History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 98

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 98

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Dr. Cornelius Remsen was the next physician to locate here. He was born at Newtown, L. I., Feb. 14, 1789, and removed thence Sept. 7, 1804, to Fishkill, for the purpose of studying medicine, living with his uncles, Peter, James and Thomas Osborn, three bachelor brothers, who resided a half mile north of Fishkill and were then practicing medicine in that vicinity. He pursued his medical studies with Dr. Bartow White of that village, and was licensed by the Duchess County Medical Society, Dec. 12, 1810. He served professionally in the army during the war of 1812.

William Baxter, who was born in Delhi in 1805, and was a graduate of Union College, graduated in medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York about 1833. He established himself in practice in New York city, and removed thence about 1836 to Mt. Upton, Chenango county. After about a year he removed thence to Wappingers Falls, where he practiced till his death, July 3, 1875 with the exception of three years spent in Cali- fornia.

Charles Bottsford, from Connecticut, located here soon after the death of Dr. Schenck, about 1840. He was a highly respected physician and practiced here for some years, until incapaci- tated by sickness, when he returned to Connecti- cut and died of consumption. Benjamin Coit, who came from the East, practiced here a year or two, about 1845, and removed to California. Wm. H. Proal was practicing here in 1847 and continued till his death, July 16, 1854, at the age of thirty-six.

The present physicians are : James M. Congreve, Wm. Baxter, S. Roe, Jr., N. M. Van Duser, Thos. K. Cruse, Edmund Van Wyck, Isaac M. Cornell and Thomas P. Birdsall.

James M. Congreve was born in Jamaica, in the West Indies, in 1821, and removed thence with his parents in 1828. He studied medicine with Dr. Elliott Boyd, of New York, and removed thence in 1857 to Wappingers Falls, graduating the following year at the Eclectic College of New York. Wm. Baxter, son of an earlier physician of that name, was born at Wappingers Falls in 1848. He studied medicine with his father and was licensed by the Homeopathic Medical Society of Duchess County in 1871, in which year he commenced practice in this village. Sylvester Roe, Jr., was born in Flush- ing, L. I., in 1844. He graduated from the Mt. Vernon College, N. J., in the spring of 1867, and

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

from the Eclectic Medical College of the City of New York, May 6, 1869. After practicing a year in New York and eighteen months in Sag Harbor, he removed in 1871 to Wappingers Falls. Na- thaniel M. VanDuser, was born in Cornwall, Orange county, in 1820. He studied medicine at the medical department of Vermont University, at Castleton, Vt., and graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, March 4, 1852. In 1854, after serving about two years as surgeon for the Collins line of steamers between New York and Liverpool, he established him self in practice at Hughsonville, whence he removed about 1873 to this village. Thomas K. Cruse was born in Baltimore, Md., in 1849. He gradu- ated from the College of the City of New York in 1868, with the degree of A. M. He studied medi- cine at the Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York City, and graduated there March I, 1870. He served four years in that institution, the first two as house surgeon, and the latter two as surgeon of the Bureau of Relief for the out-door poor. He afterwards spent a year in study at London, Paris and Berlin. In 1874 he accepted an appointment as surgeon of one of the steamers of the White Star line, and the latter part of that year established himself in practice at Tarrytown. In 1875 he removed thence to Wappingers Falls, where he has since practiced.

Edmund VanWyck, son of John VanWyck, was born in New Hamburgh in 1850. He studied medicine with Dr. N. M. Van Duser, of Wappin- gers Falls, and graduated from the College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons of New York in 1873. He spent two years, 1873 to 1875, as assistant phy- sician of the New York City Lunatic Asylum, on Blackwell's Island, and in 1876 established him- self in practice at Wappingers Falls ..

Isaac M. Cornell was born in Blooming Grove, Rensselaer county, in 1851. He studied medicine with Dr. S. S. Greene, of LaGrange, and gradu- ated from the University Medical College of New York City, Feb. 22, 1877. He commenced prac- tice with his preceptor, who, in the meantime, had removed to Buffalo, and in December of that year he established himself in practice in this village. Thomas P. Birdsall was born in the town of New- burgh, Orange county, Jan. 13, 1856. He studied medicine with his cousin, Dr. S. T. Birdsall, in Brooklyn, and graduated from the New York Homeopathic Medical College Feb. 28, 1878. He commenced practice in Peekskill and removed thence in 1879 to Wappingers Falls.

Lawyers .- The first lawyer to locate in Wap- pingers Falls was John W. Bartrum, who was born in Union Vale, in this County, Dec. 25, 1843. He graduated from the State Normal School at Albany in 1863, and read the elementary works on law while engaged in teaching in the Oswego Institute in this County, and in the district schools. He sub- sequently entered the office of Burlingame & Mc- Harg, of Albany, and graduated at the Law De- partment of Albany University in 1868. He was admitted to practice the same year. He formed a co-partnership with one of his preceptors, Mr. Burlingame, which continued two years, during that gentleman's protracted absence in the West. Jan. 1, 1871, he opened an office in Wappingers Falls, where he has since practiced.

Elisha Rusk was admitted in 1879, and in that year opened an office in this village. Bernard J. Tinney, who was born at Wappingers Falls in 1857, and educated in the Channingville Union Free School, read law in the office of J. W. Bartrum in this village, and afterwards with Henry Daily, Jr., of New York, a former partner of Charles O'Con- nor. He was admitted Sept. 12, 1878, and com- menced practice in Wappingers Falls, Oct 7, 1878. He was elected corporation clerk in 1880. T. C. Wakenian, from Towners, Putnam county, read law with J. W. Bartrum of this village and was ad- mitted in the fall of 1881. He opened an office in Wappingers Falls shortly after.

The Wappinger Falls Savings Bank was incor- porated April 23, 1869. The incorporators and first trustees were : J. Nelson Luckey, Irving Grin- nell, Samuel Brown, Thomas W. Jaycocks, Elias Brown, Henry Mesier, Andrew Jackson, William B. Millard, Benjamin Clapp, A. W. Armstrong, Rev. Dennis Sheehan, John R. Phillips, Samuel W. Johnson, Josiah Faulkner, I. T. Nichols, J. D. Harcourt, Clayton E. Sweet, Edward M. Goring, Abraham D. Smith, Henry Suydam, Francis Myers, Z. V. Hasbrook and Daniel Mckinlay. The first officers were : Samuel W. Johnson, President ; I. T. Nichols, Ist Vice-President ; Rev. Dennis Sheehan, 2nd Vice-President ; Clayton E. Sweet, Secretary and Treasurer.

Mr. Johnson was President until his death Dec. 12, 1881, and was succeeded by W. Henry Reese, who was elected Jan. 6, 1882. In 1871, when the Wappingers Falls Bank* was organized, W. Henry Reese, the cashier of that institution, became the treasurer of the Savings Bank, and held the posi- tion till May, 1881, when he was succeeded by

* This bank has closed its doors and is now settling up its business.

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TOWN OF WAPPINGER.

Wm. A. Brewster, the present incumbent. The amount of deposits Dec. 31, 1881, was $168,356 .- 33, and the number of depositors about 700.

Hotels .- The village boasts three hotels, Wade's on Main street, opened in November, 1879, by Thomas Wade, the present proprietor ; the Central House, corner of South Avenue and Academy street, opened in 1878 by Secor & Bartram, and now kept by John Hunter, and the North Ameri- can Hotel, which was built about fifty years ago by Major Sargent, and was the first and for many years the only hotel in the village. It was kept for many years by Joseph Blackburn, who made various additions to it. The present proprietor is Patrick Kennedy, who has kept it nearly eleven years. It is located on the west side of the creek, while the others are on the east side.

The Press of Wappingers Falls .- The first newspaper enterprise in this village was the Wap- pingers Falls Daily Times, which was started about 1867, and continued some four or five months by C. G. & S. Coutant. The press work was done at Matteawan.

The Wappingers Chronicle was started Oct. 26, 1869, by D. S. Dougherty and Geo. W. Winchell, who published it under the name of Winchell & Dougherty three years, when Mr. Dougherty pur- chased Mr. Winchell's interest, and continued it till Dec. 25, 1880. He then sold it to A. E. Ben- edict, the present proprietor, who changed the name to The Weekly Chronicle. It was a Repub- lican paper during the control of Mr. Dougherty, who is still its local editor, while Mr. Benedict is also a Republican. Saturday has been the publi- cation day from the beginning. Its circulation is about eight hundred ; its size, twenty-four by thir- ty-eight inches. It was originally twenty-eight by forty-two inches ; but was discontinued for about four months in 1879, and when resumed was pub- lished at its present reduced size.

The Bulletin was started Dec. 17, 1874, by Geo. W. Winchell and S. Roe, Jr., and published about a year. It was a Democratic weekly.

The Wappingers Era, a Democratic weekly, was started in the winter of 1876-'77 by Geo. W. Winchell. It was discontinued in the summer of 1878, but was revived after about fifteen months, by Geo. W. Winchell and S. H. Homan, who published it till the beginning of 1881, when it was discontinued and the establishment sold to A. E. Benedict.

SCHOOLS .- The citizens of Wappingers Falls mani- fest a deep interest in their public schools and are

justly proud of their two fine school buildings. The new building is a superior structure and cost $15,- 000. Prof. S. Mansfield, a graduate of Union College, is the principal. He has seven assistants. Prof. T. G. Schriver is the principal of the union free school, and has two assistants. Both schools are well conducted and are deservedly popular. Much of the credit for the present excellent con- dition of these schools is due to the efforts of James Roy and Elias Brown.

CHURCHES .- Methodist Episcopal Church of Wappingers Falls .- About 1824 the zealous cir- cuit preachers of the Duchess circuit held Method- ist services beyond Middlebush, at the house of Joseph G. Smith, now an old man of ninety-two years, and father of Abm. B. Smith. There Sab- bath services and prayer meetings were held twice a week. The Methodists made much progress, and in 1826 were holding meetings in the Middle- bush school house. Oct. 19, 1829, John Bates, John Suydam and John Sullivan purchased for $45 the Middlebush meeting house and lot, (formerly owned by the Baptists,) the latter of which con- tained a quarter of an acre of land. Feb. 21, 1830, a Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in the Middlebush school house, the accustomed place of worship, and Matthias Randolph, James S. Green and John Finch were elected trustees. The title assumed was the "Middlebush M. E. Church." March Ioth following the meeting house property was transferred to the trustees by the three individuals who had purchased it, and a deed for the same was given by Wm. B. and Caroline Phillips.

The preachers on the Duchess circuit at this time were Marvin Richardson, a man of large sympa- thies and Matthew Mollison, a young Englishman, then just arrived in the country, but a devoted man and good preacher. They conducted ser- vices at Middlebush once in two weeks. In 1831, William Jewett, and Samuel N. Fisher, were on the circuit. In 1832, Ira D. Warren, was associat- ed with Samuel N. Fisher. They were followed in 1833 by Samuel Cochran and John B. Matthias. In 1834, Matthias was returned, with Nicholas White.

In 1835 the New York Conference established the Poughkeepsie district, including the Duchess circuit, which was supplied by Cyrus Foss, father of Bishop Cyrus D. Foss, and Francis Donally. Mr. Foss was returned in 1836, with John Reynolds. In 1837, Reynolds was associated with Leonard M. Vincent. Samuel Cochran and L. M. Vincent were associate preachers on the circuit

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in 1838; and in 1839 James H. Romer was Mr. Cochran's colleague ; while in 1840, the circuit re- ceived the joint labors of Henry Hatfield and James H. Romer. In 1841 Henry Hatfield and Robert Travis were on the circuit. In 1842 David Holmes and Samuel Weeks were the preachers. In 1843 David Holmes was assisted by John Campbell.

In 1845, at the request of William Orr, a lot was given by Mr. Given ; and as a condition of that gift a society was incorporated Nov. 18th, under the name of "The Methodist Episcopal Church of Ednam Village." Steps were at once taken to construct an edifice, which was dedicated in 1845. William Orr, Fowler Rogers and Albert VanTyne were the building committee.

Rev. Denton Keeler, who preached during the opening of this new church, returned the next year to enjoy service in it. In 1847, A. F. Sellick, was assigned to " Fishkill West," and was returned the following year. Matthew Van Duzen gave two years sucessful labor, in 1849-'50. P. L. Hoyt was the preacher in 1851 ; and in 1852-'3, D. B. Turner was in charge, assisted the first year by John W. Munger, and the second year by D. W. C. Van Gaasbeck.

John Luckey was the preacher in 1854, and Thomas Edwards in 1855. This latter year Joel Cross preached at Wappingers Falls and New Hamburgh. In 1856 Wappingers Falls was a mission, supplied by W. F. Gould. This year P. L. Hoyt was returned to the "Fishkill West" circuit and remained two years. In the spring of 1857 he found an earnest and successful co-laborer in Elbert Osborn, who was stationed at Wappingers Falls and New Hamburgh, and con- tinued a second year. A. Davis was the preacher in 1858-'9, and the latter year Daniel O. Ferris ministered at Wappingers Falls and New Ham-

burgh. In 1860 the circuit was supplied by Wm. F. Gould and Asa P. Lyon, and in 1861, Lyon Was associated with Aaron Hunt, the latter of whom returned in 1862. In 1863, Fishkill, Mid- dlebush and Channingville were supplied by H. C. Humphrey. In 1864, C. M. Eggleston preached at Fishkill and Middlebush, and Wappingers Falls was supplied by Horace Wood. In 1865, Mr. Wood was appointed to Middlebush. Ira Ferris, who had charge the preceding year at New Ham- burgh, was appointed to the charge of New Ham- burgh and Wappingers Falls in 1866-'7.

During the early part of Mr. Ferris' administra- tion began to be agitated, the question of consoli-

dating the Middlebush and Wappingers Falls churches. The Middlebush edifice was too far from the rapidly growing village, and that at Chan- ningville not large enough to meet the demands of both. The interests of Methodism demanded the change, but it was with much difficulty that the leading members of the two churches were recon- ciled to it. It was decided, however, to consoli- date, and the Channingville church property was sold for $800. Mr. Ferris' health failed in 1867, and E. E. Croft supplied New Hamburgh and Channingville, and Mr. Matthias filled the Middle- bush appointment till the spring.

In 1868 Wappingers Falls and New Hamburgh were supplied by P. L. Hoyt. In April of this year the lot now occupied by the Wappingers Falls M. E. Church was purchased of the executors of the estate of Margaret Reese, deceased, for $902.50. Measures were at once set on foot to erect a church thereon by the consolidated society, which was done at a cost of $14,865.83, the funds for which were mainly raised by the exertions of A. C. Morehouse, who was appointed to the circuit in the spring of 1869. The church was furnished at a cost of $940, the funds for that purpose having been raised by the Ladies' Aid Society, which was organized May 10, 1869. The old Middlebush church was taken down and the material used in constructing the present barn and sheds at a cost of $752.45.

In April, 1872, E. S. Bishop was sent as preacher in charge and remained two years. In 1874, J. H. Hawkhurst came to the charge and remained three years. In 1877, '78 and '79, the church was served by N. B. Thompson. In 1880, A. H. Ferguson came as preacher. D. H. Hana- burgh, commenced his pastoral labors with the church in April, 1881. The present number of members is two hundred and fifty ; the attendance at Sunday-school, about two hundred, and the average attendance about one hundred and sixty .*

Presbyterian Church of Wappingers Falls .-- About 1847, at the request of Mrs. J. Fisher Sheafe, Rev. John D. Wells, who was then preach- ing at Ellesdie chapel, canvassed Wappingers Falls to learn how many persons wished to form a Presbyterian church. This resulted in the gather- ing of a congregation, which met for worship in the hall in the upper story of the building on the north- east corner of Main and Mill streets, where occa- sional services were conducted by neighboring

* Condensed from Rev. D. H. Hanaburgh's Historical Discourse pre- pared in 1881, and from supplementary information received from him.

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ministers, and the formation of this church by a committee of the North River Presbytery, June 6, 1848. In that year (1848) a pleasant church edi- fice was built for this congregation by Mrs. Sheafe, on Fulton street. In 1871 and '72, the splendid new church edifice in which the congregation now worships was erected. May 5, 1872, the first ser- vices were held in the new building, which was dedicated July 25, 1872. The following have been its successive pastors : Rev. Edwin R. McGregor, July 16, 1848 ; Rev. Reuben Frame, Dec. 1, 1850; Rev. Edwin R. Brower, Oct. 30, 1855 ; Rev. John Lowrey, July 10, 1861 ; Rev. Samuel E. Herrick, Oct. 13, 1863 ; Rev. William W. Newell, Jr., August 23, 1865 ; Rev. Oliver A. Kingsbury, March 1, 1870 ; Rev. William G. Hillman, April 28, 1874; and Rev. James Otis Denniston, June 5, 1877.

Zion (Episcopal) Church of Wappingers Falls, was organized in 1834, and erected their church edifice the same year. The present rector is Rev. Henry F. Satterlee .*

The Franklindale Baptist Church of Wappin- gers Falls, was organized in 1838, and erected their church edifice in 1847. The present pastor is Rev. H. A. Cornell .*

SOCIETIES .- La Fayette Lodge, No. 18, I. O. O. F., was instituted Jan. 4, 1838. The charter members were: Jno. A. Kennedy, P. G. of No. 11 ; J. D. Stewart, P. D. G. M .; George Chatillon, Joseph R. Young, Wm. A. Tyler, P. G. No. 1; Jno S. Ellison and Joseph Blackburn, all of whom are dead. The lodge numbers 162 inembers and meets every Thursday evening in Odd Fellows Hall, which was built in 1877 at a cost of $7,000, and is owned by the lodge. This is the only one of the eight lodges in the district which owns the hall in which it meets.

La Fayette Encampment of Patriarchs, No. 95, I. O. O. F., an offshoot from La Fayette Lodge No. 18, I. O. O. F., was instituted Feb. 26, 1879. The charter members were : James Thornhill, John Robinson, John Halliday, Columbus Van Dyne, James Finley, Thomas J. Mather, Wm. S. Cummings. The present number of members is thirty. Meetings are held the second and fourth Mondays of each month in Odd Fellows Hall.

Wappingers Falls Division 147 S. of T., was or- ganized March 26, 1867, with the following charter members : Dr. James M. Congreve, Cornelius W. Hignell, Clinton W. Clapp, Reuben W. Nelson,

* Data relative to this church promised has not been supplied ; hence we are unable to give further details. The same is true of the Baptist church.

Silas Curtis, Peter McGregor, John Gannon, Dar- win W. Woodward, James M. Congreve, Jr., John Boon, John Cole, Armenius W. Armstrong, Rev. Horace D. Doolittle, George H. Clapp, James Marlor, Rev. W. W. Newell, Charles La Due, Wm. Arbuckle, Elias Brown, Emmet P. Manning, Dennis Leach, Jno. W. Mathews. The present number of members is about forty. Meetings are held each Monday in Sons of Temperance Hall in the Young's Building.

Wappingers Lodge, No. 671, F. ~~ A. M., was instituted June 16, 1868. The charter members were: B. S. Stradley, W. J. Brown, C. W. Hig- nell, T. W. Goring, J. M. Goring, Thomas Dawson, John Hunter, George Deacon and S. R. Brown ; and the charter officers, John Hunter, Master ; Geo. T. Deacon, S. W. ; Thomas Dawson, J. W. The resent number of members is 1 18. The lodge meets the first and third Mondays of each month in Man- sion Hall on Main Street.

The Duchess and Franklindale Mutual Aid Society, was formed some ten or twelve years since by the operatives of the Duchess Print Works and the Franklindale Cotton Mill, to furnish aid to each other in case of sickness or death. It was formed at the suggestion of the Duchess Company, who now make it obligatory upon all their em- ployés, to join one of three classes, which is deter- mined by the wages of the employe, $2, $3, or $5 per week being given in case of sickness the first three months and one-half those amounts the second three months, when it ceases, and in case of death $10, $15, or $25, according to the class to which the employé belongs, none being allowed to enter a class in which the aid given is greater than the wages received.

The Evening Star Lodge, No. 98, Knights of Pythias was organized April 16, 1873. The char- ter members were: D. S. Dougherty, John Ready, Harvey Pollock, J. W. Bartrum, C. W. Hignell, Robert F. Johnson, Alson Sherwood, William 1. Henry, Louis Bartello, John Heald, Edwin Wors- ley, R. H. Conliff, James A. Redfield, Thomas E. Worsley, Thomas J. Pryor. The lodge numbers 108, and meets Wednesdays in Knights of Pythias Hall.

John H. Ketcham Post, No. 88, G. A. R., was chartered Feb. 13, 1876, and was a re organization of Cushing Post, No. 99, organized some years previously. The charter members of the new organization were: Joseph Grimshaw, Joseph Knichel, Joseph Walsh, Jno. O. Farrell, Edmund Tanner, Thomas T. Beard, Michael Flynn, William

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G. Ferris, John Ridings, John Shine, Henry Bates, William J. Lester, Eugene Johnson, Benjamin AI- verson, F. H. Rossman. Joseph Grimshaw was the first Commander. The Post numbers thirty- six, and meets the first and third Saturdays of every month, in Temperance Hall.

Wappingers Lodge, No. 1270, Knights of Honor was instituted Nov. 5, 1878, and chartered Sept. 17, 1879. The charter members were: Jacob Cole, William Sanders, H. C. Snow, E. Van Nos- trand, David Secor, E. Crawley, F. S. Smith, E. F. Hargraves, S. A. Lonsdale, W. H. Goring, Joseph Roy, Jno. W. Gaunt, John Seares, Jonas Baum, Valentine Valk, T. T. Beard, W. S. V. Roth, Henry Worsley, Lewis Kaune, Philip Brown and J. W. P. Lawson. The lodge numbers thirty-seven, and meets the first and third Tuesdays in Sons of Temperance Hall.

Wappinger Lodge, No. 347, I. O. G. T., was or- ganized Feb. 23, 1881. The charter officers and members were : Samuel F. Monfort, W. C. T .; Sarah Nash, W. V. T .; F. Belding, W. C .; James Belding, W. S .; Mrs. James Belding, W. A. S .; Jno. L. Sheerer, W. F. S .; E. G. Sweezey, W. T .; Chas. Proctor, Samuel Temple, James Temple, Wm. H. Monfort, Joseph Mabie, Jno. Nash, Mrs. Jno. Nash, Jno. Bell, WVm. Farrer, Edward Smith, Stephen Nash, Irving K. Sheerer, D. B. Whitney, Mrs. D. B. Whitney, John Popper, Jno. C. Haight, F. M. Balding, Ella Nash, Lizzie Belding, Monroe Kipp, David Beck, Robt. Clinton, Elsworth Traver, Eddie Nash, Annie Henderson. The lodge num- bers eighty-four, and meets Fridays in Knights of Pythias Hall.

Triumph Council, No. 73, Legion of Honor, was organized August 10, 1881. The charter mem- bers were: Wm. D. Snow, Harry C. Snow, Geo. Warhurst, Jr., Daniel Mckinnon, Dr. S. Roe, Jr., Harvey Pollock, Dr. C. J. Wood, A. H. Roth, Wm. O. Brower, Wm. Truby, Peter Goers, David Secor, John H. Dakin, Frederick Gussefeld, Timothy Lester, Jno. Huber, Charles M. Pryor, Ladolph Kaune, Frederick Kehler, Frank Richtmeyer, Henry Harting, Gustave Heusser, Frederick Kaune, Geo. T. Williamson, James W. P. Lanson. The Council numbers thirty-three, and meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month in Knights of Pythias Hall.

HUGHSONVILLE.

Hughsonville is situated about a mile south of Wappingers Falls and contains one church, (Pres- byterian,) a district school, one hotel, two stores,

a blacksmith shop, kept by Heber Vannosdall, a wagon shop, kept by John Wiesner, a carpenter shop·kept by John Burnett, two shoe shops, kept by John T. Dearing and Alfred Hasbrook, a har- ness shop, kept by Benjamin Vail, and a popula- tion of about 150. The business of the place which was formerly of some little consequence, has been absorbed by Wappingers Falls.

Hughsonville derives its name from the Hughson family, descendants of Wm. Hughson, who took up a large tract of land on the east side of Wappin- gers Creek,extending from the small stream which empties into that creek at Hallock's dock, near the corporation line of Wappingers Falls, to the mouth of Wappingers Creek, and thence down the Hud- son, on which he made the first settlement at Hughsonville before the Revolution. He was one of four brothers who came to this country from England, one settling in the South and becoming the progenitor of the " Houstons," as the name is- then spelt, and another in Ulster county, where his descendants preserve the distinguishing orthog- raphy of " Hewson." William first located at Yonk- ers and removed thence to this place. William, John, Nicholas and Stephen were sons of his, and all, except Nicholas, who went to sea and was never afterwards heard of, married and settled in the vicinity of Hughsonville.

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History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 98

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