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 71
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Thomas Rathbun, "of New Shoreham (alias Block Island,) R. I." conveyed to each of the fol- lowing named individuals, at the time designated, one-seventh of all his right to land in the town of " Pecapsha, " viz : Feb. 4, 1730, to his son-in-law, Samuel Eldridge, of North Kingston, R. I., “ cord- winder," and Content, his wife Dec. 24, 1730, to his sons-in-law, Benjamin Bentley, of Greenwich, R. I., and Patience, his wife, and Jonathan Rath- bun, of Lyme, Conn., and Sarah, his wife; and Feb. 10, 1730-'31, to his daughter "Sybill Wil- cocks," widow, residing with him in Shoreham, R. I.
Feb. 25, 1730-'31, Thomas Sanders and his wife, in consideration of £25, conveyed to their son-in-law, "Redolphus Swartwout," of Duchess County, and Elsie, his wife, thirty acres, bounded north by Frederic Fisher's land, east by " Jan Kas- pers Kill," west by lands previously in possession of " Rodolphus Swartwout."
Nov. 9, 1730, " Jacobes Van Den Boogert " and "Grietie " his wife, and "Mindert Van Den Boo- gert and Nelee " his wife, in consideration of £50, conveyed to Johannis Van Kleeck fifty acres loca- ted at " Pochkeepsen," to the west of the land of said Van Kleeck."
July 4, 1732, Christophel Wambome, of Duchess County, " Tallor," in consideration of £160, con- veyed to Matthew Dubois, of same county, yeoman, one hundred and twenty acres contiguous to a piece of land bought by Dubois of Andrew Teller, commonly called Cuyler's Flat, adjoining and north of Wappingers Creek.
Dec. 4, 1832, Isaac Fietsoort, of Duchess Coun- ty, blacksmith, conveyed to Samuel Taylor, Jr., four acres " near the place called Pocghkeepsingk and on the east side of the Kings Heigh Road." March 26, 1735, Isaac Fietsoort, in consideration of £115, conveyed to Timothy Low, shopkeeper,
363
TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE.
" in the Middle Ward at Pocghkeepsingk," eighty acres "in the Middle Ward of Duchess County," "near the place called Pocghkeepsingk and on the east side of the Kings Heigh Road," and Oct. 29, 1736, Lowe, in consideration of £118, conveyed the same to "Symon Freer," of "the Middle Ward at Pocghkeepsingk," yeoman.
April 15, 1735, Jacobus Vandenbogert, of Duchess county, yeoman and wife, and Myndert Vandenbogert, of the same county, and wife, in consideration of £100, conveyed to Jan de Graeff, of said county, land in " poucghkeepsinck," on Fall Creek, adjoining the land of the widow of John Kip, deceased, also of Col. Leonard Lewis, then late of Duchess county, deceased, and of Baltus Van Kleeck, then late of Duchess county, de- ceased, and then in possession of Franc Filkin, excepting and reserving the mill creek, called Fall Kill, and a road down to the mill.
May 19, 1735, Henry Filkins, of "Poghkeep- sinck," merchant, conveyed to John Marshall, of New York City, merchant, land "lying and being at Poghkeepsinck," on the East side of the King's highway and north of the land of Lawrence Van Kleeck, to secure the payment of £53, Ios .; the payment of which was acknowledged Feb. 24, 1738-'9, by Johannes Marshall.
The following list, which appears in an old tax list of the county in 1771, and is on file in the clerk's office in Poughkeepsie, is the fullest and earliest list of the names of the inhabitants of the town which has come under our observation. It has a further interest in showing the comparative wealth of those early settlers, many of whose names are perpetuated in their descendants of the present generation. The list which also includes the Pre- cints of Pawling, Rhinebeck, North East, Amenia, Beekman, Charlotte, Rombout and Southern, is preceded by the following extract from a record of a meeting of the Supervisors, at Poughkeepsie, on Tuesday, June 4, 1771 :--
"The Assesser being met the same time were qualified by Justice Hopkins proceeded to their business of assessing, signed all the Lists they then delivered them to the Supervisors, Who having signed the warrents directed to the Collectors, Ordered the Clerk to Calculate the four days, who finding the General County Charge to be at 32d. pr pound, and as each respective precinct have their peculiar Charge causeth a variation in the poundage."
The vote for the Precinct of Poughkeepsie, which is the only list we subjoin, was 4s., 9d. per pound. Following is the list :-
· Assessment.
Tax.
James Livingston.
£16 €3
16s. od
Peter Johs. Lassing
6
I
8
6
Peter Wm. Lassing's widow
2
9
6
Casparus Westerfelt
3
14
3
Matthew Van Keuren
6
I
8
6
Henry Wilsie.
3
I4
3
Jacob Van Bunschoten
7
I
I3
3
Elias Van Bunschoten
9
2
2
9
John Concklin,
IO
2
7
6
Henry Livingston 38
9
O
6
Robert Hoffman.
22
5
4
6
Nathan Freer.
3
0
I4
3
Simeon Freer
4
19
Baltus Van Kleeck .
7
I
13
3
Peter Van Kleeck
I 2
2
I7
O
Leonard Van Kleeck
32
7
I 2
C
Henry Vanderburgh
6
I
8
6
William Jaycocks.
8
I 10
William Cipher's estate
4
19
William Lassing. 14
3
3
John Vanderburgh
8
I 18
0
Jeremiah Dubois
I
4
9
Peter Dubois
2
9
Clear Everitt.
3
14
Peter Laroy.
8
I
18
O
Boudewyn Lacount's widow.
4
19
0
Robert Kidney
I
4
9
Henry Pells.
3
14
3
Everet Pells
IO
2
7
6
Michael Pells
9
2
2
9
Peter Palmetier .
2
9
6
Jacobus Palmetie
IO
2
7
6
Arie Van Vliet.
IO
2
7
6
John Swartwout
5
I
3
9
John De Graaff.
3
14
3
Cornelius Vielie.
6
I
8
6
Peter Low ..
7
I 13
3
James Lucky.
3
14
3
Abraham Freer
2
9
6
John Ferdon
4
O
Barent Kip
I
4
9
John Miller . 2
9
6
John Ferdon Jr
4
19
O
Gulian Ackerman
9
2
2
9
Robert Churchel.
8
1 18
0
Henry Bush's estate
3
14
3
Michael Palmetier
I
4
9
William Erwin
I
4
9
John Freer. . II
2
I 2
3
Cornelius Van Keuren .
4
I 9
O
Cornelius Westerfelt 6
I
8
6
Isaac Concklin 2
9
6
Benjamin Westerfelt.
5
3
9
Thomas Dearing
3
14
3
Myndert E. Vandebogert . 3
14
3
Markus Van Bomel . 2
9
6
Bartholomew Crannell 7
4
O
9
Zachary Ferdon.
5
3
9
Mathias Moss
I
4
9
Peter Vandebogert
I
4
9
I
John Seabury . I
4
9
Jacobus Van Kleeck
3
3
Teunis Tappen.
2
9
6
6
3
O
...
1
364
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
Assessment.
Tax.
Assessment.
Tax.
Joshua Owen
£11 £2 I2S. 3d
I " The Estate S. Pinckney is on," £1 £ John Joh's VanSteenbergh.
4s. 9d
Bartholemew Noxon
2
9
6
4
9
Richard Davis.
IC
2
7
6 Joseph Gale.
1
4
9
Jacobus Freer.
5
I
3
9
Richard Warner.
I
4
9
John Midler
5
I
3
9
James Armstrong
2
9
6
Wines Manney
5
I
3
9
Henry and George Sands
3
1 6
0
Karl Hoffman
2
9
6
Samuel Smith .
3
14
3
John Hoghteling.
2
9
6
I
4
9
Jury Michael.
2
9
6
Jacob Low, Jr.
2
9
6
Richard Snedeker.
22
5
4
6
I
4
9
Myndert Rynders
I
4
9
Isaac Baldwin, Jr
1
4
9
Abraham Van Keuren
I
4
9
Ezekiel Cooper
3
14
3
Simon W. Lassing .
2
9
6
Isaac Harris.
I
4
9
Benjamin Jaycocks
I
4
9
George Dallis.
I
4
9
Elisha Adams
I
4
9
Henry Van Vlarum
4
19
0
John Romer.
1
4
9
Simeon Freer, Jr
I
4
9
Thomas Burnet
I
4
9
Isaac Romyn
1
4
9
Jacob Ferdon.
5
1
3
9
Robert Patton
I
4
9
John Crookes farm.
I
4
9
John Paiton
I
4
9
Isaac Van Bunschoten
I
4
9
John Wilsie
I
4
9
Simon Bartley.
1
4
9
John Barns
I
4
9
John Low.
2
9
6
Peter Kip
I
4
9
Barent Van Kleek
3
I4
3
Rooliff Westervelt's farm
I
4
9
The Minister's house.
1
4
9
Thomas Newcomb
I
4
9
James Weldon
I
4
9
Thomas Freer .
I
4
9
Isaac Fitchet.
I
4
9
I
4
9
Hans Palmetier
2
9
6
6
I
8
6
Francis Jaycocks, Jr ..
I
4
9
I
4
9
2
9
6
I
4
9
Mathew Dubois, Jr.
2
9
6
John Lovot. ,
4
9
Zephaniah Platt.
16
3
I6
0
Matthew Van Keuren, Jr
1
4
9
John P. VanKleeck
3
14
3
Isaac I. Lassing
T
4
9
Peter M. Palmetier.
1
4
9
I
4
9
Isaac Palmetier
I
4
9
John Buys.
I
4
9
Johannis P. Lassing
3
I4
3
3
14
3
Johannis W. Lassing
1
4
9
2
6
Cornelius Brewer
2
9
6
2
9
6
John Bailey, Jr
I3
3
I
9
Samuel Cooke.
3
14
3
Alex. Griggs
I
4
9
9
Wyndert VanKleek
8
1
18
0
14
3
6
6
Michael Weldon.
I
4
9
Joshua Moss
5
3
9
Eli Emmons
2
9
6
Arie Midler 2
9
6
John Coupman Jr
2
9
6
Cornelius Buys 1
4
9
Jacob D. Palmetier.
3
14
3
Joel Dubois
2
6
John B. Kip
I
4
9
3
3
Henry Hendrickse
4
I9
O
2
9
6
John Hunt
4
4
9
4
9
Henry Vanderburgh Jr
I
4
9
William Furman
9
6
Isaac Balding
I6
3 16
Mr. Schoonmaker
2
6
Jacob Bush .
I
4
9
Gilbert Livingston.
5
3
9
William Burnet
I
4
9
5
3
9
Parson Beardsley .
3
14
3
Samuel Pinckney I
4
9
Nicholas Brewer's place
I
4
9
David Ackerman 5
I
3
9
Edward Schoonmaker.
7
I
I 3
3
William Barns 4
19
o
Francis Hegemen.
2
9
6 Barent Dutcher 4
IQ
O
Thomas Dubois.
I
4
9 Martin Bush
I
4
9
2
2
I7
O
John M. Retser.
2
9
6
William I. Lassing
I
4
9
Barent Lewis, Jr
I
4
9
William Vanderburgh's estate. . 5
I
3
9
Casparus Romyn
I
4
9
James Winans
2
9
6
Ezekiel Pinckney
2
9
6
Thomas Pinckney
2
6
Peter Harris ..
Peter Andries Lassing.
I4
Stephen Wildey
9
2
9
6
Leonardus Lewis.
I
4
9
Lewis Dubois.
T.
9
Isaiah Wildey .
I
2
Hugh Van Kleek
I
9
William Terry
Samuel Dodge .
Samuel Curry.
Henry Ellis
Thomas Jaycocks
I
4
William Low.
3
14
3
Maurice Smith
2
9
6
Murray Lester's House.
4
9
Abraham Bartley John Jaycocks
Jacob Coapman
John Fort.
Gale Yelverton
Jerry Hardman
Caleb Carman
Thomas Poole .
I
.....
11
HP
.....
...
VIEW OF THE HUDSON FROM THE FARM OF WM. A. DAVIES, ESQ. (THREE MILES SOUTH OF POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y.)
365
TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE.
Assessment.
Tax.
Benjamin Dubois
45. 9d
John Bush .
I
4
9
Nathaniel Brooks . .
I
4
9
William Terry, Hatter
I
4
9
Jonas Kelsie.
I
4
9
Philip Cooper
I
4
9
John Childs
2
9
6
William Emott.
I
4
9
John Mc Bride .
I
4
9
Anthony Hill .
I
4
9
Zephaniah Hill.
I
4
9
John Davis .
3
14
3
John Emmons, Brickmaker
I
4
9
Peter B. Van Kleek, Jr
I
4
9
John Van Bunschoten
I
4
9
Phonix Lewis
I
4
9
Isaiah Bartley.
I
4
9
John M. Palmetier
I
4
9
Jacobus Rynders
1
4
9
Peter Luyster
I
4
9
John Carman
T
4
9
Richard Everitt. .
I
4
9
Sands & Company's miller
I
4
9
Aaron Reade .
I
4
9
Peter B. Van Kleek's farm.
1
4
9
Peter Ab'm Lassing
I
4
9
Wm. Ab'm Lassing
I
4
9
Joseph Scott.
I
4
9
Francis S. Laroy.
I
4
9
Francis Jno. Laroy
I
4
9
Simon Laroy, Jr.
I
4
9
Henry Bailey
I
4
9
Matthew Concklin
I
4
9
Peter Velie.
I
4
9
Barnardus Swartwout.
I
4
9
Richard Spraight .
I
4
9
Alex. Barr
J
4
9
Jacob Kip
1
4
9
Francis Pells
T
4
9
Wm. Yeats
I
4
9
Lodowick Cipher
T
4
9
David Cipher
I
4
9
Andrew John Ostrum
I
4
9
Joseph Sprague
I
4
9
Francis Harris
I
4
9
Total.
£808£191 8s. od
The town contains several small villages, none of them, however, of much commercial importance. The principal of these are New Hamburgh and Channingville, the latter being the most populous, and now forming a part of the corporation of Wap- pingers Falls.
WAPPINGERS FALLS.
Wappingers Falls is situated in the south part of the town, on and about one and one-half miles above the mouth of the creek from which it derives its name, but mainly on the east side of the creek, in the town of Wappinger. It is an incorporated
village of a little more than 4,000 inhabitants, about seven-eighths of whom are operatives in mills, and about one-third in the town of Pough- keepsie. It is to this one-third portion that we shall confine ourselves here, as the village will be more properly described in connection with the town of Wappinger.
That portion of the village lying north of the creek was formerly known as Channingville, which name is derived from the Channing family, who owned the farm on which it mostly lies,* and pre- viously as Ednamville. It contains one church (Catholic), a union school, ten stores, mostly small, one hotel, (the North American, kept by Patrick Kennedy,) the Empire Overall Manufactory, the Fancy Dye Works, a branch of the Duchess Co.'s Print works, a wagon shop, kept by Brower Bros., a blacksmith shop, kept by Alonzo Vannosdall, three tailor shops, kept respectively by Messrs. Baum, Louis Diamond and Leopold Lippman, two bakeries, kept by Edward W. Eagan and Edward Odell, one photographer, (Walter Smith,) one un- dertaker, (Richard F. Delaney,) two builders, (John O'Farrell and Jeremiah Pardee,) and Eagan's opera house, which was built in 1876 by John Eagan, and has a seating capacity for five hundred people.
Merchants .- The first merchant in this portion of the village was John Crilley, who came here from Glenham in 1842. He was a native of Ireland and a cooper by trade. He built for his use, in 1842, the store now occupied by John Eagan as a grocery. It was the first brick building erected in the village, on either side of the creek. Crilley did business here some twenty years. James Roy, who had previously kept a drug store on the east side of the creek, succeeded Crilley in the Eagan store. He removed after a few years to the store now occu- pied by his widow and sons, who succeeded him in business at his death. Samuel Brown, a native of Ireland, was engaged for some years in the print works, and about 1848 or '49 embarked in mercantile business where his son John H. Brown is now located. He continued in business till his death January 22, 1876, at the age of seventy- two, when his son succeeded him. John Eagan, a native of London, England, emigrated thence to New York in 1836. In 18.47, he came to Wap- pingers Falls, and was employed in the print works till 1865, when he purchased the Crilley store of the Crilley heirs. He was engaged in mer-
* The Channing farm is bounded on the north by Delaware street and on the south by North South street.
366
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
cantile business until his death, November 15, 1881, at which time he was the oldest merchant on the west side of the creek. His eldest son, John F. Eagan succeeds him in business. When Mr. Eagan came here in 1847, there were only about a dozen houses, and Crilley's was then the only store. The present merchants are John F. Eagan, grocer, James Roy, druggist, John H. Brown, general merchant, William Hanrahan, grocer, William Eagan, grocer, John J. Hughes, grocer, Michael Cary, grocer, Michael McCluskey, grocer, John H. Dakin, stationer and tobacconist, and Barlow & Stevenson, stove dealers and plumbers.
Postmasters .- The first postoffice in Wappingers Falls was established, says Mr. Eagan, about 1840, and was kept in 1847 by Joseph Blackburn, who also kept the hotel now kept by Patrick Kennedy, in Channingville. James Roy afterwards kept the office for a short time in the Crilley store. Elias Brown, who was and still is engaged in the manu- facture of combs, next kept the postoffice in the store now occupied by John H. Dakin. He kept the office about four years, till its removal to the east side of the creek, about eight years ago, where Clinton Sweet kept it some eight years, and was succeeded in the latter part of 1880, by Armenius Armstrong.
Professional Men .- Dr. Wm. H. Proal, who was born February 9, 1822, and whose father was an Episcopal minister at Utica, was the only physician who has located on the west side of the creek. He was here in 1847, and continued in practice till his death, July 16, 1858. Not a single lawyer has taken up his abode here.
The Empire Overall Manufactory, was estab- lished in 1878, by John Eagan & Co., who con- ducted the business till the death of Mr. Eagan, Nov. 15, 1881, when his son, John F. Eagan suc- ceeded to its management. The building is of brick, is two stories high, and about forty feet square. The rear portion was built for a tene- ment house by John Gibbons over forty years ago ; the front addition was erected by John Eagan in 1863, since which time till 1878, it was variously occupied as a dwelling, barber shop and hotel. In 1878, it was converted to its present use. Some sixty persons are employed in the factory, the major portion of whom are adult females. About 300 dozens of overalls are made per week.
Schools .- The first school house in Channing- ville stood on the corner of Main and Church streets, on the site of the brick building now owned by
James Lynch. It was a long, low, wooden build- ing, and was in use till the present brick building was erected in 1866. John Meaney, if not the first, was one of the first teachers on the west side of the creek. John Farrington, now a physician in Pough- keepsie, and Walter, his brother, now a lawyer in that city, were early teachers in the old school house. The union school was organized about twenty years since. The first principal was proba- bly Mr. Howarth. He was succeeded by S. Mans- field, who filled the position from 1862 to 1877. Mr. Maccleduff next filled the position for one term, and was succeeded by Thomas G. Schriver, the present principal. William Dakin and Miss Jane Dakin were among the early teachers before the organization of the union school.
St. Mary's Church of Wappingers Falls ( Chan- ningville ) .- Father Miles Maxwell, who was locat- ed at Poughkeepsie, is believed to have been the first priest who ministered to the people in the vi- cinity of Wappingers Falls. He came here occas- ionally and held mass in a private house, which is known as the "black house," from the dark colored paint used in its exterior decoration. The house is still standing. It is located on Clinton street, and is the property of John Murray. It is believed that the first church owned by the society was built during the ministration of Father Maxwell, in 1840. That church is the central portion of the building standing directly west of the parsonage, which was used for public worship until the present church edifice was erected, additions having been made to it on both ends. The church was origi- nally twenty-four by thirty-six feet. Two ad- ditions, one of thirty-two feet and the other of thirty-five feet, were subsequently made, one on either end of the original structure, with which they are uniform in width. A further addition of four- teen by sixteen feet was made about 1870, to ac- commodate the choir, and the fine organ, bought about that time, which is still in use in the present church. This old building, made disproportionately long by its additions, is now used for Sunday school purposes, for church meetings, and various kinds of parish work. It is not known in what year it was built, but Father Maxwell was here prior to 1846, and the church was erected previous to that year.
Father John Smith, who was located at Pough- keepsie, succeeded Father Maxwell in monthly ser- vices for a short time. He was followed by Father Michael Riordan, whose advent dates from June, 1844, in which year he located at Poughkeepsie,
367
TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE.
where he was the first resident priest. He extend- ed his labors to this place once a month, and con- tinued them about four years, also ministering to the people at Rondout, which was equally true of Fathers Maxwell and Smith.
In 1846, the Clinton Mill at Wappingers Falls, (which was burned June 19, 1855,) was in process of erection by James Ingham and others, and soon after, the construction of the Hudson River Rail- road was begun through this locality. These en- terprises attracted many persons to Wappingers Falls and its vicinity, both as employés in the mill and as laborers on the railroad, and among them many who were adherents of the Catholic faith. In 1848-'49 the cholera prevailed among the rail- road employés at New Hamburgh, and was quite fatal. The presence and services of a resident priest thus became very desirable, and Anthony Russell was deputized to visit Archbishop Hughes in this behalf. In response to this solicitation the Bishop sent to this locality Father J. Scollon, who was the first resident priest at this place.
Father Scollon heroically devoted himself to the arduous duties these labors devolved on him, gen- erously sacrificing personal comfort in his minis- trations toward the sick and dying. At times, for a week together, he was known to have gone with- out removing his clothing, lying down and snatch- ing a few moments rest in the intervals of duty, so constant were the demands on him. His services during a period of about one and a half years, the length of his stay here, form a strong feature in the church history.
Father George R. Brophy succeeded Father Scollon and remained about three years, dividing his labors between this place, Matteawan, and the ore-beds in Beekman. He also, as well as those who have succeded him on this charge, was a resi- dent pastor.
In 1853, Father Dennis Sheehan entered upon a pastorate of twenty-two years, continuing till his death, Oct. 27, 1875. During his long and faith- ful labors the church increased in numbers, making necessary the two additions to their house of wor- ship already referred to. He also built the churches at Matteawan and Beekman, the former about 1856, and the latter about 1859, to both of which stations he extended his labors.
Father Hugh S. O'Hare next supplied the pulpit for a few months, and was succeeded in July, 1876, by the present pastor, Father Charles M. O'Keefe, who entered upon the work of the parish with such spirit and energy that, by May, 1877, he had ex-
tinguished a church debt of $5, 182, and prepared the plans for a new church. During the second year of his ministry, in 1877-8, he erected, at a cost of about $26,000, including rich stained glass windows, steam heating apparatus and other fix- tures, the present magnificent structure, which compares favorably with any similar structure, even in the city of Poughkeepsie, where the churches are generally exceptionally fine, and we doubt if it is equaled in any place of its size in the State or country. The corner-stone of the new church was laid by Cardinal McCloskey,* Sept. 22, 1877, and the church was dedicated by Vicar General Will- iam Quinn, Oct. 27, 1878. The seating capacity of the church is about 850. The congregation now numbers from 1,300 to 1,400.
NEW HAMBURGH.
New Hamburg, known at an early day as Wap- pinger Creek postoffice, is finely situated on the Hudson, at the mouth of Wappingers Creek, in the angle formed by the junction of these streams. It is a station on the Hudson River Railroad, by which it is 835 miles south from Poughkeepsie, and is connected by a ferry with Marlborough, in Ulster county. It contains two churches, (Presbyterian ; and Methodist,) and an Episcopal chapel, which is occasionally supplied by the rector at Wappingers Falls, a union school, one private school, of five or six pupils, kept by Miss Caroline Brower, three hotels, į five stores, two shoe shops, kept by Abraham Myers and H. B. Merritt, two tin shops, kept by T. S. Merritt and William Parker, two blacksmith shops, kept by John Van- nosdall and John Terwilliger, one wagon shop, kept by Hobert VanNostrand, a cooper shop, kept by John B. Moore, and employing several men. W. Millard & Son, are dealers in lumber and building materials, including hardware and coal. The village has a population of about 500.
New Hamburgh has considerable commerce. There are two landings, an upper and a lower, the former kept by William Hasbrock, and the latter by Vermilyea & Jackson, both of whom do a freighting business between here and New York, Albany, Newburgh and Poughkeepsie. The Hud- son Taylor, Capt. Wm. P. Drake, leaves at seven o'clock every morningh for Newburg and Pough-
* This was the first corner-stone laid by him as Cardinal.
t Owning to our inability to obtain access to the record of this church, we are unable to give its history.
# VanAnden's Hotel, kept by Marvin VanAnden : the Central House, kept by Jacob Madison, and the Perrine House, kept by Charles H. Perrine.
368
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
keepsie, stoping at intermediate landings. The Mary Powell, stops here in the morning on the trip down,and in the afternoon on the up trip.
Wappingers Creek is spanned within the village by a fine iron swing-bridge, which was erected in 1879, at a cost of about $10,000. It is the only county bridge in Duchess County, being the only one which crosses tide water. The Hudson River Railroad also crosses it on a draw-bridge. This was the scene of a dreadful accident on the night of Feb. 6, 1871,* which resulted in the loss of many lives by fire and water, the number who perished be- ing variously stated at from twenty-two to forty. The accident was caused by the collision of an up passenger train with the wreck of a down oil train, which was thrown from the track by a broken axle. Fire was conmunicated to the wreck of the two trains by the furnace of the passenger locomotive, and from these to the railroad bridge, which soon fell with a crash, carrying with it, and burying in the ice and water the burning cars, from one of which the passengers, too much stunned and in- jured by the collision, were unable to escape. David Simmons, the brave engineer of the passen- ger train, doubtless saved many lives, though at the sacrifice of his own, by adhering to liis trust.
The growth of the village was neither early nor rapid. The first impulse was given to it about 1810, by John Drake, who is believed to have been the first merchant at this point. He first did a mercantile and freighting business on the east side of the creek, in the locality of the east end of the iron bridge, on the site of Disbrow & Brown's foundry. About 1808, he built the first bridge across Wappingers Creek. He obtained a charter, which required him to keep the bridge a certain number of years at his own expense, after which it became a county charge. The present bridge is still known as Drake's bridge, though it is the third one on that site.
About 1810, Mr. Drake removed to the site of New Hamburgh village, which then had only two houses-the house at the lime kiln, which was then occupied by Ephriam Dubois, and stood on the site of the brick house now owned by A. Tower, of Poughkeepsie ; and one which stood near the east end of Millard's coal shed, to which place it was removed from its original site, and which was torn down by Mr. Millard when the shed was built. The former house was torn down about thirty years ago, by Adolphus Bower, who then erected the
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