USA > New York > Dutchess County > The history of Dutchess County, New York > Part 34
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TOWN OF NORTHEAST.
had been worked some quarter of a century before by some Hollanders. McDonald was directed to open the pits or shafts which Van Hook and Tiebout formerly worked, doing the labor with only four assist- ants, and await further orders from Congress, at whose expense the mining was to be done. In the first pit a small quantity of lead was discovered in three places, but not in a continued vein. The second pit contained lead in several places, but not in an unbroken vein. The bottom was void of the appearance of ore. He next cleared a pit about fifty feet in depth. These pits were on the hill or knoll near the present railroad depot.
Ezra Thompson, who then resided at the "Federal Square," was superintendent, and furnished the necessary tools to McDonald, and also advanced money to prospect the mining operations. Not meet- ing with ore deposits in paying quantities they abandoned working in pits and commenced at the northeast end of the hill near the highway bridge, where they dug a trench "eighteen foot length and about three foot deep." Making further excavations, during which they "opened thirty feet in length and in some place digged three feet deep, and in other places have sunk six foot, in there discovered a vein about two or three inches in breadth, and raised about fifteen hundred weight of ore."
October 16, 1776, McDonald entered into a further contract with the Committee of the Provincial Congress to sink the lead mine which he had lately opened, "twelve feet in depth from its present state, and extend the same thirty feet in length in such direction as he shall think best, and deliver the ore to the order of this convention." He was to furnish everything, and was to receive ten pounds for every six feet in depth, six feet in length and three feet in breadth, which he should sink in said mine. At the final settlement it was found that McDonald had dug six hundred and ninety cubic feet, which at the rate of ten pounds for every one hundred and eight, amounted to sixty-three pounds, seven shillings and nine pence, which the Provincial Congress paid, and discontinued the mining operations.
That the McDonalds were a wealthy and important family is evi- dent, as there is a spacious burial ground north of Shekomeko, oppo- site the schoolhouse, where many of that name are buried. The grounds have been walled in at considerable expense, the stones com- posing the fence having been hauled from the vicinity of The Square.
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
The McDonalds were slave owners, but would not consent to their slaves being buried inside the enclosure where there was ample room, but were content to have them placed in graves contiguous to the tombs of their masters, so long as they were outside the walls.
For a period of nearly three-fourths of a century the lead mines at Shekomeko were unmolested, but in 1853 attention was again drawn in their direction. On the 29th of August of that year W. H. Hughes of New York secured a mineral lease of the mine hill, and mining was again resumed. The lease was given by Ward W. Bryan (grand- father of the present owner of the farm), and was to remain in force for a period of twelve years with the privilege of renewal. It read in part: "If no mineral or fossil substance be mined within the period of eight months from the present, or any time afterwards in eight months, then these presents and everything contained therein shall cease and be free."
Hughes for a time worked the mines under this lease and then sud- denly left. The reason of his action was subsequently explained. Hughes had been operating as agent for a company, and he struck a vein of ore of uncommon richness. The lease terminated by its own con- ditions, for eight months elapsed during which no mineral was raised. At the expiration of that time Hughes put in an appearance and made application for a new lease from Bryan in his own name; but he died suddenly before the business was consummated. The rich "find" was not disclosed until after his death, and its location, if such there was, is not now known. Experts claim that indications point to a rich vein of ore somewhere in this range of mountains.
In 1862 the Bryan farm was again leased, this time to Gust. A. Sacchi, who represented a mining company in New York with a capi- tal of $500,000. Heretofore the work had been done by hand labor, drainage of the pits being affected by drifts or tunnels from the loca- tion. But this new company did the work of pumping and hoisting by steam. The company bought a farm nearby, on which was wood for fuel and a building for a boarding house. At one place a shaft was sunk seventy-five feet with lateral tunnels at the bottom. After some $300,000 of stock was sold work was stopped and the farm re- verted back to the owners, Calvin C. and Elihu W. Bryan, father and uncle of the present owner.
Ezra Bryan emigrated to Shekomeko from the Connecticut or New
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TOWN OF NORTHEAST.
Haven Colony. The family came from the same branch as did Hon. William Jennings Bryan, to whom the early Shekomeko emigrants bear a family resemblance, it is said. The Bryans for three-fourths of a century furnished Dutchess County and adjacent territory with fanning mills ; a part of their factory is still in existence, and is now a wagon house in the hamlet of Shekomeko.
The history of the Baptist Church of Northeast dates back to the first day of May, 1773, when the first covenant meeting in this Pre- cinct was held at Brother Dakin's house near Spencers Clearing; and in 1777, on land in the vicinity of the old graveyard at Spencers Cor- ners, their house of worship was erected.
A dissension having arisen in relation to some matters of church government, a council was called, composed of Elders Waldo, Drake, Gano, Moss, Kellogg and Ferris, who advised the release of the dis- senting members. Then successively follow the names of Eastman, Hopkins, Allerton, Winchell, Buttolph, Thompson, La Grange and others, beloved and consecrated elders of the church, serving well and faithfully their pastorships while the church grew and prospered.
In 1829 a new and commodious house of worship was dedicated. It was of brick, and cost about $5,000, of which James Winchell con- tributed $1,700. Rev. Thomas Winter preached the dedicatory ser- mon, Dr. Rufus Babcock assisting at the services.
About the close of the Civil War the society voted to sell the old brick church at Spencers Corners, purchase a new site in the growing village of Millerton, and build another house of worship nearer the business center of the town. In pursuance of this decision, on the 4th of November, 1867, the church met to lay the cornerstone of its new house of worship.
The edifice is situated at the head of the main village street, and the church is prospering under the pastoral care of Rev. George C. Kiernan.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, NORTHEAST. The first meeting to con- sider the question of building a Congregational House of Worship in the town of Northeast was held at the house of Nicholas Holbrook at Northeast Center, October 17, 1827. A resolution was adopted in favor of building such a house, and a committee of five was appointed to solicit subscriptions. December 2nd, a building committee was named to proceed with the work. During the summer of 1828 the
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
house was built, and on December 23rd was formally delivered to the society by the committee. The cost of the building in money, aside from the labor contributed and the site given by Mr. Holbrook, was $2100.
January 15th, 1829, the house was dedicated and the church con- stituted. There were nine members, as follows: Elihu Payne, Ezra L. Barrett, Rhode Barrett, Philip J. Jenks, Julia Ann Jenks, John I. Douglass, Elizabeth Clark, Mary Hotchkiss and Myra Coleman. The society was incorporated in June, 1829.
The first pastor to minister to this church was Rev. Thomas Fletcher, who was installed January 14, 1830. At the end of his pastorate three years later, the church had on its rolls about one hundred mem- bers.
In 1873 this church was affiliated with the Presbyterian denomina- tion.
In 1866, $4000 was subscribed to tear down the church building at Northeast Center and rebuild at Millerton. The second house of wor- ship was dedicated February 17th, 1867. The entire cost of this building was $10,473.79.
November 8, 1904, a meeting was held to consider the remodelling of the church or the building of a new one. After repeated sessions, the trustees in September, 1905, voted to build a new church, award- ing the contract to the local builders, Beers and Trafford, for the sum of $7,800, not including the leaded glass windows, seats, light, heat, or any of the furniture. An offer of $500 for the old church building was accepted, and a subscription list of about $7,200 re- ported.
The cornerstone of this, the third house of worship of the society, was laid on Thanksgiving Day, November 30, 1905, the pastors of sister churches, Revs. H. Y. Murkland and E. F. Charles, participat- ing in the service.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF NORTHEAST. The Methodists were the first to hold religious services here after the departure of the Moravian Missionaries, but records of the church are very meagre. The first record of which anything is known bears date of 1842, in part as follows: "The subscribers, being appointed judges by a majority of the members present do find that Daniel Lee, John I. Hull and Nathaniel Gridley were elected by a plurality of voice to
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TOWN OF NORTHEAST.
serve as trustees of the Northeast Center Methodist Church in the town of Northeast, Dutchess County, N. Y., in witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this seventh day of February, 1842.
DANIEL LEE, JR., (L. S.) LORENZO GILLERT, (L. S.)
The second quarterly meeting for the conference year 1847, for Salisbury and Northeast, was held at the church at Northeast Center, February 23. Presiding Elder, Denton Keeler; Preacher in Charge, D. C. Benjamin ; Clerk, J. S. Caulkins. At a quarterly meeting in 1850, Rev. Phineas Rice, Presiding Elder, a committee having been appointed to estimate the table expenses of the preacher for North- east, Rev. J. L. Dickerson, they allowed him $100 and his fuel. At a quarterly conference held at the M. E. Church, Northeast Center, Rev. J. Z. Nichols, Presiding Elder, the subject of a district associa- tion was proposed. In 1855 Rev. P. C. Oakley is mentioned as Pre- siding Elder, and Rev. A. H. Ferguson as Preacher in Charge.
An important change in the society was made about this time. At a meeting of the male members of the Methodist Church and society of Northeast, held at the hall at Millerton, that being the regular place of worship of said society, March 2nd, 1857, for the purpose of electing sworn trustees for the incorporating of said society, the meeting was called to order by Rev. W. G. Browning, when the follow- ing trustees were elected: Nathaniel Gridley, Alexander W. Trow- bridge, Nicholas D. Eggleston, John S. Caulkins, Horace S. Kelsey, Douglass Clark, Jr., and Perry Vroman. A certificate was duly signed and recorded in the County Clerk's office, and thus a second Methodist Society was constituted and located at the growing village of Millerton. The preacher in charge at the later place also held ser- vices at the Center for a time, but these were finally discontinued.
Under date of April 2nd, 1859, is found the following: "The trus- tees of Millerton beg leave to report that they have purchased a lot on which they have erected a church edifice which costs, with the said lot, the sum of $4,500. That they have paid $3,700. That there is now in subscriptions $450."
March 23rd, 1861, conference was held at Northeast Center, and again in July of that year at Millerton, indicating that both com- munities were enjoying church privileges.
The society is now meeting in a commodious house of worship, of
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
an attractive and modern design, and are enjoying the ministrations of Rev. Angelo Ostrander.
The village of Millerton1 was incorporated June 30, 1875, with N. C. Beach, President ; O. Wakeman, H. B. Eggleston, W. B. Grey, Trustees ; J. M. Benedict, Treasurer.
At a public meeting held at the Nickel Plate Rink, January 19, 1891, it was voted to raise money to procure a water supply for the village of Millerton, authorizing the bonding of the village for a sum not to exceed $15,000. Previous to this the Village Board had met and organized a Board of Water Commissioners as follows: E. H. Thompson, President; J. W. Pulver, P. N. Paine and Nicholas Best, Trustees. In the following year the village was bonded for $18,000, and a fire department was organized, with spacious quarters and adequate apparatus.
The Millerton Telegraph, a weekly publication, was started Novem- ber 1, 1876, by Cooley James, who sold it to Van Scriver and Deacon after conducting it about three months ; subsequently Colvin Card pur- chased Van Scriver's interest, later assuming the sole proprietorship, continuing its publication until his death. Its present proprietor is W. L. Loupe.
The Millerton National Bank was organized in 1882. G. S. Frink was its first President, and W. M. Dales its first Cashier. The pres- ent bank building was erected in 1903, and is equipped with modern vault and safe deposit boxes. The Bank has a capital stock of $50,- 000, with individual deposits according to the statement of February 14, 1908, of over $299,000. Its present officers are Frank A. Hotch- kiss, President, and W. C. Denny, Vice President and Cashier.
There is a natural phenomenon connected with the lofty range of the Taconic Mountains, forming the border line between Northeast and the State of Connecticut, that has aroused the wonder of scientific minds, and the inhabitants who spend their lives in the valley at its foot are by this strange happening often put to their wits end.
High up among the crags, says Landon, is the hatching place of great winds. With this high mountain range lying along the east side for miles, the valley would seem to be the best protected region
1 .. Thie village derived its name from Sidney G. Miller, one of the contractors and builders of the extension of the New York & Harlem Railroad from Dover Plains to Chatham.
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TOWN OF NORTHEAST.
from easterly gales that could be imagined. There are more east winds of typhoon power right here than in any other place this side the Rocky Mountains-and that is what puzzles those who are ever trying to explain the weather.
Hours before the gales reach the valley their roar is heard on the mountain top, not unlike the moan of the ocean heard at a distance. Gradually they work down the mountain side, their voice becoming more menacing as they gather momentum in their descent; then the beholder notes the forest trees bending and swaying before an unseen force upon the mountain side, while at its foot the leaves hang motionless. And when the winds at the moment of their greatest fury reach the mountain's base, and rush howling and screaming across the narrow valley, it behooves man and beast to seek shelter. In- stances have been recorded of passenger trains, with their load of human freight, being lifted from the rails.
When the survey of the Massachusetts State boundaries were made, a corner of that commonwealth extended over the Taconic range to the west. This corner comprised about four hundred acres of arable land, and some fifteen hundred of mountain land, and was completely isolated from the rest of the state by a practicably impassable moun- tain. By traversing a roundabout way some twelve to fifteen miles in another state one might get from this fragment of nowhere into Mas- sachusetts.
Here for years lived and prospered a little community, a virtual Republic. They paid no taxes to the State, went to no polling place to vote, but governed themselves, supported a school, kept up religious services, and had they been left to themselves, there had been no blot on their escutcheon.
One day an enterprising Yankee came and opened an inn. Then a stranger came and took lodgings, and soon went away. Soon others appeared, were entertained, and presently departed, without making their business known. Then the people of Boston Corners be- gan to open their eyes. These transient guests were refugees from the constables of the three commonwealths, whose territory joined near this point, who were wanted for chicken stealing, or some other local offenses.
Also the eyes of law-breakers from the outside world were drawn to this haven of criminals. In 1811 John Armstrong fought a duel
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
here, where he was immune from the enforcement of the laws of either state against dueling. While a Massachusetts constable might have made an arrest, the moment he stepped into New York or Connecticut with his prisoner he would lose jurisdiction, and there was neither judge nor jail at Boston Corners.
For half a century things went on, when an event occurred which led to concerted action being taken by New York, Massachusetts, and the National Government.
October 12, 1852, a heavily loaded train from New York City dis- charged its load at Boston Corners, a station on the newly completed railroad. Other train loads from Albany and Troy were dumped off at the same point, as rough a set of rowdies as ever set foot on any soil. People from the country came in wagons, until the crowd was immense.
Two men seemed to be the center of attraction. One was forty-one years of age, and looked old enough to be the father of the other who was twenty-two, but was three inches taller, looking like a giant be- side the older man. The latter was Yankee Sullivan, long the cham- pion prize-fighter of America, while the giant was John Morrisey, just then on the threshold of his world-wide notoriety. Morrisey's seconds were Tom O'Donnell and "Awful" Gardiner; Sullivan was es- corted by Billy Wilson and another friend. The purse was $2,000 a side.
Forcibly pre-empting the first convenient dwelling house, the prin- cipals were quickly dressed for the battle. In an adjacent field was an abandoned brickyard. In a large level plot, that had been care- fully prepared for the drying of the bricks years before, the grounds were selected, and the ropes of the arena drawn, while hundreds of spectators looked on from points of vantage.
Thirty-seven bloody rounds were fought with bare fists. Sullivan seemed to have the better of his opponent all through the fight until the last round, when he was thrown violently against the ropes, and failed to recover before time was called. Morrisey, who had never left his place, was proclaimed victor. But the point of interest for the people of Northeast, and one reason for the introduction of the event in this chapter, is the raid of the hungry hordes on Millerton after the battle was over. This was then a mere hamlet, and was tight-shut when the invasion came. But locks were nothing; the pri-
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TOWN OF NORTHEAST.
vacy of pantries was not respected; nothing was respected that came between the invaders and anything that could be eaten. Hogs were killed and roasted in the highway. Millerton never forgot that prize fight at Boston Corners.
This event broke the independent spirit of the Boston Corners "Re- public." The people clamored to be annexed to some civil authority able to cope with the powers of evil, to the end that never should such scenes be repeated. Massachusetts, in May of the year following the fight, ceded the triangle to New York; the concession was accepted by New York July 21, 1853; the transfer was confirmed by Act of Congress January 3d, 1855. The soil of Boston Corners has been respected ever since.
The following has been the succession of Supervisors from 1775 to 1908:
1775-'76
Israel Thompson
1829-'31 Douglass Clark
1777-'78 Hugh Rea
1832
Alanson Colver
1779-'81 Lewis Graham
1833-'34
Eli Mills
1782
Hugh Rea
1835-'36
David Seldon
1783
Uriah Lawrence
1837-'38
John H. Conklin
1784
Lewis Graham
1839-'40 Moses Clark
1785-'87
John White
1841-'42
Eben Wheeler
1788-'92
Josiah Holly
1843
Jeduthan Roe
1793
Ebenezer Dibblee
1844-'45
Hiram Wheeler
1794-'96
Josiah Holly
1846
Abraham Bockee
1797-'98
Ebenezer Dibblee
1847
James Hammond
1799-'00
Peter Husted
1848
Abner Brown
1801
(No record of this year.)
1849
George Douglass
1802-'03
Isaac Sherwood
1850
Geo. R. Winchell
1804-'05
Martin E. Winchell
1851
Gerard Pitcher
1806
Jonathan Deuel
1852
John Winchell
1807
Benj. R. Bostwick
1853
Edgar Clark
1808-'09
Jonathan Deuel
1854
Jeremiah W. Paine
1810-'11
Enos Hopkins
1855
Platt A. Paine
1812-'13
Isaac Sherwood
1856
Hiram Rogers
1814-'15
Uri Judd
1857
Edw'd W. Simmons
1816-'17
Martin Lawrence
1858
John F. Wheeler
1818-'19
Fyler Dibblee
1859
Phoenix Bockee
1820-'21
Philo M. Winchell
1860
George Clark
1822
Israel Harris
1861
David Bryan
1823
Philo M. Winchell
1862 John Campbell
1824-'25
David Seldon
1863
George F. More
1826
Amos Bryan
1864-'67
Edw'd W. Simmons
1827-'28
Abraham Bocker
1868
William H. Barton
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
1869
William L. Pratt
1885
Wm. Angevine
1870
James Collins
1886-'87
John Scutt
1871-'72 James Collins
1888-'89
John W. Pulver John Scutt
1873
George Dakin
1890
Hoffman Sweet
1874-'75 Daniel McElwell 1876 Michael Rowe 1877 Jeremiah W. Paine
1893
Daniel B. McElwee
1878
Hiram Rogers
1894-'97
Charles A. Cline
1879
James .M. Winchell
1898-'99
Frank A. Hotchkiss
1880
George E. Crane
1900-'01 Charles A. Cline
1881-'82 Wheeler Rowe
1902-'07
Lorin J. Eggleston
1883-'84 George Williams
1908-'09
Gideon M. Slee
1891
1892
Edward H. Thompson
389
TOWN OF PAWLING.
CHAPTER XXVI. THE TOWN OF PAWLING.
BY PHILIP H. SMITH.
T HE Town of Pawling is universally described as the southeast corner town in Dutchess County. A range of high hills, which range is locally known as Quaker Hill, extends along the east border. Another range known as the West Mountain occupies the west part. A broad and fertile valley runs through the central por- tion. Swamp and Croton Rivers take their rise here, the former flowing north into the Housatonic, the latter south into the Hudson.
Pawling is bounded north by Dover, east by the town of Sherman in Connecticut, south by Patterson in Putnam County, and west by the town of Beekman. Pawling Precinct was taken from Beekman Precinct by an act passed December 31, 1768, and erected into a town in 1788, when the State government was subjected to general revision in many of its details ; the town limits were then greater than at present, as Dover was taken off and made into a separate town- ship in 1807. The ancient Pawling town records, which covered a period previous to the division of the town, were destroyed by the fire of 1859.
There are four considerable natural bodies of water in the town, the dimensions of most of them having been considerably increased by artificial means. These are known as Whaley Pond, Lake Nor- ton, Green Mountain Lake and Lake Hammersley. All these lakes afford excellent fishing, having been stocked from various hatcheries, and provided with boats and fishing appliances. In summer the islands and shores of these picturesque inland water basins are dotted with the tents of city campers.
Many authorities have described the limits of the town as being included in the patent granted to Henry Beekman June 25, 1703. This is only partly true, as the south line of the Beckman Patent was
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
approximately that which was afterwards known as the Willis Line, or the line advocated by some for the division line when Putnam County was taken off in 1812. This line was run through what is now the incorporated limits of the village of Pawling, and is thus described: "Beginning on the Oblong line at a large heap of stones set up which bears north 25 degrees, west 38 links from a large rock on which are cut the letters H. B., B. R., and P. P .; a new house built by Adam Chase bears the same course that the rock does. From thence due west, the line runs about 12 feet south of William Hunt's spring, where Col. Henry Beekman made the letters H. B. on the rock out of which the water of the spring runs. Said line also crosses a pretty large pond in the mountains a little south of the middle. On the east shore a monument is set up about two chains south of one Baker's house situated in a hollow." Now as to the location of these monuments. The large rock, with the letters cut in, may be seen in the meadow north of Martin Leach's residence as described in the colonial records, with the exception that the initials "B. R." have been torn away by a blast set off by some workmen who did not know the rock was a monument of the ancient patent line divisions. The house built by Adam Chase referred to was the one destroyed by fire one winter's night many years ago, and occupied the present site of Martin Leach's dwelling. William Hunt owned land on which Pawling village stands, and "Hunt's Spring" is the one in rear of H. S. Wanger's residence.
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