USA > New York > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 68
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TOWN OF PUTNAM VALLEY.
of the mountain, about the middle of the north line of this town. A large tract of 1,000 acres, in this vicinity, was owned about the year 1800, by Col. Alexander Stewart, and a mine was opened there, and a large quantity of excellent ore taken out. The land afterward passed into the possession of James Agustus Hamilton. A large tract in this neighborhood is low, and pre- sents the appearance of having sunk down, and the mine here is known as the Sunk Mine. Here a forge was erected and dams built on the stream, and quite a business was carried on. The tract was afterward sold to Paul Forbes, who built the narrow guage railroad from the Sunk Mine to a point on the Philips- town Turnpike. On the south side of the turnpike are to be seen the openings of mines, which were started long years ago.
In 1828, Silas Slawson sold to the West Point Foundry Asso- ciation, a tract of land, 84 chains long and 26 chains wide, " be- ing the same tract sold by Daniel Graham, Surveyor General, to John Armstrong May 5th, 1786." Mines were opened on this tract and much ore taken out. A mile or two southwest of this is the Denny Mine. A tract of 207 acres was sold by the com- missioners of forfeitures, to Richard Denny, after the Revolu- tion. He conveyed it to his son, Thomas Denny, in July, 1817, and he in turn sold it to Peter Denny in 1844. Peter Denny transferred it to his son, William J. Denny in 1851, and his children sold it to George H Potts October 1st, 1874. The Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company now own it. The mine was opened more than forty years ago, and thousands of tons of excellent ore were taken from it. Iron works were started at an early day, and as early as 1810 Elijah Bunnell had a forge and trip hammer on Canopus Creek, and one Pratt had a trip hammer, turning lathe and whip saw works, on Peekskill Creek, where the road over Bryant Hill crosses it, and where the blacksmith shop of Robert Hamilton now is. When the Philipstown Turnpike was built, it is said that a deposit of plumbago was discovered by Dr. Parks, the contractor "near the old saw mill, one mile east of Mekeel's Corners." It was announced at one time that red anthracite coal had been dis- covered in the Canopus Valley, but it is needless to say that it was nothing of the kind.
HEMPSTEAD HUTS .- In the western part of the town, on the farm of Mr. John B. Gillett, are the remains of an encampment
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
of troops, in Revolutionary times. Two companies from Hemp- stead, Long Island, with a detachment of troops of the Massa- chusetts line, were encamped here in the winters of 1779-80, and the quarters which they built were called the "Hempstead Huts." Relics of the stone chimmeys and fire places may yet be seen, though of course the huts themselves have long since disappeared. Late in the fall of 1779, Washington established a line of military posts from West Point through this county and northern Westchester to Redding in Connecticut. The ob- ject being to guard against attempts by Sir Henry Clinton to pass through the Highlands, General Putnam was stationed at Redding, with some three or four thousand men. He had under his command Gen. Poor's Hampshire Brigade, two brigades of Connecticut troops, a corps of infantry under Colonel Hazen, and a corps of cavalry under Colonel Sheldon. The first post was at the house where Capt. Samuel Jeffords lived, after his retire- ment from the army, a short distance north of Continental Vil- lage. This was called New Boston by the Massachusetts of- ficers. The second post was the Hempstead Huts we have mentioned.
MOUNTAIN CHAPEL .- A Methodist church, bearing this name, is located in the northern part of the town, a short distance east of Canopus Creek. The land on which it stands was given to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Putnam Valley February 3d, 1844, and the chapel was built soon after, and is described as "a lot four rods west of a house on a road leading from Cold Spring Turnpike to Peekskill Hollow." For the following interesting sketch, we are indebted to Mr. Morris Perry, who has long been identified with its interests:
"Before the building of this church, prayer meetings and some preaching were held in an old log school house, abont 15 rods from this church, where the road corners. I recollect John Rundle, R. Hopper and Samuel Weeks preaching in the old school house, before this church was built. With my school- mates, I have played many a time on the ground where this church now stands. It being a warm place, we came here to get out of the wind. The school honse being too small, it was not suitable for meetings, and Joel Bunnell, being leader at the time, rose at the close of the services and proposed the building of a place of worship. The people seemed ready and willing,
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TOWN OF PUTNAM VALLEY.
for they had a mind to work. The question then arose, where shall we set it; some had a mind to set it farther east, and get off this hill, but in figuring on the expense they found they could raise more money to set it here than elsewhere. This site being agreed upon, the inhabitants were anxious to commence the building. While the hewers were busy in the woods and teams drawing the timber others were laying the foundation and in a few weeks or months at most the church was com- pleted. The carpenters who worked upon this church were Leonard Ferris and James Post. Sylvester Warren and one Ladoe did the mason work.
" We here mention to the best of our memory the names of those that contributed of their money, labor, or both, to the building of this church : Joel Bunnell, Reuben Perry, Isaac Conklin, Peter Bell, Leonard Cumming, Hezekiah Odell, Reuben Odell, William Conklin. Among this number Joel Bunnell and Reuben Perry had been leaders of a class; most of them have died.
"The church being now ready it was consecrated to the ser- vice of Almighty God, by Rev. King, who was then pastor on Putnam Valley Circuit, this church then being a part of his charge. The congregation on this occasion was so large that probably not more than two thirds of the people could get in. It then took the name of the Mountain Chapel.
"From the building of the church our appointments for preaching were every two weeks for a number of years, but since that time it has been irregular. There had been efforts made at times to hold a Sabbath school, but with apparently little success until about the year 1868, when it was organized by Allen G. Newman and Ferris Jaycox, who are now superin- tendents, and no doubt are the men for the place.
"In the summer of 1884 the church was repaired inside and out, with some additions, it being completed some time in July. On the 7th day of August the reopening services were held by Rev. Crosby, after which a board of officers were elected, con- sisting of John Woolcox, Semour S. Warden and Moses Perry trustees; Ferris Jaycox, Treasurer; Morris Perry, Secretary, and over these Allen G. Newman, president."
OREGON .- In the southwest corner of the town is a small vil- lage called Oregon. A post office is located here and a Methodist
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
church. On the Peekskill Creek at this place there has been a mill seat for many years. A paper mill which stood here was burned December 27th, 1865, but was rebuilt shortly after.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH in Oregon was organized in 1859. The first trustees were Caleb Leverich, James Lent, Caleb Pierce, Charles Sherwood and Amos Barger. The church building was erected in 1860, and was dedicated July 22d of the same year. The land for the church lot was purchased of James Sherwood, and among the most liberal donators to the church Charles Sherwood should be especially mentioned. The builder of the edifice was David Travis, and the cost was $1,400. This church, together with the churches at Croft's Corners and Peekskill Hollow, belong to a circuit, and Rev. Mr. Dutcher is the present minister in charge.
In the western part of the town, very near the original line between Lots 1 and 4 of Philipse Patent, is a small lake. On the border of this lake lived in former times a man named Solomon Depew, and from him it took the name, and was generally known as "Solomon Depew's Pond." This was afterward called " Sol Depew's Pond," and by a gradual series of changes has acquired the name of "Solpew Pond," and by this title appears on the maps.
That portion of the town of Carmel which lay to the east of Peekskill Creek was practically isolated from the rest of the town, and the inhabitants were desirous of being annexed to Putnam Valley, which was done in 1861.
" Act to annex a part of the town of Carmel, in the County of Putnam, to the town of Putnam Valley, in said County. Passed April 13th, 1861.
"I. All that part of the town of Carmel, in the County of Putnam, lying westerly of the Peekskill Hollow Creek in said town, is hereby annexed to and shall hereafter form a part of the town of Putnam Valley in said County, and said creek from the north line of the town of Carmel to the point where said creek crosses the present line between the said towns of Carmel and Putnam Valley shall hereafter form so much of the line between said towns."
SUPERVISORS : Nathaniel Cole, 1839; Daniel D. Travis, 1840 ; Saxton Smith, 1841-2; Nathaniel Cole, 1843; Monmouth Buck- bee, 1844; Nathaniel Cole, 1845; Monmouth Buckbee, 1846-48;
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TOWN OF PUTNAM VALLEY.
Abm. Requa, 1849; Saxton Smith, 1850-51; Abm. Requa, 1852-54; Joseph Strong, 1855; Monmouth Buckbee, 1856-57; Saxton Smith, 1858; Lewis Buckbee, 1859; Saxton Smith, 1860; John S. Avery, 1861; Saxton Smith, 1862-63; Thomas N. Jones, 1864; Monmouth Buckbee, 1865-66; Saxton Smith, 1867-76; James O. Cole, 1877; Jackson Perry, 1878-82; Solomon Post, 1883; George F. Bar- more, 1884-85; Selah Armstrong, 1886.
WALTER N. WOOD is a lineal descendant of Henry Wood, who came to America in the " Mayflower," and who purchased a farm at Middleborough, Mass., in the year 1640. The descend- ants of this noble seeker after religious liberty remained in and about that place until Mr. Walter N. Wood's great-grandfather, Nathaniel Wood, who was a captain in the Continental Army, and who served with distinction all through the Revolution, re- moved to Vermont, where he took up a farm at a town after- ward called after him (because he was the first white settler on the ground) Woodstock.
His son, William, who, like his father, served in the Revolu- tion, was born in Woodstock, as was his grandson, William Wood, jr., who married Miss Elizabeth Hill, also of that place.
Mr. Walter N. Wood, the ninth of ten children of this couple, first saw the light of day in the old homestead at South Wood- stock November 23d, 1829. Three years after his birth he re- moved with his family to the western part of the State of New York, where his father purchased and settled upon a timber farm. Mr. Wood's description of this journey, which in those days had to be made by canal, and consumed a month's time, is exceedingly interesting. Here, in what was then a sparsely set- tled portion of the country, the youth remaned till his eigh- teenth year, when he removed to St. Joseph county, Michigan, where his father had purchased another farm, upon which both parents died a few years afterward.
When twenty-two, Mr. Wood left Michigan for Vermont and one year later came to New York city, where he became en- gaged as a clerk in the retail dry goods house of J. H. Town- send & Co. For six years he remained in this business, most of which time he spent with this firm. At the close of this period he left them to engage in the produce business, his first store being upon the corner of Sixth avenue and Twenty-third street, afterward the site of the Masonic Temple. After eleven
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* HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
years of successful experience here lie removed to the present site, two blocks lower, on the corner of Twenty-first street.
Mr. Wood's natural preference for country life led him in 1874 to purchase the beautiful place in Putnam county which is represented in the accompanying cut. It was and is known at this time as the Lane Farm. having been presented to its former proprietor by the government, in consideration of valuable ser- vices which he had rendered. Since obtaining possession of this Mr. Wood has purchased two other pieces of property, making altogether one hundred and eighty-three acres of valu- able farming land, which he is constantly engaged in im- proving.
Mr. Wood is entirely a self-made man. With little or no advantage at the start he has succeeded in winning for himself a strong position in the commercial world and has also gained for himself the friendship and admiration of those with whom he has been brought into contact. Though strictly a business man he has ever found time to engage in religious work in the city of his adoption. He has been for the last quarter of a cen- tury a member of the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, and for fifteen years he has been one of its trustees. In politics he is a republican.
Mr. Wood married Miss Catharine Miller, daughter of Col. William R. Miller, who was in command of a regiment during the War of 1812. He has had four sons, one of whom died in infancy. Arthur E., the oldest surviving child, is already well known in real estate circles about New York, and the other two, Frank A. and Ralph W., are engaged in business with their father.
HON. SAXTON SMITH .- Among the early settlers who came to the Philipse Patent when it was yet a wilderness, and es- tablished a home while yet the Indians held an almost undis- puted sway, was Abraham Smith, who is said to have come from England about 1726, and for several years resided on Long Island. The exact time when he came to this part of the country is unknown, but was probably as early as 1740, and tradition has always spoken of him as the first settler in the region.
The place which he selected for his future home was close to the eastern line of Lot No. 4, and was part of what was known
Latter & Goods
Eng ยช by d .H. Ball : Sons, N.
" FAIR VIEW." RESIDENCE OF WALTER N. WOOD, PUTNAM VALLEY, N. Y.
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TOWN OF PUTNAM VALLEY.
as "Beverly Robinson's Long Lot," and now the town of Putnam Valley. Here, in one of the most beautiful vales of that mountainous region, he selected a tract of a mile square.
It is said that when he surveyed his tract he gave a farm to one of his chain bearers for his services. What relationship existed between Abraham Smith and the well-known families of the name on Long Island is unknown. He is said to have had two brothers, but no connection was ever kept up between them; the remoteness of their dwelling places precluded all communication in the early days.
Abraham Smith was twice married. His children were: Prudence, wife of Abijah Palmer of Dutchess county; Bethia, wife of Capt. William Hill, the owner of the famous "Hill farm " in the town of Carmel; and Abraham.
The last (the only child of the second marriage) was born October 24th, 1763, and died October 26th, 1813, at the com- paratively early age of forty-nine. He was a justice for many years, and a highly esteemed citizen of the town and county. He married Mary, daughter of Daniel Knapp. Their children were: Sarah, Prudence, Phebe, Abraham (born October 24th, 1788, and died April 23d, 1854, leaving no descendants), Allen B. and Saxton. Sarah, the oldest daughter, married Samuel Meyrick; Abraham Smith was appointed justice of the peace at the age of 22, and is said to have been the youngest justice in the State. He was supervisor of Philipstown, judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and surrogate in 1840-44, and as a man and citizen he was highly esteemed. Allen B. and Sarah were the only children that married.
Hon. Saxton Smith, the subject of this sketch, was born on the ancestral homestead, October 2d, 1802, and by the early death of his father he was deprived of parental care while very young. His early education was obtained at common and primary schools, and during his entire life he has been con- stantly engaged in public business. The first office which he held was that of superintendent of schools, and he was after- ward appointed commissioner of deeds. His first term of office as the supervisor of Putnam Valley was in 1840, and this posi- tion he held at intervals for many years, a longer period than any other person.
In 1837, Mr. Smith was the democratic nominee for member
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
of Assembly, and was elected without opposition, and was re- elected in 1839 and also in 1843 and 1862.
The reputation he had gained while in the Assembly led to his election as State Senator in 1845 and 1847, and he was elected for a third term in 1863. His course in the Legislature was dis- tinguished for a strict attention to the duties of the positions and the welfare of his native county.
In addition to cultivating his paternal acres, the principal business of Mr. Smith's life has been the settling of estates of deceased persons, and the uninterrupted and unquestioning con- fidence of the public during a long term of years is sufficient evidence of his integrity and ability.
The volumes in which are contained the accounts of more than one hundred estates settled by him are in themselves a monn- ment to patient care and financial skill.
A member of the Presbyterian Church at Red Mills, he has long been identified with the religious interests of the com- munity.
His estate is one of the very few, in these days of change, that has remained in the same family from colonial times, and here, surrounded with all that can make life enjoyable, and pos- sessing the respect and confidence of all who know him, he passes the closing years of a well spent, active and useful life.
Mr. Smith's family consists of himself and two neices, Caro- line and Margaret, daughters of Mrs. Sarah Meyrick.
GEORGE WILLIAM LANE was born in Putnam Valley, Putnam county, N. Y., January 8th, 1818. He entered mercantile life in New York city at an early age, and continued in it until his death, on Sunday morning, December 30th, 1883. In his early manhood he became a member of the Presbyterian church. Faith in the Master, which he then professed, was the unerring guide of his entire life in all its relations, public and private. Respected, honored and loved by all with whom he came in con- tact, many responsibilities were forced upon him by that con- fidence which his Christian purity and integrity inspired. "He was faithful in all."
From May, 1873, to February, 1875, he was chamberlain of the city of New York. He was president of the Chamber of Commerce at the time of his death, a director of the Fulton National Bank and of the Merchants' National Bank, of the
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TOWN OF PUTNAM VALLEY.
Continental Fire Insurance Company, of the Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company and of the Central Trust Company, a Com- missioner of the Croton Aqueduct Commission, a manager of the American Bible Society, president of the Society for Pro- moting the Gospel among Seamen in the Port of New York, a trustee of the Union Theological Seminary, president of the Board of Managers of the Presbyterian Hospital, and a ruling elder in the Madison Square Presbyterian Church.
47
CHAPTER XXIX.
PERSONAL SKETCHES.
TOWN OF CARMEL.
Allen Adams was born in Putnam Valley in 1853, and was married in 1875 to Estella Knapp, of East Fishkill, Dutchess county, N. Y. He is a farmer and stock dealer.
George Agor was born in Carmel, August 24th, 1824, and is a descendant of an old Putnam county family. He was educated at the public schools and follows the business of farming. He has held several offices of trust in the town. He was married in 1854 to Mary Jane Hyatt, of Carmel, whose father, George L. Hyatt, was in the war of 1812. Mr. Agor is a successful and representative citizen.
Harrison Agor was born in Carmel in 1818, and was married to Jane Austin of the same town in 1852. They have four chil . dren. His father, Charles, grandfather, William, and great- grandfather, Charles, all lived in this county. Mr. Agor was educated at the public schools and is a farmer.
Kelsie Agor, a farmer of Carmel, was born there in 1858, and was educated in the common schools. He has been excise com- missioner two years. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at Mahopac Falls. He was married to Sarah Amanda Curry, of Carmel.
Millard F. Agor, a merchant of Carmel, was born in that town in 1858, and was graduated from the State Normal School at Albany. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather, named respectively, Elisha C., Orrin and William, were residents of this county. The family is of Scotch origin.
George H. Anderson, proprietor of the well-known Anderson House, Lake Mahopac, was born in New York city in 1824, and
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PERSONAL SKETCHES.
came to this county in 1856. He was among the first to engage in the hotel business at Lake Mahopac. Previous to his re- moval to Putnam county he was a merchant in his native city. He is a prominent Mason and Odd Fellow.
Charles L. Austin was born in Carmel in 1844, on the home- stead where he still resides, and which has been in possession of the family for over 100 years. He was educated at the com- mon schools and Mahopac Academy, and follows the business of farming. He was married to Miss Odell, of Carmel. He has held the office of supervisor five years and is a member of the Presbyterian Church, Mahopac Falls.
Smith S. Austin, born in Carmel in 1830, is the son of Robert, and grandson of Smith Austin, both of whom were residents of this county. He was educated in the common schools, is a farmer, and lives on the homestead which has been in posses- sion of the family over 100 years. He was married in 1859 to Mary J. Hill.
Lewis Baker was born in Patterson in 1831, attended the public schools, and is a miller. He married Anna Lockwood, . of Carmel, in 1860.
Jackson Perry Ballard was born in Carmel in 1820, was edu- cated at private school in Carmel village, was a merchant at Mahopac 20 years, built the Lake House at same place, and has also been engaged in farming. He was a captain in the militia, has been postmaster at Mahopac and town clerk of Carmel. He was married in 1844 to Sarah Hyatt, of Putnam Valley. His father, Benjamin, and grandfather, Tracy, were residents of the county. He has one daughter, Naomi, wife of J. B. F. Haw- kins of Yorktown, Westchester county.
Reuben Barger was born in Putnam Valley in 1830, was edu- cated at the common schools and is a farmer. He was married in 1879 to Philena S. Requa, a native of Putnam Valley.
Coleman R. Barrett was born in Kent in 1843, was educated at the public schools, and has followed the business of farming. He was a director of the First Nat. Bank of Carmel three terms. He was married to Emma E. Cole, of Carmel village, in 1879. His father, Stevens R., grandfather, John, and great-grand- father, Marquis, were residents of Putnam county.
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Ebenezer Barrett, a farmer of Carmel, was born in that town in 1818, was educated at the common schools, and was married in 1852 to Hester Barrett, of Carmel. They have one child, Abigail, who married Silas Austin, of Carmel.
. Henry Barrett, son of Samuel and grandson of John, both residents of this county, was born in Kent in 1840, was educated at public schools, and follows the business of a merchant. He has been poormaster, and is postmaster at Mahopac Falls.
Moseman Barrett was born in Carmel in 1826, and was edu- cated at the public schools. He has been a deacon in the Bab- tist church, Mahopac Falls, for 25 years and a trustee a number of years. His first wife was Margaret M. Gay, whom he mar- ried in 1849, and his second, Cornelia Ludington, sister of Har- rison Ludington, governor of Wisconsin. He has one son liv- ing, George D.
Edward Borel was born in Switzerland in 1851, came to America with his parents about 1861, and located in Connecti- cut. He came to Putnam county in 1873. He was married in 1871 to Hulda Shrimer, of New York city. He is a barber and tobacconist.
Charles T. Brewster was born in Philipstown in 1814, at- tended the public schools, has been a farmer and has pursued other callings. He was collector of Philipstown five years, superintendent of poor of county one term, supervisor Philips- town two years, was elected sheriff in 1855, was member of Assembly in 1860, and sheriff again in 1861. He was married in 1841 to Mary A. Van Winkle of Philipstown.
Sela Buckbee was born in Putnam Valley in 1836, and was grad- uated from Claverack Academy and Hudson River Institute, Columbia county, N. Y. He is a contractor and builder, and erected the Thompson House, public school building at Carmel and many others in the county. He was married to Martha A. Smith, of Putnam Valley, in 1870.
Wallace C. Carver, born in Carmel in 1854, and educated at the common schools, is a farmer and stock dealer. He is a son of Stephen and grandson of Barnabas Carver of Carmel.
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