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 8
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COMMISSIONEIE'S CERTIFICATE, MARCH, 1550.
Number of districts.
21
Number of ebilires of school age.
4012
Average daily attendance previous year .... 1126.387
Publie money equal district quota ..
$1618.40
Publie money on basis of number of children. $2768.23
Public money on basis of attendance.
$2203.33
Library money ..
VIL .- CHURCHES.
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF WEST CAMP.
This body is the oldest religious society in the town. It is sometimes stated in gazeteers or directories that the or- ganization took place in 1709, but it is well understood that it was a portion of the Palatines that formed this church. If so, then 1711 is no doubt the correct date, for the colony only reached West Camp, Dec. 24, 1710. At the present
time the old volumes of church records are either lost or leaned, and the books in possession of the clerk only extend back to 1844, leaving one hundred and thirty-three years of history to be gathered from vague statements in pre- vious volumes.
The Rev. Joshua Kocherthal is said to have been the first minister; and soon after the organization there were 25 families connected with it. The Palatine colony .also contained members of the German Reformed Church, who also had a minister of their own order. The first house of worship was built soon after their arrival by both Re- formed and Lutheran families. The two ministers preached in the same building.
The German minister died in a few years. Those who were desirons of maintaining worship according to the order of the Reformed Church finally effected a union with the Hollanders who had settled in the vicinity of Kaatsbaan, and the organization of the Reformed Church at that point took place in 1730. The old edifice, erected at West Camp, stood upon about the same ground as the present, so that religious worship has probably been maintained at that place steadily since 1711.
Successive generations have come up to these heights ; many sacred and tender associations gather around them ; and the history of this church is worthy of being preserved in a separate volume, rather than in the brief space that car. be accorded in this work, which includes the entire county of Ulster.
The original bell was a present from Queen Anne. It was long retained in honor of the donor, and it was only within the memory of members still living that the congre- gation exchanged it for a larger one. In these later days of centennial relies and historical studies it is a matter of re- gret that the society ported with so choice a memorial of the past.
The church was organized upon the basis of the Augs- burg Confession, and still retains the ancient landmarks.
In 1791, or about that time, the first house of worship was replaced by a new one; or the first may have simply been remodeled and rebuilt. The following paper is an in- teresting relie in connection with those repairs, the original paper being preserved among the papers of the Russell family :
"TO ALL PROTESTANT CHRISTIANS OF EVERY PERSUASION :
" Whereas, in the year 110, many German Protestants of the Lutheran persuasion were invited from Europe to North America by the late Queen Ann, of England, and at their arrival in this country a number of them settled at the West Camp, now in the county of Ulster, in the State of New York : not long after their settlement they formned themselves into a Congregation and built a Church or House of Worship, as well as their then circumstances would permit, but many of said Congregation having since, from year to year, removed to a great di-tauce, whereby the present Congregation is become very weak and their Church in a rotten condition, and finding themselves unable to build a new one, therefore we the subscribers, Elders, have with the consent of said Congregation resolved on a collection, hoping that every well-wishing Protestant will kimlly assist us to perform so necessary a Task for the Honor of God according to their free-will and inclination. We have, therefore, nuanimously chosen our trusty friend Ludwig Roessell, the bearer bereof, and his companion, Jo- hannes Bligh, to go forth and receive such free gifts as every Chri- tian who may chance to be requested by them will be pleased to bestow. 16 Gratitude whercot we shall, if an opportunity is offered
* By the principal.
$123.13
45
TOWN OF SAUGERTIES.
to us. be ever ready to return the Kindness with Gladness. Given under our hand- this 11th day of October, 1791.
" PETEY'S EGNER. " PETER MOWER. "JOHANNIS MOWER. " WEST CAMP, COUNTY OF ULSTER."
" ULSTER COUNTY. STATE OF NEW YORK, **. : .
" I do certify that the purport of the above Petition is founded in Truth, and that I am well acquainted with the persons therein named, and they are mnen of good character, as witness my hand in Kingston this thirteenth day of October, 1791.
"D. WYNKOOP, " First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Ulster County. " JONS. SNYDER, " Avvistant Justice of weil Court.
"The above Ludwig Roessell and Johannis Eligh are personally known to ine, and bear the character of honest men.
" Given at Greenwich !bis 22d October, 1.91. " GEO. CLINTON."
The present edifiee was creeted in 1871, with a seating capacity of nearly 600. It cost about $11,000, and is a very handsome and convenient house of worship. The property of the church as a whole may be estimated at $12,000 ; perhaps it would be correct to name a larger sum.
The church has a large membership, numbering nearly 300. So that the institutions of the fathers are well maintained upon this ancient site.
Present Organization (March, 1880) .- Rev. A. N. Daniels, Pastor and President of Church Council (services commenced Feb. 15, 1880) ; Garret N. Lasher, Nelson Burhans, Johu Richardson, Elders ; P. W. Emerick, James E. Dederick, Peter ES. Bell, John Stewart, Deacons; E. P. Simmons, Clerk and Treasurer; John P. Gould, E. P. Simmons, William Massino, Trustees; E. P. Simmons, Sunday-school Superintendent.
There is no record of early incorporation, but under date of Dec. 23, 1854, the society executed a certificate signed by Rev. Thomas Lape, pastor. The trustees named in the instrument were Adom Moose, Andrew P. Myers, William Overbach. By the same paper it appears that Jan. 24, 1856, Jacob P. Musier was chosen trustee in the place of Adam Moose. The certificate was recorded Nov. 16, 1856.
The following additional record appears in the county clerk's office :
" St. Paul's lutheran Church of West Camp executed a certificate of incurpr ration Jiee. 14, 1871. Peter Emerick and Nelson Barb: as presided as inspectors of election, and the trustees chosen were Wil- listu Massino, John II. Gould. Lyquan Richardson. The instrument was verified before Benjamin M. Coon, Justice of the Peace, and recorded Dee. 8, 1571."
These are the legal forms relating to the old Lutheran Church of West Camp,-a church that was already nearly one hundred and fifty years old at the earliest of the above dates.
REFORMED CHURCH OF SAUGERTIES.
What is now known as the Reformed Church of San- gerties is, so far as the ecclesiastical organization is con- cetned, identical with the old church of Kaatsbaan. This section of country was settled in 1710 by a colony from the Palatinate, the members of which were about equally divided between the Reformed and the Lutheran com- inunions of the old country. The latter clement finds its
....
representative in the Lutheran Church of West Camp. The former organized the Reformed Church of Kaatsbaan about the year 1730. At the time of this organization, or not long subsequently thereto, there was a spirited discus- sion as to whether the new organization should be connected with the German or the Dutch Reformed Church. The presence of influential Holland settlers, and the fact that all the neighboring Reformed Churches were Dutch, recon- ciled the German element in the congregation to the con- nection with the Dutch Church.
The first house of worship was built in 1732, on a spot " beautiful for situation," where the present church of Kaatsbaan stands. This house was almost entirely rebuilt in 1813; the only part of the original building now stand- ing being the rear wall. The church was the religions centre of a large scetion of country, of course but sparsely settled at that early date, but forming in process of time a parich of gigantie dimensions. At the time of the organ- ization, the nearest church on the south was the Reformed Dutch Church of Kingston, which antedated this organiz.i- tion by seventy years. In the same year (1730) the old Reformed Church of Catskill (now Leeds) was formed, and still earlier, the Lutheran Church at West Camp.
The carly records of the church present little matter for history. Either no consistorial minutes were kept for the first seventy years, or else the record of them has been lost or destroyed long since. In the " doorp book," or record of baptisms and marriages, which is continuous from 1730 to the present time, appear a few historical notes. These are the organization in 1730; the employment as preacher of Rev. George W. Mancius, "president of Kingston ;" and the barest item about the pastorate of Dom. Lambertus De Ronde in 1780. The probabilities are, drawn from this and other sources, that Dom. Mancius exercised a pastoral care over the Kaatsbaon church for the first fifteen years of its existence, and that thereafter the church was sup- plied by Rysdyck, Quitman, Weiss, Fryhemoct, and De Ronde. The last named represented the churches of Kantsbam and Red Hook in the Classis of Kingston in 1780. The Rev. Petrus Van Flierden appears to have been settled about the year 1794. His pastorate lasted to 19/11. "He was the last minister who came over from Holland nutil the recent immigration in 1818. He was a learned and able divine, graduating from the university (of Leyden) with the highest honors" (Corwin's Manual). The dissolution of his pastorate at Kaatsbaan was attended with considerable trouble, including charges against his own personal character, in consequence of which he was sus- pended by the Classis. This suspension, however, was re- moved in the same year, 1804. The feeling excited by these proceedings prevented the settlement of another pas- tor until 1808. The Rev. James Demarest in that year became the mini-ter at Kaatsbaan, but resigned his charge in 1809. in consequence of the state of the congregation resulting from the past troubles. The vacancy thas caused lasted until 1812, when Rev. Henry Ostrander, of Cats. kill (Leeds), was called to and assumed the pastorate. The pastorate of Dom. Ostrander continued to the year 1839.
The growth of the village of Saugerties, then called
46
HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Ulster, very naturally caused a demand for a house of wor- ship in the village. In the year 1816 a petition looking to the erection of such a building was presented both to the church and the publie. The attempt was renewed in 1821, but it was not until 1827 that the desired house of worship was built. This building is situated on Livingston Street, and was called the " Brick Church," in distinction from the okl church at Kaatsbaan, which was built of stone. It was used for religious services until 1852, when the building uow occupied by the church was erected. The brick church was then sold for use as an academy. It has since become a carriage- and blacksmith-shop, oceu- pied by Mr. George Burhans. The church in 1834 ob- tained as a parsonage, at the village, the building on Second Street, uear Livingston, nov occupied by Mr. Charles Fiehl. Dom. Ostrauder moved that same year into this new par- sonage, while the Rev. J. J. Buck, who had been engaged as ministerial assistant, took possession of the old stone parsonage at Kaatsbaan, in which position he remained one year. While mentioning the property in the village, it should be stated that the church purchased in 1815, from the corporation of Kingston, a lot of ground at the west end of the village, to be used as a burial ground, and also with a view of possibly building a house of worship thercon at some future time. In 1837 the church gave a quit- claim deed of this ground to the village of Ulster, ou cou- dition that the village build a fence around it and keep the fence in repair.
There is no record of incorporation of the Kaatsbaan or Saugerties Church anterior to the year 1796, in which a certificate of incorporation was Gled in the proper office at Kingston. It was signed by P. Van Vlierden, John Van Orden, Benjamin Myer, Petrus Mynderse, Egbert Schoon- maker, Benjamin Suyder, and Jacobus Wells. It was wit- nessed by Martinus Post and Petrus Backer, and verified before Judge Wynkoop.
In the year 1826, July 11, the Consistory formally adopted as the corporate title of the church the following : " The minister, elder, and deacons of the Reformed Dutch Church in the town of Saugerties."* This is the style and uame of the Reformed Church now located in the vil- lage, and is used in all its legal documents.
The movement which culminated in the division of the congregation in 1839, was one that began several years before that date. It grew out of the burdensome size of the parish, the increase of the village population, and the settlement of the rural districts. In 1832 appears the first movement to found a church at Blue Mountain. This, however, came to nothing, and the Blue Mountain church was not formed until 1851. In 1834 steps were taken towards the formation of an independent church at Platte- kill. In this field the pastor at Kaatsbaan shared with the Flatbush minister in ministerial duties. The action of 1834 made the Glaseo Turnpike the line between the two parishes. The church at Plattekill was organized in 1838.
The first application for division between Kaatsbaan and the village of Saugerties was made in 1834, referred by the Classis to the Coasistory, and by the Consistory declared
inexpedient. This application way by residents of the vil- lage, who in the next year repeated their petition, aud again in 1838. On both these occasions plans of separa- tion were presented but were rejected. On Feb. 9, 1839, a petition from residents at Kaatsbaan was presented to Consistory for a new organization at Kaatsbaan, which peti- tion was immediately granted. On Feb. 20, 1839, eleven days after the application, the division was effected by a committee of the Classis, and the new church organized at Kantsbaan. The effect of this on the old church was to remove to the village of Saugerties the ecclesiastical cor- poration originated at Kaatsbaan in 1730. Dom. Ostrander was still pastor of the old church thus located at the village, and was immediately called to the pastorate of the new church at Kaatsbaan. In October, 1839, nine months after the division, he resigned the charge at Saugerties, and removed his home to the Kaatsbaan parsonage.
In the following year the church called the Rev. C. Van Santvoord, who remained its pastor until 1854. In 1841 a building was erected for use as a lecture-room on the lot west of the church. This building is now used as a dwelling. As the village increased and the congregation grew in minubers it became evident that the dimensions of the brick church were too small, and a movement was begun towards the building of a new house of worship. This resulted in the erection of the large building now occupied by the church on Main Street, near John. This action gave rise to a difference in the congregation, the re- sult of which was that a portion of the people withdrew from the charch, and afterwards organized the Congrega- tional Church of Saugerties. The parsonage now owned by the church was built in 1838. In 1875 a fine large chapel was erected in the rear of the parsonage.
Dr. Van Santvoord was succeeded in the pastorate in 1854 by .Rev. Joachim Elmendorf. llis pastorate cou- tinued until 1862, in which year he was followed by the Rev. John Gaston, whose connection with the church lasted until 1869. The church then settled Rev. John B. Thomp- sou, who resigned the pastorate in 1871. The present incumbent, Rev. Sanford Il. Cobb, entered upon his office in the summer of 1871.
The membership of the church at this time is 315. The names of the present officers (1880) are as follows : Elders, John Kiersted, John Hopkins, Uriah Van Etten, and W. R. Sheffield; Deacons, Robert Burhans, E. A. Preston, John UJ. Kemble, and Wm. Burhans.
REFORMED CHURCH OF FLATBUSH.
This church was organized in 1807 by a committee of the Classis of Ulster. The membership then numbered 19. The next year the house of worship was ereeted. In 1844 it was enlarged and improved. In 1866 it was again thoroughly repaired, and now has a seating capacity of 425. The value of the church property is estimated at $12,000. The first pastor was Rev. Peter A. Overbaugh.
The first elders were John Oosterhoudt, Abram Barhans, Abram Oosterhoudt, John Kipp; the first deacons, John Hendricks, Jacob Turck, Abram Burhans, Jr., Joseph Davis.
The list of ministers includes the names of Revs. Peter
* The name K'natsbaan di-appeared from the title at that time.
47
TOWN OF SAUGERTIES.
A. Overbaugh, 1809-41; . Jacob Brodhead, 1837-41 ; Dawid D. Deruarest, D. D., 1841-43; John Watson, 1844 -17 ; Vietor M. Hulbert, 1848-52; John Gosman, 1854 -59; John Minor, 1859-64; William B. Merritt, 1865 -73; Asher Anderson, 1873-75; J. S. N. Demarest, 1976.
The members at the preseut tique number about 300. The present officers are as follows: Elders, David D. Addis, Peter Whitaker, David Griffen, John Keener ; Deacons, Lawrence H. Osterhoudt, James Van Aken, Alanson Osterhondt, Hiram Brink.
The church was incorporated March 8, 1S03. The certificate was signed by the first officers, given above, and recorded in the county clerk's office. Under date of June 25, 1834, the society changed its corporate name to " The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush and Platte- kill." The paper was signed by Rev. Peter A. Overbaugh, president of the church board ; sworn to before P. Van Gaasbeck, commissioner of deeds; and the record attested by Charles W. Chipp, county clerk.
IMMANUEL CHURCH, GLASCO.
This is a branch of the old church of Flatbush, and was organized in 1870 by Rev. William B. Merritt, then pastor at Flatbush. A house of worship was erected in 1871, seating about 400. The church property at its completion was estiutated to be worth $6000.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF SAUGERTIES.
This society was incorporated by a certificate bearing date Ang. 12, 1815. Luman Andrews and Jeremiah Eligh were the officers of the meeting held for organiza- tion, and the trustees choseu were Jacob Trumpbour, Jeremiah Eligh, Martin Nash, Thomas Woolsey, and William Miller. The certificate was witnessed by John Crawford and Jacob Trumphour, and the proceedings were verified before Judge Jacob Trumpbour, Jr. July 22, 1539, a new certificate was executed. William Adams was sceretary of the meeting. The trustees chosen were Campbell A. Wallace, Jeremiah E. Crawford, Samnel Crawford, Jacob T. Crawford, William Adams. The in- strument was sworu to before Evert Wynkoop, commis- -ioner of deeds, and the record attested by John Ferguson, clark.
The following sketeh is furnished by the pastor, Rev. D. H. Hanaburgh :
The first Methodist preaching in the village of Sauger- time was by Rev. John Crawford, in a barn owned by Mr. Dewitt, near where the Exchange Hotel now stands, in 1794. Afterwards occasional services were held in private residences amI in the village school-house. In 1825, David Lewis and F. W. Smith were on the Kingston circuit, and regularly Preached in the village. Next came Ira Ferris and D. I. W'night. In the spring of 1828 the church was organized. The trustees were Henry Bogardus, John Eldridge, and Zimihr Hibarl. The class-leaders were C. Wallace, H. Barbie, C. Trumphour, D. Shaffer, J. II. Dikenau, D. Holmes. March 19, 1828, the lot now occupied by the church was purchased of Henry Barclay for $200. Dur-
ing this year an edifice was ereeted at a cost of $1600, and dedicated the uext May.
Being connected with a cireuit, two preachers are re- ported for a number of years : 1828, Revs. S. L. Stillman and Joseph D. Marshall ; 1829, Revs. S. L. Stillman aud Elisha Andrews; 1830, Revs. F. W. Smith and John C. Tackaberry; 1831, Revs. J. C. Taekaberry and David Poor ; 1832, Revs. David Poorand Daniel D. Ostrander; 1833, Rev. Daniel Holmes; 1834, Rev. Cyrus Foss; 1835-36, Revs. Elijah Crawford and David Webster; 1837, Revs. Hiram Wing and Dr. E. Strong; 1838, Revs. Hiram Wing and John Elting; 1839-40, Revs. John G. Smith and William Bloomer ; 1841, Revs. O. V. Ammerman and Hiram La- mont ; 1842, Revs. O. V. Ammerman and David Buck ; 1843, Revs. David Webster and M. N. Olmsted ; 1844, Revs. David Webster and John Davis; 1845, Rev. S. M. Knapp; 1846-47, Revs. R. H. Bloomer and Jantes Birch ; 1848-19, the church was set off as a station and Rev. Peter C. Oakley was preacher ; 1850, Rev. R. A. Chalker ; 1851, Rev. Henry Lounsberry ; 1852-53, Rev. A. F. Sel- leck ; 1854-55. Rev. William Blake; 1856, Rev. B. M. Genung: 1857-58, Rev. L. H. King; 1859-60, Rev. J. K. Wardle; 1861-62, Rev. S. Fitch; 1863, Rev. W. G. Browning; 1864-66, Rev. William Ostrander ; 1867 -- 69, Rev. S. F. Barnum ; 1870, Rev. D. W. C. Van Gaasbeck ; 1871-73, Rev. A. H. Ferguson ; 1874-75, Rev. William E. Clark ; 1876-77, Rev. J. W. Macomber; 1878-79, Rev. D. HI. Hanaburgh.
The parsonage was erected in 1841. In 1874 it was enlarged at a cost of 82000. The present vahte is 84000. The chareh edifice formerly fareed on Church Street. In 1858 it was tuoved and placed in its present position and enlarged. Present value, $9000.
The present church officers are as follows: Trustees, Edward Simpson, Jacob Trumpbour, Henry L. Finger, Robert Montross, A. W. Hale, Norman Cunyes, E. G. Whitaker, Peter De Witt, J. P. Russell ; Stewards, John Lowe, C. C. Fiero, Chauncey Swart, Cornelius Quick, Ed- ward Cafeu, Ira Lewis, George C. Pollock, W. E. Van Bus- kirk, William Deane ; Class-Leader, William Craft.
TRINITY CHURCH (EPISCOPAL).
A recent writer, with the enthusiasm of one "to the manor born," says, " Trinity Church is superbly situated at the junction of Barelay and Church Streets, on the south side of the Esopus and on the main road between Kings- ton and Saugerties. The Hudson rolls majestically by in full view from its portico, while from the grounds in the rear one of the finest views in this locality unfolds itself to the eye of the beholder,-the calm and silvery Esopus, our quiet, nestling little village, and beyond, towering heavenward, rise the glorious Catskills, soul-inspiring monu- ments to Him who made them." The establishment of the Episcopal Church and the erection of this house of wor- ship were largely due to the zeal and liberality of Henry Barclay and John Watts Kearny. The edifice approaches in its exterior the Grecian form of architecture. The interior, which is very handsome, is of Grecian design, and contains, among other attractions, the Vanderpoel me- morial window, one of the finest and costliest works of the
4S
HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
kind in the country. It was designed by William Morris, of London, and has attracted much attention from Ameri- can artists. The parsonage is situated in the rear of the church. In the summer of 1875 a neat Sunday-school room was built near the church at a cost of $3000.
The parish was organized Aug. 16, 1831. The first pas- tur was Rev. Reuben Sherwood, who remained for four years, 1831 to 1835. Subsequent rectors have been Revs. Cicero Hawks, Kearney, Nicholas, Lynd, and J. J. Robertson. The services of the last named commeneed in 1859, and for twenty years his unwearied labors have been given to this church and congregation. With the weight of in- ereasing age upon liim, and enfeebled by an accident a year ago, he still remains senior pastor. . Rev. Thomas Cole was engaged in 1879 as assistant minister, and the principal work of the parish now devolves upon him.
The present offeers (March, 1880) are Cornelius Bat- telle and Hobart Bogardus, Wardens; William Wilson, Gilbert Spalding, William Mulligan, Jolin Myer, Henry Ohley, Charles Clum, and Ernest Van derpoel, Vestrymen.
CHURCH OF ST. MARY (CATHOLIC).
Rev. Father Reiley is mentioned in the annals of Sauger- ties as the first Catholic pastor wbo visited this town and held religious services. This is said to have been in 1832. It was soon after the extensive operations of Henry Barelay, Esq., had been inaugurated, and a large population began to gather in this place. Among them were included many families of Catholic faith, and these were desirous of enjoy- ing worship according to the forms in which they had been educated. These carly services were doubtless held in pri- vate dwellings, and they are believed to have been the first Catholic worship in Ulster County. The building of a church was undertaken soon after. It was erected in 1833 so as to be used for service, but was subjected to many changes, improvements, and additions from time to tine, so that it can scarcely be said to have been finished until 1852,-the work extending over a period of nineteen years. It was built by Michael Quigg, and is supposed to have cost ucarly $30,000. It oeeupies a commanding posi- tion, overlooking the village of Saugerties, the harbor with the adjoining mills and iron-works, the valley of the Hud- son, and the surrounding country worth, west, and south for many miles. It is a handsome edifice, spacious and convenient for the purposes of the church. Its tall and graceful spire may be seen from many distant points. Around it upon all the grassy slopes are buried the Cathi- olie dead of half a century. The graves are almost nuti- berless, but well marked with memorial stones. Some have the tall and handsome shaft wealth has been able to lavish upon the beloved dead ; others the simple slab which pov- erty has struggled to place above the departed. All bear the holy symbols of faith,-the cross wreathed with " I. HI. S.,"-telling in three letters the story of redemp- tion. Many of the inscriptions elose with the universal expression of humanity, " Requiescat in pace !"
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