USA > New York > Rockland County > History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 57
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ROGER HADDOCK.
Mr. Haddock was born on the 17th of March 1827. He came from New York to Piermont in 1857, and com- menced the mercantile business in the old store which preceded the one he now occupies. Here he continued till 1876, when he first occupied his present place of business. This is a brick building, 40 by 88 feet in size, and three stories in height. It was erected by Mr. Had- dock at a total cost of fifteen thousand dollars.
This store was first established by Major Taulman, an officer of the Revolutionary army, soon after 1782. At his death, in 1835, he left the business to his sons, and they sold it to John Myers. He conducted it about a 1817 Jacob Voorhis came to Nyack and purchased a year, and was succeeded by Mr. Haddock. The business
was commenced in an old mill, but in 1805, a new store was erected.
Mr. Haddock began business with a capital of three hundred and fifty dollars. The amount now employed is
ORANGETOWN-BIOGRAPHIES.
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twenty-five thousand; and not only is this the oldest | York city and elsewhere, and shipped large quantities to store, but its business is the largest and safest of any in the county. During his entire business career, Mr. Haddock has never given a promissory note, nor has he ever been sued, or threatened with a suit at law.
He has been associated in all the laudable organiza- tions of Piermont, and he is now the president of the vil- lage.
He has been twice married: first, in 1856, to Wilhelmi- na Gunnigan, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and in 1875, to Annie Hopkins, of New York, his present wife.
DAVID J. BLAUVELT.
The subject of this sketch, David J. Blauvelt, was born August 23d 1823, on a small farm in Orangetown, Rock- land county, near the place now called Blauveltville. His father, James Perry Blauvelt, was distinguished for his sagacity in all matters pertaining to the Church or the State, and for his unswerving integrity in all the affairs of life. His mother, whose maiden name was Ann Smith, was the granddaughter of Major John Smith, an ardent patriot and an active soldier and officer during the Revo- lutionary war. Under the care of such parents he was carefully trained in political matters and in the church of his Dutch ancestors. His father manifested, in early youth, a brilliancy of intellect that induced his parents to place him in a school, taught by Rev. James Demarest just south from the present Presbyterian church at Blau- veltville. Here he received an education much superior to that. ordinarily acquired by boys at that period, and for several years afterward he was a teacher in New York and New Jersey.
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David J. was not sent to school at an early age, but was instructed by his father and his youthful mother, who had received what was considered a liberal education for girls at that day. Having no other children she devoted all her energies to the education and training of her son. At the age of eight years he was sent to the public school of which his father was for many years a trustee, about two miles from his home. He continued in attendance at this school till he was fourteen years of age. This ter- minated his attendance at school, but he long afterward utilized his leisure days and nights in study. The failure
California. The business soon grew to be quite extensive. He retained the old homestead, but by the purchase of additional tracts of land the little farm soon grew to be a large one. He also purchased much real estate on Broadway, Main strect, and in other parts of the village of Nyack, and in its vicinity.
In 1859, Mr. Blauvelt's children were attacked with scarlet fever, and all died of the disease except one, the present General J. H. Blauvelt, of Nyack, one of the most active and successful business men of that village. This visitation so affected Mrs. Blauvelt as to render her previously active life very distasteful, and soon afterward Mr. Blauvelt sold his farm and wood business and re- moved to Nyack. Mrs. Blauvelt died in that village, of pneumonia, on the 21st of June 1884, in the full hope of a blessed immortality. She was buried in the old Tap- pan cemetery, where all Mr. Blauvelt's ancestors and de- ceased children are entombed.
Simultaneously with the breaking out of the late Civil war Mr. Blauvelt engaged in banking. He was one of the founders of the Republican party in Rockland county, and his political relations led to intimate asso- ciations with Chester A. Arthur, Governor Cornell, Judge W. H. Robertson, and other prominent men in that party.
At an early period in the war of the great Rebellion he, at his own expense, placed a veteran Polish soldier in the army. He was the treasurer of the volunteer fund that was raised in his town.
In 1866, he was made president of the Rockland County National Bank of Nyack, which was on several occasions commended by Comptroller Knox as one of the best managed financial institutions in the State. He continued at the head of this bank till it went into vol- untary liquidation in 1878. By reason of the depression of business in 1873, some of Nyack's best citizens, to whom the place is largely indebted for its present posi- tion as one of the most .elegant and opulent villages in the State, were compelled to succumb. These failures of its patrons so embarrassed the bank that its directors decided to go into voluntary liquidation.
After a rigid examination of the affairs of the bank the comptroller of the currency directed Mr. Blauvelt to make All the depositors were paid in full, and all the liabilitics of the bank, except those of the stockholders, were dis- charged. For this service he refused any compensation, although the department at Washington decided that he was fairly entitled to five thousand dollars.
of his father's health compelled him to remain at home a settlement of its affairs. This he completed in 1881. and cultivate their little farin. When about nineteen years of age he had arrived at the conclusion that his previous mode of farming and living would not do for him, and he so informed his father, who replied, " I wish you could do better." He answered " I will try." About a year later he was married to Miss Margaret Haring, In 1880 the Secretary of the State of New York, General Joseph B. Carr, tendered him an important position in his office, which he subsequently accepted, and he has since continued in that position where he is highly respected by the members of the different departments. daughter of Corls I. Haring, then residing near Nanuet. In her he found a bright, cheerful, and earnest co-worker, and they commenced " to try " with all the buoyancy and and earnestness of youth. Mr. Blauvelt engaged in the business of purchasing wood lots, cutting the timber from He was a zealous and earnest supporter of James G. Blaine for the presidency, and was a delegate from the Chicago which nominated him. them, and selling the hard wood to the Erie Railroad Company. The acquaintance which he had formed with Fifteenth Congressional district to the convention at many gentlemen connected with that road greatly facili- tated this business. He also sold large quantities in New
He was always noted for his readiness in decision,
32
James D Blauvelt
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HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY.
and for earnest devotion to any cause which he espoused. Since his childhood he has been warmly attached to the church of his ancestors. His father was, during many years, an active elder in the old Reformed (Dutch) Church at Tappan, and in that church Mr. Blauvelt and his wife were baptized by Rev. Nicholas Lansing, whose and his estimable wife were received in full communion about 1845. After their removal to Nyack they were among the most earnest and zealous supporters of the communion there.
JAMES D. BLAUVELT.
Joseph Blauvelt was born in Orangetown, September 17th 1740. He was a farmer and occupied a portion of a tract of land purchased by his father early in the 18th century. He was married to Johannah Demarest, who was born August 11th 1749. The result of this union was four sons: John J., born May 8th 1770, died Novem- ber 29th 1855; Nicholas, born June 4th 1772, died April 19th 1856; Cornelius J., born June 12th 1775, died June 12th 1858; and Daniel J. Joseph Blauvelt died March 15th 1789, and his wife, Johannah Demarest, October 7th 1817.
Daniel J. Blauvelt, youngest son of Joseph, was born on the homestead, December 16th 1782. He was by occupation a farmer and, at the death of his father, re- ceived a portion of the original tract of land purchased by his grandfather. He was married, September 25th 1806, to Christina Demarest. She was born September 27th 1787. Four children were born to them: Johannah, born June ist 1808, married Christian A. DeBaun, died December 17th 1846; James D .; Rachel, born July 12th 1816; and John, born August 5th 1824, died in infancy. . Daniel J. Blauvelt died May 12th 1871. His wife died October 22d 1846.
James D. Blauvelt was born in Orangetown, June 11th 1811. He received a common school education, and commenced business life on his father's farm. January Ist 1837, he married Emeline Vanderbelt, who was born February 12th 1818. By her he has had three children: Subsequently, Samuel G., with his brother Bernardes, went to Pulavly to labor on their grandparents' farm. Three days after their arrival they were made prisoners by the " regulars " and taken to New York, where they were placed in the " Debtor's jail." They were offered their liberty on condition of taking the oath of allegiance to Great Britain, but these terms Samuel G. refused, and he was kept in the prison thirteen months. In this time he became greatly emiaciated, and so ill that he was not expected to live. His second cousin, a Mr. De Bevoise, learning of his condition, asked and received permission to remove him to his home on Long Island. When taken Christina, born December 9th 1837, married Charles E. Smith, and is living in Orangetown; Margaret Ann, born March 22d 1843, died in infancy; and John Henry. Mr. Blauvelt is a thorough, practical, and successful farmer. It is a somewhat remarkable fact that the land com- prising the home farm has been in possession of the family for a century and a half. The Blauvelt family has been connected with the Reformed Church of Clarkstown since its organization, and has liberally contributed to its support. James D. Blauvelt has been for many years an elder in the church. He has been elected by the people of Orangetown, to the office of assessor. He is a man of | there he was so ill that he was not aware of his removal, amiable and upright character, a kind friend and a good but by careful nursing he recovered, and afterward car- neighbor.
John Henry Blauvelt, only son of James D., was born May 11th 1845. He was married, December 5th 1866, to Sarah J. Scott. She died December 24th 1867. September Ist 1869, he was married to Melissa Nicker-
son. She died April 23d 1881. By her he has one child, Emma. He was again married, in November, 1882, to Mary Carpenter.
REV. SAMUEL AND SAMUEL G. VERBRYCK.
In the 17th century there lived on Long Island one blessed memory is still in the churches. Here, too, he Samuel Garretson. He had several sons, the eldest of whom, Bernardes, settled on a farm in Raritan, Mon- mouth county, New Jersey, and when the deeds for this farm were drawn his family name was changed to Ver- bryck.
This Bernardes Verbryck had three sons, of whom the two younger, John and Wilhelmus, removed to Kentucky, and nothing has since been heard of them. The oldest, Samuel, determined to learn the trade of a wheelwright, but he was converted, changed his determination, and studied for the ininistry with Dominie I. H. Goet- chius. At the age of twenty-nine he was called to his first pastorate, in Tappan. He had previously married Miss Susanna Van Der Linde of Hackensack, and dur- ing their residence at Tappan four sons were born to them: Bernardes, Hendrick, Samuel G. and Roeloff. In their youth these sons cultivated the glebe at Tappan, and also the farm of their grandparents, known as the Van Der Linde farm, at Hackensack, or Pulavly.
When the Revolutionary war broke out, Rev. Samuel Verbryck removed to Clarkstown, then known as New Hempstead. His son Hendrick was married and resided in a house that stood on the present site of Mr. S. Conk- lin's store, and his second son, Samuel G., lived there with him. On the occasion of a parade there, under Major Blauvelt, who then lived where Cornelius Van Antwerp now resides, volunteers for guard duty at Pater- son were requested. Several volunteered, but not one of them appeared at the time and place appointed. Samuel G. Verbryck, then only sixteen years of age, and another boy named Abram Martling, offered themselves for this duty, were accepted, received arms and rations, and walked to Paterson, where they remained on duty during two weeks.
ried on Mr. De Bevoise's farm till he was exchanged, after being three years and three months a prisoner. He returned to his home, but soon enlisted in the American army, and was appointed an officer in the Hackensack company, under Captain Ward.
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ORANGETOWN-BIOGRAPHIES.
While a prisoner on Long Island he became engaged
city and engaged in business as a wheelwright. He to a young lady named Heylitje Remsen. She sold her bought for $1,200 a house and lot on what is now the cor- interest in some property on Long Island, sewed her ner of Duane street and West Broadway. This property money in her clothing, and joined her intended husband is now owned by the heirs of his son, John R. His shop at Pulavly, where they were married. They remained here a year on the Van Der Linde farm, and then, on the death of his grandmother, removed to Tappan where, in November 1783. they purchased of the United States Government a confiscated farm. On this farm he resided till his death, October 3d 1849. He was, during more than half a century, chorister and sexton of the old Dutch church at Tappan.
While Samuel G. Verbryck was a prisoner, his father, Rev. Samuel Verbryck, made occasional trips on horse- back from his residence at New Hempstead to Pulavly, where his mother, Mrs. Van Der Linde, remained on the farm with the slaves. During one of these visits he was only saved from being made a prisoner by a timely warn- ing from one of the slaves. He continued to reside at Clarkstown, and to serve the congregations at that place and Tappan till his death.
While he was the guest of his son at Tappan, on a Sunday when he was to preach there, he was suddenly attacked with an illness from which, within a few days, and Leah Blanch, June ist 1824. By her he had one child, he died. He was born at Raritan, N. J., April 30th 1721, and died at Tappan, January 3Ist 1784, after a ministry of thirty-three years.
JOHN R. VAN HOUTEN.
Among the II persons received into membership in the old Dutch church at Tappan on the day of its organi- zation (October 24th 1694) were Theunis Van Houten and Tryntje Klaesen Kuyper, his wife. Among other children they had a son Klaes, who was born not later than 1688, and who married Grietje Haring at Tappan, October 13th 1708. - Klaes Van Houten had seven chil- dren, all born and baptized, and all but one married, at Tappan. The youngest son, Roelof (Rulef or Ruloff), was born March 11th 1721. He married Catharine Na- gel, daughter of Resolvert Nagel. Roelof Van Houten was buried in the old Martinus burying ground near New City.
Claus R. Van Houten, son of Roelof, was born No- life. John Is. Haring was in the service of the United vember 14th 1749. He married Caty Blauvelt, who was born August 11th 1753. Their children were: Caty and Mary, twins; Isaac B .; Rulef C .; Jacob; John; and Margaret. He was a farmer and lived in what is now the town of Clarkstown. The old stone house in which he lived, built in 1761, is still standing near the residence of his grandson, Barne Van Houten. He died in Octo- ber 1818, and was buried at the old Sickletown Burying Ground in Orangetown. His wife died February 17th 1837, and lies beside her husband.
Rulet C. Van Houten was born in Clarkstown, April 23d 1779. November 14th 1800 he was inarried to Sarah Sickles. She was born December 22d 1780. Three his father's farm until he was 23 years old. In 1827 he children were born to them: John R .; William S., born bought a farin of 50 acres in the town of Orangetown, January 15th 1806, died August 31st 1828; and George, born June 9th 1814. In 1800 he moved to New York
was in the rear of this lot. He remained in New York city until 1812 when he moved to Orangeville in the town of Orangetown, where he bought a farm of 13 acres, together with a saw mill and grist mill. He was indus- trious and prosperous in business. He became the own- er of about 250 acres of land in Orangetown, and built new mills and dams. He was one of the organizers and principal supporters of the Universalist church at Orange- ville. He was a man of superior abilities and great force of character, and won the esteem and respect of all with whom he was brought in contact. He died suddenly, at his home at Orangeville, August 13th 1866, his wife having died July 11th 1857. His son George succeeds him in business.
John R. Van Houten was born in New York city, January 31st 1803, and came with the family to Orange- ville in 1812. He received a common school education and engaged in business with his father at Orangeville. He was married to Martha, daughter of Cornelius Sickles
Sarah E. He remained at Orangeville until 1865 when he removed to Nyack, where he resided till his death which occurred September 23d 1881. He was a consistent member of the Universalist church, and was universally esteemed and respected as a kind friend and a good citizen.
ISAAC J. HARING.
Isaac Haring, grandfather of Isaac J., was born in New Jersey. When a young man, he moved to Rockland county and settled upon a farm in the town of Orange- town. He died in 1831 leaving two sons, John Is, and Cornelius.
John Is. Haring, son of Isaac, was born in Orange- town, Rockland county, February 23d 1780. At the death of his father the homestead farm was divided between the two sons, John Is. and Cornelius, and each remained in charge of their respective portions during States three months during the war of 1812. He was married to Margaret Blauvelt of Orangetown, December 19th 1800, and by her he had three sons: Isaac J .; John, born July 29th 1805; and Cornelius, born August 15th 1816. He died February 14th 1841.
Isaac J. Haring was born in Orangetown, January 23d 1804. He was married, May 17th 1823, to Margaret Haring of New Jersey. She was born May 29th 1805. By her he had one child; Margaret Ann, who was born May 30th 1839, was married to Jacob C. Turfler, and is living at present in the town of Orangetown. Mrs. Har- ing died March 14th 1878. Isaac J. Haring worked on
about one and one-half miles west of Blauveltville, and since that time lie has remained in charge of this farm
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HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY.
He has retired from active labor but still manages the sicians and Surgeons in New York city. He afterward farm. In politics he is a Democrat and has always taken active interest in the public affairs of the town. He has been elected to the office of road commissioner, in which capacity he served for 10 years. He also held the office of assessor for about the same length of time. He is a man of a genial disposition and is greatly esteemed by his fellow-citizens.
J. O. POLHEMUS M. D.
Dr. John Polhemus, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Clarkstown, Rockland county, New York, in the year 1793. After an academic course of study he entered the office of Dr. Jacob Outwater of Tappan, as a student of medicine. In 1813 and 1814 he attended two full courses of lectures at the Medical Institution of the State of New York, from which institution he received his diploma. He was married to Eliza Outwater, daugh- ter of his preceptor, and settled at the place of his birth, where he continued the practice of his chosen profession until the year 1859, when he retired and was succeeded by his son, Jacob Outwater Polheinus. Dr. John Pol- hemus died in 1875.
entered the office of Dr. Willard Parker, professor of surgery of the college he was attending. He remained in Dr. Parker's office two years, and graduated in the year 1859. After receiving his diploma he returned to Clarkstown and took up the practice of his father, who retired from active duties. He remained in Clarkstown nearly five years when he married a lady of Nyack and removed to the latter place where he has been practicing for the past 20 years. He has an extensive practice and is justly celebrated as a careful and skillful physician.
JUDGE CORNELIUS I. BLAUVELT.
Cornelius I. Blauvelt was born in the year 1777, in the town of Orangetown, county of Rockland. His parents were then living on the farm situated on the road running from Greenbush to Nyack, and on the south side of what is now called the 'Rockland Driving Park." During his early days he worked on the farm and attended the school in the neighborhood until he was about eighteen years of age, when he commenced teaching school in the adjoining town of Clarkstown.
He was married in 1798, at the age of twenty-one years, to Elizabeth Blauvelt, and very soon after com- menced the mercantile business by opening a store at Blauveltville (then called Greenbush), in this county.
Jacob Outwater Polhemus was born at Clarkstown in the year 1834. At the age of 11 years he was sent to an academy at Tappan, the principal being Rev. David Cole D. D. Here he remained for nearly two years, when he Starting with a capital of only one hundred dollars, he soon obtained credit in New York city sufficient to pur- chase all the goods he needed. The business increased rapidly, and the store became popular, so that its patron- age extended over nearly the whole county. The pro- ductions of the farmers living within twelve or fifteen miles were brought to the store and exchanged for dry goods, groceries, hardware, iron, steel, etc. It is believed that was the second store opened in this county, the first one being Major Tallman's, at Tappan Slote. was transferred to a private instructor at Nyack, the Rev. Dr. Penney, at that time pastor of the Presbyterian church of Nyack. He studied with Dr. Penney eight or ten months, walking to and from his home in Clarks- town, three and one-half miles distant. He was after- ward sent to the Irving Institute at Tarrytown, New York, where he remained from one to two years. His next move was to the grammar school of Rutgers College, where he remained for two years, when he was prepared to enter the college. He entered the freshman class of Besides giving constant attention to the increasing de- mands of business, he was able to manage a large farm of two hundred acres, setting out hundreds of fruit trees and giving them such care and culture as to make them both productive and profitable. He was foremost in every enterprise that seemed most likely to benefit the community at large, or promote the welfare and happi- ness of the people. To this end he became warmly in- terested in the introduction of fine-wooled sheep, and was one of the very few persons who could at that time number their flock by the hundred. Rutgers College the same year that Hon. Theodore Fre- linghuysen assumed the presidency of that institution, which was in the year 1850. He was graduated in 1854. Up to this time he fancied he would be a lawyer, but the fates or hereditary taint forced him into the medical pro- fession, as not only his father, but on his mother's side, her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were physicians. Jacob Outwater, his grandfather, practiced at Tappan. He was quite prominent in his day both as a physician and as a politician. At one time, during a political campaign, the old ladies secreted him under a About the year 1824, the boat landing or market place for all the northern part of Bergen county, in New Jer- sey, and the southern part of the county of Rockland, was at Tappan Slote, and in order to improve the facil- bed to save his life from some hot headed opponents who were searching for him and threatened to kill him. At this time there were but few physicians in the county and he was often obliged to ride 15 or 20 miles to see a ities of access to the landing, Judge Blauvelt undertook
patient. Finding this too laborious, he removed to the city of New York, where he practiced but a year or so when he was taken ill with pneumonia and died.
After graduating from Rutgers College, Jacob Out- water Polhemus entered the office of his father, in Clarks- town, as a student. He remained there three years, in the meantime attending lectures at the College of Phy- | joiced in his success. About this time the steamboat,
the construction of a public road over the salt marsh, at great expense. Part of this marsh or meadow was very soft and the material filled in was lost sight of about as fast as dumped in. This continued for inany oays, yet he was not discouraged, but persevered until the road was finally completed, and the whole neighborhood re-
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