History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 55

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 55

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Rev. Charles A. Smith continued to minister to both the Wurtembergh and the Village church until 1849, when he took charge exclusively of the lat- ter church, and continued his services until 1851. His successor here was Rev. John McKron, of Maryland, for two or three years. Those who came after were Revs. J. W. Hasler, Jacob Heck, Ernest Lubekert, William H. Lukenbach, Reuben Hill, Henry L. Zeigenfuss, who afterward became an Episcopalian, and Rev. William D. Strobel, who came into the pastorate in 1873, and is the present incumbent, and a man of much power and influence. In the summer of 1876, under his di- rections, important alterations and repairs were made in the interior of the church building.

The Rhinebeck Episcopal Church was organ- ized in 1852. For many years prior to this Episcopal services were held at intervals in differ- ent places. The first service was held by the Rev. Mr. Johnson, of Kingston, who, by courtesy of the Methodist Society, held service in their church once a month. Subsequently, services were held in the "Baker Building " by Rev. Sheldon Davis, Rev. Mr. Wyatt, Rev. Dr. Sherwood, Rev. Dr. Montgomery and Rev. J. C. Talbot, the present Bishop of Indiana. In the year 1852, Rev. Rich- ard S. Adams became a resident in Rhinebeck, and under his endeavors the church was formed. Among the constituent members who, on the 11th of August 1852, attached themselves to the Protes- tant Episcopal Church, under the pastoral care of Rev. Richard S. Adams, were James M. Pendleton, A. Wager, Gouvernuer Tillotson, E. Platt, Theoph- ilus Gillender, Julius Bellard, G. W. Clarke, M. E.

279

TOWN OF RHINEBECK.

A. Geer, Isaac F. Van Vliet, R. S. Adams, Wil- liam Betterton. The church was incorporated August 18, 1852.

The first officers were also chosen at that date as follows : Eliphalet Platt and Isaac F. Van Vliet, church wardens. James M. Pendleton, Gouverneur Tillotson, George W. Clark, Ambrose Wager, Julius Bellard, Isaac F. Russell, George Lorillord and Marshall E. A. Geer, vestrymen.

The corner stone of the church was laid Sept. 16, 1852, by Rev. Reuben Sherwood, D. D., rector of St. James' Church, Hyde Park. The lot on which the church stands was given by Rutsen Suckley. The church was consecrated October 6, 1855, by the Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, D. D., provisional bishop of the diocese. Rev. Richard Adams was the first pastor, elected December 18, 1852, and resigning December 24, 1853. He was succeeded by Rev. George Herbert Walsh, who was elected June 1, 1854. and who resigned June 18, 1866. During his pastorate the lecture room and the chapel at Rhinecliff were built, and the rectory purchased. The Rev. A. F. Olmsted suc- ceeded Mr. Walsh. He was elected rector Sep- tember 29, 1866, and entered upon his duties on the first of November of that year, and is the present incumbent. During the past year the church has been thoroughly repaired and painted, the interior decorated, and has received as a gift from Mrs. Francis H. Delano, four costly oil paintings, by celebrated artists of Rome.

The Rhinebeck Catholic Church was founded by the Rev. Michael Scully, in 1862, who, in that year, held services in the hall of the Starr Institute. A lot was purchased, and steps were taken to build a church in this village, on the northwest corner of Livingston and Mulberry streets. This lot was sold, and finally became the property of Henry Latson, the present owner and occupant. In 1863, George Rogers, of Tivoli, bought of Charles H. Russell six acres of land at Rhinecliff, for $4,000, and deeded them to Rev. Michael Scully, the parish priest, for a church lot and cemetery. St. Joseph's Church, at Rhinecliff, was erected on this lot, under the direction of Father Scully, in 1864, with George Veitch, as architect, and John Bird, as master mason.

RHINEBECK IN THE REBELLION.

In the Civil War which broke out between the Free and Slave States, on the election of Abraham

Lincoln to the presidency of the United States in 1860, Rhinebeck contributed the following soldiers to the Union Army :-

128th Regiment, Co. C .- Francis S. Keese, Captain ; Howard H. Morse, First Lieut .; Charles W. Mckown, Orderly Sergeant ; J. Howard Asher, Second Sergeant (wounded) ; John W. Keese, Fourth Sergeant; George Tremper, Second Cor- poral; Frank W. Rickert, Third Corporal (was in Saulsbury prison); Derrick Brown, Fifth Corporal ; Clement R. Dean, Sixth Corporal ; David H. Hannaburgh, Eighth Corporal (was in Saulsbury prison); James M. Braley, Color Sergeant, (was wounded). Privates : John W. Kip (died in hos- pital); Lemuel Marquart, George W. Hamilton (wounded) ; John H. Van Ette ; Charles Rynders ; Martin V. B. Hawkins; William H. Hawkins; James A. Fraleigh (wounded); John W. Myers (wounded) ; William A. Noxon (died in hospital); Calvin Rikert, John Gay, Edward F. Tater, Evert Traver, Charles W. Marquet, (wounded) ; Albert Ostrom, Robert P. Churchill (killed in battle); Jas- per De Wint (died in hospital); Charles Wooden (wounded); Patrick Lyden, Robert H. Hayner (died in hospital) ; Benjamin H. Brown, Peter Scally ; John E. Cole ; Nathan Day; Robert Ris- ely; James L. H. Holdridge ; James K. Brown, William B. Brown (was in Saulsbury prison); Jo- seph Brown (killed in battle).

150th Regiment, Co. D .- James W. Baxter, Stephen S. Tater.

Co. F .- John L. Green, Captain ; Isaac F. Smith, Corporal (killed in battle) ; Elias A. Briggs, Corporal; James M. Sheak, Corporal ; William T. Francisco, Wagoner. Privates : Philip Bowman, Jefferson Champlin, William B. Doyle, Thomas M. Fraleigh, Joseph LaBonta, John E. Odell, Stephen H. Rynders, Samuel K. Rupely, John McKinny.

Co. G .- Rensselaer Worden, Alexander Wor- den (died in hospital), Philander Worden (died in hospital), Walter R. Bush.

Co. K .- Wade H. Van Steenburgh, First Lieut .; Landon Ostrom, First Sergeant ; Enos B. Sylands, Third Sergeant ; Henry Lamp, Fourth Sergeant ; Jacob Heeb, Fifth Sergeant; Benjamin J. Hevenor, Corporal. Privates : Charles M. Buckland, Leopold Oswold, George A. Clark, Wil- liam H. Dederick, John Griner, Amos T. Lillie, Jacob Miller, DeWitt Shaffer, Charles Winans, Lawrence O'Brien, Frederic W. Pottenburgh, Ste- phen R. Tater, Harvey M. Traver, George A. Wager (died in hospital), Alfred Wooden, George W. Buckmaster.

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

Co. B .- William Holdridge, Edward Tater, Elisha Holdridge, Adam Weishauph.

44th Regiment .- Jacob Z. Hegeman, Charles Luff (killed in battle), Edward Luff, Peter Norris, Samuel Risely, John Raymond, Philip Sylands, Stephen Hamilton.

20th Regiment, N. Y. S. Militia .- Jacob Teal, (wounded,) Andrew J. Kip, George Mann, Charles Asher, William Norris, William Rikert, George Traver, Douglass Marquardt, Thomas Price, (killed in battle.)

Unknown Regiments. - Albert Prosins, (wounded,) Thomas O'Brian, Alfred Lewis, (died in hospital,) Avnor Proper, James W. Lewis, (died in hospital,) Samuel DeWint, (died in hospital,) Ambrose Ostrom, John DeWint, (died in hospital,) Richard Sylands, Andrew Fraleigh, (died in hospital,) David Wager, George Gay, Jacob Handschule, David McCarty.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

THEOPHILUS GILLENDER.

Theophilus Gillender, to whose enterprise the public are indebted for numerous bene- ficial projects, was born in New York July 31, 1814. His father, Capt. James Gillender, was a resident for seventy years of New York, a large ship-owner, and a successful navigator. At the age of twelve years Theophilus went to England, and for two years attended school at Prior's celebrated school in Liverpool, and on his return to this country was placed in the Moravian School at Nazareth, Penn., where he remained four years. In 1832, his father having purchased the Slate Dock and Slate Quarries in Rhinebeck, Theophilus came to Rhinebeck and engaged in the business of freighting, under the firm name of Dunning, Gillen- der & Co., he being the junior partner. The firm was dissolved in 1843. In 1834 he was united in marriage with Jane Ann, eldest daughter of the late William Schell. His children were: Mary S., who married Richard J. Garrettson, son of the late Free- born Garrettson ; William C., now residing in Philadelphia ; Augustus T., a successful lawyer in New York, and Caroline, wife of Robert Lane of New York.

In 1837 Mr. Gillender engaged in mercantile business in Hyde Park., In 1846 he removed to

Poughkeepsie and assumed charge of the " Pough- keepsie American," a weekly paper. In 1848 he removed, with his family, to New York in order to take a position in the Custom House under the administration of Taylor, and under the collector- ship of the late Hugh Maxwell. In 1852 he re- moved with his family to Rhinebeck, where he has since resided. He was postmaster of Rhinebeck four years under the administration of James Buchanan.

In 1862 he obtained a charter from the Legisla-

LITTLE.

Ther Gillender

ture for the "Starr Institute," of which he is one of the trustees. He was one of the originators of the Episcopal Church in Rhinebeck, in which he is at present the Senior Warden.

He was the originator of the Bank of Rhinebeck and obtained all the subscriptions to the stock of that institution. In 1860 he obtained a charter from the Legislature for, and organized, the " Rhinebeck Savings Bank," and was its first Treasurer and Secretary. He has been Justice of the Peace for twenty-five years. For thirty years he was a prominent member of the Democratic party in Duchess Co., but has now retired from all active participation in politics.

WOL H

NOIS

PARK VIEW

CONSERVATORIES

MOIS ENG. CO NY

"FERNCLIFF."

ERN CLIFF

THE ENTRANCE'S LODGE.

F ERNCLIFF is the ro - mantic and appropriate name of the country- seat of Mr. William Astor, of New York. The charm- ing spot that bears this title, is situated on the eastern bank of the noble old Hudson, about two and one-half miles above Rhinecliff, and about the same distance from the village of Rhinebeck.

The boundaries of Ferncliff now enclose about five hundred acres of land,-an estate which is so surrounded by beautiful and picturesque natural scenery, and has been so lavishly improved artificially, that it is now justly ranked as one of the most attractive and desirable country-seats upon the Hudson. So unstinted has been the liberality of Mr. Astor in his efforts to render Ferncliff an ideal

282

HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

American country home, that little is risked in the assumption that it is the one spot towards which his thoughts most frequently turn, and which is esteemed by him as is no other earthly home.

This is borne out by the fact that Mr. Astor's father, William B. Astor, was the owner of a beau- tiful country-seat, "Rokeby," near Barrytown, where the present owner of Ferncliff spent many happy summers in past years. There he imbibed an ardent love for the Hudson, the towering Cats- kills opposite, and all the surrounding adjacent scenery upon which Nature worked with so prodi- gal a hand, and passing years have only intensified this love.

Moreover, Mr. Astor's mother was a Miss Arm- strong, daughter of General Armstrong, once Am- bassador to France. His family made Duchess County their home, being among the most distin- guished of that period, and there some of the de- scendants now live. As connected with the Armstrong and the Livingston families, we may, therefore, properly consider the Astor family as of Duchess County extraction ; and as such, it is natural to expect in any of its members, an ardent partiality for this locality. Here Mr. William Astor first experienced and learned to fully appre- ciate the manifold comforts and attractions of country life, which were, doubtless, the chief in- centives to the purchase and improvements result- ing in Ferncliff.

In tracing the growth, improvements and pres- ent appearance of this beautiful summer residence, we must first go back about twenty-seven years, to the date when Mr. Astor first began spending his summers in this locality. His first purchase com- prised a farm of about one hundred and five acres of rough, unattractive (except in the surroundings) and unproductive land. The broad plateau where now stands the commodious mansion, was then barren of trees, and bore the general character of the roughest and the least enticing of the clay hills that are still to be seen at points along the banks of the Hudson. Much of the farm itself was des- titute of trees and made up of stony knolls, bogs or devastated timber lands. To an eye that could not see far beyond this immediate aspect of com- parative desolation, to the grand old beauties of scenery about the noble river-beauties that no ill-conceived act of man could obliterate-the scene of the despoiled farni at that date must have been anything but encouraging, and little significant of what it was soon to become.

But the location was all that could be desired ; the inaterial, so to speak, was there, and to the appreciative owner and his efficient co-worker, Louis A. Ehlers, the well known landscape garden- er, the natural attractions of the place and the loveliness and grandeur of the surrounding scenery offered ample inducements to the liberality of the one and the genius of the other. So the work of improvement began about twenty-six years ago, and the results are now seen in Ferncliff, which our en- gravings show to be just what it is-an almost perfect country residence.

Mr. Ehlers is a landscape gardener and rural architect, the results of whose handiwork and genius are to be seen at many points on the Hud- son, always with credit to himself, and whose work has also extended to different parts of the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massa- chusetts and Connecticut. This is mentioned as indicating the purpose of the owner of Ferncliff to place the superintendence of all its improvements in the most competent hands to be obtained ; and Mr. Astor's confidence in his superintendent was not misplaced. Ferncliff as it now appears, is in all particulars the work of Mr. Ehlers' genius; that it is most creditable to him need not be reiterated.

It was not very long after the improvements be- gan before it became apparent that the extent of the grounds was not sufficient to warrant the ex- tended operations desired ; accordingly at different dates the adjoining farms on the northern, south- ern and eastern boundaries were purchased, thus building up the present spacious domain of over five hundred acres, comprising sweeping lawns, commodious pleasure grounds, extended drives, delightful park scenery, flower gardens, parterres, conservatories, besides the extensive systeni of barns and stabling, with all the other accessories of a princely country home.

The main entrance to Ferncliff from the river road is shown in one of our engravings ; this road passes directly through a portion of the grounds, and here assumes the character of a private drive through an extensive park. It is walled from the grounds by massive lines of masonry five feet high, of cut bastard-granite, which lead up from either direction to the Lodge and the entrance gates. The Lodge itself is built of the same qual- ity of stone used in the wall; its architecture is appropriate, its appearance substantial, and at the same time picturesque ; while from its porch many fine views are obtained.

To the right of the entrance are seen extensive green-houses, conservatories and vegetable-houses with their surrounding flower and vegetable gar- dens. There are three graperies, a rose-house, a large flowering-plant house, a carnation-house and conservatory, all beautiful in design and supplied with everything for the perfect rearing of their fra- grant and many-hued occupants. The plateau in front of the green-house is the most elevated por- tion of the grounds, and commands wide and en- chanting views of the Ferncliff estate, its broad acres studded with evergreens, in the foreground, and a fine view to the westward and northward of the blue mountain range.

The carriage road from the main entrance to the mansion is nearly a mile long and about twen- ty feet in width. It is, of course, kept in the most perfect condition, and it is a rare pleasure to ride over it and note its many windings over hills, through secluded copses and leafy dells, present- ing varied and enchanting pictures at each new point of view. It is clearly evident that it was laid out by a master hand. Our engraving shows one of the picturesque views in this carriage road

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VIEW OF LAWN AND RIVER

VIEW

OF CAT SKILLS.

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"FERNCLIFF"-RESIDENCE OF WM. ASTOR, ESQ., RHINEBECK, N. Y.

LAWN FRONT

MOSS ENG GO.NY.

"FERNCLIFF"-RESIDENCE OF WM. ASTOR, ESQ., RHINEBECK, N. Y.

حمحمد

"FERNCLIFF"-THE RIVER FRONT.

THE AMBASSADRESS, N. Y. Y. C. AT ANCHOR OFF " FERNCLIFF."

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283

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

where a straight avenue leads up toward the mansion.

The mansion itself is a fine example of Italian architecture in brick. Standing, as it does, upon an extensive plateau above the Hudson, its loca- tion is all that the lover of nature could desire. It is surrounded by lawns laid out by an artist and perfectly kept, lighted up by masses of evergreens, and beautified by many varieties of green or blossom- ing shrubbery and variegated flowers. The front en- trance to the mansion commands the eastern or inland view which reaches out over a broad extent of lawn, with the country in the distance.

Entering the mansion beneath a massive, brown stone portico, supported by Corinthian columns, the visitor finds himself within a spacious hall, and passing onward through the beautiful vestibule, makes an exit upon the verandah which passes along the eastern or river side of the mansion, to the south side, where it is shaped into a roomy pavil- ion, and from which one of the grandest of views may be had.

Southward, the foreground landscape is most attractive, with the river to the right and Ron- dout Creek and the Shawangunk Mountains in the distance. Westward the lawn is beautifully diver- sified, as it stretches away toward the river, while off toward the north-west are seen the hoary Cats- kills. When all the beauty of the landscape is con- sidered, with the comparatively short time for its transformation from a condition of barrenness and desolation, one is constrained to marvel how it has been accomplished.

Of the mansion in its interior aspects, it may be said that it is planned upon a scale of magnificence and furnished with a degree of luxuriousness, per- fectly in keeping with its outward surroundings. Nothing that a lavish expenditure combined with cultivated taste could suggest, has been left un- done to render it a model of comfort and conven- ience. - From its spacious and lofty halls leads a stairway fitting for such a mansion. The parlors are large and elegantly furnished and decorated. A magnificent dining-room, billiard-room and the minor apartments, go to make up this representa- tive American country-seat. The engraving of the mansion and its immediate neighborhood gives a clear idea of its outward appearance.

Ferncliff is not only a gentleman's country-seat, but is a carefully managed and productive farm.

The so-called farm entrance is shown in our en- graving with another, of the breeding establish- ments, which will help the reader to comprehend these features of the estate. The barns upon this part of the farm are for the farm teams and work- horses. The henneries and poultry yards are also here situated with their numerous inmates of the different feathered tribes.

The quarters known as the breeding and race stables, comprising a group of buildings tasteful in appearance, are admirably adapted to their pur- pose. Here as many as fifty and more horses and mares are kept, with every possible provision for their improvement in all respects. Mr. Astor has

been an enthusiast as far as the noble horse is concerned. His partiality in that direction is guided by the desire of improving the breed of these noble animals, and he spares no money to accomplish this end. Although the establishment is as yet a new one, some valuable horses have been turned out of the Ferncliff stud, of which the noble race horse " Ferncliff" has done honor to his name. Surrounding the race stable is a covered track, about one-twelfth mile in length, for the exercise of the youngsters. Warmth, ventila- tion, sunlight, pure water, all are provided for the animals so fortunate as to be domiciled in these model stables.

Nearly a mile distant from the breeding and race stables, upon the north division of the farm, the cattle barns and dairy are situated. The cattle barns comprise a group of four buildings, three of which may be seen in our sketch, with barn-yards and other accessories. The middle one is devoted to cattle and cows, the east- ern one to young stock, and the western one is for regular breeding purposes for cattle, horses and sheep. These structures are furnished with all known improvements, are perfectly ventilated and drained, and the stock to which they are de- voted, of which there are about one hundred head, receive a degree of care known to but few similar establishments in the country.

Ferncliff has a river front of a mile and a half, and even a cursory description of it would be in- complete, if we did not mention the substantial dock that connects the grounds with the river that washes its boundary. At this dock may be seen moored the beautiful yacht, Ambassadress, the largest sailing pleasure yacht in the world, and the most magnificently appointed vessel of the New York Yacht Club. This beautiful craft and her surroundings are correctly shown in a previous engraving.

Of course, it is impossible within the brief limits at our disposal here, to give a comprehensive and detailed description of the country-seat and its sur- roundings, upon which a fortune has been lavished, with the years of labor devoted to it by its owner and his competent assistants ; but this brief sketch, with the aid of the finely wrought illustrations, will enable the reader to gain a tolerably clear concep- tion of the magnificent estate. Here the owner, with his family, pass most of the summer months, while to his many friends is extended the hospitali- ties of Ferncliff.

MARIENRUH.

Marienruh adjoins Ferncliff to the north. This name has been given it in reference to remi- niscences regarding the owner's late wife whose given name was Mary. "Ruh " in German signifies "rest," and thus " Marienruh." The place is composed of about 135 acres. The house is situ- ated close to the river upon one of its naturally

284

HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

most beautiful banks. It has magnificent and most peculiarly soft and picturesque views, both to the south, north and east, as well as inland. The ships, steamers and large tows, peculiar to the Hudson, pass close under its shore, so that the tide of navigation fills its surroundings with life and dreamy beauty. Through its extreme point the trains of the Hudson River R. R. pass through a tun- nel, but cannot be seen from any part of the place. The house is surrounded with beautiful lawns studded with large and rare trees. The place is one of the oldest in its vicinity, and was formerly called Clifton Point.

CHAPTER XXIII.

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CLINTON.

T THE town of Clinton lies near the western

border of the County, being the second town back from the Hudson River. It is bounded north by Milan ; south by Pleasant Valley ; east by Stanford and Washington ; west by Rhinebeck and Hyde Park.

The principal bodies of water are Round Pond, in the extreme northern part, Long Pond in the northern part, about three miles south of the for- mer, and Wallace Pond in the western part. Salt Point Creek flows north and south through the center of the town, and enters Wappingers Creek in the northern part of the town of Pleasant Valley. The soil in the north is a sandy loam, but in the center and south it is a productive, slaty loam.

This town was formed from Charlotte and Rhine- beck Precincts, March 13, 1786. Hyde Park and Pleasant Valley were taken from it on the 26th day of January, 1821. The town was named for George Clinton, the first Governor of the State. It contained at the last census a population of 1,640. In 1870 the population was 1, 708, in 1875, 1,691, of whom 1,601 were native, 90 foreign, 1,687 white, and 4 colored.

This town was originally included in what was known as Crom Elbow Precinct, formed in 1737, and so named from Crom Elbow Creek,* the divid- ing line between this town and Rhinebeck. Crom Elbow Precinct passed into Charlotte Precinct before it became the town of Clinton.

We find in some of the early town documents records of births dating back to 1748, as follows :-

" Ruth Bull, Daughter of nathan bull was born In Crom Elbow precinct in Duchess County & province of new York the fourth Day of August 1748 & recorded by me Isaac Germond, Clerk.

" Joseph Harris son of Moses harris was born in Crom Elbow precinct the 6th Day of May, 1750.

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History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 55

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