History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 98

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 98

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FURNACE WOODS METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. -Still further on the Furnace Woods Road is the Furnace Woods Methodist Episcopal Church, built on a lot forty by eighty feet in area, sold to John Forgie and others in trust for the Methodist Church, March 4, 1845. The church, a frame structure, twenty by thirty feet in extent, was built in the winter of 1854-55. The first trustees were Benjamin Chase, Henry Lent and William Beattys, and Henry Tice was leader. It was at first attached to the Croton eircuit, but is now in a circuit with the churches at Centreville and Boscobel. The number of members (1884) is about twenty-five. The trustees are James A. Ferris, William N. Wood and James Gardineer.

LENT'S COVE AND CENTREVILLE. - About one mile south of the centre of Peekskill is Lent's Cove, where are located the brick-yards of Charles Sonthard, employing about fifty men, and of John Pieree, em- ploying about twenty-five men. From this point south to the Croton River, the manufacture of bricks forms the leading industry. Within these limits are twenty-four briek yards, giving employ ment to not far from nine hundred men, and manufacturing about one hundred million bricks yearly. This industry was probably begun by one of the Lents, at Lent's Cove, not far from the beginning of the present cen- tury.

About two miles south of Peekskill is located the little village commonly known by the name of Cen- treville, in and around which are about forty houses, representing a population of about two hundred people. A station of the Hudson River Railroad was formerly located there, which was known as Ver- planek's, but about 1862 another station was built by Stephanus Hunt a short distance to the south, which took its place. The present title of the village is de- rived from the name of a tavern located there, which is ealled by its proprietor the Centreville House.

In Centreville are located the oil cloth works of Buchanan & Co., which were started by Alexander F. Buchanan in the year 1874. The number of men employed is about fifty.

A small Methodist Church is also situated in the village. It is located in a lot sixty feet front by one hundred feet deep, which was presented by John Henry, of Verplanck's Point, to Joseph Travis, John

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

Broadie and Horace Haight, trustees of "The Saint's Delight Methodist Episcopal Church," by a deed given in November, 1850. The church, however, had been standing for some time previously. At present it is a part of a circuit embracing in addition the Boscobel and Furnace Woods Methodist Episco- pal Churches. The number of members (1884) is about seven. Philetus R. Sloat, John H. Tuttle, Edwin Wainwright, Abraham Cammett and Daniel Conklin are trustees. The church is familiarly known as the " Turkey Roost church," from the fact that the numerous turkeys of a neighboring farmer were ac- customed to roost in the cedar trees formerly sur- rounding it.

MONTROSE STATION .- Below Centreville a short distance is Montrose station, which, as mentioned be- fore, was built by Stephanus Hunt about 1862. It was at first known as New Haverstraw, but the name proving unpopular, it was abandoned, and after one or two further changes, the present title was adopted.

The summer residence of Professor William G. T. Shedd, a noted Presbyterian divine, Professor in the Union Theological Seminary of New York, and the author of several standard religious works, is located on a high point near Montrose Station. It is a plain square mansion of brick. The view from the top of the house is one of the most beautiful and sweeping in the town of Cortlandt. A short distance from this station is Joeated the Reformed Dutch Church.

VERPLANCK'S POINT,-for which Montrose is the station, is located about three miles sonth of Peeks- kill, and about a mile west of the station. By the In- dians it was called Meahagh. It was bounded on the east by the lands of Appamaghpogh and the creek Meanagh, on the south by the same creek, on the west by the Hudson River, and on the north by the creek Tamoesis. This territory was sold in 1683 to Stephanus Van Cortlandt by the native Indian pro- prietors, the names of Pewemend, Oskewans, Siecham, Isighers, Prackises, Turham and Querewighnit ap- pearing in the deed in behalf of the Indians. It was the first property purchased by Stephauus Van Cort- landt in his manor.

By the will of Stephanus Van Cortlandt, made and published in 1700, this land was beqneathed (after the deccase of his wife, ) to his eldest son Johannes. The property afterwards became the possession of Philip Verplanck, who married Gertrude, the only daughter of Johannes Van Cortlandt, and from hint the Point received its name. In 1734, Philip Ver- planck leased the land containing one thousand acres, to John Lent, who was to pay therefor "the yearly rent of one pepper-corn on the feast-day of St. Michael, the Archangel."

Philip Verplanck was the son of Gulian Verplanck, who in 1683, was a wealthy merchant of New Amster- dam. Gulian was a descendant of Abraham Jacobsen Verplanck, of New Amsterdam.

Verplanck's Point remained for a long time in the possession of the Verplanck family. In 1836 Allen W. Hardy formed a company of ten persons, of whom John Henry was the principal, and purchased the property from Philip Verplanck for about three hun- dred thousand dollars. Henry was a native of Phila- delphia, and had acquired wealth as a rope maker at Williamsburg, L. I. Philip Verplanck moved to New Windsor after the sale, where descendants of his still reside.

The object of the company was to establish on the Point a village which shoukl rival or displace Peeks- kill. The point possesses the advantage of very deep water along the river front, which would afford easy landing to the largest vessels traversing the river, and was besides comparatively level and very pretty. Before the point was eut up by the excavation of clay and sand for the brickyards, it was much handsomer than at present, and, indeed, is said by some to have been the most beautiful locality along the Hudson. There is a story to the effect that Jerome Bonaparte, while in this country, was so much charmed with the scenery and location that he desired to buy the point, with the design, as is thought, of establishing there a French colony, but could not conclude a bargain.

The company laid out the ground with streets and avenues, reserving certain portions for parks. The scheme, however, was not suceessful, and after spend- ing a large sum of money in improvements to attract purchasers, they failed within a year or two of their organization. Mr. Henry then purchased the whole property from Mr. Verplanck. In 1842 or 1843, he started the first brick-yard on the Point where the yard of Adam Fisher is now located. He sold off portions of his property subsequently, and about 1866 disposed of a considerable amount of land to the Hudson River Brick Manufacturing Company. They lease out their land to various brick makers, but do not engage in the manufacture of bricks themselves.

William Bleakley, who was for many years a pro- minent citizen of Verplanck's Point, was born in the Third Ward of the city of New York, May 12, 1808. llis father, Andrew Bleakley, was a well-known book- seller in the city, and the business was continued by his son. Soon after the establishment of the village of Verplanck's Point, Mr. Bleakley came to that place, purchased a store near the wharf and began business as a merchant. This he continued for sev- eral years and then purchased real estate of Mr. Heury and began the manufacture of brick and lime, which he conducted up to his death.

He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, kept himself well informed upon all subjects of im- portance, both at home and abroad, and was the pos- sessor of a large and excellent library containing many rare and valuable works. He was attached to the Whig party while it had an existence, but at the formation of the Republican party joined its ranks and continued to support its principles during life.

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CORTLANDT.

He was twice supervisor of the town of Cortlandt, and in 1858 was elected sheriff of Westehester County by a large majority.

A strong defender of the Union and firm in his opposition to human slavery, there were few men who gave a more willing support to the government in the hour of its nced. Ile fitted out at his own expense Company A, of the Twenty-seventh Regi- ment New York State Volunteers, and several of his sons took an active part in the war.

He was the last survivor of the company that pur- chased Verplanek's Point, and was a sharer in the suecesses and losses of that enterprise. After a life of influence and usefulness, he died November 18, 1869, and the community mourned the loss of a re- spected and honored citi- zen. Resolutions of re- spect were passed by the White Plains Lodge of Free-Masons, of which he was a valued member. At a meeting of the Board of Supervisors of West- chester County, resolu- tions introduced by Hon. William H. Robertson, and ably seconded by Hon. William Cauldwell, testifying their respeet for the memory of Mr. Bleak- ley as a former member of the board, were passed unanimously.

New York Volunteers, of which General Slocum was the former colonel ; Lewis H. was second lieutenant of Company L and M, Sixth Regiment New York Artillery ; Albert was first sergeant of Company A, Twenty-seventh Regiment ; and Frank was a private soldier in the same regiment and died at Harper's Ferry, Va.

Mr. Bleakley had three brothers,-James T. N., Andrew and John L., -all of whom were well-known citizens of New York, and held many prominent positions.

At present (1884) there are on Verplanck's Point ten brick-yards, which employ about four hundred and twenty-five men, and manufacture about fonr hundred thousand bricks daily during a season of one hundred and thirty or one hundred and forty days. Three yards are leased from Mrs. Rosalie A. Bleakley, and are op- erated by Frank Timo- ney. They employ about one hundred and fifty men. Patrick King op- erates three yards, one of which is leased from Thomas Avery, and the other two from the Hud- son River Brick Manu- facturing Company. The number of men employed is about one hundred and twenty-five. Adam Fish- er, with one yard, em- ploying about fifty men, Thomas Vanghey, with one yard employing about twenty-five men, and also John Morton with two yards, employing about seventy-five men, all lease

His former residence is situated on a high eleva- tion overlooking the Hnd- son River and command- ing a very extended view of romantic scenery. This elegant mansion was built WILLIAM BLEAKLEY. in 1840 by Sylvester H. Mills, a man of excellent character, but unfortunately | their premises from the Hudson River Brick Manu-

one of the vietims of the notorious impostor Mat- thias, whose career is one of the most curious epi- sodes in the history of the county. This imposition was the cause of the untimely death of Mr. Mills, and the place was purchased by Mr. Bleakley in 1850, and is at present occupied as the residence of his family.

Mr. Bleakley married Rosalie A., daughter of Lewis H. Lautant. Their children were William M .; Amelia, wife of Dr. James Goctchius, of Poughkeep- sie ; Rosalie A .; Lewis H .; Albert ; Josephinc, wife of Clarence J. Conover, a prominent lawyer of Freehold, N. J .; Frank, deceased ; Clarence L .; and Angelo. Most of the sons are now in business at Verplanck's Point, and several of them have a very honorable record as sokchiers in the late war. William M. was captain of Company A, Twenty-seventh Regiment

facturing Company. One brick-yard, belonging to John Morton, manufactures the Croton front brick, and the others common briek. The price for the former variety, is from ten to twelve dollars per thousand, and for the latter about six dollars a thou- sand.

The stores of sand and clay with which the bricks are manufactured are very extensive. The propor- tions used are about two-thirds clay and one-third sand. . The sand lies over the clay in masses from ten to thirty feet deep, and the clay varies in depth in a like manner.

A quarry of blue limestone on the north side of the Point furnishes stone which is crushed into various sizes, and used for macadamizing and covering roads and for making conerete pavements. Further north- east is a quarry from which flux for blast furnaces is

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

obtained. Both are the property of Clarence L. Bleakley, by whom these industries were but lately begun. The number of hands employed is about forty.

As a consequence of the establishment of these briek industries a village, containing a population of about fourteen hundred people, mostly laborers, has grown up on the Point. Within it are a school- house, employing four teachers and attended by an average of one hundred and sixty-two scholars, the chapels of the Reformed Dutch Church and the , Episcopal Church (whose histories are given in connec- tion with their parent churches) and St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church.

On the east side of the village is located the pretty artificial lake known as Lake Meahagh, a designation derived from the Indian name of the Point. It was once a malarious swamp through which a small creek, (the Meanagh of the Indians) pursued a tortuous course. About the year 1872 the mouth of the stream was dammed, with the result that it overspread the marsh and formed a fresh-water lake, about ninety-seven aeres in extent. The credit of this transformation is due chiefly to James A. Whitbeck, who was the first owner of the lake. It was sold by him, for fifteen thousand dollars, to the Knickerbocker Ice Co., who reap from it valuable harvests of ice nearly every winter. The ice-house of the company is located di- rectly across the road which passes between the lake and the Hudson River, and is two hundred by three hundred feet in extent.

The average erop each year is forty-five thousand tons of iec, and the number of men employed during the season about three hundred. The lake has not only proven a source of financial profit, but has very much benefited the health of the neighborhood, which is now free from malarial troubles to a rather remarkable extent.

St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church .- St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church at Verplanck's, was founded about 1845. The Rev. John Hackett appears to have been the first priest. He ceased to be pastor in 1853. During his incumbency in the pastorate he carried on missionary work at Sing Sing, which resulted in the formation there of St. Augustine's Roman Catho- lie Church. He died at Tarrytown June 11, 1863, being at that time priest of St. Teresa's Roman Catho- lic Church.

The sneeession of pastors appears to have been as follows :

Commenced.

1×15.

. Rev. John Hackett.

1853.

Rev. Michael Manahan.

. Rev. Patrick Egan.

1×57.

Rev. Edward MeGean.

1×38

. Rev. Nicholas O'Donnell.

1×63.

Rev. Patrick Mahoney.

1×01

. Rev. P. L. Madden.

. Rev. James llusson.

. Rev. Henry Coyle.

1882.

Rev. Patrick Mee.

The present pastor is a native of Ireland, and came to St. Patrick's Church from Rhinebeck.

The number of members is about eight hundred. The church is a handsome brick edifice with seats for five hundred people. The residence of the priest ad- joins it. There is also a cemetery in a lot attached to the church.

GREEN'S COVE .- Between Verplanck's Point and Montrose Point is located Green's Cove, so named from Isaac Green, a Vermonter, who in 1833 or 1834, began the manufacture of bricks there on land leased from Joshua T. Jones. At this place according to an almost unquestioned tradition, was the terminus of the King's Ferry, though no marks of the landing place are now visible. Bolton places the location of the ferry on the southwest side of Verplanck's Point. The King's Ferry road, however, did not pass over to Verplanck's Point for many years subsequent to the Revolution, on account of the existence of the marsh, (lately obliterated by the construction of Lake Mea- hagh) in which the mud was almost bottomless, and the only mode of passage to and from the Point was over the northern end. The King's Ferry road, now the principal avenue to the Point, was until about 1837 a private way, with bars and gates aeross it, but at that date was opened by Mr. Henry. The road aeross to the Point was constructed by dumping in earth and stones upon the marsh, to a depth, as is supposed, of about forty feet, and when it was con- pleted, the displaced mud stood up for a time like a little island outside.

At Green's Cove are located the brickyards of Cyrus Travis, and O'Brien & MeConnell, leased from Oliver P. Jones, and employing about fifty men each.

MONTROSE POINT, situated beyond Green's Cove, directly south of Verplanck's Point, takes its name from the Montrose family, who formerly occupied the place. During the Revolution it was called Par- son's Point, from the fact that the farm of the pastor or " parson " of the Reformed Dutch Church was lo- eated there. Upon this point is located the brick yard of James D. Avery, employing about thirty men. A little further south are two brickyards owned and operated by Orrin Frost, employing about one hundred men. At George's Island, just below, are three briekyards, leased from Mrs. Mary Bellefeuille, employing about one hundred and thirty men. Two of them are operated by Tompkins & Bellefeuille, and the third by Edward Bellefeuille.

Episcopal Church at Montrose Point .- Services were held on alternate Sundays at Cruger's and Croton by the Rev. A. Vallete Clarkson, the present rector of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, at Croton, from 1853 until 1858, and in 1854 a small chapel was built at Cruger's. In 1869 the end of the parish lying about Crugers and Montrose Point was separated from Croton Parish, and under the name of the " Parish of the Divine Love" was placed under the charge of Rev. Gouverneur Cruger. In 1870, a handsome brick

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CORTLANDT.

church was built at Montrose Point, capable of seat- ing two hundred persons. With the reetory adjoin- ing, the property is valued at twenty thousand dol- lars. A cemetery of about three-fourths of an acre adjoins the church, and contains about a dozen graves, among them being those of Mrs. Anna Maria Scriba, mother of United States Bank Examiner Augustus M. Scriba, and Nicholas Cruger and Eliza Kortright, his wife, parents of the rector. A chapel was built at Verplanck's Point in 1879, and is valued at two thous- and dollars. It has seats for about one hundred per- sons. The parish was formed with a membership of twelve, which has increased to seventy-one. The Sun- day-school has one hundred and forty members. The bell in the church tower weighs cleven hundred pounds and is claimed to be the finest toned in the country.

On Montrose Point is located the handsome resi- dence of Mr. Frederick P. Seward, in the midst of about thirty acres of land which formerly belonged to the " Parson's farm." Mr. Seward is the son of Lincoln's famous Secretary of State and has himself attained to political honors, having been assistant Secretary of State under his father, Hamilton Fish, and William M. Evarts. He has made his resi- dence on Montrose Point sinee 1868. The grounds are dotted by handsome little lakes, set in beds which were made by exeavating clay for the brick-yards.

Almostadjoining Mr. Seward's place are the grounds of Mr. Augustus M. Scriba, the present National Bank Examiner for the distriet ineluding New York City, Brooklyn and Jersey City. Mr. Scriba's home is a neat frame building, which is situated on the highest land on the whole Point, the elevation being one liundred and sixty-six feet.

The family of Seriba is of Italian origin, and the present gencration is the twentieth in the line of de- scent from Otto Bonus Scriba, who was magistrate of the Republic of Genoa, A.D. 1191, and wrote the an- nals of his country from 1174 to 1197. They were natives of Genoa until the birth of Mareus Nicolaus Scriba, at Venice, in 1400. He removed to Frankfort, in Germany, where he married Catharine Von Hohen- egge, in 1428, and became the ancestor of the German branch of the family, which, among the earliest to es- pouse the cause of Luther, have filled many of the highest dignities in the German Church, while each generation has been well represented in the army and couneils of state. Of his descendants, two brothers, Frederiek Gustav Reinhard Seriba, and George Lud- wig Christian Scriba, came to America. The former was born at Vohl, Germany, December 4, 1755, and emigrated to this country about 1780, his brother hav- ing preceded him. Being a person of considerable means, he entered as a partner the banking firm of Scriba & Co., afterwards Scriba, Sehroeppel & Star- man, having branches in Philadelphia and Baltimore. He married Anna Dundas, daughter of James Dun- das, Esq., of Scotland, April 24, 1793, and died in 1796. A plain tombstone on the south side of Trinity Church- ii .- 373

yard bearing the simple inscription, "Seriba, 1796," marks his last resting-place. His firm was doubtless the first German-Dutch commercial house in New York City. Their place of business was at 17 Queen (now Pearl) Street. The widow of Mr. Seriba died in 1840, at the age of seventy-five, and was buried at Jamaica, L. I. He left one son, George Scriba, Jr., who married Anna, daughter of Samuel Wilcox, and great-granddaughter of Rev. Archibald Stobo, a cler- gyman of the Church of Scotland, who settled in Charleston, S. C., in 1700, and was one of the carliest Presbyterian ministers in that city. His descendants are allied to many of the oldest families in that Stater Their children were Frederick Gustavus, born April 5, 1822, died May 3, 1875 (who left two children, Rob- ert Doremus, of Texas, and Julia Eleanor, now a member of an Episcopal Sisterhood), and Augustus Moser. Mr. Seriba was noted as a publie-spirited cit- izen, and was a prominent and active member of the Masonie order in New York. He was one of the founders of Adelphi Lodge, and trustee of the old Masonic Temple and Gothic Hall, on Broadway. Of him, one of the oldest merchants of New York made the remark, "George Scriba was one of the noblest inen I ever knew." He died, much lamented, in 1834.

His son, Augustus Moses Seriba, was born at Rot- terdam (now Constantia), Oswego County, N. Y., March 10, 1833. When an infant he removed with his parents to New York, and at the age of sixteen was employed at the Metropolitan Bank, working his way up from one position to another till he was made superintendent of the uncurrent money department, in which he remained until the State bank currency was superseded by the national banking system. His thorough knowledge of all branches of he banking business was widely known, and in 1872 he was ap- pointed assistant national bank examiner, upon the unanimous recommendation of the New York Clear- ing-House Committee, whiel office he held until, in 1883, he was appointed national bank examiner for the city of New York, at the unanimous request of the New York Clearing-House Association. The du- ties of this responsible position have been faithfully performed to the satisfaction of the government and the commercial public. His prompt action in the spring of 1884 largely contributed to avert a wide- spread panic, and won for him the commendation of the comptroller of the currency and the business com- munity generally. He is justly considered an authority upon all subjects pertaining to the business of bank- iug. He has been a resident of Westchester County for a quarter of a century. He has one son, George Dundas Scriba, born September 23, 1863.

"Montrose Point," the country-seat of Mr. Scriba, commands one of the finest views on the Hudson Riv- er. The eye takes in at a glance the rugged moun- tains of the Highlands, the village of Haverstraw, the lofty heights tlint border the western shore, above Nyack, and the precipitous Palisades, extending far

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

beyond the New Jersey line, while the wide expanse of Haverstraw Bay stretches out like an inland sea.

George Indwig Christian Seriba, was born at Vohl, Germany, April 27, 1753, and eame to this country shortly before his brother. With abundant means at his command, he was the principal member of the banking firm of Scriba, Sehroeppel & Starman. He organized and equipped at his own expense a military company, known as the German Grenadiers, and was present as their commander at the inauguration of Washington as the first President of the United States. He was one of the founders of the Bank of New York in 1784, held two shares in the noted old " Tontine Association," and became a member of the Chamber of Commerce in 1786. He had then accumulated a fortune of a million and a half dollars, and was one of the wealthiest men of his day. In 1790 he pur- chased half a million acres, comprising fourteen townships in Oswego County, and four in Oneida County, the whole traet being know as "Seriba's Patent." In 1794 he eaused a settlement to be made on Oneida Lake, which he ealled Rotterdam (now Constantia), and in 1795 he began another town on the shore of Lake Ontario, which he called Vera Cruz, and which bid fair to be a formidable rival of Oswego. One of his enterprises was the making of a highway twenty-four miles long between Rotterdam and Vera Cruz, and in 1804, more merchandise was sold at the latter place than at Oswego or Utiea. Although his enterprises opened a wide field for future settlers, yet they proved unprofitable for himself. In the endeavor to promote the welfare of the infant settlements on his wide domain his fortune was swallowed up, and he died at Constantia, Aug. 14, 1836, a poor man. The town of Seriba, in Oswego County, was named in his honor.

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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 98

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