History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 45

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 45

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Charles Hoag's wife died August 30, 1852. Of their children-Annie, John, James, Henry, Phebe, Ezra, Benjamin, Deborah and Mary, born in the order named-only three are living : Benjamin, in Elgin, Ill., Mary in New York, and Ezra in Stan- ford, this county.

The Union Bethel Church, from which the hamlet derives its name, is the third and last church erected here. The present church stands about one hundred feet north-as the road runs- of the site of the old Round Top Church. This was brought about by an exchange of property

between Andrew and John P. Rowe, as heirs of Michael Raugh, deceased, and Samuel Deuel, the property exchanged being a portion of the lot of land conveyed by Peter Van Brugh Livingston to John Tise Smith and Michael Raugh, in 1769, which was on December 5, 1829, given for a strip of land belonging to Samuel Deuel, on the west side of the latter's land. This exchange took about two rods from the north side of that part of the old church lot lying east of the road. Mr. Deuel gave a like amount adjoining the same lot on the east, which increased its width and made pleasant surroundings to the Bethel Church. Michael Raugh was one of the grantees in the deed from Livingston for the old church in 1769, and his heirs insisted that the site of the old church, when it should be taken down, should be used for burial purposes. To this there was some opposition, and it was not until the peaceful solution of the difficulty that the old church was taken down. This, as has been mentioned was in 1827, and two years after- ward this exchange of property was made. Hith- erto the burial ground used as such was on the west side of the road. After the exchange the en- closed lot on the east side was devoted to burial purposes, and, in consequence of the just and proper tenacity of the heirs of Michael Raugh in this matter, it was called the " Rowe * burying ground." The majority of the head-stones there bear that name, but others are not excluded from using the ground for burial purposes if they so desire.

The first definite movement toward the erection of the church was made in the spring of 1838, when three subscription papers were put in circula- tion to raise funds for the purpose. The heading to each of these papers set forth the object of the enterprise, and was as follows : "Subscription for erecting a church near the burying ground south of the Friends' meeting house, to be called Pine Plains Union Church, free for every Christian de- nomination. Seats free. To be commenced the ensuing winter and completed during the year 1839. We, the subscribers, promise to pay Edward Hunt- ling, John P. Rowe, George Smith or Abraham Dibble, the several sums annexed to our names for the uses and purposes above mentioned." This bore date April 25, 1838. The lists contained six- ty-four names, among whom were those of Samuel Deuel, Michael M. Raugh, Hendrick Hoffman, Edward Huntling, Benjamin S. Wilber, Abraham Dibble, William Woodin, Ezra B. Hoag, Benjamin

* Pine Plains, it will be remembered, was a part of North East until 18z3.

t Where John Case now lives, 1881.

* This family name was originally spelled Raugh.

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

F. Hoag, Stephen G. Guernsey and Nathaniel Rey- nolds. The amount subscribed was $1,064, and for this sum Carman Cornelius took the contract for building the church, which he completed in the winter of 1839-'40. The edifice is 26 by 36 feet, with a square tower. The house was dedicated in the spring or early summer of 1840. Rev. Jacob Berger preached the sermon, taking for his text the paragraph in Genesis, 28th chap. from the 16th to 19th verses. In his application to the occasion he chose the first half of the 19th verse-" And he called the name of that place Bethel." Through that text the church received the name of " Union Bethel," and the name was applied to the hamlet, by which it has since been known. For the next decade or two after the building of the church the pulpit was supplied by the different denominations at Pine Plains, and occasional supplies from other places. At length a season of apathy succeeded, appointments became less frequent, and for the past ten years no regular service has been held, ex- cept during a brief period by students from the Biblical Institute at Stanfordville.

Less than a mile distant, on the farm of Edward Huntling, is the site of the ancient Moravian mis- sion and the monument to the memory of Gottlob Büttner. On this farm is also the home of Isaac Huntling, whose writings have shed much light on the trials, persecutions and other events connected with that unfortunate mission and its unfortunate people. To him we are indebted for much of the earlier history of the town, notably that which has relation to the Indian mission and the earlier church history. To the history of the town he has devoted much time and research.

Isaac Huntling was born in 1825 in Chatham Four Corners, now known as Chatham Village, Columbia county, N. Y. His father, Edward, was a farmer and in 1829 moved to Duchess county with his family and settled on a farm two miles south of the village of Pine Plains, where he still lives. Isaac received an academic educa- tion, went to Michigan in 1853, and engaged in the lumbering business in the western part of that State. In 1862 he was commissioned as Major in the 21st Michigan Infantry. He was in the ser- vice nearly a year when on account of a chronic difficulty he was compelled to resign. He soon after returned to Pine Plains where he has since resided, and devotes his time to historical and gen- eral literary work.

Another hamlet of importance in an earlier day, whose industries are among the things that were,

was Hammertown. It contained a tannery and the scythe works founded by John Harris. The tannery was built somewhere about 1776. Peter Husted, grandfather to Walter W. Husted, of Pine Plains, conducted the business some twenty- five years, probably being there in 1776. He was succeeded by Joshua Culver * and Cornelius Hus- ted,t father of W. W. Husted, who for ten or fifteen years ran the business. Cornelius Husted succeeded to the sole proprietorship, which he retained about fifteen years, when he connected with him his son, Peter, who after a few years assumed the management and continued the busi- ness until 1861. He then associated with him his brother, W. W. Husted, for three years, when the latter sold his interest to Peter who conducted the business alone until 1871. Since that time the tannery has remained idle. In 1871 the property was sold to William Sadler, who bought it for the purpose of reviving the business of tanning.

The Harris Scythe Manufactory has a more extended history. This was one of the most important industries in the town, in the days when scythes were the mowing machines, and the mower had not yet appeared to contest the field with the swinging blade. John Harris, the founder of this industry, was born about 1745, at the " Lawrence Place," in what is now the town of NorthEast. His ancestors were from Litchfield, Conn. In early life he learned the trade of blacksmith and, from a mulatto slave and skilled workman owned by Joseph Harris, his uncle, living in Rhode Island, he learned to make scythes, which, in those days, were made by blacksmiths on the anvil.

In 1770 he emigrated to Washington county, N. Y., and settled near Fort Ann, then an import- ant military post sixty-seven miles north by east from Albany, where fortifications were erected in 1756 during the French war. The danger from Indians and the uncertain tenure of life and prop- erty attending a settlement there induced him to remove, in the spring of 1780, to "Little Nine Partners," in Duchess county. Arriving safely, he with his wife and children settled not in the Little Nine, but in the Great Nine Partners Tract, in the precinct of Amenia, at what is known as the Andrus Rowe Corners, about a mile north of Shacameco Station, on the N. D. & C. Railroad. Here for three years he worked at his trade of blacksmithing and scythe making, when he moved to the "Harris Mills," in this town, Here on the

* Died about 1850.

t Died in March, 1859.

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TOWN OF PINE PLAINS.

19th of December, 1783, he purchased of Adam Snyder, for £425, what was afterward known as the " old Harris farm," which embraced the present saw-mill and dwelling near by. The grist-mill prop- erty below was conveyed to him in 1787, by William Snyder, of East Camp, Columbia county, for the consideration of " one hundred and fifty pounds New York currency."* The Revolutionary War now being ended, industry and enterprise received an impetus. Harris continued to make scythes, his shop being located on the island next adjoining and below the grist-mill.

About 1786 his brother-in-law, Hugh Gambie, came from Westchester county, N. Y., and engaged with him as an apprentice. Edmund Reynolds, a resident of this town, well known years ago, was also an apprentice here at this time. Scythe mak- ing in the shop on the island below the mill, was now prosecuted with more vigor, and they were still made by hand. The trade-mark which John Harris put on his early-made scythes was still retained. This was the stamp of a heart on the heel of the scythe with the letters "J. H." in the center of the heart. About 1790 a race was cut on the east bank of the Shacameco, intersecting it near the present residence of Anthony I. Barton, and the water thereby conducted to a shop erected on the decliv- ity of the hills a short distance southeasterly of the present residence of Giles H. Duxbury, formerly the Joshua Culver home. The highway at that time turned to the right at Mr. Duxbury's, hug- ging the base of the hill, passing through the small ravine northeasterly, crossing the main present highway at the bridge, and thus northerly to the then Hoysrodt settlement. Thus the shop was on the highway. It was built and used principally as a shop for turning which was, in substance, to take the plates from the anvil, or trip-hammer, fix the points, turn the back, shape the heel, and put the set in the plate ready for tempering. At these localities the work was continued by Harris & Gambie for several years.

To facilitate the primary rough or heavy work a trip-hammer was needed, and besides a suitable and convenient location for an enlargement of the business. About 1810, perhaps earlier, a site for shops was secured on the west bank of the Shaca- meco, near the bridge at Hammertown, adjoining the " Rhinebeck and Salisbury Turnpike."

About this time Seth Harris, from Kingsbury,

Vermont, came here and took an interest in the busi- ness with Harris & Gambie. The three brothers- in-law, John and Seth Harris and Hugh Gambie, now commenced the works on the new site on the west side of the stream, cutting a race to intersect the main stream, about eighty rods above. A dam was built at the new site, and a framed shop erected near the present highway bridge. In this shop a trip-hammer was placed, which was used for the first time in the manufacture of the Harris scythes.

The shop on the east side, before mentioned, was used in connection with this for turning and finishing, which was still done by hand. About 1812 Cyrus Burnap came from New England and worked for the Harris Company at a salary of $500 a year. He was a master workman and worked the trip-hammer. He married Eunice, the daughter of the founder, John Harris ; left the shops about 1820, and purchased a farm about one mile south of the village of Pine Plains, on which he lived until his death, March 4, 1876, aged 84.

Hugh Gambie and John Harris, the founder, both died soon after starting the works on the west side, the former January 1, 1814, and the lat- ter November 27, 1814.

The business was now left to Seth Harris and his two sons, John and Silas. About 1816 the stone shop was built and a finishing trip was put in and used, making two trips in the works. The finishing shop on the east side was still used in con- nection with the shops on the west side. Solomon Ferris, John Hall, and John Deuel were the prin- cipal finishers, and among their helpers was Lud- low E. Lapham, then a lad. At this time about five hundred dozen scythes were made annually. But little change occurred in the business from 1817 to 1820, except the abandonment of the shop on the east side. Seth Harris retired from the company about this time, and went to Salisbury, Conn., where, with a James Harris, he engaged in the same business, leaving the work here with his sons. Col. Silas Harris now became sole proprie- tor and manager of the business. John, his brother, remained as foreman eight years, and in 1818 retired from the works and went to Winsted, Conn., where he made scythes and harpoons for whaling vessels.

To increase the facilities for grinding, Col. Harris secured a site four miles south-east from Pine Plains village, on the road to Sharon, where " grinding works " were erected. He also purchased land on Stissing mountain for the wood it bore, which he had converted into charcoal.

* On this lot, about 1808, a new grist-mill was erected which is the present William Carman mill. John Harris conveyed this property to his son, Israel, April 25, 1810, and the Harris farm to the same son, No- vember 24, 1814.

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

February 2, 1842, Seth Harris died in his eightieth year. In the fall of 1849, Jonas Knickerbacker, who had for fifteen years worked in these shops, became an equal partner with Col. Harris in the works at Hammertown and at Salisbury. They continued as partners twelve years, when Col. Harris died, April 19, 1862. At his death, Jonas Knickerbacker conducted the business under a two years' lease from the heirs of Col. Harris. At the expiration of the lease he left the shops, built a store in the village of Pine Plains, and became a hardware merchant, in which business he is now engaged. The shops at Hammertown remained unoccupied, still owned by the heirs of Col. Harris, until the spring of 1879 when the land including the shops was sold to Mrs. Giles H. Duxbury, of Hammertown. The buildings have been taken clown, and only ruin is left of the industry founded a hundred years ago.

The town contains no villages of commercial importance except Pine Plains.

MT. Ross.

Mt. Ross, about four miles northwest of Pine Plains, is a small settlement containing a store (Wright & Guernsey), a grist-mill, and a few dwellings.

PULVER'S CORNERS.

Pulver's Corners, named for William W. Pulver, who died in 1861, aged 87, is a small hamlet con- taining a few scattering dwellings, a hotel owned by Herman W. Pulver, and conducted by Edward Simmons, and a Union Church, built some twenty- five years ago for afternoon meetings, in which, until a few years, the Presbyterians mostly held services.

PINE PLAINS VILLAGE.

Pine Plains Village, the business center of the town, is situated in one of the most beautiful sections of the county. To the south of the village three miles is the range of Shacameco Hills. The highest of these rounds up gradually, terminating in a somewhat abrupt sugar-loaf top, capped with a grove of small oaks. To the northwest a short distance, standing on this mount, lies Halcyon Lake, with its milky way, and further on is Stissing Mountain, rising abruptly yet smoothly, and near its base lie three small lakes. To the right of these is the village, and beyond is the Shacameco kill, winding its way at the base of the Ancram Hills to the Roelaff Jan-

sen's kill, with which, in its crooked way, it travels to the Hudson.

The village lies on a broad plain. Its streets are well shaded and level, and many of the dwell- ings are fine. The population at the last census was 529. The village has had its growth within a comparatively few years. Eighty-three years ago the buildings here were those now kept as a saloon by William Toms ; the house known as the Myers House ; the log hotel ; the house where Stephen Eno used to live, now torn down ; a house on the site of the present dwelling of Mrs. Prester ; one where Mr. Stocking now owns ; a house just below the Duchess depot, near where the widow of Ben- jamin Streever now lives; the dwelling in which John Rowe now lives ; a house now owned by Mrs. Walker Bostwick ; a portion of the Rev. Mr. Sayres' house ; the house in which William Toms now lives ; one just east of where Jonas Knicker- backer now lives ; an old house a little east of the Presbyterian Church; the house known as the "Brush " house, and the old "Booth-Lasher " house. All the other buildings have been erected since. As early as 1800, and for some years previous to that time, Pine Plains was a favorite spot for horse racing. One Elmendorph kept the hotel now opposite the Ketterer House and known as the Myers House. On the site of the Ketterer House was then an old log hotel, kept by a man named Haskins. Among the noted horses here dur- ing those years were "Black and All Black," owned by David Winans, "Old Janus," " Old Drown," and "Speculator," owned by Harry Hutchinson. William Herriman Conklin, an old resident, whose family were quite noted in this region of country, was the chosen rider for these races. He was born September 30, 1791, and died in Pine Plains April 22, 1881: The town is still noted for its fine horses.

The postoffice here was established previous to 1812. The first postmaster was Israel Reynolds .* The present postmaster is Frederick Bostwick, who was appointed in 1878.

The Ketterer House was built about 1804. Among the first to keep hotel in this building was a man named Ruggles, then Almon Bostwick, then in succession a Mr. Trowbridge, and a man of the name of Page. The present proprietor is Charles DeWitt Ketterer, who has conducted it three years, succeeding his father, Charles, who had pur-

* Among old documents is found the following receipt : " Received of Israel Reynolds, this 10 day of Nov. 1797; the fum of eight shillings for the Poughkeepfie Journal, from No. 612 to No. 637, by me, Samuel Wightman."

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TOWN OF PINE PLAINS.

chased the property seven years before of Charles Morgan.

The village contains one newspaper, the Pine Plains Herald, a weekly, which was established in 1859 by Charles J. Ackert. He conducted it a little more than a year and sold to Levi Piester, who, two years later, sold it to his brother, John Piester. He remained as its proprietor until April, 1864, when he sold to Jay Jackson, who conducted it until December, 1864, and sold to Samuel T. Hoag, the present editor and proprietor.

BANKS .-- The Pine Plains Bank was organized in 1839. The first officers were Reuben W. Bostwick, President ; Frederick W. Davis, Cashier. The number of stockholders was forty-two, and the capi- tal was $100,000. Under the above title this bank existed until 1857, when in the financial crash of that year it was closed by voluntary action, paying a dividend to its stockholders of one hundred and twenty-seven per cent.

On May 29th, 1858, the Stissing Bank was or- ganized, with a capital of $90,000. The officers were Justus Booth,* President ; Reuben Bostwick, t Cashier. This was organized chiefly by the origi- nal stockholders of the Pine Plains Bank. As Stissing Bank it continued until it was converted into a National Bank, March 4, 1865, under the title of Stissing National Bank of Pine Plains.

The first officers under the new departure were William S. Eno, President and Reuben Bostwick, Cashier.

After the death of Reuben Bostwick, in 1870, his son Frederick was appointed cashier, which office he has since retained. The Pine Plains Bank con- ducted business in the store now occupied by Isaiah Dibble. In 1858 the Stissing Bank erected the fine and substantial building in which the business is now conducted.

SCHOOLS .-- The Seymour Smith Institute, a quite celebrated institution of learning, was incorporated here in 1874. The first Board of Trustees was as fol- lows: Walter W. Husted, Frank Eno, Jonas Knick- erbacker, Phoenix N. Deuel, John A. Herrick, William S. Eno, Henry Myers, John A. Thompson, Harman W. Pulver, John Righter, Leander Smith, Ury Hicks; President, Walter W. Husted; Secre- tary, Frank Eno ; Treasurer, John A. Thompson.

This building was erected to carry into effect the bequest of Seymour Smith, who bequeathed his entire estate to the town of his birth, " for the special purpose of aiding said town in establishing

an Academy for the promotion of science and use- ful knowledge."

The Institute is under the control of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. The school was opened in the spring of 1879, with some sixty pupils, and thus far has had a successful existence. The building of the Insti- tute was erected in 1877, and is a wood frame, 40 by 68 feet, two stories and a mansard in height, resting on a high brick basement, making four stories, including basement and mansard.

The corps of instructors is as follows :--

Rev. Abraham Mattice, Principal, Ancient Lan- guages ; Lyman H. Hoysradt, Mathematics and Sciences ; Julius Nehab, Ph. D., Modern Languages ; Mrs. Harriet C. Smeallie, Preceptress, Grammar, Drawing, Oil Painting ; Harry B. Conklin, Assist- ant in English Department; C. Louise Garner, Common English ; Margaret V. D. See, Musical Instructor.

Seymour Smith, the founder of the Institute which bears his name, was born August 7, 1779, in the town of Pine Plains. He was one of twelve children -- six sons and six daughters-born to Peter and Sarah Smith, who were among the earli- est settlers of this town. The father of Seymour Smith was born in 1729, and lived during the French and Indian wars and the subsequent strug- gle resulting in our national independence. Like all pioneers he was poor, and his sons were thrown upon their own resources in early life. The ad- vantages for an education were limited then. There were fewer authors and books than now, and it is a reasonable presumption that the difficulty and lack in this regard produced on the mind of Seymour an impression never to be effaced, aud had some influence in determining the munificent bequest to his native town. He died in German- town, Columbia County, November 26, 1863, and lies buried in the cemetery in Pine Plains village.

Among the early inerchants in this place was Fyler Dibblee, who about 1804 built the store now occupied by Enos J. Chase. The Bostwicks, Reuben Walker and his sons, Reuben and William, were the next to run this store, conducting it for many years.

The present merchants doing business here are :

Enos J. Chase, general merchant, in the " Old Bostwick Store," who has been in business here nineteen years ; Jacob S. Bowman, druggist, in business here since 1875 ; Irving W. Rowe, a native of Stanford, born in 1851, dry goods, who established the business four years ago ; Jay Jack-

* Died March 7, 1878.

+ Died July 9, 1870.

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

son, a native of the town, born in 1843, jeweler, in business here fifteen years; Robert D. Hicks, fruit and confectionery, in business one year; Walter S. Halstead, harness and horse furnishing goods, in business one year, succeeding R. D. Hicks, who had run the business some twenty-one years ; Jonas Knickerbacker, general hardware, in business eleven years ; Underwood & Frost, (Edgar R. Underwood, Charles W. Frost,) general merchants, who estab- lished the business in December, 1818; David B. Miller, stoves and tinware, who began business in 1881 ; Dibble Bros., (Isaiah and Edward,) general merchants, in business since spring of 1865 ; George M. Keller, stoves, tin and hollow ware, in business since 1862, succeeding James A. Bennett, who es- tablished the business about 1850; Henry Engelke,. furniture and undertaking, in business here thirty- six years ; John Rowe, coal and lumber, who es- tablished the business in 1870; Merwin Spencer, coal and lumber, in business since 1872-3.

Besides these is the manufactory of fanning mills, sash, doors and blinds, of Amos Bryan, who has been engaged in that business here twelve years.

One of the earliest physicians of the town was Dr. Israel Reynolds, who practiced here previous to and after 1797, as the following certificate will show :--

" DUCHESS COUNTY, ?

[L.s. ] STATE OF N. Y. S

I, Isaac Bloom, one of the Judges of said county do pursuant of the directions of a statute entitled 'An act to regulate physic and surgery in this State,' passed the 23d day of March, 1797, certify that Israel Reynolds, of the town of NorthEast, in Duchess County, has produced satisfactory evidence to me, by the oath of Stephen Reynolds, of the town of Amenia, in said county, that he, the said Israel Reynolds, has practiced physic and surgery within this State for more than two years preceding the first day of October, 1797. Given under my hand and seal this 13th day of October, one thous- and seven hundred and ninety-seven.

ISAAC BLOOM."

" This is to certify that the above is a true copy of the certificate remaining on file in the Clerk's office of Duchess County, Oct. 25, 1797.

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History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 45

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