History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 56

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 56

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CHURCHES OF BLAUVELTVILLE.

Greenbush Presbyterian Church. In the autumn of 1812, and faithful to their religion. The want of a fitting application was made to the Presbytery of Hudson to | place of worship was soon felt, and the idea of building organize a church at Greenbush (Blauveltville). October a German Catholic church was taken into consideration. 18th the same year Rev. Eliphalet Price preached to the congregation and in the evening of the same day the fol- lowing persons were organized into a regular church, to be known as the Greenbush Presbyterian Church: John I. Blauvelt, David J. Blauvelt, Ann his wife, Abraham G. Blauvelt, Elizabeth his wife, Elizabeth Blauvelt widow of Garret Blauvelt, Gilbert Fowler, John G. Blauvelt, Ann his wife, and Cornelius Blauvelt.

About 1813, Rev. Andrew Thompson was installed as the first pastor. A few years later the Presbyterian church at Nyack was organized, and was connected with the Arrangements were at once made for the erection of the new church. George M. Lediger donated four acres of ground for the church, pastoral residence, and ceme- tery, and the sum of $300; Peter Boslet, Henry Edebohls, and John Raab gave $500 each; John Klee, $100; oth- ers, sums of $50 and less, each according to their means. church at Greenbush, the same minister officiating at both places. This union continued till 1841, when each churchi became a separate organization. During several years after its organization, the society worshiped in the upper room of the old Greenbush Academy. The first church edifice was built in 1823, and was dedicated |While the church was being built, services were held in January 14th 1824. It was a stone building and stood the house of Henry Edebohls, by Rev. Adam Tonner, on the site of the present church. The lot was given to

the society by Abraham G. Blauvelt, the deed bearing date May 21st 1823. The pastorate of Mr. Thompson continued about 20 years, and was a very successful one.

The second pastor was Rev. Jared Dewing. He was installed April 24th 1834. March 26th 1835, the church was transferred from the Presbytery of Hudson to that of New York. The church building was destroyed by fire September 18th 1835. It was rebuilt in 1836, and dedicated April 5th 1837. Rev. Jared Dewing was dis missed from the pastorate of the Greenbush Church, Oc- tober 8th 1855.

Rev. Thomas Evans was the next pastor. He was first called as a stated supply, November 12th 1855. He was installed June 17th 1856, and remained with the church till 1877, when he was dismissed.

He was succeeded by Rev. Henry E. Decker, who labored as stated supply till December 1883. October 24th 1882, the second church building was burned, to-

St. Catharine's Church .*- 'The beautiful and healthy location of Blauveltville, as well as its fertile soil, at- tracted the attention of Germans as early as 1853. Messrs. Raab and Klee bought large farms there, and were soon followed by Messrs. George M. Lediger, Henry Edebohls, and Peter Boslet, and later by several others. All of them were people of means, industrious,

Gradually the number of Germans had increased to fifty families. The great distance to Piermont church, the difficulty of attendance in bad weather, and the inability of many to understand the English language, made the erection of a German Catholic church a necessity. The enterprise was approved and encouraged by friends in New York, and by Rev. Felician Krebes, pastor of St. Nicholas Church, Second street, New York. Petitions were sent to the Right Rev. Archbishop of New York, and the requests of the petitioners were finally granted.

*By Rev. M. Kuhnen.

245

ORANGETOWN-BLAUVELTVILLE-ORANGEVILLE.

pastor of St. Magdalen's, East Seventeenth street, New York. Under his provisional management, the young principal landowner here. congregation flourished. The church edifice was built in 1868, and dedicated, free from debt, January 17th 1869, by Rev. A. Tonner. On the same day, a bell, costing $300, was presented by six members of the con- gregation.

The spiritual wants were attended to from St. Nich- olas', Second street, New York. In response to a gen- eral desire for a resident priest, the Rev. Joseph Bruhy, in 1870, took charge of the congregation. The pastoral residence was built in 1872, at an expense of $3,500. The church and house are frame structures, with brick basements. They present a neat appearance, and add greatly to the pleasant aspect of Blauveltville. The church is thirty by sixty-five feet, and has a capacity for seating about 400 persons. The expense of erecting church and house exceeded $10,000.

During the administration of Rev. Joseph Bruhy, a school was established under the supervision of A. Ger- mersdorf, with over forty pupils.

The congregation prospered until the general depres- sion of business in 1873 and 1874. Then a trying period commenced. The Rev. Joseph Bruhy died, May Ist 1874. He was a zealous priest, true to his vocation, be- loved and revered by all who knew how to appreciate his kind heart and warm feeling for his neighbor. His remains were buried in St. Catharine's Cemetery. After his death, the church was for a time without a pastor. Many families moved away, and the incumbrance on the pastoral residence, together with the other expenses con- nected with the church, seemed too heavy a burden for the remaining families.

Rev. Emil Stenzel presided as pastor from August 1874 till October 1876. After his resignation, the con- gregation was attended for a time by Rev. W. Penny, of Piermont, and his assistant. Then Rev. Nicholas Sorg preached from February 1877 till March 1879, when he removed to New York city. He was succeeded by the present rector, Rev. M. Kuhnen. There was little hope of saving the church unless the membership in- creased. There has been no increase, but by the united efforts of the zealous little flock, the pastor has been en. abled to pay off one-third of the debt within the past five years, and to reduce the annual interest correspond- ingly. Thorough improvements were made in all direc- tions, and the members again becanie interested and en- couraged. At present, there is a prospect that the hopes and labors of the first faithful members will be realized, viz .: to have a suitable place for worshiping God accord- ing to their faith, and for hearing his wonders pro- claimed in their mother tongue.

ORANGEVILLE.

Orangeville is a hamlet two miles west from Blauvelt- ville, and about the same distance southeast from Nanuet. A grist mill, a saw mill, a church, a school house, and a few

dwellings make up the place. George Van Houten is the

DISTRICT SCHOOL NUMBER 7.

It is believed that there was a school in existence at Orangeville as early as 1800. One of the early teachers was a Mr. Kennedy. The first school building stood about one-fourth of a mile west of the present one. About 1830 the second building was erected. It stood a short distance south of the present edifice, which was built about 1845.

ORANGEVILLE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.

About 1853, Mr. Rainor, a Universalist minister, be- gan preaching in Rulef Van Houten's mills at Orange- ville. In 1857, he was succeeded by Rev. Henry I.yon, who continued to hold services at Orangeville about fourteen years, preaching on alternate Sundays. The church edifice was built about 1856. It is a frame build- ing and stands on a lot which was given to the society by Tunis Cooper. It is valued at $1,000, and is free from in- cumbrance. Succeeding Mr. Lyon, Rev. C. C. Gordon supplied the pulpit for several years, since which time the church has been without a pastor.

Sunday school services are held every Sunday after- noon. The school numbers about 40 scholars and is under the superintendence of George Van Houten.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, MIDDLETOWN.

The First Methodist Episcopal Society of Middle- town, Rockland county, was organized by Rev. Nicholas Vansant, Presiding Elder of the Jersey City District of the Newark Conference, June 25th 1865, with seven members: L. A. Leach, Francis W. Leach, James Titus, Eliza Titus, Jabez E .. Wood, Sally Wood, and Euphemia Gibson.

The first trustees were L. A. Leach, James Titus, and Jabez E. Wood; and the services of the society for the first year after its organization were held in what was then known as the Independent Baptist Church which had been rented for that purpose.

In 1866, negotiations for the renewal of the lease of the church failed, and from the first of June to the mid- dle of November of that year the meetings of the society were held in L. A. Leach's barn, and a Sunday school was organized with James J. Monfort as first superintendent. He was succeeded as superintendent by L. A. Leach, who held the office for fifteen consecutive years.

Bishop E. S. Janes once occupied the pulpit in the barn, and among those who rendered effective aid to the infant society were the Revs. Nicholas Vansant, D. D. Lindsley D. D., Joseph B. Dyckman, Benjamin O. Par- vin, Merritt C. Reed, and Philip Hoyt.

In November 1866, the society leased the " Old " Bap- tist Church, and subsequently (1867) bought it. .

The membership at this time had increased to forty.

The Rev. Joseph W. Dalley was the first regularly appointed pastor, and preached in 1865-6. His succes- sors and the time of their appointment are as follows:

246

HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY.

1867. Samuel M. Stiles; 1868, Andrew McIntyre; 1869, Walter Chamberlain; 1871, Thomas H. Jacobus; 1873, Elbert Clement; 1876, Jacob P. Fort; 1877, Elam M. Gartow; 1878, John H. Timbrell; 1880, Samuel Sargent; 1881, B. F. Burgess; 1883, Jacob A. Craig, the present efficient pastor.

ORANGEBURG.

Orangeburg is a post office and station on the Erie Railroad, about midway between Piermont and Blauvelt- ville. A few years since, James E. Haring erected here a neat chapel for Sunday schools and social worship.

PEARL RIVER.

This a small hamlet in the western part of Orangetown, near the New Jersey line. It is a station on the New York and New Jersey Railroad, about twenty-five miles from Jersey City. It contains a post office, general store, formerly located here. These works are no longer in operation.

and hotel. The Atna Sewing Machine Works were N. Y., was born in Sharon, Litchfield county, Connecti-

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HON. JOHN W. FERDON.

. Mr. Ferdon, as his name indicates, is of French de- scent. His father was William Ferdon, of Piermont, and his mother was Elisabeth (Perry) Ferdon, a native of Tappan.

He was born at Piermont, December 13th 1826. He graduated from Rutgers College, in 1847, and was admit- ted to the bar of the State of New York, in 1851. The care of his large estate has absorbed his attention, and he has never engaged in active practice.

Mr. Ferdon's political affiliations have been with the Republican party. In 1854 he was elected a Member of the Assembly, and in 1855 of the Senate of this State. In 1864, he was a delegate to the convention at Balti- more, which nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presi- dency, and in 1876, he was a member of the Cincinnati convention, at which Rutherford B. Hayes was nominated for the same office.

After twice declining the nomination for Member of Congress from the 14th Congressional district, compris- ing Orange, Sullivan, and Rockland counties, Mr. Ferdon consented to be a candidate, and was elected to the 46th Congress. He declined a nomination for the 48th Con- gress, and the nominating convention, which was held at Middletown, Orange county, October 12th [880, unani- mously adopted the following resolution: "In view of the withdrawal of Hon. John W. Ferdon, our present representative in Congress, as a candidate for renomina- tion, we hereby express our cordial approval of his course as a representative, and desire to bear our united

testimony to his integrity, ability, and faithful adherence to Republican principles."

From 1854 to 1869, he was either the president or secretary of the Rockland County Bible Society, and from 1854 to the present time, he has been an elder in the Reformed (Dutch) church, at Piermont. He has also been as many as ten times a delegate to the Synod of the Reformed Church.

Mr. Ferdon is a man of large wealth, which he has used in the exercise of his liberal public spirit and his fine taste. Of this, the avenues which he has laid out and beautified, and the many hundred trees that he has planted and cultivated give evidence.

He was married, September 18th 1850, to Harriet Strong. Mrs. Ferdon was the daughter of Professor Theodore Strong, and she inherited, to a large degree, the sterling qualities of that remarkable man.

REV. SOLOMON G. HITCHCOCK.

The Rev. Solomon Gilbert Hitchcock, for many years the rector of Christ Church, Piermont, Rockland county, cut, July 24th 1814. His ancestors came from Wales in 1635, and were the first settlers in East Haven, Connec- ticut. Samuel Hitchcock, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, settled in Sharon, Connecticut, in 1752, and in the same year married Abigail, daughter of Cap- tain Jonathan Dunham. Captain Dunham was one of the first settlers of Sharon. He secured the incorpo- ration of the town, called the first town meeting, was standing moderator of all the town meetings holden dur- ing his life, and selectman during the same period.

In 1756, Samuel Hitchcock removed with his wife to the south part of the town, and called his home, which is still held by his descendants, " The Pines."

He had seven sons and two daughters. One of the sons, Asa, married Hannah Doty, daughter of Dr. David Doty, who had served as captain in the Revolutionary war.

They had three sons and five daughters, Solomon Gil- bert being the sixth child and second son. Only one member of that generation is now living, Mrs. Joanna Lambert, who furnished the material for this biography. Solomon, early developing a taste for the life of a stu- dent, entered Washington (now Trinity) College, Hart- ford, Connecticut, where he was graduated in 1834, at the early age of twenty years.

The college was then under the presidency of the late Rev. Dr. Wheaton.

Among Mr. Hitchcock's classmates were the Rev. Dr. Ashley, of Wisconsin, Professor Capron, of St. John's College, Maryland, Rev. Dr. Payne, of Schenectady, and G. W. Runde M. D., of Hartford.

Bishop John Williams, of Connecticut, and Arch- bishop Bayley, were students of the college at the same time, being members of the next succeeding class.

In the autumn of 1834, Mr. Hitchcock entered the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episco-

24;

ORANGETOWN-BIOGRAPHIES.

pal Church, where he was graduated in 1837. The pres- ent venerable presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Rt. Rev. Alfred I.ee D. D., of Delaware, the Rev. Dr. Buell, Professor of Systematic Divinity in the seminary, and other men of note and godly influence, were among his class-mates.

He was ordained Deacon by Bishop Brownell, July 6th 1837, in St. John's Church, Bridgeport, Connecticut, and advanced to the priesthood, by the same bishop, in St. Paul's Chapel, New Haven, on the 18th of November 1838.

Immediately after his ordination, he took charge of the church in Woodbury, Connecticut, where he remained nine years. Thence he removed to Hebron, Connecti- cut, where he spent four years-in both places doing a noble work for his Lord and Master.

In 1850, he assumed the charge of Christ Church, Pier mont, Rockland county, New York, and from thence, after a faithful ministry of twenty-seven years, he was called to his eternal reward. He died September 14th 1877.

When Mr. Hitchcock first went to Piermont, the ser- vices of the Episcopal church were conducted in an "humble upper room " of an old building, as he was fond of designating their place of meeting.

He succeeded, mainly by his own exertions, in getting subscriptions, contributing largely of his own means, to- wards the erection of Christ Church, Piermont.

The writer of this article has been informed that Mr. Hitchcock established the services of the Episcopal church in Nyack, Spring Valley, and Suffern, in Rock- land county, and also in Greenwood and Ringwood, New Jersey. Occasional services were also held by him in Haverstraw, and in Norwood, New Jersey.

He performed no half-hearted service. All the powers of his soul and mind were concentrated upon the great sponsible positions he was called to fill. His most strik- work which God had laid upon him. We can see the results of his labors, but his words and deeds of loving kindness are written only in God's book of remembrance. He was an earnest Christian preacher, a faithful pastor, a godly man. Of him it may be said: " When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave It is good to contemplate such a life, warm in its friendships, faithful in its relations, clear in its convic- tions, unbending in its integrity, winning the esteem of the wise and the approbation of the good. witness to me. Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy."

The funeral services of Mr. Hitchcock were solem- nized in his own parish, and his remains were interred in the cemetery at Sharon, where many of his ancestors await the resurrection of the just.

AARON L. CHRISTIE.

In presenting a sketch of one whose activity in life was so remarkable, and whose career of usefulness was so extended, a detailed narrative would be impracticable in a work of this character; but it is proposed to give the salient points in the life of one who was long identified with the growth and progress of the village of Nyack.

Aaron L. Christie was born in the town of Hohokus,

New Jersey, September 18th 1812. His father, David I. Christie, was a prominent citizen of Bergen county, and for a number of years held, in that county, the office of County Judge and Surrogate. He also at one time rep- resented his district in the General Assembly. Aaron L. commenced his business career in Hackensack, New Jer- sey, where he learned the business of carriage making. June 12th 1835, he removed to Nyack, and established a wheelwright and carriage factory on Main street near Broadway. He was married, May 5th 1842, to Jane Gesner of Nyack. She was born November 5th 1813, and survives her husband. In 1851 he moved his fac- tory to its present location, and continued the business until 1871, when he retired and was succeeded by the present firm of A. E. & J. H. Christie. In 1861 he was appointed postmaster at Nyack by President Lincoln. He continued to hold this position up to the time of his death, discharging the duties of his office with the strictest honesty, and to the satisfaction of all. In poli- tics he was a Republican from the first organization of that party. He was chairman of the Republican County Central Committee for 16 years, discharging the duties of that position in such a manner as to gain the just commendation of every member of his party. For the last thirty years of his life he was a member of the Board of Education of Nyack, and in this, as in every other ca- pacity in which he served, he was untiring in his labors for the good of the public. To him, more than to any other man, is due the credit for the existence of the pres- ent excellent public school in Nyack. During the last eleven years of his life he was one of the elders of the Reformed Church of Nyack, and at the time of his death was president of the Consistory. The estimate in which he was held in the community in which he passed so many years of his life, is sufficiently attested by the re- ing characteristic was his unselfish devotion to serve others, both in his public and private life. During his residence in Nyack he was identified with every move- ment having for its object the improvement of the place. He died at his home in Nyack, July 8th 1880.

The children of Mr. Christie were: Sarah L., born in May 1843, postmistress at Nyack; Augustus E., born September 22d 1844; Cornelius A., born January 26th 1847; Martha H., born March 4th 1849, died October 16th 1861; Jennie M., born January 26th 1852, married George W. Burdette, and lives in Brooklyn, N. Y .; and David H., born May 19th 1856, living in New York city.

WILLIAM VOORHIS.

The ancestor of all of the name of Van Voorhees or Van Voorhis, either with or without the prefix Van, in America, was Stephen Coerte Van Voorhees, son of Coert Alberts Van Voorhees, who resided, previous to 1600, in front of the village of Hees, near the town of

248

HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY.

Ruinen, in the province of Drenthe, Holland, the word on the Hudson. He was an estimable Christian gentle- Voor meaning in English, " before " or "in front of." man, led a quiet and useful life, and richly merited and Stephen Coerte was born in 1600. He was married first Ijustly received the confidence of his fellow citizens. in Holland. His wife's name is unknown. By her he had eight children: Hendrickje, Merghin, Coert, Lucas, Jan. Albert, Altje, and Jannetje. He came to this coun- try in April 1660, in the ship Bontekoe (Spotted Cow). Captain Pieter Lucassen, bringing with him all of his children except his daughter Merghin, who was married and remained in Holland. He bought, at Flatlands, of Cornelis Dirckson Hoogland, November 29th 1660, 9 morgens corn land, 7 morgens wood land, 10 morgens plain land, and 5 morgens salt meadow, in all 31 mor- gens, for 3,000 guilders. He also bought a house and house plot in the village of Flatlands, and the brewery, together with all the brewing apparatus, appurtenances, etc. For his second wife he married Willemsie Roloffse Leubering, of Long Island. She was born in 1619 and died in 1690, without issue. His name appears on the assessment rolls of Flatlands of 1675 and 1683, as a magistrate in 1664, and on a patent of 1667. He died February 16th 1684, and his will is dated August 25th 1677.

Albert Stevense Van Voorhees, youngest son of Ste- phen Coerte, was married three times: first to Barrentje Willemse; second to Tilletje Reiniers Wizzelpennick, April 24th 1681; and third to Helene Van der Schure. His children were: Cornelia, Stephen, Jannetje, William, Margrietie, Lucas, Jacobus, Rachel, Albert, Petrus Al. bertse, Isaac, Feinmetje, Willemetje, and Jan. He re- moved from Flatlands to Hackensack, New Jersey, about 1685. He was one of the organizers and an elder of the Dutch church of the latter place.

Petrus Albertse Van Voorhees was baptized November 3d 1706. May 25th 1734, he was married to Geesjean Romeyn. Six children were born of this union: Lena (died young), Daniel, Lena, Albert, Joliannis, and Peter.

Albert Van Voorhees, or Voorhis, of Arcola, and afterward of Preakness, New Jersey, was baptized No- vember 27th 1743. He was married to Marretje or Mary Doremus. Their children were: Marya, Peter, John, Anna, Ellen, Keziah, Marretje, Albert, and George.

Peter Voorhis of Hackensack, was born July 29th 1773. He was married, first to Getty Berdan, second to Catherine Berdan, and third to Hannah Bush. His children were: Albert, Jacob, Sarah, John, Richard, Mary, Leah, Peter, George, Harriet, and Albert. Peter Voorhis died June Ist 1860.

Jacob Voorhis was born in Hackensack November 25th 1796. He was married to Hannah Palmer of Nyack, September 18th 1817. She was born August 26th 1801. Eight children were born to them; William, Peter, John, Catherine, Getty, Alfina, Jacob, and Hannah. About farm at the foot of Verdrietig Hook, where he remained until his death, which occurred November 27th 1880. His wife died July 3d 1876. Besides his business of forming hie was also interested in the freighting business

Among the representative men of Nyack, there is not one who is more justly entitled to honor than William Voorhis, and to no one person does the village owe more of its present prosperity. He was born in Nyack, June 26th 1819, received a common school education, and commenced business life as a boatman on the Hudson River. At the age of sixteen years he became the cap- tain of a vessel. He has retained during life his early fondness for boats and aquatic sports. He built the yachts Tidal Wave, Gracie, and Addie V., boats widely celebrated for their speed and beauty. He was at one time commodore of the Atlantic Yacht Club. March 22d 1838, he was married to Sarah Williamson. By her he had three daughters: Evirena, Emma, and Gertrude. In 1841, he removed to Brooklyn, New York. He became a contractor for building materials, and carried on an extensive and successful business in New York and Brooklyn, for many years. His first wife died in Febru- ary 1853, and February 28th IS54, he was married to Susan E. Lyon. Six children have been born to this union: William L., Augustus M., Frank (deceased), Ed- ward, Adelaide, and Benjamin F. About 1855 he re- turned to Nyack, where he has since resided. During the Rebellion he was a war Democrat. He raised the first company of volunteers in Rockland county, ad- dressed war meetings, and, during the entire struggle, he was very active in the cause of the Union. He retired from his business in the city about 1866, since which time he has given his attention to the care of his property in Nyack, where he has invested about one-halt million dollars. He built and owns the water works, and also owns the gas works. In 1873, he represented Rockland county in the General Assembly. He built the steamer Henry W. Longfellow, a double hull catamaran, at a cost of $40,000, and is still experimenting with her. He is now putting in a new boiler, and also a powerful pair of engines, hoping to obtain unusual speed with her.

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History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 56

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