USA > New York > Dutchess County > Pine Plains > History of Little Nine Partners of North East precinct, and Pine Plains, New York, Duchess county, Vol. I > Part 30
USA > New York > Dutchess County > North East > History of Little Nine Partners of North East precinct, and Pine Plains, New York, Duchess county, Vol. I > Part 30
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Dibble. Christopher, was the first immigrant of this name to this lo- cality, and is the near ancestor of those bearing the name now. He came from East Hampton, Long Island, in 1782, and settled on the now Samuel Titus farm in northern Stanford, bringing his wife and six children with him. They were Isaiah, Lewis, Abraham, Mary, Elizabeth, Isaac. Isaiah is the line of all the name now. His wife was Jerusha Hedges, and their children Gustavus, Harriet, Phebe, Jerusha, Abraham. Gustavus married Gertrude Winans, and were the parents of the popular merchants Isaiah (See cut p. 204) and Edward Dibble, now and for several years past doing business in Pine Plains. Harriet married Reuben W. Bostwick, whose son Reuben was the father of Fred, William, and J. Hunting Bostwick, now doing business in the village. (See Bostwick lineage.) Phebe married John Ferris and were the parents of the wife of the late Oliver Booth, of Pokeepsie. Jerusha was the wife of Samuel Huntting, the parents of the late Dr. Isaac M. Huntting, and his brother Lewis D. Huntting, now de- ceased, and well known in this community. Their youngest brother Rich- ard, and only survivor of this family-the three brothers were all the chil- dren-is living in London, England. Abraham retained the farm of his father Isaiah, in the south part of the town, now owned by Samuel Tanner. He married Miss Jane Dakin and had two sons and two daughters. Mr. Fred Dibble of Amenia Union and Mr. Frank Dibble of Stanford are his sons. Isaiah Dibble, Sen., above, had a daughter Emily by a second wife, who married Henry Bostwick, a popular man and merchant over fifty years since at the City Corners, east of Smithfield church. Their daughter married Mr. John N. Conklin, now living near there, and their son-only two children-Charles Edward, is now living in Duluth, Minn.
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HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS
These children of Isaiah Dibble settled not far from the paternal home- stead. The Dibble family cemetery is on the Christopher, now Samuel Ti- tus farm, and contains more family genealogy than any family yard in this vicinity. It is surrounded by an iron fence, and the headstones are well preserved and in good condition. The interests of the descendants, however, have been transferred to the public cemeteries.
Elmendorph. Cornelius Coonrad, was the first hotel keeper on the Stissing House corner. His grandparents, Cornelius Elmendorph and wife Angletie, were from Holland, and settled on the Hudson at Kingston. He deceased in 1790, she in 1788, and they were buried at "Esopus." Coonrad C., a son of his. was born August 6, 1726, deceased at Kingston, 1816, on his anniversary birthday, aged 90. His wife Garritje deceased at Kingston 1805, aged 77. Cornelius C., his son, the hotel keeper above, and Rachel Cryspell were married at Hurley in 1778, by Dominy Duel, of Kings- ton. Their children were Leah, born at Hurley June 8, 1779, baptised 22d, Peter Cryspell and Leah Cryspell sponsors. Garritje, "2d daughter," was born at "North East" September 20, 1781, baptised October 15, in the Manor of Livingston by Rev. Dominy Livingston, Coonradt C. Elmen dorph and Garritje Elmendorph, sponsors. Anthony, born at "North East" December 17, 1783, baptised January 25th, by Dominy Duel, Anthony Cryspell and Widow Mary Newkirk sponsors. [Note .- This Anthony, eldest, deceased at Pine Plains April 3, 1793, "half after two o'clock in the morning, and was buried on Thursday 4th inst. in the burying ground at the church near now Tise Smith's, aged nine years and three months and sixteen days." This is the "Round Top " ceme- tery at Bethel. This was the only burial there of this family, and the head stone is there now.] Thomas born at "North East " July 23, 1786, baptised at 'Esopus " September 10, 1786. by Dominy Duel. Thom- as Van Gasbeck and his wife Arrantie Elmendorph, sponsors. James born September 26, 1788, at " North East," baptised October 26, 1788, by Dominy Cock, East Camp, Peter Dumond and his wife Rebecca Elmen- dorph, living at Esopus, sponsors. Maria, born at "North East" April ?, 1791, baptised July 3, 1791, by Dominy Cock, Abraham Cryspell and his wife Maria Van Wagner, sponsors. Anthony "4th son," born January 25, 1794, baptised by Dominy Duel at "Esopus" April 13th. Peter Newkirk and Leah Elmendorph, sponsors. [Note .- This Peter Newkirk and Leah Elmendorph his wife, in 1802 kept the Elmendorph hotel on the Stissing corner.] Jane Ann. "our fourth daughter," was born at "Rhynebeck" January 10, 1797, baptised March 12, 1797, by Dominy Romine at Red Hook, Samuel Elmendorph and wife Jane Ann Van Benthousen, sponsors.
"Capt." Cornelius C. Elmendorph kept the hotel fifteen years. He held many offices of trust, and in all respects was an honorable and worthy citizen. He and family had moved to Rhinebeck in 1796, Ebenezer Bald- win succeeding to the hotel, and later moved to Kingston where his wife deceased April 13, 1825, aged 71, and he February 20, 1826, at the same age.
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Englekee. Henry, born in Germany 1812, emigrated from thence to America in 1836 and to Pine Plains in 1838. He was an accomplished cabinet maker, having served the full time of apprenticeship in Germany, and commenced work here for Electus B. Chamberlin then in that business, which later he continued on his own account, adding to it furniture. About 1854 he introduced the hearse and the "undertaking," when the casket took the place of the coffin. He at one time had charge of the cemetery, and besides set out many trees which now adorn the streets in the village. Mr. Engiekee was a German of pronounced type, affectionate in the family, in the shop business. He watched himself, he watched others. "Er be- halt seimen kopf zusammen." He keeps his head together. He deceased at his home 1894, aged 82. His wife, Christine Von Eckel deceased 1882. They left eight children.
Eno. Stephen, (see cut p. 259,) the ancestor of the families of that name in Pine Plains, was born in Simsbury, Conn., October 4, 1764. His great grandfather, James Eno, or Enos as it was probably written, emi- grated from England about 1675, and settled in Windsor, Conn. His wife's name was Abigail Bissell, and to them were born nine children, five sons and four daughters. William, the second son in the line of descent, deceased at Simsbury, Conn., about 1764, possessed of a valuable farm which at his death came into possession of his two sons, William and Samuel. There were also in this family six sisters to these brothers, and by some cause, division or otherwise, this estate passed from them, and they were left as thousands are to fight the battle of life without pecuniary aid. Here, under such circumstances, Stephen Eno was born. William his father subse- quently moved to Salisbury, where he died and was buried in the Moravian burying yard at the Wecquadnoc mission near Sharon. His wife was Lillie Hix.
[Note .- This William Enos-it is written with a terminal s-was one of the thirty-four signers to a petition to the Moravian board of Bethlehem, Pa., in May 1752, to have them send back Rev. Abraham Reinke, who had preached in Salisbury and Sharon the year before, or some one else "to set- tle among us we being destitute of a minister and school." An- other signer to this petition, thirty years later a prominent resident of Pine Plains, was John Harris. ]
Stephen was the second son-there were four sons and one daughter in this family-and his early life is best told in his own language written about 1805:
"I spent my infant years (until ten years of age) at home in my fath- er's house in Simsbury. Until that age I never went abroad out of the neighborhood, and was taught to read by my father at home, having no advantage of a school. I think I did not attend any kind of a school, so much as a week till after this age, and I will here mention that in the whole course of my life I have never been to school two months. At ten years of age I went to live with my aunt Abigail Westover and her son
:332
HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS.
Josiah Westover, of Egremont, in Massachusetts. Here I continued until between fourteen and fifteen years of age, and fared very hard most of the time. My greatest grief was that I had now no opportunity to improve in learning, and my father when at home had taught me to read so well that I had formed very elevated ideas of a good education. I did most ar- dently wish for the privilege of attending school with boys of my age whom I saw daily going. This turn of thought has I think had a consider- able influence upon my future life, for all the learning I possess I have ac- quired altogether myself from books without the assistance of any teacher."
He left his aunt, visited his mother, who was then living in Salisbury, worked a year for an old man by the name of Chipman, spent six months in the army then in camp at New Haven, and at eighteen engaged with one Sanders, a tanner, at Cornwall, Conn., with whom he remained until he was twenty-one. "When I first began to cypher," he writes, "I was eighteen or nineteen years of age, and the first book I took up was an old work called Corker's arithmetic. With this book I got on as far as division. This rule I could not master, and I laid by the book almost in despair. Soon after this I got Fenning's arithmetic, in which the rules are illustrated by an operation at large of several examples in each rule, and never shall I for- get the pleasure I enjoyed in being able to perform all that was there laid down. No man ever went to a feast with more eagerness, or left it with so much satisfaction as I in pursuing this study. I now began to be con- scious of powers unknown to me before."
At this age-twenty-one-he commenced teaching school, which busi- ness he continued barring short intervals for seven years, principally in Amenia. He was also commissioner of schools there.
At the age of twenty-seven he entered the law office of Philip Spencer, Jr., of North East, as a clerk, who had now been licensed as an attorney for about two years. "He offered to give me instruction gratis," writes Mr. Eno, "and his father (Philip Spencer, Esq.) who was anxious to have me come, promised to board me and wait for his payment until after I was licensed. I accordingly upon these terms began the study of law, and boarded with the old man. But I had not been with him more than two months when the old man began to dun me for pay, which vexed me so that I contrived to pay him and never boarded with him again."
In his preparatory studies to admittance to practice in the Supreme Court, Mr. Eno writes:
"My preceptor (Philip Spencer, Jr.) was very ill qualified for a teacher, and had but a scanty library, and did very little business. I verily believe he never spent two hours in giving me any kind of instructions in his life, and after the first two months I was scarce ever in his office. I kept school part of the time and pleaded causes before justices of the peace for a liveli- hood. Was about three weeks with Mr. Reeves at Litchfield, and as long a time afterwards in Ambrose Spencer's office, and at the end of four years
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obtained a license to practice in the Supreme Court. To obtain this license it was necessary for me to produce a certificate from some attorney that 1 liad studied in his office three years at least. To obtain this I was con- pelled to give Philip Spencer, Jr., my note for one hundred and fifty dol- lars, in direct violation of his former agreement, the payment of which afterward greatly embarassed me, and prevented me for several years from getting into business, for I was so poor that I could get no books."
December 17, 1795, he was married, by Rev. John Cornwall, to Mary Denton, daughter of Benjamin Denton and Joanna Peck, of the town of Amenia. "She was prudent and industrious," he writes, "and after some time my business in the law began to increase. I always lived and prac- ticed in the county, in the towns of Amenia, Stanford and North East."
In 1803 he purchased a house and lot in Pine Plains, and made that place his residence. Sept. 5, 1807, his wife deceased, was buried at Smithfield, and he makes this touching allusion to her memory: "She was a lovely and excellent woman, and the twelve years which I lived with her were by far the happiest period of my life." As a lawyer he exalted his profession in that he magnified the law. It was no claptrap, or technicality in prac- tice. That to him was odious. He looked to a higher standard based on the immutable foundation of justice. For this he fought against precedent and legal enactment. In his make up of mind and habit he was of the Jeffersonian school, where reason sits supreme. At seventy-three he writes: "I think I do not dread death more than common men. It is a necessary end, and I hope for another and better existence. I like old Mil- ton's advice: 'Nor love thy life, nor hate, but whilst thou liv'st live well; how long or short permit to Heaven.' I feel grateful to God for the meas- ure of health and strength which is lent me, and for the many comforts which yet continue to smooth the path of life." Such was Stephen Eno, the rough ashlar, born over a hundred years ago, and could the opportu- nities of a hundred years later have been thrown around him, who can doubt that he would have been the perfect ashlar, a polished stone in the temple of jurisprudence. He deceased in 1854 in his 90th year.
In the early days of his law practice in Pine Plains he was engaged in a suit before Henry I. Traver, a justice of the peace, wherein one Isaac Hutchins, a miller, was defendant. Mr. Eno was annoyed and disgusted with the rulings of Esquire Traver, and indulged in some sharp talk of a personal nature, for which Traver fined him twelve shillings. Mr. Eno promptly paid the fine at once saying, "There, take that, and buy you a pair of shoes," the 'Squire then being without these pedal coverings. Hutchins was at that time miller at the Phineas Carman Mills near Shaca- meco. Later he leased the mills at Bangall for five years of Mr. Duncan. Stephen Eno came to Pine Plains from "Old Attlebury" Corners, Stanford, about one mile west of Stissing (whither he had moved from "The City" now Smithfield, in 1799) in 1803, having purchased the dwelling property
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HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS.
next south of now Frank Eno law office, of Isaac Basset. (Note .- On page 260 it is William Bassett, an error.) In 1806 he built the barn. In 1814 he built his office building at a cost of $300, which is part of the now Frank Eno law office. It was used by William Eno during his life. Rufus Bost- wick was the carpenter builder. The old sign "S. Eno's office" which was on this law office for a half century was made in 1810, and is now in pos- session of Frank Eno, his grandson.
Stephen Eno's children were, Phebe and Eliza, twins deceased in in- fancy ; Henry, William, Edward, and a son Rufus by his second wife, who was at one time a harness maker at Pine Plams. Henry, "Harry," was born at Old Attlebury Corners, Stanford, in 1798, studied law in his father's office in Pine Plains, later with Philip Parker, Albany, went to Penn Yan, N. Y., in 1825, formed a partnership with David Prosser which continued until 1836, then sold out and went to Madison, Wisconsin. Here he mar- ried Miss Elisabeth Knapp, formerly from Orange County, N. Y., moved to Iowa, and in 1849 was in command of an overland train to Califor- nia. Here he became prominent, was elected Judge of Circuit Court in Calaveras County, was nominated for lieutenant governor of the state and was defeated by a very few votes. He lived in California twenty- two years, meantime buried his wife and only child Carrie, aged about seven years. He returned to Pine Plains in 1871, and deceased at his nephew's, Walter Eno, on the now " Broad Valley Farm" in 1882, aged 84.
Eno. William, (see cut p. 271,) son of Stephen, was born at Old Attle- bury " Corners, Stanford, in 1800, studied law with his father at Pine Plains, and was a prominent and successful lawyer at the Pokeepsie courts for many years. The Pokeepsie Journal of March 22, 1826, has this notice:
" WILLIAM ENO,
Attorney and counselor at law in the Supreme Court will attend to ap- plications in the business of his profession at his residence in the village of Pine Plains.
March 14th, 1826.
This was about the commencement of his practice, and the counsel and advice of his father no doubt contributed greatly to his success. By his aid he was the victor in many long contested suits involving nice legal dis- tinctions. After careful examination in such cases his father would say, "Stick, William, it must be right," and his advice in the end was proven to be correct. He was attorney for Duchess County two terms by appoint- ment of the Supreme Judges, was elected to the legislature in 1836, and Supervisor several terms. He deceased in 1874. His wife was Mary, daughter of William Stewart, and they had four children.
Eno, Edward, son of Stephen, was an infant of about eight months at his mother's decease. When a young man he moved to Kinderhook, N.
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Y., where later he married - Best, moved to Illinois, was a merchant, and later moved to St. Louis. Had four children, three sons and one daughter. Three of the sons were in the war of the rebellion, two being majors.
Eno, William S., son of William, was born in Pine Plains, studied law, was admitted in 1850, and was an able and highly esteemed counselor by the Duchess County Bar fraternity. He was president of the Stissing Bank several years (see Stissing Bank.) A few years since he inaugurated the "Bunnell & Eno Investment Company," with headquarters at Pine Plains, he being its president. It remained here about two years, then moved to and established an office in Philadelphia, where it is now (April 1897) doing business. Mr. Eno moved there and is its president and prin- cipal manager.
Eno, Walter, son of William, was a farmer and lived on the farm where his " Uncle Harry " deceased, as heretofore mentioned. He was universally much esteemed. He married Phebe Case, daughter of John Case, and has a son and daughter now living. James, the son, is a furni- ture dealer in Wichita, Kansas. Walter Eno deceased a few years since and his widow and daughter are living in the village.
Eno, Frank, (see cut page 268,) youngest son of William Eno, was born in Pine Plains, studied law and was admitted in 1868. From that time to now he has continued the practice, occupying and owning the Wm. Eno homestead property, and the old law office. In addition to his professional duties he has a large farm one and a half miles south of the village, devoted principally to dairy purposes. He a few years since gave considerable attention to the Jersey breed of cattle and took several premi- ums. His wife was Rachel Rudd, daughter of Charles Rudd, and they have several children. Parents and children are now living in the William Eno village homestead.
Finch. James, was an early settler on the now Smith Sackett home on the north line of Stanford, three and a half miles south of Pine Plains. He came from Horse Neck, (Greenwich, Conn.) He had children Joseph, Lizzie, Nathan, Mary, Charlotte.
Frazier family-colored people-so numerous and well known in this part of "North East Town" in the first half of this century, descended from a white man, a Scotchman by that name. Andrew, the first of the name, is said to have been born in Amenia June 14, 1743. He was in the revolutionary war from its commencement to its end in 1783, and received a pension through the influence of Judge Stephen Thorne, of Milan. An- drew settled in Milan about two miles south of Jackson Corners, and it was his home until his decease, June 2, 1846, he lacking twelve days of com- pleting his one hundred and three years. This farm which he cleared (it was woods) for a home is now owned by his grandson, Alfred Frazier, son of Robert. The house was built about 1809. Andrew Frazier had sons
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HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS.
Adam, John, Andrew and Robert. His daughters who married were Cath- arine married George Lewis, Tempe married Thomas Rowe, (lived in Ame- ' nia, ) Lena married Robert Tyler. Four other daughters never married. The sons of Adam, son of Andrew 1st, were Edward, James. Sons of John, son of Andrew 1st, were Filo, Andrew, William. Sons of Andrew, son of Andrew 1st, Edward, Milton, Walter, Charles A., Jacob, John. Sons of Robert, son of Andrew 1st, Egbert, Robert, Jacob, Alfred, Lewis. Of these Alfred and Lewis were the only ones living in 1889. The three other brothers were buried in the family burial ground on the farm not far from the ancestral dwelling in Milan, and head-stones neatly inscribed stand at their respective graves. The head-stone to Andrew the ancestor stands at the head of his grave and reads "In memory of Andrew Frazier who died June 2d, 1846, aged 102 years, 11 mos. and 18 days."
Some members of these Frazier families intermarried with a family called May, of pure Indian lineage of the Mohican Shacomeco clan, and proprietors of the lands in this vicinity. Mannessah, Indian name, was a "medicine man," had a son and daughter, and they claimed to be the last of this tribe of pure blood Indian. Joanna, so called, the daughter, mar- ried a man named May, They had two daughters, half blood, who respect- ively worked for Mrs. Reuben W. Bostwick and Mrs. William Eno. Isaac Smith, Esq,, who lived about a mile north of Hoffman's Mills, had a house near his dwelling in which Joanna lived until her decease. She is author- ity that three chiefs of her tribe or clan were buried on the east side of now Pine Street in the village near the old pine tree now standing there. The mounds of these graves were plainly to be seen years ago, and to that ex- tent corroborate her tradition. (See Pine Tree Lineage.)
Her brother called "Prince"-Mannessah, Indian name-lived about a half mile north of Hoffman's Mills to the right of the road near the boun- dary line between Duchess and Columbia Counties. He acquired knowl- edge of the Indian medical practice by herbs and roots, from his Indian ancestry, and applied it whenever called upon. In derision the regular medical profession called him a " quack," and his medicines "quack med- icine." Patrons of the regular profession and others used the epithet freely and so he was universally known as "Prince Quack." He had a son An- dreas, "Dris," named for a good white friend, (Andreas Pulver,) who mar- ried and had children, sons and daughters. One or more of these sons emi- grated to Michigan and settled near Grand Rapids. The old man Prince Quack went with them-they retained the name Quack-and in the '60s he was living, his hair white, his teeth gone, and his yellow face marked with deep wrinkles when I last saw him there. He did not know the year of his birth, but he must have been in or near the '90s, perhaps had turned for the hundred point. Some descendants of this Manessah family now live in the town of Washington, near Millbrook.
Gamble, Isaac, was the first of the name in North East Precinct
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LINEAGE.
according to the records having emigrated, so it is said, from West- chester County about 1772. Feb. 3, 1774, he gave a bill of sale to David Bostwick. He is thought to be the father of Elizabeth, John, Mary, Isa- bella and Hugh, but this may not be correct. Isabella married Seth Har- ris and Mary married John Harris. (See Harris Scythes, and Harris Lin- eage.)
Gamble, Hugh-written Gambey and Gamby, a corruption-was in North East Precinct in 1786 and then commenced an apprenticeship at scythe making under John Harris, the maker of the Harris scythes. Har- ris was his brother-in-law, having married his sister Mary about 1772. Later on he was partner. (See Harris Scythes.) He married Anna Van Louven, a family of early settlers (1770-1780) in North East Precinct, and they had children Isaac, Betsey, Sally, Harriet, Laura, James H., Seth. Hugh, the father, was killed on new year's day by accident near the farm of now Henry Knickerbocker, being thrown from a load of cord wood, fall- ing in front of the wood, the horses kicking him. Three years later (1817) the widow and children emigrated to Yates County, N. Y., and settled near Penn Yan. (Note-This year and near it a considerable number from Pine Plains emigrated to Yates County, "went to the west" as it was said then.). Isaac the eldest son had worked at scythe making in the Harris shops at Pine Plains and Salisbury and was an expert workman, not only at scythes but other things. He married Mary Sears, of Connecticut. John Durfee, a brother workman of his, emigrated with him to Yates County, and they started a scythe factory near Penn Yan where they worked from 1818 to 1822, then sold and moved to Sodus on Lake Ontario where Isaac Gamby deceased, leaving a widow and two daughters, Emily and Mary. His widow married, 2d, John Weed, of Benton township. Yates County. Isaac Gamble and Durfee were celebrated ax makers also. It is said each made sixteen axes in one day with the ordinary fire and tools of a blacksmith, each having a man to help.
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