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 7
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Several attempts are said to have been made by various parties to purchase the property for the purpose of estab- lishing business, but all failed to close the contract ; and so the " old lead-mill" stood for years a picturesque rain, worthy the pencil of an artist, the interior steadily ravaged by village boys, the outside walls standing firm, but the large old water-wheel falling beneath the touch of decay, until a few years sinee fire swept away the old landmark, leaving only the blackened ruius to designate the site ou which it stood.
Besides the enterprises of magnitude mentioned under the head of "industrial pursuits," there were at Saugerties vil- lage at one time a starch-factory, a vinegar-factory, a cooper establishment, and a grist-mill, a portion of which were de- stroyed by fire and the others abandoned. There was also up the creek an establishment brewing ale, abandoned thirty years ago or more.
In recent years a lager-beer brewery is in active manu- facture, having a large and handsome brick building.
Henry Barclay .- Although Mr. Barclay's extensive basi- ress enterprises are fully mentioned elsewhere, yet a notice of Saugerties village can senareely be complete without at least a brief sketch of the man himself. He was a grand- son of Rev. Henry Barclay, D.D., who was the second rector of Trinity Church, New York City, and died there in 1704. Thomas Barelay, son of the minister, and father of Heury Barclay, was a prominent citizen of the metrop- olis, and was British consul at that port for many years. Heury Barclay was engaged in business in that city for some time with his brother, George Barclay, prosecuting it with diligence and success, and sustaining uninterruptedly an unsullied reputation for honor and integrity. In 1826 they dissolved partnership, and the firm was afterward known as Barclay & Livingston. . The year before fleury Barclay had visited Saugerties, purchased an extensive water-privilege, and at the dissolution of the partnership removed here to spend the rest of his life in active business, and found, as he hoped, " a model village."
At his purchase he had immediately inaugurated the great enterprises that still remain to attest his genius and
foresight, --- the erection of a dam across the Esopus, the cutting of a raceway through several hundred yards of solid rock, the paper-mill, and the iron-works were all begun immediately and pushed with vigor.
The paper-mill was put in operation in October, 1527. the iron-works in March of the following year, and from that time to this, with only brief interruptions, the clatter of machinery and the busy hum of unwearied industry have been heard in Saugerties. Under the impulse of these extensive works, and the business created in connection with them, the luannlet of a few small houses developed into a place that rivaled the shire towns on this side of the river north and south. A half-century of steady business, scarcely interrupted by drouths, floods, or strikes, and never sus- pended by failure, has created a town of 4000 inhabitants, second only to Rondout and Kingston in the county of Ulster. The homestead of Mr. Barclay was known as U'ry, after the e Id family place in Scotland. The house was taken down in 1854, to give place to the residence of Mr. J. B. Sheffield.
Mr. Barclay and his wife were refined and cultured in their tastes. They adorned their grounds with shrubbery. neatly trimmed and well cultivated. But the secret of their power and their happy influence over this growing eommu- nity rested neither wholly nor chiefly on their business energy or their culture.
He was of deep religious temperament and strongly at- tached to the forms and faiths of that historic church whose Bible and prayer-book have traveled with England's drum-beat round the world. He was largely the founder of the Episcopal church which beautifully crowns the summit of the hills on the south of the Esopne. Earlier than that, however, he was wont to read the church service at his residence every Sabbath morning. Often a hundred or more gathered there, many of them English irop-workers with their families. His wife was his inseparable companion in all of these good works.
As the village grew and poverty, sickness, sorrow, and even crime mingled in the current of its busy life, Mr. Barclay and his wife were often at the bedside of the sick, carrying physical and spiritual comfort to the sorrowing. gentle reproof and kindly syropathy to the erring and the sinning. But they were not exclusive ; there was no bigotry. Mr. Barclay was an active worker in the Sunday-school of the Reformed Church before the founding of " Trinity," and loved to teach the principles of religion and the truth of the gospel. His Christiau sympathies were hemmed in by no sectarian lines.
He also shared largely in various benevolent enterprises. The Bible Society and the temperanee cause found in him an active support. At an carly day adopting total abstin- ence as the rule of his life and his household, he brought the weight of his example and his precepts to arrest the strides of intemperance, to rescue the fallen, and to save others from falling.
A tablet has been erected in Trinity Church to his mem- ory. In the old cemetery of the church a broad marble slab marks the last resting-place of this noble man and his devoted wife.
It bears the following inscription :
41
TOWN OF SAUGERTIES.
" Sacred To the memory Of Henry Barclay. Born on Long Island, Oct. 27, 1778. Died at Saugerties, N. Y., Jan. 3, 1551.
Be ye also ready, for in such an hour As ye think not the Son of Man cometh.
Also To the memory of Catherine, Wife of Henry Barely. Born in the City of New York, July 21, 1782. Djed at Sangerties, N. Y., Jan. 7, 1-31.
Watel. and pray.
They were lovely and pleasant in their lives. And in death they were not divided."
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The Press of Saugerties .- The Saugerties Press is a large, handsome weekly, now in its thirty-fourth year. Its present proprietor is G. W. Elting. It aims to supply " an independent weekly journal of local and general news and choice literature." It was established in 1816 by Solouion S. Hommel, and was known as the Ulster Telegraph, cor- responding with what was then the name of the village. Subsequently the present name was adopted. It afterwards passed to the ownership of Mr. G. B. Elting. Proprietors suceceding the founder were R. B. Taylor, Gates & Freligh, and William Hull. The firm of Elting & Rosepaugh pur- chased the property in 1857, and in 1864 Mr. Elting became the sole owner.
The Pearl .- This was a unique journalistic enterprise during the year 1875 by Leon Barritt and Edward Jerne- gan. It was a monthly, and illustrated by photographs of scenery in the town, and of public buildings. principal streets, and several private residences. The literary execu- tion was superior and the typographical work excellent. It contained many valuable historical articles, of which: free use has been made in compiling this chapter. The bound volume is a handsome book, highly prized by the families owning a copy, and repeatedly quoted by the people of Sangerties in discussion of historical questions.
The Evening Post .- This daily was started in 1877 February 22) by Jernegan & Rosepaugh. In June fol- Wwwing Mr. Rosepaugh sold out to his partner, and it has since been edited and published by Edward Jeruegan. At first it was 10 inches hy 16; Nov. 18, 1878. it was en- Larged to 13 by 20; Jan. 5, 1880, it was again enlarged 1 .its present size, 18 by 26.
Started as a doubtful experiment, it has proven success- fal and has a large advertising patronage as well as a good subscription-list. The daily Post bas evidently " come to stay."
Industrial Pursuits,-The present business of Saugerties village may be briefly stated as follows : Samuel Merclean, justice of the peace and insurance agent ; Joseph Smith, I. Whitaker, Peter Cantine, Carroll Whitaker, Charles Davis, Herman Winans, Benjamin M. Coon, Bernard & Tieto, attorneys and counselors-at-law; Exchange Hotel, Isaac Signor; hats and caps, James G. Teller ; millinery,
Mrs. D. A. French; tobacco-store, Henry A. Ohley; wagons, buggies, and carriages, S. G. Searing ; lumber and coal, Van Etten & Bnrbans; Saugerties Savings-Bank, John Kier ted president ; dry goods, groceries, and general assort- ment, Burhans & Brainard, also dealers in North River blue stone; meat-market, James D. Brink ; cartage and trucking, Windsor Doyle ; hair-dressing, shaving, ete., Philip Mattes ; meat-market, Edgar Blackwell; furniture undertaking, Mark Deavlin ; saddle- and harness-maker, William E. Kipp; car- riage- and sleigh-shop, Caleb Rowe; harness, James G. Teller ; coal and lumber, HI. L. & B. Finger ; furniture and undertaking, J. Rosepaugh and Seamon Brothers; house, sign, and ornamental painting, Charles Quase; bakery, J. Brede & Co. ; carriage painting, John A. Myer ; oyster- and dining-saloon, A. J. Fiero ; grocery- and provision-store, A. Preston & Son ; boots and shoes, Isaac Whitbeck ; flour- and feed- store, A. Carnright; J. H. Reed, physician, and dealer in popular prescriptions; house and sigu painter, grainer, mirbler, and gilder, Donald MePherson; druggists, Willim D. Van Buskirk & Brother; Saugerties Institute, Albort B. Wiggin, principal; Rightmyer's Family Drug-Store; dry-goods, groceries, and crockery, Fred. T. Russell; watches, jewelry. etc .. J. M. Murphy ; groceries, and dealer in country produce, Moses Schoenfeld ; watches, jewelry, etc., Mark Swartz; Sangerties and Palenville stage, David C. Mower ; new dental rooms, Dr. James W. Cotting ; a general assortment of dry goods and groceries, C. C. Fiero ; flour, feed, meal, etc., Freligh Brothers; merchant tailor, Albert Cohen; dentist, M. M. Friselle; Ziegler Brothers, oysters ; fruits, vegetables, canned goods, country produce, J. IT. Hardenbergh ; groceries and provisions, Daniel Cur- ley ; flour, feed, and groceries, Egbert Cooper; books, sta- tionery, jewelry, T. J. Barritt; hair-dressing and shaving saloon, Lewis HI. Kleeber ; revolvers, gold pens, perfumery, watches, jewelry, J. M. Murphy; confectionery, A. J. Fiero ; boot- and shoe-store, Mrs. Mary Smith ; watches, jewelry, Mark Swarcz; Teush's Photographic Gallery ; house, sign, and ornamental painting, Jacob Rahm ; Pho- nix Hotel, Henry Turck ; general hardware-store, Searing & Post.
As this work is not a business directory, the above is ouly intended as a general statement, comprised mostly of those advertising in the village papers.
WEST CAMP
is in the northeast corner of the town, and is the site of the Palatine settlement of 1710-11. In modern times it has been a place for considerable shipments of blue stone and other freighting business. Several families in this vicinity receive summer boarders. Trade has mostly been transferred to other points. The West Camp business is now mostly located at Smith's Landing, a little north and within Greene County. Watson Crawford, of West Camp, does a large stone business at Smith's Landing.
KAATSBAAN
is a neighborhood of early settlement, and there are many historical associations conceted with it, as shown in the notices of the Reformed Churches.
42
HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
The growth of Saugerties village has drawn trade and other business away from these older centres.
At Kaatsbaan there is now the hotel of Jacob Kaufman ; a carriage-shop by Frederick Dederick (the same name as the first that appears upon the ohl church books of 1731) ; and a blacksmith-shop by John Gradwell.
ASBURY
is on the north line of the town, and is the Trumpbour's Corners of early times. It was a place of considerable trade. Ludwig Roesle (as the name was then spelled), grandfather of Mr. William F. Russell, was a resident in that vicinity, and his son, Jeremiah Russell, traded there for a time, before coming to Saugerties.
In the carly times when stages raa on the oldl King's Highway, and a large amount of travel and teaming passed over that same route, both Trumpbour's Corners and Kaats- baan were places of considerable business.
SAXTON POST-OFFICE
is situated in the northwest part of the town, and was established some years ago to accommodate that neighbor- houd, which was somewhat remote from other offices.
The place now has a hotel by Harrison Van Gaasbeck, and a store by Jacob Baugu.
QUARRYVILLE
is a hamlet of modern growth, and appropriately named from the industrial interests of the people in that section. It is only a short distance west of Kaatsbaan. Considerable business activity exists at that point. The general trade of a country village is carried on as follows : a store, by Samuel Gray ; a store, by Stephen O. Hagadoru ; a store, by Samuel F. Hommel. There is also a hotel, by Mrs. Ellen Murtah; a carriage-shop, by Christian Bartman ; a blacksmith-shop, by David Rightmyer ; a blacksmith-shop, by Albert Ilom- mel; a blacksmith-shop, by Jesse Cook ; and thirty or forty dwellings.
BLUE MOUNTAIN
is a hamlet on the Plattekill, somewhat northwest of Sau- gerties village. There is located here a Reformed church, a school house, a grist-will, and a few dwellings.
WEST SAUGERTIES
is directly west of Blue Mountain, and near the line of Greene County. Besides its mills there is a blacksmith- shop, by Stephen Cortes; a store, by Paul Snyder ; a store, by Joseph Carn ; a store, by James Cole ; a store, by Dan- iel Frecse; and a hotel, by James Myer. West Saugerties is at the gateway of the Plattekill Clove, and thus situated in the midst of the grandest scenery of the Catskill range.
CEDAR GROVE
is a somewhat fanciful name given to a neighborhood north- west of Saugerties village on the road to Kaatsbaan. It doubtless receives its local name from the cedars in the vicinity.
MALDEN
is a place of modern growth on the Hudson River, abont two miles above Saugerties village. It is the centre of a very large business in receiving stone from the quarries,-
shipping them in the rough, and also in manufacturing in all the various forms required for building purposes, either plain or elaborately ornamental.
The largest and most thoroughly equipped stone-works upon the river are those of John Maxwell at Malden.
These were formerly the property of the " Bigelow Blue Stone Company." The machinery used in sawing, planing, and otherwise fitting stone is of ingenious and costly make, and skillfully adapted to its purposes. The shipments from this yard have sometimes aggregated in value $1,000,000 annually. At times over 200 hands are employed, and seveu planing-machines are in operation. There is also a stone yard recently opened by Hobart Bogardus. Boat-building is carried on at Malden by Nicholas Clare. Three stores are engaged in trade,-one by Joshua Minkler, one by James C. Coyle, and a third by Legrand Davison. There is also a jewelry-store by Samuel Hartley. There is a black- smith-shop ly William Everett. The shad-fishery is a prominent industry at Malden, as well as at other points along the river in Saugerties.
UNIONVILLE
is directly west of Saugerties village. It is in the valley of a creek which, rising very near the Plattekill, yet flows directly away from it to the east and empties into the Exo- pas a short distance above Saugerties village. The ercek thus spans almost the whole distance from one stream to the other, making a peninsula (not quite an island) of the land south between the two streams. The present business at Unionville consists of a store, by William McCarthy ; a hotel, by Miss Ellen Haggerty; a blacksmith-shop, by Abram Pangburn ; a carriage-shop, by George Ricks; a blacksmith-shop, by Morris Crotty ; and a wagon-shop, by Robert Ackert. Unionville (so named on the maps) is better known among the people as Centreville.
GLASCO
is on the Hudson River south of Saugerties village. It takes its name from the fact that many years ago it was the point of shipment for the Woodstock Glass Company, which opened up a turnpike to this place from their works. The name " Glass Co.," painted in broad letters upon their warehouse, began to be used as a name by the river men and others. Usage soon reduced the capital C to a small letter, " knocked out" one " s," and " Glasco" was the result. It was at one time a place of " great expectations," a city-plat having been surveyed, streets and avenues laid out, and every preparation made for a large population. If these ideas have not all been realized, yet it has been and is a place of " great realities" in the manufacture of brick. Several parties carry on this business extensively. The firm of J. T. & R. C. Washburn make 100,000 per day. Others engaged in the business at the present time are Henry Corse, Jr., William McGinnis, Robert Lent, and the aggregate number of brick turned out daily is very large. Six merchants are doing business at Glasco-Cyrus Fuller, Philo Fuller, A. P. Burhans, Wm. Whitaker, J. T. and R. C. Washburn, and Peter Fonda. There is a hotel by Danich Eble, and out upon the Kingston road is the famous Mar- tin's Hotel. There is a carriage shop, by Philip Seal; black -
13
TOWN OF SAUGERTIES.
smith-shops. by Mr. Brom and by Myer Latka; also near Martin's Hotel a blacksmith-shop, by Philip Link. John Maxwell, the extensive stone dealer, already mentioned, has a yard at Glasco, and also Wellington Porter. The brick business gives employment to several hundred men.
GLENERIE.
This place, with its poetical name (Glen-arie), is finely situated upon the Esopus Creek, near the falls in the south part of the town. Its business consists entirely of the white-lead works, and employments connected with them. These were established about 1835. by Col. Edward Clark, who is mentioned in connection with the " old lead- mill" of Saugerties. It was afterwards sold to the present pro- prictors, Battelle & Renwick. They are known in market as " The Ulster White- Lead Company." They have done a large and steady work for many years, making 1200 to 1500 tons annually, and employing -10 to 50 hands.
BETHEL, VAN AKEN'S MILLS, AND HIGH WOODS POST- OFFICE
are all near each other, avd constitute really the same neighborhood, at the west foot of Mount Marion, in the vicinity of the old Laffin & Rand Powder-Mills, and across the Plattekill. Robert Wallace is the postmaster, and he also has a store. There is another store in that neighbor- hood, kept by Rufus Carl, and there are several shops in that section of the town.
PINE GROVE is farther north, in the vicinity of the new Lutheran church.
JIATBUSH
may be said to be over the line, in the new town of Ulster, though the Reformed church parsonage aud school-house of that place are in the town of Saugerties.
PLATTEKILL
is the neighborhood inclosed between that stream and the Esopus, in the south part of the town, and in the vicinity of the Reforwed church, school-house, parsonage, and cemetery.
VI .- SCHOOLS.
The school commissioners elected under the law of 1S12 divided the town into twelve school districts. The com- mis-joners' at that time and during the thirty years following who served one or more years each were William Myer, Jonah Valek, Jeremiah Eligh, Peter P. Post, Solomon Bommel, Tobias Wynkoop, Jr., Henry Ashley, Francis Sayre, Jacob Trumpbonr, Jeremiah Russell, Samuel Legg, William Overbagh, John T. Schoonmaker, Cornelius Wyn- Loop, John Hendrick, Martin Suyder, John Hendricks, Willi un Valek, Elisha Snyder, James Woodruff. Isaac Ilwis, Abrahami G. Van Keuren, Mynard Post, Almon 84.5.44, John H. Dederick, Stephen Fiero, Judson H. "akins, Henry P. Heermance, John A. Honnnel, H. D. Matin. Edward J. MeCarthy, Cornelius D. Brink, Solomon Rana. James Rusell, Peter D. Schoonmaker, Barnet G. Van Aken .*
" This may not be complete, as the town-meeting records are miss. . i. an | these names are gathered from signatures to orders made by
Under the system of supervision by town superintendents the following were elected incumbents of that office : 1841, Charles P. Jeruegan ; 1845-46, S. S. Hommel ; 1847-48, James Woodruff; 1849, S. S. Hommel; 1850. Thomas S. . Dawes, two years; 1852, Moses E. Dewitt, two years; 1854, Thomas S. Dawes, two years; 1856, Andrew J. Ketcham.
As the official term commeneed with November Ist, the last-named elected did not enter upon the duties of the of- fice because the act establishing assembly district commis- sioners took effect in June, 1856, and all official supervision of the schools by the town ceased.
Among early teachers in this town there may be men- tioned Holly Weeks, John Folks, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Heer- mance, ard Abram Hasbrouck. Mr. Mckenzie taught be- fore 1800, perhaps nearly back to the time of the Revolut- tion. Holly V. D. Hinman was a teacher of singing. schools in the early part of this century. Ludwig Reesle (now Russell), grandfather of W. F. Russell, was a noted teacher before the Revolution. In 1768 he prepared a manuscript arithmetic, which is a rare work of art, now in possession of W. F. Russell, and highly prized. The pen- manship is of superior excellence. The pages are orna- mented with many proofs of artistic skill. It was exeented between July 10th and September 20th.
The schools in Saugerties village at the present time (March, 1880) are as follows :
In District No. 10 there is a good school building, erected a few years since. It is arranged for three departments. They are all well lighted, warmed, and ventilated, and sup- plied with improved modern school furniture. The teachers are Walter Scott, Principal; Mr. Cassell, First Assistant ; Miss Louisa Base, Second Assistant.
In District No. 15 the school building is quite old, and not well adapted to the necessities of the district. It has five departments, with the following teachers: Ira Lewis, Principal ; Miss Josephine Felt, First Assistant; Miss Martha Carnright, Second Assistant ; Miss Donovan, Third Assistant ; Miss Elsie Williams, Fourth Assistant.
In District No. 21 there is a good brick building, thor- ouglily lighted, warmed, and ventilated. It is arranged for three departments, and supplied with excellent furniture and improved facilities of instruction. The teachers are Thomas J. Masten, Principal ; Alice Rickwood, First As- sistant ; Bolle James, Second Assistant.
In the village of Malden the school building is new and well furnished, and arranged for two teachers. At Glasco the district has a very good building, and maintains a school of two departments. At Quarryville considerable local en- thusiasm has been shown for a good school. The building is of modern construction, and well supplied with educa. tional facilities. It is also arranged for two teachers. Other schools throughont the town maintain a single teacher cach.
Some efforts to secure the advantages of higher education have been made from time to time. The Saugerties Acad- emy was maintained for a few years, first in the " old brick church," and afterwards in the buildings now owned by the Saugerties Institute. It declined after a few years and the school was closed.
41
HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
THE SAUGERTIES INSTITUTES
This institution was founded June 25, 1866. The trus- tees then chosen have continued in office to the present, and are John Kiersted, President ; Fordyce L. Laffin, Vice- President ; Benj. M Freligh, Secretary; John W. Davis, Wm. E. Kipp. The building and school furniture cost $7065.65. The school was opened November, 1866, under the care of Wm. Whyte, who was principal till November, 1869. Geo. G. Pratt was principal from November, 1869, till November, 1871 ; Miss Lucy Wells (Mrs. John Whit- ford), from November, 1871. to November, 1872; Orrin Sykes, from November. 1872, to November, 1873; Robt. C. Flack, from November, 1973, to April, 1874; Rev. F. C. Kaeller, from April to July, 1874; Albert B. Wiggin, the present principal, from August, 1874, to the present (1880).
The private school is provided with English dictionaries for purposes of reference, and pupils boarding with the principal have access to a well-selected library of more than 600 volumes. The institute at present is provided with ap- paratus to the value of $300, the property of the principal. The course of instruction is at least as extensive as that of our best academies, and more so than that of some of the so-called colleges. Within the present school year a student has entered Rochester University, the secoml term of the junior year. The principal is assisted hy Miss Fannie S. Wiggin, teacher of the junior department, and Miss Minnie C. Wiggin, teacher of the primary department.
The first report preserved in the town clerk's ofice ap- pears to be for the year ending June 2, 1823, as follows :
Districls.
Children between Amount apporti well 5 and 15 years. to each district.
No. 1
50
$22.10
$15.79
No. 9
26.52
25.31
No. 3.
35.79
31.55
No. 4.
21.ยบ1
19.99
No. 5.
34
15,02
12.49
No. 6.
37.99
2 :. 90
No. 7.
75
23.14
23.72
No. ..
18
$1.21
No. 9
75
23.14
32.17
No. 10.
83
30.07
59,95
No. 11.
24.27
Total
704
$$11.00
$311.45
The present condition of the schools is concisely showu by the following statement, and it forus a strong contrast with the previous report seven years ago :
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