History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Vol. II, Part 16

Author: Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, 1825-1894. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 818

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power at this point was being utilized, and our manufactories were being built, the business of the place was very much increased. Mr. Russell's financial operations necessarily grew to large proportions. Beside supplying his fellow-towns- men with money, he furnished the several manufactories then completed with cash for the monthly payments of their operators. So correct, prompt, and obliging was he in all his transactions that he acquired and preserved to the day of his death the utmost confidence not only of the business men of the place, but of all the financial institutions with which he had dealings.

Mr. Russell inaugurated the idea of constructing a turn- pike road from the village to the Corners, in the town of Shandaken. He secured the co-operation of John Kiersted, George A. Gay, and others at this point, and of Robert L. Livingston, of Columbia County, of Messrs. Culver and De Forest, large farmers at Woodstock, of Drs. Hall and Elliot, representing the glass manufactories of Woodstock, and of Col. William Riseley, and of Messrs. Ladew and Terwilliger, then largely engaged in tanneries at Phoenicia, in the town of Shandoken. They formed a company, secured a charter, and completed the Saugerties and Woodstock turnpike road in 1523. The success of this enterprise was mainly due to the liberality and personal efforts of Mr. Russell, and proved one of the most beneficial enterprises ever inangi- rated for the business interests of the village and of those living on the line of said road, and will so continue to be for all time. The present train read occupies the road bed of said turnpike road.

Mr. Russell was a man of great industry and perseverance. He accumulated a large fortune, aud was a great factor in the growth and prosperity of his native town and village. At the time of his death he was the owner of about one hundred stores and dwellings, a large number of building- lots, several farms, and many acres of woodlands. In his day he has owned more dwelling-houses, and probably built, bought, and sold more than any other man in Uister County. Ile was a most indefatigable worker and the architect of his owu fortune. He never relaxed his efforts whether as merchant, banker, or legislator. He was a man of fine social qualities, and enjoyed society in a high degree. It. matterel not whether in company of business men or of learned and high officials he was always welcome, and caused the time to pass pleasantly by his cheerful and entertaining conversation, and large fund of anecdote. He was active to the last, literally dying iu the harness, which event oc- cured suddenly and without warning on the morning of Sept. 30, 1867, in the eighty-second year of his age, re- spected, loved, and lamented by all, and leaving a memory which is a bright guiding star to be kept in view by the youth of coming generations, showing that it matters not how poor, por how great the difficulties which may hedge the way, still by integrity, honest industry, frugal habits, and fixedness of purpose they are sure to win wealth, posi- tion, and a good name.

HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.

WILLIAM F. RUSSELL.

William F. Russell, third sou of Hon. Jeremiah Russell, was born at Trumpbour's Corners on the 14th day of Jan- uary, 1812. When two years of age his father moved to what is now the incorporated village of Saugerties.

The subject of this sketch when of suitable age attended the district school of the place, which at that time afforded but few advantages in the way of obtaining an education. At the age of thirteen he entered his father's store in the capacity of clerk. The business of his father having grown to large dimensions, and with it plenty of work for his small corps of elerks, the new clerk found himself so con- stantly employed he had no opportunity of acquiring an education other than was afforded in the stirring business scenes he passed through daily, and the association with the numerous patrons of the store and active business habits offered. The constant association and coming in con- tact with all classes from day to day, in the varied business of his father, gave the son a good opportunity to acquire a knowledge of human nature and to brighten up his busi- ness faculties. That he improved his opportunities well has been shown in a remarkable degree in his mature years. Ile continued in the employment of his father until his majority, when he, in connection with brother-in-law, Col. E. J. MeCarthy, purchased the stock of goods and good- will of the business from his father on a credit of four years without a dollar in cash to pay on the purchase.

On the 3d day of March, 1833, the new Erin of Russell & Mccarthy hung their banner on the water wall. They put new life and energy into the business, and taking the tide at its flood moved on the highway to fortune. The in- creasing care and labor incident proved too much for the un- initiated brother-in-law, and in 1836 he sold out his interest and located on the south side of the Esopus. Knowing no such word as fail, the survivor of the frin prosecuted the business with renewed energy and with marked snevess. To his enormous business in 1837 he added the purchase and sale of llucstone, that business being then in its in- fancy, awl which has so largely added to the wealth and importance of the town of Saugerties, and which has at the present time reached such fabulous dimensions in Ulster County. In 1840 he again associated with him E. J .. McCarthy, and continued the firm of Russell & MeCarthy until 1819. During the latter period the tina dealt very extensively in bluestone. In 1849 he sokl out to E. J. McCarthy, and closed his career as a merchant. He was appointed postimaster about 1833, and held the position until 1810. Ilis successor, Aaron Burr Dewitt, held the position but a short time, and in turn was succeeded by J. J. McCarthy, Esq., who held the position for several years.

Having been nurtured in the Democratie faith, and being a person of decided convictions, he took a prominent part in the politics of the day, his first vete being cast for " Old Hickory," in 1832. As early as 1810 he was chosen a ilelegate to the Young Men's Democratic State Convention held at. Utica. Being thus brought into association with many leading magnates of the party, and taken into their councils, he became prominently identified with his party.

In 1851 he was elected to the Assembly. While in the Legislature he was elected a member of a joint committee of the Senate and Assembly to examine and investigate the accounts of the comptroller, State treasurer, and auditor of the canal department, and the securities and condition of the banking department of the State of New York, a trust of great importance, and which was bestowed by his fricuds during his absence. Since that period there has scarcely been a time when he has not been honored with soure responsible position. In 1856 he was elected to the Thirty-fifth Congress, was appointed navy agent for the port of New York in 1859, and in 1860 he, in company with a number of leading gentlemen, established " The Sangerties Bank," now The Saugerties National Bank. of which he was chosen president, and has filled the position continuously since its organization.

While the deliberations of the convention for revision of the constitution of the State of New York were iu pro. gress, in 1874, at Albany, a vacancy occurred in this dis- trict by the death of Hon. William Cassidy, of Albany. In casting abont for a suitable person to fill said vacancy the place was tendered to Hon. William F. Russell by telegraph, but in consequence of the great pressure of busi- ness on his hands, he most respectfully declined the high honor so magnanimously tendered. He has been chosen to represent his party in county, State, judicial, and national conventions very many times, and as a member of the State central committee, etc.

Having attained a high reputation as a prompt, energetic, and thorough business man, and having discharged all trusts confided to his eare with great fidelity, his personal and political friends, Hon. T. R. Westbrook, justice of the Su- preme Court, and Hon. Augustns Schoonmaker, Jr., attor- ney-general of the State of New York, on the 20th day of March, 1878, tendered him, unasked and nusolicited, the receivership of the Six-Penny Savings-Bank in the city of New York. Owing to the great pressure of business on Lis hands, he very reluctantly accepted the trust, the duties of which are now being industriously discharged. With nearly thirty-three thousand depositors, and deposits in excess of one naillion eight hundred thousand dollars, the duties re- quire executive ability of a high order. Entering with His usual industry upon the duties of his trust, at the end of four months he was paying the depositors a dividend of fifty per cent. ; a second dividend of fifteen per cent. soon followed, and he hopes to pay the third and final dividend during the summer of 1880. The duties of his trust have been discharged with great rapidity and to the entire satis- faction of the depositors and the public.

Having resided in the village of Sangerties nearly all his life he has been intimately connected with its growth and prosperity ; he has witnessed its increase of population from one hundred to over four thousand. He has by a life of industry and frugality accumulated a large amount of property in town and village, and much that has tended to improve and adorn the latter can be directly traced to his efforts and liberality. In 186S he purchased the prop- erty on the corner of Main and Market Streets, the site of the old store in which he for many years proscouted the mereantile businces. In 1873 the building was razed to the

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Mitkusten

TOWN OF SAUGERTIES.

ground and on its site he erected the " Russell block," which, for beauty of proportion, style of finish, and dura- lility, will compare favorably with the best block of build- juss in the county of Ulster.

On the 9th day of October, 1833, William F. Russell married Miss Margaret Garey Keeney, of Norwich, Conn. Side by side they still travel the highway of life, and with fir prospects of being able to celebrate their golden wed- ding on the 9th day of October, 1883. They have no children.

JOHN KIERSTED, SR.,

was a sou of Dr. Christopher Kiersted, who was born in New York City in August, 1736. His grandfather was In- Iff Kiersted, and his grandmother Ann Van Zien. Dr. Ktersted married, on April 18, 1773, Leah, daughter of Hendrikus Du Bois, of New Paltz, and on May 14th of the same year moved to Saugerties, and purchased of David Du Bois what has since been the family homestead. The children born of this union were Ann, Henry, Jane, Luke, Henry (24), John, and Christopher. Dr. Christopher Kier- sted died March 23, 1791, and his wife, Leah, on Feb. 4, 1532. Prior to his marriage to the latter, Dr. Kiersted had, by a former marriage, one son, Ruloff, some of whose descendants reside in U'Ister County.

John Kiersted was born in Saugerties on Feb. 24, 1786, and passed the earlier years of his life on the old farm. At an early age he began the study of surveying with William Cockburn, of Plattekill, in the town of Saugerties, and, After the services of a regular apprenticeship, beemne a public surveyor, and in that profession passed his life. Owing to the wild state of the country and the unsettled condition of ostates and boundaries, his duties were often arduous and trying, and required in their performance the exercise of ervat skill and exactness. He became widely known, not only in Ulster, but in Sullivan, Delaware, and other counties, avl in 1814 represented the counties of Sullivan and U'lster in the State Legislature. He was a man of large enterprise, and, besides surveying, engaged extensively in other business ventures. He speculated largely in land, l'acte las agent for the travis and estates of other large ! . Lowners ; he carried on the lead business at Glen Erie, Liu Greene, Sullivan, and Ulster Counties was extensively changed in the tanning business. His life was a busy one, fil of activity and never-ceasing toil. He had the energy wol force of several men. He was favorably identified with the benevolent and Christian enterprises of his day, and a laember of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Sau- : rties, where he filled the offices of both deacon and elder. Il- died at Tannersville, Greene Co., while still pursuing ti.» busy round of his duties, on Dec. 3, 1862. His wife d. .. I at Saugerties on Jan. 27, 1800.

Mr. Kiersted occupied through life the oll family home- ".wl at Saugerties, now owned by his sons. The dwelling- Sme was built in 1727. On Jan. 19, 1811, he was sel in marriage to Nelly, daughter of Tobias Wynkoop, ' Saugerties, and had three sons,-Johu, a sketch of whose ale will be found immediately following ; Wynkoop, born May 18, 1818, and who is a prominent manufacturer of 10

leather at Bethel, in Sullivan Co .; and James, a leading citizen of the town of Ulster, who was born Dec. 2, 1821. Among the curious relies preserved in the family are an old French Bible, printed in 1638, and which formerly belonged to Ann Van Zien, and Leah Du Bois' Dutch Bible, printed in 1736.

JOIN KIERSTED, JR.,

the eldest sou of John Kiersted (a portrait of whom, and · a sketch of whose life, appear preceding), was born at Sau- gerties, Ulster Co., Feb. 8, 1813, and passed his earlier years ou the old homestead at that place. He completed his education, when about nineteen years of age, at the Al- bany Academy, then in charge of Dr. T. R. Beck as prin- cipal. Professor Joseph Henry, professor of mathematics, and later at the head of the Smithsonian Institute at Washi- ingten, was his instructor. His father being a practical surveyor, Mr. Kiersted felt an interest in that useful branch of science. and having acquired it, for several years pursued surveying as a business. Abandoning the regular practice of surveying, he next passed one year at the lead- mill in Glen Erie, and after that engaged in the tanning business in the counties of Ulster and Greene for about six years. He then joined his brother, Wynkoop, under the firm-name of W. Kiersted & Co., in the erection of a large tammery at Mougaup Valley, in the town of Bethel, Sullivan Co., and remained there one year to assist in the erection of the tammery. He then returned to his home at Sanger- ties, bat contiuned as a partner in the tonning .business until a few years ago. The firm of W. Kiersted & Co., with other parties, had a store iu New York for the pur- chase and sale of hides and leather in connection with their tanning business, after erecting the tannery at Bethel.

Mr. Kiersted next turned his attention to his native village, and was active in the organization, under the State law, of the Bank of Ulster at Saugerties, now known as the First National Bank of Saugerties, and of which he has been president fur a long term of years. At the head of an institution of this kind, Mr. Kiersted has been a pub- lie man in the broad sense of the term. Taking no active part in politics, avoiding politiedl office, he has been a man of the people, idemified with all enterprises having the publie welfare in view, and a liberal supporter of the be- nevolent and philanthropic enterprises of the day. He early connected himself with the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Saugerties, and has been prominent in its councils, filling the offices of both deacon and elder, and being an incumbent of the latter office at this writing. HIe is recognized as a safe and wise counselor, a man of strict integrity and unblemished reputation, and occupies a beauti- ful residence in Saugerties, which stands directly opposite the old stone house on the farm that has been in the pos- session of the family for several generations, and which is still owned by himself and brothers.

On Oct. 1, 1850, Mr. Kiersted was united in marriage to Maria A., daughter of Thomas S. Lockwood, of New- burgh, Orange Co., where Mrs. Kiersted was born. Three children have been born of this union : John Wynkoop and Edward Lockwood, cach of whom died in infancy, and

HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Mary Augusta, the second child, who is the wife of Francis l'idgeon, of Saugerties.

JOHN MAXWELL,

eldest son of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Heathington) Max- well, was born in Tyrone Co., Ireland, Jane 14, 1818. His father was a soldier in the British army under Sir John Moore and the Duke of Wellington. Was engaged in the Spanish campaign with the former, and was at the battle of Waterloo. For meritorious conduct and bravery on the battle-field in the latter engagement he received a medal, which is now in possession of the family.

In the year 1827, Mr. Maxwell's parents emigrated to this country, landing at Philadelphia, where they remained until 1830. In August of that year they removed to Greene County, and located in the Kantorskill Clove, near Palenville. In 1834 they removed to Quarryville, in the town of Saugerties, this county.

It was while attending school at this place that John Maswell received the first impulse in a direction that has proven his life-work, and in which, after many trial, he has made himself one of the most successful and prominent men in the country.

It was his custom, during his school recesses, to visit the stone-quarries of the place to observe, with great interest, the methods of getting the stone out, and to study with emre the stratification and other geological characteristics of the deposits. At the age of wineteen he hel so far mastered the various processes of quarrying as to possess a full and practical knowledge of the business, and to it he gave his entire time and attention, becoming a proprietor and asso- ciated with different individuals in the quarrying of stone.

...

In this he continued until the year 1861. when be en- gaged largely in the produce business, dealing principally in hay and grain, large quantities of which he shipped to the government during the war.

In the year 1865, Mr. Maxwell retired from this business, and soon became a trustee of the Bigelow Bluestone Com- paly; a company having full control of the large quarrying interests at Maklen ant Glasco, and a Irgc interest in the quarries at Saugerties. At first he was employed by the company as a salesman in Philadelphia and other points south. In 1867 he became associated with others in the management of the company's affairs. In the year 1868 he purchased stone on the line of the Delaware and Hudson Canal, in connection with J. O. Beers. Three years later he purchased Mr. Beers' interest, and also the stone busi- ness of the Bigelow Bluestone Company, on the Rondout and Oswego Railroad.

In the season of 1872-73, Mr. Maxwell located a yard at Rondout, opened an ofice in New York, and retired from the management of the Bigelow Bluestone Company, re-

maining, however, a stockholder. After one year he was elceted a trustee and made president of the latter company, and iu the spring of 1875 leased the entire property of the company for a long term of years. The first year after the execution of this lease Mr. Maxwell shipped to the market nine hundred thousand dollars' worth of stone, and at the present time (1880) his works are in full operation, and are the largest of their kind in the United States. From four to five hundred men are employed in quarrying the stone he buys, and in his mill and in his yard at Malden he em- ploys, on an average, one hundred and twenty-five more. During the summer season his pay-roll at Malden alone amounts to over one thousand dollars per week. His stone is purchased at Malden, Saugerties, and Glasco, also on the line of the Ulster and Delaware Railroad, on the Delaware and Hudson Caval, on the Erie Railroad, and several of its connections, the material reaching tide-water from the latter source at Newburgh, Jersey City, and Newark, N. J. He has wholesale depots at Rochester, on the Erie Caual, at Newark, N. J., Philadelphia, and Malden, N. Y. Ilis mas- ufacturing establishment at the latter point is vastly larger than any similar fustitution in the country. It is operated by a one-hundred-and-eighty horse-power steam-engine. and consists of fourteen gangs of saws, nine planers, and two rubbing-beds.

Mr. Maxwell has introduced bluestone into Philadelphia. Montreal, Toronto, Atlantic City, Cape May, Buffalo, at many other prominent places. He gives his whole attention to his large business, the slightest details of which are per- fectly familiar to him.

In politics Mr. Maxwell is a Republican, and while he has not been in any sense a secker after offire, he has been notably honored with the nomination and suffrages of his party. In the year 1867 he was nominated for member of' Assembly against Asa G. W. Smith, of Kingston, and was elected by nearly four hundred majority. In 1877 Le was a candidate for Congress against D. M. De Witt, and was defeated by ouly seventeen votes.

The home surroundings of Mr. Maxwell are of the most happy and pleasant character. On April 24, 1844, he was united in marriage to Sarah, daughter of James and Eliza- beth Maxwell, of Philadelphia. Three of his children are now living, -- Emma, wife of Samuel J. Adam-, of Sauger- ties, and sons, James T. and William L. Maxwell, in whowa he has the utmost confidence, and who ably assist him in the management of his large business.

Mr. Maxwell is in the enjoyment of perfect health, and happy in the proud consciousness of the fact that he has filled his appointed place in life with honor and profit to himself and pleasure to his friends. Starting from an humble station, his has been a singularly trying and toilsome journey along life's devions pathway, and the success that has crowned it has only been achieved by untiring energy, faithful attention to business, and striet integrity.

John Magnall 1

TIA

TOWN OF SAUGERTIES.

ASA BIGELOW.

Asa, the first settler of the name of Bigelow in Ulster Cuanty, was a son of David and Patience Bigelow, and was born at Marlborough, in the State of Connectient, on the 15th day of January, 1779.

John Baguley, or Bigelow, the ancestor of the numerous families of Bigelows in New England, came from Cheshire, England, to Watertown, in the colony of Massachusetts, where on the 30th of October, 1642, he married Mary Warren, who was also born in England. He died July 14, 1703, aged eighty-six years. He left twelve children. Several of his grandchildren settled in Marlborough,* Mass. Ilis son John, born in 1643, and grandson Isaae, born in 1490, settled in Connertient. They are presumed to be among the early settlers of the town of Marlborough, in the State of Connecticut, and to have brought with them to their new home the name of the place which one of them at least had left, and which was consecrated to both by the tenderest associations.

Asa Bigelow's grandfather, David Bigelow, died at Marl- borough, on the 2d of June, 1799, in the ninety-third year of his age. His grandmother, Mary, died Jan. 5, 1795, in the eighty-sixth year of her age.

While yet a lad of fourteen, Asa entered the store of David Kilbourn, a merchant in the town of Farmington, in the State of Connecticut, and was at the same time ie. ceived into Mr. Kilbouru's family on the footing of a sou. ilis school education was liudited to four winter months' attendance at the district school in that place.

He remained with Mr. Kilbourn till he became of age, when he opened a store on his own account in the town of Colebrook. While residing there, and on the 18th day of February, 1802, he married Lucy Isham, a daughter of Samuel and Mary Isham, of Colchester, who was a Miss Adams, - he in his twenty-third and his wife in her twenty-second year. He was reasonably successful in his business, and in the course of four or five years accumulated x few hundred dollars, but, faneying there was a wider sphere of action for young men in the " far West," he mounted his horse one day, and, with all the money of which he was possessed stuffed into his saddle-bags, started in the State of New York,-the "far West" of that pe- rio.1,-accompanied on another horse by his brother-in-law, 11. Roswell Bradley, who had married Mrs. Asa Bigelow's ister, Sally Isham. The pilgrims crossed the Hudson River at Catskill, and traveled southward along its west branch as far as Flatbush. Here Mr. Bigelow was inclined to purchase a tract of land on the river and settle, but

"" The Bigelows came to Marlborough, Muss., froin Watertown. Y !. . family was early in the country, and may be traced to a remote ; and in England, even to the reign of Henry III., when the name es, written Baguley, and was derived from the place where they Awelt. Richard at that time was Lord of Baguley, and his descend- .. ! took the name of the place. In the reign of Henry VIL .. Ralph Papules was Lord of Ollerton Hall, and died 1340, leaving Randall $. i Nicholas. Randall died 1556, and his sons, Philip and Robert, 1 ): Ir l bis estate. Robert died 1582, leaving Randall and John, both «! whoma moved lo Suffolk. Randall died 1626, leaving two sons, Tra .. " .. and John. Francis diel 1657, and gare, by will, a portion of te property to his brother John, who was then in New England."- Il vory of the Town of Marlborough, Mais, by Charles Hudson, p. 325.

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History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Vol. II, Part 16

Author: Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, 1825-1894. cn Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 818

Author: Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, 1825-1894. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 818