History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 92

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 92

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TOWN OF LA GRANGE.

CHAPTER XL.

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LA GRANGE.

T THE territory comprising the town of La

Grange, when the county was first divided into districts or precincts, lay mostly in that of Rombout, and from 1770 up to 1788, was designated as Oswego.

Upon the division of the county into towns by the Legislative act in 1778, the present territory formed a part of Fishkill and Beekman. On the 9th of Feb. 1821, the town was formed under the name of Freedom, and on the Ist of March, 1827, a small portion of it was taken to form the town of Union Vale, and since that date the boundaries have not been changed. The original description of the bounds read as follows :-

"That from and after the last day of March next, (1821) all that part of the town of Fishkill, lying north of a line commencing at the fording place on the Wappingers Creek, nigh the house of the late Samuel Thorne, deceased, from thence running easterly to the division line between Fishkill and Beekman towns, ten chains southerly of the house formerly owned by - Palmer and now in part occupied by John Arthur ; and all that part of the town of Beekman, lying west of a line commencing at the point on the division line between Fishkill and Beekman, where the east and west line afore- said in Fishkill will intersect said division line of Beekman and Fishkill, running from thence north- easterly to a point two chains distance due east from the northeast corner of the house of Seneca Vail, built by Dr. Soffin, (provided it includes the house of Elisha C. Barlow, if not, thence commenc- ing at the point aforesaid, on the division line of Beekman and Fishkill aforesaid, and running from thence to and including the house of Nicholas Tyce ; from thence to the point aforesaid, two chains distance, due east from the northeast corner of the house of the said Seneca Vail,) from thence on either of the courses last aforesaid as may be determined by actual survey, to the Washington town line, shall be known and distinguished as a separate town by the name of Freedom, and that the first town meeting in said town of Freedom, shall be held at the house of William Wolven, in said town, on the first Tuesday in April next."

According to the act, the town election was held and the following officers were elected : John Wilkin- son, Supervisor; John Clapp, Clerk ; Isaac B. Clapp, Silas Pettit, Reuben Tanner, Israel Fowler, and John Van De Belt, Assessors ; Leonard Nelson, Collector ; John Billings, Mynard B. Velie, Over- seers of the Poor ; Baltus Velie, Elias Vail and Henry Dates, Commissioners of Highways; Eze- kiel Velie, John D. Brown and John G. Dunkin, Commissioners of Schools ; James Congdon, John

G. Dunkin, Samuel Pettit, Henry D. Sleight, Thomas H. Potter, and Avery L. Herrick, Inspec- tors of Common schools; Jacob Culver, Daniel Stillwell, James Coles, and Peter Hageman, Con- stables. Roadmasters, fence-viewers and other officers were appointed a few days after, and rules adopted in regard to stock running at large, and the manner of fencing.

There being postoffices in other sections of the country, bearing the name of Freedom, to which papers and letters belonging to this office were sent and vice versa, the Board of Supervisors changed the name of the town in 1829, to La. Grange, after the homestead of La Fayette in France. The southern part of this town was the earliest settled as the influx came from Fishkill, and was chiefly made about the years 1750 to 1760.

One of the earliest points settled was near Morey's Corners, and for a number of years it was the chief business portion of the town. The early settlers were the families of Brundage, Clapp, Shear, Swade and Dean. They were here during the Revolution and took an active part in the con- test, but were divided in sentiment and harbored bitter feelings toward each other. At that time Jesse Clapp owned the place now occupied by Samuel H. Moore, and also the only gristmill in this section of the country.

When the Tory force, which made the raid upon Washington Hollow-referred to in the annals of Pleasant Valley-was concentrating recruits, they formed an encampment upon this farm and sub- sisted upon the donations of their Tory friends, many of whom living here accompanied them on their march. The meadow upon which they en- camped has ever since been called the "Camp lot" and undoubtedly will be by generations to come.

John and Daniel Hosier, two brothers, settled opposite the present parsonage, and were the first actual settlers of the hamlet now known as Morey's Corners. They built a fulling-mill a few years pre- vious to 1815, near the bridge and after running it for several years successfully, sold the same to Daniel Noxen. A much respected son of John Hosier, who was on the ill-fated steamer "Henry Clay" and was drowned, was nearly the last of that family, which is now extinct in this county. Noxen sold the mill to Daniel Haight of the town of Washington, who removed to the opposite side of the creek and added others in which are carried on tanning and currying. The property was sold under foreclosure and purchased by the heirs of John Billings, who resold the same to George

468

HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

English. He converted the whole into a gristmill, which is at the present time owned and occupied by Albert Emigh, a distant relative.

"Morey's Corners" received the name from Jacob Morey who settled here about the year 1800, and built the present parsonage at least sixty years ago. He was a blacksmith by trade, but in order to add to his income commenced keeping an inn. While Morey made the anvil ring with his honest strokes, Mrs. Morey attended to the affairs of the Inn, es- pecially the " spiritual" part, or the bar, and became her own best customer. Morey was obliged to close the tavern on account of his wife's intemper- ate habits and rely exclusively upon his trade for a livelihood, which added more to his family's repu- tation, as the inn was anything but commendable to him or the neighborhood. He was the first blacksmith in this part of the town and when he died the family name also vanished, except as ap- plied to the hamlet.

Mr. J. C. Colwell, the only " old resident " of the place now living, says, when he settled in 1827, besides those already mentioned, Joseph Wicks, Elisha C. Barlow, Jonathan Brooks, Elijah Town- send, John Billings and Enoch Dorland, were the heads of the families then living. Mr. Colwell has been an active townsman, having officiated as Justice of the Peace for many years, besides being an auctioneer for a period of forty-seven years, attending over six hundred auctions. He is still active and robust at the age of seventy-eight and to his retentive memory we are indebted for many facts relating to the events of the past.

Mr. Colwell informs us he was well acquainted with the last of the Wappinger Indians of this county. They were but two, man and wife, and lived in a hut near Freedom Plains. The Indian was a tall, robust man with keen eye and active limbs, but slovenly in habits and much addicted to strong drink. He was supposed to be a "full blood," as was his squaw, who followed her "warrior" to the spirit-land a few years after his death.

When the Duchess & Columbia Railroad was completed and a station established, Morey's Cor- ners vanished as a business center and a new village sprang up under the name of La Grange- ville. J. E. Andrews erected the first store which was the continuation of a business long ago estab- lished at Morey's and at present is the only one of the hamlet. W. Bodden followed in the tin and hardware line, making the only tradesman at present.

A coal-yard was soon opened, whose sales in- creased year by year, those of the last year amount- ing to a trifle over five hundred tons. It is under the efficient management of Gregory & Colwell.

ARTHURSBURG.

The neighborhood of Arthursburg was settled about the year 1755. At this place was early built a Friend's ineeting-house, and as early as 1790 the Oswego yearly meetings were held here. Many Quaker families resided near, among whom were the Dorlands. The most prominent, Enoch Dorland, was a preacher and gave to the old town the name of Freedom and also the present name in honor of La Fayette, of whom he was a great admirer. Enoch was a true patriot and often gave the friends of Royalty sharp cuts upon their revolution- ary acts. He was a very pious and useful man and the main preacher in this part of the country for many years to officiate at funerals and marriages, being very popular with all classes.

FREEDOM PLAINS.

Freedom Plains was the central point at which the "town home " was located for many long years, but which presents but a shadow of a hamlet to- day. The townspeople being chiefly employed in agricultural pursuits, but little interest has been given to the formation of villages or establishing any enterprise that would cause a close settlement. There was formerly kept at this place a hotel and store, but the "no license" system being adopted by the electors of the town, they closed the portals of the inn, and it can be numbered only with the things of the past.

CHURCHES OF LA GRANGE.

The oldest religious organization in the town is that of the Society of Friends, of Arthursburg, but at what time it was effected we are unable to learn to a certainty. As before stated the Oswego monthly meetings were held here, at which the ex- emplary fathers and mothers assembled in their modest garb, and worshipped in their quaint way, giving renewed evidences of their sincerity.

The Methodists were next in the field in mis- sionary work, but the Presbyterians were first in organizing a church, which they did at Freedom Plains.

Presbyterian Church of Freedom Plains .- The society held a semi-centennial anniversary on the 14th of March, 1878, at which time the pastor,

FARM

COTTAGE

FARM YARD & BARNS .

RESIDENCE OF J. C. AND A. SHE

RESIDENCE

ER, LA GRANGE, DUTCHESS CO., N. Y.

469

TOWN OF LA GRANGE.

Rev. J. S. Gilmor, delivered a historical address from which we glean the following facts: In the early records of this church it is sometimes called the Church of Freedom. For years before the or- ganization Freedom Plains was a destitute mis- sionary field on the borders of several congrega- tions, Pleasant Valley, Poughkeepsie, Hackensack, and the West Branch Quakers. There were prayer meetings held with more or less regularity, and occasional preaching by the pastors of the neigh- boring churches, Mr. Clark, Dr. Cuyler, Dr. Dewitt and others. The prayer meetings at private houses and the school house were mainly sustained by the elders and members of the Pleasant Valley church. In the winter of 1827 there was a revival, mainly under the preaching of the Rev. N. Patterson, which led to the formation of a church. At this time there was no church within the limits of the town except that of the Friends. There had been occasional preaching by the Methodists in the old dwelling house near to that now occupied by J. W. Storm. On the 26th of July, 1827, "Sundry per- sons of Freedom" did meet at the house of Mary Nelson and chose the following as trustees : Ben- jamin H. Conklin, Baltus Overacker, Eleazer Tay- lor, Baltus Velie, Rickertson Collins, John D. Brown, Abram S. Storm, Isaac B. Clapp and John Clapp.

The church was regularly organized on the 14th of May, 1828, by the following committee, ap- pointed by the Presbytery of North River, viz: Rev. Messrs. John Clark, James P. Ostram and Alonzo Welton. The organization took place in the barn of Baltus Overacker, with thirty-nine members. Benj. H. Conklin, Baltus Overacker, A. S. Storm and Samuel Thurston, were elected elders, and Eleazer Taylor and Henry Disbrow, Deacons. Services were held in the barn during the most of that year and the church edifice was completed in the latter part of 1828 and dedicated on New Year's Day, 1829. The original cost of which was $2, 169.38.

The parsonage was erected some two years later and the twelve acres of land on which it stands was purchased of Baltus Velie in the year 1831, for $650. Two of the original elders of this church are still living-Abram S. Storm and Samuel Thurston. The former ceased acting early in the year 1829, in consequence of removing to the town of Fish- kill, and has ever since been connected with the Reform Church of Hopewell, and the latter served the church five years and removed to the western part of the State where he still resides. So far as

known there are but four more of the original members now living: Rev. W. J. McCord, Susan G. Conklin, Margaret Conklin and Elizabeth Schoten.

The first pastor was the Rev. Milton Buttolph, who remained to the year 1837, and was followed by Rev. Sumner Mandeville, who was installed on the 6th of June, 1838, and continued until April, 1861, lacking only two months of twenty-three years. Rev. John Ward, a native of New Jersey, followed Mandeville in September, following, and supplied the church until June 3, 1863, when he was installed its pastor. He continued in the pas- toral office but a short time but after the pastoral relation was dissolved he continued to supply the church up to January, 1867. The fourth pastor of the church was Rev. O. Howell Hazard, who was ordained in 1864. During his pastoral duties here the church was repaired (1872) at a cost of $400.

Rev. Hazard was succeeded by Rev. John S. Gilmor who was called to labor here in the begin- ning of 1876, and remained until May, 1880, when he removed to New York. Rev. George Niff of Poughkeepsie soon followed and continued until September, 1881. Since that time the church has been destitute of a pastor. Among those who may be regarded as the sons of this church and have become ministers of the Gospel, may be mentioned Rev. Wm. McCord and his brother James P. McCord, also Rev. Townsend Taylor .;

The church has been the recipient of the follow- ing bequests : In 1842, from Mrs. Celia Taylor, $500; 1861 from Eleazer Taylor, $300 ; 1866, from Amina B. Shear, $100; and in 1871, from Adrian Monfort, $200.

Methodist Episcopal Church of La Grange .- This organization was effected under the old Duchess Circuit and transferred to that of Cort- landt. The first minutes are of the quarterly meet- ing held at Pond Church July 14, 1849, and the circuit consisted of Donnsville, Somers, Big Pond, Herman, Mount Zion, North Salem and Carmel, under Elbert Osborne preacher in charge and John Sloat local preacher.

The following year Lake Mahopac, Croton Falls and Goldens Bridge, were added to the circuit. But long years previous to the above date, meet- ings were held occasionally in different neighbor- hoods by " circuit riders" as they were called and the inhabitants of the Morey vicinity attended chiefly at Potters Hollow where the first church edifice was built, and from which it was removed to Mo-

470

HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

rey's and called the "Trinity church of LaGrange." The minutes of this society are incomplete and fail to give us the pastors from 1849 to 1862, excepting for the year 1851, when Rev. Loren Clarke officiated. From 1862 to the present time, they appear as follows : Loren Clarke, 1862- '64; Isaac H. Lent, 1864-'66; George Clarke, 1866-'67 ; O. P. Matthews, 1867-'69; A. Vail, 1869-'72 ; W. S. Tuthill, 1872-'75; E. H. W. Barden, 1875-'76 ; R. H. Travers, 1876-'79; W. Blake, 1879-'80 ; and the present pastor C. Gorse.

The present edifice was built in 1866, and is a wooden structure, comparing favorably with the surrounding country churches.

SOCIETIES.

The only temperance society in the town is the Independent Order of Good Templars, chartered Oct. 17, 1878. The lodge-room is at LaGrange- ville, and the membership numbers sixty at the present time. Those to whom the charter was granted are as follows : Samuel Dorland, Mary Dor- land, V. B. Giddings, Tunis Bartram, J. C. Pultz, Wm. Blake, Sarah Blake, Lizzie Dorland, Frank Lounsbury, Allie Gray, Alfred Holmes, Luther Giddings, Cordelia Bertram, Ella H. Giddings, Geo. W. Emans.

The society has been a faithful worker in the cause of temperance in connection with the churches as is evidenced by the enforcement of the "no license " system throughout the town. The pres- ent officers are : S. T. Dorland, W. C. T .; Mary L. Dorland, W. V. T .; Charles Gorse, S .; Tunis Bertram, F. S. and L. D .; Eugene Schryver, Treas. ; Wm. Lounsbury, W: M. ; Geo. Upton, D. M. ; John Roe, G. ; Mattie Elsworth, S. ; Allie Gray, R. S. ; Estelle Kelley, L. S.

PHYSICIANS.

Who the first medical practitioners were in this town is not definitely known, but in the beginning of the century, Jacob Warner, who was located at Freedom Plains, and Shadrach Ricketson, a Quaker of Beekman, were the leading doctors of this sec- tion. Dr. Sleight followed and located a short dis- tance from Sprout Creek. During Sleight's time, Drs. Lumas and Hughson came and were suc- ceeded by W. H. Hopkins, who purchased the place and practice of Dr. Sleight. Drs. Upton and Hopkins were contemporaries until the death of the latter, when the former removed to other parts and was followed here by Dr. Dorland, who soon af-

ter sold to Dr. Greene. The latter removed to Buffalo and was succeeded by Dr. George Hunt- ington, who still remains located at Morey's Cor- ners, and with Dr. Fink of Freedom Plains attends the ills to which the human flesh is heir.

TOWN OFFICERS.

The following * is a correct list of the Supervisors and Town Clerks with the date of their service :--

Supervisors.

Clerks.

1821-'22. John Wilkinson, John Clapp.

1823. . John Clapp, Jonathan Lockwood.

1824. Jon'n Lockwood, Stephen Thorn.

1825. do

do Thomas Potter.

1826. John Wilkinson, do do

1827. John Clapp, do do

1828. Jon'n Lockwood, Oliver Green.

1829. do do[ten, J. C. Hoffman.

1830. E. T. Van Benscho- Henry D. Sleight.

1831 John Lockwood, do do

1832-'33. E. T. VanBenschoten,do do

1834-'35. William Storm, do do

1836-'37. Treadwell Townsend, do

1838-'39. E. T. VanBenschoten, Brooks Vermilyea.

1840-'41. Gideon Van Valin, A. R. McCord.

1842. do do James G. Pells.

1843. Tunis Brinkerhoff, do do

1844-'45. Joseph Wickes, do do

1846-'47. Silas Sweet, do do

1848-'49. Treadwell Townsend,do do

1850-'51. Albert Emans, do

1852-'53. John G. Pells, Oliver Monfort.

1854. James Howard,

Nicholas Baker.

1855-'56. Jacob Velie, Henry Van Benscho- do

1857-'58. A. W. Storm, do[ten.

1859. James Howard,

Isaac L. Wickes.

1860. Henry Van Benschoten, do

1861. John S. Brown,

Peter B. Clapp.

1862-'63. Albert Emans,

Stephen Monfort. do do

1864-'67. John W. Storm,

1868. George Ayrault,

John S. Brown.

1869. A. W. Sleight,

William D. Smith.

1870. do do

John S. Brown.

1871-'72. J. A. Stringham, do

1873-'74. John D. Howard, J. S. Pettit.

1875. A. W. Sleight, do do

1876. do do F. M. Colwell.

1877. J. M. Storm, do do

1878. do do J. V. Genning.

1879-'80. S. H. Moore,

J. S. Pettit.

1881. J. D. Howard,

do do

LA GRANGE IN THE REBELLION.

Like many other towns the quota was partly filled by procuring recruits from other localities and paying a bounty which run from $300 to

* Obtained through Mr. Joseph S. Pettit, the present Town Clerk, together with many other interesting facts concerning the town's history.

John C. Shear

471

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

$1,000. The following are the names of soldiers from this town :-

Theodore Clark, Theodore De Groff, Frederick M. Williams, Jacob Lane, Charles H. Williams, Edward Hoag, John H. Mastin, Alonzo Murphy, Talmage Burhans, Charles W. McCord, W. H. Cash, Amos Teagaura, William Wolven Baker, Benjamin Barrett, Theodore DeGroff, Henry C. Stillwell, Charles Wilson, W. H. Murphy, George Emigh, Wm. H. Gifford, John P. Williams, Sidney T. Wickson, Harvey Hill, Patrick Leonard, Calvert Abel, George McNeill, Henry Phillips, W. B. Phillips, Matthew Cramer, John Davison, Charles McCabe, Gilbert Emigh, Alex. Vosburg, Edward Hoag, George L. Masten, B. C. Wilkinson, Gim- bred Roberd, Edward M. Congdon, James John- son, (col.) Moses Jaycox, (col.) William Wolven, John Porter, Robert Williams, John Murray, James Davison, Uriah Davison, Henry Macey, Jesse Baker, John Wilson, Sylvester Potter, Theodore Wolven, Edward Jones, J. Wolven, W. H. Mosher, Dewitt C. Noxen, Milton Odell, Edgar Sedore, W. H. Hall, Alonzo Tracy, C. W. Wilson, Thomas L. Rogers, Matthew Cram, John B. Cypher, John V. Wilson, Patrick Monahan, James Hayden, Thomas Haight, Privates ; Ambrose B. Hart, J. H. Hill, W. B. Phillips, Leary T. Tracy, Theophilus Humphrey, Corporals ; Hiram Davison, Walter A. Hart, A. J. Wyncoop, Sergeants ; Richard Titus,* David B. Sleight, Ist Lieutenants.

The following are the names of those enlisted in the naval service :-

Mchael Moran, Lawrence Donahue, Patrick Day, D. M. Hickney, Christian Frank, Charles Schroder, W. R. Holden, George N. Quinion, Edward H. Fuller, Peter Spenser, John McLoughlin, D. W. Gould, W. D. Birch, Adam Menzman, Kirk W. Farrington, J. B. Kinsley, G. E. Coenhorn, Ernest Hall, J. W. Hoffman, George Green, J. C. Gam- well, John Voght, D. J. Peck, R. T. Walker, James Morrow, James Gill, E. A. Beresford, Hugh Con- way, Napoleon Long, John Nolan, John S. Power, Richard Beard, Olat Ketels, William Robinson, Hugh Murphy.

The majority of the volunteers mentioned were connected with the 128th Regiment of Infantry, and did service at New Orleans. In order to increase the interest in the enlistment for this Regiment, a meeting was held August 14, 1862, which was largely attended. Addresses were made by Albert Emans and Gilbert Dean. As a result of this meeting sufficient funds were subscribed to

give each volunteer from this town $55 additional bounty. This Regiment was through the Red River campaign under General Banks, and was then transferred to Sherman's command, with whom it closed its services.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOHN C. SHEAR.

Johannes Shear, the great-grandfather of John C., was born in Germany, in 1718, and came to America in 1748. Israel Shear, son of Johannes, was born in America in 1751. His son, John C., the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1776. He married Margaret Cornell, by whom he had seven children, five of whom are living, as follows: Anna, now the widow of James Town- send, of Orange County, N. Y .; Catherine E., the widow of Daniel H. Hosier, of New York; John C., Abraham and Sarah M.

John C. was born October 12, 1811, and was united in marriage with Catherine L., daughter of Caleb Pierce, of Fishkill, by whom she has one child, Anna. Abraham is unmarried and lives with John C. on the farm formerly occupied by their father, and of which a sketch is given in this work. The farm contains two hundred and twen- ty-eight acres, and the house which these brothers occupy was built in 1812. They also own a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, situated in the town of La Grange, on the Manchester road, about five miles from Poughkeepsie. They have given particular attention to raising fine cattle, among which were a pair of twins, which at the age of four years weighed 2,400 and 2,000 pounds re- spectively. February 16, 1874, they sold in the New York market two choice high bred Durham heifers for $450, their gross weight being 4,616 pounds.

They are also successful breeders of Southdown and Cottswold sheep. In 1870 they raised eight lambs from two ewes, since then they have raised nine lambs from three ewes in one year. Their flocks of these varieties of sheep took the first premium at the Poughkeepsie fair. Their farm is conven- iently and pleasantly situated, about one mile from the Duchess & Columbia R. R. depot at La Grange- ville.

John C. Shear never left the old homestead, and being in possession of these qualities which are in- dispensable to the successful cultivation of a farm, he has accumulated a competence, and to-day is considered one of the most successful farmers in the county.

* Promoted to captain.

472

HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

GEORGE AYRAULT.

The Ayrault family are of French origin and came to America at an early day settling in New England. John Ayrault, father of George, was born in Sandisfield, Berkshire Co., Mass., and moved to Caledonia, Livingston Co., N. Y., where George was born March 6, 1827. His family con- sisted of his wife, whose maiden name was Huldah Smith, and seven children, as follows: Celestia, Emily, John, George, Allen, Warren and Miles.

George Ayrault remained at home assisting his father in the cultivation of his extensive farm until he was twenty-one years of age, when he left home and was engaged in teaching school two terms. February 5, 1857, he was married to Jennie D., daughter of John Lawrence of Brooklyn, N. Y. Mr. Ayrault started in life without the assistance of as much as a dollar from any one, but in the pos- session of a mind of rare vigor and unusual acute- ness of observation, faculties which in the school or his varied experiences in after life enabled him to become a sagacious judge of human nature and of the diversified business interests which he inau- gurated and successfully carried out. He dealt, for a time, in cattle in a small way, and by practic- ing the strictest economy he saved a few hundred dollars, but his natural proclivities led him to seek a larger field. He accordingly went to New York City where he entered into business as a cattle broker, a business for which he was peculiarly adapted, possessing as he did a clear and accurate judgment of men as well as of stock. An amusing anecdote is told of him by some of the New York cattle dealers who flourished in those days. It having been rumored that a young man from the country had come down to struggle for a place among the cattle kings of the metropolis, a great curiosity was excited to see this "bold young man." He was one day pointed out to one of these kings who remarked : " We will have this young fellow's hide on the fence in less than six months." There were, after this, several of the "hides" of those famous dealers "hung on the fence," but Mr. Ayrault's was not among the number, and with one exception he was the most successful operator who did business in the New York cattle marts * of that day. He was a partner with Geo. A. Toffey for a short time, and among his other business associates were the following men who had a national reputa- tion in their line of business: John A. Merritt, Thos. White, Barney Bartram, Wm. and David Belden, Joseph Williams, Jas. E. Bathgate, David and Archibald Allerton, Simon Ulery, Charles Teed and Thomas Wheeler, men who were consid- ered the cattle kings of New York. Having amassed a handsome competence, Mr. Ayrault turned his attention towards the purchase of a fine farm, which he secured, located about three miles east of Poughkeepsie, off the main turnpike, which was formerly known as the Ver Valin farm, it having been in the possession of that family for one

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History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 92

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