History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 72

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

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Mr. Gurnee married Mary M., daughter of Matthew D. Coe. Their children are: Delia E .; Mary Evelyn four children: Walter G., Edward N., Grace G., and Evelyn); Frances Medora, who married John M. Watson and died in France, 1880; Walter S. jr. (who married Bell, daughter of D. N. Barney, and has four children: Walter, Bell, Lucy, and Mary); Grace, who died in 1870; Augustus C .; and Isabel.

John B. Gurnee, the youngest son of General Benjamin Gurnee, was born February 26th 1809. His father died May 27th 1856, at the age of eighty eight, and his mother, Catharine, died May 4th 1852, aged eighty-two. They rest side by side in the cemetery by the Dutch Reformed church in Ramapo. He inherited his father's homestead

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on the west side of the road about half a mile north of the " English Church," and to this he added by purchase the homestead farm of Deacon John Coe, which is di- rectly opposite. Mr. Gurnee was a man highly respected through life, and possessed foresight and business capac- ity. He was elected county treasurer in 1869, and was a justice of the peace for many years. In June 1879, he married Mary L., daughter of John and Margaret Hil- lery. After a life of honor and usefulness Mr. Gurnee died September 13th 1882, at the age of 73 years, 6 6 months, and 17 days.

THE PIERSON FAMILY.

In tracing the history of the Pierson family, of Ram- apo, it will be convenient to commence with the Rev. Abraham Pierson, and his brother, Henry.

Abraham was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1613; graduated at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1632; or- dained, Episcopally, in Newark, England, soon after; and came, in pursuit of religious freedom, to Boston, Mass., in 1639, whence he removed immediately to Lynn. In 1640, "finding themselves straightened, about 40 fami- lies, with Pierson as their minister,"* departing from Lynn, attempted to make settlement upon the west end of Long Island, but finding that the Dutch had made sure of that end, repaired to the east end, where they laid the foun- · dation of Southampton, the first town settled by the En- glish in the State of New York. From Southampton, in 1647, Mr. Pierson removed to Branford, Ct., where for 20 years he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all "He early interested himself in behalf of the Indians, made himself familiar with their language, prepared a cate. chism for them, that they might know of the one true God, and was to the Indians of Connecticut what Eliot and Mayhew were to those of Massachusetts. Winthrop says, 'he was a Godly, learned man;' and Mather says, ' wherever he came, he shone.'" In 1866, he, with most of his congregation, removed to New Jersey, where, on the Passaic or lower Ramapo, he founded a city, which, after the place in England where he had first been or- dained, was called Newark. At Newark, August 9th 1678, he died. His son, Abraham, was afterward the first President of Yale College.

Henry Pierson, from whom the Piersons of Ramapo descend, was in the company which, in 1640, left Lynn, Mass., to lay the foundations of Southampton, and was to the new settlement in civil affairs what Abraham was in affairs of church. He did not, however, follow his brother, in 1647, to Connecticut, and thence to New Jersey, but remained at Southampton till his death, in 1680, at which time he was holding the office of Clerk of the County of Suffolk, an office of larger responsibility then than now. Before leaving Lynn, he had married Mary, daughter of John Cooper, one of the most in- fluential men of the colony. And of this union were born: John, Joseph, Daniel, Henry, Benjamin, Theo-

dore, and Sarah. Of these children, our present purpose requires us to speak only of Henry.

He was born at Southampton, 1 .. I., in 1652; married Susannah Howell; and became one of the settlers of Bridgehampton, at which place he died in 1701. He was an active and influential citizen, for many years a member and Speaker of the Provincial Assembly, and was universally known as Colonel Henry Pierson. To" him were born: John, David, Theophilus, Abram, and Josiah.

Josiah Pierson-for of him alone we have occasion to speak-was born at Bridgehampton, 1 .. 1., in 1695, and died in 1776, having had "four wives and seventeen chil- dren."

Of these children Benjamin was born January 15th 1741. He married Sarah Gilbert of Newark, New Jersey; removed from Newark to Richmond, Massachusetts, in 1772; lived in New York city about 1790; and died at Ballston, New York, in 1797, leaving nine children: Josiah G., Jeremiah H., Mary, Isaac, Caleb, John, Joseph, Sarah, and Lydia. Of these Josiah G., born #t Newark, September 29th 1764; Jeremiah H., born at Newark, September 13th 1766; and Isaac, born at Newark, December 31st 1770, are identified with Ramapo.

Josiah Gilbert Pierson* who made the first purchase of land in the Ramapo valley (see history, p. 273), was a inan of large executive ability and of great mechanical genius. It is recorded that he was the inventor of cut- nails.

His strength of character and enterprise are seen in his leaving Richmond, Massachusetts, to locate his nail works in New York city, and, when necessity required (see history, p. 273), in his pushing out from New York to establish the manufacturing part of his business in the then alinost wilderness of the Ramapo Pass. And as we read his letters in which from New York he superintended the building of the works at Ramapo-a few extracts from which letters we have already given in the history of Ramapo village-and see, how his mind grasped every minute detail, with what breadth of judgment he planned and how heroically he fought to complete The Works ere in 1797 he fell a victim to consumption, we know that we have come in contact with a character essentially great. Humanity was poorer when, in New York city, on December 17th 1797 (the year before The Works which he had labored so zealously to establish went into operation) the spirit of Josiah Gilbert Pierson, returned to God who gave it. Jeremiah Halsey Pierson, brother of Josiah, came to New York from Richmond, Massachusetts, in April, 1795. In May of the same year he left New York to take charge of the The Works then in process of erection at Ramapo.

From that time, for over 60 years, his name, character, and influence are indissolubly linked with Ramapo.

Mr. Pierson was preeminently a man of affairs. His at- tention to local matters was minute. He knew the name and history of every man on the place. He knew, too, the position of every peculiar stone or marked tree.

*At Boston be was ordained a Congregationalist, but afterward be- came a Presbyterian.

* Founder of the firin of J. G. Pierson & Ilros.

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HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY.

In later years when unable himself, because of blind- ness, to walk abroad over his domain, he had only to ask which way any one had gone, to be able to name and locate every object which had been passed.

He watched with zealous care over the instruction of the young, requiring that the school-teacher be a man of good moral character as well as of good education, visit- ing the school frequently to ascertain what children were absent and then calling the parents to a strict account for such absence. His dealings with those in his employ were ever marked by a kind consideration for their best good; he was among the first of manufac- turers to put a stop to the rations of liquor-without which the men of those times thought it impossible for them to work -; and.it is noted as a characteristic act that, when he came to die, he made provision that several who had been long in his employ, should retain their houses free of rent for the rest of their lives.

Like his brother Josiah, he early developed a genius , for mechanics, and there are still in the possession of his son, Henry L., many papers which tell of the patents for useful machines (some of which have been mentioned in | he negotiated in England for 6,000 tons of rails for the the history of the works, p. 275) which he secured. Like first equipment of the road, and in 1865, when money was sorely needed, he made another trip to England, where he secured, on advantageous terms, a loan for £800,000 sterling. his brother, too, his judgment was broad, and he built for the future. He was one of the prime movers in the opening of the Nyack Turnpike, Haverstraw road, and Erie Railroad; and in many other projects for internal im- provement, which cannot here be enumerated, his name was associated. Often solicited to hold public office, he only once consented to allow his name to be used, at which time (1821) he was elected to the 17th Congress.

After a long life of usefulness and honor he fell asleep at Ramapo, December 12th 1855, in the goth year of his age. There are many in the county who never heard his name, who yet are now being influenced for good through the influence exerted over their parents or grandparents by Jeremiah H. Pierson.

Of Isaac Pierson, the third brother, we have need to say but this: After the death of Josiah G. Pierson, in 1797, the firm of J. G. Pierson & Bros., which was doing a general iron and commission business, was continued- Jeremiah H. conducting the works at Ramapo, while Isaac superintended the sales of manufactured goods and the iron business in New York. The New York house, under the name of Pierson & Co., is still carried on by the grandsons of Jeremiah, at Nos. 24, 25, 26 & 27 West street, New York. The firm of Pierson & Co. is there. fore one of the oldest in the city, and possesses the proud record of having stood for nearly 100 years with credit unshaken during all the panics which have ruined so many others. Having retired from active business in 1825, Mr. Isaac Pierson, about ten years later, removed from New York city to Canandaigua, New York, where he died in the year 1848.

In 1792, Mr. Jeremiah H. Pierson-of whom we have already spoken-married, at Richmond, Massachusetts, Sarah, daughter of Jabez Colt, to whom were born: Eliz- abeth wife of Eleazir Lord, Josiah G., Jeremiah H .. Theodore, Henry, Lewis, and Benjamin,

Henry, who, upon the death of his twin brother, also took the name of Lewis, was born at Ramapo, August 15th 1807. In 1826, he assisted in a survey made by the State for a road through the southern tier of counties from the Hudson to Lake Erie, which project, though afterward abandoned, prepared the way for the building of the Erie Railroad. In 1828, his father, having previously purchased the interest of his uncle, Isaac Pierson, in the joint property, he entered the firm of J. G. Pierson & Brothers, and took charge of the business in New York. In 1830, while on his wedding journey in the South, he chanced to be present at the opening of the first six miles of the Charleston & Augusta Railroad, with the exception of one near Schenectady, New York, then the only rail- road in the country, and upon his return to New York, was the first to suggest to his father and to his brother- in-law, Eleazar Lord, the feasibility of a steam road from Lake Erie to the Hudson.

From that time he earnestly advocated the building of the Erie Railroad, and was for many years a prominent director in the road, and for a time its Treasurer, In 1840,

After the death of his father, Mr. Pierson purchased the interest of the other heirs, and became sole pro. prietor of all the Ramapo property. In 1869, he re- moved from New York to the homestead at Ramapo, where he still resides. His children are: Henry L. jr., Edward F., George R., Helen M. (wife of William G. Hamilton), Sarah E., Charles T., J. Fred, Isaac C. (who died in infancy), and Julia.

HON. DANIEL JOHNSON.

Daniel Johnson, son of Gilbert Johnson and Phebe Gurnee, was born in the town of Ramnapo, January 2d 1790. He received a common school education and commenced business as a farmer. This occupation he followed successfully during life. He was in the United States military service in the war of 1812. December 6th 1818, he married Hannah, daughter of Samuel W. Coe, a member of one of the oldest families of Rockland coun- ty. From early manhood he took a lively interest in public affairs, and during life he filled many positions of honor and trust, with credit to himself and to the satis- faction of the people. He was a justice of the peace about twelve years. For a long time he was Associate Judge of Rockland county, his services in this capacity ceasing with the adoption of the Constitution of 1846, when the office was abolished. He served as member of Assembly from Rockland county in 1834, and again in 1836. He was afterward elected a State Senator from the second district, which office he filled fromn 1839 to 1842. He was a presidential elector in 1844, when James K. Polk was called to the presidency. The public posi- tions he was called upon fromn time to time to fill, suffi- ciently evince the fact that he enjoyed to an unusual ex-

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tent the confidence of the public. He was benevolent and kindly in his instincts, with a purity of character and a genial manner that made all men his friends, and caused his death to be generally regretted. His official career was marked not only by sound judgment on all public questions, but by the most scrupulous honor. He was modest and unassuming in inanner, an extensive reader, and a deep thinker. His religious belief was in sympa- thy with the creed of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was a member. He died February 26th 1875, leaving one son, Erastus.

REV. JAMES SHERWOOD.

Jonathan Sherwood was born at Williamstown, Mass., in 1757. He was an active participant in the Revolu- tionary war and fought under General Stark at Benning- ton. His brother was killed at the battle of Oriskany. Mr. Sherwood's wife was Martha Bruce, and their child- ren were: Lucy, Annis, James, Olive, Mary, Isaac, Hul- dah, Melissa, and Asbury.

James, the third child, and the subject of this sketch, was born April 7th 1789, and received his education in the schools of his native town.

In 1798, when there existed a strong prejudice against the Methodists, he first became acquainted with members of that church. It required the exercise of much cour- age and fortitude to become a Methodist in the face of the many opposing influences that were then thrown in the way of converts; but Mr. Sherwood was so favorably impressed by the preaching of the itinerants that, on the 2Ist of October 1801, he united with the Methodist Church.

In 1809 he was licensed to preach, and in 1810 was appointed by the New York Conference to the Haver- straw circuit. Here he became acquainted with Martha, daughter of John S. Gurnee, whom he married, March 17th 1811. Their children were: Harriet A., born March 19th 1815, married George B. Blauvelt; John N., born July 23d 1817, lately living at Stony Point (he married Phebe Bulson); Jonathan W., born July 26th 1825, mar- ried Alınira, daughter of Josiah Concklin, and died, leaving no children, February 26th 1865; and Elias G., born September 11th 1827, married Elizabeth, daughter of Josiah Concklin, and has children: Martha Elma, wife of Alvah Cooper, Ida S., Jonathan W., and James E.

Mr. Sherwood continued on the circuit for one or two years after his marriage, then, with his wife's mother, Mrs, Abigail (Woodward) Gurnee, purchased a farm in the present town of Ramapo. Here he passed the re- mainder of his life, but, as a local preacher, he was al- ways active in advancing the interests of the church of Christ. In the absence of the circuit preachers, who only came at stated intervals, Mr. Sherwood's services were often required at funerals and marriages.

No man was more intimately acquainted with the inner life of the people within a wide circle, and he was the representative of a class of preachers whose influence and whose experience it is now difficult to appreciate. At his home the itinerant preachers always found a ready

welcome. It was through his influence that the Metho- dist church called Wesley Chapel was established, hence it was generally known as Sherwood's Church. And the locality was generally called Sherwoodville.

Mr. Sherwood was a man of good business ability, and he was in better financial circumstances than many of his clerical brethren. He could not truly say

" No foot of land do I possess No cottage in this wilderness, A poor wayfaring man."

On the east branch of Mahwah Brook, which ran through his farm, Mr. Sherwood established a fulling mill which he conducted during many years. In 1846 this was converted into a mill for the manufacture of cotton batting, and this business is still carried on by his son.

After a long life which was devoted to the service of God and the welfare of his fellow men, Mr. Sherwood entered into rest, April 26th 1866, and his remains were laid to their last repose in the little cemetery by Wesley Chapel, where they await the resurrection.

Mr. Sherwood's homestead is now owned by his son, Elias G. Sherwood. It comprises Lot No. 9 of the west range of lots in Kakiat, and also Lot No. 2 of the lots on the west mountain. In addition to these, Mr. Sherwood has an extensive tract in the Morris Patent, adjoining Kakiat. The old house, the home of his venerated father, stands on the north side of the estate. The pres- ent family residence was built in 1869.

George B. Blauvelt, the husband of Harriet A. Sher- wood, was born December 2d 1811, and died March 15th 1850. They were married April 11th 1838. Their chil- dren are: John L., born January 23d 1839, married Lucinda Gurnee; Hannah R., born May 7th 1841, mar- ried David D. Fox; Richard W., born February 27th 1844, married Lucy Sherwood; and James S., born Janu- ary 20th 1848, died in 1867. .

JACOB SNIDER.

This family is of direct German origin, John George Snider, grandfather of Jacob, being born in Germany in 1733. Tradition tells us that he came to this country when about 19 years of age. Being without money, friends, or relatives, he bound himself to the captain of the vessel in which he emigrated, to redeem his passage by the labor of his hands after reaching this country. His early life was one of privation, toil, and hardship, and in nearly every respect devoid of those pleasures that niake green the memory of youth. Forced from in- digent circumstances to toil early and late for sustenance, his life was indeed that of a pioneer lad, and it was only by the aid of indomitable pluck and persistent labor that he was able to gain for himself and family a home. He first went to Pennsylvania, when that State was mostly a wilderness. There he married a lady whose name is un- known. By her he had one child, a daughter, of whom little is known. From Pennsylvania he moved to Ring- wood, New Jersey, where he remained until 1786, when he went to Bergen county, New Jersey. He remained

7 Budaia Shamemissy

ClShaughnessy

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HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY.

there about one year, then moved to the town of Ramapo, where he bought a farm on which he spent the remainder of his life. He married, for his second wife, Elizabeth Esler of Ramapo. By her he had two sons: George (father of Jacob) and John, who at his death left one son, George, born in 1804, still living, and childless. John G. Snider also had two daughters, Maria and Hannah, both of whom died without issue. He died in 1813.

George Snider was born in Ringwood, New Jersey, January 17th 1777. He was married to Bridget De Baun, March 10th 1810. Their children were Eliza, Jacob, and John. Eliza died childless, and John has one son, George J. George Snider died February 1oth 1860. He was a member of the Reformed Dutch church at Saddle River, New Jersey.

Jacob Snider was born in Ramapo, September 29th him as an adopted American. He has therefore trans- 1824. He received a common school education, and engaged in the business of farming and surveying. He was married, October 2d 1847, to Rachel Zabriskie of New Jersey. The children of this union are: Anna; Garrett Z., graduated from Rutger's College in 1877, practicing law at Spring Valley; Brejetta; and Katie M. Mr. Snider retired from the business of farming, in 1881. In politics he is a Republican, and his first vote was cast in the fall of 1845. He held the office of assessor in 1850-52, and was Supervisor of Ramapo in 1876. He is a member and an attendant of the Reformed church of Saddle River. This family is in no way related to the many other families of the name in this and other coun- ties.

SHAUGHNESSY.

Eudora Mustin (Shaughnessy) was born November 15th 1844, at Carrollton, Pickens county, Alabama. Her father was William G. Mnstin, a native of Kentucky, whence he migrated to Alabama, where he located permanently as a planter and merchant. Her mother, Mary Elizabeth, was born in Lunenburg, Lunenburg county, Virginia, March 24th 1827, whence she went to settle in Pickens county, Alabama. She was married to William Gibson Mustin, September 24th 1836, and still resides in Car- rollton, Pickens county, Alabama, where she reared her family, consisting of six children, five of whom are now living, viz .: Robert W., Buena Vista, Eudora Mustin (Shaughnessy), Emma Holmes, and William Sidney; the youngest, James Walter, having died.

Eudora Mustin (Shaughnessy), the subject of this sketch, was educated at and graduated from the Female College at Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and married Michael Shaughnessy, November 28th 1868, at Columbus, Missis- sippi. Her children by this union are: Eudora Blanche, born August 21st 1869, at Columbus, Mississippi; Emma May, born May 14th 1871, at Jackson, Mississippi; Phillip Sheridan, born September 3d 1874, at Jackson, Mississippi; Mary Violet, born November 18th 1876, at Jackson, Mississippi; Francis Hamilton, born August 19th [879, at Salt Lake City, Utah; Walter, born July 31st 1881, at Salt Lake City, Utah; and Irene, born June 17th 1884, at Suffern, Rockland county, New York.

The father and family of Mrs. Eudora Mustin (Shaughnessy) were slave owners, sympathized with the Southern Confederacy, and, when their State seceded, cast their fortunes with the South.

Michael Shaughnessy was born in New York city, Oc- tober 11th 1844. His parents were born in County Limerick, Ireland. His grandparents were natives of County Galway, Ireland, on the paternal side.

His grandfather, with the father of the subject of this sketch, came to New York while the children were yet young, the former being obliged to emigrate with his fam- ily, on account of political troubles in Ireland. He was a man of great decision of character, and strong convic- tions, with thoroughly ingrained and inbred patriotism as an Irishman in every regard, which he carried with

mitted his fearlessness and courage, his sense of right and high spirit of justice and integrity, to the generations which have followed him. He removed from New York to Rock Island, Illinois, where the subject of this sketch received his education in the public schools and after- wards finished it by a commercial course and a military training. Michael, though a mere boy, when but seven- teen years old, entered the army as a private soldier during the war of the great Rebellion, and served with credit in the Second United States Cavalry in the cam- paigns of the Army of the Potomac, under Generals Jolin Buford and Alfred Pleasanton. He participated in its numerous engagements and marches in Virginia, atter- wards went through the Pennsylvania campaign, ending at Gettysburg. He was wounded at the battles of Brandy Station, Cold Harbor, and Gettysburg, in all of which he was with his command in the charge. After having been severely wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, on July 3d 1863, he lay during the whole night on the field be- tween the two contending armies, and the following morning was carried off a prisoner by the Confederate forces and taken to Staunton, Virginia. He was after- wards sent to Libby Prison with 87 other officers cap- tured on the same day, and remained there seven months without a change of clothing, until he was finally exchang- ed and brought North, to Annapolis, Maryland, in a com- pletely broken down and emaciated condition. Atter having been exchanged he left the army and returned home. When he had sufficiently recruited and his health was restored, he raised a company of infantry and rejoined the army. He was ordered with his com- mand to New Orleans, thence to Mobile, there to re- port to General McArthur for duty, subsequently join- ing the 16th Army Corps in Mobile Bay, in the month of February 1864. He participated with it, in the battles around Mobile, and was severely wounded in the charge on Spanish Fort made by his corps, under General A. J. Smith, He was removed from the field, and taken to New Orleans, where he was placed in the St. Louis Officers' Hospital until he finally recovered, after about four months of great pain and suf- fering, when he rejoined his regiment (the 47th Illinois U. S. Volunteers), at Demopolis, Alabama. Thence he

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History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 72

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