History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 116

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 116

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time of the crusade against Tweed. The part which he then performed was important, involving great secreey and obliging him often to remain awake nights in order to avoid the vigilance of the conspirators who relieved the city's treasury of so many millions. At that time Mr. Hopkins also drew his eheck to defray half of the expense of the campaign in his district, which amount was partially refunded at a later date.

He was afterward appointed by Mayor Havemeyer an officer of the public schools, which position he held for six years. He was also a member of both the District and General Republican Committees for a long period. Business duties for the last eight years finally caused him to withdraw from political life.

Mr. Hopkins is prominent in the Congregational Church, and was elected a trustee of the Congrega- tional Church of the Disciples, under the pastarate of Dr. George H. Hepworth, in 1876, and continued in that position until about six months after the doctor resigned, when he also sent in his resignation as trustee. Some eighteen months after Dr. Newman accepted the call to said church Mr. Hopkins was again elected a trustee by the Anti-Newman party, who believed that a Congregational Church should have a Congregational minister and be installed as such, thereby becoming a member of the church.

Mr. Hopkins entered the board of trustees single- handed, with a majority of eight against him, and, with his associate members of the church, called a council of some thirty of the leading ministers and laymen from the different States to decide the right. and wrong of the question in dispute, and the fact whether the Congregational Church had rights and rules that must and should rule her and be obeyed. Dr. Dexter was elected chairman of the council, and such lights on Congregationalism as Dexter, Storrs, Taylor and many others spent three days in going over the faets, and the vote, with one or two dissent- ing, was that Dr. Newman must become a member, and be installed. or leave. Dr. Newman still insisted

plaintiff in a suit in the New York courts to compel a compliance with the church rules. Obtaining an injunction from Judge Sedgwick, he compelled a fair count of votes to be taken, which resulted in electing a majority in both boards of officers in the church. Then the larger and longer suit of the contest was dropped by consent, and Dr. Newman resigned. In all this matter Mr. Hopkins wishes it understood, that it was nothing personal against Dr. Newman, but he entered into it to prove whether or not the Congregational Church had rights that ought to be respected.

Mr. Hopkins is domestie in his habits. He spends five months of the year on his place in Westchester County, upon which he has spent much money and time in improving. His residence, of which we furnish a cut, is one of the tinest in the locality. Mr. Hopkins is a gentleman of culture and a thorough man of affairs

FMG

RESIDENCE OF FERDINAND T. HOPKINS. SOMERS, WESTCHESTER CO, N. Y

199

NORTH SALEM.

CHAPTER VIII.L

NORTH SALEM.

BY CHARLES E. CULVER,

Of Somers.

NORTH SALEM is in the northeastern portion of Westchester County, and is situated about fifty miles from New York, twenty-five from White Plains and one hundred from Albany. It is nearly square in shape, being some five and a half miles east and west and four miles north and south. It is bounded on the east by the Connecticut State line, on the west by Somers (the Croton River forming the dividing linc between the towns), on the north by Putnam County and south by Lewisboro'. Its principal stream is the Mughtiticoos, as its aboriginal owners styled it, now called Titicus River, which traverses the town from east to west, very near the centre, and empties into the Croton at Purdy's Station, on the New York and Harlem Railroad. This stream furnishes abundance of water-power, is of rapid current, and is well sup- plied by springs along its entire river bed. It flows through a narrow valley, bordered by rising ground on either side. At certain points the hills seem almost to crowd the rushing rapids of the river into an exceptionally narrow gorge between rocky and wooded banks. The hills on either side of this val- ley rise to one hundred or three hundred feet and present a rugged, forest-covered country, with here and there glimpses of fine fertile tracts of meadow and upland, cultivated farms and handsome resi- dences. The soil is better adapted to grazing than cultivation for root crops, except in the valley, where it is suited to any form of agriculture. The north- eastern part of the town is rough and stony. In the southeastern corner rises Long Pond Mountain, at whose foot, across the line, in Lewisboro', lies the beautiful lake Waccabuc. Just on the northern boundary, between Putnam and Westchester Coun- ties, is Lake Pchquennakonck, covering some four hundred acres of land, and a noted resort for fishing. and picnic parties. The eastern part of North Salem includes a part of the tract of land called the "Oblong," the southeastern corner of the town still retaining its shape. This tract, containing sixty-one thousand four hundred and forty acres, and lying along the north part of the west line of Connecticut, was surrendered to New York State in 1731. The exact line between the States has, however, been a subject of much contention, and in 1856 commis- sioners appointed by each State met to settle the

boundary, but without success. At present the stone posts or monuments are to be found just east of the Titus property and on the Hunt farm, on a line run- ning due southwest to and through the spur of Long Pond Mountain. Near the village of North Salem is a genuine natural curiosity-the big rock. It is a granite boulder, resting on five small stones at a present elevation of some four feet from the surface of the hillside where it is located. The immense rock is estimated, by measurement, to weigh sixty tons or upward. No granite is to be found in the neighborhood, and especially no traces of the blne granite, of which this boulder is composed. It may have been a passenger from northern climes in the glacial period, or it may have been removed from its stratified bed by some general moving power which existed after the rocks were lifted from their origi- nal beds, and ages before the present order of things. It evidently came to its present location by the agency of one of the great geologic drifts in past ages. No doubt, with the reverence for the super- natural that is inherent in the aborigine, the medi- cine men of forgotten tribes have oracularly spoken from its vicinity to the assembled couneils of the braves. Residents of the town remember when it was much nearer the surface than now, although still resting on the smaller limestone rocks. The action of the elements, however, and the natural wash of rains have carried away the soil until it seems elevated in the air. A short distance from it exists a chalybeate spring, whose waters were con- sidered at one time to be of medicinal value. It is easy to conceive, standing in the vicinity of this boul- der and looking southward and easterly, through the Titicus Valley, the Indian tribes approaching to consult the oracle as to impending war among the red men or to resist the approach of the indefatigable white settler.

The Indian history of the town is not at all remark- able or voluminous. This territory was under the control of the Mohegans firstly, and more directly of the Kitchawonks, who claimed all the lands border- ing the Kitehewan or Croton River. It does not appear that, the territory comprising the town was considered of great value aside from a hunting-ground by its orig- inal owners, and that it was valuable in this respect is attested by the quantity of spear and arrow-heads that have been and are still unearthed, especially on the hilly lands of the northern and eastern portions of the town. There are evidences also of minor Indian villages that at one time existed in the southeast and northwestern parts. The remains of an Indian burial- place are to be seen near the former residence of IIon. Isaac Purdy. There is no doubt that, at an early pe- riod, these hills and valleys abounded in game more plentifully than did the lands of the Sound terri- tory, and visiting tribes came here to find their sup- plies of food. The Mughtiticoos and Kitchewan also furnished a supply of fish, these streams being well

1 The author of this chapter desires to acknowledge his indebtedness to the Rev, R. Condit Russell, Rev. T. S. Lathrop, Rev. V. W. Benedict and Rev. R. F. White for various items of church history kindly given by them ; also to Mr. Samuel B. Clark, the gentlemanly town clerk, for the free access to the records, etc., afforded by him, and to all who have in any manner assisted to lighten the labor attached to the compilation of a condensed history of the town of North Salem.

500

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

stoeked with various species of the finny tribes to this day. In the early days of the town shad were taken from the Croton River, near the junction of the Titi- cus, and to this day a bend in the river, where there is a depth of some feet, is known as the "Shad Hole." Some of the lineal descendants of the original owners of the soil have resided in the town within a few years past, notably the descendants of Absalom Money, who was the son of Philip Money, an Indian and resi- dent here in 1784.

During the Revolutionary War the inhabitants of North Salem were, at the earliest moment, arrayed on the patriot side of the conflict, and in that struggle no North Salem man proved false to his country. What is now known as Bogtown was then Yerks' Corners, and a young man who belonged to the West- chester County brigade had recently escaped from a British prison in New York and made his way over the lines to his own company, then encamped at this place. At that time the Cowboys were ravaging this seetion aud this young soldier proposed to two of his companions that they take the road and capture some- thing. After deliberation and the addition of four In 1782, on the 29th of May, the Board of Super- visors of the county met at the house of Solomon Close, in North Salem. In 1784 and '85 Colonel Thaddeus Crane was the supervisor of the town and in this year "Ephraim Grummin, Constable, was paid 16 shillings for numbering the people of the town," in order to furnish a basis for military taxa- tion. Seven Quakers were reported as refusing to pay military taxes. In 1786 Haehaliah Brown was the supervisor, and in 1788 Ebenezer Purdy was chosen. This latter gentleman was afterwards, in 1797, one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas. He was a prominent resident of the town, his grand-daughter now residing there. In 1779 he was cleeted to the Assembly and held this office until 1785. He was also a member of the same body in 1787, '91, '92 and '95, and was a State Senator from 1801 to 1806. more to their number they started on the road. John Yerks, who at this time kept a small country store at these corners, proposed to John Paulding to form an expedition to go to the north line of the British army, and in the immediate neighborhood prevent the Cow- boys from driving in the eattle of the farmers. Paul- ding acquieseed and with his companion's started on the road to Lower Salem. From thenee the party went to Pleasantville and then followed the Saw-Mill River Valley to the house of Jacob Romer, where they had breakfast. They then went to a hill just above Tarrytown, where the band of seven divided; Paulding, the master-spirit under Yerks, of the enter- prise, Van Wart and Williams watching the lower road, while the remainder of the company went above. It was here, on the 23d of September, 1780, that this band of patriots captured Major John An- dre, adjutant-general of the British army, and while George C. Finch, M.D., also a native of the town, was elected to the Assembly in 1853. Joshua Purdy, ! of this town, was also one of the early associate itteidentally saving West Point and the Continental army, stamped the brand of "traitor" on Arnokl's brow. The expedition, as we have seen, originated in : judges of the county. He was the brother of Isaac

North Salem, and from North Salem the patriotic leader, Paulding, went. North Salem also furnished Col. Thaddeus Crane, Capt. Gilbert Budd, First Lieu- ' incorporators of St. James' Church in 1786.

tenant Jesse Truesdale, Second Lieutenant John Van Wart and Capts. Solomon Close, Titus Reynolds and Ebenezer Slawson. In 1778 Jonathan Horton was major commanding the North Battalion of West- chester County. Two companies having been con- solidated May 28, 1778, with the Lower Brigade, Col. Thaddeus Crane was first major, then lieutenant col- onel. At the fight of Ridgefield, given itt the his- tory of the Revolution, Colonel Crane, as elsewhere stated, was shot through the lung4.

POLITICAL .- The territory now North Salem was embraced politically in Cortlandt Manor. In 1751, at

a meeting held at Salem on April 2d in that year, town officers were chosen, of whom Jacob Wall was supervisor and Nathaniel Wyatt was elerk. The town, however, is not mentioned by William Smith in his list of the towns of Westchester County in 1756. On January 10, 1763, mention is made of a "town-meeting at Salem." In 1760 North Salem is mentioned in records and letters as "The Upper Dis- trict of Salem."

The supervisors records of the county, as printed, begin in October, 1772. In that year, and up to the meeting of the supervisors on the 31st of May, 1784, Abijah Gilbert represented the town of Salem as supervisor. At this meeting Thaddeus Crane ap- peared as supervisor of " The Town of Upper Salem " and Abijah Gilbert of Lower Salem. The towns were taxed separately from that time. On the 4th of March, 1788, when the county was formed into towns under the act of the Legislature, the town of Up- per Salem became North Salem, and Ebenezer Purdy represented it at the first meeting of the Board of Su- pervisors, held May 6, 1788.

Purdy and son of Joseph, who was the grandfather of the present Isaae Hart Purdy, and was one of the

It is recorded that on-

"This Sixth day of April, 1790, a Town Meeting was held al the Town house in North Salem, and lhal John Quick, Esq., was chusen Moderalor, after which the Freehohlers and Inhabitants of Said Town proceeded on lo chusing Town Officers and doing all other business which concerned Said Town, and Daniel Delevan was chosen Town Clark ; John Quick, supervisor ; Thos. Smith, Caleb Smith, Daniel Purdy, AR- semsory; Thus. Veal, Timothy Van Scoy, overseers of the poor ; John Delevan, Jonathan llallelt, Uriah Wallace, commissioners of roads ; Thus. Veal, Thnothy Van Scoy, Benajah Star, Stephien llaker, Micajah Fuller, trustees lo provide a place for the reception of the poor.

" Voted, That £90 be raised for the support of the poor.

" Benjamin Close, Jacob Wallace, David Baxter, Isaac Keeler, Renben Jump, Solomon Close, David Smith, Ebenezer Purdy, Robert Bloomer, Frederick Knox, Thus. Williams, John Finch, Abraham Knox, Micajah

501

NORTH SALEM.

Fuller, Abraham Van Scoy, Jonathan Brown, path-masters ; Thos. Bax- ter, Stephen Baker, John Knox, Abraham Purdy, John Quick, Jr., Gil- bert Bayley, fence-viewers and damage assessors; Daniel Delevan, pounder; William Rogers, constable ; Solomon Close, collector."

It was voted at this first town meeting ; "That all Hoggs above three months old shall be Liable to be taken in in the Streat and Ringd, and the person that Rings said Hoggs, Shall recover one Shilling from the Owner of said Hoggs, for every Hogg so Ringª with wire." " Voted, that the Town Clark Provide a book for the use of the Town, that shall eost not to exceed Sixteeu Shillings."

In the year 1794 there are an aeeouut of the ex- eise monies received, as follows :

£ s. d.

Caleb Smith, Jr. 2 10 O

Robert Brushı.

2 10

Joel Keeler. .

2 10

Uriah Wallace 10

Jobe Smith . 2

James Wallace, Jr 2

Gilbert Bayley . 2

0 0

Abraham Lockwood. 2 15 0

Total. £18 5 0.

At a town-meeting held the 4th of April 1826, it was " Voted, that the Paupers of this Town be dis- posed of on Tuesday the 11th day of the present April." This was done by auetion and the parties bidding the lowest price for boarding the paupers, seeured them. It was an old statute under which many abuses were hidden. Under this law each town eared for its own poor. In 1832, at a canvass of the votes east at a general election on "the fifth, sixth and seventh days of November, one hundred and eighty-four votes were given for Governor." In six years afterward, or on the fifth, sixth and seventh, of November 1838, the eanvass shows two hundred and fifty-four votes cast for the same offiee. In 1884, at a general election, there were three hun- dred and sixty-eight votes cast, which is the full vote of the town. The town-meetings were origin- ally held at the academy, but latterly have been held at the store of Mr. Lobdell, in Salem Centre. After the completion of the transfer of the academy building to the town, as authorized by the legisla- ture, this will in future be the place of such meet- ings. The town records also contain the account of the laying of a road in 1846, and the following doc- ument in relation thereto:

" A Releace : I do hereby releace to the Town of North Salem all claims to damages by reason of the laying ont of a llighway through my lauds, occupied by Amzi Close, by order of the Commissioners of Iligh- ways, dated the 28th day of October, 1846.

"In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this 22d day of February, 1848.

" MARTHA A. DE LANCEY. "

EAL.

In common with other towns of the county, the papers of manumission of slaves appear on rec- ords, the last slave manumitted, appearing to be one " Prince," owned by Nathan Keeler. This slave ii .- 44

remained in the service of his master until his death at a ripe old age.

Following is a list of the supervisors and town elerks :

SUPERVISORS.

1790. John Quick. 1885. James Mills.

1793. Daniel Delevan. . 1836. Epenetus Ilowe.

1799. Ebenezer Purdy. 1837. John J. June.

1801. John Quick.

1838. Nehemiah Wilson.

1804. Epenetus Wallace. 1×40. Epenetus Howe.

1805. Zabud June. 1842. Nehemiah Wilson.

1811. Charles Auibler. 1844. Epenetus Howe.

1813. Epenetus Wallace.

1846. Isaac II. Purdy.

1817. Ebenezer Purdy.

1850. George C. Finch.

1823. Isaac Purdy.

1856. Isaac II. lurdy.

1824. Jesse Smithf.

1858. Joseph L. Sutton.

1829. Isaac Purdy.

1859. Gilbert F. Bailey.

1830. Zabud June.

1860. Joseph L. Sutton.

1831. Samuel Field.

1868. Odle Close.1

1834. Epenetus flowe.

CLERKS.

1790. Daniel Delevan.

1834. Nehemiah Wilson.

1793. Uriah Wallace.

1836. Daniel C. Baxter.

1800. Ebenezer Purdy, Jr. 1837. Epenetus Howe.

1810. Epenctus Wallace.

1838. Epenetus Wallace.

1814. Isaac Smith.

1839. SamuellI. Smith.

1816. Jesse Smith.

1842. Knapp Remington.2

1823. Daniel Lobdell.

1849. John Close.

1826. Epenetus Howe.

1850. Ebenezer L. Close.

1831. William Vail.

1851. George N. Webb.

1832. Floyd Quick.

1855. Samuel B. Clark.3

1833. Daniel C. Baxter.

The following is a list of owners of farm lands in 1846, as shown on the map made by John F. Jenkins in that year :

Silas Finch, Edwiu Crosby, Rev. Joseph Nimmo, Joseph Adams, Major Bailey, William Purdy, Anson Field, Abijah Pedrick, Solomon Bailey, Nathan Ganun, Edward Ganun, Benjamin Angevine, Isaac Ferguson, Joseph Bailey, Harrison Byington, Thomas Knox, Frederick Knox, Gilbert Mead, Stephen Knoch, Joseph Cable, John Hanford, Ilarrison Bailey, David Bloomer, Charles Bloomer, William Bloor. r, Isaac Towu- send, David Vail, Benjamin Raymond, Ezra Rundle, Aun Drew, Charles Paddock, Ebenezer Palmer, Samuel Ilunt, Widow Vail, William Vail, John Cable, C. Shoy, James Smith, Elias Smith, Benjamin Badeau, Reuben French, Melancthon Norton, L. Titus, Abram Smith, James Jarvis, John Smith, Widow Smith, William Smith, S. P. Quick, J. Wal- lace, J. Burchard, G. Bailey (store and hotel), Reuben Lockwood, L. Hunt, D. Bailey (store) Clark Scott, Ira Smith, Jolin Baxter, Joel Bux- ter, Henry Smith, I. S. Beers, W. P. Baxter, Tillotson Stephen Bloomer, D. Ilunt (store, saw and grist-mill), B. B. Gray, T. C. Quick, Epenetus Ilowe (paper-mill), Charles Cable, Dr. J. Hess, Alfred B. Mcad, J. B. Keeler, Josiah Keeler, Nathan Keeler, Floyd Keeler, II. Osborn, Dr. E. Wallace, J. Wallace, A. and J. Close (hotel), S. Sherwood, John J. June, J. P. Lobdell, Morgan Miller, L. Hanford, Nathan Lobdell, Jacob Lob- dell, Joseph Eggleston, Knapp Remington, S. II. Smith, Undrill W. Smith, Ezra French (saw and grist-mill), C. Stevens (store), A. Lobdell, (hotel), A. Von Scoy (store), Lewis Smith, Widow Quick, Ephraim Baker, James IIall, Samuel Reynolds, Benjamin Reynolds, Elliott Smith, Ira Wheeler (factory), A. Reynolds, T. Bailey, Henry Slosson, Angustus Slosson, C. Lobdell, Thomas Brown, J. Stockham, II. Ferguson, I. Il. Purdy (saw and grist-mill), Isaac Quick, J. S. Frost, S. Ferguson, Wil- liam l'urdy, Norman Mead, David Horton, Thomas Purdy, B. Knapp, Edward Wright, D. Quick, Stephen Quick, William Green, E. Quick, Orrin Quick, John Quick, Joseph Sarles, T. Baker, J. Smith, Timothy Von Scoy (first), Timothy Von Scoy (second), Cornelius Von Scoy, Rich- ard Way, E. Wilson, Widow Delevan, Joseph Worden, Bailey Allen, Clark Fuller (saw-mill), A. Allen, Nehemiah Wilson, Isaac D. Smith, Edward

1 Ile has held the office ever since, and is the present supervisor.

2 Ile died on the 8th day of April, 1846, after his re-election on the 4th of that montb. On the 9th of May, 1816, D. C. Smith was appointed.

3 Mr. Clark has held the position ever since, and is the present clerk.

502

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

Smith, Widow Iloyt, Ephraim Grummon, William C. Baxter, James Howe, Sylvanus Townsend, John Braden, Samuel Townseud, Alfred Ilawley, J. Surles, George Bailey, Sarah Bishop's Rock. 1

Previous to its division into Upper and Lower Salem, this was one of the thickly-settled towns of the county. Its early inhabitants were from Conneetient and the New England States, and brought with them to this new settlement in the forest the thrift and energy that characterized the early pioneers. In the separate organization of the town, North Salem proper contained about four hundred inhabitants, scattered over its entire territory. In 1840 it eon- tained 1161; in 1845, 1228; 1850, 1335; 1860, 1497; 1865, 1527, which figure has changed but a trifle since that date. The town embraces about thirteen thousand aeres of land, improved and nnimproved, the valnation of which in 1884 was eight hundred and twenty-four thousand five hundred and thirty- one dollars. In 1860 its production of butter was over 77,000 pounds, while to-day it is not one per cent. of that amount. In that year there were about 1100 cows kept in the town; now 2500 is nearer the figures, some farmers keeping a yard of 100, while many show from 40 to 60 mileh eattle. At Croton Falls the receipts of milk by the railroad are from 1600 to 2000 quarts per day. At Purdy's it will reach 3000, while the factory uses from 6000 to 10,000 quarts per day. Besides this, there are large milk pro- dueers in the northern part of the town who deliver their produet to the Borden Condensed Milk Com- pany, at Brewster, Pntnam County. The farmers in the southern portion of the town deliver the milk at Golden's Bridge, a station of the Harlem Railroad, situated in the north part of Lewisboro'. The Inm- ber and eoal-yards, of Messrs. Teed & Hunt, at Pur- dy's, and A. B. Whitlock at Croton Falls, also do a very extensive business, amounting to many thou- sands of dollars per annum, supplying the entire surrounding country with building materials and fnel.

North Salem contributed her quota of soldiers to sustain the cause of the Union in the late Rebellion and also paid liberal bounties to those who volnn- teered.

The following is a list of persons who enlisted, in New York regiments, and were residents of North Salem, with the date of enlistment, compiled from an official record prepared by the town elerk, and on file at White Plains:

Daniel Monahan, private, Ninety-fifth Infintry, Company B, June 3, 1862.

Jucob Bosky, private, Fourth lleavy Artillery, Company L, March 3, 186-4.

Solomon Mills, private, Sixty- fifth Infantry, Company (, May 14, 1864.

Eli R. L. Kent, private, Fourth Ileavy Artillery, Company .\, August 28, 1862.

Charles E. White, private, Fourth lleavy Artillery, Company A, August 30,1862.

George Reynolds, private, Sixth Heavy Artillery, Company D, August 22, 1862.

George W. Baxter, private, One Ilundred and Ninetieth Infantry, Com- pany A, March 30, 1865.

Francis W. Cree, private, Sixth Artillery, Company A, September 13, 1862.

Clark E. Smith, corporal, Fourth Artillery, Company A, August 29, 1862.

Charles Bailey, Fourth Artillery, Company A, Angust 29, 1862.

Benjamin A. Dickens, second lieutenant, Fourth Artillery, Company A. September 25, 1861.

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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 116

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