USA > New York > Rockland County > History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 30
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It was owing entirely to the efforts of Mr. Verdin that the Nanuet and New City Railroad was built. He fur- nished the means for the construction and equipinent of the road, and from the organization of the company, in IS71, until the transfer of the road to the New Jersey and New York Railroad Company, he was president of the company, and one of its directors.
He owns about 1,000 acres of land in Rockland county, a flour and feed mill at New City, and is also extensively interested in the brick business, at Haverstraw. In per- son, he is below the average height, of stout build, and strong constitution. Plain and unassuming in manner,
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CLARKSTOWN-BIOGRAPHIES.
punctual in the discharge of his duties, of inviolable in- tegrity, he enjoys to the fullest extent the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.
April 15th 1843, Mr. Verdin was married to Mary Jo sephine Aughe, of Hamilton, Ohio. Five children have been born to this union: Florence, born February 15th 1844, died in infancy; Mary Josephine, born July 4th 1845, married, June 20th 1865, to Joseph Cantrell, living at Fresh Ponds, Suffolk county, Long Island; Jolin Michael, born December 28th 1847, living at home; Jo- seph Theodore, born December 8th 1849, married to Charlotte S. Rose, living at New City; and Florent Nicholas, born November 28th 1851, died January 6th 1857.
Mrs. Verdin died February 21st 1858.
ISAAC B. VAN HOUTEN.
The father of the subject of this sketch was Claus R. Van Houten. At what time he settled in Clarkstown is unknown, but it was probably previous to the year 1761, as at that time he built a house, which is still standing, a short distance from the present family residence, and in which his son, Isaac B., was born. He was a farmer and a miller.
Isaac B. Van Houten was born June 4th 1776. No- vember 15th 1806, he was married to Jane Blauvelt, also of Clarkstown. She was born January 22d 1787. Their children were: John C., born May 16th 1807, died July 9th 1874; Jacob J., born October 2d 1816, died Febru- ary 17th 1844; Catharine, born March 8th 1819, died March 29th 1859; Maria, born June 19th 1822, died De- cember 18th 1852; and Barne. Mr. Van Houten's only facilities for education were those afforded by the com- mon schools of his day. His life was spent in the town of Clarkstown, near his place of birth. Like his father, he was a farmer and miller. He purchased a farm near his father's homestead, and in 1807 built upon it the house in which his son Barne was born and in which he still lives. He was somewhat stern in his manner, of strict integrity, an upright man, and a good citizen. In politics he was a democrat of the Jeffersonian school, and he always adhered strictly to the principles of his party. That he was a man of more than ordinary ability is evi- dent from the fact that he was honored by his fellow cit- izens with an election to the office of Member of Con- gress. He was elected in 1833, and represented this dis- trict in the 23d Congress. He served his term in this position with credit to himself and with loyalty to his party. He also at one time held, by appointment, the office of treasurer for the county. Few men have passed through life in a more honorable manner or left behind a more desirable reputation. He died August 16th 1850. His wife died October 27th 1846. A short distance from the house is the family burying ground containing the remains of the deceased members of the family.
March 24th 1858, to Adelia Eckerson, of Clarkstown. Three children have been born to them: Lizzie, born January 23d 1860, married December 8th 1880, to Dan- iel McLeod, living in New York city; Irene, born July 15th 1861, died March 18th 1884; and Ada, born Janu- ary roth 1864. died in infancy. In politics he is a dem- ocrat. He has been elected to the office of Supervisor, a position he hield for two terms. He has also held the of- fice of Assessor. He is an active and enterprising farmer and a respected citizen.
JOHN VAN HOUTEN.
Resolvert Van Houten, son of Roelof Van Houten and Catharine Nagel, and grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born at Tappan, Dec. 14th 1743. The exact date of his coming to Clarkstown is unknown. He was married April 17th 1767, to Maria Blauvelt, who was born November roth 1747. He had two sons: Roelof, born January roth 1769, died April 7th 1861; and John. John Van Houten was born in Clarkstown, February 18th 1771. He married for his first wife, Helenor Van Houten, December 20th 1790. She was born April 15th 1771. By her he had two children: Maria, born March 7th 1792; and Resolvert, born August 18th 1795, died May 24th 1837. Mrs. Van Houten died October 28th 1797. October 9th 1800, John Van Houten married, for his second wife, Maria Blauvelt, who was born February 24th 1781. The result of this union was a son, John.
John Van Houten, son of the above John, and subject of this biography, was born in Clarkstown, June 28th 1804. He received a common school education, and commenced business life on his father's farm. This busi- ness he has followed with good success during life. He was married, January 20th 1827, to Hannah Cole, of Clarkstown. She was born Nov. 3d 1802. Six children [have been born to them: Richard Coe, born January 25th 1828, died November 10th 1867; Abram Cole, born January 25th 1831, died June 25th 1863; Edwin, born December 30th 1834, living in New York city; John, born December 29th 1836, married to Catharine E. Romaine, by whom he has two children, George W .. and Frank; George, born Nov. 8th 1838, died Febru- 2d 1869; and Sylvester, born March 23d 1843, married Adelia C. Haight, July 29th 1863, living on the old homestead.
Mr. Van Houten has been a thorough and practical farmer. By industry and judicious management he has succeeded in accumulating a moderate amount of this world's goods. In his prosperity he has never forgotten that he owed a duty to his less fortunate neighbor. Many a poor man who has met with adversity in his struggles with fortune has had cause to thank John Van Houten for timely assistance in his hour of nced. He has contributed liberally of his means toward the support of schools and churches. His strict attention to business [ and his lively interest in the welfare of the community, have won the affection and esteem of his neighbors. Al- though the quict and unobtrusive course of life he has
Barne Van Houten, the youngest and only living child of Isaac B., was born June 23d 1828. He received a common school education, and commenced the business of farming, which he still continues. He was married, led furnishes little material for biography, the memories
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Christian Dietyson
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HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY.
of few men will perhaps be cherished by their posterity with a more jealous and grateful admiration. He has re- tired from active life and is spending the evening of his days upon the old homestead, where both his father and grandfather lived and died.
DAVID P. DEMAREST .*
David P. Demarest was born August 21st 1815, in the stone house which formerly stood south of the road run- ning west from the Middletown road past the late James M. Demarest's. His father, Peter Demarest jr., was born in the same house, January 15th 1794, and always lived on the same property, although not always in the stone house. His grandfather, Peter P. Demarest, was also born on this farm, on the 8th of May 1769, and after living upon it for over 72 years, died August 6th 1841, and was buried in the Nannet Cemetery.
As will be seen, the subject of this article was born of rural parents, and no doubt inherited from them a love for nature, which contributed much to a long, happy, and independent life, that special boon vouchsafed to every intelligent tiller of the soil. Much of his boyhood was spent with his grandfather Blauvelt, on the borders of New Jersey. His grandmother was very much attached to him and was often over-indulgent, but, as his after life distinctly shows, it did not mar the natural business ability and active energy which were his marked char- acteristics.
His education was such as could at that time be ob- tained at the district school in a few years. Perhaps the neatness of person, the pleasant address, and the orderly and systematic manner of conducting business, so notica- ble in Mr. Demarest, may in a measure be attributed to the influence of one of his old schoolmasters-James Van Antwerp-better known as "Jimmy Van Antwerp," who, it is said, was extremely precise in everything that he did, and the strictest observer of all the rules of eti- quette. Even when this old man became nearly helpless through the infirmities of age, he would appear every morning with his boots "as polished as glass bottles." It is also said of him that he once won a wager by danc- ing a reel on a mirror without breaking it. A man of such eccentricities could not fail to influence to some ex- tent the mind of one so observant as he of whom we write.
May 6th 1833, he married Polly Mackie, daughter of James and Catherine Mackie, who lived on the place now known as the " Distillery Farm." Here was begun a happy wedded life which was destined to extend through almost half a century. They were both ambi- tious and energetic, and even took delight in their strug- gles to gain the competency which they have acquired. Six years after their marriage, his father died, and he at once took possession of the " Old Red Tavern," situated just south of the present site of the Nanuet school house. This tavern was established by his father and is one of the oldest in the town, and was then on one of the main thoroughfares, and the only one between Suffern and the
Tappan Slote, and therefore received a liberal patronage. In connection with the tavern was a grocery store, which in those days included the sale of liquor, as a matter of course. The year that Mr. Demarest took charge of the business, was the year in which the building of the Erie Railroad was begun, and he at once undertook to supply the wants of the road by furnishing ties and fuel. This necessitated his being absent from home a great deal of the time, and consequently threw upon his little wife (for she was small then) the care and work connected with the store and tavern. For a year she had twenty-seven regular boarders, which number was often increased to thirty-five. Where is the young wife of to-day who would think she could care for so many with no help ex- cept that occasionally obtained by the day, and that, too, besides attending to the wants of two young children? But this was not all. On the north side of the house was a ball room, about 40 by 25 feet, in which a dance was regularly held once a week, and many times much oft- ener.
In 1849, he built the house now occupied by his son Joseph G., and was at that time appointed station agent, which office he held until his death, when he was suc- ceeded by the son just mentioned. As we have already said, he was extensively engaged in furnishing the rail- road company with wood; this he bought anywhere on the line of the road, either with or without the land, as suited the seller. The largest lot which he ever pur- chased was situated in Ramapo, and known as the "mountain lot," consisting of 1,300 acres, all but one hundred acres of which belongs to the estate at the pres- ent time. Another, nearly as large, was located in Dela- ware county. He continued in this business until about the year 1862, and made, in that time, from that and his otlier business sources, money enough to assure himself and family a comfortable old age, so far as worldly goods can do that. Soon after building in the village he constructed for the railroad company two water tanks which were filled by hydraulic rams driven by water from a pond, the dam of which may still be seen a little north of the railroad bridge on the Naurashank Creek. In cold winter nights he was often obliged to spend much time in attending to them, and it is believed that here were sown the seeds of the disease which caused him so much suffering in after years. For more than twenty years of his life he was afflicted with that dreadful disease- rheumatism.
He built many of the houses in the village, and for many years was one of its most influential citizens.
He gave to the Baptist Society the lot on which their house of worship now stands, and was in many ways the means of making the village what it now is. The only public office he ever held was that of constable for one year. He had no desire for office, but was a quiet, intel- ligent, thorough democrat all his life.
The estate he left consists of about 200 acres of land in and about the village, together with numerous houses, a farm of 153 acres in Ramapo, besides the "mountain lot " already mentioned.
*BY H. P. FAY.
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CLARKSTOWN-BIOGRAPHIES.
He died at 12 o'clock midnight, June 30th 1881, of in New York city and in Passaic, New Jersey. He has paralysis, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery. recently caused to be erected in Oak Hill Cemetery a
His widow, who survives him, is a very genial lady of | handsome and substantial family monument.
seventy, and one who knows very well how to make the hours pass pleasantly by.
He had but two children. The elder son, James War. ren, was born October 13th 1833, and died March 2d 1874. He married Hannah M. Blauvelt, daughter of Abram C. Blauvelt.
The younger son, Joseph Griffith, was born May 15th 1839, and married Annie Demarest, daughter of Cor- nelius I. Demarest, January 13th 1858. They have but one child, a daughter-Cora.
ISAAC VAN NOSTRAND.
Jacob Van Nostrand, father of the subject of this sketch, was born at Clarkstown, March 23d 1780. He was a son of George, and grandson of Moses Van Nostrand, both of whom were residents of what is now Rockland county. Jacob Van Nostrand carried on the business of blacksmithing near Nanuet, and afterward became a far. mer. He was married to. Elizabeth Waldron, who was born May 26th 1781. Six children were born to them: Jane, born January 25th 1807, died December 13th 1841; Barnard, born February 10th 1809, died January roth 1865; George, born February 27th 1811, died in April 1820; Ellen, born May 24th 1813, died young; Isaac, born November 11th 1816; and Mary Barbara, born July 6th 1819, died December 22d 1880. Jacob Van Nostrand died September 18th 1858. His wife died October 3d 1846. They were both sincere members of the old Re- formed Dutch church of Clarkstown, and were buried in the old church yard.
Isaac Van Nostrand, youngest son and only living child of Jacob Van Nostrand, was born in Clarkstown, November 11th 1816. He received a good common school education, after which he learned the carpenter's trade. After working in this county for a few years he removed to the city of New York, where he continued to work at his trade for about six years. At the expiration of this time he entered into a partnership with G. Van Nostrand, forming the firm of I. & G. Van Nostrand, contractors and builders. After about 20 years of suc- cessful business, the firm of I. & G. Van Nostrand was dissolved, each member continuing the business for him- self. The business was continued by Isaac Van Nos- trand until 1869, when he retired, came to Clarkstown, and settled upon the farm formerly owned by his father- in-law, Resolvert I. Van Houten, where he has since re- sided. He was married to Sarah Ann Van Houten, De- cember 24th 1844. They have no children. Mr. Van Nostrand has been honored by the citizens of Clarkstown and benevolent; and as a man, honest.
- with the office of Supervisor, a position in which he has served for three years. He also superintended the con- struction of [the new county buildings at New City in 1873. Besides the farm of 98 acres on which he lives, Mr. Van Nostrand owns a plot of 17 building lots at Spring Valley. a map of which is on file in the office of the clerk of Rockland county. He also owns real estate
CHRISTIAN DIETZSCH.
The subject of this sketch is a descendant of a family of the same nanie, very prominent in Bavaria during the 18th century. The head of the family, Joh. I. Dietzsch, died in 1754, leaving five sons and two daughters. These children devoted their time entirely to painting, and achieved much notoriety in their chosen profession.
Christian Dietzsch, son of Ludwig Dietzsch, was born at Wohnsheim, Grossherzogthum Darmstadt, March 6th 1810. His grandfather was a prominent Lutheran min- ister. He received a liberal education and afterward en- gaged in the business of soap and candle making. In 1836, he came to America. He remained in New York city two years, spent one year in traveling through the United States, then returned to New York and entered into the employ of Meyer & Stucken. commission mer- chants and importers, in Broad street, and afterward in New street. In 1841 he was married, in St. Matthew's Church, to Wilhelmine, sister of Dr. v. Saynisch, who, at that time, was one of the most prominent physicians of New York city. He remained with the firm of Meyer & Stucken about seven years. He then furnished a house at 122 Chambers street, for the use of the German Club. He remained for several years in charge of this house, and in 1851, he purchased of Henry Sleight, a farm of 62 acres, in Clarkstown, about one mile north of Nanuet. He afterward bought two adjoining farms, making a total of 160 acres. By persistent and well directed labor, this land has been greatly improved, and is now one of the best farms in the town. During their residence in New York city, Mr. and Mrs. Dietzsch were consistent mem- bers of St. Matthew's Church. One child has been born to them: Wilhelmina Louisa, born June 26th 1844. For the purpose of obtaining better facilities for educating this child, the family removed to New York city in 1856, where they remained until 1868, when they again re- turned to Clarkstown. Mrs. Dietzsch died September 19th 1869.
Mr. Dietzsch was for 13 years major of the 5th regi- ment New York State militia. In his 75th year he is still hale and hearty, and retains to an unusual extent his mental and physical vigor. He has never sought official position, but his vote and influence have ever been ready to assist the cause of the right. He has always been warm in his friendships, and kind and hospitable to the poor. As a husband, he has been affectionate and true; as a father, kind and indulgent; as a citizen, patriotic
ZALMON NICKERSON.
Nathan Nickerson, father of Zalmon, was born in Southeast town, Putnam county, New York. He was by occupation a farmer. He was married to Molly By- ington of the same town. They had three children, Ira, Alanson, and Zalmon.
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HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY.
Zalmon Nickerson, was born in Southeast, January 30th 1799. At the age of 11 years he went to work on a neighbor's farm, where he remained three years. From this time until he became of age, he worked by the month for different farmers near his home. December 26th 1820, he was married to Abigail M. Richards, also of Southeast town. He then hired a farm of 60 acres in his native town, remained upon it one year, then moved to another farm in Southeast and remained in charge of the latter farm two years. He then hired a third farm of 216 acres, also in Southeast. He continued to manage this farm for nine years, after which he bought a farm of 100 acres in his native town. He remained there five years, then sold out and moved to a farm in the town of Haverstraw (now Stony Point). In connection with this farm he carried on for several years the business of brick manufacturing, with good success. He remained at Haver- straw 12 years, and at the expiration of that time bought a farm of 106 acres in the town of Clarkstown, and re- moved with his family to that place. For this farm he paid the sum of $4,800, and afterward sold a portion of it for $800. After 19 years of hard labor, he sold the farm for $12,000, thus making a profit of $8,000, beside supporting a family of 14 children and several grand-
children. After selling this farm he moved to Clarks- ville. In the spring of 1875 he hired a farm of 30 acres in Clarksville. This farm he bought of Stephen Upson, April 18th 1876. Mrs. Nickerson died March 28th 1880. She was an estimable Christian lady, respected and loved by all who knew her. Fourteen children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nickerson; George W., Henry N., Wil- liam A., Catharine, Nathan R., Sarah, Adeline, Eliza, Hannah, Archibald, Alonzo, Ira, Frederick M., and Melissa. Mr. Nickerson, after a life of hard labor, has retired from active business, and is spending the evening of life in the family of his son Archibald, patiently wait- ing to be called to the reward of a well spent life. He is a sincere Christian and a member of the Reformed Church at Clarksville.
Early in life he gave up the use of intoxicating bever- ages and has been rewarded by seeing his children and grandchildren grow up and become sober and industrious men and women.
Archibald Nickerson succeeds his father in the man- agement of the farm. He was born in the town of Haver- straw, January 2d 1843. During his business life he has been engaged in farming and brick making. He married Margaret M. Felter, by whom he has four children.
TOWN OF HAVERSTRAW.
BY REV. A. S. FREEMAN, D.D., AND W. S. PELLETREAU.
THE OLD "PRECINCT OF HAVERSTRAW."
T HE NAME of Haverstraw is one of the oldest in the geography of North America. It first appears on a map found among the Dutch archives,in Amsterdam, and supposed to have been made about A.D. 1616. The word is Dutch. It was originally written. " Haverstroo." Its meaning is " Oat straw." It is believed to have been suggested by the wild oats growing on the low lands by the water side. However this may have been, the name has been continued through the two hundred and sixty- eight years that have intervened since the Dutch naviga- tor placed it on his map, and it will doubtless continue for many years to come. We may add that in the oldest documents we have seen, the locality is spoken of as " the Haverstroo."
The visitor to the State Library at Albany may see, as one of the most interesting relics of the past, the original grant, executed upon parchment, with all the skill of calligraphic art, by which King Charles II of England conveyed to his brother James, Duke of York and Al- bany, all the lands from the west side of the Connecticut River to the east shore of Delaware Bay, thus conferring upon him the ownership and jurisdiction of a province . that exceeded in extent the kingdom over which he and his ancestors had ruled for centuries. On the 24th of June 1664, the Duke of York granted to Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret the portion of the province which is now included in the State of New Jersey, and is in the grant described as
"All that tract of land adjacent to New England, and lying and being to the westward of Long Island, and bounded on the East, part by the main sea, and part by Hudson's River, and hath upon the west Delawarc Bay or River, and extendetli Southward to the main Ocean as far as Cape May at the mouth of Delaware Bay, and to the Northward as far as the Northernmost branch of the said Bay or River of Delaware, which is forty-one degrees and forty minutes of Lattitude, and crosseth over thence in a straight line to Hudson's River in forty-one Degrees of Lattitude."
It was not till long after that the true locality of the north line was established. At the the when the history of Haverstraw begins, it was a subject of dispute where New York terminated and New Jersey began, and as late as 1671 it was supposed that the territory as far north as Stony Point was included in the latter provincc. The first purchase from the Indians of any land within the present limits of Rockland county, was in 1666, and a full account of this purchase, which included what is now Haverstraw village, will be found in this sketch under the head of "De Harte's Patent." In 1686 a township grant was made to the inhabitants of Tappan, which is fully described in the history of Orangetown, reaching as far north as what is called the Greenbush, but now is known as Blauveltville.
The law of 1683, by which the province was divided into counties, established the County of Orange as em- bracing all the extent between the Hudson River and the New Jersey line, and extending as far north as "the Murderer's Creek, or the bounds of the County of Ulster." The organization of the towns in the original county be- gan with that of Orangetown in 1686, and the few in- habitants that then dwelt in the adjoining territory as far north as the present limits of Rockland county were shortly after united with it for the purpose of assessment and court jurisdiction. In 1719 a petition was presented to the governor and council, by the inhabitants of Haver. straw, representing the inconvenience of attending at Orangetown on account of the distance, and the result was the passage of the act which established what is so often styled in ancient deeds and documents " The Pre- cinct of Haverstraw." As the volumes of the Colonial Laws are scarce and not easily accessible to the general reader, a copy of this act is given as a specimen of the legislation of the
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