History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 23

Author: Cole, David, 1822-1903, ed. cn; Beers, J. B., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 993

USA > New York > Rockland County > History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 23

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Salisbury, and G. Van Nostrand, Nyack; Henry Whit- temore, Tappan and W. S. Searing, Tonikins Cove. The following is a copy of the constitution:

" Article I. The name of this Society is 'The Histor. ical and Forestry Society of Rockland County.'

"Article 2. The objects of the Society are to discover, procure, and preserve whatever may relate to the natural, civil, and literary history of Rockland county, and to promote an interest in forestry and rural adornment.

" Article 3. The officers of this Society are a Presi- dent, five Vice-Presidents, a Corresponding and Record- ing Secretary, and Treasurer, together with an executive committee of twelve, including the President, Recording and Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer as members ex officio, and eight other members who shall constitute a Board of Directors."

The first officers were: Hon. John W. Ferdon, Presi- dent; Hon. A. E. Suffern, Albert Wells, Joseph Snider, Dr. W. Govan, and Cyrus M. Crum, Vice-Presidents; W. S. Gilman, Corresponding Secretary; Henry Whittemore, Recording Secretary; G. Van Nostrand, Treasurer; John Salisbury, C. W. Miller, W. T. Searing, and Dr. C. R. Agnew, Directors.

To raise funds for carrying out the objects of the So- ciety a series of lectures and entertainments was pro- jected, and a loan exhibition of historical relics was given. It was proposed to devote the avails of these entertainments and exhibitions to the purchase of the old house in Tappan where General Washington had his headquarters at different times during the Revolution. An effort was made to procure the passage of a law for the purchase of this property by the State, and an act for this purpose was passed by the Legislature, but was vetoed by Governor Robinson. The Society did not deem it expedient to make further efforts in this direction, and the project was abandoned. Meetings have been held in different parts of the county, and the membership has gradually increased. In view of the probability of the Society's holding considerable property, it was deemed advisable at the beginning to limit the membership to seventy-five members. It has never reached this figure yet, however. The membership fee is $3.00, and the an- nual dues $1.00. Life membership, $25. Two persons only have become life members, viz .: Peter V. King, of Piermont, and Major Taft, of Rockland. One member of the Society only has died since its organization, viz .: Peter V. King. The non-resident members are Hon. Abram S. Hewitt, and Cyrus W. Field, of New York; General William S. Stryker of New Jersey; Benson J. Lossing, LL. D., and Colonel Asa Bird Gardner, U. S. A.

Hon. John W. Ferdon held the office of President from 1878 to 1881, at which time his Congressional duties necessitated a change, and C. R. Agnew, M. D., was elected to fill his place. Dr. Agnew was succeeded by Hon. C. T. Pierson, of Ramapo. The officers for 1883 were Quentin McAdam, President; Henry Whittemore, Corresponding Secretary, George F. Morse, Recording Secretary, and - Gregory, Treasurer; all residents of

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HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXV.

RAILROADS.

NORTHERN RAILROAD OF NEW JERSEY.

T HIS ROAD WAS constructed in 1857-59, and so much of it as is within the limits of Rockland county, which is about one mile, viz., from the State line to Sparkill, was first operated in May 1859. At Sparkill it connected with the Erie Road.

In November 1869, the Nyack and Northern Railroad Company was organized, under the General Railroad Act, with a capital of $75.000. The first directors were Wil- liam Voorhis, Peter Voorhis, William A. Shepard, Andrew Fallon, Thomas H. Herring, Augustus A. Hardenbergh, Richard P. Eells, Charles G. Sisson, L. De Los Mans- field, William H. Whiton, Lansing Zabriskie, John L. Brownell, John R. Van Buskirk. Of these, five are now deceased. William Voorhis was the first President of the company.

The construction of the road was begun in August 1869, and it was opened for business in May 1870. Its termini are Sparkill and Nyack, and between these are two stations, those of Piermont-on-the-Hill and Grand View.

As soon as the road was completed it was leased to the Northern Railroad of New Jersey, and it has ever since been operated by that company,

In 1882 the gauge was changed from six feet to the standard gauge of four feet eight and one half inches.

The present officers are Elias H. Sisson, president, and O. A. Roorback, Secretary and Treasurer. Mr. Roorback has held his two offices since 1869.

NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK RAILROAD.

The Hackensack and New York Railroad was built some years prior to the construction of this road.

The Hackensack and New York Extension was begun in 1869, and completed from Cherry Hill Station to Hills- dale. In 1870 it was extended to Nanuet.

The New Jersey and New York Railroad Company was formed in 1873, by the consolidation of the Hacken. sack and New York, and the Hackensack and New York Extension Companies. The first Board of Directors was elected April roth of that year, and consisted of Robert Rennie, William Rennie, William Greig, William Greig, jr., Frederick J. Prentiss, E. Boudinot Colt, David P. Patterson, William Bond, Henry G. Herring, Isaac D. Demarest, and Garret S. Demarest.

The first officers were E. Boudinot Colt, President; David P. Patterson, Vice-President; Robert Rennie, Treasurer, and Malcom McMaster, Secretary. The lat. ter resigned in 1874, and the present Secretary, Henry C. Deming, was appointed in his place.

In December 1874, the road was opened to Haver- straw, and in 1875 to Stony Point, its present terminus.

The stations on this road, in Rockland county, are Pearl River, Nanuet, Bardons, Germonds, New City,

Spring Valley, Union, New Hempstead, Summit Park, Pomona, Mount Ivy, Thiells, Haverstraw, North Haver- straw, and Stony Point.

The present Directors are Valentine L. Lary, Robert W. De Forest, Joseph E. Gay, Peter Ward, Henry C. Deming, John C. Westervelt, Jacob Van Buskirk, Isaac D. Demarest, Garret Ackerson jr., Jacob D. Hasbrouck, Royal C. Vilas, Henry W. De Forest, and Louis Fitz- gerald.

The present officers are Valentine I .. Lary, President; Isaac D. Demarest, Vice President, and Henry C. Dem- ing, Secretary and Treasurer. Jacob D. Hasbrouck is the general manager, and James S. Drake is superintend- ent and master mechanic.

The Nanuet and New City Railroad was opened for business May 3d 1875, and has been purchased by the New Jersey and New York Railroad Company.

NEW YORK WEST SHORE AND BUFFALO RAILROAD.

In 1880 the New York, Ontario, and Western Railway Company was organized as a successor to the New York and Oswego Midland Railroad Company. Having no con- nection with New York city the Ontario Company de- cided to extend the road, along and near the; west shore of the Hudson River, to Weehawken. The fran- chises necessary for such purpose were secured by the organization of the North River Railroad Company, the route of whose road along the river was the same as that of the New York, West Shore, and Buffalo Company. The two companies were afterward consolidated under the name of the present company. Work on this road was com- menced in the latter part of 1880, and it was completed through Rockland county in 1883. The stations on this road in Rockland county are: Tappan, Orangeburgh, Blauveltville, Rockland Park, Nyack Turnpike, Valley Cottage, Congers, Haverstraw, Tompkins Cove, Caldwells, and Iona Island.

The road has two tracks, is well built, and finely equipped; and it must inevitably become one of the most important avenues of travel and transportation in the country.

The history of the Erie Railroad is included in the following

MEMORIAL OF ELEAZAR LORD, LL.D .*

Born September 9th 1788, at Franklin, Connecticut. He died at Piermont, Rockland county, N. Y., June 3d 1871. He was twice married. First to Elizabeth Pier- son, only daughter of Hon. Jeremiah H. Pierson, of Ramapo, Rockland county, N. Y., on the 12th August 1824. His first wife died May 3d 1833, and on Decem- ber 31st 1835, he married Ruth Thompson, daughter of Deacon Eben Thompson, of East Windsor, Connecticut.

Mr. Lord had seven children by his first wife, and at this date, January 1884, Mr. Lord's only surviving child is Sarah P. L. Whiton, wife of William H. Whiton, who resides on the old homestead at Piermont.

He remained at home until 1804 and attended the dis- *BY W. H. WHITON.

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GENERAL HISTORY

trict school of which Eliphalet Nott, afterwards president 1816, attended the convention in New York for the forma- of Union College, was teacher during the last two tion of the " American Bible Society." After preparing a report of the doings of the "Sunday School Union So-

winters. He then went to Norwich, Connecticut, and passed three years as clerk to Joseph H. Strong, a mer- ciety " and attending the anniversary in February 1817, chant. While there a revival of religion took place, and he embarked for Europe, for the benefit of his eyes and he received deep and lasting impressions.

for the furtherance of some commercial objects.

Returning home in 1808, he was desirous of obtaining

Mr. Lord sailed from New York, March 7th 1817, a classical education, and entered upon the usual course and returned July 25th 1818. He spent a good deal of of preparation for entering college, under the tuition of his time while abroad in London and Liverpool. On the Rev. Dr. Lee, of Lisbon. Early in 1809 he became a | Continent, he visited Gottenburg, Stockholm, Copenha- member of Dr. Lee's church, of which his parents had long been members.

In 1810 he repaired to the Theological Seminary at Andover, and remained about three and one-half years. and many other points.

Becoming deeply interested and intimately associated with Judson, Newell, Nott, Hall, Rice, Richards, Bard- well, Wallen, Meigs, Poor. Mills, and others on the sub- ject of missions to the heathen, he took an active part in originating and conducting the Society of Inquiry re. specting missions, and in 1813 he prepared and published " A History of the Principal Protestant Missions to the Heathen," in two volumes. published in Boston.

About the same time, in conjunction with Mr. Alfred Mitchell, afterwards minister at Norwich, Connecticut, he abridged and published "Flavel's Treatise on Keep- ing the Heart," and the following year he abridged and published " Flavel's Touchstone of Sincerity," and soon after wrote and published a pamphlet "On the Neces- sity, Practicability and Means of Educating Young Men for the Sacred Office." This pamphlet led to the for- mation of the American and other educational societies.

Mr. Lord was licensed to preach, by the Haverhill As- sociation, at Salem, New Hampshire, September 15th 1812, and for the next two years he preached occasionally at different places. A growing weakness of his eyes con- tinued, and in 1814 a paralysis of the optic nerves oc- curred. To recuperate his general health he traveled to Montreal, Quebec, and other places, and in the autumn of 1814 he went to Princeton, New Jersey, and attended the recitations and lectures at the seminary during most of the ensuing winter. But the malady affecting his eves grew worse, a total exclusion of light was for the most part necessary, and he felt obliged to give up his cherished

object and turn his attention to secular affairs. He bernian Societies, Protestant and other institutions, and became engaged in commercial and financial business in New York early in 1815, and while pursuing his secular avocations in the spirit of the precept "diligent in bus- iness," he did not fail to respond with cheerful prompt- ness to every call addressed to him as a devoted Chris- tian and a public spirited citizen.

While in London, Mr. Lord attended successively the anniversaries of the British and Foreign Bible Societies, Sunday School Union, Tract, Missionary, Jews, and Hi- saw much of men and of the world. On his return to New York, July 25th 1818, hc resumed his connection with the Sunday School Union, which was continued as corresponding secretary and afterwards as president until about 1836, when he moved to Piermont. As has already been mentioned, Mr. Lora assisted at the first organiza- tion, in February 1816, of "The Young Men's Mission- ary Society," and in November 1816, at that of "The Evangelical Missionary Society," a secession from the former, which, in 1822, united and formed "The United Domestic Society," and in 1826, of the greatly enlarged institution, "The American Home Missionary Society." He served on the executive committee of these institu- tions, and as corresponding secretary of the "United

Toward the close of 1815, he called public attention in New York to the subject of Sunday Schools-a sub ject then entirely new-and by public advertisement in February 1816, convened a public meeting of citizens, at which "The New York Sunday School Union Society " was formed. He occupied the post of corresponding secretary, and devoted the ensuing year chiefly to organ- izing schools, preparing and publishing lessons, and also a magazine on the subject. He also, in the autumn of | Domestic," and of the latter society, he wrote the first

gen, St. Petersburg, Lubec, Hamburg. Oldenburg, Gron- ingen, Amsterdam, Harlaem, Leyden, Utrecht, Rotter- dam, Antwerp, Ghent, Brussels, Bruges, Ostend, Paris,

While in Great Britain he was brought into close and intunate acquaintance with many of the best and greatest men in the kingdom, an acquaintance which was kept up by correspondence with many of them as long as they lived.

Among those who became his friends were Wil- liam Wilberforce, Joseph Butterworth, Mr. Canning, Mr. Macaulay (father of T. B. M.), Lord Seignmouth, James Price, Lord Castlebaugh, Sir Thomas Baring. Joshua Bates, D. Morgan, William Taylor Money, Thom- as and John Clarkson, Rev. Leigh Richmond, Rev. Charles Simeon, Andrew Fuller, Silas Richards, Rev. Robert Hall, Rev. Edward Bickersteth, Rev. Dr. Thoni- as Chaliners, Rev. Hugh McNeil, Frederick Smith, Rob- ert Marsden, Evan Rees, Joseph Price, Francis Collins, Peter Barlow, Rev. Rowland Hill, Mrs. Elizabeth Fry, Rev. C. F. Fry, William F. Lloyd, William Marriott, Rev. Josiah Pratt, Henry Bloomfield, Samuel Williams, Rev. John Dyer, Rev. Joseph Hughes, Mr. West ( Pres- ident of Royal Academy), Rev. Joseph Wardlaw, Rev. Dr. Ryland, Rev. Mr. Eacles, Rev. William Hawtrey, William Cunningham, John Murray jr., Thomas Eddy, Rev. Danicl Wilson, Rev. George Burden, Rev. Joseph Iverney, Robert Bolton, and Rev. Mr. Charles, of Bela, in Wales, the originator of the British and Foreign Bible Society in 1802.

HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY.

105

report, in which the plan of operations that was pursued for some years was recommended. He also took an act- ive part in organizing " The United Presbyterian Educa- tional Society," which largely enlisted the cooperation of the Presbyterian Church for some years. He was also active in the formation in 1820 of a "National Institu- tion for the Promotion of Industry," of which Colonel William Few (one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence) was president. In 1821, he wrote the fifth annual report, a pamphlet of forty pages, of " The Society for the Prevention of Pauperism," in the city of New York, of which Hon. Cadwallader De Colden was president, and among the vice-presidents were the Hon. Brockholst Livingston, Colonel William Few, Thomas Eddy, and John Griscom.

In the early part of 1819, Mr. Lord was induced to re- pair to Washington on behalf of the Merchants of New York and Eastern Manufactures to propose and promote the adoption of measures deemed important to their in. terests, and to the general interests of the country.

The object was to repress excessive imports by secur- ing a change in the laws governing the payment of du- ties, and a general revision of the Tariff. He was again at Washington, at the session of 1820, when the measures proposed by him were passed. He also went again to Washington for the Merchants of New York, at the sessions of 1823-4. In addition to daily conversa- tion with members of both houses, and interviews with the Secretary of the Treasury (Mr. Crawford), he assist- ed in preparing a revision of the tariff. He found Mr. Calhoun (then Secretary of War), and the Southern members generally, Haine, Lowndes, McDuffie, Wise, &c., wholly opposed to any change, and also many of the Western members, among them, Mr. Clay (the Speaker), who thought the changes proposed unwise; that they would lead to manufacturing, divert capital from commerce, and change the policy of the country.

At that time there were no canals, railroads were not thought of, transportation from the west was circuitous and expensive, and Mr. Lord argued that a time would come when the population of the interior States could not transport and sell in foreign markets enough of their raw products to pay for the necessary articles of manu- facture imported, and that they would be forced to man- ufacture for themselves and consume their products at home. This and other similar arguments finally struck Mr. Clay favorably, and in subsequent debates he deliv- ered powerful speeches on the question in this view of it, and thus became " The Father of the American Sys- tem."

In 1821, Mr. Lord obtained the charter and organized the " Manhattan Fire Insurance Company," of New York; he was elected president of the organization and continued so for twelve years, to 1833. The company had been organized with a special view to the insurance of manufactories and machinery. Such was the prejudice existing at that time against such risks that no insur- ance could be obtained on them at any office in New York.

On inquiry into the subject, Mr. Lord found that in general the fire insurance companies were not prosper- ous. It was their custom to assume and retain the whole of a risk offered, however large, so that a single loss of a policy for $50,000, or $100,000, sometimes crippled them for years.

It was plain to him, that to be safe in taking one risk of $100,000, enough others of that amount must be taken at a given premium, to provide for paying as many of that class of risks as usually occurred. But enough of that class of risks was never offered to provide for pay- ing a single loss. Such risks should therefore never be taken in one office, or if taken, should be distributed by reinsurance in other offices down to the sum or amount of single risks at which a surplus for expenses and div- idends would be secured.

He therefore determined to retain no risk of the first class of more than $10,000, and to reject or reinsure all applications exceeding that amount; of the second class $5,000 or less, and on manufactories $5,000 or less. On his stating this to Mr. Gallatin sen., then president of the National Bank, he was delighted, and declared it to be the true and only safe principle. But the managers of other companies were slow to adopt it. He finally got up a regular monthly meeting of the officers of the com- panies which resulted in revising the whole business, re- gulating reinsurances, establishing uniformity of pre- miums and correcting abuses. The Manhattan Com- pany was a success; it paid nine per cent. per annumn during the twelve years of Mr. Lord's administration, and kept a surplus. Besides its ordinary city business, it took risks on cotton and woolen mills all over the country. This branch of business proved productive and was gradually adopted by other companies.

In 1822 Mr. Lord attended the sessions of the Gen- eral Assembly as a delegate from the First Presbytery of New York, and at its next session, in 1823, he was ap- pointed one of the directors of the Theological Seminary at Princeton.

In 1823-4, Mr. Lord was elected a member of the "Free School Society of New York," Director for life of the "United Domestic Missionary Society," and member of the " American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions," also a member of the "American Bible Society," and, in 1827, a member of the "American Educational Society," in 1832, a member of the "New York Historical Society," a member for life of the " Ameri- can Bible Society," and also a member for life of the "Society for Ameliorating the condition of the Jews."

Ohio Loan .- In 1824, Mr. Lord was called on by a delegation from Ohio (Governor Brown and Governor Morrow), who came to New York to obtain a loan for their State for sustaining their canal from Portsmouth to Cleveland. They were acquainted with no one else in New York except Mr. John Rathbone jr. The State was young, needy, and unpopular with moneyed men, who had trusted and lost by her merchants. Wall street frowned upon and opposed a loan of money to the State, and the commissioners became greatly

Eleanor Lord

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GENERAL HISTORY.

discouraged. Mr. Lord became very much interested For the services so rendered to the State of Ohio, the Legislature of that State passed a vote of thanks to Mr. Lord, Mr. Rathbone, and Governor Clinton, and invited them as guests of the State to make an excur- sion into Ohio; this invitation was accepted. The Erie Canal was just finished for the passage of boats from Albany to Buffalo; they passed over its whole length and thence proceeded in stages and pri- vate carriages through to Cleveland and to the center of Ohio. At one point on the route an immense assembly had gathered to do honor to the guests, and with the expectation that Governor Clinton would make a speech. As speech-making was not his forte, he tried to get out of it; but Mr. Lord and Mr. Rathbone urged for them and through his persistent efforts it was finally arranged that he, John Rathbone jr., Russell H. Nevins, and Rufus L. Lord, his brother, would each take one- fourth of $250,000 of five per cent. stock at ninety per cent. and hold on to the loan and not suffer it to be sold under par until a second loan of one million dollars, which had been authorized by the Ohio Legislature, had been negotiated. The next year the same commissioners came for another and larger loan. The Messrs. Lords, Rathbone, and Nevins still held the first loan, and being somewhat embarassed by holding it, they could do noth- ing more. The commissioners advertised the loan, but received no bids, or none which they could accept. They became utterly discouraged, and called on Mr. Lord | him not to disappoint the people who had gathered to to take their leave, go home, and report failure. Mr. Lord |hear him, that as internal improvements, canals, &c., felt much sympathy for them, and having been inforined that morning that Governor Clinton had arrived in town, and that Mr. John J. Astor had arrived from Europe a few days before, he quietly asked the commissioners to remain seated for an hour or two, or until his return, as he wished to go out and make some inquiries that might prove to be of interest to them, of which he would tell them on his return to the office. The commissioners looked somewhat amazed, but took seats and waited. Mr. Lord knew that Mr. Astor depended on Governor Clinton to effect an assumption by the Legislature of his claims ($600,000) for escheated lands in Putnam county, and would do almost anything at Governor Clinton's re- quest; and he also knew that Governor Clinton deemed the Ohio Canal as an auxiliary of the greatest importance to the success of the Erie Canal and to the business and credit of the city and State of New York. Moreover, he was a candidate for the next Presidency, and the vote of Ohio was greatly desired.

Mr. Lord at once called on Governor Clinton at the City Hall, stated the emergency and asked him to call on Mr. Astor, state the case, and tell him that he must take the Ohio loan, or authorize Mr. Lord to say to such bankers as he thought proper, that Mr. Astor would sub- scribe and take the whole loan if others did not outbid him. Governor Clinton instantly fell in with this and went at once to Mr. Astor, who then lived where the As- tor House now stands. Upon understanding the case, Mr. Astor assented to the course above indicated. It was a 6 per cent. stock and to be taken at not less than par. On the way back to his office, Mr. Lord called on several bankers and intimated that Mr. Astor would take the en. tire Ohio loan. This opened the eyes of those who could not see before, and resulted in offers being made for several times the amount and at a premium. Mr. Astor retained $600,000 and placed it in Europe at about

half the rate of interest that he received on it. He kept the ports in Northern Europe were opened to the influx it a number of years until the price in New York was about 25 per cent. premium.

The credit of Ohio was now established, subsequent loans were readily taken, bearing 6 per cent. interest; but it was long before the original 5 per cent. loan, taken by the Messrs. Lords, Rathbone, and Nevins, would sell at a profit, and they held it for about seven years.

were to be his theme, he would certainly acquit himself creditably. Governor Clinton consented to address the audience and started off quite fluently, but became con- fused, or seized with stage fright; he stopped, unable to utter a sound. Seated near him on the platformn was a young lawyer unknown to fame; he at once saw that Governor Clinton would break down utterly. He jumped to the Governor's side, whispered a few hurried words, and Clinton sat down. The young lawyer explained to the audience that Governor Clinton had been suddenly taken ill and that he would try to address them in the Governor's place. He then proceeded and delivered one of the most eloquent speeches ever conceived, and held his audience spell-bound. They began to ask of one another: " Who is that young man? " The answer was- " Thomas Ewing." In this way Mr. Ewing's name became known to people from all parts of the State. With him it was " the tide taken at the flood," and he speedily be- came one of the most influential and prominent public men in the State. Years after he said to Mr. Lord that that speech, and the wide acquaintance all over Ohio which grew out of it. had set him ahead in the battle of life, at least ten years, and been the making of his good fortune.

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History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 23

Author: Cole, David, 1822-1903, ed. cn; Beers, J. B., & co., New York, pub Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 993

Author: Cole, David, 1822-1903, ed. cn; Beers, J. B., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 993