USA > New York > Ulster County > History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Vol. II > Part 26
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LITTLE
Thalham Cindy
and having erected the dwelling-house and other buildings upon it, took up a permanent residence as a farmer and fruit-grower in Marlborough.
Aside from his farm-duties, Mr. Purdy has found time to devote himself quite largely to public affairs. A member of the Democratic party, he has filled various offices in the town, among others those of commissioner of highways, in- spector of elections, and justice of the peace ; being elected to the latter office in 1878 for a terin of four years. He is the agent for the town of the Quassaiek National Bank of Newburgh, and through him a large portion of the banking business of his loeality is carried on. With this business he also associates that of a real estate and insurance agent. Iu 1871 he became a member of the Presbyterian Church of Marlborough, and has been the treasurer of the board of trustees since 1873. Ile enjoys a wide influence in the town, and his advice and counsel are sought by many of his fellow-townsuien ; his dealings being characterized by strict integrity, and based on conscientious principles.
In August, 1862, Mr. Purdy was commissioned by the Governor of the State as a recruiting. officer at Marlborough, with the rank of second lieutenant. He immediately opened an office in the town, and raising his quota of thirty-three meu, became an officer in Company G, 156th Regiment, New York State Volunteers. In December, 1862, the com- pany formed a portion of Banks' expedition to New Orleans, and subsequently participated in several important engage- ments, in which Lieut. Purdy took part, at times being in
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106
HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
command of the company. A portion of the time while in service Lieut. Purdy had conunand of the guard at Gen. Banks' headquarters, and was detailed as the commander of the company to stand gnard at Plaquemine, La. He per- formed his military duties with fidelity and exactness, and resigned in February, 1864, on a surgeon's certificate of disability.
Ou Jan. 7. 1S58, Mr. Purdy was united in marriage to Helen, daughter of Daniel Tooker, of Marlborough. The children are Misses Carrie, Ella, and Fanny Purdy.
BENJAMIN POYER.
Thomas Poyer, the grandfather of Benjamin, was a native of England, and a clergyman of the Established Church. He was sent to America as a missionary, and iu 1709 his fickt
LITTLE
BENJAMIN POYER.
of labor was Jamaica, Long Island. Not much is known of his family, except that a son of his was a resident of Fishkill, N. Y., during the Revolutionary war. At the close of the latter he returned to New York City, and died soon after.
Joseph, the father of Benjamin, was born at Fishkill, Dutchess Co., and was a weaver by trade, and also engaged in farming. He married Martha Rogers, of Fishkill, and resided at that place until 1819, when he removed to New Paltz, Ulster Co., where he pursued his usual avocation until his death, in 1854. Ilis wife died in 1859. His children were Elizabeth, Thomas, Margaret, Benjamin, Maria, Harriet, Jacob, and Caroline.
Benjamin Poyer was born at Fishkill on June 6, 1803, and passed the earlier years of his life on his father's farm, enjoying meanwhile the benefits of the district schools of his locality. In 1839 he hired a farm in the town of Esopns, aud after one year removed to Fairfax Co., Va., where he remained eight years, engaged in farming. At the expiration of this period Mr. Poyer purchased the
Stephen Poweil farm, in Esopus, and tilled it for two years. He then purchased a farm in the town of New Paltz, and resided at that point nearly two years. In 1850 he took up his residence in Marlborough, purchasing the Richard Fowler farm, better known as the " old Capt. Lock wwwxd place." Here he remained until his death, on Feb. 26, 1879.
Mr. Poyer, though a member of the Republican party, took no active part in polities, and was never a seeker after public office. He was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church of Marlborough, and one of the building committee at the time of the erection of the present band- some house of worship. He also filled the office of trustee in the church. Ile passed his years within the inner circle of life, laboring industrionsly upon his farm, was recognized as a substantial and valuable citizen, and enjoyed the respect and confidence of all. He was twice married. His first wife was Ann, daughter of Stephen Powell, of Esopus, by whom he had three children, viz. : Stephen, John C., and Virginia C. Stephen died while serving as a soldier in the late Rebellion ; John occupies the home-farm ; Virginia C. became the wife of Dr. Solomon E. Hasbrouck, of New Paltz, in 1871. He died on March 15, 1872, leaving one child. She is the present wife of Edward W. Du Bois, of Marlborongh. Mr. Poyer's first wife died in 1863. On Sept. 14, 1865, he married Martha A., daughter of Charles Tooker, of Marlborough, who is his surviving widow.
LEONARD S. CARPENTER.
Benjamin Carpenter, the ancestor of the Carpenter family in Ulster County, came from England about the year 1778, and located at Oyster Bay, Long Island. One of his chil- dren was Joseph, who located in the town of Marlborough, Ulster Co., about the year 1753. Ile married Sarah hat- ting, of Oyster Bay, and had children, Merey, Benjamin. Iatting, Sarah, Joseph, Richard, Wright, and Mary. Wright married Ann Smith, of Newburgh, N. Y. Ilis children were Luff, Asa, Mobury, Mary, Ann, Joseph, Sarah, Leonard, Latting, Ruth, and Hannah.
Leonard S. Carpenter was born in the town of Mar! borough on Oct. 28, 1804, and was the third child of Capt. Mobury aud Anna (Merritt) Carpenter:
The brothers and sisters of Mr. Carpenter were Leon- ard, born Sept. 18, 1801, died Jan. 30, 1802; Josiah W., born Sept. 17, 1802, died April, 1843; Alathea, born April 13, 1806, who became the wife of Michael Wygart, of Marlborough, and who died in 1875; Charles L., born June 8, 1808, died March 15, 1869; Ann Adelia, born Jan. 30, 1811, and who is still living; and James Carpet- ter, born Dee. 14, 1814, and who has long been a prominent merchant of Marlborough.
Our subject passed the earlier years of his life in assist- ing his father in running a sloop to New York, and in various enterprises which his father carried on in the luca !. ity in which he resided, in connection with the transporta- tion business. His educational advantages were limited.
Upon attaining manhood he still continued au able and valuable assistant of his father, until about the year 1532. when he established a wood-yard in New York City, cual
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TOWN OF MARLBOROUGH.
Ling then less plentiful than now. On April 1st of the following year, in company with his brother-in-law, Dennis !! Doyle, Mr. Carpenter purchased a portion of the old Merritt farm, and the two carried on the business of farm- ze : and fruit-raising until the death of Mr. Doyle, ou Jan. :9, 1844, when Mr. Carpenter became the sole owner.
Aside from his occupation as a farmer, Mr. Carpenter was prominently identified with the Quassaick National Bank of Newburgh, N. Y., for a long term of years, and was one of the directors of that institution at the time of
its organization. He was afterwards its vice-president for a long period, a portion of the time acting as president. This position made him the banker of his town and locality, and through him a large portion of the banking business of that section was transacted.
Averse to the holding of public office, he was promi- nently identified with the benevolent and Christian cuter- pises of his day, and folt a deep interest in the material de- i lement of his native town. lic was one of the organ- iz es of Christ Episcopal Church, Marlborough, and for many years held its chief offices. The ground on which the church stands, as well as the cemetery back of it, was donated to the church by Mr. Carpenter and Dennis II. Doyle.
On May 17, 1832, Mr. Carpenter was united in marriage Eliza Doyle, daughter of John S. Purdy, of Marlbor- ough .- Two children were born. of the union, Dennis M. Carpenter, a successful member of the bar, now residing in Marlborongh on his father's homestea l, and Hester Doyle, wife of Daniel D. Barnes, of Middlehope, Orange Co.
In August, 1869, Mr. Carpenter was again married, to Hunnah, daughter of Daniel T. and Mary (Reeve) Smith, of Hampton, Orange Co. This lady died without issue in November, 1877.
-""Mr. Carpenter dind in March, 1875, and his first wife iu October, 1865.
JACOB HANDLEY
is a son of Valentine Ilandley, who resided at Baltimore, Md., in 1812. and who subsequently resided at Hanover. He was a blacksmith by trade, and after locating at different points, finally settled in Philadelphia, where he passed a large portion of his life. His wife was Margaret Horting, and the children Jacob, Mary, Benjamin, Catharine, Joanna, Margaret, and two others, who died in infancy.
Jacob Handley was born Dee. 12, 1804, at Caughnawaga, Pa. At the age of eight or nine years he hired out in the
JACOB HANDLEY.
business of making night-lamps of cork and cards. Sub- sequently he was a shepherd-boy, near Philadelphia, and tended his flocks in the neighborhood of the preseut site of Girard College. When twelve years of age he was bound out as an apprentice to a shoemaker, and after several years he was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker, in the same city. In beth of these avocations Mr. Handley was compelled to work very hard and without compensation. During his boyhood days he received no opportunity to acquire an edu- cation, but enjoyed only the opportunities of learning afforded in the Sabbath-school, where he learned to read. Subsequently he was a close student of books, and at odd times passed through a valuable and rigid course of self- education. All of these earnest efforts at the attainment of an education were made in the face of opposition upon the part of bis master.
Upon reaching his majority, Mr. Handley commenced work in Philadelphia as a journeymian cabinet-maker at two dollars a week. In 1825 he removed to New York City, where he worked at piece-work, working with the firm of Miller & Stoutenburgh for eight years at day's work. In 1827, Mr. Handley married Miss Phebe Piggett, of New York. This lady died in 1878, after over fifty years of married life.
In 1834, Mr. Handley established business as a looking- glass-frame maker, in New York City, and in the winter of
108
HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
1835-36 he purchased his first real estate in that city, which he still owns. In 1840 he removed to Milton, Ulster Co., N. Y., and purchased his present residence near that village. He continued, however, to carry on his business in New York City for three years longer. At Milton, Mr. Handley engaged in real-estate transactions, and at this writing he owus a large amount of property in and around that place. For many years he has been the leading owner of real estate in the town, and has done much in building up and beauti- fying the village. Ile is the owner of both the hotels in Milton. As a member of the firm of Pratt, Handley & Co., he engaged largely in the transportation business on the Hudson at one time, and subsequently carried on that busi- ness for several years hituself. He owns the principal doek at Milton.
Mr. Handley has pursued a singularly active and busy life, and from a small beginning, by earnest labor, frugality, and the exercise of execlient judgment he has worked up to a position of responsibility in the town, and is universally respected and esteemed. In politics he is a Republican, but has never been a seeker after office, and has filled no office in the town but that of assessor. Having now at- tained the ripe old age of seventy-five, he still manifests great activity and business enterprise, and is a well-pre- served and intelligent gentleman.
Mr. Handley had ten children, of whom Alonzo J., Cor- delia A., Theophelia G., and Florence A. attained years of maturity. Theophelia G. is the wife of William HI. Town- seud, a merchant of Milton, aml Florence A. is the wife of Charles Weston, of New York City.
JOJIN B. BALL
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is a lineal descendant in the seventh generation.from Edward Ball, who was born about 1640, came to this country from Wales in the year 1664, and located at Branford, Coun., where he married Abigail, daughter of Thomas Blachley. On October 25th of the following year, in company with twenty-five persous, he settled on the site of the present prosperous city of Newark, N. J., where he remained, and where some of his descendants are still bonored and useful citizens. Others live in different parts of New Jersey and the United States. He was a man of influence and prominence, and ocenpied positions of trust and responsi- bility among his fellows. He was high-sheriff of Essex Co., N. J., in 1692 and 1693, and filled many minor offices. His last appearance in publie life was as a member of the grand jury of Essex County, in February, 1709-10. He was living in June, 1724, being then at an advanced age.
The children of Edward and Abigail Ball consisted of four sons and two daughters, viz. : Caleb, Joseph, Moses, Thouras, Abigail, and Lydia. Caleb and his wife, Sarah, had two sons, Caleb' and John, who moved to Hanover, N. J., before 1740. Joseph died in 1733, and left chil- dret. Moses died in 1747, leaving no issue. Thomas died in 1747, and left children. Abigail became the wife of Daniel Harrison, and died leaving children. Lydia mar- ried Joseph Peck, and left children.
John, son of Caleb 2d, left three sous, David, Daniel, and
Samuel. David left a family. Daniel had five wives, and died in 1820, aged eighty-three. Samuel was twice mar- ried ; his first wife was Miss Miller, of Elizabeth, N. J. and the children of the union were Annie, Elizabeth, and Cornelius. His second wife was the widow Plume, where maiden name was Deborah Forrand, and his children by this marriage were Aaron, Samuel, Electa, Lydia, Sarah, John, James, Harvey, Amzi, and Deborah.
Cornelius, son of Samuel, by his first wife, was married at Chathaus, N. J., on Sept. 4, 1786, to Sarah Budd. ITis children were Phebe, born Sept. 20, 1788, and who married David Edwards, of Chatham, N. J .; Jacob G., born Sept. 9, 1790 ; Burn. Budd, born Dee. 26, 1793, who served in the war of 1S12, and afterwards settled in Indiana; Wil- liam, born Nov. 28, 1795, and who settled in Ohio, about 1814; Samuel, born April 12, 1797, and who located in Mobile, Ala., in 1818; and Mary, born Sept. 15, 1800, and who married Thomas Thompson, of Morean, Saratoga Co., N. Y.
Jacob G. Ball, father of the subject of this sketch, was a potter by trade, and married Lucretia Hoyt, at Norwalk. Conn., on Nov. 30, 1809. The children of this union were Albert, born Sept. 13, 1810, who married Susan Depew, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1833, and who settled in Texas, in 1840; Williamn, born Aug. 21, 1912, and who resides at Northumberland, Saratoga Co., N. Y .; Mary E., bort June 10, 1815, who married Abner Brown, and who also resides in Northumberland; George, born May 9, 1817, a successful and prosperous merchant of Galveston, Texas : Charles, born April 4, 1819, who married Rebecca Sim !- son, of Ponghkeepsie, N. Y., and who went overland t .. California, in 1849, where he still resides; Sarah, born May 14, 1821, died Oct. 8, 1824; John B., our subject ; James, born Feb. 14, 1825, who married Sarah Scott, of Poughkeepsie, in 1851, and who died at that place on May 9, 1862, of fever contracted while serving in the Union army in North Carolina; Job, born March 1, 1827, who went to Texas in 1846, and afterwards to New Mexico, where he now resides; Harriet, born Jan. 20, 1829, died August, 1833; Nettie, born Jan. 8, 1831, and who mas- ried T. J. Girardeau, at Galveston, Texas, on Nov. 14. 1872; and Lueretia 11., born April 8, 1833, aud who mar- ried Robert S. Armstrong, of Milton, Aug. 31, 1873.
Jacob G. Ball married the widow Hoxie, of Pough- keepsie, for a second wife, on Dee. 4, 1836, and had ihre: childreu by the union, viz. : Samuel, born March 25, 18 ... who married Elizabeth Thompson, of Moreau, N. Y., at 1 settled at Scotch Plains, N. J. ; Ellen, born July 14, 1:40, and who removed to California in 1863, where she matric! R. G. Stanwood, of Marysville; and Burn. B., born March 17, 1842, who served in the regular army of the Unit-l States during the late Rebellion, and who married Adelaide Mackey, of Milton, N. Y.
John B. Ball was born in Northumberland, Saratoga Co . N. Y., on April 5, 1823, and was the seventh chil! ! Jacob G. and Lucretia (Iloyt) Ball. He passed his cart. : years at work on the farm of his father, attending the i' triet school in the winter season. In the year 1836 he ?- moved to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and worked in a pottery which his father owued at that point. Ju the spring !!
John B Ball
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109
TOWN OF ESOPUS.
1841 he went to Kingston, this county, and worked at the pottery business two years. He then entered the foundry of J. W. Baldwin, at Kingston, as an apprentice in the moulding business. After two years he removed to Milton, and commenced work as a journeyman in the Milton Foun- dry, then owned and operated by Dr. Lee Eusign. In a few years he purchased a quarter and then a half interest in the business, and finally became, in 1855, the sole pro- prietor of the foundry. From that time until April 1, 1869, Mr. Ball continued to successfully operate the foun- dry, giving it a wide reputation, and being recognized for many years as one of the leading manufacturers of the
county. The enterprise is now conducted by Robert S. Armstrong, Mr. Ball having retired from active business. He occupies a handsome residence overlooking the Hudson. and is one of the most substantial and most highly esteemed citizens of Milton.
In the spring of 1848, Mr. Ball was united in marriage to Sarah Brown, who was reared from a child in the family of George Ilallock, of Milton. This lady died Feb. 19, 1874, leaving no issue. His present wife is Maggie B., daughter of J. Oscar Clarke, of Marlborough, whom he mar- ried in October, 1877. By this uniou an infant son, John B. Ball, Jr., has been born.
ESOPUS.
I .- SITUATION, BOUNDARIES, AREA, TITLE.
Esopus is one of the castern towns of the county, and lies between the Hudson River and the valley formed by the Wallkill and the Rondout. It is bounded on the north hy Kingston, on the cast by the county line, on the south by Lloyd and New Paltz, and on the west by Rosendale and Ulster. The area of the town, as stated in the census of 1875, eumprised 19,898 aeres. Of this area 12,607 acres were improved and 7291 aeres unimproved. Of the latter 6050 acres were woodland, leaving 1232 acres described as " other uvimproved." The territory of the town comprises portions of the three ancient patents, the Kingston, the Hurley, and the New Paltz. About two-thirds of the northern and central portious are from the Kingston patent, the southern portion from the New Paltz, and a barrow strip next to the Wallkill from the Hurley patent. The title to these patents is explained fully in the general history.
We add two extracts from the revised statutes, showing the legal description of the town :
"The town of Fxopus shall contain all that part of said county bounded casterly by the bounds of the county ; southerly by New Paltz ; westerly and portherly by the east bank of the Wallkill till its coufineuce with the Rondout Creek ; and thenve by the middle of said creek to the bounds of the county."-Racist States, vol. i. page 2JS.
" All that part of the north portion of the town of New Paltz lying and being north of a line commencing on the Hudson River at the southeast corner of the farm now ownel and occupied by William Waring, and running thence north fifty-eight degrees and forty-five minutes west to the Wallkill River, then up along said river as it runs to the present line of the town of Esopus, is hereby set off and annexed to, and shall hereafter form a part of, the town of Esopus."-Lecce of 1542, Chap. 215 ; also Revised Statutes, vol. i. page 215.
II .- NATURAL FEATURES.
The surface of this town is somewhat rohing in the eastern part ; elevations of considerable height occur in the central, and the country is broken and hilly in the western portion. Inclosed between the river and the Rondout Creek, the topography is marked and peculiar. Hussey*
Hill -- said to be named for an Indian -- is one thousand feet high, and other summits farther south rise to the height of one thousand six hundred and thirty-two feet above tide- water.
There are no very important streams except those which form the boundaries. The Swarte Kill, rising on the slopes of the eentral hills, flows southward into the town of New Paltz. Black Creek consist of two branches, one from the south and the other from the north. It flows into the Hudson a short distance south of Elmore's Corners, and not far from the junction of the two branches. Several unimportant rivulets flow into the Wallkill, and others into the Rondout below the junction. There are several pouls in the town, and these with the varied scenery of hill and dale constitute landscapes of considerable beauty. The high grounds along the Hudson are well adapted to villa sites, and many of these are crowned with handsome resi- dences.
This town having an extensive river-front along the Hudson, and bordering also upon the navigable waters of the Rondout, has many facilities for commerce, and its shipping interests are of much importance.
III .- EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The territory now included in the town of Esopus was originally known as Cline Esopus, to distinguish it from the larger tract called Esopus, north and west of the Rondout and the Wallkill. A few families settled upon this tract before 1700. The records of deeds in the county clerk's office and the general annals of Kingston give some clue to the naines aud location of these settlers. The southern portion of this town was a part of the New Paltz patent, and a narrow triangle along the Wallkill and the Roudout was a part of the Hurley patent. To the chapters upog these three towns respectively, reference is made for the full details of early settlement.
A very early deed is shown by the following memorandum :
Feb. 13, 1688 .- The Trustees of Kingston granted uuto Chies West. phalen and Abel Westphalen a tract of land " lying aud being upon
There are memoranda from old deeds showing Frolerick Hussey to have owned land in that vicinity.
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110
HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Hudson's River to the Northward of the Kullikoon Hook, and so along sait river to the bounds of Capt. John Sprague."
The location of this is very clearly indicated. It must have been a large tract, and the language used indicates that John Sprague was also living somewhere south of what is now Port Ewen. As no other names are given in describing the boundaries, it is evident these were probably the earliest settlers.
The following notes by Mr. Benjamin Niese, both about his own ancestors and also several other families, atford further information concerning early settlement.
Ilis great-grandfather came from Holland, and settled at a very early day down the river. His son was Laurens Niese, whose homestead was in the town of Esopus. The sons of Laurens were Johannes, George, Jacob, Laurens, Jr. ; daughters, Mr .. Benjamin Slater and Mrs. Richard Van Vleet. George died in this town (was married and drowned ; his son Eli-ba alse met the same death). Jacob died unmarried, and also Laurens. Johannes lived at Greenkill, on the present place owned by Caspar De Graff. The sons of Johannes were Benjamin (born Dee. 8, 179S), Jacob, Peter, Isaae; daughters, Anna, who married and settled in Marbletown; Elizabeth (Mrs. Van Aken, and after his death Mrs. Hiram Terpenning); Maria (Mrs. Russell Benton); Blaudina, who married and settled at New Paltz.
Benjamin Niese was first chosen to the office of constable in the year 1823; in 1924 constable and collector, and to 1832 inelusive. In 1833 he was chosen justice of the peace and served a fall term. He was again elected and served almost continuously until Jan. 1, 1879. Benjamin Niese's mother's name was Van Aken. Her ancestors bad been in Esopus for several generations. The old Van Aken homestead of Mr. Niese's ancestors was at Greenkill, nearly opposite Whiteport. The property now belongs to the estate of the late A. Bruyn Hasbrouck. Mrs. Niese's father's name was Benjamin Van Aken.
The old Ephraim Laws homestead under the mountain is now veenpied by a great-grandson of the same name. The sons of the first Ephraim were Jacobus and Abraham. Ephraim Louw is mentioned as overseer of the highways in the Kingston weerda, 1788.
The John Van Vleet homestead was also under the mountain, -- the homestead now occupied by Garret I. Ficer. This place is not as early as the Louw's given above. Among the sons of John Van Vleet were Jolin, Jr., and Jacob.
Martinus Eckert is mentioned as an overseer of the higli- ways for territory now in Esopus, in the Kingston records, 1788.
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