History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 64

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 64

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In the early years of this century an arrangement was made between John Suffern and Jeremiah H. Pierson, whereby the woman was bought out and the house torn down.

SUFFERN.

This village is located at the " point of the mountains," one mile east of Hillburn, at the junction of the Nyack Turnpike and Haverstraw road with the Orange Turn- pike, and received its name from the Suffern family, who owned large property in this part of our town. Accord- ing to the family Bible now in the possession of Mr. James Suffern. John Suffern, the progenitor of the family of Sufferns in this county, was born near Antrim, Ireland, November 23rd 1741, and died at his home in New An- trim (Suffern) on November 11th 1836, aged 95 years. The influence of this man, who was one of the presiding justices at the first town meeting of New Hempstead in 1791, Treasurer of the county of Orange at the time Rockland county was set off, Rockland county's first Judge, and the largest property owner in the town, was so great that he deserves more than a passing notice. Born as above recited, he landed at Philadelphia August 6th 1763, was married, January Ist 1766 at Burlington, N. J., to Mary, daughter of Andrew and Frances Myers of that city (Mary was born May 5th 1745 and died Feb- ruary 26th 1813), and settled at the " point of the moun- tains " in September 1773. His children were:

Margaret, born October 5th 1767, wife of Peter Allison. mother of General George S. Allison and grandmother of Brewster J. Allison, and died in New York city, October 19th 1808.

Andrew, born March 23rd 1770, and died at New An- trim (Suffern) October 23rd 1827.

Elizabeth, born January 15th 1772.

Cornelia, born January 31st 1774, and wife of Dr. Elijah Rosencranz of Hohokus.

John, born February Ist 1776, and died in infancy.

Mariah, born September 5th 1778, and wife of Chris-

tian A. Wannamaker, grandmother of Mrs. Dr. A. S. Zabriskie, and died at Newark March Ist 1868.

James, born April 7th 1781, and died at New Orleans in 1804.

William, born May 13 1783, and died July 18th 1832. George, born April 2nd 1785, and died May 31st 1819. John, born February 6th 1788, and died August 23rd 1863.

Edward, born April 7th 1790, and died January 4th 1873.

Edward, like his father, was Judge of the county of Rockland, and his son, Andrew, was also given the honor, making three generations of the Suffern family who have held this responsible position.

Upon reaching the point of the mountain in 1773, Mr. Suffern secured (there were no valid titles obtainable till after January 18th 1775, as we have seen) an acre of land on the south side of what is now the Nyack Turnpike. Soon after, however-before, in fact, he had finished digging his well-removing diagonally opposite, he built

278

HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY.

mpon the site now occupied by the house of George W. Suffern on the north side of the road. Here, on the corner where in those days the road from New Jersey branched, one part to go northward to Kings Ferry and the other westward through the Ramapo Pass, Mr. Suf- fern started a store which became quite a landmark during the Revolution. In this store the first post office in the town of Ramapo was established, October 4th 1797, to which was given the name of New Antrim after the place of Mr. Suffern's birth.

As soon as valid titles could be obtained, and even by agreement before, Mr. Suffern commenced the purchase of lands, one of his first bargains being for the mill right of Jacobus Van Buskirk located on the Mahwah, to which reference has already been made (see Titles of Land), and which, after purchasing, he ran as a grist mill for many years. Not long after, near a small stream of water on the northwest side of what is now the Haverstraw road, about a quarter of a mile from the point of the mountains, Mr. Suffern operated for many years a potash works. Still later, or about 18:3, he built a forge on the west bank of the Mahwah (early known as the Haver- straw River), just south of the Nyack Turnpike. Before or after this-we have not been able to ascertain which -- he built and ran a woolen mill on the Mahwah, about a quarter of a mile south of the Nyack Turnpike. With these industries the early years of Suffern, then generally called New Antrim, was identified. The place became officially known as Suffern in 1841 upon the opening of the Erie Railroad. About 1842 the first store was built by Mr. George W. Suffern. It is at present occupied by Mr. Alanson Traphagen. In 1844 the post office of Ramapo Works was kept, for a few years, by Messrs. George W. and John C. Suffern in this store. (See Post Offices.) In 1858 a regular post office was established at this point.

Ramapo Lodge, No. 589, F. and A. M., was instituted June Ist 1865, the charter members being: Charles E. Suffern, W. M .; S. M. Hungerford, S. W .; George M. Crane, J. W .; R. F. Galloway, Treasurer; Daniel Sher. wood, Secretary; W. D. Furman, S. D .; Stephen A. Ronk, J. D .; John W. Crum, S. M. C .; John H. Wanna- maker, J. M. C .; Peter Sines, tyler; Andrew R. Leport. and W. T. Howard. The present officers are: Fred W. Snow, W. M .; J. T. Pembleton, S. W .; C. C. Wright, J. W .; A. P. Miller, treasurer; M. F. Conklin, secretary; James Babcock, S. D .; John Hults, J. D .; Samuel W. Call, S. M. C .; John Furman, J. M. C .: John L. Crane, tyler.

The Ramapo Land and Water Company .- On April 23rd 1869, John Mack, Edward J. Straut, George W. Suffern, William Bockee, William D. Maltbie, Albert S. Zabriskie, Henry A. Wanmaker, James Suffern, A. Edward Suffern, David Fox jr., William Gardner, John Coffee and associates were made a body corporate under the name of "The Ramapo Land and Water Company." They were authorized to " purchase, hold, improve, use, let, sell, and convey such real estate and personal property in the county of Rockland as may be necessary to allow

such company to carry on its lawful operations," etc. The capital stock was to be $400,000, to be divided into shares of $1oo each. The company was to be managed by seven directors to be elected annually, the directors for the first year to be John Mack, George W. Suffern, William S. Maltbie, Henry A. Wanmaker, Albert S. Zabriskie, William Bockee, and James Suffern. This company amounted to nothing.

Suffern Dime Savings Bank .- On April 27th 1869. the same persons just mentioned-James A. Suffern being substituted for A. Edward Suffern and D. Groesbeck added-were constituted a body corporate by the name of the " Suffern Dime Savings Bank," to be located in the village of Suffern, Rockland county, to have perpetual succession, and may sue and be sued in any court in this State. To hold such real estate as may be for conveni- ent transaction of its business. The business to be man- aged by a board of thirteen trustees, from whom the of- ficers shall be chosen to serve without pay or emolument for services. Seven of the trustees to form a quorum; and the persons above mentioned to be the first trustees. This company also amounted to nothing.

November 23d 1874, a great wind storm passed over the place, blowing down the tower of the Episcopal church, unroofing several buildings, and doing other damage.

In February 1875, the depot erected in 1862, about two-thirds of the cost of which was paid by the inhab- itants of the village, was burned through the carelessness of the telegraph operator in upsetting a kerosene lamp. The insurance was collected by the railway company.

In 1879, the present school house was built. The for . mer building, now used as a tenement house and owned by Mr. George W. Suffern, stands a short distance to the northeast on the opposite or northwest side of the Ha- verstraw road.

Ramapo Council, 436, A. L. of H., was instituted Feb- ruary 21st 1880, with the following charter members: D. Cooper, D. B. Baker, C. F. Whitner, A. S. Bush, T. J. Yost, A. Zavistoskie, W. H. Hollister, W. D. Hall, J. L .. Crane, E. Whitner, A. S. Zabriskie, A. C. Sherwood, and E. Roberts. The present officers are: D. Cooper, Com .; L'. Sibley, V. Com .; James H. Cookson, Past Com .; A. S. Bush, orator; F. L. Whitner, secretary; J. B. Campbell, Coll .; A. S. Zabriskie, treasurer; J. L. Crane, chaplain; A. H. Cooper, guide; Charles Woods, warden; Jolin A. Wanmaker, Sy.

Industry Encampment, No. 103, I. O. O. F., was insti- tuted December 10th 1883, the charter members being H. R. Porter, W. G. Easton, Harrison Bull, John Finch, and D. S. Wanamaker. The first officers are: H. R. Por- ter, C. P .; D. S. Wanamaker, H. P .; Harrison Bull, S. W .; John Finch, J. W .; W. G. Easton, scribe; E. S. Roberts, financial secretary; G. E. Remsen, treasurer; J. H. Wam- bougli, guide; J. L. Crane, J. Woods, J. Zabriskie, and P. Slaven, first, second, third, and fourth watch, respective- ly; A. S. Bush and W. H. Sutherland, inside and outside sentinels, respectively; and C. P. Miller and W. Blauvelt, guards of tent.

VIEW OF STABLEE & FISH POND, FROM THE EAST

NCE FRE

CHEFE

Residence of Col. M. SHAUGHNESSY.

BELLEVUE.

.SUFFERN, ROCKLAND COUNTY, N. Y.

INSERT

FOLD-OUT

OR MAP

HERE !

11:15 - 12

279

RAMAPO-VILLAGES OF TALLMAN'S AND MONSEY.

Suffern at present has three churches (Episcopal, Methodist, and Roman Catholic), twenty stores, ninety houses, two hotels, and a population of about six hun- dred. The industries of the place are as follows: gro- cers, Alanson Traphagen, Charles G. Wiley, Martin R. Duryee, Lloyd & Porter, and James Wanmaker; the lat- ter is also post-inaster; hotel keepers, W. Christie and Reuben Riggs; butchers, Robert Johnson, Nesbitt Wan- maker, and Richard Shuart; druggist, James B. Camp- bell; shoe-maker, John L. Crane; tailor, John Lyman; blacksmith, Daniel Van Blarcom; stone cutter, William Copeland; livery stable, Peter Finnegan; barber, Robert Rathe; jeweller, E. E. Barron; news stand, A. J. Van Buskirk; baker, John Fisher; harness-maker, John Wiley; tinsmith, T. N. Washburn; refreshment saloons, Charles Conover and Charles O. Conklin; carpenters, Henry and William Rehling, and John H. Wanmaker; printer, Peter D. Johnson. D. B. Baker conducts a general business, consisting of country store, blacksmith, wheelwright and carriage shop, and lumber and coal yard.

The physician for this part of the country, Dr. A. S. Zabriskie, resides south of this place.

Mr. A. S. Bush has had charge of the public school for the past fourteen years.

TALLMAN'S.

This hamlet, born of the Erie Railway, is located three miles east of Suffern, on the Nyack Turnpike, and is named in honor of Teunis I. Tallman, who settled at this point in 1836, and for many years kept a store and tavern.

The first station was built in 1844, by Mr. Tallman, but it was soon abandoned, together with a similar plat- form, built about the same time at Dater's Crossing, three-fourths of a mile nearer Suffern.

For many years after this the place was known to the railroad officials as the " 15 mile turnout," because that here, 15 miles from Piermont, a long switch had been built to enable one train to " turn out " for another.

In 1856, Mr. Henry T. Tallman, son of Teunis, built and wife 872 acres of land, apparently with the intention

a second station at Tallman's, which was supplanted in 1868 by the present station, built by the neighbors.

The station agents since 1856 have been H. T. Tall- man and J. H. Goetchius.

Tallman's, at present, has three stores: one built by H. T. Tallman, in 1860 (the first in the place), at present kept by Thomas R. Montross; another built in 1867, by John H. Goetchius, and now kept by him; and the third built in 1877, and owned and kept by John C. Young; a blacksmith shop, opened June, 1860, by Henry Van Or- den, who still runs it; a wheelwright shop, carried on since July, 1867, by Stephen Van Orden; two grist mills, one run since 1870 by Jacob Straut, and the other since 1882 by J. A. De Baun; a Congregational church, estab- lished in 1874 (see history of churches); a post office, es- tablished in 1860 (see history of post offices), and about 20 houses.

There is at present no hotel in the place, though since the days ot Teunis Tallman there have been two.

It was in the hall connected with De Baun's Hotel (built in 1868), that the Sunday school was organized, which resulted in the building of the Congregational church.

About a mile northeast of Tallman's stood the John Wood's tree, an important monument in the surveys of this region (see History, p. 256).

A short distance south from Tallman's, on the " Cherry Lane " road, stood Garret Smith's mill.

One-fourth of a mile west, on the road which here crosses "Cherry Lane," Joseph Post kept a store in 1810. The site is now marked by the house of Nelson Smith. One and a fourth niles further west, at a point just east of the present Masonicus church, Cornelius Wannamaker, from 1800 to 1820, kept the historic Masonicus store and tavern. Masonicus was the Indian name for this entire region.

MONSEY.

Monsey is situated two miles east of Tallman's.

When the surveyors who laid out the Nyack Turnpike (see history of same) came to this point they found a swamp called " Bear's Nest Swamp," covered with water except where here and there a hassock could be seen, upon which in the season quantities of whortleberries grew.

They therefore made a detour to the south, as the swamp was supposed to be impassable.

But in 1841 the Erie Railroad drained this swamp, and in 1871 the Alturas Company at great expense projected a road directly across it, so that now, save in a general lowness of land, the swamp is no longer to be seen.

An unauthenticated tradition says that when the rail- road company were sinking their first well at this point, it immediately filled with mud, and that spectators called the well a Mud-sea (Mun-sea, Munzey, Monsey), whence the name. The authentic history, however, is as follows: On December 25th 1840, Mr. Eleazar Lord, at that time president of the Erie Railroad, purchased of Jacob Felter

of making an important station at this point. Here, soon after, a platform was built upon which some one* cut in large letters KAKIATt, probably intending this as the name of the new town; but in 1841, when trains began running on the Erie Railroad, the station, at the sugges- tion of Judge Sarven, a prominent man of the neighbor- hood, was called Monsey, after an Indian chief by that name. Soon after this, near where the depot now stands, Angus McLaughlin erected a small shed 12 feet square, which he used as a refreshment saloon. Here, as trains in those days were not specially in a hurry, while the engine was wooding up, conductor, all hands, and pas- sengers would assemble for refreshment, while the boys of the neighborhood sold apples, to their great delight.

On May Ist 1843, Mr. Lord disposed of this property to Aaron Johnson, who built and kept the first store in

* Tradition says, Mr. Jessup, contractor on Section XI.

+ Kakiat was the Indian name for this entire region. The original patent for the land being known as the Kakiat Patent. See history of the same.

Nickel Hlaurels

280

HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY.

Monsey, and was the first postmaster and station agent .*

At the opening of the railroad an ordinary log pump was sunk by the authorities in the brook a few yards east of Spring Valley depot, around which a small platform was built, upon which two men used to stand while they pumped water into the engine.

Very soon, however, a well was dug at Monsey, which was fitted with a pump so arranged that the engine of the train by adjusting its driving wheels to wheels placed in the track could pump its own water, After a few years this too was supplanted by a tank which was filled by hand-pumping from the well, This remained till 1855. when the building burned down and has not since been rebuilt. The spot where it stood can readily be recog. nized by the wooden platform, just south and nearly adjoining the track, which covers the old well.

The growth of Monsey has not been rapid. Its period of greatest prosperity was about the year 1871. It has three churches: True Reformed, Methodist, and Congre- gational; about 40 houses; a post office, established in 1846; and a number of stores,

Brewer Fire Engine Company, No. I, was organized April 22d 1879, with H. E. Sherwood, foreman; S. H. Secor, assistant; . A. C. Dickens, secretary; and E. C. Brady, treasurer.

The present officers are: Samuel Blanchard, foreman; Edwin Dicks, assistant; E. C. Brady, secretary; and John McAuliffe, treasurer. At first the company was provided with a Babcock Chemical Engine, costing $700, for which a Hook and Ladder Truck has since been substituted.

The Monsey Division of the Sons of Temperance was established December 27th 1883. The first officers were: Levi Sherwood, W. P .; Mrs. M. Brady, W. A .; E. C. Brady, R. S .; Daniel B. Smith, A. R. S .; W. Van Houten, F. S .; Rev. P. D. Day, chaplain; Edwin Dicks, con- ductor; Miss Cassie Palmer, assistant conductor; Miss Julia Rhinesmith, I. S .; Edward Ketchum, O. S. At present the officers are: E. C. Brady, W. P .; Miss Jessie Palmie, W. A .; John H. Tallman, R. S .; Mrs. Cornelius Sherwood, A. R. S .; Miss Gussie Palmie, F. S .; Mrs. Mary F. Secor, W. T .; , Miss Cassie Palmer, A. C .; Abram Palmer, chaplain; Mrs. Sarah Stakin, I. S .; Ralph Fred- ericks, O. S .; Levi Sherwood, P. W. P.

The industries of Monsey are the following:

One steam feed mill, run by Stevens & Gurnee.

Two general stores, run by Levi Sherwood and Fred .erick Van Houten.

Two blacksmith shops, run by Samuel Blanchard and Frederick Van Houten.

One carpenter shop, run by John D. Lake.

One paint shop, run by Ralph Fredericks.

One harness maker shop, run by Sylvester Straut. One milliner and dressmaker shop, run by Mrs. Sarven. One coal and lumber yard, run by Glode Requa. One butcher shop, run by Leonard Swartz.

One hotel, run by Peter Van Houten.

In 1863, town meetings began to be held at Monsey,

first at Charles Linkletter's, then at John T. Long's, and since 1874, at the town house.

South of Monsey, at the point where the Nyack Turn- pike again bends toward the east, stood, in early days, a noted hotel kept by John Yeury, and later by Peter Jer- sey. A mile further east on the Turnpike, there was once a small store and tavern, kept by Jacob I. De Baun.

SPRING VALLEY.

From Monsey we leave the Nyack Turnpike, upon which we have journeyed from Suffern, to take the Altu- ras* Road. This brings us directly to Spring Valley, one mile distant. ·

At the time of the survey of the north moiety of Ka- kiat,t a tract near the south bounds was mentioned as Scotch Plains. This was near the present village of Spring Valley. But even after the running of the Erie Railroad in 1841, all that could be said of Spring Valley was that the farm road leading from Scotland to the En- glish Church crossed the railroad at this point. The first steps taken toward the formation of a village may be said to have been in the fall, probably of the year 1842, when the farmers living in this part of the town held a neigh- borhood meeting to devise plans for establishing a rail- road station at this point.} Among those said to have been present at this meeting, were David Cole, Joseph C. Blauvelt, Jacob Straut, Abram, James, and Henry Iser- man, Albert Tallman, Joseph Wood, Stephen Stevens, Samuel Coe Springsteel, John B. Morrell, and others. At this meeting a petition was prepared, requesting the railroad to stop their trains; to which the reply was re- turned for substance: " If you will build a depot we will stop freight trains; but we cannot promise to stop pas- senger trains." After receiving this reply, a second neighborhood meeting was called, at which it was decid- ed to arise and build.

Thereupon a plot of ground was obtained, subscrip- tions of heavy timber and money made, Samuel C. Spring-

*The Alturas Company was the outgrowth of the bruin of Mr. W. H. Shupe, who purchased large property between Spring Valley and Mon- sey, of Dr. John W. Riggs, with a view of establishing a city at this point. Posters circulated over the county spoke of a college, church, ete., to be established in connection with the enterprise. His first pur- chase was made March 20th 1869, and his second April Ist of the same year. Through this purchase, at great expense, a main road was run from east to west, and cross roads from north to south. The property, thus divided into small lots, being extensively advertised, was sold at auction on July 4th 1870, the purchasers being required to pay 10 per cent. of price as a fund for future improvements. Previously, how- ever, the entire property had been mortgaged to D. D. Starin, John W. Hutton guaranteeing the payment of mortgage. The roads still remain to bless the community, but all the money put into the enterprise has vanished. The bubble has burst. The property was sold for less than the mortgage, and D. D. Starin holds the estate of John W. Hutton for the balance.

tIt will be noticed that part of Spring Valley lies in Clarkstown, and that the line of the town of Ramapo makes a jog at this point. To un- derstand this, it must be remembered that the town line was run in 1791, 50 years before Spring Valley was born, and the east and west linc. which runs about a quarter of a tuile north of the Methodist Episcopal church, was the division between the north and south mojeties of Kaki- at, and that probably the same reasons operated in deciding where the division line between Ramapo and Clarkstowu should run south of this as north of it. (See Sections " Name and Origin " and " Titles of Land.")

#The Erie Railroad was then running to Goslien, and the farmers felt that, through the influence of Eleazar Lord, an undue advantage had been given to Monsey.

* Mr. Johnson was succeeded as station agent by John Wigton, and he by Levi Sherwood, who has held tho position over 20 years.

RAMAPO-VILLAGE OF SPRING VALLEY.

28[

steel and Jacob Straut appointed building committee, and the work of erection commenced. When finished, the depot consisted of a platform, with a wooden shanty 10 by 12 feet upon it; and no little unpleasant feeling was occasioned, because Henry Iserman at once occupied the shanty for a store without, it was said, having obtained the consent of the builders.

After the completion of the depot, a third neighbor- hood meeting was held to decide upon a name for the new station. Incidentally it had been called by the rail- road Pascack, after a stream by that name not far dis- tant, but at this meeting, upon the suggestion of Samuel Coe Springsteel, it was called Spring Valley, " being as near to his own name as he dared to go."*

Accordingly a sign, eighteen inches long, with Spring Valley upon it, was nailed to a cherry tree stump, from which it was transferred to the end of the depot, where it | property fell into the hands of Mr. Germond, whose remained a number of years.

Mr. Springsteel also claims the honor of being the first passenger to land from a train when trains began stop- ping, not long after.t The first store in Spring Valley was the one of Henry Iserman, on the station platform, of which mention has already been made. He was fol. lowed by Jacob T. Eckerson, who kept a small store in his house on the east side of the "English Church " road, just north of the street which now runs east to the blackstnith shop. He was succeeded by Isaac Conk- lin, who afterward purchased of Stephen Van Orden the ground extending from his house to the railroad, upon which, near the track, he built the brick store at present occupied by Messrs. Smith & Burr. After this, Samuel Lawrence built a blacksmith shop a short distance east of the main road, and opened a street to that road. About the same time a small tavern was erected on the north side of the track (opposite Smith & Burr's).

Previous to the financial depression of 1873 Spring Valley grew very rapidly. In 1848 the first post-office was established.

. Columbian Fire Company, No. I, was organized Monday June 24th 1861, the officers being Andrew Smith, fore- man; John G. Cooper, assistant foreman; P. D. Johnson, secretary; P. S. Van Orden, treasurer. The company was named in honor of Columbian Hook and Ladder Company, No. 14, of New York city, which presented it with a fixture. On July 20th 1861, the company had their first parade with the new engine bought by means of subscriptions from the inhabitants. The company now has a large and commodious building of two stories, well furnished and complete in all respects. The small engine has been supplanted by a larger and more effi- cient one, which readily throws a large stream of water over the spire of the Reformed church, 108 feet high.

A Good Templars Society was organized in 1862, which flourished for a short time.

The Spring Valley Academy Association was formed in 1866, with Hugh M. Funston, Nicholas C. Blauvelt, Isaac R. Blauvelt, Peter S. Van Orden, Peter L. Van Orden, James Slinn, Lake Onderdonk, Cornelius E. Blauvelt, and Jesse Youmans, as trustees. The first principal was Professor Robinson, with Miss Hattie Hotchkiss to conduct the primary department, and Miss Reed to assist the principal and teach music. The school was supplied with all the apparatus required for ad- vanced scholars, and it was the intention of the associa- tion to make application to have it taken under the charge of the Regents of the University of the State of New York. The indebtedness incurred in its erection caused it to be sold. The purchasers, H. M. Funston, J. E. Braunsdorf, of Pearl River, and Peter S. Van Or- den, continued the school for about two years, when the

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 64

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