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 97
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THE POST-OFFICE .- Nothing is known about the post-office previous to 1816. At that time the Hon. William Nelson was postmaster and R. Crumbie as- sistant postmaster. The office was located in the building on Main Street now owned by Mrs. Ruth Hubbell. Mr. Nelson's successors in order were Daniel Birdsall, his son William Birdsall, Hon. Wil- liam H. Briggs, William Royce, Ward B. Howard, Hackaliah B. Strang, Charles Mccutchen (1864-68), Joseph Hudson (1868-82) and A. D. Dunbar. The location of the office lias been changed very fre- quently and is now at the corner of South and Di- vision Streets.
INTRODUCTION OF THE TELEGRAPH, THE RAIL- ROAD AND GAS,-In 1848 consent was given by the village authorities for the erection of telegraph poles in the village, " provided the company skinned the bark from the poles and painted them."
On Saturday, September 15, 1849, the first locomo- tive ran to Peekskill, over the Hudson River Railroad. " It came up from Sing Sing," says the Peekskill Republican, "a distance of 12 miles, in 18 minutes and a half-faster than we should desire to ride over a new track for the first time."
July 18, 1855, an agreement was made with a gas company to lay pipes through the streets, on the con- dition, however, that the streets should be lighted be- fore December 1, 1866.
THE NEWSPAPERS OF PEEKSKILL .- The Westches- ter and Putnam Sentinel, in its salutatory given April ii .- 37
22, 1830, refers to the fact that several journals had been started previously in Peekskill, which had ex- pired by reason of the lack of public support, and expresses the hope that it may meet a different fate. One of these unfortunate papers, and doubtless the first of them, was the Westchester and Putnam Gazette, of which nothing is known save that it was started on Saturday, January 6, 1816, was ninetcen by twelve inches in size, was edited by R. Crumbie, assistant postmaster at the time, and met the untoward fate above alluded to.
The Westchester and Putnam Sentinel, as previously stated, made its bow to the public of Peekskill, and - uttered its modest wish for subscribers, on the 22d of April, 1830. Samuel Marks & Son, who were printers, booksellers, bookbinders and stationers, of Peekskill, were the proprietors. June 26, 1832, Samuch Hues- tis and James Brewer became publishers, the former proprietors moving to New York City. October 23d following, James Brewer became sole publisher, and on February 5, 1833, Samuel Huestis succeeded him in that position. The paper finally died of the old complaint-lack of public support. The Sentinel was a Whig journal.
Samuel Marks & Son, having returned from New York City, started a new paper in Peekskill, on Tues- day, February 26, 1833, which they called the West- chester und Putnam Republican. On the death of his son, Samuel Marks became sole cditor. On February 27, 1834, the paper passed into the possession of Wil- liam Richards, a former school-teacher in Peekskill, and a Henry Clay Whig. December 7, 1852, Mr. Richards handed the paper over to General Joseph J. Chambers. For a time subsequently, Matthew F. Rowe was editor, but was again succeeded by General Chambers. The Westchester Herald, of Sing Sing, having ceased publication in January, 1857, leaving only the Hudson River Chronicle to occupy the field, General Chambers removed his paper thither the same year. Its name was changed to The Sing Sing Republican, and under that title it is published at present.
The first number of The Highland Democrat was issued March 9, 1839. It was owned by a company of which Hon. John Hunter was the principal mnem- ber. Benjamin Bailey was the first editor, but hekdl the position only two years. He was born near Lake Mahopac, about 1812, and was for some time a lawyer at Carmel, Putnam County, where he established for himself a reputation for eloquence. In 1845 and for two terms subsequently, he was a member of the State Legislature, but made a record not altogether free from suspicion. He died in New York City, July 13, 1872. After Benjamin Bailey, Samuel G. Arnokl be- came editor. He was succeeded in 1842 by G. K. Lyman, who was editor until September, 1846, when the newspaper suspended publication.
The Highland Eagle was established in September, 1851, by Ezra J. Horton. Its name was changed
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to The Highland Democrat, and its number and volume were dated from the establishment of the former journal of the same name. Mr. Horton was suceceded in 1855 by J. N. Spaight, and he in May of the same year by Dr. Fenelon Hasbrouck. May 14, 1863, after several changes in the editorship owing to Dr. Hasbrouck's long illness and final death, Ezra J. Horton again became editor. In September, 1871, he sold the paper to Nelson G. and J. Thomas Foshay, who, under the title of Foshay Bros., conduet its publication at present. The Democrat is published every Saturday, and, as its name would indicate, is Democratie in its politics.
The Peekskill Messenger was started on Thursday, May 2, 1861, by a number of gentlemen who were dissatisfied by the policy advocated by the Highland Democrat during the war. William Richards, the former editor of the Peekskill Republican, became editor of the new paper. About 1869 Anderson & Bullock became editors and publishers and changed its name to the Peekskill Advertiser. The Advertiser was sold from them in 1871, and was then conducted for about six months by Milton Frost. On his re- tirement in January, 1872, Mr. Richards again as- sumed the management of the paper, and changed its name baek to the original title. Mr. A. D. Dunbar became editor in 1873, and was succeeded on Septem- ber 14, 1882, by James Everingham, the present pro- prietor. The paper has always been Republican in politics.
The Peekskill Blade was established by its present proprietor, W. H. Brown, in January, 1878. The paper for a time advocated Greenbackism, but is now strongly Republican in its polities. Its office is on Main Street.
SOCIETIES OF THE TOWN OF CORTLANDT.
The principal societies of the town of Cortlandı are located in Peekskill. Their histories are as fol- lows :
MASONS .- The first secret order known to have been established in the town of Cortlandt was Cort- landt Lodge No. 34, F. and A. M .. which was organ- ized under the dispensation of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, in 1793. It met at one time in the old City Hall, at the corner of Spring and Main Streets, which was burnt down about 1867 or 1868, but previous to the fire was meeting in the wooden building on Main Street, a short distance east of Union Street, now known as the Continental Hotel. This lodge went out of existence at the time of the anti-Masonic excitement in politics.
There was no Masonic organization in the town of Cortlandt after the demise of this lodge until 1859. when, upon the petition of James W. Husted, Benja- min F. Depew, George W. Depew, George F. Har- wood, Wolff Cohen, James M. Frear, John G. Mar- tin, Charles Southworth and Solomon Clason, a dis- pensation was received from the Grand Lodge of the
State of New York. The lodge was chartered June 27, 1859, as Cortlandt Lodge, No. 189, F. and A. M. The meetings of the lodge during its first year were held part of the time in rooms over Ueker's meat market, on Main Street, and part of the time in the rooms of the Cortlandt Lodge of Odd Fellows. April 1st, 1869, the lodge occupied its present rooms in the building of the Peekskill Savings Bank. In 1883, at the desire of the lodge, their number was changed from 189 to 34, which was the number of the original lodge. The number of members in January, 1884, was 114. The officers were: W. M., A. D. Dunbar ; S. W., Clarence L. Gardiner; J. W., Albert G. Sin- elair ; Treas., David Griffin ; See., S. Irving Pugsley ; S. D., Bruee Scribner ; J. D., Nicholas Carlongh ; S. M. C., George W. Richmond; J. M. C., Jolin HI. Baxter ; Chaplain, Evert A. Wessells ; Marshall, John Mabie ; Tiler, George I. Brown.
MOHEGAN CHAPTER, NO. 221, ROYAL ARCH MA- SONS, was organized on the evening of March 4, 1868, by a dispensation naming John Ombony Most Ex- cellent High Priest ; James W. Husted, Excellent King; Orlando W. Davis, Excellent Scribe; David W. Travis, Secretary ; and George W. Sykes, Robert Brown, James B. Gregory, Basil J. Gray and William Holmes, charter members. The first annual report showed a membership of thirty-six. For eight years in succession John Ombony served as High Priest, during which time the chapter was one of the best working in the State. His successors have been Thomas J. Hodgkins, 1876-82; Robert J. Post. 1882-84 ; and William Mabie, the present incumbent, elected in 1884. George W. Robertson is (1884) Ex- cellent King; Edward Bates, Excellent Seribe; and Thomas J. Hodgkins, Secretary. The number of members is about sixty.
PEEKSKILL COUNCIL, NO. 55, ROYAL AND SELECT MASTERS, was organized on the evening of Novem- ber 27, 1871. The conneil began its existence with twenty-nine members and with John Ombony, Master; Robert J. Post, Deputy Master ; Rev. Jere- miah Searle, Principal Conductor of the Work ; Ed- ward D. Bates, Treasurer ; and Rev. Elias S. Oshon, Recorder. John Ombony was Master from 1871 till 1877; David Grithin, from 1877 till 1880 ; and John Ombony again, until his death, on January 31, 1881. when John Halsted was chosen to fill the vacancy. Valentine Hanf was elected Master in 1882. George D. Sanford is the present master ; John Hancock, Deputy Master; and Thomas J. Hodgkins, Recorder. The membership is composed of forty persons.
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR ASSOCIATION OF PEEKS- KILL, composed principally of members of Westches- ter Commandery, No. 42, of Sing Sing, who are located in Peekskill, was organized March 10, 1880, for the purpose of affording instruction and drill to members, and to more effectually promote the interests of the parent commandery by unity of purpose and action. The association is composed of twenty-two members,
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thirteen aetive and nine dormant,-the latter to fill vacancies which must sooner or later oceur. Thomas J. Hodgkins is the present Commander ; John Han- cock, Generalissimo ; Wm. Mabie, Captain-General, and George Sykes, Secretary and Treasurer.
Excursions to the ocean have been given yearly, under the auspiees of the association, which have be- come very popular with the citizens, and a source of considerable revenue to the organizers.
THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS .- The first lodge of Odd Fellows in Peekskill was Cort- landt Lodge, No. 55, the charter for which was granted August 18, 1841. The names of the peti- tioners were John C. Hitchcock, Caleb H. Bosworth, James L. Seabury and James M. Frear.
Its first meeting-place was in the building on Main Street, adjoining the old plow-works on the east, and the next in the building on the northeast corner of Main and Union Streets. In 1848, while in this locality, the trouble in the order occurred, which re- sulted in the formation of a Northern and a Southern Grand Lodge in the State. Cortlandt Lodge was divided into two parties, the minority of which, num- bering about forty persons, adhered to the Southern Grand Lodge, while the majority, numbering about sixty persons, owed allegiance to the Northern Grand Lodge. The minority party held the funds and the charter, but the majority removed the furniture of the lodge-room to a building on Division Street, adjoining the bank on the south, where they held their meet- ings. The minority finally went out of existence, and the majority were rechartered as Cortlandt Lodge, No. 6, 1. O. O. F. After several changes the lodge occupied its present rooms on Main Street.
The lodge in 1884 contained approximately one hundred and sixty members. The officers were John L. Pieree, N. G .; David D. Montross, V. G. ; Hiram Blanchard, recording secretary; Henry Free, financial secretary, and Gilbert L. Tompkins, treasurer.
CRYPTIC LODGE, No. 75, I. O. O. F., was chartered November 2d, 1842. The petitioners for its institu- tion were Joseph L. Cook, Ephraim D. Fuller, C. W. Rodgers, William Travis, W. Gorden, James R. Fer- ris, James Summerbell, Isaac Hadden, John McCoord and E. D. Hinsdale. During the division of the order in the State in 1848 the majority party of Cryptic Lodge belonged to the Southern Grand Lodge, and the minority adhered to the Northern Grand Lodge and went out of existenee. The number of members in 1884 was about one hundred. The meeting-place was on the north side of Main Street, above the eor- poration rooms. The officers for 1884 were Isaac J. Baxter, Jr., N. G .; George Gorden, V. G .; David S. Godden, secretary ; Edwin Briggs, - secretary ; Isaac C. Pierce, treasurer ; James Calhoun, chaplain ; John Ames, warden ; William T. Aisthorpe, conductor.
MT. ARARAT ENCAMPMENT, No. 9, was chartered August 22, 1867. It meets in Cryptic Lodge rooms. The number of members in 1884 was about sixty.
The officers at the same time were Robert Harris, C. P .; William J. Charlton, H. P. ; John L. Pierce, S. W. ; Abraham Sparrow, J. W .; Halsted Maynard, R. S. ; Max Salomon, financial scribe, and Gilbert L. Tompkins, treasurer.
HARMONY LODGE, No, 138, KNIGHTS OF PY- THIAS, was organized in August, 1874, with sixteen charter members, and Herman Meyer as chancellor, Jacob Vogt as vice-chancellor, August Fulmer as prelate and Frederick Kahlkof as seeretary. They have from the start held their meetings in the room of Cryptie Lodge of Odd-Fellows. The number of members in 1884 was about one hundred. The off- cers were Joseph S. Paulding, C. C. ; Eugene Quatt, vice-chancellor; William H. Hughes, K. of R. & S .; Emmet Searles, M. of E .; Mark Jacobus, M. of T. John B. Steele, M. of X .; and William A. Constan- tine, prelate.
EUROPEAN COUNCIL, NO. 80, ORDER OF UNITED FRIENDS was organized in the summer of 1883, with Valentine Hanf as chief couneilor ; Andrew Thomp- son as viee-couneilor ; Alexander Peterson, seere- tary ; Alexander Lamont, financial secretary ; C. G. Harstrom, treasurer; and Wilbert Ellis, prelate. The number of members in 1884 was about forty. The meeting place is in the room of Cortlandt Lodge of Odd-Fellows. The officers for 1884 were, Chief Couneilor, Andrew Thompson ; Vice-Councilor, Herbert F. Pierce; Recording Secretary, Charles M Hanf; Treasurer, Simon Wright; Financial Secre- tary, Valentine Hanf; and Prelate, William G. Pointer.
ABRAHAM VOSBURGH POST, No. 95, G. A. R., was organized July 25, 1884, by the election of the follow- ing officers : Post Commander, George W. Robertson ; Senior Vice-Commander, John Smith, Jr .; Junior Viee-Commander, Abraham G. Conklin ; Officer of the Day, W. A. Sipperly; Offieer of the Guard, Samnel Tate; Surgeon, Charles McCutehen ; Chap- lain, W. H. Griffin ; Quartermaster, Thomas Floek- ton ; Adjutant, W. J. Charlton. The number of members in 1884 was seventy. The officers were, Commander, William A. Sipperly; Senior Vice Commander, William J. Charlton; Junior Vice Commander, Thomas Flockton; Surgeon, Samuel Tate; Officer of the Day, R. S. Hancock ; Chaplain, Rev. J. W. Crumb; Quartermaster, William H. Griffin ; Officer of the Guard. Joseph L. Mason. Abraham Vosburgh, from whom the Post was named, was colonel of Seventy-first Regiment New York Volunteers. The meeting place of the Post was in a room. in the Fuller building on Main Street.
A branch of the Irish National League of America was organized in 1881, and had, in 1884, about seventy-five members. Robert Fox was secretary.
DUNDERBERG LODGE No. 156, A. O. U. W. was or- ganized May 27, 1878, with thirty-one members, and the following officers : P. M. W., E. B. Travis ; M. W., S. D. Horton ; G. F., John Smith, Jr .; O., John Halsted ;
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Recorder, J. W. Little; Financier, F. E. Clark ; Re- ceiver, D. S. Godden ; Guide, Marion R. Smith ; I. W., Cyrus Travis; O. N., C. G. Harstrom; Medical Ex- aminer, A. O. Snowden, M.D. The lodge has at pres- ent forty-seven members. It meets in the rooms of Cortlandt Lodge, I. O. O. F. Its present officers are Wesley Wyatt, P. M. W. ; Solomon Colin, M. W .; C. G. Harstrom, G. F. ; John Halstead, O .; Robert Harris, Recorder ; Charles Balleuff, Financier ; Wil- liam HI. Lent, Receiver.
PEEKSKILL IRON MOULDERS' UNION Na. 6, was instituted January 29, 1859. In 1884 it contained two hundred members. John Posey was president, John Seal, vice-president, George A. Kreig recording secretary, Charles E. Ackerman financial secretary, Smith A. Barker treasurer, and Hiram Blanchard cor- responding seeretary. The meetings are held in the room of Cortlandt Lodge of Odd-Fellows, on the first and third Mondays of each month.
THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION of Peekskill, was organized April 3, 1883, its originators being Nicholas Mansfield, Jr., Willis O. Shaw and A. L. Jaycox. Previous to that time, two attempts had been made to maintain a Christian association, the second of which was for a time quite successful, but the result in both cases was eventually a failure.
The first permanent officers of the association were elected May 3, 1883, and were as follows: John D. Prince, president, C. W. Underwood, vice-president, Horace Johnson, secretary, W. Wibberly, assistant secretary and William D. Phyfe, treasurer. The asso- ciation occupies two stories of the building on the northwest corner of Main and Division Streets. Re- ligious meetings are held only on Sunday afternoons. At the time of the annual report on April 3, 1884, the number of members was sixty-four, of whom thirty- five were active members and twenty-nine associate.
THE PEEKSKILL DORCAS SOCIETY was organized in the spring of 1862, to assist the poor of the village with supplies of groceries, coal and clothing. Mrs. Elizabeth Hart was chosen first directress, Eliza W. Clark secretary and Mrs Edward Wells treasurer. The society has continued in active operation ever since, and has accomplished much good work. In 1884 it had about twenty-four active members and ex- pended for the relief of destitute villagers $341.67. Mrs. Elizabeth Hart was president, Mrs. G. N. Knapp secretary and Miss Emily Southard treasurer.
A WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION was organized in Peekskill in January, 1875, Mrs. Cort- landt Baxter being chosen the first president and Mrs. A. M. Stewart secretary. The society met for some time in Simpson's Hall, but have no rooms at present. In 1884 Mrs. A. M. Stewart was president, Mrs. Dr. Wygant secretary and Mrs. B. O. Lent treasurer. The number of members is about twenty-five.
HOTELS OF PEEKSKILL .- The first hotel in Pecks- kill was probably a house within the northwest corner of Main and Division Streets, which was owned
by James Diven, and was standing there as far back as 1800. It was the stopping place for the New York and Albany stages.
Another house is noted on the map of "Peekskill as it was in 1800," as standing within the northeast corner of Main and Division Streets. It is designated as " the old hotel kept by David Stanley and after- wards by Henry Mandeville."
A small hotel for many years previous to 1836 stood in the angle formed by the junction of Hillside and Highland Avenues. Joseph C. Vought was the host. It was moved over to the western side of the street, and is at present part of a dwelling-house which is the property of Mrs. Harrison T. Smith. In 1836 the Franklin House was erected in the forks of the road, on the site vacated by Vonght's hotel, and was managed for a few years by Sylvester W. Mande- ville. This building still exists in the same situa- tion, and is used as a dwelling-house.
The Eagle Hotel, at present the principal hotel of Peekskill, was originally a small house which stood on the site of the Westchester County National Bank, and was moved about one hundred feet eastwardly on Main Street to make room for the building of the bank in 1834. Very shortly afterwards, Colonel John Williams, who was previously proprietor of the old hotel at Yonkers, converted the building into the Eagle Hotel. He remained proprietor until the early part of 1861. Since 1877, C. C. Clearwater, a native of Orange County, New York, and for a long time pro- prietor of the Smalley Honse at Carmel, Putnam County, has had the management of the hotel, Mr. Frank Fry being at first associated with him. The hotel has been enlarged by him from ten rooms to forty-eight. It is a large frame edifice, and is three stories in height. In 1839 a grand reception was given at this hotel to President Martin Van Buren.
PUBLIC HALLS,-The first publie hall in Peekskill was known as Simpson's Hall, and is still in use. It dates back to about 1850. It was of small dimensions. At present it is occupied by the Young Men's Christian Association. It is located on the northwestern corner of Main and Division streets.
Dramatie Hall was its successor. It was built about 1869 by John Karst, passed into the hands of Daniel J. Haight, in 1878, and in 1880 became the property of Durrin Brothers, the present owners. It is used for lectures, dramatie entertainments and other public assemblages. It has seats for five hundred people. It is located on Main street.
There are besides Military Hall, on Park street, and Central Hall, on Central Avenue, near Division street, neither of which is as large nor as much used as Dramntie Hall,
THE JEFFERSON GUARDS AND THE BLEAKLEY RIFLES, -The war begun in 1812 against England re- sulted in the organization, in Peekskill, in the year 1814, of a company for the service of the United States, who were known as the Jefferson Guards. On
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the 12th of October, 1814, the company were sta- tioned at Fort Gansevoort, New York City. The number of men who went into service was twenty- five, but there were besides three who were off on a furlough. The officers were, Justus Hyatt, captain ; Medad Raymond, first lieutenant ; Andrew Hanford, orderly sergeant; Moses H. Belknap, sergeant ; Lewis Constant and Pierre Briggs, corporals. Silas C. Hy- att was drummer. The company was attached to the Thirteenth Regiment of the New York State Artil- lery, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Boream, and belonged to the battalion commanded by Major J. W. Forbes. The company were not engaged in any battle, and their only experience of the horrors of war was when a report was brought in that a Brit- ish fleet were coming into New York Bay, and the cannon-balls were made red hot, in order to give them a warm reception. The report, however, proved false.
Upon returning to the voeation of peace, the mem- bers maintained an organization. Justus Hyatt, who organized the Guards and was the first eaptain, was followed in his position successively by James Wiley, Thomas Bleakley, William B. Birdsall and Alexander Fairley. After the time of the last-named gentleman the company led a very languid existence. It was reorganized, however, in 1836, with John C. Hawes as captain. John H. Hyatt, son of Justus Hyatt, was his successor, and after him eame Abraham H. Lord, John Halstead, George Depew, Jr., and Ben- nett Gilbert. Gilbert was captain at the time of the outbreak of the Civil War, but joined the One Hun- dred and Sixty-eightlı Regiment, as captain of Com- pany A. Other members enlisted in various regi- ments, and the ranks of the old company . were very much depleted. In 1863 the remnants of the Jetfer- son Guards and the Bleakley Rifles were formed into Company F, of the Eighteenth Regiment of militia, of which John H. Hyatt, their former captain, was acting Colonel, and ordered out for thirty days. They participated in no engagement.
After the war the Jefferson Guards were reorgan- ized, and William H. Smith elected captain, March 9, 1865. In 1868, while under his command, the num- ber of the State Guards was diminished and they were disbanded.
The Bleakley Rifles were organized in 1854, with D. M. Hyatt as captain. James M. Frear succeeded Captain Hyatt. During the war this company was broken up and was never reorganized.
PLEASANTSIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHAPEL .- About a mile and a half from Peekskill, on the Furnace Woods Road, is located the Pleasantside Presbyterian Chapel. It is the result of a Sunday-school started in the neighborhood in 1879 by Edward B. Finch, a member of the Second Presbyterian Church in Peek- skill, which was continued for one or two years with such suecess that finally subscriptions were obtained by him aud others, and the chapel was erected in
1881, at a cost of seven or eight hundred dollars. Articles of incorporation were proenred in the same year, William Lonusberry, Samuel D. Peterson, Edward B. Finch and Elward Wells being named the trustees. Business calling Mr. Finch to New York, Edward Wells became the superintendent of the school in his place, and so continues to the present time. The average attendance of scholars is about fifty each Sunday. There are a secretary and a treasurer, and two or three teachers. Most of the scholars belong to a large Bible class which is tanght by Mr. Wells. Occasional services are held in the chapel by pastors of Peekskill.
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