USA > New York > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 37
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Aimsbazen
393
TOWN OF CARMEL.
travelled through the New England and the Western States. At the close of this engagement Mr. Hazen returned to his farm and has ever since, except when engaged in official duties, been a resident of the town of Kent. After holding various town offices such as collector and assessor, he received the republican nomination for the office of sheriff of the county and was duly elected in the fall of 1883. He then removed to Carmel, where he now resides
Mr. Hazen married Miss Mary, daughter of George Doughty, January 10th, 1866. They are the parents of three children: Hobart Ward, Enos Elwood, and Nellie G.
Sheriff Hazen is justly regarded as one of the most popular citizens of the county, and has never failed to prove faithful to his official duties.
THE GREGORY FAMILY .-- In 1762 Russell Gregory, Timothy Gregory and Rev. Elnathan Gregory were living on farms on Lot No. 6. They are supposed to have been brothers.
Rev. Elnathan Gregory came from Norwalk, Conn. He was a student of Princeton College, and afterward entered the min- istry, and was settled pastor over Gilead Church in Carmel for many years. He lived on a large farm opposite the old church and burying ground at Gilead. He died in 1816 at the age of 90, and is buried by the church where he preached so long, but no tombstone marks his resting place.
He left a son, Daniel, born in 1752, and died November 13th, 1817, aged 65. Daniel married Elizabeth, daughter of William H. Seeley. She died October 12th, 1841, aged 82. They had children: Ezra, Samuel, Horace, Lewis, James, Elnathan, Alva, Hannah (wife of John Crane), and Polly (wife of Michael Sloat).
Horace Gregory was born in 1792 and died December 9th, 1863. He married Elizabeth, daughter of William H. Seeley, and their children were: Mary, wife of Isaac Hill; Elizabeth, wife of Harrison Marion; and Daniel, who is now president of Lake Forest University, Ill.
Lewis Gregory (born 1787 and died March 27th, 1819) left a son, Dr. Lewis H. Gregory, born December 24th, 1818, died June 19th, 1882, who was a very prominent citizen of Carmel and largely interested in real estate at Lake Mahopac, and owner of the popular "Gregory House." He left one daughter, Lucena, wife of Joseph G. Cole.
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
James Gregory married Esther, daughter of Ebenezer Ganung, and had children: Dr. Ebenezer, Abel and George. The last married Elizabeth Byington, and left a son, Charles, who is now living near Croton Falls.
The homestead of Daniel Gregory was the place now owned by Mrs. Anna Baker, wife of Lewis Baker, on the road from Lake Mahopac to Croton Falls, a short distance north of the junction of Broad Brook and Croton River.
Here, on the former stream was "Gregory's Mills," where quite a business was done in former times, and where a new mill has lately been built.
On the premises is a neglected family burying ground, where rests Daniel Gregory and his son, Lewis.
THE AUSTIN FAMILY .- Jonathan Austin, the ancestor of this family, is said to have come to this part of the country from Rye, Westchester county, many years before the Revolution, and died previous to 1777. His wife, Charity Odell, survived him several years. Their children were: Jonathan, Smith, Job, Robert, Isaac, Anna (wife of Sebbens Howe), and Rebecca.
Of these children, Jonathan, the oldest, married Sarah Slack. He moved to Dutchess county and left a son, David, and other children.
Smith Austin married Martha Brewer, and had four children: Robert, Absalom, Hettie (wife of James Barker), and Althea (wife of Richard Dean).
Robert Austin married first, Elizabeth Lane. Their children were: James, Amos L., George, Absalom, Nathan L., Mary, Phebe, Adah (wife of Orin Agor), Eleanor (wife of Anthony Stokum), Nancy (wife of Hiram Kniffen).
Isaac Anstin married Ann Currey. They were the parents of five children: Jonathan, Job C., Locke, Charity and Mary. These families have many descendants in this county.
Job Austin was born March 31st, 1759, and died February 7th, 1847, at the age of 88. He married Mary Nelson, who was born April 21st, 1758. After her decease, which occurred Sep- tember 18th, 1793, he married Hannah, widow of Eleazar Hazen, who was born in 1755, and died December 13th, 1839. Job Austin had three children: Silas, Sarah (wife of Cornelius Tompkins), and Mercy (wife of Peter Crookston).
Silas Austin was born May 5th, 1780. He married in 1805,
Amos. So. Austin
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TOWN OF CARMEL.
Elizabeth, daughter of Nathaniel Tompkins. They were parents of eleven children: Jacob, Nelson, Eleazar, Nathaniel, Mary (wife of Peter Anderson), Sarah, Jane (wife Harrison Agor), George, Phebe, Amos L., and one child, Mercy, who died at tlie age of five years. Silas Austin died December 9th, 1841. His wife survived him and died July 26th, 1857. The four older sons removed to Kendall county, Illinois, where their families are now living.
Amos L. Austin, the youngest child, and the representative of this family in Putnam county, was born June 10th, 1827. He married Cynthia, danghter of Levi Cole, and granddaughter of Deacon Daniel Cole, who is well known in the annals of the Baptist church in this portion of the country. Their children are: Elizabeth, wife of La Fayette Pinckney; Silas, Levi C., Nelson, Mila and Theodore. Of these children, Silas, the eldest son, married Abigail, daughter of Ebenezer Barrett, and has two children, Henry and Mila. Levi C. married Susan, daughter of Jonathan Smith, and their children are Amos and Cynthia, twins.
Job Austin was a soldier in the Revolution and served dur- ing the war. He was engaged in the battle of White Plains and although a long time in active service he escaped un- wounded. His descendant, Mr. Amos L. Austin, now owns the old homestead farm which was sold to his ancestor by the commissioners of forfeitures, being a part of the Morris Lot. The first house built on this tract was of logs and stood a few rods west of the present residence. This was destroyed many years ago and a second dwelling was erected near the old site. This in turn was torn down and the present dwelling house of Mr. Austin was built in 1835.
LEWIS GA NUN .- The various families in this county spelling their names Ganung, Ganong and Ga Nun, are all doubtless de- scended from one ancestor, and are all of the same race. The family is of French origin, and were probably among the Huguenots who came to this country about 1686. The original of the name is believed to be Ga Nun, although only one branch adheres to that form. In the assessment role of 1777 several persons are named of this family.
Jacob Ga Nun was born in 1748, and died December 22d, 1834, at the age of 86; and is buried in the old burying ground at
396
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Gilead. He was probably a son of Joseph Ga Nun. His home- stead was a farm in the south part of Carmel, and is now owned by Stephen Voris. He married Hannah Wilson, who died May 22d, 1845, at the age of 92. Their children were: Jonathan, who settled in New York; Daniel, who married Adah, daughter of Renben Ga Nun (his son, Janet Ga Nun, now lives near Union Valley); Thomas, who left three sons: Horton, a list of whose descendants are here given: James, who lived in. Westchester county; Joseph, born 1778, died May 24th, 1836 (He and his wife Susannah are buried at Gilead burying ground); Hannah, wife of Marcus Sloat; Polly, wife of Sturgis Downs; Nancy, wife of Green Thorn; and Pheba.
Horton Ga Nun died in 1836, aged 50 years, 1 month and 8 days. He married Urania Dean and by this marriage had two sons, Lewis and James. Mr. Ga Nun was married a second time to Jane, daughter of Thomas Wilson, and the children of this marriage were: Leonard and Augusta J., wife of Osmond Ballard.
Lewis Ga Nun, the subject of this sketch, was born near Union Valley in Carmel, April 4th, 1812. Shortly after his birth his father moved to Westchester county and lived in the town of Somers. When he was three years old his mother died and he was sent to live with his grandfather. His father, after his second marriage, returned to Carmel, and lived for twenty-one years on the farm now owned by Elbert Sloat.
Mr. Ga Nun lived with his father till the time of his death, which occurred in 1836. He then began business on his own account.
After living awhile in Carmel village he went to Kent, where he lived two years, and then returned to Carmel when he pur- chased his present residence of Jonathan Cole, and here he has ever since made his home. He married Catharine, daughter of Jonathan Pierce, May 30th, 1840; she died November 9th, 1885. Their children were: Horton, Barnabas C. and Mary D.
Arriving at thirteen years of age Barnabas C. Ga Nun began business as a clerk in the store of Abner Seaman. In April, 1868, he, with his brother Horton, engaged in business on their own account, in a small store on the site of the north wing of the Smalley Hotel.
Mr. Horton Ga Nun died July 24th, 1869, and in 1877 Barna- bas purchased the store formerly occupied by Crane & Seaman,
Luis Gatan
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TOWN OF CARMEL.
and removed from where he and his brother had kept a store for several years previous to his present location. From a small beginning the business has rapidly increased and Mr. Ga Nun is justly reckoned among the thriving and prosperous business men of the county.
THADDEUS R. GANUNG, who has for many years been promi- nently connected with the history of Lake Mahopac, was born November 17th, 1829. His father, Marcus, and his grand- father, Abraham, were both residents of the southern part of the town of Carmel, the old homestead being the farm in Union Valley, owned by Mrs. Theodore Ganung. His early days were passed on the homestead, but on reaching manhood he went into business on his own account, first as a stone mason, but later as a contractor, in which he engaged extensively.
The county clerk's office at Carmel, the Tilden House at Lake Mahopac, the Methodist church at Shrub Oaks, in West- chester county, and the library of Mr. Daniel D. Chamberlain are among the works executed by him.
Mr. Ganung's first connections with Lake Mahopac began in 1854. At that time he was connected with Dr. Lewis H. Gregory as part owner of his hotel enterprise. He remained with him till 1859, and then resuming his former business as a contractor, he superintended the improvements on the grounds purchased by wealthy citizens of New York, and transformed the wilderness of nature into the elegance of art, and the re- sults of his skill are likely to be visible for long years to come.
In 1859 Mr. Ganung purchased Fairy Island. Just before the time of the purchase it was covered with a thick growth of bushes, but a fire had swept over it and not only destroyed the vegetation, but actually consumed the soil itself. In former years the island was covered with a growth of lofty pines, but these had long since disappeared. The extent of this little island has been somewhat enlarged, and by his care and skill it has been transformed into a place which justly merits the name it has gained.
The first store, and indeed the first building at the railroad sta- tion near Lake Mahopac, was built by Mr. Ganung in 1860, upon a tract of land on the south side of the road. This tract was afterward sold in small lots at a large advance on its original cost.
398
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
In 1870 Mr. Ganung purchased a large tract of land on the west shore of Lake Mahopac, including nearly a mile of water front. This he sold to the Improvement Company, but subse- quently it came back into his possession.
In 1870 Mr. Ganung, in company with Dr. Gregory, pur- chased the cottage and grounds of Marian De La Varre, and after various transfers it has become the property of Mrs. Ga- nung, and by the addition of many improvements it is now one of the finest residences on the lake. Many of the land purchases of the Lake Mahopac Improvement Company were made through the agency of Mr. Ganung, and it is safe to say that there is no man who is more thoroughly acquainted with the inner history of that enterprise than himself.
Mr. Ganung was married in 1858, to Miss Marianne Hudson, of a Lancastershire family in England and descended from the family of Entwisel of Rochdale.
In the parish church of St. Chad, Rochdale, is the following inscription: "Here lyeth Sir Bertine Entwisel, Knight, which was born in Lancastershire, and was Viscount and Baron of Brybeke in Normandy and Bailiff of Constantin, who died fighting on king Henry VI. party, 28th May 1455."
"On whose sowl Jesus have mercy."
ROBERT D. WIXSOM' .- About the middle of the last century, two brothers, Peleg and Shubael Wixsom, came from Cape Cod and settled in Carmel, on a farm north of Lake Mahopac. This farm, which extended from Long Pond to Wixsom Pond, em- braced 195 acres and was sold to the two brothers by the com- missoners of forfeiture, April 19th, 1782, and they divided it between them, May 11th, 1795, Shubael taking the south part.
Shubael Wixsom died April 11th, 1803, aged 64 years. He left a wife, Billeche, and six children: Elijah, Barnabas, Shu- bael, Robert, Elizabeth and Lavina.
Robert Wixsom was born March 2d, 1782, and died Septem- ber 19th, 1861, and is buried by the Baptist church at Red Mills. He married Anne, danghter of James Tompkins, and their children were: Billeche, born February 20th, 1805, married Abraham Cronk; Phebe, born March 10th, 1807, married John Wright; James T., born June 25th, 1809; Drusilla, born August 25tl1, 1812; Nathaniel, born August 17th, 1814, now living near 1 Also spelled Wirom and Wixon.
Thaddeus R Ganung
Eng 4 by H.B.Hall's Sons NewYork.
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TOWN OF CARMEL.
Red Mills; Mary A., born December 31st, 1816, married James Wright; Rachael, born April 15th, 1819; Tamar A., born De- cember 10th, 1820, died young; Robert Dorson, born October 8th, 1822, died July 10th, 1885; Alpheus T., born August 17th, 1824, deceased; and Susan E., born March 22d, 1827, married William Cole.
Robert Dorson Wixson was born at the old homestead of his father, and his entire life was passed upon the place where he was born. Inheriting a large farm from his father, he made agriculture the principal business of his life. He also engaged in buying and selling horses and cattle and was one of the largest dealers in this branch of business in the country. At the time of the land speculations around Lake Mahopac, he sold 80 acres of the south part of his farm to Edwin A. Saportas, for $20,000. For many years Mr. Wixsom was connected with town affairs as assessor and overseer of poor. He was a contributing mem- ber of the Baptist Society of Carmel, and a very liberal sup- porter. After a very active and useful life, Mr. Wixsom died, July 10th, 1885, aged 62 years, 9 months, and 2 days. Mr. Wixsom married Charlotte A., daughter of James Hill, October 12th, 1864. They were the parents of two daughters, Anna and Tottie, who are now living on the old homestead with their mother.
Nathaniel Wixsom, brother of Robert D., married Sarah, daughter of John Barrett. His children are: Margaret, wife of Elam Barrett; John; and Susan E., wife of Sarles Drew.
Alpheus T. Wixsom, brother of Robert D., married Amy Scott. His children are: James, who is living at Lake Gilead; Ira C., Sarah A. and Charles.
Peleg Wixsom died about 1804, at an advanced age. He had a wife, Margaret, and children; James (born 1773, died February 18th, 1849), Joseph, Daniel, Anna (wife of John Russel), and Katy, wife of Isaac Austin. James Wixsom mar- ried Lizzie Barger and had sons, Bentley, John, and Stephen. Joseph Wixsom married Deborah Brown and left sons, Joseph, Egbert and Doris. Daniel Wixsom married Sarah Ayres. His children were David, Reuben and Peleg.
John Wixsom (son of James) was born March 2d, 1795, and died September 19th, 1870. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Badeau. His children were: Abram B. (born 1819), James, Edward J. (of Putnam Valley), Lewis W. (of Iowa)
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Anna E., Almira (wife of Darius Hopkins), Adeline (wife of Albert Wright) and William M. (born 1836). David Wixsom, son of Daniel, married Jennie, daughter of Jacob Tomkins, and had two sons, Reuben and Joshua. Reuben Wixsom, son of Daniel, married Irene Hopkins and had children; Bentley (now living in Kent), Esther, Silas and Daniel.
The farm sold by the Samuel Dodge and John Hathorn, commissioners of forfeiture, to Peleg and Daniel Wixsom, April 19th, 1782, is thus described: " All that tract beginning at a black oak tree, a corner to farm No. 52 and 64, thence runs south 2 degrees east 30 chains, 50 links, to a walnut tree marked, thence south 40 west 5, 74 to a white oak tree, a corner to farm 55, thence south 21, 30 east 13, 50 to a maple tree by a pond, corner to farm 53; then along the south side of the said pond to the ash tree marked, a corner to farm 53; thence north 56 east 11, 35 to farm 59, and by the same north 9 east 15, 50: thence north 13, 45 east 40, 30 to the long pond and thence up along the same to the beginning containing 193 acres."
It would seem from this that Wixsom Pond is included in this farm, though the description of the Robert Hughson farm would also seem to include it. The farm was divided between the two brothers May 11th, 1795. Peleg had the north part described as " beginning at a black oak tree and running south 2 degrees east 26 chains 25 links; thence east 41 chains 20 links to a stake, then N. 12 E. 36 CH. to Long Pond, and along the same to place of beginning." This part of the farm was left by Peleg Wixsom to his son James, and from him it came in possession of his son John Wixsom. It was sold under mort- gage to Kelsey Agor and is now owned by Allen Adams. The old house of Peleg Wixsom is still standing on the farm.
The south part of the farm which fell to Shubael Wixsom descended to his son Robert who added to it by buying part of the old Robert Hughson farm. This was the tract sold by Robert D. Wixsom to Edwin A. Saportas. The old house of Shubael Wixsom (long since destroyed) stood a short distance north of Wixsom Pond. The farm descended from Robert Wixsom to his son Robert D. Wixsom, as previously mentioned.
NATHAN L. THOMPSON .- Among the men who came to Lake Mahopac in the days when agriculture was the only business conducted around its shores, and hotels and boarding houses,
RD Hissom
N & Thompson
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TOWN OF CARMEL.
with their attendant gaiety and fashion, were unknown, was Stephen Thompson, a native of Derby, Connecticut.
He became a resident of Carmel as early as 1822, and pur- chased from William Wright a small piece of land on the shore of Lake Mahopac at the place where Stephen Monk afterward erected the first hotel. Here Mr. Thompson established a hat manufactory and conducted a business that was considered extensive in the times when making hats by steam power had not come to the aid of human power.
His son, Nathan L. Thompson, the subject of this sketch, was born in Derby, Conn., March 17th, 1815, and came to this place with his father when a boy. He subsequently re- turned to his native place where he learned the trade of hat making.
In 1842 he purchased from Henry S. Baldwin a tract of land on the shore of Lake Mahopac and established his business.
The advertisements which appeared in the local newspapers at that time show that Mr. Thompson was a man of energy and great practical knowledge, and his hat manufactory was exten- sive and gave employment to many men. About 1851, Mr. Thompson, whose place on the lake was one of the most at- tractive in the neighborhood, opened his house to the eager crowd of tourists who were seeking for places to pass the summer weather in this delightful and remote region.
Beginning on a small scale he gradually increased his ac- commodations till at length his guests numbered over three hundred, and the reputation of the "Thompson House " was known far and wide.
At a time when the house was filled with guests and in the midst of a prosperous season the hotel was burned on the 6th of July, 1869, leaving nothing but smoking ruins on the place where so short a time before had been the abode of comfort and luxury.
Mr. Thompson, with his accustomed energy, immediately proceeded to rebuild and the next season a larger house, with superior accommodations, was waiting to receive the throng of guests that came again to the lake.
At the time when the most reckless land speculation was the order of the day around Lake Mahopac Mr. Thompson pur- sued the even tenor of his way, contented with a legitimate prosperous business and leaving speculation to others less wise
26
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
and in the end less successful. The natural result was that the "Thompson House" was about the only piece of property around the lake which did not go through the experience of mortgage foreclosure and sale.
Mr. Thompson was a man of strictly honest principles, one whose word was universally known to be as good as his bond. Possessed of great energy and perseverance he built up a large and prosperous business from a very small beginning, and left it well established and unencumbered.
Mr. Thompson was supervisor of the town of Carmel in 1867-68-69. As a man of liberal views and strict integrity he was well known and popular and highly esteemed by all who knew him.
Mr. Thompson was married in 1837 to Miss Hannah M., daughter of Joseph Wooster, a representative of a well known Connecticut family.
After a useful and very successful life Mr. Thompson died December 28th, 1884, and a monument of substantial and ele- gant simplicity marks his resting place in the cemetery by the Presbyterian church, at Red Mills, of which he was a prominent member.
JAMES C. GULICK is descended on the paternal side from James Gulick, who fought with honor in the Revolutionary army, and whose ancestors came from Holland, settling on Long Island at an early period in American history. Previous to the war with Great Britain they had removed to New Jersey, where they took up land, a portion of which is still in possession of mem- bers of the family. A brother of James Gulick also fought with the patriot army and was killed at the battle of Mon- mouth.
On the maternal side Mr. Gulick is descended from Thomas Galbraith, who came from Scotland and whose name was after- ward changed to Calbraith. Thomas Calbraith settled in Somerstown, Westchester county, where he married Susannah Finch of an old English family, originally settled in Connecti cut, but a few of whose members had removed to New York State. Thomas Calbraith also fought in the Revolution and was wounded, his widow drawing a pension from the govern- ment till the time of her death. After the decease of her husband
Dames to Thedick
"SUNSET-HILL.'
RESIDENCE OF JAMES C. GULICK, LAKE MAHOPAC. N. Y.
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TOWN OF CARMEL.
Mrs. Calbraith came to New York city with her daughter, Mili- cent, who married at that place, January 6th, 1821, Isaac, a son of James Gulick. Mr. Gulick had taken up his residence in New York together with his brother, James, who was at one time register of the city and county of New York and also chief of the City Fire Department, holding that office at the time of the great fire in 1835. Isaac Gulick had three children, all sons, of whom James, the eldest, was born in New York, July 4th, 1822.
Till his fourteenth year Mr. Gulick attended the private school of Mr. Kirby in the neighborhood of his home, after which, in 1841, he entered as a clerk the wholesale grocery store of Platt Brush in West street. Here he remained six years, when he started in business for himself. In 1848 he admitted to partnership Mr. Francis H. Holmes, the firm continuing under the name of Gulick & Holmes till 1861, when, Mr. Holmes hav- ing retired, a new firm was organized, long known as Scudder, Gulick & Van Kleeck. In 1877, just thirty years from its or- ganization, the business was discontinued, the members of the firm retiring to private life. The history of Mr. Gulick's busi- ness career would be considered remarkable in these days of loose business method. During its whole progress he never asked an extension of time nor credit, and for a long period at its latter end he never gave a note.
Since his retirement Mr. Gulick has spent his winters in New York city and his summers in his residence at Mahopac. He is a member of St. Paul's Methodist Church of New York city and is an active worker in the cause of practical religion. He is vice president of the Excelsior Savings Bank of New York, and is also a director in the New York, Standard and Globe Insurance Companies of that city, the latter of which he assisted to organize.
Mr. Gulick has been twice married. His first wife was Mary A. Reid, by whom he had four children: Mary A., John C., Richard M., and James I. In 1879 he married for his second wife Mary E. Jones of New York city. Mr. Gulick is a public spirited and thoroughly philanthropic gentleman and his resi- dence in Putnam county has been productive of good results both to the young who profit by his example and the older members of society who enjoy his friendship.
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