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 93
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hundred and fifty years. The farm contains four hundred and forty acres of productive land. Mr Ayrault purchased it in 1859 and moved there with his family from New York. In 1861 he built the fine brick dwelling he now occupies and which is in such perfect harmony that it has frequently gen- erated the remark, " It looks as though the house had grown there." Never, however, was the saying " experience is the best teacher" better illustrated than in the life of George Ayrault. After a time he turned his attention to the breeding of large cattle for beef, and to-day he stands without a rival, as the owner of the largest cattle in the world.
After settling on his farm he went to Western New York and selected the three finest cows he could find, one from each of three of the largest herds in that part of the State, and from those three cows sprang the cattle that have given Mr. Ayrault a world wide reputation. The four stuffed specimens on exhibition in Central Park, N. Y., were raised on his place, the lightest of which weighed three thousand three hundred pounds, and it is conceded by all, that they were the four largest head of cattle ever raised on one farm in America. Mr. Lalor of New York was the pur- chaser and had them stuffed, and presented to Central Park. There has been no time since Mr. Ayrault came into the possession of the three Western cows but he could show the two heaviest and fattest cattle in the world. He was also the owner and breeder of the celebrated "Queen of cattle" that was exhibited at the Centennial. The receipts from showing her there and at agri- cultural fairs amounted to more than nine thou- sand dollars and her heaviest weight was three thousand three hundred pounds. She was a thor- oughbred Durham beautifully proportioned and was conceded to be the finest animal ever exhib- ited. "The champion ox of the world" weighing about four thousand pounds, "and his mate" weighing nearly the same, may be seen at the commodious stables of Mr. Ayrault and have been exhibited at all the principal fairs in the county, where they have never failed to draw large crowds.
Ayrault Place which is one of the main attrac- tions to visitors who are interested in cattle, cheer- fully extends its hospitality to all who may call, and after taking a survey of his large oxen and fine herds, one comes away with the feeling that there is one man who is entitled to all the distinc- tion and notoriety he has received, and that man is George Ayrault. In connection with his large farm in Duchess county he grazes several hundred head of cattle in the Genesee valley near Geneseo, Livingston County, where he also owns several farms. His possessions are so widely apart that he does not insure them, being as he terms it his own insurance company.
Mr. Ayrault is the father of three children :- Emily L., George, Jr., and Sara Belle. His father was the possessor of a large property at his death, but in his will he left nothing to George, thinking that as he was richer than himself, he needed no
* The cattle market at that time was located on Forty-fourth street, near where the N. Y. C. & H. R. R. R. depot now stands.
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MOSS ENG CO.NY.
"AYRAULT-PLACE"-RESIDENCE OF GEO. AYRAULT, LA GRANGE, N. Y.
Photo. by Vail, Poughkeepsie.
PETER R. SLEIGHT.
473
BIOGRAPHICAL, SKETCHES.
help. So beginning life with but few advantages, he has by energy and perseverance attained the pinnacle of success. He was the first president of the Hudson River Agricultural and Driving Park Association, and was instrumental in getting the stock subscribed, and under his administration it was a great success. Among many other enter- prises in which he became interested was the erection of the fine soldiers monument at LaGrange, which commemorates the death of Lieutenant Sleight. He was the originator of that idea, and through his efforts the amount to defray the expense of the same was raised, and at its unveil- ing he was made president of the meeting.
Mr. Ayrault is an advocate of early rising, and while in the cattle markets of New York, daylight seldom found him in bed. It was a common say- ing among dealers that if you want to keep up with Ayrault "you must get up in the morning."
AYRAULT PLACE.
Ayrault Place is principally noted for the mam- moth cattle that have been raised there since it came into the possession of George Ayrault.
Mr. Ayrault advances the theory that inasmuch as the United States have become a beef exporting nation no American farmer can really afford to raise cattle merely for dairy purposes, and in order to make cattle raising a success he must combine the qualifications of beef and milch cows, and he has fully shown that it can be done if only proper care and judgment is exercised in the selection of parent stock. That Mr. Ayrault possesses all of the necessary qualifications which place him at the head of successful stock raisers, is evidenced by the immense cattle that roam his fields. They are of extraordinary size and weight and add much to the attraction of the place with its well watered pas- tures.
Ayrault Place is distant a pleasant drive of three miles from Poughkeepsie, and the fine residence together with its beautiful surroundings, make it one of the most desirable places in the county.
PETER R. SLEIGHT.
The ancestors of Peter R. Sleight were among the early and prominent settlers of this country. The first authentic record we find of them was of Cornelius Barretson Sleight * of Holland, who was a man prominent in his day, both in the official life of the colony and in the church. Next we find Abram Vosburg Sleight who was born in Kingston, N. Y., and was captured while defend- ing Rondout from an attack by the Indians, and with two others was burned at the stakc.
Abram Sleight was born in Kingston, in 1724, and died in 1800. He was the father of six chil- dren-four sons and two daughters-as follows: James, Abram, Betsey, John, Harriet and Peter. James was a lieutenant of volunteers during the Revolution, where he saw a great deal of active service. He was present at the burning of Kingston and was stationed at New Windsor when Vaughn passed up the Hudson. Many of his rela- tives were in Kingston when the torch was applied and he saw them fleeing for their lives, with such household goods as they could remove. Abram and John also took part in the struggle but were not very prominent.
Peter R. Sleight was the son of James and one of a family of five children as follows: Elsie, born in 1800, became the wife of Abram B. Stockholm of East Fishkill; James E. (deceased), Peter R., Harriett, who married Ricketson Gidley of Pough- keepsie, and is now a widow, and Henry A. (de- ceased), who left a wife and three children (daugh- ters).
Peter R. was born on the place he now occupies, July 20, 1804. Oct. 3, 1827, he was married to Sarah K. Barnes, by whom he had one child- James E., who died leaving a widow and four daughters. The wife of Peter R., died in 1829, and for his second wife he married her sister Cath- erine S. Barnes. Three children were born to them as follows: Sarah A. wife of Stephen M. Ham, of Pleasant Valley ; David B. who was a First Lieutenant during the Rebellion, and was with General Sherman on his march to the sea. He was killed by a shot through the body, at the battle of Averysborough, N. C. His remains were removed to the LaGrange rural cemetery, where a hand- some monument marks his resting place. The monument was purchased and erected by the citi- zens of LaGrange in recognition of the services rendered and the bravery he displayed in the de- fense of his country. It was unveiled in the pres- ence of a large concourse of people and addresses were delivered by some of the most prominent men in the county.
Alex. W., the third child of Peter R. Sleight, was married to Mary C., daughter of John G. Pells, of LaGrange. He has figured prominently in politics, and has been supervisor of his town several terms. He is a republican and the fact that he was elected in a strong democratic town, speaks volumes for his popularity.
Peter R. Sleight is a man well and favorably known throughout the county. He was assessor and commissioner of highways several terms and is now the sole bonding commissioner of the town of LaGrange. June 7, 1881, he was elected presi- dent of the Duchess County Mutual Insurance Company, and although he is now seventy-seven years of age, the business has received a fresh im- petus under his administration. As a proof of the confidence and esteem in which he is held by his neighbors, we will state that lie has been adminis- trator and executor for sixteen different estates ; in onc instance being called to administer the estate of
* In the earliest records found of Cornelius Barretson Sleight the name was written Slecht and later Sleght and at present Sleight .-- History Ulster County.
474
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
a person whom he had never met. His reputation for fair dealing and the possession of a clear and impartial judgment are widely spread, and although he was never a lawyer he has administered the estates left under his charge with utmost satisfac- tion to all.
In politics Mr. Sleight is a Republican. He was formerly a Jackson Democrat and afterward a Whig. His home is pleasantly situated in the town of LaGrange about four miles from the court house in Poughkeepsie, and each day he drives into town and attends to the duties of his office, returning home at night.
Mr. Sleight enjoys good health and a plentiful supply of this world's goods, the latter of which he dispenses liberally to the poor and needy. He was never known to turn anyone from his door empty handed and although now living on "borrowed time " he bids fair to remain a number of years in the enjoyment of his health and faculties, much to the gratification of his family and many friends.
CHAPTER XLI.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF UNION VALE.
T HE town of Union Vale lies southeast of the center of the county. It is bounded north- erly by Washington ; southerly by Beekman ; easterly by Dover ; and westerly by LaGrange. The surface of this town is quite hilly, and, in some portions, wild and uninviting. A broad val- ley, in which is some of the finest land in the town, extends north and south through the center. This is known as the valley of the " Clove." This town was included in the patent of Henry Beekman, who, in 1716, conveyed to his son, also named Henry, one thousand acres in this locality. Set- tlements were undoubtedly begun within a few years succeeding this conveyance, but there are no records to show at what precise date, or by whom, settlements were first made in what is now the town of Union Vale. The pioneers to whom credit is given for being the first settlers in the county of Duchess, located in this region, between the Fishkill and Wappingers creek in the summer of 1687. These were a young married couple of the name of Emigh,* who had settled on one of the islands below Albany, and were driven out by an overflow of the Mohawk river in that spring.
Emigh came to this country in 1686, and was one of the settlers engaged to locate on the Liv- ingston domain purchased in 1685. He, like others, was dissatisfied with Livingston, and with his young wife removed to the location referred to
above. After settling in the precinct of Fishkill, Emigh bought from the Indians a tract of land extending from the river to the Connecticut line, including much of the present towns of Fishkill, Beekman, Dover and Union Vale. He soon found that the best of his purchase was covered by the Rombout patent, granted in the fall of 1685, or nearly two years before, and that his "Indian Deed " was worthless. He was permitted to re- tain fifteen hundred acres in the Clove Valley, where he next located, northward of the present hamlet of Beekmanville. Some of his descend- ants now occupy portions of that tract. A daugh- ter was born to them soon after their purchase from the Indians, and while yet residents within the precinct of Fishkill. This was the first white child born in Duchess County. She, when arriving at maturity, married a man of the name of Lossing,* from whom is descended the family of that name, now so worthily represented in this county by Benson J. Lossing, the historian.
One of the oldest houses in the town, if not the oldest, was built by one of the family of Emigh. This is the house now owned by the heirs of George Brill, at North Clove, and which bears the inscription "N. E., (Nicholas Emigh,) 1740."
Other early settlers were the Klines, (or Kleins) Uhles, Reeds, Moreys, Wilkinsons, Abels, Adam and Daniel Crouse, John Mosher and James Skidmore, but the date of their incoming is unknown. The last named was quite an exten- sive land owner, and built at an early date a mill near what is known as the Crouse store. t
Charles Delafield, of New York, at one time a clerk in the old Duchess County Bank, built in 1835, the Delafield or Mansion House, some two and a half miles distance from North Clove. This in its early days was a noted house. Delafield failed, the house passed into other hands, and eventually went to decay. It is now standing in a ruined condition, and belongs, with its lands, to John W. Ross. It is used as a tenant house by David Malrony.
Captain Bylandt, a retired seaman, built in 1838, on land now owned by Robert Dennis, a
*A son of Peter Lossing, who came from Albany and purchased a tract of land north of Wappingers Creek in 1865. A small inap of that region is in the possession of Benson J. Lossing, on which his house is located and the boundary of his lands defined. It is marked " Lassing's patent," that name being spelled in the earlier records with an "a " in- stead of an "o," as now. The ancestors of Benson J. Lossing were from Holland.
t It is worthy of notice that the late Bishop Alonzo Potter, of the Dio- cese of Pennsylvania, and Bishop Horatio Potter, now of the Diocese of New York, were born in the present limits of this town. Their parents, Joseph and Anna Potter, were Quakers.
* Now spelled Eighmie.
475
TOWN OF UNION VALE.
palatial residence, next to the Mansion House the finest dwelling in the town. It has since been partially torn down and rebuilt, and is now owned by Robert Dennis.
Union Vale was formed from Beekman and Free- dom-now LaGrange-March 1, 1827. The first supervisor of the town was John Wilkinson, and the first town clerk was Allen Butler. From that year to 1881 the succession of supervisors and clerks has been as follows :-
Supervisors.
Clerks.
1828.
John Wilkinson, Abraham P. Hoxie.
1829.
Wm. D. Williams, Allen Butler.
1830-'31. Allen Butler,
Abraham P. Hoxie.
1832. Stoddard Judd, do do
1833-'34. do do Albert Hall.
1835. Richard Vincent,
Willliam A. White.
1836.
do do Gilbert H. Christie.
1837.
John D. Suedecor, Isaac Pine.
Leonard Vincent,
do do
838. 1839. do do Alex. H. Coffin.
1840. James Uhle,
Nicholas N. Haight.
1841. do do Reuben L. Coe.
1842. Andrew Northrop, Gilbert H. Christie.
1843. Richard Vincent, do do
1846.
1844-'45. David D. Vincent, Wm. D. Ricketson. Isaac Vail, John U. Abel.
1847-'48. Jarvis Hall,
Leonard B. Sherman.
1849. Reuben L. Coe,
Geo. T. Williams.
1850.
Robert Bennett,*
Gerome Williams.
1851. Leonard Vincent,
David A. Knapp.
1852. William W. Abel,
Ransom Baker.
1853.
Joseph M. Cutler, } Leonard R. Vincent. David D. Vincent, William W. Abel.
1854.
1855-'56. Wilson Hawley,
Harrison W. Tilton. Geo. T. Williams.
1857. Lewis S. Davis, 1858-'60. Daniel W. Odell, 1861-'62. William R. Bagley, do do
Reuben L. Coe.
1863-'66. David D. Vincent,
do
do
1867-'70. Joseph M. Cutler,
do do
1871. Edward Congdon,¿
do do
1872-773. Wesley Butts,
do do
1874-'75. Henry L. Campbell, do do
1876. Henry Bostwick, do
do
1877. John U. Abel, do
do
1878. Frederic Hicks,
do
do
.
1879. John U. Abel, do
do
1880-'81. Isaac P. Vincent,
do
do
Union Vale has no large villages. The town contains a population of but 1,406.§ Verbank, the most important hamlet, has a population of 144. This is in the north-eastern part of the town and at one time had a cotton mill and paper mill, which did a considerable business. There is
here now a grist and plaster mill. The postmaster at this place is Archibald L. Colwell, who has held the office some two years. The merchants are A. D. Davis & Son, (Alonzo D. and Charles E.,) gen- eral merchants, who have been in business as a firm twelve years. The business was established by A. D. Davis some thirteen years before. He is a native of Long Island, born in 1816. Charles E. was born in the town of Washington in 1843.
Stephen Scott, general merchant, was born in Amenia in 1836, and became a resident of this town in 1859. He established the business here nine years ago. A hotel in connection with the store has been conducted by him for three years. In 1861, Mr. Scott entered the United States ser- vice and remained nearly two years, and was dis- charged for disability.
Nearly a mile from this place is Verbank Station, on the Duchess & Columbia R. R. It contains the station, postoffice, two stores, a church and a few dwellings. The postmaster is Franklin Crouse, appointed in April, 1881. The merchants are C. P. Colwell, in business here since June, 1881, suc- ceeding Sherman & Colwell, and Jacob P. Fowler harness and horse furnishing goods, who has been in business here two years.
The church was built by the Methodist Episco- pal Society in ' 1878, and formally dedicated December 5th of that year. It is now presided over by the Rev. Harman Coons.
OSWEGO.
Oswego, south of Verbank, on the Duchess & Columbia R. R., is also a small hamlet. There is here a Quaker Church which was established a number of years ago.
CLOVE.
Clove, in the southern part of the town, is situa- ted in a rich farn.ing section and has a scattered population. This is the pretty valley of the Clove, which extends north and south through the town. In this vicinity are quite extensive ore beds. That known as the Clove ore bed was opened about fifty-five years ago. It is conducted now by Albert Tower, the manager of the Beekman ore beds. The work of raising the ore is contracted by Wm. Gregory, under whose supervision the business has been conducted sixteen years.
The "Brown Ore Mine," at Clove Hollow, was opened by Jeremiah and William Emigh, about 1856. In 1871 the mine was controlled by George
* Died soon after election. John U. Abel, at an especial election, was chosen to fill the vacancy. t Dead.
# Died, and Reuben L. Coe served the balance of the term, perform- ing the duties of Supervisor and Clerk.
§ 1870-1,432, total. 105 foreign; 23 colored. 1875-1,442, total. 139 foreign; II colored.
476
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
H. Brown, who gave the contract to raise the ore to Patrick Maher, of Philadelphia, now living in that city. He was succeeded by a man named Mitchell, of Washington, who assumed the duties of Superintendent, with Nicholas Rozell as fore- man.
In the spring of 1874 Mitchell retired, and was succeded by Samuel Brown, of the Clove Spring Furnace, who remained as Superintendent until his death, in the fall of 1880. The present Superin- tendent is Norman Plass. The mine is owned by a company, and employs some sixty men. From sixty-five to seventy tons of ore per day are un- earthed here. The deposit is that known as the brown hematite, and contains a large per cent. of clayey ochre, which is considered to be the finest and most valuable.
The postmasters of the Clove are Duane Odell at Clove, appointed some two years since, and William U. Abel, at North Clove, appointed at about the same time. The merchants are Reuben L. Coe and S. E. Way, the latter having been in business three years. The building in which the store is kept was built in the fall of 1878. Reuben L. Coe has been engaged in the mercantile busi- ness here since 1849, in which year his store was built. He is a native of Fishkill, born in Johns- ville in 1816. He became a resident of Union Vale in 1826. Mr. Coe has twice held the office of Supervisor, and for the past twenty-four years has acted as Town Clerk, which office he has filled to the acceptance of both political parties. The wisdom of continuing in office a capable man is shown in the care and completeness with which the records of this town are kept.
The only resident physician of the town is Dr. David A. Knapp. He is a native of New Fair- field, Conn., born in 1820. He graduated from the Medical University of New York City in 1845, and came to Union Vale in the following year .*
The churches in this section of the town are those of the Methodist Episcopal and Christian de- nominations. The edifice of the M. E. Church at North Clove was built in 1834. The Society was organized many years previous. The first trustees were Peter G. Emigh, Abram Cline, Jonathan G. Vincent. These trustees, with the addition of William Coe, acted as a building committee when the church was erected. The pastor at that time was the Rev. Samuel Cochrane. The membership
is small and is now presided over by Rev. Charles Gorse of La Grangeville.
The first edifice of the Christian denomination was erected in 1825. The origin of this society in Union Vale is thus given :* About the fall and winter of 1822 and '23, John L. Peavey, then min- istering to a church in the northern part of the county, held monthly services at the "Old Union," so called, in the adjoing town of Beekman, where a large and influential class of believers were organ- ized under what was then known as the " Christian Liberty Departure." A few years previous to this, there had been manifested throughout Saratoga and Montgomery counties, a revival spirit of marked power, one of the results being the development of a female preacher of unusual character and influ- ence. Plain and unpretending,-for she came of a family known as Quakers, or Friends,-yet she exerted a wonderful power on the minds of her auditors, and her services were in constant demand. Passing through Columbia County and the north- ern portion of Duchess,-having been about a year occupied in her work,-Abigail Hoag Roberts f finally appeared within the circuit of Mr. Peavey's labors. Doors opened at her coming, and calls for her services came to her from every direction, many more than she could fill, reaching through Putnam County and a portion of Westchester, on the south, and westward across the Hudson, through Orange County and Northern New Jersey.
This was at a time when no house of worship was to be found between the old Beekman town line, on the south, and the " Friends Meeting," at Great Nine Partners, on the north. Mrs. Roberts as a preacher added to her gifts that of a comforter, soothing the afflicted, and lifting the pall of dark- ness from discouraged minds; sometimes nursing the sick, and always seeking wherever she went, to relieve pain and to shed a halo of light around the hearthstone where she dwelt. In every home she was welcomed and anxiously looked for, and never did she fail to leave behind her a more favorable impression of the worth of the Christian religion. It was through these considerate and efficient labors that a church was called for by the people of religious faith living in North and South Clove, and also upon the high ground called the "East Mountain."
In the fall of 1823, an extensive revival occurred at the "Old Union," -- situated at Green Haven,-
* For this sketch we again acknowledge thanks to Rev. Philetus Rob- erts, of Clinton, who has given much valuable information relating to the Churches of this denomination throughout the county.
t Mother to Rev. Philetus Roberts.
* Among earlier physicians of the town were Drs. Ricketson, Hall, Stoddard, Judd-the latter previous, and after 1832-Baker, Tallman and James Cook. The last named was located at Verbank.
477
TOWN OF UNION VALE.
and many converts were baptized in Johnson's Pond, now known as Sylvan Lake. This revival and its results produced a feeling in favor of the erection of a house of worship in the northern part of the town ; as many members resided there and were obliged on each Sabbath to ride eight and ten miles to attend religious service. The matter was earnestly discussed, but the plan was abandoned until the next spring, when it was again and more earnestly revived. During the winter, meetings were sustained at the head of the Clove, at Deacon Stephen Force's on the Ridge, three miles east, and occasionally at Caleb Simpson's, two miles south.
Dr. Joseph Hall, of Westchester County, having moved into this section began about this time to preach occasionally. To the movement in general there was much opposition, but the friends of liberal christianity steadily increased and the work went successfully forward.
In the following spring of 1824, Colonel Henry Uhle and Henry Emigh led off in the erection of a house of worship, the latter giving the land, the former donating the timber and furnishing a large share of the board for the workmen engaged in its construction. Many were liberal in the help they bestowed, and in the early fall succeeding, a neat chapel, for those times, appeared. A general meet- ing was appointed to be held in connection with the dedication of the house, in which service Revs. Joseph Badger, I. C. Goff, Mark Fernald, and Dr. Joseph Hall participated.
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