History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 114

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

USA > New York > Westchester County > History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II > Part 114

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VILLAGES OF THE TOWN .- The village of Somers is beautifully located on a level plain nearly a mile in length by one-eighth of a mile wide, with a broad, level drive through its centre. With the hamlets and post-offices of Somers Centre and West Somers,

it comprises the village population of the town. Fine farms and comfortable residences, many of the latter handsome edifices, border on Lovell, Primrose, Toma- hawk and Slop Streets, the four named thoroughfares of the town outside the turnpike. All along the ex- tent of the latter, handsome farm-houses and well- cultivated farms greet the eye and a general sense of substantial prosperity is conveyed to the traveler.

The village of Somers, or, as it is generally known, Somerstown Plain, is the principal collection of houses in the township. In early days it was an important point and was much larger numerically than at pres- ent, the advent of the railroad having drawn the pop- ulation and business to the stations. The first survey of the Harlem Railroad was made directly through the village, but was opposed by some of the wealthiest residents and heuce it was carried to Purdy's Station. Soon after it began running regularly several build- ings were bought and removed to the station, one and a half miles distant from the Plain. In early days the village contained hat-factories, carriage-factories, furniture-shop, blacksmith-shop, three hotels, two stores, harness-shop, etc. In 1810 there was a news- paper published here, of which further mention will be made. This was also a prominent stopping-place for the stages of the "Red Bird " aud " Eagle " lines, which passed through here for New York, connecting at Danbury with the Boston Line. At present it is a collection of some thirty-five dwellings, two churches, two store buildings, a village court-room, which is also the polling place, a hotel and bank. The Farmers' and Drovers' National Bank of Somers was organized in 1839 as an associated free bank under the State laws. The incorporation and beginning of business took place March 16, 1839. Its securities were stocks and real estate and its capital was one hundred and eleven thousand one hundred and fifty dollars. The following were its first directors : Horace Bailey, Leonard Clift, John Titus, Benjamin Doane, Stephen Brown, Jr., Epenetus Howe, Benjamin Lent, Edward Finch, Monson Perry, Isaac H. Purdy, Gerard Crane, Edwin Crosby, Charles Wright; Horace Bailey, presi- dent ; Egbert Howland, cashier.

The bank transacted business under the State laws twenty-six years, or until 1865, when it became a na- tional bank in conformity with the National Banking Law. In March, 1885, at a meeting of the shareholders, it was voted to continue its corpo- rate existeuce another twenty years from June 9, 1885, or until June, 1905. The bank is pleasantly located in the corner, on the first floor of a large square brick building, fronting the green in the village. Its profits have always been moderate, but steady. Its bills have always been at or above par. Its divi- dends have always been regularly declared and paid. During its existence two unsuccessful attempts have been made to rob it, the last one in the spring of 1882, when powder was used to blow open the safe, which was an old one. The only result, however, was a

ii .- 43

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

partial opening of the outer door of the safe, at which stage the robbers left. A new and improved safe was then put in the bank. This institution has a large elientage among farmers and merchants of this sec- tion. The president is William Bailey, of whom a sketeh has been given. Alonzo B. Thacker, the pres- ent cashier, was born in Poughkeepsie, but his father removed to Somers when he was a child, and Mr. Thacker has resided in Somers nearly all his life, with the exception of a few years spent in farming in the western part of the State, and a short time in New Jersey. He is a little past middle age, and is a vigi- lant, trusty, hard-working banking officer. He mar- ried Sarah, daughter of Horaee Bailey, and has three children, his son, Horace B., holding the office of assistant cashier and director in the bank. The entire time of both these gentlemen is fully occupied by this business, as is also that of a clerk, William Moore, of Purdy's. The present board of directors are Wil- ham Bailey, T. H. Theall, Cornelius Dean, William H. Wright, H. Hobart Keeler, Thomas L. Purdy, Odle Close, I. H. Purdy, William N. Todd, A. B. Thacker, H. B. Thacker ; William Bailey, president ; A. B. Thacker, cashier ; H. B. Thaeker, assistant cashier.

INNs .- Of inns or hotels Somers has but one at the present time, although there are six dwellings within the borders, now occupied as residenees, that were taverns in the early days, some of them as late as the'40s. In 1802 there were five prominent taverns-one near West Somers; one near the Centre, and wherethe town-meet- ings were held ; one in the sonthern part, at Whitehall Corner, on the Mail turnpike, a large whitewashed building, which gave the corners of the roads a name ; and two on the "Plain." Afterwards "Thorn's tar- ern," in the western portion, now a handsome resi- denee, owned by John Purdy, was a prominent stop- ping-place for drovers and others traveling the Peeks- kill road, and a great resort for parties of young people during the winter. The most prominent, however, of any of these honses was the "Elephant Hotel," owned and kept by Hachaliah Bailey, who had the building ereeted in 1825. It is made of brick, which was manufactured on the farm, a few rods from the site of the hotel. The building is about sixty feet square, three stories in height, with a brick two-story addition in the rear, used as a kitchen, and the second story as sleeping-rooms. It has an entrance on the south, consisting of stone, iron-railed steps, and a stone-floored portico, leading into a broad, high-ceil- inged hall, which extends the length of the building. To the right of the main hall is a short side hall, leading to a frame addition on the east side of the building, which contains three rooms below and sleeping apartments above. At this side also is the staircase leading to the second story. The house contains twenty-six rooms and is connected by a hall- way on the second floor with a fine, large ball-room, which has held the social gatherings of several gene-

rations. The inside partition walls are of brick, being carried up with the building. The whole is covered with a deck roof, on the top of which is a level spaee, railed in with an ornamental wooden railing, from which a fine view of the surrounding country ean be obtained. This hotel has provided shelter and abundant accommodations to many well- known and prominent personages of the State and nation. The room is still shown which was occu- pied by Aaron Burr on one occasion, and Munroe Edwards and other eminent lawyers, statesmen and politicians have enjoyed the noted hospitality of the "Elephant Hotel." This is the first and only name it has known in the sixty years of its existence. It is owned by William Bailey, and is occupied and man- aged by Ward Bronson.

NEWSPAPERS .-- As early as 1809 a weekly newspaper was established here and published regularly. It was a sixteen-column folio, of moderate size and neatly printed. The copy before us has the following in print :

Tuesday, July 31, 1810.

SOMERS MUSEUM

AND

WESTCHESTER COUNTY ADVERTISER.

VOL. I. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY MILTON F. CUSHING.

No. 37

First column,-

"Original Essay

For the Somers Museum, Essay No. 5. Education of Youth."

Then follows in the second, third and fourth columns the correspondence between Mr. Canning and Lord Erskine. Albert Gallatin's name ap- pears as the writer of a paper on the correspond- ence. On the third page is intelligence from the Baltic, dated June 24th, and a copy of the letter from Emperor Napoleon to the Archduke Charles requesting him to officiate as proxy at the former's marriage to the Princess Louise. It also an- nonnees : " The 'frigate Constitution,' of forty-fonr guns, Commodore Hull, sailed from Boston for Nor- folk on Friday last, where, it is said, the whole of our little navy are to assemble."

A special is given :

" WASHINGTON CITY, July 1S. " We are informed that the sloop-of-war 'Ilornet,' will sail for New York between the 25th nud last of this month, for France and England, and that her commander will take charge of mercantile and other let- ters for Europe. The Secretary of War ulso left this city yesterday on a visit to the State of New York."

The prospectns reads,-

" The Museum is printed and published at Somers, Westchester County, every Tuesday by Milton F. Cushing, next door west of Joseph Owen Jr.'s Inn.

" CONDITIONS : To be printed on good paper, with new type, at one dollar and seventy-five cents per annum, payable quarterly ; or two dol- lars, if not paid within n year. To companles of thirteen or more who take Their papers from the office, one dollar and twenty-five cents, paya- ble on delivery. To those subscribers who receive Their papers by mail,

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SOMERS.

one dollar and twenty-five cents, payable in advance. Advertisements Inserted conspicuously and at a moderate price. Those from out of town must be paid for before they are inserted. No papers discontinued until all arrearages are paid."

Among the advertisements appears :

" REMOVAL.

" FROST & GREEN

"Have removed their store of goods a few doors east of Micajah Wright's Inn, in Somers Village, where they have on hand a general assortment of Dry Goods and Groceries, which they offer for sale on reasonable terms for cash or produce."

Also,-

" The subscriber has commenced the practice of law in the town of Somers, Westchester County. His office is in the house of Joseph Owen, Jr. Business in the professional liue attended to with fidelity.

" Somers, June 12, 1810."

"FREDERICK J. COFFIN.

Mr. Coffin was, after this, postmaster for many years, master in chancery and one of the surrogates of the county. The paper was continued some time, and gives evidence of considerable journalistic abil- ity. At present there is no publication conducted in the town.

CHURCHES .- There are four churches and one chapel in the town. Two of them are Methodist Episcopal-the church and chapcl-one Protestant Episcopal and two Presbyterian. Three have ceased to exist. One of these is the Christian Church, a large, barn-like structure in the western part of the town, which was used by this denomination for a number of years. It was erected sixty years ago, near Thorn's tavern, in West Somers, and the congregation ac- quired two acres of land. After services had been held in it for a number of years it was used by other de- nominations at intervals, but was finally abandoned and now forms part of a barn near the place upon which it was erected. About the same date the Methodist Protestants erected a small church in Tom- ahawk Street, and occupied it for some twenty-five years, when, by the decrease of the society by death and removal, it was given up to the occasional use of the Methodist Episcopal Society of Cortlandt Circuit. This society abandoned it in 1877. In 1829 a Method- ist brick church was erected. Its location was a few rods north of Somers Plain, on the road lead- ing to Lake Mahopac. It was a small structure, un- pretending in appearance, yet large enough to accom- modate the society resident in its vicinity, the aver- age number of which was fifty. It became a part of Cortlandt Circuit and was supplied with stated preach- ing by the regular ministers of that circuit, whose names will be found in the sketch of Mt. Zion Church.

Owing to the removal, death and dismissal of mem- bers, and the organization of churches in adjacent neighborhoods, it was decided, in 1850, to disband. At this time the " Millerite Excitement " had reached this town, and the adlicrents of Joc Miller made over- tures for the purchase of the church property. The board of trustees at this time consisted of Martin

Fanning, James Sloat and David Adams. Mr. Fan- ning strongly opposed the proposition of the Miller- ites, while the other members of the board favored it. At last his advice prevailed, and in this year (1850) he sold the property to Harrison Wright and turned the proceeds over to the Methodist Episcopal Society at Purdy's Station.

What is now called the Presbyterian Church of Somers is a plain, substantial, wood edifice, located centrally on Somers Plain, on the north side of a broad, level drive, flanked on either side by the old Union Burying-Ground and to the north by Ivandell Cemetery. A few rods in the rear rises Prospect Hill, ~ or Brown's Mountain. It is no longer used as a place of regular church service, but is kept in excellent re- pair, and occasional services are held therein. On the 7th of September, 1806, it was called the " Union Meeting-House," and was owned and attended by the Christian people of various denominations who re- sided in its vicinity. The building was erected some time in 1799. On the date above mentioned (Septem- ber 7, 1806), according to the church records, the fol- lowing persons met and organized a society : Male- Deacon Elijah Dean, Assistant Deacon Darius Crosby, David Crawford, Uel. Todd, Shadrach Richards, Henry Slawson ; Females-Sally Brown, Tirzah Crosby, Delilah Pugsley, Clarissa Haight, Phoebe Richards.

An entry under date of 1808 reads thus: " In the year of our Lord 1808, the Legislature of the State of New York having changed the name of the town from Stephentown to Somers, the title of the churchi became The Congregational Church of Somers." In 1810 there were twenty-seven members, and the church met at the Union Meeting-House under the ministrations of Rev. Silas Constant, who was the first pastor. He was followed by the subjoined min- isters :

Rev. Sylvanus Haight, iustalled 1811, resigued.

Rev. Allen Blair, installed 1813, resigned.

Rev. Ezra Day, installed 1818, resigned.

Rev. Abraham Purdy, installed 1824, died.

Rev. Griffith HI. Griffiths, installed 1825, resigned.

Rev. Joseph Nimmo, installed 1832, resigned.

On May 2, 1833, is an entry as follows: "The Congregational Church of Somers was this day or- ganized into a Presbyterian Church by a committee of the Bedford Presbytery." Under this dispensa- tion the pastors were,-1835, Rev. Henry Benedict, resigned ; 1836, Rev. Alexander Leadbither, resigned. Then came a division of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and hence a division of this society; in May, 1838. The Old School portion of the society, it seems by the records, took possession of the meeting-house and parsonage, and the New School people held worship in the Methodist Church. They were not idle, however, and " a suit was instituted by the Constitutional Presbyterians for possession of the church property. The cause was tried before the Supreme Court of Westchester County, Judge Ruggles

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

presiding. The jury, without leaving their seats, gave a verdict in favor of plaintiff's."-(Ch. Rec.) Then follows a list of twenty members who withdrew and constituted the church of Croton Falls. In Octo- ber, 1838, the transfer was made from the Bedford Pres- bytery to the Third Presbytery of New York of the " First Presbyterian Church of Somers." Following is a list of the pastors :

Rev. George Monilaws, installed 1839, died. Rev. D. D. T. Mclaughlin, installed 1846, resigned. Rev. W. K. Platt, installed 1857, resigned.

Rev. J. Collins, installed 1864, resigned.

Rev. P. 11. Burghardt, installed 1865, resigned.

Rev. C. B. Whitcomb, installed 1869, resigned.

Rev. C. B. Dye, installed 1871, resigned.

Rev. Joseph Beers, installed 1872, resigned.

The first statistical report appears on the records December 3, 1848, when there were forty-three eom- munieants ; in 1850, forty-five ; 1852, fifty-five ; 1854, fifty-three; 1855, forty-nine; 1859, seven.

In 1872 the church was discontinued as a regular preaching-point, owing to the decline of the society, because of deathis or other causes and the nearness of other churches, together with internecine differences. The Union Burying-Ground, immediately surrounding the church building, is one of the oldest in this part of the county, one interment, the name of which is undecipherable, bearing date 1720. Here, also, is buried one of the former pastors of the church, who died among his people, and over whose grave is erected a neat monument with the following inscrip- tion :

"In Memory of the Rev. George Monilaws, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Somers, who died April 6, 1848, Aged 34 years.

Estimable as a man, Earnest as a Preacher, Faithful as a Pastor, lle being dead yet speaketh.

The memory of the just is blessed."

Here, also, is buried one of the original deaeons of this church and prominent residents of this viein- ity. Inscribed on the plain slab is the following :

"In Memory of Darius Crosby, who died Nov. 18, 1818, aged 50 years."

One of the elders of the church, and elerk of the society from 1833 to 1865, also lies here, with the plain inscription,-

" Ebenezer White, M.D.

Died March 20, 1865, .E. 85 Y'ra 9 M'os and 7 D's."

Dr. White came from Yorktown to Somers Plain in 1800, and resided here until his deatlı. His son, Samuel White, now occupies the family mansion, at the " head of the Plain," and part of the original farm was incorporated as Ivandell Cemetery. In this old ground may also be found the grave of one of the original owners of the large landed tracts granted by Andrew Johnson, -

" To the Memory of Hachaliah Brown, Born Aug. 27, 1727, Died May 22, 1813."

He was the son of Hachaliah Brown, of Rye. A great- grandson is also buried liere. A fine monument, upon whose face is carved two crossed cannon, a sword and belt, with the letters "U. S.," marks his resting-place. Upon the obverse side is,-

" Hachaliah Brown, Brevet-Capt. U. S. Army, Born February 26, 1822, Died August 22, 1853. As the tree falleth so it lieth."

Upon the right side is inseribed,-

" Medelen Cerro Gordo, Garita Belen, Mexico."

Upon the left,- " A Tribute of Affection To the Brave and Good by Regimental and Private friends."

Here, also, lie the remains of the wife of the noted Revolutionary spy, Luther Kinnieutt,-

" In Memory of Mary, wife of Luther Kinnicutt, who departed this life November the 13th, 1811, aged 56 years, 6 months and 10 days."

Many memorials of the early settlers' families are to be found here and in the adjoining cemetery, to which they have been removed. The Baileys, Cranes, Wrights, Owens, Joneses, Crosbys, Finches and Whites occupy much space in this village of the dead. Ivandell Cemetery adjoins the old ground and is laid out in circular drives and walks and is planted with ornamental shrubbery. It consists of seven acres and was part of the farm of Dr. Ebenezer White.

James W. Bedell, a son-in-law of Dr. White, pur- chased the land of Samnel White and laid out a ceme- tery. The entrance is formed of heavy iron gates, attached to high, square, capped granite posts. These gates open on the main driveway, which winds around various knolls and through miniature dells until it reaches a receiving vault excavated in the hillside

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SOMERS.

and forined of solid masonry. After the purchase and completion of the grounds, measures were taken to incorporate the cemetery by the following association of gentlemen, who met at the court-room in Soniers village, November 10, 1866: Isaac H. Purdy, Aaron B. Whitlock, Odle Close, Joseph L. Sutton, William Marshall, Samuel White, Jackson O. Brown, James W. Bedell, Samuel S. Fnrgeson, William Turk, San- ford K. Teed, William Parker, William E. Teed, George W. Gregory, Eli Reynolds, William N. Be- dell.

After the association had been permanently organ- ized the following board of trustees were elected : I. H. Purdy, A. B. Whitlock, O. Close, Wmr. Marshall, J. O. Brown, J. L. Sutton, William Gerritsen, Benj. F. Camp, S. White, W. Turk, S. S. Furgeson, J. W. Bedell; J. W. Bedell, president ; W. Marshall, viee- president ; William Turk, secretary ; Samuel White, treasurer; William D. Parker, sexton.

In 1868 the aet of incorporation was granted and Ivandell became a recognized burial-place. Several bodies were removed from the old burial-ground to the cemetery and plots were rapidly disposed of. Some handsome monuments have been erected in the grounds and some have been removed to Ivandell from other cemeteries. The present board of trustees and officers are : A. B. Thacker, William Bailey, Odle Close, James Hyatt, J. W. Bedell, A. B. Whitlock, S. White, Charles G. Teed, I. H. Purdy, T. Crane, W. N. Todd, W. H. Wright; President, J. W. Bedell; Treasurer, S. White; Secretary, James Hyatt ; Super- intendent of Interments, David C. Light.

In 1880, Dr. Oliver White, of New York City, a son of Dr. Ebenezer White, left a legacy of one thousand dollars to the cemetery association, the interest of which is to be applied to the keeping in order of the grounds.

The Presbyterian Church of Croton Falls is a plain, neat structure, surmounted with a low, square belfry, and pleasantly situated on the north bank of the main branch of the Croton River, in the north- eastern corner of the town, in what was, previous to the advent of the New York and Harlem Railroad, denominated Owensville. Here, fronting on a wide, tree-bordered, well-kept street, is the spiritual home of the congregation that was formerly a part of the First Presbyterian Church of Somers. As noted be- fore, in the division of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, in 1838, dissensions erept into the old church, which resulted in a trial before Judge Ruggles, and the withdrawal of a portion of the mem- bership, who organized the Croton Falls Church. This church continued its connection with the Bed- ford Presbytery and received as its stated supply, in 1841, the Rev. Joseph Nimmo. The first members of the session of this church appear on the records as Benjamin Mead, Horace Jones and John Owen, elders, with John Owen, elerk, which position was filled by him until 1843. On January 20, 1846, a

meeting of the male members of the society was held at their place of worship, and a rcorganization of the body took place. "It was imanimously resolved that the corporate name of the church should be 'The Presbyterian Church at Croton Falls.'" On the 6th of August, 1847, it is rceorded that " Benjamin Mead, ruling elder of the church, died in the hope of a blessed immortality." He was one of the original elders aud his place was filled by Thomas R. Lee, a direct descendant of Hon. Elijah Lee, whose resi- denee was at Croton Falls. The church building was erccted in 1847, and has been continuously oceupied for worship.since that time, with but few exceptions,- as in the ease of illness or resignation of pastors. In October, 1870, mcasures were taken to unite this with the First Presbyterian Church of Somers, under one pastoral charge, alternating the public services. This was accomplished in 1872, and a committee of four from each society was appointed, as follows :

Somers Committee-Jacob Ruxer, G. B. Sarles, B. H. Merritt and Stephen Green.

Croton Falls Committee-George W. Abrams, Dr. C. E. Lee, Dr. J. G. Wood and Albert Chamberlain.

These united services was continued until the dis- continuance of services at the First Presbyterian Church in Somers. There is no regular burial-place connected with this ehureh, many of its members be- ing plot-owners in Ivandell Cemetery. The records show a membership, at its organization, of seventeen; its first statistical report is dated April 4, 1869, to April 4, 1870. Whole number of communicants in 1870, forty-nine; in 1871, fifty-five. In 1885 it was forty-nine.

The pastors have been :

1847-48 .- Rev. Joseph Nimmo .

. Resigned.

1849-50 .- Rev. David Irving .

1851-52 .- Rev. James B. Ramsey

1853-57 .- Rev. T. S. Bradner.

1858-59 .- Rev. A. B. Bullion.

1860 .- Rev. Andrew Shiland .

1861-62 .- Rev. A. H. Seeley

1863 .- Rev. James Sinclair.

1864-65 .- J. B. Stoddard .

1866-68 .- Rev. H. W. Smuller

1868-71 .- Rev. W. J. Thompson

1872-73-Rev. Joseph Beers

1874-79 .- Rev. R. A. Blackford.

1881-84 .- Rev. R. B. Mattice.

1884-85. - Rev. R. Gibson .

The church is in a prosperous state and bids fair to continue thus for many years.

In the early days of the history of the Methodist Episcopal Church, circuits were the adopted form of regular pastoral visitations to preaching-points, some being termed "six weeks' circuits," some " four weeks circuits," this being the length of time required by the preacher to fill his various preaching appoint- ments on the circuit and reach his starting-point again. Of this elass was Cortlandt Circuit, so named in honor of the original owners of this part of the county. Cortlaudt Circuit first comprised all the upper part of the county under the jurisdiction of

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the churches of this denomination in Somers, Lewisboro' and North Salem were thus designated as late as 1850. As the population increased in numbers and ability to maintain distinet church societies, the different churches became detached and the circuit system, as originally devised and operated, was abandoned. Mt. Zion Methodist Episcopal Church belonged to this eireuit system and was one of the important points on old Cortlandt Cireuit. There are but mneagre records of the early history of this ehureh, the original books having been mislaid or lost through some oversight or carelessness of those hav- ing them in charge. The society, however, was organized May 10, 1794, through the instrumentality of Rev. Freeborn Garrettson, who was a presiding elder in the Methodist connection and one of the contemporaries of Bishop Asbury. The church building was erected in the same year (1794), six years after the organization of Stephentowu as a separate township. Joseph Hadden, Thomas Bailey, John Stedwell, Abraham Golding, Samuel Wilson, Jr., and Benjamin Huestis were elected the first board of trustees. The present board consists of James P. Teed, Asa Adams, Daniel Kennard, Augustus B. Quick, Harvey Varis, Clark J. Tompkins, Edward Ward and Jacob C. Tompkins.

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History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 114

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286