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 56
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" Nicol Lewis son of Leut Lewis was born in Crom Elbow precinct the 13th Day of August, 175I.
* "Jeremiah bull son of nathan Bull was born
* the 7th Day of June, 1752.
" John Earll son of John Earll Deceased was
born * the 28th Day of December, 1748.
" Ezekiel Spricor son of Jacob Spricor was Born
* the first Day of March, 1751. *
" Lusse Spricor wife of Ezekial Spricor Deceased the IIth June, 1756.
" Isaiah bull son of nathan Bull was born the Second Day of May, 1756."
These are all recorded by Isaac Germond, and the parties mentioned were among the first dwellers in this vicinity.
Another early recorded settlement is that of Derrick Van Vliet, who located in the town about 1755. Jonathan Lyon was also an early settler. He came from Westchester County and purchased a farm one mile northeast of Clinton Hollow. The land is now included in the estate of Amos Lyon.
Another early settler was Isaiah Sherman, who purchased a portion of the Creed patent of the Nine Partners Tract. His descendants are now living in the town, among whom are Smith Sherman, Arthur Sherman and Richard Sherman, great- great-grandchildren.
It is not known when the first town meeting was held. The earlier records, which undoubtedly would contain much of historical interest, have, through the frequent changes of officials and fre- quent removals from place to place, been lost or destroyed, and those records now in the possession of the town are fragmentary and disconnected. From the records extant we gather the following succession of supervisors and clerks from 1847 to 1881 :-
SUPERVISORS. CLERKS.
1847. Elnathan Gazley,
Wesley Butts.
1848. Wesley Butts, Thomas J. Sands.
1849. Daniel H. Schultz, do do
1850. Stephen H. Smith, John F. B. Stouten-
1851. Fred C. Filkins, AlbertS. Ring. [burgh.
1852. Gilbert Bentley, Martin H. Combs.
1853. Robert D. Cornell, do do
1854. do do Mark Wilber.
1855. Jonathan P. Shel- Maurice Traver.
1856. do do [don, David Bedell.
1857. John G. Halstead, John F. Schultz.
1858. do do John D. Wilber.
1859-'60. Fred B. Schultz, Geo. H. Gazley.
1861. Wilson Hicks, John F. Schultz.
1862-'63. John S. Wing, Theodore J. Crouse.
1864. Egbert C. Butler, Hiram J, Wing.
1865. J. F. B. Stoutenburgh, do do
1866. Philip Cookingham, Jacob Z. Frost.
* Dutch-Krom Elleboge, crooked elbow.
*
HEICH
'MARIENRUH"
LA EHLERS DEL'
CATSKILLS
FROM MARIA
A FARM VIEW AT MAKIEN HUH
VIEW SOUTH
RESIDENCE OF L. A. EHLERS, RHINEBECK, N. Y.
T
285
TOWN OF CLINTON.
1867. David B. Haight,
George Van Vliet.
1 868-'69. do
do Theodore J. Crouse.
1870. Jacob Z. Frost,
Harvey S. Van Dyne.
1871. do do J. E. Allendorf.
1872. H. R. Van Vliet,
Daniel H. Carhart.
1873. do do Mandeville E. Bur- do do [ger.
1874. John H. Otis,
1875-'76. do do Isaac H. Halsted.
1877. Mandeville Burger, William H. Sleight.
1878.
Timothy G. Palmer, LeGrande Graham.
879. Duane Story, Chas. W. Carpenter.
1880. Smith Sherman,
1881. Duane Story,
LeGrande Graham. Geo. H. Gazley.
Clinton contains no villages of any commercial importance. The chief post hamlets are Clinton Hollow, Clinton Corners, Hibernia, Schultzville, and Pleasant Plains.
CLINTON HOLLOW.
Clinton Hollow lies in the southern part of the town, and contains two stores, postoffice, wagon shop (Henry Lattin), blacksmith shop (Leonard I. Tripp), shoe shop (George C. Briggs), and a saw and grist-mill (LeGrande Graham).
The postmaster here is Seneca Butts, who has held that office some four years. The merchants are George H. Gazley, a native of Hyde Park, born in 1834, who has been in business here four years, and William E. Knickerbacker, who has been in business here three years. A family of this latter name were early settlers near this place.
CLINTON CORNERS.
Clinton Corners, in the southeastern part of the town, contains one store, a post-office, church, blacksmith shop, (Samuel C. Briggs), harness shop (Edward Weed), and a few dwellings.
The postmaster is Gilbert T. Pearsall, who was appointed ten years ago.
The merchant is Arthur D. Buckley, a native of Amenia, born in 1856, who began business here in April, 1881.
An early merchant here was Abel Peters, who in his day was a man of wealth and prominence, and who, sometime about 1792, built quite a spacious house, which is still standing, near this place. He also kept a hotel, an institution now unknown in this town, but both the hotel and the store in which he did business, have since passed from existence. At this place stands the venera- ble Quaker Meeting House, known as the " Creek Meeting House," an old gray, stone building, which was built in 1777.
The society was organized in 1777, but at what date cannot be definitely ascertained. Among the early members were George Harris, Isaac Hallock and Paul Upton. The latter we assume to be the Upton so prominent in the early days of the Quaker Society in Stanford. It is quite probable that the Society of Friends in Stanford had its origin in this locality.
In 1828 a separation occurred on account of the dissention of Elias Hicks, and those who did not adhere to him-called the Orthodox Quakers -formed a new society, and in 1829 built the church which stands a mile or so north of this old stone building, and which is known as the Ortho- dox Meeting House at the Creek. The old house has stood against the storms of over a century and seems yet to be in good condition, and able to pass through the changes of another hundred years. This is one of the few landmarks of the pioneer times. A new slate roof has been added to the building within a comparatively few years, on which the date of its erection is imprinted. The present membership of the society is between sixty and seventy. The old, gray building stands a monument to the patience and perseverance of the peaceful people who erected it. It was built in a time of danger and distress. Their early attempts at worship here, as elsewhere through- out the country, were met by scoffs and persecution. They were made the by-word and the reproach of people educated in other forms of belief ; and, as if to add the cli- max to their troubles, during the erection of their building the thunder of Revolutionary cannon broke in upon the rural stillness,* and the contin- ued demand for soldiers involved them in newer difficulties. Theirs was a religion of peace, not of war; and on different occasions the hammer and the adze were silent, and the course of construc- tion was suspended while they withdrew from the danger of impressment to the work of bloodshed, for which, as a people, they have ever had such an abhorrence.
Their perseverance was at last rewarded. Their church was built, even amid the tumult of war, and here the early fathers calmly heard of the de- feat at Brandywine and the triumph of Yorktown ; and here they worshiped until one by one their generation passed away, and the children of the succeeding generation came upon the stage to play their part in the drama of events.
* The British, under Vaughan, passed up the river on their marauding expedition during this year.
286
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
HIBERNIA.
Hibernia, in the extreme southeastern part, is a post-hamlet containing a few dwellings. There is nothing of interest here but a grist-mill and a house which were built over a century ago by two men of the name of Everson. Whether father and son, or brothers, is not known. To this locality they gave the name of Hibernia, in honor of Ireland, the land of their birth.
SCHULTZVILLE.
Schultzville, in the eastern part of the town, is probably the most important of the hamlets.
The postmaster is Timothy G. Palmer, who was appointed ten years ago.
The only merchant is William H. Sleight, who has been in business here nine years, succeeding Hiram Bentley, who had for some five years con- ducted the business.
This place derived its name from the Schultz family. Theodore A. Schultz, son of David H. Schultz, was born here March 8, 1838, and died January 22, 1862. He was one of the most promi- nent young men of the town. He was the donor of the edifice erected here for the Christian Church in 1865. He also donated funds for the purpose of purchasing a site and erecting a hall for Warren Lodge, F. and A. M., and a fine building was erect- ed, which stands as a monument to the generous donor, who died here twenty years ago.
Warren Lodge, No. 32, is one of the oldest lodges in the State. It bad its origin in Pine Plains, from whence it was transferred to this place. It was re-organized here in 1865.
First Christian Church of Clinton .*- This church, located at Schultzville, in the town of Clinton, was organized in the spring of 1863. Like many of the Christain churches it never be- came a branch of any neighboring church. The ministers of the Milan church had supplied this community with preaching for several years, first at monthly, and afterward at semi-monthly intervals. In the spring of 1846 several gentleman, among whom were David H. Schultz, Benjamin Conger, Peter Denny, M. D., Edward Pultz and Smith J. Gildersleeve, invited the Rev. Philetus Roberts to hold regular services in the lecture room over the store. These services continued for several years, other denominations holding occasional services there also. In 1864, Theodore A. Schultz, who had
inherited a handsome property from his father's estate, and who had for the two preceding years lingered with the consumption, decided a short time before his death to bequeath to the church two and a half acres of land for a public ceme- tery, and on a portion of it also to have erected a house of worship, towards the building of which he made a bequest of three thousand dollars. The Supreme Court appointed the three acting trustees of the church-S. J. Gildersleeve, E. Pultz, and G. Budd-as receivers of the property, a proper title being executed, and they proceeded to erect the church building, which was done in 1866. Immediately on occupying the chapel a number of the members of other churches in the place changed their relation to the Schultzville Clin- ton Church.
The increase of the membership during the next three years was such that the congregation decided to build a parsonage and settle a minister. At this time Rev. J. Q. Evans succeeded R. Mosher as pastor. Sheds for a large number of teams, and a lecture or Sabbath-school room, were erect- ed soon after. Mr. Evans remained in charge of the church more than twice as long as his prede- cessor, and aided in organizing a strong Sabbath- school, which has marked a new era in the work of this religious body.
The Abbott brothers, Alonzo F. and Emerson T., succeeded Mr. Evans from five and a half to six years, each filling the pastorate for about the same length of time. Like Mr. Evans, they were men of considerable talent.
The church was blessed with somne revivals, but the larger additions to the body were secured dur- ing Mr. Evans' and the first part of Mr. A. F. Abbott's pastorate. Rev. B. F. Fanton succeeded the Elders Abbott. Having spent a few years in the Theological School at Meadville, Pa., he brought to this people the cultured thought he had there secured. He served the church two years, and although few were added to the body by membership, the congregation being sustained was much profited by his able ministry and exemplary life. E. T. Ab- bott, of whom we have spoken, followed Mr. Fan- ton. The church had held its own numerically for sev- eral years. If correct, the highest Conference report was from 150 to 160 members. During the fall and winter of 1880 and 1881, the desk was sup- plied by two or three applicants for the place but as spring approached it was more frequently sup- plied by Osmun R. Allen, a student of the " Chris- tian Biblical Institute" of this county. He soon
* For the history of this church we are indebted to the Rev. Philetus Roberts, of Clinton Corners, for many years a pastor in the Christian denomination.
287
TOWN OF CLINTON.
became the choice of the entire community. He having united with the N. Y. Eastern Christian Con- ference at its June session, the church requested his ordination by that body. The ordaining council met at the Chapel by appointment ; and by an imposing ceremony in the presence of a large assembly he was publicly set apart to the religious and official work of the Christian ministry. As a young man of talent, of piety, and withal, a worker in each department of religious labor, we predict for him, in the not far future, well earned and praise-worthy success.
The only physician here is Dr. Edwin S. Hoyt, a native of Clinton, born in April, 1845, who graduated from the Albany Medical College December 22, 1874, and began here his practice.
LEROY'S MILLS, OR CORNERS.
LeRoy's Mills, or Corners, in the western part of the town contains a store, postoffice, a grist-mill, and a few dwellings.
This mill was built about the year 1775, by a man named DeWitt, and used as a country grist- mill. It was afterward bought by a Mr. Lyons and then by John LeRoy, who, in connection with his son, run it for upwards of forty years as a mer- chant and custom mill. It was afterwards owned by George Cookingham, then by Morris & LeRoy. The latter named partner, LeRoy, then bought out and repaired the whole property. It then passed into the hands of the present firm, J. Z. Frost & Co., (J. Z. Frost and Phillip D. Cookingham.)
It is a frame building 35 by 55 feet, three stories high, costing about $8,000, and comprising a flour and feed mill. This firm also own a saw- mill, which is operated by the same water-power.
The postoffice was removed from Pleasant Plains to this place a few years ago, and still re- tains the name of its former location. The post- master is Phillip D. Cookingham, who was ap- pointed three years ago.
Frederic Hicks, the only merchant, has been in business here three years, succeeding Daniel H. Carhart, who had traded here for some seven years.
A little north of this place stands an old, low- roofed, cobble-stone house, now owned by James Uhl, which was built in 1768.
PLEASANT PLAINS.
Pleasant Plains lies in the western part of the town, and is a name given to a locality rather than
to a hamlet of any extent. The name is in every respect appropriate, for it is one of the most pleasant portions of the township, the land level and fertile, and bearing evidence of thrift and abundance. The dwellings are few but comfort- able. There is no business transacted here save that which pertains to agriculture, and no public building, except the sedate church, which seems to stand as a drowsy sentinel over the quiet neigh- borhood.
At this place is one physician, Dr. Edwin Barnes, a graduate of Albany Medical College, who was an Assistant Surgeon in the army during the late war, and who came to Pleasant Plains thirteen years ago.
The earliest recorded effort for the establish- ment and maintenance of religious worship in this neighborhood is found in the "Book of Records of the Trustees for Providence Society, in Charlotte Precinct."
By a deed dated September 15, 1784, "in con- sideration of the good will and affection he bears unto the inhabitants in this neighborhood of Lot No. 4 of the small division of the Great Nine Partners, in Duchess county, for the encouragement of religion and vital piety, and for the encourage- ment of education, Richard Alsop, of Newtown, Queens county, New York, gave, granted, con- veyed and confirmed unto Timothy Doughty, Henry Humphrey, and John DeWitt, Jun., Trus- tees for a Society of the Reformed Church of Holland, as now constituted in America, or, agree- ably to the constitution of the Kirk of Scotland, to them and their successors forever, trustees of said Society, in this neighborhood of said Lot No. 4, for the express purpose of having a house erected for the worship of Almighty God, and a school-house for the education of youth on the premises,-a certain parcel of land, being part of said Lot No. 4, to contain two acres."
December 5, 1785, the inhabitants of the neigh- borhood above mentioned, assembled, after due notice according to law, to avail themselves of the provision of Mr. Alsop, and to elect trustees to care for the temporalities of the congregation. The following persons were elected trustees :- John Lawrence, Cornelius Van Vliet, David Knapp, John DeWitt, Jr., Jesse Bell and Timothy Doughty, and the name by which they were to be known was declared to be "The Trustees of the Presby- terian Providence Society." These trustees were divided into classes of two, one class going out annually, and renewed up to October, 1789.
288
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
April 27, 1787, a committee was appointed to attend the meeting of the Duchess County Pres- bytery to be held on the second of the following May, to petition that body for a stated supply of a quarter of his time. The committee reported May 5th that they had discharged their duty-that the Presbytery gave them no decided answer, but ex- pressed a hope that the Rev. Wheeler Case would be able to serve them.
On the records of August 20, 1787, there is a minute of an agreement with Rev. Wheeler Case to devote one-third of his time to them, beginning July Ist, 1787, in consideration of the payment of £23, 7 s., July 1, 1788.
This record of the Trustees of Providence Soci- ety terminates in October, 1789, and with it the Presbyterian Providence Society of Charlotte Pre- cinct passes from sight.
Well authenticated tradition shows that the Re- formed Church of Hyde Park, of which the Van Vliets were prominent and active members, occu- pied the field some years subsequently. A church was organized and kept up for a time, but under adverse circumstances. It was finally abandoned, and its membership transferred to Hyde Park.
During the existence of the Reformed Church it was ministered to by the Rev. Drs. Bethe- rus, Broadhead, and others. It is the tradi- tion that it was the desire of the donor of the property that the Reformed Church should have priority in the effort to organize a religious society.
Divine service seems to have been kept up, after the withdrawal of the Reformed Church from the field, as often as a supply could be obtained. Coming down to within the memory of the present time, we find that services were occasionally held in the school-house on the property where the church now stands, and at the residence of John LeRoy, of LeRoy's Mills, by the Presbyterian ministers of this region, among whom were the Rev. Dr. John Johnston, of Newburgh, Rev. Messrs. Price, of Fishkill, Clark and Wile, of Pleasant Valley, Hall, Tuckerman and others.
The first official record in connection with the present church, is that of its organization, and is as follows :- The Presbyterian Church of Pleasant Plains was organized on the 28th day of March, 1837, by Rev. Alonzo Welton, of Poughkeepsie, and consisted of the following thirteen persons, viz : John LeRoy, Isaiah Van Keuren, John Platt, William Odell, Stephen LeRoy, Thomas De Witt LeRoy, Hannah LeRoy, Gertrude Van Keuren,
Malinda LeRoy, Welthy LeRoy, Jane M. Odell and Phebe Ann McAvery.
The above named persons were, at their own request, dismissed from the Presbyterian Church of Pleasant Valley, on the 15th day of March, 1837, for the purpose aforesaid.
John LeRoy and Isaiah Van Keuren were set apart and ordained elders of the church. John Platt was chosen and set apart as deacon. The following persons then appeared before the session, were examined and admitted to the church mem- bership, to wit : Henry Hewitt, George DeWint, John McAvery, Rosella DeWint, Barnet LeRoy, Stephen Odell, Abigail Odell and Emma Hewitt.
The church since its organization has had the following stated supplies and pastors :-
First the Rev. William N. Sayre, stated supply for a year and a quarter, beginning December 30, 1837. He was succeeded by Rev. William Hill, called April 27, 1837, installed in June, remaining one year.
Rev, Mr. Heath succeeded Mr. Hill as a supply for six months.
The Rev. Sherman Hoyt was then called to the pastorate. Mr. Hoyt was born March 21, 1807, and came to Pleasant Plains in 1843. For eighteen years he was pastor over this church, and on account of failing health he was compelled to leave the ministry. He purchased a small farm near the church where he now resides. The Rev. Joshua Collins succeeded Mr. Hoyt as supply, remaining two years. Then came Rev. Elisha D. Bates, one year, and Rev. Sumner Mandeville, one year.
May Ist, 1865, the Rev. Austin P. Stockwell was invited to the pastorate. He was installed October 11, 1865, and resigned July 5, 1869. The Rev. Messrs. Parsons and Fisher succeeded Mr. Stockwell as supplies, each for six months. The present pastor, the Rev. S. Nye Hutchuson,* began his labors April Ist, 1872.
Of these various laborers, those who left the deepest impression on the minds of the people were the Revs. Sayre, Stockwell and Hoyt. Mr. Sayre was laborious, earnest and effective. His ministry is represented as having been one of great power. The Rev. Mr. Stockwell came into the church from the seminary, and by his attractions as a man and a preacher he soon secured the affection of the people. His was a successful ministry, and the hearts of his people still follow him in his separa- tion from them. But to the Rev. Sherman Hoyt
* To this latter gentlemanly clergyman we are indebted for the history of this church, which, by his consent, has been taken from a historical sermon delivered by him July 2, 1876, but somewhat condensed.
1.18 Bentley
289
TOWN OF CLINTON.
the church owes more than to any other for what it is and will be. During an active ministry of eighteen years, and an additional period of fifteen, in which he has resided in their midst, his pure guileless life has exemplified the doctrines he pro- claimed. In addition to his labors in the pulpit, he has exercised a powerful influence over the minds of the young throughout the entire region by means of the school which he has so successful- ly maintained for many years, and in which a large proportion of the youth of the town have been educated.
The church has had fourteen Elders, beginning with John LeRoy and Isaiah VanKeuren, under whom the church was organized.
Abraham LeRoy, William Odell and David Traver, Jr., were elected Aug. 17, 1839; B. I. VanKeuren and Stephen LeRoy, Aug. 18, 1839 ; Messrs. Sheriger, P. D. Cookingham and M. L. Traver, Nov. 7, 1857; Jesse Merritt, Feb. 18, 1866; Nathaniel Lamoree, Michael Cookingham and Luther Lloyd, July 6, 1872.
The Deacons have been John Platt and Mark Wilber.
Beginning with the twenty-one members of its first organization the church has had about four hundred members. The first services, prior to the erection of the church edifice, were held in the school house formerly located on the south side of the building. The present church was built in 1837, at an expense of $2,000. It was enlarged to its present size in 1859, at a cost of $1,250.
It is but just to record here that the society were greatly aided in the construction of the church by the munificence of John LeRoy, who first contributed $300.00, and then advanced $1,200 to pay the balance due. The interest on the latter was left unpaid until principal and interest amounted to about $2,000. Mr. LeRoy then generously cancelled the entire obligation in con- sideration that the church would raise $500.00 with which to build sheds and fence.
The parsonage was built in 1866, on a piece of land purchased of H. R. Van Vliet, and at an entire cost of about $3.000.00.
CLINTON IN THE REBELLION.
The records of Clinton's participation in the war of the Rebellion have never been kept, or if kept, have never been preserved. We append, however, the few names that could be gathered from military records and other sources, of those who repre- sented the town in that struggle.
128th Regiment, Company C .- Derrick Brown, corporal; William B. Brown, Robert A. Day, Jas. M. Hewitt, Augustus Ashorn, James K. Brown, John S. Hadden, Murray Howard, Roger T. Jones, Charles E. Kissover, Charles Ketterer, Charles P. Murch, Alvin G. Murch.
Company D .- J. W. Myers, J. J. Marshall, Chas. Boyce, Martin Rickett, Morgan S. St. John.
Company I .- Stephen Moore, Isaac P. Smith, John G. Moore, John Donnelly, Lawrence Taaffe, Robert O. Smith, David Chase, George E. Thomas.
Scattering .- Matthias Graff, Co. K ; James A. Hewitt, Co. E ; William T. Parker, Patrick Tier- ney, Herman Liebald, Jacob VanDecker, George W. Jacobs, George F. Browning, J. G. French, J. R. Clark, F. R. Tower, John Doyle, Charles Myers, William White.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
COLONEL GILBERT BENTLEY.
Colonel Gilbert Bentley of the town of Clinton, was born in Pine Plains, at the romantic little vil- lage of Mount Ross, January 22, 1810, where he remained until eight years of age when his father exchanged his place for the one on which Col. Bentley now lives. His father Major Henry Bent- ley was the youngest son of William Bentley of the town of Beekman, who came from Rhode Island about one hundred and thirty years ago. He was of English descent. Henry was born in the town of Beekman (now Union Vale) in 1771. He was married to Catharine Hall, of Union Vale, by whom he had nine children-five sons and four daughters -of whom Gilbert was the sixth child and youngest son.
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