History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 122

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 122

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pany. The building is without ornamentation of any kind, a simple, double-doored entrance, without por- tico, opening into a narrow vestibule, from which a door on either side leads to the audience-room. Stairways, also, on either end of the vestibule, lead to a gallery across the front end of the building. A short, square belfry surmounts the church, in which is placed a mellow-toned bell. The seating capacity of the building, including the gallery, is about one hundred and fifty. The parsonage adjoins the church lot, and is a neat two-story residence, plain and com- porting in style with the church itself. The congre- gation worshipping here formerly attended services ~ at the Brick Churehr in Somers, but that church was sold in 1850, and the proceeds of the sale were given to the Purdy's people. Then it was that the building of a church at the latter place was taken into advise- ment. On the 27th of December, 1851, a building committee was appointed, consisting of Thonras Brown, father of the present F. D. Brown, and S. S. Furgeson, both of them representative men in the Methodist connection. The former, at a ripe age, has joined the silent majority ; the latter is still living at Purdy's, over eighty years of age, but very feeble. The contract for building the church was awarded to Scott & Birdsall. The grounds on which it and the parsonage stand were given to the society by Isaac H. Purdy. In July, 1852, the building was com- pleted, and on the 10th day of December, 1852, it was dedicated by Bishop Foster. The cost of the build- ing was three thousand dollars. Rev. C. F. Pelton was the preacher in charge. After the church was secured it was deemed advisable to provide a suitable residence for the preachers, in order that their home might be at a railroad station. Consequ. ntly funds were raised during the intervening six years, and in 1858, during the pastorate of Rev. I. H. Lent, a com- fortable house was built for a parsonage at a cost of two thousand dollars. Previous to, and at this date, these two points were included in Cortlandt Circuit, and the preachers who officiated at Purdy's and North Salem were the same who preached at Mount Zion, etc. About 1860, however, the circuit was divided and ceased to exist under its former name, and Purdy's and North Salem thereafter appear on the church records as the designated charge. Rev. J. Z. Nichols appears to have been the first pastor, having charge of these points in 1861. He was one of the veteran ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having entered the ministry in 1823. He was an active preacher for fifty-eight years, dying August 14, 1881, at. eighty-one years of age. He is buried at Greenwood, L. I. The church property on this charge is valued at eight thousand dollars ; parsonage, two thousand dollars-inaking a total of ten thousand dol- lars. There is a membership of one hundred and thirty-eight-Purdy's, seventy-seven ; North Salem, sixty-one. The present board of trustees are : Purdy's -S. S. Furgeson, F. D. Brown, A. B. Whitlock, C.

526

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

Bloomer, I. MeKeel, Ananias Westeott, Philander Palmer ; North Salem-Henry Barhite, David Han- ford, J. L. Hanford, Isaac Angleman, Stebbins Quiek, Joshua Fisher and Isaae Merriek. As before stated, the preachers who served on Cortland Cirenit officiated at these points until the division of the circuit. Their namues may be found in the history of Somers. Since 1860 the following pastors have been appointed here :

1861 Rev. J. Z. Nichols

1863-64.

Rev. D. W. C. Van Gaasbeck

1865-67

Rev 11. C. Humphrey

1868 .

Rev. H. H. Birkins

1869-70

Rev. J. W. Jones

1871-72.

Rev. M. R. Lent

1873-75

Rev. Aaron Coons

1×76-77

. Rev. A. R. Burroughs

1878-80 Rev. George W. Knapp

1881-83

. Rev. I. 11. Lent

1883->5

, Rev. R F. White, present pastor

Of the above, the Rev. A. R. Burroughs died at the parsonage, after a sudden illness contracted while on a business visit to New York. He was much esteemed by his congregation and the entire community, and had done good service in the society. His death was a shoek to the entire community. It was during his ad- ministration that the new church at North Salem was erected. He died November 28, 1877, aged thirty- eight years, and was buried at Andes, N. Y.

The society is in a flourishing condition and its future prospects are very bright.

THE UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF NORTH SALEM own and occupy a handsome church building, constructed of wood and located on a small elevation in the village of North Salem, and nearly opposite the Methodist Episcopal Church. It is a neat and attrac- tive building and commands a fine view of the river valley and the forest-crowned hills of Connecticut in the distance. The churches of North Salem, in all their appointments, are an honor to the enterprise and liberality of her townsmen. Especially is this the faet as regards this society. The church property is in excellent condition and the society is eminently prosperous. There was occasional preaching of the Universalist faith in this town by various ministers of the denomination from the year 1808 to 1824. In 1824 the Rev. Thomas F'. King was engaged to preach here one-half of the time. Other preachers and the services of lay readers filled up the remaining half of the time until 1832. During this period the question of a church and organized society was warmly considered and agitated. Other societies were provided with buildings in which to worship and the townsmen whose affiliations were with this faith were by no means deficient in pecuniary ability to build a suitable home for worship. Accordingly, on the 17th of January, 1832, an organization of the " Universalist Society of North Salem " was effected, with Levi Smith, Epenetus Howe, William Howe, Henry Hunt, Samuel Hunt and Thomas Smith trustees. Gilbert Hunt was elected collector and

Jesse Smith treasurer. A special meeting of the society was held February 4, 1832, at which it was voted to build a church. A lot containing five roods of land was purchased May 5, 1832, of Samuel H. Smith. On the Sth of October following the church was completed and dedicated, the Rev. Thomas J. Sawyer, D.D., preaching the dedicatory sermon to a large congregation.

On March 4, 1833, a lot, forty-seven feet on the highway adjoining the church, was purchased of Wil- ham Vail, Jr. Rev. Mr. Whittaker preached until May, 1833. At the time of organization there were but thirteen members, as follows : Samuel Truesdell, Samuel Hunt, William Howe, Thomas Smith, Elipha- let Brush, Hezekiah Seott, Holsted Hoyt, William Smith, Pratt Baldwin, Harry Hunt, Gilbert Hunt, Seth Jennings, John Brush. Again for a few months the pulpit was supplied by various preachers from other elmurches of this connection until January, 1834, when the Rev. Shaler J. Hillyer began to preach here. His services were acceptable, and May 1, 1837, he be- eame the settled minister. He held his charge with fidelity until he died, on September 28, 1865. The society increased in numbers and the property in value during his pastorate. On January 3, 1840, Jeremiah Smith, a friend of the organization, died and bequeathed to the society about three thousand dollars, which formed the nucleus of a fund which has since been kept intact for church uses and in- creased by interest income and subsequent posthu- mous gifts. The Rev. Thomas S. Lathrop preached for the first time to this society in November, 1865.

He occupied the pulpit one-half of the time uutil Janvary, 1868, when he became the regularly settled minister and is the present pastor. He was installed June 7, 1870, when the new church edifice was com- pleted and dedicated. The first building was a neat, plain structure comporting with the needs of the early members of the congregation. The present edifice is larger and more ornate. Mr. Hillyer's term of ser- vice covered over thirty years. Mr. Lathrop's has reached about twenty years to the present, thus mak- ing but two regular settlements of ministers and no dismissals. The church has always been a free church, no pews ever being sokl or rented, and the expenses for pastor's salary and all other items are provided for by voluntary subscription. The church and society are one, all members of the parish, old and young, belonging to the organization. There is an average attendance at the public services of from fifty to one hundred, the number of families sustain- ing the connection being about thirty. Several uem- bers reside in the adjoining town of Somers. Some of the members rarely appear at the Sunday service, but maintain their connection with the society and call into requisition the services of Pastor Lathrop at marriages and funerals. The church property, with the stated fund, is valued at about twenty thousand dollars, and the entire society is firmly established on

527

NORTH SALEM.

a substantial and increasingly prosperous basis. The present membership is about one hundred and fifty, and includes some of the oldest and wealthiest fami- lies of this section. The pastors have been,-

1824. Rev. Thomas F. King.

1832, Rev. William Whitaker.

1834. Rev. Shaler J. Hillyer.

1865.

. Rev. Thomas S. Lathrop.1

BAPTIST CHURCHI .- On a high range of ground on the east side of the town, called Cat Ridge, is a portion of the ground and foundation of a small building which was known as the Cat Ridge Baptist Church. It was long since dissolved as a religious society, the surviving members having cither united with other denominations or with other Baptist Churches outside the town. The society was originally organized early in the present century, and incorporated on October 13, 1833. At the latter period Ebenezer Whelppy, Edward Ganong, John Wesley Searles, John Braden and James Mills were trustees. Adjoining the church is an old burying-ground in which are interred members of families prominent in the early organization, as well as others.

The descendants of some of the older Baptist families have joined the congregation which wor- ships at Croton Falls. This society worships in a very attractive church cdifice, which is comparatively new, and built of wood, in the modern style of church architecture. The Baptist Society is the youngest regular religious association in the town. In the winter of 1868 and 1869 the Rev. E. Edwards, then pastor of the Baptist Church in Brewster, Putnani County, was engaged by Dcacon Joel B. Purdy and a few others in the village to preach for them on alternate Sabbath evenings. The meetings were then held in what was known as Pardee's Hall, a large room in the hotel kept by Harrison Pardec. The Method- ists also ocenpied this room on the alternating even- ings. As the attendance increased, Mr. Purdy con- ceived the idea of erecting a suitable building, in which should be a large hall that could be used for religious services, lectures, etc. This was accordingly done, and Union Hall was the outcome. The hall has a seating capacity for two hundred, and is on the ground floor of a large, commodious building, the basement and upper stories of which are used as ten- ements. In May, 1870 a meeting was held in this hall to reorganize the Baptist Church of Croton Falls. After a full examination of the letters presented, and the articles of faith adopted, it was voted to recog- nize this body as a regular and independent Baptist Church. The number of constituent members was ten -four male and six female. The church was admitted into the Union Association at its annual meeting in Patterson, N. Y., in 1870. Until October of that year Rev. E. C. Romine supplied the pulpit. On October 9, 1870, the following resolution appears on

tlc records : " Resolved, That the church extend a call to Rev. V. W. Benedict to become tlicir pastor ; that the salary be one thousand dollars per annum, payable monthly." Mr. Benedict accepted the call and has since remained the pastor of this church. On March 18, 1875, a meeting of the society was called for the purpose of incorporation under the laws of the State. The corporate name of the Croton Falls Baptist Church was adopted, and the following board of trustees elected : Joel J. Purdy, Thatcher H. Theal, David Adams, Israel Pinckney and Gilbert F. Bailey. Subscriptions were now taken for thic crection of a church, which project was successful, and at a meeting. of the society August 9, 1877, plans from the architects were submitted. The plan presented by J. A. Wood was accepted, and the board of trustees, together with the pastor, J. C. Purdy, James S. Whitlock, and W. A. Ferris, were appointed a committee to super- intend the erection of the building. Ground was broken in September 1877, and the contract for the foundation was awarded to Benjamin MeCollum and James Fagan ; that for the carpenter work and paint- ing and subsequently the mason-work, to Jeremiah Birdsall, of North Salem. The glass (stained) for the windows was purchased in Boston, through the architect. The services connected with the laying of the corner-stone were held April 16, 1878, and the house was dedicated in October of the same year. It is finely located on an elevation at the north end of the village, surrounded by a sloping lawn and easy of approach for vehicles or on foot. In the rear are commodious sheds for horses. The building is rec- tangular, with a transept across the west or rear end, which forms a large lecture-room and communicates with the audience-room by means of sli 'ing doors at the back of the platformn. Two towers rise from the front corners of the building, the taller one containing a fined-toned bell, the gift of a Mrs. Chase. The whole structure is admirably proportioned and attractive in appearance. The seating capacity of the church proper is two hundred and sixty, and the lecture-room one hundred. The cost of the edifice was a little over nine thousand dollars. On the cor- ner opposite to the church is located a neat dwelling, two stories and attic, with half French roof, surround- ed by pleasant grounds and making an attractive home. This is the parsonage and the residence of Rev. V. W. Benedict. Of the ten constituent mcm- bers, four are dead ; the remaining six are still com- municants of the church. There is no regular burial- place connected with the society, the interments taking place mainly in Ivandell Cemetery, at Somers, two miles distant from Croton Falls. The present membership is ninety-five, and the society is in an eminently healthy and vigorous condition.

A burial-ground is situated on the south bank of tlie Titicus River, and near the water's edge, so near, in fact, that some of the grounds have been washed away. It is located on a knoll rising somc fifteen

1 The present pastor.

528

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

feet above the level of the meadow by which it is surrounded, and lies abont one mile northeast of Pnrdy's, on the farm owned by Jackson Stocum. In- terments are not made in this ground at present. There are some sixty stones to be seen, most of them the common gray gneiss of the county. The oldest ap- pears to be that of one Vance, who died in 1755. The major part of the inscription has been obliterated by the action of the elements. Here lie members of the Purdy, Brown, Quick and Stocnm families, earlier residents of the town. On one stone we read,

ILERE LIES TIIE BODY OF RACHEL PU- RDY W110 DIED JUNE THE 13 DAY 1784 AGED A YEARS OLD.

Rachel Purdy was a member of the family of Jndge Pnrdy, who owned several tracts of land in the town, among them one of the farms now owned by T. W. Decker, where his residence is located. Two direct descendants of Judge Purdy are living-Aurelia (a maiden lady residing in Salem) and Ebenezer (a resi- dent of Katonah). Another stone records, --

In Memory of John Quick, who died Oct. 15, 1840, aged 80 years. G mos. and 3 d's.

Another,-

In Memory of Daniel Quick, Died Oct. 11, 1861, aged 75 years, 8 mos. and 10 days.

These were two of the earlier settlers of the town, the name of John Quick appearing on the town rec- ords as the first supervisor, as was also "Nathan Stokham," who died in 1822, aged forty-six years, and lies buried here. Side by side lie four members of the Brown family, one of whose descendants (F. D. Brown) lives in a large, comfortable farm-honse, just across the river, and but a few rods from the grave- yard. "Rebecca Brown " died March 28, 1857, at the age of ninety-seven years ; "Susannah, wife of Sam- uel Brown," died February 20, 1810, at the age of one linndred and two years, ten months and twenty-three days; "Samuel Brown," the husband of the above, died November 27, 1815, at eighty-one years of age; and "Nathan Brown," the son of Samuel, died Sep- tember, 1843, at the age of seventy-six years-thus aggregating the sum of three hundred and fifty-six years for four members of the same family, all resi- dents and natives of the town. Several years have elapsed since any interments have taken place in this ground, and it is practically closed as a burial-place.

FRIENDS' MEETING-HOUSE .- In the northeast cor- ner of the town, and not far from the boundary line, stands a plain, unassuming building, modest and de-

void of any ornamentation. It is one of the old land- marks, and stands as a quiet representative of the last century. It is the Friends' Meeting-Honse, and is situated near the lower end of Lake Pehquennakonck. There are but few authentic records of this meeting- house, although it is known to have been erected at a very early day, and the services of the Friends have been conducted therein for many years. Ephraim Baker (who settled on the estate now owned by Mrs. Bailey, between Purdy's and Salem Centre, about 1750) was a Quaker speaker, and frequently attended the meetings in this honse, which was probably built about that time. Ezekiel Halsted in later years was a public speaker. The society is at present very few in numbers, consisting mainly of elderly persons, and the services are held at intervals, although the build- ing is kept in repair and not allowed to be relinquished entirely. Edward Ryder is an occasional speaker. In its near vicinity are the comfortable residences of wealthy farmers and the boarding-houses at and near Pehqnennakonck Lake, a body of water lying partly in this town and partly in Putnam County, which covers about four hundred acres of land and is a re- sort for fishermen at all seasons of the year. Pick- erel, perch, etc., abound in its waters, and immense quantities of the first-named fish are taken, especially during the winter season, by local and visiting sports- men.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH .- Sitnated at Croton Falls, on the top of a rocky bluff, through a cut in which pass, a few rods away, the tracks of the New York and Harlem Railroad, is the Roman Catholic Church. It is a low, unpretending. wooden structure surmounted by a cross. The view from its site is a peculiarly fine one-including the Croton Valley to the south, the bluffy hills of North Salem on the east and the gently undulating lands of Somers on the west, while less than an eighth of a mile to the north is the hamlet and station of Croton Falls. Its loca- tion is well chosen, as many of its members use the cars as a means of reaching it, and its contignity to the railroad depot renders this an easy matter. Pre- vious to the advent of the railroad very few parish- ioners were to be found in this immediate vicinity ; but, with the construction of the Harlem Road, there came a new element of the population, bringing with them the desire for the privileges of the church of their choice. Accordingly, a plot of land, which had been sold by Major Bailey to Cornelius Travis, was pur- chased from the latter, and the erection of a house of worship commenced. The church was finished in 1851 by David Hitchcock, and immediately dedi- cated. The congregation is large and Honrishing, and the attendance includes a circuit of seven or eight miles. A good dwelling for the residence of the officiating priest was secured at Purdy's, and is owned by the par- ish. The voices of various celebrated priests have been heard within the walls of this church building during the thirty-five years of its existence. Two of them

520

NORTH SALEM.

(Fathers John and Keeney ) died at the Purdy's parson- age while serving the parish. Father Healy, of Brewster, is now the officiating clergyman. Many of the prominent members are residents of the village of Croton Falls, where they settled before and at the time the church was built.

MASONIC LODGE .- In June, 1855, a few of the resi- dents of Croton Falls and vieinity, who had become impressed with the idea that some local organization would be of benefit to the place, met together and talked over the organization of a Masonie lodge. Pre- vions to this there had been such an organization in existence in this vicinity, and the earlier Masons nsed to attend their regular communications at the "red house," in Salem. But these older members of the or- der were now dead and no organized lodge was in the vieinity. Accordingly, in June, 1855, it was decided to form a lodge, which was done. The body was ealled Croton Lodge, No. 368. The charter members were Geo. Gregory, Harrison Pardee, Thos. Fields, Edward Adams, William Bailey, Hiram Dean and Christopher Brown. The last-named had been a member of the older organization, previous to the anti-Mason excite- ment. These members visited New York and received their degrees from Puritan Lodge, 339. The first officers eleeted were George Gregory, W. M .; Harri- son Pardee, J. W .; Edward Adams, S. W .; Thomas Fields, Secretary and Treasurer.

At this time Edward Adams was conducting quite an extensive business in the place, and he erected a large brick building of two stories on the corner of the Main Street, the upper portion of which was ar- ranged for a Masonie Hall. It was here the lodge held its meetings and transaeted its regular business. Of the original members, George Gregory, the first Master, died two years ago, and is buried under a hand- some marble shaft in Ivandell Cemetery, at Somers. Harrison Pardee, another, was the popular hotel pro- prictor at Croton Falls, and died suddenly while sit- ting in his ehair a few years since. Christopher Brown has also died and Edward Adams died in 1886 at his home in Danbury, Conn. Alexander Har- rington was the first Mason made by this new lodge. Owing to the fact that there were a number of Ma- sons and others who wished to become members of the order residing at Brewster, in Putnam County, and the next station north on the line of the railroad, the lodge was removed to that place in 1875-76. The organization is strong for a country lodge whose mem- bers are scattered over a large territory, and is in a good condition. The name and number are still re- tained, although the place of inceting has been changed. The present officers are C. Denton, W. M .; Isaae Armstrong, S. W .; -, J. W .; F. Wells, Secretary and Treasurer.

NEWSPAPERS .- During the summer of 1878 Wil- liam H. Miller, the book-keeper for Whitlock Broth- ers, proposed to J. W. Keeler, the postmaster at Croton Falls, aud a gentleman who had seen consid-

erable service in literary and newspaper work, that they enter into a newspaper enterprise. At first sev- eral difficulties of more or less magnitude and of a local character presented themselves, but were, one by one, disposed of, and the result was the issue of The Croton Falls News, on Wednesday, August 7, 1878. As the type and office properties had not yet been purchased, the first numbers of the paper were printed at Carmel, in Putnam County. J. W. Keeler and William HI. Miller were the editors and proprietors, and the paper was a folio thirteen by nineteen inches, five columns to the page,and presented a neat appear- ance. It aimed to be purely a local paper withont preten- - sions as to political or county preferences or patronage. Shortly after its first number was issued, having met with unexpected success and the hearty co-operation of the residents of North Salem and adjacent towns, an office was secured, type, etc., purchased, and it was henceforth published at Croton Falls, its pres- ent home. Mr. Miller, the original proprietor, dis- posed of his interest to Mr. Keeler, who devoted his attention to it for some five years, increasing its pop- ularity and subseription list until it reached a circu- lation of some five hnudred copies weekly. At this time the editor was attacked witli a serious illness, re- sulting from an aceident which oceurred while run- ning off an edition of the paper. For some months the issue was irregular and much of its influence was lost. Upon the recovery of Mr. Keeler, however, the publication was resumed, and shortly afterwards the entire business was purchased by De Witt C. Pinck- ney, who had been engaged in educational pursuits in the South. Mr. Pinckney was a native of Carmel, and had returned from the Southern States with the view of locating in this section. He hanged the name of the paper to The Croton Falls Folio, un- der which title it is now published. In the fall of 1885 Mr. Pinckney sold the paper to its original proprietor, William H. Miller, who, after a few weeks, again sold it to Theodore S. Foster, who is the pres- ent editor and owner. It has regained nearly all the ground that it had lost, and eireulates extensively in the northern part of Westchester and the southern' part of Putnam Counties. It has been enlarged at different times, and its typographical appearance ini- proved, until it is now eighteen by twenty-four inches, seven columns to the page, folio, and ranks well with the other papers published in the county, although one of the younger children.

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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 122

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