USA > New York > Dutchess County > The history of Dutchess County, New York > Part 40
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ST. PAUL'S OF WURTEMBERGH. By 1759 the residents of that por- tion of the precinct then called "Whitaberger Land," and now Wur- temburgh, applied to Col. Beekman for permission to build a church, and for a gift of the land required, which Beekman willingly granted.
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TOWN OF RHINEBECK.
The church edifice was erected, and the Rev. J. F. Ries installed as pastor. The records begin with a baptism under date of October 22, 1760. Rev. Ries served this church until 1785. He was followed by George H. Pefifer, who remained until 1794. Dr. Frederick H. Quit- man supplied the pastorate from 1798 to 1825 in conjunction with the Lutheran Stone church. Toward the close of his ministry he became very feeble, and had to be carried to the pulpit and retained his seat while preaching. William J. Eyer was his successor, and remained until September, 1839. He preached in the English language and ministered exclusively to the Wurtemburgh church. The succession of pastors from 1839 are A. T. Geissenhainer, Charles A. Smith, W. N. Scholl, George Neff, Joseph G. Griffith, John Kling, George W. Fortney, C. W. Deifendorf and Roscoe C. Wright. The Rev. John Kling was recalled February 1, 1908, and is now the pastor.
A new church building was erected in 1802. It was thoroughly repaired and improved in 1832, and in 1861 was enlarged and re- modeled into its present condition.
THE METHODIST CHURCH. This sect was introduced in Rhinebeck in 1792 by Rev. Freeborn Garretson of Maryland, then on a visit to his friend, Dr. Thomas Tillotson, at "Linwood." He married Mar- garet, daughter of Judge Robert R. and Margaret (Beekman) Liv- ingston, in 1793, and became a resident of Rhinebeck.
A map made in 1797 shows a Methodist church on a hill facing the road to Milan. It was near the home of the Garretsons, but no rec- ords can be found pertaining to it. The first record of a Methodist organization in the town is contained in a deed from Mrs. Janet Mont- gomery to Rev. Freeborn Garretson and others, trustees of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church at Rhinebeck Flatts, dated August 1, 1801, covering a lot on the east side of what is now Centre street, between East Market and South streets. Tradition relates that the church on the road to Milan was taken down and rebuilt on this lot. The lot on which the present church edifice stands was also a gift of Mrs. Janet Montgomery, in 1822, in which year the edifice was completed. The parsonage was built in 1829, on a lot presented to the church by Hon. Edward Livingston. The church edifice was enlarged in 1863, and the parsonage reconstructed in 1871. The church build- ing was destroyed by fire originating in a defective furnace flue, Feb-
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
ruary 12, 1899. Within a year it was rebuilt at a cost of $16,200. The records were also burned in the fire of 1899.
The Methodists had so increased in numbers by 1855 that chapels were erected at Rhinecliff and Hillside. The churches are now served jointly by Rev. John Wesley Bohlmann.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH. This society was founded in the town by Rev. Robert Scott in 1821. It had no local habitation until 1825, when a "small, convenient house was made ready," on ground donated by Mrs. Janet Montgomery. The society struggled along until 1841, when the Hon. William Kelly became a resident of Rhinebeck. He was a Baptist and wealthy, and his support gave the church new life. In 1869 he purchased land adjoining the church, and added it, a gift to the church lot. In 1890 the present modern and sub- stantial church building was erected, largely through the efforts of the Reed family. Dr. George Fuller of Baltimore, Dr. William R. Williams of New York, Dr. Martin B. Anderson, president of the University of Rochester, and Dr. Kendrick, professor of Greek in the same, have preached from the pulpit of this church.
THE VILLAGE LUTHERAN CHURCH was founded by Rev. Charles A. Smith, a former pastor of the Wurtemburgh church. The edifice was built in 1842, on a lot, the gift of John T. Schryver. In 1876 important alterations were made in the interior of the church. Rev. Smith ministered to this society until 1851. L. D. Wells, the present pastor, began his labors in 1899.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. Episcopal services were held in Rhine- beck as early as 1846, first in the Methodist and Baptist churches, once a month, and later in the "Baker building." In 1852 the society was incorporated and a church building erected on ground given by Mr. Rutsen Suckley. The church was consecrated October 6, 1855, by the Right Rev. Horatio Potter, D. D., provisional bishop of the diocese. The Rev. Richard S. Adams was the first rector. He was followed in 1854 by Rev. G. H. Walsh, who remained until 1866. The lecture room and the chapel at Rhinecliff were built, and the rectory purchased during Mr. Walsh's term. The Rev. A. F. Olmstead was the next rector, continuing his duties here until his death in 1895, when Rev. E. C. Saunders, the present incumbent, was called.
In 1895 the vestry purchased the Schell property for a new church site, and a year later the present massive edifice-CHURCH OF THE
THE KIP-BEEKMAN-LIVINGSTON-HEERMANCE HOUSE, RHINEBECK. A Historic Mansion of 1700-1909.
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TOWN OF RHINEBECK.
MESSIAH-was erected thereon. The building costs $70,000. It con- tains several appropriate and expensive memorial windows: one to William Astor, in his lifetime a liberal supporter of the church; one to Susan Watts Street, daughter of Mrs. Levi P. Morton; one to Flor- ence Adele Kip-Humbert; one to Rev. Aaron F. Olmsted, for thirty years rector of the parish; one to Miss Julia Ann Traver. The pulpit was a memorial gift of Mrs. William Astor to the memory of her husband. A new organ was placed in the church in 1908, by Hon. Levi P. Morton and Mrs. Morton, as a memorial to their daughter.
The following persons have been large contributors to the support of the church: Mrs. Mary R. Miller, Mrs. Franklin Delano, Miss Elizabeth Jones, Horatio Miller, Edward Jones, William Astor, Lewis Livingston, Ambrose Wager, John Jacob Astor, Levi P. Morton, George N. Miller, Ernest H. Crosby, Douglas Merritt and Robert B. Suckley.
A sketch of the Catholic churches at Rhinecliff and Rhinebeck will be found in another chapter.
A list of Ward and Precinct Supervisors, beginning with the year 1720, appears in Chapter IV. The following is the succession of town Supervisors :
1788
Peter Contine
1845
Moses Ring
1789-'91
William Radcliff
1846-'47
Tunis Workman
1792-'94
David Van Ness
1848
James Montfort
1795-'97
Peter Contine, Jr.
1849
Isaac I. Platt
1798-'00
Isaac Stoutenburgh
1850
Jacob G. Lambert
1801-'03
Andrew Heermance
1851
Ambrose Wager
1804-'05
Peter Contine, Jr.
1852
James C. McCarty
1806-'08
David Van Ness
1853
James Montfort
1808-'18
John Cox, Jr.
1854-'55
John M. Cramer
1819-'20
Koert Du Boise
1856
Richard R. Sylands
1821-'24
Christian Schell
1857
Theophilus Nelson
1825-'29
Garret Van Keuren
1858-'59
Richard J. Garrettson
1830-'32
Isaac F. Russell
1860-'61
James C. McCarty
1833-'34
Frederick I. Pultz
1862-363
Andrew J. Heermance
1835-'86
Henry S. Quitman
1864-'65
Ambrose Wager
1837-739
Conrad Ring
1866
Smith Quick
1840
John Armstrong, Jr.
1867
William M. Sayer
1841-743
J. A. A. Cowles
1868
Robert L. Garrettson
1844
N. B. Van Steenburgh
1869-'72 Virgil C. Traver
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
1873
John G. Ostrom
1886-787 John C. Milroy
1874-'76 Joseph H. Baldwin
1888-'89 George Esselstyn
1877-'78 James H. Kip
1890-'91 John C. Milroy
1879-'80 William B. Kip
1892-'97 John A. Traver
1881-'82 Martin Heermance
1898-'03 James H. Kipp
1883-'84 Andrew J. Odell
1885 James H. Kipp
1904-'09 Mandeville S. Frost
There was published in 1881, by Edward M. Smith, a Documentary History of Rhinebeck, which includes genealogical records of the early settlers. In 1908 Howard H. Morse published "Historic Old Rhinebeck." For more particulars than can be found in the foregoing article, the reader is referred to these excellent his- tories of Rhinebeck, which can be found in the libraries of the Starr Institute, Rhinebeck, N. Y., and of the City of Poughkeepsie in the Adriance Memorial Library Building .- Enrroa.
THE RHINEBECK HOTEL. Erected by Arent Traphagen, about 1766.
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TOWN OF STANFORD.
CHAPTER XXXI. THE TOWN OF STANFORD.
BY PHILIP H. SMITH.
T' HIS town is included in the Great Nine Partners tract, granted in 1697 to Caleb Heathcote and others, and was formed from Washington, March 12, 1793. It is bounded on the north by Milan and Pine Plains; east by Northeast and Amenia ; south by Washington, and west by Clinton. It lies a little north and east of the center of the county. Its surface is a broken and hilly upland; Carpenter Hill, in the northeast corner, is the highest point.
Thompson's Pond (Hunn's Lake) and Upton's Lake are the prin- cipal bodies of water, and Wappingers creek the principal stream. The soil is a good quality of gravelly and slaty loam.
Among the pioneers was Paul Upton, who came from Massachu- setts and settled in the southwest part of the town, near the lake which still bears his name. He was a Quaker, and as he lived near the meeting house, and was noted for his hospitality, his home was thronged at the time of quarterly meetings.
Christopher Dibble, the ancestor of that family in this vicinity, came from Long Island and settled in the north part of the town, building a house on what was later the Titus farm, about the year 1782. In the old family burial ground this is recorded: "In memory of Christopher Dibble, who died May 27, 1804, in the 63d year of his age." Also, "In memory of Elizabeth Dibble (wife of Christopher), who died December 1, 1803, AE 70 yrs."
Three brothers, Samuel, Amos and Enos Thompson, great grand- sons of Anthony Thompson, original planter in the New Haven Colony, came into Dutchess County about 1750. Samuel and Amos had been connected with the Goshen, Conn. settlement. Enos came direct from New Haven. Tradition says they acquired 2,800 acres between them, around the shores of the beautiful sheet of water long known as Thompson's Pond.
Samuel Thompson was the grandfather of Judge Smith Thompson.
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
He was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New York in 1814, Secretary of the Navy from November 9, 1818, to March 5, 1823, under the presidency of Martin Van Beuren, and Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States from this time until his death, December 18, 1843.
A grandson of Enos Thompson, Enos Thompson Throop, was Gov- ernor of the State of New York, 1829-'33. A later Governor of New York State connected with this family was John Thompson Hoffman, who occupied the executive chair in the early seventies.
Many members of this family filled responsible positions in political and military life. Owing to the allurements of western emigration a large number left their native section, and the name has almost died out in places where it was once a power. The inland body of water once bearing the name has been called Hunn's Lake, which antiqua- rians consider an unfortunate change, since the old name perpetuates the courage and ability of a worthy band of settlers of the old New England stock, and the original owners of the soil.
Bangall, Stanfordville, Stissing, McIntyre, Hull's Mills and Bare Market are villages of varying size and importance. Bangall is a village, much of whose growth is the result of its being a railroad sta- tion. There is a fine level highway leading to Stanfordville, nearly a mile distant, along which are strewn fine residences, so that the two places might be called one village. The history of Stanfordville is the old story of the decadence of small inland manufacturing towns throughout the county. Facilities of transportation from different points, the growth of competition, together with the adoption of new and superior methods, have caused the patronage of the little shops to flow into the insatiate maw of the immense manufactories in the large cities. Hence, along the banks of the Wappingers, where stood the busy factories, that stream is no longer harnessed to turn wheels and spindles. The foundations alone mark the spot from which the buildings have been removed, and the water flows unrestrained in its course.
In 1843 Silas Rogers founded the wagon axle manufacturing busi- ness, which was carried on extensively until the western competition became too strong. He began first in a little shop by manufacturing wagons and edged tools. A cotton mill had a brief existence here. A paper mill was established some time previous to 1840, and in 1844 was burned down. The mill was rebuilt by a man named Gildersleeve,
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TOWN OF STANFORD.
who began the manufacture of wrapping paper, and in 1865 the mill was again burned. He immediately rebuilt the mill, but the business was subsequently abandoned and the building and machinery removed.
The grist mill was established about the middle of the last century by Seaman & Northrop; afterward it came into the possession of George T. Pierce, and was by him transferred to other parties. In the great freshet of 1865 the dam was swept away, and the property came into possession of the City National Bank of Poughkeepsie. The mortgagees rebuilt the dam and disposed of the property to Alonzo Duell. It is now conducted by H. Haight & Co. Buckwheat flour is a staple product of this mill.
The early church history of Stanford is replete with material such as is ever a delight to the antiquarian. It is a" compendium of the early struggles of the pioneers in the wilderness; of a striving for religious liberty, while denying that right to a neighbor of a differ- ent creed; a record of bitter jealousies and heart burnings, when all should have joined shoulder to shoulder in the labor of settling a new country. Yet these early pioneers were loyal to their principles ; they believed they were truly serving God when they persecuted those who dissented from the established rules of faith. Nothing in their eyes was more to be despised and feared than a heretic. The day of true religious liberty had not yet dawned.
In the year 1755, so reads the record, a few brethren of the Baptist faith, residing in the wilderness, agreed to meet for prayer, which they continued to do for four years. Others joined them, and in October, 1759, they were constituted into a branch church by the Baptist church of Swanzey, Massachusetts Bay. Ephraim and Comer Bullock were chosen to administer the church ordinances, and Richard Bullock to serve as deacon. There is no further record until 1771, when a serious trouble occurred. At this time the mother church at Swanzey adopted the singing of Watt's Hymns in their ser- vices. This singing "by rule" was to the Stanford church "a great grief," and they labored to convince the Swanzey church of their error. Their efforts were of no avail, so they withdrew from fellow- ship. Soon the Stanford church became divided on the question of Watt's Hymns, Elder Comer Bullock siding with the mother church, and Elder Ephraim and others dissenting, and withdrawing from church attendance. Comer Bullock remained faithful to his charge
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
until his death in 1804. He is said to have baptized one thousand persons during his ministry.
Elder Luman Burtch was ordained their minister in 1806. The ministers in those days were styled Elders. They had not the ad- vantages of a liberal education ; their graces of oratory may not have been what would pass at the present time; but such sainted men as Elder Burtch of Bangall, Elder Waldo of Dover, and Elder Johnson of Pawling, found a ready means to reach the hearts of their hearers, as evidenced by the religious awakenings under their preaching.
These men labored with their hands for the support of their families, and we read of them absenting themselves from home for weeks to- gether, travelling on horseback with their belongings in a saddle- bag, carrying the Gospel to distant points.
To go back in our records of events-on October 17, 1779, a letter was received from Kinderhook, asking help. The church at Bangall sent Elder Comer Bullock in response, who preached to them and administered the ordinance of baptism. The day "was remarkable for the convicting power manifested, and which was visible to the entire auditory."
The self-denial of the pioneer preachers is evident from the follow- ing entry in the minutes wherein it is stated a member called upon the Elder to bring in an account of his expenses, amounting to over six pounds, which he had expended of his own money.
April 28, 1780, "one of the brethren gave his new discovery of duty, which was to plough, plant and hoe the Elder's corn, mow and secure his hay, plough and prepare the fallow ground for sowing wheat for him, judging it most convenient for us, in our low circum- stances, to redeem what time we can in order that the Elder might use such redeemed time to his ministerial functions." The idea of a salaried minister at this time was entirely foreign to the minds of those early worshipers.
In response to the request of the brethren at Dover and places adjacent, "Elder Bullock and messengers of the Bangall church visited those quarters," preaching the Gospel, baptizing both men and women.
In June, 1782, in response to an earnest request from brethren at Little Hoosic to come to them, Elder Bullock journeyed there and baptized four persons, receiving two others; the six were taken under the watch and care of the church at Bangall.
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TOWN OF STANFORD.
In September, 1787, an invitation came from the neighborhood of Mabbettsville. The Elder and some brethren went to them, heard their experiences ; nearly forty of them were baptized, and by their request were constituted into a branch of the Bangall church.
In June, 1790, some candidates "residing at a place called Hud- son" sent a messenger-there were no adequate postal facilities in those days-asking for Elder Bullock to come and administer the Gos- pel ordinances. "August 26, 1791, being the first day of the week, a great number of people came together, when the Elder preached the Word with great boldness and engagedness." After which he bap- tized a number, who were added to the church.
December 29, 1790, at a regular meeting of the church at Bangall, Deacon Canfield expressed a desire that the brethren would consider the Elder in his present needful circumstances in respect to bread and wood, when the church agreed to relieve his wants. Such a decision, says the chronicler of those days, was a just one, in view of the fact that he had fed so many, and provided fuel for the people to be com- fortable so many winters when assembled at his house, the church being too cold, especially as we do not find it on record that he ever received a penny as a salary.
In August, 1790, the church voted to send Elder Bullock to preach at Oswego once a month for one year. And later that he should preach at home three Sabbaths, and the fourth to the people at Mab- betsville, and where there were five Sundays he could go where he liked. In the next entry we learn that the Elder, in a response to a call from Rhinebeck, had gone thither to preach and baptize. The last record of this exemplary man is that he presided at a church meeting in his own house February 29, 1804.
Thus for fifty years did Elder Comer Bullock serve the church at Bangall. During this time he had established branches at Kinder- hook, Mabbettsville, Oswego, Dover, Noble Town, Rhinebeck, and assisted at other places, without compensation. At one time he was tendered a contribution, which he accepted, and for so doing was called hireling. As elsewhere stated, his successor was Elder Luman Burtch, who was ordained June 15, 1806, in a grove near where the first meet- ing house stood. For another period of fifty years, like his prede- cessor, Elder Burtch served the church at Bangall. The two were the only pastors for a century, from 1755 to 1855, at which latter
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
date Elder Burtch was struck down with palsy. He died two years afterwards at the age of 81.
The present house of worship was dedicated May 26, 1869. The house is located one-half mile south of the first church, and one-fourth mile south of the second building; this being the third edifice the society has built in its history of upwards of a century and a half. In the second house, the Dutchess Baptist Association was organized, the first meeting being held in 1835.
In 1843 the Methodist society erected their house of worship. Pre- vious to that year their gatherings were held at schoolhouses, or in some of the more roomy dwellings. Their first preacher was a Rev. Mr. Thatcher, who assisted in the organization of the church. The meeting was held for this purpose at the residence of B. P. Meyers. Leonard Winans gave the timber for the frame of the new church. During the first twenty years or so of its existence, this society was under one pastorate with the Methodist church at Pine Plains; but was subsequently for many years united with the society at Milan. The present pastor is Rev. W. B. Sleep.
There is a neat Catholic church in the village of Bangall, at which regular services are held. This is an outlying mission of the church at Milbrook, and the services are conducted by the resident priest of that parish.
The Quaker Society was organized very early in the history of the town. They have a substantial house of worship, and services are held with good attendance. The pulpit is supplied by Rev. A. G. Shepard, of the Society of Friends at Clinton Corners. The Friends burying ground is at a little distance from the church, and the number of marble slabs betokens that the membership during the century of its history must have been considerable. The Wings, the Hulls, the Guernseys and Uptons were members of this church. The present house of worship was built by the orthodox faction after the "Sepa- ration" in 1828, and stands on a commanding knoll on the banks of the Wappingers, in the village of Stanfordville.
The Christian church of Stanfordville was established some time previous to 1840. The parent church was at Milan, whose pastor, Rev. Joseph Marsh, did mission work here, finally organizing the church. Mrs. Abigail Hoag Roberts administered to the spiritual and temporal wants of the people throughout this and adjacent locali-
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TOWN OF STANFORD.
ties. Her son, Rev. Philetus Roberts, was pastor of this church for thirty years.
Among its first members were Amos Knapp, and a Mr. Sherrill, the former giving the land on which the church was built, to be used by them whenever they chose, and when not in use by them the church could be used by any denomination, and in the event of the Christian denomination ceasing to exist, then the property should revert to him or to his heirs. Rev. Mr. Butler of Poughkeepsie supplies the pulpit.
The Christian Biblical Institute at Stanfordville was formed at a session of the American Christian Convention held at Marshall, Mich., in 1866. The school was first opened at Starkey, Yates County, N. Y., and in 1872 was removed to Stanfordville, or rather to a location on the avenue between the villages of Stanfordsville and Bangall. The Institute was incorporated in 1868. The property consists of a farm of sixty acres, on which are farm buildings, a house for the president of the school, and several houses for the students, and the building called the Christian Biblical Institute. The latter was a gift in 1874 from the 'Hon. David Clark of Hartford, Conn.
The school was dedicated to the free instruction of Christian men and women, of suitable capacity and recommendation, and whose chosen life work was the Gospel ministry, without restriction as to denomination. Another institution of similar purpose also being con- ducted in a western city under the supervision of the American Chris- tian Convention, it was deemed best to consolidate the two colleges, and Stanford regretfully saw the school closed. The buildings and farm are now on the market.
Families by the names of Thompson, Hunn, and Pugsley were for- merly great land owners in the eastern part of the town. This sec- tion furnishes some of the best land in the State, and their holdings were valuable and productive. Now by reason of deaths and removal there is scarcely a trace, by name at least, of those families, and the farms are managed by tenant farmers.
The Carpenters, another leading family, still retain their property in their own name, their business being managed by Mr. Wilson Car- penter. Of this numerous family born in ancestral homes, may be mentioned B. Platt Carpenter, ex-County Judge and at one time Terri- torial Governor of Montana, Jacob B. Carpenter, ex-Mayor of Pough-
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
keepsie, and Isaac S. Carpenter, three brothers, natives of the town, and all achieving distinction.
Congressman Sherwood, of Ohio, frequently mentioned in Con- gressional reports, is a native of this town.
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