down to the like- nesses of the General's three gallant sons, who, between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two, won the brevet of Colonel during the bloody war to suppress the " Slave-holders' Rebellion." The log-books of Arent Schuyler de Peyster, an adven- turous navigator, the discoverer of the de Peyster and other groups of islands in the Pacific, giving the details of his voyages-lie beside records of the even stranger life of his uncle, Colonel Arent Schuyler de Peyster, of the 8th, or the King's Regiment of (British) Foot, who, in
related to friends-when the General had been in- vited out to breakfast for the very purpose of be- traying him to the savages. This was just previous to the battle of Chippewa. General Scott said that on this occasion he made quicker running than at any other time during his life, after setting down untasted the cup of coffee he was just raising to his lips, and abandoning his cocked hat as a trophy to the enemy.
About half a mile south of Rose Hill is " the Chateau of Tivoli," the dwelling of his son, Colonel Johnston Livingston de Peyster, from which the landing, postoffice, station and incorporated village take their name. It was built shortly after the Revolution.
This old home, remodeled so that merely the original octagon centre remains, is now in the pos- session of Col. Johnston Livingston de Peyster.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
213
CALLENDAR HOUSE.
The country seat of Johnston Livingston, at Tivoli, Red Hook, called "Callendar House," was originally in the town of Rhinebeck, and is situated upon what was in colonial times known as the Hoffman Patent. The house was built by Henry Gilbert Livingston, and the frame, as originally erected, is still standing ; the exterior as well as the interior has been changed and adapted to the times, but the proportions, elevation of rooms, etc., are as first constructed.
In June, 1844, Mr. Auchmuty sold to William E. Toler, who, about ten years afterwards, sold to Jacob R. LeRoy, who presented it to his daughter, the wife of the Rev. Henry de Koven, and they disposed of it to the present proprietor in the autumn of 1860. Mr. LeRoy re-arranged the in- terior of the house, and expended a large amount in the erection of spacious out-buildings, and otherwise greatly improved the place.
At the point may still be seen the remains of the old dock, whereon was the first freight- ing establishment, of which Reade & Bogardus
Moss ENG. Co.N.Y
@ white
(CALLENDAR HOUSE-RESIDENCE OF JOHNSTON LIVINGSTON, ESQ., TIVOLI, DUCHESS CO., N. Y.)
In October, 1795, H. G. Livingston sold the house and forty acres to Philip Henry Livingston, who had about that time married Maria, eldest daughter of Walter Livingston. Philip H. was a grandson of Philip Livingston, the signer of the Declaration of Independence. Mr. Livingston and wife called this seat "Sunning Hill," and lived here many years ; and after all their children had grown up, sold it to Mr. Robert Tillotson, May, 1828. Mr. Tillotson purchased various lots and parcels of land adjoning, extending to the bay on the south as well as to the west; he also changed the exterior of the house, adding a lofty colonade to the west, fronting the river, with wings to the north and south. Mr. Tillotson sold to Mr. Richard T. Auchmuty in the autumn of 1835.
were the proprietors. From here ran the first ferry to the west side of the river, and known as Hoffman's Ferry. On the bank to the east of the wharves was the old Hoffman Mansion built of stone, and here for a time Peter Dela- begarre lived while the Chateau of Tivoli was being built ; he at this time owning much of what is now the south lawn at "Callendar House." It was Delabegarre who, after purchasing what has been known as the Elmendorf property since 1810, laid out the village of Tivoli, and had prepared an engraved map, entitled "Plan of Tivoli, 1795, laid out in town lots-Memin Sculptor."
Upon the shore of the bay bounding this estate on the south may be seen the remains of the dock where Chancellor Livingston repaired one of his
214
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
first steamboats. At this time it is accessible only for skiffs and ducking boats.
The old stone house-the home of the Hoffman family-was in ruins previous to 1824, and all traces removed by Mr. Tillotson during his occu- pancy of the place.
The store houses and wharf had previous to this time (1824) gone to ruin-the rival freighting establishments known as the Upper and Lower Docks, being more accessible, had drawn away all the business.
CHAPTER XIX.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MILAN.
T THE town of Milan lies on the northern bor- der of Duchess County, west of the center. It is bounded northerly by Gallatin (Columbia County), on the east by Pine Plains, on the south by Clinton and Stanford, and on the west by Red Hook and Rhinebeck. The town contains a popu- lation of 1,275,* and an area of 22,805 acres. Mi- lan was formed from North East, March Io,f 1818, and comprises the western portion of that tract of land originally owned by the Little or Upper Nine Partners. Why it bears the name of an ancient Italian city is not known.
Johannes Rowe, in the year 1760, located in this town, north of what is now known as LaFay- etteville, on nine hundred and eleven acres of land which he purchased of Chancellor Robert R. Liv- ingston. Much of this land is still in the posses- sion of the Rowe family. For this land he paid £750, on which, in 1766, he built the stone house now standing on land owned by Benjamin Shelly. Johannes Rowe died in 1771, and was buried in the family ground across the road from the church which bears the family name. He had four sons, John, Sebastian, Philip, Mark-here given in the order of their birth, who settled around on the land of their father's purchase, and to each of whom he gave a farm. The only descendant of those sons now living in Milan is the widow of Leonard Rowe, grand-daughter of Philip Rowe.
Among other early settlers were Maltiah and Macey Bowman, who also located at La Fayetteville, John White, Jeptha Wilbur, Timothy Briggs and John Pells.
John Hicks, Robert Martin and Joseph Mott settled near the east part and John Link, Garrett Holsopple, John Rhybenburgh, Jacob Killman, John Fulton, John Stalls, John Feller, John Hope-
man, Zachariah Phillips, Alexander Teats and Andrew Frazier, mostly Germans, near the north part of the town. Alexander Teats and Andrew Frazier lived to the old age of one hundred years.
Perhaps the oldest mill in the town is the one some two miles west of La Fayette built by Robert Thorne.
The farming interests of Milan are much em- barrassed, arising from the fact that a large portion of the land is occupied by lease holders. The history of these lands may be briefly told as fol- lows : Some time before the Revolutionary war, George Clarke, who was commissioned Lieuten- ant-Governor, July 30, 1736, purchased several tracts of land in this vicinity. At the time of the Revolution he remained loyal to the King and sailed to England. Not wishing to lose this vast landed property, he sent his son to America to take charge of it and at the same time to profess deep sympathy with the Whig element. Upon the suc- cessful termination of the struggle, the son retained full possession of the estate. At his death this property was willed in such a manner that it has been impossible to give a clear title with the trans- fer of any of it. Hence it has not been occupied except by tenant farmers, whose tendency has been to impoverish rather than to build up the town.
The first town meeting for Milan was held at the house of Stephen Thorne on the first Tuesday in April, 1818. The proceedings of this meeting,. other than the election of officers, relate to the raising of money for the support of the poor, and for building and repairing bridges. The officers elected were as follows : Supervisor, Stephen Thorne ; Town Clerk, John F. Bartlett ; Assessors, Jonas Wildey, John Fulton, Jr., John Stall ; Com- missioners of Highways, Evert N. Van Trogner, Daniel Morehouse, James Turner ; Commissioners of Schools, Henry Peck, John Thorne, Jr., Jeptha Wilbur ; Overseers of Poor, Jacob Shook, James I. Stewart ; Inspectors Common Schools, Joshua Collens, John Darling, James Adams, John R. Heermance, Peter Snyder ; Constable and Collec- tor, Philip Rider ; Constable, Henry Witherwax ; Fence Viewers, Tobias Green, in the southern neighborhood, Obediah Quimby, in the north-east, and Jacob Bachman, in the north-west.
In that year the number of children taught in the districts, (Nos. 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9,) was 246.
The following has been the succession of Super- visors and Town Clerks from the succeeding year to 1881 :-
* In 1870, 1.474. In 1875, 1,414.
t French's Gazetteer says March 16.
215
TOWN OF MILAN.
SUPERVISORS.
1819.
Stephen Thorne, do do
1 820.
182 I.
1822.
1823.
1824.
1825.
1826.
Stephen Thorne, do do
Peter B. Guernsey.
1828.
Henry Fulton, do do
1829.
Stephen Thorne,
Hiram Simmons.
1830
Ephraim Fulton,
Wm. H. Wakeman.
1831.
Stephen Thorne,
Wm. I. Stewart.
1832.
Eph'm Herrick, Jr., do do
1833-'34. do do
Ambrose L. Pinney. Cyrus Blood.
1835.
Leonard Rowe, do do
John H. Carroll.
1837.
John Thorne,
Herrick Thorne.
1838. do do Henry P. Teats. do do
1839.
John P. Teats,
1840.
do do
H. Knickerbacker. do do
1842. 1843.
Stephen Thorne, do do
1844.
do
do Rowland Story.
1845.
1846. do
Clinton W. Conger, do Henry Teats. Otis E. Bowman, do do Archibald Shook.
1848.
Leonard Rowe, John Ferris, do do
1849.
1850-'51. Rensselaer Case,
1852-'53. Benj. S. Thorne,
1854-'55. William Ferris,
1856.
1857.
1858.
Alexander Best, do do
Gilbert T. Cornelius. do do Jacob Knickerbacker. Edward Killmer. John S. Bowman. Gilbert Cornelius. Henry Underwood. Henry Killmer. do do
1859. 1860. 1861-'62. Herrick Thorne,
1863.
Peter Rissebbraek, Lewis M. Smith,
1864.
1865. John W. Stickle, Alexander Best,
I866.
1867. Herrick Thorne, 1868. Henry A. Feller, H. B. Sherwood,*
1869.
1870. do do
1871.
Horatio Rowe,
1872.
Albert Bowman,
1873.
Nicholas Phillips,
T. Knickerbocker. Gerard P. Haviland. Cyrus Couse. do do Gilbert T. Cornelius. do do
1877.
1878.
Hiram Bentley.
1879.
Horatio Rowe, do do Pedro Sweet.
1880.
188I.
John W. Stickle,
Cyrus Couse.
JACKSON'S CORNERS.
The town of Milan has no large or important
* M. R. Green (Dem.) and Albert Feltz (Rep.) tie vote. Harmon B. Sherwood was elected by the Justices as Supervisor March 9. Albert Feltz was chosen as Clerk for 1869.
villages. Jackson's Corners, in the northeastern part, is a hamlet of uncertain population. John & William Cole are the only merchants here, and have been engaged in that business here some seven years. The postoffice is also kept by them. The only other business of importance here is a distillery, conducted by John Yeomans-who has run it three years, succeeding Ezra Couse ; a blacksmith shop (Philip Edleman), and a grist- mill, known as the " Scriver Mill," Alonzo Scriver, proprietor, who has been in that business here over thirty years.
ROCK CITY.
Rock City which derives its name from the rocky nature of the surrounding soil, lies in the western part of the town. It contains a popula- tion of fifty-six, according to the census of 1880.
Henry D. Ostrom is the postmaster here, ap- pointed fourteen years ago. He is also the only merchant, succeeding Chancellor Wildey, who had previously conducted the business some four years.
A hotel is kept here by Ralph A. V. Hoffman, who has been in that business here nearly fourteen years.
This place has also a saw and grist-mill-the property of John G. Schultz-the former run by David Tipple, the latter by William A. Coons, and a saw-mill conducted by Nicholas Eighmy.
A shoe-shop (Eli Feroe), and a blacksmith shop (Andrew J. Caroll), concludes the list of the busi- ness places of the hamlet.
MILANVILLE.
Milanville, another hamlet, lies in the southern part, southwest of the center of the town. This place contains a saw-mill, blacksmith shop ( William Dedrick), a store and the postoffice.
The postmaster is William R. Ostrom, appointed under Johnson's administration in 1868. The only merchant here is Rensselaer Case, who has been in that business since 1867, succeeding John Crandall, who had previously conducted the busi- ness ten or twelve years. About the first mer- chant at this point was Stephen Thorne.
The only physician here is Dr. Herrick, who has been in practice in this vicinity some sixteen years.
LAFAYETTE, or LAFAYETTEVILLE.
LaFayette, or LaFayetteville, in the southeastern part of the town, contains a population of seventy-
1874. E. L. Morehouse,
1875.
1876.
W. E. Shoemaker, James Herrick, Uriah Teator, do do
Gilbert Cornelius. Edmund J. Wright. Cyrus Couse.
Edmund J. Wright. do do
do do
Albert Feltz. Cyrus Couse.
Gerard P. Haviland.
do do
1847.
1841. George White, do
do Rensselaer Case.
1836.
do do
1827.
Jacob Shook, do. do do do Richard Thorne, do do Leonard Rowe.
TOWN CLERKS. John F. Bartlett. Benjamin Thorne. John N. Darling. Richard Thorne. do do Phineas Carman.
Gilbert T. Cornelius.
John Teats, Jr., do do
Rensselaer Case,
216
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
nine, according to the last census, and is the most important of the hamlets in the township.
This, in its earlier days,* was quite a business place, but the introduction of railroads around and beyond it has robbed it of its prestige.
Among the early merchants here, probably the first, were Otis Bowman and Benjamin Hicks, who, some fifty years ago were general merchants in this probably most ancient section of the town. They, at least, were about the first who did any considerable business in that line, although pre- viously a merchant, of the name of George N. Martin, conducted business here. The latter did a small business here for a few years and left, and when last heard of was in Elkhart, Ind. Bowman and Hicks failed in a short time. The former died about twenty-five years ago. He was a practicing lawyer for some years previous to his death. Hicks died in Poughkeepsie about two years ago.
The present merchants here are Jordan Corne- lius and Pedro Sweet, the former having been en- gaged in that business here five years, succeeding P. R. Carroll, who had conducted the business some eight years. In this store is the postoffice, Benjamin C. Yeomans postmaster, and Jordan Cornelius, assistant.
Pedro Sweet began business here in the spring of 1881.
How this place came by the name of LaFay- ette, or LaFayetteville,t is not clearly known. Smith's History of Duchess County # informs us that the "LaFayette House," the only hotel here " was built about the time of the visit of the Mar- quis de LaFayette to this country, for whom it was named." If that were true, then the hamlet de- rived its name from the hotel, and, indirectly, from the Marquis de LaFayette. But the visit to this country of this celebrated Frenchman, and America's friend, occurred in 1824; and, according to the statement of people living in this vicinity, and who, it may be presumed, are conversant with the facts, this hotel was built by William Waltermier in 1837, thirteen years after LaFayette's visit. That it might have been named for so distinguished a man as LaFayette, even though thirteen years had passed since his visit, is quite probable ; but, as at the time of his visit a cluster of houses had sprung up here, in whose vicinity some considerable busi- ness was done, it would seem more probable that
the hamlet derived its name from that illustrious patriot, and that in the course of time, the hotel took its name from the hamlet.
LaFayette being a somewhat important place of business in the earlier days, before the birth of railroads in this section-as it was on the main - road from Ancram and other business places, to the Hudson River,-William Waltermier conceived the idea of building this hotel for the accommodation of the traveling public and as a resort for people who, during the summer months, wished to escape from the heated air of over-crowded places to the cooler atmosphere of a healthy country region. The hotel is a long, ranibling, two story structure, with an upper and lower stoop running across the entire length of the frontage. Here for some ten years Waltermier conducted a quite extensive busi- ness in the entertainment of travelers and summer boarders. He was succeeded, it is said, by Jacob Knickerbacker, who kept the hotel about two years .* Elansing T. Mosher was the next propri- etor, remaining eight years ; then Alonzo Buell, one year ; Nelson Mott, two years. Nelson Mott traded it to Ambrose L. Smith, but it is not known just how long he conducted it. John Friday came next and kept it a year or so ; then Henry I. Keifer, two years ; Alonzo Buell, one year ; then Henry I. Keifer again a year or so ; then Henry K. Thomp- son, who remained but a short time. The place was then closed a year or two, and Henry I. Keifer bought the property and run the hotel nearly two years, when he died. His son, William Keifer, conducted the business until the spring of 1881, when he sold the property to Clement and Pedro Sweet, the former being the present pro- prietor.
The other business interests of LaFayette are a blacksmith shop (John Davis), a wagon shop (Cyrus Couse), and a shoe shop (Gilbert T. Cor- nelius, who has been in that business here thirty- five years. )
It is said that the Methodists had organized a society in Milan as early as 1790, and that their church edifice was located not far from the present M. E. Church, near Milanville. It was a large, square building, two stories high and was never painted.
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