USA > New York > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 29
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
many years before the road was completed. The road does a large business and is under the able management of Frank S. Gannon, general superintendent.
PUTNAM COUNTY NATIONAL BANK .- The Putnam County National Bank, located at Carmel, N. Y., was organized March 14th, 1865, being the nine hundred and seventy-sixth bank to organize under the National Banking Act, the controller of the currency writing: "I have doubted the expediency of sanc- tioning the organization of another bank in New York (State) but have concluded on the papers furnished to make your ap- plication an exception."
The Bank of Commerce, then doing business at Carmel, was entitled to organize under the national system, to the exclusion of any other bank in the same place. Through successful ne- gotiations, this privilege was transferred to the new bank.
The establishment of the bank was mainly due to the enter. prise of George Ludington, who was appointed its cashier and directed its management till his death.
The capital stock was fixed at $100,000 and has remained unchanged. A surplus of $20,000 has been added from the earnings, while the dividends paid have more than equaled the capital and surplus, and the bank is now steadily paying its stockholders six per cent. per annum.
The first presidennt was G. Mortimer Belden, who was suc- ceeded, January 12th, 1869, by Sylvester Mabie, who held the office till his death, January 1st, 1886, and was succeeded by the present incumbent, Ambrose Ryder. Prominent among the of- ficers were Joseph W. Travis, who held the office of vice president, from January, 1874, until his death, August 12th, 1881, and Gilbert T. Ludington, who held the office of assistant cashier during the first eleven years of the bank's existence.
Ambrose Ryder succeeded George Ludington as cashier, and was in turn succeed by Hillyer Ryder, the present occupant of the office. The bank is owned by forty-five shareholders, of whom many are farmers.
It has never failed to meet its obligations, though during the panic of 1837, it had an amount on deposit greater than half its capital with the Fourth National Bank, of New York, which remained a number of days with closed doors. The present vice president is Anthony A. Akin, of Patterson. The directory consists of seven members as follows: Ambrose Ryder, A. A.
" MAPLE GROVE COTTAGE." RESIDENCE OF D. W. ROBINSON CARMEL, N. Y.
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Akin, David Kent, Henry Mabie, Coleman R. Barrett, S. Palmer and Henry F. Miller.
GEORGE LUDINGTON, son of Frederick and great-grandson of Col. Henry Ludington of Revolutionary fame, was born at Lud- ingtonville, in Kent, June 11th, 1814. He commenced business as a merchant with his father at Ludingtonville. In 1856 he as- sisted in organizing the Bank of Kent of which he became cashier. In 1865 he removed to Carmel and organized the Putnam County National Bank. He was for a time commissioner of loans. He died April 11th, 1874. He was married, October 10th, 1843, to Emeline C. Travis of Carmel. Seven children were born to them of whom four are living: Gilbert T., of Carmel, who was for eleven years assistant cashier of Putnam County National Bank; Emma F., married to Rev. Walter Chadwick; T. Edward, of St. Paul, Minn .; and Georgia E., living at home.
PUTNAM COUNTY COURIER .- According to the " Gazetteer of New York," a newspaper was published in Carmel in 1814, but of this we have no further evidence. The name was the "Put- nam Republican" and it was printed by Thomas Smith.
The "Putnam Democrat" was established by William H. Sloat, in 1841. It afterward passed into the hands of Elijah Yerks. James D. Little became editor subsequently. In Octo- ber, 1849, the name was changed to "Democrat Courier."
January 10th, 1852, James D. Little purchased the paper and changed the name to "Putnam County Courier." Mr. Little sold the paper to Charles Benedict, in 1860. He transferred it to B. F. Armstrong, and in 1864, it came back into the posses- sion of Mr. Little, who sold it to J. J. McNally, in 1876. It was again in possession of Mr. Little, in 1879, and he remained the editor and proprietor till the time of his death in 1883. From that time until May 1st, 1885, it was edited by Miss Annie C. Little, his daughter.
Mrs. J. D. Little has continued to edit it since her daughter's retirement. Mrs. Little is a sister of Hon. George M. Beebe, of Sullivan county, ex-governor of Kansas, ex-member of Congress and judge of Court of Claims of New York.
PUTNAM COUNTY REPUBLICAN .- This Republican journal was founded by William J. Blake, June 12th, 1858, in the vil- lage of Carmel. It has always been a Republican organ of the party, and was the first Republican paper printed and published in Putnam county. When founded in 1858, its title was " Put-
80
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
nam Free Press," and it was continued under that name until October, 1868, when its editor, publisher and proprietor sold it to Mr. A. J. Hicks, who changed its name to "The Gleneida Monitor," and subsequenty to " The Putnam County Monitor," by which name he continued to publish it until February 14th, 1880, when it was purchased by Miss Ida M. Blake, who changed the name to "Putnam County Republican," by which name it has since been published.
Its first editor, publisher and proprietor, William J. Blake, since February, 1880, has been its senior editor, and his oldest daughter, Ida M., from the above date has been its publisher, proprietor and junior editor.
THE GILEAD CHURCH .- The Presbyterian church in Carmel is the direct descendant and successor of the old Congregational church established at the time of the earliest settlement, and was, together with the church in Southeast, under the pastoral care of Rev. Elisha Kent. The two societies were distinguished as the "Eastern and Western Societies in Philipse Precinct." The Eastern Society built a log church about a mile east of Dykeman's Station, the exact location of which is fully de- scribed in the sketches of Southeast Church. The two societies were generally known in the olden time as the "Church at Philippi." The Western Society also built a log church at the northwest corner of what was afterward Lot 9 of the Philipse Patent. This meeting house stood on land now belonging to Elijah Fowler, very near the line between the towns of Carmel and Southeast, and on the west side of the road directly oppo- site the old burying ground. The exact location of this is also fully described in the sketch of the town of Southeast. The exact date when this church was built is unknown. The first mention of it is in the survey of the Philipse Patent in 1754, in which it is mentioned as "An old meeting house." The probabilities are that it was built as early as 1745.
Rev. Elisha Kent, who came to Southeast in 1743, was the pastor for some years of both these churches. The relation which existed between them is shown most conclusively by an entry in the minutes of the Fairfield Association of Connecticut. In January, 1749, "Mr. Joseph Crane appeared before the Association and applied in behalf of the Eastern Society of Philipse Precinct for a resolve as to what portion of time the Rev. Mr. Kent should be advised to preach among them, and
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offering some reasons in behaif of said Eastern Society why they should enjoy his labors two thirds of the time. But the Association not having an opportunity to hear what Reasons ye Western Society of ye Precinct may have to offer to ye con- trary, do therefore advise that for the present Mr. Kent's labors for the Sabbaths be equally divided, considering also that ye said Eastern Society may enjoy the benefit of more frequent lectures."
It will be seen from this that Mr. Kent had preached on alter- nate Sabbaths at each church, but as the Eastern Society was far the larger it is probable that this was the reason urged for claiming a larger portion of the time. We may remark here that Mr. John Spragg, who lived where Le Grand Hughson now lives, and very near the site of the ancient log church, was one of the commissioners who applied to the Eastern Association of Fairfield, Connecticut, for a minister in 1742, which resulted in the settlement of Mr. Kent in Southeast in 1743.
This relationship between the two societies continued till about 1749 and shortly after this Rev. John Davenport came to Carmel. The history of this man would make a volume of itself. His great-grandfather was the first minister of New Haven, his father was pastor of Stamford, and his son was also a minister. He espoused the great religious movement of Whit- field and went to the utmost bounds of fanaticism. In Boston he made great disturbance in the churches and in Connecticut he was put outside the State for his irregular proceedings. In fact his career was marked by a course of action which was half religion and half insanity. He finally came to himself, repented of his former actions, and his evident contrition caused him to be again received into the churches, and he was sent by the Synod as a missionary to Virginia in 1749. His labors in Carmel began in 1750 and while here he assisted in organizing the church at South Salem. He remained here till 1754.1 Shortly after this he died and was buried at Pennington, New Jersey, where his tomb bears the following lines :
1 It seems that in 1752 the church at West Philippi (Carmel) was bearing one- third of the salary of Rev. Mr. Davenport, probably in connection with Red Mills and at Patterson, although the last is doubtful and was more likely some church in Westchester county. At that time he writes "That his stay at Philippi is doubtful as the Philippi Church would not continue to pay the third of his salary as they wanted a minister of their own."
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" O Davenport a Seraph once in clay A brighter Seraph now in heavenly day, How glowed thy heart with sacred love and zeal, How like to that thy kindred angels feel. Clothed in humility thy virtues shone In every eye illustrious but thine own, How like thy Master, on whose friendly breast Thou oft hast leaned and shall forever rest."
The third pastor was Rev. Ebenezer Knibloe, a young Scotch- man who possessed in a marked degree the national peculiari- ties, and was a man of strongly pronounced opinions. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh, came to this country in 1752 and went to New Haven. It is supposed that he came to Carmel through the influence of Mr. Kent. When he came to America he brought with him a copy of the first edition of King James' Bible, which is still in possession of his descendants. The call to Mr. Knibloe was brief and to the point.
" We the inhabitants of the Western Society of Philippi do unite and call Mr. Ebenezer Knibloe preacher of ye Gospel to take the pastoral care of us."
This call was signed by Eleazar Hamblin, Shubael Rowley, Richard Cooms, John Sprague, Thomas Kelly, Cornelius Fuller, Thomas Colwell, Edward Gannung, Jacob Finch, Isaac Finch, Noah Burbank, Seth Dean. John Hains, Matthew Rowlee, Shu- bael Rowlee, John Paddock, James Colwell, Samuel Latham, Isaac Smith, Thomas Crosby, Francis Baker, Joseph Bangs, Thomas Frost, Joseph Hopkins, Hugh Bayley, David Honiwel, John Frost, Russell Gregory, Isaac Lyden, John Gannung, Edward Carver, Tho. Hinkley, jr., John Myrrick, Benj. How- land, Isacher Robinson, James Sears, Joseph Gregory, Isaac Chase, Elkanah Hinkley, Lazarus Griffith, Jacob Ellis, Jacob Ellis, jr., Simeon Ellis, Jabez Chase, John Finch, Seth Myrrick, Amos Fuller, John White, Daniel Townsend, John Barber, Matthew Burgess, Caleb Hazen, John Langdon, John Kelly, Jesse Smith, Joshua Hamblin, and Elisha Kellogg.
The council for ordaining and installing Mr. Knibloe met at the house of Thomas Crosby, February 18th, 1756. There was a literary and theological examination in the morning and pub- . lic service in the afternoon in the meeting house. The ministers present were Revs. James Beebe, Elisha Kent, Mr. Sill and Mr. Sacket. The first act of his ministry was the marriage of
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Ebenezer Robinson and Anne Stone, which took place the same evening. Mr. Knibloe remained three years. He complained to the council that "The church had not fulfilled their engage- ments in regard to temporals " and a committee promised " An effort so that no complaint of the kind should be made again." He asked for a dismission and the society " Agreed to pay him a certain sum for his temporal interest in said place and so part in peace." The relation was dissolved July 11th, 1759. Mr. Knibloe went to Amenia, in Dutchess county, and there died. His descendants are now living in that place. Some of the papers of Mr. Knibloe are yet in existence, among them a list of marriages and baptisms during his ministry. From a few entries of a business nature it is learned that while in Carmel he lived with Thomas Crosby', and that his board was 26 shill- ings a month.
" A Register of Marriages in the West Society of Philipse Patent : Feb. 18, 1756, Ebenezer Robinson, Anne Stone; March 3, 1756, Hezekiah Keeler, Kenturah Lynor of Danbury; June 7, 1756, Elijah White, Mercy Hopkins of East Society; Sept. 16, 1756, John Barber, Thankful Hamblin; Nov. 3, 1756, Michael Evans, Hepsibah Sprague; Nov. 16, 1756, Wheaton Robinson, Phebe Crosby; Jan. 20, 1757, Joseph Gannung, Elizabeth Kellogg; Feb. 3, 1757. Daniel Gregory, Mary Comb; March 9, 1758, Peter Mabie, Susannah Sunderlin; March 23, 1758, Bar- zillai Kin-Lidia Hinkley; March 23, 1758, Joseph Parrish, Ruth Hinkley; June 15, 1758, John Langdon, Mary Purdy; Feb. 18, 1759, Peter Hartwick, Jean Langdon."
" A Register of Baptisms in the West Society of Philipse Patent since the Reverend Mr. Ebenezer Knibloe was ordained minister of the Gospel there: March 8, A. D., 1756, Daniel Cranes' son Nathan; April 11, Eleazor Sprague's son Reuben, and Shubael Rowlee's daughter Patience; May 9, James Col- well's son Joshua; June 27, Seth Merrick's daughter Ruth; July 11, John Hain's twins Martha and Sybil, and David Hone- well's daughter Asenath; Jan. 2, 1757, Matthew Rowlee's son Elijah; Feb. 11, The Worthy Mr. Moses-daughter Martha; March 13, 1757, Caleb Fowler was baptised and likewise on said day his daughter Elizabeth; April 10, Hackaliah Brown's son Nathan and daughter, Wm. Stone's son Oliver, and Heman
'Thomas Crosby lived south of the Seminary in Carmel. His farm included the Gilead burying ground.
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
King's son Stephen; April 17, Joseph Hopkins' daughter Han- nah; May 1, Caleb Fowler's daughter Sarah; May 8, Joshua Hamblin's daughter Sarah, Robert Fuller's son John, and Isaac Chase's sons Thomas, Josiah, Joel and Solomon and ye daughters Sarah, Elizabeth; May 22, Widow Huldah Robin- son's son Issacher; June 5, Ebenezer Robinson's daughter Ann; July 10, Jonathan Hopkins' son Jonathan; July 24, Lazarus Griffin's daughter Phebe; July 31, Jacob Burges' son Dennis; Aug. 7, David E. Smith's son Samuel; Oct. 9, Joseph Gregory's son Reuben."
The exact time when the old log meeting house ceased to be used, and a new church erected, is unknown. The first direct mention of the meeting house at Gilead which has been found, is in the survey of Lot 8 in 1762. It was standing then and Rev. Elnathan Gregory held as tenant a large farm south of it which extended south to what was then Dean's Pond, but now Lake Gilead. But there can be no doubt that it was standing at the time when Mr. Knibloe was installed, in 1756. This church remained till within the remembrance of the present generation. It was a plain building about fifty feet square and stood on the west end of the old burying ground at Gilead and some distance north of the road. A door on the south side opened directly in front of the pulpit and stairs led to the galleries. Around the walls were square pews for families, while nearer the pulpit were straight backed benches. The pulpit was "goblet shaped," elevated as was the custom in those times, and winding stairs led up to it. The building was repaired in 1802, and the modern stove was introduced in 1815. This stood near the center, and a straight stove pipe led up to the peak of the roof. This meeting house, which was in its day the only church for many miles around, stood till 1839. It was then torn down and the material sold to Peter S. Kent and carried to his farm in Patterson where it was used for out- buildings, which may now be seen on the homestead of Edison Smith in the town of Patterson. The pews sold in 1803 for $202, and in 1806 for $154. The minister's salary in 1824 was $200. The first deacons of the church were Eleazar Hamb- lin and Thomas Crosby. The former is said to have returned to Massachusetts at the beginning of the Revolution; the latter died at the beginning of this century at the age of 92.
The next pastor was Rev. Elnathan Gregory, who, unlike his
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predecessor, was intensely American, educated in the school of Edwards and Belamy, and a natural orator. It is said that the church adopted its name from a sermon which he preached from the text " Is there no balm in Gilead ?" His pastorate 'lasted about thirteen years, when he retired, but continued to live in Carmel. During his ministry the neighborhood was known as "Gregory's Parrish." Like most ministers of his time Mr. Gregory carried on a farm in connection with his more sacred calling. His farm was leased from the Philipse family and was situated south of the church and extended to Lake Gilead. He is said to have died in Carmel in 1816, at the age of 82. He was a strong whig noted for his patriotism, and dur- ing the Revolution a price was set on his head. The next min- ister was Rev. David Close, who was called in 1774. His charge embraced both Carmel and Patterson, but he is said to have been in the former place two years before coming to Carmel. He was a graduate of Yale College and took a deep interest in the Dutchess County Presbytery. His ministry lasted during the Revolution and he died in Patterson in 1783.1 He married a Miss Comstock, but left no children.
His successor was Rev. Mr. Burritt and the Presbytery met at his house in Carmel, December 1st, 1783. The war had caused great suffering and made many changes. He had been so greatly reduced in circumstances that the Presbytery com- mended him by official letter to the benevolence of the Christian public.
In 1774 the church, which had previously been Congregational, became Presbyterian. A letter from Mr. Kent to Dr. Belamy, written during the pastorate of Mr. Gregory, states that the "Separatists and Sandemanians were disturbing the congrega- tion with their errors." The former urged higher sanctity and claimed it for themselves; the latter were the followers of Rev. John Sandeman, who died in Danbury in 1771, and who taught that an intellectual faith was sufficient for salvation without a change of heart.
For some years after the Revolution the church seems to have been broken up and disorganized, but it was reorganized in 1792.
" Frederickstown, Aug. 9, 1792. "We the subscribers, members of different churches and of 1See Sketch of Presbyterian Church, Patterson.
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the former church in this place, now dissolved, living in the vicinity commonly known as Gregory's Parrish, considering it the duty of Christians to join together and form churches wherever God in his Providence may cast their lot and finding ourselves under such circumstances and no church in this. parish which we may join *
* have after mature delibera- tion judged that we ought to unite in covenant as a visible church and Messrs. Ichabod Lewis, Jehu Minor, Amzi Lewis and Silas Constant, Ministers of the Gospel having by onr re- quest convened in order to assist us we have therefore adopted and publicly received the following articles and covenant." Then follow the usual articles of faith, and the covenant is signed by John Ambler, Matthew Beale, Philetus Phillips, Zebulon Phillips, John Merrick, John McLean, Jabez Truesdale, Rebecca Hopkins, Mary Hopkins, Desire Stone, Mary Haines, Lucy Cullen,1 Bethice Truesdell, Esther Phillips and Elizabeth Merrick. Rev. Ichabod Lewis is said to have preached here from 1792 till the time of his death in 1793, and at the same time was pastor of the church in Southeast.
Rev. James Hickox was licensed in 1793 and preached at Gilead and Red Mills until 1803. He was succeeded by Rev. Stephen Dodd who came in June, 1803, and also had charge of the church at Red Mills. He removed to Salem, July 15th, 1810.
Rev. Herman Dagget came to this place from Northampton, Mass., and was pastor both here and at Red Mills. The two churches gave a very meagre support. He remained two years and then became principal of an academy at North Salem, and was subsequently in charge of a foreign mission school for educating heathen youth at Cornwall, Conn.
Rev. Allen Blair, the next pastor, was a native of Ireland and was apprenticed to a weaver. He obtained a good English education and taught school at Red Mills. After studying under Rev. Amzi Lewis he was licensed to preach in 1795. He became pastor here in 1812 and remained till 1815. He was stated supply at Red Mills for many years. He died in 1829, aged 72.
Rev. James N. Anstin was born at Red Mills and was pastor here from 1815 to 1818. Since that time the pastors have been:
1 Lucy Cullen was the daughter of Rev. Elisha Kent and the widow of Charles Cullen.
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Rev. Abner Brundage, 1818-21; Isaac Allerton, two years; Asahel Brunson preached here and at Yorktown 3 years; Benaialı Y. Morse preached here and at Red Mills 6 years; George T. Todd, 1836; Henry G. Livingston, 1845-491; Rutgers Van Brunt, 1850-52; Henry G. Livingston was supply till 1856; Samuel W. Crittenden, 1857; Henry G. Smuller, 1858-63; Saurian E. Lane, 1863-68; Israel W. Cochrane, 1869; Daniel D. Sahler, 1870-82; A. W. Colver, stated supply; Rollin A. Sawyer, present pastor.
REV. DANIEL DU BOIS SAHLER, who was for twelve years pastor of the Gilead Presbyterian Church of Carmel, was born in Kingston, Ulster county, N. Y., in 1829. His parents, Abra- ham Du Bois and Eliza (Hasbrouck) Sahler, were both residents of that place and were representatives of old families of the county.
Mr. Sahler's early education was obtained at the schools in Kingston and after finishing a preparatory course he entered college at Princeton, N. J., where he graduated. He then en- tered Princeton Theological Seminary, and at the conclusion of his course of study in that institution he was ordained and in- stalled pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Red Bank, N. J. In this place he remained several years, his labors being much blessed and his church membership increased. He then accepted a call to the Congregational Church of Sheffield, Mass., his pastorate lasting five years, and in 1870 he received an invita- tion to become the pastor of the Gilead Presbyterian Church of Carmel, N. Y,, and was installed May 2d, 1871.
The pastorate thus begun continued till the time of his death which occurred November 11th, 1882. His mortal remains were laid to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery. He died in the midst of
1Rev. Henry G. Livingston, son of Rev. Gilbert Livingston, D.D., was born at Coxsackie, N. Y., February 3d, 1821, graduated from Williams College in 1840, and November 1st of same year became principal of Clinton Academy, East- hampton, L. I. He entered the Theological Seminary in 1842, and preached his first sermon at Easthampton, L. I., September 29th, 1844. On October 27th of that year he first preached at Carmel and remained as pastor till November 8th, 1849, when he resigned to take charge of the Third Reformed Church of Philadelphia. He remained there till 1853 when failing health compelled him to resign, and he returned to Carmel and took charge of Raymond Collegiate Insti- tute. Under his care the institution was very prosperous, but his earthly career was cut short by untimely death January 27th, 1855, at the age of 34. Mr. Liv- ingston married Sarah, daughter of James Raymond. Their children are Gilbert R. and Julia R., now living in Carmel. Mr. Livingston was a descendant in the fifth generation from Rev. Elisha Kent, the first minister of Southeast.
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his work, and in the full energy of Christian manhood, and his untimely departure was lamented by a large circle of devoted friends. The memorial service in his honor was attended by the largest congregation that had ever attended the church where he labored so faithfully and so well.
Mr. Sahler was a truly consecrated minister of Jesus Christ. His one idea of preaching was to win souls. All his sermons were carefully prepared with this end in view, and so were plain, practical and thoroughly scriptural, and his labors were rich with results for the world to come, and his pastorate was not only the longest since the days of Gregory, but the most fruitful.
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