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 57
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After studying at the common school Gilbert at- tended an educational institution in the town of Washington, and subsequently a select school in Bethlehem, Litchfield Co. Conn. He ranked high as a student, and at the age of eighteen was quali- fied to teach school, and soon after attaining to his majority, became inspector of schools.
Nov. 21, 1828, his father died leaving him at the age of eighteen, to grapple alone with the world as best he could. The following spring Gilbert reluct- antly entered into the business of farming which he has followed ever since with order and system. At the age of twenty he became interested in the cause of temperance which was then in its incip- iency and has always been a fearless and open advocate of the abolition of intoxicating liquors as a beverage. He opposed the system of granting licenses ; and when, after his election as Justice of the Peace, he became a member of the Board of
290
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
Excise, he stated his views so effectively at the first meeting that no reply was made. In two or three years thereafter there were no applications for license in the town ; and but two licenses, both of which proved abortive, have been granted since, during some forty-five years. He was the first in his vicinity to break through the old established and pernicious custom of using intoxicating bever- ages during haying or harvest-a course which at that time caused much speculation. His services as a public speaker were in great demand at the various temperance gatherings where he was lis- tened to with most profound respect.
May 27, 1831 he was appointed Adjutant of the 14Ist Regiment New York State Infantry under the command of David W. Carroll ; E. T. Throop being Governor and John A. Dix, Adjutant- General. May 3, 1834, he was promoted to the position of Major and Sept. 8, 1835, to the rank of Colonel, while William L. Marcy was Governor and Levi Hubbell, Adjutant-General. In military tactics he was qualified and efficient. Order and obedience were his stern requisites. Having had regular instructions in sword exercise, and under- standing the art as well as the theory of handling infantry, he was often supposed to have received his military education at West Point.
Early in life he took a deep interest in political matters, casting his first vote in 1831, and voting for presidential electors in 1832. He was a dele- gate in the Young Men's County Convention for the ratification of the nomination of Andrew Jack- son as President, and to appoint delegates to a State Convention for the same purpose. In 1836 he was appointed one of the representatives from this county to the Young Men's State Convention at Utica, on the 6th of October, for the ratification of the nomination of Martin Van Buren, and on his return, at the request of General Mason, Sen- ator from this district, he visited Governor Marcy at his residence where the distinguished nominee for President was then stopping.
Dec. 12, 1838 he was united in marriage with Catharine Stewart of the town of Clinton, daughter of William W. Stewart, a son of Major William Stewart who was in service in the Revolution. They had five children : Mary, Elizabeth, Emma, Irving, and Henry,-Mary dying at the age of twenty-three and Henry at seventeen.
In 1842 Col. Bentley was elected to the Legisla- ture where he was made member of the Committee on Militia and Public Defence. On account of duties at home demanding attention, he declined a nomination the following year, much to the dis- satisfaction of his warm friends and supporters. In 1844 he was a delegate to the Senatorial Conven- tion at Newburgh. The Democratic party, in 1843, entered upon a stormy period in its history. Following the financial panic of 1837 and the defeat of Van Buren in 1840, came the internal plagues of "Barnburnerism" and " Hunkerism." With the disintegration of the old parties new political issues arose.
In 1848, as the " Free Soil" spirit took political
form, Colonel Bentley, opposed the extension of slavery into free territory and advocating the right of freedom for all, became an active " Free Soiler." Distrusting Buchanan's integrity, he voted for Fremont in 1856, thus after much serious reflec- tion, breaking from his party on conscientious grounds ; holding that principles vital to a nation's interests are of more importance than mere party supremacy. The index of his character is well presented in the following lines which have been one of his ruling maxims :
" What conscience dictates to be done, Or warns me not to do, This teaches more than hell to shun. That, more than heaven pursue. '
Accordingly, he supported Mr. Lincoln for Pres- ident, and both at home and as a delegate to the Republican Convention in Philadelphia, vigorously sustained his administration,-the National colors constantly floating from the top of the flag-staff at his residence, that all might see in those dark days when many wavered, where he stood in the great struggle. Early and earnestly he advocated a proc- lamation for emancipation as a war measure justi- fiable and right under the circumstances. In 1872 he acted with the Liberal wing of the Republican party, and was Chairman of the County Conven- tion of that party when the union of the Demo- crats with it for the support of the presidential election for Horace Greeley was accomplished.
Many minor public trusts have been thrust upon him by his fellow citizens, who have long known his ability and integrity of character. Thus, in 1852, he was elected Supervisor ; was chairman of the board of canvassers ; was a member of the com- mittees on Sheriffs' and Surrogate's accounts and printer's bills, and the following year was chosen Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. Several times he has been chosen Inspector of Election ; has served two terms as Assessor of his town; has fre- quently been appointed foreman of grand juries, and has had much to do as administrator and ex- ecutor in the settlement of estates. In the dis- charge of the duties of these varied positions he has ever proved faithful and efficient, thus, by his fidelity and sound judgment, meriting the honors so frequently bestowed.
Col. Bentley, in these and many other ways, has had much to do, in his long and useful life, in shaping public opinion and directing the public affairs of his town and county ; while his influence has also reached far beyond these limits. As a citizen he has been public-spirited and a leader. He aid- ed in organizing the Milan Union Cemetery Asso- ciation and has been President of its Board of Trustees more than twenty years. He regards his political life with satisfaction, inasmuch as he has lived to see the accomplishment of that for which he has labored-a nation without a slave from sea to sea. In probity and uprightness, in his private and public life, in social and in business relations, he has few superiors. Accepting the great funda- mental truths of revelation as embodied in the christian religion, and a member of a christian church, and decided in his convictions, he at the
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TOWN OF STANFORD.
same time recognizes the right of others to determ- ine their beliefs, and to enjoy the fullness of their own honest convictions likewise ; so that, with him, theological differences constitute no bar to good fellowship. In the cause of temperance, morality and humanity, his influence for many years has been great ; and though, as an actor in human event, he passed away, his work will abide to bless the world. For truly his life has been one of honor and of worth, and such a life is ranged on the side of ultimate victory.
CHAPTER XXIV.
HISTORY OF STANFORD.
T HE town of Stanford lies in the northern part of the county, a little north and east from the center. It is bounded on the north by Milan and Pine Plains ; on the east by North East and Amenia; on the south by Washington, and on the west by Clinton.
The chief bodies of water are Wappinger's Creek, Hunn's Lake-formerly known as Thomp- son's Pond, in the northeast, and Upton's Lake in the southwest corner of the town, the latter deriving its name from Paul Upton, one of the early pion- eers of the town, who came from Lynn, Massa- chusetts, and settled near the lake. The highest point is Carpenter Hill in the northeastern corner. The soil of the town is a gravelly and slaty loam.
The population of Stanford at the last census was 2,092 .*
This town, which was included in the Great Nine Partners tract, granted to Caleb Heathcote and others, May 27, 1697, was formed from Washing- ton, March 12, 1793.
It is not known who were the first to settle in the present limits of the town, but settlements were made here some time previous to the year 1755, by people who had immigated from Massachusetts. In 1759, on some old church records, we find the names of Ephraim and Comer Bullock, and these are the earliest recorded names of which anything is known.
The family of Dibble was a quite noted family here at an early day. Christopher Dibble, the an- cestor, immigrated from Long Island and settled in the northern part of Stanford, and, in 1782, built a house on what is now the Titus farm. This house was taken down some forty years ago. Many of the descendants of Isaah Dibble, his son, are now
living in Stanford and Pine Plains. In the old family burial ground is his grave, bearing the fol- lowing inscription :--
" In memory of Christopher Dibble, who died May 27, 1804, in 63d yr. of his age."
And one
" In memory of Elizabeth Dibble, wife of above, who died December 1, 1803, Æ 70 yrs."
Isaah Dibble died in 1827.
The first town meeting for Stanford was held in the dwelling house of Ephraim Paine in 1793. The officers elected were :- James Tallmadge, Super- visor ; Solo [mon] Sutherland, Town Clerk ; William Cash, James Hildreth, Lewis Barton, Assessors ; John Sherwood, Collector; John Sherwood, William Bockee, Benjamin Dimmie (or Dimmick,) Con- stables ; Zachariah Mosher, Elias Walbridge, Over- seers of Poor ; Gurdon Miller, Jeremiah Sherril, John Thompson, Commissioners of Highways; Wm. R. Sutherland, Amos Knapp, Asa Allen, George Adsit, Samuel Lovett, Pound-masters.
The following has been the succession of super- visors and town clerks from 1795* to 1881 :--
Supervisors.
Clerks.
1795. Ezra Thompson,
Solomon Sutherland.
1796. Joseph Carpenter, Amos Knapp.
1797. Zachariah Mosher, Leonard Barton.
1798. do do
Rufus Bark.
1799-1801. do do
John R. Green.
1802. do do Amos Knapp.
1803-'04. Isaac Huntling,
do do
1805-'06. John Thompson, do do
1807-'12. Jeremiah Sherril, do do
1813. do do Jonathan Haight.
1814.1 1815. do do
Josiah Sutherland.
1816-'17. Jehiel Sackett,
Jonathan Haight.
1818-'19. Leonard Barton, Henry Bushnell.
1820. do do
John Purdy.
I82 I. Gilbert Thorne,
Ebenezer Mott.
1822-'23. do do
John Purdy.
1824. Leonard Thompson, do do
1825. Jonathan Haight, do do
1826. do do
Silas I. Deuel.
1827-'28. Jacob Sisson, (?)
Joseph Gildersleeve.
1829. Leonard Barton, do do
1830. do do
Silas I. Deuel.
1831. Gilbert Thorne,
Henry Gildersleeve.
1832. do do Wm. H. Stewart.
1833. Isaac Thompson, do do
1834. Benjamin Conger, do do
1835. do do Newton Deuel.
1836. Morgan Huntling, do do
1837. John Thompson, do do
1838. do do
Wm. H. Stewart.
1839-'40. Wm. H. Stewart,
Newton Deuel.
1841. Harris Smith,
Henry Tallmadge.
* 1794 does not appear in the records.
+ Record lost from book, but probably Jeremiah Sherril was super visor.
* In 1870, 1, 216, 1875, 2,137.
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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
1842.
Egbert Austin,
Morgan Huntling.
1843. do do Nehemiah Halsted.
1844.
Rufus(?) Smith,
Joseph Gildersleeve.
1845.
Steph'n G. Guernsey, Alonzo Buel.
1846.
,
John H. Otis,
John S. Thorne.
1847.
do do
Alonzo Buel.
1848-'49. Orville Sackett,
do do
1850.
Amos B. Knapp,*
do do
1851.
Alfred Mosher,
do
do
1852.
Henry Rikert, do
do
do
1854.
do do
Howard T. Tripp.
1855.
Jacob B. Carpenter, do
do
1856.
C. N. Campbell,
do do
1857.
E. M. Vanderburgh, do
do
1858. do do
Wm. H. Tripp.
1859.
Isaac S. Carpenter, Henry C. Haight.
1860.
C. N. Campbell,
Wm. H. Tripp.
186 1.
Isaac G. Sands,
Wm. H. Cowdrey.
1862. do do Wm. G. Odell.
1863.
Wm. H. Tripp, Edward B. Gregory.
1864.
George Peck,
John N. Bullis.
1865.
Mulford Conklin,
Charles Gregory.
1866-'67. Andrew C. Warren, Lewis Palmer. Wm. H. Tripp, 1868.
I869. do do
Mulford Conklin,
Sands D. Underhill. do do
1872.
do do Henry K. Sikes.
1873.
do do
Sands D. Underhill.
1874.
Silas W. Germond, T. Knickerbacker.
1875. Silas O. Rogers,
J. E. Bowen.
1876. Oliver K. Smith,
T. Knickerbacker.
1877-'79. Isaac Carpenter,
Joseph E. Bowen.
1880-'81. John W. Butts,
T. Knickerbacker.
We find in these town books records of slave- holding and slave births as late as 1817. The first bears date May 16, 1801, and is a record of the birth of a "male child, named Sigh, of Sall, a negro slave to Israel Lewis, farmer," and recorded May 24, 1802, by Amos Knapp, town clerk.
" Sept. the 13th, was born a male child, named Simon, of Phebe, a negro slave to Daniel Lewis, farmer. Recorded this Ist day of Aug., 1803. AMOS KNAPP, Clerk."
"Feb. the 3d 1799, was born a male child, named Leonard, of Bills, a Negro Slave to Gurdon Miller, farmer, " and recorded April 3, 1804.
Another record certifies that
" Lewis Barton in the town of Stanford, in the Co. of Duchess and State of New York, is Dis- posed to manumit his Black woman named Rhoda, being under the age of fifty years, and of sufficient ability to Provide for herself, in our opinion.
" Stanford Town, March 26, 1805.
THOMAS PLATT, Overseers JAHAEL SACKETT. S of Poor. WILLIAM BELL, Justice of Peace.
" Recorded this 27, d. March, 1805.
AMOS KNAPP, Clerk."
Whether this liberation was the result of magna- nimity, or whether the advancing age of the slave foreshadowed a possible burden in the future, the records unfortunately do not show. It was, how- ever, in those days no uncommon thing for a slave owner to shift the burden of responsibility from his own shoulders to the shoulders of the many,- to rid himself of the entire burden of a future tax by liberating his slave to become at last a tax upon the citizens at large. It would throw much light upon the thoughts and feelings of people in those times did we but know the motives which actuated these liberations.
The succeeding Article of Freedom would seem to indicate a spirit of magnanimity.
" Know all men by these presents, that I, Dan- iel Lewis, of the town of Stanford, in Duchess Co. & State of New York, do this day manumit my slave, Adonijah Buckingham, and set him at his Liberty, to Do and Act for himself as a free man ; as witness my hand and Seal this 19 of December, one thousand eight hundred and ten, in presants of Asa A. Thompson,
"Accepted by us, Overseers of Poor of said town, the above named Adonijah Buckingham as one of the free men of said town.
ROBERT RIDER Overseers
ASA H. THOMPSON S of Poor. "Recorded March the 11th day, 1811."
And a femal slave, named Dine Varnam, is likewise set free by Elizabeth Bunkerhoof.
The last of the records is of the birth of a female child named Gin, of Susan, a negro slave to Samuel Hunting, farmer, May 29, 1817, and recorded March 24, 1818, by Jonathan Haight, town clerk.
The principal villages in the town are Stanford- ville and Bangall. Attlebury P. O., in the north- eastern part and Old Attlebury, in the northern part, are names given to localities in the town rather than names of hamlets. Attlebury is a rail- road station. The postmaster here is Wesson Haight.
STISSINGVILLE.
Stissing, or Stissingville, in the north-east, is at the junction of the Poughkeepsie, Hartford & Boston, and the Newburgh, Duchess & Connecticut rail- roads. Samuel Ambler is the postmaster and only merchant here.
MCINTYRE.
McIntyre is also a station on the Poughkeepsie, Hartford & Boston Railroad. The postmaster here is J. W. Butts. Willett Hicks is the only merchant.
* No choice by electors, A. B. Knapp appointed by the justices.
David Shelden.
1870.
1871.
Andrew C. Warren,
T. Knickerbacker.
do
1853.
Ezra Bryan,
293
TOWN OF STANFORD.
HULLS MILLS P. O.
Hulls Mills P. O., in the eastern part of the town, contains one store and a few scattered dwell- ings. The postmaster is Smith P. Tompkins, appointed some twelve years ago. The merchant is Simon Losee, who has been in business here ten years.
BARE MARKET.
Bare Market,* in the western part, contains a small number of houses. It derived it name, according to the people of the town, from the bare- ness of the cuisine and tap-room of an old citizen who kept here, at an early day, a sort of grocery and liquor store. Being visited one night by a party of convivialists who consumed all the edibles and liquor, and not being able, even at their earnest request, to replenish his stock, the party went away piqued and disappointed, and derisively named the place "Bare Market," by which appel- lation it has since been known.
STANFORDVILLE.
Stanfordville, in the southern part of the town, on the Poughkeepsie, Hartford and Boston rail- road, has a population of 340, and is a place of some considerable business importance.
The postmaster here is Henry J. Knickerbacker, who was appointed in 1875. He is also a dealer in general merchandise, in which business he has been engaged since April, 1873. The building in which his business is transacted was built by Elder Philetus Roberts, pastor of the Christian church, about fifteen years ago, and in which his son-in-law, Charles Waltermier, was the first to keep a store. He was here some two years, and was succeeded by Melius & Link, who kept it about a year ; then Carroll & Knickerbacker, one year, then Carroll alone for two years, from whom the present pro- prietor purchased. Mr. Knickerbacker is a native of Milan, born in 1842.
The only other merchant here is John H. Miller, who has been in business here sixteen years, suc- ceeding David P. Ketcham, who had conducted the store six years. The business was established by William Stewart in 1835, by whom it was con- ducted until 1856. Mr. Miller is a native of Clin- ton, born in 1842, and has been a resident of Stanford thirty-one years.
Hiram J. Wing, harness and horse furnishing goods, has been in business here since 1875. His
place of business is in a part of the building erected for the lodge of Good Templars, and abandoned by them in the fall of 1871.
The other business interests of Stanfordville are two wagon and blacksmith shops (Edwin Juckett, James VanTassel) ; a manufactory for wheels, fel- loes, shafts, etc., established by David P. Ketcham in 1879; Silas Rogers & Co.'s axle manufactory ; and a paper and grist-mill.
The manufactory of Rogers & Company was founded by Silas Rogers in 1843. He began first at wagon making, blacksmithing, and the manufac- ture of edge tools, and in 1854 started the busi- ness of manufacturing axles, which has become an important industry. He died July 8, 1878, and the business is now conducted by his family.
The paper-mill was originally a grist-mill, and was converted into a steam drying paper-mill by Whipple Newell, about forty-five years ago. It was burned down in 1844, and on a portion of the site a cotton-batting mill was erected, which had but a brief existence. In 1852, H. B. Gildersleeve built additions to this mill, and began the manufacture of loft-dried, straw wrapping-paper. In 1862 David P. Ketcham bought the mill, enlarged it, and con- tinued the business until 1865, when he changed from loft drying to steam drying and run until November 29, 1865, when the mill was burned. He immediately rebuilt the mill and, in May, 1866, resumed the business, which he has since con- ducted. The mill runs steadily, with a yearly pro- duction of 600 tons of wrapping paper.
The grist-mill was built by Seaman & Northrop in 1857, and by them was run until the spring of 1861, when Northrop went out of the business, and Seaman traded the property to George T. Pierce for a hotel at Port Ewen. Pierce owned the mill until 1864, leasing it to John Tweedy, who ran it a short time, when he sold it to Shelden & Scriver. They run the mill until the dam was swept away, May 15, 1865, which ended their ownership. The property passed to the possession of the City National Bank, of Poughkeepsie, and the mortgagees rebuilt the dam, engaged a man named Rifenburgh to run the mill, and, in the spring of 1866, sold the property at private sale to Alonzo Buell. Buell owned the mill one year and sold it to Tomkins & Justus, who run it until 1872, when James Haight bought out Justus, and under the firm name of Haight & Company (Geo. P. Tompkins) the mill is now conducted.
Stanford Lodge, No. 150. K. P., was organized December 20, 1870. The charter members were :
* This, on the maps, is often incorrectly spelled "Bear Market."
294
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
M. S. Duncan, D. W. Hitchcock, S. O. Rogers, William Barrett, James H. Haight, L. H. Williams, R. Mosher, F. M. Tallmadge, G. E. Rogers, Hiram J. Wing, Henry J. Knickerbocker, D. W. Guern- sey and T. G. Palmer. The Lodge meets each Wednesday evening.
At Stanfordville is located The Christian Bibli- cal Institute, a free school founded " for the purpose of educating pious individuals for the Gospel Min- istry. " Christian men and women of whatever denomination, who come with suitable capacity, proper commendations, and purpose of life work in the ministry, are welcomed to the advantages offered by this Institute. There is no charge for tuition, nor for the use of class-books, reading-room and library. A three years' course of studies is offered to students having requisite preparation.
This Institute also seeks to be useful to worthy students who have not had ample opportunities for education. For such there is a preparatory year.
The Institute was incorporated by the Legisla- ture of New York, in 1868. The school was open- ed October 6th, 1869, at Starkey Seminary, Yates County, where for three years the Institute remain- ed. In October, 1872, the Institute was removed to its present locality, on the avenue between the villages of Stanfordville and Bangall.
The Institute Corporation own a farm of sixty acres, whereon are farm buildings, a dwelling for the President of the school, two tenement houses for students, and the "Student's Home," and the school building called the Christian Biblical Insti- tute. The two costly and beautiful buildings last named were built at the expense of the Hon. David Clark, of Hartford, Conn., who, in 1874, gave them both as a free gift to the corporation.
The Christian Biblical Institute was founded by the American Christian Convention, at a quadren- nial session held at Marshall, Michigan, in 1866.
Rev. Austin Craig, D. D., the late venerable President and Biblical Lecturer of this Institute, was born in Peapack, Somerset County, N. J., July 14, 1824, and was the only son of Moses and Rachael Craig. He enjoyed the usual educational advantages of his native village, and at the age of sixteen entered LaFayette College, at Easton, Penn., where he finished his course in 1844. In that year he united with the New Jersey Christian Conference, with which body he held his member- ship until his death.
By this Conference he was licensed to preach, and soon after was ordained to the ministry. He then spent two years more at LaFayette College, in
which he acquired so thorough a knowledge of the languages connected with Jewish literature that he has been regarded by such eminent scholars as Horace Mann, and others, as one of the foremost scholars in biblical science in America.
In 1847 he preached in Feltville, N. J. In 1848 he was called to the Pearl Street Christian Church in Fall River., Mass., where he preached a year. He then accepted a call to the church in Blooming Grove, Orange county, N. Y. In this large and influential church he remained until 1854, when, at the urgent solicitation of Hon. Horace Mann, President of Antioch College, he accepted an important trust in that new institution. Here he remained one year, and then returned to the Blooming Grove Church, returning again to the College in 1857, for another season of educational work. In 1858 he again resumed his labors in the Blooming Grove church, remaining there seven years. In 1865 he was a third time called to An- tioch College and remained there three years, during a part of which time he was Acting Presi- dent. In 1868 he was called to the North Chris- tian Church, New Bedford, Mass., the largest and most influential church of the Christian connec- tion. This pastorate was brief (as was expected by the church), as he was to take the Presidency of the Christian Biblical Institute whenever the trustees of this institution were ready to open the . school. This was done in October, 1869, at Ed- dytown, Yates county, N. Y. He died suddenly, after a few hours' illness, at his residence in Stan- fordville, August 27, 1881, a few days before the opening of the thirteenth school year of the Insti- tution of which he had been the President and father from its beginning.
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