USA > New York > Ulster County > History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Vol. I > Part 80
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Dr. Van Santvoord was born at Belleville, N. J., where his father held his first pastoral charge from 1814 to 1828. His preparation for college was in the grammar school in New Brunswick, N. J., and in the Kinderhook Academy.
Graduating at Union College in 1835, he studied theology at both the New Brunswick and Princeton Seminaries. At the age of twenty, at Canastota, in 1838, he was ordained to the Christian ministry by the Classis of Cayuga.
After preaching about two years in the Reformed church of Canastota, N. Y., and in those of New Baltimore and Coeyman's, N. Y., he was called to the Reformed Church of Saugerties, in 1840, as successor to the Rev. Henry Ostrander, D.D. His pastorate here covered fifteen years, and contributed very much to the development and force of the church, and through the church to the general good of Saugerties. The present church edifice was built during his charge, and the strength and prosperity of the church still bear abundant witness to the impulses which were given it under his efficient ministry.
In 1855, Dr. Van Santvoord removed to the charge of the Reformed Church of Greenwich, Washington Co. After a three years' harmonious and successful pastorate here, he removed and supplied the Second Church of Coxsackie, N. Y., for several months, but declined, however, a unani- mous call to settle there. From 1859 to 1861 he had charge of the Second Reformed Church of Schenectady, during which time he greatly aided the church in a successful suit to recover its house of worship, of which it had been un- lawfully dispossessed.
In 1861 he was appointed chaplain of the 20th New York State Militia. Ile performed the duties of this posi- tion faithfully till December, 1862, participating with the regiment in all its trials and hardships in the field. In the same year he was nominated to the Senate by President Lincoln to a United States chaplainey, was confirmed by that body, and assigned to duty at Nashville, Tenn., remaining there and at Louisville, Ky., till JJuly, 1865, after the close of the war. While in the field he wrote a series of forty-five letters to the Ulster Republican, which gave graphie accounts of all the movements and experiences of the regiment. These letters were much appreciated in Ulster County.
While at Nashville he was also a regular correspondent of the New York Times. The letters contributed by him to the Times commanded more than the usual degree of atteu-
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HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
tion, and elicited from Mr. H. J. Raymond, then editor-in- chief, strong expressions of appreciation. The letters were widely read, and did much to stimulate the good cause in which all patriotic hearts were enlisted.
For three or four years after the close of the war he was occupied with occasional correspondence to the New York Times, and with contributions to other periodicals till he became associate editor of the Interior, in Chicago, from 1869 to 1871. Resigning his position on that paper he returned to Kingston, and was shortly after elected superin- tendent of schools in the first district of Ulster County, to which office he was twice chosen. During this period, from 1871 to 1876, he rendered stated Sabbath services to the churches of Bloomingdale and St. Remy, and for two years to the church of Livingston, Columbia Co.
Dr. Van Santvoord's writings have always exhibited fine literary taste and scholarship. While settled at Greenwich he published a volume of " Discourses and Miscellaneous Papers." The volume was greeted by the most flattering commendations from literary erities in the American press, while the London Atheneum was pleased to characterize it as the work of a most accomplished pen.
Sinee living in Kingston, Dr. Van Santvoord prepared and published, in 1876, a biography of the late Dr. Nott, president of Union College, to which contributions were made by the late Prof. Tayler Lewis, of Union College.
In the various reviews of the book, in the newspapers and periodicals, its biographical art and literary excellence were highly commended. The New York Tribune, among others, in its issue of March 17, 1876, in a discriminating review, thus characterizes it :
"In this biography President Nott is presented with uncommon felicity of deliveation in natural and life. like colors, leaving a distinct impression of the man us he was in the daily walks of life, through a protracted an I brilliant career. In all the different phases of his life he is described in the present volume with signal fidelity. It fully rep- resent, the career of one of the most remarkable men whom this country has produced, and forins an important aut valuable addition to the already copious library of American biography."
Dr. Van Santvoord, though not at present settled over a church, is engaged in frequent ministerial service in various churches on the Sabbath, and finds full employment in the interval in literary work and in numerous contributions to newspapers and periodicals.
His accomplishments as a scholar, and his cultivated taste in literature, added to the universal respect which his char- acter commands, win for him no insignificant place in the annals of Ulster County.
GEORGE B. MERRITT.
The Merritts in America are descended from three brothers who came to this country from England about the year 1710 One settled in New Jersey, another in West- chester Co., N. Y., and the third, from whom the subject of this notice is descended, settled in the town of Marl- borough, Ubter Co., N. Y.
G. B. Merritt, son of Justice and Mary A. (Krum) Merritt, was born in the town of Marbletown, Dec. 19,
1839. The Merritts are of Huguenot origin, and the Krums of Holland. He has two brothers, -Peter and Cornelius. His father was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and died in June, 1847, when our subject was only seven and one-half years of age. His mother met the ditheulties of straitened circumstances with her little family as best she could, and as only a mother ean, and impressed upon the minds of her children the necessity of industry, econ- omy, and correct habits. From seven to twelve years of age George B. attended the common school. Although he was compelled to leave school at an early age, he felt the necessity of more edueation from books, and used to spend his leisure hours in study ; this habit he has kept up through life, which has proved to him a sonree of great value, and has been the means of storing his mind with a fund of knowledge gleaned from the best anthors.
In 1851 he set out in life for himself, resolved to gain an honest living, and if possible to carve out a fortune for himself. He came to Kingston, and for some time was a clerk in a grocery-store, was four years a clerk in the faney- store of C. S. Stilwell, and was for five years in the dry- goods and carpet store of Merritt & Crosby.
In 1865 he went into business for himself as the junior member of the firm of J. O. Merritt, Brodhead & Co., in the dry goods and carpet trade. This firm continued in business until the death of Mr. Brodhead, in 1872. The firm-name then became James O. & George B. Merritt. which continued in trade until the spring of 1876, and the partnership was dissolved. Mr. George B. Merritt then associated with him in trade John A. Heiser, James G. Van Keuren, and Robert Wilson, -- George B. Merritt & Co.,-and carries on a successful business in 1SS0. Mr. Wilson withdrew from the firm after eighteen months.
Mr. Merritt's business life in Kingston has been one of activity, perseveranee, and personal effort, ond furnishes a worthy example to young men without immediate friends and means, showing the result of resolution aud a will to do. By his strict attention to business, his sterling integ- rity, and honorable business relations, he has secured a fair competency.
Hle has been connected with many worthy local associa- tions during his residence here. He has been a member of the Second Reformed Church since 1857, and has officiated as elder and deacon. For many years he was superintendent of the Sunday-school in connection with that church, and is known as an active and carnest Sunday-school worker. In connection with Judge Schoonmaker he established the Cottage Mission School at the south end of Fair Street, in Kingston, in 1870, and bis labors in this worthy enterprise have been unremitting. The school in 1880 has au average of some ninety pupils.
Ile was one of the organizers of the Ulster County S. S. Association, was its secretary for many years, and was elected its treasurer in 1879. To the interests of this county organization, and all church and kindred interests, Mr. Merritt has been a liberal contributor and has devoted much time.
He married, in 1863, Miss Hila, daughter of Ezekich and Maria ( Auchmoody) Brodhead, of Kingston. N. Y. Their children are Walter, Maggie, Jennie, and Grace.
Photo. by Lewis, Kingston.
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CITY AND TOWN OF KINGSTON.
THOMAS L. JOHNSTON,
youngest son in a family of six sons and three daughters of Robert and Blandina ( Kieffer) Johnston, was born in Kings- ton, July 24, 1820. His paternal grandfather resided in New York City, and removed with his family to Dutchess Co., N. Y., from which place his father Robert, with one Copp, came to Kingston, when he was a young man, where he married Blandina, daughter of Lawrence Kieffer, who
ufff Johnston
was a soblier of the Revolution and after the war settled in Kingston, where he built a residence on the corner of St. James and Pine Streets, where he lived the remainder of his hfe, and where also the family of Robert Johnston
Robert Johnston was a printer by trade, and is sup- ; - ! to have learned typesetting before the family left New York City. His life was spent mostly at Kingston at work at that business, a part of the time l'or Samuel Freer & Son -. publishers. He was a short time in Albany at work for Jesse Buel, just prior to his death, which occurred in 1-25, at the age of forty-eight. He became a member of the Albany Typographical Society in 1813. Ile was a man of correct habits and unblemished character. His wif. was a woman of great devotion to her family, was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church in Kingston, and pressed rare Christian excellence. She resided on the old hansstea.l. after the death of her husband, until her death 1: 1-34, being fifty-six years of age. Tucir children were Hubert 1 ... John T., Frederick F., Washington, Daniel, Danas L., Maria, Harrietta, Eliza MI. B.
Themnas L. Johnston received limited education from les A-, but had for his tutor the well-known William II. D brick. At the age of fourteen years he was left an orphan without the necessary means of support, but what
was of great value to him then and has been since, impres- sions of morality and Christianity, the result of a kind mother's training. He spent two years in New York with his unele. William Joliston, a hat manufacturer, and re- turued to Kingston, and from that time until 1844 he worked on a farm, and learned the blacksmith's trade. In that year he married Sarah, daughter of Evert Hasbrouck, of Kingston. Her grandfather, Abram Hasbrouck, died in the war of 1812. The children of this union living are Hannah Depuy, wife of Nelson Souser ; Daniel R., Thomas B., Julia B., Kate R., Nettie, and Walter Kiersted. After his marriage, Mr. Johnston followed blacksmithing for a short time, when his health failed and he engaged in the fruit and vegetable business for a few years, and in 1848 opened a meat-market in Kingston, which business he successfully continues in 1880. Mr. Johnston has taken an active part in many worthy local enterprises. He was a member of the fire department for many years, was foreman for eight years, and chief engineer for three years, during which time he did much to improve the discipline of the company, and is now an honorary member. He was one of the organizers of the Eureka Temperance Society, in 1865 ; was one of the organizers of Wiltwyek Division, Sons of Temperance, No. 28, the sinne year, and was its first Worthy Patriarch. He has taken an active and influential part in the temperance cause for many years, and as Deputy Grand Worthy Patri- arch he has organized many divisions in various parts of the county. He was baptized by Rev. Dr. Gosman, of the Dutch Reformed Church, and since 1860 has been a mem- ber of the Clinton Avenue Methodist Church.
Mr. Johnston was identified with the Democratic party until 1860, and in the exciting campaign of that year he supported Stephen A. Douglas for President, since which time he has bece a Republican. He was elected town col- lector in 1853, one of the village assessors in 1855, and upon the organization of the city government he was chosen one of the almis commissioners, and at the expiration of his term of two years was elected for a term of three years. It was during his term of service that the almshouse was built. In 1979 he was elected alderman from the First Ward, and offieistes as chairman of the auditing com- mittee in the Common Council.
JAMES G. VAN KEUREN,
son of Cyrus and Ruima (Hamilton) Van Keuren, was born in Kingston, April 8, 1847. The Van Keurens were originally from Holland, and the Hamiltons are of Scotch descent, and trace the liue to Johannes Hamilton, who came to America from Scotland in 1720. Ilis paternal and maternal great-grandfathers, Philip and Cornelius, were brothers. His grandfather, Philip Van Keuren, Jr., born iu Flatbush in 1776, married Elizabeth Quimby in 1793. He was a clerk in Rondout from sixteen to twenty-three years of age, and after his marriage started a general mer- chandise trade for himself, on the corner of Union and Albany Avenues, in Kingston, where he did a successful business until his death, which occurred in 1812. He was a man of natural business ability, active, and enterprising,
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HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
and, although unassisted pecuniarily in early life, by his own exertions he secured a fair competency, yet was pre- maturely cut off in the prime of manhood. His brother Benjamin was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died on the old homestead in Flatbush, at the ripe age of eighty-four, about 1876.
Cyrus, son of Philip Van Keuren, born in IS11, married, in 1833, Ruima, daughter of James and Mary ( Vau Keu- ren) Hamilton. He was a carpenter by trade, resided in
I.s. Varme Ricevere
Kingston, where he died in 1872, aged .sixty-one. His wife, born in 1812, survives in 1880. Their children are George (deceased ) ; Delia II., of Hartford, Conu. ; Rodney, of Kingston ; John H., of Ilartford, Conu .; aud Jaures G. I'nail the age of fifteen years, James G. Van Keuren retained at home, and attended the common school and Kingston Academy.
Thus fitted with sufficient book knowledge he commeused his business career. He was two years a clerk for George W. Ewen, three years in a general merchandise-store of C. & J. S. Burhans, and from 1867 to 1876 he was a clerk in the dry-goods and carpet store of James O. Merritt, Brod head & Co., and James O. & George B. Merritt. In the spring of the latter year he became a uiember of the firmu of George B. Merritt & Co., which continues in ISSU, and employs from fifteen to eighteen clerks in their dry-goods and carpet house. This enterprising firm has successfully passed through the first four years of their copartnership with an increasing trade, and retain the confidence of the business community.
On Sept. 20, 1875, Mr. Van Keureu married Mary, daughter of Tunis P. and Catherine (Legg) Osterhoudt, of Kingston.
Mr. Van Keuren is identified with the membership of
the First Reformed Church, and is an active and zealous Suuday-school worker.
ABRAHAM HASBROUCK.
The family of Hasbrouck, in Ulster Co., N. Y., trace the line of descent from the old Huguenot ancestry who fled their country following the massacre on St. Bartholo- wew's Day, in France, aud sought refuge in the wilds of America. The name of Hasbrouck is widely known, and members of this old and prominent family-inspired with a love for the truth, an unswerving desire for freedom of thought, and a patriotism that shrinks not from the sacri- fiee of life for the protection of free institutious and a free people-may be found, during two centuries of the exist- enee of civilization in this country, filling places of houor and trust, and preserving intact the virtue, integrity, and resolution characteristic of their progenitors here. Their representatives were on the battle-fields of the Revolution, prominent in the legislative halls of the State and nation, foremost among the educators of their day, safe counselors in the administration of justice, and judicious in business relations.
The subject of this notice is a lineal descendant, in the fifth generation, from Abrahamn Hasbrouck, who settled in Esopus in 1675, and shortly after removed to New Paltz.
He married in 1676, and died in 1717. His son Joseph lived at Guilford, in the town of New Paltz. Abraham, son of Joseph, born in 1707, lived at Guilford until 1725, when he came to Kingston, where he carried ou a mercan- tile business until 1776, wheu his store and goods were destroyed by fire. He was lieutenant-colonel of a regi- ment of militia in Ulster County, and served for twenty years as a member of the Provincial Assembly. He was a inember of the State Legislature from Ulster County dur- ing its fifth session, in 1781-82, and had for his associates from this county Johannes Bruyn, Charles De Witt, Jo- hannes Hardenbergh, and James Hunter. He died in 1791. His son Joseph, boru March 3, 1743, married, March 25, 1773, Elizabeth Bevier, who died May 4, 1795, agel forty- nine. He was a member of the Assembly, from Uister County, held in New York City in 1786, and a member of the State Senate in 1793-96. He died Feb. 26. 1808.
Abraham, whose portrait appears in connection with this sketch, eldest of seven sons of Joseph and Elizabeth ( Be- vier) Hasbrouck, was born at Guilford, Oct. 16, 1773. His minority was spent at home, where the hoe, the plow, aud the axe were familiar to him in every-day work on his father's farm, and where he only received the opportunities for obtaining such an education from books as the district school of his early days afforded. Soon after reaching his majority he came to Kingston Landing ( Rondout), where he is found carrying on a general mercantile trade in 1795.
Mr. Hasbrouck was appointed by Goveruor Jay, April 19, 1797, first lieutenant of Captain John Millspaugh's troop of horse in the brigade of militia in Ulster County, whereof Joseph Hasbrouck, Esq., was brigadier-general, to take rauk from March 22, 1797.
He married, March 5, 1797, Heleua, a daughter of
Afm Hasbrouly
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Jansenstessirowk
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CITY AND TOWN OF KINGSTON.
Henry Jansen, and a sister of the late Egbert Jansen, of Kingston. His wife died in 1820. Their children were Helen, wife of Henry Sharpe ; Elizabeth (deceased ), wife of Dr. Richard Elting; Catharine, widow of the lite Judge G. W. Ludlum; Joseph Bevier (deceased) ; Jansen ; and Maria, wife of Robert Gosman. His second wife was Rachel W., a sister of William A. Seeley, of New York, who died-Dec. 1, 1870.
In 1801 Mr. Hasbrouck purchased a parcel of land of the Jansens, lying on Rondout Creek, his house being lo- cated where Garden Street now is in Rondout. The pro- perty was surrounded by the Chambers patent, and on it may be seen, in 1880, the place of burial of Col. Thomas Chambers, whose tombstone bears the date of April S, 1694. This property has remained in possession of the family since its first purchase, and is now owned by Jan- sen-youngest and only surviving son of Abraham Has- brouck. It is worthy of note that a pear-tree marking the spot of the Chambers burial-place, near Mr. Jansen Hasbrouck's residence, is still alive, having withstood the wintry blasts of two eeuturies. For a half-century Mr. Abraham Hasbrouck carried on business here. His trade inereased from the first, and he met the growing demands of the then little village and surrounding country. For many years he did quite an extensive freighting and for- warding business with New York, which was then carried on in sloops. Ile built and owned several vessels and sloops, and did a large export trade in grain and agricultu- ral produets, and also in shipping what was then known as Esopus willstones. He continued an active business life until within a few years of his death, which occurred Jan. 12. 1845. Ile was interested in all worthy loeal enterprises, and was a liberal contributor to educational and church in- terests. Ile was one of the incorporators of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, and for many years a director. He was one of the organizers and one of the directors of the Middle District Bank of Kingston.
He was active and influential as a member of the old Whig party, represented the Sixth Congressional District in the Thirteenth Congress of the United States in 1813 -15, and was a member of the State Senate in 1822.
JANSEN HASBROUCK,
second son and fifth child of Abraham Hasbrouck, was born at Kingston (formerly Kingston Landing), Jan. 27, 1810. Ile received his preliminary education at the old Kingston Academy, and at the age of seventeen entered Yale College, from which he was graduated with the usual honors in the class of '31, in the twenty-first year of his age.
He took an interest in military affairs during his early life, and in 1832 was appointed aid-de-eamp to Maj .- Gen. Wynkoop, commanding the Sixth Division New York State Infantry.
On the 1Sth of April, 1834, he was appointed pay- master of the same division by Governor William L. Marcy, which office he held until the military system of the State was changed. During this time and in the spring
of 1834 he succeeded his father in the forwarding and freighting business by sloops, but soon disposed of this interest and opened a general mercantile trade at the Landing. together with a freight line by steamboat to and from New York. Mr. Hasbrouck was one of the incorpo- rators of the Kingston Bank in 1836, and for many years a director. He was also for many years engaged quite ex- tensively in the feed and flour business in Rondout.
In 1848 he severed his connection with the Kingston Bank and largely promoted the organization of the Bank of Rondout, now the National Bank of Rondout; was elected its president, which office he retains in 1880. Soon after the organization of this bank he gave up his mercantile pursuits, and has since confined himself to the interests of the bank and the improvement of his property.
Mr. Hasbrouck has never sought political preferment, although always interested in local and national legislation. He east his first vote for Gen. Andrew Jackson for Presi- deut of the United States, and has since remained a member of the Democratie party.
Ile married, in 1849, Miss Charlotte, daughter of Jona- than D. Ostrander, Esq., of Kingston, by whom he has six children,-namely, Mary, wife of C. M. Preston, of Kingston, Abraham, Jansen, Jr., Guilford, Louis Bevier, and Conrad Elmendorf.
WALTER B. CRANE,
seventh in a family of twelve children of Josiah and Keziah ( Hall) Crane, was born in the town of South East, Putnam Co., N. Y., Dec. 14, 1807. His father was a farmer and cooper, and resided on the old homestead during his life. Ilis mother was a native of Nantucket. His grandfather, Jonathan Crane, was a colonel in the Revolutionary war, first settled the homestead at South East, and built the house in which the subject of this sketch was born.
Young Crane spent his boyhood at home, and received a fair English education. At the age of seventeen he was ap- prenticed to learn the trade of a blacksmith, which he com- pleted upon reaching his majority, and worked at for some time thereafter. In August, 1829, he came to Rondout, and after working as journeyman at his trade for nine months formed a partnership with Mr. Charles MeEntee in a general trade in dry goods and groceries, which continued for two years, when Mr. Crane sold out his interest and accepted the position of superintendent in the management of the outside department of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, then in its infaney. Mr. Crane remained in this position for thirty-three years, discharging the duties of the office with such entire satisfaction to the company as to command their confidence in his integrity and business capacity. Upon first entering upon his duties the business of the company for that year amounted to the shipment of forty-three thou- sand seven hundred tons of coal. During the last year of his service their shipments were one million six hundred thousand tons of eoal. The " Island Doek" was laid out and constructed by Chief Engineer R. F. Lord and Mr. Crane. Steam power was also introduced, greatly facilitating the transshipment of coal and reducing the expense in hand- ling it.
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HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Prior to his resignation of the enperintendency of the company's business, in 1863, he purchased about fifty acres of land near the mouth of Rondout Creek, and lying con- tiguous to the Hudson, at Ponckhockie, where, in 1963, he built him a fine residence overlooking the river. The division and sale of the most part of his land by lots led many to locate in that section, and, in 1880, Ponckhockie vies with any part of Rondout or Kingston for its fine residences aud beautifully laid-out grounds.
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