History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 68

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 68

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His successor was the Rev. Asahel Bronson, who was installed as pastor by the Presbytery of North River, June 12, 1827, and remained two years.

Rev. John G. Lowe became the next pastor in 1830. He came here from Bethel, Conn., and continued his services until the autumn of 1842, when he was dismissed at his own request. He was succeeded by the Rev. A. Cogswell Frissell, who began his youthful ministry here in Decem- ber, 1842, and was installed June 7, 1843. He remained as pastor until 1858, when on account of impaired health he was obliged to relinquish the charge.

Rev. Harvey Smith, a native of Coventry, Che- nango County, and a graduate of Auburn in the class of 1840, came next, and was installed pastor September 15, 1859. He died September 21, 1872, aged sixty-one. Rev. J. Ludlow Kendall began his labors here in April, 1874, and was succeeded by Rev. Theodore F. Burnham, the present incum- bent.

The present membership in the church is about one hundred.

The parsonage was built by Mr. Osborn in 1815. The church edifice now standing was built in 1849.

LEEDSVILLE.

Leedsville, two or three miles from Amenia Union, was in its day an important location. After the beginning of the present century, when the hazardous condition of American commerce, and the high price of imported woolen fabrics, induced enterprising men to associate together for the man-

ufacture of woolen cloth, a woolen factory was established here in 1809. The principal nien of the company were Rufus Park, of Amenia, and Judson Canfield, of Sharon, Conn. The name of the place was suggested by a workman engaged in the factory who had come from Leeds, in England. The peace with Great Britain, in 1815, put an end to the profits of manufacturing woolens in this country, and the company at this place failed. The property was sold to Selah North, who estab- lished the business of cloth-dressing.

WASSAIC.

Wassaic lies a little south-west of the center of Amenia, on the line of the New York & Harlem Railroad. It contains a postoffice, hotel, church, milk factory and blast furnace, and a population of nearly three hundred .*

The postmaster here is Miles K. Lewis, who was appointed some twelve years ago. He is also a dealer in general merchandise, beginning that business here fifteen years since. The other mer- chants here are George F. White, a native of Amenia, born in 1852, who has been in the mer- cantile business here three years ; Edwin Marcey, dealer in notions, who began business in 1881; Wilson & Eaton (George T. Wilson, L. F. Eaton), dealers in lumber, feed, &c., in business here three years ; William Williams, dealer in general tinware and manufacturer of milk cans, who established that business in 1869.

The Wassaic House was built in 1851, by Noah Gridley. The first lessee proprietors were D. F. and T. L. Atkins, who kept hotel several years. The present proprietor is Joseph B. Dewey, who has been here three years. This is quite a resort for summer tourists.

The sash and blind manufactory located here was established in 1850, by Daniel Platt, who con- ducted the business some four years, and sold to Lucius S. Pendleton, who has since been the manager.

The manufactory of the New York Condensed Milk Co., was established in 1861, by Gail Borden. He died in the winter of 1873-'4, and his interest passed into the hands of his children, one of whom, John G. Borden, is now one of the principal proprietors.f The buildings were erected in the spring of 1861. The factory receives daily 24,000 quarts of milk, which are condensed, in the proportion of four to one, into what is known

* 1880, 228.

t Borden & Millbank.

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

as condensed milk. The factory contains six large boilers and numerous copper vats.

The Wassaic Chapel was built for Union ser- vices in 1873, by Noah Gridley & Son, to afford a place of public worship to the neighborhood. Services are here held by all denominations, but principally by the Presbyterians, Baptists and Methodists. The chapel cost $5,000.00,

Noah Gridley, to whose exertions and bene- factions this place owes much of its importance and prosperity, was born in the town of North East, in 1802. In 1825 he came here and in the following year began making iron. At that time there were no houses here, nor any buildings, ex- cept the remains of an old saw-mill near the fur- nace dam. The furnace was begun and built up by Noah and Nathaniel Gridley, Josiah M. Reed and Leman Bradley.

The site for the furnace and the ore bed was purchased by Elijah B. Park and sold to the above parties for $6,000. In 1825, the youngest of these parties began alone among the rocks, with a single yoke of oxen, the construction of the works which have attained so much importance, and which have contributed greatly to the common wealth of the town. In 1844 the property came into the hands of Noah and William Gridley, and on the death of William, into the possession of the survivor.

Near this place is the locality known as "Steel Works," where, near the beginning of the Revolu- tionary War,-when the importation of iron and steel was cut off, and home manufacture thereby necessarily stimulated,-Capt. James Reed and a man of the name of Ellis began the manufacture of steel. The business was for some time success- fully prosecuted. The iron for their use was ob- tained in pigs from Livingston's Furnace at Ancram, which was a blast furnace, and the first in this part of the country. Isaac Benton was a skilled work- man in this newly organized industry, and received a high compensation.

Here, also, John Hinchliffe, from Saddleworth, Yorkshire, England, set up the first carding ma- chine in this part of the land, in 1803.

AMENIA.

The village of Amenia is on the line of the New York & Harlem Railroad, about three miles north from the center of the town. This is the largest and most important village in the town, and con- tains a population of nearly four hundred .*

The old village of Amenia was about a mile north of the present village, there being no road where the road now is that runs east and west through the village. A road then came over Del- avergne hill, ran from a point just east of the old Delavergne, now Parson's place, up through where the ore mine now is, over the hill in the vicinity of the late A. W. Palmer's residence ; thence up through the village and through the farm now in the possession of Abram Mygatt, thence over the hill by the old Powers' place, down through the farm of Frank Baylis and through the Narrows.

The postmaster here is Eugene M. Kempton, who was appointed in September, 1872. He is also dealer in books and stationery, in which busi- ness he has been engaged since 1872.

The other merchants and business men in trade here now are : Northrop Ruse, dealer in notions, who has been in different mercantile transactions here since 1833 ; Bartlett & Mead (William H. Bartlett, Isaac N. Mead), drugs and general mer- chandise, in business as a firm eight years, succeed- ing Chapman & Bartlett ; M. E. Chamberlain, general merchant, in business four years, succeed- ing Oliver Chamberlain who had been in trade since 1855 ; John J. Capron, jeweller, in business since 1867; Platt B. Caulkins, dry goods and clothing, who began in April 1880, succeeding F. M. Treat ; Miles B. Farlin, drugs, confectionery, etc., in business since 1880; Rosa A. Hall, millin- ery and fancy goods, in business here two years ; James Newman, tobacco and cigars, in business since 1867; Lewis H. Guild, furniture and under- taking, in business twelve years; Earl S. Guild, general merchant, in business since 1872 ; William R. Thompson, boots and shoes, who began busi- ness in July, 1867 ; Benjamin H. Fry, stoves and tinware, in business three years, succeeding his father Simeon, who had conducted business some thirty years ; Thomas G. Abrams, harness and horsemen's goods, in business since January, 1877; Daniel D. Caulkins, general merchant, in business three years ; Henry Morgan, stoves and tinware, began business in April, 1877 ; John McHugh, merchant tailor, in business five years ; Charles M. Benjamin & Co., (Enoch G. Caulkins) general merchants, in business as a firm since 1866 ;* Curtis H. Hall, a native of New Jersey, photogra- pher, in business here since 1872 ; Wilson & Eaton (George Wilson, Frederic Eaton), millers, sash and blinds, lumber dealers, in business as a firm four years, succeeding Barat Wilson & Son.

* The store was built in 1852 by Mr. Caulkins.

* 1880, 393.

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TOWN OF AMENIA.

The Amenia House, one of the best hotels in the county, is beautifully situated near the New York & Harlem R. R., and commands a fine view of the village and the surrounding country. The building was erected twenty-two years ago, and the first to keep hotel therein was William Kirby. The property is owned by Mrs. Nathan Hewett. The present proprietor is Lewis Barton, who has been here two years.

The Pratt House, a large and commodious hotel in the heart of the village, was rebuilt in 1875 by Peter Pratt, the present proprietor, who has been here twelve years. On this site once stood the hotel built by Major Cook, for his son, Solomon, from portions of the house which stood where the Seminary now is.

Amenia Lodge, No. 672, F. & A. M., was or- ganized January 11, 1868. The Charter members were John H. Thompson, Isaac N. Mead, first W. M .; James T. Upington, W. C. Payne, William Reed, A. B. Vedder, J. G. Husted, E. H. N. Warner, Henry S. Chapman, John J. Cap- ron, Peter W. Husted, Roswell B. Taylor, Abiah W. Palmer, Allen Wiley. Lodge meets the second and fourth Wednesdays in each month.

The Amenia Seminary was organized in 1834, by leading Methodists in the town. It has had for its principals and teachers some of the most noted men of the M. E. Church, namely: Revs. Charles K. True, Frederic Merrick, Bishop Davis W. Clark, Joseph B. Comings, Erastus O. Haven, the late M. E. Bishop; Gilbert Haven, cousin to the former, John W. Beach, Andrew Hunt, Bishop Cyrus D. Foss, and D. P. Kidder. Prof. Alexan- der Winchell, the eminent scientist, was also an instructor here. The school remained under Methodist control until 1857 or '58, when the property was sold to private individuals-Henry Rundell and George W. Center-under whose con- trol the school was continued some three years. The property was then purchased by some of the prominent citizens of Amenia-notably among whom were the late Senator Palmer and Dr. Guernsey-who bought it for Prof. S. T. Frost, of Claverack, who conducted the school until 1877. In that year Prof. Frost re-deeded the prop- erty to several of the citizens of Amenia, who have since conducted the school under the control of the Regents of the University of New York State.

The Amenia Times, a weekly paper of more than ordinary merit, was established in 1852 by a company styled the Amenia Times Association, composed of the following members : Hiram Vail,

John Ingraham, John H. Perlee, Geo. W. Coffin, John B. Baker, Luke W. Stanton, Simeon B. Ben- ton, Geo. W. Center, John C. Payne, George Conklin, Joel Benton, the latter being the editor. By this association the paper was conducted two years, when its proprietors became known as Benton & Co., Joel Benton still the editor, which position he retained two years. The present pro- prietors are H. C. Rowley & Co., who assumed ownership two years ago.

The First National Bank, of Amenia, was char- tered January 14, 1865. The present officers are George H. Swift, President ; Newton Hebard, Cashier.

There have been but few lawyers in Amenia, and scarcely any who made the practice of the profes- sion their sole business, though a considerable number who were natives of the town, and who received their early education here, have become prominent at the bar and on the bench. The only resident lawyers are George H. Swift and George W. Ingraham, neither of whom make their profes- sion their chief business. The latter was born in Amenia in 1811, and was admitted to practice in 1870, but had, since 1836, practiced in the courts of the county. He was a magistrate of the town for eighteen consecutive years.

The physicians are, Doctor Desault Guernsey .* Dr. Isaac N. Mead, a native of Amenia, born in 1840, graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York city, in the spring of 1866.

Dr. Lyman E. Rockwell, born in Stockbridge, Madison County, N. Y., in 1846, graduated from the Medical Department of University of New York in 1874, and immediately came to Amenia to enter upon the practice of his profession.

Among the prominent men of the town who have added to its standing and prosperity was Senator Palmer, who died January 10, 1881.

Abiah W. Palmer was born in this town January 25, 1835, on the farm where-except when tempo- rarily absent-he made his life-long residence.

He received his academic education at the Amenia Seminary, and afterward at the Seminary of Cazenovia, and at the age of nineteen entered the Sophomore Class at Union College. In 1859 he received the Republican nomination for Member of Assembly, from this District, and was elected by a majority of over 700. He at once took high rank in that body, and in 1860 was renominated, but declined. In 1865 he was again elected to the Legislature by a large majority, and was appointed

* See biographical sketch at close of chapter.

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

by the Speaker to a membership on the Committees of Ways and Means, and Revisions and Rules. One of the Acts which he at this time introduced and carried through was that which finally estab- lished the Hudson River State Hospital for the Insane, at Poughkeepsie, and from Governor Fen- ton he received the appointment of Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for locating that insti- tution. He was again renominated for the Assem- bly and again declined. In 1867 he was nominated to the Senate, and while the Republican State ticket was beaten in the District by two hundred majority, he was elected by a majority of nearly seven hundred.

In the Senate he was made Chairman of the Committees on Banks, and Charitable and Re- ligious Societies, and a member of those on Mu- nicipal Affairs and Agriculture. He was re- elected to the Senate two years later by a ma- jority unprecedented, and he was continued a member of that body in the term following this. In July, 1872, he sat with the Senate at Saratoga, as a member of the Court of Impeachment, which tried New York City's unfaithful Judges. He had been for years President of the First National Bank of this village, and was re- elected to that position the day after his death, before the intelligence of that event had reached the village. He was long known as a member of the Board of Trustees of Amenia Seminary, and of the Amenia Cemetery Association. The gener- ous gift of the land to the Cemetery twenty-two years ago, was one of his early tributes of regard for this village and town. His was not a long life, counting by years, but it was full of good deeds and thoughtfulness for the public interest. He died at Manitou Park, Colorado, where, in 1879, he had gone for his health.

The village contains four churches, the Presby- terian, Baptist, Methodist and Roman Catholic.

The Presbyterian Church .- The Presbyterian is the oldest denomination. The Society was organ- ized in May, 1748. The name of the church was known as "Carmel, in the Nine Partners." The first minister appears to have been Abraham Paine, Jr., who " was set apart to the work of the ministry by Ordination" June 14, 1750. Mr. Paine does not seem to have been educated for the ministry, but was called to that position to meet the imme- diate wants of the newly organized congregation. This society was organized at a time when in New England the churches were agitated by the zeal of the "New Lights," or "Separatists," and Mr. Paine,

and a considerable portion of his church, became affected with their notions, which led to some disa- greement between them and the more conservative of the congregation. The house of worship which was always known as the "Red Meeting House', was built in 1758. The place where it stood is a triangle at the convergence of the highways about a mile northeast of the village of Amenia, and near the burial ground. It was a building nearly square, two stories high, with a gallery on three sides, and was seated with square pews. The site for the edi- fice was presented by Capt. Stephen' Hopkins, who gave the first land for the burying ground. The house was built and afterwards repaired partly by the contributions of those not strictly adherents of the Congregational polity, and was in later years occupied harmoniously by the Congregationalists, Baptists and Methodists. The number of those who contributed to the building of the church was seventy-nine, and the amount contributed was £350, 17s., 4d. Among the names of these con- tributors is found that of Stephen Hopkins, who gave £20. Joshua Paine, Elias Shevilear, and Benjamin Benedict, gave each £13, Samuel King, £9, and Jedidiah Dewey and Roswell Hopkins, each £10. Other names are Robert Freeman, Joab Cook, Nathan Mead, Jr., Simeon Cook, Noah Hopkins, Job Mead, Barnabas Paine, Samuel Shepard, John King, Grover Buel, John Brunson, Robert Wilson, Weight Hopkins. In 1811 this church was connected with the Associated Presby- tery of Westchester, and in 1815 with the Presby- tery of North River. Rev. Elijah Wood, a Bap- tist, preached to the congregation from 1800 to 1809. His successor was Rev. Mr. Wilson, from 1809 to 1811. He was succeeded by Rev. Oliver Tuttle, from 1811 to 1813. The Rev. Joel Osborn became pastor of the church in 1814, and gave to it his services one-third of his time. It is not known how long he officiated, but probably till 1816. The next pastor mentioned in the records is Rev. O. H. P. Deyo, whose name appears as Moderator of a meeting held April 4, 1855, “for the purpose of organizing a Presbyterian church, and electing the officials thereof," but it does not appear how long he remained. The next on the records is E, W. Stoddard, May 31, 1856, whose name is signed to a receipt for "balance in full of $200.00, for half yearly salary." He is again men- tioned December 30, r858. The name of Rev. Mr. Schermerhorn appears next as resigning his pastorate in 1869. He was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Page, "at a salary of $2,000 per year, with the rent

35I

TOWN OF AMENIA.

of the parsonage, and six weeks vacation in- cluded." The Rev. William R. Territt was called January 26, 1874. A call to the Rev. A. Jackson comes next, dated April 11, 1876. He remained until 1878, and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Thomas, as a supply, who remained two years.

The church is now (1881) without a settled pastor.

The Baptist Church .- Of the Baptist Church, the information concerning its organization is scan- ty,since the earlier records of the church have been lost. It was organized in 1790, and appears to have been composed partly of some from the old Congregational Church, and of others who had been educated in the Baptist system, and who had been members of the Baptist Church of North East. The names of the constituent members were James Palmer, Deborah Palmer, David Allerton, Jennett Allerton, Richard Shavalier, Jonathan Shepard, Elizabeth Holmes, Mary Cook, Reuben and Thankful Hebard. On the second of June, of the same year, the church called the Rev. Elijah Wood to be its pastor, who, on the twenty-seventh of June, administered the ordinance of the Lord's supper to them for the first time.

Elijah Wood was a native of Norwich, Conn., born in 1745, and went in early life to Benning- ton, Vt., where he was licensed to preach in a Congregational Church. From Bennington he came to Amenia, before the Revolutionary war, and was counted among the active patriots.

He continued as pastor of the church until his death, February 11, 1810.

The only house of worship in this part of the town was the Red Meeting House, before men- tioned, and which was used by the Congregation- alists, Baptists and Methodists.

At the beginning of this century the Baptists appear to have been in the majority, and the Baptist Church was an organization entirely dis- tinct from the Red Meeting House Society. ob- serving its own ordinances, and choosing its own pastor, although the prominent members of the church were at the same time members of this Union Society, contributing to the support of the preacher of the Red Meeting House. In 1810 the first step was taken in the division of the congre- gation. At a meeting of the Union Society, held March 26, 1810, it was voted : -

" That the Baptist Church occupy the Meeting House one-half the time, the Congregational Church the other half, that Oliver Wilson, Baptist, preach one-half the time, and that John Cornwall, Con- gregationalist, preach for half the time,"

The rights of the Methodists in the Red Meet- ing House were afterwards purchased, though the privilege of holding services there was granted then, and circumstances, which it would be im- possible at this distance of time to relate with en- tire accuracy, led to the separation of the three denominations which had made up the one con- gregation of the Red Meeting House, and the building was left in the possession of the Congre- gational Society.

It became necessary, therefore, for the Baptist church to erect a house of worship, and in further- ance of this object, a meeting was held, November 4, 1823, at the house of Captain Abiah Palmer. Of this meeting Solomon Cook was chairman, and William Balis, secretary; subscriptions to the amount of $1,900 had already been made, which was increased to $2,779.46. To this fund ninety- one persons in all contributed. The meeting- house was finished in the following year, and was probably occupied by the church in November, 1824. The pastor of the church at this time was Rev. Caleb P. Wilson. In this house the church wor- shipped twenty-seven years. Early in the year 1851, it was decided to remove the building to its present location, a change which the growth of the village rendered necessary. The work of tearing down and rebuilding occupied the entire summer, and during this interval the church met each Sun- day in the meeting-house of the Presbyterian church. The new church was dedicated Decem- ber 17, 1851.

Twenty years later, the meeting-house under- went extensive repairs, equivalent to a reconstruc- tion, by which it was enlarged and greatly beau- tified. The work, begun in the summer of 1870, was completed in the following spring. The church held its first covenant meeting in the new lecture room Saturday afternoon, April 8, 1871. The re- dedication services were held on the afternoon and evening of April 12, 1871, under the direction of the pasto., Rev. T. W. Crawley. From its con- stitution to the present time the church has had twenty pastors. This number does not include all who have supplied its pulpit for brief intervals, but only those who have been members of the church. The succession has been as follows :-

Rev. Elijah Wood. June, 1790-Died February 11, 1810

Rev. Calvin Philleo ... 1812-1814

Rev. John M. Peck. .. February, 1814-March, 1816

Rev. Oliver Wilson. . July, 1816-December (?) 1816

Rev. C. P. Wilson December (?) 1821- July, 1829

Rev. Wmn. Hutchinson May, 1831-April, 1833

Rev. Luman W. Webster November, 1834-August, 1839

Rev, Isaac Bevan. .April, 1840-March, 1842

Rev. Alexander Smith. April, 1842-1845

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

Rev. Moses I. Kelly July, 1845-December, 1845

Rev. James Johnston

... May 1846-October, 1848

Rev. Wm. E. Locke

.September, 1849-August, 1850

Rev. Joshua Fletcher April, 1851-April, 1856

Rev. Thos. E. Vassar September, 1857-February, 1865

Rev. J. W. Wilmarth .. . June, 1865-1866

Rev. A. C. Lyon .. July, 1866-September, 1867

Rev. C. E. Becker .. March, 1868-January, 1869

Rev. T. W. Crawley. August, 1869-October, 1871

Rev. Alonzo K. Parker. October, 1871-April, 1879

Rev. Horace H. Hunt . August, 1879

The Methodist Society of Amenia, which was one of the earliest in this part of the country, seems to have been formed in 1788, and numbered eight members. These were David Rundall, his wife Catharine, his wife's mother, Ruth Powers wife of Peter, Ruth Powers wife of Frederic, and three others, David Rundall being the only male member for several years. The first sermon was preached in a private house, half a mile east of Sharon Station. The meetings were held in that house, or in the neighborhood, until the settlers from Rhode Island came here, when a society was formed near the Old Red Meeting House. It is understood that Mr. Garrettson formed the first class, but he did not preach the first sermon. Capt. Allen Wardwell was the first class-leader.

The important position of this Society may be inferred from the fact that in 1808 the New York Annual Conference was held here. The sessions were held in the Round Top school house, about half a mile northeast of the Old Red Meeting House. Rev. Bishop Asbury presided, and occupied the teacher's chair,* with the school desk before him, and the preachers sat upon the benches of the pupils.

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History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 68

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