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CORNELL 

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Dear  old  Greene  County:  embracing  facts 


olln 


3  1924  028  853  541 


Date  Due 


V   6 


Cornell  University 
Library 


The  original  of  this  book  is  in 
the  Cornell  University  Library. 

There  are  no  known  copyright  restrictions  in 
the  United  States  on  the  use  of  the  text. 


http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028853541 


DEAR  OLD 
GREENE  COUNTY 


laiBRACING 


Facts  and  Figures,  Portraits  and  Sketches, 
OF  LEADING 

Men  Who  Will  Live  in  Her  History 

Those  at  the  Front  To=Day 
And  Others  Who  Made  Good  in  the  Past 


Catskill,N.Y. 
1915 

0/   <: 

GOUtv!ELL 


<5><3?EFAGE 

About  a  year  ago  the  publisher  of  Dear  Old  Greene  County 
commenced  gathering  data  and  facts  for  the  work  which  is  now 
upon  the  market  for  approval,  and  record.  It  has  been  a  far 
greater  job  than  we  anticipated,  and  we  have  met  with  difficulties 
all  along  the  way.  A  great  mass  of  material  has  been  at  hand, 
and  from  it  we  have  selected  what  appealed  to  us  as  valuable.  We 
are  under  obligations  to  many  persons  for  valuable  facts  and  en- 
couragement. We  trust  that  the  work  will  receive  kind  words 
and  that  the  outlay  of  time  and  money  in  the  production  of  the 
book  will  be  in  a  measure  repaid  by  the  liberal  patronage  of  the 
citizens  of  Greene  county,  in  whose  in  whose  interest  the  work 
has  been  done.  The  book  certainly  will  form  a  tangible  part  of 
the  records  thai  will  be  cherished  and  many  valuable  facts  pre- 
served in  it  otherwise  might  have  been  lost.  Much  has  been  re- 
corded, but  in  our  limited  space  many  interesting  matters  have 
been  of  necessity  reserved.  To  Court  of  Appeals  Justice  Emory 
A.  Chase,  Senator  Bloodgoorl,  Mrs.  Wheeler  Howard,  Judge  Tall- 
madge,  County  Clerk  George  B.  Van  Valkenburgh,  the  various 
members  of  the  Greene  county  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  particu- 
larly to  Elmer  Krieger  of  Prattsville,  Photographers  Paul  R.  Mor- 
rison, Fred  Clarke  and  Earle  Van  Dyke,  and  to  Frederick  Nelson 
Du  Bois,  Robert  F.  Story  and  others  we  have  been  greatly  indebt- 
ed for  facts  and  data.  Publishers  F.  E.  Craigie,  Harry  Hall,  and 
M.  Edward  Silberstein,  our  contemporaries,  have  added  liberally 
to  the  effort.  We  are  indebted  to  them  for  many  engravings  from 
their  olliees,  and  Mr.  Craigie  in  addition  has  compiled  the  lodge 
matter  covering  the  Masonic  order,  as  it  appears  in  the  several 
towns,  a  very  considerable  work. 

Once  more  our  thank  to  all. 

Finally  praise  us  if  you  can,  and  spare,  the  colder  criticism. 
We  are  most  painfully  aware  of  the  shortcomings. 


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Court  of  Appeals  Justice  Emory  A.  Chase 

Catskill,  N.  Y. 

See  Sketch  pages  141-5 


Josiah  C.    Tallmadge 

County  Judge  of  Greene  County 

gee  Sketch  pages  299-300. 


H.  Clay  Ferris 
Ashland,  N.  Y. 

Sketch  page  284 


Elmer  Krieger,   chrnn. 

Prattsville,  N.  Y. 
Sketch  page  287 

Bd.Supervisors 


Frank  Nichols 

Athens,  N.  Y. 
Sketch  page  289 


John'E.  Huyck 

Durham,  N.  Y. 
Sketch  page  283 


Floyd  S.  Jones 
Cairo,  N.  Y. 
Sketch  page  286 


Dayton  B.   Smith 

Coxsackie 
Sketch  page  442 


William  B,    Townsend 
Clerk 
Coxsackie,   N.  Y. 

!**■  Bd.Supervisors 


J.  Henry  Dearie 
Catskill,  N.  Y. 

Sketch  page  369 


mm 


Lewis  Hoose 

Greenville,  N.  Y. 
Sketch  page  320 


Frederick  Goslee 

Jewett,  N.  Y. 
Sketch  page  319 


Gireerve  Gounty  Board  of  iSupervisoris 


Earle  W.  Jenkins      Thomas  Seifferth,  jr. 

Halcott,  N.  Y.  Hunter,  N.  Y. 

Sketch  Page  287  Sk.  ch  pages  303-4 


Dale  S.  Balwin,  W  MP     I  Dr.  Sidney  L.    Ford 

New  Baltimore]  W&  Windham,  N.  Y. 

Sketch  page  283  '  ^Kt^  Sketch  page  285 

Abram  V.  Roraback 
Lexington,  N.  Y.  Sketch  page  288 


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Louis  DuBois  and  the  Indians.     See  page  108. 


Frederick  Nelson  Du  Bois 
Catskill,  N.  Y. 

See  Sketch  on   pages  108-112, 


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Greene  County  Jail. 


Elmore  Mackey,  Catskill,  sheriff. 
Sketch  page  290 


Col.  Omar  V.  Sage,  Catskill. 
See  Sketch  page  320 


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Co.  Treasurer,  Judson  A.  Betts. 


Wm. Joesbury,  50 Years  a  Fireman. 


Co.  Clerk  Geo.  B.  Van  Valkenburgb. 


J .  Lewis  Patrie,  former  Assemblyman, 


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The  Old  Bronk  Place,  Coxsackie,  1663 

Oldest  House  in  Greene  Co. 

Loup  Holed  for  Indian  Fighting. 


The  Rip  Van  Winkle  House,  Sleepy  Hollow,  1839 
Now  Tumbling  Down, 


Gen.  W.  S.  C.  Wiley, 
Catskill,  Gov.  Morton's 
Staff. 


Alex  D.  Wilbur! 
Catskill,  Pione.  | 
Telegiapher. 


State    Gensus  Figures 

July,     1915. 


Towns.  1915 

Ashla'd 658 

Athens 3724 

Cairo   1986 

Catskill *9023 

Coxsackie *2453 

Durham    *1360 

Greenville *1550 

Halcott 353 

Hunter 2944 

Jewett *1014 

Lexington *  926 

New  Baltimore *1840 

Prattsville 887 

Windham *1390 

30,087 


1910 

640 

2720 

1841 

9066 

2620 

1475 

1556 

331 

2609 

1057 

1054 

1936 

781 

1438 

30,214 


Incorporated  Villages. 

1915  1910 

Athens *  1 923  1956 

Catskill 5373  5296 

Coxsackie ?...*2309  2494 

Hunter *  405  408 

Tannersville 758  660 

*  Indicates  a  decrease. 

Eight  show  a  decrease  since  the 
he  ll  10  census.  The  largest  in  crease, 
was  made  in  the  town  of  Hunter. 
There  a  gain  of  245  was  made. 

The  town  of  Catskill  shows  a  de- 
crease of  43  and  the  village  an  in- 
crease of  77. 


View  shortly  after  construction .     Note  few  houses  on  Street. 


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DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Governor 

Lieutenant  Governor 

Secretary  of  State 

Comptroller 

State  Treasurer 

Attorney  General 

State  Engineer  and  Surveyor 

Congressman 

State  Senator 


Official  Usi 

STATE 

Charles  S.  Whitman,  New  York 

Edward  Schoenick,  Syracuse 

Francis  M.  Hugo,  Watertown 

Eugene  M.  Travis;  Brooklyn 

James  L.  Wells,  New  York 

Egbert  E.  Woodbury,   Jamestown 

Frank  M.  Williams,  Goshen 

Charles  B.  Ward,  Liberty 

Charles  Walton,  Kingston 


George  H.  Chase,  Jewett 

Josiah  C.  Tallmadge,  Catskill 

Elmore  Mackey,  Athens 

George  B.  VanValkenburgh,  Lexington 

Judson  A.  Betts,  Catskill 

Howard  C.  Wilbur,  Catskill 

Ira  T.  Tolley,  Cairo 

-Thomas  J.  O'Hara,  Prattsville.   Charles  A. 


COUNTY 

Member  of  Assembly 

County  Judge 

Sheriff 

County  Clerk 

County  Treasurer 

District  Attorney 

Superintendent  ot  Poor 

Election  Commissioners- 
Nichols,  Catskill 

Commissioners  of  Equalization — Eugene  Wayne,  Catskill.  Burton 
G.  Dewell,  Windham.     Frederick  Holsapple,  Copake  Falls 

Coroners — William  M.  Rapp,  Catskill.  Claude  D.  Mulberry,  Wind- 
ham. R.  Y.  Hubbard,  Tannersville.  I.  E.  Van  Hoesen,  Cox- 
sackie. 

Chairman  Board  of  Supervisors  Elmer  Krieger,  Prattsville 

Clerk  Board  Supervisors  William  B.  Townsend.Coxsackie 

Sealer  of  Weights  and  Measures  A.  E.  Ballou,  Catskill 

Loan  Commissioner  Robert  F.  Story,  Catskill 

APPOINTIVE  LIST 

James  Reilly,  Catskill 

Pearl  R.  Simmons,  Catskill 

Jasper  K.  Hotaling,   New  Baltimore 

Ethel  Hallock,  Catskill 

Ralph  Fan  cher,  Catskill 

Mary  A.  Cooney,  Catskill 

Emory  A,  Chase,  Catskill 


Surrogate  Clerk 

Stenographer 

Deputy  County  Clerk 

Copyist 

Clerk  Election  Commissioners 

Clerk  County  Treasurer 

Court  of  Appeals  Justice 

Stenographer  and  clerk,    Georgania  Jackson 
49 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Under  Sheriff 

Deputies — 
Charles  Hitchcock,  Athens 
William  Peck,  Jewett 
Marcus  Deane,  Catskill 
Michael  Lackey  jr.,  Tannersville 


Seymour  June,  Athens 

Ed.  Griffin,  Lexington 
Martin  Chamberlin,  Prattsville 
M.  Earl,  South  Cairo 

Levi  P.  Cor  wall,  Coxsackie 


Daniel  S.  Vincent,    New  Baltimore 

BOARD    OF' SUPERVISORS 

Elmer  Krieger,  Chairman 


Ashland — H.  Clay   Ferris 
Athens — Frank  Nichols 
Cairo — Floyd  F.  Jones 
Catskill — J.  Henry  Deane 
Coxsackie — Dayton  B.  Smith 
Durham — John  Huyck 
Greenville— Lewis  Hoose 

Clerk,   William  B. 


Halcott— Earl  W.  Jenkins 
Hunter — Thomas  Seifferth,  jr. 
Jewett — Frederick  Goslee 
Lexington — Abram  V,  Rooraback 
New  Paltimore— Dale  S.  Baldwin 
Prattsville— Elmer  Krieger 
Windham — Sidney  L.  Ford 
Townsend,  Coxsackie 


SCHOOL  SUPERINTENDENTS 
1st  District— Thomas  C.  Perry,  Catskill 
2d  District -Robert  M.  McNaught,  Windham, 
3d— District — Walter  J.  Decker,  Hunter. 

(See  Complete  list  under  Schools) 

COMMISSIONERS  BURIAL  OF  DECEASED  SOLDIERS 
1st  District— J .  Hubbard  Wilcox   Catskill. 
2d  District — John  B.  Van  Wie,  Coxsackie. 
3d  District— David  Vining,  Big  Hollow. 
4th  District — Edward  Cole,  Lexington. 


Town  Officers         1914-1913 

ASHLAND 


Supervisor 
Town  Clerk 


Adee  V.  Ferris 

William  Currie 


Justices  of  Peace 


50 


H.  Clay  Ferris 
Arthur  C.  Lee 

Samuel  C.  Clark 
Levi  Tompkins 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Assessors 
Alvah  Tut  tie 

Constables 

ATHENS 
Justices   of  Peace 


Lambert  Cooke 

Town  Superintendent 

Frank  Griffin 
James  Adee 

Frank  Nichols 
Richard  Gilbert 

B.  L.  Edwards 
John  D.  Rouse 

Collector 


Sanford  H.  Tompkins 

Chas.  P..  Tompkins 

Claude  Sutton 

Truant  Officer 

Supervisor 
Town  Clerk 

James  E.  Moore 

Orin  Q.  Flint 
Egbert  M.  Hallenbeck 

Assessors 
Henry  R.  Van  Woert 

Cortland  Van  Valkenburgh 
Charles  Gonnerman  Town  Superintendent 

Overseers  of  Poor 
Joseph  Robbins 

Town   Auditors 
Daniel  W .  Saunders 

Thomas    W.    Perry 
Constables 
Charles  W.  Hitchcock 
George  G.  Scott 

Josiah  Hallenbeck 

CAIRO 
Supervisor 
Town  Clerk 

Justices  of  the  Peace 
Francis  C.  Burnham 
Charles  A.  Bassett 

Assessors 
Herbert  H.  Bogardus 

James  B.    Edgerly 

Superintendent  of  Highways 

Collector 

Overseer  of  Poor 

Constables 
Florin  P,  Haines 
R.  Baker 

5.\ 


Wicks  B.  Spoor 


Ellsworth  Perry 
Fred  Best 


John  H.  Steele 
Charles  Jones 


Floyd  Jones 
Harry  Chadderdon 

Ira  Vail 
Lysander  Lennon 

Thomas  H.  Morrison 

Warren  Walters 

Irving  Turner 

Silas  Finch 

Benjamin  B.  Bennett 
John  Wiltse 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


CATSKILL 
Supervisor  J.  Henry  Deane 

Town  Clerk         John  McGee,  (Edward  Hall,  acting  clerk) 

Justices  of  the  Peace 

RoscoeD.  MilJer  IraB.  Kerr 

Dr.  JainesB,  Rouse  George  W.  Winans 


Superintendent  of  Highways 
William  Joesbury 
Collector 
Joseph  Obert 
Harry  B.   Morris 


Assessors 
Lorenzo  Overbaugh 

Overseers  of  Poor 
Town  Auditors 


John  Fitzsimmons 
William  Castle 

Supervisor 
Town  Clerk 


Nelson  Mattice 
Constables 


COXSACKIE 


Justices   of  the  Peace 


Edwin  C.  Hallenbeck 
William  T.  Haswell 

Assessors 
Albert  Pierce 

John  Scudder 
Superintendent  of  Highways 

Overseers   of    Poor 
George  Johnson 

Town  Auditors 
George  S.  Scott 

Edward    Webb 

Constables 
Charles  Van  Valkeuburizh 


Supervisor 
Town  Clerk 

John  S.  Baldwin 
Warren  Finch 

Minthorn  Smith 


DURHAM 
Justices  of  the  Peace 

Assessors 

Romaine  Spencer 
52 


Frank  D.  Overbaugh 

Watson  Vedder 

Joseph  S.  Millington 

Harris  B.  Edwards 

Fred  Timmerman 

James  Fitzsimmons 
Mina  Easland 

Dayton  B.   Smith 
Armstrong  J.  Hotaling 

Harrie  Mc  Curtis 
N.  A.  Calkins 

Arthur  King 

Ambrose  Day 

John  S.  Steele 

Theodore  Palmer 

Charles  Sharp 


John  Huyck 
Fred  Reynolds 

Z.  A.  Pratt 
George  Allen 

Zina  Rockfellow 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Collector 

Superintendent  of  Highways 

Overseer  of  Poor 

GREENVILLE 
Supervisor 


Town  Clerk 

Ira  Hunt 

Mitchell  Sanford 


Justices  of  the  Peace 


Assessors 
Francis  O'Hara 

Madison   Youmans 

Superintendent  ot  Highways 

Overseers  of  Poor . 
Charles  Horton 
Collector 


Clarence  O'Hara 

John  Hull 

C.  H.  Richmond 

Lewis  Hoose 
Ford  B.  Roe 

Milton  H.  Beare 
Elmer  Flansburgh 

Oraer  T.  Losee 

Arthur  Evans 


Supervisor 
Town  Clerk 


W,  K.  Crosby 

E.  C.  Morse 
Superintendent  of  Highways 


HALCOTT 
Justices    of  the  Peace 


John  F.  VanValkenburgh 

Collector 

Ove  rseer  of  Poor 


Assessors 


Luther  Earle 


HUNTER 


Supervisor 
Town  Clerk 

George  H.  Falkner 

Renwick  Dibble 
Superintendent  of  Highways 


Justices   of  the  Peace 


George  Byrne 
Collector 
Otto  Gordon 
G.  S.  HaUenbeck 


Assessors 
Addison  Traphagen 

Overseers  of  Poor 

Constables 

53 


Jacob  Cameron 
Irwin   Cameron 

Earl  W,  Jenkins 
James  Whitney 

Harry  Bradley 
Arthur  Wileman 

W.  D.  Griffin 

Jacob  Blish 

Arthur  Gordon 
Herbert  Dunham 

Thomas  Seifferth  jr: 
Julius  Dolan 

Richard  Haines 

Menzo  Sharpe 

Claude  L.  Wiltse 

Herbert    O'Hara 

Charles  Haines 

Andrew  Hill 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Supervisor 
Town  Clerk 

Emmons  Pond 
Jacob  Stotz 

Dorland  Peck 

John   Gripman 
Superintendent  of  Highways 
Collector 


JEWETT 

Justices  of  the  Peace 

Assessors 


Overseers  of  the  Poor 
LEXINGTON 

Justices  of  the  Peace 

Christopher  Reilly 
Assessors 


Fred  Goslee 
Raymond  Towner 

George  Lockwood 
G.  H.  Chase 

Charles  Thompson 

Charles  Lougyear 
George  Wilson  jr 

David  Barnum 


John  Race 

Supervisor 
Town  Clerk 

John  Kelley 

George  W.  Haner 

Romaine   Kirk 

Superintendent  of  Highways  James  G .  VanValkenburgh 

Robert  Kirke 
Overseers  of  the  Poor 

Romaine  Van  Valkenburgh 

NEW  BALTIMORE 


Abram  Rooraback 
Robert  S.  Tuttle 

Elmer  Dunham 
Rauoom  Hogaboom 


Collector 
Frank  Patterson 


Supervisor 
Town  Clerk 


Justices  of  the  Peace 


W.  C.  Harden 

Wm.  H.  Hotaling 

Assessors 
Melvin  P.  Hotaling 

Jaurdinette  Carr 
Superintendent  of  Highways 
Collector 


Supervisor 
Town  Clerk 


PRATTSVILLE 


54 


Dale  S.  Baldwin 
A.  G.  Nelson 

Hezekiah  Austin 
Byron  Mansfield 

Isaac  Travis 

Barney  P.  Gardenier 
Wilbur  S.  Vosburgh 

Elmer  Krieger 
George  R.  I^averack 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Justices  of  the  Peace 
Pardy  A.  Peckham 

Shirley    Caminer 
Superintendent  of  Highways 

Assessors 
Salem  Beers 

Charles  Shoemaker 
Collector 
Overseer  of  Poor 

Supervisor 
Town  Clerk 

Demont  L.  Chase 

Oscar  Fuller 

Romaine  A.  Butts 
Superintendent  of  Highways 
Collector 

Overseers  of  Poor 
Thomas  Cryne 

Constables 
William  H.  Moon 

Burton  R.  Robinson 


WINDHAM 


Justices   of  the  Peace 

Oswell   R.  Coe 
Assessors 


Newell  S.  Griffin 

Frank  Tompkins 

Andrew  Carman 

Arthur  Doyle 
George  Fowler 

Sidrffey  L.  Ford 
Arthur  Roach 

A.  Newton  Chatfield 

Newell  A.  Peck 

Omar  Hitchcock 
Orwell  Mc  Lashan 

David  Vining 
A.  Melvin  Stewart 


The  Old  Toll  Gate  at  Woodstock  Bridge. 
55 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Patetvt  L,ines 

Previous  to  the  formation  of  Greene  County  this  section 
was  mostly  held  under  large  land  grants  or  patents,  and  these  sec- 
tions were  increased  by  purchases  from  the  Indian  tribes.  We 
have  not  room  to  refer  to  these  in  detail. 


Patent 

Date 

Territory 

Von  Bremen 

1653 

Catskill 

Loveridge 

1653 

Catskill 

Bronk's 

1662 

Coxsackie 

Loonenburgh 

1665 

Athens 

Coeymans 

1673 

Part  of  Coxsackie 

Catskill 

1678 

Catskill 

Korlarskill 

1678 

Coxsackie  &  Athens 

Van  Vechten 

1686 

Catskill  &  Athens 

Lockerman 

1686 

Catskill 

Coxsackie 

1687 

Coxsackie 

Hayes 

1687 

The  Vly,  Catskill 

Baker's 

1691 

Freehold 

Fullerton 

1692 

Catskill 

Hotaling 

1697 

Coxsackie 

Hallenbeck 

1717 

Greenville 

Kiskatomajie 

1718 

Catskill 

Livingston 

1719 

Catskill 

Beekman 

1719 

Catskill 

Batavia 

1736 

Windham 

Linzey 

1738 

Catskill 

Stighkoke 

1743 

Coxsackie 

Van  Bergen 

1743 

Coxsackie 

Maitland 

1743 

Coxsackie 

Rose  boom 

1751 

Athens  &  Coxsackie 

Hardenburgh 

1751 

*l-3  of  County 

Prevost 

1764 

Greenville 

Maitland 

1765 

Durham 

Seaton 

1767 

Durham 

Baker's 

1769 

Catskill 

Bake  Oven 

1771 

Catskill 

|3tewart 

1771 
56 

Durham 

DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  first  patent  appears  to  have  been  Von  Bremen's,  in  1653. 

In  addition  to  the  patents  there  were  hundreds  of  grants  of 
lands. 

The  Hardenburgh  patent  was  the  greatest  of  all  and  em- 
l)i;icc(l  Hunter,  Lexington,  Jewett,  Halcott  and  portions  of  Pratts- 
ville  and  Ashland.   140,000  acres. 

A  large  portion  of  the  Hardenburgh  Patent  is  still  virgin 
forest  and  includes  state  lands. 

The  district  of  Coxsackie  of  which  Freehold  was  a  part  ex- 
tended  from  the  Hudson  River  to  Conesvillein  Schoharie  county. 


Organization  of  Towrvs 

The  organization  of  the  several  towns  in  Greene  county  was 
as  follows: 

Catskill,  March  7,  1788,  formed  from  Albany  county. 

Coxsackie,  March  7,  1788,  formed  from  Albany  county. 

Durham,  (Freehold),  March  8,  1790,  from  Coxsackie. 

Windham,  March  23, 1798,  from  Ulster  county. 

Cairo,  (Canton),  March  28,  1803,  Catskill,  Coxsackie,  and 
Durham. 

Greenville,  (Freehold) ,  March  26,  1803,  from  Catskill   and 

Durham. 

New  Baltimore,  March  15,  1811,  from  Coxsackie. 

Hunter,  (Greenland) ,  Jan.  27,  1813,  from  Windham . 

Lexington,  (New  Goshen),  Jan.  27,  1813,  from  Windham. 

Athens,  Feb.  25,  1815,  from  Catskill  and  Coxsackie. 

Prattsville,  March  8,  1833,  from  Windham, 

Ashland,  March  23,  1848,  from  Prattsville    and  Windham. 

Jewett,  Nov.  16,  1849,  from  Hunter  and  Lexington. 

Halcott,  Nov.  19,  1851,  from  Lexington. 

The  Villages  in  1859 

According  to  an  old  gazeteer  in  1859,  Ashland  had  400 
population,  2  churches,  and  a  collegiate  institution,  of  Methodist 
denomination. 

Athens— Incorporated  1805,  population   1747,  5  churches. 

57 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Cairo — Population  353,  4  churches,  Presbyterian  and  Bap- 
tist, organized  1799. 

Catskill  —Population  2520,  5  churches,  3  newspapers,  2 
banks,  and  many  mercantile  and  manufacturing  concerns.  Brick 
industry  principal. 

Leeds — Population  450,  2  churches  and  mills. 

Palenville— 2  tanneries  woolen  factory  and  18  buildings. 

Coxsackie —Population  1800  ,  6  churches,  academy,  bank, 
newspaper,  brick  yards  and  ship  building. 

Durham — 2  churches,  30  houses,  and  population  not  given. 

Oak  Hill— Population  320  and  2  churches. 

Cornwallville— 15  houses,  South  Durham  10  houses, Center- 
ville  a  hamlet. 

Greenville— 3  churches,  an  academy  and  35  houses. 
Freehold -Church  and  24  houses. 

Norton  Hill — 16  houses. 

East  Greenville — 1  church  and  10  houses. 

Halcott— West  Lexington,  only  a  post  office. 

Hunter— Population  390,  2  churches   and  several  factories. 

Tannersville— 3  churches,  t>ost  office,  and  tanneries.  Pop- 
ulation not  stated.  It  is  said  that  the  first  settlers  had  their  prop- 
erty confiscated  by  Whigs,  and  that  these  persons  or  families  were 
Samuel,  Elisha  and  John  Haines,  who  trailed  from  Kingston 
through  Mink  Hollow,  in  1791.  A  man  named  Olmsted  built  the 
first  grist  mill,  kept  the  first  store  and  hotel  according  to  this  rec- 
ord and  John  Haines  was  the  first  birth  in  this  section- 

Jewett — 2  churches  and  14  houses.  Formerly  Lexington 
Heights. 

Jewett  Center — Postoffice. 

East  Jewett — Postoffice. 

Lexington— 2  churches  and  27  buildings. 

Westkill — 1  church  and  31  buildings. 

Bushnellville — Hamlet. 

New  Baltimore— Population  709,  Scutters,  Willow  and 
Little  Island  annexed  from  Kinderhook,  2  churches  and  ship  yard. 

Med  way— Post  office. 

58 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Prattsville  -  Population  617,  3  churches   and  several  factories. 

Red  Falls— Population  231,    cotton  factory  and  paper  mill. 

Windham— Population  350  and  3  churches. 

Hensonville— Population  134. 

Big  Hollow — 2  churches  and  12  houses. 

Union  Society — Post  office. 

There  were  161  schools  in  the  county,  11,869  pupils,  and 
there  were  15,591  males  and  15,546  females,  There  were  raised 
6000  horses,  12,000  oxen,  12,000  cows,  19,000  sheep,  14,000 
hogs,  79,000  bushels  of  winter  wheat  and  over  400,000  «bushels  of 
spring  wheat,  116,000  bushels  of  potatoes,  over  1,0000,000  pounds 
of  butter,  21,000  pounds  of  cheese  and  about  7000  yards  of  cloth 
woven. 

The  Villages  of  1{915 

The  following  villages  are  located  in  the  several  towns ; 

Ashland  —Ashland  and  East  Ashland. 

Athens— Athens  and  Lime  Street. 

Cairo— Cairo,  South  Cairo,  Purling,  Acra,  Gayhead  and 
Round  Top. 

Catskill — Catskill,  Leeds,  Palenville,  Lawrenceville,  Alsen, 
Kiskatom  and  Cementon. 

Coxsackie — Coxsackie,  West  Coxsackie,  Surprise,  Urlton 
and  Climax. 

Durham — Durham.  East  Durham,  West  Durham,  South 
Durham,  Cornwallville,  Hervey  Street  Oak  Hill  and  Sunside. 

Greenville— Greenville,  East  Greenville,  West  Greenville, 
Greenville  Center,  Norton  Hill,  Freehold  and  Place's  Corners. 

Halcott — Halcott . 
Hunter — Hunter,  Tannersville,  Haines    Falls,    Edgewood,    Piatt 
Clove,  Lanesvilie,  Onteora  Park,  Elka  Park  and  Sunset  Park. 

Jewett  -Jewett  Center,  East  Jewett  and  Jewett  Heights. 

Lexington— Lexington,  West  Kill,  Bushnellville  and 
Spruce  ton. 

New  Baltimore— New  Baltimore,  New  Baltimore  Stn.,  Re- 
sult, Stanton  Hill  and  Medway. 

Prattsville— Prattsville  and  Red  Falls. 

Windham— Windham,  Hensonville,  Big  Hollow,  Brooklyn, 
East  Windham  and  Union  Society. 

59 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Last  Old  Log  House  in  Lexington. 


•^Population,  of  County 


Town 

Ashland 

Athens. . .' 

Cairo 

Catskill  ....... 

Coxsackie 

Durham 

Greenville. . . 
Halcott.:. 

Hunter. .  ; 

Jewett 

Lexington.    . . . 

New  Baltimore. 
Prattsville. . .  . 

Windham... . . . 

Total 


1810 

1820 

1830 

1840 

1850 

1865 

1875 

1900 

1290 

1080 

935 

692 

2030 

2425 

2593 

2986 

2978 

3467 

2891 

2035 

2353 

2912 

2812 

2831 

2341 

2318 

2176 

4245 

3510 

4861 

3458 

5454 

6  579 

7985 

8566 

4047 

2353 

3373 

3799 

3741 

3561 

3991 

4102 

2944 

2980 

3039 

2613 

2600 

2412 

2209 

1636 

2304 

2374 

2565- 

226 1 

2242 

2246 
436 

2031 
391 

1651 
350 

1025 

1960 

2433 

1849 

1641 

1564 

2788 

1452 

1110 

1114 

1028 

1798 

2548 

2902 

2263 

1520 

1314 

1153 

2036 

2370 

2347 

2381 

2629 

2664 

2283 

2069 

1989 

1484 

1121 

775 

3961 

2536 

3472 

2670 

2048 

1591 

1488 

1387 

19536 

22995 

29525 

3  i!t  57 

33126 

31710 

32592 

31478  : 

1910 

640 

2720 

1841 

9066 

3620 

1475 

1556  " 

331  " 

2699' 

1054' 

1954' 

1936 

781 

1438' 

30214  I 


The  population  of  Athens  village  1956,  Catskill  5296,  Coxsackie 
2494,  Tannersville  660,  Hunter  480  last  census. 

60 


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62 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Old  Court  House,  Now  the  Masonic  Temple. 

The  County  <Bvuldin£s. 

COURT  HOUSE 

The  old  court  house  was  erected  in  1813,  and  stands  today 
at  the  corner  of  Franklin  and  Bridge  streets,  Catskill,  practically 
the  same  as  when  it  was  built.  It  was  enlarged  during  the  80's 
and  some  alterations  and  improvements  made  in  front  of  the 
building.  At  present  it  is  owned  and  occupied  by  Catskill  Lodge, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  and  a  portion  leased  to  the  town  of  Catskill,  for  jus- 
tice and  town  board  purposes. 

The  new  court  house  was  erected  in  1908-9,  pursuant  to  a 
resolution  of  the  Greene  County  Board  of  Supervisors,  the  aggre- 
gate cost  being  about  $180,000.     It  is  without  doubt    the    finest 

63 


MAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNTY. 


county  building  in  the  state.  It  is  built  of  Ohio  sand  stone  and 
fireproof.  The  interior  is  finished  with  tirazza  and  inlaid  floors, 
marble  wainscoting,  and  hard  natural  woods.  The  Supreme  court 
chambers,  court  room,  supervisors'  rooms,  and  County  Judge's 
chambers  are  furnished  with  antique  oak  furnishings,  and  the 
carpets  in  keeping  with  the  other  fittings.  The  county  treasurer, 
sheriff  and  election  commissioners  have  excellent  chambers.  The 
vaults  for  records  are  fireproof  and  very  spacious . 

The  building  is  located  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Bridge 
streets,  and  the  surroundings  are  first  class.  On  the  lawn  is  a 
grand  fountain,  the  gift  to  the  county  of  the  late  Senator  William 
P.  Fiero,  of  Catskill,  costing  a  large  sum  of  money.  The  county 
jail  costing  about  $10,000  is  located  in  the  rear  of  the  court  house, 
and  the  Carnegie  library  costing  $30,000,  is  across  the  street,  as 
also  are  the  Presbyterian  church  and  Masonic  Temple.  Grand 
buildings  that  replaced  unsightly  structures.  In  the  vestibule  of 
the  court  house  is  the  following  tablet  which  tells  the  story  of  the 
beautiful  structure: 

Erected  1908-1909 

Board  of  Supervisors  - 

Chairman,  Charles  A.  Post  Clerk,  Geo.  B.  Van  Valkenburgh 

Franois  L.  Dodge  Sidney  L.  Ford 

Charles  A.  Post  Elmore  Mackey 

Charles  P.  Jones  William  Townsend 

William  S.  Borthwick  Edgar  Roe 

Lorenzo  Van  Valkenburgh  Renwick  Dibble 

George  H.  Chase  Van  Resselaer  Kirke 

Edgar  Palmer  Elmer  Krieger 

Building  Committee 
Charles  A.  Post  Elmer  Krieger 

Renwick  Dibble  George  H.  Chase 

Advisory  Committee 

Emory  A.  Chase  William  S.  C.  Wiley 

Josiah  C.  Tallmadge  Clarence  E.  Bloodgood 

Frank  H.  Osborn  P.  Gardner  Coffin 

64 


bEAR    OLt>    GREENE    COtJNTY. 


Furniture  Committee 
William  B.  Towhsend  Edgar  Roe 

Frank'L.'  Dodge  Sidney  L.  Ford 

Van  Rensselaer  Kirke 

William  S.  Beardsley,  architect. 
Peter  Keeler  Company,  builders. 

The  county  barn  cost  about  $5000.  The  barn  and  the  re- 
taining walls  and  side  walks  of  the  court  house  were  built  by 
George  W.  Holdridge  of  Catskill. 

The  Supervisors'  committee  of  1909  reported  the  account 
for  new  Court  House  and  Jail  and  fixtures: 

Peter  Keeler  Building  Company $140,068 

Fixed  furniture 5,900 

Metal  furniture,  Art  Metal  Construction  Co •  •       9,645 

Furniture  and  furnishings,  Derby  Desk  Co 8,312 

Lighting  fixtures,  Black  &  Boyd  2,681 

$166,601 

Since  that  time  many  improvements  have  been  made. 

Corner  Stone  Laying 

The  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the  new  court  house  was 
made  a  great  day  in  Catskill,  and  there  were  400  masons  present 
from  all  quarters  of  the  county.  The  masons  had  charge  of  the 
exercises,  and  Hudson,  Kingston,  Albany,  Prattsville,  Windham, 
Coxsackie,  Hunter,  New  Baltimore,  Greenville,  Oak  Hill,  Cairo, 
and  other  places  were  represented.  Cairo  alone  turned  out  40 
masons  Lafayette  Commandry  of  Hudson  paraded  in  uniform. 
District  Attorney  Howard  C  Wilbur  was  Grand  Marshall,  assist- 
ed by  Geo.  A.  Dykeman  and  F.  L.  Vedder.  Hudson  and  Catskill 
bands  furnished  the  music,  and  the  Board  of  Supervisors  headed 
the  parade.  The  address  was  by  Grand  Master  Charles  Smith. 
Village  papers,  historical  paper  by  Justice  Chase,  coins  and  docu- 
ments were  sealed  in  the  corner  stone. 

65 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Old  County  Jail. 
JAIL 

The  county  jail  was  located  on  lands  or  site  of  the  old  acad- 
emy which  was  purchased  in  1801,  and  in  1803  work  was  com- 
menced on  the   building,  which   was  of  brick    and    .stone.     This 

66 


! 


dear  oLd  grejene  6ounty. 


building  was  enlarged  in  1862,  and  in  the  80's.  The  old  cells 
were  on  numerous  occasions  given  another  sheathing  of  heavy  iron 
until  at  the  time  they  were  put  in  the  hands  of  the  junk  man  in 
1909  they  had  six  coverings  and  the  old  iron  alone  brought  Mrs. 
Beardsley  $800.  We  present  a  view  of  the  old  structure,  and  also 
a  view  of  the  new  Heidel burgh.  From  the  research  of  Justice 
Chase  we  glean  the  following  facts  in  regard  to  the  jail  and  the 
court  house,  all  of  which  are  of  great  interest: 

First,  that  the  lands  were  purchased  in  1801,  of  Ira  Day, 
Stephen  Day,  George  Hale,  John  V.  D.  S.  Scott  and  Thomas 
Hale,  and  a  later  purchase  in  the  same  year  of  Abram  Salisbury, 
Wessell  Salisbury,  and  William  Elting,  being  the  lot  and  build- 
ing whereon  the  academy  was  then  standing.  This  academy  be- 
came the  court  house.  In  1812  it  was  decided  to  build  a  new 
court  house,  Ira  Gay,  Isaac  DuBois,  Orrin  Day,  Joseph  Klein, 
Ezra  Hawley  and  Lyman  Hall  gave  bonds  in  the  penal  sum  of 
$16,000  to  procure  a  lot,  and  they  secured  the  land  on  which  the 
Masonic  Temple  is  standing,  and  Orrin  Day  and  Isaac  DuBois 
were  appointed  a  commission  to  erect  a  court  house  and  a  fire 
pioof  vault.  There  has  been  an  idea  that  this  building  was  des^ 
troyed  by  fire,  but  Justice  Chase  says  that  he  can  find  no  authori- 
ty for  this  statement. 

The  history  of  the  jail  shows  that  there  were  four  executions 
taking  place  within  its  walls,  the  last  one  being  that  of  Joe  Waltz, 
the  murderer  of  one  Hoelcher,  a  scissors  grinder;  Warren  Wood, 
John  Kelley  and  Robert  James  being  the  others.  These  men  were 
all  hanged,  and  the  old  ropes  are  stored  away  in  the  attic  of  the 
court  house.  Balls  and  chains  worn  by  them  are  in  possession  of 
Mr3.  Charles  Beardsley,  who  bought  the  old  jail. 

Robert  James  murdered  Patrick  Flynn,  a  drover  at  East 
Durham.     Judge  Edmunds  presided  at  the  trial,  in  1846. 

John  Kelley  murdered  Lucretia  Lewis  at  Prattsville,  in 
1847.     He  was  tried  before  Judge  Willard. 

Warren  Wood  murdered  Hiram  Williams  of  Greenville,  in 
1853,  and  he  was  tried  before  Judge  Ira  Harris. 

Lyman  Tremaine,  Rufus  W.  Watson,  Mitchell  Sanford  and 

67 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Sidney  Crowell  were  the  district  attorneys  who    prosecuted    these 
cases. 

There   have   been  a  great   many  other  important  murder 
trials  since  that  time,  but  all  resulted  in  lesser  degree  convictions. 
The  new  jail  is  located  on  Bridge  street  and  in    the  rear  of 
the  court  house.  It  is  a  modern  two  story  structure,  of  Ohio  sand- 
stone, with  the  apartments  of  the  sheriff  and  his    family    facing 
the  street  and  the  jail  proper  in  the  rear,  the   entrance  to    the  jail 
being  from  the  alley,  and  into  the  office  of  the  sheriff.     There  are 
30  steel  cages,  or  cells,  two  hospital  rooms,  a  padded  cell,    in  all  8 
departments   on  3  floors.     All  the  conditions  are    modern,    with 
bath,  toilet,  steam  heat  and  electric  light.     The  basement  is  sup- 
plied with    bunks  and  is  used  for  tramps.     The  present  sheriff  is 
Elmore  Mackey  of  Athens,  and  Mrs.  Mackey  is  matron.     It  is  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  best  and  finest  jails  in  the  state. 
THE  HEIDELBURGH 
No  history  of  Greene  county  would  be  complete  without    a 
description  of  the  Heidelburgh,  one  of  the    most  charming  homes 
or  hostelries  that  is  to  be  found  in  all  Greene  county,  which  Phoe- 
nix like  has  risen  from  the  dust  of  the  famous  old  Greene    county 
jail.     For  while  the  original  walls  of  18   and  20  inches    thickness 
of  solid  masonry  remain,  there  has  been  added  a  sightly  mansard 
roof  and  dormer  windows,  bringing  into  existence  a  large  hall  and 
11  commodious  rooms,  where  once  was  only    a    boxed   enclosure 
that  led  to  the  cupoloa.  And  it  was  underneath  this   cupoloa  that 
Joseph  Waltz,  the  scissors  grinder  murderer  was  executed.     From 
the  beautiful  rooms  of  the  third  floor  is  the  grandest    view  of  the 
mountains  to  be  found  in  Catskill,  and  more  than  60  miles  of  the 
mountains  are  to  be  seen.     On  the  second  floor   there  remains  the 
large  hallway,  and  the  extra  wide  doorways,    but    the   cells    that 
were  devoted  to  prisoners,  who  had  been    guilty  of  lesser    crimes, 
and  to  women  if  such  there  happened  to  be  committed,    have  giv- 
en place  to  a  grand  suite  of  connecting  rooms,  and  all  of  the  room8 
are  large,  and  have  12  foot  ceilings.     The  staircase  and    much  of 
the  finishings  throughout  the  house    are  from  lumber    that    was 
sawed  out  of  the  oak  planks  that  for  112    years  had    formed  part 
of  the  jail.     These  were  sawed  and  fitted  by   Mr.  Beardsley,    who 

68 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


is  a  skilled  architect  and  builder.  Perhaps  the  greatest  change  is 
on  the  first  floor  where  the  large  hall  still  remains;  and  the  front 
door  is  the  same.  The  two  steel  plated  cells,  dark  and  repulsive, 
with  their  single  window  of  about  two  feet  square,  studded  with 
steel  bars,  have  given  place  to  a  lovely  dining  room  that  is  20x50 
feet.  At  the  spot  where  hung  the  massive  bunch  of  keys  to  pad- 
locks that  weighed  about  ten  pounds  now  stands  a  handsome 
grandfather's  clock.  There  are  parlors,  the  bridal  suite,  kitchen 
with  the  old  jail  range  still  doing  service,  and  a  refrigerator  room. 
Underneath  is  the  laundry,  heating  apparatus,  etc.  Tke  veranda 
has  been  extended  and  on  the  east  side  a  handsome  porch  spans 
the  driveway,  and  lends  a  colonial  air  to  the  structure.  The  en- 
tire structure  is  furnished  throughout  in  a  simple  but  luxuriant 
manner. 

In  it  all  there  is  never  a  dream  of  the  scissors  grinder  or 
the  pitiful  creatures  that  were  for  112  years  incarcerated  in  the 
mouldy  smelling  and  vermin  infested  dark  and  repulsive  cells. 
Preserved  in  the  attic  are  chains,  foot  clamps  and  iron 
balls  chat  were  attached  to  leg  chains,  branding  irons  that  tradit- 
ion says  were  used  on  the  very  bad  prisoners,  padlocks,  handcuffs, 
with  chains   all  for  desperate  characters 

When  in  1909,  Mrs.  Beardsley  bid  in  the  property  for 
$3000,  Catskill  people  thought  that  she  had  the  ghost  of  Banco  on 
her  hands,  and  even  Mr.  Beardsley  couldn't  just  understand  how 
she  had  come  to  get  him  that  rummage  sale  stuff.  Possibly  he 
fumed  a  little  and  wondered  how  he  wasjjoing  to  get  rid  of  the 
double  tier  of  steel  cells,  and  how  after  all  there  coul  1  be  anything 
worth  saving  in  the  structure.  Leave  that  to  the  genius  and  ar- 
tistic Mrs.  Beardsley  and  we  have  arrived  at  the  solution  of  it  all. 
She  got  the  grandest  view  in  all  Catskill,  and  she  got  a  home  that 
would  be  a  palace  for  the  Caesars.  Out  of  the  ruins  of  the  cells, 
she  chased  $10  gold  pieces,  that  had  been  hidden  away  in  the 
crevices  of  years,  and  out  of  the  80  tons  of  the  finest  Norway  iron 
she  found  other  treasure,  and  no  sooner  had  it  gone  out  that  she 
had  purchased  the  jail  than  Troy,  Poughkeepsie,  Kingston  and 
Utica  iron  dealers  began  to  offer  her  30,  35,  40  and  finally  50 
cents  per  hundred  pounds  for    the  iron,  and  she   closed    with   a 

69 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNTY. 


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70 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Kingston  dealer,  who  sent  six  men  to  cut  off  the  bolts  and  get  the 
iron  in  pieces  so  that  it  could  be  moved.  $800  for  old  iron  and 
all  she  had  to  do  was  listen  to  the  din  and  crash  of  the  getting  it 
out.  The  old  museum  to  which  we  refer,  she  has  has  not  yet  dis- 
posed of,  though  it  is  of  considerable  value.  Besides  she  has  the 
commitment  papers  of  a  hundred  years.  The  old  cells  had  no  less 
than  six  coatings  of  iron  on  them.  Some  of  them  bore  the  saw 
marks  of  John  Kelley,  the  desperate  criminal  who  escaped  during 
the  term  of  Sheriff  Decker. 

In  it  all  Mrs.  Beardsley  showed  a  pluck  and  determination  that 
is  remarkable.  For  two  weeks  she  worked  with  bar  and  hammers 
to  tear  down  a  portion  of  that  old  20  inch  wall  on  the  second 
floor  in  order  to  make  a  change  that  she  wanted,  and  all  the  while 
Mr.  Beardsley  wondering  at  the  increasing  pile  of  brick  in  the 
rear  of  the  jail  did  not  know  what  she  was  up  to.  She  pried  them 
loose  and  let  them  down  in  a  pail  attached  to  a  rope.  When  he 
found  it  out  there  were  some  men  on  the  job  very  soon. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  within  a  stone's  throw  of  the 
Heidelburgh  there  are  six  other  splendid  dwellings  which  Mr. 
Beardsley  has  erected  and  which  have  successively  been  occupied 
by  himself  and  his  family.  All  built  upon  honor  and  splendid 
homes.  There  is  the  Edgar  Root  place,  the  Philip  Van  Orden 
mansion, -the  Abram  Joseph  house,  Clarence  Sage's  house,  the 
Newcomb  cottage,  and  the  Michael  Edwards  place-  This  is  in 
addition  to  many  handsome  homes  and  structures  that  Mr.  Beard- 
sley has  built  for  others,  during  the  long  term  of  over  40  years  as 
head  architect  for  Edwin  Lampman. 

ALMS  HOUSE 
The  Greene  County  Alms  House  is  located  at  Cairo,  and 
is  a  two  story  brick  structure  erected  in  1883,  which  is  credit  to 
the  county  in  every  way.  It  accommodates  about  ninety  persons. 
In  addition  to  the  main  building  which  we  show  elsewhere,  there 
is  a  two  story  frame  building,  which  houses  about  35  or  40  per- 
sons. In  addition  to  the  buildings  referred  to,  there  are  barns, 
sheds,  etc.,  and  a  farm  of  about  198  acres,  of  which  100  is  under 
cultivation.     The  county  house   is  heated  by  steam,  has  electric 

71 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


light,  and  all  the  conditions  are  excellent.  Ira  T.  Tolley  is  super- 
intendent and  Mrs.  Tolley  matron.  The  first  structure  cost  about 
$5000.  The  present  structure  could  not  be  replaced  for  830,000. 
The  farm  was  originally  10  acre3,  and  about  $500  worth  of  produce 
was  raised-  Very  largely  the  farm  now  supplies  the  needs  of  the 
inmates  irj  the  matter  of  produce.  (See  town  of  Cairo  for  further 
description  of  county  house.) 

SPIRIT  OF  THE  COURT  HOUSE 

We  are  indebted  to  Justice  Emory  A.  Chase  for  further 
facts  in  regard  to  the  lands  occupied  now  by  the  court  house,  jail, 
and  county  barn: 

The  lot  was  a  part  of  the  Gysbert  Uyt  de  Bogart  lands,  pur- 
chased from  the  Esopus  Indians,  in  1684,  and  at  that  time  was  a 
forest.  In  1738  it  was  a  part  of  the  Lindsay  Patent,  and  passed  to 
George  Clark,  who  owned  pretty  much  all  of  Catskill.  The  county 
property  comprised  lots  12  and  13  owned  by  Egbert  Bogardus  and 
James  Barker,  also  owner  of  a  large  patent.  On  the  map  of  prop- 
erty destroyed  it  1851,  we  show  a  number  of  buildings,  of  which 
one  of  the  most  important  outside  of  the  three  churches  burned 
was  the  old  Greene  County  Hotel,  formerly  known  as  Donnelly's. 
This  hotel  is  mentioned'many  times  in  the  early  reminiscence  of 
Catskill.  It  was  probably  built  close  to  the  year  1800. 

Its  a  liitle  bit  remarkable  that  this  site  should  have  been  the 
scene  of  so  many  iuteresting  bits  of  history.  It  had  many  fires, 
subsequent  to  the  fire  of  1851,  which  was  the  most  disastrous  in 
the  history  of  Catskill. 

The  fire  of  1851  started  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street  and 
swept  through  to  what  is  now  Broad  street.  Only  buckets  of  water 
were  available  and  a  north  west  wind  carried  the  fire  beyond  con- 
trol. The  court  house,  now  the  Masonic  Temple  had  one  |.side 
burned.  The  residence  of  Rufus  King,  still  standing,  was  partially 
burned.  The  small  office  of  Powers  &  Day  did  not  burn,  being 
fire  proof. 

So  mtich  for  the  fires. 

The  Rev.  Anson  DuBois  stated  that  inll784,  according  to 
the  statement  of  his  grandmother,  the  court   house  lot  comprised 

73 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


an  orchard  and  that  one  day  she  was  surprised  to  see  a  stranger 
enter  the  orchard,  engage  in  prayer,  at  the  foot  of  a  tree.  Then 
on  rising  take  from  his  pocket  a  hymn  book  and  begin  to  sing. 
Then  he  read  a  chapter,  and  delivered  a  sermon,  being  it  appeared 
the  first  Methodist  preacher  to  visit  Greene  county.  He  had  a  good 
congregation  and  at  the  close  announced  that  in  four  weeks  he 
would  return  and  preach  in  the  same  place. 

The  beautiful  courthouse,  and  the  grand  memorial  fountain 
now  mark  the  spot  of  this  first  gospel  sermon.  A.  curious  and  re- 
markable incident.     Was  it  not  the  Spirit  of  the  court  house? 

Not  for  many  years  after  the  organization  of  the  county  was 
any  provision  made  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  for  a  surrogate's 
office.  John  H.  Cuyler,  surrogate  from  March  29,  1800,  to  June 
18,  1808;  Dorrance  Kirkland,  surrogate  from  June  18,  1808,  to 
March  15,  1810;  and  again  from  February  5,  1811,  to  April  18, 
1838,  maintained  the  surrogate's  office  at  Coxsackie  John  Adams 
surrogate  from  March  15,  1810,  to  February  5,  1811,  and  Lyman 
Tremaine,  surrogate  from  June  7, 1847,  to  January  1,  1852,  main- 
tained the  surrogate's  office  at  Durham.  The  office  was  first  opened 
in  the  court  house  by  John  Sanderson,  surrogate,  May  1,  1889. 


On  the  King's  Road, 
73 


Today  as  in  1800. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Hervry  Hudson 

The  discoverer  of  the  state  of 
New  York,  and  the  first  white 
man  to  look  upon  the  great 
river  that  bears  his  name,  was 
born  in  obscurity  and  his  life 
bark  passed  to  the  great  be" 
yond  following  a  mutiny  of 
the  sailors  on  his  ship  who 
set  him  afloat  with  his  son 
and  seven  sailors  on  the  dark 
waters  of  the  bay  that  also 
bears  his  name.  Christopher 
Columbus  sailed  from  Genoa, 
his  native  town,  and  discover- 
ed America.  John  and  Sebas- 
tian Cabot  set  out,  in  1497, 
from  England,  discovering 
Newfoundland  in  1497,  and 
then  explored  the  Atlantic  coast  as  far  as  Florida.  Hudson  also 
was  an  English  navigator  and  was  in  the  service  of  the  Dutch, 
but  no  one  knows  the  place  of  his  birth.  He  sailed  from  Holland 
in  the  service  of  the  Dutch  East  India  Company  in  a  small  ship 
known  as  the  Half  Moon,  leaving  Amsterdam  April  4th,  1609,  and 
anchored  off  the  Highlands  in  September  of  the  same  year.  He 
passed  a  month  in  exploring  the  waters  of  the  river  and  went  as 
far  as  Albany.  He  was  attacked  by  bands  of  Indians  who  came 
out  in  their  canoes,  but  had  no  trouble  in  preventing  their  doing 
any  damage.  At  Catskill,  where  anchorage  appears  to  have  been 
made,  he  was  met  by  friendly  Indians  who  brought  corn  and 
vegetables  to  him.  Old  writers  tell  us  of  an  Indian  tradition  that 
refers  to  the  coming  of  the  Half  Moon,  which  they  regarded  as 
the  Manittou  or  Great  Spirit,  and  that  they  regarded  with  awe 
and  reverence  the  arrival  of  the  great  boat.  Compared  with  the 
birch  bark  canoes  of  the  natives  the  Half  Moon  was  75  feet  in 
length  and  her  sails   appeared  as  the  wings  of  a  great  white    bird 

74 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


which  seemed  to  float  without  energy.  The  river  they  called  the 
Mahicannittuck.  On  a  subsequent  voyage  his  tragic  death  occurred. 
The  murderers  went  unpunished,  so  far  as  law  and  justice  were 
concerned. 


The  Half  Moon  at  Anchor  Off  Catskill  Point 

Robert  Fultotv 

Inseparably  connected  with 
the  history  of  the  Hudson 
should  be  woven  the  invention 
of  the  steamboat,  which  was 
distined  to  render  the  Hudson 
River  the  most  important  in 
the  world.  Robert  Fulton  was 
born  in  Little  Brittain,  Pa., 
in  1765,  and  his  energies  ap- 
pear to  have  been  along  the  line  of  mechanics. 
As  early  as  1801  he  invented  a  plunging  boat 
which  was  calculated  to  do  exactly  what  the 
to-day  submarines  have  accomplished  in  war- 
fare. He  successfully  demonstrated  the  possibility  of  blowing  up 
a  boat,  but  the  British  government  discouraged  the  project.  The 
first  steamboat  on  the  Hudson  River  was  built  by „  him  and  made 
he  trip_from  New  York  to  Albany  in  the  spring  of  1807.     In  1814 

76 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


he  invented  another  submarine,  to  carry  100  men  and  the  govern- 
ment approved  the  plans.  He  died  in  1815,  however,  before  the 
boat  had  been  completed,  and  nothing  came  of  it. 


CLERMONT  ■  1807 


Gatskill  and  the  Hudson  River 


As  Greene  County  has  been  indebted  to  her  beautiful 
mountains  for  her  fame,  so  has  she  from  the  beginning  been 
indebted  to  the  Hudson  for  her  wonderful  transportation  facilities. 
Of  this  transportation  the  Hudson  River  Day  Line  has  for  over 
sixty  years  been  a  great  factor,  and  the  enterprise  of  this  company 
and  its  extensive  advertising  of  the  Catskill  district  has  had  much 
to  do  with  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  Catskill  and  the  entire 
county. 

In  the  earlier  days  such  day  boats  as  th<?  "Armenia,"  212 
feet  long,  the  "Alida,''  276  feet  long  and  the  "Francis  Skiddy," 
322  feet  long,  made  a  history  in  passenger  steamboat  transporta- 
tion. Then  the  "Daniel  Drew,''  the  "Chauncey  Vibbard''  and 
the  "Mary  Powell"  made  better  history  and  became  more  famous, 
and  these  were  followed  in  turn  by  the  "Albany,"'  Hendrick 
Hudson,"  Robert  Fulton"  and  "Washington  Irving"  of  the 
present  time,  which  steamers  make  without  doubt  the  greatest 
quartette  of  river  carriers  in  the  world. 

76 


Hudson^ 

Showing  ro 

nor 
udson  River. 


Alpine  c 

R     S     E    Y 

Llnwoofl  c 
Fort  l*eo  <; 

Edge  water  c 
Shady  Sldo 
Bulla  i'eri'y  q 
Weebawken. 

NEW  YORI 

Hobo  ken  c 

JuraeyCityj 


SES  STREET 


r  Tiie  great  silver 
highway  that  led  cap- 
tive Hendrick  Hudson 
and  the  million  navi- 
gators of  sloops,  and 
schooners,  brigs,  and 
ships  of  the  early 
times,  may  have  lost 
some  of  the  primeval 
forest  whose  reflections 
were  shimmered  in  an 
ever  spreading,  ever 
opening  picture  of 
beauty,  but  the  added 
charm  of  civilization 
remains,  and  in  ever 
growing  beauty  and 
color  has  a  greater 
charm  as  the  years  go 
on.  We  saw  in  the 
pageant  of  the  Hudson 
Fulton  Celebration, 
the  canoe  of  the  Red 
Man,  the  hardy  sailors 
in  the  Half  Moon,  the 
sprightlier  navigators 
in  the  Clermont,  and 
like  Lilliputs  they 
crept  in  the  shadows 
of  the  great  steamers 
and  floating  palaces  of 
the  Day  Line,  and  the 
ancient  Hendrick  lost 
in  the  comparsion — 
though  all  his  great- 
ness and  glory  remain. 
These  old  boats  that 
jjij  took  days  to  get  up 
and  down  the  river 
were  claspics  of  their 
time. 

But  imagine  Hen- 
drick Hudson,  naviga- 
tor, on  a  velvet  settee 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    CotrNfY. 


on  the  Hendrick  Hudson,  of  1915,  listening  to  the  daily  concert 
of  the  Metropolitan  Orchestra,  under  the  direction  of  Martin  Van 
Praag. 

Imagine  him,  if  you  will,  in  the  midst  of  such  scenes  as 
today  press  the  entire  shore  of  the  Hudson.  After  having  aero- 
planed  to  New  York  and  then  taken  the  boat  at  Debrosses  street, 
passing  the  several  towns  and  cities  shown  in  map  on  the  preced- 
ing page,  dining  sumptuously,  and  at  3  p.  m.  stepping  off  the 
boat  at  Catskill  Point,  where  the  Indians  in  canoes  once  met  him. 
Hustling  into  a  Mountain  Railroad  train  or  waiting  auto,  and  in 
an  hour's  time  standing  at  the  summit  of  the  distant  blue  line 
that  threw  its  charm  across  the  picture— the  Catskill  Mountains, 
sentinels  of  creation,  and  crowning  glory  still  of  the  great  region 
discovered  by  himself,  Sept.  2d,  1609. 

In  Eastman's  History  of  New  York,  1829,  we  find  that  on 
one  of  the  trips  of  Henry  Hudson  up  the  river,  in  which  he  spent 
ten  weeks  getting  as  far  as  what  probably  was  the  mouth  of  the 
Catskill  creek  they  were  met  by  a  party  of  Indians,  and  that  after 
the  usual  exchange  of  corn  and  skins,  Hudson  left  the  Indians 
with  axes,  hoes  and  stockings.  The  following  year  when  Hudson 
again  sailed  up  the  river  they  found  the  same  Indians  wearing 
the  axes  and  hoes  attached  to  their  necks  as  ornaments,  and  the 
stockings  being  in  use  as  pouches  for  tobacco.  Hudson  then  put 
helves  in  the  axes  and  showed  them  how  to  chop  down  trees.  This 
was  around  1610. 

From  documentary  works  we  have  obtained  a  number  of 
views  that  are  appropriate  in  connection  with  the  early  history  of 
the  Hudson,  and  the  subsequent  development  of  steamboating. 
For  the  views  of  the  Hudson  River  Day  Line  steamboats,  and  of 
some  of  the  first  boats,  we  are  indebted  to  the  management  of  this 
line. 

The  Clermont  was  133  feet  long  and  18  feet  beam,  8  feet 
hold .  Speed  4  miles  an  hour.  Those  who  saw  the  replica  of  this 
old  boat  as  she  appeared  with  the  Half  Moon  in  the  great  celebra- 
tion at  Catskill  will  remember  with  what  slowness  she  tiaveled  up 

78 


Mar  old  greens  counts. 


the  river,  holding  the  great  fleet  to  a  speed  of  4  miles  as  she  for 
the  first  and  last  time  traversed  the  Hudson  under  her  own  steam. 

The  Clermont  made  two  trips,  a  week,  and  it  took  from  30 
to  36  hours  to  cover  the  distance.  This  was  an  improvement  on 
the  stage  trip  however,  which  took  from  three  to  four  days,  never 
less  than  3  days.  The  stage  fare  was  $10  to  Albany,  $21  to  Buffalo. 
The  steamboat  fare  to  Albany  was  about  $8. 

The  following  is  a  reproduction  of  the  very  brief  announce- 
ment that  appeared  in  the  columns  of  the  American  Citizen  on 
on  Monday,  Aug.  17,  1807 : 

Mr-  Fulton's  ingenious  steamboat,  invented  with  atview  to 
the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  river  from  New  Orleans  upwards, 
sails  today  from  the  North  river  near  the  state  prison,  to  Albany. 
The  velocity  of  the  steamboat  is  calculated  at  4  miles  an  hour;  it 
is  said  that  it  will  make  a  progress  of  two  miles  against  the  current 
of  the  Mississippi;  and  if  so  will  certainly  be  a  very  valuable 
acquisition  to  the  commerce  of  the  western  states. 

The  fare  from  Albany  to  New  York  is  now  $1.50  by  day 
line,  and  competition  has  brought  the  night    trip  to  $1  excursion. 

The  Catskill  Evening  Line  steamers  for  a  number  of  sea- 
sons made  round  trips  to  New  York  the  same  day,  leaving  Cats- 
kill  at  6  A.  M.,  and  returning  to  Catskill  at  8  P.  M.  And  all  for 
$1.25 


The  Mary  Powell,  an  Early  Giant  of  the  Day  Line, 


1 


The  Graivd  Floating  Palaces  of  To-Day 

The  Magnificent  Steel  Steamer,  Hendrick  pudson,  of  the  Day   Line,  licensed  to  carry 
5500  passengers.     Compare  it  with  the  Half  Moon. 


■  ■    ' 


ROBERT    FULTON 


- ■    .J  .Si.   -* 


'00- 


TheJRobert  Fulton,  Another  Giant  Steamer  of  the   Day  Iyine.     Compare  this  boat  with 

the  Clermont. 


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DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  early  Catskill  steamboating  shows  Bogardus  &  Cooke, 
and  probably  members  of  the  Day  family  were  in  business  around 
1800.  Following  came  Donnelly,  Cook  &Co.,  F.  N.  Wilson  after 
whom  Wilson  Fire  Company  is  named,  and  William  Wilson  form- 
ing the  Company.  Then  came  the  freighting  firm  of  Penfield, 
Day  and  Co.,  Sherwood  Day,  Orrin  Day  and  Samuel  Penfield' 
previous  to  1812.  Later  the  Penfield  firm  sold  to  Charles  Beach, 
Isaac  Pruyn  and  William  Wilson,  and  about  this  time  the  steam- 
boats, Frank  and  Washington  were  put  on  the  line.  The  Wave, 
the  Star,  the  Pratt  and  the  Rip  Van  Winkle  were  the  barges.  The 
Frank  was  the  first  Catskill  steamboat,  the  date  of  which  is  not 
certain.  C.  L.  Beach  &  Co.  owned  the  Utica,  and  afterwards  the 
Thomas  Powell  and  the  Sunnyside,  these  boats  were  used  by  the 
government  as  transports  during  the  60's  in  the  war  period.  Then 
came  the  firm  of  Cornell,  Horton  &  Co.,  and  Black  &  Donahue 
who  changed  the  name  of  the  company  to  The  Catskill  and  New 
York  Steamboat  Co.  They  built  the  Catskill  which  was  burned  at 
Kingston.  The  Charlotte  Vanderbilt  another  boat  of  the  line  was 
sunk  by  Beldcn's  steam  yacht  the  Yosemite. 


"  <.-7,'/ ' 


f*-**M**0^£».    : 


The  Stately  Kaaterskill. 

The  stately  Kaaterskill,  and  Onteora  known  as  the  River 
Queen  and  the  commodious  and  beautiful  Clermont  have  brought 
the  line  into  favor  and  note . 

83' 


£>EAR    OLD    GREENE    dOUNTY. 


TheMcManus  another  well  known  boat  of  the  company  was 
burned  as  also  was  the  Steamer  Redfield,  rated  fine  boats  in  their 
day.  The  Walter  Brett  went  the  route  and  was  finally  broken  up 
by  the  wreckers.  The  Kaaterskill  a  grand  boat  with  double  decks 
of  state  rooms  was  a  floating  palace .  After  serving  on  the  Catskill 
route  she  was  taken  to  Albany  and  ran  on  the  Capitol  City  Line 
until  the  fall  of  1914  when  she  was  taken  to  the  wreckers  at  New 
London. 

Another  of  the  earlier  boats  was  the  General  Sedgwick  and 
the  Escort,  both  being  used  in  war  times  as  transports. 

While  the  company  has  been  prosperous  it  has  bapn  unfort- 
unate in  the  loss  of  so  many  fine.boats  worth  a  large  some  of  money 
and  has  suffered  a  number  of  fires  at  their  storehouses,  the  last 
one  of  three  wiping  out  the  large  and  completely  filled  storehouse 
on  the  dock  at  Catskill.  They  had  also  yery  severe  fire  losses  at 
Hudson  • 


Onteora,  Queen  of  the  River,  Fastest  of  Them  All . 
83 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Other  boats  familiar  to  Catskillians  are  the  Eloise,  former- 
ly on  the  line  between  Catskill  and  Hudson,  sold  to  New  York 
parties  and  ran  on  the  East  river,  and  The  Steamer  Isabella  still 
running  on  the  Catskill  Hudson  route  This  boat  has  been  remodel- 
ed a  number  of  times  and  is  in  fine  shape. 

In  1911  there  was  placed  on  the  Catskill  Evening  line  the 
freighter  known  as  the  Storm  King,  a  commodious  boat  that  is 
doing  well. 

The  boats  running  between  Catskill  and  Albany,  have  been 
the  City  of  Hudson,  a  splendid  boat,  with  shapely  lines  and  very 
fast.  This  boat  took  the  place  of  the  Peter  G.  Coffin,  and  was  des- 
tro}-ed  by  tire  in  the  80s.  Then  came  the  General,  and  the  Ursula 
will  be  remembered  as  a  beautiful  propeller,  and  very  popular. 
This  boat  made  her  last  trips  in  1913,  and  in  1914  near  the  close 
of  the  season  the  Phillips  came  on  the  line. 


w^^^^*        k                 _*_™— „  4m4LJJfL 

W            $£ 

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Isabella,    Rounding  11  e  Hop-O-Xose. 

84    . 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Among  the  men  who  have  been  connected  with  the  company 
and.  who  have  always  worked  hard  for  the  success  of  Catskill  and 
Greene  county  as  well,  were  Charles  L.  Rickerson,  Edwin  H. 
Snyder  and  George  M.  Snyder,  the  present  head  of  the  company 
being  Charles  M.  Englis  of  Brooklyn-  TheSnyders  and  Mr. '.Rick- 
erson passing  away  within  the  recollection  of  the  writer.  William 
J.  Hughes  has  been  treasurer  of  the  company  for  a  long  term  of 
years,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest  men  in  his  line  in  the 
state.  As  treasurer  of  Greene  County  for  a  number  of  years  his 
work  was  of  the  highest  character . 


Isabella,  Leaving  Creek  Dock. 

We  have  not  space  to  refer  to  the  boats  of  many  other  lines. 
The  Steamer  Livingston  has.  for  many  years  been  doing  business 
between  Saugerties  and  Athens,  stopping  at  Catskill  each  way. 
Capt.  Winans'has  been  at  the  head  of  that  enterprise.  The  New- 
burgh  line  boats,  Martin  and  Tremper  make  regular  landings  at 
Catskill, 

Among  the  old  skippers  who  navigated  the  stormy  waters 
of  the  deep  sea  were  some  of  familiar  name,  though  not  of  face. 
Capt.  Van  Loan,  Barnet  DuBois,  James  Bogardus,  Abram  Post, 
Capt.  Jacob  Dunham,  who  had  stories  of  adventure  in  the  West 
Indies  and  capture  by  the  pirates,  for  Catskill  and  Hudson  were  to 
be  reckoned  with,  and  Hudson  in  particular  had  her  valiant  tars 
chasing'great  whales  in  quest  of  that  essential  and  useful  commod- 

W 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


ity  whalebone  and  whale  oil.  The  steel  trust  has  wiped  out  the 
whale  bone  trust,  and  the  Standard  oil  magnates  have  put  one 
over  on  the  blubbering  whale.  Whale  oil  and  tallow  candles  have 
had  to  pass  from  their  positions,  and  it's  just  touch  the  button  for 
light  There  was  old  Admiral  Drake,  Captain  Britton  and 
Captain  Hyde,  who  passed  their  log  book  tales  of  far  off  lands,  and 
terrible  adventures,  until  tbey  were  looked  upon  as  most  remark- 
able men.  Thurlow  Weed,  one  of  the  great  newspaper  men  of  the 
state,  and  founder  of  the  Albany  Journal  is  said  to  have  worked 
as  a  cabin  boy  on  a  Catskill  sloop  that  belonged  to  Capt.  Bromm3 
Funda.  In  those  days  the  Hudson  furnished  great  sturgeon,  and 
the  fishermen  frequently  made  hauls  of  thousands  of  herring  and 
shad.  Even  down  to  the  early  70s,  it  was  not  uncommon  for  great 
quantities  of  spoiled  fish  to  be  carried  on  the  land  as  fertilizer. 


The.  Wreck  of  the  Swallow. 


Among  the  early  steamboat  disasters  and  the  worst  of  them 
was  the  wreck  of  the  Swallow  which  happened  on  the  night  of 
April  17th,  1845,  while  on  her  way  from  Albany  to  New  York. 
Opposite  the  village  of  Athens  the  boat  struck  a  rock,  since  re- 
moved by  the  government,  and  broke  in  two.  Over  40  persons 
were  drowned. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Wreck  of  the  Henry  Clay. 

-  On  Wednesday  afternoon  July  26,  1852  the  Henry  Clay  was 
destroyed  by  fire  near  Yonkers,  while  making  a  regular  trip. 
Nearly  100  persons  are  supposed  to  have  perished.  Some  were 
burned  and  others  drowned. 

We  are  able  to  show  two  fairly  good  representations  of  -these 
"early  disasters. 

Last  September  a  New  York  man  with  a  40  foot  steamboat 
came  into  the  Catskill  creek  and  started  to  sail  right  on  to  Oak 
Hill.  He  was  hailod  at  the  bridge  and  replied  that  he  had  a  map 
showing  that  he  could  go  right  on.  He  did,  but  just  beyond  the 
railroad  bridge  he  went  on  the  rocks. 

Capt.  Isaac  VanLoan  was  owner  of  the  sloop  Delaware,  which 
in  1818  was  one  of  the  speed  boats  on  the  Hudson  between  Cats- 
kill  and  New  York  city. 

Of  Captain  Joseph  Allen  it  is  narrated  that  verging  on  80 
years  of  age,  one  day  he  had  a  heated  argument  with  one  Wm. 
Pullen,  and  Pullen  was  forcibly  elected  from  Aliens'  premises. 
Allen  explained  that  Pullen  called  him  a  d—  old  liar  and  he  threw 
him  off  the  stoop. 

87 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Railroads,  Early  and  Moderiv 


V»«     'TT   *"*+ 


The  New  York  Central's  New  High  Speed  97  Ton  Electric   Engine. 

In  1825  Wood  in  his  article  on  railroads  says : 

"Nothing  can  do  more  harm  to  the  adoption  of  railroads 
than  the  promulgation  of  such  nonsense  as  that  we  shall  see  loco- 
motive engines  traveling  at  the  rate  of  12  miles  an  hour.'' 

Mr.  Wood  should  see  the  Chicago  through  trains  pass  Cats- 
kill  on  their  20  hour  schedule  at  60  miles  and  more  an  hour,  or 
some  likely  aeroplane  like  Glen  Curtis's  going  down  the  Hudson 
river  at  100  miles  an  hour. 

So  far  as  the  early  railroads  were  concerned,  the  Catskill 
and  Ithaca  road  was  simply  projected. 

The  Catskill  and  Canajoharie  was  built  to  Cooksburgh  in 
1838.  It  was  a  failure,  as  the  engine  wouldn't  work.  The  state 
pledged  $200,000  toward  the  construction.  The  Catskill  Bank 
bought  it  for  $11,000  and  sold  to  Hiram  VanSteen  burgh  who  took 
up  the  iron  for  junk  and  made  some  money  out  of  it. 

Coxsackie  and  Schenectady — never  built. 

Schenectady  and  Catskill— never  built. 

The  Saratoga  and  Hudson  River  Road  was  built  and  some 
of  its  grade  may  be  seen  today.  It  had  a  terminal  at  Athens  and 
great  promise.  Daniel  Drew  the  steamboat  man  sold  it  in  1867  to 
the  Central  and  they  abandoned  it . 

The  West  Shore  railroad  opened  for  business  in  1882. 
The  Stony  Clove  road  was  opened  in  1882. 
The  Catskill  Mountain  Railroad  also  in  1882, 

«8 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Kaaterskill  Railroad  in  1883. 

The  Tannersville  railroad  in  1892 . 

The  Otis  Elevated  Railroad  August  4th,  1892. 

The  South  Cairo  and  East  Durham  road— never  built. 

Several  trolley  roads  were  projected  but  never  built,  though 
work  was  started  on  one  from  Coxsackie  to  Greenville,  and  some 
work  was  done  on  the  Catskill  to  Oneonta  line. 

The  Catskill  street  railroad  was  built  in  1890  and  finished 
to  Leeds  in  1892.  At  the  present  it  is  being  operated  bv  a  receiver 
for  the  second  time  Among  the  men  who  have  spent  large  sums 
to  make  the  road  a  success  are  P.  N.  Du  Bois,  H  C.  Cowan,  and 
William  P.  Fiero,  former  senator,  now  deceased. 


"',,-■  ',j£>wrfv&4j  ■'.-■■■■ 


The  First  Railroad  Train  in  Greene  County. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  note  that  the  Catskill  Canajoharie 
railroad  was  along  with  a  number  of  other  roads  an  expensive 
proposition  for  the  state.  The  state  loaned  $3,478,000  to  the 
building  of  six  railroads,  and  the  Catskill  road  got  $100,000.  The 
roads  were  all  failures  and  the  state  lost  $1,000,000  in  the  enter- 
prises. The  capital  stock  of  the  Catskill  road  was  $1,000,000  and 
no  one  knows  what  it  cost.  The  Albany- Schenectady  road  built 
about  the  same  time,  17  miles,  cost  $1,711,412  and  the  Catskill 
road  was  built  to  Cooks  burgh,  26  miles.  It  is  a  fact  that  the  first 
300  miles  of  railroad  cost  over  $15,000,000.  And  nobody  ever  said 
the  stock  was  watered.  Even  the  Erie  railroad  was  unable  to  pay 
its  interest  and  had  to  be  advertised  for  sale.  The  Ithaca  road 
brought  $4500.     The  Catskill  road,  as  we  have  stated,  #11,000. 

89 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


We  are  indebted  to  Mrs.  Benjamin  Wiltse  for  the  illustra- 
tion of  the  locomotive  and  the  coach  passenger  cars  that  ran  on 
the  Catskill-Canajoharie  road  in  1838.  The  train  had  a  very  busy 
time  and  every  coach  was  loaded.  This  train  passed  the  foundry 
of  Benjamin  Wiltse  every  day  during  the  time  the  road  was  ir> 
operation,  and  Mr.  Wiltse  who  is  remembered  by  many  persons 
in  Catskill  as  one  of  the  pioneers  of  early  business  enterprise  of 
Catskill,  was  the  inventor  of  an  arrangement  whereby  sand  was 
spilled  on  the  track  of  the  road  ahead  of  the  wheels  of  the  coaches 
for  the  purpose  of  preventing  their  slipping.  The  locomotive 
burned  wood  and  this  was  carried  in  a  tender  with  a  couple  of 
barrels  that  supplied  water,  and  stops  were  made  along  the  line  to 
get  water  or  wood  when  needed.  The  cars  were  modeled  after 
the  old  stage  coach  of  the  wild  west  pattern,  and  the  wheels  were 
flanged  to  keep  them  from  leaving  the  tracks.  From  12  to  18  peo- 
ple could  be  accommodated  in  each  coach.  William  Layman  of 
Catskill  one  of  the  old  time  Methodists  was  the  engineer  of  this 
road  and  Wm.  Layman  not  only  managed  to  get  all  the  speed  pos- 
sible out  of  the  locomotive,  but  he  was  also  the  owner  of  one  of 
the  fast  equines  that  have  been  known  to  have  been  the  undoing 
of  good  Methodists .  And  he  was  not  altogether  adverse  to  per-, 
permitting  his  horse  to  show  heels  even  on  the  Sabbath,  daring  to 
indulge  in  a  horse  race  on  Main  street. 

Early  one  Sunday  morning  he  had  the  temerity  to  get  the 
best  of  another  nag  that  had  been  known  to  travel  fast,  and 
good  Brother  Humphrey,  whom  some  will  remember,  promptly 
rose  up,  and  admonished  Layman  on  the  error  of  his  ways,  and 
the  sin  of  horse  trotting. 

But  this  only  served  to  stir  up  Brother  Layman,  and  with 
the  result  that  Biother  Humphrey  declared  that  he  would  have 
him  churched,  and  made  a  complaint,  which  resulted  in  a  trial 
before  that  august  body  of  early  ecclesiasts.  Brother  Layman 
won  out.  It  was  the  vote  of  Benjamin  Wiltse  which  turned  the 
scale,  and  when  he  argued  that  he  was  a  great  lover  of  a  horse, 
and  that  even  a  trustee  of  a  church  wasn't  to  blame  if '  his  horse 
chirked  up  a  bit  when  some  old  plug  tried  to  pass  him,  it  was  an 
argument  that  was  irresistible.  Alfred  Foote  is  said   to  have  been 

90 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


on  the  side  on  Mr.  Wiltse.  Mr.  Wiltse  was  during  most  of  his 
life  a  class  leader  and  official  of  the  church,  and  to  his  last  day 
treasured  the  tickets  of  early  members  of  his  class.  In  no  other 
way  than  by  these  tickets  could  members  of  the  church  get  into 
the  love  feasts  of  the  church. 


The  Otis  Elevating  Railroad. 

The  Otis  Elevating  Railroad  was  considered  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  pieces  of  engineering  in  the  world  at  the  time  it  was 
built.  By  means  of  a  cable  over  one  mile  in  length  the  cars  are 
drawn  to  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  an  elevation  of  1600  feet  in 
ten  minutes.  The  hoisting  being  by  means  of  a  great  stationary 
engine  at  Otis  Summit.  The  cars  pass  over  a  tramway  with  several 
very  high  trestles.  There  are  stations  at  Otis  Junction  and  also  at 
Otis  .Summit.  The  cars  are  equipped  with  automatic  clutches 
which  operate  in  case  of  a  break  in  the  cable.  Charles  L.  Ricker- 
son    was   the  first  superintendent  of  this  road  and   also   of  the 

91 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Tannersville  Railroad,  opened  the  year  following  the  completion 
of  the  Otis  Ry.  Allen  Banks  was  the  engineer,  being  succeeded 
by  William  Driscoll,  who  is  the  present  engineer.  This  road  cost 
about  $275,000  and  has  been  practically  rebuilt. 

The  Catskill  Mountain  Railroad  was  built  to  open  up  the 
Mountain  section  and  operates  to  Palenville,  Cairo,  Leeds,  South 
Cairo,  Lawrenceville,  and  the  Mountain  House  or  Otis  Summit, 
Haines  Falls  and  Tannersville,  in  connection  with  the  Otis  and 
Tannersville  Rys.  John  L.  Driscoll  was  the  first  Superintendent 
for  many  years.  Charles  A.  Beach  followed,  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  when  Thomas  E.  Jones  was  elected  to  the  vacancy.  John 
T.  Mann  and  the  Beaches  were  the  projectors  of  the  road. 


View  on  Catskill  Mountain  Railroad,  in  Austin's, 
Nature's  Greatest  Glen, 

93 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  West  Shore  Railroad  Company  has  valuable  property 
at  Catskill  and  spent  a  large  amount  two  years  ago  in  order  to 
obviate  the  crossing  the  tracks  to  get  to  the  depot.  Probably  more 
than  $100,000.  The  new  depot  is  a  beautiful  structure  and  cost 
about  $25,000.  This  replaced  the  old  depot  that  was  destroyed  by 
fire.  In  making  these  improvements  the  store  house  of  Salisbury 
and  Austin  was  torn  down  and  moved  to  another  location.  Forty 
feet  of  embankment  was  cut  away  for  a  quarter  of  a  mile  and  new 
tracks  laid .  The  bridge  at  Catskill  is  90  feet  above  tide  water  and 
1300  feet  long.  It  was  a  marvel  of  engineering  skill.  It  was  re- 
built without  the  loss  of  a   single   trip    by   any    train. 


West  Shore  Depot,  Catskill. 

The  first  station  and  freight  agent  at. Catskill  was  W.  E. 
Toney.  He  was  succeeded  by  O.  A.  Freer  who  after  16  years  is 
still  at  the  head  of    the  freight  department. 

The  several  passenger  agents  have  been  Robert  Welsh,  F.R. 
Gallagher,  J.  N.  Bell,  John  Garrigan  and  E.  E.  Woodruff,  who  is 
still  selling  tickets,  after  14  years  of  service.  J  amines  Mc  Nee  has 
been  in  the  baggage  department  over  8  years.  The  old  depot  was 
burned  Dec.  6,  1909,  and  the  new  depot  was  opened  June  6, 
1912.  After  the  fire  in  2  days  time  a  temporary  depot  was  built. 

93 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Gouivty  Highways 

The  original  roads  in'  Greene  county  were  simply  trails  over 
which  Indian  tribes  traced  their  way.  With  Catskill,  Athens  and 
Coxsackie  as  starting  points  the  early  settlers  found  their' way  into 
the  interior  and  made  settlements  reaching  as  far  as  the  Delaware 
and  Susquehanna  rivers.  Later  on  came  the  wagon  roads  and 
turnpike  roads  and  still  later  the  state  and  county  built  roads. 
Even  at  the  present  time  these  roads  are  in  process  of  perfection, 
as  to  methods  and  materials  to  make  them  lasting. 

Great  progress  in  the  right  direction  is  being  made  by  the 
highway  department  of  the  state,  and  a  second  installment  of  $50, ~ 
000,000  is  being  used,  of  which  Greene  county,  thanks  to  her 
efficient  boards  of  supervisors,  and  other  officials,  is  getting  a  very 
considerable  portion. 


Old  Toll  Gate,  Entrance  to  Clove  Road. 

With  the  active  co-operation  of  Hon.  John  B.  Riley,  State 
Superintendent  of  Prisons,  the  experiment  is  being  tried  of  utiliz- 
ing convict  labor  in  the  building  and  maintenance  of  this  and 
other  county  highways,  and  a  convict  camp  has    been   established 


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We  are  indebted  to  Clerk  VanValkenburgh  for  the  following 
figures  of  roads  built  and  under  process  of  construction  in  Greene 
county. 

Completed  Roads 


Name  of  Road 

Miles 

Total  Cost. 

Cost  Mile. 

Catskill-South  Cairo 

5.6 

$58,721.30 

$10,486 

Greenville-Coxsackie  No  2 

5.56 

67,298.02 

12,103 

Green ville-Coxsackie  No.  1 

4.63 

57,436.19 

12,432 

Hunter- Windham  No.  2 

3.39 

37,390.96 

13,980 

Lexington-Prattsville 

4.19 

55,847.00 

13,300 

South  Cairo-Cairo 

3.15 

35,911.91 

11,401 

Cairo  Hamlet 

0.46 

5,600.00i 

12,180 

Saugerties-Catskill  No.  8 

1.94 

31,876.07 

16,603 

Saugerties-Catskill  No.  2 

3.87 

54,950.00 

14,190 

Hunter-Jewett  Center 

6.13 

102,888.30 

16,780 

Hunter  -Windham 

6.27; 

83,644.15 

13,340 

Cairo- Windham  No.  1 

3.39 

42,556.00 

12,550 

Catskill  Village 

1.97 

15,555.00 

7,980 

Paving  West  Bridge  Street 

0.23 

13,500 

Catskill-Athens 

5.97 

78,452.50 

13,140 

Athens-Coxsackie 

4.06 

46-,0OO.OO 

11,330 

Coxsackie  Village 

2.21 

15,100.00 

6,830 

Coxsackie-Ravena  No.  1 

4.62 

54,359.60 

11,760 

Coxsackie-Ravena  No.  2 

2.7 

31,254.62 

11,570 

Palenville-Haines  Falls 

4. 

190,000.00 

Ashland  road  under  construction,  also  road  between  Athens, 
Prattsville  and  Grand  Gorge. 

Greene  County's  share  of  second  bond  issue        $565,000 
Two-fifths  for  State  Highways  226,000 


Steamer  Clermont  of  the  Catskill  Evening  Line. 


dear  old  Greene"  cSotjnty. 


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DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Threads  of  tKe  History  Fabric 

The  publishers  of  this  work  might  well  be  accused  of  slight- 
ing the  subject  if  they  failed  to  mention  as  concisely  as  possible 
some  of  the  well  worn  threads  that  have  formed  a  part  of  history- 
fabric  concerning  the  very  remote  period.  Some  of  these  have 
come  to  be  regarded  in  the  light  of  fable  possibly,  but  they  can  be 
be  had  at  your  estimation  of  them.  A  gun,  two  shirts  which  ap- 
pear to  have  been  '•  a  valuable  commodity,  an  iron  kettle  and 
whiskey  and  rum -not  so  much  rum,  but  just  enough— appears  to 
have  formed  the  good  and  sufficient  collateral  for  which  a  large 
part  of  the  land  adjoining  the  Hudson  river  was  acquired.  Men 
of  today  and  some  Indians  would  still  be  willing  to  take  on  some 
of  the  rum  if  not  the  second  hand  shirts,  at  times  for  something 
that  is  worth  more.?  And  Gysbert  unt  der  Bogert,  a  forerunner 
of  many  well  trained  Bogarts  and  Vandebogarts  is  said  to  have 
made  this  first  purchase. One  of  these  men  Jean  unten  Bogart  is  Said 
to  have  been  a  minister.  So  it  took  the  Dutch  to  beat  the  Indians, 
even  as  now  the  Dutch  have  faculty  of  getting  in  first. 

It  was  the  Dutch  settlers  who  left  us  the  pleasentries  of 
Bomptje  Hook,  Hans  Vossen  Kill,  Embocght,  which  to  say  the 
least  are  far  easier  to  handle  than  the  many  keeks  that  the  Indians 
bequeathed  to  them  and  of  which  we  still  have  some.  There  was 
the  Wachachkeek,  the  Wichquanchtekak,  the  Patchquaik  and  the 
Assiskowachkeek,  and  the  Potikeek,  and  we  are  reminded  that  the 
latter  is  the  source  from  which  illustrious  Catskillians  will  get  the 
aqua  that  will  quench  thirst  as  well  as  the  Dutch  rum  did. 

Bogart  got  rid  of  his  lands  in  1703  to  his  son-in-law  Helmer 
Janse  and  after  that  John  Lindsey  got  them  and  they  became  the 
Linds.ey  patent.  There  were  five  houses  in  that  patent.  The  inn 
of  Peter  Schutt,  grandfather  of  L.  P.  Schutt,  below  Catskill,  the 
house  of  Egbert  Bogardus,  near  what  is  now  head  of  Main  street, 
Catskill,  a  house  near  what  is  now  the  DuBois  drug  store,  the 
residence  of  the  historical  Madam  Dise,  1768,  near  the  continuous 
kiln  of  the  brick  company.  This  brave  old  structure  was  very 
sightly  and  regarded  as  a  mansion.     Johannes  Van  Gorden  had  a, 

101 


DEAR- OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


house  at  Femmen  Hook,  now  the  headquarters  of   the  brave  fire 
laddies  of  Bomptje  Hook,  now  known  as  the  Point. 


Joseph  Reilly  Custodian  of  Bomptje  Hook. 


The  Fitzsimmohs,  Gavigans,  O'Briens,  Delmores,  Quinns, 
and  others  not  so  Dutch,  have  taken  sway  at  the  Point  however, 
and  the  region  along  Water  street  lack  in  characters  of  great  note. 
Joseph  Reilly,  the  custodian  of  the  fortunes  of  that  section  and 
greater  Catskill  being  the  most  notable. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  Paul  R.  Morrison  we  are  able  to 
present  a  splendid  half  tone  of  the  Old  Stone  Jug,  so  that  we  have 
views  of  the  first  five  hpuses  in  Greene  county.  Madam  Dise,  the 
owner  of  this  old  land  mark,  passed  away  within  its  walls  in  1768 
at  the  age  of  78  years.  -She  was  regarded  as  a  most  remarkable 
woman,  benevolent  and  very  pious,  though  she  was  married  to  a 
man  who  was  shiftless,  and  dissolute,  being  addicted  to  the  use  of 
strong  drink.  The  old  house  was  regarded  with  reverence  by  the 
earlier  natives,  and  when  it  Was  torn  down  it  was  supposed  that 
,     .         102 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


all  sorts  of  valuables  would  be  found  stored  away  in  hidden  places, 
but  beyond  a  few  coins  nothing  was  discovered.  The  old  crock- 
ery and  old  furnishings  were  scattered  among  relic  hunters. Madam 
Dise  was  the  daughter  of  one  Gillett,  a  Hollander,  and  related  to 
one  of  the  early  governors  of  the  State  of  New  York.  We  believe 
that  she  was  also  related  to  F.  N.,  DuBois,  tracing  back  on  his 
mother's  side  of  the  family. 

The  last  resident  of  the  place  was  Kitty  Hopkins. 


The  Van  Vechten  House,  Catskill. 


On  the  Van  Vechten  patent,    Indians,  Van  Schaacks,  Van 

Vechtens,  Van  Bremens,  Spiegels,  and  other  Dutchmen  tilled  the 

soil, 

103 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Corlaers  Kill  Patent  had  more  Van  Vechtens,  Bronks, 
Salisburys,  and  Van  Bergens,  whose  generations  remain  There 
were  some  five  houses  on  this  patent  of  which  one  building  be- 
longing to  the  Van  Vechtens  was  a  grist  mill,  the  Rushmore  mill. 

Another  of  the  famous  old  houses  of  Greene  county  is  loca- 
ted on  Jefferson  Heights,  on  what  is  known  as  the  Prindle  Place. 
The  house  is  a  combination  of  brick  and  stone,  and  was  erected  by 
the  Rev.  Schueman  in  1768,  The  bricks  in  the  structure  were 
made  by.  slaves  employed  on  the  place,  and  most  of  the  bricks  came 
from  the  pond  which  forms  a  part  of  the  cemetery.  The  house 
still  contains  the  old  brick  bake  oven,  and  this  has  been  in  use  by 
the  Prindles  since  they  have  occupied  the  place,  which  has  been 
in  the  possession  of  William  Prindle  since  1856.  One  of  the  rooms 
was  known  as  the  spinning  room,  and  here  the  darkies  made  the 
cloth  used  in  making  sheets  and  clothing.  For  a  time  Addison 
P.  Jones  owned  the  property.  It  was  occupied  by  Peter  Carl  for 
21  years,  and  William  Salisbury  lived  there  for  6  years. 


The  Old  Mill  in  the  Glen. 

Going  on  towards  Leeds  at  the  foot  of  the  Hill  is  the  Abner 
Austin  House,  and  this  house  was  patterned  after  the  Old  Stone 
Jug.  Old  in  appearance  it  was  built  in  1855.  It  was  built  on 
the  property  which  comprised  the  mill  in  the  glen .  The  old  mill 
was  erected  in  1808  byAbner  Austin,  and  was  torn  down  in  1903, 
because  it  was  a  menace  to  those  who  Visited  it.  The  store  house 
was  transforrned  by  Carleton  Austin  into  two  fine  little  cottages. 

104 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Jn  the  Clove,  Line  of  State  Road. 
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DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Dubois'  and  Overbaughs 

We  have  gone  at  length  into  the  history  of  the  Du  Bois 
family,  because  their  generations  have  been  the  men  and  women 
who  have  made  up  very  largely  the  history  not  only  of  Catskill, 
but  also  Greene  county,  and  the  surrounding  counties ,  and  thus 
extending  are  practically  all  over  the  entire  country. 


Louis  DuBois  born  in  1626,  at  Wicres,  France,  a  Hugenot 
refugee,  landed  at  New  Amsterdam  in  1660,  and  there  were  then 
200  houses  scattered  over  Manhattan  island  and  in  all  1400  popu- 
lation. There  was  a  fort  and  an  old  Dutch  churph,  a  wind  mill 
and  the  virgin  forests.  Broadway  was  then  Heere  Straat,  the  Lord 
street. 

The  town  had  an  inn  keeper,  a  captain  of  the  militia, 
Martin  Kregiere,  and  the  Rev.  Megapoliensis  dispensed  the  gospel 
in  Dutch.  There  were  many  other  refugees. 

The  DuBoises  left  New  Amsterdam  (New  York),  found  their 
way  up  the  Hudson  an  a  sloop,  landing  after  many  days  in  the 
"Esopus  Country"  sailing  up  the  Rondout  Creek.  Others  of  the 
party  went  on  to  Saugerties. 

Louis  Du  Bois  took  up  his  home  at  Wiltwyck,  now  Kings- 
ton, or  at  Hurley,  and  here  his  wife  and  three  children  were  taken 
captives  by  the  Indians,  who  destroyed  Hurley,  1663.  He  helped 
to  build  the  first  church  and  the  second  and  the  third  at  Kingston. 

The  Indians  wiped  out  Wiltwyck,  the  dead  laying  as  sheaves 
behind  the  mower,  12  women  and  31  children  were  carried  away. 
The  church  was  spared. 

AWappinger  Indian  who  had  been  captured  was  impressed 
to  guide  a  party  of  soldiers  who  went  to  the  rescue  of  the  captives. 
45  men,  and  Louis  DuBois  was  among  the  number.  The  party 
started  July  4  and  on  September  5  came  up  with  the  Indians. 
There  was  a  bloody  fight  and  the  prisoners  were  recovered.  Mrs. 
Du  Bois  was  tied  to  a  tree  and  surrounded  with  faggots  and  was 
singing  hymns  as  a  prelude  to  being  burned  to  death.  It  was  his 
descendents  who  came  to  Catskill.  A  great  family  it  appears  to 
have  been, 

10$ 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Rev.  Anson  Du  Bois  was  a  member  of  the  old  Leeds 
Dutch  church  and  became  a  preacher  of  note,  being  located  at 
Kingston  as  pastor  in  1854,  and  was  also  ordained  as  a  home  mis- 
sionary by  the  Classis  of  Greene,  subsequently  he  was  located  at 
Fktlands,  L.  I. 

We  are  able  to  show  a  very  good  picture  of  him,  as  also  of 
several  other  early  members  of  the  Du  Bois  family  who  have 
achieved  distinction. 

Peter  Du  Bois  was  buried  at  Fishkill  in  1837,  and  his 
generations  are  all  over  the  country. 

Cornelius  Du  Boise  of  whom  we  are  able  to  show  a  picture 
became  very  wealthy  and  devoted  his  life  to  the  relief  of  suffering 
humanity.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Humane  Society, 
New  York  in  1787,  and  was  an  official  of  the  house  of  refuge,  New 
York  City  Hospital^  Mariners  Society,  Eye  Infirmary,  Pauperism 
Society  and  of  the  chamber  of  commerce  and  many  banks.  He 
died  in  1846. 

Capt.  Theodore  Du  Bois  of  whom  we  also  present  a  portrait, 
was  lieutenant  commander  of  the  Albatross  which  formed  a  part 
of  Paragut's  fleet  and  passed  the  batteries  at  Port  Hudsbn.  He 
was  commander  of  the  Suffolk  which  laid  the  cable  to  the  West 
Indies. 

Of  Benjamin  Du  Bois  of  Catskill  we  learn  that  he  was  not 
only  the  owner  of  all  Catskill,  but  that  he  was  one  of  the  original 
members  of  the  Dutch  Church  in  Catskill  formed  in  1732  and  was 
a  deacon,  under  pastor  Geo.  M.  Weiss  Over  the  Dutch  church  at 
Caatsban,  built  in  1732,  is  carved  the  names  of  Benjamin,  Solomon 
and  Huybartus  Du  Bois.  He  was  very  religious.  He  was  also  a 
Colonel  of  state  troops  and  served  in  the  Champlain,  Mohawk  Val- 
ley, Schoharie  and  other  campaigns.  The  Indians  one  night  de- 
termined to  capture  him  but  were  deterred.  He  celebrated  at  his 
home  the  surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis.  His  son,  Grant  Du  Bois 
was  a  missionary  in  the  employ  of  the  American  Tract -Society, 
1836-53.  Cornelius,  another  son  was  a  scout  under  Tim  Murphy 
the  Indian  fighter.  He  built  the    old    block  house  on  the  Shafer 

farm  at  Schoharie. 

109 


DEAR    OLD    GREENES    COTJNTV. 


Of  Isaac  Du  Bois  we  are  told  that  he  built  the  court  house 
in  1812. 

Ira  DuBois  in  1830  founded  the  Gatskill  Messenger  later 
changed  to  Catskill  Examiner. 

Joel  DuBois  served,  in  the  revolution  and  lived  atKiskatom. 
He  was  regarded  as  the  strongest  man  in  the  section,  and  of  enor- 
mous physique. 


DuBois  House,  Cauterskili.      Torn  Down  1911. 


The  Lover idge  Patent  1770  comprised  five  lots. 

Lot  1,  commenced  on  the  Catskill  Creek  opposite  the  old 
Stone  Jug,  and  continued  along  the  same  to  Caters-kill,  915  acres. 
On  this  section  were  the  lands  of  Huybartus  Du  Bois,  with  the  old 
stone  house  now  occupied  by  Miss  Josephine  Hopkins,  and  Ben- 
jamin DuBois  opposite  and  beyond  the  Salisbury  mill.  Here  was 
another  old  stone  house,  erected  1730  by  Benjamin  DuBois,  and 
torn  down  in  1911 .    (See  picture) 

Lot  2,  comprised  1575  acres.  The  line  ran  from  the  Platte- 
kill  in  the  Vly  to  the  Caters-kill .     Isaac    Du  Bois  owned  the  river 

110 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


and  creek  front  to  the  Dise  place.  Cornelius  DuBois  lands  adjoin- 
ed. There  were  the  lands  of  Jurian  Overbaugh  in  the  Fvyke  of 
Smith  and  three  lots  of  Overbaugh. 

Lot  3  adjoined  lot  2  and  ran  from  the  Hudson  river  to  the 
Cati3rs-kill,1515  acres.  On  this  were  the  Fieros,  at  Oaters-kill, 
Trumpbours,  Saxes,  Spahns  and  Bergers. 

Lot  4,  adjoined  and  ran  from  the  Abeel  place  in  Caters-kill 
to  the  end  or  point  of  the  Vly  on  the  Hudson  river,  containing 
1415  acres.  Milligan  occupied  the  Streeke,  Van  Orden  Dumond 
and  two  families  of  Van  Ordens  occupied  the  balance  of  the  land. 
Lot  Number  5  adjoined  and  ran  from  the  Quatawicknaack 
and  Cauterskill  to  Maquas  Hook  on  the  Hudson,  "1215  acre?. 
Dedrick,  occupied  a  section  on  the  Kings  road;  Martin,  Person 
and  Van  Vecliten  occupied  the  balance. 

The   old    deed    was  signed   by 
eight  Indians:     Wannachatquatin, 
Mamanuchaqua,  Cunpaer. 
Unsawanneck,       Wannihmauwa, 
Tawvvequannis,     Anneke. 
Natekimoot. 
This  Deed   to  Wm.    Loveirdge 
1866,  and    recorded    in    the  county 
of  Albany,    and   is   from  "Thomas 

We  are  indebted  to  Robert  F.  Story  of  Catskill  for  a  picture 
of  Madam  Jane  Dise,  wife  of  Major  John  Dise  of  the  English  army 
who  owned  the  old  Stone  Jug,  one  of  the  first  five  houses  in 
Greene  County.  This  picture  was  taken  at  the  time  Mr3.  Dise  was 
about  16  years  of  age.  and  hence  is  nearly  200  years  old.  The 
picture  from  which  our  copy  is  taken  is  an  oil  painting  in  splendid 
preservation  as  to  color,  canvass  and  frame,  a  full  length  portrait, 
two  thirds  life  size.  It  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Story  at  the  time  the 
property  was  sold,  and  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  relics  of  the 
early  colonial  times.  To  Mr.  Story  we  are  also  indebted  for  in- 
teresting facts  in  regard  to  the  early  residents  of  the  Catskill  sec- 
tion of  the  Loveridge  Patent,  as  the  descendents  of  these  early 
families  make  up  the  generations  of  Catskill  and  Greene  as  well  as 
other  counties. 

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DEAR  OLD  GREENE  dOUNTY. 


It  is  interesting  to  note  in  regard  to  the  old  deed 
that  we  referred  to  on  page  111  that  it  was  signed  "Thomas 
Dongan,  Capt  General,  Governor  in  Chief  and  Vice  Admiral  of 
the  Province  of  New  York  under  his  Majesty,  James  the  II.  King 
of  England,  Ireland,  Scotland  and  France,  and  Defender  of  the 
Faith.1' 

A  part  of  the  consideration  was  the  payment  of  200  merch- 
antable beavers.  And  there  are  no  more  beavers  in  Greene  county., 
Possibly  Loveridgegot  them  all. 


Capt.  Theodore  DuBois. 

In  the  inventory  of  the  personal  property  of  Benjamin  Du 
Bois  is  listed  "One  negro  girl  and  a  pair  of  andirons   36  pounds 

113 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


and  10  shillings.  Two  negro  boys  at  50  and  30  pounds.  A  flax 
break,  smothing  iron,  slice,  1  sohipple,  landthorn,  2  trammels 
hatchet,  chamber  pot,  a  weaver's  loom,  spinning  wheels  and  reels. 
All  these  articles  practically  unknown  today.  This  list  was  made 
in  1797. 

Louis  Du  Bois  first  in  America  was  born  at  Wicres,  near 
Lille,  France,  1626,  came  to  America  in  1660,  located  at  Kingston, 
was  father  of  10  children.     Solomon  came  to  Catskill  in  1759. 

Benjamin  Du  Bois  settled  at  Catskill  1727,  and  in  1762 
built  the  old  house  still  standing  near  the  town  bridge.  (See  picture) 


The  Benjamin  Du  Bois  House. 

Of  the  second  generation  at  Catskill,  Sarah  Du  Bois 
married  Pietrus  Overbaugh.  Children,  Benjamin  Overbaugh,  and 
Catherine  Overbaugh. 

Solomon  DuBois  lived  in  the  old  house  at  Caterskill  (1730) 

and  had  two  children.     On  the  grave  of  his  wife  is  the  inscription 

"Anno  1778,  Merte,  27,  is  mein  vrowin  Den  Heerin  outslappen'' 

Translation:     March  27,  1778.  "Now  is  my   wife  sleeping   in  the 

Lord". 

114 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    CotfNTY. 


The  will  of  Huybartus  Du  Bois  in  1806  witnessed  by  Barent 
Du  Bois,  JohnBogardus  and  Egbert  Bogard us,  Dorrance  Kirkland 
being  Surrogate,  probated  the  will  in  1809. 


Colonel  Cornelius  Du  Bois. 

Isaac  DuBois  took  possession  of  the  Hopnose  farm  in  1762. 
Joel  Du  Bois  served  during  the  revolution  in  the  regiment  of  .his 
uncle,  Cornelius,  which  was  stationed  in  the  Mohawk  valley.  The 
Du  Bois  cottage  of  that  date  is  the  old  homestead  now  owned  by 
F.  N.  Du  Bois  and  has  always  been  in  the  posession  of  the  family. 
It  has  been  remodeled  and  is  a  most  beautiful  structure.  A  celebra- 
tion of   the  surrender  of   Lord  Cornwallis  took   place  within  the 

115 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COTJNTt. 


walls  of  the  old  mansion.  Col.  Anthony  Van  Bergen  of  Coxsackie, 
and  Capt.  Samuel  Van  Vechten  served  with  Lieut.  Col.  Cornelius 
Du  Bois.  A  Block  House  at  Cobleskill  was  called  Du  Bois  Fort 
after  Cornelius. 

After  the  death  of  Isaac  Du  Bois  his  son  John  occupied  and 
held  the  place  for  45  years,  then  JohnD.  DuBois,  and  then  Jacob 
Van  Orden  1859,  then  the  Whittakers  and  then  F.  N.  Du  Bois. 


Rev.  Benjamin  Du  Bois. 

The  children  of  Solomon  Du  Bois  were  Benjamin,  Catelientie 
Sarah  and  Rachel,  who  never  married  and  died  at  age  99  years. 

Catelientie  married  Edward  Whittaker,  and  had  6  children, 
Solomon.  Henry,  William,  Benjamin,  Margaret  and  Joel. 

116 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Sarah  married  Barent  S.  Salisbury.  He  was  a  prominent 
American  officer  of  the  Revolution!  being  in  the  battles  of  German- 
town  and  Monmouth. 

The  children  of  Huybartus  Du  Bois  were J^hn,  who  married 
Caty  Dise,  daughter  of  Madam  Jane  Dise.  Treintje  married  Gosie 
Hermance  1st  and  had  four  children,  Lana,  John,  Polly  and 
Rachel.  Polly  married  Ira  Canfield.  Rachel  married  Benjamin 
Sole.     Treintje  married  Michael  Phillips  for  her  second  husband. 

Treintje  had  for  her  third  husband  John  Du  Bois  a  cousin, 
and  lived  with  him  23  years  at  the  Point.  , 

Rachel  Du  Bois  married  Abram  Hoffman  and  had  6  children. 

Lana  Du  Bois  married  Abram  Elmendorf,  and  had  two 
children,  Annatje  and  Huybartus. 

Lidia  married  John  Sole.     Issue  Huybartus  Sole. 

Geertrey  Du  Bois  married  but  the  record  is  missing. 

Catharinetje  Du  Bois  married  Peter  Bogardus  and  had 
three  children.  Egbert,  Catty  and  Sally.  Egbert  was  most  of  his 
life  collector  of  taxes  in  Catskill. 

Barent  DuBois  was  a  scout,  under  Generals,  Sullivan, Hand 
and  Lafayette.     Served  with  Murphy  the  Indian  fighter. 

Arraeynnje  Du  Bois  married  John  Mallory.  Abraham 
married  Jennie  Grant  of  Stamford.  Annatje  married  Joel  DuBois. 

Kana  Du  Bois  married  Abram  Fonda,  and  had  4  children, 
of  whom  Lana  married  Gen.  Wm.  Salisbury.  Of  her  children 
Cateline  married  Rachel  Dewey.  Rachel  married  Lewis  Bennan. 
Ebellena  married  Henry  Du  Bois.  And  Helen  Salisbury  married 
Elbert  Reed. 

Achie  DuBois  married  Jacobus  Bogardus,  and  had  four 
children,  of  whom  Jannett  married,  John  M.  Donnelly,  a  prom- 
inent Catskill  merchant  1842,  and  Betsey  married  Dr.  Jacob 
Greene. 

That  record  brings  us  to  the  6th  generation  in  America.  In 
which  the  families  named  are:  DuBois,  Whittakers,  4  generations 
Peter  Eckler,  William,  Margaret  and  Benjamin  Eckler,  the  Elys, 
Fieros,  Goodwins,  Darts,  Hallenbecks,  Van  Loans, 

117 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Barent  Du  Bois  was  Indian  agent  for  the  government. 
Samuel  Du  Bois  was  sheriff  of  Greene  county. 

The  generations  of  Abraham  Du  Bois  were  mostly  in  Dela- 
ware county. 

Col.  John  Du  Bois  married  sisters,  Catty  and  Jeannette, 
daughters  of  Jane  Dies.  His  children  were  John  D.  father  of 
Frederick  N.  Du  Bois,  owner  of  the  old  homestead  and  who  pre- 
sented Catskill  with  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building.  Jeannette,  James, 
Catherine,  Ira,  Joel,  Isaac  and  Lanah.  Jeannette  married  Cor- 
nelius Du  Bois.  Catherine  married  Oliver  Ashley.  Marcia  Ashley 
married  David  Becker,  and  Libbie  Becker  married  Johnathan 
Palen,  who  ran  the  tannery  at  Palenville  around  the  1830's. 

Ira  DuBois  founded  the  Catskill  Messenger,  now  Examiner. 

Joel  Du  Bois  married  Sally  Hunter. 

Isaac  Du  Bois  married  Catherine  Hunter.  He  was  justice 
at  Kiskatom  over  20  years. 

Jeannette  Hunter  married  Cornelius  M.  Abeel  at  Kiskatom, 
Frances  Hunter  married  Wm.  Linzey. 

Generations  of  Peter  Du  Bois  and  Catherine  Van  Orden, 
Benjamin,  John  P.,  Robert,  Eliza,  James,  Marv,  Edwin,  Rhoda 
and  Cornelius  Cornelius  became  captain  of  the  53d  Colored  Inf. 
and  served  through  the  rebellion.  He  conducted  the  Pine  Grove 
house,  Palenville,  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  1913. 

Ellen  Du  Bois  married  Isaac  North.  Emma  married  the 
Rev.  0.  Van  Kuren,  Joseph  Allen  married  Julia  Teator.  Mary 
married  Col.  B.  B.  G.  Stone  the  artist  of  Catskill. 

Grant  Du  Bois  married  Catherine  Lamouree.  Isaac  married 
Cathrine  Van  Voris. 

The  children  of  John  D.  Du  Bois  were  Lewis,  Philo,  Ann 
Jeannette,  William,  James,  Addison  and  Frederick  Nelson. 

Ann  married  Peter  Whittaker,  Mary  married  Henry  Van 
Gorden . 

Johan  Peter  Overbaugh  settled  at  KayKout  in  1722,  and 
died  in  1732,  being  buried  on  the  East  side  of  the  KayKout  in  the 


118 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


cemetery  on  the  Everts  place  below  Catskill.  This  is  said  to  be  the 
first  and  oldest  tombstone  so  far  as  the  records  show.  His  sons 
were  two,  Johanis  and  Johan  Jurry.  Johanis  had  four  children, 
Marytje  who  married  Peter  Snyder.  Catherine  who  married  God- 
frey Brandow,  Annatje  who  married  Gystrect  Osterhout,  Elizabeth 
who  married  Johannas  Dederick. 

Johan  Jurry  married  Catherine  Smith,  and  his  son  Johan 
jr.  married  Hannah  Conyes,  grandmother  to  Mrs.  F.  N.  Du  Bois, 
and  also  of  Robert  Story's  mother.  Their  children  were  Frederick 
Jacob,  William,  Rebecca,  (mother  of  Nelson  DuBois)  Hannah  and 
Rachel.  « 

Frederick  Overbaugh  married  first  Catherine  Mallory,  2d 
Hannah  Overbaugh  a  cousin.  Jane  Overbaugh  married  Francis 
Story,  whom  many  Catskillians  remember  and  one  of  Catskill's 
foremost  residents.  Their  children  were  Anna  J.,  Robert  F.,  John 
James,  Frederick,  Margaret,  Martha,  Francis,  Bella  and  Jacob, 
all  of  whom  are  dead  excepting  Robert  F.  Story,  many  years  loan 
commissioner,  and  Martha. 

The  extent  of  these  generations  is  quite  remarkable. 

The  Van  Ordens  and  Overbaghs  appear  to  have  lived  well 
and  increased  on  the  Loveridge  lands  from  the  Revolutionary 
period  to  the  present  time,  and  the  Persons,  and  Posts  have  filled 
their  generations  and  survive.  Ignatius  Van  Orden  served  in  Col. 
Van  Bergen's  regiment  in  the  revolution. 

The  first  tax  list  showed  that  in  1786  there  was  collected 
61  pounds,  $240  and  that  16  persons  paid  all  the  tax. 

The  Patron's  store  at  Kiskatom  is  the  oldest  frame  building 
standing  and  dates  into  the  revolutionary  period.  Another  frame 
building  on  the  Godwin  place  near  by  was  blown  down  a  few 
years  ago. 

The  Catskill  patent  taking  in  Leeds  and  the  Potic  region 
had  several  nations  of  Indians  .  more  Dutch  of  whom  the  Bronks, 
Van  Bergens,  Van  Deusens,  Salisburys,Vedders,  Van  Vechtens  and 
Whit  beck  were  the  chief  residents.  There  were  five  nations  of  In- 
dians, Delawares,  Mohicans,  Penacooks,  Nanticokes  etc.,  and  re- 
cently the  moving  picture  people  made  in  this  section  pictures 
covering  Cooper's  Last  of  The  Mohicans- 

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DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNTY. 


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120 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Salisbury  House  built  in  1705,  is  still  standing,  having 
been  remodeled  somewhat.  It  was  famous  for  its  age  and  also  for 
the  number  of  antiques  of  great  value  that  its  owners  treasured. 
These  were  disposed  of  a  few  years  ago  and  passed  into  the  hands 
of  speculators  and  treasure  hunters,  the  descendents  of  the  late 
Claudius  VanDeusen  getting  some  of  them.  Some  of  the  furniture 
badly  broken  brought  remarkable  prices.  This  house,  the  old 
stone  bridge  and  the  stone  church  made  history  for  the  pretty 
hamlet  of  Leeds  And  descendents  of  the  Colonial  families  re- 
main This  strip  of  land  continued  south  as  far  as  High  Falls, 
and  west  to  Valje  Kilje  near  the  Wolcott  mills. 


The  Falls  at  Woodstock. 


Other  settlers  who  came  here  to  escape  the  privations  of 
of  Palantinate  were  the  Fieros,  Webers,  Newkirks  and  Sachs  and 
Dominie  Shuneman,  whose  grandchildren  are  said  to  state  that 
his  sermons  were  used  by  the  negro  servants  to  start  fires  in  the 
kitchen  of  his  tavern.  He  preached  one  Sunday  in  Old  Catskill- 
And  the  next  in  Coxsackie.  He  carried  a  gun  with  him  most 
the  time.  His  remains  are  in  the  burial  ground  in  Jefferson, where 
he  was  laid  to  rest  at  the  age  of  81  years,  in  1794. 

121 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  next  minister  George  Michael  Weiss  also  preached  in 
Catskill  and  Coxsackie.  His  salary  included  house,  garden  and 
tire  wood. The  old  church  at  Leeds,  still  standing,  was  built  during 
his  pastorate  in  1798. 

On  the  road  from  Leeds  to  Kaaterskill  were  three  houses 
at  this  period,  Jurry  Planck,  Garritt  Van  Bergen,  and  Gysbert 
Osterhoudt,  and  at  Kaaterskill  falls  was  a  grist  mill,  and  saw  mill 
built  in  1733,  and  near  this  mill  was  the  old  stone  house  built  in 
1730  and  torn  down  in  1911. 

The  story  of  the  capture  of  David  and  Anthony  Abeel  by 
the  Indians  lends  some  excitement  to  the  chapter  of  1780,  as  well 
as  the  plan  that  failed,  to  carry  off  Cornelius  Du  Bois  then  living 
in  the  old  stone  house  now  occupied  by  Josephine  Hopkins  in 
West  Catskill. 

In  all  this  early  history  we  fail  to  find  the  names  or  mention 
of  physicians,  and  it  may  have  been  that  there  were  none.  It  is 
certain  that  the  men  and  their  noble  wives  lived  generally  to  the 
80's  and  90's  and  that  they  were  in  their  meager  circumstances 
generous,  industrious  and  hard  working  men,  who  had  piety 
written  on  their  faces  and  enacted  in  their  living.  They  had  few 
if  any  laws  and  needed  none.  Even  the  old  intoxicants  appear  not 
to  have  affected  their  even  frame  of  mind. 

Within  a  stone's  throw  of  the  second  Catskill  Mountain 
railroad  bridge  is  the  Van  Vechten  house,  1690  and  just  across  the 
railroad  tracks  on  the  summit  of  a  knoll  shaded  by  trees  of  per- 
haps a  century's  growth  is  the  burial  lot  of  the  VanVechtens.  The 
residence  of  which  we  are  able  to  show  a  fine  view,  taken  by  the 
writer  of  this  book,  is  in  excellent  repair  and  has  not  undergone 
much  change.  The  old  grave  yard  is  practically  as  it  appeared 
100  years  ago.  Many  of  the  stones  are  broken  off  and  the  others 
are  pointing  in  various  angles.  The  stones  have  been  gath- 
ered from  the  adjoining  lots,  and  are  without  any  inscription 
some  of  them,  and  others  chiseled  out  by  the  Van  Vechtens  with- 
out doubt.  The  trees  have  grown  since  the  last  interment,  and 
one  stone  is  enclosed  in  the  growth   of  a  tree  and   cracked  in   two 

121 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


pieces.     At  the  entrance  of  this  plot  is  a  painted  slab  announcing 
that: 


- 

'■.';..    ; 
[ 

I 

-  ■                   ■  ■ 

1               ■■ 
1             11 

,  ■■"""Wf-:.-          '    9lB            K^V   :  ^^1 

....^    .   ..  ^       ^VB^^^ 
■:i.' 

The  Van  VecMen  Plot  Today. 

Dircke  Tunisse  Van  Vechten  was  born  on  the  River  Vecht, 
Holland. 

A  slab  that  is  24  inches  in  heigth  and  6  inches  at  the  top  in 
breadth  and  about  9  at  the  bottom,  an  ordinary  piece  of  blue  stone, 
rough  and  ragged,  announces: 

W.  V.  Orden,  Dyed  23  Oct.  1777. 

There  are  7  ordinary  stones,  small  boulders  that  rise  above 
the  ground  six  or  eight  inches,  other  graves  have  no  stones  at  all. 

The  last  burial  in  this  plot  appears  to  have  been  John  Van 
Vechten,  in  1879,  at  the  age  of  93  years. 

Others  buried  here  whose  graves  are  marked  are  Teunis  Van 
Vechten   and  Judea,  his  wife,    Jacob  Van  Vechten,    Samuel  Van 

131 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Vechten;   Eleanor,    Anna  and  Catherine  Van  Vechten,    Samuel 
Washington  Van  Vechten,  William  Schuneman  Van  Vechten. 

On  a  slab  in  the  old  house  is  inscribed : 

"In  Memory  of  the  seven  brothers,  all  born  in  this  house: '' 

William  Washington  Van  Vechten  born  Jan.  13  1799,  died 
August  25,  1845. 

Teunis  Samuel  Van  Vechten  born  Jan.  20,  1784,  died  Jan. 
25,  1850. 

Peter  Van  Vechten,  born  Feb.  15. 1794,  died  Aug.  29,1854. 

Jacob  Van  Vechten,  born  July  31,  1788,  died  Sept.  14,  1871. 

John  Van  Vechten,  born  Nov.  24,  1785,  died  Feb.  3,  1879. 

Abraham  Van  Vechten,  born  Oct.  12,  1791,  died  Sept.  29, 
1885. 

Rev.  Samuel  Van  Vechten,  born  Aug.  4,  1786,  died  Jan. 
18,  1875.  Louisa  Van  Vechten,  his  wife  born  Aug.  30,  1803, 
died  Jan.  18,    1875. 

Catherine  Van  Vechten,  born  June  9,  1802,  died  Dec.  14, 
1805. 

Near  the  old  house  is  a  heavy  granite  monument  announc- 
ing the  place  where  the  Indians  and  others  forded  the  creek. 

The  old  house  is  the  property  of  a  Mrs.  Huntington  and 
Mrs.  Knox  of  New  York,  and  has  many  old  treasures  the  curious 
are  not  allowed  to  see. 

VAN  BERGEN  HOUSE 

In  the  year  of  1678  Marte  Gerritse  Van  Bergen  and  Silvest- 
er Salisbury,  commander  of  the  fort  came  down  from  Albany  to 
purchase  lands  of  the  Catskill  Indians. 

A  month  later  the  bargain  was  concluded  at  the  "Stadt- 
Huis"  at  Albany  in  the  "presence  of  magistrates  and  Indians, 
and  the  "deed  for  the  five  great  plains,  and  woodland  for  four 
miles  around"  near  what  is  now  known  as  Leeds,  was  signed  by 
Mahak  Ninimaw  and  his  chiefs,  "the  purchase  price,  300  guilders 

132 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COtfNTTf. 


in  wampum,  several  hundred  ells  of  woolen  cloth,   ten  blankets, 
ten  fusees,  ten  axes  and  ten  pairs  of  stockings. 


Van  Bergen  House,  Leeds. 
IT.  F.  Vedder,  Owner. 


Interior  of  the  Van  Bergen  House  Today. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Van  Bergen  in  1680  built  a  barn  fifty  feet  square  and  a 
small  house  of  stone  on  the  semi-circle  ofj  raised  ground  above  the 
plain,  the  first  buildings  in  "Old  Katskill,''  excepting  the  log 
cabin  of  Jan  Bronck.   In   those  days   Leeds  was  Catskill,  'spelled 


Interior  of  Van  Bergen  House,  Leeds. 

with  a  K,  and  Catskill,  the  "het-strand  or  landing." 

Yeoman  from  Kingston  and  Coxsackie  assisted  in  raising 
the  heavy  oaken  frame  of  the  barn,  the  timbers  of  which  are  still 
doing  duty. 

There  is  no  record  to  fill  a  gap  of  49  years,  but  in  1729  a 
60  foot  brick  building  was  added  to  the  one  of  stone.  The  first 
dwelling  afterward  used  as  a  kitchen  and  place  for  slaves,  was 
long  since  torn  down.  The  latter  "bears  on  its  eastern  wall''  the 
initials  of  the  builder,  M.  G.V.  B.,  and  date  of  building  July  4th, 
1729.  Tradition  saith  the  bricks  were  brought  from  Holland,  some 
of  which  conform  to  the  measurements  of  those  made  in  that 
country.  It  was  at  the  time  of  its  building  a  story  and  a  half 
high,  with   long  narrow  casement  windows,  with   leaden   sashed 

124 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE"    COtJNtf t. 


panes,  double  doors,  and  a  hipped  red-tiled  roof,   the  oaken  floor 
timbers  measuring  eighteen  inches  square. 

The  estate  passed  into  the  possession  of  Aaront  Vedder  of 
Schoharie,  in  1774,  and  is  still  owned  and  occupied  by  his  descend- 
ant, H.  F.  Vedder. 


Parsonage  of  Rev.  Schueman  at  Leeds  1786, 

We  are  informed  by  one  of  the  old  residents  of  the  Palen- 
ville  section  that  within  her  recollection  she  heard  old  residents 
tell  of  a  very  considerable  sized  village  located  in  the  Clove  near 
the  camp  of  District  Attorney  Howard  C.  Wilbur  where 
some  of  the  old  foundations  are  still  to  be  found.  The  houses  were 
occupied  by  men  who  worked  in  the  old  Tannery  of  Jonathan 
Palen,  1826,  which  employed  a  considerable  number  of  men. There 
was  a  store,  blacksmith  shop,  and  in  all  about  twenty  dwellings. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  of  the  old  frame  buildings  in 
Greene  county  is  the  old  Britt,  or  Patron's  Store,  at  Kiskatom. 
The  building  formerly  was  located  near  the  bridge  across  the  creek, 
but  later  on  moved  to  the  Corners.     Just  when  it  was    erected  no 

125 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    (JOUNTY. 


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128 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


MAP  OF  LOVERIDGE  PATENT 


Showing  location  of  residents  and  houses  about  1777.  Also 
section  at  Leeds,  formerly  Old  Catskill.  Present  value  over  $2,500,- 
000  estimated.  Most  of  the  Du  Bois  family  are  buried  on  ground 
marked  Du  Bois  plot. 

129 


Mar  old  greene  county. 


one  knows,  but  it  was  not  far  from  1800.  An  older  building  of 
stone  was  located  where  Mr.  Charles  Story  now  lives,  and  this 
was  built  in  the  early  1700' s.  The  store  building  was  the  outcome 
of  a  trade  that  was  first  started  by  a  pedlar  who  traveled  with  a 
sled  and  later  with  a  wagon. 


Group  of  Kiskatom  Grangers,  1904. 

John  Bach  Mc  Master,  an  old  writer  covering  the  period  of 
1800,  following  the  war,  says  that  "there  was  great  complaint  of 
demoralization  of  morals  that  resulted  from  the  war.  That  levity, 
profaneness,  idle  amusements  and  Sabbath  breaking  increased 
with  fearful  rapidity.  Before  the  war  nobody  swore,  nobody  used 
cards.  Now  every  lad  is  proficient  in  swearing  and  knows  much 
of  cards.  Then  apprentices  and  young  folks  kept  the  Sabbath 
and  until  sundown  never  left  the  house  but  to  go  to  meeting.  Now 
they  go  out  more  on  the  Sabbath  than  any  other  day  of  the  week. 
They  say  it  is  better  than  sitting  in  church  for  two  hours  and 
hearing  about  hell." 

Referring  to  religious  custom  of  that  period,  "The  minister 
would  rise  and  read  two  lines  of  a  psalm,  the  deacon  would  repeat 

130 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


them,  the  percenter  would  pitch  a  key  and  the  congregation  join 
in  the  hymn,  very  discordant.  The  prayer  and  a  two  hour  ser- 
mon followed.  There  were  no  stoves.  The  worshippers  came  from 
distances  of  many  miles. 

The  Sabbath  commenced  Saturday  at  sundown.  Sunday  at 
sundown  work  was  resumed  There  was  a  demand  for  a  36  hour 
Sunday  but  they  did  not  get  it. 

Peter  Schutt  at  one  time  had  an  Inn  on  the  Saugerties  road 
near  the;old  stone  house.  Mrs.  Legendre,  one  of  his  descendants, 
who  lives  in  Catskill,  informs  us  that  she  has  often  heard  her 
grandfather  tell  of  Indians  yisiting  at  this  old  Inn.  Whether  it 
was  before  or  later  that  Peter  Schutt  ran  the  West  Catskill  Hotel 
we  are  unable  to  discover.  At  any  rate  he  purchased  a  great  tract 
of  lan.d,  which  at  that  time  included  the  Kaaterskill  falls  lands 
and  built  the  falls  shanty. 


Peter  Schutt, 

Peter  V.  Overbaugh  also  a  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Legendre 
was  the  owner  of  800  acres  of  land  and  sawmills  that  subseqeunt- 
ly  passed  to  J.  L.  Schutt,  father  of  Louis  P.  Schutt,  who  has  been 
for  years  connected  with  boarding  houses  at  Haines  Palls,  the 
Laurel  House,  Antlers,  and  other  houses  including  the  Inn,  which 
he  has  been  managing  for  the  Twilight  Park  Company  very  suc- 
cessfully. 

131 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNTY. 


KA  A.TERSKILL  FALLS. 


Greatest  Mountain  Cascade. 
Part  of  Great  Section  Owned  by  Peter  Schutt. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Grand  Old  Bronks 

Leonard  Bronk,  fifth  in  descent  from  Jonas  Bronck,  was 
born  in  Bronk  House  (still  standing  and  occupied)  on  Bronk  Pat- 
ent, about  two  miles  and  a  half  west  of  Coxsackie  village,  May 
11th,  1751  or  1752.  His  first  ancestor  in  this  country  was  Jonas 
Bronck  of  Westchester  County,  after  whom  Bronck's  Manor, 
Bronck's  River  and  Bronck's  Borough  were  named,  the  ck's  being 
changed  to  "x"  on  account  of  euphony. 


A  Type  of  the  Hollander. 

In  1639  Jonas  Bronck,  liberally  educated  and  rich — with 
his  friend  Jochiem  Pieterson  Kuyter,  a  Danish  officer — sailed  in 
his  own  private  armed  vessel  named  the  Fire  of  Troy,  from  Hoorn, 
Holland,  taking  their  families,  farmers,  female  servants  and 
stock,  for  New  Amsterdam,  reaching  that  place  in  July,  1639. 
The  arrival  of  the  ship  was  hailed  by  the  colony  "as  a  great  pub- 
lic good.''  Where  Jonas  Bronck  came  from  originally  is  yet  a 
matter  of  dispute. 

He  secured  a  ''Grand  Brief,''  a  tract  of  land  of  500  acres 
north  of  the  Harlem  River,  and  became  the  first  white  settler  in 
that  section.  He  was  not  content  with  the  deed  from  the  authori- 

133 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


ties  of  New  Amsterdam,  but  in  addition  made  an  honest  purchase 
from  the  Indian  Sachem,  Tackamack,  and  his  associates. 

The  tract  of  land  purchased  by  him  was  called  by  the 
Indians  Ranachqua.  It  lay  between  the  Harlem  River  and  the 
river  Abquahung,  now  known  as  the  Bronx.  Here  Bronck  made 
his  improvements  and  began  his  life. 

Of  his  life  here  we  have  but  few  details.  We  know  this, 
Kuyter  came  and  settled  near  him  and  delighted  in  his  friendship. 
And  we  know  this  also,  that  the  Indians  trusted  him,  when  they 
were  suspicious  of  and  at  actual  war  with  the  New  Amsterdam  au- 
thorities. 

Jonas  Bronck  died  in  1643.  He  left  a  widow  and  one  son, 
Pieter  Jonassen  Bronck.  The  widow  married  Arendt  van  Corlear, 
Sheriff  of  Rensselaerwick,  and  removed  with  him  to  Albany. 

It  was  this  Peter  Bronck,  the  only  son  of  Jonas,  who  in 
1662  purchased  from  the  Indians  a  tract  of  land  and  secured  for 
it  from  the  Dutch  authorities  what  is  known  as  Bronck 's  Patent. 

On  this  patent  by  the  terms  of  the  grant,  a  house  was 
built  in  1663.  Judge  Leonard  Bronk,  said  many  years  before  he 
died  that  that  part  of  the  house  was  a  good  deal  more  than  200 
years  old.  He  died  in  1872.  The  brick  house  was  built  in  1738. 
The  date  is  cut  in  the  foundation  on  the  north  side  of  the  house. 
The  kitchen  extension  was  rebuilt  in  1792. 

The  house,  the  mills  and  the  land  descended  to  his  son 
Jan  Bronck,  and  from  the  date  of  the  original  purchase  the  home- 
stead and  many  acres  of  the  original  grant  have  never  been  out  of 
the  hands  of  the  lineal  descendants- 

The  immediate  ancestor  of  Judge  Leonard  Bronk  was  John 
L.  Bronk,  who  married  Elsie  van  Buren.  He  inherited  the  old 
home  and  the  traditions,  and  he  was  worthy  of  both.  He  was  the 
most  influential  man  in  his  section  in  his  time.  In  1770  he  was 
commissioned  Captain  of  Militia  by  Lieut.  Gov.  Cadwallader  Col- 
den.  On  Oct.  20th,  1775,  he  was  commissioned  Major  of  the  11th 
Regt.  N.  Y.  by  the  Provincial  Congress.  In  1778  he  was  com- 
missioned 2nd  Major  by  Gov.  Clinton.     In  1778  he  is  still  absorb- 

134 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


ed  in  the  struggle  for  independence.  In  this  year  he  was  appoint- 
ed 1st  Lieut,  by  Governor  Clinton. 

Among  the  papers  of  Judge  Bronk  in  the  possession  of  the 
family  there  are  two  letters  from  Valley  Forge,  dated  in  April. 
But  in  none  of  these  letters  is  there  any  mention  of  the  suffering 
and  hardship  so  vividly  pictured  in  the  histories  of  our  Revolution, 
of  the  suffering  of  our  soldiers  in  that  camp  during  the  winter  of 
1778. 

During  the  year  of  1787  he  received  from  his  correspond- 
ents letters  of  great  public  interest .  The  first  is  in  reference  to 
Gen'l  Gates'  defeat,  and  the  second  is  in  reference  -to  Benedict 
Arnold. 

Headquarters  Stone  Arabia,  Sept.  8,  1780. 
Dear  Sir: 

The  news  from  the  Southward  is  very  unfavorable  indeed. 
Gen'l  Gates  I  believe  is  certainly  totally  defeated.  The  Militia  in 
in  them  parts  betrayed  the  confidence  he  reposed  in  them  and  ran 
and  by  this  means  the  chief  of  the  Continental  troops  were  either 
killed  or  taken. 

I  believe  it  may  now  be  depended  on  that  the  second  divi- 
sion of  the  French  fleet  is  on  their  way  to  the  Continent,  as  we 
have  advice  from  them,  the  reason  of  their  not  coming  before  was 
because  they  have  been  blocked  up.  By  what  means  they  have 
got  relieved  I  am  not  at  present  able  to  inform  you. 

I  am  Dr  Sir  your  sincere  friend  and  very  humble  serv't 

T    Van  Wagenen. 

The  other  letter  is  from  his  most  intimate  friend  and  con- 
stant correspondent,  Leon.  Gansevoort,  Jr.  It  is  as  follows: 

Albany,  Oct.  6,  1780. 
Dear  Sir: 

As  I  know  that  good  news  is  always  acceptable  to  a  Person 
bo  warmly  interested  in  the  Country's  welfare  as  yourself,  I  have 
now  thought  proper  to  sit  down  to  give  you  a  small  Piece  of  News 
we  yesterday  received  by  one  of  Col.  Van  Schaick's  Officers. 

Col.  Malcolm  with  the  three  months  men  was  going  up  to 
135 


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DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


relieve  the  Garrison  at  Fort  Schuyler  and  being  with  the  main 
Body  of  his  troops  on  one  side  of  the  river  he  sent  an  Officer  with 
a  party  of  men  on  the  other  side  who  fell  in  with  about  sixty  In- 
dians. They  were  fired  upon  by  the  Party  who  Killed  two  Indians. 
The  rest  ran  off  leaving  behind  them  thirty  blankets  with  their 
Packs,  Kettles  and  other  articles. 

What  think  you  of  Arnold — what  an  infamous  dirty  villan" 
ous  detestable  Rascal  he  is — if  ever  there  was  one  deserved  hang- 
ing he  does,  and  I  sincerely  hope  he  may  yet  get  it.  I  think  that  in 
no  one  instance  during  this  war  has  the  Interposition  of  Divine 
Providence  so  remarkably  been  manifested  as  in  this,  we  were  just 
upon  the  Precipice  of  Destruction  and  would  have  been  inevitably 
gone  had  not  a  Kind  Deity  interposed  and  warded  off  the  Blow. 
This  must  convince  our  Enemies,  even  the  most  hardened  of  them 
that  our  Cause  is  just  and  while  engaged  in  it  we  will,  we  must, 
prosper.  Conquered  we  never  can  be  by  Great  Britian. 

Your  friend, 

Leon  Gansevoort,  Jr. 

On  Nov.  4th  he  receives  a  long  and  triumphant  letter  from 
his  friend  Leon  Gansevoort,    Jr.,  on  the   surrender.     It  begins: 

"Dear    Friend,  I  Heartily  congratulate   you   on  the  great  and 
glorious  news  of  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis,  etc.'' 

Judge  Bronk  in  1782  and  1783  was  Supervisor  for  Albany 
County.  In  1784  and  1785  he  is  Member  of  the  Assembly  and 
Supervisor  of  Albany  County.  In  1785  he  is  also  appointed  Com- 
missioner of  Excise.  In  1786  he  is  still  in  the  position  of  Super- 
visor and  in  the  Assembly. 

He  was  in  the  Assembly  in  1781,  1783,  1784,  1785,  1786, 
1787,  1789, 1792  and  1795.  In  1796  he  was  elected  to  the  State 
Senate  and  was  in  the  Senate  in  1796,  1797,  1798,  1799,  1800.  In 
1801  he  was  again  named  for  the  Senate,  and  once   more  in  1803. 

When  the  agitation  for  a  further  division  of  Albany  County 
was  at  its  height  Mr.  Bronk  was  in  the  Senate,  with  an  almost 
impossible  task   of  pleasing   his  divided  constituents .     He   was 

136 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


named  for  Senator  in  1801  and  again  in  1803.  And  when  the  new 
County  of  Greene  was  a  fact  accomplished  Leonard  Bronk  was 
selected  by  the  Council  of  Appointment  for  the  place  of  honor  as 
First  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  held  this  position 
from  March  29th,  1800,  until  April  3d,  1810. 

He  died  April  22,  1828. 

See  picture  under  surrogate  court  judges. 

His  grave  is  just  beyond  the  old  house  to  the  south  and 
west  on  a  little  knoll  at  the  bend  in  the  creek.  In  the.  little  in- 
closure  is  a  plain  slab  with  this  inscription:  "In  memory  of  Leon- 
ard Bronk,  who  died  April  22d,  1828,  aged  76  yrs.  I  am  the 
Resurrection  and  the  Life."  And  beyond  the  inclosure,  crowding 
all  the  rest  of  the  knoll,  are  the  graves  of  the  faithful  servants 
who  trusted  him  while  he  was  alive  and  wanted  to  be  buried  near 
him  when  they  were  dead. 


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137 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Ghase  Family  Pioneers 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  among  the 
pioneers  of  the  western  section  of  Greene 
county  was  Zephaniah  Chase,  great  grand- 
father of  Emory  A.  Chase  of  Catskill,  Associate 
Judge  of  the  Court  of  Appeals. 

There  are  seven  generations  from  Thomas 

Chase  to   Judge   Emory  A.    Chase.      Thomas 

Chase   came   from  Hundrech  Parish  Chesham, 

Buckinghamshire,  England  in  1636,  and  settled 

—        at  Hampton,  New  Hampshire. 

Isaac  Chase,  his  son,  was  born  at  Hampton,  N.  H.  in  April 

1647,  and  died  at  Martha's  Vineyard,    May  19,  1727. 

Joseph  Chase,  his  son,  was  born  at  Martha's  Vineyard, 
Feb.  26,  1689,  and  died  in  May  1749. 

Abel  Chase,  his  son,  was  born  at  Martha's  Vineyard,    Oct. 
9,  1719,  and  died  at  the  home^>f  his  son  Zephaniah ,  this  county. 
Zephaniah  Chase,  his   son,  was  born  at  Martha's  Vineyard, 
March  14,  1748,  and  died  at  Jewett  Center,  May,  30,  1828. 

Benjamin  Chase,  his  son,  was  born  at  Martha's  Vineyard. 
Jan.  21,  1774,  and  died  at  Jewett  Center  Feb.  29,  1862. 

Albert  Chase,  his  son,  was  born  at  Jewett  Center,  Jan.  4, 
1819,  and  died  at  Hensonville,  Oct.  18,  4902. 

Emory  A.  Chase,  his  son,  was  born  at  Hensonville,  Aug.  31, 
1854. 

A  relative  of  Zephaniah  Chase  owned  considerable  land  at 
Binghamton  and  offered  to  give  Zephaniah  a  farm  if  he  would 
begin  a  settlement  there. 

Zephaniah  owned  some  real  property  at  Vineyard 
Haven,  which  he  sold  for  $250,  preparatory  to  seeking  a  home  in 
the  then  western  wilds.  With  the  proceeds  of  his  real  property, 
he  took  his  second  wife,  Love,  and  their  son  David,  then  a  little 
more  than  a  year  old,  and  his  sons  by  his  first  wife,  Benjamin, 
aged  thirteen,  Joseph,  aged  eleven,  and  Thomas,  aged  nine,  and 
started  on  his  long  journey.  He  reached  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  proba- 
bly by  means  of  a  slow   sailing  sloop   from   Martha's  Vineyard. 

138 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


From  a  document  now  in  the  possession  of  his  descendants,  it  ap- 
pears that  he  was  in  Hudson,  August  1,  1787.  At  Hudson,  they 
learned  that  the  difficult  part  of  the  journey  lay  before  them ;  a 
journey  through  forests  infested  with  wild  animals  and  over  a 
crude  road  through  the  forest.  Indians  yet  roamed  the  forest  of 
eastern  and  southern  New  York.  He  purchased  a  yoke  of  oxen 
and  a  wagon  and  started  on  his  journey  to  Binghamton,  taking 
his  wife  and  children  and  such  tools  and  personal  property  as  he 
had  with  him  in  the  primitive  conveyance.  How  he  crossed  the 
Hudson  river  is  not  known,  but  it  was  probably  by  boarding  some 
sailing  vessel  and  landing  at  Catskill.  From  Catskill  |o  Bingham- 
ton, the  road  lay  over  the  Catskill  Mountains  and  the  entire  jour- 
ney was  through  an  almost  unbroken  forest  with  only  a  few  set- 
tlers' cabins  along  the  way.  They  proceeded  to  the  valley  of  the 
Batavia-kill,  west  of  the  eastern  range  of  the  Catskills  and,  while 
resting  near  a  well  known  high  rock  standing  within  what  is  now 
the  village  of  Windham,  at  a  cabin  built  against  said  rock  in 
which  lived  an  early  settler,  a  man,  who  had  come  from  Bing- 
hamton on  foot,  informed  them,  that  owing  to  an  unusual  wind, 
many  trees  were  blown  across  the  road  and  that  it  would  be  im- 
possible to  get  through  with  a  wagon.  While  waiting  somewhat 
undetermined  what  to  do,  he  met  one  Thomas  Harriott,  who  offer- 
ed to  sell  him  his  farm  situated  on  the  Schoharie-kill,  at  a  point 
ten  miles  up  that  stream  from  its  junction  with  the  Batavia-kill  at 
a  point  ten  miles  below  where  they  were,  at  what  is  now  Pratts- 
ville.  He  concluded  to  buy  this  farm  and  agreed  to  give,  on 
reaching  the  farm,  the  oxen,  as  part  payment  for  the  same.  How 
he  reached  the  farm  is  told  hereinafter.  The  house,  they  found, 
was  only  two  logs  high  covered  with  bark,  but  a  block  house  was 
in  course  of  erection  and  this  Zephaniah  and  his  sons  finished  be- 
fore the  cold  winter,  and  here,  shortly  afterwards,  their  son  West 
was  born    the  first  Chase  born  in  the  Catskills. 

There  was  no  saw  mill  within  twenty  miles  of  the  farm  at 
which  logs  could  be  sawed  into  material  adapted  for  use  in  com- 
pleting the  house,  and  from  which  to  make  furniture,  so  all  such 
material  were  made  by  Zephaniah  and  his  sons  by  hewing  the  logs 

139 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


into  blocks  or  splitting  them,  and  by  shaving  and  planing  them 
into  boards  by  the  use  of  axes  and  other  tools  brought  from  Mar- 
tha's Vineyard.  Some  of  the  furniture  made  by  Zephaniah  is  now 
in  the  possession  of  his  descendants.  The  deed  from  Thomas 
Harriott  is  dated  Aug.  19,  1787.  The  family  continued  to  live 
upon  the  farm  and  they  cleared  away  the  forests  which  covered  the 
valley  as  well  as  the  highlands  and  here  all  of  the  children  of  the 
second  marriage  except  David  were  born.  Zephaniah  later  built 
a  more  pretentious  house  which  is  still  standing.  The  homestead 
farm  in  1787  was  in  the  town  of  Woodstock,  Ulster  county,  N.  Y., 
it  was  subsequently  included  in  the  new  town  of  Windham  and  in 
Greene  county.  Ln  subsequent  divisions  of  the  territory  it  became 
successively  a  part  of  the  towns  of  Lexington  and  Jewett.lt  is  now 
a  part  of  the  town  of  Jewett,  Greene  county,  and  the  post-office  is 
Jewett  Center,  N.  Y. 

Zephaniah  was  a  Baptist,  but  few  of  his  descendants  are  of 
that  faith,  many  being  Methodists  or  Presbyterians.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  Army.  He  is  buried  in  the  family 
burial  plot  in  the  cemetery  on  the  hill  north  of  the  house  which 
he  built,  and  which  is  known  as  the  Chase  cemetery. 

When  Zephaniah  and  his  family,  on  the  westward  journey, 
reached  the  point  on  the  Batavia-kill  mentioned,  where  the  farm 
was  purchased,  Benjamin  (then  a  lad  of  thirteen  years)  was  sent 
with  the  oxen  and  goods  down  the  Batavia-kill  ten  miles  until  he 
reached  the  Schoharie-kill  and  he  was  directed  then  to  follow  up 
that  stream  ten  miles  to  the  farm  that  was  to  be  their  future  home. 
Zephaniah  took  his  wife  and  the  three  youngest  children,  includ- 
ing David,  the  baby,  and  crossed  the  mountain  range  on  foot, 
through  what  is  now  Jewett  Heights,  a  route  about  half  as  long  as 
the  one  taken  by  Benjamin  with  the  oxen  and  wagon.  Zephaniah 
was  guided  to  his  destination  by  marked  trees  described  to  him  by 
the  man  from  whose  cabin  they  started. 

BENJAMIN  CHASE 

Benjamin's  life  was  spent  at  the  homestead  farm  and  a 

140 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


farm  near  it  which  he  purchased.  He  engaged  in  farming,  lum- 
bering and  tanning, and  was  also  an  officer  of  the  local  militia.  He 
lived  to  be  eighty-eight  years  old. 

ALBERT  CHASE 

Albert,  the  father  of  Judge  Chase,  lived  with  his  parents 
until  the  death  of  his  mother,  January  12,  1829,  after  which  he 
went  to  live  in  the  family  of  his  uncle,  Charles  Chase,  on  a  farm 
two  miles  below  what  is  now  the  village  of  Hunter,  where  he  at 
tended  the  district  school,  and  when  twenty  years  old  Returned  to 
the  town  of  Lexington  and  acquired  the  carpenter's  trade,  which 
he  followed  for  twenty-five  years,  becoming  one  of  the  largest  con- 
tractors in  that  part  of  the  county.  He  married  Sept.  1,  1844,  at 
the  Methodist  church  in  East  Jewett,  Laura  Orinda  daughter  of 
Abner  and  Betsey  (Judson)  Woodworth.  After  their  marriage, 
they  resided  for  about  one  year  in  the  town  of  Lexington.  Then 
they  moved  to  Hensonville  (1845),  and  he  there  carried  on  an 
extensive  lumber  and  contracting  business  for  many  years.  Sub- 
sequently he  purchased  a  large  farm  on  the  outskirts  of  the  vill- 
age and,  after  erecting  new  buildings  thereon,  made  it  his  home 
for  the  rjst  of  his  life.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics  and  held 
the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  other  offices  in  the  town.  He 
was  an  active  supporter  of  the  Methodist  Church  at  Hensonville 
and  for  twenty-six  years  the  superintendent  of  its  Sunday  School. 

EMORY  A.    CHASE 

Emory  A.  Chase  Associate  Judge  of  the  Courf  of  Appeals 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  was  born  at  Hensonville,  N.  Y.,  Aug. 
31,  1854,  and  resides  on  Prospect  avenue,  Catskill,  N.  Y. 

Judge  Chase  was  educated  at  the  village  school  and  at  Fort 
Edward  Collegiate  Institute,  after  which  he  taught  school  for  sev- 
eral years,  in  the  meantime  preparing  for  the  legal  profession-  On 
March  27,  1877,  he  entered  the  law  offices  of  King  &  Hallock  at 
Catskill,  N.  Y.,  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  May  6,  1880.  In  that 
year  Mr.  King  retired  and   a  new  legal   firm  was  formed  by  Mr. 

141 


t>EAR    OtlD    GREENE^    COUNTS. 


Hallock  and  W.  Irving  Jennings  under  the  name  of  Hallock  & 
Jennings.  Mr.  Chase  was  given  an  interest  in  the  business,  but 
his  name  could  not  appear  as  a  member  of  the  firm  at  that  time 
as  he  had  not  been  admitted  as  an  attomey-at-law.  The  firm 
name  was  afterwards  (in  1882)  changed  to  Hallock,  Jennings  & 
Chase.  On  September  22,  1890,  Mr.  Hallock  retired,  but  the 
firmed  continued  in  the  name  of  Jennings  &  Chase.  They  became 
well  known  as  able,  conscientious  lawyers  and  had  a  very  large 
and  profitable  clientage .  Mr.  Chase  was  successively  admitted  to 
the  United  States  District  and  Circuit  Courts  and  the  United 
States  Supreme  Court.  His  practice  frequently  took  him  before 
the  State  and  Federal  Courts  and  he  was  everywhere  recognized  as 
a  successful  lawyer  and  a  man  of  the  highest  character 

In  1880,  the  year  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  he  was  the 
candidate  of  his  party  for  district  attorney  of  Greene  county,  but 
althouhg  he  ran  far  ahead  of  his  ticket,  he  was  defeated  by  211 
votes.  In  1882,  he  was  eleeteda  member  of  the  Catskill  Board  of 
Education  and  served  continuously  in  such  Board  until  1896,  the 
last  five  years  being  its  president.  He  also  served  one  term  as 
supervisor  of  the  town  of  Catskill  and  for  many  years  was  the  vil- 
lage counsel.  In  1896,  Mr.  Chase,  who  had  now  been  in  active 
political  and  professional  life  since  1880,  was  nominated  by  the 
Third  Judicial  District  Republican  Convention  for  a  justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  New  York.  He  was  opposed  by  the  Democratic 
candidate,  Frank  H.  Osborn.  At  the  election  following,  he  re- 
ceived a  majority  of  12,680  votes  and  was  the  secon.l  Supreme 
Court  Justice  ever  elected  by  the  Republican  party  in  that  Judicial 
District.  Before  assuming  the  duties  of  his  office,  he  retired  from 
the  law  firm  of  Jennings  &  Chase,  his  place  being  taken  by  his 
opponent  for  the  judgeship,  Frank  H.    Osborn. 

Judge  Chase  made  his  first  appearance  on  the  trial  bench  at 
the  January  trial  term  of  1897  at  Schoharie,  and  at  the  close  of 
his  first  trial  term  received  an  engrossed  copy  of  complimentary 
resolutions  adopted  by  the  Schoharie  County  Bar.  As  he  went 
from  county  to  county  as  a  trial  justice  he  won  the  highest  en- 
coniums  from  the  lawyers  and  the  press  for  his  fair,  impartial  rul- 

142 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


ings,  his  unfailing  courtesy  and  rapid  methods  of  disposing  of 
business.  January  8  ,  1900  he  was  designated  an  associate  justice 
of  the  appellate  division  of  the  Supreme  Court,  third  department, 
by  Governor  Odell;  December  31,  1905,  he  was  designated,  by 
Governor  Higgins,  as  an  associate  judge  of  the  Court  of  Appeals 
under  the  constitutional  amendment  of  1899.  At  the  expiration 
in  1910,  of  his  term  of  fourteen  years,  Judge  Chase  was  unani- 
mously renominated  by  the  Republican  convention  of  the  Third 
Judicial  District  held  October  5,  1910.  At  the  Democratic  con- 
vention held  a  few  days  later,  he  was  paid  the  high  and  unusual 
compliment  of  a  unanimous  nomination  by  his  political  oppon- 
ents, the  nominating  speech  being  made  by  the  unsuccessful  can- 
didate of  fourteen  years  earlier,  Frank  H.  Osborn.  He  said  of 
Judge  Chase  in  part:  "He  is  a  man  of  irreproachable  character, 
an  able  lawyer  and  an  ideal  judge." 

During  that  part  of  his  term  in  which  he  was  engaged  as  a 
trial  justice,  he  frequently  by  invitation  presided  over  Courts  in 
New  York  City  and  other  parts  of  the  state  outside  of  his  judicial 
district,  and  many  noted  cases  were  tried  before  him.  While  he 
has  been  a  justice  of  the  Appellate  Division  and  a  judge  of  the 
Court  of  Appeals,  hundreds  of  opinions  have  been  written  by  him 
which  appear  in  law  reports  and  make  a  part  of  the  judicial  his- 
tory of  the  State.  The  New  York  Bar  Association,  in  endorsing 
his  nomination,  said:  "his  judicial  career  both  in  trial  and  appel- 
late courts,  and  especially  as  a  member  by  designation  of  the 
Court  of  Appeals,  is  and  has  been  distinguished  for  and  character- 
ized by,  such  eminent  judicial  qualification  and  great  legal  learn- 
ing and  ability,  as  to  make  it  most  fitting  and  desirable  that  his 
services  be  retained  by  the  public.  Therefore,  the  New  York  State 
Bar  Association  by  its  duly  authorized  committee,  hereby  urges 
the  unanimous  renomination  and  election  of  Mr.  Justice  Chase, 
irrespective  of  party,  to  the  end  that  the  judiciary  may,  as  far  as 
possible,  be  kept  free  from  politics,  that  the  public  may  retain  the 
services  of  a  tried,  upright  and  most  worthy  judge  and  as  we  hope, 
if  not  expect,  that  if  re-elected,  he  may  continue  to  adorn  the 
bench  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  as  one  of  its  appointed   members." 

143 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


At  the  election  on  November  S,  1910,  Judge  Chase  received 
the  vote  of  the  two  great  political  parties,  and  was  re-elected  for 
another  terra  of  fourteen  years,  and  the  first  act  of  Governor  Dix 
on  taking  office,  January  1,  1911,  was  to  re-designate  Judge  Chase, 
together  with  former  Associate  Judge,  Frank  H.  Hiscock  of  Syra- 
cuse, N.  Y.,  to  the  Court  of  Appeals,  pursuant  to  said  provision 
of  the  State  Constitution.  Judge  Chase  is  now  engaged  in  the  per- 
formance of  his  duties  as  a  judge  of  that  court. 

In  1912  Judge  Chase  was  nominated  by  the  Republican  party 
for  election  to  the  Court  of  Appeals.  His  candidacy  was  endorsed 
by  the  State  Bar  Association  and  the  Associated  Bar  of  the  City 
of  New  York.  While  the  Republican  vote  for  governor  was  444,- 
10.">,  the  vote  for  Judge  Chase  was  407,743  but  he  Has  defeated. 

He  was  the  candidate  of  the  Republican  party  for  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Appeals  in  the  fall  of  1D14,  and  received  nearly  2000 
plurality  in  Greene  county,  most  Mattering  indeed,  but  was  de- 
feated by  a  few  thousand  votes.  He  will  continue  to  serve  the  state 
by  appointment,  and  is  without  doubt  one  of  the  ablest  jurists  in 
the  country. 

He  is  a  member  and  a  trustee  of  Christ's  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Catskill  and  a  liberal  supporter  v,f  all  good  causes  in  his 
home  town.  He  is  deeply  interested  in  historical  and  genealogi- 
cal matters  and  has  given  much  time  to  the  preservation  of  his 
own  family  history. 

Judge  Chase  married  at  Prattsville,  New  York,  June  30, 
ISs.'j,  Mary  E.  Churchill,  daughter  of  Addison  J.  and  Elizabeth 
(Houghtaling)  Churchill. 


t)EAR    6L±>    GREENE*    COTJNW. 


Office  of  King  &  Hallock,   where  Judge  Chase  studied    law.     Torn 
down  to  make  room  for  Catskill  Sa-ving  Bank. 


Mar  oLi>  greeSne  CoUnTy. 


BOS.    2AD0CK    PKATT. 

Courtesy  of  Supervisor  Elmer  Kreiger  (1853) . 

Ho  a.    Z,adock  'Pratt 

The  one  man  who  stands  conspicuous  in  the  early  history 
of  Greene  county  whose  name  not  only  is  inscribed  on  the  ever- 
lasting hills  of  his  native  town,  but  in  the  records  that  are  familiar 
to  all  is  Col.  Zadock  Pratt  of  Prattsville,  which  town  bears  with 
honor  his  distinguished  name.  He  was  a  great  man  in  his 
native  town,  also  foremost  in  the  county  and  of  national  repute. 

He  was  a  great  man  in  every  sense  of  the  word.  The  tan- 
nery built  by  him  and  operated  for  over  20  years  was  550  feet  long, 
45  feet  wide  and  had  over  300  vats  for  the  tanning  of  leather,  the 
greatest  industry  of  the  county. 

146 


t)MAR    Ott>    GREENE    COUNTY. 


This  was  started  in  1825,  and  he  employed  in  all  over  30,- 
000  men.  He  cleared  12  000  acres  of  land  for  the  hemlock  bark 
and  lumber,  tanned  2  million  sides  of  leather.  In  1825  he  built 
the  first  grist  mill,  later  on  a  hat  manufactory. 


Residence  of  Zadoek  Pratt  (1848). 

He  was  born  at  Stephentown,  N.  Y.  in  1790,  removed  to 
Lexington  in  1802,  and  in  1825  was  Col.  of  the  116th  New  York 
Inf.  and  he  commanded  the  escort  of  General  Lafayette  on  the 
occasion  of  his  visit  to  Catskill.  He  was  congressman  in  1836  and 
1842,  and  had  the  distinction  of  moving  the  survey  of  the  Pacific 
railroad. 

He  established  a  large  number  of  tanneries,  three  of  which 
were  destroved  by  fire,  one  at  West  Kill  and  two  at  Windham. 

Although  he  was  a  trustee  and  vestryman  of  the  Episcopal 
church  at  Prattsville  he  is  said  to  have  paid  one  third  of  the  ex- 
pense of  the  Reformed  and  Methodist  churches.  In  1836  he  was 
an  elector  and  cast  his  vote  for  Van  Buren  and  Johnston.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  80  years  and  his  achievements  were  the  most 
collosal  possibly  of  any  man  who  ever  lived  in  this  state. 

147 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTS. 


Col.  Pratt,  also  owned  and  operated  a  tannery  at  Windham, 
another  at  Big  Hollow,  the  Palen  tannery,  Samsonville  tannery, 
Westkill  tannery,  and  Aldenville  tannery. 

The  Windham  tannery  was  hurned  in  1844  and  also  1853, 
the  loss  being  $12,000  each  time.  The  Westkill  tannery  was 
burned  in  1839  with  a  loss  of  $10,000.  These  were  all  insured. 

Col  Pratt  moved  to  Windham  in  1802,  since  Lexington  and 
now  Jewett.  He  commenced  business"  in  Lexington  in  1812,  and 
he  made  for  the  New  York  market  100,000  oars. 

In  1820  he  was  captain  of  the  5th  N.  Y.  S.  Inf  and  uni- 
formed 100  men  at  his  own  expense.  He  was  a  passenger  on  the 
Robert  Fulton  on  her  first  trip. 

In  1824  he  moved  to  Prattsville  and  built  the  tannery  there 
and  on  completion  of  the  dam  Nov.  17  swam  across  it,  though  the 
water  was  forming  ice. 

In  the  recollections  of  Col.  Pratt,  an  old  resident  of  Catskill 
informs  U3  that  he  remembers  on  one  occasion  in  the  early  50's 
Col.  Pratt  drove  to  Catskill  on  a  very  hot  Fourth  of  July,  with  a 
span  of  white  horses,  sleigh,  with  bells  and  robes,  and  drew  up  in 
front  of  what  is  now  the  Smith  House.  The  sleigh  shoes  were  worn 
nearly  through,  he  jumped  out  slapping  himself  in  imitation  of 
cold,  handed  the  hostler  $5  and  told  hitn  to  blanket  the  team  and 
feed  them  good.  On  another  occasion  at  the  Cairo  fair  he  is  said 
to  have  raised  a  ruction  with  the  exhibits  in  the  display  hall,  and 
then  pulled  out  a  big  check  book  and  paid  for  it  all  in  a  manner 
that  was  most  acceptable.  He  was  a  great  joker,  and  a  man  who 
held  the  highest  esteem  of  all.  Everybody  in  Greene  county  knew 
the  Colonel  and  what?  more  they  regarded  him  as  the  most  wonder- 
ful man  the  county  ever  produced. 

The  view  of  Prattsville  taken  about  1850  which  is  from  an 
old  picture  furnished  us  by  Supervisor  Elmer  Krieger  of  Pratts- 
ville, and  which  is  found  on  another  page  in  this  book,  shows  the 
old  tannery  and  also  the  famous  white  horse  which  was  one  of  the 
span  he  drove  to  Catskill  on  a  Fourth  of  July,  which  we  have  re- 
ferred to. 

The  old  grist  mill  and  the  church  are  to  be  seen  in  the 
picture  also. 

148 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Visitors  to  Prattsville  today  are  shown  with  pride  the  rock 
carvings  which  he  caused  to  be  made  in  1844.  Carvings  that  have 
been  photographed  ten  thousand  times.  They  are  on  a  ledge  of 
rocks  that  tower  500  feet  above  the  Schoharie  creek.  These  carv- 
ings show  busts  of  Zadock  Pratt,  and  a  view  of  the  great  tannery 
he  built,  with  the  announcement  that  he  had  tanned  a  million 
sides  of  sole  leather  in  20  years.  There  is  a  life  size  bust  of  his 
son,  Col.  George  W.  Pratt,  and  the  inscription  "Hon.  Geo.  W. 
Pratt  Ph.  D.,  Col.  XX  Regt.  N.  Y.S.M.  Ulster  Co.  Born  April  18, 
1832,  wounded  Aug.  30,  1862  at  battle  of  Manassas.  Good,  brave, 
honorable.''  A  horse,  coat  of  arms,  an  arm  and  hammer,  and  a 
mass  of  inscriptions.  These  are  visible  for  a  considerable  distance. 
There  is  also  a  monument  which  contains  the  names  of  horses  and 
dogs  that  belonged  to  him,  with  their  ages. 


The  descendants  of  Col.  Pratt  many  of  them  are  still  found 
scattered  throughout  the  mountain  section,  as  well  as  throughout 
the  country. 

The  tanning  business  has  entirely  passed,  as  well  as  the 
asheries  and  distilleries.  The  town  of  Windham  had  many  of 
these  early  distilleries.  So  later  did  Ashland  and  Durham,  and 
the  whiskey  jug  was  a  regular  companion  of  the  men  in  the  fields 
and  the  preachers  appear  not  to  have  been  adverse  at  all  to  the 
little  brown  jug. 

One  of  the  popular  airs  of  the  early  day  was  '  'Little  Brown 
Jug  How  I  Love  Thee.''  And  it  was  all  too  true  that  the  little 
brown  jug  went  under  the  arm,  when  the  farmer  went  to  work 
upon  his  land  or  crops. 

Charles  L.  Beach 

One  of  the  time  honored  landmarks  of  Greene  county  was 
Charles  L.  Beach,  whose  name  is  inseparably  connected  with  many 
of  the  important  enterprises  of  the  county.  He  was  born  in  what 
is  now  Lexington  in  1808  in  one  of  the  old  log  houses  that  shelter- 
ed his  grandfather  and  father  who  with  about   40  families  moved 

149 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Catskill  Mountain  House. 

from  Goshen,  Ct.  in  1795  and  settled  in  Lexington  being  the  first 
settlers. 

[n  1813  he  moved  to  Catskill  with  his  father  Erastus  Beach 
and  in  1823  commenced  staging  it  to  the  Catskill  Mountain 
House,  which  21  years  later  passed  to  him  as  owner.  On  the  oc- 
casion of  General  Lafayette's  visit  to  Catskill  his  father  drove  the 
carriage  which  contained  the  illustrious  general.  His  stage  lines 
covered  a  distance  of  about  1500  miles.  They  made  trips  between 
New  York  and  Catskill  on  either  side  of  the  river  and  connected 
with  a  line  also  that  reached  over  the  mountains  to  Delhi  and  to 
Ithaca.  We  understand  that  the  ferries  at  Catskill  and  also  at 
Athens  were  driven  by  horsepower.  Mr.  Beach  was  prime  mover 
in  the  Catskill  Mountain  railroad,  m  which  he  invested  over  $100- 
000.     His  nephew  Charles  A.  Beach  was  president  of  the  road. 

The  Catskill  Mountain  House  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the 
Beach  family,  with  George  H.  Beach  conducting  it. 

The  Mountain  House  has  been  pictured  by  artists  the  world 
over  and  is  one  of  the  few  pictures  to  be  seen  in  the  books  of  the 
early  20's.  Judge  Chase  has  among  his  collection  pictures  of  the 
Mountain  House,  of  North  and  South  Lakes  owned  by  the  Mount- 
ain House,  and  of  Kaaterskill  Falls  which  he  is  preserving  because 
of  their  antiquity.  The  Mountain  House  for  long  years  was  visited 
by  tourists  from  abroad,  who  regarded  the  view  at  that  point  as 
the  greatest  in  the  world.  It  had  no  rivals,  and  the  great  generals 
and  statesmen  considered  that  when  they  had  been  to  the  Mountain 
House  there  wasn't  much  else  left  worth  the  while. 

WO 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Exit  Tannery    E,r\ter  Gemenl 

Of  the  early  industries  of  Greene  county  it  appears  the 
greatest  was  tanning.  It  was  in  every  section  and  some  of  these 
were  timed  to  take  care  of  40,000  hides  a  year-  Millions  of  cattle 
were  slain  for  their  hides,  hundreds  daily  at  the  Point  in  Catskill 
alone.  Great  hemlock  trees  in  dense  forests  made  music  for  the 
woodmen's  axe,  and  the  bark  peeler.  Great  droves  of  oxen  haul- 
ed these  logs  and  bark  to  the  markets  and  saw  mills.  Some  of  the 
timber  found  its  way  into  the  charcoal  pits,  and  some  into  the 
homes  of  the  pioneers.  Old. taverns  even  in  Catskill,  drew  patrons 
to  their  hostelries  by  the  hanging  out  of  Bulls  Head  signs.  There 
were  tanner's  stores,  tanner's  and  trader's  supply  houses  and  even 
banks.  It  was  the  tanning  industry  that  furnished  the  incentive 
to  name  Catskill's  bank  the  Tanners  Bank. 

Near  the  head  of  Main  street  in  Catskill  may  still  be  seen 
the  remains  of  tanning  vats  in  what  was  the  Jones  and  Bagley 
tannery 

The  brick  industry  has  remained,  and  is  on  the  up  grade 
yet,  but  tanning,  once  the  subject  for  poetry  and  song  has  passed. 
The  cattle  industry  has  passed.  But  other  industries  have  come, 
and  the-capital  that  represents  them  runs  into  the  millions. 

The  last  decade  however  has  added  what  is  destined  to  be- 
come the  greatest  of  all  industries,  that  of  cement  making. 

There  are  three  great  plants  in  Catskill,  each  costing  millions 
of  dollars,  and  each  capable  of  turning  out  thousands  of  barrels  of 
the  finest  cement  in  the  world. 

The  Seaboard  plant  is  still  in  process  of  completion,  south 
of  Catskill.  and  will  likely  get  running  this  year. 

The  Alsen  plant  at  Alsen  is  a  German  concern  and  has  been 
doing  a  great  business. 

Reference  will  be  found  elsewhere  to  the  allied  industry  of 
brick  making,  of  which  the  several  river  towns  have  many  im- 
portant yards,  and  to  the  manufacture  of  vitrified  paving  brick  at 
the  great  Catskill  plant. 

151 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


View  of  Alpha  Cement  Works. 

The  above  illustration  is  a  view  of  the  Plant  of  the  ALPHA 
Portland  Cement  Company  as  it  appears  with  improvements  com- 
pleted. 

This  plant,  located  at  Cementon,  is  one  of  the  largest  in- 
dustries tributary  to  the  town  of  Catskill.  The  original  plant 
was  built  by  the  Catskill  Cement  Company,  which  was  in- 
corporated in  August,  1899.  The  officers  of  this  company  at  that 
time  were  P.  Gardner  Coffin,  President,  James  W.  Kittrell,  Secre- 
tary and  Treasurer,  both  of  whom  are  residents  of  Catskill. 

These  gentlemen  operated  this  plant,  gradually  increasing 
its  capacity  from  350  barrels  per  day  to  something  over  1000  barrels 
per  day  in  1909,  at  which  time  the  control  of  the  Catskill  Company 
was  purchased  by  the  Alpha  Portland  Cement  Company  of  Easton, 
Pennsylvania. 

The  Alpha  Company  immediately  started  in  to  extend  the 
plant  and  since  their  control  began  in  October,  1909,  they  have 
practically  rebuilt  the  mill.  They  have  also  very  greatly  increas- 
ed its  capacity,  having  spent,  at  this  point  in  the  last  five  years, 
over  a  million  dollars. 

The  capacity  of  the  plant  at  the  present  time  is  about  4000 
barrels  per  day.  It  enjoys  unusual  shipping  facilities,  having 
private  docks  located  directly  on  the  Hudson  River  and  also  a, 
private  siding  from  the  West  Shore  Railroad, 

IB? 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


An  increasing  quantity  of  the  cement  made  in  this  mill  is 
now  being  sold  in  South  America  the  European  War  having  cut 
off  to  a  large  extent  the  importation  of  Portland  Cement  from 
European  countries  and  opened  the  way  for  a  larger  sale  of  Port- 
land Cement  made  in  the  United  States. 

The  product  of  this  cement  plant  enjoys  a  distinctive  place 
in  the  engineering  world  because  of  the  fact  that  the  percentage  of 
alumina  is  very  much  lower  than  that  in  most  Portland  Cements. 
A  low-alumina  cement  is  regarded  as  preferable  for  concrete  work 
that  is  exposed  to  sea-water.  Very  large  quantities"  of  cement 
from  the  ALPHA  Catskill  plant  have  been  used  in  building  docks 
and  wharves  for  New  York  City  and  for  U.S.  Government  con- 
structions along  the  coast. 

Some  idea  of  the  growth  of  the  increase  in  the  use  of  Port- 
land Cement  may  be  gained  from  the  fact  that  in  1900  only  about 
eight  and  a  half  million  barrels  were  manufactured  in  America, 
while  the  present  yearly  output  is  close  to  one  hundred  million 
barrels . 

Originally  Portland  Cement  was  used  mainly  in  the  con- 
struction of  great  engineering  jobs,  such  as  bridges,  dams,  etc 
During  recent  years  the  use  of  cement  in  making  home  and  farm 
improvements  has  developed  into  an  enormous  field  for  the 
cement  companies.  The  use  of  Portland  Cement  in  the  building 
of  concrete  roads  has  opened  another  great  field. 

The  ALPHA  Portland  Cement  Company  follows  an  educa- 
tional policy  in  in  its  advertising  and  sends  out  free  literature  of 
various  kinds  to  persons  contemplating  the  use  of  cement  in  any 
way.  The  general  offices  of  the  Company  are  at  Easton,  Pa.  The 
present  officers  are  G.  S.  Brown,  President,  J.  M.  Lockhart,  First 
Vice-president,  F.  G.  McKelyy,  Second  Vice-president,  F.  M. 
Coogan,  Secretary,  and  J.  J.  Matthes,  Treasurer.  N-  D.  Colburn, 
who  is  well  known  in  this  part  of  New  York  state,  is  the  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Catskill  ALPHA  Plant. 


153 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Courts  and  Records — The  ?Bar. 

Greene  county  has  always  been  wealthy  in  the  array  of 
legal  talent  that  has  come  to  the  front  to  represent  the  several 
towns  or  fill  the  most  important  of  the  stations  where  much  knowl- 
edge has  been  required.  Some  of  these  men  have  been  legal  giants 
to  judge  from  their  records.  Men  of  the  stamp  of  Judge  A.  Melvin 
Osborn,  Judge  Sanderson,  Sidney  Crowell,  RufusH.  King,  Lyman 
Tremaine,  Danforth  K  Olney,  Lucius  Robinson,  Malbon  Watson, 
John  A.  Griswold,  Lewis  Benton  and  others  were  very  conspicuous 
during  their  life  time. 

Of  the  old  time  lawyers  we  have  mention  of  but  two  who 
held  important  State  positions,  and  Lyman  Tremaine,  was  one. 
He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Durham  and  represented  the 
county  as  speaker  of  the  assembly  at  one  time,  and  filled  many 
important  positions.    He  was  one  of  the  great  lawyers  of  the  state. 

John  Adams  and  James  Powers  were  among  the  early 
pleaders.  Later  on  we  note  Ruf us  King,  Peleg  Mattoon,  Mitchell 
Sandford,  D.  K.  Olney  at  onetime  was  considered  the  head  of  the 
bar  in  Greene  county.  Adams  and  Powers,  and  Olney  and  King, 
and  then  King  and  Hallock.  This  firm  later  changing  to  Hallock, 
Jennings  and  Chase,  and  upon  the  election  of  Mr.  Chase  to  the 
Supreme  Court,  to  Osborn  and  Bloodgood.  Later  Mr.  Wilbur  be- 
ing admitted  to  the  firm.  Mr.  Osborn  was  conspicious  in  the  trial 
of  a  number  of  very  important  cases,  the  Quinn  murder  trial  being 
one  of  them.  Mr.  Wilbur  became  district  attorney  and  Mr.  Chase 
has  gone  to  the  court  of  appeals  bench.  These  men  have  all,been 
connected  with  the  banks  of  Catskill. 

Hon.  A.  Melvin  Osborn  was  another  Greene  county  man 
who  bore  great  distinction  as  a  lawyer  and  who  was  soon  elevated 
to  the  higher  courts,  where  death  claimed  him  in  the  prime  of  his 
work. 

D.  K.  Olney,  James  B.  Olney,  Hon.  John  Olney,  Hon.John 
A.  Griswold,  Hon.  John  Sanderson,  Manly  B.  Mattice,  Sidney 
Crowell,  Pierre  S.  Jennings,  Addison  C.  Griswold  were  among  the 
lawyers  who  gained  distinction  and  political  honors,  all  passed  to 
their  rewards. 

164 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Hon.  Jas.  B.  Olney. 

Other  talented  lawyers  of  the  county  who  have  passed  are 
William  E.  Leete,  Sidney  Crowell,  Addison  C.  Griswold,  Henry 
Mott,  Sheldon  Givens,  Charles  Givens,  Charles  F.  Bouton,  Herman 
Winans,  Lemuel  C.  Bennett,  Charles  H.  Porter,  Ebenezer  Haight, 
J.  C.  DeWitt,  Augustus  R.  Macomber,  Joseph  Hallock,  Arthur  M. 
Murphy,  Jacob  I.  Werner,  Henry  D.  Shores,  Charles  G.  Coffin, 
Augustus  Sherman,  Augustus  Hill,  A.  Cowles,-  John  B.  Bronk, 
and  Cicero  C.  Peck. 

Among  those  who  have  gone  to  other  fields  areL.  B.  Cornell, 
Spokane,  Frank  H.  Burroughs,  New  York,  Jesse  W.  Olney,  San 
Francisco,  Eugene  Raymond,  Brooklyn,  Herbert  Niklewicz,  New 
York,  Fred  Werner,  Conneticut. 

The  most  notable  of  the  men  who  have  been  honored  in 
recent  years,  is  the  Hon.  Emory  A.  Chase  who  has  for  the  past  17 

155 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


years  been  a  judge  of  the  supreme  court,  and  for  aconsiderable 
portion  of  the  time  justice  of  the  highest  branch  of  the  court — the 
appelate  division. 


Pierre  S.  Jennings,  former  Dist.  Atty. 
Among  the  lawyers  of  the  recent  years  perhaps  the  most 
successful  has  been  Judge  Tallmadge  who  for  many  years  has 
been  county  judge  and  who  handling  thousands  of  cases  that  have 
come  before  him  not  only  in  the  Greene  county  courts,  but  also  in 
the  courts  of  New  York  has  never  yet  been  reversed  on  a  decision. 
Senator  Bloodgood  is  another  lawyer  who  has  gained  distinction  in 
the  courts  and  been  honored  with  high  official  stations  Attorney 
Judson  A.  Betts,  also  has  been  very  successful  and  has  held  the 
office  of  county  treasurer  a  number  of  times.  At  present  he  is 
associated  with  his  son  Lee  F.  Betts,  who  was  sergeant  at  arms  in 
the  legislature  under  Gov.  Sulzer.  William  W,  Bennett  is  another 

X66 


b^Afe    OLb    GR^EtfE    COtJNTV. 


rising  young  lawyer.  He  gained  distinction  by  taking  his  command 
the  16th  Sep.  Co.  to  the  front  at  the  time  of  the  Spanish  American 
war. 

Attorney  Frank  H.  Osborn  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
greatest  pleaders  in  the  state,  and  invariably  successful  in  im- 
portant cases.  But  for  the  fact  that  the  district  is  heavily  republi- 
can, he  would  years  ago  have  found  his  way  to  the  highest 
courts. 

Albert  C.  Bloodgood  of  the  same  firm  is  regarded  as  a  law 
yer  of  exceptional  ability. 

Then  there  is  0.  T.  Heath,  who  has  served  Catskill  in  many 
ways.  H.  Leroy  Austin  has  risen  to  an  important  railroad  lawyer 
with  offices  in  Albanv,  and  he  was  a  partner  with  former  District 
Attorney  Pierre  S.  Jennings,  whose  untimely  death  from  consump- 
tion is  still  mourned.  Another  once  brilliant  lawyer  was  Egbert 
Palmer,  who  served  as  district  attorney,  and  who  in  his  last  years 
gave  way  to  the  attack  of  disease. 

J.  Lewis  Patrie  has  risen  to  the  legislature  and  had  the  best 
record  perhaps  of  all  men  who  have  represented  Greene  County. 
A  natural  born  orator,  and  one  whose  opinion  was  foremost  in  the 
legislature  for  years. 

Attorney  H.  Leroy  Austin  of  the  younger  men  who  have 
risen  fast  has  served  the  county  as  district  attorney,  and  be- 
coming a  great  corporation  lawyer  was  last  fall  elected  to  serve  as 
a  member  of  the  State  constitutional  revision  committee. 

G.  Howard  Jones  made  a  capable  Distrist  Attorney  and  has 
a  fine  practice. 

Clarence  FnwlanH  akn  has  a  splendid  record  and  is  doing 
well. 

E.  A.  Gifford.  of  Athens,  has  risen  to  deputy  attorney 
general. 

Nor  should  we  fail  to  mention  Charles  A.  Nichols,  election 
commissioner  and  former  member  of  assembly.  Hon.  Ira  B.  Kerr 
the  silver  tongued  pleader,  and  the  brilliant  D.  H.  Daley  and  E. 
C.  Hallenbeck  of  Coxsackie,  of  the  older  men. 

157 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


George  L.  Rifenburgh,  of  Oak  Hill,  has  had  to  extend  his 
practice  to  Albany. 

Of  the  young  lawyers  who  have  forged  to  the  front  and 
who  are  doing  excellent,  and  very  successful  work,  are  Howard 
C.  Wilbur,  who  has  risen  to  district  attorney,  Seth  T.  Cole  to 
state  tax  examiner,  George  W.  Plusch  to  referee  in  bankruptcy 
cases,  and  James  Reill'y  to  an  important  position  in  the  surrogate's 

office. 

Percy  W.  Decker,  John  L.  Fray,  and  J.  Lewis  Malcolm,  of 
Catskill  are  doing  well. 

William  E.  Thorpe  has  been  corporation  counsel  for  Cats- 
kill,  and  is  regarded  as  a  very  brilliant  lawj*er. 

Curtiss  and  Warren  of  Coxsackie,  Michael  and  Edward 
Lackey  of  Tannersville  are  rated  very  high.  So  also  is  Benjamin 
I.  Tallmadge  of  Windham,  brother  of  Judge  Tallmadge. 

We  understand  that  no  Greene  County  women  have  ever 
been  admitted  to  the  bar,  although  there  have  been  a  number  who 
are  doubtless  competent,  Miss  Jackson,  Miss  O'Brien,  Miss  Sim- 
mons are  stenographers  of  ability  and  Miss  Simmons  is  doing 
court  work  right  along. 

Greene  county  was  represented  in  the  several  constitutional 
conventions  that  have  been  held.  In  1801  Martin  Schuneman 
and  David  Simmons  were  named. 

1821,  Jehliel  Tuttle  and  Alpheus  Webster. 

1846,  Robert  Dorlon  and  James  Powers. 

1867,  ManleyB.  Mattice  and  Ezekiel  Moore. 

1873,  Joseph  B.  Hall,  editor  Recorder. 

1894,  Hon.  John  A.  Griswold 

1915,  H.  Leroy  Austin  of  Catskill. 

The  first  Court  of  Common  Pleas  was  held  in  the  academy 
at  Catskill  and  at  the  residence  of  John  R.  Vandenburgh  at  Cox- 
sackie. 

The  first  county  officers  were: 

Leonard  Bronk,  judge 

James  Bill,  clerk 

George  Hale,  sheriff 

John  H.  Cuyler,  surrogate 

John  R.  Vandenburgh  and  Thos.  Croswell,  coroners. 

158 


DEAft    OLD    GttEliiNfi    COUNTY. 


Another  View  of  tlie  Court  House. 

The  Judges  of  the  county  have  been : 

F.  James  Fitch  1855 

John  A.  Griswold  1863 

John  Olney  1867 

A.  Melvin  Osborn  1870 

Manley  B.  Mattice  1870-82 

John  Sanderson  1888 

Josiah  C.  Tallmadge        1900-15 
ogates 
Dorance  Kirkland  1808-11 

John  Adams  1810 

Through  the  courtesy  of  Judge  Chase  we  are  able  to  present 
likenesses  of  most  of  the  judges.  A  few  are  missing  and  will  be 
for  all  time. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  early  surrogates  purchased 
their  own  books  of  record,    and  these  subsequently  were  sold   to 

159 


Garrett  Abeel 

1810 

Moses  I.  Cantine 

1818 

John  V.  S.  Scott 

1821 

Dorrance  Kirkland 

1828 

Perkins  King 

1838 

Lyman  Tremaine 

1847 

Alex.  H.  Bailey 

1851 

John  H.  Cuyler 

our 
1800 

fcEAR    OLb    GREENE    COtTNfY. 


their  successors.  Dorrance  Kirkland  refused  to  purchase  the  un- 
used portion  of  Book  A.  of  Wills,  from  John  H.  Cuyler  who  was 
removed  from  office,  and  Cuyler  thereupon  took  his  knife  and  cut 
out  all  the  unused  leaves.  This  certified  statement  may  be  seen 
in  the  book  today. 

Those  who  have  held  the  office  of   district   attorney  in  th 
county  are: 

Date 
Alex.  Frasier 
Lewis  Benton 
Lucius  Robinson 
Lyman  Tremaine 
DanforthK.  Olney 
John  A.  Griswold 
A.  Melvin  Osborn 
Sidney  Crowell 
Eugene  Raymond 
Augustus  Sherman 
Josiah  C.  Tallmadge 
Charles  E.  Nichols 
Pierre  S.  Jennings 
Orin  Q.  Flint 

Washington  Hunt,  born  at  Windham,  Aug  5,  1811,  was 
Member  of  Congress  1843-1849,  State  Comptroller  1849,  Governor 
1850. 

Lyman  Tremaine  was  born  at  Durham  and  Attorney  Gen- 
eral in  1846.  County  Judge  1847.   Attorney  General  1857. 

Malbon  Watson  was  justice  of  the  supreme  court  1848. 

Lucius  Robinson,  also  born  at  Windham,  Nov.  4,  1810 
was  the  only  other  man  from  Greene  county  who  served  the  state 
as  governor  Mr.  Robinson  was  District  Attorney  in  1837,  Master 
of  Chancery  1843,  Assemblyman  from  Chemung  county  in  1859, 
Comptroller  of  State  in  1861,  1863,  1875,  and  elected  Governor 
Nov.  1876. 

160 


of  Election                          Date  of  Election 

1819 

Erastus  Barnes 

1821 

1824 

Malbon  Watson 

1832-7 

1838 

Danforth  K-.  Olney 

1840-5 

1846 

Rufus  Watson 

1847 

1850 

Peleg  C.  Mattoon 

1853 

1856 

James  B.  Olnev 

1859-62 

1865 

William  E.  Leete 

1868 

1871 

Addison  C.  Griswold 

1874 

1877 

G.  Howard  Jones 

1880 

1883 

Frank  H.  Osborn 

1886 

1889 

Edward  A.  Gifford 

1882-5 

1898 

Egbert  Palmer 

1901 

1904 

H.  L.  Austin 

1909 

1910 

Howard  C.  Wilbur 

1911 

b&Afe    OLD    GREEJNE    dOUNT^. 


A  very  successful  lawyer  who  has  retired  from  active  prac- 
tice is  W.  I.  Jennings,  who  for  a  number  of  years  has  devoted  his 
time  entirely  to  the  Catskill  Savings  Bank  of  which  he  is  prisident. 

Dorville  S.  Coe  is  another  Greene  county  boy  who  went  out 
from  Greene  county  and  who  is  doing  well  in  New  York. 


The  present  members 

Austin,  H.  L. 
Bagley,  Charles  J. 
Bennett,  William  W. 
Betts,  Judson  A. 
Betts,  Lee  F. 
Bloodgood,  AlbertC 
Bloodgood,  Clarence  E. 
Boyne,  Harold  J. 
Chase,  Emory  A. 
Cole,  Seth  T. 
Decker,  Percy  W. 
Fray,  John  L. 
Heath,  Orliff  T. 
Howland,  Clarence 
Jennings,  W.  Irving 

Coxsackie 
Calkins,  N.  A. 
Curtis,  H.  McK. 
Daley,  D.  Henry 
Hallenbeck,  Edwin  C. 
Hiseerd,  James  W. 
Warren,  Leonard  A. 
Cairo 
Chadderdon,  Miles  A. 
Van  Yechten,  Francis  H. 

Hunter 
Cartwright,  C.  M. 

Prattsville 
Daley,  James  B. 


of  the  Greene  county  bar  are: 
Catskill 
Jones,  Ambrose 
Jones,  G.  Howard 
Kerr,  Ira  B. 
Malcolm,  J.  Lewis 
Nichols,  Charles  E. 
Osborn,  Frank  H. 
Palmatier,  Willliam 
Patrie,  J.  Lewis 
Philip,  James  P. 
Plusch,  George  W. 
Reilly,  James  H. 
Tallmadge,  Josiah  C 
Thorpe,  William  E. 
Van  Gelder,  James  H. 
Wilbur,  Howard  C. 

Tannersville 
Dibble,  Flavius 
Lackey,  Edward  W. 
Athens 
Flint,  Orin  Q. 
GjgaidJSdward  A. 
Porter,  0.  Gates 

Durham 
Gardner,  Harrison  I. 
Taylor,  Frank 

Oak  Hill 
Rifenburgh,  George  L. 
Windham 
Tallmadge,  Benjamin  I.^a 
161 


dear  old  greene  county. 


Senator  William  P.  Fiero. 


MAR    OLt)    GREiEiNE}    COtfNfV. 


The  Hon.  William  P.  Fiero  who  was  elected  to  the  State 
senate  from  Greene  county  in  the  fall  of  1910  was  one  of  the  grand 
old  men  whom  the  county  loves  to  honor.  For  more  than  33  years 
he  was  a  leading  lawyer  in  the  Westchester  courts  and  assistant 
district  attorney  in  the  federal  courts,  where  he  had  universal 
success  winning  over  400  cases.  He  had  a  wonderful  interest  in 
the  county  of  his  birth,  and  on  the  court  house  lawn  may  be  seen 
the  grand  fountain  given  by  him  to  the  county.  He  carried  Greene 
County  by  1124  votes. 


Charles  G.  Coffin,  Lawyer,  Fireman,  Musician. 
Mr.  Pinkney  says  he  well  remembers  the  Hon.  Malbon 
Watson,  of  a  very  distinguished  Catskill  family,  who  was  very 
slow  and  dignified  in  manner,  but  who  had  a  fund  of  humor  on 
occasion.  It  was  in  a  case  in  justice  court,  where  his  opponent  had 
been'speaking  in  a  very  loud  voice  and  earnest  manner  as  though 
the  trivial  case  was  of  the  utmost  importanc3.  Watson  came  to  the 
close  of  his  summing  up  and  said,  "And  now,  gentlemen  of  the 
jury  I  leave  my  case  in  vour  hands  and  give  you  a  chance  to  listen 
to  a  blast  from  the  fountain  of  minds." 

163 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNTY. 


JUDGES  OF  GREF.Nb  COUNTY  COURTS   FROM   1800   to    1915. 

Photographed  and  Reproduced  by- 
Courtesy  of  Judge  Chase. 


Of  Judge  Bronk  there  is  but  one  other 
picture  in  existence. 

Some  of  these  pictures  are  from 
oil  paintings,  hence  not  very 
distinct. 

It   was    necessary   to   photograph   them  through  glass,    and    three 
attempts  were  made  to  get  them. 
164 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY, 


Greene  County  Judges  from  1800  to  1915. 


165- 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Notable  Women. 

Greene  county  has  not  produced  many  women  who  have 
achieved  notoriety  in  the  various  fields  of  activity.  The  one  who 
stands  out  pre-eminently  however  is  MaggieVan  Cott,  who  passed 
away  in  1914  at  her  home  in  Catskill  bordering  on  90  years  of  age. 
She  was  the  first  woman  who  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  of  the 


Mrs.  Maggie  Van  Cott,  Evangelist. 

Methodist  church,  and  pretty  much  all  of  her  life  was  devoted  to 
revival  work.  She  went  from  one  end  of  the  country  to  the  other 
and  her  converts  are  said  to  have  numbered  over  100,000.  Her 
commanding  appearance,  remarkable  voice,  and  personal  magnet- 
ism with  an  appeal  that  was  irresistible  made  her  a  great  power 
for  good.  So  late  as  1901  she  held  a  great  reviyal  at  Lebanon 
Springs  and  three  brass  bands  turned  out  to  assist  in  the  work. 
There  are  few  if  any  places  in  Greene  county  where  she  has  not 
held  successful  revivals,  and  some  of  these  places  she  visited  during 
the  last  year  or  so  of  her  life.  Around  1900  she  had  a  big  tent 
and  for  several  weeks  held  meetings  on  west  Main  street,  Catskill. 

Mother  Ann  Lee,  founder  of  the  Shakers,  a  sect  of  the 
Quaker  church,  a  denomination  still  having  adherents  in  Greene 
county,  was  buried  at  Watervliet  where  her  grave  may  still  be 
pointed  out.     She  made  a  great  stir  in  her  crusade  in  which  she 

166 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


declared  that  Marriage  was  the  root  of  human  depravity,  and 
forthwith  she  was  sent  to  prison  and  then  to  the  mad  house.  She 
secured  her  release  however,  and  in  1776  was  arrested  on  a  charge 
of  high  treason,  by  the  British  and  confined  at  Pokeepsie.  Gov. 
George  Clinton  pardoned  her  and  she  went  about  establishing 
churches.  Finally  in  1784  she  died  at  Watervliet.  Churches  in 
many  sections  included  in  Albany  county,  now  Greene,  were  estab- 
lished by  her. 

Squaw  Owned  Old  Catskill  —Chief  of  Tribe — From  histori- 
cal matter  furnished  us  by  the  Hon.  Clarence  E.Blooflgood,  form- 
er senator  from  Greene  county,  we  learn  that  "Director  Brandt 
Van  Slechtenhorst,  for  the  Patroon  (Van  Rensselaer)  bought  of 
Pwasck,  a  squaw,  chief  of  Catskill,  and  her  son,  Supahoop,  a  kil 
named  Katskil,  accounted  to  be  9  miles  and  that  the  consideration 
was  seventeen  and  a  half  ells  of  duffels,  a  coat  of  beaver  and  a 
knife.  Aepkje,  the  interpreter,  who  brought  about  the  sale  got 
five  and  a  half  ells  of  duSels  for  his  service.  This  was  in  1649, 
and  is  a  part  of  the  Fort  Orange  records. 

Among  the  old  residents  of  whom  we  find  mention  in  other 
works  Dame  Van  Schaack  of  the  early  Dutch  of  the  Coxsackie  dis- 
trict was  a  strenuous  character  who  lived  in  the  old  Van  Schaack 
homestead  near  the  village.  During  the  Revolutionary  period  this 
old  house  was  bombarded  by  the  British,  and  they  ransacked  it 
and  carried  off  what  they  thought  was  of  value.  Dame  VanSchaack 
who  appeared  to  have  been  very  brave,  and  relentless  gathered  up 
certain  of  the  belongings  that  she  had  an  attachment  for  and  an- 
nounced that  she  wouldn't  give  them  up,  and  she  did  not  either 
for  the  leader  relented  and  let  her  keep  what  she  wanted.  This 
old  house  is  still  standing  and  has  many  pieces  of  furniture  of  the 
colonial  period.     Wood  is  still  burned  in  the  old  fire  places. 

At  the  Greene  county  Alms  House  for  the  past  few  years 
Mrs.  E.C.  Judson,  wife  of  Ned  Buntline,  the  great  American  Scout 
and  Sea  Fighter,  as  well  as  one  of  America's  greatest  writers  of 
fiction,  has  been  making  her  home.  Col.  Judson  who  was  in  the 
employ  of  the  government  during  the  latter  years  of  his  life,  crip- 

.  16? 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


pled  and  scarred  from  the  many  battles  in  which  he  participated, 
lived  at  Stamford,  Delaware  county,  in  a  mansion  that  he  built, 
and  was  supposed  to  be  wealthy.  As  a  writer  of  Indian  and  Scout 
or  Sea  Faring  life  he  had  no  equal,  and  many  of  his  stories  were 
printed  in  the  New  York  Weekly 

Madam  Jumel  also  was  one  of  the  wives  of  Aaron  Burr. 
She  died  at  the  age  of  98  years,  and  Mr.  Burr  was  her  third  hus- 
band. The  madam  was  the  wife  of  Col.  Croix  of  the  British  army 
in  an  elopement  at  17,  then  she  married  Stephen  Jumel,  and  spent 
a  great  part  of  his  vast  fortune.  Burr  was  78  years  of  age  when 
she  married  him.  They  separated.  The  Jumel  mansion  is  a 
historical  museum  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

Madam  Jumel  in  company  with  her  husband  frequently 
visited  this  section  and  was  often  a  guest  at  the  Prevost  man- 
sion at  Greenville.  She  was  one  of  the  most  talked  about  women 
of  her  period,  and  many  women  attempted  to  follow  the  styles  she 
set  in  dress. 

Those  who  have  represented  the  county  in  charity  work  are : 
Mrs.  Emory  A.  Chase,  Mrs.  Percival   Goldin,   Mrs.    W.  I. 

Jennings,  Mrs.  P.  S.  Decker,  Mrs.  F.  H.  Osborn,  Mrs.  Charles  A. 

Elliott,  Mrs.  J.  Lewis  Patrie,  Mrs.  H.  L.  Boughton,  Mrs.   James 

P.  Philip,  Mrs.  Benjamin  Wey,  Mrs.  Ella  M.    Grout,  Mrs.    J.  S. 

Henderson.  Catskill;  and  Mr3.  Sherwood  H.  Holcomb,  Palenville. 
Mrs.  Harriet  Penfield,  Mrs.    George  H.  Penfield  and  Mrs. 

Isaac  Pruyn  are  among  the  prominent  workers  deceased . 

Mrs-  Cornelius  Du  Bois  at  Palenville  was  for  many  years  at 
the  head  of  the  Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union  of  Greene 
county,  and  Mrs.  Harvey  Brown  and  Mrs.  G.N.  Brandow  of  Cats- 
kill  and  Miss  Brandow  of  Coxsackie  have  been  conspicuous  in  this 
work. 

Mrs.  Egbert  Beardsley  of  Catskill  has  been  doing  Sunday 
School  work  and  attained  considerable  distinction  as  a  lecturer. 

Mrs.  Benjamin  Wey  of  Catskill  has  been  among  the  leaders 
in  school,  missionary,  church  and  library  work  in  Greene  county. 
A  grand  woman  in  eyery  way. 

168 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


In  the  Suffragist  work  Mrs.  Joseph  Malcolm,  and  Miss 
Gertrude  B.  Linnell  have  been  very  enthusiastic  workers,  and  the 
movement  has  shown  great  progress.  For  a  list  of  other  workeis 
who  have  been  connected  with  this  movement  see  article  on  the 
Suffragist  Movement. 


Mrs.  Joseph  Malcolm,   Suffragist  Leader. 


Among  those  who  have  taken  the  lead  in  the  work  of  the 
Old  Ladies  Home,  are. Mrs.  J.  P.  Phillip,  Mrs.  Emory  A.  Chase, 
Mrs.  H.  L.  Boughton,  Mrs.  Jeremiah  Day,  Mrs.  Orrin  Day,  Mrs. 
W.  I.  Jennings,  Emily  Becker,  Margaret  Bedell,  Georgiana  Jack- 
son and  Miss  Whitbeck. 

Mrs.  Ira  T..Tolley  matron  of  the  county  house  has  also 
been  prominent  in  charity  work. 

169 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Reference  will  be  found  elsewhere  to  the  several  clubs  of 
the  county  which  have  been  formed  and  presided  over  by  women. 

Probably  the  oldest  woman  of  whom  we  have  any  record  in 
Greene  county  was  Lavina  Allerton,  a  former  resident  of  Cairo,  who 
was  born  in  a  log  house  near  that  place  in  1809  and  who  died  at 
Newark,  N.  Y.,  in  1914,  being  105  years  old.  She  survived  her 
husband  by  40  years.  Her  generations  are  scattered  all  over  the 
county  and  state. 

Another  old  resident  who  died  at  Coxsackie  last  fall  was 
Hannah  Mackey,  who  had  passed  90  years  of  age. 

Mrs.  Maria  Doane  of  Catskill  was  another  aged  resident  of 
the  county  who  lived  to  the  century  mark. 

Of  the  Darringer  family  Mrs.  Dorothy  Darringer  of  Catskill 
passed  away  at  the  age  of  94  years. 

Laura  G.,  wife  of  the  late  Judson  Wilcox  died  at  her  home 
in  Catskill,  Jan.  1900,  from  the  effects  of  her  injury  two  months 
before,  when  she  fell  and  fractured  her  hip.  During  most  of  the 
time  she  had  been  a  great  though  patient  sufferer.  She  retained 
her  remarkable  mental  faculties  up  to  the  last,  reading  from  the 
papers,  signing  checks,  etc.,  writing  her  name  in  regular  and 
plain  manner .  She  was  95  years  and  5  months  and  the  physici 
ans  declare  that  every  organ  of  her  body  was  was  in  a  perfectly 
healthy  condition  and  had  not  the  accident  occurred  she  might  have 
lived  to  100  years.  She  had  been  a  member  of  St.  Luke's  church 
over  50  years  and  was  always  deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of 
that  society.  Truly  she  went  down  to  the  grave  full  of  years  and 
and  good  works.  Mrs.  Wilcox  was  born  at  Cortright,  Delaware 
county,  July  13th,  1804,  and  was  united  in  marriage  to  Judson 
Wilcox  Aug.  18,  1825,  by  the  Rev.  Elder  Hobbie  at  Cortright 
With  her  husband  she  came  to  Catskill  in  May,  1826,  where  she 
had  since  made  her  home  and  for  more  than  60  years  had  lived  in 
the  house  where  she  died.  Mr.  Wilcox  who  was  an  authority  on 
early  history  of  Catskill  was  for  more  than  50  years  in  the  grocery 
business  on  the  corner  opposite  Geo.  C.  Fox's  store.  He  died  June 
7th,  1879. 

170 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


■ 

VI 

HI  ft      ■' 

■r      J 
■.--— n 

w  * 

; 

i 

\m   ^ 

■"  ■«tftjPi!Wi 

*M? 

PT-,:;»:                  B 

mW 

^  .vjw 

tito        l8l&!iffnBM 

The  Oldest  House    on  William  Street,  3  798. 

Occupied  by  the  Wilcox  family  since  1826,  and  where  in  1836, 
Howard  Wilcox  was  born.  Judson  Wilcox  died  in  this  house,  1879, 
also  his  wife,  Mrs.  Wilcox  in  1900  at  the  age  of  95. 


Among  the  inscriptions  gathered  from  the  local  cemeteries 
by  the  writer  of  this  book,  which  among  is  a  considerable  number 
of  others  was  that  of  Ruth  Croswell  relict  of  Dr.  Thomas  O'Hara 
Croswell,  one  of  the  publishers  of  the  Catskill  Packet,  to  which 
we  have  referred.  She  died  Jan.  7th,  1862,  at  the  age  of  96  years 
and  10  months.  She  was  born  in  New  England,  saw  George  Wash- 
ington, and  her  husband  honored  by  him  with  the  appointment 
of  postmaster. 


Miss  Georgiana  Jackson   has   taken 
Humane  Society  of  which  she  is  a  leader. 

171 


great   interest   in   the 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNTY. 


ROWENA  SCHOOL  AT  PALENVILLE. 

The  greatest  monument  ever  erected  to  the  memory  of  a 
woman  in  this  state  doubtless  is  the  Rowena  Memorial  School 
building  at  Palenville,  which  was  dedicated  in  1900  and  cost  ovei 
$50,000.  The  building  is  of  picture  or  shell  granite  from  the 
quarries  of  George  W.Holdridge  of  Catskill,who  erected  the  build- 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COTJNTV. 


ing.  It  is.  a  beautiful  structure  and  will  stand  for  all  time.  It  was 
the  gift  to  Palenvilleof  L.W.  Lawrence  a  NewYork  man, who  with 
his  wife  for  many  years  spent  their  summers  in  that  section.  Mrs. 
Lawrence  was  greatly  interested  in  the  cause  of  education  and  the 
young,  and  as  a  beautiful  and  lasting  tribute  to  her  memory  the 
school  building  was  erected.     It  was  also  partially  endowed. 


The  Story  of  Rip  Van  Winkle— A  Heartless  Woman. 
An  Imperishable  Romance  in  Fiction. 

Washington  Irving  gave  to  the  Catskill  region,  a  romance 
that  has  come  down  as  one  of  the  great  pieces  of  fiction  of  the 
age,  and  has  added  much  to  the  allurements  of  the  grand  old 
Gatskills  Rip  in  his  sleep  of  20  years,  and  his  pitiful  return  to 
the  region  of  Sleepy  Hollow,  is  not  more  pitiful  than  Gretchen, 
who  was  the  personification  of  the  Vixen  in  womankind. 

An  artist  of  20  years  ago  has  pictured  the  story  so  complete 

that  we  reproduce  it  above. 

173 


DEAR    OLB    GREENE    COTJNTt. 


'Women  Ai\d  The  Franchise 

Suffrage  work  was  begun  some  forty  years  ago  in  Catskil], 
when  a  club  was  formed  for  the  purpose  of  study,  rather  than 
of  practical  work.  Speakers  were  brought  to  Catskill  at  that  time 
Dr.  Anna  Howard  Shaw,  and  Miss  Harriet  May  Mills . 

Four  or  five  years  ago  Mrs:  Joseph  Malcolm  was  appointed 
Leader  for  Greene  County,  by  the  national  American  Woman 
Suffrage  Association,  but  no  active  work  was  done  at  that  time. 

The  next  Suffrage  meeting  in  Greene  county  was  held ,  I 
think,  at  the  home  of  Miss  Margaret  Bedell,  on  William  street,  in 
the  Spring  of  1910  or  1911,  at  which  Mrs.  Raymond  Brown  and 
another  out-of-town  Suffragist  spoke. 

In  the  Summer  of  1911  Mrs.  William  Spencer  Murray  of 
New  Haven,  formerly  Miss  Ella  Rush  of  Catskill,  arranged  and 
conducted  a  meeting  at  which  she  was  the  only  speaker,  at  the_Y. 
M.  C.  A.  hall.  It  was  very  well  attended  and  the  receipts  were 
more  than  satisfactory. 

In  September   Mrs.  Florence  Maule   Cooley    spoke  at   the 

home  of  Mrs.  Linnell  in  Jefferson,  to  about  thirty  people.  Inspir- 
ed by  Mrs.  Cooley's  able  talk,  an  informal  club  was  organized, 
which  met  once  or  twice  at  the  Heidleberg  Inn  as  guests  of  Mrs. 
Beardsley.  In  the  absence  of  Mrs.  Malcolm  Mrs.  Linnell  presid- 
ed at  these  meetings. 

In  October  Mrs.  Murray  held  another  small  meeting  at  her 
former  home  on  William  street,  when  she  gave  a  very  interesting 
account  of  Suffrage  in  England,  and  told  some  of  her  own  exper- 
iences in  London  and  elsewhere. 

About  the  third  of  January  "General'' Rosalie  Jones  and 
her  little  army  of  Suffragists  marched  through  Catskill  on  their 
way  to  petition  the  legislature  to  pass  the  bill  permitting  women 
to  watch  at  the  polls  during  the  election  when  their  enfranchise- 
ment or  non-enfranchisement  should  be  decided.  Mrs.  Rose  Liv- 
ingston, called  the  Angel  of  Chinatown,    who  is   not    regularly   a 

174 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COtTNTSf. 


Suffrage  worker,  but  a  rescuer  of  young  girls  from  the  dives  of 
Chinatown,  told  her  own  tragic,  and  unfortunately  not  singular, 
story  to  a  crowd  in  front  of  the  Court  House,  and  awakened  many 
to  the  necessity  of  Woman's  place  in  the  regulation  of  these  things. 

On  January  14,  -1914,  the  newly  formed  club  secured  Dr. 
Anna  Howard  Shaw,  president  of  the  National  American  Woman 
Suffrage  Association  as  a  speaker  and  arranged  a  meeting  for  her 
at  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Hall,  which  was  well  attended,  and  which 
more  than  clpared  expenses.  County  Sealer  Adin  E.  Ballou  was 
chairman  of  this  meeting,  and  the  numbers  of  the  Sun* nagists  were 
greatly  argumented  afterward. 

About  the  first  of  March,  the  National  American  Woman 
Suffrage  Association  sent  Mrs.  Frances  Maule  Bjorkman  to  Catskill 
to  organize  a  formal  club,  this  consisted  primarily  of  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  chairman  for  each  of  the  eleven  districts  into  which,  for 
the  purpose  of  the  campaign,  New  York  State  was  divided.  Mrs. 
Joseph  Malcolm  was  appointed  Leader  for  Greene  county,  and 
Mrs.  Wardle,  Miss  S.Joseph,  Mrs.  E. Lasher,  Mrs.  John  Salisbury, 
and  Mr?.  Linnell  Captains. 

A  club,  to  l«  called  the  Equal  Franchise  League  of  Catskill 
was  formed,  with  a  constitution  drawn  up  and  duly  signed  at  a 
meeting  at  which  Mrs.  Stuart  Bentz  was  elected  President,  Mrs. 
Wardle  Vice-President,  Miss  Emily  F.  Becker  Treasurer,  and  Miss 
Antoinette  Weed  Secretary. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  Miss  Gertrude  Linnell  was  elected 
President  and  Miss  lone  Schubert  Treasurer.  Regular  monthly 
meetings  have  been  held  at  the  library  on  the  last  Friday  of  the 
month  since  that  time,  for  the  discussion  of  plans,  and  the  ar- 
rangement cf  work. 

On  May  the  second,    which  was  kept  as  Suffrage  Day  all 
through  New  York  State,  Catskill  had  an  open    air   celebration  at 
which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hamm  presided,  and  Miss  Garrison  and  Mrs. 
Bjorkman  spoke.  A  large  collection  was  taken. 

175 


DEAR    OLD    GREEJNE    COTJNT'Sr. 


About  this  time  Headquarters  were  established  on 
Main  street,  next  door  to  the  express  office,  where  a  large  amount 
of  literature  was  on  sale,  and  a  fine  window  display  of  posters  and 
Current  Suffrage  News  was  shown. 

On  June  the  5th  the  Greene  county  Suffrage  Convention 
was  held  in  the  Y,  M.  C.  A.  Hall,  presided  over  by  Mrs  Carrie 
Chapman  Catt,  President  of  the  International  Woman  Suffrage 
Alliance  and  Chairman  of  the  Empire  State  Campaign  Committee. 
At  the  evening  meeting  Mr.  E.  C.  Hocmer,  County  Superintend- 
ent of  Schools  was  Chairman,  and  made  a  warm  address,  which 
was  followed  by  a  Suffrage  song  rendered  by  the  Eighth  Grade 
Girls'  Chorus.  Afterwards  Miss  Linnell  read  a  description  of 
some  Suffrage  lantern  slides,  and  Mrs.  Catt  made  the  address  of 
the  evening.  Mrs.  Bjorkman  followed  Mrs.  Catt  with  a  short 
talk 

The  following  day,  June  the  6th,  the  Eastern  New  York 
State  Suffrage  Parade  was  held  at  Albany,  andCatskill  sent  a  dele- 
gation, headed  by  Master  Nathan  Bentz  in  a  yellow  and  white 
Colonial  costume,  earring  a  banner  with  the  inscription  '  'Taxation 
Without  Representation  is  Tyranny." 

A  Suffrage  Bridge  and  Tea  Dansant  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Equal  Suffrage  League  was  held  at  the  Grant  House  on  July  31,  at 
which  about  twenty  dollars  were  cleared. 

A  booth  was  secured  at  the  Cairo  Fair  which  was  presided 
over  by  Mre.  Bjorkman,  assisted  by  delegations  from  theCatskill 
and  the  Tannersville  Suffrage  clubs.  A  great  number  of  people 
were  reached  in  this  way  who  had  no  idea  of  the  meaning  of  the 
slogan,  "Votes  for  Women!"  Mrs.  Francis  Thurber  of  New  York 
spoke  on  the  second  day. 

A  reception  was  held  in  honor  of  the  Tannersville  Equal 
Suffrage  Club,  on  September  24,  1914,  at  the  Heidelberg  Inn,  at 
which  a  large  number  of  Suffragists  turned  out  to  welcome  the 
ladies  from  Tannersville. 

About  the  first  of  October  Miss  Edna  Post  was  appointed 
Press  Chairman  for  Greene  county  to  succeed  Miss  Linnell,  who 
had  previously  resigned  from  that  post. 

176 


frfTW  iti    ggga 


Carrie  Chapman  Catt,  Suffragist. 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNTY. 


ANOTHER  REPORT  OF  SUFFRAGE. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  matter.on  the  Suffragist  move- 
ment we  have  received  from  Mrs.  Joseph  Malcolm  a  very  interest- 
ing account,  which  we  are  giving  in  full.  The  Suffragist  movement 
is  showing  great  gains  all  over  the  country  and  it  appears  to  be 
only  a  matter  of  a  little  time  when  the  franchise  will  be  extended 
to  the  women. 

The  Catskill  Recorder  of  February  29th,  1884,  contains  the 
following,  under  the  caption  of  Mrs.  Blake's  lecture.  The  Mrs. 
Blake  to  whom  the  article  refers  probably  was  Lillie  Devreux  Blake 
and  this  as  far  as  is  known  was  the  first  work  for  Woman  Suffrage 
in  Greene  county. 

"The  world  really  does  move  and  Woman  Suffrage,  a  sub- 
ject which  but  a  few  years  ago  was  mentioned  only  to  be  ridiculed, 
is  today  exciting  the  interest  and  engaging  the  attention  of  men 
and  women  who  can  easily  remember  the  time  when  they  would 
have  been  ashamed  to  be  detected  countenancing  the  "woman's 
rights"  movement  in  any  manner.  Evidence  of  the  change  the 
public  mind  has  undergone  and  is  undergoing  is  furnished  in  the 
manner  and  the  character  of  the  audience  that  met  Mrs.  Blake 
on  Monday  evening.  Instead  of  the  Corporal's  Guard  that  form- 
erly constituted  the  listeners  when  the  occasion  was  the  hearing  of 
the  story  of  woman's  wrongs  and  rights,  was  a  houseful,  for  the 
most  part  people  of  intelligence  and  refinement,  the  seats  of  the 
court  room  were  all  occupied,  men  and  women  stood  in  the  aisles 
during  the  entire  lecture,   and  many  persons   were   turned   away. 

For  an  hour  or  two  Mrs.  Blake  addressed  her  audience  con- 
versationally, speaking  without  notes  and  with  no  affectation  of 
the  rhetorical  art  of  the  stump  speakers.  She  made  a  number  of 
telling  points  in  the  course  of  her  argument  and  the  minds  of  the 
many  present  had  presented  to  them,  we  trust  convincingly,  the 
harsh  injustice  and  the  outrageous  wrongs  which  man  since  the 
creation  has  complacently  regarded  the  natural  lot  and  portion  of 
women. 

178 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  women  who  are  engaged  in  this  agitation  for  the  suff- 
rance  do  not  desire  to  unsex  themselves  and  their  sisters.  "We 
do  not  wish  to  be  men  "  said  Mrs.  Blake,  "God  forbid!" 

The  leaders  in  this  movement  have  been  cruelly  misrepre- 
sented and  caricatured  by  would  be  wits :  they  are  womanly 
women  and  thoroughly  in  earnest  but  not  in  the  least  ambitious 
to  don  the  bifurcated  garments  of  the  sterner  sex,  or  to  assume 
any  of  the  distinctive  belonging  or  to  ursurp  any  of  the  special 
rights  pertaining  to  masculinity.  They  believe  that  the  sphere  of 
woman's  usefulness  and  her  opportunities  for  self  support  should 
be  enlarged.  They  believe  that  this  can  best  be  effected  through 
the  ballot,  arguing  that  if  woman  had  a  vote  she  would  be  politic- 
ally of  much  more  consideration,  and  there  is  solid  ground  under 
the  argument. 

Mrs.  Blake  held  the  closest  attention  of  her  large  audience 
throughout— not  a  person,  not  even  one  of  those  standing  in  the 
aisles,  leaving  the  room  till  the  lecture  was  over." 

About  ten  years  after  Mrs  Blake's  address  the  NeW  York 
State  Woman  Suffrage  Association  began  an  active  campaign  in 
preparation  for  the  constitutional  convention,  earnestly  working 
to  have  the  word  '  'male"  dropped  from  the  constitution. 

In  March,  1894,  there  was  held  in  the  old  opera  house  of 
Catskill,  a  convention  in  charge  of  Harriet  May  Mills,  at  which 
Susan  B.  Anthony  and  Dr.  Anna  Shaw  spoke.  At  that  time  there 
was  no  suffrage  organization  in  the  county  but  Greene  county  is 
reported  as  having  sent  a  petition  to  the  convention  of  2,904 
names.  Of  these  2,085  were  the  names  of  men  and  819  the  names 
of  women. 

In  the  spring  of  1895,  the  Political  Equality  Club  of  Cats- 
kill  was  organized,  auxiliary  to  the  State  Association  and  for  a 
period  of  four  years  paid  dues  to  it.  In  the  autumn  of  that  year 
representatives  from  other  towns  in  the  county  joined  the  club, 
which  was  then  called  the  Greene  County  Political  Equality  Club. 
Mrs.  Benjamin  Wey,  Mrs.  Lizzie  Fitch,  Miss  Fannie  Wilcox, Mrs. 
L.  Beach,  Mrs.  Hazard,  Mrs.  Root,  Miss  Hattie  Root,  Miss  E.  G. 

179 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE!    COtfNf¥. 


Root,  Mrs.  H.  Brown,  Mrs.  W.  B.  Phillips,  Mrs.  F.  C.  Hall, 
Miss  Georgiana  Jackson,  Mrs.  Anna  B.  Hill,  Mrs.  Charles  Beard- 
sley,  Mrs.  Robert  Selden,  Mrs.  Richard  Van  Hoesen,  Mrs.  Joseph 
Malcolm  of  Catskill  and  Mrs.  "Wakely  of  Greenville,  Mrs.  Rufus 
King  of  Cairo  and  Mrs.  Mc  Ray  of  Coxsackie  formed  the  active 
membership. 

The  semi-monthly  meetings  were  usually  held  in  the  par- 
lors of  the  women  belonging  to  the  club  or  in  the  Presbyterian 
lecture  room.  Fiske's  Civil  Government  was  studied  and  discuss- 
ed and  lectures  by  Miss  Mills  and  other  workers  in  the  cause  were 
of  frequent  occurrence.  A  petition  was  circulated  about  town  and 
■when  a  member  of  the  club  asked  a  well  known  citizen  of  Catskill 
to  sign  it,  he  exclaimed,  "No  indeed!  I  will  not  sign  any  such 
paper  and  in  ten  years  time  you  women  will  be  so  ashamed  of 
having  put  your  names  on  it  that  you  will  want  to  hide  your 
heads.'' 

Twenty  years  have  passed  by  since  then,,  and  all  of  the 
members  who  are  living  are  still  keeping  up  the  fight,  and  one  at 
least  of  the  members  often  proudly  claims  the  honor  of  being  a 
pioneer  in  the  cause.  Afier  being  in  existence  four  years  and  after 
the  failure  of  the  constitution  convention  to  grant  the  request  of 
the  women  of  the  state,  the  treasurer's  report  of  the  Equality 
Club  pathetically  states,  ''There  is  no  *money  in  the  treasury,  so 
the  club  died  December  31st,  1898." 

Until  the  time  drew  near  for  another  convention  to  amend 
the  State  Constitution,  very  little  interest  was  shown  in  Greene 
Co.  An  occasional  talk  by  Miss  Mills,  who  has  always  expressed 
a  most  hearty  interest  in  this,  one  of  the  first  fields  of  her  life 
work,  was  the  extent  of  the  work  for  suffrage. 

In  the  summer  of  1912  the  campaign  work  was  begun  by 
Mrs.  Florence  M.  Cooley  who  talked  to  an  interested  gathering  of 
representative  women  and  a  few  men  in  Jefferson.  Miss  Rosalie 
Jones  and  Martha  Klatschkeus,  with  others,  on  one  of  their  auto- 
mobile tours  through  the  state,  stopped  and  held  a  large,  out-door 
mass  meeting  before  the  new   court  house.     On  the  following  day 

180 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


they  appointed  a  leader  for  suffrage  work  in  the  county  and  a 
committee  for  campaign  work  in  the  election  districts  in  the  town. 
The  following  winter  Dr.  Anna  Shaw  gave  one  of  her  inimitable 
lectures  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building  and  the  Brotherhood'  of  the 
Reformed  Church  challenged  any  two  suffragists  to  meet  two  of 
the  "brothers''  in  a  debate  on  the  subject.  Mrs.  Charles  Wardle 
and  Miss  Gertrude  Linnell  bravely  entered  the  contest.  Although 
public  speaking  was  an  entirely  new  experience  for  them,  the 
judges,  Mrs.  James  P.Philip,  the  Rev.  Mr.Tetley  and  Mr.  Hocmer 
— declared  the  women  winners  by  several  points.  The  success  of 
the  debate  started  a  demand  for  a  permanent  league,  and  the 
Equal' Suffrage  League  of  Catskill  was  organized. 

The  summer  of  1914  was  indeed  a  busy  time  for  suffragists 
all  through  the  state,  and  Catskill  valiantly  worked  to  do  her  part 
in  spite  of  discouragements.  Much  literature  was  distributed, 
through  the  mails,  at  meetings,  left  at  public  places,  and  handed 
out  to  passers-by  on  the  street. 

A  Sunday  in  May  was  named  as  a  Woman's  Sunday  and 
every  minister  of  the  gospel  got  a  letter  requesting  him  to  urge 
women  to  work  more  earnestly  for  the  betterment  of  women  and 
children  and  especially  wayward  girls.  In  June  a  Greene  County 
Suffrage  Convention  and  school  of  methods  was  conducted  by  Mrs; 
Catt,  chairman  of  the  Empire  State  Campaign  Committee.  A 
very  successful  league  was  formed  at.  Tannersville  by  Mrs  John 
Jay  White,  Mrs.  Alexander  and  other  cottagers  at  Onteora  Park. 
They  worked  all  through  the  mountain  towns  and  had  a  booth  at 
the  Cairo  Fair.  Delegates  from  both  leagues  appeared  before  the 
Greene  Co.  Republican  Convention  at  Tannersville,  and  Mrs. 
Raymond  Brown,  president  of  the  State  Woman  Suffrage  Associ- 
ation addressed  the  convention .  The  Catskill  league  sent  delegates 
to  the  State  Democratic. and  Republican  Committees  ,at  Saratoga 
Springs.  During  the  boarding  season  headquarters  were  ;  opened 
on  Main  Street  of  Ca'tekilL  and  in  the  afternoon  talks  would  be 
giyeri  and  tea,  would.  s  be  v. served.  The  Catskill.  v Daily  Mail,. The 
Examine^,  The  Recorder;  and,  the  Enterprise  .helped  in  every  way/ 

,19! 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Meetings  were  held  in  New  Baltimore,  Coxsackie,  Leeds, 
West  Catskill,  Cairo  and  many  other  places. 

If  the  enfranchisement  of  the  women  of  New  York  State  is 
accomplished  at  the  coming  constitutional  convention,  or  if  there 
is  another  twenty  years  work  ahead  of  us,  we  are  ready  for  the 
future.  We  are  better  organized,  have  more  money  and  more  de- 
termination than  ever  before .  Every  year  teaches  women  more 
politics,  makes  them  better  co-workers  with  men  and  women. 
There  has  never  in  the  world's  history  been  such  a  large,  intelli- 
gent and  enthusiastic  body  of  citizens  ready  and  eager  to  give  of 
their  time, and  their  means  for  the  betterment  of  their  govern- 
ment. They  are  ready  now  for  the  vote.  The  opponents  of  the 
cause  are  the  politicians  with  big  money  and  little  work,  the  graft- 
ers who  fear  women's  well  known  economical  use  of  money,  and 
the  white  slavers  who  wish  to  keep  good  women  out  of  all  public 
places.  M. 

A    Grand  Charily 

In  the  northern  end  of  the  village  of  Catskill,  at  the  corner 
of  New  and  High  streets  stands  the  Home  for  Aged  Women  of 
Greene  County.  It  is  the  house  known  to  old  residents  as  the 
Wellington  House  which  later  became  the  property  of  Hattie 
Cowles  Catet  from  whom  it  was  purchased  on  the  2d  day  of  Nov. 
1908,  by  the  corporation  above  named. 

The  house  is  on  high  ground  yet  easy  of  access,  and  is  well 
adapted  to  the  purposes  of  the  Home,  and  when  the  necessary 
alterations  were  made,  and  a  new  system  of  lighting  and  heating 
were  installed  it  became  a  model  dwelling  for  those  whose  active 
years  are  passed  and  who  need  and  deserve  care  and  attention  in 
their  declining  years. 

Our  Coupty  is  small,  and  not  wealthy.  It  was  thought  by 
many,  therefore,  that  the  dream  of  a  Home  to  be  supported  by 
voluntary  gifts  was  an  idle  dream  indeed.  Yet  in  the  latter  part 
of  1907  a  small  but  earnest  band  of  men  and  women  saw  the 
vision,  and  the  way  to  its  fulfillment,   and  on   the  13th  day  of 

183 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


July  1908,  a  certificate  of  incorporation  was  granted  to  the"  Home 
for  Aged  Women  in  Greene  County." 

In  order  to  secure  funds  for  the  maintenance  of  the  Home 
a  committee  was  sent  to  each  of  the  fourteen  towns  in  the  county 
for  the  purpose  of  forming  auxiliary  boards,  each  to  have  its  own 
officers,  and  each  board  to  solicit  contributions  of  a  small  but 
stated  sum  of  money  from  individuals  in  the  respective  towns, 
pledged  for  three  consecutive  years.  This  plan  met  with  a  most 
hearty  response  and  the  result  enabled  the  incorporators  to  pro- 
ceed confidently  with  the  work  of  establishing  and  furnishing  the 
Home.  Early  in  the  year  1909  it  was  opened,  and.was  quickly 
filled  with  those  who  had  long  since  applied  for  admission.  From 
that  time  until  the  present  moment  the  list  of  applicants  has  been 
far  in  excess  of  the  number  that  can  be  cared  for.  There  has  been 
from  the  first,  general  recognition  that  the  Home  has  attained  a 
worthy  success  in  its  efforts  to  meet  a  real  and  urgent  need.  This 
success  is  due  to  the  wise  and  careful  inception  of  the  undertaking 
to  legal  advice  freely  given — to  busy  men  and  women  who  have 
laid  aside  their  pressing  duties  to  aid  those  less  fortunate ,  and  to 
the  generosity  of  doctors,  merchants,  tradesmen  and  farmers, 
none  of  whom  has  ever  failed  to  respond  to  the  call  for  help.  A 
small  but  promising  endowment  fund  has  been  started,  and  when 
that  becomes  large  enough,  the  Home  will  be  supported  by  its  in- 
come. In  the  meantime  it  is  largely  dependent  upon  voluntary 
gifts. 

The  managers  and  directors  look  forward  hopefully  to  the 
time  when  on  this  foundation  of  the  year  1908  a  Home  of  greater 
capacity  may  be  established.  Perhaps  the  next  History  of  Greene 
County  will  record  the  erection  of  a  Home  for  Aged  Couples. 

The  Gatskill  Monday  Glvb 

'  One  of  the  foremost  social  organizations  of  Catskill  and  of 
Greene  county  as  well,  so  far  as  the  women  are  concerned,  is  the 
Monday  Club. 

This  was  organized  in  1894  or  1895  and  has  represented  the 
leading  women  of  Catskill  in  social  and  literary  effort. 

W9 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  charter  members  were  Mrs.  Benjamin  Wey,  Mrs. 
Samuel  Penfield,  Miss  Mary  B.  Penfield,  Miss  Sarah  Beach,  Miss 
Georgiana  Jackson, Mrs.  Adelaide  Elting  Harris,  Mrs.  E.E.  Elliott, 
Mrs.  F.  H.  Osborn,  Mrs.  A.  L.  Fitch,  Miss  Emily  Becker.  Seven 
of  these  are  still  members,  and  to  that  number  as  the  years  have 
passed  has  been  added  a  large  number.  During  the  winter  season 
each  year  a  literary  program  is  taken  up  and  the  interesting  and 
instructive  papers  that  have  been  written  would  form  a  great  vol- 
ume. Miss  Mabel  V.  Root  is  president  of  the  organization.  The 
winter  program  comprised  papers  by  Miss  Root,  Miss  Gertrude 
Gardner,  Mrs.Solloway,  Miss  Mary  Hale,  Mrs.  S.  H.  Root,  Miss 
Elizabeth  Chapman,  Mrs.  J.  Lewis  Malcolm,  Miss  Louise  Driscoll, 
Mrs.  E.  E.  Elliott,  Miss  Edith  Root,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Dykstra,  Mrs.  F. 
H.  Osborn,  Mrs.  G.  P.  Grout,  Mrs.  Benjamin  Wey,  Miss  Charlotte 
DuBois,  Miss  Elizabeth  Fitch,  Miss  Emily  Becker,  Miss  Georgiana 
Jackson,  Mrs.  Clarence  Howland,  Miss  Anna  B.  Phelps,  Miss 
Sarah  Beach.  „  , 

Order 


Eastern  iStar 


There  are  a  number  of  other  organizations  in  the  county  in 
which  the  women  are  at  the  head .  They  are  successful  in  their 
work  and  without  doubt  fill  an  important  place  in  the  welfare  of 
the  county.  In  the  absence  of  detailed  information  we  give  the 
facts  that  are  at  hand.  Probably  the  most  flourishing  is  the  Order 
of  Eastern  Star,  an  affiliation  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  with  or- 
ganizations at  Catskill,  Cairo,  Oak  Hill  and  Windham. 

Catskill  Chapter  293  was  organized  in  August,  1903,  with  21 
members,  and  at  present  has  over  100.  The  charter  officers  were: 
Mrs.  Fannie  C.  Mott,  worthy  matron,  Geo.  F.  Mott,  worthy  pat- 
ron, Mrs.  E.  M.  Post,  assistant  matron,  Annie  E.  Banks, treasurer, 
Mrs.R.  L.  Horton,  secretary,  Gretta  D.Thorpe,  conductress,  Vic- 
toria Hallenbeck,  assistant  conductress,  William  E.  Thorpe,  con- 
ductor, Miss  Conklin,  organist,  Mrs.  N.  E.  Hill,  warden,  Geo.  N. 

184 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Hill,  sentinel,  Esther  Hallenbeck,   Adah,  Sarah  J.    Hill,    Ruth, 
Elise  Hansen,  Martha,  Mrs.  M.  E.  Maguire,  Electa. 

The  present  officers  are:  Mrs.  Alice  P.  Magee,  worthy 
matron,  Lewis  R.  Magee,  worthy  patron.  Miss  Mabel  G.  Hill  as- 
sociate matron,  Mrs.  Middle  D.  Haines,  treasurer,  Mrs.  Emma  S. 
Barnard,  secretary,  Mrs.  Jennie  A.  Whitcomb,  conductress,  Miss 
Martha  J.  Ernest,  associate  conductress,  Mrs.  Fannie  0.  Mott, 
trustee  for  3  years. 

The  New  Year  Club 

One  of  the  new  organizations  of  1915  was  the  New  Years 
Club  of  Catskill.  One  thing  appears  certain  and  that  is  whatever 
their  aims  may  be  they  are  always  up  to  date:  Mrs.  Geo.  Egnor, 
president,  Mrs.  C.  W.  Overbaugh,  vice-president,  Mrs.  H.  R. 
Hinman,  secretary,  Mrs.  L.  K.  Austin,  treasurer. 

Daughters  of  Rebekah-413    I.  O.  O.  F. 

The  officers  installed  are  as  follows:  P.  N.  G.  Mrs.  Rachel 
Smith,  N.G.  Mrs.  Mabel  Beare.  V.G.  Mrs.  Helen  Bates,  Sec.  Mrs. 
Sarah  Hill.  Treas.  Mrs,  Mary  Camff,  R.  S.  N.G.  Miss  Antionette 
Bloom,  L.S.N. G.  Mrs.  Alice  Egnor,  R.S.V.G.  Miss  LenaConklin, 
L.  S.  V.  G.  Mrs.  Ella  VanDyke,  Warden,  Miss  Josephine  Castle, 
Conductress,  Miss  Eva  Hard  wick,  Chaplin,  Mrs.  Winifred  Travis, 
I.  G.  Mrs.  Lena  Delamater.  0.  G.  Mrs.  Kate  Lampman,  R.  A.  G. 
Miss  Mildred  Myers,  L.  A.  G.  Mrs  Jennie  Hughes,  Organist  Miss 
Goldie  Cuer,  Degree  Master,  Mrs.  Winifred  Travis. 

Ladies  of  The  Maccabes  No  138 

The  officers  of  the  Ladies  of  the  Maccabes  are: — Com., Mrs. 
Luella  Brandow ;  Lieut.  Com.,  Nancy  Youmans;  Past  Com.,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  E.  Klepser;  Chap.,  Mrs.  Mary  Hammer;  Record  Keeper 
Mrs.  Mabel  Hallenbeck; Lad y-at- Arms,  Hattie  Carpenter;  Finance 
Auditor,  Ruth  Carpenter;  Sergeant,  Mrs.  Catharine  Gehbauer; 
Sentinel,  Mrs.  Alice  Egnor;  Picket,  Mrs.  Chas.  Cummings; Official 
Prompter,  Mrs  Katharine  Cummings;  Musician,  Agnes  Youmans; 
Capt.  of  Guard,  May  Smith;  1st  Color  Bearer,  Olive  Smith;  2d 
.  Color  Bearer,  Hazel  Carpenter. 

185 


DEAE  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Ladies  Catholic    <©ei\evolent  Association 

The  Ladies  Catholic  Benevolent  Association  of  St.  Patrick's 
church  is  a  fraternal  organization  similar  to  the  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus, and  has  been  doing  a  good  work.  It  was  organized  in  Catskill 
about  1900,  and  has  50  members.  The  officers  are:  Mrs.  P.  D. 
Hitchcock,  Pres.,  Mrs.  Ellen  Cooney,  1st  V.P.,  Mrs.  Joseph  Hoy 
2d  V.  P.,  Mrs.  Medard  Pierre,  P  Pres.,  Miss  Mary  Shade,  Treas. 
Miss  Katharine  O'Conner,  Fin.  Sec,  Mrs.  Mary  Tynan,  Eec, 
Miss  Catharine  Quinn,  Ass't  Rec,  Mrs.  Nora  Hass,  Guard,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Gaffney,  Marshal. 

Cairo  has  a  chartered  organization  of  Camp  Fire  Girls, 
starting  off  with  eighteen  members,  and  Mrs.  Ira  Tolley  as  Guard- 
ian. 

^Royalty  a1  Leeds 

One  of  the  most  sightly  and  imposing  structures  in  the 
Catskill  Mountains  was  completed  last  summer  on  the  Potic  Mount- 
ain near  Leeds  and  overlooks  the  valley  of  the  Catskill.  It  is  the 
property  of  two  London  women.  The  building  has  the  appearance 
of  bne  of  the  old  Rhine  castles-  It  was  built  under  the  direction  of 
John  Benn,  a  former  member  of  Parliament  of  Greenwich,  who  has 
been  conspicuous  in  the  English  navy,  being  a  lieutenant  com- 
mander. The  Misses  Benn  are  ladies  of  culture  and  their  beauti- 
ful home  is  furnished  with  antiques  representing  the  early  English 
and  continental  orders. 

Catskill  has  two  fountains  erected  by  women.  The  first  one 
was  the  Frances  Willard  memorial  fountain,  erected  by  the  W.  C. 
T.  U.  of  Catskill,  in  honor  of  the  greatest  of  all  temperance  work, 
ers  and  orators,  Miss  Frances  Willard,  who  was  at  the  head  of 
the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  work  in  the  United  States, 
and  who  helped  to  organize  the  Union  in  Greene  county.  The 
date  of  the  organization  is  uncertain,  but  it  was  about  1880.  The 
fountain  is  located  on  Main  street,  near  the  postofnce,  and  gets  a 
supply  of  the  best  and  purest  water  from  the  spring  on  the  H.  L. 
Bough  ton  place. 

186 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  second  fountain  is  located  near  the  head  of  Main  street 
and  was  the  gift  of  Mrs.  H.  L.  Boughton  who  has  always  taken  a 
great  interest  in  Catskill.     The   water  is   from  the   spring  on  her 


place  and  a  gift. 


Madam  sTane  Goelet  "Dige 


Madam  Jane  Dise, 
Courteousy  of  Robert  Story. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Before  we  leave  the  subject  it  would  seem  that  further  re- 
ference should  be  made  to  Madam  Jane  Dise,  wife  of  John  Dise,  a 
major  in  the  English  army.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  deserter, 
and  that  he  fled  from  New  York  and  came  to  Catskill  around  1762 
with  his  wife,  and  to  have  secreted  himself  in  a  secret  chamber  in 
the  old  house  when  the  British  made  a  search  for  him.  He  was 
said  to  be  very  intemperate.  Jane  Dise  was  the  child  of  Jacob 
Goelet  of  Albany  and  later  of  New  York.  She  died  in  March  1799 
and  the  grave  once  on  the  farm  of  Huybartus  Du  Bois  at  Cauters- 
kill  is  now  marked  on  the  Du  Bois  plot,  where  F.  N.  Du  Bois  on 
the  old  farm  has  gathered  together  the  Du  Bois  generations.  A 
complete  list  of  these  generations  will  be  found  under  the  article 
in  reference  to  F.  N.  DuBois.  The  old  house  in  which-' she  lived 
was  known  as  Dise  Folly,  and  later  as  the  Old  Stone  Jug.  It  was 
built  of  sand  stone  imported  by  a  sloop  from  the  quarries  at  Nyack. 
The  picture  of  Jane  Dise  which  we  show  was  taken  when  she  was 
about  16  years  of  age.  Though  beautifully  dressed  for  the  period 
in  which  she  lived  she  was  bare  footed.  John  Dise  is  said  to  have 
built  one  of  the  first  saw  mills  and  grist  mills  at  Gilboa.  The  date 
and  place  of  his  burial  is  not  known. 

John  Dise  to  whom  we  have  referred  came  to  New  York  in 
1743. 

Some  Of  The    Old  Dutch 

-'  f 
Johan  Wilhelm  Brandow  to  whom  several  hundred  families 

in  Greene  county  trace  was  a  Palantine  and  came  to  this   country 

in  1710,  settling  on  the  Loveridge  Patent.     He  had  four  sons  and 

two  daughters.     Nicholas,  who  lived  at  Cauterskill,  Johannis  who 

settled  at  Athens,  Frederick  who  settled  at    West  Camp,    Godfrey 

who  settled  at  Athens,  Ann  Elizabeth  settled  at  West  Camp   and 

married  Peter  Schumecher,  Anna  married  Hannes  Schermerhorn. 

From  the  first  generations  of  these  children  there  were  51 
descendents.  All  having  raised  large  families.  Nicholas  8,  Anna  8, 
Frederick  8,  Johannis  9,  Godfrey  9,  Elizabeth  9. 

Then  we  get  the  Overbaughs,  Schumakers,  Lohmans,  Van- 

188 


bEAfe    0L±>    GREJENEi    dOTJNTt. 


denburghs,  Defours,  Welshs,  Grooms,  Coyns,  Aliens,  Webbers, 
Ecklers,  Lampmans,  Bogarduses,  Planks,  Ostranders,  Dedericks, 
Becker.-?,  Hallenbecks,  and  a  great  many  families  of  Brandows. 
Brandows  in  Catskill,  Athens,  Coxsackie,  West  Camp,  Greenville, 
and  all  over  the  county.  The  great  Brandow  printing  house  in 
Albany  is  run  by  descendents  of  the  Greene  county  family,  and 
Sheriff  I.  W.  Brandow  traces  to  the  same  source. 


Col.  B.  B.  G.  Stone. 

Col.  B.  B.  G.  Stone,  frequently  pictured  as  Rip  Van  Winkle, 
was  many  years  a  land  mark  of  the  Catskill  section,  and  was  famous 
as  an  artist,  and  a  man  of  great  literary  ability.  He  served  in  the 
Rebellion,  and  was  connected  with  the  Du  Bois  family. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Jan  Wilhelm  Dederick  was  also  a  Palantine  and  came  t" 
this  country  from  Wurtenburg  in  1710.  He  settled  at  West  Camp., 
and  the  Dedericks  rival  the  Brandows  for  generations,  and  are 
still  in  Catskill  and  various  sections  of  the  county.  Jan  had  three 
children,  but  his  daughter  Maria  married  Heinrich  Graatand  had 
10  children,  his  son  married  Eva  Graat  and  had  9  children,  Jurry 
William  did  not  believe  in  unlucky  numbers  and  had  13  children. 

There  were  two  families  of  the  original  stock  of  the  Halen- 
becks,  Casper  Jacobus,  1654,  but  where  they  came  from  we  have 
not  learned.  They  settled  in  the  town  of  Athens  and  have  a  host 
of  descendents. 

Abraham  Person  settled  on  the  Loveridge  Patent  in  1733, 
and  he  had  11  children.  Their  generations  remain  and  have  great- 
ly increased. 

Sylvester  Salisbury  came  from  England  in  1664  Their 
generations  remain. 


Reformed  (Schunemati)  Church  at  Old  Catskill  (Leeds). 

Herman  Schunemann,  Captain  of  the  Palantines,  came  to 
this  country  from  Hamburg, Germany  in  1708,  and  his  children 
found  their  way  to  Catskill:  Martin  Schunmann,  Catherina,  Hen- 
drick,  Wilhelmina   and  Johannes.     Johannes   became   pastor  of 

190 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


churches  at  Catskill  and  Coxsackie,  and  preached  in  them  for  over 
40  years.  Elsewhere  we  present  a  picture  of  the  old  parsonage,  at 
Leeds  occupied  by  him. 


Familiar  Insignia  of  the  Old  Dutch.  * 

Martin  Garretsen  Van  Bergen  came  from  the  New  Nether- 
lands in  1640,  and  located  at  Rensselaer wyck.  He  was  a  great 
man  and  a  member  of  the  Government's  Council.  He  was  very 
wealthy  and  occupied  a  mansion  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson. 
He  had  lands  on  the  Catskill  Patent,  Coxsackie  Patent  and  Cor- 
larskill  Patent.  He  was  shot  and  killed  by  the  Indians  in  1696, 
while  occupying  the  Van  Rensselaer  place.  He  had  12  children, 
and  the  Van  Bergens  remain  a  great  family. 

The  Van  Ordens  came  on  the  Loveridge  patent  in  1746, 
from  Kingston.  William  Van  Orden  had  7  children.  A  great 
family  and  it  would  take  many  pages  of  this  book  to  trace  them. 
They  are  all  about  the  county  and  state. 

Dirk  Tunisse  Van  Vechten  was  among  the  first  settlers  and 
he  came  to  this  country  in  1636,  settling  at  Greenbush.  He 
came  from  Norway  or  Holland  and  had  12  children,  and  they 
prospered  in  every  way. 

All  these  early  families  appear  to  have  raised  families  of 
stirring  qualities  as  well  as  numbers. 

Abraham  and  Catharine  Schuyler  had  15  children.  Samuel 
and  Sara  Overbaugh  had  10.  Nicholas  and  Maria  Spoor  had  10. 
Isaac  and  Sarah  Collier  had  10.  Martje  Van  Vechten  had  two 
husbands  and  had  11  children.    And  8  to  10  appears  to  have  been 

the  average  family. 

191 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE)  COUNTY. 


Frederick  Nelson  DuBois 

The  picture  of  the  Du  Bois  Mansion  -and  Portrait  of  Mr.  Du 
Bois  will  be  found  in  the  front  of  the  book, 

Frederick  Nelson  Du  Bois  was  born  October  6,  1829,  and 
was  the  son  of  John  D.  Du  Bois  to  whom  we  have  referred.  He 
was  born  in  Catskill,  and  learned  Ihe  trade  of  a  silver  smith  with 
his  brother  at  Buffalo.  In  1855  he  moved  to  Chicago,  and  in  1862 
was  working  in  the  gold  mines  of  Colorado,  having  with  him  his 
wife  and  two  children.  He  was  foreman,  builder  and  conductor 
of  several  mines,  but  lost  everything  when  the  works  were  destroy- 
ed by  fire.     In  1871  he  went  into  business  in  New  York. 

Most  wonderful  has  been  the  transformation  during  the  past 
years  on  the  property  known  as-the  Du  Bois  place  owned  by  F.  N. 
Du  Bois  well  known  to  every  resident  of  Catskill.  The  old  home- 
stead which  was  one  of  the  early  landmarks,  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Catskill  creek,  has  been  rebuilt  and  changed  into  a  place  of 
great  beauty.  On  the  flats  where  formerly  the  tides  swept  a  marsh 
field,  a  great  sweeping  terrace  keeps  out  the  floods  and  encloses  a 
sunken  garden,  with  flower  beds,  tennis  court,  driveways,  etc.  The 
frontage  is  securely  docked  and  has  a  fine  boat  house  -  and  an  ice 
house,  cold  storage,  and  a  very  pretty  cottage  and  barns.  Under 
the  trees  in  a  quiet  plot  near  the  entrance  to  this  place  have  been 
gathered  by  Mr.  Du  Bois  in  a  well  kept  enclosure  the  generations 
of  the  Du  Bois  family. 

The  farm  has  been  trimmed  and  garnished  with  all  the 
beauty  of  skilled  landscape  men,  and  seems  like  a  great  park  with 
its  roadways  and  drives  set  with  shrubs,  cairns,  statues,  etc. 

Topping  the  hillside  at  the  East  end  of  Grandview  avenue 
is  the  sightly  and  beautiful  mansion  of  Mr  Du  Bois  which  over- 
looks the  Hudson  for  many  miles,  and  which  catches  the  eye  of 
all  who  pass  up  and  down  the  river.  This  was  built  in  1898  by 
Edwin  Lampman .  It  is  furnished  in  keeping  with  the  exterior, 
and  shows  much  that  is  valuable  and  beautiful.  One  of  the  choice 
gems  of  his  library  is  the  costly  and   voluminous   family   history 

1.92 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COtlN^. 


which  covers  several  hundred  pages  and  contains  much  early  and 
valuable  history  and  records. 

Adjoining  the  mansion  are  the  barns  and  farm  buildings, 
bowling  alleys,  and  the  commodious  homestead  building  occupied 
by  Mr.  T.J.  Reilly,  a  nephew,  the  head  farmer  and  his  family. 

The  Du  Bois  place  forms  a  part  of  the  original  patent  to 
Mr.  Loveridge,   embracing  about  6000  acres. 

The  Du  Bois  family  has  had  a  long  and  honorable  record, 
See  generations  on  another  page. 

Tracing  down  to  the  present  owner  F.  N.  Du  Bois  who  on 
Tuesday,  October  6th,  1914  celebrated  his  85th  birthday,  he  has 
occupied  the  place  for  the  past  23  years  and  has  become  an  inte- 
gral part  of  Catskill  history  and  society,  and  he  has  expended  in 
improvements  on  the  place  probably  $100,000.  Clinging  like  an 
ivy  vine  to  a  sturdy  oak,  he  has  entwined  his  affections  about  the 
interests  and  life  of  Catskill.  Whether  it  was  a  new  and  better 
water  supply,  village  improvement,  church  extension  and  main- 
tenance, schools  or  charity  he  has  steadfastly  stood  at  the  front 
unassuming  and  unostentatious  but  always  liberal  and  generous 
to  a  fault.  It  was  his  love  for  the  young  men  of  Catskill  and  the 
upbuilding  of  the  moral  iuterests  of  the  town  that  prompted  him 
to  turn  over  to  Catskill  $ 30, 000  for  a  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building,  which 
a  credit  to  all,  and  a  beautiful  structure,  complete  and  commod- 
ious adorns  Main  street.  Nor  has  his  giving  since  been  other  than 
bountiful  for  its  maintenance. 

It  was  his  careful  planning  and  energy  that  saved  to  the 
business  life  of  Catskill  the  street  railroad,  into  which  he  put  a 
large  sum  of  money  on  several  occasions.  First  several  years  ago, 
and  then  again  in  1914  when  it  went  into  the  receiver's  hands. 
Under  his  plans  maturing  the  creditors  of  the  road  will  not  lose  a 
dollar. 

Mr.  Du  Bois  has  been  for  many  years  at  the  head  of  a  suc- 
cessful plumbing  supply  business  in  New  York. 

193 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


DU  BOIS  CEMETERY. 

Generations  of  the  Du  Bois's,  interred  in  the  Du  Bois  plot  on 
the  Du  Bois  Homestead,  gathered  from  many  points  by  Frederick  N. 
Du  Bois,   of  Catskill. 

Joel  Du  Bois,  born  May  25,  1762,  died  April  29,  1844.  (A  Minute 
Man  in  the  Revolution. 

Cornelia,  wife  of  Hybarius  Du  Bois,  died  August  25,  1795.  Aged 
sixty-eight  years. 

Emily  Ann,  daughter  of  Isaac  J.  Du  Bois,  born  January  10,  1817, 
died  April  2,  1841. 

Annaetje,  daughter  of  Col.  Cornelius  Du  Bois  and  Catharine 
Vanderpoel,  wife  of  Joel  Du  Bois,  born  Mar.  17,  1769,  died  May  11,  1846. 

Edward  B.  Manning,  died  February  22,  1861,  aged  two  months 
and  nine  days. 

Joel  Du  Bois,  born  Nov.  6,  1803,  died  Nov.  3,  1890. 

Sally  J.  Hunter,  wife  of  Joel  Du  Bois,  born  Jan.  12,  1810,  died 
April  17,  1858. 

Marry  Ann,  daughter  of  Joel  and  Sally  Jane  Du  Bois,  born  July 
22,  1845,  died  Nov.  7,  1848. 

Catherine  Du  Bois,  wife  of  John  Du  Bois,  died  August  24,  1850, 
aged   eight-five  years. 

Gitty  Du  Bois,  died  October  16,  1814,  aged  fifty-two  years. 
Caty  Du  Bois,  died  August  3,  1796,  aged  thirty-three  years. 
John  Du  Bois,   born   March   25th,   1760,   died  July  30,   1841,   aged 
eight-one  years. 

Pennet  Du  Bois,  died  May  15,  1794,  aged  thirty-four  years,  four 
months   and  fourteen  days. 

Isaac  Du  Bois,  died  October  8,  1795,  aged  sixty-four  years,  four 
months  and  eight  days. 

Lanah  Du  Bois,  died  Feb.  25,  1795,  aged  sixty-four  years,  nine  days. 

James  Du  Bois,  born  March  17,  1786,  died  January  4,  1871. 

Esther,  child  of.  Robert  F.  and  Esther  Story,  died  October  17,  1877, 
aged  thee  years  and  tv/o  months. 

Little  Frank,  aged  one  month  and  twenty-six  days. 

194 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Esther  Du  Bois,  wife  of  Robert  P.  Story,  born  August  28,  1833, 
died  August  16,  1891. 

Elizabeth  Abeel,  wife  of  N.  Hunter  Du  Bois,  died  September  17, 
1898,  aged  sixty-five  years. 

N.  Hunter  Du  Bois,  died  October  13,  1892,  aged  sixty-four  years. 

(BIG  TABLET.) 

Lewis  Du  Bois,  born  at  Wigcres,  near  Lille,  France,  1626.  A 
Huguenot  refuge  to  American.  Settled  at  Esopus,  now  Kingston, 
N.  Y.,  1660.  First  Elder  of  French  Reformed  Church,  New  Paltz,  1663. 
Died  at  Kingston  1695. 

Solomon,  fifth  son  of  Lewis  Du  Bois,  born  at  Kingston, *N.  Y.,  1669. 
Purchased  land  of  about  900  acres  at  Catskill  172Q.  Died  at  New 
Paltz  1757. 

Bejamin,  second  son  of  Solomon  Du  Bois,  born  at  New  Paltz,  1697. 
Settled  upon  his  father's  land  at  Catskill  in  1728  and  made  additional 
purchase  of  over  500  acres.     Died  at  Catskill  1767. 
This  Tablet  was  placed  in  the  cemetery  by  F.  N.  Du  Bois  in  June,  1907. 

William,  son  of  John  D.  and  Rebecca  Du  Bois,  died  October  2, 
1834,  aged  eighteen  years,  three  months  and  twenty-four  days. 

John  D.  Du  Bois,  died  June  3,  1845,  aged  sixty-one  years,  two 
months  and  thirteen  days. 

Rebecca   Ovetbaugh,   wife   of   John  D.   Du   Bois,   died   March   14, 

1869,  aged  eighty-two  years. 

Jane  Dise,  wife  of  John  Dise,  died  March  5,  1799,  aged  seventy- 
eight  years. 

James  Goelet,  son  of  John  Dies  and  Rebecca  Du  Bois,  born  July 
2,  1818,  died  February  25,  1898. 

Jane,  wife  of  James  G.  Du  Bois,  died  December  12,  1848,  aged 
twenty-eight  years. 

Lewis  Du  Bois,  born  July  15,  1809,  died  May  23,  1876. 

Elizabeth  B.,  wife  of  Lewis  Du  Bois,  born  June  15,  1807,  died 
May  5,  1864. 

Lewis,  son  of  Lewis  and  Reuhamay  Du  Bois,  born  February  15, 

1870,  died  July  23,  1900. 

Peter  Schutt,  born  April  24,  1789,  died  December  28,  1863. 
Rachael  Rightmyer,  wife  of  Peter  Schutt,   died  August,  18,  1870, 
aged  eighty-two  years  and  seven  months. 

The  cemetery  is  forty-four  feet  by  eighty  feet. 
First  interment  was   Mrs.   Isaac   Du  Bois,   1793. 

195 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  dOUN$T. 


Gapt.  (Jacob  Dunham 

Among  the  remarkable  characters  who  have  resided  in 
Greene  county,  perhaps  no  man  ever  had  a  more  exciting  life  than 
Captain  Jacob  Dunham,  and  if  we  had  the  space  to  tell  fully  his 
experiences  it  would  be  very  interesting  matter. 

Captain  Dunham  was  a  sea  going  man  and  had  experiences 
that  read  like  creations  of  Mayne  Reid.  Living  in  the  time  when 
pirates  sailed  the  seas  and  when  the  English  war  vessels  were 
blockading  the  coasts  of  this  country  he  encountered  all  the  varied 
exeriences  that  have  made  the  foundations  of  marine  fiction. 
Captured  by  the  Englibh  war  vessels  on  two  occasions,  and  cap- 
tured by  pirates  and  by  Indians,  running  the  blockades  success- 
fully, and  making  no  less  than  nineteen  sea  voyages,  he  finally 
died  a  battered  piece  of  humanity  in  his  home  town  Catskill,  hav- 
ing lost  every  penny  of  his  fortune. 

He  was  a  wonderful  man  and   when   near   the  close  of  his 

196 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


life  an  effort  was  made  to  have  the  government  compensate  him 
for  the  piratical  robberies  on  the  ocean  that  had  taken  his  all,  his 
character  was  vouched  for  in  a  certificate  that  was  signed  by 
Thomas  O'Hara  Croswell,  postmaster  of  Catskill,  Hon.  Malbon 
Watson,  Hon-  John  Adams,  Caleb  Day,  Orrin  Day,  Zadock  Pratt, 
T.  B.  Cooke,  Jacob  Haight,  Robert  Dorlon,  James  Power  and 
other  great  men  of  Greene  county. 

Captain  Dunham  came  to  Catskill  in  1785,  with  his  father 
who  was  an  officer  in  the  American  Navy  during  the  Revolution- 
ary war,  and  who  followed  the  sea  all  his  life.  * 

In  his  book  of  voyages  he  says  that  at  that  time  there  were 
only  seven  houses  in  Catskill,  and  that  his  father  purchased  a  half 
acre  of  ground  where  the  Greene  County  Hotel  now  stands.  This 
was  on  what  is  now  the  court  house  lot,  as  may  be  seen  by  refer- 
ence to  the  map  of  the  burned  district  in  1851,  found  on  page  61 
of  this  history. 

In  1793  he  was  an  apprentice  in  the  office  of  the  Catskill 
Packet,  published  by  Mackey  and  Thomas  Croswell,  printers.  He 
then  went  to  Charlestown,  S.  C,  where  he  was  employed  in  a 
printing  office,  returning  to  Catskill  in  1800.  Then  he  went  to 
boating  on  the  Hudson,     Then  back  to  the  printing  business. 

He  married  Fannie  Morgan  of  Catskill,  1801,  made  sea  voy- 
ages to  Charleston,  Savannah  and  to  St.  Croix. 

Then  he  was  fourth  owner  of  a  packet  sloop  with  T.  B.  and 
A.  Cooke  between  Catskill  and  New  York  and  he  made  money. 

In  1813  however  he  purchased  the  seagoing  sloop,  Rover,  a 
condemned  vessel  in  New  York,  which  had  broken  timbers,  no 
top  mast  and  rotten  planks  covered  with  leather  patches  to  keep 
out  the  sea  water. 

Into  that  tub  he  put  500  barrels  of  flour  and  70  barrels  of 
bread  and  ran  the  English  blockade  to  Providence.  He  loaded  with 
lumber  and  started  to  return.  At  Stonington  he  was  taken  by 
three  war  ships  and  after  being  allowed  to  go  on  shore  and  raise 
$100  as  ransom  he  was  permitted  to  sail  back  to  New  York,  the 
English  captain  having  taken  pity  on  him.     Not  only  that  but  he 

197 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


was  given  a  passport  for  another  trip.  This  stood  him  in  good 
when  a  few  weeks  later  the  same  man  of  war  captured  him  again. 

Later  on  after  having  made  a  lot  of  money  he  sold  the  Rover 
for  $450,  the  boat  haying  cost  him  $125.  And  the  boat  went  to 
^ieces  at  once. 

He  then  had  a  half  interest  in  the  Sloop  New  York  with 
the  Co'okes  of  Catskill,  and  took  a  cargo  of  potatoes,  onions,  salt, 
cheese,  ropes,  etc.  from  Catskill  to  Norfolk,  Va.,  and  while  he 
reached  Norfolk  all  right  after  a  rough  experience,  the  boat  was 
captured  by  a  man  of  war,  the  Sophia  20  guns,  and  the  Acton  16 
guns.  The  capture  of  Captain  Turner  of  the  American  brig  com- 
mander put  them  in  good  spirits  and  Capt.  Dunham  and  his  men 
were  put  ashore  and  returned  to  Catskill. 


Capt.  Dunham  lined    up  before  the  Pirates,  and  informed  that 
he  is  to  be  shot.     Picture  by  courtesy  of  Judge  Chase. 


Then  he  took  charge  of  the  Cyngus  of  New  York  and  made 
a  trip  to  Bermuda  and  Turks  Island  for  salt.  At  Musquite  Island 
they  fell  in  with  a  privateer  named  Capt.  Mitchell,  and  with  him 
made  an  attack  on  Gov.  Gonzales  at  St.  Andrea's  island.  They 
captured  the  governor  and  Mitchell  caused  him  to  be  hanged  from 

198 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


a  yard  arm.  Captain  Mitchell  at  that  time  boasted  that  he  had 
killed  100  Spaniards  with  his  own  hands,  because  of  ill  treatment 
they  had  given  him. 

Dunham  after  having  made  a  very  successful  trade  at  St. 
Andrea's  was  captured  by  the  Indians  and  lost  his  ship.  It  was  a 
long  time  before  he  found  his  way  back  to  Jamaica. 

In  February  1817  he  took  charge  of  the  sloop  Governor 
Tompkins  and  again  sailed  for  Old  Providence.  This  trip  was  a 
success. 

In  1821  he  was  again  in  partnership  with  Apollos  Cooke  of 
Oatskill  and  sailed  the  Combine,  was  captured  by  Portugese  pirates 
who  robbed  them  of  everything,  beat  them  and  finally  set  them 
adrift. 

The  last  voyage  made  by  him  was  in  1842  in  the  sloop  First 
Counsel,  but  this  boat  sunk,  while  at  anchor  near  Pokeepsie,  and 
after  being  raised,  the  wreckers  charge  not  being  met  the  sloop 
was  siezed  and  sold  for  less  than  the  charge. 


Famous  "Wooden  Bridges 

The  old  bridge  at  Catskill  was  authorized  to  be  built  in 
1801,  by  an  act  of  the  legislature,  and  was  550  feet  in  length,  and 
20  feet  in  width.  It  was  a  wooden  structure,  and  a  portion  of  the 
footpath  was  covered.  The  red  store  of  Jacob  Bogardus,  now 
occupied  by  Grocer  Fred  Woolhiser,  was  on  one  side,  and  the 
residence  of  Terrance  Donnelly  on  the  other.  Dr.  Porter,  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  officiated  at  the  opening  of  the  bridge. 
There  was  a  draw  on  the  side  next  to  the  Raynor  elevator,  which 
swung  on  a  pivot,  or  hinge.  Foot  passangers  were  required  to 
pay  3  cents,  and  teams  from  25  to  31  cents.  It  was  torn  down  in 
1881..  and  for  a  year  the  crossing  was  made  on  oil  barrels,  which 
formed  a  pontoon  bridge.  Hiram  Van  Steenburgh  built  this 
strange  pontoon  bridge.  The  new  iron  bridge  was  completed  in 
1882,  and  cost  $52,000. 

The  upper  iron  bridge  was  built  in  1869,  and  cost  $22,500. 
This  bridge  was  finally  condemned,  and  the  structure  dynamited 
to  make  room  for  the  $40,000  concrete  bridge. 

199 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Judge  Chase  has  some  of  the  old  bridge  tickets  in  his 
possession.  One  of  these  reads,  "Catskill  Bridge  Company.  This 
will  pass  two-horse  wagon  one  way,  25  cents." 


Charles  A.  Post. 

The  Post  Family 

While  we  are  dealing  with  the  early  residents  of  the  river 
section  of  Greene  county,  there  are  none  that  have  figured  more 
favorably,  than  the  Posts.  Just  when  they  came  to  this  country  we 
cannot  say,  and  all  that  we  know  is  that  Abram  Post  settled  in  the 
Embocght  about  1800,  and  was  the  father  of  Abram  Post  who  was 
born  in  Catskill  in  1808.  Abram  Post,  father  of  Charles  A.  Post 
occupied  the  farm  in  the  Embocght  and  was  a  model  farmer  in 
every  way. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Post  homestead  is  situated  about  4  miles  south  of  Cats- 
kill  and  had  been  in  their  possession  over  100  years,  when  Charles 
A  •  Post  consented  to  the  taking  over  of  the  property  for  the  great 
million  dollar  cement  plant  at  Alsen.He  moved  to  the  old  historical 
Storv  farm  which  he  purchased  of  Robert  F.  Story,  and  has  lived 
there  ever  since.  The  old  homestead  farmhouse  is  occupied  by 
the  cement  people. 

Steady  going,  honest  and  honorable  in  everyway  Posts  have 
forged  to  the  front  and  written  nobly  on  the  historical  fabric  of 
the  county. 

Ex-Sheriff  Charles  A.  Post,  many  times  supervisor  of  Cats- 
kill  was  born  on  the  old  farm  in  1837.  He  was  married  April  7, 
1859  to  Hannah  Winans,  who  passed  away  Sept.  19,  1914.  They 
had  6  children,  Mary  M.,  who  is  dead,  Edith  P.  who  married 
Wm.  G.  Trumpbour,  Annette,  Charles  E.,  Willis  W.  and  Abram, 
the  last  named  being  sheriff  of  Greene  county  and  also  under 
sheriff  under  Hardy  Stewart,  his  father-in-law  and  also  under  his 
father. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  during  the  life  of  Abram  Post 
father  of  Charles  A.  Post,  on  the  night  of  October  17,  1873,  at, 
the  old  homestead  occurred  the  great  robbery  that  filled  the  news 
columns  of  the.  press  of  that  period.  It  was  one  of  the  boldest 
robberies  of  the  period.  Mr.  Po3t  and  his  wife,  and  Edward  Post 
and  Sarah  Post  were  at  home,  and  they  were  the  victims  of  the 
masked  men,  6  in  number  who  bound  them  and  proceeded  to  take 
whatever  they  could  find  Of  value.  They  got  gold  watches,  spoons, 
$400  in  bonds,  a  check  of  $1200  and  $400  in  cash,  and  departed. 
Detectives  trailed  them  for  some  time  and  finally  after  the  gang 
had  robbed  a  family  named  Ford  in  Connecticut,  another  named 
Sutton  on  Staten  Island  and  Judge  Emmett  at  White  Plains,  the 
gang  was  located  in  a  house  on  Canal  Street,  New  York  City 
which  they  had  made  their  rendezvous.  They  watched  them  by 
the  aid  of  glasses  for  some  time,  and  finally  made  a  descent  in 
in  which  the  robbers  were  rounded  up  at  the  point  of  the  revolver. 

301 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


They  were  convicted  and  sentenced  to  long  terms  in  prison.     Most 
of  the  property  taken  from  the  Posts  was  recovered. 

Mr.  Post  is  one  of  the  few  men  who  has  been  said  to  have 
carried  the  vote  of  Greene  county  in  his  pocket-  And  all  of  this 
was  because  of  his  personal  magnetism,  generous  and  whole  souled 
nature.  If  "Charlie  Post''  — always  unassuming  and  retiring, 
modest  to  a  fault — could  b'e  prevailed  upon  to  become  a  candidate 
for  office  his  election  was  only  a  question  of  how  big  his  friends 
would  make  the  majority,  and  the  fact  that  the  town  was  political- 
ly against  him  made  not  the  slightest  difference.  As  supervisor 
of  the  town  of  Catskill  he  gained  the  distinction  of  being  the  friend 
of  all  and  the  town  profited  immensely  by  his  being  at  the  helm. 
He  would  have  been  continued  as  sheriff  indefinitely  had  the  law 
permitted.  In  fact  he  could  have  had  mo3t  any  office  within  the 
gift  of  his  party  had  he  desired  it. 


The  Gaiskill  Improvement  Association. 

The  Catskill  Association  was  formed  in  1837  for  the  purpose 
of  improving  Catskill  and  "other  purposes''  according  to  the  an- 
nouncement of  the  organization.  It  had  a  capital  stock  of  $746, 
000  and  $74,600  was  appropriated  for  improvements  of  land  of 
the  association  and  the  officers  were  George S.  Doughty  president, 
Evan  Griffeth  treasurer,  L.  B.  Woodruff  counsellor,  and  Thomas 
Duguid  secretary. 

The  first  object  named  and  duly  mapped  was  a  railroad 
from  Catskill  to  Canajoharie,  work  of  which  was  under  way.  And 
the  second  object  was  a  proposed  canal  to  connect  with  the  Erie 
Canal  at  Canajoharie,  and  this  is  duly  mapped  in  the  papers  that 
have  been  loaned  to  us.  It  was  stated  in  the  plan  that  Catskill 
had  3000  inhabitants,  40  shops  and  stores,  20  sloops  and  other 
river  craft,  and  unlimited  docking  facilities.  It  was  also  announc- 
ed "That  a  steamboat  would  be  able  to  go  to  New  York  and  back 
the  same  day.'-"  The  canal  would  be  65  miles  in  length  and  the 
railroad  80  miles.  A  meeting  at  the  court  house  in  the  interest 
of  this  project  was  held  and  a  resolution  passed  in  favor  of  this 
project,  being  signed  by  Thomas  Cooke,  John  Adams,  Orrin  Day, 

202 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Ezra  Hawley,  Jacob  Haight,  Peter  Breasted,  Hiram  Comfort, 
Isaac  "Van  Loan,  P.  T.  Mesick,  Amos  Cornwall,  John  M.  Donnelly, 
Francis  Sayre,  Malbon  Watson,  Caleb  Day,  S.  L.  Penfield,  Luke 
Kiersted,  F.  N.  Wilson,  Horace  Willard,  J.  R.  Greene,  Joshua 
Atwater,  John  Thompson,  Caleb  Hopkins,  Robert  Dorland,  Fred- 
erick Hill,  Tuzar  Buckley,  S.  Sherwood  Day,  Judson  Wilcox, 
John  R.  Sylvester,  Leonard  Kingsley, Edmund  Hatfield,  John  Van 
Vleck,  Robert  Harrison,  Edgar  Day,  J.  W.  Baldwin,  Geo.  Har- 
denburgh,  Wilkes  Hyde,  Henry  Mc  Kinstry,  Francis  Marvin,  Ira 
Du  Bois,  Nathan  Farrell,  Peter  Schaurman,  George  Marvin,  Caleb 
Crosswel,  John  Abeel,  T.  C.  Atwater,  John  Rowe,  Stephen  Bos- 
worth,  Ephraim  Beach. 

Greene  Gounty's  Constitutional  ^Revisionist 


H.  X,eroy  Austin. 
There  are  few  young   men   in   the  State  of  New  York  who 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


have  risen  to  prominence  and  have  a  more  brilliant  career  before 
them  than  H,  L.  Austin,  of  Catskill,  and  there  have  been  many- 
men  who  have  been  conspicious  in  every  way.  He  is  a  favorite  son 
of  Greene  county  and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  we  are  able  to  in- 
clude him  in  the  list  of  brilliant  men  who  have  made  the  county 
what  it  is. 

Barely  past  the  40  year  line,  he  has  become  one  of  the 
greatest  corporation  attorneys  in  the  state,  representing  the  great 
New  York  Central  Lines  the  past  three  or  four  years,  and  just  at 
present  is  conspicuous  as  having  been  selected  by  a  splendid  ma- 
jority to  represent  the  Empire  state  in  the  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion. Broad  minded,  public  spirited  and  capable  beyond  the 
average  man,  he  is  of  all  others  the  one  to  fill  with  credit  the  post 
of  responsibility. 

He  served  eight  years  as  chief  of  the  finance  bureau,  State 
Comptroller's  office;  District  Attorney  of  Greene  County,  by  ap- 
pointment of  Governor  Hughes;  conducted  investigations  into 
municipal  affairs  in  Westchester  and  Broome  counties  by  designa- 
tion of  then  Comptroller  Martin  H.  Glynn,  and  in  Schenectady 
county  by  designation  of  Comptroller  Williams.  As  a  result  of 
his  investigations  a  judgment  for  over  $60,000  was  recovered 
for  fees  illegally  taken  from  the  County  of  Westchester;  in  Broome 
county  the  County  Treasurer  and  Clerk  of  Board  of  Supervisors 
convicted  of  misappropriation  of  county  funds  and  over  $25,000 
recovered  by  the  county;  in  Schenectady  county,  members  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  and  others  convicted  and  about  $10,000 
recovered  from  a  former  sheriff. 

In  1910  Mr.  Austin  was  designated  by  Governor  Hughes  to 
investigate  the  purchases  of  lands  in  the  Adirondacks  by  the  State, 
and  unearthed  great  frauds,  leading  Governor  Hughes  to  appoint 
him   Forest,  Fish  and  Game  Commissioner  of  the  State. 

It  was  during  this  sweeping  reform  that  Mr.  Austin  brought 
about  while  he  was  at  the  head  of  the  Forest,  Fish  and  Game  Com- 
mission that  he  had  occasion  to  meet  out  a  little  justice  in  Greene 
county  of  the  sort  that  has  always  stamped  him  as  a  great   man. 

£04 


bi^AR  oib  green^  dotfNtV. 


Just  about  the  time  he  went  into  office  there  was  a  poor  lumber- 
man named  Walter  Dederick  of  Leeds,  who  had  cleared  a  piece  of 
land  and  because  of  sickness  had  not  been  able  to  take  care  of  the 
tops.  Some  game  warden  got  in  line  and  a  fine  of  $200  was  levied 
upon  Mr.  Dederick, who  had  the  double  misfortune  of  having  lost 
his  leg  in  a  lumber  camp.  It  was  a  graye  injustice,  and  the  first 
thing  that  Mr.  Austin  did  was  to  proclaim  it  as  such,  and  then  he 
went  down  into  his  pocket  book  and  paid  that  little  fine. 

And  there  you  have  the  calibre  of  the  man  who  is  going  to 
go  a  good  deal  higher  in  the  political  field  before  he  is  through. 

He  is  at  present  associated  with  Messrs.  Visschnir  &  Walen 
of  Albany,  under  the  name  of  Visschner,  Walen  &  Austin. 


Individual  Money 

It  may  be  interesting  to  know  that  there  was  a  very  great 
scarcity  of  money  in  Catskill  and  all  through.  Greene  county  dur- 
ing the  period  of  the  Rebellion,  and  that  while  the  country  was 
overrun  with  coins  of  the  size  of  pennies,  that  became  known  as 
tokens,  individual  firms  had  shin-plasters  and  many  issued  tickets 
that  went  as  money.  Judge  Chase  has  in  his  collection  of  curios, 
167  varieties  of  these  early  tokens,  and  a  collection  of  tickets  that 
went  as  money. 

Some  of  these  read: 


Due  the  Bearer  :  Good    for 

2  CENTS  :         :  2    CENTS  : 

At  Wicks   Market  ;         :    At  Meech  &  Bagleys  Store  : 


Good  for 

2  CENTS  :  ^pnts 

At  My  office  in  Leeds  ;  3  \?N  l*>    , 

Or  at  the  Fiero  Stores  :  At  Jullus  Sauls 


He  also  has  a  collection  of  script  of  the  Old  Greene  County 
Bank,  and  the  Catskill  bank:   in  denominations  from  One  Dollar 

and  a  Half  to  $100. 

205 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


He  also  has  one  of  the  tickets  used  at  the  time  of  the  Walsh 
■  trial.     This  read: 

Supreme  Court,  Greene  County, 

Admit  Bearer 

Piatt  Coonley,  Sheriff  of  Greene  County 


A  Gjreal  Iiwentor  From    Prattsville 

Wm.  Bullock,  we  are  informed  was  born  at  Greenville  and 
subsequently  removed  to  Prattsville  where  he  worked  iu  a  printing 
office.  He  was  a  great  genius  and  invented  while  at  that  place 
the  first  roatry  perfecting  printing  press  in  the  country,  which 
printed  from  a  roll  and  finished  both  sides  at  once.  This  was 
the  greatest'invention  in  printing  and  many  others  have  taken  up 
the  Bullock  idea.  In  1849  he  i3  said  to  have  removed  from  Pratts- 
ville to  Catskill  and  to  have  been  connected  with  a  naper  publish- 
ed at  Prattsville  and  moved  to  Catskill.  It  is  likely  this  paper 
was  the  American  Eagle,  though  the  historian  has  it  that  he  pub- 
lished the  Banner  of  Union  in  Catskill.  The  Eagle  was  changed  to 
the  Banner  of  Industry,  also  Democratic  Herald  by  Lyman 
Tremaine,  and  subsequently  merged  with  the  Recorder.  In  1867 
Mr.  Bullock  was  hurt  while  putting  up  one  of  his  presses  at 
Philadelphia,  his  death  being  the  result. 

William  Bullock  married  Emily  Rundell,  a  Greenville 
woman,  and  he  had  two  sons,  one  of  whom,  William,  was  at 
Prattsville  last  summer,  on  a  visit  to  the  Maces,  who  are  related 
to  him.  The  other  son  is  Harry  Bullock.  After  the  death  of 
William  Bullock,  Mrs.  Bullock  moved  to  Prattsville,  and  sub- 
sequently married  Danforth  Frair.  Through  Sidney  Crowell,  she 
was  able  to  recover  $5000,  and  Mr.  Crowell  got  $500  for  getting 
it.  The  facts  in  regard  to  the  suit,  we  do  not  know. 

He  was  born  in  1814  and  died  in  1867,  and  Mr.  Crowell 
who  recovered  the  money  for  the  heirs  was  at  that  time  practicing 
law  at  Prattsville.  Mr.  Bullock  tried  in  vain  to  have  the  patent 
on  his  press  renewed.  At  the  time  of  the  invention  he  was  operat- 
ing a  foundry  at  Ashland. 

206 


DtiAR    OLD    GREECE    dOUNTY. 


First  Catskill  (Steamer 

Geo.  Halcott  of  Catskill  was  engineer. 

A  man  of  considerable  note,  the  town  of  Halcott  being 
named  after  him. 

The  representation  below  of  The  Frank  which  we  are  in- 
formed was  the  first  steamboat  running  from  Catskill  to  New  York 
and  it  was  around  1837.  The  drawing  is  from  a  picture  in  the 
possession  of  Judge  Chase  and  is  prized  by  him,  as  there  are  few  if 
any  other  pictures  of  the  boat.  This  boat  ran  semi-weekly  trips  to 
New  York.  The  first  ferry  was  a  scow  propelled  by  oars,  and  then 
after  many  years  that  was  succeeded  by  a  horse  power  ferry,  and 
then  the  A.  F.  Beach. 


ip>  ?  C\ 


— J^rrjr-— '    -—        j^nfifieef- 


.**VBM^»0^ 


The  Frank  1837, 


Talk  about  Longfellow  and  Bryant  and  all  the  other  great 
poets,  in  1837  there  was  printed  a  big  volume  of  poems  entitled 
the  "Farmers  Muse"  written  by  Benjamin  Hine  of  Cairo.  A  well 
bound  leather  covered  volume  of  273  pages.  And  the  book  was  a 
seller.  Mr. Hine  we  find  was  a  celebrated  character  in  his  native 
town,  and  familiarly  known  as  Big  Ben  Hine,  and  also  as  Old  Ben 
Hine. 

207 


t>EAR    OLb    GREENES    COUNTY. 


Gholera  in  Gatskill 

Catskill  was  visited  by  the  cholera  in  1832,  1834,  1849 
and  again  in  18S4,  and  the  plague  was  laid  to  the  conditions  that 
were  permitted  to  exist  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Hoponose  and 
along  Greene  street.  There  were  several  slaughter  yards  in  that 
section,  and  the  enormous  catches  of  herring,  which  were  stored 
there,  were  allowed  to  rot.  and  create  a  very  filthy  condition. 
Captain  John  H.  Bagley,  in  his  reminisence  says  that  in  1854 
there  were  300  cases  of  cholera  in  Catskill,  and  a  very  large  pro- 
portion of  that  number  died.  There  was  no  rain  from  May  to 
September,  and  the  cholera  period  extended  over  a  part  of  May, 
June,  July,  August  and  September. 

A  great  many  people  left  Catskill  and  went  into  the 
mountain  section,  and  were  safe.  Ministers  and  doctors  were 
among  the  number  leaving  the  place,  though  Dr.  George  A. 
Howard,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  is  said  to  have  return- 
ed to  Catskill  to  assist  in  the  funeral  work.  Of  the  physicians 
who  remained,  Dr.  Bell  was  stricken  and  died.  He  revived,  how- 
ever, after  he  had  been  placed  in  a  coffin,  and  climbed  out  and 
got  a  gun  to  shoot  the  persons  who  had  laid  him  out,  but  soon 
passed  away.  Men  were  walking  the  street,  and  a  few  hours 
later  were  dead.  One  woman,  Mrs.  Philip  Brown  recovered  after 
being  in  her  coffin,  and  lived  for  years.  Cholera,  yellow  fever 
and  small  pox,  appear  to  have  been  disease  of  filth,  and  made 
terrible  ravages. 

Harmony  Lodge  was  organized  in  1795,  and  Stephen  and 
Ira  Day  were  second  and  third  on  the  record.  There  was  another 
man  named  Whittemore,  and  the  early  scribe  thus  writes  his 
immortal  epitaph,  possibly  epithet: 

"Mister  Whittemore,  Axed  sixpence  to  bore  a  small  gimlet 
hole  thro  a  mop  pole." 

This  certainly  was  shocking. 


In  1718  an  act  was  passed  granting  freeholders  and  inhabi- 
tants of  the  precincts  of  Catskill  and  Coxhackey  in  ye  county  of 
Albany  the  privilege  of  choosing  yearly  a  supervisor. 

208 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


In  Times  of  the  Gatskill  Whig 

From  the  Catskill  Messenger,  published  by  Ira  Du  Bois  in 
1830,  a  copy  of  which  was  preserved  by  the  late  Judson  Wilcox, 
we  are  able  to  secure  a  number  of  interesting  matters.  The  paper 
was  4  pages  of  6  columns  and  the  subscription  price  was  $2 .  50 
per  year. 

One  of  the  most  conspicuous  matters  advertised  was  Whea- 
ton's  Itch  Ointment,  25  cents  "Cures  in  an  Hour,"  The  itch  was 
called  a  loathsome  disease.    Also  a  cure  for  "Fever  and  Ague.'' 

Croswell  and  Brace,  druggists,  of  whom  we  are  afjle  to  pre- 
sent pictures,  sold  "Jaundice  Bitters."  "Davenport's  Celebrated 
Eye  Water,''  and  "Bilious  Pills.''  Henry  Mc  Kinstry  sold  "Hy- 
giean  Medicine"  which  was  guaranteed  to  cure  Small  Pox,  Kings 
Evil,  Apoplexy,  Palsy,  Consumption,  and  other  ills  including  St. 
Vitus  Dance.  This  medicine  was  alleged  to  have  been  recommend- 
ed by  a  lot  of  Royal  Eminent  Gentlemen.    $2  per  packet. 

The  shipping  was  done  by  Penfield  and  Day  who  operated 
the  sloops  Buck  Tail  and  Shakespeare. 

The  steamers  Champlain  and  North  America  between  Al- 
bany and  New  York  landed  at  Catskill  running  day  trips  and  the 
Dewitt  Clinton  and  the  Ohio  and  Robert  L.  Stevens  night  line  on 
same  route  did  not  stop  at  Catskill. 

T.  C.  Atwater  sold  saw  mill  cranks,  iron  and  steel. 

Griggs  and  Bullock  sold  ploughs. 

J.  W.  Hunter  sold  crowbar  drafts. 

S.  Bosworth  and  J.  Gebbard  sold  satin  beaver  hats. 

T.  C.  Atwater  sold  bark  mills, 

H.  Comfort  sold  prepared  floor  plank. 

Francis  Sayre  offered  $1000  for  any  stove  that  beat  his  in- 
vention. 

S.  W.  Bullock  and  Co.  sold  leather  rollers. 

Riesdolph  and  Van  Kuren  took  care  of  the  horse  shoeing. 

C.  Trowbridge  opera-ted  a  soap  and  candle  factory. 

Thornis  Reed  taught  a  select  school  on  William  street,  dis- 
trict school  building. 

209 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Dr.  Abel  Brace. 


The  block  of  stores  occupied  by  William  L.  Du  Bois,  How- 
ard Smith,  the  Examiner  and  the  old  building  on  the  Hasselman 
lot  since  remodeled,  wa-  built  by  Mackey  Croswell,  and  the  Cros- 
wells  and  Dr.  Brace  had  their  oflices  on  Greene  street.  Here  the 
first  Catskill  Packet  was  printed  and  this  building  was  later  moved 
to  the  corner  where  the  express  office  now  is  where  they  opened 
a  drug  business.  In  1*22  they  built  the  brick  block,  where  they 
continued.  Later  Benjamin  Wey  and  Wm.  L.  DuBois  at  the 
same  stand,   Mr.  DuBois  over  <Jl  years. 

210 


.All  Hail 
OHIO. 


The  Steam  Boat  OHIO,  having  been 

chartered  by  the  Whigs  of  New  York  for  the  occasion,  left  that  city  this 
this  morning  at  1  o'clock  for  Albany.  She  will  fire  salutes  at  the  differ- 
ent Landings  along  the  river,  in  honor  of  the  GLORIOUS  VICTORY 
obtained  by  our  Whig  friends  in  Ohio.  She  will  pass  our  landing  between 
3  and  5  o'clock  this  afternoon,  at  which  time  the  Whigs  of  Catskill  are 
requested  to  assemble  at  the  point,  and  give  her  a  reception  worthy  of  so 
glorious  a  result.    Ry  order  of  the  Committee. 

Catskill,  October  30, 1834. 


-*.:,*..- 


The  Whigs  will  also  bear  in  mind  the 

meeting  at  REACH'S  this  evening. 

Photo  Reproduction  Poster  preserved  by  the  late  Judson  Wilcox  1834. 


MAtl    OLD    GREENE    COUNTY. 


Mr.  Sturtevant  bad  a  classical  school. 
Henry  Mc  Kinstry  sold  dry  goods. 

T.  C.  Atwater  sold  Nott's  Salamander  Stoves  and  the  Park- 
er's Prophesy  Stoves. 

John  Wolcott  sold  flour  at  f 6.50  per  barrel. 
Henry  Mc  Kinstry  sold  groceries. 
Isaac  Rice  sold  boots  and  shoes. 


NO  MONOPOLY. 


NOTICE  is  hereby  publicly  given 

to  fishermen,  that  the  undersigned  have  become  acquainted  ,  with  tbe 
existence  of  an  odious  monopoly  in  the  ancient,  respectable,  and  apos- 
tolic business  of  fishing.  This  monopoly  is  composed  of  a  combination 
of  a  Trinity  of  two  Deacons  and  one  Uevil,  and  has  for  its  object  the 
total  forestalling  of  fishing  on  the  Plauchy.  To  obviate  the  disadvan- 
tages which  the  subscribers  are  subject  by  this  precious  trio  of  religion 
and  iniquity,  they  hereby  give  notice  that  they  wish  to  hi«  , twenty 
fisherman  for  tbe  ensuing  season,  who  can  bring  testimonials  that  they 
will  chew  as  much  tobacco,  drink  as  much  liquor,  und  whistle  as  good  a 
tune  as  the  devil  himself,  (who  is  a  Walker  about,  seeking  whom  he 
may  devour,)  with  the  aid  of  his  two  arch-deacons.  None  other  need 
apply,  and  those  who  come  well  recommended  for  the  above  precious 
qualifications,  will  be  paid  liberal  wages. 

MO RG  AN  STOCKI NGS  <fc  CO. 
Catskill.  February  9,  1835. 


Poster  Preserved  by  Judson  Wilcox. 

Of  Reminiscervt  Interest 

Solomon  Chanler  who  conducted  a  hotel  at  Bridge  street 
corner,  Catskill,  called  the  village  tavern,  is  said  by  early  writers 
to  have  had  a  club  foot,  hickory  cane  and  voice  like  a  Numidian 
lion.  He  spent  most  of  his  time  groaning  sacred  music.  He  was 
grandfather  of  Henry  Baker,  whom  the  writer  remembers  30  years 
ago  as  conducting  a  printing  office  near  the  Saulpaugh. 

Ben  Hallenbeck  operated  a  scow  ferry  between  the  Point 
and  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and  it  almost  broke  his  heart 
when  he  had  to  give  way  to  the  horse  propelled  ferry. 

212 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


It  is  interesting  to  note  that  in  1807,  Henry  Ashley  was  a 
tanner,  John  Blanchard.  Nathaniel Hinman,  Lemuel  Hall,  Simon 
Sanford,  David  Thorpe  and  Shadrack  White  were  cordwainers. 
Abijah  Beach  was  a  saddler,  and  so  was  John  Bolen,  Henry  Home- 
diu  was  a  wheelwright ,  Stephen  Root  was  a  tanner,  Joshua  Steb- 
bins  was  a  nailor,  James  Cole  a  cabinet  maker,  Ephram  Baker, 
Adonija  Baker,  John  Hyde,  and  Jared  Stocking  blacksmiths,  Peter 
Breasted  a  glazier,  Caleb  Croswell  a  gilder,  Elisha  Ferguson  a 
cooper,  David  Horton  a  weaver,  John  Doane,  who  rounded  the 
century  and  is  remembered  by  some  Catskillians  was  a  ship  joiner, 
Jehiel  Preston  made  clocks,  Mackey  Croswell  was  a  printer,  John 
Lacy  a  ship  builder,  and  also  John  Gager.  There  was  quite  a 
number  of  bouse  joiners:  Henry  Selleck,  Reuben  Sanderson,  Her- 
man Hinman,  Nathaniel  Eels,  Benjamin  Sole,  ship  carpenters, 
John  Olcott  made  rope.  Occupations  that  have  passed,  as  well  as 
men. 

Dr.  Croswell  used  to  boast  that  he  had  a  white  horse,  a 
white  cow  and  a  white  nigger,  and  the  latter  took  care  of  the 
others  and  at  odd  times  blacked  the  doctor's  shoes,  pumped  the 
soda  fountain  and  rolled  the  pills.  He  also  was  an  expert  at  kill- 
ing and  dressing  hogs. 

Our  reporter  who  spent  many  hours  in  the  local  cemeteries 
alleges  that  he  was  unable  to  start  an  argument.  He  listed 
the  name  of  Hiland  Hill  who  we  find  was  an  old  builder  of  sloops 
and  had  a  ship  yard  on  the  Creek  near  the  Point,  possibly  where 
Benter  now  is.  Richard  Hill  who  was  a  brother  is  said  to  have 
represented  the  United  States  as  Consul  at  Valpariso.  He  sent  a 
couple  of  natives  to  Catskill  to  be  educated  by  Dr.  Porter.  Hiland 
Hill  jr.  is  remembered  by  the  writer,  as  cashier  of  the  Catskill 
Bank. 

Charles  Bliven  one  of  the  early  residents  of  the  West  Side, 
Catskill,  is  said  to  have  given  the  name  Blivenville  to  that  section 
which  still  remains .  The  Blivens  were  relatives  of  Mrs.  R.  D, 
Miller. 

?13 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Among  the  names  that  are  to  be  found  on  the  old  register 
of  the  Catskill  Mountain  House  is  that  of  Aaron  Burr,  a  famed 
character  of  the  Colonial  period.  Mr.  Burr  frequently  made  trips 
into  this  section  and  the  Mountain  House  which  was  on  a  primi- 
tive road  was  reached  by  saddle  parties,  and  these  parties  took 
several  days  or  weeks  to  make  trips  farther  into  the  country.  Mr. 
Burr  probably  was  on  his  way  from  a  visit  to  the  Prevosts  at  Green- 
ville as  he  resided  at  Albany,  and  later  on  was  married  to  the 
widow  Prevost. 


Catskill  Mt.  House  in  1828. 

In  the  course  of  several  interviews  with  F.  N.  Du  Bois  who 
lived  in  Catskill  we  have  been  able  to  get  some  very  interesting 
matters  of  the  early  times  that  have  never  before  found  their  way 
into  print  and  which  form  a  part  of  this  book.  One  of  the  pleasant- 
ries of  the  early  history  which  he  tells  is  of  Government  Meat  In- 
spector Williams  who  was  stationed  at  Catskill  Point  during  the 
days  of  the  slaughter  houses  to  which  we  have  referred.  Williams 
was  great  on  his  judgment  of  meat,  and  Williams  was  also  very 
tender  on  venison  and  bear  steaks.  Peter  Schutt,  grandfather  of 
Louis  P.  Schutt  who  kept  the   old   hotel  where   Frank  Ryan   is 

214 


DEAE  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


located  was  a  great  hunter  and  a  great  practical  joker.  After  one 
of  his  successful  hunts  he  made  Williams  a  present  of  a  fine  bear 
steak,  and  after  Williams  had  exploited  his  bear  steak  to  his 
hearts  content,  Schutt  very  sedately  informed  the  inspector  that  it 
was  a  pig  steak.  Mr.  Schutt  afterwards  purchased  the  property 
at  Kaaterskill  falls  where  the  Laurel  House  is  located,  and  this 
was  run  about  25  year  ago  by  L.  P   Schutt. 

Mr.  DuBois  tells  of  visiting  the  old  paper  mill  in  Austin'3 
Glen  with  his  father  when  a  lad ,  and  of  the  interest  he  took  in 
watching  the  paper  making.     The   old   mill  has  been   torn  down. 

John  Du  Bois  who  at  one  time  lived  with  his  parents  in  the 
homestead  house  on  the  Du  Bois  place  drove  to  Neuburgh  with  a 
load  of  straw,  going  and  returning  on  the  ice  and  he  sold  his  load  to 
Gen.  George  Washington  for  use  in  the  Continental  army.  He  was 
then  a  lad  of  about  17  years.  Whether  the  money  he  received  in 
payment  for  the  straw  was  worth  a  Continental  or  not  we  know  not. 
The  expression  came  down  and  still  is  common.  In  those  days 
there  was  a  loom  and  spinning  wheel  in  every  house,  and  the 
lumber  used  was  sawed  out  by  hand.  Many  of  the  big  cedars  were 
worked  up  with  the  aid  of  a  whip  saw. 

Mr.  Du  Bois  says  that  around  1841  he  attended  a  lecture  by 
one  of  Catskill's  teachers,  Prof.  R.  L.Ross  and  that  he  demonstrat- 
ed the  electric  light.  Nor  has  he  forgotten  the  old  ruler  with 
which  Mr-  Ross  demonstrated  that  he  was  master  of  the  school. 
He  also  remembers  Dr.  Porter  very  well,  at  the  time  when  he  liyed 
at  the  corner  of  Spring  and  William  streets,  being  the  last  house 
in  the  direction  of  the  river. 

George  C .  Fox  until  recently  in  business  on  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Factory  streets  recalls  the  visit  of  Jay  Gould  to  Catskill 
in  the  early  30's,  on  which  occasion  Mr.  Gould  had  with  him  a 
wheelbarrow  which  he  was  pushing  through  the  street,  and  that 
barrow  contained  a  surveyor's  outfit  with  which  he  was  making  the 
necessary  surveys  for  maps  of  Greene,  Schoharie,  Delaware  and 
other  counties.  A  few  of  these  maps  are  still  in  existence  and 
they  are  worth  their  weight  in  gold.     The  maps  showed  views   of 

215 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


villages  and  the  location  of  residences  scattered  along  the  highways 
over  which  Mr-  Gould  passed.  And  Mr.  Gould  failed  not  to  col- 
lect tribute  for  the  jotting  of  the  locations  of  farm  houses  on  the 
map.  The  surveying  of  these  maps  led  to  the  great  railroad  in= 
terests  of  Mr.  Gould. 


William  Smith,  Uncle  Sam. 

L.  8.  and  William  Smith  built  a  considerable  part  of  Cats- 
kill,  and  they  fill  an  important  niche  in  the  history  of  Catskill. 
Wm.  Smith  came  to  Catskill  from  South  Westerlo  around  1820  or 
possibly  earlier  and  his  last  visit  to  Catskill  was  during  Old  Home 
Week  1908,  when  he  was  seen  on  the  streets  in  his   suit   of  stars 

216 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


and  stripes,  recalling  to  Catskillians  the  fact  that  he  was  the  orig- 
inal Uncle  Sam.  He  was  then  bordering  90  years  of  age  and 
sprightly  as  the  average  man  at  60.  In  company  with  his  brother 
they  employed  at  times  100  masons  and  carpenters,  and  their  work 
is  still  in  as  good  shape  as  when  first  built.  The  mansion  of  Artist 
Church  on  Mt.  Merino  was  built  by  them,  and  many  other  build- 
ings including  the  Catskill  High  school,  the  Fiero  house  on  Wil- 
liam street,  the  Methodist  church,  Baptist  church,  in  1850.  Among 
the  tradesmen  who  learned  their  craft  of  this  firm  were  the  Wolfs, 
Rulands,  Edwin  Lampman,  Geo.  W.  Holdridge,  Adrian  Mull, 
Gotleib   Fromer   Charles  Beardsley  and  Geo.  H.  Warner. 

We  present  a  very  fine  portrait  of  William  Smith.  He  died 
at  Tuscon,  Arizona,  in  1910  at  the  age  of  91  years.  He  was  for- 
merly reputed  to  be  wealthy,  hut  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  was 
in  absolute  poverty,  and  a  subscription  was  raised  to  save  his  re- 
mains from  a  pauper's  grave. 

In  the  barn  of  another  hotel  at  Brosnaham's  street,  now 
Bronson  street  a  man  named  Highdecker  hanged  himself,  and  the 
incident,  killed  his  business. 

The  writer  remembers  that  in  1882  there  hung  on  the  wall 
in  the  Catskill  Recorder  office  a  long  strip  of  ironwood  bark  drawn 
into  a  slip  knot,  and  dusty  with  age,  and  near  by  it  was  the  skin 
of  a  6  foot  rattle  snake.  With  the  bark  slip  knot  an  old  settler 
had  hanged  himself,  and  he  is  led  to  believe  it  may  have  been 
Highdecker.  Nelson  Mundin  a  Catskill  fish  peddler  of  very  un- 
certain age  ranging  the  90s  possibly  used  to  come  to  the  office  of 
the  Recorder  and  usually  this  slip  knot  was  exhibited  to  him  and 
he  would  turn  and  run  away  in  great  terror.  Mundin  han  an  idea 
that  if  he  went  to  bed  he  would  die,  and  it  was  said  that  he  slept 
in  a  chair,  and  it  is  certain  that  he  died  setting  in  a  chair.  We 
can  still  hear  him  calling  "Fresh  Prospect  Park  Shad." 

The  slaughtering  of  cattle  in  a  regularly  conducted  meat 
businees  commenced  at  Catskill  Point  around  1800,  at  which  time 
cattle  in  large  droves  were  sent  across  the  country  through  Gilboa, 
Prattsville,  Cooksburgh  to  Catskill,  and  while  vast  numbers  were 

217 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


sent  to  New  York  to  be  slaughtered  many  were  killed  at  the  Point 
for  packing  purposes.  Solomon  Woodruff  and  Francis  N.  Wilson 
were  at  the  head  of  this  industry.  Every  barrel  of  pork  or  beef 
to  pass  government  inspection  and  was  marked  U.  S.  Samuel 
Wilson  was  the  inspector  and  originated  the  term  known  as  Uncle 
Sam.  James  Gleason  was  the  boss  and  when  pay  day  came  he 
would  climb  up  a  ladder  and  announce  to  the  men  that  they  had 
that  week  spilled  more  blood  than  ever  Napoleon  did.  F  N.Wilson 
Fire  Company  was  named  in  his  honor.  300  cattle  were  killed  a 
day. 

Orlando  Bogardus  later  came  into  prominence  as  a  dealer 
and  always  announced  that  the  weight  was  plump  scant  when  he 
made  a  sale.  Later  Captain  Hiram  Bogardus  was  in  tha  business 
and  had  associated  with  him  Oliver  Bourke.  Mr.  Bourke  con- 
tinued the  business  for  many  years  and  became  Esquire  Bourke,  a 
man  of  sympathy  and  well  and  honorably  known  whose  death 
occurred  a  few  years  ago . 

In  addition  to  the  slaughter  of  cattle,  tanning  hides  was  one 
of  the  early  and  leading  industries  of  Greene  county  and  neighbor- 
ing counties  in  fact,  an  industry  that  has  passed.  Col.  Zadock 
Pratt  the  George  Washington  of  the  county  wad  one  of  the  pion- 
eers in  this  industry  and  made  a  fortune  in  the  business  at  Pratts- 
ville.  Jay  Gould  was  associated  with  him  in  Pennsylvania.  Few 
Catskillians  are  aware  that  a  large  tannery  was  located  at  the 
head  of  Main  6treet.  This  was  owned  and  managed  by  Henry 
Ashley,  Nicholas  Swartwout  and  later  Jones  and  Bagley,  who  had 
numerous  business  enterprises  in  Catskill,  hotel,  grocery,  boarding 
house,  etc.     Another  tannery  was  located  on  the  Hans  Vossenkill. 

From  a  description  of  town  and  county  life  in  America  in 
1800  we  gather  the  information  that  Catskill  in  1792  numbered  10 
dwellings,  and  there  were  in  1800,  156  houses,  2  ships,  1  schooner. 
8  sloops,  each  capable  of  transporting  100  tons,  and  all  carrying 
produce  to  New  York.  On  a  single  day  in  1801  four  thousand 
bushels  of  wheat  were  brought  in  Catskill  and  800  loaded  sleighs 
came  in  by  the  western  road.  At  this  time  Catskill  was  something 
of  importance  as  a  center  of  trade  from  the   western   part   of   the 

218 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


county  and  adjoining  counties  and  the  point  from   which  most  of 
the  shipping  was  done. 

During  the  20's  Catskill  had  an  artillery  company  that  was 
commanded  by  the  intrepid  and  crafty  Jared  Stocking,  and  Athens 
had  another  that  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Sam.  Hamilton.  The 
war  spirit  was  still  thrilling  their  veins,  and  when  the  Athenians 
stole  down  and  captured  Catskill's  brass  6  pounder  there  was  some 
big  fight  on.  Catskill  wanted  to  celebrate.  They  did  so, but  Athens 
got  the  gun  and  hid  it,  and  went  to  Mackey  Croswell's  tavern  for 
ammunition,  after  wetting  their  flint  locks  in  Croswell's  good  rum, 
they  discovered  that  Stocking's  men  in  their  bare  feet  h*ad  got  the 
gun.  And  they  hid  it  so  successfully  in  Isaac  Du  Bois  loft  that 
it  never  came  back. 

Wooley  Scott  lived  near  Diamond  Hill  which  was  remov- 
ed to  make  room  for  shale  brick  plant  opposite  the  Hopenose,  and 
he  was  one  of  the  most  eccentric  characters  of  the  early  period. 
Tradition  says  that  he  was  never  sober  on  a  weekday  or  drunk  on 
Sunday,  and  that  while  he  was  taking  in  the  yarns,  reminiscence, 
and  elixirs  of  the  groggery,  he  was  jibed  by  boys,  like  Catskill  boys 
30  years  ago  pestered  the  High  Hill  Hallenbecks,  three  characters 
who  came  to  Catskill  with  a  few  bean  poles  to  sell  generally,  and 
getting  loaded  would  start  for  home.  Then  a  pack  of  boys  would 
follow  them  through  the  street  and  take  their  poles,  pull  them 
from  the  wagon  and  do  all  sorts  of  things  to  anger  them .  These 
men  will  be  remembered  by  many.  Wooley  Scott  was  the  victim 
of  some  very  mean  pranks.  The  boys  not  only  stole  his  clams, 
dumped  his  sand,  lured  away  his  horse,  but  they  set  fire  to  his 
load  of  straw.  Wooley  claimed  that  he  was  a  near  relative  of 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  but  he  was  a  better  judge  of  rum  than  poetry. 

In  his  reminiscence  of  Catskill,   Thurlow  Weed  tells  of  the 

murder  of  one  John  Williams,   and   that   after  the  finding  cf  the 

body  it  was  shown  that  he  had  been  at  the  house  of  Nancy  McFall. 

The  angry  populace  gathered  at  the  Mc  Fall  place  and  demolished 

it.     Later  the  alleged  murderer  was  apprehended,  convicted,  and 

hanged.     An  hour  afterward  a  reprieve  arrived.    That  was  around 

1800. 

219 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Dr.  Croswell,  Rev.  Dr.  Porter  and  Maior  Jacob  Haight 
who  served  the  County  in  the  legislature  are  reckoned  by  Mr.  Weed 
as  the  three  great  men  of  the  early  period.  He  also  classed  Judge 
Moses  Cantine  as  a  Christian  gentleman  and  a  lawyer,  1812.  The 
Judge  was  state  senator  and  being  a  Catskill  printer  succeeded 
Judge  Buell  as  state  printer. 

In  1838  there  was  located  in  the  rear  of  the  Methodist 
church  at  Catskill,  a  brick  yard  operated  by  Chauncey  Hall,  and 
there  was  another  yard  on  Academy  street  operated  by  one  Denell 
and  from  1839  to  the  present  time  there  has  been  a  brick  yard  at 
the  Hop-o-nose.  The  first  was  operated  by  Eber  Scott  and  later  by 
Cole  followed  by  Thos.  E.  Ferrier  and  later'  Ferrier  and  Golden 
and  now  by  Golden  and  Son.  There  was  another  brick  yard  where 
the  Holdridge  stone  dock  now  is,  operated  first  by  four  brothers, 
later  by  Hold  brook,  who  was  put  out  of  business  when  the  great 
bank  in  the  rear  of  the  yards  slid  down  into  the  valley  burying  a 
big  kiln  of  green  brick.  Joseph  Hallock  put  up  a  stately  brick 
house  on  the  site  of  this  yard.  Samuel  Du  Bois,  an  early  settler, 
had  a  yard  near  the  present  Glass  works,  and  the  brick  from  Cats- 
kill  went  into  the  Croton  reservoir  many  of  them. 

Another  successful  yard  was  that  of  Cooke  and  Hardwick, 
later  the  Walshs,  and  the  Ferriers,  and  for  many  years  the  Wash- 
burns. 

A  very  interesting  incident  happened  at  Leeds  in  the  days 
of  the  early  history  of  the  Dutch  church  which  has  withstood 
the  storms  of  over  a  century.  It  appears  from  the  narrative  of 
Benjamin  Wiltse  an  old  resident  of  Catskill  who  used  to  tell  about 
the  incident,  that  the  old  bell  that  called  to  worship  had  a  harsh 
discordant  melody  that  jarred  the  nerves  of  the  old  ladies  of  the 
congregation  and  finally  it  was  planned  to  have  the  bell  retuned. 
Milton  Fowks  had  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  founder,  and  he 
could  tune  a  bell  to  the  Queen's  taste.  So  Milton  was  waited  upon 
by  a  delegation  and  it  was  all  arranged  that  the  great  discordant 
bell  should  be  lowered  from  the  steeple,  and  taken  to  a  conven- 
ient spot  near  the  bridge,  where  with  water  handy  the  tuning  was 

to  be  done.     Then  a  scaffold  was  built  and  the  bell  suspended  be- 

220 


dear  old  greene  couNtY. 


neath  it,  and  with  plenty  of  rails  and  branches  of  trees,  a  fire 
was  started  under  the  bell.  About  this  time  Old  Bill  Schuneman 
suggested  that  while  the  metal  was  getting  warmed  up  they  should 
all  go  up  to  the  tavern  and  get  a  gin  cocktail.  This  was  done  and 
in  the  ginning  up  the  fire  grew  warmer  and  the  bell  was  forgotten 
for  a  time.  On  their  return  to  the  creek  the  bell  was  found  to 
have  entirely  melted.  The  discordant  melody  of  the  old  bell  dis- 
turbed the  quiet  of  the  Leeds  Sundays  nevermore. 

Spofford:s  Gazetteer  of  1813  says  in  referring  to  the  business 
of  that  period ,  Catskill  will  probably  become  the  third  if  not  the 
second  city  on  the  Hudson  in  wealth,  population  and  commercial 
importance  • 

Ln  1812  a  penalty  of  $10  was  authorized  as  a  punishment 
for  any  child,  slave,  apprentice  or  servant  firing  fire  crackers  or 
other  fireworks  in  Catskill. 

Orrin  Day  grandfather  of  Orrin  Day  president  of  the  Tan- 
ners National  Bank  of  Catskill,  is  said  to  have  been  first  chief  of 
the  Catskill  fire  department  in  1824.  The  first  mention  of  a  fire 
organization  was  in  1806,  and  in  1807  Richard  Hall  and  Orrin  Day 
were  at  the  head  of  a  fire  company,  the  first  named  being  foreman. 
And  in  1809  a  bucket  ordinance  was  passed.  There  was  a  fine  of 
$3  for  not  complying  with  the  bucket  law  and  Orrin  Day  was 
authorized  to  prosecute  any  persons  not  complying  with  the  law. 

In  1824  money  was  appropriated  for  the  purchase  of  a  hand 
engine,  hose  and  a  lot  on  which  to  build  an  engine  house.  In  1827 
Hook  and  Ladder  Company  No.  1  was  formed.  T.  K.  Cooke, 
Philander  Selleck,  Henry  Hill,  James  Van  Gorden,  James  Pink- 
ney,  Judson  Wilcox  and  James  Breasted  were  members  of  this 
company.     Later  came  Caleb  and  Orrin  Day. 

One  of  the  important  early  interests  was  the  marble  busi- 
ness and  a  pioneer  in  that  line  was  Israel  H.  Baldwin  in  the  early 
30's.  He  was  the  first.  He  drove  to  Catskill  with  a  wagon  load  of 
marble  and  stopping  in  front  of  Lyon's  Hotel  the  horse  was  stricken 
with  blind  staggers  and  fell  on  him.  For  6  months  he  was  laid 
up  and  in  May,  1834,  he  commenced  to  make  tombstones.     Later 

221 


DEAft    OLt>    GREENE    COtfNfY. 


he  took  in  a  partner  named  Whitney,  who  robbed  the  firm  and  it 
took. Mr.  Baldwin  20  years  to  recover  from  the  financial  blow.  He 
was  in  business  where  the  public  library  now  stands,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son  Charles  who  moved  to  Water  street  and  later  to 
Main  street  near  the  Commercial  Hotel.  He  died  in  1898  at  the 
age  of  85  years.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  men  in  the  First 
Baptist  church  and  superintended  the  building  of  the  presen 
church  in  1871.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion for  20  years. 

Charles  Baldwin  conducted  the  business  until  his  shop  was 
torn  down  to  make  room  for  the  village  building.  As  a  marble 
cutter  he  was  an  artist. 

George  Elliott  had  a  marble  business  in  Jefferson  in  1863. 
C.  A.  Noble  commenced  operations  in  1882. 

One  of  the  oldest  men  of  Catskill  who  but  recently  passed 
was  Henry  Limbrick,  of  Livingston  street.  From  1836  to  1864 
he  was  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Beach  and  in  the  70s  was  in  the 
harness  business  at  the  corner  of  Thomson  and  Main  streets. 

The  first  bakery  was  started  at  Catskill  by  a  man  named 
Kendall,  whose  brother  had  the  distinction  of  being  postmaster 
General  under  Andrew  Jackson.  Amos  Kendall  was  the  most  ef- 
ficient postmaster  of  his  day.  Baker  Kendall  did  a  living  busi- 
ness, near  the  Saulpaugh.  He  was  succeeded  by  Reuben  Pennoy- 
er  father  of  Capt.  William  A.  Peqnoyer,  who  later  was  in  the 
jewelry  business  and  who  somewhat  eccentric  is  well  remembered 
by  some  Catskillians.  Pennoyer  had  a  motto  on  his  wagon  an- 
nouncing that  "Our  Country  Wants  Bread."  This  was  around 
1836. 

John  Ashley  came  into  competition  with  Pennoyer  about 
this  time.  He  was  also  a  trustee.  John  Ashley  a  son  succeeded 
him  as  dough  man,  and  later  his  son  Edward  Ashley,  who  took 
up  the  practice  of  menicine  and  moved  to  Athens.  John  R.  Hicks 
took  up  the  business  and  was  later  on  succeeded  by  Mc  Laughlin 
and  Carey.  Other  bakers  were  Henry  Selleck,  Selleck  and  Brown, 
Willis  Selleck  and  during   the   80s   Edward  Ashley  who  occupied 

222 


1>EAR    OLf>    GREECE    COtfNfY. 


the  Bloom  building  on  lower  Main  street  and  was  burned  out. 
And  the  interesting  incident  that  is  vouched  for  concerning 
one  of  the  old  residents  of  Leeds,  who  recently  passed  away  is  that 
on  a  certain  occasion  he  called  upon  the  young  lady  who  after- 
wards became  his  wife,  and  was  invited  to  tea .  At  the  table  he 
noticed  that  his  hair  had  not  been  combed  as  he  was  seated  op- 
posite the  looking  glass.  This  flustered  him  and  he  dropped  his 
fork.  Reaching  to  pick  it  up  he  tipped  a  cup  of  tea  down  his 
back.  Getting  straightened  around  finally  lie  noticed  a  flap  of  the 
table  cloth  in  his  lap  and  thinking  that  it  was  a  part  <jf  his  shirt, 
pushed  it  back  as  he  supposed,  but  made  it  fast  by  poking  it  into 
the  top  of  his  trousers.  A  little  later  when  he  got  up  he  carried 
table  cloth,  dishe3,  etc.,  along  with  him  and  the  dishes  crashed  at 
his  feet.  It  was  several  weeks  after  that  before  he  visited  at  V — s 
again . 

Edwin  Ashley,  father  of  Mrs.  I.  W.  Brandow,  was  a  great 
fireman  and  for  years  at  the  head  of  the  Catskill  department. 

One  of  the  early  shoe  dealers  was  S.  B.  Abreet,  father  of 
John  D.  Ahreet  who  continued  the  business.  Mr.  Ah reet  manufac- 
tured most  of  hi3  goods  at  the  start  but  later  on  came  the  store 
kind.     The  firm  is  now  Ahreet  &  Cussler. 

Joshua  Fiero  one  the  early  dry  goods  dealers  came  to  Cats- 
kill  in  1838  and  in  1840  started  in  business  at  the  corner  of  Main 
and  Thompson  streets,  and  for  20  years  he  had  stores  in  Leeds, 
Kingston  and  Auburn  as  well.  He  was  elected  to  the  legislature 
in  1854,  and  Senator  Harris  said  he  made  the  best  presiding 
officer  the  senate  ever  had.  The  business  was  continued  by  his 
daughter  Miss  M.  Fiero  and  she  sold  out  to  Fred  Conklin  in  1915. 

The  old  grocery  store  in  West  Catskill  is  another  landmark. 
It  has  been  in  the  grocery  line  for  over  100  years.  The  first  record 
we  have  is  of  Samuel  Du  Bois.  The  record  is  broken  but  another 
early  dealer  was  Charles  Abeel.  Sandy  Phillips,  H.  W.  Terwilliger, 
and  F.  D.  Woolhiser  are  within  the  present  scope.  Earlier  grocers 
were  W.  W.  Van  Loan,-  Caleb  Spencer,  Judson  Wilcox,  Wilson 
Paige-  Philip  Van  Orden  and  J.  J.  Donnelly. 

223 


<B>«Me  €o 


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CATS  KILL  : 

Monday,  April  14,   1351. 


Destructive  Fire  ! ! ! 

TWO  CHURCHES  BURNED! 

Thirty  Buildings  Destroyed, 

LOSS  $50,000! 


About  three  o'clock,  this  morning,  a 
most  destructive  fire  swept  through  the 
southern  portion  of  our  village.  Com- 
mencing in  the  stables  of  the  Greene 
County  Hotel,  k'  etttctidetl  to  ritty- Hvcry 
establishment  of  Messrs,  Bench,  and  to 
the-  Btabii.'3  of  the  Franklin  House,  and 
to  t lie  Hotel.  From  thence  it  extended 
to  the  Dutch  Church  and  the  buildings 
in  the  rear. 

It  then  swept  over  to  the  west  side  of 
Main  street,  and  the  Baptist  Church  and 
several  other  buildings  were  soon  envel- 
oped in  flames. 

The  leaping  waves  of  flame,  as  they 
•wept  up  the  tall  spires  of  the  Churches, 
with  snafte-like  rapidity, cpnspired  to  ren- 
der the  scene  sublimely  grand  and  mag- 
nificent. 

The  following  property  is  destroyed  : 

Beach's  Livery  Stables,  including  12 
horses,  100.0  bunhehtoats,  carriages,  and 
all  the  appurtenances,  entirely  destroyed. 
LAu  tbJQt  $15,000— insured   lor    about 

$3,aoo. 

Greene  County  Hotel,  kept  by  Van 
Bergen.  Insured  for  $2,000— lo*  $3,- 
000.    2  horses  perished, 

Franklin  House,  occupied  by  George 
Prime — and  the  buildi&g  adjoining,  oc- 
cupied by  S.  Bnsworth.  Loss  $5,000 — 
insured  for  $3,000. 

Reformed  Dutch  Church  -injured  for 
tfftOOO.    Low  $6,000, 


Parsonage  Reformed  Delicti  Church-^ 
Rev.  Dr.  Murdoch's — insured  for  $600: 
Logs  $1,200. 

Baptist  Church— insured  for  $2,500. 
Loss  $5,000. 

*  Dwelling  of  Dr.  John  Doane— insured. 
Dwelling  of  Mrs.  Charles  Clarke — in- 
sured. 

Dwelling  of  the  Misses  Sherman — in- 
sured for  $1,000— loss  $1,500. 

Dwelling  of  Robert  Dorian — owned  b,y 
Benjamin  Richards,  New- York,  loss  $2,- 
000 — partially  insured, 

*  Dwelling  and  Shop  of  Messrs.  New- 
bury.    Loss  about  $1000* — no  insurance. 

Dwelling  and  confectionery  of  William 
Burnett — owned  by  Edwin  Croswell— 
partially  insured. 

Telegraph  Office  of  J.  R.  Sylvester — 
insured. 

Shoe  Shop  of  John  l'Uese — 

■Mechanics'  Hall,  lose  about  $800 — 
insured  for  $400. 

Lavallc's  Market,  belonging  to  Ed- 
win Croswell,  and  several  other  building 
occupied  by,  colored  people,  Eggnor's 
Ten  Pin  Alleys,  of  which  we  have  no  in- 
formation, t. 

Church  and  School  house  of  the  color> 
-ed-  people. 

Houses  owned  by  Van  'Derjsen,  in  tbt 
I'par  of  the  Dutch  Church,  occupied  by 
Mr.  Cnrgill,  and  Mr.  Clark — insured. 

H.  Brown,  proprietor  .of  the  Hourly 
Stages,  loses  4  horses,  carriages,  and 
considerable  .house  furniture,  loss  $1000, 
no  insurance. 

Independent  of  the  losses  sustain^, 
the  furniture  is  considerably  injured  in 
every  place.  , 

Mr.  John  R,  Sylvester  will  occupy  tha 
building  one  door  below  Mr.  Charlei 
Willard's,  as  a  temporary  Telegraph  Of- 
fice, until  the  1st  of  May. 

The  above  estimates  may  not  be  cor- 
rect, as  wa  have  been  obliged  to  collect 
vhjm  hastily.  They  will  not  vary  much, 
"however. 

Two  Fire  Companies  from  Hudson, 
kindly  volunteered  their  services.  They 
have  the  thnnlts  of  the  community  for 
their  assistance. 

It  was  supposed  at  one  time,  that  all 
the  buildings  on  the  west  aide  of  Broad 
Street  would  be  destroyed. 


BEREA  AXD  WO VA  SCOTIA  GRIND- 
STUN  ES.— The  subscriber  offcrsfor.  sale, 
at  ihesipn  of  the  An  vil,an  assortment  of  Grind- 
stones, aithe  lowest  rates.  F.  8AYRE* 
Cau'rfill,  February  10, 1549 .  &GU 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Another  very  old  stand  is  the  Hill  paint  store.  This  was 
built  in  1821  by  Peter  Breasted,  He  died  in  the  50s  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Eaton  Dunham,  and  later  by  H.  K.  Hill  who  with  his 
son-in-law,  Wm.  B.  Donahue  still  continue.  It  was  Mr. Dunham 
who  stationed  at  his  door  the  iron  dog  in  1849,  which  has  been 
the  object  of  curiosity  ever  since,  and  which  as  the  result  of  Hal- 
loween pranks  was  finally  chained  fast  to  prevent  the  dog  from 
migrating  to  other  points.   Steamboats  and  stage  coaches  were  the 

subjects  of  their  art. 

« 

George  C.  Fox  on  the  East  side  is  one  of  the  veteran 
grocers  and  has  only  lately  retired  in  favor  of  his  son  Arthur  P. 
Fox  who  is  at  the  old  stand. 

There  have  been  more  changes  in  the  grocery  business  than 
any  other  business  in  Catskill.  Conklin  Brothers,  F  H.  Russ, 
Vernon  Ford,  Geo.  C.  Cowles,  W.  E.  Minkler,  have  passed  with 
many  others  but  P  V.  R.  Timmerman  who  succeeded  Jones  and 
Bagley  still  remains  after  50  years  at  the  upper  Main  street  stand. 

Among  the  earliest  grocery  firms  were  Alfred  Foote  on  up- 
per Main  street,  Foote  and  Grant,  French  and  Ethridge,  Wilcox 
and  Givins,  Meach  and  Beach,  Cowles  and  Meach,  Elias  Pen- 
field,  Meach  and  Edwards,  Shaler  and  Fox.  Mr.  Shaler  and 
Mr.  Fox  alone  are  living. 

More  than  85  years  ago  John  Lusk  was  in  the  hardware 
business  on  Main  street.  The  firm  of  Mann  and  Cooke  was  form- 
ed about  1840  and  John  T.  Mann,  and  Frederick  and  J.  Atwater 
Cooke  were  the  members  of  the  firm.  Frederick  Cooke  continued 
the  business  and  was  followed  by  John  T.  Mann,  and  later  on  by 
Day  and  Holt,  and  later  the  Day  and  Holt  Co.  Jeremiah  Day, 
Samuel  E.  Holt,  Philip  Walsh,  and  P.  Dewitt  Hitchcock  many 
years  clerk  of  the  village  of  Catskill,  comprieing  the  firm. 

Another  early  hardware  dealer  was  Francis  Sayer  and  John 
T. Powers,  later  on  Russ  and  Beach,  and  Mattice  and  Wessell.  and 
now  the  Catskill  Hardware  Company. 

225 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


M.  H.  Johnson,  and  the  Brooks  Brothers,  Adams  and 
Spencer,  H.  T.  Jones  and  Son,  Conkiin  and  Lattimer  are  well  re- 
membered in  later  years. 

There  have  been  tailors  and  tailors,  and  the  great  Andrew 
Johnson  was  once  a  tailor.  So  was  Seldon  A.  Givens  one  of  the 
early  illustrious  lawyers  of  Greene  coonty,  but  he  threw  the  sad 
iron  away  for  the  lawbook  and  he  made  his  mark.  Another  carv- 
er of  cloth  in  the  early  days  of  Catskill  was  A.  N.  Hinman,  better 
known  as  Deacon  Hinman.  Later  came  Charles  H.  Pierson  and 
William  Hunter,  estimable  craftsmen,  followed  by  F.  S.  Lynes 
whose  long  and  helpful  life  was  spent  in  making  good  clothes,  and 
his  son  later  in  business  with  him,  continued  the  work  at  his  death 
several  years  ago.  Mr.  Lynes  was  also  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the 
First  Baptist  church. 

Of  the  later  clothing  men.there  were  F.  A.  Stahl,  and  James 
Wallace  an  eccentric  character  who  had  a  penchant  for  running 
for  nominations,  which  occasionally  he  landed.  Clothier  Abram 
Joseph  has  also  been  here  for  many  years,  succeeding  Samuel 
Marks  in  the  80's.  J.  L.  Goldberg  built  the  foundations  for  a 
fortune  in  the  little  store  at  the  end  of  the  town  bridge,  now  oc- 
cupied as  a  candy  store  by  Mr.  Cunningham. 

The  first  large  boarding  house  in  this  section  was  the  Pros- 
pect Park  Hotel,  situated  at  Catskill  overlooking  the  Hudson.  It 
was  built  in  1809,  and  the  men  who  were  its  projectors  were: 
Edwin  Croswell,  Jo!in  Breasted,  Marcus  and  George  Beach, Robert 
Seaman  and  William  Scutt  all  characters  of  note  in  early  history 
of  the  county.     The  hotel  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1914. 

Among  the  hotel  i  of  the  earlier  period  that  are  not  remem- 
bered by  the  present  generation  are  the  old  Catskill  House  and  the 
Franklin  House,  the  former  on  the  site  of  the  present  opera  house 
owned  by  Terrence  Donnelly,  and  the  other  where  the  Irving 
House  stood  and  the  Court  house  now  is.  These  buildings  were 
destroyed  in  the  great  fire  of  1851,  when  the  Baptist  church,  Re- 
formed church  and  many  other   buildings    were  destroyed.     The 

226 


DEAR    OLl)    GREiENB    COUNTY. 


West  Catskill  Hotel  was  built  over  100  years  ago  by  John  Plank. 
He  was  succeeded  by  a  man  named  Feeney,  Peter  Martin,  John 
Bascom,  Andrew  Overbaugh,  Rockerfeller,  Ryan  and  Connerty 
and  now  Frank  Ryan. 

The  Windsor  hotel  was  built  in  the  60s  by  Enos  Gunn,  and 
he  was  succeeded  by  William  Hahn,  and  Albert  Saulpaugh  who 
built  the  present  stately  edifice,  now  conducted  by  his  sons  Albert 
Saulpaugh  and  Samuel  Saulpaugh. 

The  Irving  house  was  built  by  the  Persons  and  was  destroy- 
ed to  make  room  for  the  new  Court  house  in  1908. 

The  Commercial  Hotel  was  built  by  Enos  Gunn  who  sold 
to  Philip  Gay,  who  was  succeeded  by  his  sons,  Ira  and  William 
Gay,  who  sold  to  William  Bell  who  enlarged  the  property.  The 
present  proprietor  is  C.  Clement. 

We  do  not  know  when  the  Smith  House  was  built,  but  it  is 
very  old,  and  was  enlarged  and  improved  by  Martim  Smith,  and 
later  by  his  son  William  Smith  a  very  popular  hotel  man,  and  is 
now  conducted  by  his  son  Ed.  Smith.  John  Smith  another  son  is 
also  in  the  hotel  business  conducting  the  Jefferson  Hotel  and  the 
Irving  Cafe. 

In  the  early  30's  there  was  the  Brossenham  hotel  near  the 
West  Shore  Bridge  on  Upper  Main  street,  conducted  by  Foote  and 
Grant,  two  conspicuous  men  of  their  day. This  was  a  drover's  hotel. 
The  building  is  still  standing. 


Bull's  Head.  Sign,  by  Artist  Cole. 

Just  beyond  this  was  the  Bull's  Head,  kept  by  Wm.  Salis- 
bury. The  sign  was  painted  by  Thomas  Cole  the  great  painter 
and  poet,  father  of  Theodore  Cole  of  Catskill. 

227 


DftAH    OLD    GREECE:    COtJNft. 


«6*>- 


»» 


y  ■•■    sii^illllilillll^ 


The  Old  Arcade,  Early  landmark  in  Catskill  (1798.) 

The  illustration  above  will  be  familiar  to  some  of  our  read. 
ers.  It  was  torn  down  in  1902  and  gave  place  to  the  Young  Mens 
Christian  Association  building,  which  certainly  is  a  very  great 
improvement.  The  Old  Arcade  as  it  was  called,  had  four  tene- 
ments on  the  second  floor,  and  the  street  floor  was  used  as  a  market 
and  cigar  store.  Henry  Fredenburgh  the  owner  occupied  it  as  a 
fish  market,  and  before  that  time  John  Hulbert  around  the  80s. 
The  building  had  never  received  a  coat  of  paint  and  was  in  a 
weather  beaten  condition.  It  was  built  as  near  as  we  are  able  to 
find  out  around  1812.  Its  appearance  would  indicate  that  it  was 
among  the  first  frame  buildings  in  Catskill. 

August  15,  1901  F.  N.  Du  Bois  placed  in  the  hands  of  W. 
I.  Jennings  a  check  for  $25,000  which  was  given  for  the   purpose 

228 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


of  building  a  Young  Mens  Christian  Association  building.  Shortly 
after  the  Fredenburgh  Arcade  was  purchased  and  the  grand  build- 
ing that  stands  as  a  monument  to  Mr.  Du  Bois,  generosity  and 
philanthropy  was  erected. 


Saddle  ai\d  3tage  Coach 

The  first  pleasure  party  to  Pine  Orchard,  the  point  where 
the  Catskill  Mountain  House  is  located  was  made  in  1823,  and 
comprised  a  number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  note  on  horse  back, 
and  they  spent  the  night  under  some  shelving  rocks.  At  this  time 
work  had  been  commenced  on  the  mountain  house.  Mr.  Beach 
who  afterwards  became  owner  of  the  Mountain  house,  conducted 
the  party  over  the  bridle  paths  all  the  way  to  Utica.  It  took  three 
weeks. 

During  1831,  the  Mannings  conducted  a  stage  line  from 
New  York  to  Ithaca,  and  Catskill  was  the  principal  stop  on  the 
way.  From  Catskill  there  was  a  stage  line  that  went  as  far  as  Delhi, 
and  we  believe  that  Charles  L.  Beach  was  connected  with  that 
line,  and  had  later  on  in  1837  the  contract  for  carrying  the  govern- 
ment mails,  between  New  York  City  and  Albany  during  the 
winter  season  when  there  was  no  steamboat  travel.  In  this  con- 
nection the  reader  will  be  interested  in  the  old  poster  which  we 
have  reproduced  and  which  refers  to  the  establishment  of  the  first 
stage  line  between  Catskill  and  Albany.  This  poster  was  found 
among  the  curios  preserved  by  Judge  Chase,  and  the  engraver  has 
given  us  a  copy  that  is  very  excellent.  This  line  was  started  in 
1833 .  Trips  were  made  daily.  Through  horse  relays  we  are 
told  that  the  distance  between  New  York  and  Albany  was  covered 
daily. 

829 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


There  appears  to  be  much  uncertainty  in  regard  to  the 
location  of  the  first  school  house  in  Catskill.  One  building  it  is 
certain  was  converted  into  the  old  county  jail.  There  was  another 
school  later  on  William  street,  near  what  is  Mrs.  Avery's  place. 
There  was  still  another  on  Thompson  street,  which  in  the  50's  was 
occupied  by  the  Methodists  as  a  place  of  worship.  There  was  also 
the  academy  on  William  street,  now  the  Fiero  residence.  There 
was  a  colored  school  on  Bridge  street,  which  shows  in  the  picture 
of  Catskill  in  1839,  and  still  another  on  the  West  side  which  is 
now  the  hose  house.  It  was  in  this  building  that  F.  N.  Du  Bois 
went  to  school  in  the  30's,  and  he  tells  of  riding  down  hill  on  an 
old  door  and  that  the  door  was  usually  loaded  with  pupils,  who 
when  the  bottom  was  reached  always  got  a  spill.  The  academy 
was  incorporated  in  1804.     This  was  a  stock  corporation  and^ there 


Broom  Stick  School,  Now  Hose  House. 


were  520  shares  of  4  pounds  sterling  each.  James  Du  Bois,  Cornel- 
ius Du  Bois,  Caty  Du  Bois,  Sally  Du  Bois,  Priscilly  Adams  and 
Sally  Spicer  and  many  otheis.  Elisha  Bishop  was  at  the  head  of 
this  school.  This  building  was  sold  to,  the  Fieros  around  1870 
and  raised  up_one  story  for  a  dwelling.  ,<>:$?     , 

830 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


A  strange  coincidence  in  the  construction  of  the  several 
school  buildings  in  Catskill  in  the  past  50  years:  Contractor  Geo. 
W.  Holdridge  who  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  old  time  business 
men,  Charles  Beardsley  for  over  40  years  with  Lampman  firm, 
and  Architect  George  Warner  were  all  employed  by  L.  S.  and 
William  Smith  who  had  the  contract  to  build  the  brick  school- 
building.  They  were  apprentices  at  that  time.  On  the  next 
building  which  was  the  Grandview  school,  Mr.  Holdridge  had  the 
contract,  and  Charles  Beardsley  was  foreman  for  the  Lampmans 
who  did  the  carpenter  work.  When  the  Irving  school  building  was 
erected,  Mr.  Holdridge  had  the  contract  for  the  mason,  Charles 
Beardsley  was  employed  as  foreman  by  Wm.  Lampman  who  had 
the  carpenter_work  and  George  H.  Warner  was  architect. 

Early  Manufacturing 

Among  the  early  industries  of  Greene  county  which  have 
passed  there  was  a  glue  factory  at  Durham,  a  mill  at  Oak  Hill  for 
grinding  land  plaster,  a  printing  press  manufactory  at  Windham, 
byNewbury  &  Morse,  and  a  number  of  paper  mills,  at  Woodstock 
and  Windham,  a  carpet  bag  and  satchel  factory  at  Windham,  and 
at  the  same  place  a  factory  for  making  wooden  combs  and  tin  and 
wooden  buttons,  conducted  by  Hunt  and  Matthews.  Hay  rakes 
and  chairs  were  made  at  Windham.  Paper  at  Big  Holloa.  There 
was  a  distillery  at  Red  Falls  and  another  at  Windham,  and  still 
another  at  Durham.  There  was  a'  potash  factory  at  Lexington, 
also  a  distillery.  Oak  Hill  had  two  foundries  making  hardware 
supplies,  and  Palenville  had  a  big  wooden  mill.  Seyeral  old  grist 
mills  are  still  in  operation. 

Near  High  Falls  was  located  a  powder  mill  owned  by  Mr. 
Lafiin,  and  this  latter  developed  into  the  great  firm  of  Laflin  and 
Rand  as  it  now  is.  The  powder  mill  employed  a  considerable 
number  of  men,  and  on  a  number  of  occasions  it  blew  up.  Once 
7  persons  were  killed  and  at  another  time  three.  The  men  made 
from  $80  to  $100  per  month. 

This  mill  was  at  one  time  Laflin,  Smith  and  Boice.  This 
mill  blew  up  a  number  of  times.     The  last  time  was  in  1875,  John 

231 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Merritt  being  the  only  man  killed.     After  this  the  mill  was  moved 
to  New  Jersey. 

Rufus  T.  Smith,  one  of  the  old  residents  of  High  Falls,  in- 
forms us  that  one  of  the  industries  at  High  Falls  (or  Great  Falls  as 
the  name  is  on  one  of  the  old  maps  drawn  by  George  Smith,  who 
removed  to  Ohio  before  Mr.  Smith's  recollection,  has  it)  was  the 
saw  mill  erected  by  the  late  Comfort  K.  Smith  below  the  Falls, 
doing  custom  work  and  also  for  working  up  the  timber  on  his  own 
place. 

Christopher  Teetsel  of  Quarryville  was  boss  carpenter,  John 
Shultis,  Peter  Van  Hoesen,  Alex.  C.  Whitney  and  R  T.  Smith 
did  the  carpenter  work  on  this  mill.  Reuben  Towner  of  Hunter, 
was  the  millright.  He  put  in  the  saws  and  the  Ferguson  water 
wheel  to  run  the  sash  or  gatesaw. 

This  mill  was  built  in  1867-8.  The  mill  was  enlarged  later 
and  circular  saws  for  slitting  up  slabs,  and  blocks  for  shingles 
added.  Smith's  Greene  Mountain  shingle  machine  was  put  in  and 
considered  a  great  invention.  Reuben  Towner  installed  this  ma- 
chine and  it  was  driven  by  a  wooden  center  discharged  water 
wheel.  Two  years  later  a  turning  lathe,  planer  and  matcher  for 
dressed  lumber  was  added. 

Then  the  building  was  further  enlarged,  William  Shoemaker 
of  Vineland  N.  J.  doing  the  stone  work.  After  several  years  the 
old  wooden  water  wheel  was  discarded,  a  Rich  wheel  being  put  in, 
and  then  later  on  an  Alcott  turbine,  by  R.  T.  Smith,  son  of  C.K. 
Smith,  assisted  by  Alex.  Whitney  and  John  B.  Smith.  Hemoyed 
to  Brooklyn,  but  inherited  the  mill  property  and  not  wishing  to 
operate  it  he  sold  to  Levi  Richtmyer  of  Kaatsban.  Richtmyer  sold 
to  Dederick  and  Sterritt,  and  they  disposed  of  the  business  to  T . 
P.  Cowhey  of  New  York. 

The  dam  is  gone  and  the  mill  a  heap  of  ruins. 

Around  1818  Marvin  and  Co.  built  a  large  factory  above 
the  falls  for  the  manufacture  of  chisels,  augers,    and   other   tools, 

232 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


and  even  at  this  date  there  may  be  found    chisels  marked  Marvin 
&Co.,  Catskill. 

There  was  also  an  old  factory  standing  above  the  Falls 
bridge,  which  during  the  50's  in  the  heavy  fall  of  snow  was  crush- 
ed in  and  never  repaired. 

Right  at  the  edge  of  the  falls  was  an  old  grist  mill.  This 
was  in  disuse  as  long  ago  as  Mr.  Smith  can  remember. 

A.  short  distance  up  the  stream  was  another  saw  mill. 

The  old  grist  mill  was  burned  in  the  60's  and  at  that  time 
was  being  used  as  a  spoke  and  handle  factory  by  Willis  Davis. 

Mr.  Smith  says  that  he  has  heard  his  grandfather  tell  how 
they  used  to  attend  worship  at  the  Caatsban  church  when  they 
took  their  guns  along  and  left  them  out  side,  while  one  person 
was  left  to  watch.  They  had  no  stoves  in  the  churches  and  the 
women  carried  foot  stoves  and  warming  pans. 

Zachariah  Trumpbour  who  built  the  old  stone  house  near 
Smith's  Mills,  1768,  was  great  grandfather  of  R.T.  Smith  of  High 
Falls. 

The  old  barn  east  of  the  Kaatsban  church,  standing  today 
was  erected  just  after  the  close  of  the  revolution,  the  lumber  being 
gathered  before  the  war  was  decided.  The  owner,  a  man  named 
Celie,  was  a  Tory  and  he  did  not  dare  to  go  ahead  until  he  knew 
whether  the  Colonies  or  King  George  would  win  out. 

The  covered  bridge  at  Cauterskill,  and  the  covered  bridge 
at  Great  Falls,  were  built  previous  to  the  period  of  1860.  We 
have  not  been  able  to  find  any  record,  however. 

Several  of  the  old  wooden  covered  bridges  were  built  in 
1857,  after  the  great  freshet  which  carried  off  the  older  structures. 

■v.  ,,  Project  of  a  railroad  from  Catskill  to  Athens   was  boomed, 

and    application  made  to   the  legislature  to   have  same  incorpor- 
ated. 

The  Du  Bois  mill  at  Wolcotts  was  destroyed  by  a  freshet  in 

1809. 

233 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Values  Iivcreasinjsf 

From  the  assessment  roll  of  the  town  of  Catskill  for  1850 
we  discover  that  the  entire  town  tax  amounted  to  $7,076,  and  so 
far  as  we  can  discover  there  is  not  a  single  individual  tax  payer 
of  that  date  down  on  the  tax  roll  except  Peter  Timmerman  $3.55, 
and  of  the  three  incorporated  companies,  one  the  Catskill  Bridge 
Company  paid  a  tax  on  $5000  which  amounted  to  $39.30.  The 
rate  was  .0071  The  Tanners  National  and  Catskill  National  Banks 
were  assessed  at  $93,700  and  $110,500  the  tax  being  $661  and 
$780.  Senator  Jones  was  assessed  for  $1300  at  that  time.  Of  the 
list  of  town  officers  there  is  not  a  man  living: 

This  land  today  is  valued  at  about  $2,500,000  and  the  town 
taxes  are  $100,000.  The  state,  school,  village  and  water  tax 
amount  to  more  than  $100,000  per  year  in  addition. 

Rufus  H.  King  was  Supervisor,  George  Peck,  town  clerk, 
William  Dodd,  Lindsey  Beach,  Robert  Dorlon  and  John  Van- 
Vechten  were  justices. 

Charles  Austin,  town  superintendent. 

Peter  Saxe,  Peter  Van  Vechten  and  Joel  Comfort,  assessors. 

Phineas  Chidester,  commissioner  of  highways. 

Francis  Dunham  and  John  Wardle,  overseers  of  the  poor. 

Egbert  Bogardus,  collector. 

Samuel  A.  Baker,  John  France,  Isaac  Lara  way  and  James 
Cash,  constables. 

In  1807  there  were  24  licenses  issued  to  Catskill  dealers  to 
sell  liquors,  and  the  fee  was  $5.  Among  the  dealers  were  Hiland 
Hill,  Philo  Day,  Orrin  Day,  Thaddeus  Luddington,  and  some  to- 
day may  remember  Luddington's  Oyster  Bay  at  the  corner  of 
Bridge  and  Main  street,  torn  down  with  other  buildings  to  make 
room  for  the  court  house  and  jail. 

Today  there  are  in  the  liquor  business  in  Catskill  about  15 
persons.  The  license  fee  is  $200  for  hotels  and  there  are  no  saloons, 
these  baying  been  voted  out  several  years  ago.  Most  of  these  are 
modern  up  to  date  hostelries,  well  conducted,  and  the  traveler 
finds  a  pleasant  host  and  good  food. 

234 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Smith  House,  The  Saulpaugh,  Clement's  Commercial 
and  Loud's  Hotel  at  the  Point  are  the  leaders.  On  the  west  side 
are  Ryan's  WestCatskill  Hotel,  Deidling3,  Oberts,  and  Wadonolos. 

The  first  supervisor  of  Catskill  was  Hezekiah  "Van  Orden, 
who  represented  the  Imbogt.  Then  followed  Henry  Oathout, 
Samuel  Van  Vechten,  Garret  Abeel,  Martin  Schuneman,  Samuel 
Haight,  Johnathan  Keyes,  Thomas  Hale,  William  Seaman,  Aaron 
Hall,  Jacob  Haight,  Robert  Dorian,  Ira  Du  Bois,  Malbon  Watson, 
Rufus  H.  King,  Wilson  Paige,  Atwater  Cook,  Henry  Johnson, 
Addison  P.  Jones,  Alexander  Wiltse,  JohnH.  Bagley,*Hiram  Van 
Steenburgh,  Sherwood  Day,  Samuel  Dewey,  Robert  Austin,  John 
A.  Griswold,  William  Smith,  John  Breasted,  William  Donahue, 
H.  C.  Bulkley,  James  B.  Olney,  George  S.  Stevens,  A.  P-  Jones, 
W.  S.  C.  Wiley,  P.  G.  Coffin,  Charles  A.  Post,  Henry  Van  Orden, 
and  J.  Henry  Deane  complete  the  list  of  Supervisors. 


Bounty  on  "Wolves 

Jewett  and  Lexington  appear  to  have  been  overrun  with 
wolves,  long  since  extinct,  and  there  was  a  bounty  of  $40  on  every 
wolf  killed.  Jacob  Van  Valkenburgh  of  Lexington  had  the  fences 
near  his  place  ornamented  with  hundreds  of  wolve's  noses, to  show 
that  the  bounty  bad  been  paid  on  them.  There  were  also  many 
panthers  and  wild  cats  in  that  section.  There  were  many  great 
bears,  and  plenty  of  deer.  There  are  still  some  bears,  and  a  few 
mighty  bear  hunters.  Barney  Butts  at  East  Windham  was  a  great 
bear  hunter  and  always  had  bears  on  exhibition.  Another  great 
hunter  was  a  man  named  Holdridge  at  Lexington.  Ernest  Chad- 
derdon  of  Cairo  captured  3  bears  in  February  of  1915.  The  bounty 
is  now  on  hedgehogs,  and  the  bear  has  no  terrors  at  all  for  the 
hunter. 

235 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Destructive  Fires  irv  County 

The  old  mill  in  Austin's  Glen  was  built  in  1800,  burned  in 
1807,  rebuilt  by  the  Austin  family  in  1815. 

Great  fire  in  Catskill  1851,  loss  over  $50,000. 
The  Samuel  Harris  woolen  mill  at  Leeds   was  burned  with 
three  dwellings  in  1862,  the  loss  being  $80,000. 

In  1883  Leeds  had  a  most  destructive  fire,  and  13  buildings 
were  destroyed  with  a  loss  of  $30,000,  and  several  smaller  fires 
since  that  time,  the  fire  in  1914  being  the  most  destructive. 

Bell's  Facing  Mill  and  ice  house  1882,  Foote  and  Cumming 
Lumber  yard. 


Summit  Hill  House,  Catskill,  1908,  loss  $20,000,  the  barn 
burned  in  1899. 

Block  of  buildings  and  storehouse  at  Athens  in  1871. 

Knickerbocker  Ice  house  fire  at  New  Baltimore,  loss  $26,000 
1900. 

Ship  Yard  fire  A.J.  Vanderpoel,  at  New  Baltimore  in  1894, 

damage  $25,000. 

236 


DEAR    OLD    GREJEfcE    (JOUNTt. 


The  Ice  house  and  coal  depot  of  Raymond  Smith,  Catskilll 
was  burned  1913. 

The  Little  Falls  House  at  South  Cairo  was  destroyed  in  1914 
the  loss  being  $7,000. 

Among  the  very  destructive  fires  that  have  visited  the 
county  we  note:     Haines  Falls  House,  1911,  loss  $75,000. 

Squirrel  Inn  at  Haines  Falls,  1910,  loss  $10,000. 

Prospect  Park  Hotel,  Catskill,  1914,  loss  $50,^00. 

Jenning's  Hotel,  Cairo,  1913,  loss  $15,000. 

The  Hart  House  at  the  Point,  1908. 

West  Shore  Depot,  Catskill,  1909. 

M.  P.  Mc  Cabe's  West  Shore  Hotel,  1909. 

Steamboat  storehouse,  Catskill,   burned  twice,  1899,  1912. 

Machine  shop  of  the  Catskill  Mountain  Ry.  at  Point. 

Twilight  Inn  at  Haines  Falls  $4,500  damage,  1914. 

Hotel  of  Matutinoich  at  Alsen. 

Ice  house  at  Cementon. 

Coxsackie  like  Leeds  has  been  fire  swept.  The  most  des- 
tructive were  the  West  Shore  freight  house,  Wm. Perry's  hotel  and 
barns,  Jansen's  dock  property  and  coal  sheds  at  the  Lower  Land- 
ing in  1913. 

J.  H.  Goodwin  &  Sons  Coal  yard  West  Coxsackie,  1914. 

Joseph  Holdridge,  an  Ashland  man,  had  a  rather  unusual 
experience.  Over  the  door  of  his  barn  was  a  hornet's  nest  and 
these  pests  were  in  the  habit  of  stinging  his  horses  and  men.  One 
day  he  thought  it  would  be  a  brilliant  idea  to  burn  the  nest  out, 
and  so  he  got  a  torch  and  set  fire  to  it.  Some  of  the  hornets  got 
away  and  some  of  them  were  burned  to  death,  and  the  nest  was  as 
might  have  been  expected  destroyed,  but  so  also  was  the  barn. 
The  surprising  part  of  it  all  was  that  knowing  the  facts  the  insur- 
ance company  paid  him  $250,  the  amount  of  their  risk. 

237 


tlteAR    OLt)    GREENE    COUNTY. 


Horton  Brother's  barns,  Smith  Hay  buildings,  I.  W. 
Brandow  barn,  J.  Person's  shop,  S.Fontanella  building,  A.  Yan- 
none's  shop  and  M.  E.  Church  sheds,  loss  $200,000,  1913. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Lennon'sMill  at  the  Forge,  Cairo,   destroyed  in   1911,  loss 
$7000. 

Store  of  C.  E.  Whitcomb  at  Purling,  1913,  loss  $10,000. 

Shady  Glen  House,  Durham,  loss  $20,000,  1900  and  again 
in  1913. 

Twin  Pine  House  in  1914. 

Athens  has  had  a   number   of  destructive  fires,    the  White 
Elephant  railroad  property,  1874. 

Osborn  House  and  other  buildings,  1878. 

Destructive  fire  of  1913. 

Apke's  Hotel  at  Palenville,  1899. 

Examiner  office  fire,  1900. 

Store  of  Nicholas  D'Onifro  at  Athens,  destroyed  by  fire  in 
1907. 

Residence  of  Peter  Fitchett  at  Coxsackie  destroyed  by  fire 
1908. 

Residence  of'George  Cleveland,  at  Norton  Hill,  loss  $1200, 
in  1903. 

Residence  on  Ingalls  place  at  East  Jewett,  loss  $3000, 1903. 

Apartment  house  of  B.  K.  Van  Valkenburgh,  Catskill,  loss 
$3000,  1903. 

Hotel  of  Henry  Smith,  South  Cairo,  loss  $4000,  1903. 

Jacob's  Bottling  Work,  Cairo,  loss  $10,000,    1899. 

The  fire  at  the  Smith  House,  Catskill  [was  one  of  the  latest 
fires  in  Catskill  doing  any  considerable  amount  of  damage.  Great 
work  by  the  local  fire  department  kept  the  building  from  being 
destroyed. 

The  First  Baptist  Church,  Catskill  burned  in  1871 . 
St.  Luke's  Church,  Catskill  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1839. 
^      Simmons  house  in  Jefferson,  erected  around  1800  was-burn- 
ed  in  1913. 

Boarding  house  A.  Amman  burned  near  Catskill,  1891, 
loss  about  $7000. 

The  record  of  fires  up  to  March  1,  1915.  \ 

239 


DEAR- OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Boston  Store  Fire,  Post's  Building  and  Church's  store. 
Also  Smith's  store  and  Daily  Mail,  the  loss  approximating  $100,000 
in  1913. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Catskill  Academy,  1869. 


Addition  Built,  1882. 


Catskill  Schools 


One  of  the  earliest  events  in  the  history  of  the  sphools  of 
Catskill  village,  is  recorded  in  a  subscription  paper,  dated  August 
23,  1793  "for  the  purpose  of  raising  the  sum  of  four  hundred 
pounds  for  the  erection  of  an  academy  at  Catskill  Landing.  It 
would  appear  that  this  sum  was  not  sufficient  for  at  a  meeting 
May  10, 1795,  it  was  resolved  that  120  shares  should  be  added  to 
the  number  already  subscribed  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  and 
maintaining  an  academy.  The  trustees  at  this  time  were:  Stephen 
Day,  George  Hale  and  Caleb  Street. 


DEAR    OLD    GREEKS    COtiNfY. 


The  first  teacher  of  this  school  was  Elisha  Bishop,  whose 
register  contained  the  following  names  of  pupils  attending  for  the 
term  beginning  August  17,  1797,  and  ending  March  17,  1798. 

Arastus  Stephns  James  Bogardus 

George  Brosnahan  James  Du  Bois 

John  Brosnaham  Lina  Bogardus 

John  Rimph  Wessel  Van  Orden 

Edward  Hayns  Henry  Van  Orden 

Jesse  Pratt  Jacob  Stephens 

Betsy  Stodard  Henry  Stephns 

Elisha  Bishop  Benjamin  Van  Orden 

Sally  Bishop  Harriette  Day 

Polly  Bishop  Elizer  Root 

Caty  DuBois  Betsy  Drake 

Sally  DuBois  Anna  Drake 

Cornelius  DuBois  Charles  Cammel 

Peter  Schoot  Sally  Cammel 

Jacob  Schoot  Joel  Persons 

Ginna  Van  Gorden  Precilla  Addoms 

John  DuBois  Sally  Spicer 

It  is  not  known  at  what  time  other  schools  were  established, 
however  in  1803,  there  were  three  schools  in  the  village.  The 
village  school  was  located  a  few  yards  southeasterly  from  the  Old 
Court  House.  It  is  described  as  an  unpainted,  square  building, 
with  its  windows  placed  directly  opposite  each  other 

The  teachers  in  the  village  school  were,  usually  persons  who 
were  pursuing  their  theological  studies  under  the  direction  of  Dr. 
Porter. 

On  March  12, 1804,  the  Catskill  Academy  was  incorporated 
by  the  Board  of  Regents. 

It  was  about  1814  that  another  school,  often  referred  to  as 
the  Academy,  was  located  on  the  north  side  of  Thomson  Street. 
This  edifice  was  built  partly  of  wood  and  partly  of  brick,  and  en- 
joyed the  distinction  of  having  the  only  bell  in  town,  except  that 
on  the  Old  Court  House.  It  was  this  bell  which  was  rung  on 
Sundays  to  call  the  congregation  of  St.  Luke's  together.*  The  bell 

242 


bftA.it  oLb  greJejne  cotrNfV. 


on  the  Old  Court  House  performed  a  similar  seryice  for  those  who 
were  accustomed  to  worship  at  the  Presbyterian  Meeting  House. 

Other  schools  contemporaneous  of  these  times  were  the 
Catskill  Lancasterian  School  Society,  incorporated  by  the  Legisla- 
ture of  1817;  and  the  Catskill  Female  Seminary,  incorporated  in 
1820.  The  charter  of  the  former  was  revoked  by  the  Legislature 
of  1830.     Of  the  latter  it  is  claimed  that  it  was  never  organized. 

After  a  time  the  Village  School  came  to  be  looked  upon  as 
"too  sectarian  and  the  Academy  as  too  promiscuous"  and  the  con- 
servative part  of  the  community  resolyed  to  establish  »another  in- 
stitution. A  building  for  this  purpose  was  erected  near  Franklin 
Street.  Of  this  school,  the  first  teacher  was  Kobert  K.  Moulton 
of  whom  it  is  said,  "that  aside  from  his  penmanship  he  possessed 
very  few  qualifications  as  a  teacher  and  that  he  did  not  long  re- 
main." 

Mr.  Moulton  was  succeeded  by  one  Leguire,  who  is  des- 
cribed as,  "a  half  crazy  individual,  with  a  red  wig.  He  too  was  a 
splendid  penman,  but  instead  of  imparting  a  knowledge  of  the 
art  to  his  pupils,  he  made  use  of  his  talent  in  that  line  by  writing 
love  letters    to  his  female  scholars." 

From  the  best  authority  it  appears   that  District  Number 

One  was  organized  in  March  1823  and  that  Joseph  Simmons  was 
the  first  teacher.  His  salary  was  $25.00  per  month  and  thirty 
pupils  were  in  attendance. 

The  Union  Free  School  was  organized  in  1856  and  in  1861 
the  school  was  advanced  to  the  grade  of  Academy,  of  whom  Prof. 
H.  B.  Howe  was  the  first  principal. 

The  front  part  of  the  present  high  school  building  was  built 
in  1869  by  Amos  Story  and  S.  W.   Smith  at  the  cost  of  $25,000. 

In  1882  an  appropriation  of  $6000  was  voted  for  an  addit- 
ion to  the  academy.  The  work  was  done  by  Mull  and  Fromer.  It 
is  in  this  addition  that  the  eighth  grades  are  now  located. 

It  was  in  1893,  at  the  suggestion  of  Prof.  E.  S.  Harris, 
Principal  of  the  Academy,  that  an  enumeration  of  the  inhabitants 

243 


DEAR    OLt)    GtREiENE!    COUNT1*. 


of  the  district  was  taken  and  it  being  ascertained  that  the  district 
had  the  required  population,  the  Office  of  Superintendent  of 
Schools  was  created  and  Prof.  Harris  became  the  first  Superinten- 
dent of  Schools. 

The  next  important  step  in  the  progress  of  the  elementary 
schools  was  erection  of  the  Grandview  School  in  1896,  at  a  cost  of 
$20,000.  This  is  a  beautiful  two  story  brick  building  of  eight 
grade  rooms. 


The  Grandview  School 


The  Irving  School 


High  School 


By  1907  the  village  had  grown  to  such  an  extent  that  the 
school  facilities,  for  grade  pupils,  were  inadequate.  To  meet  the 
demands  the  Irving  School  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  #45,000.     This 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


is  one  of  the  finest  school  buildings  on  the  Hudson  River.  It  has 
nine  grade  rooms  and  the  offices  of  the  Board  of  Education  and 
Superintendent  of  Schools.  The  building  is  provided  with  a  mod- 
ern heating  plant  and  a  mechanical  system  of  ventilation. 

This  school  system  provides  for  the  kindergarten  and  eight 
grades  below  the  high  school. 

Each  grade  is  in  charge  of  a  competent  teacher.  Special 
teachers  give  instruction  in  Music,  Drawing  and  Domestic  Sci- 
ence. 

The  people  of  this  district  are  much  interested  i»  the  schools 
and  give  them  generous  and  hearty  support. 

The  Catskill  Schools  are  the  best  to  be  found  along  the 
Hudson  river  and  furnish  a  complete  education,  taking  up  the 
college  preparatory  course,  the  academic  and  commercial  courses 
of  study— art,  science,  stenography,  language,  and  music. 

There  is  also  a  Teachers'  training  class,  with    free    tuition. 

The  pupils  also  have  the  advantage  of  three  special  prizes, 
the  Mary  Howard,  J.  P.  Philip  and  H.  L.  Austin  prizes  for  effic- 
iency. 

The  death  of  Charles  A.  Nicoll,  trustee,  occurred  after  this 
article  was  ready  for  the  press. 

The  instructors  are:  Henry  C.  Thomas,  Ella  L.  De  La 
Mater,  Henrietta  Lewis,  Marian  E.  Wheeler,  Mildred  F.  Stone, 
Louise  A.  Hull,  Myrtle  E.  Waugh,  Kathrine  G.  Slattery,  Edna 
Clark,  Mary  L.  Hale,  H.  May  Ford,  kindergarten. 

The  instructors  in  the  High  School  are  Harriet  D.  Jackson, 
principal;  English;  Mabel  V.  Root,  Latin;  Gertrude  R.  Gardner, 
History  and  Algebra;  Gilberta  Wallace,  German  and  French; 
Ellen  M.  Dewey,  Science;  Evangeline  Bartlett,  Commercial  Sub- 
jects; Mollie  C.  Gilbert,  Mathematics;  Frances  M.  Wood,  Domes- 
tic Science;  Jennie  Robson,  Training  Class;  Margaret  E.  Place, 
Music  and  Drawing.  — —       ___» 

The  instructors  of  the  Grand  view  School:  Elizabeth  E. 
Burhans,  principal;  Alice   Babcock,    Ildah   Thompson,   Ruth   I. 

245 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Board  of  Education:  Frank  C.  Clarke,  Howard  C. 
Smith,  Wendell  S.  Sherman,  George  W.  Irwin,  and  Albert  C. 
Bloodgood. 

School  Officials:  Frank  C.  Clarke,  president;  Wendell  S. 
Sherman,  clerk;  John  H.  Story,  treasurer;  Frederick  Becker, 
collector. 

Bostrom,  Alice  L,  Adams,  Bernice   E.  Hammond  and   Mary   B. 
Story. 

Prof.  E.  C.  Hocmer,  Superintendent. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  the  Catskill  Examiner  we  show  a 
line  drawing  of  the  Catskill  High  School  building  as  it  appeared 
in  1869,  and  1882  with  the  addition.  Also  on  another  page  a 
picture  of  the  old  academy,  located  on  William  street.  We  are 
sure  they  will  prove  of  interest. 


Some  Catskill   Landmarks 

Captain  John  H.  Bagley  was  one  of  Catskill's  most  honored 
citizens,  who  dropped  dead  at  the  corner  of  Bridge  and  Main 
streets,  in  October  1902  at  the  age  of  70  years.  He  had  been 
intimately  connected  with  many  of  Catskill's  enterprises  and  for  a 
long  term  of  years  was  in  the  grocery  business  with  A.  P.  Jones, 
and  also  in  a  flouring  mill  known  as  the  Catskill  Steam  Mill 
which  later  became  a  part  of  the  woolen  mill  now  occupied  by  the 
Union  Mills  Company.  From  1860  to  1864  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  in  76-78  and  83-85  represented  his 
district  in  Congress,  In  1888  he  was  Member  of  Assembly.  For 
years  also  village  trustee,  and  for  35  years  a  director  of  the  Catskill 
National  Bank.  President  of  the  Catskill  Building  and  Loan 
Association,  vice-president  of  the  Catskill  Mt.  Ry.,  a  director  of 
the  Co-Operative  and  Mutual  Fire  Companies,  a  member  of  F.  N. 
Wilson  Fire  Company,  Catskill  Lodge,  and  of  Lafayette  Com- 
mandry  of  Hudson.  He  was  a  vestryman  of  St.  Luke's  Episcopal 
church. 

Shortly  after  the  death  of  Capt.  Bagley  came  almost  as 
suddenly  that  of  Oliver  Bourke,  esq.  who  is  inseparably  connected 

246 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


with  Catskill's  history.  He  was  born  at  Bellana  County,  Ireland 
in  1830.  His  mother  and  step-father  moved  to  Quebec  in  1836, 
and  in  1840  came  to  Catskill,  where  his  step-father,  James  Laville 
engaged  in  butchering,  and  that  was  continued  by  Mr.  Bourke 
until  the  time  of  his  death  in  November  1802.  He  served  Catskill 
as  trustee  and  also  as  police  justice. 

Another  octogenarian  who  was  connected  with  Catskill 
business  life  was  Noble  P.  Cowles,  who  came  from  the  Puritan  Stock 
of  Southington,  Ct.,  where  he  was  born  in  1818.  And  first  at 
Windham  he  embarked  in  tailoring,  and  later  at  Catskill  in  the 
grocery  business,  the  firm  being  Meech,  Sage  and  Cowles.  For 
years  he  was  Loan  Commissioner  of  the  county  being  succeeded 
after  his  death  Dec.  4,  1902  by  Kobert  Story. 

Benjamin  Wey  is  another  of  the  grand  men  of  Catskill  who 
filled  out  a  long  and  useful  life,  in  Catskill,  having  touched  the 
83d  milestone  when  he  passed  suddenly  while  taking  an  afternoon 
ride  in  October  1910.  He  was  connected  with  many  Catskill 
enterprises,  including  the  Banks,  Mountain  railroad,  and  up  to 
1875  was  in  the  drug  business.  For  more  than  20  years  he  was 
treasurer  of  Christ's  Presbyterian  church. 

Senator  Addison  P  Jones  who  served  Catskill  in  many 
official  stations  was  for  87  years  connected  with  the  history  of 
Catskill,  and  is  best  remembered  as  a  partner  with  Captain  Bagley 
in  grocery  and  other  enterprises,  including  a  big  tannery  at  the 
head  of  Main  street,  as  supervisor,  county  superintendent  of  poor, 
senator,  etc.  He  was  conspicuous  in  the  political  field.  He  was 
connected  with  the  local  banks  and  prominent  in  church  work. 
At  the  time  of  his  death,  May  5,  1910,  he  had  retired  to  his  farm, 
but  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  barrels. 

John  Hard  wick,  an  old  time  brick  manufacturer  with  Robert 
Ferrier  and  J.  Atwater  Cooke,  died  in  September,  1900. 

In  October,  1900  the  Rev.  Wm.C.  Oliver  drove  off  the  bank 
into  the  creek  at  Prattsville  and  his  dead  body  was  found  under 
wagon  in  the  morning. 

?47 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Major  William  Plimley. 

Major  William  Plimley  is  another  one  of  the  historical 
characters  of  Greene  county  not  to  be  lost  sight  of  in  making  up 
the  record  of  men  whose  memory  its  residents  have  been  pleased 
to  cherish.  Major  Plimley  was  a  Cal  skill  boy  who  for  many  years 
made  his  way  by  setting  type  in  the  office  of  the  Catskill  Recorder. 
Responding  to  his  country's  call  he  went  to  the  front  and  served 
with  distinction  being  in  many  battles  and  rising  to  the  rank  of 
major.  He  was  a  close  friend  to  Senator  Piatt  and  many  of  the 
leading  men  who  gained  national  repute,  and  was  Department 
Chief  of  the  Board  of  Elections  of  New  York  City.  For  28  years 
Superintendant  of  the  Money  Order  Department  of  New  York 
City.  He  left  Catskill  in  1861  and  went  to  the  front  as  a  volun- 
teer. He  was  the  originator  and  for  two  years  the  president  of 
the  Greene  County  Society.  He  died  in  1913,  dropping  dead  at 
his  post  ofjabors.     Mrs.   Plimley  who  was  also   a   Greene  coupty 

248 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


native  was  born  at  Athens,  and  was  one  of  the  descendents  of 
the  honored  Hallenbeck  family.  Her  father  held  many  import- 
ant positions  in  town  affairs.  Mrs.  Plimley  for  the  past  few 
months  came  to  Catskill  and  made  her  home  at  the  Heidelburgh, 
where  she  died  on  Sunday,  March  7,  1.915. 

It  was  during  the  pastorate  of  William  J.  Finneran,  that 
St.  Patrick's  church  gained  great  prominence  in  the  community 
and  he  erected  the  beautiful  church  in  1886,  and  in  1890  opened 
the  parochal  school.  His  death  followed  after  a  mqst  successful 
work,  in  April,  1900.  At  his  funeral  every  business  place  in 
Catskill  closed  and  the  most  impressive  service  was  attended  by  a 
great  crowd,  among  the  number  being  50  priests  from  other 
places. 

Sidney  Crowell  was  one  of  the  well  known  lawyers  of  the 
county.  He  started  out  at  Prattsville,  and  in  1871  being  elected 
District  Attorney,  moved  to  Catskill.  The  famous  Joe  Walsh  trial 
was  during  his  term  and  he  was  assisted  by  John  A.  Griswold 
with  whom  afterwards  he  formed  a  law  partnership.  In  later 
years  he  was  associated  with  Hon.  Ira  B.  Kerr.  He  died  in  March 
1900. 

Hon.  James  B..  Olney,  leading  lawyer  of  Greene  county, 
died  at  Catskill,  Dec.  11,  1900.  One  of  the  organizers  of  the  Kip 
Van  Winkle  Club. 

Peter  Timmerman,  one  of  Catskill's  oldest  business  men 
was  born  at  Catskill,  May  8,  1830,  and  for  many  years  was 
employed  in  the  store  of  Jones  and  Bagley.  He  went  into  busi- 
ness for  himself  in  1884,  and  in  1906  purchased  the  property  on 
upper  Main  street  where  he  moved  his  grocery  and  feed  business. 
The  business  has  mostly  passed  into  the  hands  of  his  son,  Clarence 
Timmerman. 

Hon.  Geo.  S.  Stevens,  former  world's  fair  commissioner, 
engineer  Mallory  Line  steamers,  postmaster  of  Catskill  under 
Cleveland,  and  editor  of  the  Recorder,  died  Jan.  1901. 

249 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


William  H.  jStewart 

One  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  Greene  county  who 
passed  away  Aug.  11,  1915,  was  William  H.  Stewart,  of  Athens, 
known  the  county  over  as  "Hardy"  Stewart,  former  sheriff  of 
Greene  county,  who  by  sterling  character  and  ability  forced  his 
way  from  grocery  clerk  in  the  store  of  his  uncle  David  Whiting,  to 
the  ownership  of  the  largest  hotel  in  Athens  which  for  38  years  he 
conducted  successfully,  and  being  honored  with  trusteeship  of  the 
village  of  Athens,  school  trustee,  and  for  3  years  sheriff  of  Greene 
county  getting  a  splendid  majority.  He  was  a  prominent  fireman 
of  the  village  and  one  of   the  organizers  of  Morton  Steamer  Co . 

260 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Also  honorary  member  of  Macawomuc  Engine  Company  and  the 
Hook  and  Ladder  Company.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Exempt 
Firemen's  Association,  and  prominent  in  the  councils  of  the  Elks, 
Odd  Fellows  and  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  was  also  an  honorary 
member  of  the  Citizens  Hose  Company  of  Catskill,  and  a  member 
of  thp  Rip  Van  Winkle  Club.  At  the  time  when  Mr.  Stewart 
took  possession  of  the  hotel  in  Athens  it  was  regarded  as  a  difficult 
place  to  manage.  He  at  once  asserted  the  genial  power  that  follow- 
ed him  through  life,  and  the  Stewart  House  took  a  position  at  the 
front.  On  the  occasion  of  his  death  the  order  of  Elkg  took  charge 
of  the  last  rites  and  the  service  was  attended  by  hundreds  from  all 
quarters  of  the  county.  The  floral  display  was  noteworthy.  Mr. 
Stewart  was  born  at  Urlton  in  1850,  his  parents  being  William 
Stewart  and  Margaret  Hardwick  Stewart.  He  was  married  to 
Elizabeth  I.Hallenbeck  of  Guilderland.  There  were  three  children, 
one  died  in  infancy,  Wilford,  at  the  age  of  ten  years,  and  Harriet 
W.  wife  of  Abram  Post  is  living  and  Mr.  Post  ha3  charge  of  the 
hotel  business.  Mr.  Post  was  deputy  sheriff  under  Mr.  Stewart, 
and  assisted  him  in  many  ways.  The  men  who  served  as  deputy 
sheriffs  were:  A.  Blenis,  Greenville,  Martin  Chamberlain,  Pratts- 
ville,  S  Coffin,  Athens,  Michael  Lackey,  Tannersyille,  Bert  Dewell 
Windham,  S.  Bareley,  Jewett,  D.  S.  Smith,  New  Baltimore,  Ed. 
Griffin,  Lexington,  Seymour  Taylor,  Durham. 

Among  the  great  artists  that  Greene  county  has  turned  out 
are  Thomas  Cole,  Col.  B.  B.  G.  Stone,  and  Herbert  Faulkner. 

H.K.Hill,  another  of  Catskill's  business  men  commenced 
business  in  1872,  and  has  since  continued  at  the  old  stand  on  Main 
street.  His  father  Oliver  Hill  came  from  Keene,  N.  H.  in  1818 
and  started  a  paint  store  in  1832 . 

George  Wilcox  died  at  the  Commercial  Hotel,  Catkill,  March 
4th,  1915,  at  the  age  of  84  years.  He  was  a  brother  of  Howard 
Wilcox  who  died  a  few  days  before  and  was  for  over  60  years  in 
business  in  Catskill. 

Horace  Van  Aken,  prominent  Catskillian,  killed  by  trolley 
car  near  his  shop,  Feb.  1901. 

■m 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Mary  Robiuson  Doty  who  died  at  Windham  in  December, 
1900,  was  a  sister  of  Governor  Lucius  Robinson,  and  mother  of 
Lucius  R.  and  William  Doty  of  Catskill. 

H.  T.  Jones  whose  placj  of  business  is  opposite  the  Com- 
mercial Hotel  has  been  in  business  in  Catskill  since  1870,  coming 
here  some  13  j'ears  previous  to  that  date,  from  Greenville,  and 
engaging  in  the  tinning  business  at  John  T.  Mann's  store.  At  that 
time  there  was  a  great  boom  in  Catskill.  He  was  formerly  from 
New  York. 

No  history  of  New  York  state  would  be  complete  without 
reference  to  Isaac  Jogues,  1607-1646,  a  French  Jesuit  Missionary 
who  labored  in  this  section  and  who  was  a  martyr  to  the  cause  he 
represented.  He  was  captured  by  the  Indians  and  tortured,  once 
being  compelled  to  run  the  gauntlet,  and  in  1646  he  and  his  com- 
panion were  tomahawked  by  the  Mohawk  Indians,  after  Jogues 
had  been  tortured  by  having  strips  of  flesh  cut  from  his  arms  and 
back.  The  Chapel  at  Auriesville  erected  in  his  memory  is  regard- 
ed most  sacredly.  Previous  to  this  he  had  returned  to  Albany 
(Fort  Orange)  with  a  special  commission  from  Pope  Innocent  XL 

Church  Or jEfanizatioivg 

The  first  church  organized  in  Greene  county  was  the  Zion 
Lutheran  Church  at  Athens,  which  had  the  distinction  of  being 
one  of  three  churches  between  New  York  and  Albany.  This  church 
organization  shows  a  set  of  records  from  1704,  and  the  Rev.  Justus 
Faulkner  was  pastor  at  that  time  and  up  to  1723,  when  he  died. 

This  church  was  located  in  "Loonenburgh"  and  entries 
concerning  it  were  made  in  the  New  York  Church  book. 

The  Rev.  Willhelm  Christoph  Berkenmeyer  was  the  second 
settled  pastor  and  became  the  "settled  minister  of  Albany  and 
Loonenburgh"  1723,  and  in  1727  it  was  agreed  that  he  should 
come  twice  a  year  to  the  Church  at  West  Camp,  then  organized  as 
the  Church  of  the  Palatines. 

The  Rev.  Berkenmeyer  died  in  1751,  and  was  followed  by 
the  Rev.  Knoll  1777,  John  Christian  Leps  1783,   Frederick   Wal- 

252 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COtfNtV. 


German  Lutheran  Church,  Athens,  Oldest  in  County. 

burgh  1791,  Frederick  Ernst  1800,  Frederick  H.  Quitman  1803, 
Philip  F.  Mayer  1813,  Adulphus  Rumph  1833,  and  he  moved  to 
the  West  Camp  church.  Thomas  Lape  1838,  Lysander  Curtis  1854, 
Matthew  Waltermeyer  1848,  Augustus  Bridgmen  1851,  Isaac 
Kimbell  1853,  William  H.  Emerick  1855,  a  native  of  West  Camp, 
W.  M.  Scholll858,  Henry  Keller  1865,  Wm.  Hull  1866,  Philip 
Stroebel  1869,  Wm.  H.  Emerick  1872,  William  Travers  1875, 
Philip  Graib  1883.     The  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  Jacob  S.  Paul. 

The  old  church  seal  shows  a  square  edifice  for  the 
first  building,  and  the  present  structure  was  a  remodeling 
of  the  old  one  in  1856.  The  original  communion  set  is  in  posses- 
sion of  the  church.  The  records  show  names  of  parents  and  bap- 
tisms from  1704,  and  these  names  run  into  the  thousands.  They 
show  that  the  pious  generations  of  the  Hudson  valley  for  a  great 
many  miles  found  their  way  to  this  church  for  membership  and 
baptism. 

We  have  Kocksshaky,  Kostverlooren,  Kinderhook,  Klaver- 
ack,  Tackanick,  Klinkenberg,  Tarbosch,  Hunterstown,  Newton 
Kiskatamesy,  Flatke,  Albany, DeGroet,  NottenHoek,  Hoogelandt, 

253 


DEAR  OLD  GREECE  COUNTiT. 


Oost  Camp,  as  the  places  down  to  1730,    an  assortment  of  places 
from  which  some  of  the  present  villages  may  be  selected. 

Among  the  names  recorded  are  some  still  familiar  and 
others  that  are  not  familiar  in  Greene  county.  The  generations 
of  these  people  would  be  a  sight  that  include  people  from  all 
quarters  of  the  globe. 


First  Church  in  New  York  (New  Amsterdam)  1650. 

A  man  named  W-  D.  Coons  who  has  found  his  way  from 
Greene  county  to  Alta  Loma,  Texas,  wrote  us  that  the  list  of 
names  we  should  get  complete  and  that  is  the  only  sort  of  history 
that  would  be  valuable.  If  we  got  them  all  he  would  be  willing 
to  purchase  a  book.  Our  hands  are  up,  Mr.  Coons,  hut  pray 
don't  shoot.  We  honor  the  ancient  records  but  we  have  neither 
the  space  nor  the  disposition  to  print  them  all. 

Of  the  early  names  there  are  Alversons,  Van  Hoesens, 
Halenbecks,  Colliers,  Dekkers,  Haas,  Klaews,  probably  now  Clow, 
Lagrangies,  Faulkners,  Overbags,  Worms,  Lassings,  Vosbergs, 
Van  Loons,  Schmidts,  Kuhns,  Keiffers,  Hoogabooms,  Hannesses, 
Bronks,  Van  Schaacks,  Brandows,  Boughards.  Von  De  Karres, 
Haydoons,    Millers,    Hardicks,    Carters,     Scherps,     Lehmanns, 

254 


tlEAfc.    OLD    GREEKS!    COUNTY. 


Jansens,  Beckers,  Wormers,  Evertse,  Minklers,  Kloppers,  Straubs, 
Silbernagles,  Wodkoks,  Brandaus,  Schumacker3,  Valkenburgerp , 
Deihls,  Moons,  Milius,  Dingmans,  Klauws,  Kurtzs,  Martins, 
Lampmans,  Salsburgers,  Bennets,  Frees,  Ostrandes,  Rockfelders, 
Maccays,  Braseys,  Rosmans,  Moor3,  Stopplebeans,  Brandauws  and 
Rauws,  and  so  on  indefinitely.  We  spell  these  names  differently 
now. 

The  New  Baltimore  Reformed  church  was  organized  in  1923. 
For  other  church  organizations  see  towns. 


Reformed  Church  and  Parsonage,  Catskill. 

The   Reformed  Dutch    Church. 

It  was  not  until  1733  that  the  Reformed  Dutch  church 
was  established  in  Greene  county,  and  three  churches  were  started 
at  the  same  time,  one  at  Coxsackie,  Leeds,  then  old  Catskill,  and 
Claverack.  Garret  Van  Bergen,  and  the  Rev.  George  Weiss  served 
all  three  of  these  churches. 

The  church  at  Coxsackie  was  at  the  Upper  Landing  and 
was  torn  down  in  1798,  when  Henry  Van  Bergen  gave  land  for  a 
new  church  and  this  structure  was  torn  down  in    1861,  and  the 

255 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


present  structure  erected.     Dominie  Schuneman  to  whom  we  have 
referred  preached  at  Catskill,  and  Coxsackie  1752  to  1794. 

It  was  not  until  1833  that  regular  preaching  services  in  the 
new  Reformed  Church  took  place,  and  the  Leeds  church  became 
known  as  the  Reformed  Protestant  Church  of  Leeds  and  Kiskatoin 
and  the  new  church  was  known  as  the  First  Reformed  Church  of 
Catskill.  Later  in  1843  the  Church  at  Kiskatom  was  organized 
separately. 

The  Reformed  church  at  Athens  started  in  1826. 

The  Coeymans  Reformed  church  originally  a  part  of  Cox- 
sackie district  was  organized  around  1736. 

The  Catskill  Reformed  Church  has  been  a  yery  prosperous 
organization,  and  has  not  only  had  a  strong  line  of  great  preachers 
and  broad  minded  men  who  have  carried  on  the  work  very  ably. 

The  Rev.  Peter  Lebangh  was  the  third  preacher  on  the 
Catskill  charge  1798,  Henry  Ostrander  1810,  Peter  Wynkoop  1814. 
Isaac  N.  Wyckoffl817-36. 

■ -■*"  It  should  be  borne' in  mind  that  the  church  at  Catskill 
shares  equally '  with  the  church  at  Leeds  the  honor  of  being 
descended  from  the  old  "Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  Church  in 
the  Town  of  Catskill." 

f  -  '  Dominie  JVyckofi  continued  to  minister  to  the  newly  organ- 
ized church  at  Catskill  until  1836,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  James  Romeyn,  who  continued  pastor  until  1841.  For 
about  a  year,  Mr.  Romeyn  was  assisted  by  Rev.  D.  D.  Demarest, 
father  of  two  subsequent  pastors.  Rev.  David  Murdock  next  served 
the  church  from  1842  to  1851,  his  successor  being  Rev.  Acmon  P. 
Van  Gieson,  D.  D.,  who  was  pastor  from  1853  to  1855.  Rev. 
Ransom  Bethune  Welsh,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  who  was  minister  from 
1856  to  1859,. was  followed  by  Rev.  John  A.  Lansing,  D.  D.,  who 
served  from  1860  to  1866.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Francis  A. 
Horton,  who  remained  from  1867  until  1873.  Mr.  Horton  was 
followed  by  Rev.  John  B.  Thompson,  D.  D.,  who  was  pastor  from 
1874  to  1884.  Rev.  Evert  Van  Slyke,  D.  D..  was  then  pastor  from 
1884  to  1896,  he  being  succeeded  by  Rev.  W.  H.  S.  Demarest,  D. 
D.,  in  the  following  year.  Rev.  Alfred  H.  Demarest,  D.  D.  succeed- 

256 


1>BAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNlT. 


ed  his  brother  in  1901,  remaining  until  his  death  in  1904.  He 
was  followed  by  Rev.  I.  H.  Berg,  and  the  present  pastor  is  Rev. 
J.  A.  Dykstra. 

The  first  church  was  burned  in  the  fire  of  1851.  The 
present  structure  is  very  commodious  and  the  interior  shows 
artistic  decorations  and  beautiful  memorial  windows.  The  build- 
ing has  been  remodeled  and  the  grounds  beautified  by  a  cut  stone 
retaining  wall,  similar  to  that  in  front  of  the  court  house.  The 
parsonage  was  visited  by  fire  a   number  of  years    ago    during   the 

pastorate  of  Mr.  Berg  was  remodeled  and  is  a  splendid  building. 

.* 

John  A.  Dykstra  the  present  pastor  came  to  Catskill  from 
Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  and  has  done  grand  work  here.  On 
Sunday,  March  7th,  there  were  taken  into  he  church  117  new 
members,  the  record  of  the  church.  A  strong  preacher  and  a 
whole  souled  pastor.  He  was  married  in  1913  to  Miss  Irene  J. 
Staplecamp  of  Holland,  Michigan,  and  she  is  of  great  help  to  him 
in  his  church  work,  being  at  the  head  of  the  Woman's  Society. 

The  present  organization  includes: 

Elders:  William  Van  Orden,  John  D.  Ahreet,  Amadee 
Raynor,  George  C.  Fox,  W.  I.  Jennings,  and  Charles  H.  Van 
Orden. 

Deacons:  C.  Edsal  Fiester,  Henry  R.  Hinman,  Frederick 
Fiero,  Eugene  Faulkner,  Thomas  J.  Reilly. 

Women's  Missionary  Society --Mrs.  J.  P.  Philip,  president. 

Women's  Improvement  Society— Mrs.   Frank  H.  Kortz. 
Women's  Society— Mrs.  John  A.  Dykstra. 
Brotherhood— Charles  Richtmyer. 
Sunday  School  -  Rudolph  W.  Plusch,  superintendent. 

Christian  Endeavor:  Junior  Society — Mrs.  Clarence  J. 
Travis,  Supt.  Intermediate  — Mrs.  John  A.  Dykstra,  superin- 
tendent.    Senior — Miss  Martha  Ernst,  president. 

Organist  -  Miss  Winifred  Wardle 

Chorister —John  J.  Ahreet,  since  1880,  35  years. 

257 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


St.   Luke's  Episcopal  Church,  Catskill. 

The  Episcopal  Ghxirch 

The  Protestant  Episcopal  church  was  established  along  the 
Hudson  river  in  the  early  part  of.  the  last  century,  and  it  appears 
likely  that  the  first  church  was  established  by  the  Rev.  Ammi 
Rogers,  in  August  1801,  when  that  Reverend  gentleman  was  mak- 
ing a  trip  from  Ballston  to  Bradford,  Gt.,  leaving  the  former  place 
where  he  had  been  established  to  go  to  the  latter,  a  new  charge. 
Going  down  the  river  on  a  sloop  the  boat  was  becalmed  at  Catskill 
and  he  improved  the  opportunity  to  start  a  church  organization. 

The  first  church- in  what  is  Catskill  was  erected  by  the 
Episcopalians,  as  the  Reformed  church  was  at  Old  Catskill.  The 
first  building  was  erected  in  1804,  and  the  second  in  1841.  This 
was  following  the  fire  of  1839.  This  church  was  built  of  brick, 
and  was  located  on  Church  street  where  on  June  6th,  1899  the  last 
service  was  held,  and  the  building  placed  on  the  market.  It  was 
in  use  for  a  short  time  as  a  dance  hall,  and  a  factory,    and  now  is 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Post's  garage.  We  present  a  picture  of  the  old  structure  as  it  now 
appears,  and  of  the  beautiful  picture  granite  structure  erected  by 
Contractor  Geo    W.  Holdridge,  and  dedicated  June  6th,  1899. 


First  Episcopal  Church,  1804.     Now  Post's  Garage. 


This  building  cost  $55,000,  and  is  probably  the  finest 
church  along  the  river.  The  stained  glass  windows  are  works  of 
art  and  the  interior  is  commodious  and  beautiful.  The  present 
pastor  is  the  Rev.  G.  H.  Grout,  who  succeeded  the  Rev.  M.  Miller 
who  went  into  the  Western  Missionary  field.  Mr.  Grout  came  to 
Catskill  from  Delhi,  N.  Y.,  and  it  is  certain  that  a  more  popular 
rector  never  was  in  charge  of  the  work,  which  is  going  forward  in 
splendid  shape. 

269 


DEAR    OL±>    GREENE    COtN^V. 


The  early  supporters  of  the  first  church  in  1804  were  Ter- 
rence  Donnelly,  proprietor  of  one  of- the  early  hotels  to  which  we 
have  referred,  James  Pinkney  who  wrote  Sketches  of  Catskill, 
Mackey  Croswell,  publisher  of  the  Catskill  Packet,  John  Doane 
who  lived  to  the  century  mark  and  a  great  man  in  Catskill,  Barnet 
Du  Bois,  O'Hara  Croswell,  Peter  Bogardus,  Nathaniel  Hinman, 
Stephen  Calkins,  Henry  Selleck,  Isaac  Van  Loan  and  Thomas 
Wright. 

During  the  history  of  St.  Luke's  church  there  have  been  13 
rectors:  Ammi  Rogers,  John  Reed,  Joseph  Prentis,  Joseph  F. 
Phillips,  Louis  L.  Noble,  Thomas  Richey,  E.  Polsom  Baker, 
William  S.  Chad  well,  Robert  Weeks,  William  H.  Harison,  Wm. 
L.  Woodruff,  Elmer  P.  Miller  and  G.  H.  Grout. 

The  officials  of  St.  Luke's  church  are: 

Wardens— Charles  Trowbridge,  Dr.  Robert  Selden;  Walton 
Van  Loan,  treasurer;  Addison  P.  Jones,  assistant  treasurer; 
George  Harding,  financial  secretary. 

Vestrymen— Edgar  Washburn,  Samuel  C.  Hopkins,  Chas. 
Hopkins,  J.  M.  Knap,  George  Purdy,  David  M.  Post,  Thomas 
E.  Jones. 

Women's  Sewing  Society — Mrs.  Geo.  H.  Grout,  president; 
Mrs.  Geo.  Harding,  vice-president;  Mrs.  Addison  P.  Jones,  secre- 
tary; Miss  Emily  Marquit,  treasurer. 

Women's  Auxiliary  — Miss  Ruth  Hall,  president;  Mrs.  C. 
M.  Crook,  vice-president;  Matilda  Jackson,  secretary;  Mrs.  Chas. 
E.  Willard,  treasurer. 

Altar  Society — Mrs.  Joseph  Spoor,  president;  Mrs.  Dr. 
Goodrich,  secretary;  Anna  Gardner,  treasurer. 

Men's  Society- Dr.  Robert  Seldon,  president;  Fred  E. 
Craigie,  vice-president;  Mortimer  Du  Bois,  secretary  and  treasur- 
er; Thos.  E.  Jones,  L.  W.  Richardson,  Chas.  J.  Bagley,  Arnold 
Grobe,  advisory  committee. 

Donald  Craigie,  chorister;  Margaret  Craigie,  organist. 

Edgar  W.  Hall,  commander  of  Boy  Scouts. 

Sunday  School— Dr.  Walter Conklin,  superintendent;  Miss 
Gertrude  Gardner,  secretary. 

260 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  second  Episcopal  church  in  the  county  was  organized 
at  Athens  in  1806,  at  Greenville  in  1825,  Cairo  1882,  Prattsville 
1845,  Windham  1850,  and  at  Coxsackie  in  1853. 

See  towns  for  further  reference. 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Catskill . 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 

The  first  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  this  section  was 
erected  at  Coeymans,  a  stone  structure  in  1791,  and  it  is  likely 
that  the  other  churches  in  this  section  trace  directly  to  the  church 
at  that  place,  where  the  Rev-  John  Crawford  was  stationed. 

Somewhere  in  the  neighborhood  of  1800  to  1806  there  was 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


formed  at  Catskill  a  church  which  had  as  its  pastor  Robert  S. 
Barrett  who  was  not  only  a  carder  of  wool  and  an  expert  at  dying 
but  appears  to  haye  been  a  preacher  when  he  was  not  otherwise 
employed.  His  first  sermons  were  in  the  Episcopal  church  and 
later  on  at  the  court  house. 

The  first  church  of  the  society  was  on  Thomson  street  near 
the  Irving  school,  and  the  building  which  cost  $100  was  used 
during  the  week  as  an  "academy"  and  on  Sundays  as  a  house  of 
worship.     This  was  around  1824. 

In  December  of  1834,  $600  having  been  raised  a  building 
34x40  was  erected  on  this  lot  and  the  society  commenced  to 
flourish. 

In  1846  the  preaching  circuit  was  Catskill  and  Coxsackie, 
and  each  place  raised  the  sum  of  $155  for  the  pastor's  salary. 

In  1852  High  Hill,  Leeds  and  Catskill  were  the  preaching 
circuit,  and  in  1855  Sandy  Plains  came  in. 

In  1864,  High  Hill  was  cut  off  the  circuit,  and  the  present 
church  at  the  head  of  Main  street  was  erected.  Since  that  time 
the  church  has  been  enlarged,  and  the  Sunday  School  room  and 
church  parlors  added.  The  grand  Steere  and  Turner  pipe  organ 
being  a  great  improvement,  brought  about  by  the  Atheaneum,  at 
the  head  of  which  was  John  A,  Foote. 

The  church  has  had  a  number  of  extensive  revivals  when 
large  numbers  were  added  to  the  membership,  one  under  the 
pastorate  of  Alfred  Coons,  and  another  during  the  Chapman  work 
here,  but  the  greatest  of  all  has  been  under  the  Rey.  J.  W.  Tetley 
who  added  about  100  at  a  single  service  in  1915. 

The  Rev.  Charles  A.  Holla,  and  the  Rev.  R.  E.  Bell  were 
great  preachers. 

The  line  of  pastors  has  been:  J.  Tackbury,  D.  Poor, 
EbenHubbell,  Abraham  Davis,  Philip  Hoyt,  Samuel  G.  Steyens, 
James  Burch,  William  Hale,  and  Mr.  Hale  made  his  home  in 
Coxsackie,  1852,  Thomas  Lodge.,  J.  W.  Macomber,  William 
Steyens,  C  M.  Egglestone,  O.  P.  Matthews  and  S,.  I.  Ferguson 
down  to  1864. 

Since  that  time  they  are  Revs.  Z.N.  Lewis,  J.  Millard,  J, 

262 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


K.  Wardle,  Edmund  Lewis,  Angelo  Oatrander,  David  McCartney, 
Those  living  are  Revs.  George  Clark,  Thomas  Lamont,  Alfred 
Coons,  Charles  A.  Holla,  Richard  E.  Bell,  Edmund  L.  Hoffecker, 
Prank  Beale,  Robert  Knapp,  Clark  Wright,  H.  V.  Murkland,  and 
J,  W.  Tetley. 

The  officers  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  are : 

J.  Clark  Salisbury,  church  treasurer. 

B.  C.  Sanford,  treasurer. 

William  H.  Thorne,  financial  secretary. 

Trustees:  Charles  E.  Bassett,  John  A.  Foote,  George  W. 
Iioldridge,  J.  Clark  Salisbury,  Orliflf  T.  Heath,  Richard  Van 
Hoesen,  Willis  A  Haines,  J.  Lewis  Patrie,  Cyrus  E.  Bloodgood 
deceased . 

Stewards:  Henry  Van  Bramer,  Euberto  Austin,  B.  C. 
Sanford,  William  H.  Thorn,  Elias  Lasher,  Herbert  W.  Terwiliiger, 
Raymond  E.  Smith,  Elmer  E.  Whitcomb,  H.  G.  Bates,  Edwin  C. 
Hocmer,  N.  L.  King,  Silas  Embree,  0.  A.  Freer,  George  F. Moon. 

Sunday  School  Superintendent,  Addison  C.  Myers. 

President  Epworth  League,  Ruth  Marshall. 

President  Ladies'  Aid  Society,  Mrs   Nelson  Mattice. 

President  Women's  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  Mrs.  Van 
Gelder. 

President  Women's  Home  Missionary  Society,  Mrs.  Geo. 
W.  Holdridge. 

Organist,  Mrs.  William  Driscoll. 

Chorister,  George  Parks. 


The  first  Christian  Church  was  organized  at  Coeymans  in 
1812.  From  that  center  Jasper  Hazen,  the  local  preacher  went 
out  and  organized  churches  at  Freehold  1812,  and  later  on  at 
South  Westerlo,  Stephens ville,  Medway  and  Medusa.  The  chur.ch 
at  Freehold  is  still  regarded  as  the  strongest  of  the  number  men- 
tioned, and  ail  are  flourishing. 

The  Quaker  church  at  Stanton  Hill  was  built  in  1833  by 
Jonathan  Head  of  Oak  Hill. 

The  Friend's  or  Hicksite  church  near  the   same  place  was 

erected  in  1840. 

363 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Christ's  Presbyterian  Church.Xatskill;*  1808. 


The  Presbylerian   Church 

It  is  uncertain  just  when  the  first  Presbyterian  church  was 
organized  in  Greene  county.  There  was  an  organization  at  Dur- 
ham in  1793  and  at  Greenville  in  1789,  and  the  Rev.  Beriah 
Hotchkin  the  first  American  Missionary  to  cross  the  Hudson 
river  from  the  New  England  settlements  formed  these  societies. 
The  Greenville  Presbyterians  met  in  a  barn . 

The  church  at  Catskill  was  incorporated  in  1803,  and  it 
may  have  been  that  the  Rey.  Beriah  Hotchkin  visited  Catskill 
before  the  places  mentioned  first.  The  first  organization  at  Cairo 
was  in  1808.     Ashknd  1799,  then  Old  Windham. 

It  is  certain  that  the"  Presbyterian  churches  of  Greene 
364 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


county  organized  in  the  early  1800's  are  still  energetic  and  thriving 
and  a  great  power  for  good. 

We  have  referred  to  the  churches  in  a  number  of  these 
towns  elsewhere.  The  church  at  Catskill,  has  always  been  a  lead- 
in-  in  religious  work,  and  strong  in  the  mission  field  and  bible 
work. 

The  first  church  was  built  in  1808,  and  in  1853  the  build- 
ing was  remodeled  as  it  now  appears. 

No  other  church  in  the  state  can  boast  of  having  had  so 
few  pastors.  There  have  been  but  five  men,  towering  giants  in 
the  religious  work,  who  have  remained  long  years  in  honored 
prosperity  and  loved  by  all.  The  first  was  the  Rev.  David  Porter, 
1803-1831,  Theodore  M.  Smith,  1831-39,  Gideon  N.  Judd,  1840- 
49,  Dr.  Geo.  A.  Howard,  1850-1890  and  pastor  emeritus  to  LS98, 
and  lastly  the  Rev.  Christopher  G.  Hazard.  1891-1915.  And 
under  these  men  the  church  has  prospered.  Pastor  Hazard  has 
also  been  at  the  head  of  the  Greene  County  Bible  Society.  He  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  finest  pulpit  orators  that  the  church  ever 
had. 

The  first  meetings  were  held  in  the  court  house,  and  the 
first  church  had  a  double  row  of  windows,  as  may  be  seen  from 
the  picture  of  Catskill  taken  in  1839,  which  we  show  elsewhere. 
The  building  adjoining  the  court  house  property. 

The  great  Chapman  revival  occurred  during  the  pastorate 
of  the  Rev.  George  A.  Howard  in  1890,  and  Dr.  Howard  had 
other  prosperous  revivals. 

Dr.  Hazard  has  continued  to  build  up  the  church,  and  the 
revival  of  1915  added  about  100  to  the  church. 

Following  a  fire  which  broke  out  under  the  floor  in  1896 
and  did  much  damage,  very  considerable  improvements  were  made 
in  the  building,  and  the  new  organ,  gift  of  Miss  Helen  Mackey 
was  built  into  the  structure.  New  stained  glass  windows  were 
installed  and  the  church  wonderfully  beautified. 

Among  the  men  who  have  gone  out  from  the  church  are 
the  Rev.  Charles  O.  Day,  of  And  over  College.  ._The  Rev.  Charles 

265 


REV.  GEORGE  A.  HOWARD.  DD.,  LLD.  Deceased. 

50  Years  Pastor  of  Christ's  Church, 

Catskill,  New  York. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Hawley,  the  Rev.  Geo.  L.  Weed  and  Edgar  T.  Doane  to  the 
missionary  field. 

The  gifts  of  the  Catskill  churches  to  the  mission  field  have 
been  noteworthy. 

The  officials  of  this  church  are : 

Trustees— Orrin  Day,  J.  Henry  Deane,  John  L.  Driscoll, 
Josiah  C.  Tallmadge,  Albert  C.  Bloodgood,  Harmon  P.  Pettingill, 
Emory  A  Chase,  J.  W.  Kittrell,  George  S.  Lewis,  the  latter  being 
treasurer. 

Elders  Orrin  Day,  George  S.  Lewis,  L.  Carleton  Austin, 
Charles  A.  Elliott,  James  D.  Hopkins. 

Sunday  School  Superintendent,  Herman  C.  Cowan. 

Christian  Endeavor  Society,  Herbert  Knapp,    pres. 

Women's  Home   Missionary  Society,    Mrs.    Harry  Morris, 

Women's  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  Mrs.  F.  F.  Hender- 
son, pres. 

Women's  League,  Mrs.  E.  M.  Sedgwick,  pres. 

Chorister,  Charles  J.  Bagley. 

Organist,  Lisle  Embree. 


Gloria  Dei  Church,  Palervville. 

Gloria  Dei  Protestant  Episcopal  church  at  Palenville  was 
organized  in.  1878,  and  the  artistic  stone  church  was  [erected  .the 
following  year,  the  ground  being  a  gift  as  well  as  portions ,  of  the 
structure.  The  Rev.  Robert  Weeks  of  Catskill  supplied  the  pulpit 
during  the  summer  season. 

267 


REV.  WILLIAM  J.  FINNERAN,  Deceased, 

Former  Pastor  and  Builder  of  St.  Patrick's  Church, 

Founder  and  Builder  of  St.  Patrick's  Academy, 


tlEAtt    OLt)    GREENE    COUNTY. 


Catholic  Church 

The  first  organization  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church  ap- 
pears to  have  been  made  by  the  Rev.  Father  Farrell  in  1830,  at 
Hunter,  and  it  was  not  until  1837  that  the  first  church  was  erec- 
ted. Among  the  pastors  were  Fathers  Constantine,  Carroll, 
Myers,  Grattan,  Reilly,  Murphy,  Cannane,  and  Delehanty. 

The  Roman  Catholic  church  at  Coxsackie  was  organized  in 
1845  and  the  first  priest  was  the  Rev.  William  Howard. 

The  Roman  Catholic  church  at  Athens  was  organized  in 
1871. 

St.  Patrick's  church,  Catskill,  was  organized  in  1854,  and 
the  church,  a  low  wooden  structure  on  William  street  was  on  the 
lot  in  the  rear  of  the  present  church.  During  the  pastorate  of  the 
Rev.  William  Finneran,  the  new  church  was  built,  and  •  he  was 
instrumental  in  building  the  church  at  Cairo,  in  1895. 

History  of  this  church  and  St.  Patrick's  School  elsewhere 
in  book. 

The  church  at  Leeds  was  built  during  the  pastorate  of  the 
Rev.  Father  Driscoll  around  1870. 

The  church  at  Cementon  was  built  during  the  pastorate  of 
the  Rev.  Father  Fitzgerald. 


At  one  time  there  was  a  flourishing  Reformed  church  at 
Oak  Hill  in  the  town  of  Durham.  It  was  started  previous  to  1800, 
but  about  1840  the  building  was  torn  down  and  the  organization 
passed.  The  Rev.  Pietrus  Van  Vlierden,  was  pastor,  going  later 
on  to  the  church  at  Catskill. 


The  Baptist  Church 

The  Baptist  church  was  first  organized  in  Greene  county  in 
the  town  of  Durham,  at  Hervey  Street  in  1788,  and  at  Greenville 
Center  in  1793.  The  preacher  was  Deacon  Obed  Hervey;  who 
who  was  an  ordained  minister  but  devoted  most  of  his  time  to 
agriculture.  Gayhead,  Westerlo,  Acra  and  Greenville  Center 
worshippers  held  their  meetings  in  barns  in  the  several  sections. 
The  last  named  built  a  church,  the  first  erected  in  1817. 
The  New  Baltimore  church  was  organized  in  1825- 
The  Baptist  church  in  Athens  was  organized  in  1832. 

269 


DEAft  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


First  Baptist  Church,    Catskill. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  was  organized  in  Catskill  in  1803, 
and  services  were  held  in  the  kitchen  of  one  of  the  members,  Ketnra 
Hill.     Later  on  in  the  school  house  and  court  house. 

The  first  church  was  erected  in  1823,  and  John  J.  Ashley 
was  at  the  head  of  the  project,  and  he  gave  the  ground  upon 
which  the  present  building  stands.  The  first  church  proved  too 
small  and  in  January,  1840,  a  new  church  was  dedicated.  This 
building  was  in  the  great  fire  of  1851,  and  was  destroyed. 

370 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  society'was  not'so  easily  disrupted  and  soon  had  another 
church,  which  also  on  the  8th  of  August  1871  was  a  victim  of  the 
flames. 

Still  the  ardent  church  enthusiasm  prevailed  and  from  the 
ashes  came  the  stately  and  artistic  building  that  is  after  a  lapse 
of  41  years  a  grand  building  for  any  denomination  to  occupy, 
This  building  cost  about  $25,000.  The  debt  last  remaining  was 
wiped  out  under  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  R  H.  Rollin,  John  D. 
Rockerfeller  contributing  a  considerable  portion  of  that  amount. 
It  certainly  through  all  its  tribulations  merged  as#the  most  pros- 
perous Baptist  Church  in  Greene  County. 

John  J.  Ashley  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School 
for  84  years,  and  Frederick  Lynes  one  of  the  early  supporters  of 
the  church  was  superintendent  about  25  years. 

The  present  head  of  the  Sunday  School  is  Robert  Fenton, 
and  C.  K.  Thompson  is  at  the  head  of  the  Junior  department. 
The  Sunday  School  is  in  a  very   prosperous   condition. 

The  Revival  of  1915  brought  a  great  number  of  accessions 
to  the  church,  and  it  also  brought  Pastor  Hamm  to  the  front  as  a 
strong  pulpit  orator  and  earnest  worker. 

The  church  has  had  the  following  pastors:  Truman  Bee- 
man,  Peter  Thurston,  John  M.  Peck,  Reed  Burrit,  Richmond 
Taggert,  Bartholomew  Welch,  Peter  Simonson,  John  Dd'wling, 
Thomas  Dowling,  Henry  Whitman,  Samuel  Wilson,  Samuel  B. 
Willis,  George  Webster,  E.  F.  Piatt,  J.  M.  Hope,  A.  J.  Chaplin, 
George  Webster,  William  C.  McCarthy,  A.  C.  Williams,  P.  Frank- 
lin Jones,  Barney  B.  Gibbs,  Horace  J.  Baldwin,  James  A.  Fisher, 
Horace  J.  Baldwin,  Robert  H.  Rollins,  Robert  W.  Elder,  George 
W.  Rockwell,  Charles  J.  Burton,  and  the  present  pastor,  Maurice 
R.  Hamm. 

To  Mr.  Hamm  must  be  given  the  credit  for  the  organizaton 
of  the  Boys'  Brigade,  which  has  a  complete  uniform,  and 
under    the"  command    of   Wm.    Heath,  is  an   inspiration  to   the 

271 


DEAR    OLb    GREENE    CotJNtV. 


older  members  of  the  church.  The  Roster  of  the  Brigade  as  shown 
in  the  cut  which  we  print  of  the  boys,  is  as  follows: 


Names  of  early  members  of  Boys'  Brigade.  Front  row  — 
Left  to  right:  Arthur  Quick,  Cecil  Daniels,  Norman  Finch,  Ser- 
geant Warde  Heath,  Corporal  Louis  Plank,  Floyd  Hough,  Cor- 
poral Albert  Hock,  Arthur  Stewart. 

Center  row— left  to  right:. Frank  Doebler,  Frank  Knight, 
Leroy  Yager,  Arthur  June,  Arthur  Scott,  William  Brandow. 

Back  row— left  to  right:  Commandant  and  Chaplain  Rev. 
Maurice  R.  Hamm,  Earl  Gardner,  Bruce  Brandow,  Emund  Reed, 
Corporal  Leroy  Tiffany,  First  Lieutenant  Lester  Butler,  Corporal 
Warde  Stewart,  Sergeant  Charles  Beach,  Captain  Wm.  Heath. 

Officers  of  the  First  Baptist  Church : 

Senior  Deacons— E.  D.  Green,  Edgar  Selleck,  George  0. 
Van  Hoesen,  Robert  Fen  ton. 

Junior  Deacons— Ward  Mc  Laugh lin,  William  Heath,  Al- 
fred Jewett. 

272 


DEAR    otb    aRBtitoBi    COUNTY. 


Trustees — Robert  Fenton,  Clarence  Travis,  C.  K.  Thomson, 
Ward  Mc  Laughlin,  E.  D.  Green,  Amin  Smith. 
Clarence  F.  Travis,  treasurer. 
M.  K.  Brooks,  clerk. 

Mrs.  Maurice  Hamm,  benevolence  treasurer. 
E.  D.  Greene,  chairman  Board  of  Deacons. 
Robert  Fenton,  chairman  Board  of  trustees. 
Mrs.  John  P.  Russ,  President  Ladies'  Union. 
Mrs.  Maurice  R.  Hamm,  Leader  Helping  Hand  Circle. 
Robert  Fenton,  Sunday  School  Superintendent. 
C.  K.  Thompson,  Junior  Superintendent. 
Miss  Eva  Smith,  Primary  Superintendent. 
Mrs.  F.  A.  Jewett,  Home  Department  Superintendent. 
Alfred  Jewett,  Secretary. 
Ward  Mc  Laughlin,  Treasurer. 
William  Heath,  Capt.  Boy's  Brigade. 

Officers  of  the  Baptist  Young  People's  Union  of  America — 
President,  Alfred  Jewett;  Vice  President,  Miss  Irma  Brandow; 
Secretary,  Floyd  Hough;    Treasurer,  Fred  Teator. 

C.  K.  Thompson  was  for  20  years  secretary  of  the  Sunday 
School. 

Mrs.  Egbert  Beardsley,  as  superintendent  of  the  junior  de- 
partment for  many  years,  has  attained  distinction  as  a  lecturer. 

Mrs.  Rosa  Person,  as  organist,  has  served  the  church  for  a 
long  term  of  years. 

The  church  never  was  in  a  more  prosperous  condition  and 
is  a  power  for  good  in  the  community. 


American  Bible  (Society 

The  American  Bible  Society  like  the  early  eyangelical 
church  early  appeared  in  the  Greene  counly  field.  It  was  not 
many  years  after  Freeborn  Garretson,  and  the  early  circuit  riders 
began  to  make  their  regular  appearance   in  this   section   that  the 

273 


DEAE  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Bible  Society  made  its  appearance.  Catskill,  Cairo,  Durham, 
Coxsackie  and  Windham  were  represented  and  the  prime  movers 
were  the  Rev.  David  Porter,  the  Rev.  Peter  Wynkoop,  Orrin  Day 
and  others  of  Catskill.  Rev.  Beriah  Hotchkin  of  Greenville,  Ezra 
Post  of  Durham,  Daniel  Sayre  of  Cairo  and  Samuel  Baldwin  of 
Windham..- That  was  in  1815.  Rev.  Beriah  Hotchkin  was  made 
president,  Elisha  Wise  secretary,  and  Orrin  Day  treasurer.  S. 
Sherwood  Day  succeeded  Orrin  Day,  and  George  H.  Penfield 
followed  him.  The  society  flourished  and  raised  about  $1000 
yearly  for  their  work  which  was  the  distribution  of  bibles  free.  It 
is  still  doing  splendidly  and  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  C.  G. 
Hazard,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Catskill. 


The  Catskill  Y.  M.  G.  A. 

The  Catskill  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  was  organ- 
ized in  1890,  following  the  Chapman  revival,  rooms  being  fitted 
over  the  store  occupied  by  C.  L.  and  B.  K.  Van  Valkenburgh, 
now  owned  by  F.  C.  Mott.  The  first  secretary  was  H.  F.  Stander- 
wick  of  New  York.  H.  L.  Boughton,  W  I.  Jennings,  Jeremiah 
Day,  E.  A.  Chase  and  Orrin  Day,  being  among  the  prominent 
backers.  In  1902,  the  present  building  was  erected  on  the  lot  of 
the  Old  Arcade  at  a  cost  of  upwards  of  140,000,  of  which  about 
$30,000  was  a  gift  of  Frederick  Nelson  Du  Bois,  who  has  been  its 
most  prominent  supporter. 

The  general  secretaries  have  been  II.  F.  Standerwick,  Geo. 
Geyser,  F.  H.  Russ,  Jacob  H.  Osterhoudt,  A.  H.  Miller,  Edward 
Tarring,  Charles  Cunningham,  E.  A.  Ehrensburger,  George  Irwin 
and  William  Canivan. 

The  present  officers  are  Albert  C.  Bloodgood  president,  T. 
J.  Reilly  secretary,  P.  Gardner  Coffin  treasurer.  Directors:  L.  C. 
Austin,  Geo.  B.  Austin,  Herman  C.  Cowan,  Howard  C.  Smith, 
Willis  A- Haines,  Orliff  Heath,  E lias  Lasher,  James  P.  Philip, 
David  M.  Post,  Egbert  Beardsley,  and  Josiah  C.  Tallmadge.  Trus- 
tees: Emory  A.  Chase,  P.  Gardner  Coffin,  Geo.  W.  Holdridge, 
Josiah  C.  Tallmadge  and  William  E.  Thorpe. 

274 


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DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


An.    Early  School 

See  picture  on  preceeding  page  • 

Henry  J.  Fox,  owner  of  the  Ashland  Collegiate  Institute, 
was  a  brother  of  George  C.  Fox  of  Catskill,  and  he  was  also  one  of 
the  professors  of  the  school.  The  building  was  completed  in  1857, 
and  was  five  and  a  half  stories  high,  with  a  wing  of  100  feet,  the 
main  part  being  over  200  feet.  It  was  one  of  the  most  complete 
schools  of  the  early  period,  and  part  of  a  chain  of  great  academies, 
there  being  one  at  Stamford,  one  at  Warnerville,  Cljarlotteville, 
Jefferson,  Walton  and  Franklin.  It  had  a  great  chapel,  recitation 
rooms,  library,  laboratory,  dining  room  and  rooms  for  400 pupils. 
It  furnished  a  complete  preparatory  college  education.  All  of 
these  schools  have  disappeared.  The  Ashland  school  was  destroy- 
ed by  fire  in  1861,  at  the  opening  of  the  fall  term,  and  was  a 
complete  loss. 

Latin,  Greek,  French,  Spanish,  German  and  Italian  were 
taught.  Music,  drawing,  painting,  surveying,  astronomy,  trigon- 
ometry as  well  as  the  English  branches  were  taught.  The  school 
was  full  at  the  time  of  the  fire. 

Among  the  graduates  was  James  Harvey  Van  Gelder  of 
Catskill  and  other  prominent  Greene  county  men.  Mr.  Van  Gelder 
was  awarded  the  gold  medal,  and  graduated  from  Yale  with  the 
highest  honors  ever  attained . 


Other  Orders 


Among  the  early  orders  that  have  passed  are  the  Sons  of 
Temperance,  Good  Templers,  Daughters  of  Temperance,  which 
had  organizations  in  most  of  the  towns  of  the  county.  Lyman 
Tremaine,  afterwards  very  prominent,  was  the  great  temperance 
orator. 

Great  temperance  revivals  followed  in  many  sections  and 
pledge  signing  was  quite  as  much  pressed  as  church  revival  work . 
The  Francis  Murphy  movement  was  most  successful,    and  in  later 

277 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


years  his  son  Francis,  and  one  Thomas  Doutney  stirred  up  the 
pledge  signers  in  a  great  wave  of  enthusiasm.  The  latter  in  the 
80's  was,  as  I  remember,  the  last. 


Interior  of  Catskill  Public  Library 

Catskill  ^Public  Library 

The  Catskill  public  library  was  organized  in  1893,  when  the 
library  of  the  Catskill  Schools  was  taken  over  as  a  gift,  other  books 
being  added  througe  the  Board  of  Regents,  and  rooms  opened  on 
Main  street.  Following  a  movement  started  by  Judge  Chase,  W. 
I.  Jennings,  Frank  H.  Osborn,  and  others  Andrew  Carnegie  was 
induced  to  present  Catskill  with  a  library  building,  which  was 
erected  in  1902  at  Franklin  and  Bridge  streets.  The  gift  followed 
the  pledge  of  maintenance  by  the  Board  of  Education  of  School 
district  number  one.  The  building  cost  about  $30,000  and  ample 
quarters  in  every  way.  For  some  time  the  kindergarten  was 
conducted  in  the  basement.  Several  exhibitions  of  paintings  have 
been  made  there.  The  number  of  volumes  is  about  10,000.  The 
librarian  from  the  start  has  been  Miss  Emily  Becker  assisted  by 
Miss  Delia  Whitbeck. 

f    The  trustees  are:  W.  I.  Jennings,   Fannie  B.    Wey,  Mrs.  F.  H. 
Osborn,  Miss  Anna  B.  Phelps,  E.  C.  Hocmer,  and  J.  W-  Kitrell, 

278 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Some  Notable   Merv 


MICHAEL  O'HARA 

With  the  building  of  improved  highways  for  the  state  came 
the  difficult  job  of  selecting  a  head  in  each  county  to  take  charge 
of  the  work.  Greene  county  was  fortunate  in  having  a  born  road 
man,  and  Michael  0'  Hara,  of  the  town  of  Hunter,  was  selected 
to  fill  the  position.  He  is  now  in  his  second  term  and  7th  year 
and  has  more  than  lived  up  to  the  reputation  that  nine  years  of 
road  building  in  Hunter,  the  town  of  Good  Roads,  had  given 
him. 

The  O' Haras  haye  been  residents  of  Hunter  over   60  years. 

Michael  O'Hara  i3  the  son  of  John  O'Hara,  who  came  to 
this  country  from  Ireland,  as  a  bridge  builder,  and  built  the  brid- 
ges on  the  Hudson  River  Railroad.  He  located  first  at  White 
Plains,  and  in  1885  moved  to  the  town  of  Hunter  with  his  family. 

Michael  O'Hara  was  born  at  White  Plains  in  1850,  and 
was  married  to  Ella  T.  Haskin,  who  died  June,  1913.  He  was 
supervisor  of  the  town  of  Hunter  6   years,   and   chairman    of  the 

279 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Board  of  Supervisors  2  years,  and  succeeded  in  greatly  lowering 
the  tax  rate  of  his  town.  His  son,  Herbert  O'Hara,  former  con- 
ductor on  the  Tannersville  railroad,  is  postmaster  at  Haines  Falls. 
John  O'Hara  and  Mary  O'Hara  are  living  at  Haines  Falls. 

THE  DAY  FAMILY 

There  have  been  few  families  more  closely  allied  to 
the  early  and  later  interests  of  Catskill  and  Greene  county  than 
the  Days.  Stephen  Day  was  born  at  Colchester,  Ct.,  in  1746  and 
was  the  son  of  John  Day.  In  1791  he  moved  with  his  family  to 
Old  Catskill  and  was  engaged  in  milling  at  that  place.  He  was 
one  of  the  promoters  and  builders  of  the  Susquehanna  turnpike, 
which  in  its  day  was  the  greatest  forward  movement  in  the  county. 
It  therefore  appears  likely  that  he  was  connected  with  the  build- 
ing of  the  famous  stone  arch  bridge  at  Leeds.  The  old  turnpike 
and  its  toll  gates  are  a  fragrant  memory. 

His  sons  were  Orrin,  Philo  and  Russel  Day.  Orrin  Day 
was  a  great  financier,  and  was  also  connected  with  the  freighting 
business.  In  1831  he  established  the  Tanners  Bank,  becoming 
first  president  of  that  institution.  At  his  death  in  1846,  his  son  . 
S.  Sherwood  Day,  became  president  of  the  bank,  and  Orrin  Day, 
his  son  succeeded  in  1885  to  the  presidency,  a  position  which  he, 
still  holds.  So  that  from  1831  to  1915,  three  generations  of  the 
Day  family  have  been  at  the  head  of  the  bank. 

S.  Sherwood  Day  was  born  in  1807  and  died  in  1885. 

Orrin  Day,  his  son,  was  born  in  1845. 

Orrin  Day,  grandfather  of  Orrin  Day,  was  one  of  the  foun- 
ders of  the  American  Bible  Society  in  1815. 

JUDSON  A.  BETTS 

Judson  A.  Betts  was  born  April  8,  1852,  at  Gayhead,  town 
of  Cairo,  N.  Y.,  and  liyed  on  the  farm  where  he  was  born  until  35 
years  of  age.  For  seven  terms  he  taught  school  in  adjoining  dis- 
tricts. At  the  age  of  18  years  he  married  Harriet  E.  Webber, 
who  died  in'January,  1909.  He  has  a  family  of  four  children. 
In  the  year  1890  he  moved  to  Catskilli  and  in  1902  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  as  an  attorney   and  counsellor  at  law,   and  is  also  ad- 

38Q 


dear  old  greene  county. 


mitted  as  attorney  in  the  U.S.  courts.  He  attained  his  education 
by  hard  study  at  the  rural  district  school  and  spare  moments  at 
home.  He  served  as  Clerk  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  for  several 
terms.  In  1895  he  was  the  Democratic  nominee  for  County 
Treasurer  and  was  defeated ;  renominated  and  elected  in  1898; 
elected  in  1901;  defeated  in  1904;  and  again  elected  in  the  fall  of 
1907.  During  his  service  as  County  treasurer  the  office  has  been 
well  kept  and  no  discrepancies  have  been  found  in  his  accounts. 
Recently  Mr.  Betts'  office  was  visited  by  the  State  examiners  and 
his  book  reviewed.  They  0.  K.  his  books  and  complimented  his 
proficiency.  Mr.  Betts  is  prominent  in  his  home  tillage.  He  is 
a  director  of  the  Catskill  National  Bank,  also  a  director  of  the 
Catskill  Building  and  Loan  Association ;  served  seven  years  in  the 
State  Militia;  is  Past  Chancellor  of  K.  of  P.,  and  trustee  in  num- 
erous estates.  Mr.  Betts  is  a  member  of  Christ's  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Catskill,  is  strictly  temperate,  and  does  not  use  tobacco 
in  any  form.  He  is  cordial  and  generous  and  never  turns  the 
hungry  or  needy  from  his  door. 

His  son,  Lee  F.  Betts,  is  associated  in  the  law  business  with 
him,  and  was  Sergeant  at  Arms  under  Governor  Sulzer. 

I.  WHEELER  BRANDOW 

Among  the  men  who  have  been  doing  business  in  Catskill 
for  over  40  years  is  Ex-Sheriff  I.  Wheeler  Brandow,  who  has  had 
many  interesting  experiences  and  knows  what  it  is  to  climb  to  the 
front  under  difficulties.  In  1865,  his  father,  Henry  Brandow, 
one  of  the  old  residents  of  Hensonville,  moved  to  Catskill,  work- 
ing for  Mr.  Dunham  in  the  painting  business. 

Charles  and  George  Brandow  took  up  the  painting  business 
also,  J.  V.  Brandow  took  up  painting  and  later  photography 
which  he  is  still  following.  Mott  Brandow  and  I.  Wheeler  Bran- 
dow went  into  the  trucking  business.  I.  Wheeler  Brandow  was 
but  17  years  of  age  at  that  time,  and  by,  steady  thoroughgoing 
work  he  made  a  success  of  his  business.  In  1882,  when  the  West 
Shore  railroad  was  finished  through  Catskill,  he  entered  into  an 
arrangement  to  purchase  the  bus  lines  of  Philip   Gay,  Landlord 

281 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Ellis  and  Enos  Gunn,  and  heading  off  that  much  opposition, 
formed  a  partnership  with  George  Bates,  to  operate  a  bus  line  to 
carry  passengers  and  was  very  successful  until  the  trolley  line 
made  its  appearance.  He  was  prominent  as  a  political  leader,  and 
in  1895  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Gieene  county,  serving  3  years, 
and  under  his  administration   the  county  affairs  were  looked  after 


I.  Wheeler  Brandow. 

in  splendid  shape.  Subsequently  he  remodeled  his  Main  street 
house,  and  embarked  in  the  feed  business,  and  associated  with 
Messrs.  Salisbury  &  Austin  he  is  still  in  the  same  line.  He  is  one 
of  the  men  who  has  always  helped  to  boom  Catskill  and  who  has 
ever  lent  a  helping  hand  to  those  who  needed  help.  He  has  rep- 
resented the  village  of  Catskill  as  trustee  and  water  commissioner, 
and  has  always  stood  for  the  best  interests  of  the  town. 

282 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


DALE  S.  BALDWIN 

Dale  S  Baldwin,  Supervisor  of  the  town  of  New  Baltimore 
comes  of  an  honored  Colonial  stock.  He  is  one  of  the  youngest 
men  ever  sent  to  represent  the  town  as  its  representative  head  and 
a  man  of  many  sterling  qualities  and  possessing  great  business 
tact.  He  was  nominated  by  the  Democratic  party  and  had  the 
distinction  of  his  nomination  endorsed  by  the  Republicans. 

He  is  a  son  of  Wm.  H.  Baldwin  and  Lillie  Summers  Jones 
of  Philadelphia.  His  father's  people  came  from  England  in  1638 
and  fettled  in  Conneticut,  his  mother's  people  came  'from  Wales 
in  1720  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  thus  his  ancestors  are  those 
who  followed  the  destiny  of  the  nation  from  her  birth.  His  great- 
great  grandfather,  Col.  Jonathan  Jones  was  Captain  of  the  first 
Penn.  Colonial  Volunteers. 

His  father  entered  the  boat  business  in  1871  and  purchased 
the  shipyard  from  his  uncles,  J.  R.  &  H.  S.  Baldwin  in  1879  and 
many  of  the  tugs,  barges  etc.  that  are  plying  the  Hudson  today 
are  gifts  to  the  river  from  New  Baltimore's  sons. 

Mr.  Baldwin  is  in  business  with  his  father  and  also  carries 
on  the  Circle  Garage  with  his  brother  Harry  J.,  at  Albany.  His 
other  brother,  Wm.  H.  Jr.,  is  a  Civil  Engineer  in  the  Govern- 
ment's employ  at  Albany. 

Mr.  Baldwin  is  prominent  in  his  home  town  in  all  social 
and  church  matters,  he  is  Master  of  Social  Friendship  Lodge  F. 
&  A.  M.  and  Superintendent  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Sunday 
School.  He  was  born  April  18th,  1888,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Albany  Academy. 

He  was  elected  Supervisor  in  1913  and  his  record  in  the 
Board  is  a  good  one. 


JOHN   E.  HUYCK 

One  of  the  youngest  members  of  the  Greene  county  Board  of 
Supervisors  is  John  Huyck  who  represents  the  town  of  Durham. 
He  is  also  the  youngest  man  who   ever   represented   the   town  in 

283 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


such  an  important  position.  It  was  a  long  step  from  the  venerable 
Almerin  Moore  who  served  the  town  for  many  years  to  the  genial 
and  stirring  young  horticulturist  John  E.  Huyck,  who  had  never 
taken  any  prominence  in  the  politics  of  the  town.  Pressed  to  the 
front  by  his  many  friends  however  he  entered  what  was  regarded 
as  a  hopeless  fight,  and  he  not  only  emerged  with  a  full  sized 
victory,  but  he  has  taken  hold  of  the  affairs  of  Durham  and  has 
shown  a  business  acumen  that  has  been  remarkable.""  He  has  more 
than  made  good,  and  is  one  of  the  most  brilliant  men  who  have 
reprerented  the  historical  old  town  of  Durham.  It  will  not  be  a 
"long  way  to  Tipperary''  for  him  this  fall  we  judge. 

Mr.  Huyck  was  born  at  Oak  Hill,  Feb.  3,  1877.  His  father 
was  Aaron  Huyck  who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  at  Dormansville. 
He  was  born  at  Dormansville  1851,  and  married  Miss  Susan 
Traver. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  John  Huyck,  was  married  to 
Lottie  W.  Wood  at  Eensselaerville,  1904,  and  moved  to  the  town 
of  Durham,  locating  near  Eagle  Bridge  in  1908,  where  he  has  a 
large  farm .  He  was  for  a  number  of  years  in  the  news  business 
at  Catskill,  the  firm  being  Howell  and  Huyck,  and  then  John 
Huyck. 


H.   CLAY  FERRIS 


H.  Clay  Ferris,  who  represents  the  town  of  Ashland  in  the 
Greene  county  Board  of  Supervisors,  comes  of  a  long  generation 
of  the  Ferris  family  who  settled  in  that  section  of  the  county  long 
before  the  town  was  named.  He  has  well  proven  his  worth  to  the 
town  in  its  most  exacting  position  of  responsibility.  He  was  elected 
Supervisor  in  1911  and  again  in  1913,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
popular  men  that  ever  seryed  on  the  Board.  A  jolly  good  fellow, 
whose  nature  is  brim  full  of  cheerfulness,  a  vocalist  of  ability  he 
is  always  called  upon  to  lead  in  that  department  when  music  is  in 
order  after  the  sessions  of  the  Board. 

He  was  born  at  Ashland,  August  31st,  1885,  married  Mina 

384 


BEAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNf  Y. 


F.  Martin,  Feb.  3d,  1909.     He  has  one  child,    Marjorie  R.,   born 
June  20,  1911. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge. 

His  father  was  Clinton  D.Ferris  and  his  mother,  Maggie  C. 
Stewart.  His  ancestors  came  to  this  country  in  the  early  days. 
The  first  Ferris  to  come  to  this  county  was  from  Connecticut, 
four  generations  ago.  His  father  was  a  son  of  Alden  Ferris,  a 
prosperous  farmer  of  this  town,  and  his  mother  was  a  daughter  of 
Dennis  M.  Stewart,  a  farmer  and  business  man  of  the  town  of 
Catskill.  * 

DR.  SIDNEY  L.  FORD 

Dr.  Sidney  L.  Ford,  Supervisor  of  the  town  Windham  has 
represented  that  town  in  the  Greene  County  Board  of  Supervisors 
since  1906,  being  honored  with  the  office  of  chairman  of  the 
Board  and  also  of  the  Board  of  Canvassers,  and  also  Coroner  of 
county  during  the  years  1899  to  1905  and  from  1911  to  1914,  He 
was  one  of  the  men  to  whom  Greene  county  is  indebted  for  the 
beautiful  court  house  and  jail,  and  who  has  always  stood  at  the 
front  in  the  matter  of  road  improyements  for  the  county,  and  has 
shown  a  deep  interest  in  the  various  matters  of  import  that  have 
come  before  the  Board  of  Supervisors. 

He  is  not  a  wire  pulling  politician,  and  neither  egotistical 
nor  selfish  in  his  political,  town,  or  personal  affairs.  He  represents 
the  best  class  of  men  and  stands  only  for  the  best  interests  of 
Greene  county.  That's  what  has  given  him  a  firm  hold  on  the 
town  of  Windham  and  the  men  of  Greene  county.  As  a  success- 
ful physician  he  practices  for  humanity's  sake,  and  as  a  business 
man  he  meets  every  obligation  with  cheerful  readiness  to  perform 
well  his  part.     We  believe  that  he  will  reach  the  legislative  halls. 

Dr.  Ford  was  born  at  Jewett  N.Y.,  Feb.  28,  1865.  Graduat- 
ed at  N.  Y.  University  in  1891.  He  married  Miss  Grace  Brill, 
of  Oceanic,  N.J.,  June  1st,  1893.  He  has  one  son,  Newton  B.  Ford, 
born  Oct.  17,  1899. 

285 


t)BAlt    <3LEi    GREENE    tJOUNTt. 


He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  Mountain  Lodge 
529,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Greene  County  Medical  Society,  Rondout  Com- 
mand ery,  Kingston,  N.  Y. 

His  father  and  mother  were  Horace  N.  Ford  and  Matilda 
HaynesFord.  The  Fords  came  from  Connecticut  some  time  in 
1700,  and  settled  at  Jewett. 


FLOYD  F.  JONES 

Floyd  F.  Jones  who  represents  the  town  of  Cairo  is  another 
of  the  young  men  of  Greene  county  who  have  come  to  the  front 
and  whose  path  is  marked  by  the  unerring  evidence  of  a  strong 
character  and  great  business  ability.  He  is  the  youngest  man 
who  ever  represented  his  town  in  the  responsible  position  of  Sup- 
ervisor, and  he  has  shown  marked  ability  to  do  things  for  the 
people  he  represents.  He  has  not  only  the  highest  esteem  of  his 
home  people,  but  is  regarded  as  a  brilliant  man  by  all  who  know 
him.  He  was  elected  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  1911  and 
re-elected  in  1913,  and  Cairo  will  be  well  pleased  to  have  him  at 
helm  for  many  more  years. 

In  1895-8  he  represented  Greene  county  as  Deputy  County 
Clerk  under  Henry  B.  Whitcomb,  and  his  records  during  that 
term  are  specimens  of  the  master  penman's  art. 

He  is  a  member  and  Past  Master  of  Kedemah  Lodge  693, 
F.  &  A.  M.  of  Cairo.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Greenville  Chapter 
283,  R.  A.  M.  and  a  member  and  Past  Chancellor  of  Yondebocker 
Lodge  289,  K.  of  P.  of  Cairo  N.  Y.  and  attends  the  Methodist 
church  at  Round  Top. 

He  is  the  owner  of  a  large  farm  and  boarding  house  near 
the  village  of  Purling. 

His  father  was  Harrison  Jones  and  his  mother  Eliza  Fiero 
Jones .  The  Jones  and  Fieros  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Greene  county  and  have  been  important  factors  in  building  up 
and  promoting  the  interests  of  the  town  of  Cairo. 

286 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


EARL  W.  JENKINS 

Earl  W.  Jenkins,  Supervisor  of  the  town  of  Halcott,  is  one 
of  the  young  men  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  a  thorough  going 
business  man  in  every  way,  and  the  town  is  fortunate  in  having 
such  a  capable  man  to  look  after  its  affairs.  He  is  new  to  the 
political  field,  though  he  has  served  the  town  as  collector. 

He  was  born  on  the  11th  of  November  1873,  and  was  mar- 
ried to  Nora  Kelley  in  1892.  He  has  two  children  living,  Miss 
Georgania  and  Ward  B.  His  father  Arthur  B.  Jenkins  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  before  him,  tieing  in  the 
Board  of  1873.  He  was  born  in  1853  and  married  Esther  M.  Earle 
in  1870.  Eli  Jenkins,  grandfather  of  Earle  W.  Jenkins,  was  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  the  town  of  Halcott,  where  he  moved  from 
Delaware  county  in  1843.     He  married  Emily  Judd  in  1844. 

Supervisor  Jenkins'  farm  comprises  460  acres  of  the  best 
land  in  Halcott,  and  he  has  over  40  head  of  cattle.  He  is  a  very 
successful  farmer. 


ELMER  KREIGER 

.Elmer  Kreiger,  chairman  of  the  Greene  county  Board  of 
Supervisors  is  to  be  reckoned  among  the  most  prominent  men  who 
have  represented  the  Town  of  Prattsville  in  an  official  position. 
He  has  been  in  the  board  of  supervisors  since  1883  and  was  unan- 
imously elected  to  the  position  of  chairman  in  1900  and  again  in 
1915.  He  is  not  only  a  man  of  great  executive  ability,  and 
indomnitable  business  push,  but  has  always  stood  for  the  best 
interests  of  Prattsville,  and  no  man  in  that  section  has  been  more 
highly  regarded.  He  is  not  only  thoroughgoing  in  matters  of 
business,  but  no  worthy  cause  eyer  appealed  to  him  in  vain. 

He  was  born  at  Ashland  in  1861  and  was  married  to  Carrie 
Clark  Bouton  of  Prattsville,  N.  Y.  in  1904.  His  father  was  Ed- 
ward Kreiger  of  Prattsville  and  his  mother  was  Mahalia  Benjamin 

of  Prattsville,  N.  Y. 

287 


bfiAfe    OLb    GREENft    COtfNtfV. 


The  Kreigers  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Prattsville 
and  the  family  originally  came  from  Germany  in  1847. 

Supervisor  Kreiger  has  for  a  number  of  years  been  connect- 
ed with  the  Prattsville  Dairy  Company,  which  has  made  almost  as 
many  tons  of  good  butter  as  Col.  Pratt  tanned  hides  in  his  great 
tanneries  at  Prattsville . 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  organization. 

ABRAM  V.  RORABACK 

Supervisor  Abram  V  Roraback  of  the  town  of  Lexington 
comes  of  historical  stock  and  is  one  of  the  honored  residents  of 
of  that  town  who  has  made  good. 

The  first  member  of  the  Roraback  family  who  settled  in 
the  town  of  Lexington  was  John  G.  who  came  from  Schodack, 
Rensselaer  Co.  N.  Y.,  in  the  year  1840,  and  bought  from  Abijah 
Hard  the  farm  one  mile  east  of  Westkill  village.  His  wife  was 
Eunice  (or  in  Dutch  Yun)  Van  Buren,  a  cousin  of  Ex-President 
Martin  Van  Buren.  Thus  both  came  from  good  Kinderhook 
Dutch  families  and  until  1829  Dutch  was  the  language  commonly 
spoken  in  the  family. 

They  were  accompanied  by  their  six  children,  Lida,  George 
Benjamin,  Barent,  Ann  and  John  H. 

Frame  houses  were  few  and  far  between  in  the  Westkill 
valley,  but  as  John  G.  and  his  sons  were  skilled  workmen  for 
those  days,  a  substantial  frame  house  soon  took  the  place  of  the 
one  of  logs.  Death  early  claimed  two  children,  two  went  back  to 
Albany,  and  two,  George  and  John  H.,  lived  always  in  their 
adopted  town.  George  married  Elizabeth  Hoose,  whose  ancestors 
also  came  from  Kinderhook.  Their  only  son,  Barent  Van  Buren 
Roraback,  lived  on  the  farm  his  father  cleared  75  years  ago,  until 
1915. 

John  H,  Roraback  married  Eliza  Allen,  and  until  his  death 
in  1912.  was  one  of  the  foremost  business  men  in  the  town.  He 
was  proprietor  of  the  Vly  Mt.  House  on  Beach  Ridge,  one  of  the 
most  popular  summer  boarding  houses  in    the   Catskills.     Their 

888 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE!  COUNTY. 


only  child,  Abram  B.  Roraback,  is  now  the  well  known  Supervisor 
of  Greene  Co. 

Mr.  Roraback  was  born  February  11,  1858,  and  was  marri- 
ed Nov.  21,  1877  to  Addie  Thompson,  daughter  of  John  S.  Thomp- 
son of  Lexington. 


FRANK    NICHOLS 

One  of  the  most  genial  men  that  we  have  met  is  Superyisor 
Frank  Nichols  of  Athens,  who  since  1912  has  represented  that 
town  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Greene  county,  fie  has  filled 
many  positions  of  trust  in  village  and  town,  and  always  with 
credit  to  himself  and  profit  to  the  community.  Whether  in  matters 
of  finance,  religion  or  social  function  he  has  always  made  good 
and  it  is  a  pleasure  for  his  native  folks  to  do  him  honor. 

The  Nichols  family  came  from  England  to  this  country  and 
settled  at  Athens  in  1800. 

Frank  Nichols  was  the  son  of  Samuel  Nichols  and  his 
mother  was  S.  Cornelia  Coffin  of  Athens,  N.  Y. 

The  members  of  the  family  were  Edwin  Nichols,  John 
Nichols,  Frank  Nichols  and  Minerva  Whiting. 

Frank  Nichols  was  born  in  1853  and  married  Kittie  Fowler. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church,  Masonic  and  K.  of  P. 
lodges,  Rescue  Hook  and  Ladder  Company. 

He  was  Postmaster  six  years,  president  and  trustee  for  the 
village  several  years,  and  is  now  President  of  D.R.  Evart's  Library 
Board. 

John  Nichols,  great  grandfather  of  Frank  Nichols  was  born 
at  Waterbury,  Conn,  1748,  died  at  Athens,  N.  Y.  1815.  Sylvester 
Nichols,  his  son,  was  born  at  Waterbury,  Oct.  11,  1795.  He  also 
died  at  Athens- 

In  1664,  Sir  Richard  Nichols  was  sent  by  James  II  to 
America,  and  later  became  the  first  English  Governor  of  the 
Colony  which  was  thereafter  known  as  New  York.  We  also  find 
that  one  Francis  Nichols  in  1635  came  to  Stratford,  Conn.,  from 
Lincolnshire,  England. 

289 


bi)Ak  otb  GtiEEiNM  ciotNfy. 


ELMORE  MACKEY 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  New  York  state  were  theMackey 
family,  and  their  generations  are  scattered  all  over  the  county  of 
Greene.  A  long  and  honored  line,  and  the  Mackey  generations 
have  spread  from  coast  to  coast.  They  have  forged  to  the  front  in 
all   the  states  of  the  Union,  filling  positions  'of  trust  in  every  field. 

The  first  of  the  Mackey  family  to  settle  in  this  section  was 
early  in  1700,  probably  atCoxsackie,  and  William  Mackey,  father 
of  Sheriff  Elmore  Mackey,  was  born  on  the  old  Mackey  farm  at 
Athens  in  1820,  and  lived  to  be  80  years  of  age.  His  father  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Coxsackie  but  we  are  unceitain  as  to  the  date. 

Sheriff  Elmore  Mackey  was  bsrn  at  Athens,  March  20, 1871 
and  was  three  times  elected  to  the  office  of  Supervisor  of  the  town 
of  Athens,  each  time  getting  a  solid  vote.  He  more  than  made 
good  in  the  Board  being  one  of  its  youngest  members,  and  when 
it  was  announced  that  he  had  been  nominated  for  Sheriff  of  Greene 
county  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  the  Republicans  were  unable  to 
find  a  candidate  to  run  against  him,  and  his  only  opposition  was 
Edward  Mink,  who  ran  on  the  Bull  Moose  ticket.  As  Mr.  Mink 
polled  but.  a  few  hundred  votes,  Mr. Mackey 's  majority  was  around 
3000. 

Moving  to  Catskill  and  taking  possession  of  the  office  of 
sheriff,  with  Mrs.  Mackey  to  assist  as  matron,  he  has  shown  the 
full  measure  of  usefullness  and  integrity,  and  the  office  has  been 
ably  taken  care  of. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mackey  also  allied  themselves  with  the  work 
of  the  Methodist  church  and  various  reform  moyements  in  Catskill 
and  have  made  a  host  of  friends. 

He  is  district  deputy  of  the  Greene  County  Odd  Fellows, 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  was  chief  of  the  Athens  Fire 
Department  for  three  years,  and  a  member  of  William  H.  Morton 
Engine  Company  of  Athens,  and  also  a  member  of  the  historical 
Zion  Lutheran  church  of  Athens. 

290 


'■• 


____ 


One  of  Catskill's  Model  Fire  Houses, 
Home  of  No.  1  Hose  Company. 
(Courtesy  of  Catskill  Examiner) 


The  Great  Storm  of  1888." 
(Courtesy  of  Catskill  Recorder.) 


Snow  Piled  in  Main  Street,  Catskill 

In  front  of  the  Jennings  &  Chase  building 

and  Tanners  Bank  buildings 

now  torn  down. 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNTY. 


ROBERT  M.  MAC  NAUGHT 

District  Superintendent  of  Schools,  Robert  M.  MacNaught, 
of  Windham,  N.  Y.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Delaware  county,  educated  in  the  common  schools,  at  Delaware 
Academy  and  at  New  York  University.  After  finishing  his  work 
at  New  York  University,  he  took  up  the  study  of  law  in  the  office 
of  Judge  John  P.  Grant,  of  Stamford,  N.  Y. 

Choosing,  however,  to  follow  the  teaching  profession,  he 
was  elected  principal  of  the  Jefferson  Union  school,  at  the  time 
immediately  following  its  organization  into  a  Union  school.  Dur- 
ing his  two  years  of  service  at  Jefferson,  he  placed  the  school  upon 

293 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


a  firm  foundation,  increased  the  attendance  of  non-resident  pupils 
and  established  the  first  graduating  class  in  the  history  of  the 
school. 

Called  to  Windham  in  1901  to  the  position  of  principal  of 
the  Windham  Union  school,  and  at  the  time  immediately  follow- 
ing a  vote  taken  to  change  the  district  from  a  common  to  a  Union 
system,  and  when  the  educational  interests  of  the  district  were  at 
their  lowest  ebb,  he  organized  the  school,  prepared  the  courses  of 
instruction,  secured  a  large  number  of  non-resident  students,  and, 
and  in  a  short  time  passed  it  through  all  the  various  graduations 
to  the  highest  recognized  standard  of  the  state -a  four  years'  high 
school,  maintaining  each  year  a  graduating  class  of  young  men  and 
young  women  who  invariably  entered  some  higher  institution  of 
learning. 

After  serving  11  years  as  principal  of  the  Windham  High 
school,  Prof.  MacNaught  was  elected  District  Superintendent  of 
Schools  for  the  second  district  of  Greene  county,  having  the  dis- 
tinguished honor  of  being  elected  district  superintendent  of  one 
of  the  districts  of  Schoharie  county  on  the  same  day. 

Superintendent  MacNaught  is  deeply  interested  in  lodge 
work.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  Andrew's  lodge,  F.  and  A.  M., 
Hobart,  N.  Y.,  Past  High  Priest  of  Mountain  Chapter,  R.  A.  M. 
Windham,  N.  Y.,  a  member  of  Rondout  Commandery  K.  T. 
Kingston,  N.  Y.,  Cyprus  Temple,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine, 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  honorary  member  of  Working  Lodge  F.  and  A.M. 
Jefferson,  N.Y.,  and  Mountain  Lodge  F.  and  A.M., Windham,  N. 
Y.,  past  Patron  of  Mountain  Chapter  0.  E.  S.,  Windham,  N.  Y., 
past  Noble  Grand  of  Delaware  Valley  Lodge,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Bloom- 
ville,  N.Y. 

As  President  of  Windham  Village  Hose  company  and  as 
Vice-President  of  the  Greene  county  Firemen's  Association,  his 
interest  in  firemanic  matters  is  shown,  and,  as  a  school  man, 
public  speaker,  lecturer,  the  "maker  of  the  Windham  High 
school''  Superintendent  Mac  Naught  is  widely  and  favorably 
known. 

ZH 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


William  Kortz 


Frank  Kortz 


KORTZS'    SINCE  1816 

The  furniture  business  was  first  conducted  in  Catskill  by 
James  Kortz  in  1816,  in  connection  with  undertaking,  and  hence 
for  99  years  the  Kortz  family  has  been  doing  business  in  Catskill 
and  it  is  not  only  the  oldest  place  in  that  line  in  Greene  county 
but  the  third  established  in  the  State  of  New  York. 

James  Kortz  was  one  of  four  brothers  who  came  to  this 
country  from  Germany  and  they  settled  at  Buffalo.  Later  on 
James  Kortz  came  to  Catskill  and  started  the  business  referred  to 
in  1816.  He  continued  it  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  1860, 
when  his  wife,  Deborah  Kortz,  took  charge  of  affairs,  up  to  1868, 
when  William  Kortz  son  of  James  Kortz  succeeded  to  the  busi- 
ness. For  over  56  years  he  has  been  at  the  old  stand  of  the  Chair 
(35  years  a  sign.)  For  the  past  27  years,  his  son,  Frank  H. 
Kortz,  has  been  associated  with  him,  and  he  has  had  the  manage- 
ment for  15  years. 

Recently  they  took  a  long  lease  of  the   property  adjoining 

295 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


their  store,  and"  remodeled  it  in  order  to  better  accommodate  their 
growing  undertaking  business.  They  have  a  splendid  store  and 
equipment  up  to  date,  with  a  larger  stock  than  any  two  stores  in 
Greene  county. 

William  Kortz  was  married  in  1872  to  Ida  Spencer,  and 
they  haye  had  4  children,  Frank  H.,  James  of  Milford,  Mass., 
deputy  postmaster  of  that  place,  Katherine  and  Ruth,  now 
Mrs.    H.    D.  Van  Derlyn  of  Yonkers. 

For  4  years,  William  Kortz  was  coroner  of  Greene  county, 
being  first  appointed  by  Governor  Cornell,  in  1881,  and  elected  in 
1883. 

Frank  Kortz  was  married  in  1898  to  Maude  Abeel  Milling- 
ton  of  Catskill  and  has  one  child .  He  is  a  member  of  the  Reform- 
ed church. 

Frank  Kortz  is  a  licensed  embalmer  and  undertaker. 

The  new  undertaking  rooms  that  are  being  finished  will  be 
very  fine. 


DR.  WILBUR    F.  LAMONT 


Dr.  Wilbur  F.Lamont,  one  of  Catskill's  greatest  practicion- 
ers,  was  born  at  Richmond ville,  in  1863,  and  came  to  Catskill  in 
1889.  His  great  practice  drove  him  to  an  untimely  death  as  he 
died  in  the  hospital  at  Albany  in  August,  1912,  at  the  age  of  49 
years.  On  the  occasion  of  his  funeral,  Catskill  business  was  all 
stopped  and  thousands  were  unable  to  get  into  the  church.  The 
bearers  were  Drs.  Robert  Seldon,  Stanley  Vincent,  Frederick  Good- 
rich, C.  E.  Willard,  George  F.  Branch  and  F.  C.  Clark. 

Dr.  Lamont  was  married  in  1890,  to  Miss  Grace  Johnson 
of  Durham,  N.  Y.,  and  she  survives  him,  and  one  son  Wilbur  J. 
Lamont,  who  is  in  the  course  of  his  college  studies. 

William  Lamont  of  Richmondville,  Dr.  Lanont's  father,  a 
former  assemblyman  of  Schoharie  county  died  in  1908.  Stanley 
Lamont  a  brother  of  Dr.  Lamont  died  suddenly  at  Newark  N.  J., 
where  he  was  a  professor  in  Newark  Academy  in  1914, 

206 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


■ 

Howard  "Wilcox 

Howard  Wilcox,  one  of  Catskill's  oldest  business  men  who 
died  suddenly  Feb.  11,  1915,  commenced  working  for  Mr.  Willard 
in  1853  in  the  jewelry  store  in  the  building  in  which  he  was  doing 
business  at  the  time  of  his  death,  over  61  years.  He  came  into 
possession  of  the  business  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Willard 
in  1885,  and  starting  without  a  dollar  made  a  great  success  of  it. 
He  was  born,  March  13,  1835,  in  Catskill  and  was  79  years  of  age, 
and  although  he  was  apparently  in  excellent  health  and  his  death 
decidedly  unthought  of,  it  appears  that  he  had  never  fully  recover- 
ed from  an  injury  that  he  received  in  which  his  shoulder  was 
f  ra  ctured . 

He  was  a  member  of  St  Luke's  church  Catskill,  in  which 
he  always  took  a  great  interest,  and  for  many  years  was  connected 
with  the  choir,  first  as  an  alto  and  later  as  a  tenor.  The  only 
social  organization  with  which  he  was  connected  was  Malaeska 
lodge,  K.  of  P.  In  1861  he  joined  F.  N.  Wilson  Engine  Company 
and  always  took  much  interest  it  fire  matters. 

He  was  one  of  Catskill's  most  unassuming  men,  though  he  was 

297 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


actively  interested  in  every  enterprise  that  meant  the  betterment  of 
Catskill.  Up  to  the  last  day  of  his  life  he  was  able  to  take  charge 
of  the  most  delicate  piece  of  watch  repairing  or  jewelry  work,  and 
was  daily  seen  at  his  repair  counter. 

His  father  was  the  late  Judson  Wilcox,  who  came  to  Cats- 
kill  in  1825,  and  who  was  born  at  Harpersfield,  N.  Y.,  December 
25,1794.  and  who  died  at  Catskill,  June  7,  1879-  His  mother 
Laura  G.  Wilcox  was  born  at  Cortright,  July  IB,  1804,  and  they 
were  married  at  that  place  August  18,  1825,  though  Mr.  Wilcox 
was  then  living  in  Catskill.  She  died  in  Jan.  1900,  at  the  age  of 
95  years. 

Of  the  members  of  the  family  J.  Hubbard  Wilcox  and  Mrs. 
Wheeler  Howard  are  living  at  Catskill,  and  Edgar  Wilcox  at  Glen 
Cliff. 

Mrs.  Howard  Wilcox  passed  away  about  40  years  ago. 
Hiram  Wilcox,  their  son,  survives,  and  has  been  in  the  jewelry 
business  with  his  father  many  years. 


WILLIS   A.     HAINES 


The  Haines  family  were  among  the  early  settlers  in  the 
town  of  Cairo,  and  they  were  among  the  Palantines  who  came  to 
this  country  from  Holland, 

Trustee  Willis  A.  Haines  of  Catskill,  was  born  at  Round 
Top  in  1862.  His  father  was  Merrit  J.  Haines,  and  his  mother 
Hannah  C.  Emerick,  whose  antecedents  were  also  Palantines  and 
settled  on  the  Loveridge  in  the  section  known  as  Great  Embocght, 
now  a  part  of  the  town  of  Catskill. 

He  was  married  in  1886  to  Middie  D.  Holcomb  of  Cairo, 
and  ^heir  children  are  Pearl  Haines,  wife  of  Lester  Minkler,  Floyd 
Haines  and  Willis  H.  Haines  Jr. 

Mr.  Haines  has  completed  30  years  business  at  the  Church 
street  stand,  and  has  a  splendid  business.  He  was  first  in  the 
shop  with  George  Smith,  and   for  22  years   with   Theodore  Smith 

298 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


later  with  Fred  Bouck,  and  now  has  his  son  Floyd  in   partnership 
with  him,  since  April  1913. 

He  took  over  the  wagon  and  sleigh  business  of  Mr.  Sage, 
and  ice  business  of  Mrs.  John  Avery,  and  is  a  large  dealer  in  hay 
and  straw,  and  takes  care  of  all  kinds  of  wood  and  iron  work 

He  has  been  president  of  the  village  of  Catskill  and  is  now 
a  trustee,  he  is  also  a  member  and  trustee  of  the  Methodist  church, 
a  member  of  the  Masons,  Eastern  Star  and  Rip  Van  Winkle  Club, 
and  a  director  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  , 

JOSIAH  C.  TALLMADGE 
Josiah  C.  Tallmadge,  county  judge  and  surrogate  of  Greene 
county,  was  born  at  New  Baltimore,  July  15,  1853.  He  was  the 
son  of  Thomas  D.  Tallmadge  and  Helen  (Raymond)  Tallmadge. 
He  studied  law  at  Windham,  with  Eugene  Raymond,  and  was 
admitted  to  bar  in  1874.  He  practiced  law  at  Coxsackie  and 
Windham.  In  1889  he  was  elected  district  attorney  of  Greene 
county,  and  in  1900,  county  judge,  being  re-elected  in  1906  and 
1912,  and  he  has  the  distinction  of  having  served  14  years  without 
having  had  a  single  case  reversed.  During  that  time  he  has  been 
called  to  take  charge  of  courts  in  Brooklyn,  where  hundreds  of 
important  cases  came  before  him, in  addition  to  the  work  of  Greene 
county. 

He  is  vice  president  of  the  Greene  County  Bar  Association, 
member  of  the  State  Bar  Association,  and  for  three  years  was 
president  of  the  National  Association  of  Probate  Judges.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Academy  of  Political  Science,  former  president  of 
the  Rip  Van  Winkle  Club,  director  of  the  Catskill  National  Bank, 
vice  president  of  the  Catskill  Savings  and  Loan  Association,  direc- 
tor of  Mutual  Co-Operative  Fire  Insurance  Company  and  of  the 
Commercial  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company.  Served  as  president 
of  the  Catskill  Board  of  Education,  trustee  of  the  Catskill  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  Catskill  Y.  M.  C.  A. ,  a  member  of  Mountain 
Lodge  529,  F.  &  A.  M.  and  Catskill  Chapter  525  R.  A.M. 

He  was  married  June  12,  1878  to  Ella  M.  Stanley,  daughter 

299 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


of  Dr.  Peter  I.  and  Sarah  E.  Stanley  of  Windham.  Their  children 
are:  Leone  S. ,  now  Mrs.  L.  T.  Beach,  and  Edna,  wife  of  Dr.  E. 
E.  Hinman  of  Albany. 

The  Tallmadge  family  has  been  one  of  note,  N.  P.  Tall- 
madge was  state  senator  in  1830,  and  James  Tallmadge  was  elected 
lieutenant  governor  in  1824. 

The  Tallmadge  family_came  to  this  country  from  England. 
General  Benjamin  Tallmadge  was  sent  here  by  the  English  govern- 
ment and  his  son  William  H.  Tallmadge  was  a  colonel.  The 
Tallmadges  settled  in  Massachusetts,  but  the  date  has  not  been 
preserved . 

Thomas  D. Tallmadge,  father  of  Judge  Tallmadge  was  born 
at  Westerlo,  N.Y.  about  1834,  and  was  married  to  Helen  M.  Ray- 
mond, who  was  born  in  1832.  Thomas  Tallmadge  died  at  Oneonta 
N.Y.,  in  1900. 

He  had  a  family  of  11  children,  and  remarkable  indeed  is 
the  fact  that  all  are  living,  the  oldest  being  63  years  of  age.  The 
family  comprises:  J.  G.  Raymond  Tallmadge,  JosiahC.  Tallmadge 
Alice  A.,  Helen  E.,  Edward  C,  Carolyn  T.,  Matilda  J.,  Thomas 
D.,  Benjamin  I.,  Mae  and  R.  Dewitt  Tallmadge. 

The  latter  named  was  called  after  the  famous  T.  Dewitt 
Tallmadge,  preacher  of  the  Tallmadge  generations. 

Thomas  D,  Tallmadge,  who  is  with  Underwood  &  Under- 
wood in  New  York,  is  the  greatest  Miniature  artist  in  the  country 
and  takes  the  lead  in  color  over  all  others. 

Benjamin  I.  Tallmadge  is  a  prominent  lawyer  at  Windham, 
Ed.  Tallmadge  was  for  over  30  years  with  John  G.  Myers  at 
Albany,  and  Raymond  Tallmadge  for  the  same  length  of  time 
with  Van  Slyke  and  Horton  at  Albany. 

JOSEPH  MALCOLM 
Joseph  Malcolm,  a  veteran  of  the  Grand  Army  and  at  the 
head  of  the  Malcolm  Manuf'g  Co,  Catskill,  passed  away  after  a 
brief  illness,  aged  74  years,  October  1912.  He  served  in  the  49th 
Mass.  Vol.  He  was  a  director  of  the  Catskill  National  Bank.  He 
is  survived  by  his  wife  and  son  J.  Lewis  Malcolm,'  an  attorney  of 
Catskill,  who  was  married  to  Miss  Jessie  Chase,  a  daughter  of 
Justice  Emory  A.  Chase. 


DBJAJEt    OLD    GfcEENE    COtTNtfY. 


GEORGE  B.    VAN  VALKENBURGH 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Mr.  George  B.  Van  Valken- 
burgh,  was  bora  in  the  village  of  Lexington,  and  is  the  son  of 
James  M.  Van  Valkenburgh,  deceased,  and  Mary  Alice  O'Hara, 
at  present  residing  in  Catskill.  He  received  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  in  and  about  Lexington,  and  in  1890  was 
graduated  from  Manhattan  college,  in  New  York  city.  After  a 
service  of  some  duration  with  the  firm  of  Barber  and  Zeigler,  har- 
bor distributors  for  the  Pennslyvania  Coal  Company,  Mr.  Van 
Valkenburgh  became  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Lexington  Co- 
operative Creamery  Association,  in  which  capacity  he  retained  his 
connection  with  the  association  until  its  sale  to  the  Sheffield 
Farms,  Slawson-Decker  Company. 

Taking  a  deep  interest  in  political  life  from  the  time  he 
attained  his  majority,  Mr.  Van  Valkenburgh  soon  after  that  time 
became  an  active  worker  in  the  Democratic  party,  and  in  the  year 
1900  he  was  appointed  clerk  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Greene 
county,  a  position  he  held  until  1910,  when  he  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  county  clerk,  defeating  Edwin  S.  Anthony,  of  Coxsackie, 
who  at  that  time  was  deputy  county  clerk  under  D.  Geroe  Greene, 
of  Coxsackie,  by  a  substantial  majority. 

It  was  Mr.  Van  Valkenburgh's  good  fortune  to  enter  upon 
the  discharge  of  his  official  duties  in  the  commodious  and  hand- 
somely furnished  offices  in  the  new  county  building,  and  it  is 
not  improper  to  say  that  the  character  of  his  services  as  county 
clerk  have  been  in  keeping  with  his  surroundings  indeed,  under 
his  administration  many  little  improvements  in  equipment  and 
system  have  been  made  possible,  Mr.  Van  Valkenburgh  was  re- 
elected county  clerk  in  1913,  defeating  Dayton  B.  Smith,  of  Cox- 
sackie. He  is,  and  has  been  for  a  number  of  years,  chairman  of 
the  Democratic  County  Committee,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  State  Committee.  During  the  construction  of  the 
Ashokan  reservoir  by  the  Board  of   Water   Supply,  of  New  York 

301 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


city,  Mr.  Van  Valken burgh  served  as  commissioner  from  Greene 
county. 

Mr.  Van  Valkenburgh  has  always  taken  an  abiding  interest 
in  state  roads,  and  it  was  largely  due  to  his  influence  that  the  bill 
making  the  construction  of  the  Clove  Mountain  highway  possible 
became  a  law. 

Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  Kingston  Lodge,  No.  550, 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

Feeling  that  in  the  future  his  business  interests  would  be 
identified  to  some  extent  with  Catskill,  he  publicly  announced 
his  citizenship  of  that  village  by  casting  his  vote  at  the  Charter 
election  held  on  Tuesday,  March  30,  1915. 


MAJOR  JAMES 'MONROE  VAN  VALKENBURGH 

Majoi  James  Monroe  Van  Valkenburgh,  an  old  and  honor- 
ed resident  of  Greene  county,  was  born  in  1842,  and  lived  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  in  the  village  of  Lexington.  Major  Van 
Valkenburgh  received  his  education  in  the  Roxbury  academy,  and 
was  still  a  youth  when  the  Civil  War  broke  out.  He  enlisted  in  the 
Eightieth  New  York  Volunteers  as  2nd  lieutenant  of  Company  G. 
and  was  badly  wounded  at  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  while 
carrying  his  superior  officer  Col.  George  W.  Pratt,  from  the  field. 
For  bravery  upon  the  field  of  battle  he  was  promoted  to  1st.  lieu- 
tenant on  September  17  and  was  honorably  discharged  from  service 
on  January  13,  1863,  his  wounds  having  rendered  it  impossible 
for  him  to  continue  in  the  army.  Returning  to  Lexington  he  built 
the  Monroe  House  which  he  conducted  for  a  number  of  years  and 
for  a  number  of  years  after  the  war  he  was  also  interested  in 
mercantile  persuits.  During  the  years  1874  and  1875  Major  Van 
Valkenburgh  represented  Lexington  town  in  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors, and  upon  different  occasions  he  served  his  town  as  its 
superintendent  of  highways.  He  was  the  son  of  Lucas  Van  Valk- 
enburgh and  Amelia  Peck.  Major  Van  Valkenburgh  passed  to 
rest  July  7,  1912. 

.303 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    OOUNTt. 


PRESIDENT  GEO.  C.  FOX  OPENS  WEST  SHORE  ROAD 

When  the  West  Shore  railroad  was  opened  in  1882,  George 
C.  Fox  then  president  of  the  village  received  an  invitation  from 
the  railroad  company  to  be  present,  and  with  the  other  members 
of  the  Board  of  whom  Theodore  Cole  and  William  Smith  were 
members  hired  a  drum  corps,  and  trotted,  out  a  cannon  and  there 
was  a  big  celebration.     It  was  a  great  event  for  Catskill. 


THOMAS  SEIFFERTH,  JR.  . 

Thomas  Seifferth  Jr.  of  Hunter,  who  represents  that  town 
in  the  Greene  county  Board  of  Supervisors,  represents  not  only 
one  of  the  most  important  and  progressives  sections  of  the  county, 
but  he  has  shown  that  he  possesses  an  executive  ability  that  has 
rarely  been  seen  in  men  who  have  for  long  years  represented  their 
town  in  political  fields.  He  is  energetic,  thoroughgoing  and  has 
shown  clearly  that  he  is  advancing  the  best  interests  of  the  town  in 
everyway.  He  is  popular  in  the  board,  and  has  been  appointed 
on  the  best  committees,  and  his  work  whether  in  dealing  with  the 
taxes,  roads  or  other  interests  has  been  noteworthy  and  commend- 
able. He  is  a  young  man  and  never  dabbled  in  politics.  The 
office  of  supervisor  came  to  him  unsought  and  there  is  every  reason 
to  show  that  the  confidence  placed  in  him  by  the  citizens  of  Hun- 
ter was  not  misplaced.  A  splendid  official,  and  he  will  be  retained 
indefinitely  in  all  probability. 

He  was  born  June  23,  1878,  at  Platte  Clove,  town  of  Hun- 
ter, on  the  place  where  he  now  resides.  His  father,  Thomas  Seif- 
ferth, Sr.,  was  born  in  Germany,  1832,  and  is  still  living  with  his 
son.  His  mother  was  born  in  Donegall  Co..  Ireland,  1830,  and 
died  at  Platte  Clove,  in  1909. 

Thomas  Seifferth,  Jr.  married  D.  Frances  Farrell,  April, 
1903,  and  they  have  no  children.  He  served  as  tax  collector  of 
the  town  of  Hunter  four  years  before  being  elected  as  Supervisor. 
He  is  the.  youngest  man,who  has  ever  represented  the  town  of  Hun- 

303 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


ter  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors. 

The    Seifferths   came  to   town  of  Hunter  nearly  50  years 

ago,  and  at  that  time  there  were  only  three   or  four  houses  where 
the  village  of  Tannersville  now  stands. 


DAYTON  B.  SMITH 


The  Smiths  were  before  the  flood  and  they  have  been  after 
the  flood,  and  as  discoverers,  pioneers,  inventors,  heroes  and 
great  men  in  all  the  walks  and  activities  of  life,  the  Smiths  must 
have  the  award  of  priority.  The  mother  of  Columbus  was  a  Smith, 
and  Henry  Hudson  was  indebted  to  the  Smiths  for  his  good  ship 
Half  Moon.  There  were  Smiths  in  his  hearty  crew,  and  Smiths  of 
the  hardy  sort  that  settled  along  the  Hudson.  Greene  county  has 
had  thousands  of  them. 

The  Coxsackie  Smiths  settled  in  that  section  around  1700 
and  they  are  right  on  the  job  yet  in  every  way. 

Dayton  B.  Smith,  who  has  represented  the  town  of  Coxsac- 
kie in  the  Greene  County  Board  of  Supervisors  since  1910,  has 
demonstrated  that  he  is  pastmaster  in  looking  after  the  welfare  of 
his  town,  and  is  likely  to  be  kep.t  right  at  the  head  of  the  column 
as  long  as  he  will  consent  to  take  what  is  a  troublesome  and 
thankless  job  generally. 

He  has  been  in  business  in  Coxsackie  since  1901.  He  was 
born  in  Coxsackie  on  June  20th  1874,  and  was  married  to  Frances 
Doherty  on  Oct.  24,  1900.  The  members  of  his  family  are  Ellen 
Doherty  Smith,  and  Frances  Simmons  Smith.  His  father  was 
born  at  Potter's  Hollow,  Albany  county,  and  married  Juliette 
Simmons.  The  members  of  his  family  were  Grace  and  Dayton  B. 
Smith.  Mr.  Smith  has  represented  the  village  and  town  as  town 
clerk  and  Supervisor. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  2nd  Reformed  church,  Ark  Lodge 
No.  48,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Eureka  Lodge,  No.  31,  K.  of  P.;  and  of  the 
Geo.  H.  Scott  Hook  and  Ladder  No.  1. 

304 


DttAR    OLD    GfcEfiNE    OOUNtV. 


WALTER  J.   DECKER 


The  subiect  of  this  sketch,  Walter  J.  Decker,  was  born  at 
Hillsdale,  N.  Y.,  where  he  lived  his  boyhood  days,  and  where  he 
acquired  the  rudiments  of  a  liberal  education  in  the  public  schools. 
Of  the  first  class  organized  under  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the 
State  Normal  College,  he  was  not  only  a  member,  but  bore  the 
distinction  of  being  the  youngest.  While  in  this  instituion  he 
applied  himself  with  diligence,  completed  the  course  in  the  allot- 
ed  time,  graduated  at  the  age  of  twenty  and  received  a  life  license 
to  teach  in  the  public  schools  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

His  first  experience  in  teaching  was  in  the  public  school  a 

305 


bMAk    OLD    GRBlBiNfe    OOtJNTV. 


Canaan,  N.  Y.,  where  he  taught  one  yeai;  then  succeeded  to  the 
principalship  of  the  Murray  Hill  Schools  in  New  Jersey.  Here  he 
taught  the  higher  branches  and  supervised  the  work  in  the  grades 
for  a  period  of  eleven  years;  and  it  was  avowed  by  the  patrons  and 
those  in  authority,  that,  under  his  management,  the  schools 
improved  with  each  succeeding  year. 

While  in  New  Jersey,  he  united  with  St.  Luke's  Episcopal 
church;  became  an  active  worker;  served  the  Church  in  the 
capacity  of  junior  warden  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school 
for  five  years.  In  1X96,  he  married  Anna  B.  Kuehn,  daughter  of 
Henry  C.  Kuehn  of  Scotch  Plains,  N.  J.  Their  home  is  now  bless- 
ed with  the  companionship  of  three  children. 

In  1905,  he  resigned  his  position  in  New  Jersey,  and  accept- 
ed the  principalship  of  the  Union  School  at  Hunter,  N.  Y.,  in 
September  of  that  year.  By  reason  of  observation,  experience  and 
years  of  study,  he  had  acquired  that  degree  of  skill  and  efficiency 
which  enabled  him  to  discharge  the  duties  of  this  position,  not 
simply  with  entire  satisfaction,  hut  with  a  marked  degree  of 
success,  Within  two  years  after  he  assumed  the  duties  of  principal 
this  school  became  a  middle  high  school;  within  three  years,  a 
senior  high  school;  and  March  4th,  1909,  it  was  advanced  to  a 
full  high  school,  being  approved  in  each  instance  by  the  State  De- 
partment of  Education  for  the  attendance  of  non-resident  academic 
pupils  at  the  expense  of  the  State. 

The  ability  to  teach,  organize  and  discipline  implies  common 
sense,  good  judgment  and  foresight.  These  attributes  and  qualities 
of  Mr.  Decker  were  fully  recognized  and  appreciated  by  patrons  of 
the  school,  the  Board  of  Education  and  the  representatives  of  the 
State  Department  of  Education. 

The  further  progress  of  his  career,  the  writer  here  observes, 
was  determined  by  the  success,  training  and  experience  which  he 
had  gained  by  his  years  of  study  and  professional  activity.  In  1911 
the  board  of  school  directors  of  the  third  supervisory  district  of 
Greene  county,  comprising  the  towns  of  Ashland,  Halcott,  Hunter 
Jewett,  Lexington  and  Prattsville,   elected   him  district  superin- 

306 


bBJAR    OLD    GttEENfc    CIOtJNTt. 


tendent  oFthe  schools,  and  he  entered  upon  his  duties  January  1st 
1912. 

His  preparation,  experience  and  considerate  judgment  have 
enabled  him  to  render  efficient  service.  The  communities  have 
co-operated  with  him  in  bringing  the  schools  to  a  high  standard  of 
excellence  and  more  in  accord  with  the  ideas  of  present-day  educa- 
tion. Thus  the  work  of  the  schools  has  been  brought  into  closer 
relation  to  the  life  of  the  people.  While  due  emphasis  has  been 
placed  on  the  fundamental  interests,  reading  courses  have  been 
established  for  teachers  and  pupils.  Domestic  science  and  agricul- 
tural contests  are  conducted  each  year.  Meetings  for  teachers  and 
school  officers  are  frequently  held  for  the  discussion  of  methods  of 
teaching  and  to  establish  greater  efficency  in   school  management. 

Mr.  Decker  is  identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  is 
Master  of  Mount  Tabor  Lodge,  No.  807  F.  &  A.  M.  and  a  member 
of  Mountain  Chapter,  No.  250,  R.  A.  M. 

In  the  activities  of  life  he  has  shown  himself,  by  energy 
and  stability  of  character,  to  be  a  man  of  cautious  temper,  unblem- 
ished integrity  and  exact  sincerity. 

Men  are  worthy,  because  of  their  excellence  of  character.  In 
enterprise,  promotion  comes  to  them  because,  of  their  training, 
ability  and  character  par-excellent - 


JOHN  D  SMITH 
John  D  Smith  died  at  his  home  in  Oatskill  March,  28, 
aged  65  years.  He  was  a  son  of  Luke  Smith,  an  early  resident  of 
Catskill,  and  was  in  partnership  with  him  in  the  shoe  business. 
He  established  the  Catskill  Daily  Mail  in  1878,  and  in  1899  was 
postmaster  of  Catskill. 

BYRON  SUNDERLAND 
The  Rev.  Byron  Sunderland  died  at  the  home  of  his  son-in- 
law,  Bank  President  Orrin  Day,  in  July  1901.  He  was  born  at 
Shoreham,  Vt.  in  1819,  and  graduated  from  Middlebury  College. 
He  was  pastor  of  churches  in  Syracuse,  and  Washington  where  he 
was  for  many  years  chaplain  of  the  Senate.  He  was  also  associated 
with   T.  Dewitt  Tallmadge  in  his  work  at  Brooklyn  tabernacle. 

307 


Fishing  for  Carp  in  Catskill  Creek 
In  1912,  thousands  of  carp,  weighing  from  8  to  45,    and   even 
60  pounds,  were  taken  by  means  of  carp   nets.     The  above  scene  is 
duplicated  most  any  day,  but  the  carp  are  smaller. 


The  Italian  Parade  of  1914 
Officers  Joseph  F>eilly  and  James  Fitzsimmons   leading  the 
Pageant, 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Notaries  Public  For  Greene  Gounly 

Appointed  1915. 

Ashland— Francis  L.  Dodge. 

Athens -Sarah  M.  Hyer,  0.   Gates  Porter. 

Cairo — Richard  A.  Austin. 

Catskill— William  W.  Bennett,  Lee  F.  Betts,  Beulah  W.  Blood- 
good, '.P.  Gardner  Coffin,  Seth  T.  Cole,  John  L.  Fray,  Geo. 
S.  Harding,  Orliff  T.  Heath,  CJa_renceJiaffilajadJ  James  L. 
Malcolm,  Charles  E.  Nichols,  William  Palmatier,  Harvey 
S.  Scutt.  WendellS.  Sherman,  Myrtle  E.  Smith. 

Coxsaekie -larthe  M.  Carter,"  Wellman  R.  Church,  Arthur  J. 
Collier,  Harrie  McK  Curtiss,  Daniel  H.  Daley,  Ernest 
Miller. 

East  Jewett— Cyrus  W.  Van  Valkenburgh. 

Freehold  R.  D.  1 -Alton  D.  Gibson. 

Greenville— Orrin  C.  Stevens,  E.  Lyman  Wood. 

Greenville  Center  — Leander  W.  Hallock. 

Haines  Falls — Joseph  K.  Burkle,   Christopher  A.  Martin,  Samuel 

E.  Rusk. 
Hensonville— Theodore  H.  Merwin. 
Hunter— George  F.  Ferris. 
Leeds — Louis  F.  Teich.  ] 

Lexington— P'rank  E.  Beggs,  George  B.  Van  Valkenburgh. 
Med  way —William  N.  Miller. 
New  Baltimore— Melvin  P.  Hotaling. 
Oak  Hill— Fred  S.  Anthony,  Isaac  U.  Tripp. 
Prattsyille— Elmer  Krieger,    George    R.    Laverick,    Thomas    J. 

O'Hara. 
Palenville  —  Adam  A.  Pelham. 
Tannersville— Edward  W.  Lackey,  Cyrus  Showers. 
Urlton— Augustus  V.  Simmons. 
West  Coxsaekie — William  B.  Townsend. 
Westkill- Sherwood  Clawson,  Robert  S.  Tuttle. 
Windham— Ellsworth  E.  Sharpe,  Ernest  E.  Myer,  Jr.,  Benjamin 

I.  Tallmadge. 

310 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNTY. 


EDWARD   REYNOLDS 

Greene  County  Society 

The  Greene  County  Society,  which  is  made  up  of  men  who 
hailed  from  Greene  county  or  who  are  still  residents  of  Greene 
county  was  organized  in  1904,  in  New  York  city  and  every  year 
since  an  annual  gathering  has  been  held  in  that  city  with  a 
banquet,  excepting  in  1915.  One  of  the  principal  men  to  promote 
this  organization  was  Senator  William  P.  Fiero,  Charles  L. 
Eickerson  and  Commodore  Van  Santvoord.  At  the  head  of  the 
society  is  Edward  Reynolds  and  roster  of  men  all  prominent  in  the 
business  world: 

President- Edward  Reynolds,  1st.  Vice-Pres. — E.  B.  Van 
Deusen,  2d  Vice-Pres.— J.  H.  Thomas,  3d.  Vice-Pres.— Dorville 
S.  Coe,  4th  Vice-Pres.— Chas.  E.  Russell,  Secretary-Treasurer  — 
C.  E.  Rickerson,  Registrar— Peter  Fiero. 

DIRECTORS 
Edwin  H   Snyder,      Dr.  Geo.  F.  Madigan       Fred  B.  Dalzell 

311 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Wm.  J.  Minor 
0.  L.  Youmans 
E.  H.  Dunham 
Allen  R.  Hicks 
Peter  Fiero 
Chas.  E.  Russell 


Dr.  Wm.  B.  Snow 
Irving  W.  VanGorden 

7 .  B.  DeLamater 
Wm.  H.  McCaBe 
D.  G.  Cornin 
Peter  S.  Jennings 


Raymond  H.  Fiero     L.  W.  Mower 


Hon.  J  F.  Hylan 
Dr.  W.  B.  Chase 
Andrew  Colvin 
E.  B.  Van  Deusen 
Henry  W.  Showers 
Dr.  Wm.  Stevens 
Edward  T.  Dalzell 


Assemblymen,  of  Greene  Go\mty  from  1800 

The  first  assemlbymen  to  represent  Greene  county  then  newly 
formed  in  1800  were  Thomas  E.  Barber  and  Caleb  Benton,  William 
Beach  and  Philip  Conine,  jr.  in  1802. 


1803  George  Hale, 

1804  Stephen  Simmons 

1805  Pat.  Hamilton 

M  Schuneman 

Stoddard  Smith 

Daniel  Say  re 

1806  John  Ely 

1807  J  Thompson 

1808  C  T  Hotaling 

J  Thompson 

Samuel  Haight 

Perez  Steel 

1809  James  Gale 

1810  Ben  Chapman 

1811  William  Beach 

E  Reed 

Ira  Day 

Jonas  Bronk 

1812  John  Ely 

1813  John  Adams 

1814  Willian  Fraser 

Simon  Sayres 

Perez  Steel 

A  Van  Dyke 

1815  James  Gale 

1816  James  Powers 

1817  Levi  Callender 

Martin  Van  Bergen      Jacob  Roggen 

Justus  Squire 

1818  John  I  Bronk 

1819  James  Foster 

1820  Piatt  Adams 

Jairus  Strong 

Isaac  Van  Loan 

Aaron  Reed 

1821  James  Powers 

1822  Reuben  Hosford 

1823  Caleb  Coffin 

Jacob  Roggen 

William  Seaman 

Edward  Daley 

1824  Gilbert  Bedell 

1825  Addison  Porter 

1826  Perkins  King 

A  Bushnell 

William  Seaman 

William  Tuttle 

1827  Elisha  Bishop 

1828  Moses  Austin 

1829  J  Miller 

Wm  Faukner 

Castle  Seeley 

H  Quackenboss 

1830  Lewis  Benton 

1831  E  Hamilton 

1833  Henry  Goslee 

John  Brandow 

Dumah  Tuttle 

Wm  Pierson 

1834  B  Bagley 

1835  D  Ingersoll 

1836  S  Tryon 

S  Nichols 

A  Van  Bergen 

John  Watson 

1837  Thos  Cooke 

1838  Piatt  Adams 

1839  Gilbert  Bedell 

Peter  Hubbell 

Thos  Cooke 

S  Nichols 

1840  Turhand  Cooke  1841  Aaron  Bushnell 

1843  John   Laraway 

D  Quackenboss 

Philip  Teats 

A  Van  Slyke 

1844  Robert  C  Field,  1845  D  Hervey 

1846  N  Lawrence 

rj.r     L  C  Stimsou 

G  W  Sager 

P   Van  Bergen 

312 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


1847  Win  V  Adams  1848  A  Palmer  1849  A  Bailey 

A  Marks  F  A  Fenn  Albert  Turtle 

1850  Alonzo  Greene  1851  J  A  Cooke  1852  N  H  Gray 

Theo  Prevost  Henry  Kinsley  T  Bedell,  Jr. 

1853  Darius  Winans  1854  Joshua  Fiero,  Jr.  1855  M  LRickerson 

E  P  Bushnell  G  Robertson    '  John  C  Palmer 

1856  Buel  Mabin  1857  David  Whiting  1859  Daniel  Strong 

M  B  Mattice .  H  Baldwin 

1860  A  R  Macomber   1861  Gilbert  Bedell  1862  J  Coles 
1863-4  Lorin  Green      1865  Prentiss  Hallenbeck   1866  E  P  Moore 
1867  Thos  A  Briggs    1868  James  Loughren  1869  B  Griffin 
1870  1  H    Van   Steenburgh,    1872  3   Augustus    Hill,  1874   Horatio 
Lockwood,  1875  Benjamin    F   Barkley.    1876  Burton  G   Morse,   1877 
Oscar  T  Humphrey,    1878  Cicero  C  Peck,   1879   George  S.    Stevens, 
1880    Albert     Parker,    1881    Orlando  L,  Newton,    1882    Samuel   H 
Nichols,  1883  Frank   S   Decker,  1884   Bradley    S    McCabe,    1885-86 
Stephen  T  Hopkins,  1887  John  H  Bagley,  1888    Francis  G  Walters, 
1890-1  Omar  V.  Sage,  1892  Edward  M  Cole,  1893  Capt.  James  Stead, 
1894  Ira  B  Kerr,  1895  Daniel  G    Greene,  1896-7  Newton  Sweet,  1898 
John  J.  Ellis,   1899  D  Geroe  Greene,  1900  Sylvester  B.  Sage,  1901-2 
William  W  Rider,  1903-4  Charles  E  Nichols,  1905-6  7-8  9  William   C 
Brady,  1910-11-12-13  J  h  Patrie,  1914-5  George  H  Chase. 

These  men  from  various  sections  of  the  county  served  their 
terms  with  signal  ability,  and  some  of  them  were  returned  term  after 
term,  W.  C.  Brady  of  Athens,  and  J.  Lewis  Patrie  of  Catskill  having 
the  longest  terms. 

Jacob  Haight  of  Catskill  in   1834   was   state  treasurer,  and  in 

1861  Edward  Hand  of  Catskill  was  banking  superintendent. 


Notable  Events  and  Men 

Cyrus  W.  Field,  layer  of  the  Atlantic  Cable,  was  bom  at 
Durham  in  1782,  and  was  the  son  of  Ambrose  Field,  a  pioneer  of 
that  town. 

Lyman  Tremaine,  the  great  lawyer  and  judge  of  Greene 
county,  was  born  at  Oak  Hill,  in  1812.  He  was  attorney  general 
of  the  state  in  1857;  he  was  also  a  member  of  the  legislature  1865, 
and  defended  Edward  S.  Stokes,  tried  for_  the]  murder  of_James 
Fisk. 

Uncle  Barney  Butts  was  the  greatest  bear  hunter  of  Greene 

313 


DEAK  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


county.  He  wa3  born  near  Windham  in  1799,  and  his  father  and 
mother  each  lived  to  be  100  years  of  age.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
75  years  in  1874,  and  had  killed  over  100  bears,  getting  as  many 
as  3  in  a  single  day. 

Anson  P.  Wright,  of  Durham,  lived  to  be  95  years  of  age, 
and  was  a  musician  in  the  Revolution.  He  was  born  in  1792,  and 
his  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Col.  Bullock,  an  officer  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, who  died  at  the  age  of  94  years, 

Col.  Piatt  Adams  wa  s  born  at  Durham  in  1792,  and  he 
represented  Greene  county  in  the  legislature  1821-24,  and  in  the 
senate  in  1848-49.  He  was  also  colonel  of  the  49th  regiment, 
holding  that  position  for  10  years.  He  was  supervisor  of  Durham 
1825-28-34-38,  and  sheriff  of  Greene  county  1828-30. 

Col.  Ezra  Post,  of  Durham,  was  colonel  of  the  49th  regi- 
ment in  the  war  of  1812.    His  son  William  was  also  a  colonel. 

Capt.  Aaron  Thorpe  built  one  of  the  first  saw  mills  in  the 
town  of  Durham  in  1790,  on  Thorpe  Creek.  He  served  in  the 
Revolutionary. 

Capt.  Ashiel  Jones,  of  Hervey  Street,  was  an  officer  in  the 
Revolution,  and  settled  in  Durham,  in  1788. 

Moses  Austin,  of  Durham,  was  a  judge  of  the  court  of 
Common  Pleas  He  settled  at  Cornwallsville  in  1806,  and  was  an 
assemblyman  in  1829. 

Capt.  Charles  Johnson,  of  Durham,  served  in  the  Revolut- 
ion, and  a  relative  of  Mrs.  W.  F.  Lamont,  of  Catskill. 

Thomas  E.  Barker,  of  Cornwallsville,  settled  at   that  place 

in  1790.     He  was  a  member  of   the   legislature   1898-99,    1800; 

supervisor  of  Durham  1822-24 ;    also  judge   of   court  of  Common 

Pleas. 

Caleb  Benton  was  also  from  the  town  of  Durham  and  was  a 

judge  of  the  court  of  Common  Pleas. 

Capt.  Hinman,  of  Durham,  was  in  the  French  and  Indian 
war,  1755,  and  was  with  General  Braddock  at  the  time  he  was 
trapped  by  the  Indians. 


314 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Timothy  Munger,    of  Durham,  also  served   in    the  FreDch 
and  Indian  war,  1755. 


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MACKEY   CROSWELL 


Publisher  of  the  Catskill  Packet,  1792,  now  Catskill 
Recorder.  He  retired  from  printing  to  the  more  strenuous  occu- 
pation of  village  tavern  keeper.  His  brother,  Dr.  A.  H.  Croswell, 
took  up  the  duties  of  postmaster,  being  appointed  by  George 
Washington. 

Mr.  Croswell  was  in  the  drug  business  with  Dr.  Brace. 

315 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNTY. 


THE  GALLT  FAMILY 

In  the  search  of  old  books  and  documents  that  came  into 
our  possession  while  writing  this  history  of  Greene  county  we  find 
mention  made  of  William  Gait  great-great-grandfather  of  the 
writer,  F.  A.  Gallt.  Referring  to  the  Linzey  patent  Fitch  says  in 
his  history:  "David  Ramsey,  James  Campbell,  William  Gait  and 
William  Dixon  from  Ireland  settled  on  the  patent  in  1742  at  the 
village  of  Cherry  Valley.''  At  that  time  there  were  but  8  people 
in  the  entire  township,  and  owing  to  the  fear  of  the  Indians  there 
but  60  in  1752.  Among  that  number  was  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dunlop 
who  taught  a  classical  school,  said  to  b?,  the  fir3t  one  west  of  the 
Hudson  river.  Nov.  11, 1778  the  Indians  descended  on  the  town 
and  murdered  the  inhabitants,  burning  every  building  in  the 
place.  16  continental  officers  and  soldier  were  among  the  slain. 

William  Gait  was  among  the  number  slain,  but  his  sons 
John  Gait  and  Joseph  Gait  escaped .  He  was  one  of  6  brothers 
who  came  to  this  country  from  Ireland,  having  fled  from  France 
during  the  persecution  of  the  Huegenots. 

From  the  old  family  bible  printed  in  1728,  which  was  in 
the  possession  of  William  Gait  at  the  time  of  the  massacre  in  1778 
and  in  the  handwriting  of  William  Gait  we  find  that  William  Gait, 
son  of  William  Gait  was  born  in  the  Parish  of  Kilragh  and  county 
Enbron,  in  the  Kingdom  of  Ireland.  Came  to  America  in  Nov. 
1740.  Was  married  to  Margaret  Harper,  daughter  of  John  and 
Abigal  Harper,  at  Cherry  Valley,  August,  1765,  by  the  Reverend 
Mr.  Dunlop.  John  Gallt,  oldest  son  of  William  and  Margaret 
Gait,  was  born  at  Cherry  Valley,  July  24,  1766.  Was  baptised  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Dunlop.  John  Gait  escaped  at  the  time  of  the 
massacre.     Joseph   Gait,  born  1773,  also  escaped. 

The  Gallts  settled  later  at  Cato,  Cayuga  Co.,  moving  to 
Harpersfield,  and  then  to  Jefferson  where  in  1869  Frank  A.  Gallt 
was  born. 

The  old  bible  lacking  13  years  of  being  200  is  in  his  posses- 
sion as  are  also  a  number  of  books  that  were  the  property  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Dunlop.     Two  of  these  books  were  printed  in  1793,  and 

316 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


have  written  in  them  the  names  of  William  Gallt  and  Joseph  Gallt, 
"his  book''.  They  were  called  "Dessertations  of  the  Prophesies" 
by  Thomas  Newton  DD,  10th  edition.  Edinburgh,  MDCCXIIL 
and  dedicated  to  'his  Grace,  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Canterbury." 
The  books  are  bound  in  heavy  leather  and  yellow  with  age.  > 

The  Harper  family  were  conspicious  in  the  early  colonial 
history  of  Schoharie  county,  Mrs.  James  Gallt  being  a  Smith,  and 
her  mother  a  Harper,  also  tracing  to  Tim  Murphy,  the  Indian 
fighter. 

The  record  also  shows  the  births  of  William  Gallt,  May  1, 
1767,  Minerva  Gallt,  James  Gallt,  Margaret  and  Matthew  Gallt, 
all  of  whom  were  baptised  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dunlop  at  'Cheryvaly.' 

The  name  of  William  Gait  is  among  those  carved  on  the 
Tr.yon  county  monument  at  Cherry  Valley.  Showing  the  names 
of  the  persons  who  were  massacred  by  the  Indians  and  Tories 
under  Brandt.  William  Gait  was  knocked  on  the  head  with  a 
gun,  scalped  and  left  for  dead.     He  lived  for  a  day  or  two. 

Frank  A.  Gallt,  Publisher  of  the  Catskill  Enterprise, 
established  October  1898.  Born  Jan.  1,  1859,  at  Jefferson,  Scho. 
County,  N.  Y.  Father  and  mother  James  and  Hetty  V.  Gallt,  of 
Harpersfield,  Delaware  county.     Married  Oct.  26,  1882,  to  Carrie 

E.  Pratt  of  Oak  Hill,  N.  Y.  Learned  the  printing  business  a 
Jefferson  Courier  office,  and  was  educated  at  Stamford  academy. 
Studied  art  at  Paterson,  and  came  to  Catskill  in  March  1882. 
Employed  on  the  Catskill  Recorder,   later  with  the  Examiner. 

Served  5  years  Company  E.,  Honorary  member  of  Citizens 
Hose  Company.  Formerly  secretary  and  treasurer  of  company, 
and  member  of  the  running  team.  Has  five  sons,  William,  Robert, 
Frank  E.,  Joseph,  Raymond,  and  one  daughter,  Reba  M.,  wife  of 
marketman  Fred  E.  Field. 

James  Gallt,  father  of  F.  A.  Gallt,  was  born  and  his  early 
ife  spent  in  a  log  house  and  the  first  pair  of  shoes  that  he  had  to 
wear  was  after  he  was  big  enough  to  make  them  himself. 

August  12,  1862,  J.  Gault  received   a  patent  and  put  in 

317 


i)EAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNTY. 


circulation  encased  postage  stamps  which  were  used  all  over  the 
country  as  money.  These  consisted  of  a  stamp  with  a  layer  of 
mica  over  the  face  framed  in  a  round  metal  case.  They  were  1.  2, 
3,  5,  10,  12,  30  and  90  cents.  And  all  of  these  stamps  enclosed 
are  at  a  premium  today  of  from  75  cents  to  $12. 

Sir  John  Gait  was  a  member  of  the  British  Parliament. 

Dr.  Robert  Gait  established  the  Fox  Memorial  Hospital  at 
Oneonta.  Col.  Fox  who  married  his  daughter,  being  shot  in  the 
Rebellion. 


CLAUDE  H    HEATH 


Claude  H.  Heath,  Worshipful  Master  of  Catskill  Lodge  468, 
F.  &  A.M.  year  1914.  Was  born  at  Cooksburgh,  Albany,  Co.,  on 
August  12th,  1876  and  came  to  Catskill  April  1st,  1898.  Married 
Jessie  L.  Moore  of  Mackey,  Schoharie  Co.  on  June  14th,  1899. 
Have  no  children . 

Employed,  as  miller  at  the  Rushmore  mill,  Catskill  Moun- 
tain RyCo.  and  by  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  R.  R.  Co.  as  locomotive 
engineer  and  on  May  19th,  1911,  was  appointed  Railroad  Fire 
Inspector  in  the  Catskill  Forest  Preserve,  on  June  5th,  1912,  was 
appointed  Chief  Inspector  for  the  Conservation  Commission,  State 
of  New  York,  which  position  he  now  holds. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Catskill, 
Catskill  Lodge  468,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Catskill  Chapter  R.  A.  M.  285, 
Lafayette  Commandery  7,  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  Cyprus  Temple  A.  A. 
0.  N.  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  of  Albany,  N.  Y.  Catskill  Chapter  0. 
E.  S.  293,  Catskill,  N.  Y.  Catskill  Masonic  Club, (Past  President) 
also  a  member  of  Citizens  Hose  Company  No.  5.  of  Catskill  N.  Y . 
Ex-Member  of  Co.  E.  N.  G.  N.  Y. 

MAJOR  AUGUSTINE  PREVOST 

Major  Augustine  Prevost,  owner  of  a  patent  of  7000  acres 
of  land  at  Greenville,  was  born  at  Geneva,  Switzerland,  and  serv- 
ed in  the  French  and  Indian  wars,  in  the  Royal  American 
regiment,  of  which  his  father  was  colonel.  He  moved  to  Green- 
ville in  1794,  and  occupied  the  old  house  of  which  we  show  a  picture 
elsewhere.     He  died  at  Greenville  in  1821. 

318 


bttAR    OLt)    GREENES    COtTNTY. 


Prominervt  Greene  County  Men. 

FREDERICK  GOSLEE 

Frederick  Goslee,  who  represents  the  town  of  Jewett  in  the 
Greene  County  Board  of  Supervisors,  is  one  of  the  leading  men  of 
that  town,  and  having  served  several  terms  in  the  board  naturally 
is  regarded  by  his  fellow  townsmen  as  the  right  man  in  the  right 
place.  The  town  of  Jewett  has  certainly  been  well  looked  after 
by  him. 

The  Goslees  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  that  town, 
coming  to  this  country  from  Connecticut  soon  after  the  devolution. 

Frederick  M.  Goslee  was  born  at  Jewett  in  1866,  and  is  the 
son  of  Milton  Goslee.  His  mother  was  Esther  L.  Goslee.  He  was 
married  to  Frances  E.  Brainard  in  1897  and  has  four  children, 
Milton  B.,  H.  Reginald,  F.  Howard  and  Helen  Esther. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Jewett,  and 
Mountain  lodge,  No.  529,  Windham. 

Various  members  of  the  Goslee  family  have  served  the  town 
and  county  in  official  stations.  Munsion  Buell,  great  great  grand- 
father of  Frederick  Goslee,  had  the  distinction  of  being  county 
judge,  and  Henry  Goslee,  a  great  uncle,  was  also  county  judge. 
Henry  Goslee,  great  greatgrandfather,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  the  town  of  Woodstock,  later  Windham  and  then  Lexington, 
and  finally  now  Jewett,  being  the  different  arrangements  of  the 
original  territory  of  Woodstock,  Ulster  county.  He  bears  the  very 
considerable  distinction  of  having  been  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution, 
and  having  been  one  of  the  guard  over  Major  Andre,  who  was 
captured  by  the  American  forces  with  plans  of  West  Point  fortifi- 
cations in  his  possession,  that  had  been  given  to  him  by  Benedict 
Arnold  for  delivery  to  the  British.  He  was  shot  in  the  leg  in  the 
fight  at  Stony  Point,  and  for  years  carried  the  bullet.  The 
doctors  were  unable  to  locate  it,  but  one  day  he  took  his  pocket 
knife  and  performed  the  operation  for  its  removal  himself. 

Other  members  of  the  Goslee  family  are  scattered  all  through 
the  towns  of  the  county,  and  the  state  as  well. 

Edgar  B.  Goslee,  of  Tannersville,  an  adjoining  town, 
served  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors  for  a  number  of  years,  being  in 
the  Board  with  Frederick  Goslee. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


LEWIS  HOOSE 
The  Hoose  family  "were  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  town 
of  Greenville,  and  the  Hooses  have  always  stood  for  progress  and 
the  welfare  of  the  community  in  which  they  lived.  Supervisor 
Lewis  Hoose  of  Greenville  is  no  exception  to  the  rule.  Unassuming 
and  retiring  he  never  pressed  himself  into  politics,  and  naturally 
enough  it  was  with  great  reluctance  that  he  yielded  to  the  plead- 
ings of  his  party  to  represent  the  town  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors, 
for  his  election  was  taken  as  a  matter  of  course.  His  work  in  the 
Board  was  very  gratifying  to  his  friends  and  the  town  profited  by 
his  wisdom.  The  affairs  of  the  town  at  home  were  never  better 
looked  after  than  since  they  have  been  in  his  hands. 

Lewis  Hoose  was  the  son  of  Wm  H.  Hoose  and  his  mother 
was  Miss  Lucinda  Webb,  of  Urlton,  town  of  Coxsackie,  and  they 
had  a  family  of  two  children. 

Lewis  Hoose  was  born  on  Feb.  5,  1858,  and  was  married 
March  1st,  1879  to  Fannie  J.  Hotaling  of  Coeymans  Hollow, 
Albany  County.  The  members  of  his  family  are  three  sons,  Eugene, 
Arthur  and  Charles. 

He  attends  the  M.  E.  church  at  Greenville.  Is  Charter 
Member  of  Lyman  Tremaine  Lodge  No.  265  I.  0.  0.  F.  Oak  Hill, 
N.  Y.,  also  Charter  Member  Park  Green  Council  Royal  Arcanium 
No.  684  Greenville  N.  Y.,  and  member  of  Zeus  Lodge  No.  360 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Greenville,  N.  Y. 

He  served  the  town  of  Greenville  as  Highway  Commissioner 
during  the  years  of  1894-1895-1899-1903-1904-1905-1906. 


OMAR  V.  SAGE 


Omar  Van  Leuven  Sage,  Former  Warden  of  Sing  Sing 
Prison,  was  born  at  Catskill,  N.Y.  December  17,  1834.  He  was  for 
several  years  employed  as  a  bookkeeper  in  New  York  City  and 
later  with  his  brothers  conducted  a  general  store  at  Prattsville, 
N.  Y. 

320 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    CJOUNTY. 


From  1865  to  1872  he  was  in  the  commission  business  in 
New  York  City. 

In  1880,  he  established  the  coal  business  at  Catskill,  which 
he  now  conducts. 

He  has  served  as  Supervisor  of  Prattsville,  as  County  Clerk 
of  Greene  County,  and  in  1889  and  1890  was  a  member  of  the 
State  Assembly.  From  October,  1894  to  May,  1899  he  was  Warden 
of  Sing  Sing  Prison;  and  from  October,  1899  to  July,  1904,  was 
Superintendent  of  the  House  of  Refuge  on  Randall's  Island.  In 
July  1863  he  enlisted  in  Company  A  86th.  Regt.,  N.  G.  N.  Y. : 
was  made  captain,  August  22,  of  the  same  year;  Ordinance  Officer 
8th.  Brigade,  July  8,  1867:  Assistant  Adjutant  General,  8th, 
Brigade,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel,  October  8,  1874;  his  CDmmission 
expiring  February  11,  1875;  re-enlisted,  16th.  Separate  Company, 
October  8,  1879;  Ordinance  Officer  Fifth  Brigade,  and  captain, 
January  31,  1883;and  Major,  Apr. 23, 1883. Major  Sage  is  a  Mason 
a  director  of  the  Catskill  National  Bank,  and  president  of  the  Co- 
operative Fire  Insurance  Company  and  of  the  Commercial  Mutual 
Fire  Insurance  Company.  He  married  Julia  F.  Houghtaling, 
February  15,  1868.  .    - 

Col.  0.  V.  Sage  traces  to  David  Sage,  who  was  born  in 
1639,  in  Wales  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  at  Middletown, 
Ct.,  in  1652,  where  the  stone  marking  his  grave  is  still  standing. 
From  his  generations  come  90  per  cent  of  the  the  Sages  in  the 
United  States,  a  very  large  and  honored  family. 

Benjamin  and  Daniel  Sage  were  with  Arnold  at  Quebec  and 
also  with  General  Gates  at  the  time  of  Burgoyne's  surrender. 
Among  the  20  members  of  the  Sage  family  in  the  Revolution  Com- 
fort Sage  was  a  colonel. 

David  Sage  was  killed  in  the  fighting  at-  Quebec. 

William  Sage  was  killed  in  the  fight  at  Bunker  Hill. 

Moses  Sage  was  killed  in  the  fight  at  Lexington . 

Hosea  Sage  died  at  West  Point. 

321 


JOBAfe   otb   GfeiEiirtj   dOtJNT?^. 


James  Sage  was  with  General  George  Washington  at  Mon- 
mouth, N.  J. 

Captain  Nathan  Sage  was  a  privateer  and  had  the  distin- 
guished honor  of  capturing  an  English  transport  loaded  with 
ammunition  at  a  time  when  the  colonies  were  in  great  need  of 
powder.  Later  he  was  a  judge,  and  died  in  1833,  at  Oswego, 
where  he  was  collector  of  the  port , 

Moses  Sage  was  impressed  into  the  British  service,  but 
jumped  overboard  and  escaped  after  swimming  about  three  miles. 

Sparrow  S.  Sage,  in  1812,  found  that  during  his  absence 
from  home  his  wife  had  been  taken  captive,  and  he  trailed  the 
party,  having  only  an  axe  as  defense.  Coming  up  with  the  Indian 
who  had  the  captives,  he  rushed  at  him  with  his  axe,  and  the 
savage  attempted  to  shoot  but  the  flintlock  missed  fire,  and  Sage's 
axe  did  its  deadly  work.  He  returned  home  with  the  Indian's 
scalp,  gun  and  tommyhawk,  and  his  wife  and  another  woman  who 
had  been  captured. 

Miles  Sage  was  captured  by  the  British  at  Hadden field,  N. 
J.,  and  after  being  bayoneted  was  left  for  dead.     He  recovered. 

The.  Hon.  Russel  Sage  was  a  congressman  many  years,  and 
a  great  "railroad  man. 

David  Sage  had  two  sons,  David,  born  1665  and  John,  born 
1668.  John  Sage  had  one  son,  born  1696  and  his  son,  Benjamin, 
was  born  in  1703."  Benjamin  had  5  sons,  Benjamin,  Daniel, 
Harleigh,  Selah  and  John,  and  4  daughters,  Sarah,  Chloie,  Lucia 
and  Elsie. 

Daniel  Sage,  his  son,  was  born  in  1756,  and  he  had  8  sons, 
of  whom  Jewett  was  born  in  1793,  and  had  6  sons  and  4  daugh- 
ters.    He  lived  at  New  Berlin  and  was  5th  from  David. 

Nelson  Sage,  son. of  Jewett,  was  born  in  1836,  and  had  2 
sons  and  2  daughters. 

Daniel  Sage,  was  grandfather  of   Omar  V.  Sage.     He  was 

m 


MAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNTY. 


born  at  Conesville,  N.  Y.  in  1785,  and  had  3  sons   and    5  daugh- 
ters. 

His  oldest  son,  Hart  C.  Sage,  was  father  of  Omar  V.  Sage. 
He  had  3  sons,  Omar  C.  1834,  Omar  V.  1834,  and  Sylvester  B. 
1836. 

Omar  V.  Sage  was  10th  generation  from  David  and  has  had 
3  children,  Clarissa  H.,  Elizabeth  H.,  and  Mary  A. 

Sylvester  B.  Sage  was  for  many  years  in  business  in  Cats- 
kill  in  the  Meech  building,  and  his  son,  Clarence,  is  in  the  coal 
business  with  Omar  V.  Sage. 

John  Sage  died  at  the  age  of  88  years  and  had  15  children, 
120  grand  children,  and  40  great  grand  children,  according  to  the 
tablet  in  the  old  grave  yard  at  Cromwell,  Ct.,  1752. 


Salisbury  House,  Leeds. 

The  Salisbury  Manor  house  is  still'standing  practically  the 
same  as  when  it  was  built,  on  the  heights  west  of  Leeds.  It  was 
built  in  1630. 

323 


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« 


John  Roe, 
Former  Superintendent  of  Poor. 


Rev.  Geo.  W.  Thompson, 
Publisher  of  Faith  &  Works. 


John  jvciny, 
Former  CJerk  of  Catskill, 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


There  have  been  some  remarkable  changes  near  the  Hop-o- 
Nose.  Here  was  located  the  famous  old  Stone  Jug  mansion  with 
its  colonial  times  history.  This  mansion  gave  way  to  the  continu- 
ous kiln  of  the  shale  brick  plant.  The  headland  opposite  the  point 
of  rock  was  blasted  out  and  carted  away  and  gave  place  to  the 
big  machinery  building  of  the  shale  plant,  which  was  commenced 
in  1882.  On  this  headland  in  that  year  the  Steamer  Emaline  of 
Pokeepsie,  bearing  a  number  of  fire  companies  was  sunk.  The 
continuous  kiln  and  the  great  stack  that  surmounts  it  were  a  grand 
piece  of  mason  work  built  by  Contractor  George  W.  Holdridge. 
The  big  stack  has  been  struck  by  lightning  a  number  of  times  but 
stands  erect  and  almost  without  a  scar,  except  a  few  bricks  at  the 
summit.  Mr.  Holdridge  also  built  the  big  stacks  on  the  lower 
plant  that  now  does  the  burning  of  the  brick. 


Little  Falls  House,  South  Cairo,  Destroyed  by  Fire  1914. 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNTT. 


M.  EDW.    SILBERSTEIN. 

M.  Edw.  Silberstein,  publisher  and  editor  of  the  Catskill 
Daily  Mail,  was  born  in  New  York  city  38  yeare  ago.  When  yet  a 
young  man  he  became  intensely  interested  in  newspaper  work,  his 
initial  appearance  in  that  field  being  in  1895,  when  he  became 
manager  of  the  "Show  ,''  a  little  journal  published  by  the  Madison 
Square  Company  of  New  York  city.  Here  his  duties  were  to  take 
care  of  the  advertising,  a  responsibility  he  assumed  with  but  scant 
experience,  but  with  a  determination  to  learn  the  business  from 
the  ground  up.  The  years  1898  and  1899  found  him  a  little 
further  advanced,  his  connection  at  that  time  being  as«one  of  the 
publishers  of  the  Society  Journal,  of  New  York  and  the  Far  Rock- 
away  Guide.  A  little  later  he  joined  the  advertising  staff  of  the 
New  York  American,  representing  that  great  Metropolitan  daily 
as  its  solicitor  for  summer  resort  advertising  in  the  Catskill  moun- 
tains. In  this  capacity  he  remained  10  years,  and  while  employ- 
ed on  the  American  he  became  interested  in  street  car  advertising, 
and  for  some  time  controlled  the  advertising  of  the  street  railroad 
companies  in  Catskill,  Kingston,  Poughkeepsie,  Peekskill,  New 
Paltz,  Highland,  Hudson  and  Albany.  He  finally  disposed  of  his 
interests  to  Ward  and  Gow,  of  New  York  city  and,  in  the  year 
1906,  purchased  the  Catskill  Daily  Mail. 

During  his  residence  in  Catskill,  a  period  of  about  15  years, 
Mr.  Silberstein  has  proven  that  there  is  an  exception  to  every  rule, 
for  he  is  one  New  Yorker  who  loves  the  open,  and  no  inducement 
could  lure  him  back  to  the  city.  All  his  interests,  his  business, 
residence  and  social  affiliations  are  so  closely  allied  to  Catskill  and 
Greene  county,  that  in  the  fullness  of  time  he  will  be  written 
down,  an  old  timer,  almost  a  native. 

WILLIAM  JOESBURY 
William  Joesbury  has  been  assessor  of  the  village  of  Catskill 
for  twenty-five  years.  In  1890  to  1894  he  .was  postmaster  of  Cats- 
kill  under  President  Harrison.  In  1865  he  became  a  member  of 
F.  N.  Wilson  Fire  company,  leaving  it  in  1869  to  organize  Citi- 
zens'Hose  company.  He  has  been  chief  of  the  fife  department, 
postmaster  and  clerk  of  the  village  of  Catskill, 

r-«?7 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Militia 

We  do  not  find  much  in  regard  to  the  early  wars  so  far  as 
Greene  county  is  concerned.  Representative  men  from  the  section 
came  into  prominence  and  among  them  were  Col.  Pratt,  Major 
Prevost,  General  Haight,  Colonel  Dubois,  and  others  and  a  good 
many  men  were  in  the  ranks  serving  during  the  campaigns  along 
the  Mohawk  river,  upper  Hudson  River  and  in  the  Champlain 
section,  Benjamin  Tryon  of  Coxsackie  is  said  to  have  come  to  this 
country  with  Captain  Kidd  the  great  pirate,  and  served  in  the 
revolution.  Capt.  John  Pratt,  George  Wright,  James  Utter  and 
Augustus  Pratt,  of  Durham  were  veterans  of  the  revolution,  and 
Captain  Hinman  and  Timothy  Munger  also  of  Durham  served  in 
in  the  Indian  wars.  Capt.  Electus  Pratt  also  of  Durham  lost  his 
arm  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburgh.  Reuben  Stebbeps  of  Greenville, 
Silas  Rockwell  of  Durham,  and  Col.  Ezra  Post  served  in  the  war 
1812.     Col.  Ashiel  Jones  of  Durham  served  in  the  Revolution. 

The  old  Indian  trail  ran  from  Catskill  to  Oak  Hill,  Preston 
Hollow  and  Middleburgh  and  on  to  the  Mohawk  valley.  During 
the  revolution  the  Mohawk  Indians  in  this  section  became  hostile 
and  some  of  their  prisoners,  the  Abeels,  Henry  Plank  of  Oak  Hill 
and  a  few  others  were  taken  over  this  route  to  Canada.  The  Abeels 
returned  but  Plank  did  not  come  back.  A  man  named  Howard 
was  also  carried  to  Canada. 

In  the  Hermance  Library  at  Coxsackie  has  been  preserved 
a  number  of  matters  in  regard  to_the  revolutionary  period  that  are 
most  valuable.  These  show  that  as  early  as  1740  John  L.  Bronk 
was  commissioned  a  captain  in  the  llth  regiment  of  which  Anthony 
Van  Bergen  of  Coxsackie  was  Colonel.  A  remarkable  number  of 
men,  population  considered,  saw  service  in  the  revolution  from 
the  district  of  Coxsackie,  which  was  designated  in  1772,  and  em- 
braced sections  now  Greenville,  Durham,  New  Baltimore,  Cairo, 
and  from  the  names  that  appear  it  would  seem  that  Catskill  men 
must  have  been  in  the  list. 

In  Anthony  Van  Bergen's  regiment  1777,  John  L.  Bronk, 
adjutant.    W.  J.   Van  Orden,  quarter  master.    Joachim  Tryon, 

-328 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


lieutenant.  Cornelius  Conine,  ensign.  Derrick  Leyerson,  sergeant. 
John  Van  Buskirk,  fifer.  John  Whitbeck,  capt.  Wessell  Salisbury 
lieut.  Henry  Van  Bergen,  ensign.  John  Van  Veehten  and  John 
Du  Bois  lieutenants.  John  Wigram  2d  lieut. 

In  Captain  Henry  Van  Bergen's  company  there  were  Peter 
Bronk,  Richard  Bronk,  Matthias  Bloom,  Jacob  Bogardus,  Henry 
Bogardus,  Manning  Bogardus,  John  Baptiste,  Ephraim  Bronk, 
John  G.  Bronk,  Philip  Bronk.  Peter  A.  Van  Bergen,  Godfrey 
Brandow,  John  Brandow,  John  Boom, 

Cornelius  Conine,  Peter  Conine,  Jeremian  Cgnine,  Peter 
Conyn,  Hermanius  Cuyler,  Michael  Colier,  James  Chichester, 
Daniel  Clarke,  Samuel  Chichester,  John  Carle,  Christopher  Dise, 
John  Dise. 

Samuel  Folton,  Leonard  Fore,  Caleb  Foster. 

John  Garrett,  Samuel  Garrett,  Isaac  Garrett. 

Thomas  Houghtaling,  Henry  sHoughtaling,  Richard 
Houghtaling'. 

Peter  Joans,  Thomas  Joans,  John  Jans. 

Stephen  Lantman. 

James  Magee,  Samuel  Mott. 

Joachem  Van  Pelt,  Stephen  Parmun,  Jacob  Parmun, 
Solomon  Parmun. 

Edward  Roberts. 

Cornelius  Sluyter,  Nathan  Stanton,  Ebenezer  Stanton, 
Joseph  Stanton,  James  Stanton. 

Lawrence  Tead,  Robert  Trips,  Wilson  Ostrander. 

Richard  Vandenburgh,  Peter  Van  Pelt,  Teunis  Van  Slyke, 
Peter  Vandenburgh,  Joechem  Van  Pelt,  Baltus  Van  Slyke,  Lucas 
Van  Deusen,  Teunis  P.  Van  Slyke,  Jacobus  Van  Slyke,  Hendrick 
Van  Slyke,  Dirck  Van  Slyke,  Tunis  Vanderzee,  Peter  Van  Slyke, 
Anthony  Van  Bergen,  Peter  A.  Van  Bergen,  Robert  Vandenburgh. 
Richard  Vandenburgh,  Martin  Vandenburgh,  Samuel  Van  Pelt. 

Nicholas  Wells,  William  Wells,  John  Wagoner,  Adam 
Wood,  John  Wigram,  John  Watson,  Solomon  Wiggs. 

In  addition  to  the  above  list  there  were  some  nine  months 
men  listed  for  1776. 

329 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Johannes  Brandow,  Godfrey  Brandow,  Casperus  Bronk, 
Ephraim  Bronk,  Philip  P.  Bronk,  Peter  Bronk. 

Jeremiah  Conine. 

Christopher  Dise. 

Peter  Shaddon,  Richard  Sherman, 

Stephen  Lantman. 

John  Vandenburgh,  Robert  Vandenburgh,  Richard  Van- 
denburgh,  William  Vandenburgh,  Peter  Van  Slyke,  Albert  Van- 
derzee. 

A  good  many  of  these  families  are  represented  today  at 
Coxsackie  notably  the  Van  Bergens,  Bronks,  and  Van  Slykes. 

The  men  who  served  in  Capt.  Samuel  Van  Vech ten's  Com- 
pany formed  in  1776  were: 

Samuel  Van  Vechten,  captain.  John  Hoodghkirk  and  John 
Ball,  lieutenants.  Daniel  Everts,  ensign.  Ralph  Cole,  Charle 
Shaver,  Isaac  Overbaugh,  Joseph  Bettes  and  Teunis-VanWagonen, 
seargents.  Andrew  Dunlap,  Justus  Valkner,  Ambrose  Tuttle, 
Gilbert  Van  Debogart  and  Stephen  Mason,  corporals.  David 
Floyd,  fifer.  Elijah  Manrole,  drummer. 

The  privates  were: 

Moses  Akine,  Valentine  Asken,  Jacob  Asten. 

John  Barnett,  Joseph  Bettes,  Atchison  Bullock. 

Abraham,  Cammer,  Robert  Cannada,  William  Caniff, 
Joseph  Conklin,  Michael  Coombs,  Peter  Coombs,  Peter  Crapo. 

William  Evans,  John  Emerigh. 

Jacob  Farrington,  William  Flangler,  Francis  Flamin. 

William  Grimsey,  James  Giers.  John  Griffeth. 

Matthew  Halenbeck,  Michael  Harp,  James  Halstead. 

Nathaniel  James. 

William  King, 

Peter  Laraway,  Jacob  Livingston,  John  Low. 

Isaac  Marick,  Stephen  Mason,  David  Miller,  John  Mcllmol 
John  Mizner. 

Peter  Ostrander. 

Joseph  Parker. 

Edward  Ray,  John  Roberts. 

330 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Benjamin  Samons,  Solomon  Scutt,  Thomas  Staats,  Francis 
Smith. 

Cornelius  Taylor,  John  Taylor,  Ambrose  Tuttle. 

Jacob  Van  Tesley,  Christian  Van  Vorst,  Gilbert  Vandebo- 
gart. 

Jeremiah  Wolfe. 

John  Young. 

Of  the  above  17  deserted.    They  carried   guns,  pistols  and 

tommyhawks. 

» 
The  first  regiment  that  went  out  from  this   section  in  1861 

was  under  command  of  Col.  George  W.  Pratt,  and  from  that  time 
to  the  end  of  the  war  there  was  a  stream  of  volunteers  from  Greene 
county  and  Companies  D.  K.  and  F.  of  the  120th  New  York  were 
from  here,  the  5th  heavy  artillery  had  more  of  our  men,  and  the 
draft  of  18(52  covered  a  list  of  over  1800  men.  Many  of  these  men 
were  unfit  for  service  and  some  found  substitutes.  Various  bounties 
up  to  $750  were  offered  to  volunteers.  The  report  of  the  county 
treasurer  in  1864  showed  that  $822,502  was  raised  on  the  County 
bonds  to  pay  for  volunteers.  The  total  number  of  men  furnished 
was  4190.  Showing  in  a  faint  manner  the  awful  drain  of  war 
.upon  this  section.  Many  of  these  men  never  returned,  and  others 
came  back  crippled  and  maimed  for  life.  A  few  still  remain  scat- 
tered over  the  county. 

During  the  Revolution,  17  regiments  were  raised  in  New 
York  and  in  1777  the  Colonel  of  the  11th  regiment  was  Colonel 
Anthony  Van  Bergen  of  Coxsackie,.  and  the  lieutenant  Colonel 
Cornelius  Du  Bois,  whose  picture  we  have  shown  on  another  page 
in  connection  with  the  history  of  the  Du  Bois  family.  The  cottage 
of  Cornelius  Du  Bois  is  also  shown  on  another  page.  Cornelius 
died  in  poverty.  Though  up  to  the  last  of  his  life  he  used  to  sit  by 
the  old  fire  place,  with  his  pipe  and  tobacco  and  narrate  his 
campaigns  against  the  Indians  in  the  Mohawk  valley  and  along 
Lake  Champlain. 

The  last  of  the  war  bonds  were  paid  in  1909. 

.331 


Armory  of  Co.  E.,  before  recent  Improvement 


The  history  of  company  E.  which  was  organized  in  1880  as 
the  16th  Separate  Company,  completes  the  military  record  of  Greene 
county. The  first  drill  hall  was  over  what  is  now  Waggoner's  store 
and  the  law  offices  in  the  Sage  Building  at  the  comer  of  Main  and 
William  streets,  and  Col.  Omar  V.  Sage  was  the  first  commanding 
officer.  The  company  had  in  its  ranks  such  staunch  men  as  Emory 
A.  Chase,  Clarence  E.  Bloodgood,  Judson  A.  Betts,  Arthur  M. 
Murphy,  George  W.  Holdridge,   and  others. 

The  successive  commanders  of  the  company  have  been  Col. 
0.  V  Sage,  Arthur  M.  Murphy,  William  W.  Bennett.,  Lieut. 
Searles,  H.  W.  Cowlbeck,  Albert  Saulpaugh,  Percy  W.  Decker, 
Daniel  J.  Cassidy. 

332 


Company  V,.  Personel  of  l..;08 


The  present  armory  was  built  in  1884  at  a  cost  of  $40,000, 
George  W.  Hold  ridge  doing  the  work.  It  has  since  been  greatly 
improved  at  an  expense  of  many  thousands  of  dollars.  It  has  a 
great  drill  shed,  parlors,  pool  room,  officers  rooms,  mess  hall, 
kitchen,  reading  room  and  library,  locker  rooms  rifle  range,  bowl- 
ing alleys,  and  is  equipped  for  active  field  service  in  time  of 
need. 

The  company  forms  a  part  of  the  regular  militia,  and  is 
drilled  annually  in  state  camps  by  the  officers  of  the  regular 
army. 

i  The  company  was  called  out  to  quell   riots  at  Lime  street 
and  in  the  great  railroad  strike  at  Buffalo. 

It  has  also  a  fine  rifle  range  at  Leeds. 

The  roster  of  the  company  is  60  men,  who  serye  without 
compensation,  except  that  during  attendance  at  state  camp,  the 
men  get  $10.  The  armory  is  under  the  personal  care  of  Lieutenant 

327 


btoAft  oti>  GRBiJ^te  ciotJNty. 


Charles  A.  Vrooman,  armorer;    Sergt.  William  Hock,    assistant; 
and  William  E.  Daniels,  engineer. 

It  has  generally  led  in  target  practice  and  fine  general 
attainment. 

The  16th  separate  company  was  represented  by  a  full  com- 
pany in  the  Spanish-American  war,  Captain  William  W.  Bennett 
commanding  at  that  time. 

The  men  who  formed  Company  K.,  Catskill,  203rd  regi- 
ment, who  served  in  the  Spanish- American  war  were: 

Capt.,  William  W.  Bennett,  Catskill;  1st  Lieut.,  James  G. 
Hanna,  Glens  Falls;  2nd  Lieut.,  Walter  I.  Lyman,  Watertown; 
1st  Sergt.,  Edwin  W.  Knoll;  Quarter  Master  Sergt.,  Edward  W. 
Mallory. 

Sergeants:  William  Hock,  Michael  J.  Murphy,  Robert  W. 
Bowen,  Albert  Saulpaugh  Jr. 

Corporals:  John  E.  Bassett,  Fred  J.  Dwyer,  Leroy  Palmer, 
Frank  J.  Brook,  AlbertusB.  Cumming,  John  E.  Crowley,  Paul  B. 
Mattice,  Charles  Beaucamp,  George  E.  Hewitt. 

Musicians:  Eugene  A.  Chilson,  Ray  Goodfellow. 

Artificer:  George  Osterhoudt;  Wagoner:    Lyman  Huntley. 

Privates:  Fred  Bigelow,  Joseph  Bigelow,  Melvin  Baker, 
James  Burns,  William  R.  Burns,  Roscoe  Barber,  Wallace  J.  Bell, 
Stephen  Beesmer,  Edward  Coffee,  John  Cleary,  Michael  Connolly, 
Edward  Callnan,  Bernard  Casey,  Augustus  Cargill,  dec'd,  Charles 
H.  Carpenter,  C.  R.  Diefendorf,  Harry  Distin,  William  E.  Dwyer, 
dec'd,  Joseph  Ellis,  John  E.  Flynn,  James  T.  Fitzgerald,  John  B. 
Fitzgerald,  Michael  Fitzgerald,  John  B.  Fritzen  Jr.,  William  L. 
Foote,  Wesley  E.  Garrison,  dec'd,  Albert  E.  Guthrie,  dec'd, 
Christopher  Granger,  Dennis  E.  Hartnett,  Robert  H.  Hathaway, 
Frank  M.  Harvey,  Charles  E.  Holbrook,  George  H.  Hood,  Frank 
D.  Hughes,  William  Humphrey,  J.  O'Brien,  George  W.  Ish,  J. 
H.  Judd,  Jacob  Johnston,  Paul  Kock,  G,  W.  Long,  Fred  C.  Legg, 
John  W.  Losty,  H.  M.  McCarthy,  John  McCall,  Peter  Miller, 
John  Maher,  Arthur  Myers,  George  Mason,  Adam  Rutz,  Michael 
Madigan,  dec'd,  Arthur  Palmer,  Frank  Rowan,  Patrick  Madigan, 
James  Reardon,   John  McNary,  dec'd,   Neil  Ross,   John  Mattice, 

334 


trtiAfe  otb  grbbinM  dotjNtflr. 


James  Sullivan,  Geo.  A.  Morrison,  James  A.  Sonn,  dec'd,  Thos. 
Marshall,  William  Shear,  Eobert  Newman,  William  Wood,  Frank 
Norton,  George  C.  Wood,  Clyde  Oringer,  Michael  T.  Welsh,  Geo. 
M.  Phillips,  Charles  E.  Wilbur,  Thos.  J.  Phillips,  dec'd,  John  C. 
Webster,  dec'd. 

The  company  comprised  106  men.  They  went  first  to 
Camp  Black,  July  21,  1898;  Camp  Meade,  Sept.  12,  1898;  Camp 
Conewago,  Oct.  1,  1898,  where  they  were  isolated  on  account  of 
fever,  and  to  Greenville,  South  Carolina,  Noy.  1898.  They  were 
mustered  out  March  25,  1899.  They  had  roses  at  Christmas 
time,  and  in  February  the  flaps  of  their  tents  froze  in  zero 
weather,  and  stoves  were  installed  in  the  tents.  The  men  slept  in 
all  their  clothing  and  overcoats,  and  even  then  they  suffered  very 
much  from  the  cold. 

Charles  A.  Vrooman  was  promoted  from  2nd  Lieut,  of  K. 
to  1st  Lieut.  Company  3,  at  Greenville,  S.  C. 

Other  Catskill  men  who  saw  service  in  the  war  were  Edgar 
Johnston,  who  enlisted  in  Co.  A.  Batallion  U.  S.  Engineers, 
Regular  Army,  and  was  stationed  at  Manila  in  1898  and  '99. 

Edgar  K.  Williams  was  with  the  7lst  New  York  regiment 
and  died  in  the  service,  his  monument  in  the  Catskill  cemetery 
being  the  finest  in  the  county. 

Paul  Whitmarsh  was  also  in  the  regular  army.  Also  Arthur 
Freshwater. 

Those  who  served  going  to  Honolulu  were  in  Compdny 
M.  Kingston.  Charles  M.  Becker  corporal,  deceased.  Leroy 
Overbaugh,  Willis  Overbaugh,  Van  Ness  Ploss,  Fred  Lynes,  Harry 
Hicks,  Burton  G.  Nasholtz,  deceased,  Fred  Brown,  Alex  King, 
Lee  F.  Betts,  Harry  Lydecker,  Lewis  Holdridge,  „Al«x  Plusch, 
Clayton  Bump  deceased,  John  Hess,  John  Cook,  Harry  Fleming, 
Warren  Miller,  Oscar  Dederick,  who  later  served  at  Cebu,  Fred 
Keiffer,  Abram  Brandow,  James  Barber  formerly  of  Catskill, 
Albert  Thompson,  W.  J.  Potter. 

Chauncey  Minkler  and  Oliver  Minkler,  of  th«  11th  U.  S. 
Vol.  were  in  fights  in  the  Philippines  and  Chauncey  Minkler  was 

335 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


shot  through  the  arm  by  a  Manser  bullet,  Marshall  Smith  and 
Harry  Smith  were  at  Porto  Rico  with  the  regular  army.  John 
Basselt,  Frank  Hannan  and  Wyckoff  Smith  were  in  the  Philippines. 

Frank  Norton  was  with  Co.  H.  81st  Coast  artillery,  and. so 
was  Tod  Shear.  Harry  Kirchner  was  at  Porto  Rico  with  the  11th 
U.  S. 

The  men  who  went  to  Honolulu  were  mustered  in  May  1st. 
Left  Fort  Hamilton  June  11,  in  camp  at  Presidio,  Cal.  Arrived  in 
Honolulu,  Aug  14.  Made  atrip  to  the  famous  volcano.  Sailed  for 
home  Dec.  8.  Arrived  in  Kingston  Dec.  27. 

Lieut.  Jomes  G.  Hanna,  formerly  of  the  16th  was  shot  in 
leg,  at  Marong,  Philippines,  Henry  Millington  was  also  shot  in 
the  leg  at  Bayan,  Philippines,  Frank  Thorne  Co.  K.  17th  Inf- 
was  in  the  fight  at  Jolo,  in  the  Philippines. 

J.  H.  Finley  was  with  H.  U.  S.  Cavalry.  Bert  Conklin 
19th  U.  S.  Inf.  served  at  Cebu 

Charter  Members  of  16th  Separate  Company: 
Fred  W.  Werner,  Joseph  E.  Aldrich.  Dwight  Boughton, 
W.  Myron  Allerton,  Spencer  C.  Phillips,  Jesse  T.  Rundell,  George 
R.  Olney,  Peter  Welsh,  A.  K  Hill,  Wm.  H.Owens,  Frank  P. 
Hicks,  Wallace  M.  Hunter,  William.  P.  Cowles,  Peter  J.  Regan, 
Lucius  R.  Doty,  John  W.  Shufelt,  Egbert  Palmer,  Charles  A. 
Spencer,  Marcus  K.  Halcott,  Frank  E.  Van  Gorden,  George  D. 
Boughton,  Wheeler  Howard,  Sylvester  B.  Sage,  Chas.  Flanigan, 
John  H.  Hulbert,  James  M.  Beach,  Herbert  Niklewicz,  Edwin 
Ashley,  Geo.  F.  Tolley,  Joseph  Obert,  Minis  Plank,  Granville  R. 
Person,  Frederick  Clark,  Jacob  W.  Kelley,  William  Rider,  Frank 
Lynes,  Albert  Saulpaugh,  Wm.  H.  Minnick,  John  Wince,  Sidney 
Austin,  C.  A.  Laun,  Philip  Smith,  Emory  A.  Chase,  James 
Holdridge,  James  S.  Smith,  Eugene  Wayne,.  George  H.  Brandow, 
Frank  H.  Burroughs,  Wm.  L.  Mead,  Gottleib  Eromer,  James  H. 
Salisbury,  Clarence  Van  Valkenburgh,  R.  A.  BroWere,  Carlton  E. 
Coffin,  Clarence  Bloodgood,  G.  Howard  Jones,  Henry  T  Jones, 
R.  L.  Rosselle,  Wm.  H.  Adams,  Frederick  Seldon  jr.,  Donald 
Brauleigh,  Louis  E.  Deer,  J.  S.  Bamforth,  William  P.  Mc  Claury, 
Louis  W.  Richardson,  William  E.  Thorpe,  Ira  Gay. 

386 


DEAR    OLD    GBJiEJNB    COUNTY. 


Other  members  shortly  after  were:  Albert  Saulpaugh, 
Herman  Behm,  W.  J.  Soper,  Harry  C.  Vedder,  Thomas  E.  Jones, 
Win.  A.  Pennoyer,  J.  Frank  Boughton,  Wm.  H.  Palmer,  Wilson 
Thomas,  Thomas  Jackson  jr.,  Albert  R.  Austin,  George  Fitchett, 
Charles  E.  Butler,  Wm.  H.  Brundage,  John  F.  Callahan,  John  J. 
Ladeau,  Thomas  Carney,  George  Egnor.  William  L.  Gunther, 
Anthony  Von  Pieper,  George  A.  Englert,  Joseph  Bell,  Julius 
Kircher. 

The  first  captain  was  Col.  Omar  V.  Sage,  who  was  followed 
by  Arthur  M.  Murphy,  Harry  M.  C.  Vedder,  William  W.  Bennett 
Albert  Saulpaugh,  Percy  W.  Decker,  and  Daniel  Cassidy  now  at 
the  head  of  the  command;  H.  W.  Cowlbeck  and  F.  R.  Searles 
were  in  charge  for  a  time,  the  former  taking  the  company  to  New 
York  where  they  participated  in  the  Dewey  parade. 

Dr.Wm.  P.  McClaury,  E.  E.  Elliott  and  F.  R.  Searles 
served  as  assistant  surgeons. 

The  lieutenants  of  the  16th.  Arthur  Murphy,  Emory  A. 
Chase,  Irving  Osborn,  Augustus  R.  Hill,  R.  L.  Rosselle,  Bornt  W. 
Stryker,  Robert  J.  Beach. 

The  present  officers  of  the  company  are: 

Capt.  — Daniel  J.  Cassidy. 

1st  Lieutenant— Lucius  H.  Doty. 

2d  Lieutenant —William  Heath. 

Sergeants -Wm.  J.  Scott,  M.J.  Carl,  David  E.  Cole. 

Quarter  Master  Sergeant  -Wm.  E.  Daniels. 

Corporals -Percy  H.  Doty,  W.  W.  Comfort,  J.  R.  Cole. 

Roster  of  Men — Privates -J  C.  Brooks,  H.  W.  Becker, 
Wm.  E.  Clark,  Norman  Cole.  Wm.  Delanoy  jr.,  P.  G.  Doty,  D. 
M.  Downes,  Louis  C.  Fiester,  Omar  Frayer,  R.  H.  Freer,  W.  H. 
Graf,  R.  P.  Hallenbeck,  E.  E.  Hallenbeck,  John  Heath,  H.  E. 
Knapp,  F.  E.  Knapp,  M.  H.  McGovern,  Raymond  R.  O'Brien, 
A.  W.  Phillips,  An toine  Peterson,  E.  B.  Robb,  Ernest  Saxe,  A. A. 
Scott,  A.  P.  Shield,  H.  R.  Sigwarth,  W.  J.  Shufelt,  Ivan  Slater, 
Clarence  Smith,  Wm.  Teetsell,  Alger  Van  Hoesen,  0.  I.  Webber. 

337 


DBAfe    OLD    (JREflNlE    COUNTY. 


Charles  A.  Vrooman  has  been  armorer  for  many  years 
assisted  by  William  F.  Hock,  who  was  sergeant  of  the  company. 
William  E,  Daniels  has  been  clerk. 


J.  W.   WATSON  POST  514  G.  A.  R. 

John  W.  Watson  Post  No.  514,  Department  of  New  York 
G.  A.R.  was  organized  Sept.  23,  1884,  at  Number  5  engine  house, 
Catskill,  with  a  charter  membership  of  20,  and  Joseph  F.  Joesbury 
Commander  He  died  during  his  second  term  of  office,  January, 
28,  1886,  and  George  W.  Holdridge  completed  his  term.  JohnB. 
L.  Oakley  was  commander  for  3  years  1887-89,  W.  R.  Vedder 
1890,  Charles  A.  Vrooman  1891-2,  W.  R.  Vedder  1893,  Theodore 
B.  Beach  1894-5,  William  H.  Adams  1897-8,  Benjamin  W.  Grant 
1899,  to  1910.  He  was  succeeded  by  J.  Hubbard  Wilcox  the 
present  head  of  the  organization. 

Shortly  after  organization  Odd  Fellow's  hall  was  rented 
and  is  still  used  by  the  post  as  headquarters. 

Of  the  charter  members  Wm  H.  Adams  and  George  W. 
Holdridge  are  living. 

The  present  officers  of  the  Post  are: 

John  H.  Wilcox— Post  Commander. 

William  C.  Tice— S.  V.  Commander. 

Solomon  J.  Mott— J.  V.  Commander. 

A.  S.  Castle— Adjutant. 

Henry  G.  Myers— Quartermaster. 

James  B.  Rouse  -  Surgeon. 

William  H.  Hull -Chaplain. 

William  Caniff-  Officer  of  Day. 

George  W.  Holdridge -Patriotic  Instructor. 

William  J.  Reed-Officer  of  Guard. 

Benjamin  W.  Grant-  Quarter  Master  Sergeant. 

Wm.  H.  Adams  -  Sergeant  Major. 

Trustees  John  N.  King,  David  D.  Ostrander,  William 
Caniff. 

Relief  Committee— William  W.  Hull,  John  N.  King,  Wm. 
■H.  Adams. 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COtJN*Y. 


The  muster  roll  shows  the  following  members : 
Wm.  H.  Adams,  James  Akeley,  John  H.  Brandow,  Chas. 
,C  Beauchamp,  Wm.  P.  Bell,  Theo.  B.  Beach,  Nelson  R.  Benton, 
Geo.  A.  Bogardus,  Andrew  D.  Berry,  Geo.  H.  Coons,  A.  Sidney 
Castle,  William  Caniff,  Marion  Couchman,  Fred  0.  Friar,  Benj. 
W.  Grant,  Calvin  Goodwin,  Geo.  W.  Holdridge  Joseph  Hert, 
Wm.  W.  Hull,  Albert  Hansen,  John  N.  King,  Albert  H.  Kelsey, 
Wm.  H.  Lee,  Joseph  H.  Lounsbury,  Solomon  J.  Mott,  Henry  G. 
Myers,  Edmond  R.  Martin,  John  Mc  Cormack,  Maj.  Geo.  S. 
Nichols,  Peter  Overbaugh,  David  W.  Ostrander,  Jameg  B.  Rouse, 
Mortimer  Rockerfeller,  Nicholas  Russell,  Nathaniel  F.  Roe,  Albert 
E.  Rider,  Aaron  V.  S.  Rouse,  Peter  H.  Scribner,  Geo.  D.  Spoor, 
Wm.  S.  Swart,  Robert  Snyder,  James  Stevens,  Richard  Sisco, 
Wm.  C.  Tice,  A.  Sidney  Thomas,  Charles  Trowbridge,  Wm.  H. 
Teal,  John  W.  Van  Leuven,  Chas.  Vroman,  Chas.  Vedder,  John 
John  H.  Wilcox,  Geo.  W.  Winans,  Wm.R.  Weddel,  John  Young, 
Charles  Wildey,  Wm.  Brandow,  Aaron  C.  Betts,  H.  C.  Becker, 
Enoch  Walters. 

Those  who  have  been  mustered  out  by  death  are: 
Isaac  Benton,  Samuel  Brandow,  Geo.  N.  Brandow,  Alfred 
R.  Cole,  Jacob  Carl,  Jeremian  Connolly,  Martin  B.  Cross,  J.  H. 
Carpenter,  Harvey  Delamater.  Henry  Darling,  Lucas  Decker, 
Chauncy  Dickerson,  Cornelius  Du  Bois,  Geo.  W.  Edwards,  M.  A. 
J.  Edwards,  Thomas  Edwards,  Stephen  Ennist,  Joseph  Embree, 
Edgar  Elmendorf,  Wm.H.  Fuller,  Columbus  Frey,  Michael  Foley, 
Aug.  Goeller,  James  Gardner,  Jas.  Hallenbeck,  Albert  Hadden, 
Wellington  Howell,  Asa  Holmes,  John  M.  Hannon,  John  Hood, 
Alexander  Halicouse,  Geo.  Halicouse,  Simon  Hock,  John  Jones, 
Joseph  Josebury,  J.  A.  Kellerhouse,  Wm.  H.  Losee,  Wm.Laverty, 
John  Long,  James  Lake,  Geo.  S.  Ludington,  Andrew  Overbaugh, 
J.Malcolm,  James  B.  Mitchell,  Chester  S,  Morgan,  David  C. 
Mower,  A.  E.  Miltimore,  Harmon  Melius,  Patrick  Madigan,  Geo, 
Meeker,  Chas.  P.  Myers,  Geo.  Markel,  Wm.  P.  McLaury,  J.  H. 
McChesney,  J.  B.  Oakley,  Egbert  Post,  David  S.  Preston  Wm.  A. 
Pennoyer,  Geo.  Powell,  Walter  Parsells,  Wm.  J.  Reed,  Robert  A. 
Scott,  James  W.  Sonn,    John  Spahn,    James  H.  Stewart,    George 

339 


DfeAlt    OLti    OftEEiNE    COtlNfY.' 


Saxe,  John  C.  Shear,  Wm.  Selleck,  J.  C.  Shiller,  Ahram  Spoor, 
J.  Frank  Story,  Chas.  L.  Santer,  Wm.  Sharpies,  John  Sherlock, 
Frank  Swartwout,  James  Henry  Snow,  John  Secord,  John  Snyder, 
J.  K.  Thompson,  Chas.  Thornton,  Wm.  Van  Steenbnrgh,  Isaac 
Van  Loan,  M.  S.  Van  Loan,  Wm.  H.  Whitcomb,  John  N.Wilson, 
W.  L.  Woodruff,  Luther  S.  Wright,  Jonathan  B.  Webster, 
Stephen  Webster,  Alexander  Young,  Jacob  L.  Yates,  Geo.  Sears. 

There  are  now  buried  in  the  different  cemeteries  in  Catskill 
of  the  Revolutionary,  the  Civil,  and  the  Spanish- American  wars, 
250  soldiers.  At  the  entrance  of  the  Catskill  Cemetery  there  is  a 
soldiers'  monument  and  on  this  plot  are  buried  26  veterans. 

There  were  also  connected  with  the  Post  a  Woman's  Relief 
Corps  and  an  encampment  of  Sons  of  Veterans,  but  these  organi- 
zations have  disbanded. 

Watson  Post  is  in  good  financial  condition  and  has  been 
the  means  of  bringing  assistance  to  many  veterans  and  their  needy 
families. 


HOLLISTRR  POST,  COXSACKIE 

Hollister  Post  No.  27,  G.  A.  R.  was  organized  and  its  first 
set  of  officers  installed  by  Lew  Benedict  Post  of  Albany. 

At  the  organization  of  this  Post  there  were  70  members. 
Now  there  are  only  16  survivors,  and  Col.  Van  Wie  has  been  com- 
mander continuously  for  26  years. 

The  present  officers  are: 

Commander— John  B.  Van  Wie;  senior  vice  commander— 
Dayid  Hoffman ;  junior  vice  commander— George  Jones;  chaplin — 
Isaac  Nebhen burgh;  surgeon— Jacob  Wentworth;  quartermaster— 
Chas.  E.  Van  Valken burgh;  officer  of  the  day— Joel  B.  Cole; 
officer  of  the  guard— John  S.  Hiseerd;  adjutant— Newton  J.  Cal- 
kins; delegate  to  State  encampment— Warren  P.  Smith;  alter- 
nate— John  S.  Hiseerd. 

340 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNTY. 


A,  N.  BALDWIN  POST  263.  HUNTER 

A.  N.  Baldwin  Post  263,  Hunter,  N.  Y.  was  organized  in 
1882,  by  Major  J.  H.  Everett  of  Pratt  Post,  Kingston.  At  one 
time  there  were  about  60  members,  but  at  the  present  time,  there 
are  only  about  a  dozen  members.  J.  H.  Wilcox  who  is  inspecting 
officer  found  a  bare  organization  on  the  occasion  of  his  recent 
visit. 

The  Army  Post  at  Cairo  passed  out  of  existence  a  number 
of  years  ago. 


{School  Directors,  Trustees  ai\d  Teachers 
of  Gounty 

First  District,  Greene  County 

Directors— Hon .  Clarence  E.  Bloodgood,  Catskil],  Chair- 
man; Claude  Witing,  Athens;  David  T.Jerome,  Andrew  P. Freese, 
Cairo:  Thomas  C.  Perry,  dist.  supt.,  Catskill;  Dr.  E.H.  Van  Den- 
burgh,  Arthur  Powell,  Coxsackie;  Dr.  J.  B.  Rouse,  Leeds. 

Trustees  of  the  town  of  Athens — Daniel  W.  Saunders,  Orin 
Q.  Flint,  John  J.  O'Grady,  Rueben  B.  Quick,  0.  D.  Van  Valken- 
burgh,  Athens;  Edward  Gonnerman,  Catskill;  Ira  B.  Kerr,  Cats- 
kill. 

Teachers— Charles  D.  Coutant,  prin.,  Elizabeth  Slattery, 
Isabella  Rainey,  Marion  Lewis,  Ruth  Harris,  Ella  Gallup,  C. 
Louise  Miller,  Fanny  Leworthy,  Mrs.  Helena  Wood,  M.  Blanche 
Wood,  Emily  Horn,  Margaret  Van  Woert,  Athens;  Esther  Rowe, 
Leeds;  F.  LenaMcCarthy,  Mrs.  Elsie  Mauterstock,  Catskill. 

Trustees  of  the  town  of  Cairo— George  W.  Squires,  A.  H. 
Rocker,  Cairo,  Guy  Meddaugh,  Acra,.  W.  Benjamin  Roe,  Free- 
hold, Jos.  Morison,  South  Durham,  J.  W.  Fiero,  Round  Top, 
Amos  Rose,  Clarence  Arnold,  Purling,  John  Rouse,  Charles  Bas- 
sett,  South  Cairo,  Isaac  Powell,  Leeds. 

Teachers — Edward  Richmond,  Hope  L.  Farnham,  Mary 
Halloran,  Grace  Timmerman,  S.  Edna   Story,    Melville   Bulmer, 

m 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  GOUNTT. 


Cairo,  Willard  C.  Van  Dyck,  Ethel  Chadderdon,  Acra,  Orloff 
Story,  Josephine  O'Hara,  Freehold,  Jane  Miller,  Round  Top, 
Theodore  Whitcomb,  Purling,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Jump,  Mrs.  Alma 
Clay,  Judge  R.  Haner,  Leeds. 

Trustees  of  the  town  of  Catskill— Dr.  F.  C.  Clarke,  pres., 
James  Sterritt,  Percy  Holmes,  F.  D.  Overbagh,  Edgar  Saxe,  S.  C. 
Sutton,  Charles  Story,  Luther  Saxe,  T.  J.  William,  Ciarence  Mar- 
tin, Catskill,  B.  David  Guth,  Alsen,  John  Hinman,  Palenville, 
W.  R.  Vedder,  Leeds,  Scharken  Stewart,  South  Cairo,  Mrs.  S.  A. 
Craft,  Cementon. 

Teachers  — E.  C.  Hocmer,  supt.,  M.  Alice  Saxe,  Mrs.  Anna 
Molloy,  Mrs.  Harriet  Pflegi,  M.  Geneva  Garling,  Mrs.  Hattie 
Maher,  Carrie  Bogardus,  Mrs.  Lottie  Holmes,  Beulah  Timmer- 
man,  Catskill,  Herbert  DeLong,  Nellie  Lawrence,  Annabel  Rose, 
Frances  Timmerman,  Palenville,  Arthur  Lewis,  Julia  Vedder, 
Pauline  Davis,  South  Cairo,  Edward  Keeley,  Saugerties,  M.Agnes 
Ellinger,  Mary  O'Brien,  Helen  Buckman,  Alsen. 

Trustees  of  the  town  of  Coxsackie -L.  A.  Warren,  A.  A. 
Collier,  B.  G.  Townsend,  Wm.  Youmans,  Elmer  Van  Valken- 
burg,  Coxsackie,  Wm.  R.  Palmer,  Charles  Lampman,  William 
Townley,  Urlton,  Charles  Martin,  Climax. 

Teachers — Henry  R.  Soper,  principal,  M.  Sophia  Fuller  } 
Ella  Morgan,  Annie  Craigie,  Mae  D.  Link,  Anna  Spoor,  Edith 
Van  Denburgh,  Eliza  Green,  Jennie  Whitbeck,  Amy  Smith,  Char- 
lotte Olmsted,  Laura  Bailey,  Grace  Van  Schaack,  Marian  Mackey, 
Harriet  Conklin,  Coxsackie,  Ethel  Robbins,  Bessie  Lezatte,  Url- 
ton, Reginald  Van  Woert,  Louis  Lounsbury,  Athens,  Matie  Jones, 
W.  Coxsackie,  Grace  Cbeeseman,  Mabel  Youmans,  Coxsackie, 
Mary  O'Brien,  Climax. 


Second  District,  Greene  County 


Teachers — West  Coxsackie — Mabel  Vosburgh. 
New  Baltimore  Station— Sarah  Robbins,  Marion  Van  Hoe-. 
sen,  Grace  Looney,  Ada  Powell. 

343 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Ravena— Maoini  Vroman. 

New  Baltimore — Edna  Hotaling,  Harry  Ostrander,  Alida 
Mulder,  Alice  Sidlake. 

West  Coxsackie— Evelyn  Austin. 

Urlton — Gertrude  Tryon. 

Windham — Alda  Miller,  Florence  Marquit,  Clarence  Powell, 
Ada  Smalling,  Beatrice  Steele,  Harriet  McLean,  Christine  Wood, 
Kittie  Doolittle,  Blanche  Miller. 

Hensonville— Edith  O'Conner,  Abner  Woodworth. 

Norton  Hill — IvanJjjffnrH . 

Freehold— Mrs.  Minnie  Beers,  Hazel  Highney.  *ldson  Gib- 
son, Katherine  Beichman. 

Greenville— Annie  Coonley,  C.  L.  Cook,  Julia  Rider,  Mrs. 
A.  D.  Townsend,  Charlotte  Story,  Julia  Hallenbeck,  Eva  Hoose, 
Mrs.  Edith  Abrasis,  Hattie  Green,  Clara  Minkley. 

Surprise— Jessie  E.  Boyd. 

Gayhead — Robert  Webber,  Edith  Losee. 

Cornwallville  — Florence  Beach,  Mrs.  Anna  Smith,  Edna 
Brainerd. 

Durham— Maude  Stryker,  W.  D.  Hull. 

East  Durham — Frank  Paddock. 

Cooksburg  — Mrs.  Erne  Bates. 

Oak  Hill— Ermon  Stewart. 

Sunside— Clara  Paddock. 


Third  District,  Greene  County. 

Directors  Stewart  Tuttle,  Haines  Falls;  C.  B.  Bronson, 
Ashland. 

Trustees  of  the  town  of  Ashland  -Sternes  Clark,  John  C. 
Campbell,  Ashland,  Lambert  Cooke,  Windham,  Dwight  Tuttle, 
Ashland,  Lewis  Case,  Prattsville. 

Teachers — Raymond  Moseman,  John  Hayes,  Kathryn  I. 
Lynch,  Etta  Payne,  Ashland,  Warguerite  Van  Orden,  Winham, 
Ida  France,  Prattsville. 

Trustees  of  the  town  of  Halcott— John  Ballard,  Travis 
Faulkner,  W.  K,  Crosby,  Leo  J.  Deamer,  Halcott  Center. 

347 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Teachers — Sadie  Rose,  Martha  Whitney,  Deborah  Morse, 
Nathanial  Bleekman,  Halcott  Center. 

Directors  of  the  town  of  Hunter — E.  V.  Ballo,  Hunter;  E. 
Darius  Lindsley,  Platte  Clove. 

Trustees— F.  B.  Kerr,  James  Jackson,  F.  B.  Wilcox,  Ar- 
thur Higgins,  Hunter,  Harvey  Lane,  Lanesville,  David  Showers, 
J.  Frank  Lackey,  Tannersville,  Michael  Shield,  Elka  Park*  Uriah 
Haines,  A.  Holdridge,  Haines  Falls,  Elmer  Kerr,  Edgewood,  G. 
W.  Byrnes. 

Teachers — Elizabeth  Fountain,  John  Kay,  H.  Margery 
Felter,  Minnie  Hunting,  Louise  Webster,  Marion  Orr,  M.  Emily 
Hayden,  Hunter,  Mrs.  A.  Crosby,  Lanesville,  C.  L.  Bailey,  Anna 
V.  Dempsey,  Frances  A.  Formans,  Josephine  Swift,  Mrs.  Jessie 
Showers,  Annie  Glennon,  Tannersville,  Herbert  Dimond,  Elka 
Park,  Stewart  Tuttle,  Mary  Dowd,  Mrs.  Anna  Tuttle,  Haines 
Falls,  Mrs.  M.  E.  Lester,  Edgewood,  E.  Delmar  Smith,  Platte 
Clove. 

Trustees  of  the  town  of  Jewett — Martin  Garvey,  Tanners- 
ville, E.  A.  Sweet,  E.  C.  Miles,  Frank  Carr,  Hunter,  William 
Mead  Jewett,  R.  L. '.Towner,  Andrew  Sweet,  Jewett,  George  Bar- 
num,  Frank  Woodworth,  East  Jewett, 

Teachers— Raymond  Cronk,  Orpha  Kelley,  A.  L.  Coons, 
Edith  Sweet,  East  Jewett,  Helen  Witte,  Josephine  Park,  Renssel- 
aer Reynolds,  Hunter,  Nina  Lee,  Emory  Dunham,  Wilhelmina 
Olmsted,  Jewett. 

School  directors  of  the  town  of  Lexington — Daniel  Kirk, 
Westkilf;  Ransom  Hogaboom,  Lexington. 

Trustees — Arnold  Van  Valkenburgh,    Spruceton,  Harrison 
Ostrander,  E.  E.  Sharpe,  Romaine    Van  Valkenburgh,  Westkill, 
Frank  Beggs,  Manley  Howard,  Arthur  Jenkins,  Lexington,  H.Du 
Souchet,  Bushnellsville,  W.    Charles  Maben,    Leland  Tompkins, 
G.  D.  Rappleyea,  Prattsville,  George  Ennist,  Allaben. 

Teachers— Mrs.  Edith  Orlando,  Leon  Peters,  Otis  Hender- 
shot,  Weskill,  J.  M.  Osman,  Lulu  Patterson,  Mary  Merchant,  E. 
D.  Lewis,  Lexington.  Pearl  Cole,  Bushnellsyille,    Iva  Rappleyea, 

844 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Mrs.  H.  K.  Huggans,  Prattsville,  Kathleen  Kelly,  Allaben.    '        I 
Directors  of  the  town  of  Prattsville— James  Mc  Williams, 

Perry  Newcomb,  Prattsville. 

Trustees— Andrew  Carman,  George  Peckham,  B.  G.  Morss, 

J.  H.  Brandow,  John  Jenkins,  8.  R.  Cammer,  Prattsville.  _ 

Teachers— Mrs.  E.  C.  Hummell,  Myrtle  Myers,  Mrs. Grace 

Huggans,  Mrs.  Flora  Howard,  Kittie   Layman,    Helen  Johnson, 

Mary  MucCoubrey,  Prattsville. 


FRANK  C.  CLARKE  • 

Dr.  Frank  C.  Clark,  of  Catskill,  is  a  member  of  the  Sons 
of  the  Revolution ,  a  direct  descendant  of  Colonel  Randall  Spencer, 
whose  granddaughter  was  Dr.  Clarke's  paternal  grandmother. 
Colonel  Spencer  was  born  at  West  Greenwich,  Rhode  Island,  but, 
when  a  young  man,  removed  with  his  family  to  Berlin,  Rensselaer 
county,  where  he  resided  until  his  death.  He  fought  with  distinc- 
tion with  the  American  forces  throughout  the  Revolution  and  was 
esteemed  for  his  devotion  to  the  cause  of  patriotism.  Dr.  Clarke 
who  has  been  engaged  in  the  drug  business  in  Catskill  for  many 
years,  is  president  of  the  Board  of  Education,  Catskill. 


An  Early  Ashland  Saw  Mill. 


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DEAR.  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Ashland 

It  was  not  until  1848  that  the 
boundaries  were  set  for  the  town  of 
Ashland  and  portions  of  Prattsville 
and  Windham  were  taken  to  form 
the  few  thousand  acres  that  com- 
prises the  town.  The  principal  vil- 
lage or  hamlet  is  Ashland  and  the 
section  is  devoted  chiefly  to  dairy- 
ing, some  summer  hoarders  being 
taken.  The  earliest  settlers  to  whom 
reference  is  made  by  the  old  resi- 
dents comprise  the  Stimpsons,  Mar- 
tins. Prouts,  Ponds,  Ferrises,  Lees, 
Tuttles,  Disbrows,  Dodges,  Hitch- 
cocks,  Brandows,  Smiths,  Buttons, 
Boughtons,  and  while  in  years 
H.  Clay  Ferris  later  many  of   their  representatives 

have  drifted  towards  the  eastern  centers  of  population  adioining 
the  river  many  of  the  time  honored  names  are  conspicuous.  Peo- 
ple of  Ashland  have  always  been  remarkable  for  longevity,  and 
the  spirit  of  religion  has  always  predominated  in  this  section. 

In  1799  was  built  at  Old  Windham,  now  Ashland  the 
Presbyterian  church  which  is  doubtless  the  oldest  church  on  the 
mountains.  The  first  pastor  was  Henry  Stimson  who  preached 
for  six  months,  alternating  with  an  appointment  at  Jewett 
Heights.  The  church  at  Ashland  has  always  been  regarded  as 
one  of  the  strong  organizations  of  the  county.  The  society  was 
incorporated  in  1801.  The  record  of  pastors  is  incomplete.  The 
present  pastor  is  Samuel  Warrender. 

The  Episcopal  church  at  Pleasant  Valley  appears  to  have 
been  organized  in  the  same  year,  1799,  the  articles  being  filed  in 
Ulster  County.  The  church  building  was  erected  in  1814.  The 
first  pastor  however  was  the  Rev.  Philander  Case,  and  the  number 
of  men  who  have  served  the  church  has  been  remarkably  small. 

347 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Rev.  Joseph  Berry  from  1803  to  1817,  the  Revs.  Samuel  Fuller 
and  James  Tompkins  seived  from  that  period  to  1831,  the  Rev.  O. 
F.  Holcomb  to  1843,  Rev.  Thomas  Judd  to  1863.  The  present 
pastor  is  R.  R.  McDonald  Bleeker. 

The  early  industry  was  the  getting  of  hemlock  bark  for  the 
many  tanneries  that  nourished  along  the  Batayia  kill.  Gideon 
Brainard  established  a  woolen  mill,  and  a  man  named  Bidwell 
had  a  carding  and  fulling  works.  There  was  a  grist  mill  at  North 
Settlement  and  a  number  of  saw  mills.  Lyman  Morse  and  Jarius 
Strong  conducted  tanneries.  Cider  mills  also  flourished. 

The  first  public  tavern  as  they  were  known  was  built  by 
Medad  Hunt  at  Batavia,  John  Tuttle,  Jacob  Benham,  and  Jehliel 
Tuttle  also  had  taverns  of  the  early  period.  There  are  many  of 
these  old  time  taverns  all  in  disuse  the  past  30  years  scattered 
along  the  roads  that  reached  from  the  rural  sections  to  Catskill. 
And  these  accommodated  the  drovers  and  freight  wagons  that 
found  their  way  to  the  river  markets. 

The  town  of  Ashland  has  been  on  a  steady  decline  in  popu- 
lation since  1850,  when  it  had  1290  inhabitants.  In  1865  there 
were  1080,  in  1875,  935,  in  1880,  899,  in  1900,  647,  and  since 
that  time  the  population  has  lost  about  40  persons.  The  entire 
county  has  shown  a  decrease  of  4  per  cent  in  population  in  the 
past  ten  years,  and  a  loss  from  1850  of  about  3000.  The  popula- 
tion in  1850  was  33,126.     It  is  now  just  under  30,000. 

The  men  who  have  served  Ashland  as  supervisors  are: 

John  Ives,  Daniel  B.  Strong,  Joshua  Draper,  Sylvester  B. 
Hitchcock,  William  S.  Boughton,  Lyman  Robinson,  Isaac  Van 
Schaack,  Wm.  Myers,  Austin  Smith,  Peter  Stanley,  Nathaniel  O. 
Ormsbee,  Albert  Tuttle,  Jonas  Smith,  Albert  Steel,  Egbert  B. 
Dodge,  1868,  Edgar  Smith,  Joseph  Saxe,  Archibald  Tompkins, 
Hiram  B.  Clark,  Wilbur  F.  Lee,  now  of  Catskill,  Giles  Sutton, 
Darius  B.Prout,  Clinton  D.  Ferris  1885,  '88,  Wilbur  F.Lee  86-87, 
Daniel  W.  Hyatt  89-90,  Thomas  W.  Jeralds  91-92,  Giles  Sutton 
93,  Frank  Finch  94-95,    Samuel  A.  Barlow  96-97-98,    Herbert  R. 

348 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNfY. 


Steele  99-1900,  Levi  Tompkins  01-02-03,  Homer  Tompkins  04-07, 
Francis  L.  Dodge  08-11,  H.  Clay  Ferris  1912-15. 

A  remarkable  giant  willow  tree  standing  on  the  Prout  farm 
is  the  production  of  a  willow  whip  which  was  stuck  into  the  ground 
in  1798.  In  1913  a  ton  of  cement  was  used  in  tilling  a  cavity  that 
had  decayed  into  the  tree. 

The  Methodist  church  at  Ashland  was  organized  in  1841 
and  meetings  were  held  in  the  school  house.  A  church  was  erect- 
ed in  1843.  A.  S.  Lakin  was  the  first  pastor.  The  Rev  H.  L. 
Seaman  is  the  present  pastor,  and  he  also  supplies  the  pulpit  of 
the  church  at  North  Settlement. 

The  Catholic  church  which  building  is  fast  falling  into 
decay  has  not  been  used  for  religious  services  in  the  past  20  years. 

One  of  the  old  landmarks  that  was  formerly  the  Old 
Ashland  House  is  owned  by  Christian  and  Lee  and  is  used  as  a 
farm  house. 

Many  years  ago  one  of  the  first  seminaries  in  this  section 
was  located  at  Ashland  in  1853,  but  was  burned  in  1861. 

There  has  been  no  big  fires  during  the  past  30  years. 

Among  the  industries  of  the  town  the  principal  one  is  the 
big  creamery  of  the  Sheffield-SJauson-DeckerCo.  and  practically 
all  of  the  milk  in  the  town  is  taken  to  this  creamery. 

Another  industry  is  the  saw  mill  and  grist  mill  of  D.  D. 
Tompkins. 

The  business  of  the  town  is  taken  care  of  by  F.  L.  Dodge, 
score  and  postoffice. 

A.  B.  Munson,  hardware  store,  hotel.  No  license. 

S.  L.  Lee,  general  store.  John  Jordon,  blacksmith. 

There  is  a  mail  route  from  Ashland  to  Hunter.  Free  Rural 
route  from  Prattsville  to  Ashland .  D.  D.  Tompkins  carries  the 
mail  and  Vernon  ChatfMd  the  free  rural. 

349 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


There  are  three  cemeteries  in   the 
Sutton  Hollow,  and  West  Settlement. 


town,    Pleasant  Valley 


The  oldest  house  in  Ashland  is  that  of  Darius  B.  Prout. 

The  farm  occupied  by  Supervisor  H.  Clay  Ferris  has  been 
occupied  by  five  generations  of  Ferrises,  and  the  first  house  was 
of  logs,  and  constructed  by  the  great  grandfather  of  Mr.  Ferris, 
and  who  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  town. 


Athens 

Reaching  Athens  from  Catskill 
over  the  state  road  the  first  place 
that  comes  into  prominence  is  a 
large  brick  structure  that  was  built 
by  ,  General  Haight  in  1812,  and 
which  is  known  as  the  Gantley 
House,  being  the  property  of  Daniel 
W.  Gantley,  another  war  veteran, 
who  came  up  from  New  York  and 
spent  most  of  his  life  at  Athens, 
passing  to  the  other  side  in  1881  at 
the  age  of  94  years.  The  marble 
steps,  the  old  brass  knocker  on  the 
front  door,  and  the  entire  interior 
are  exactly  as  Mr.  Haight  construc- 
ted them.  The  interior  of  the  man- 
sion has  the  exqusite  charm  of  the 
most  elaborate  architecture  and  furnishings  of  the  Colonial  period. 
The  place  is  owned  by  Thomas  Van  Loan,  and  occupied  by  Eugene 
Van  Loan  and  family,  and  it  was  the  courtesy  of  Mrs.  Van  Loan 
which  gave  the  writer  access  to  the  building,  and  a  description  of 
it.  The  beauty  of  the  interior  is  heightened  by  the  display  of 
105  paintings,  the  work  of  the  world's  great  artists. The  first  parlor 
has  its'  old  time  red  velvet  carpet,  and  the  rear  parlor  or  gallery 
floor  a  beautiful  mosiac  of  inlaid  work  of  highly  polished  wood  of 

350 


Frank  Nichols 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


different  colors.  The  winding  stair  case   at   the  end   of  the  great 
hall  is  most  impressive.     The  brick  were  brought  from  Holland. 


The  General  Haight  House. 

Mrs.  Haight  was  Jane  Van  Loan,  one  of  the  well  known 
family,  30  closely  interwoven  with  all  the  history  of  Athens.  For 
the  Van  Loans,  the  Nichols,  Spoors,  Hallenbecks,  Van  Woerts, 
have  the  honor  place  among  the  ffarly  comers  to  the  county. 

Early  as  1800  Athens  village  was  simply  a  farm,  owned  by 
the  Van  Loons.  The  old  stone  house,  of  which  we  present  a  view 
was  the  first  structure  in  1726,  and  it  is  at  the  upper  end  of  the 
town,  and  was  in  modest  proportions  to  the  Gantley  house.  The 
present  occupants  are  Nelson  Hotaling  and  Lester  Kisselburgh. 

John  Van  Loan  paid  $3000  for  the  farm  that  is  now  the 
village  of  Athens.  A  burying  ground  being  reserved  from  the 
land, 

Condrai  Flack  was  buried  in  Episcopal  ground  May  4,  1789 
at  the  age  of  76  years.     He  operated  a  ferry  across  to  Hudson. 

Teunis  Van  Vechten,  Johannes  Brandow  and  Joachim 
Jansen  owned  Lot  one,  of  what  was  the  town  of  Alliens. 

351 


DEAlt    OLt>    G&EENEJ    COUNTY. 


Van  Vechtens  deed  was  dated  October  15,  1757,  and  the 
lot  extended  from  the  Hudson  River  nearly  to  the  Potic  creek. 
The  Van  Vechtens  appear  to  have  gone  south  as  far  as  far  as 
the  Catskill  creek,  where  the  Van  Vechten  house  now  stands. 

In  1780  there  were  about  20  families  settled  in  the  entire 
town.  The  Hallenbecks  and  Van  Loons  predominated  and  remain 
today.     Also.Cloughs,  Brandows  and  Van  Bergens. 


The  town  Esperanza  was  projected  before 
and  a  part  of  this  land  was  Dooper  Island  upon 
er  Swallow  was  wrecked  in  April,  1845,  40  lives 
present  a  picture  of  the  wreck  from  an  old  print, 
iland  built  the  first  house  in  Esperanza.  John 
the  brick  industry,  followed  by  Wm.  P.  Alcott 
had  a  hotel  in  Esperanza  and  Samuel  Hamilton 
in  1811.     He  died  in  1851. 


Athens  village, 
which  the  steam- 
being  lost.     We 

Benjamin  Hav.- 

G.  Voogd  started 

Joseph  Colson 

was  a  magistrate 


The  Old  Brick  Row,  Athens. 

In  1801  John  Spoor  made  a  map  of  a  portion  of  Athens 
which  is  in  existence  at  Washington.  Joseph  Se«ley  built  the  first 
hotel  in  Athens  and  his  son,  Castle  Seeley,  was  postmaster  of 
Athens  for  20  years. 

352 


btiAtl    Ott)    QRBBNte    COTJNft. 


In  1802,  and  for  12  years,  Russell  Leffingwell  carried  on  a 
distillery  near  the  ship  yard,  and  he  also  erected  a  dwelling  about 
the  time  that  the  Haight  house  was  erected. 

The  first  supervisor  of  the  town'  was  Isaac  Northrup  in 
1815,  then  came  Henry  Wells,  William  Tolley,  Sylvester  Nichols, 
Castle  Seeley,  Eli  Pierce,  John  Clough,  Benjamin  Haviland, 
Casper  Van  Loan,  Wm.  Morton,  Henry  Van  Loan,  Alonzo Green, 
Isaac  Whitbeck,  Geo.  S.  Nichols,  1851,  Isaac  Whitbeck,  David 
Whitein,  John  I.  Hallenbeck,  Isaac  VanSchaack,  Prentisl  Hallen- 
beck,  Wm.  K.  Reeves,  Dr.  John  H.  Wheeler,  Joseph  Robbins, 
Enos  Edwards,  John  Beardsley,  John  Pennington,  Henry  Straban 
1871-73,  Harmon  Van  Woert  73-83,  Clark.  Porter,  William  T. 
Nichols,  Thomas  H.  Briggs,  Harmon  Van  Woert,  Jere  Brooks,  W. 
C.  Brady,  H.  I.  Van  Loan,  John  K.  Van  Woert,  W.  C.  Brady, 
Elmore  Mackey  now  Sheriff,  and  Frank  Nichols. 

The    village   officials   are   Frank   S.    Howland   president 
Claude  Whiting,  Mark  Brennan,  James  Lynch  and  Frank  Beards- 
ley  trustees.  Henry  R.  Van  Woert  clerk,  W.    C.    Brady  treasurer, 
Nelson  Clow  collector.  Assessors,  the  board  of  trustees. 

The  first  clerk  of  the  village  of  Athens  was  Henry  Wells. 

So  far  as  the  church  organizations  are  concerned  the  first 
church  was  the  Lutheran  and  that  was  organized  in  1704  and  was 
one  of  the  few  between  New  York  and  Albany,  and  the  Rev. 
Justice  Faulkner  was  the  preacher.  The  particular  spot  being 
known  as  Loonenburgh,  after  the  Van  Loons  undoubtedly.  The 
church  of  the  Palentines  at  West  Camp  was  in  this  circuit. 

Albert,  Matthias  and  Jan  Van  Loon  in  1721  gave  deed  to 
the  church  lands.  The  first  church  was  erected  in  1724.  This 
building  was  square  and  had  four  roofs  shaped  to  a  V  and  with  a 
spire  steeple.  This  building  gave  place  to  the  present  structure. 
The  Rev.  Jacob  S.  Paul  is  the  present  pastor. 

The  Trinity  Episcopal  church  was  organized  in  1806,  at 
Loonenburgh,  and  the  building  was  erected  in  1813.  The  Rev. 
Mr.    Prentice   was  rector    and  General  Samuel  Haight  was  the 

353 


DiiAR    OLD    GREENE    COUtt#Y. 


principal  contributor,  $275  being  for  pew  rent.  Dominie  Prentice 
was  killed  in  1837  when  a  stage  tipped  oyer  at  Coxsackie.  From 
1833  to  1835  the  Rev.  John  Griggs  was  rector.  Rev.  Howard 
Whitney  is  now  rector. 

The  Methodist  church  was  organized  about  1820.  The 
Rev.  W.  A,  Greenleaf  is  the  present  pastor. 

The  Dutch  Reformed  Church  was  organized  in  1826.  The 
Rev.  David  Abeele  was  the  first  pastor  and  he  went  out  as- the 
first  missionary  to  China.  Other  pastors  were  the  Rev.  C.  Von 
Kleef,  Joseph  Wilson,  Jefferson  Wynkoop,  Edwin  Holmes, 
Joseph  Wilson,  Wm.  A.  Cornwell,  J.  R.  Tallmadge,  Rev.  Mr. 
Betts,  W.  D.  Buckalew,  C.  Spaulding,  Allen  D.  Campbell, 
Herman  Vanderwoert.  The  Rev.  H.  G.  Hergie  is  the  present 
pastor. 

The  Baptist  church  was  Organized  in  1832,  and  its  full  list 
of  ministers  has  not  been  preserved.  The  present  pastor  is  the 
Rev.  Walter  C.  Bishop. 

The  Roman  Catholic  church  was  organized  in  1871.  Rev. 
Father  Gillin,  present  pastor. 

The  old  burying  ground  on  the  Northrup  place  contains  the 
mortal  remains  of  Jan  VanLoon,  Matthias  Van  Loon  and  many  of 
the  early  settlers. 

The  Athens  Rural  Cemetery  is  a  part  of  that  lot,  and  was 
incorporated  in  1847. 

Mt.  Hope  Cemetery  is  also  a  part  of  the  same  lot  on  the 
Esperanza  purchase.  More  of  the  Van  Loons  are  buried  here, 
and  it  is  announced  on  one  of  the  stones  that  Albertus  Van  Loon 
departed  this  life  with  a  cancer. 

The  Clark  family,  honored  residents,  trace  back  to  Samuel 
Clark  1615,  William  Clark  1712,  Reuben  Clark  1743,  Nathan 
Clark  1787.  He  started  a  pottery  at  Athens  in  1808.  His  partner 
Ethan  Fox  founded  the  Baptist  Church  at  Athens.    Edward  Clark 

354 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


was  born  in  1811,  and  he  became  a  part  owner  of  the  Singer  Sew- 
ing machine  company,  the  copartnership  being  I.  N.  Singer  &  Co. 
and  to  Mr.  Clark  goes  the  credit  for  organizing  the  Singer  Sewing 
Machine  Company  with  a  capital  of  $500,000.  Nathan  Clark  died 
in  1891. 

The  brick  industry  of  Athens  is  conducted  by  three  pros, 
perous  firms.  William  W.  Kider  whose  plant  has  a  capacity  of 
100,000  brick  per  day,  and  who  has   had   the   plant  since   1875, 

* 

N.  Gladfelter  has  a  plant  of  50,000  capacity. 

Joseph  Moyonne  has  a  patent  dryer  with  a  capacity  of 
50,000. 

Wm,  C.  Brady  and  his  father  before  him,  an  undertaking 
firm  of  long  standing,  have  conducted  the  interment  of  more  thaD 
3000  persons  mostly  in  these  cemeteries,  and  W  C.  Brady  has 
buried  more  than  the  entire  present  population  of  Athens.  He 
has  a  complete  alphabetical  record  with  dates  and  ages  which  is 
most  remarkable. 

Morton  Steamer  Company,  of  Athens,  has  the  following 
officers:  President,  Charles  Hitchcock;  vice  president,  Charles  B. 
Miller;  forman,  Ray  Weeks;  1st  ass't,  Alex.  Fyfe;  2nd  ass't, 
Leonard  Ford;  secretary  and  trustee,  Theodore  Gritman;  treasur- 
er, James  Holmes. 

The  Ice  industry  is  one  of  the  most  important.  The  big 
houses  are:  American  Ice  Company,  Willis  A.  Winne,  Hudson 
River  Ice  Company,  J.  Brooks  Co.  Theo.  Evory  Ice  Company, 
E.  E.  Briggs,  F.  R.  Howland  and  Son,  Dwyer  Brothers  and 
Rafferty,  Arrow  Ice  Company,  and  Avery  &  Eichhorn. 

The  Athens  Textile  Company  employs  a  large  number  of 
persons. 

The  H.  F.  Dernell  Company  manufactures  ice  tools,  and 
Mr.  Dernell  invented  the  ice  plow. 

Travis  Brothers  operate  a  foundry. 
C.  F.  &  M.  G.Webber  also  have  a  foundry. 

355 


bEAtt  oLd  greSenIs  County. 


Howland  and  Son,  Marine  railway. 

Richard  Lanahan,  ship  yard  and  marine  railway. 

Henry  I.  Van  Loan,  wholesale  fruits. 

T.  A.  Briggs  and  Son,  barrel'mirs,  and  garage. 

John  Self,  motor  builder. 

Wm.  C.  Brady,  undertaker. 

M.  Harvey,  newspaper. 

Estate  W.  H.  Stewart,  hotel,  Abram  Post. 

Alvin  Brooks,    Norman  Cooper,  and  Frank  S.  Rowland  are 


grocers. 


Henry  DuBois,  Henry  Edwards,  druggists. 

F.  W.  Leek,  dry  goods. 

Thomas  Low,  hotel. 

Gifford  &  Porter,  law.  Orin  Q.  Flint, 

E.  C    Van  Deusen,  physician. 


law. 


Evert's  Memorial  Library,  Athens. 

One  of  the  splendid  buildings  that  attracts  attention  in 
Athens  is  the  Evarts  Library,  of  which  we  present  a  very  good 
engraving.  This  building  costing,  a  large  sum  of  money,  is  com- 
plete in  every  way  and  endowed   to   the  extent  that  it.  costs   the 

356 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


village  not  a  penny  in  any  way.  It  was  the  splendid  gift  of 
Daniel  Evarts  and  wife  of  Norwich,  Ct.,  both  of  whom  are 
deceased,  and  were  formerly  residents  of  Athens.  The  fund  is  in 
bonds  that  produce  every  three  years  a  surplus  of  about  $500,  and 
this  amount  is  further  invested  by  treasurer  Win.  C.  Brady  as  it 
comes  in.  The  building  was  constructed  by  Keilly  &  Acker,  of 
Utica.  The  Librarian  is  Mrs.  Mary  B.  VanLoan,  and  the  trustees 
are  Frank  Nichols,  Emory  E.  Briggs,  W.  C.  Brady  treas.,  Henry 
R.Van  Woert,  clerk. 

Previous  to  1862  the  crossing  of  the  river  at  Athens  had 
been  by  means  of  primitive  ferries  the  first  of  which  were*operated 
by  large  scows,  and  up  to  1862  the  locomotion  for  the  ferries  was 
obtained  by  means  of  a  horse  power  similar  to  that  used  on  thresh- 
ing machines.  The  J.  T.  Waterman  was  built  by  W.  A.  Fletcher 
and  the  engine  of  that  date  is  still  in  use  on  the  J.  T.  Power 
which  was  built  in  1872  and  is  the  oldest  ferry  boat  on  the  river. 
The  Power  in  1914  carried  2862  automobiles  across  the  riyer. 
Frank  Beardsley  is  captain,  Martin  Cooke,  engineer,  Herman 
Lanfare,  pilot. 

One  of  the  big  fires  was  that  of  1874  in  which  the  White 
Elephant  property  was  destroyed. 

Another  big  fire  in  1870  wiped  out  a  block  of  frame  build- 
ings which  may  be  seen  in  the  cut  presented  elsewhere. 

Still  another  large  fire  occurred  in  1913. 

The  Osborn  House  which  was  one  of  the  old  time  hotels 
was  destroyed  in  the  fire  of  1878,  and  the  Brooks  opera  house 
building  was'erected  on_the  site  of  that  hotel. 

Among  the  prominent  residents. '-.who  have  passed  since 
1883: 

Went  worth  Allen,  ship  builder  1884, 

Abram  Bedell,  1890. 

Col.]  John  Beardsley  graduate  of  the', West]  Point  .Military 
academy,  a  veteran  of  the  Mexican  and   Seminole  war,  Col.    9th 

35? 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Cavelry  in  the  Civil  war.  "v  He 'was  one  of  the  West  Shore  Railroad 
Commissioners  who  apprised  the  lands  during  the  construction  of 
the  road.  He  laid  out  Fort  Worth.     Died  in  1906,  aged  89  years. 

George  C.  Brady,  father  of  Win.  C.  Brady.  Died  1880,  aged 
89  years. 

Capt.  John  Benjamin  Briggs,  oldest  river  pilot,  and  was  on 
the  old  Vibbard.  Died  1903,  aged  78  years. 

Thomas_Brasier,^1905. 

Caleb  Coffin,'  glue  manufacturer,  president  village,  died 
1885,  aged  60>ears. 

Nathan  Clark  in_pottery  business,  and  early  settler,  part 
owner  Singer  Sewing  machine  business.  Died  1891,  aged  72  years. 
Two  Nathan  Clarks.are  still  honored  residents  of  Athens. 

Capt.  Ira  Cooper,  died  1903,  aged  80  years.  He  was  a  brick 
manufacturer  and  operated  a  fleet  of  sloops  around  1820. 

Enos  R.  Edwards,  ship  builder  with  his  brother,  and  also 
supervisor  and  postmaster.  Died  1898,  aged  76  years. 

Theodore  Evory,  built  half  the  ice  houses  in  Athens.  Died 
1908, "aged  62  years. 

Augustus  Goeller,  justice  and  police  justice  30  years.  Died 
1914,  aged  73  years. 

Charles  W.  Howland,  firm  Howland  and  Son,  hardware, 
groceries,  lumber  etc.  Died  1905,  aged  70  year3. 

Woodbridge  Little  King,  a  prominent  farmer,  died  1905, 
aged  93  years. 

Richard  G.  Low  brick  manufacturer,  old  line  Democrat, 
died  1896,  aged  85  years. 

Peter  Magee,  ship  builder,  sheriff.]  for  3  years,  died  1899, 
aged  61  years. 

358 


DflAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNTY. 


Wm.  Mackey,  father  of  Sheriff  Mackey,  died  1903,  aged 
80  years. 

Samuel  H.  Nichols,  justice  of  peace,  village  clerk,  assessor, 
member  of  assembly,  member  of  Governor's  commission  to  con- 
demn W.  S.  Lands.   Died  1911,  aged  89  years. 

Prosper  Peloubst,  pres.  Mt.Hope  Cenutery  Assn., President 
of  trustees,  and  Old  Line  Democrat,  died  1884,  aged  76  years. 

Joel  W.  Porter,  brickmaker,  died  1889,  aged  61  years. 

Wm.  S.  Rainey,  died  1876,  aged  75  years. 

Robert  Titus,  pres.  of  village,  brick  manufacturer,  died 
1901,  aged  73  years. 

Lewis  Wolf,  builder,  pres.  of  village,  trustee,  director  of 
Evening  Line  Steamers,  also  Hudson  River  Ice  Co  ,  died  1904, 
aged  75  years. 

The  Athens  Casualty  List  of  1914: 

Charles  Smith  engineer  Storm  King  crushed  to  death  April 

Martin  McDonald,  strangled  in  coal  bin,  August  14th. 
Charles  Destadio,  a  brick  kiln  caved  in  on  him  Aug.  19th. 
W.  Ray  Hallenbeck,  shot  to  death  by  Worthy  Tolley,  Sept. 


13th. 


15th. 

Louisa  Kroll,  killed  in  auto  accident  Oct,  13th.  and  her 
husband  died  under  operation  Aug.  13th. 

In  1814  it  was  discovered  that  the  middle  ground  between 
Athens  and  Hudson  was  very  inconvenient  to  river  travel  and  an 
act  was  passed  by  the  legislature  granting  to  Athens  and  Hudson 
the  right  to  establish  a  lottery  for  the  purpose  of  raising  $10,000 
which  was  to  be  used  in  removing  the  middle.  The  middle  ground 
is  still  there. 

Mrs.  M-  E.  Harvey  conducts  the  Athens  News, 

359 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Cairo 

The  town  of  Cairo  was  formed 
in  1803,  portions  of  Catskill,  Cox- 
sackie  and  Freehold  being  taken, 
and  it  was  called  Canton  up  to  1808 
when  the  name  was  changed  to 
Cairo.  The  town  contains  over  36,- 
000  acres  of  land  and  a  considerable 
portion  was  held  under  the  Balis- 
bury,  Van  Bergen  and  Barker  pat- 
ents, the  Barker  patent  being  over 
6000  acres  of  land.  This  extended 
from  Woodstock  to  Durham,  and 
Mr.  Barker  figured  very  largely  in 
the  early  history  of   the  town.     He 

t>  lived  to  be  93  years  of   age  and  his 

^^^^^  descendants  the  Taylors,  Dedericks, 

Floyd  F.  Jones  Whites,    Olmstead,    Salisburys,    as 

well  as  the  Barkers  are  to  be  found 
throughout  Greene  county  today.  The  Barker  burial  ground  was 
located  in  a  meadow  on  the  McWilliam's  farm  north  of  Cairo. 


James  Barker,  who  is  great,  great  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Ira 
T.  Tolley,  matron  of  the  almshouse,  was  given  a  grant  of  land 
under  Governor  Andros  in  1680  of  6000  acres  of  land  which  now 
forms  a  large  part  of  Cairo.  There  were  other  patents  arid  sub- 
divisions of  land  but  James  Barker  was  the  only  one  to  settle  on 
the  grant.  James  Barker  was  a  member  of  the  English  bar,  and 
came  to  this  country  previous  to  the  Revolution.  He  settled  first 
at  Catskill  and  later  on  went  to  Cairo.  Abram  and  Francis  Sal- 
isbury had  lands  to  the  east  of  the  Barker  patent .  James  Barker 
was  a  patroon,  and  a  slave  owner,  and  it  was  he  who  defended 
one  of  the  Salisburys,  who  was  accused  of  the  murder  of  one  of 
his  slaves,  and  he  secured  an  aquittal.  Barker  died  at  the  age  of 
93  years.  There  were  23  families  that  came^to  this  country  with 
Mr.  Barker.     Their  names  we  are  unable  to  state. 

860 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  old  graveyards  may  have  some  of  them  in  the  follow- 
ing list : 

Samuel  Earle  died  1858,  aged  100  years. 

Benjamin  Upham  died  1799. 

John  Balis  died  1789. 

David  Brewster,  born  1758,  aged  83. 

Hannah  Brewster,  his  wife,  aged  96. 

Catherine  Earle,  born  1764,  aged  92. 

John  Pine,  born  1773. 

In  1823  there  was  made  up  a  list  of  the  slaves  in  the  town. 
There  were  11  of  them,  all  minors.  • 

The  Strope  family,  who  lived  in  the  first  log  house,  were 
murdered  by  Indians.  Early  industry  comprised  chiefly  getting 
out  hemlock  bark  for  the  tanneries. 

One  of  the  most  conspicuous  of  Cairo  men  was  Judge  Daniel 
Sayre,  who  was  born  at  Southampton  in  1765.  He  owned  1000 
acres  on  the  Shinglekill  and  organized  a  church  at  Acra  in  1804. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly  in  1804  and  in  1806  judge  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Greene  county.  Four  of  his  child]  en 
were  burned  to  death  in  a  fire  that  destroyed  his  home  in  1808. 

One  of  the  honored  families  of  Cairo  is  the  Schermerhorn. 
Frederick  in  1780  was  captured  by  the  Indians  after  the  massacre 
of  other  members  of  the  family  (Stropes)  and  carried  into  captiv- 
ity, was  sold  to  the  English  and  was  forced  to  enlist.  He  served 
With  50  whites  and  100  Indians  and  finally  managed  to  escape, 
returning  to  Cairo.  He  lived  for  a  time  on  the  Barringer  place  at 
Kiskatom  and  erected  a  log  house  near  Round  Top.  He  died  in 
1846,  aged  76.  His  son  went  into  the  cattle  business  and  then 
into  mercantile  lines  at -Cairo. 

In  18B2,  Col.  Ira  Day  and  John  Palen  had  tanneries  that 
turned  out  18,000  sides  of  leather  annually.  The  Forge,  Wood- 
stock and  Acra  were  the  points  of  these  industries.  The  grist  mill, 
wood  turning  of  mountain  souvenirs  and  saw  mill  are  about  all 
that  remain.  Hon.  Lyman  Tremaine  was  the  owner  at  one  time 
of  the  mill  at  Woodstock. 

361 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Columbian,  H.  K.  Lyon,  prop.,    Cairo,   and   Falls   in  Vicinity. 


Men  living  in  Cairo  today  still  cherish  the  memory  of  the 
Hon.  Augustus  Hill,  who  was  born  in  1810  and  died  in  1899,  an 
old  line  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the  legislature  in  1871.  His 
grandfather,  Obadiah  Hill,  witnessed  the  execution  of  Major  An- 
dre, the  British  spy,  who  had  plans  of  the  fortifications  at  West 
Point,  given  him  by  Benedict  Arnold. 

Cairo  has  no  regular  fire  company  although  it  has  an  or- 
ganized effort  of  citizens  that  has  as  its  headW.  Burr  Hall  as  chief, 
and  Gaston  Wynkoop  and  Druggist  R.  A.  Austin  are  assistants. 
Fire  protection  is  from  water  works  and  a  hand  engine  of  the  old 
times,    and    good  work  is  accomplished. 

The  school  system  is  excellent ,  and  at  the  head  is  Edward 
E.  Richmond,  principal,  Hope  L.Fordham,  preceptress,  Mary  D. 
Halloran,  pre-academic,  MaryC.  Timmerman,4th  and  5th  grades, 

362 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


and  S.  Edna  Story,  primary.  Geo.  W.  Squires,  Andrew  P. 
Freese  and  N.  M.  Howardare  trustees  and  R.  A.  Austin,  treas- 
urer. 


Little^Falls,  South  Cairo. 
The  Cairo  Electric  Light  company  gets  its  power  from  the 
large  dam  at  Woodstock,  which  furnishes  power  for  Catskill,  Tan- 
nersville,  Palenville,  Haines  Falls  and  other  places. 

*"  The  Greene  County  Agricultural  Society  which  has  been  the 
great  county  fair  of  generations  was  organized  in  1819,  and  John 
Bagley  of  Durham  was  its  first  president.  Daniel  Sayre  of  Cats- 
kill  was  one  of  the  first  exhibitors  of  premium  grade  cattle.     Th 

363 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


first  premium  award  was  $149. The  organization  leceived  from  the 
state  $200.  The  organization  has  been  uniformly  prosperous  and 
has  a  splendid  plant  accommodating  about  10,000  persons,  and 
the  annual  fair  is  still  a  red  letter  event,  with  the  horse  trot  a 
feature  always. 

There  is  but  one  landmark  of  the  period  of  1867  left  in  the 
Cairo  business  world  and  that  is  O.  Post  who  has  been  conducting 
a  harness  shop  since  that  time  and  for  43  years  in  the  building 
where  he.  now  is.  The  business  of  Cairo  at  that  time  comprised 
Ed.  and  Jason  Stevens,  general  stores,  Tremaine  and  Weeks, 
store,  George  Person,  hotel,  now  Walter  Brothers,  Benjamin  Wal- 
dron,  hotel,  David  Grannis  and  Elijah  Wells,  wagon  shops,  Har- 
low Hine,  painter,  Henry  Steele,  shoemaker,  Charles  Nailor, 
blacksmith,  Henry  Hotchkin,  undertaker,  Dr.  King,  physician, 
Dr.  Noble,  physician.  One  Hotaling  ran  a  stage  line  of  four  horse 
coaches  fromCatskill  to  Cairo  and  there  were  two  lines  from  Cairo 
west,  one  to  Windham  and  the  other  to  Gilboa.  Later  on  these 
lines  were  operated  by  Churchill. 

The  Hon.  Luke  Roe  was  supervisor  of  Cairo  5  years,  1858- 
70  and  1866-67.     Also  Loan  Commissioner  of  County. 

Dr.  Levi  King  was  famed  the  county  over  for  his  medical 
skill.  He  had  9  children,  and  practiced  in  Cairo  for  52  years.  He 
celebrated  his  golden  wedding  in  1876.  His  father  served  in  the 
Revolution.     Dr.  King  was  born  in  1799  and  was  7S  years  of  age. 

Francis  G.  Walters,  whose  death  occurred  last  fall,  was  82 
vears  of  age,  and  was  for  many  years  with  his  brother  Ambrose 
Wajters,  owner  of  the  hotel  that  bears  their  name.  He  was  sher- 
iff of  Greene  county  and  also  member  of  assembly. 

Samuel  Earle  built  a  log  house  in  Cairo  in  1793.  He  lived 
to  be' 100  years  of  age  and  owner  of  900  acres. 

Other  of  the  old  timers  were  John  Howell,  Haryey  D.Peck, 
Orman  Burhans  and  JohnJRouse.  Born  in  the  1700's  and  round- 
ing out  the  century. 

The  father  of  Thurlow  Weed,  later   of  Catskill,   is  said  to 

have  been  one  of  the  early  settlers. 

364 


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tJEJAR    OLt)    GREENE    COTJNft. 


The  Greene  county  alms  house  is  located  at  Cairo.  It  is  in 
line  with  the  other  splendid  buildings  that  stand  as  a  credit  to  the 
county.  The  situation  is  not  only  charming,  but  everything  that 
could  lend  a  charm  to  the  place  and  make  it  attractive  for  those 
whose  last  days  are  to  be  spent  as  the  wards  of  the  county,  has 
been  done  by  the  men  who  have  represented  the  county  in  the 
board  of  supervisors,  and  the  very  capable  man  who  for  the  past 
seven  years  has  had  the  management  of  the  place.  The  beautiful 
grounds  and  entire  premises  are  swept  and  garnished  as  for  par- 
ade, and  throughout  the  house  everything  is  as  snug  and  inviting 
as  the  best  home  to  be  found  in  the  county.  Erom  the  reports 
that  are  filed  every  year  by  the  several  committees,  local,  county, 
and  state,  there  isn't  an  institution  of  the  sort  that  makes  a  better 
show.  Mr.  Ira  T.  Tolley  and  his  estimable  wife,  who  is  matron 
of  the  institution,  deserve  lasting  praise  for  their  care  and  pains- 
taking effort.  The  house  usually  has  from  74  to  90  inmates,  who 
are  well  housed,  well  fed,  contented,  and  happy.  Our  view  of  the 
building  shows  the  splendid  shape  it  is  in.  And  it  is  most  re- 
markable that  the  care  of  these  people,  and  of  the  dairy  of  12  cat- 
tle and  the  tilling  of  196  acres,  should  be  taken  care  of  by  4  per- 
sons outside  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tolley.  One  farmer,  and  one  assis- 
tant, one  cook  and  a  woman  to  assist  Mrs.  Tolley,  do  it  all.  The 
annual  report  shows  that  the  farm  produce  goes  a  long  ways 
toward  paying  for  the  upkeep  of  it  all.  The  house  has  electric 
lights,  fire  protection,  fine  water,  sanitary  plumbing,  and  com- 
modious and  well  kept  outbuildings,  and  the  evidence  of  great 
care  is  everywhere.  Mr.  Tolley  was  elected  in  1906  and  took  the 
office  in  1907.  He  was  re-elected  in  1909  by  about  600  and  in 
1912  by  over  1200.  Mrs.  Tolley,  in  addition  to  the  cares  of  the 
place,  is  very  active  in  church  work.  She  is  organist  for  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  and  a  worker  in  the  Sunday  School,  as  well  as 
the  King's  Daughters.  Mr.  Tolley  is  also  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  and  a  contributor  to  every  worthy  object .  Before 
he  was  chosen  superintendent  of  the  county  house  he  was  for  25 
years  in  charge  of  the  business  of  the  Catskill  Mountain  railroad 
at  Cairo,  and  for  12  years  a  justice  of  the  town.  Religious  services 
are  held  at  the  county  house   every  two   weeks  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 

366 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    tiOUNTV. 


Edgeton,  rector  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  It  may  be  interesting 
to  note  that  James  Barker,  who  was  great  great  grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Tolley,  held  the  original  grant  of  land,  some  6000  acres,  ex- 
tending from  Cairo  to  Durham. 


The  Great  Shinglekill  Falls  at  Purling. 

There  were  several  factories  started  at  the  forge,  and  at 
that  place  is  standing  at  the  present  time  a  very  old  mill  of  which 
we  have  not  the  date.  Several  of  these  mills  have  been  destroyed 
by  fire.  Frank  S.  Decker  of  Catskill  formerly  owned  one  of  these 
mills.  Capt.  Byington  had  a  wooden  clock  factory  for  making 
the  Grandfather  clocks.  There  was  a  factory  that  made  spinning 
wheels  and  looms,  a  nail  factory,  and  Lucius  Byington  had  a  saw 
mill  that  has  been  operated  by  many  generations  of  Byingtons.  It 
was  built  in  1808.  Anson  Wright  had  a  furniture  factory,  Egbert 
Paddock  made  grain  cradles,  and  Egglestone,  Porter  and  Ackley 
made  buckets,  of  which  they  made  5000  per  year.  Paul  Raeder 
for  20  years  had  a  scythe  factory  and  a  grist  mill. 

367 


DEAR.    OLD    GREENE    COtTNTY. 


The  first  Methodist  organization  was  at  Sandy  Plains,  in 
the  house  of  Henry  Weeks.  The  church  at  Cairo  was  organized 
in  Cairo  in  1814,  and  these  two  churches  were  supplied  by  circuit 
riders  who  also  preached  at  Leeds.  Benjamin  Hine  deeded  the  lot 
on  which  the  Cairo  church  was  built  in  1819,  and  this  building, 
now  occupied  by  the  Schermerhorns  as  a  feed  store,  is  in  good 
repair.  The  organizers  of  the  church  were  Edward  E.  Stevens 
and  Sally,  his  wife.  The  early  records  were  lost.  The  present 
church  has  as  its  pastor  the  Rev.  H.  D.  Chace,  who  also  preaches 
at  Round  Top. 

The  Sandy  Plains  church  was  erected  1837,  and  since 
rebuilt. 

The  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  by  the  Rev.  Beriah 
Hotchkin  in  1799,  and  had  three  members.  The  Rev. 
Richard  Williams  was  the  first  pastor.  The  records  were  three 
times  destroyed  by. fire.  The  Rev.  A.  P.  Freese  was  for  many 
years  pastor  of  the  church.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Steelman  was  the  last 
pastor  in  1914,  but  resigned. 

Calvary  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in  1832.  The 
Rev.  Ephriam  Punderson  was  the  first  Rector,  and  for  several 
years  the  membership  was  8  persons.  The  Hon.  Henry  Meiggs 
and  George  Wicks  were  among  the  contributors  in  the  70's  to 
wipe  out  the  last  of  the  church  debt.  The  present  rector  is  Octa  • 
vins  Edgelow. 

Kadema  Lodge  693,  F.  and  A.  M.  was  organized  1859,  with 
William  Freese  as  master.  Has  about  100  members,  and  has  iust 
finished  new  lodge  building  known  as  Masonic  Hall. 

Knights  of  Pythias  meets  in  Masonic  Hall.  Claude  J.Goff 
is  chancellor  commander.     It  has  about  60  members. 

Odd  Fellows.     Meet  at  Wicke's  Hall. 

Maccabees  Lodge,  reorganizing. 

Eastern  Star.  Mrs.  Charles  M.  Smith,  matron.  About  70 
members. 

George  W.  Squires  conducts  the  Cairo  Herald. 

368 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Gatekill 

The  town  of  Catskill  was  con- 
stituted in  ^792,  and  was  a  part  of 
the  county  of  Ulster,  according  to 
an  act  of  1798.  Upon  the  formation 
of  Greene  county  in  1800,  it  was 
taken  from  Ulster  with  porlions  of 
Woodstock,  and  all  that  part  of 
Catskill  that  lay  west  of  the  Moun- 
tain line  was  attached  to  Windham. 
Further  territory  was  taken  Irom 
Athens  in  1815.  Hezekiah  Van 
Orden  was  the  first  supervisor  and 
William  Van  Orden,  Jr.,  clerk,  in 
1789.  There  were  about  80  persons 
who  were  on  the  rate  list,  of  what 
was  called,  Great  Imbocght.  They 
included  the  Abeels,  Van  Ordens, 
Persons,  Dumond,  Overbaugh,  Bur- 
ger, Sax,  Trombour,  Musier,  Fiero,  Dederick,  Mower,  Acker,  Fox, 
Richtmyer,  O'Brien,  Hallembake,  Brant,  Sax,  Britt,  Strope, 
Duwit,  Moore,  Spaan,  Woolf,  Schram,  Hill  and  others,  antece- 
dent of  the  present  families. 

Many  of  these  people  were  also  slave  owers. 

Reference  to  the  schools,  churches  and  tayerns  are  found 
elsewhere  in  this  record.  Also  reference  to  many  of  the  early 
industries  and  persons. 

Catskill  Village  had  5  dwellings  in  1787,  but  in  1792  it  had 
increased  to  such  importance  that  a  newspaper  was  established  by 
Mackey  Croswell,  called  the  Catskill  Packet,  a  facsimile  of  which, 
through  the  courtesy  of  the  Catskill  Recorder,  we  have  repro- 
duced. The  growth  was  very  rapid,  and  the  village  was  soon 
the  most  important  along  the  Hudson  River,  and  around  the  year 
1800  there  were  2000  inhabitants,  and  it  was  announced  that 
Catskill  was  to  become   the  third,  if  not    the   second  city  in   the 

369 


J.  Henry  Deane 


±)iJAR    OLD    GREtBtofc    COUN'ft. 


state.  In  1803  there  were  12  wharves  and  a  great  trade  had 
sprung  up,  which  comprised  freighting  to  New  York  and  the  ship- 
ping of  goods  to  the  interior  of  the  state. 

Catskill  village  was  incorporated  in  1806,  and  Stephen  Day 
was  the  first  president.  The  trustees  were  Garret  Abeel,  James 
Pinkney,  John  Blanchard,  Caleb  Benton,  Hiland  Hill,  Stephen 
Root,  Isaac  Nichols;  Orrin  Day  and  John  Du  Bois  were  assessors; 
[saac  Du  Bois  was  treasurer,  and  James  Benton,  collector. 

A  seal  was  adopted  which  resembled  a  potato  bug  with  an 
x  for  a  head. 

Corporation  bills  for  money  were  adopted  in  1815. 

Catskill  was  on  the  direct  line  to  Ithaca,  Delhi,  and  Bing- 
hamton.  The  building  of  the  Schoharie  and  Susquehanna  turn- 
pike which  started  from  Catskill  and  extended  to  Wattle's  Ferry 
on  the  Susquehanna  river  was  one  of  the  greatest  events  next  to 
the  building  of  the  New  York  Central  railroad  and  the  Erie  Canal, 
and  for  a  great  many  years  Catskill  was  the  outlet  of  trade  from 
the  interior  of  the  state.  At  the  head  of  the  turnpike  project  were 
Stephen  Day,  Pres.,  Martin  Schuneman,  Benjamin  Van  Orden, 
George  Hale  and  others.  This  road  had  a  capital  stock  of  $12,000 
and  it  was  operated  until  1856  when  the  line  was  operated  only  as 
far  as  Durham. 

Many  other  turnpikes  were  built  and  operated,  of  which 
the  Albany  and  Greene,  Schoharie,  Athens,  Little  Delaware,  Blue 
Mountain,  Cauterkill,  Bristol  now  Maiden,  had  turnpike  roads, 
and  the  Canton  Bridge  company  had  a  toll  bridge  a  toll  bridge  at 
Canton,  1805,  near  F.  C.  Plusch's.  These  turnpikes  brought  into 
existence  many  stage  lines.  Terrence  Donnelly  operated  the  first 
of  these,  under  an  act  of  the  legislature,  1803.  One  of  these  lines 
was  from  Catskill  to  Unadilla,  another  to  Ithaca,  and  all  this  help- 
to  make  Catskill  the  most  important  place  on  the  Hudson. 

The  Catskill  Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Association 
was  formed  in  1865.  Addison  P.  Jones,  Isaac  Pruyn,  John  H. 
Bagley,  J.  B.  Hall,  John  T.  Mann,    Theodore  Cole,  Jacob  Meech 

370 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


and  Edgar  Russell  were  the  directors, 
the  John  B.  Foote  farm,  in  Jefferson, 
orchard.     The  last  fair  was  in  1873, 


The  fair  grounds   were  on 
The   grounds  are   now  an 


Catskill  has  four  fine  and  well  kept  cemeteries:  The  vill- 
age cemetery  on  Thompson  and  Spring  streets,  Catskill  Rural,  St. 
Patrick's  and  Jefferson  cemetery. 


sin  i0t:c»-gar.it?..3 


Village  Building. 

V  ii^The  present  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Cats- 
kill  village  are:  Clarence  Travis,  Pres.,  Willis -A.  Haines,  Philip 
Walsh,  Henry  R.  Hinman,  Oscar  A.  Freer.  Clerk,  Louis  B.  Dec- 
ker; Collector,  L.  R.  Magee;  Assessor,  William  Joesbury;  Cor- 
poration Counsel,  Louis  B.  Malcolm. 

371 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNt't. 


The  first  organization  of  a  fire  department  was  in  1806 
when  a  hand  engine  was  in  use,  and  all  owners  of  property  were 
compelled  to  have  at  least  two  buckets  for  fire  purposes. 

In  1825  Engine  Company  No.  2  and  Engine  Company  No. 
3  were  organized.  Two  new  engines  were  purchased  in  1853. 
Seven  cisterns  were  built  in  1836,  and  these  were  filled  up  a  few 
years  since.     Ever  Ready  Company    was  organized  in    1654,  and 


Wilson  Fire  Company,  Old  Home  Week  parade. 
F.  N.  Wilson  Company  the  same  year.  ProtectionJSngine  Com- 
pany, now  Number  One  Hose  and  formerly  Wiley  Hose,  was  or- 
ganized in  1855.  F.  J.  Silsby  Company,  now  Osborn  Hose,  was 
organized  in  1871.  Citizens  Hose  Company  was  organized  in 
1869.  Citizens  Hose  Company  and  the  Number  1  Hose  Company 
own  two  of  the  finest  parade  carriages  in  the  state.  Citizens  Hose 
Company  was  first  to  appear  with  a  dazzling  white  dress  uniform 

672 


No.  1  Hose  Company's  Auto  Truck. 


which  has  been  widely  copied.  In  fact  the  several  companies  of 
Catskill  have  a  uniform  that  leads  all  other  fire  companies.  Each 
company  occupies  a  splendid  house,  and  own  much  of  their  equip- 
ment. Number  1  Hose  has  an  auto  fire  truck,  which  is  of  great 
service  in  getting  the  apparatus  quickly  to  a  fire. 

The  Wilson  Fire  Company,  Geo.  Webster,  forman,  has  in 
their  possession  one  of  the  hand  engines  first  used  in  this  section. 
They  got  it  in  1900  from  Stephen  Vining  of  Windham,  and  it  was 
built  in  1783,  and  is  known  as  the  Yankee.  We  show  a  picture 
of  this  curious  little  fire  fighter,  and  it  will  be  seen  that  it  is  still 
ready  for  business. 

Not  least  of  the  fire  companies  is  the  Bomptje  Hook  Com- 
pany Number  .50,  with  a  truck  and  hose  house  at  the  Point.  John 
Fitzsimmons  is  president  of  this  organization  and  the  annual  ban- 
quet is  always  an  occasion  of  note. 

The  chief  engineer  of  the  fire  department   is  Henry  Place. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Building  of  No.  1  Hose  Company. 

There  is  also  a  hose  house  on  Broome  street  and  a  small 
house  on  Depot  street  equipped  with  cart  and  apparatus.  In  fire 
fighting  Catskili  leads  the  volunteer  companies  of  the  state. 

374 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  telegraph  fire  alarm  system  of    boxes   was  installed  in 
the  80's  and  the  alarm  is  a  bull  whistle  at  the  electric  light  station. 


Foreman  Webster  and  the  Old  Hand  Engine. 

The  Catskili  water  works  were  commenced  in  December, 
1883  and  finished  in  April,  1884,  a  pumping  system,  which  with 
the  mains  and  hydrants  cost  about  $160,000.  There  are  over  13 
miles  of  mains,  and  about  130  hydrants.  The  water  pressure  is 
80  pounds,  and  affords  a  fire  protection  that  is  unsurpassed.  The 
plant  has  a  good  revenue  and  the  outstanding  bonds  amount  to 
only  $37,000.    They  are  due  in  1916. 

The  members  of  the  Catskili  water  board  are:  M.  Edward 
Silberstein,  Eugene  Wayne,  P.  Gardner  Coffin,  E.  A.  Bennett  and 
and  J.  Clark  Salisbury.  In  1914  the  board  installed  a  hydro- 
chlorite  system  for  the  purification  of  the  water,  which  has  since 
tested  100  per  cent  pure. 

The  superintendent  is  Egbert  Beardsley,  who  succeeded 
William  Comfort  about  ten  years  ago.  Mrs.  Beardsley  is  book- 
keeper; William  Shufelt,  chief  engineer;  John  E.  Norton,  night 
engineer;  Patrick  Dwyer,  night  fireman. 

37§ 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Catskill  village  has  two  fountains  supplied  with  water  from 
the  spring  on  the  H.  L.  Boughton  lot,  very  excellent  water  for 
drinking  purposes. 

The  police  system  of  Catskill  has  Roscoe  Miller  D.  Miller 
as  justice,  Ira  B.  Gay  as  chief  of  police,  Joseph  Reilly  patrolman, 
and  in  addition  special  officers  are  appointed  for  special  seryice 
and  important  occasions. 

At  the  head  of  Main  street  is  located  Pruyn  Park,  the  very 
generous  gift  of  Bank  President  James  P.  Philip,  and  this  has 
been  very  well  equipped  and  is  well  patronized  in  the  summer. 
The  village  fathers  also  arranged  a  miniature  park  at  the  head  of 
William  street.  The  children  of  the  schools  are  equipped  with 
an  out  door  gymnasium,  the  gift  of  J.  P.  Philip. 

Catskill  has  a  number  of  Insurance  Companies.  These  are 
the  Co-Operative,  the  Commercial  Mutual,  the  Hon.  0.  V.  Sage 
being  president,  and  Hon,  C.  E.  Bloodgood,  secretary.  The  Cats- 
kill  Mutual  has  William  J.  Hughes,  as  president,  and  Geo.  Hard- 
ing, secretary.     These  companies  do  a  large  business. 

The  Mercantile  Co-Operative  has  William  W.  Bennett  at 
the  head. 

The  Catskill  Savings  and  Loan  Association  was  organized 
in  1889  as  a  building  and  loan  association.  It  has  an  investment 
of  $174,282.  At  the  head  of  the  corporation  is  Percival  Goldin, 
pres.;  Josiah  C.  Tallmadge,  vice-pres.;  Thomas  E.  Jones,  sec'y; 
P.  Gardner  Coffin,  treasurer,  and  William  W.    Bennett,  attorney. 

Among  the  Social  Organizations  of  Catskill  which  have  not 
already  been  mentioned  are: 


The  Rip  Van  Winkle  Club,  Catskill,  was  organized  in  IS 
the  Hon.  James  B.  Olney  being  president.  The  club  has  flourished 
ever  since  and  now  owns  a  fine  property  on  lower  Main  street. 
Willet  C.  Hunter  is  present. 

Hendrick  Hudson  Lodge,  I.  0.  of  0.  F,    was  organized  in 

376 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


1846.  The  present  officers  are :  N.  G.,  Frank  Packer;  V.  G., 
Isaac  R.  Fitchett;  Fin.  Sec'y,  J.  G.  Miller;  Rec.  Sec'y,  Robert  E. 
Brant;  Treas.,  Clarence  Travis. 

Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 

Improved  Order  of  Red  Men, 

Knights  of  Pythias, 

Knights  of  Columbus, 

Protected  Home  Circle, 

Royal  Arcanum, 

Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen, 

Modern  Workmen  of  America, 

Deutscher  Understeutungs  Verein, 

Society  for  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Animals, 

Catskill  Gun  Club, 

Catskill  Fish  and  Game  Club. 

The  prominent  business  houses  and  dealers  are: 

Bottling  Works— Bove  &  Coglianese. 

Bakers— V.  DelaMorte,  William  Klepser,  William  Deitz, 
Waldorf. 

Banks — Catskill  Sayings,  Tanners  National,  Catskill  Nat- 
ional. 

Barber  Shops— F.  A.  Kline,  William  E,  Brooks,  Dominic 
Disantis,  Con.  Hammer;  August  Franz,  Amin  Smith,  Alex  Yan- 
noni. 

Blacksmiths — Willis  A.  Haines  &  Son,  John  Person,  Theo. 
M.  Smith,  D.  Delong,  Harry  Gehbauer. 

Books  and  Stationery — L.  R.  Magee,  Van  Gorden  &  Co. 

Brick  Mfrs. — Tidewater  Paving  Co.,  Washburn  &  Co.,  Per- 
cival  Goldin  &  Son. 

Butchers  — C.  C.  Bloom,  Chas.  Ernest,  Wm.  Conine,  Geo. 
Drumgold. 

Candies —Catskill  Candy  Co.,  A.  Cunningham. 

Catskill  Building  &  Loan  Assn. 

Cider  and  Vinegar — Amos  Post,  Signor  &  Nicoll. 

Cigar  Manufacturers— Frank  Knolls,  G.  Knoll,  W.  R.  Ma- 
guire,  P.  A.  Obert,  C.  Schaller,  Con.  Hammer. 

.  377 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Carriage  Repository — Willis  Haines  &  Son. 

Catskill  Glass  Works. 

Cement  -Alpha  Company,  Alsen  Co.,  and  Sterling  Corpor- 
ation. 

Clothiers— Abram  Joseph,  J.  L.  Goldberg,  F.  A.  Stahl, 
Butler's. 

Coal  Dealers— Wm.  J.  Hughes,  Wm.  H.  Henderson,  Chas. 
E.  Place,  0.  V.  Sage,  Raymond  Smith. 

Dentists— W.  A    Conklin,  G.  A.  Englert,    E.    A.  Bennett. 

Electrical  Contractor    Fred  B.  Home. 

Electrical  Supplies— Electric  Light  Co. 

Facing  Mill -Bell's. 

Fish  and  Motorcycles— Field  &  Field. 

Flour  and  Feed—  A.  Raynor,  Salisbury  &  Austin. 

Foundry— Catskill  Foundry  &  Machine  Works. 

Florist  — Henry  Schmidt,  Geo.  Person,  Henry  Hansen. 

Furniture  and  Undertaking — William  Kortz,  Deane  & 
Deane. 

Druggists -F.  C.  Clarke,  L.  B.  Decker,  E.  M.  Sedgwick, 
William  L.  Du  Bois. 

Garage— Amos  Post,  Peerless,  Vermilyea  Brothers,  Catskill 
Automobile  Co.,  Easton  Beahr. 

General  Stores— The  H.  L.  Bough  ton,  L.  R.  &  W.A.  Doty, 
E.  C.  Church,  Philip  Richman,  A.  Richman,  Fred  Conklin,  Geo. 
C.  Church. 

Groceries— Britt  Brothers,  Fred  Woolhizer,  William  Davis, 
Howard  C.  Smith,  Charles  Ernest,  Schubert  Brothers,  Hallenbeck 
Brothers,  Frederick  Palmatier,  P.  V.  R.  Timmerman,  Clarence 
Travis,  Geo.  Swartwout,  B.  Coglianese,  J.  Battagalino,  Matthew 
Shield,  Etta  Webber,  Claude  Garling,  Waggoner  Brothers,  James 
Reardon,  Lewis  Van  Loan. 

Hardware— Day  &  Holt  Co.,  Catskill  Hardware  Co.,  Frank 
Martin,  Beardsley  &  Son. 

Horses— Horton  Brothers. 
Hair  Dressing— E.  Mink. 
Harness— William  Earle,  J.  M.  Rouse. 

378 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE!  COUNTY. 


Hotels- Central,  Columbia,  Commercial,  Exchange,  Hotel 
Dicarlo,  Golden  Stairs,  Lynes  Hotel,  Germania,  Rudolph,  Hoy's, 
Loud's,  Smith  House,  Saulpaugh,  West  Catskill,  West  Shore, 
Temperance  Hotel,  Irving  Cafe. 

Ice  Cream— Pruyn  Brandow,  J.    Valente,  Arthur  P.  Fox, 

D.  Mamaris. 

Ice  and  Hay— Willis  Hjines,  Ray  Smith. 

Junk  and  Second  Hand  Goods — C.  W.  Ray. 

Jewelers— J.  A.  Hill,  Prentiss  Hallenbeck. 

Knit  Goods— Union  Mills  Company. 

Laundry -Catskill  Hygiene. 

Liverymen — Bogardus  &  Son. 

Lumber— Catskill  Supply,  Crawford  &  Smith. 

Notions — Harry  Smith,  Wright's,  Florence  Joesbury. 

Marble  Dealer-C.   A.  Noble. 

Masons  and  Builders  — Geo..  W.  Holdridge. 

Music  Store-H.  N.  Warden. 

Optician— Hiram  Wilcox. 

Photographs— Clark's  Kodak  Store,   Paul  R.  Morrison,  C. 

E.  Van  Gorden. 

Physicians  — Geo.  L.  Branch,  Frederick  Goodrich, Wm.  M. 
Rapp,  L.  B.  Honeyford,  Charles  E.Williard,  Robert  Selden,  Geo. 
Warren,  Dr.  DeSilva. 

Plumbers — Adams  &  Spencer,  J.  F.  Barnard,  Day  &  Holt, 
Harry  Boyne,  Henry  Hinman,  H.  T.  Jones  &  Sons. 

Printing -Daily  Mail,  Catskill  Examiner,  Catskill  Enter- 
prise, Catskill  Recorder. 

Restaurants  ^Exchange,  New  York,  Smith's. 

Real  Estate— O'.  T.  Heath,  J.  L.  Patrie,  Geo.  Harding 

Shoe  Parlor— Harper  Brothers. 

Shoe  Manufacturers  —Louis  Di  Caprio,  Camile  Yannoni, 
Tony  Peppi. 

Shoes— Ahreet  &  Cussler,  John  J.  Henderson,  F.P.  Smith, 
Welsh  Est. 


Sporting  Goods  —Michael  Cimorelli. 

379 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Transportation— Catskill  &  N.  Y.  Steamboat  Co.,  Catskill 
Ferry,  Catskill  and  Albany  Line,  Saugerties  and  Hudson  Line, 
Catskill  Mtn.  Ry.,  West  Shore  Ry.,  N.  Y.  C.  &  H.  R.  Ry.,  Cats- 
kill  Street  Ry. 

Tailoring    S.  Fontanella,  I.  Schmuckler. 

Tea  and  Coffee -Union  Pacific  Tea  Co.,  Atlantic  &  Pacific 


Co. 

Telegraph— Postal  Cable,  Western  Union. 

Telephone— New  York,  Catskill  Mountain. 

Theatres — Irving  Theatre,  Nelida  Theatre. 

Union  Mills  Company. 

Veterinarian— Dr.  Parker. 

Well  Digger — Amos  Post. 

Wholesale  Grocers — Salisbury  &  Austin. 

Hudson  Fultorv  Celebratiorv 

The  greatest  celebration  ever  held  in  Greene  county  was  the 
Hudson-Fulton,  Sept.  25  to  October  9,  1909.  The  crowd  was 
variously  estimated  at  from  10,000  to  12,000.  The  expense  was 
borne  in  part  by  the  state  and  the  balance  between  $3000  and 
$4000  by  Catskill.  The  flotilla  was  met  about  two  miles  from 
Catskill,  and  escorted  to  the  landing  while  the  war  vessels  fired 
salutes,  and  the  military  bands  and  parade  bands  filled  the  air 
with  their  music.  The  fire  alarm  and  all  steam  whistles  were  also 
tooted.  This  naval  demonstration  started  in  New  York  City,  and 
wound  up  by  visiting  Newburgh,  Pokeepsie,  Kingston,  Catskill, 
Hudson,  Albany  and  Troy.  Some  of  the  great  war  vessels  and 
some  of  the  world's  greatest  floats  failed  to  reach  Catskill  on  ac- 
count of  the  depth  of  water  being  too  shallow. 
Program  for  the  Day: 

10:00  A.  M.— Committee  met  and   escorted   the  flotilla  to 
Catskill. 

10:00  A.  M. — Erection  of  flag  pole  and  raising  of  flag  at 
Greene  County  Home  for  Aged  Women.  Address  by  the  Hon. 
Wm.  P.  Fiero. 

"11:00  A.  M.—  Arrival  off  Catskill  of  the  Half  Moon,  Cler- 
mont,  naval  squadron,  merchant  marine,    excursion  boats  and 

380 


DEAR  Otb  GREENE  COUNTY. 


pleasure  craft.     Reception  of  the  Half  Moon   by  Athabasca  Tribe 
of  Red  Men  in  canoes,  bearing  gifts  of  corn,  etc. 

9:30  to  11  A.  M— Concert  by  bands. 

11 :00  A.  M. -  Reception  of  all  naval  visitors. 

12:00  noon— Address  by  Hon.  Charles  E.  Hughes,  Gover- 
nor of  the  State  of  New  York. 

2: 00  P.  M.- Grand  Parade. 

3:30  P.  M.  — Special  excursion  to  Catskill  Mts.  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Holland  Society . 

4:00  P.  M. — Baseball,  Catskill  against  Coxsackie,  for  cham- 
pionship of  the  Hudson  Valley.     Catskill  7,  Coxsackie  4. 

4:00  to  5:00  P.  M.-Band  concerts. 

4:30  P.  M.  —Reception  to    Governor  Hughes. 

8:00  P.  M.-Pyrotechnical  display. 

9:00  P.  M. — Military  subscription  ball  at  the  Armory,  un- 
der the  auspices  of  Company  E. 

The  Parade 

First  Division— Visiting  Marine  and  Sailors. 

Second  Division— Company  K,  N.  G-  N.  Y.,  Pokeepsie, 
Company  M,  N.  G.  N.  Y.,  Kingston,  Company  E,  N.  G.  N.  Y., 
Catskill,  Morris  Guards  of  Atlantic  City,  N.  J. 

Third  Division— Geo.  H.  Scott  Hook  &  Ladder  Company, 
Coxsackie,  D.  M.  Hamilton  Steamer  Company,  Coxsackie,  Cox- 
sackie Hose  Company  No.  3,  D.W.  Morgan  Hose  Company,  Cox- 
sackie  Osborn  Hose  Company,  Catskill. 

Fourth  Division— Hunter  Hose  Company,  Jacob  Fromer 
Hose  Company,  Tannersville,  Junior  Hose  Company,  Tanners- 
ville,  Citizens  Hook  &  Ladder  Company,  Tannersyille,  Hose  Com- 
pany No.  1,  Catskill. 

Fifth  Division — Cornell  Hook  &  Ladder  Company,  New 
Baltimore,  Laflin  Hose  Company,  Saugerties,  Windham  Fire 
Company,  F.  N.  Wilson  Fire  Company,  Catskill. 

Sixth  Division— Rescue  Hook  &  Ladder  Company,  Athens,; 
Morton  Steamer  Company,  Athens,  Makawomuc  Engine  Com-: 
pany,  Athens,  Citizens  Hose  Company,  Catskill. 

Seventh  Division — G.  A.  R.,  Athabasca  Tribe  of  Red 
Men,  Carriages,  Business  Men's  floats. 

381 


o 
X 


biJAfe  oLb  greje!n£:  dotTNtfV. 


Next  to  the  great  Hudson-Fulton  celebration,  the  greatest 
celebration  ever  held  in  Greene  county  was  that  of  Old  Home 
Week,  Oct.  4  to  7,  1908  in  Catskill.The  ball  was  set  rolling  on  Sun- 
day with  services  in  the  several  churches  and  St.  Patrick's  church 
had  a  parade  in  memory  of  the  Rev.  William  P.  Finneran,  unveil- 
ing his  monument.  Attorney  William  E.Thorpe  made  the  address 
at  the  cemetery,  several  thousand  persons  leing  present.  The 
church  parade  was  half  a  mile  long. 

The  Rev.  C.  G.  Hazard,  the  Rev.  R.  E.  Bell,  the  Rev.  E. 
P.  Miller,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rockwell,  the  Rev.  Clark  Wright  the 
Rev.  W.  H..S.  Demarest,  were  among  the  Sunday  speakers. 

Monday  was  devoted  to  a  business  men's  parade. 

There  were  in  line: 

Ashland  Band, 

Greene  County  Society, 

Watson  Post,  G.A.R.,  W.  B.  Grant,  com., 

Hudson  City  Band, 

Athabasca  Tribe  of  Red  Men,  with  float, 

Catskill  Council  K.  of  Columbus,  with  floats, 

Knights  of  Maccabees,   with  floats, 

Protected  Home  Circle,  with   float, 

Pruyn  Drum.  Corps, 

Holy  Name  Society, 

Floats  of  all  the  leading  business  houses. 

Tuesday  was  devoted  to  School  Parade  and  Carnival. 

Catskill  Schools  pupils  dressed  in  white  carrying  flugs  and 
banners,  St.  Patrick's  school  with  two  floats,  children  carrying 
large  flag. 

Wednesday— Military  Day. 

10th  Regt.  Band,  Albany, 

3d  Battalion  10th  Regt., 

Company  E,  Catskill,  Capt.  Saulpaugh,  com., 

Company  F,  Hudson, 

Company  K,  Pokeepsie, 

Hudson  Band, 

Jacob  Fromer  Hose  Co. ,  Tannersville, 

383 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Hunter  Hose  Company, 

Pruyn  Drum  Corps, 

Hose  Company  1  of  Catskill, 

Veteran  Firemen, 

Athens  Band, 

Morton  Steamer  Co.,  Athens, 

Saugerties  Band, 

Osborn  Hose  Co.,  Catskill, 

Co.  F.  Drum  Corps,  Hudson, 

Mackawomuck  Engine  Co.,  Athens, 

F.  N.  Wilson  Fire  Co.,  Catskill, 

Rogers  Drum  Corps,  Hudson, 

Rescue  Hook  and  Ladder  Co.,  Athens, 

Cornell  Hook  and  Ladder  Co.,  New  Baltimore, 

Gartland's  Band  of  Albany, 

Citizens  Hose  Co.,  Catskill. 

At  the  armory,  2000  peonle  listened  to  addresses  by  Pres. 
Charles  A.  Elliott,  Ira  B.  Kerr,  Wm.  E.  Thorpe,  and  others. 
The  Trojan  Quartette  entertained. 

Exercises  at  the  Nelida  theatre  comprised  addresses  by 
Hon.  William  P.  Fiero,  Mr.  Colvin  and  others.  The  list  of  home 
comers  ran  into  the  hundreds.  All  were  handsomely  entertained 
by  relatives  or  the  committee. 


\1    1 

:   HI 

l 

W  -      '  ■--  JR*s  1  f -I  tfi-T  1 1 H  i  l/mk 

M^^^J^L 

Laying  Brick  Pavement,  West  Bridge  Street. 
384 


Pavilion  of  William  Welker  at  Kiskatom. 


Boarding  House  of  Frank  Rasher  at  JSiskatom, 


Herrnan^C.  Cowen,  Catskill, 
Supervisor  elect. 


William  B.Donahue,   Catskill, 
County  Clerk  elect. 


John  C.  Welsh,  Catskill, 


m r*i i_ 


Geo.  W.  Swartwout,  Catskill, 
Town  Clerk  elect. 


Addeixda 

The  elections  for  November,  1915,  resulted  in  the  election 
of  George  H.  Chase,  Assemblyman,  over  John  Sanfo^d,  Charles 
A.  Post  for  Sheriff,  over  Frank  D.  Overbagh,  both  of  Catskill, 
and  of  William  B.  Donahue  for  County  Clerk,  over  Geo.  B.  Van 
Valken burgh,  both  of  Catskill.  The  Board  of  Supervisors  was 
carried  by  the  Republicans  by  9  to  5. 

Ashland— H.  Clay  Ferris,  R. 
Athens    Harold  R.  Evory,  R. 
Cairo — Floyd  F.  Jones,  R. 
Catskill — Herman  C.  Co  wen,  R. 
Coxsackie— Albert  W.  Pierce,  D. 
Durham — William  C.  Latta,  D. 
Greenville— Lewis Hoose,  D. 
Halcott    Eli  C.  Morse,  R.' 
Hunter— Elmer  E.  Pelham,  R. 
Jewett— George  E.  Lockwood,_R. 
Lexington— George  D.  Rappleyea,  R. 
New  Baltimore  — Dale  S.  Baldwin,  D. 
Prattsville—  Elmer  Krieger,  R. 
Windham — William  J.  Soper. 


Perrt  Motive 
^1 Annex. 


Boarding  House  at  Green  Lake,  and  a  party  of  guests  from  house  sport- 
ing in  the  lake. 


Near  burial  place  of  John  Jacob  Overbaugh,' whose  grave,  the  fiist  ia 
Catskill  section,  is  the  first  marked  stone  on  the  Linzey  Patent. 


galisbury  House,  jCatskill,  a  popular  resort. 


Henry  Place,  Chjef  of 


zxemy  nace,  v^njei  01  »  >-  ■«u«,™ 

Cate&U  Fire  Department,     JK^      Eigt,  A"?-  Howard  C.  Wilbur,  Catskill. 


mi 


Mi 
18] 


DAY  &  HOLiT  GO. 

We  have  it,  will  get  it,  or  it  isn't  made 

HARDWARE  AND  HOUSEFURNISHINGS 
TOOLS 
We  sell  all  the  noted  makes  of  guaranteed  tools. 
Disston  Saws—  Maydole  Hammers— Stanley  Planes- Star- 
rett  Machinist  Tools-  Kraeuter  Pliers. 

FARM  MACHINERY 
We  are  agents  for  The  International  line  of   Farm  Impli- 

ments. 

PAINTS  AND  OILS 
We  carry  a  full  stock  of   Sherwin-Williams  Paints— Oils  of 
every  description. 

RED  CROSS  STOVES  AND  RANGES 
We  have  sold  "Red  Cross"  stoves  and    ranges  for  35  years 

and  can  show  a  list  of  3500  satisfied  local  users. 

Wpodenware— Crockery  &  Glassware  -Tinware— Aluminum 

Ware— Enameled  Ware. 

Plumbing  and  Heating. 

|]ig.,..,.....,..»t....*.."f7.»»»»»»"»"»"»"»"»»»"»^^^^ 


M 


•••!§! 


Scenes  in  Austin's  Glen,  Catskill, 


Scribner  House,  Palenville.     Destroyed  by  fire,  1904. 


Residence  pf  A.  Timmerman  at  Palenville. 


SMITH    HOUSE 

Head  of  Main  St.  -  Catskill,  N.  V 

— Oldest  Stand  in  Greene  County  — 
Enlarged  -by  Martin'F.  Smith  1880;  Rebuilt  by  Wm,     M.     Smith;     Im- 
proved and  Up-to-date  under  Edwin  H.  Smith,    present  proprietor. 
Modern  in  Every  Way. 


TRAVELERS'  HOME 


THE  NEW    SACILPAUGH 


Oa,ts]^iii7  3NT.  "y. 


ABSOLUTELY  MODERN 


^ 


LIMITED,     1915  — NEW 
TO    SAN     FRANCISCO 
FOUR    DAYS. 


VIA  THE   PANAMA  CANAL.  1914 

New  York  to  San  Francisco:     1860  Five  months.     1889  Twenty  days. 
1915  Four  days.   Via  Panama  Canal  18  days.    Via  telephone  1915,  1  second 


Tlie  Union  Mills,  Catskill. 


Texido    House,  Catskill.     Odd  Architecture. 


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Left  to  right.  Top  Row— Shulelt,  Carney;  R.  Roe, 
Bottom  Row~-Place,  P .  Roe,  Hines. 


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1831  1865  1915  & 


Capital $150,000  00 

I  Surplus  and  Undivided  Profits $188,000.00 

Deposits .$777,801.22 

September  22,  1915 


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2 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COtJNTV. 


J.  HENRY  DEANE 

J.  Henry  Deane  was  born  Nov.  22,  1855,  at  New  Balti- 
more, at  the  place  called  Deane's  mills.  His  father,  Francis  W. 
Deane,  was  a  miller  at  that  time  and  continued  at  that  profession 
in  the  town  of  Westerlo,  Albany  county,  between  Indian  Fields 
and  Dormansville,  until  1866,  when  he  gave  up  the  mill  and  mov- 
ed to  a  farm  at  Greenville,  which  is  still  owned  by  J.  Henry 
Deane. 

On  Nov.  22,  1876,  J.  Henry  Deane  married  Mary  C.Losee, 
daughter  of  Stephen  A.  Losee,  and  in  the  spring  of  1879,  moved 
to  Austin,  Illinois,  where  be  entered  the  employ  of  the  Chicago  and 
Northwestern  Railroad,  with  office  at  Chicago.  He  remained 
with  the  company  and  on  a  visit  to  his  old  home  he  was  induced 
by  his  father  to  return  to  the  farm,  which  he  did  in  1884.  He 
remained  on  the  farm  for  4  years,  but  prices  for  farm  produce 
were  so  low  (hay  selling  for  from  $8  to  $10  per  ton)  he  decided 
to  give  up  farming  which  he  did  in  1888,  and  moved  to  Catskill, 
where  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Catskill  Mountain  Railroad 
Company.  He  remained  with  them  for  2  years,  when  he  gave  up 
railroading  and  became  a  clerk  in  the  furniture  store  of  Post  & 
Deane,  after  first  going  to  New  York  City  and  taking  a  course  in 
embalming,  with  Prof.  A.  Raymond,  recognized  as  the  best  tea- 
cher of  the  art  in  this  country.  In  1892  he  purchased  the  interest 
of  W.  A.  Post  in  the  furniture  and  undertaking  business,  and  the 
firm  of  Post  &  Deane  was  changed  to  Deane  &  Deane,  Dr.  J.  A. 
Deane,  an  uncle,  being  the  senior  partner.  In  1910  George  A. 
Deane,  his  son,  purchased  the  interest  of  Dr.  J.  A.  Deane,  and 
the  father  and  son  became  partners.  Their  increasing  business 
demanding  more  room  in  1914  they  moved  to  their  new  store  No. 
439-441  Main  street  where  they  have  one  of  the  largest  and  finest 
furniture  stores  in  the  state. 

During  nis  residence  in  Catskill,  J.  Henry  Deane  has  serv- 
ed as  president  of  the  Rip  Van  Winkle  Club,  president  of  the 
Board  of  trustees  of  the  village  of  Catskill,  coroner  of  Greene 
county  for  4  years,  and  is  now  serving  his  third  successive  term  as 
supervisor  of  the  town.  Mr.  Deane  is  associated  with  the  Masons, 
Rip  Van  Winkle  Club,  Red  Men,  Protected  Home  Circle,  and  is  a 
trustee  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

430 


Gatskill  jSavitvgis  feaivk 


CATSKILL,  N.  Y. 


This  institution  which  is  the  only  one  of 
its  kind  in  the  county  was  incorporated  by 
Chapter  96  of  the  Laws  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  passed  April  1,  1868. 


Its  first  Trustees  were  its  incorporators,  none  of  whom  sur- 
vive, namely: 

S.  Sherwood  Day,  John  Breasted,  Samuel  Harris^  Rufus  H. 
King,  Jacob  H.  Meech,  George  Griffin,  Elijah  P.  Bushnell,  Fred- 
erick Cooke,  John  H.  Bagley,  Jr.,  Burton  G.  Morse,  John  A- 
Gris wold,  Luke  Roe,  Edwin  N.  Hubbell,  Sheldon  A.  Givens, 
Charles  L.  Beach,  George  Beach,  George  Robertson,  Isaac  Pruyn, 
John  M.  Donnelly,  Francis  N.Wilson,  Nelson  Fanning,  Manly  B. 
Mattice,  Edgar  Russell  and  Joseph  Hallock. 

Its  present  Trustees  are  Orrin  Day,  Jeremiah  Day,  W.  Ir- 
ving Jennings,  Emory  A.  Chase,  William  Palmatier,  Lucius  R. 
Doty,  Charles  E.  Bassett,  George  S.  Lewis,  William  H.  Van  Or- 
den,  Frank  H.  Osborn,  Albert  C.  Bloodgood,  William  J.  Hughes, 
Omar  V.  Sage,  Addison  P.  Jones  and  James  Lewis  Malcolm. 

The  following  Trustees  have  served  as  President  since  the 
bank's  organization  in  the  order  named:  John  Breasted,  S.  Sher- 
wood Day,  Rufus  H.  King,  Joseph  Hallock,  Manly  B.  Mattice 
and  W.  Irving  Jennings. 

The  executive  officers  for  many  years  have  been  and  are : 
W.  Irving  Jennings  President,  Emory  A.Chase  1st  Vice  President, 
Jeremiah  Day  2nd  Vice  President  and  Secretary,  and  Orrin  Day 
Treasurer. 

From  its  organization  until  June,  1909,  the  business  of  the 
bank  was  conducted  in  the  banking  room  of  the  Tanners  National 
Bank  of  Catskill,  since  which  time  it  has  occupied  its  new  build- 
ing,'shown  on  the  head  of  this  page,  No.  343  Main  Street. 

The  bank's  total  resources  January  1,  1915,  based  on  in- 
vestment or  amortized  value  of  securities  were  |3,797j400.55, 
which  are  carefully  invested  as  required  by  Law  and  subject  to 
the  supervision  of  the  State  Banking  Department. 


bBJAR    0L±>    GREENfc    COtlNTt. 


GEORGE  W.  HOLDRIDGE 

George  W.  Holdridge  was  born  in  the  town  of  Catskill, 
Greene  county,  October  20,  1847.  His  father  was  James  Hold- 
ridge and  his  mother,  Sarah  Lane.  James  Holdridge  was  a  son  of 
Isaac  Holdridge  and  Hannah  Pettit. 

The  Holdridge  family  was  of  English  descent  and  moved 
from  Connecticut  to  Lexington,  Greene  county  where  they  lived 
until  1814  when  they  moved  to  Catskill  and  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  situated  at  the  foot  of  Round  Top  Mountain,  part  of  which  is 
now  owned  by  the  shale  brick  company. 

The  Pettit  family  came  from  France  and  settled  on  Long 
Island.  Later  they  moved  to  Hurley,  Ulster  county,  and  from 
there  to  Lexington.  Hannah  Pettit  had  two  brothers,  Amos  and 
Hezekiah,  who  resided  in  the  town  of  Lexington.  Hezekiah  was 
born  in  1779  and  died  in  1852.  For  fifty  years  he  was  pastor  of 
the  Baptist  church  on  Lexington  flats,  being  widely  known  as 
Elder  Pettit.  He  served  without  pay  most  of  the  time. 

432 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Andrew  Lane,  father  of  Mr.  Holdridge's  mother  came  from 
England  and  settled  in  Dutchess  county.  About  1800  they  moyed 
to  Ulster  county.  He  served  in  the  2d  regiment  during  the  Rev- 
olutionary War. 

At  the  age  of  13  George  W.  Holdridge  came  to  Catekill  and 
was  apprenticed  to  A.  &  B.  Wiltse  in  the  foundry  that  is  now  the 
Catskill  Machine  Works,  and  was  to  receive  $50  per  year  until  he 
became  21.  But  after  8  months  he  received  $4  and  went  to  work 
for  John  Hard  wick  and  Robert  E.  Ferrier,  where  he  ran  the  en- 
gine for  3  years,  doing  his  own  firing,  and  shoveling  daily  16 
loads  of  sand  into  the  pit.  He  received  $1  per  day  and 'board.  At 
the  close  of  the  brick  season  he  went  to  work  for  William  H. 
Finch,  to  learn  the  mason's  trade. 

In  1865  he  listed  in  the  U.  S.  navy,  going  first  to  the  Ver- 
mont and  later  the  Shenango.  The  boat  was  sent  south  and  ar- 
rived at;  Charleston,  Feb.  18,  1865,  the  morning  following  its  evac- 
uation by  the  Rebels.  The  city  had  been  set  on  fire,  and  he  help- 
ed put  it  out.  Later  on  they  captured  a  Rebel  boat,  the  Oliyia, 
laden  with  cotton, 

Sailing  down  the  Black  River  they  dispersed  300  Rebel 
Guerilla  Cavalry  and  took  a  large  quantity  of  provisions  from 
them.  Being  transferred  from  the  Shenango  to  the  Kansas  they 
were^ordered  to  the  West  Indies,  later  to  Brazil  and  the  Falkland 
Islands.  They  had  many  rough  and  exciting  experiences,  and 
plenty  of  hardship,  and  at  one  time  for  15  days  were  on  an  allow- 
ance of  a  half  pint  of  water  per  man.  April  13,  1867,  he  was  paid 
off  and  discharged  from  the  navy. 

In  1868  he  started  to  work  for  L.  S.  and  William  Smith  at 
Catskill,  and  in  1870'formed  a  partnership  with  William  Ruland 
as  contractor  and  builder.  In  1881  he  went  by  himself  and  since 
that  time  has  forged  to  the  front  as  one  of  the  best  builders  of 
brick  and  stonework  in  Greene  county.  Among  the  many  splen- 
did structures  that  he  has  erected  are  the  Catskill  Armory,  St. 
Luke's  church,  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  building, 
the  Carnegie  Library,  the  Irying  School  building,  the  Grandview 
School  building,  St.  Patrick's  Academy,  Parochial  residence,  num- 

433 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


ber  1  and  number  5  engine-houses,  and  the  Rowena  Memorial 
School  building  at  Palenyille,  a  picture  of  which  is  to  be  seen  else- 
where in  this  book,  and  many  other  structures. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Catskill  fire  department  from  1871 
to  1888,  and  2  years  chief.  He  served  the  town  of  Catskill  as  col- 
lector 1872-3,  trustee  of  the  village  1894-96,  being  president  of  the 
Board  in  1896.  In  1897  he  was  honored  by  the  county  by  elec- 
tion as  sheriff,  serving  with  distinction  during  1898-1900,  the  jail 
being  then  as  it  was  at  the  time  Mrs.  Beardsley  purchased  the 
property.     (See  account  Heidelberg. ) 

Mr.  Holdridge  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  the 
upbuilding  of  Catskill,  and  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  Catskill  Meth- 
odist church  since  1892 , 

He  was  married  to  Hannah  M.  Dederick  Jan.  4,  1871,  and 
had  5  children,  Frank,  who  died  at  the  age  of  13  years,  Harry, 
who  was  killed  by  the  cars  at  Alsen,  Jan.  16,  1910.  Harry  was 
married  to  Anna  May  Richardson,  Sept.  6,  1905,  and  they  had 
one  son,  George  Frederick.  There  are  now  living';  Walter  H., 
Florence  and  May  Holdridge.  Walter  married  Adaline  Craigie  of 
Catskill'and  they  reside  in  New  York  where  he  has  a  fine  medical 
practice.  They  have  one  son,  Walter  Henry.  Florence'married 
Frank  H.  Cooke.  They  are  living  in  Catskill  and  have  one  child, 
Marie  Holdridge.  May  is  still  living  at  the  old  home. 

On  July  1,  1908,  Mr.  Holdridge  married]  Marie  Burger, 
who  takes  an  active  interest  in  church,  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  fireman- 
ic  work  as  well  as  her  home  on  Division  street. 

Mr.  Holdridge  has  a  large  and  well  equipped  contracting 
supply  plant  on  the  West  Side,  and  employs  a  large  number  of 
skilled  mechanics  who  are  generously  paid  and  always  take  great 
interest  in  his  work . 

The  residence  of  Mr.  Holdridge  Ion  Division  street,  adjoins 
his  supply  plant,  and  is  a  very  handsome  building,  located  on  a 
well  kept  terrace  and  surrounded  by  a  flower  garden. 

434 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Temporary  Depot  at  Catskill,  built  in  two  days  after  the 
destruction  of  the  old  depot  at  West  Shore  Station.  View  of  first 
depot  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  book. 


All'that  remained  of  St.  Anthony's  School,  formerly  Pros- 
pect Park  Hotel,  Catskill,  after  the  fire.  Building  is  to  be  re- 
placed by  the  Francescan  Society,  in  the  near  future  as  a  monas- 
tery. 

435 


DEAK  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Free_and  Accepted  Masons 

The  institution  of  Masonry  early  appealed  to  the  prominent 
citizens  of  Catskill,  and  within  ten  years  of  the  close  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  when  a  time  of  settled  peace  had  giyen  opportun- 
ity to  the  people  in  the  long  harrassed  Hudson  river  valley  to  turn 
their  minds  to  other  things  than  war,  on  the  11th  of  December, 
1792,  to  be  exact,  a  petition  bearing  ten  names  asking  for  organi- 
zation of  a  Masonic  lodge  at  Catskill  was  forwarded  to  the  Grand 
Lodge.  The  petition  was  granted,  and  Harmony  Lodge  No.  31, 
F  &  A.  M.,  was  instituted  by  charter  dated'  September  3,  1793, 
signed  by  Robert  R.  Livingston,  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  the  State  of  New  York.  The  charter  members  of  the 
lodge  were  Jacob  Bogardus,  Stephen  Day,  Samuel  Haight,  Rufus 
Stanley,  George  Taylor,  Dr.  Thomas  Thomson,  Hezekiah  Van 
Orden,  and  W-  W,  Wetmore,  men  whose  names  suryive  as  land- 

436 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


marks  of  an  earlier  time  in  Catskill  history.  Samuel  Haight  was 
the  first  master^of  the  lodge,  Stephen  Day  senior  warden  and  Dr. 
Thomson  junior  warden.  The  lodge  increased  in  membership  up 
to  the  year  1800,  when  it  numbered  48,  after  which  it  declined 
and  probably  went  out  of  existence  in  1805. 

The  second  Masonic  lodge  organized  here  was  Catskill 
Lodge  No.  302,  F.  &  A.  M.,  by  charter  dated  March  4,  1818, 
signed  with  the  illustrious  name  of  M.  W.  DeWitt  Clinton,  then 
Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of  New  York. There 
were  thirteen  charter  members,  and  the  first  officers  *were:  Caleb 
Benton,  W.  M. ;  Cornelius  DuBois,  S.  W.;  Thomas  Hale,  J.  W. 
This  lodge  occupied  rooms  which  had  been  fitted  up  for  the  pur- 
pose by  Francis  Botslord,  in  the  third  story  of  the  building  now 
known  as  the  Selleck  building,  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Thom- 
son streets.  These  rooms  were  plainly  but  substantially  furnish- 
ed and  at  that  time  were  considered  ideal  lodge  rooms.  No.  302 
held  together  during  the  height  of  the  anti-masonic  wave  that 
swept  over  tke  country  from  1827  to  1830,  having  an  active  mem- 
bership of  40  in  June,  1829,  but  it  declined  after  that  date,  be- 
coming extinct  on  the  4th  of  June,  1835. 

It  was  another  generation  that  again  revived  Masonry  in 
Catskill,  a  quarter  of  a  century  having  elapsed  before  the  institu- 
tion of  another  lodge  here.  This  took  place  in  1859,  when  by 
dispensation  granted  February  10th,  Catskill  Lodge  No.  468  was 
organized  with  the  following  charter  members:  John  H.  Bagley, 
jr.,  James  Becker,  Peter  Baurhyte,  Samuel  DuBois,  David  S. 
Manchester,  George  L.  France,  Luke  Kiersted,  Kufus  H.  King, A. 
Melvin  Osborne,  T.  C.  Palmer  and  Isaac  iPulver.  The  lodge  first 
met  in  a  hall  in  the  Cook  building  at  the  ^corner  of  Main  street 
and  Bank  Alley,  now  occupied  by  the  Grand  Army  of  the  .Repub- 
lic, and  here  it  was  formally  instituted  June  27,  1859,  with  the 
following  officers:  John  H.  Bagley,  jr.,  W/M.;  T.C.  Palmer,  S. 
W. ;  James  Becker,  J.  W. ;  Samuel  DuBois,  secretary;  Rufus  H. 
King,  treasurer;  Isaac  Pulver,  S.  D. ;  A.  M.  Osborne,  J.  D.;  D. 
Manchester,  tyler. 

437 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


On  the  1st  of  May,  1863,  the  lodge  room  was  moved  to 
Martin's  hall  in  the  building  now  occupied  by  Beardsley's  hard- 
ware store.  Some  five  years  later  Charles  E.  French  erected  a 
building  further  up  Main  street,  nearly  to  the  corner  of  Church 
street,  and  the  lodge  leased  the  third  floor  of  this  building  from 
the  1st  of  January,  1869.  Ten  years  later,  on  the  1st  of  May, 
1879,  another  move  was  made,  to  the  Oliver  Bourke  building,  in 
the  hall  now  used  by  the  Knights  of  Columbus.  The  stay  here 
was  longer,  but  in  1894  another  move  was  made  to  what  is  known 
as  Cowles  hall,  which  was  in  fact  the  old  location  in  the  French 
building,  over  the  present  location  of  the  telephone  exchange. 

But  as  the  lodge  grew  in  numbers  and  influence  the  ques- 
tion of  owning  a  building  was  brought  to  the  front,  and  a  building 
fund  was  started  and  added  to  each  year  up  to  1907,  when  it  was 
used  in  the  purchase  of  the  Irving  House  property  at  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Clark  streets.  This  property  was,  howeyer,  soon  after 
taken  by  the  county  as  part  of  the  location  for  the  new  court 
house,  so  the  matter  rested  for  another  year.  In  1909,  on  the 
advice  of  the  trustees  of  the  lodge,  Ira  B.  Kerr,  I.  Wheeler  Bran- 
dow  and  William  H.  Hallenbeck,  and  of  the  worshipful  master, 
J.  Henry  Deane,  the  old  court  house  property,  at  the  corner  of 
Franklin  and  Bridge  streets,  was  purchased  from  the  county.  Ex- 
tensive alterations  were  made  in  the  building  to  fit  it  for  Masonic 
purposes,  with  the  result  that  here  is  one  of  the  finest  lodge  rooms 
along  the  Hudson  river.  The  new  rooms  were  first  occupied  at 
the  communication  of  September  1st,  1910,  and  the  building,  now 
properly  designated  the  Masonic  Temple,  was  formally  dedicated 
to  the  uses  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masonry  with  impressive  cere- 
monies on  the  7th  of  February,  1912.  Howard  C.  Wilbur,  wor- 
shipful master,  made  the  presentation,  and  the  dedication  ceremo- 
nies were  conducted  by  M.  W.  Robert  Judson  Kenworthy,  Grand 
Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  the 
following  staff:  John  J.  MacCoun  senior  grand  warden,  Christo- 
pher C.  Molienhouer  junior  grand  warden,  John  H.  Sanford  De- 
puty Grand  Master,  William  E.  Stevens  Grand  Chaplain,  H. 
Greeley  Brown  Grand  Secretary,  Mayhew  W.  Bronson  Grand 
Treasurer,  Jacob  C.    Klinck  Grand  Marshal.     There  were  more 

438 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


than  400  Master  Masons  present   on   this  occasion,    members    of 
Catskill  lodge  and  visitors. 

Under  the  uspices  of  Catskill  Lodge  No.  468,  F.  &  A.  M., 
the  corner  stone  of  the  new  Greene  Co.  court  house  was  laid  with 
proper  ceremony  on  Thursday,  Nov.  12,  1908  (A.  L.  5908),  at 
1 :  15  P  M.,  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons 
of  the  State  of  New  York.  The  acting  officers  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  present  were:  R.  W-  Charles  Smith  Grand  Master,  R.  W. 
Samuel  Stern  Deputy  Grand  Master,  R.  W.  Ira  B.  Kerr  Grand 
Senior  Warden,  R.  W.  Richard  A.  Anstin  Grand  Junior  Warden, 
R.  W.  Sanford  W.  Smith  Grand  Treasurer,  R.  W.  Henry  Hudson 
Grand  Secretary,  R..  W.  William  W.  Chace  Grand  Marshal,  Bro. 
Clark  Wright  D.  D.  Grand  Chaplain,  Bro.  William  J.  Beardsley 
Grand  Architect.  Lafayettee  Commandery  No.  7,  Knights  Temp- 
lar, of  Hudson,  Edward  W.  Scovil,  E.  C,  served  as  escort  to  the 
grand  officers.  There  were  in  attendance  representatives  from  the 
following  Masonic  lodges:  Ark  Lodge  No.  48,  Coxsackie;  Oasis 
Lodge  No  119,  Prattsville;  Cascade  Lodge  No.  427,  Oak  Hill; 
Catskill  Lodge  No.  468,  Catskill;  Mountain  Lodge  No.  529, 
Windham;  James  M.  Austin  Lodge  No.  557,  Greenville;  Kede- 
mah  Lodge  No.  693,  Cairo;  Social  Friendship  Lodge  No.  741, 
New  Baltimore;  Mount  Tabor  Lodge  No.  807,  Hunter. 

The  successive  worshipful  masters  of  Catskill  lodge  have 
been:  John  H.  Bagley,  jr.,  Charles  C.  Givens,  John  H.  Bagley 
[2d  time] ,  James  E.  Nearing,  Jacob  S,  Philip,  James  E.  Nearing 
[2d  time],  A.  Melvin  Osborne,  John  H.  Bagley  [3d  time],  James 
Becker,  Charles  H.  Pierson,  John  F.  Sylvester,  George  C.  Fox, 
Charles  H.  Pierson  [2d  time],  Stephen  M.  Bagley,  William  J. 
Hughes,  Charles  H.  Pierson  [3d  time] ,  Orrin  G.  Selden,  Abram 
P.  Kerley,  Will  R.  Post,  Charles  H.  Bennett,  Robert  Selden, 
William  W.  Bennett,  George  H.  Warner,  William  R.  Maguire, 
Henry  T.  Jones,  Samuel  B.  Doty,  Charles  G.  Coffin,  Charles  E. 
Carey,  William  R.  Maguire  [2d  time] ,  Ira  B.  Kerr,  Frederick  A. 
H.  Dewald,  J.  Rodney  Magee,  W.  Piatt  Fisher,  J.  Henry  Deane, 
George  H.  Terns,  Howard  C.  Wilbur,  Archie  D.  Clow. 

439 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Catskill  Lodge  is  in  the  15th  Masonic  district,  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  which  comprises  Greene  and  Ulster  counties.  It 
has  produced  two  grand  lodge  officers,  R.  W.John  H.  Bagley  and 
R.  W.  Ira  B.  Kerr,  both  of  whom  held  the  position  of  District 
Deputy  Grand  Master.  The  lodge  grows  steadily  in  influence  and 
membership,  its  active  list  in  1914  carrying  236  names.  The 
lodge  officers  for  1914  are  as  follows;  Claude  H.  Heath,  W.  M.; 
John  Henry  Felter,  S.  W.;  George  A..  Deane,  J.  W.;  R.  D.  Mil- 
ler, Secretary;  James  P.  Philip,  Treasurer;  Frank  L.  Vedder,  S. 
D.;  Lewis  R.  Magee,  J.  D.;  Earl  C.  Sandt,  S.  M.  C. ;  George  W. 
Parks,  J.  M.  C. ;  Jeremiah  E.  Crawford,  Edward  M.  Sedgwick, 
Stewards;  Rev.  G.  H.P.  Grout,  Rev.  J.  W.  Tetley,  Rev.  Wallace 
J.  Gardner,  Jay  D.  Hopkins,  Chaplains;  J.  Lewis  Patrie,  Mar- 
shal; Frederick  Becker,  Tyler.  Regular  Communications  of  Cats- 
kill  Lodge  are  held  every  Wednesday  evening  at  7:30.  Later  — 
Officers  for  1915,  John  Henry  Felter,  W.  M. ;  Frank  L.  Vedder, 
S.  W. ;  Lewis  R.  Magee,  J.  W.;  Roscoe  D.  Miller,  Secretary;  J. 
P.  Philip,  Treasurer;  EarlC.  Sandt,  S.  D. ;  George  W.  Parks,  S. 
D.;  Seth  T.  Cole,  S.  M.  C. ;  Euberto  Austin,  J.  M.  C;  Frank  S. 
Mackey,  Elmer  E.  Whitcomb,  Stewards;  Rev.  G.  H.  P.  Grout, 
Rev.  J.  W.  Tetley,  Rey.  Wallace  J.  Gardner,  Jay  D.  Hopkins, 
Chaplains;  J.  Lewis  Patrie,  Marshal;  Clarence  A.  Noble,  Tyler; 
William  H.  Hollenbeck,  Ira  B.  Kerr,  I.W.  Brandow,  Trustees. 

Catskill  MasonicIClub  was  organized  in  1912  to  give  mem- 
bers of  the  order  greater  adyantages  for  social  intercourse.  All 
master  masons  are  eligible  to  membership  and  can  become  mem- 
bers of  the  league  of  Mason  Clubs  on  payment  of  a  small  fee .  The 
club  rooms  are.located  on'the  ground  floor  of  the  Masonic  Temple 
and  are  open  every  day  and  evening  in  the  year.  Its  past  presi- 
dents are  James  P.  Philip,  Jay  D.  Hopkins  and  Claude  H. Heath. 
Present  officers:  Archie  D.  Clow,  president;  Clarence  A.  Noble, 
J.  Henry  Felter,  vice-president;  Euberto  Austin,  treasurer;  Earl 
C.  Sandt,  secretary;  Frank  L.  Vedder,  collector;  George  H.  War- 
ner, George  S.jLewis,  Jay  D.  Hopkins,  J.  Henry  Deane,  Howard 
C.  Wilbur,  Howard  C.  Smith,  Charles  H.  Arbogast,  governors. 

We  are  indebted  to  F.  E.  Craigie,  editor  of  the  Examiner 

for  the  history  of  the  Masonic  lodges  of  Greene  county. 

440 


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V, 


DEAR    OLD    GRBJENE    COUNTY. 


Coxsackie 

The  town  of  Coxsackie  or  dis- 
trict as  it  then  was  regarded  was 
taken  from  Albany  county  in  1788, 
and  included  New  Baltimore,  Free- 
hold, Athens,  Cairo,  Durham, 
Greenville,  stretching  as  far  as  Gil- 
boa.  It  was  made  up  of  many  ori- 
ginal grants  of  which  Peter  Bronk's 
in  1662,  was  the  first.  Naturally 
therefore  Coxsackie  figures  very 
largely  in  the  colonial  history.  Ref- 
erence has  been  made  elsewhere  to 
these  patents. 

The  Bronks,  Van  Bergens,  Van 
Slykes,  Hallenbecks,  Smiths,  Van 
Loons,  Houghtalings,  Spoors,  Van 
Schaacks,  were  among  the  first  sett- 
lers, and  Counsellor  E.  C.  Hallen- 
beck,  and  the  Rev.  Lewis  Lampman  have  among  their  possessions 
many  of  the  original  deeds  and  historical  documents. 

The  commodity  of  the  early  date  appears  to  have  b_en 
wheat  and  ''schepels  of  good  and  merchantible  wheat''  took  the- 
place  of  money. 

At  the  present  time  the  town  comprises  38,000  acres,  and 
the  value  of  the  real  property  is  over  $2,000,000,  and  the  taxes 
for  1914  were  over  $47,000.  Coxsackie  has  no  bonded  indebtedness 
and  is  one  of  the  most  prosperous  of  the  river  towns. 

The  first  ferry  was  operated  by  Ephraim  Bogardus  and  in 
1800  there  is  a  record  of  a  license  to  him  to  run  a  ferry. 

The  Dutch  Reformed  church  was  organized  at  Coxsackie  in 
1732,  and  a  church  was  erected  around  1738,  and  this  building 
was  pulled  down  in  1798  when  Henry  Van  Bergen  gave  a  lot  for 
a  new  church  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road.  This  building 
stood  until  1861,  when  the  present   church    was    built.     Michael 

442 


Dayton  B.  Smith. 


DEJAR    OLD    GREENfe    COTJNTY. 


Weiss  is  given  the  honor  of  first  minister.  He  was  followed  by 
Johannes  Schunemann,  who  preached  also  at  Catskill,  1752-1794. 
Later  Coeymans  was  included  in  the  circuit. 

The  Second  Reformed  Church  was  organized  in  1833. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  organized  in  1836, 
and  Coxsackie  and  Coeymans  were  the  preaching  places. 

The  Protestant  Episcopal  church  was  organized  in  1853. 

The  Roman  Catholic  church  was  organized  in  1845. 

The  Coxsackie  High  school  is  a  splendid  institution  with  a 
large  and  commodious  building,  and  a  teaching  corps  that  is  sec- 
ond only  to  Catskill  in  point  of  numbers.  The  first  schools  were 
established  in  the  town  just  prior  to  1800,  Anthony  Rogers  teach- 
ing the  school  at  Coxsackie  village.  The  Rev.  Henry  Ostrander  is 
also  said  to  have  been  a  teacher  in  1801  to  1810. 

The  Coxsackie  cemetery  was  incorporated  in  1826,  and 
contains  the  mortal  remains  of  many  of  the  early  residents.  The 
Riverside  cemetery  was  not  incorporated  until  1873. 

Coxsackie  village  was  incorporated  in  1867. 

Coxsackie  has  a  well  equipped  fire  department  with  a  grav- 
ity water  system,  the  supply  being  taken  from  streams  in  the 
neighborhood.  The  village  is  lighted  by  electric  lights.  There 
are  many  fine  stores  and  a   number  of  manufacturing   concerns. 

The  first  National  Bank  was  organized  in  1865. 

The  hotels  are  the  Park  Hotel,  Frank  Vermilyea,  proprie- 
tor, an  old  and  well  equipped  stand  at  West  Coxsackie,  the  Cob- 
blestone Inn,  a  very  pretty  hotel  also  at  West  Coxsackie,  the  Lar- 
abee  House,  the  Eagle  Hotel  and  the  Cummings  Hotel  at  the 
landing. 

William  P.  Franklin  conducts  the  Coxsackie  Union,  which 
in  1867  he  started  as  the  Coxsackie  News.  It  is  still  printed  in 
the  same  building  where  it  was  started  by  Mr.  Franklin. 

Coxsackie  Lodge  No.  50,  F.  &  A.  M.  was  organized  at  a 
meeting  held  at  Foot's  Inn  in  that  village  on  the  24th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1796.  The  first  officers  were:  Philip  Conine,  jr.,  W.  M.; 
Isaac  Rosa,  S.  W. ;  Benjamin  Moore,    J.  W.;  John   Barr,  secre- 

443  . 


DEAR    bLD    GREENE    (JOUNTt. 


tary;  Jesse  Wood,  treasurer.  The  other  charter  members  were 
John  Bostwick,  Giles  Gridley,  John  Mclntyre,  Solomon  Palmer, 
Storm  Rosa  and  Stephen  Truesdell.  This  lodge  continued  until 
1804,  when  its  charter  was  surrendered. 

Ark  Lodge  No.  271,  F.  &  A.  M.  was  organized  in  1816, 
with  Talmadge  Fairchild,  W.M.;  Amariah  Foster,  S.W.; William 
Bliss,  J.  W.  Other  officers  and  charter  members  not  on  record. 
It  lasted  for  ten  years,  going  out  of  existence  during  the  anti- 
mason  wave  that  started  in  1826. 

Ark  Lodge  No.  48,  F.  &  A.  M.  was  organized  in  1846  with 
the  same  worshipful  master,  Talmadge  Fairchild,  who  started 
with  the  lodge  of  thirty  years  before.  Succeeding  him  as  W.  M. 
there  have  been  Philip  Conine  jr.,  Isaac  Rosa,  Jesse  Wood,  Solo- 
mon Palmer,  Adonijah  Miner,  W.  V.  B.  Hermance,  John  Bedell, 
Gilbert  Bedell  jr,,  Henry  M.  Beach,  John  B.  Bronk,  Alexander 
Reed,  Albert  Parker,  Jacob  Houghtaling,  William  K.  Reed,  A. 
Webster" Van  Slyke,  Samuel  C.  Bennett,  A.  V.  D.  Collier,  Henry 
J.  Hahn,  Henry  .Van  Dyck„Rev.  Eugene  Hill,  Schu3'ler  C.  Bis- 
hop, Geo.  W.  Barber,  Oakley  L.  Fenton,  William  I.  Sax,  R-  H. 
Van  Denburgh,  Austin  W.  Barber,  W.  Ralph  Church,  Henry  R 
Soper. 

Officers  of  1914:  W.  Ralph  Church  W.  M.,  Henry  R.  So- 
pher  S.  W.,  Collins  C.  Whitmore  J.  W.,  W.  R.  Church  Treas. , 
Geo.  W.  Barber  Sec,  Leonard  A.  Warren  S.  D.,  Francis  L.  Wor- 
den  J.  D.,  Wm.  H.  Salisbury  S.  M.  C,  Chas.  F.  Colvin  J.M.  C, 
Jerome  E.  Browne,  Tyler,  Rev.  Samuel  T.  Clifton,  Chap. 

At  Fort  Orange,  on  the  14th  of  January  1662,  Sisketas  and 
and  Sichemoes,  two  Indians  sold  to  Pieter  Bronck  the  first  parcel 
of  land  in  what  is  now  Greene  county,  and  which  under  Governor 
Knolls  in  1667  became  known  as  Bronck's  patent.  This  tract  of 
land  was  called  by  the  Indians  Kioxhacking,  and  this  land  after- 
wards passed  to  Jan  Bronck  and  south  of  this  patent  was  the 
Loonenburgh  patent  which  extended  to  what  is  now  the  Catskill 
line,  and  on  the  north.it  extended  into  the  Coeymans  district.  A 
part  of  the  Loonenburgh  patent  became  the  property  of  Marte 
Garritse  Van  Bergen  known  as  the  fountain  flats,  1861.  The 
Korlarskill  Patent  was  owned  by  Jan  Bronck  and  Marte  Gerritse 

443 


DfiAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNTY. 


Van  Bergen,  and  became  in  1687  the  Coxsackie  Patent.  The 
Bronk  house,  which  is  still  standing  and  which  is  in  the  possession 
of  the  Rev.  Lewis  Lampman,  was  erected  in  1736.  Judge  Leonard 
Bronk,  who  was  born  in  1752,  was  undoubtedly  the  foiemost  man 
of  his  period .  Not  only  was  he  appointed  first  Judge  of  the  Court 
Common  Pleas  for  Greene  county,  1800,  a  position  which  he  held 
for  ten  years,  but  he  was  the  first  lieutenant  Governor  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  1777,  1778,  was  major  of  infantry  in  1793,  lieuten- 
ant Col.  in  1796.  Previous  to  that  time  he  had  served  9  nine 
terms  as  member  of  assembly,  and  state  senator,  in  179,6,  1797, 
1798,  1799,  1800,  1801,  1803.  For  many  years  he  was  "justice  of 
the  peace  of  Albany  county.  He  died  in  1828  at  the  age  of  76 
years.  Many  of  the  deeds  covering  the  early  lands  are  in  possess- 
ion of  Mr.  Lampman,  and  still  others  of  the  Van  Bergens  are  in 
the  possession  of  Judge  Hallenbeck  and  Lawrence  Van  Bergenof 
Coxsackie,  son  Henry  Van  Bergen. 

The  Houghtaling  patent  was  west  of  the  Bronk  patent  and 
bears  date  of  1697,  a  grant  to  Matthias  Houghtaling. 

One  of  the  oldest  industries  in  Coxsackie  is  the  Marble  and 
Granite  works.  Just  when  the  works  were  started  we  do  not  know, 
but  they  were  started  by  William  E.  Leigh  at  West  Coxsackie, 
later  Levi  Bedell  was  connected  with  the  enterprise.  D.  Meade 
and  W.  G.  Fox  succeeded  them  and  conducted  the  business  for 
about  twelve  years.  Messrs.  Titus  and  Shufelt  have  been  at  the 
helm  for  22  years,  and  they  have  a  model  plant  with  electric 
equipment,  30  horse  power,  and  a  large  number  of  men  busy  cut- 
ting fine  monumental  work.  Their  patronage  extends  over  a  large 
field.  They  have  erected  some  of  the  finest  stones  in  the  county. 
A  notable  piece  of  artistic  work  is  the  sarcophagus  that  marks  the 
last  resting  place  of  John  N.  Briggs  at  Coeymans. 

The  Coxsackie  Malleable  and  Grey  Iron  Company  establish- 
ed a  plant  at  Coxsackie  in  1866,  and  these  buildings  were  destroy- 
ed by  fire  in  1871,  entailing  a  loss  of  $50,000. 

The  A.  B.  Newbury  Machine  Works,  originally  established 

445 


bfcAk  oLb  GfeiiEiNte  county. 


The  Last  Old  Toll  Gate,    at  Climax. 

at  Windham  Center  in  1851,  were  moved  to  Coxsackie  in  1866, 
manufacturing  printing  presses.  This  business  was  very  prosper- 
ous for  many  years,  and  several  offices  in  Greene  county  are  using 
presses  of  the  Newbury's. 

The  Coxsackie  Flour,  Feed  and  Plaster  Mill  was  established 
by  E.  D.  Hallock. 

The  Kennedy  Valve  Manufactory  was  one  of  Coxsackie's 
greatest  industries,  and  employed  a  large  number  of  men,  but 
after  a  number  of  years  they  moved  most  of  their  machinery  out 
of  town  and  the  works  have  gone  into  a  state  of  delapidation. 

The  American  Valve  Company  established  a  few  years  later 
has  a  pay  roll  of  $1,400  per  week  and  employs  from  60  to  120 
men,  and  is  still  doing  a  good  business  there.  0.  L.  Whitman  is 
superintendent.  They  are  building  an  addition  of  50x40  to  their 
plant. 

The  ice  industry  was  started  at  Coxsackie  by  Hiram  Van 
Steen burgh  of  Catskill,  in  1850. 

The  canning  industry  was  established  in  Coxsackie  by  E.H. 
Lounsberry  in  1872. 

446 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COtTNTlT. 


Among  the  principal  business   men  of  Coxsackie  are:  E.  S. 
Anthony  ice  dealer,  Levi  Bedell   miller  and  shipper,  Myer  Bresky 
clothier,  N.  A.  Calkins  attorney,  E.   H»    Merriam  pres.    Trolley 
Wheel  company,  D.  H.  Daley  attorney,  C.  H.    Delameter  cooper, 
C,  Dolan  butcher,  William  P.  Franklin  publisher,  E.  W.  Gardner 
optician,  G.  B.  Gardner  jeweler,  John  Goodwin  lumber  dealer,  D. 
Geroe  Greene  ice  dealer,  Oscar  J.  Greene  grocer,    W.    R.    Church 
hardware,  Frank  Hadley  grocer,  E.  C.  Hallenbeck  attorney,  Wm. 
H.  Hallenbeck  builder,  John  Hoag  barber,  Frank  C.  Hoag   nurs- 
eryman, George  W.  Hood  grist  mill   operator,    George*  Hubbard 
grocer  and  liveryman,  Harry  A  Jordan  druggist,  George  W.  Lamb 
insurance.  James  H.  Lampman  undertaker,  John  Loutfian  phys- 
ician, E.  H.  Miller  Shirt  and  Collar  Mfg.,  W.   C.    Brady  &   Son 
undertaker,  Piatt  Coonley  pres.  National   Bank,   J.  G.    Newbury 
iron  works,  Albert  Parker  cashier  bank,  Teunis  Petchel  merchant, 
William  J.  Perry  hotelkeeper,  E.    B.    Raum   supt.    Trolley   Co., 
Mark  C  Richtmyer  and  Nelson  Richtmyer   clothiers,    Irving  W. 
Saxe  dentist,  Paul  Schaad  propr.    West   Shore  hotel,    Frank  R. 
Shufelt  and  Irving   Titus  marble  dealers,  F.    H.    Sutherland  sec. 
Reed  &  Powell  Co.,  Wm.B.  Townsend  clerk  Board  of  Supervisors, 
Frank  Tremmel  hardware  dealer,  C.  W.  Van  Alstyne  pres.  Union 
Wheel  Co.,  R.  H.  Van  Denburgh   physician,    I.    E.  Van  Hoesen 
physician,  Andrew  Van  Slyke  physician,  J.    H.    Whitbeck  presi- 
dent Whitbeck  Co.,  Curtiss  and  Warren  attorneys,  Frank  Vermil- 
yea  propr.  Park  Hotel,  W.    C.    Wilson   dentist,    Bagley  Brothers 
grocers,  Dayton  B.  Smith  supervisor  and  newsdealer,    S.  B.Corey 
milk  dealer,  P.  V.  Washburn  &  Son  coal  and  lumber. 

Haas  Brothers  garage,  F.  T.  Bennett  and  C.  Durand  pho- 
tographers, Smith  5  and  10  cent  store,  I.  Gardner  moving  pic- 
tures. 

The  pastors  of  the  several  churches  are : 

First  Reformed,  W.  A.  Dumont, 

Second  Reformed,  Samuel  T.  Clifton, 

Methodist,  T.  W.  Mackey, 

Catholic,  Father  Gregan. 


447 


DEAR    OLD    GREECE    COUNT*. 


The  Hermance  Memorial  Library  was  the  gift  of  Miss 
Eleanor  Hermance  of  Coxsackie  in  1908.  It  is  fully  endowed  and 
the  value  of  the  property,  furnishings  and  books  amounts  to" about 
$11,000.  The  income  from  the  endowment  was  last  yeas  $3,509. 
The  building  is  open  daily  except  Sundays,  10  to  12,  3  to  5,  and 
7  to  9.  The  trustees  are  A.  W.  Van  Slyke,  pres.,  Arthur  E.Pow- 
ell, treasurer,  J.  C.  McClure  and  W.  R.  Church. 

George  H.  Scott  Hook  &  Ladder  Company  was  the  first  fire 
organization,  as  the  Hudson  River  Engine  Company  in  1860,  with 
the  Old  Deluge  hand  engine.  They  still  have  in  their  hose  house 
a  hand  engine  of  a  later  date.  This  company  was  disbanded  in 
1880  having  been  robbed  of  its  funds,  and  on  Feb.  7,  1881  was 
reorganized  as  the  Geo.  H.  Scott  Hook  &  Ladder  Company,  with 
George  H.  Scott,  Scotty  as  he  has  been  familiarily  known  ever 
since,  as  president,  and  A.  G.  Case  as  vice  president,  J.E.Brown, 
jr.  foreman,  R.  C.  Hallock  first  asst.,  Alfred  Smith  2d  asst.,  W. 
H.  Salisbury,  jr.  secy.,  E.  W.  Stone  treas. 

The  present  officers  are  E.  W.  Gardner  pres.,  Charles  Par- 
slow  foreman,  W.  H.  Parslow  secy.,  Dr.  W.  I.  Saxe  treas. 

D.  M.  Halmilton  Hose  Company  No.  2  was  organized  Feb. 
18,  1871.     George  Carter  is  president  and  foreman. 

Number  3  Hose  Company  is  located  at  West  Coxsackie  with 
Frank  J.  Collier  as  foreman  and  president  and  has  a  fine  record 
for  fire  work. 

Number  4  Hose  Company  is  located  at  the  Upper  landing 
and  David  Wallace  is  foreman . 

The  officers  of  the  1.  O.O.  F.  of  Coxsackie  are:  N.  G.Hen- 
ry Seaney,  V.  G.  Haskel  Jones,  Rec.  Sec'y  Charles  Parslow,  Fin. 
Sce'y  Jas.  Whitaker,  Treasurer  Chas.  Collins,  Trustee  W.  H. Par- 
slow. 

The  officers  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Coxsackie  are: 
Worthy  Consul  Wm.  G.  Rommel,  Worthy  Advisor   Myron   Case, 

448 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  village  officers  are:  W.  Ralph  Church  Pres.,  Fred  P. 
Aley  and  Samuel  T.  Burroughs  trustees,  Wm.H  Salisbury  Treas., 
Abram  Spoor  collector 

Banker  Wm.  W.  Doherty,  Escort  James  F.  Stacy,  Clerk  J.  W. 
Tolley,  Managers  S.  T.  Clifton,  Cyrus  Countryman  and  George 
Overbaugh. 


Durham 

Durham  formed  a  part  of  Al- 
bany county,  district  of  Coxsackie, 
and  retained  the  name  of  Coxsackie 
up  to  1790,  when  a  portion  was 
taken  off  and  the  town  ol  Freehold 
formed.  And  this  section  known  as 
Freehold  took  in  Greenville,  Cairo, 
Windham,  Ashland  and  Prattsville, 
and  all  of  the  town  of  Conesville  in 
Schoharie  county,  about  150,000 
acres.  The  balance  of  31,000  acres 
was  called  Durham. 

Many  of  the  early  settlers  came 
from  Durham,  Conn.,  and  that  fact 

L  brought  about  the  name  of  the  town. 

^^^^^^  Lucius  De  Witt  is  said  to  haye  been 

John  E.  Huyck  the   first  settler    about    1770,     and 

among  those  who  followed  were  Hen- 
drick  and  John  Plank,  Augustine  Shue,  Frederick  Gruyslaer, 
Johnathan  Baldwin,  Augustus  Pratt,  John  Hull,  Eliakim  Strong, 
Timothy  Munger,  Jairus  Chittenden,  and  others  whose  names  are 
still  in  living  generations.  Oak  Hill  was  originally  Dewittsville. 
Most  of  these  people  found  their  settlement  at  New  Durham,  and 
made  their  way  from  Connecticut.  After  reaching  Catskill  by 
sloop,  they  took  a  pack  on  their  backs  and  with  axe,  gun,  and 
blankets  went  into'  forests  on  foot,  all  prior  of  1784. 


ThelBaldwins  trace  their  generations  back   to  Flanders, 

44? 


in 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


864,  and  allege  that  Baldwin  IX  was  emperor  of  Constantinople 
in  1204,  and  that  five  successive  Baldwins  were  kings  at  Jerusa- 
lem. Johnathan  Baldwin  who  settled  at  Durham,  died  at  the 
age  of  91.  Selah  Strong,  another  of  the  early  settlers,  was  a  lieu- 
tenant in  the  French  and  Indian  war.  He  occupied  the  place 
where  Horace  Strong  died  in  1915. 

Eliakim  Strong  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Presbyter- 
ian church  at  Durham,  and  died  in  1800. 

John  Bagley  built  a  grist  mill  on  Thorpe  creek  near  East 
Durham. 

Capt.  Eliakim  Stannard  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution, 
and  his  son  Silas  was  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  Lyman  Stannard 
was  a  supervisor  of  the  town. 

The  Wrights  were  among  the  early  settlers  .Deacon  George 
Wright  was  in  the  Revolution. 

James  Utter,  another  settler,  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier. 
Utters  are  still  thriying.  Addison  Utter  built  a  mill  at  East  Dur- 
ham. 

Capt.  Thorpe  had  a  saw  mill  near  the  same  place. 

The  Pratt  family,  Johnathan  and  Abija,  came  from  Say- 
brook,  Conn.,  and  Captain  Pratt  served  in  the  Revolution.  Abija 
Pratt  was  the  father  of  Ezra  Pratt,  who  lived  on  the  old  home- 
stead up  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  1912,  at  the  age  of  82.  He 
was  father  of  Mrs.  F.  A.  Gallt,  wife  of  the  publisher  of  this  his- 
tory. 

Icabod  Olmsted  had  only  a  gun  and  an  axe  "when  he  went 
to  Durham,  and  he  cleared  all  the  land  on  his  farm,  and  died  at 
the  age  of  95  years. 

George  Fowler  built  a  saw  mill  at  Oak   Hill,  Dewittsville. 

Jesse  Rose  was  by  profession  a  grave  digger,  but  the  natives 
never  died,  and  so   he  had  nothing  to  do. 

The  Corn  walls  came  from  Connecticut  in  1788,  and  Corn- 

450 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 

wallsville  was  named  in  their  honor.  Capt.  Daniel  Cornwall  serv- 
ed in  the  Revolution  and  died  at  the  age  of  90  years.  Amos  Corn- 
wall moved  to  Catskill. 

Dr.  William  Cook  was  the  first  physician  and  he  served  in 
the  Revolution. 

West  Durham  was'settled  by  John  Clover,  William  Rood, 
and  Captain  Daniel  Shepherd.  Clover  was  frozen  to  death  while 
taking  food  to  his  family. 

Captain  John  Newell  served  in  the  Revolution,  and  among 
the  early  settlers  at  Durham.     This  family  traces  to  163^. 

Deacon  Coe,  Elihue  Moss,  Deacon  Cleaveland,  Deacon 
Chapman,  William  Ingraham,  Thomas  Adams,  Col.  Ezra  Post, 
were  early  settlers. 

In  1800  James  Thompson  of  Durham,  Garret  Abeel  of 
Catskill,  James  Bronk  of  Coxsackie,  and  William  Beach  of  Cats- 
kill  met  and  organized  the  first  Board  of  Supervisors,  with  Mr. 
Abeel,  chairman. 

Jacob  Roggen  settled  at  Durham  in  1806,  was  supervisor  of 
Durham  1812"21,  assemblyman  1816-22. 

Daniel  Peck  built  the  first  tannery  at  Oak  Hill. 

Of  the  early  industries,  Levi  Tremaine  built  a  tannery, 
Lucas  Dewitt  a  grist,  Joseph  Wright  a  grist  mill,  Stephen  Piatt  a 
grist  mill,  Jared  Smith  a  saw  mill,  Asa  'Jones  and  John  Jerome 
fulling  mills.  Jermiah  White,  Daniel  Peck,  Judge  Barker  built 
tanneries. 

Around.1840  the  Cheritree's  established  a  plow  factory  at 
Oak  Hill  and  later  a  grist  mill.  This  plant  was  destroyed  by  fire 
in  1865,  and  this  business  was  continued  up  to  about  1900,  when 
it  was  discontinued. 

Calvin  Adams  had  a  factory  in  Oak  Hill  for  the  manufact- 
ure of  corn  shellers,  coffee  mills  and  door  trimmings. 

45.1 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


iFalls  on  Thorpe  Creek,  j 

In  1807  the  yillage  of  Durham  was  swept  by  the  most  dis- 
astrous fire  in  its  history,  a  big  cabinet  making  establishment  and 
a  number  of  dwelling  houses  being  destroyed. 

The  Presbyterian  church  at  Durham'was  destroyed  by  fire 
in  1894. 

The  Reformed  church  was  established  in  Durham  in  1787, 
the  church  being  located  at  Oak  Hill.  The  building  was  finally 
torn  down  and  the  society  discontinued. 

The  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  at  New  Durham  in 
1792,  by  the  Rev.  Beriah  Hotchkin.  The  first  church  was  built 
in  1796,  and  a  new  church  in  1821.  The  present  church  was 
erected  in  1895,  following  the  fire  in  1894. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Baptist  church  was  organized  in  1809. 

The  Methodist  church  was  organized  about  1800,  at  East 
Durham  and  later  diyided.and  a  separate  church  was  organized  at 
Durham  and  Cornswallville. 

St.  Paul's  Episcopal  church  was  organized  at  Durham  in 
1809. 

Second  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  at  West  Durham 
in  1815. 

The  Presbyterian  church  at  Centerville  in  1834. 

There  are  traditions  of  the  existence  of  a  Masonic  lodge  at 
Durham  many  years  ago,  but  we  have  found  no  record  of  it.  The 
only  one  in  the  town  now  is  Cascade  Lodge  No.  427,  F.  &  A.  M., 
which  was  instituted  March  16,  1857,  with  the  following  officers: 
D.  B.  Booth,  W,  M.;  Luman  Ramsdell,  S.  W.;  John  H.Baldwin, 
J.  W.;  A.  H.  Hayes,  S.  D.;  Amos  Sear,  J.  D.;  Calvin  Adams, 
treasurer;  Manly  B.  Mattice,  secretary;  0.  T.  Humphrey,  S.  M. 
C;  H.  J.  Peck,  J.M.  C;  Wellington  Peck,  orator;  Elihu  In- 
galls,  tyler.  This  lodge  owns  the  Masonic  Hall  in  Oak  Hill, 
where  communications  are  held  on  the  first  and  third  Monday  in 
each  month.  It  has  an  active  membership  of  137.  It  has  pro- 
duced one  Grand  Lodge  officer,  R.  W.  Emerson  Ford,  district 
deputy  grand  master  for  the  15th  Masonic  district  in  1906.  The 
present  officers  of  the  lodge  are:  Charles  A.  Shultes,  W.  M. ;  L. 
G.  Chamberlain,  S.  W. ;  Potter  A.  Scott,  J.  W. ;  Leroy  Brandow, 
S.  D. ;  C.  Warwick  Newell,  J.  D.;  Ernest  L.  Ford,  treasurer; 
Paige  T.  Hoagland,  secretary;  Elmer  Borthwiek,  S.  M.  C. ; Alfred 
Hulbert,  J.  M.  C;  Omar  Hallock,  Orville  Hull,  stewards;  George 
F.  White,  marshal;  Elisha  N.  Parks,  chaplain;  George  Burhans, 
tyler, 

Trie  town  of  Durham  has  never  had' many  criminals.  Pat- 
trick  Flynn,  in  1846,  murdered  James  Roberts,  a  drover,  for  his 
money,  and  he  was  the  first  murderer  executed  in  the  county, 

453 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Gireeivville 

^^8  ^^^  The  town    of    Greenville    was 

mk  n^v  taken  from  Coxsackie  and  Freehold 

/jM^  \  in    1803.     The    town    of    Freehold 

subsequently  was  changed  to  Dur- 
ham. Barent  Petersen  under  a 
grant  by  Governor  Lovelace  and 
confirmed  by  Queen  Anne,  was 
owner  of  pretty  much  all  of  the 
town.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Augus- 
tine Prevost  had  a  grant  of  some 
7000  acres  and  the  grant  was  ac- 
companied by  a  certificate  from 
General  Gage  indicating  the  valua- 
ble services  of  Col,  Prevost  and  his 
L*  son.     This  patent  was  dated  1767, 

^^^^^  and  another  grant  of  lands  extend- 

Lewis  Hoose  ed  south  of  the    Prevost    grant    to 

John  French,  Thomas  Lynot,  Mar- 
Van  Bergen  and  others,  that  extended  from  the  Coeymans  patent 
to  Freehold  or  Durham .  Col.  Prevost  built  on  the  road  west  of 
what  is  now  Greenville,  a  very  picturesque  mansion  of  the  early 
colonial  period,  of  which  we  a,re  able  to  give  a  fine  view.  The 
writer  has  passed  this  old  homestead  a  great  many  times  and  al- 
ways to  admire  its  sturdy  lines.  And  always  with  complimentary 
though  of  the  very  honorable  family  that  occupied  it.  It  is  still 
one  of  the  most  picturesque  houses  in  the  town  of  Greenville,  as 
well  as  the  oldest. 

The  earliest  settlers  were  the  Ramsdells,  Rundells,  Sherills, 
Waldrons,  Shaws,  Kings,  Losees,  Storys,  Calhouns, Barkers,  Bots- 
fords,  Lampmans,  and  Bogarduses,  names  and  generations  still 
honored.  So  far  as  we  know  there  are  none  of  the  Prevost  fami- 
ly remaining  except  as  they  may  be  under  another  name. 

Major  Prevost  was  born  in  1744  and  served  in  the  English 
army  with  distinction  in  the  French   and   Indian   war.     He  first 

454 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


came  to  Catskill,  then  known  as  Katskill  and  in  1794  he  moved 
to  Greenville.  He  was  a  man  of  great  energy  and  built  a  number 
of  houses  and  several  mills  for  sawing  lumber  and  grinding  grain, 
and  was  back  of  a  number  of  business  enterprises.  The  Presby- 
terian church,  the  first  school  in  Greenville,  which  afterwards 
became  the  Academy,  and  a  school  near  his  residence  in  which  he 
employed  a  teacher  for  the  benefit  of  his  own  children,  were 
among  the  tangible  evidences  of  his  beneficence.  At  one  time  he 
is  said  to  have  been  in  partnership  with  Alexander  Hamilton,  and 
Aaron  Burr  his  legal  adviser.  The  Major  died  in  1821.  He  had 
three  sons,  one  of  whom  was  lost  on  the  Albion,  and  another  dur- 
ing the  peninsular  war,  leaving  Theodore  L- ,  whom  the  writer  of 
this  book  remembers,  his  sole  heir  and  an  occupant  of  the  place. 
Theodore  was  living  on  the  place  when  the  writer  was  living  at 
Greenville  in  1880. 

Benjamin  Spees,  Edward  Lake  and  Eleazer  Knowles  made 
their  way  from  Connecticut  on  horseback  in  1781.  Knowles  built 
a  cabin  on  Budd  hill,  and  Spees  and  Lake  built  north  of  Green- 
ville. 

The  first  settler  was  Godfrey  Brandow,  a  Dutchman  from 
the  Saugerties  section,  he  having  married  one  of  the  Oyerbaughs 
of  that  section.  He  built  a  log  house  and  was  followed  by  Stephen 
Lampman,  who  became  his  neighbor.  Brandow  died  in  1795  and 
his  graye  is  unmarked.  Peter  Brandow,  a  son  of  Godfred  Bran- 
dow, married  Hannah  Bogardus  of  Coxsackie  and  raised  a  family 
of  11  children,  most  of  whom  settled  in  that  section  and  rounded 
out  the  century.  Jacob  Bogardus  moved  from  Coxsackie  to  Green- 
ville in  1772,  Nanmng  Bogardus  settled  in  Greenville  in  1684, 
Simon  Losee  settled  in  Greenville  in  1790,  Obadiah  King  in  1791, 
The  latter  lived  to  be  80  years  of  age  and  in  1801  built  a  saw  mill 
on  the  Potic  Creek,  near  the  place  where  water  for  the  Catskill 
water  supply  was  to  be  taken.  Abel  Wakely,  Edward  Wooster, 
and  Reuben  Rundell  settled  near  the  present  village  of  Greenville, 
and  Nathaniel  Fancher  at  Greenville  Center,  members  of  the  Nor- 
ton family  at  what  was  afterward  called  Norton  Hill,  and  Thomas 
Place  at  Place's  Corners. 

4&5 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Prevost  House  at  Greenville,  1798. 


Reuben  Rundell  was  another  of  the  pioneers  who  came 
from  Connecticut,  and  served  as  lieutenant  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  He  landed  at  Catskill  and  followed  the  early  trail  to  Green- 
yille  and  built  a  log  cabin  on  the  Frank  Deane  farm.  He  was 
killed  in  1850  while  crossing  the  Hudson  river  at  Athens,  being 
hit  by  flying  stone,  dislodged  by  a  blast  on  the  New  York  Central 
railroad . 

Dr.  Amos  Botsford  and  John  Ely  were  the  first  medical 
practitioners  in  the  town,  the  former  passing  in  1864.  Isaac  Hal- 
lock  and  Edmund  Blackmore  had  the  first  hotels  in  1818  and 
1820.  The  latter  hotel  was  located  near  Gayhead  and  Elder  Stew- 
ard, one  of  the  first  pastors  of  the  Baptist  church,  conducted  a 
hotel,  Jacob  Flansburgh  and  Benton  Hallock  also  had  hotels  in 
the  town. 

The  village  of  Greenville  is  the  most  populous  of  the  sever- 
al villages  and  hamlets  in  the  town.  Ransom  Hinman  was  the 
first  merchant,  around  1803.  The  Coonley  hotel  on  the  corner 
was  built  by  Ezra  Holley  and  Jotham  Smith,  and  is  quite  old. The 
Bentley  store  was  started  in  1842  and  operated  by  Mr.  Bentley  for 

456 


dear  old  Greene  county. 


many  years,  he  being  part  of  the  time  postmaster.  There  has 
been  no  manufacturing  in  Greenville  village.  It  is  one  of  the 
prettiest  places  in  the  county  and  has  many  handsome  residences. 

Greenville  academy  was  incorporated  in  1816,  and  the  Rev. 
Beriah  Hotchkin,  Dr.  Amos  Botswick  and  Col.  Augustine  Prevost, 
and  a  number  of  others  were  among  the  incorporators.  Sylvester 
Eaton  was  the  first  principal,  and  James  V.  D.  Ayers,  another 
instructor  of  note,  was   later  at  the  head  of  the  Citskill  schools. 

The  Rev.  Beriah  Hotchkin,  mentioned  above,  was  the  pio- 
neer of  the  early  church  work,  and  he  came  from  the  settlements 
of  New  England  and  had  the  distinction  of  founding  the  first 
church  west  of  the  Hudson  river  north  of  Pennsylvania.  His  first 
sermon  in  Greenville  was  in  Benjamin  Spees  barn,  April  5,  1789, 
and  it  is  likely  that  he  came  at  the  invitation  of  Col.  Prevost.  He 
was  installed  pastor  in  1793.  Later  the  building  was  used  as  a 
tayern  and  a  new  house  of  worship  erected  in  1801.  The  Rev. 
Beriah  Hotchkin  was  pastor  of  the  church  until  1824,  He  died 
at  Plattsburgh  in  1829  at  the  age  of  72  years. 

Reuben  Rundell,  to  whom  we  have  referred,  organized  the 
Episcopal  church  in  1825,  the  site  being  donated  by  Major  Pre- 
vost. The  present  structure  was  built  in  1857.  We  are  unable 
to  say  who  was  trie  first  rector. 

The  Methodist  church  was  organized  in  1825  at  West 
Greenville  and  the  church  cost  about  $1,500.  Later  it  was  moved 
to  Greenville  village  and  in  1856  rededicated.  This  building  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1873,  and  the  present  handsome  structure  rose 
in  1874,  having  cost  about  $10,000.  About  this  time  the  writer 
was  located  at  Greenville,  and  has  pleasanc  recollections  of  the 
then  pastor  Rev.  J.  H.  Phillips,  Bradley  S.  McCabe,  late  member 
of  assembly,  Pierce  Stevens,  Alfred  Steadman,  Arch  Stone,  Ham- 
ilton McCabe  and  Reuben  Gedney,  who  have  passed  to  the  church 
celestial.     The  Rev.  J.  B.  Stead  is  pastor. 

The  Baptist  church  at  Greenville  Center  was  organized  in 
1793  and  its  communicants  were  scattered  from  New  Baltimore  to 

457 


DEAIt  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


South  Westerlo.  Elder  William  Stewart  was  first  pastor.  He  had 
a  farm,  and,  aside  from  what  he  raised,  received  3  pecks  of  buck- 
wheat for  his  salary  during  one  year.  He  died  at  the  age  of  90 
years.  The  church  was  built  in  1817.  Among  its  pastors  was 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Bronk,  who  became  a  great  revivalist.  Among  those 
who  have  stood  well  in  the  history  of  the  church,  we  remember 
David  Losee,  Sherman  Sanford,  William  Stevens,  G-eorge William- 
son and  Russell  Townsend,  who  have  gone  the  way  of  the  earthy. 
Another  old  church  of  somewhat  scattered  denomination  is 
the  Christian  at  Freehold.  Organized  in  1812  by  the  Rev.  Jasper 
Hazen.  It  is  a  model  church  and  has  prospered  in  its  century  of 
activity.  One  of  its  pastors,  the  Rev.  John  Spoor,  is  said  to  have 
baptized  15,000  persons,  and  to  have  married  1000,  and  attended 
1500  funerals.  He  went  to  Freehold  in  1819,  and  died  in  the 
harness  in  1864. 

The  Methodist  church  at  Old  Greenville  was  built  in  1812, 
and  one  of  the  early  pastors  was  John  Bangs,  rated  as  one  of  the 
great  preachers  of  the  denomination. 

The  Norton  Hill  Methodist  church  was  organized  in  1878, 
and  the  Rev.  John  Wood  was  first  pastor.  The  Rev.  W.  F.  Al- 
brecht  during  his  pastorate  was  also  principal  of  the  Greenville 
Academy. 

The  Gayhead  Baptist  church  was  organized  in  1853,  and 
had  as  its  first  pastor  the  Rev.  George  Slater.  Among  the  organ- 
ized were  Cyrastus  Betts  and  Maria  Betts,  and  many  others  of  the 
same  family  name. 

One  of  Greenville's  foremost  citizens  was    Alexander   N. 
Bentley.     Born  at  Westerlo  in  1814  and  he  took  possession  of  the 
corner  store  in  1856,  and  for  30  years  was  village  postmaster.  His 
wife  was  a  daughter  of  Josiah  Rundell,  a  pioneer  of  the  town. 

Another  family  intimately  connected  with  the  history  of 
Greenville,  the  Stevens',  and  it  was  Reuben  who  first  set  foot  in 
the  town,  after  having  turned  his  back  on  Catskill  creek  land  at 
$2.50  per  acre.  He  died  in  1804  and  his  son,  Reuben,  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Revolution.  His  son,  Orrin  C.  Stevens,  had  9  chil- 
dren, and  the  oldest  of  the  family,  James  Stevens,  known  as  Cap- 

458 


D^Afe    OLD    GREENE    COtfNtft. 


tain  Jim,  served  with  distinction  in  the  Civil  war.  He  was  super- 
visor of  the  town  in  1874,  and  1881-82  clerk  of  the  board  of  sup- 
ervisors.    Samuel  Stevens  was  killed  at  Petersburgh  in  1864. 

Ebenezer  Jennings  moved  to  Freehold  in  1809  and  built  a 
grist  mill. 

Henry  Martin  Snyder  who  settled  near  Freehold  raised  a 
family  of  14  children,  and  ten  of  the  boys  served  in  the  war  of 
the  Revolution. 

Abel  Wakeley  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and 'was 
located  at  West  Point  at  the  time  of  Arnold's  treason. 

The  Rev.  Jasper  Hazen  also  organized  the  Christian  church 
at  Medway,  the  first  of  that  denomination  in  the  state  of, New 
York.  That  was  in  1807,  but  no  building  was  erected  until  ,1832. 
And  the  church  of  the  same  denomination  at  New  Baltimore  was 
organized  by  him. 

James  M.  Austin  Lodge  No.  557,  F.  &  A.  M.  was  organiz- 
ed with  thirteen  charter  members  in  July,  1865,  in  the  Bentley 
building,  Greenville  village.  Its  first  officers  were:  John  W.  Hoff- 
man, W.  M, ,  Electus  Ramsdell,  S.  W. ;  Humphrey  Wilber,  J. 
W. ;  E.  Wackerhagen,  secretary,  David  Turner,  treasurer;;  James 
Stevens,  S.  D.;  B.  F.  Hisert,  J.  D.;  Piatt  Coonley,  tyler.  It  has 
had  a  prosperous  career,  its  membership  being  reported  at  90  on 
December  31,  1914,  and  it  owns  Masonic  Hall,  where  meetings 
are  held  on  the  2d  and  4th  Monday  of  each  month.  Two  grand 
lodge  officers  have  gone  out  from  this  lodge:  R.  W.  William  A. 
Wasson,  district  deputy  grand  master  in  1892  and  1894,  and  R. 
W.  John  H.  Sanford,  district  deputy  master  in  1911  and  1912. 
The  lodge  officers  lor  1914  were:  Peter  R.  Stevens,  W.M. ;  Wm. 
P.  Seabridge,  S.  W. ;  Chauncey  Spalding,  J.  W.;  William  S.Van- 
derbilt,  treasurer;  George  L.  Cook,  secretary;  Eugene  Sisson,  S. 
D.;  John  W.  Story,  J.  D.;  James  L.  Wheeler,  tyler. 

Successive  W.  M.  have  been:  John  W.  Hoffman,  John  B. 
Teats,  Darius  Rundell,  Albert  Wilber,  James  Stevens,  D.M.  Woo- 
ster,  Afred  Stedman,  W.  A.  Wasson,  John  Roe,  Arthur  Hartt, 
Chas  P.  McCabe,  George  E.  Smith,  Albert  W.  Baker,  E.  L.Wood, 
John  H.  Sanford,  Eugene   Spalding,  Jahleel   L.    Bogardus,  John 

Lampman,  Peter  R.  Stevens. 

459 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Earle  W.  Jenkins 


Halcott 

This  sturdy  mountain  town  was 
originally  a  part  of  Woodstock,  Ul- 
ster county,  and  is  the  smallest  in 
acreage  of  any  town  in  the  county, 
having  11,122  acres,  and  the  total 
assessed  value  of  its  property  is 
about  $65,000. 

In  1798  it  was  taken"  to  form  a 
part  of  the  town  of  Windham,  and 
in  1813  it  was  called  New  Goshen. 
This  name  gave  way  to  Lexington, 
and  was  so  known  up  to  1853,,  when 
Halcott  was  set  off  by  itself,  and 
named  after  George  W.  Halcott,  son 
of  Thomas  Halcott  of  that  town. 

Emigrants  from  Connecticut 
were  the  first  to  make  clearings  for 
homes  and  farms  in  the  forests  of 
the  section.  The  records  are  broken  and  scarce,  and  it  was  after 
1800  before  there  were  any  settlers.  Nathan  Stanton  and  James 
Simmons  were  among  the  number  around  1805,  and  then  followed 
John  P.  Van  Valkenburgh  and  his  brother,  Peter  Van  Valken- 
burgh,  Jehoiachim  Van  Valkenburgh,  Jacob  Miller,  Peter  Van- 
denburgh,  Nathan  Covel,  Joseph  Brooks,  Aaron  Garrison,  and 
others  whose  names  we  have  not  been  able  to  note. 

The  long  and  honorable  list  of  residents  includes  such 
names  as  among  the  later  comers,  John  P.  Van  Valkenburgh, 
Buel  Maben,  John  M.  Todd,  Benjamin  Crosby,  Isaac  T.Moseman, 
William  D.  Ford,  Rev.  Daniel  Van  Valkenburgh,  Nathaniel  Ellis, 
Lawrence  Brooks,  Russell  Peck,  Silas  Lake,  Conger  Avery. 

Conger  Avery  was  the  first  supervisor  of  the  town,  also 
postmaster. 

Joseph  B.  Brooks  in  1813  built  the  first  frame  house. 
The  first  school  was  in  a  log   house,    in   1816,    and    Sally 
Kline  is  said  to  haye  been  the  teacher. 

460 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The'town  of  Halcott  bonded  in  1874  for  $10,000  for  the 
purpose  of  apsisting  in  the  building  of  the  Rondout  and  Oswego 
railroad,  which  was  projected  but  never  built.  The  bonds  however 
were  all  paid,  while  the  road Jwasr old  under  mortgage. 

Outside  of  farming  Halcott  has  had  few  industries.  There 
have  been  seyeral  saw  mills,  Fred  Banker  in  1824  erecting  the 
first  one. 


The  Morse  Stores  at  Red  Falls. 

The  first  church  organized  in  the  town  was  in  1822,  of 
Baptist  denomination  and  Elder  James  Mead  was  the  pastor  up 
to  1856.  The  first  meetings  were  held  in  private  houses  and  it 
was  not  until  1847  that  a  church  was  erected.  This  church  was 
abandoned  later  on  and  the  meetings  were  held  at  the  school 
house. 

The  Methodist  church  was  organized  in  1829,  with  the 
Rev.  John  P  Van  Valkenburgh  as  pastor,  and  it  was  not  until 
1849  that  a  church  was  built,  the  meetings  being  held  in  private 
houses  and  barns. 

The  principal  village  is  Halcott  Center.  It  is  on  the  main 
road  from  West  Kill  to  Griffin's  Corners. 

461 


BEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNT?. 


The  present  supervisor  of  the  town  is  Earle  W.  Jenkins, 
whose  picture  appears  in  connection  with  this  article. 

We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Jenkins  for  the  picture  of  the 
beautiful  grave  yard  at  Halcott  Center,  which  is  one  of  the  finest 
in  the  county. 


sFewett 

The  first  settler  of  Jewett  is 
said  to  have  been  William  Gass, 
who  located  on  the  East  Kill  in 
1783.  Later  came  Zaphaniah  Chase, 
Chester  Hull ,  the  Andrews  family, 
the  Pecks,  Johnstons.  Henry  Gos- 
]ee,  grandfather  of  Supervisor  Fred 
Goslee,  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  of  the  early  residents, 
who  represented  the  town  officially 
a  number  of  times.  Laban  Andrews 
built  a  grist  mill  in  1795,  and  also 
a  saw  mill.  Zadock  Pratt  and  his 
son,  Zadock  Pratt,  were  promoters 
of  the  first  tannery.  They  also  had 
a  mill  that  was  operated  by  horse 
power.  The  Andrew  mills  were 
wiped  out  by  freshets.  Ezra  Pratt 
had  a  tannery  which  was  destroyed  by  fire. 


Fred  Goslee 


Most  of  the  early  settlers  came  from  Connecticut  and  were 
of  Puritan  stock.  So  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  learn  Jewett  was 
the  only  portion  of  Greene  county  that  ever  was  represented  by  a 
whipping  post  and  stocks,  a  custom  that  was  brought  by  the  Con- 
gregation alists  from  Connecticut.  The  whipping  post  was  located 
near  the  Presbyterian  church.  This  institution  of  the  old  blue 
laws  was  used  but  once  and  then  the  whole  apparatus  was  torn 
down  and  carried  away  by  parties  unknown.  There  were  no 
clocks  in  that  period,  and  the  only  method  of  getting  the  time  was 

462 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


by  sun  dials,  and  those  who  had 'no  dials  made  noon  marks. 

Jewett,  like  other~towns  of  the  county  had  the  early  acad- 
emy fever,  and  an  academy  was  built  in  1818,  with  Professor 
Douglass  as  instructor.  This  building,  which  was  2  stories,  was 
used  also  as  a  meeting  place  by  the  Methodists.  It  was  finally 
torn  down  and  the  lumber  put  into  another  academy. 


Old  Stone  House   at  Drumtnond  Falls . 

The  Presbyterian  church  was  early  in  the  field,  but  the  first 

building  about  1800   was   not  finished  and   the  present  structure 

was  erected  in  .1848.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Stimps.on  was  first  pastor  and 

he  later  on  became  a    missionary.     The  present   pastor   is  James 

Hewett. 

The  Methodists  built  churches  at  Jewett  Heights,  at  South 

Jewett  and  East  Kill.  We  are  unable  to  discover  from  the  con- 
ference records  that  any  of  these  churches  have  pastors  at  the 
present  time.  Local  preachers  have  been  in  the  habit  of  supply- 
ing them. 

The  Buel  brothers  had  a  saw  mill  and  grist  mill  in  1800, 
and  later  on  they  put  in  machinery  for  carding  wool.  Then  they 
added  a  great  smithy  with  a   trip  hammer   that  was   operated  by 

water  power. 

463 


t>EAR    Ol±>    GREECE    COtNft. 


Lexirvglon 

The  town  of  Lexington  was 
formed  from  Windham  in  1813, 
and  it  was  all  of  Great  Lot  22  and 
part  of  23.  In  1777  it  was  owned 
by  Robert  Livingston,  and  he  con- 
veyed a  portion  of  it  to  John  Darl- 
ing and  the  latter  sold  it  to  theKipp 
family,  who  still  reside  on  a  portion 
of  it. 

Among  the  earliest  resident's  of 
whom  we  have  any  mention  are: 
John  Maben,  Samuel  Peck,  Derrick 
Schermerhorn,  the  Showers,  Sopers, 
Hesses,  and  Bronsons,  prior  to  1800. 
A  little  later  came  the  Van  Valken- 
burghs,  Faulkners,  Rowleys,  Petite, 
Abram  V   Roraback  Barbers,  Chamberlains  and    others.  ■ 

John  Maben  settled  in  the  town  in  1777. 

David  Foster  is  referred  to  as  a  hero  of  the  Revolution. 

Another  of  the  early  settlers  was  Daniel  Angle,  and  he 
came  to  this  country  with  the  Hessian  troops  and  was  among  the 
number  captured  at  the  battle  of  Saratoga.  He  was  in  Burgoyne's 
army,  but  soon  after  capture  re-enlisted  in  the  Continental  army, 
and  later  on  he  settled-in  Lexington.  He  died  at  the  age  of  107, 
and  his  grave  is  still  pointed  out  on  the  Angle  place.  His  son, 
Christopher  Angle,  saw  service  in  1812  at  Plattsburgh.  He  was 
captain  of  the  Lexington  artillery  company. 

Henry  Cline  was  also  a  Hessian  soldier,  and  re-enlisted  in 
the  Continental  army,  settling  at  Lexington  after  the  war. 

Captain  Aaron  Bushnell,  also  a  Revolutionary  character 
built  a  tannery  in  1830.     He  employed  60  men. 


Later  settlers   in  Lexington   were  John  Roraback, 
Decker,  James  Deyo  and  John  Bonsteel. 

464 


A.  H. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Captain  Monroe  Van  Valkenburgh,  father  of  County  Clerk 
George  B.  Van  Valkenburgh,  was  an  early  settler,  and  reference 
to  him  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  book. 

John  Bray  built  the  first  tannery  at  Lexington  in  1X19,  and 
he  added  a  grist  mill  and  a  saw  mill  and  did  a  great  business. 

Bruce  Smith  built  a  grist  mill  and  a  distillery  in  1823. 

The  first  woolen  mill  was  erected  by  Derrick  Schermerhorn 
and  Richard  Peck  established  the  first  inn. 

« 
Col.  Zadock  Pratt  orginized  a  military  company  at  Lex- 
ington in  1820.  This  organization  was  continued  up  to  the  open- 
ing of  the  Civil  War.  It  was  then  reorganized  by  James  Munroe 
Van  Valkenburgh,  who  was  commissioned  captain  Edwin  Ford 
was  1st  lieutenant. 

The  company  formed  a  part  of  the  86th  regiment.  It  was 
disbanded  in  1872.- 

Eder  Barnum  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  physician  in  the 
town. 

The  first  settler  in  the  West  Kill  section  of  the  town  was 
Jerome  Van  Valkenburgh,  1780. 

William  Dryer  built  a  woolen  factory,  which  was  operated 
up  to  1869  when  a  freshet  carried  it  away. 

Hiram  Wheeler  and  Jacob  Van  Valkenburgh  built  a  grist 
mill  in  1847  and  this  was  operated  for  many  years. 

Philo  Bushnell  also  started  a  tannery,  which  was  burned 
down  later  on,  and  rebuilt  to  the  size  of  300  feet.  Iratus  Bush- 
nell later  owned  this  property  and  built  another  one  at  Bushnell- 
ville. 

The  first  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Lexington  was  Henry 
Goslee,  grandfather  of  the  present  supervisor  of  Jewett,  Freder- 
ick M.  Goslee. 

The  Methodist  church  of  West  Kill  was  organized  in  1866- 

465 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Westkill  Baptist  Church  was  established  in  1827,  and 
here  Elder  Petit  officiated  for  30  years. 

The  old  school  Baptist  church  at  Lexington  was  organized 
in  1790,  and  Thaddeus  Bronson  was  the  first  pastor.  Elder  Hez- 
ekiah  Petit  was  preaching  in  this  church  in  1801,  and  was  for  50 
years  and  more  pastor  of  this  crngregation.  The  Petit  family  came 
from  Prance,  and  Hannah  Petit,  a  sister  of  Hezekiah  Petit,  mar- 
ried James  Holdridge,  father  of  George  W.  Holdridge  of  Catskill. 
Elder  Petit  preached  most  of  the  time  without  pay. 

The  New  School  Baptist  church  at  Lexington  was  organized 
in  1870.     Meetings  were  held  in  the  arsenal  of  the  town. 

The  Methodist  church  was  organized  in  1845  and  the  pres- 
ent pastor  is  Paul  Ford, 

The  first  school  teacher  was  Sally  Cline.  The  teachers  at 
the  present  time  may  be  found  in  the  list  of  teachers  of  entire 
county  elsewhere  in  this  book. 


Huivter 


Thomas  Seifferth,  Jr. 


466 


The  town  of  Hunter  is  par- 
of  a  grant  of  land  by  Queen 
Anne,  to  Johannes  Harden- 
burgh  and  six  others  in  1708, 
and  this  patent  contined  1,- 
500,000  acres  and  extended  as 
far  as  Popaghtunk,  Delaware 
county.  Hunter  comprised  5 
lots  of  the  patent,  over  47,000 
acres,  assessed  at  a  million 
and  a  quarter.  It  was  formerly 
a  part  of  Ulster  county.  It  was 
taken  from  the  town  of  Wind- 
ham in  1813,  the  section  be- 
ing known  as  Greenland.  The 
earliest  settlers  were  the 
Haines  family,  Samuel,  John, 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


and  Elisha,    who    came  from  Connecticut. 

were  few  settlers  prior  to  1800.  Among  the  first  comers  were  the 
Greenes,  Goodsells,  Lanes,  Dibbels,  Merrits,  Baldwins,  Showers, 
and  Roggens.  Bears,  wolves  and  panthers  ranged  the  woods  and 
bounties  as  high  as  $40  were  paid  for  their  capture.  The  first 
postoffice  route  was  established  by  the  Government  in  1830,  from 
Prattsville  to  Catskill,  passing  through  Hunter  and  Lexington. 

In  1851  Hunter  had  151  persons  liable  for  military  duty 
and  several  early  residents  were  in  the  war  of  1812,  Aaron  Had- 
den,  William  Greene  and  Asa  Lord  being  among  the  number. 

Tanning  and  milling  has  given  place  to  summer  boarding, 
and  the  largest  and  finest  houses  in  the  county  are  to  be  found  at 
Tannersville  and  Haines  Falls.  Tannersville  is  the  Mecca  of  the 
city  people  in  the  summer. 

The  first  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Hunter  was  Daniel 
Bloomer,  and  the  present  supervisor  is  Thomas  Seifferth,  Jr. 

Hunter  village  was  founded  by  Col.  William  Edwards,  and 
was  called  Edwardsville.  The  Colonel  was  born  at  Elizabethtown, 
N.  J.  in  1770.  In  1818  he  came  to  Greene  county  and  settled  at 
Hunter,  where  he  established  the  New  York  Tannery,  a  plant  that 
had  a  capital  of  $60,000  and  could  tan  5000  hides  a  year.  This 
tannery  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1830.  Johnathan  Palen  of  Cats- 
kill  had  another  big  tannery  in  the  Clove  and  that  place  is  said  to 
have  been  the  original  Tannersville. 

Hunter  has  been  proverbial  for  excellent  roads  and  Michael 
O'Hara   of  Tannersville  is  at  the  head  of  the  county  road  system. 

The  town  of  Hunter  industries  have  been  lumbering,  still 
going  on,  manufacture  of  chairs,  and  mountain  souvenirs,  C.  O. 
Bicklemann  and  Burt  Howard  having  been  very  successful.  Mr. 
Bicklemann  was  also  the  finest  photographer  in  the  country. 

One  of  the  old  landmarks  still  doing  a  fine  business  is  the 
Roggen  House,  now  Martin's  hotel,  C.  A.  Martin,  proprietor. 
Tannersville  has  several  of  the  largest  stores    in   the  county,    and 

467 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


the  largest  garage,  that  of  Robert  Lackey  on  Main  street.  J.  Frank 
Lackey  has  a  large  grocery  business,  John  H.  Gray  garage  and 
livery,  Schryver  &  Webster  livery,  S.  R.  Hommell  electrical  store, 
Irving  Goslee  electrical  store,  Oscar  Langer  jewelery,  0.  H.  Perry 
coal  and  lumber,  Bert  Baker  plumbing,  Mrs.  A.  Allen  hardware, 
Lackey  &  Dibbel  attorneys,  F.  R.  Raensch  notions,  Owen  Bowes 
plumbing,  Haines  Brothers  meats,  Fred  Penrose  cafe,  M.  Gold- 
stein cafe,  Jacob  Fromer  real  estate,  Fred   Campbell    blacksmith. 


Main   Street  Tannersville,  1905,  now  built  up. 


The  village  officers  of  Tannersville  are:  President  Robert 
Y.  Hubbard,  Trustee  Louis  P.  Allen,  Treasurer  J.  Frank  Lackey, 
and  Collector  Clarence  Fowler." 

At  the  annual  commnnication  of  Mt.  Tabor  Star  Chapter 
No  284,  0.  E.  S.  the  following  officers  were  elected:  Ella  Joslyn, 
Worthy  Matron;  Peter  Joslyn,  Worthy  Patron,  Minnie  L.  Kerr, 
Associate  Matron;  Blanche  Milier,  Conductress;  Annabelle  Good- 
sell,  Treasurer;  Howard  V.  Vedder,  Secretary;  J.  G.  Edwards, 
Trustee. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Hotel  Martin,  formerly  Roggen  Mt.  Home. 

At  the  annual  election  of  the  Lockwood  Lodge  No.  653,  L. 
O.  0.  F.,  the  following  officers  were  elected:  N.  G.,jR.  G.  Win- 
ters; V.  G.,  John  J.  Kay;  Secretary,  George  E.  Sweet; Treasurer, 
Albert  B.  Taylor;  Trustee,  Charles  Quick. 

The  following  is  the  roster  of  officers  of  Hunter  Fire  Co. 
No.  One:  Pres.  W.  J.  Decker,  Vice-Pres.  W.  H.  Ingalls,  Rec. 
Sec.  H.  V.  Vedder,  Fin.  Sec.  Geo.  P.  Howard,  Forman  A.B.Tay- 
lor, Asst.  Foreman  James  Fromer. 

The  officers  of  the  year  of  Hook  &  Ladder  Co.  No.  1  are: 
Pres.  CM.  Cartwright,  Vice-Pres.  Charles  Shuman,  Rec.  Sec.  C. 
A.  Mooney,  Fin.  Sec.  Benj.  Sturtz,  Treas.  P.  H.  Conerty,  Fore- 
man V.  S.  Baldwin,  1st  Asst.  Forman  Benj.  Sturtz,  2d  Asst. 
Foreman  Harry  Smith. 

In  all  Greene  county  there  is_no  place  that  has  built  up 
more  rapidly  than  Haines  Falls,  in  the  past  twenty  years.  It  isn't 
so  long  either  back^to  the  period  when  there  were  most  Haines  in 

469 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


that  section.  There  were  seven  Haines  families  who  joined  lands 
all  in  a  row,  and  one  of  the  early  residents  was  Christian  Charles 
W.  Haines,  who  conducted  the  Haines  Falls  House  for  a  long  per- 
iod of  years.  He  also  owned  the  Falls  that  have  ever  since  borne 
his  name.  He  had  the  Falls  fenced  in  and  30  years  ago  when  the 
traveler  wanted  to  see  the  mighty  mountain  cataract,  he*was  con- 
ducted down  a  long  stairway  with  many  a  caution  about  slipping, 
and  then  the  water  was  turned  on  for  the  sum  of  25  cents  per 
visitor.  This  grand  old  man  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  great 
men  of  his  day.  He  died  in  1903.  The  Haines  Falls  House  was 
destroyed  by  a  fire  Nov.  17,  1911,  that  started  in  the  kitchen. 
The  loss  was  upwards  of  $75,000.  The  place  has  not  been  re- 
built. 

But  we  started  to  tell  of  the  new  buildings. 

First  mention  should  no  doubt  be  given  to  the  Twilight, 
Santa  Cruz  and  Sunset  Parks,  where  no  less  than  250  cottages 
have  been  erected,  all  commodious  and  artistic,  and  some  of  the 
houses  worth  many  thousands  of  dollars. 

Twilight  Inn,  property  of  the  Park-  Association,  is  the  fin- 
est of  the  large  mountain  hotels.  It  cost  rr.ore  than  $100,000.  It 
has  been  in  charge. of  L.  P.  Schutt  the  past  two  years.  It  was 
damaged  by  fire  last  summer  at  a  loss  of  $4500. 

Sunset  Inn  is  the  most  sightly,  managed  by  Joseph  Bryne, 
accommodates  100  guests  and  is  modern  in  every  way. 

The  Squirrel  Inn  is  another  fine  structure. 

Santa  Cruz  Inn  is  conducted  by  Mrs.  French. 

The  Ledge  End  Inn  is  conducted  by  the  Misses  Albertson. 

The  park  has  a  water  system  with  5  steel  tanks,  50  feet  in 
diameter  and  costing  a  large  sum.  They  were  built  by  E.A.  Hues- 
ton. 

Among  the  proment  men  who  own  cottages  in  the  park  are 
E.  E.^Olcott  of  the  Day  Line,  Gen,  George  F.  Wingate,  Bliss  Car- 
man, A.  F.  Hue3ted  of  Coatsville,  Pa.,  a  wealthy  steel  manufact- 
urer, Mrs.  F.W.  Picard,  Prof.  F.  R,  Hutton  of  Columbia  College, 
Major  W.  H.  Wiley,  Robert  Fulton,  a  descendant  of  Robert  Ful- 
ton, who  built  the  first  steamboat  navigated  on  the  Hudson  river, 

470 


DEAR  OLD  OKBKNB  COUNTY. 


John  G.  Underhill,  Mrs.  A.  C.  Benedict,  Raymond  Gorges,  Dr. 
W.  N.  Hubbard,  Charles  P.  Hathaway,  Dr.  Lester  M.  Hubby,  E. 
R.  Crowe  and  most  of  the  other  cottages  are  the  property  of  the 
association  and  are  rented  during  the  season  to  persons  from  New 
York  and  other  cities. 


L,ox- Hurst,    Haines  Falls,  C.  A.  Martin,  propr. 

General  Geo.  Wingate,  president  of  the  Twilight  Rest  Com- 
pany, was  the  originator  of  the  park  company  and  built  the  Inn. 
His  cottage  is  the  finest  in  the  park. 

There  are  two  handsome  churches  in  the  park.  The  All 
Angels  Episcopal  and  the  Union  Chapel.    Undenominational, 

St.  Mary's  church  is  a  fine  edice  with  stained  glass  win- 
dows, has  parsonage  abjoining  and  also  a  commodious  hall  built 
last  summer. 

The  Methodist  church  has  been  rebuilt  also. 

Miss  A.  Ely,  who  conducts  the  Vista,  has  a  block  of  fine 
stores. 

Henry  Smith  and  Company  have  an  extensive  livery  busi- 
ness with  fine  buildings  in  the  Park.  They  operate  some  50  rigs 
in  the  summer,  2  autos  and  employ  18  men. 

471 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


-Among  the  other  houses  that  have  been  erected,  the  Antlers 
ia  the  largest  and  probably  worth  $75,000.  On  this  road  leading 
to  the  Mountain  House  are  at  least  75  houses,  mostly  new  and  a 
number  of  buildings. 

E.  E.  Pelham  has  made  a  remarkable  change  at  the  top  of 
Clove  notch,  and  has  spent  $25,000  on  his  big  boarding  house, 
with  a  garage  40x20  feet.  Fred  Pleham,  his  son,  has  just  com- 
pleted a  handsome  cottage  overlooking  the  Clove. 

C.A.  Martin  has  expended  130,000  on  the  Lox-Hurst,  new 
cottage  and  enlargement  of  the  house.  Samuel  E.  Rusk  has  built 
the  Claremont,  a  splendid  summer  house  worth  $50,000. 

The  Vista  adjoins,  and  Mrs.  Ely,  the  proprietor,  has  built 
a  block  of  stores.  Rusk  and  Andrews  have  put  up  the  largest 
theatre  in  the  Catskills,  known  as  the  Wauwanda.  Frank  Smith 
has  built  a  big  store,  and  cottage.  One  of  the  improvements  is 
the  handsome  depot  of  the  U.  &  D.  Ry.  in  the  rear  of  the  Lox- 
Hurst.  The  Renner  Mountain  Inn  has  been  transformed  like  the 
palace  of  a  dream  and  R.  W.  Renner,  the  proprietor,  boasts,  a 
hostelry  second  to  none  in  every  way. 

The  property  of  the  Haines  Falls  Coal  and  Lumber  Com- 
pany has  all  new  buildings  and  is  very  valuable.  This  business 
was  started  by  W.  I.  Hallenbeck,  one  of  the  grand  men  who  has 
represented  Greene  county  in  many  ways.  The  Fenmore  owned 
by  him  is  commodious  and  beautiful  and  he  has  completed  a  fine 
new  cottage  opposite. 

The  Polischners  conduct  a  big  garage  near  the  corners,  J. 
B.  Myers'  has  a  fine  grocery  and  general  store. 

S.  E.  Rusk  has  built  a  new  postoffice  building.  The  Falls 
has  700  population  estimated,  and  during  the  summer  about  6000. 
At  that  period,  Postmaster  Rusk  informs  us,  that  he  handles 
10,000  pieces  of  mail  daily.  Mr.  Rusk  was  the  man  who  negotia- 
ted the  postoffice  for  Haines  Falls  and  Samuel  P.  Sch.utt  was  the 
first  postmaster.     The  building  was   8x14  feet.     The   successive 

m 


dear  old  gre^ne  cotJN^t. 


postmasters  were  S.  E.  Husk,  W.  I.  Hallenbeck,  C.  A.  Martin, 
Albert  Kerr,  and  from  1907  to  1914  S.  E.  Rusk,  and  now  Her- 
bert O'Hara.  S.  E.  Rusk,  in  1892  wrote  the  first  money  order, 
and  the  M.  O.  business  now  amounts  to  $30,000  per  year.  Mr. 
Rusk  built  the  Lox-Hurst  in  1894  and   the  Claremont  in  1905. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  know  that  the  first  postmaster  in 
Tannersville  was  Bird  Gray  and  that  the  office  was  located  for 
years  in  the  Layman  house  near  the  corners.  This  postoffice  had 
a  bar  room,  and  a  store  and  the  principal  articles  of  sale  were 
powder  and  shot.  At  that  time  the  postmasters  had  to  send  a  way 
bill  with  the  mail  and  that  contained  a  list  of  the  packages  and 
letters  as  addressed. 

The  early  industry  was  mostly  getting  out  hemlock  bark 
for  the  great  tannery  that  was  located  in  the  Clove  and  that  was 
the  original  Tannersville.  Just  at  the  top  of  the  mountain  was  an 
old  house  that  was  destroyed  by  fire  a  number  of  3-cars  ago,  and  it 
was  one  of  the  first  houses  in  the  section. 

We  referred  to  Bird  Gray  as  the  first  postmaster  of  Tanners- 
ville. Aaron  Roggen  succeeded  him,  then  William  Ellis,  Michael 
Lackey  and  Charles  Voss,  who  has  held  the  office  for  many  years. 

The  first  deed  of  land  in  the  Haines  Falls  section  was  to 
Aaron  Haines  and  that  was  in  1847,  up  to  that  time  the  land  had 
been  leased  or  sold  without  deed.  Charles  W.  Haines,  a  son  of 
Aaron  Haines  built  the  Haines  Falls  House  in  1864  and  it  was 
burned  Nov.  17,  1911. 

Prentiss  Hallenbeck  had  a  large  boarding  house  near  where 
the  Antlers  stands  but  that  was  burned  and  he  lost  everything. 

The  Laurel  House,  on  property  formerly  and  originally 
Peter  Schutt's,  father  of  L.  P.  Schutt  of  the  Twilight  Inn,  is 
owned  by  Jacob  Fromer  and  is  one  of  the  early  houses.  A.  C.  Ing"- 
lesse,    has  been  making  a  success  of  the  house. 

The  Antlers  is  conducted  by  Simon  Friedburgh. 

473 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Charles  Layman  lost  his  life  in  fighting  a  fire  near  the 
■Laurel  House  and  on  the  spot  a  monument  has  been  erected  to 
his  memory. 

It  is  narrated  of  Peter  Schutt  that  he  drove  a  deer  off  the 
Red  Rocks  into  the  Clove,  a  distance  of  250  feet  and  that  on  an- 
other occasion  he  drove  a  deer  into  the  stream  and  over  the  falls 
which  later  oh  that  account  became  known  as  Fawn's  Leap. 

We  have  a  picture  of  the  Old  Tannery  in  the  Clove  from  a 
drawing  by  the  late  Col.  B.B.  G.  Stone,  a  Catskill  artist  who  died 
at  his  home  in  Catskill.  He  made  hundreds  of  pencil  drawings  of 
the  mountain  section  in  the  60's  and  also  in  the  80's.  The  Col. 
who  had  a  fine  war  record,  wore  a  long  flowing  beard,  and  was 
many  times  penciled  and  photographed  as  Rip  Van  Winkle. 

Aaron  Haines  was  the  first  settler  and  found  his  way  from 
Connecticut  following  the  mountain  house  trail  on  horseback. 

Samuel  E.  Rusk,  the  present  postmaster,  lias  a  wireless 
station,  the  only  one  in  this  section  of  the  state,  and  takes  mes- 
sages from  all  along  the  Atlantic  coast  He  was  a  professor  at  the 
old  Clauverack  college,  a  historical  institution  now  torn  down; 
conducted  the  Bordentown,  N.  J.  School  and  has  been  able  to 
demonstrate  that  pictures  can  be  taken  through  solid  substances 
and  in  the  dark. 

Haines  Falls  has  a  public  library  in  which  much  interest  is 
taken. 

Mount  Tabor  Lodge  No.  807,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
was  instituted  at  Hunter  in  September,  1892,  under  a  charter 
granted  June  8,  1893.  Its  charter  members  were  Dwight  L.  Bur- 
gess, Louis  Mansfield,  Warren  Todd,  Charles  Lake,  Willis  Bald- 
win, J.  Leipold,  Frank  Conerty,  A.  Traphagen,  E.  Myers,  W.  H. 
Mansfield,  C.  Traphagen,  Horace  Biddel,  George  Haner,  William 
Bolles,  George  Ploss,  H.  Leaycraft,  Wm.  Ellis.  It  has  produced 
two  grand  lodge  officers:  Dayton  Slater,  assistant  grand  lecturer, 
1908-1909.  and  Peter  Joslyn,  assistant  grand  lecturer,  1914-1915. 
Regular  communications  are  held  Monday  evenings  in  Slater 
Building,  Hunter.  The  membership  is  102.  The  officers  for  1914 
were:  Frederick  B.  Wilcox,  W.M.;  Frank  Barkley,  S.  W. ;  Geo. 
Miller,  J.  W.;  Dayton  Slater,  treasurer;    Arthur   Baldwin,   secre- 

474 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


tary:  John  Kay,  chaplain,  Fred  Campbell,  S.  D.;  Fred  Scher- 
merhorn,  J.  D.;  Lewis  Smith,  S.M.C.;  Ernest  Graham,  J.M'C; 
James  Fromei1,  Wesley  Gripman,  stewards,  Wallace  Burroughs, 
marshall;  Howard  Vedder,  tyler. 


WILLIAM  B.  MARTIN 
William  B.  Martin,  proprietor  of  the  well  known  Martin's 
Hotel  at  Tannersville,  was  born  in  Lexington  in  1856.  His  father 
was  Frederick  Van  Orden  Martin,  a  wagon  ironer,  who  learned 
his  trade  at  Catskill,  being  bound  out  as  an  apprentice.  He  died 
Jan.  2,  1895  at  the  age  of  84  years.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Saxe, 
and  she  was  born  at  Saxton,  and  died  in  1892,  at  the  age  of  77 
years. 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNT*. 


William  B.  Martin  was  married  to  Louisa"  Van  Valken- 
burgh  of  Eodout  in  1877,  and  she  died  March  22,  1907.  They  had 
six  children,  George  W.  Martin,  born  in  1878,  who  was  a  graduate 
of  Cornell  law  college,  and  who  after  practicing  law  for  a  time  at 
Tannersville,  was  compelled  on  account  of  his  health  to  go  to  Den- 
ver, Colorado,  where  he  was  quite  successful,  finally  being  com- 
pelled to  returned  to  Tannersville  with  his  family  where  he  died 
in  1910.  The  other  children  were  Robert  Scott  Martin  and  Cath- 
erine Maria  Martin,  now  Mrs.  Geo.  Longyear  of  Red  Hook,  Fred- 
erick Van  Orden  Martin,  Mary  Louise  Martin,  and  Elizabeth 
Martin . 

Mr.  Martin's  second  wife  was  Laura  Edna  Bach  of  West 
Saugerties,  whom  he  married  Nov.  23,  1914,  and  with  whom  he 
is  now  living. 

Mr.  Martin  was  for  ten  years  operating  a  stage  line  between 
Lexington  and  Shandaken  and  also  between  Lexington  and  Hun- 
ter. In  1884  he  purchased  a  hotel  at  Lexington,  and  in  1901  he 
purchased  the  Roggen  House  at  Tannersville  where  he  is  now  lo- 
cated and  has  greatly  improved  it,  so  that  it  is  one  of  the  finest 
hostelries  on  the  mountains.  This  place  one  of  the  first  inns  in 
the  town,  was  first  conducted  by  Wm.  Anthony,  an  anti  renter, 
and  then  by  Norman  Gray  about  60  years  ago.  His  son,  Bird 
Gray,  a  Southern  sympathizer  in  the  war  period,  was  locked  up 
in  Fort  Lafayette,  and  later  was  killed  in  an  accident  in  the  Clove, 
1865.  Samuel  Mulford,  former  supervisor  of  Hunter,  operated 
the  hotel,  also  Frank  B.  Lament,  ex-sheriff  of  Greene  Co.,  who 
sold  it  to  Aaron  Roggen  in  1867.  He  enlarged  it  and  for  35 
years  ran  it  as  Roggen's  Mountain  Home.  He  was  a  relative  of 
Martin  Van  Buren,  president  of  the  United  States,  and  ran  a  line 
of  sloops  from  Albany  to  New  York.  He  also  dealt  in  whiskey, 
grain  and  flour  and  his  old  cash  book  and  records  are  still  in  the 
possession  of  Mr.  Martin,  and  they  show  consignments  that  would 
make  the  dealers  of  today  sit  up  and  take  notice.  For  instance 
on  April  24,  17,  1834,  his  sales  were :  whiskey  $7114,  April  10, 
200  bbls.  of  flour  $1062,  May  6th,  rye  $4270,  flaxseed  $166,  whis- 
key $633  for  42  barrels,  $2188  for  potash,  barley  $2090,  rye 
$2255,  129  bbls.  flour  $575,  10  tons  peas  $100. 

476 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COtJNfY. 


JACOB  FROMER 

Jacob  Fromer,  who  has  been  one  of  the  potent  factors  in  the 
history  and  progress  of  the  town  of  Hunter  and  Greene  country, 
was  born  at  Wittenburgh,  Germany  in  1848.  He  went  to  Hunter 
with  his  father,  Daniel  Fromer,  in  1853.  Few  men  have  ever 
been  more  intimately  connected  with  the  welfare  and  interests 
of  their  own  town  than  has  Mr.  Fromer.  For  he  not  only 
built  a  considerable  portion  of  the  town,  cottages,  stores,  boarding 
houses,  including  such  structures  as  the  Laurel  House  of  which  he 
is  still  owner,  but  for  6  years  he  represented  the  town  of  Hunter 
in  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  succeeded  in  getting  a  largely 
reduced  assessment  for  the  town.  He  built  no  less  than  10  iron 
bridges  in  the  town,  and  was  instrumental  in  bringing  about  the 
purchase  of  the  toll  roads  and  toll  gates  of  the  county.  The 
Fromer  store  was  the  largest  and  best  stocked  store  in  the  county, 
and  his  residence  on  Main  street  is  the  finest  in  Tannersville.  He 
started  the  livery  business  now  conducted  by  Schryver  &  Webster, 
organized  the  Tannersville  Water  Company,  of  which  he  is  presi- 
dent, in  1901,  and  in  1902  organized  Jacob  Fromer  Hose  Com- 
pany. He  presented  the  company  with  the  lot  for  their  building, 
and  a  contribution  of  $500  at  their  fairs  is  not  unsual.  He  con- 
tributed largply  to  the  building  of  the  local  churches,  was  owner 
of  the  Roggen  House,  gave  the  ground  for  the  parsonage  of  the 
Methodist  church.  He  contributed  to  the  organization  of  the 
band  at  Tannersville,  and  has  always  been  a  liberal  supporter  of 
all  local  improvements.  He  is  at  present  conducting  a  successful 
real  estate  and  insurance  business.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Tan- 
nersville and  Catskill  railroad. 


C.  A.  MARTIN 


C.  A.  Martin  of  Haines  Falls  is  one  of  the  most  successful 
boarding  house  keepers  in  the  mountain  section  and  his  place  is 
favorably  known  from  one  end  of  the  country  to  the  other.  He 
purchased  the  Lox-Hurst  in  1899,  of  Samuel  E.  Rusk,   who  built 

477 


DEAR    OLD    GREEjte'   COtrkT*. 


C.  A.  Martin 
Within  easy  walk  of  Mr. 
Martin's  place  are  the  fam- 
ous Kaaterskill  Falls,  and 
Haines  Falls,  two  of  the 
great  cataracts  of  the  moun- 
tain section,  Fawn's  Leap, 
Santa  Cruz  Falls,  Profile 
Rock,  Sunset  Rock,  a  view 
of  which  is  shown  on  this 
page,  Twilight  and  Sunset 
Parks,  Catskill  Mt.  House, 
Hotel  Kaaterskill,  and  the 
wonderful  North  and  South 
Lakes. .  Also  the  Otis  Elev- 
ating Ry.,  which  operates 
to  the  summit  of  the  moun- 
tains. 


the  hotel,  and  has  since  built  the 
Claremont  adjoining.  Upon  this 
property  he  has  spent  $25,000  in 
improyements,  so  that  he  has  a 
summer]  hotel  that  is  modern  in 
every  way  and  accommodates 
over  100  guests.  His  place  is  us- 
ually well  filled.  Mr.  Martin  was 
born  at  Hunter  and  has  taken  an 
active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the 
town  as  an  individual  and  as  an 
office  holder  elected  by  the   people. 

For  5  years  he  was   postmaster  at 
Haines  Falls. 

The   Lox-Hurst   is   located   near 
the  great  Clove  Slide. 


6flAR    OLt)    GREENE    COUNT?*. 


Frank  Layman  was  burned  to  death  near  the  Laurel  House 
in  1900,  while  attempting  to  put  out  a  fire  that  threatened  to 
burn  the  hotel  property,  and  a  monument  has  been  erected  to 
his  memory. 

The  station  of  the  Catskill  Mt.  Ry.  was  burned  in  1915  and 
is  now  in  process  of  being  rebuilt. 

R.  W.  RENNER 

R.  W.  Renner,  familiarly  known  throughout  Greene  county 
as"Wally  Renner,"  proprietor  of  Renner s  Mountain  Inn,  located 
at  the  corners,  Haines  Falls,  and  formerly  Hotel  Hallenbeck,  has 
been  very  largely  influential  in  bringing  this  well  known  summer 
fresort  into  prominence.  He  has  made  his  hotel  property  very 
attractive,  and  has  the  reputation  of  catering  to  the  taste*s  of  the 
traveling  public  with  a  menu  that  is  unexcelled.  Travelers  from 
every  section  aim  to  put  up  at  Renner 's. 

Some  idea _pf  the  beauty  of  Mr.  Renner's  hostelry  may  be 
had  from  the  view  which  we  present  on  this  page  showing  the 
hotel  property  and  the  bridge  and  mountain  stream  that  courses 
near  the  hotel  affording  fine  fishing. 


Meurw  $ywm  Hou^e 


Mrs.  M.  I>  Tracey,  Proprietress 


Haines  Falls,  N.  Y. 


Terms  $8  to  $15  per  week.      Transient  Rates  $2  per  day. 
Accommodations  for  40  guests. 

Electric  Lights,  Bath  and  Modern  Conveniences. 
Central  to  all  points  of  interest. 
Pure  spring  water.     Ample  shade. 


K  ■     '•' 

■*£■  ::_;4^f^ 

5* en  ;     -ir           "ir'                                 ..J31'  "'. 

r    :B-  ■-  >3 

=-^--»       wmm 

THE   KENWOOD 

HAINES  FALLS,  N.  Y. 

ELMER  E.  PELHAM,  Propr. 
Open  from  June  1  to  October  20. 

Delightfully  Located  at  Elevation  of  2,000  feet  at  the  head  of 
the  famous  Kaaterskill  Clove. 

House  Lighted  by  Gas.     Up-to-date  Sanitary  Arrangements. 

In  the  midst  of  the  most  important  points  of  interest  in  the 
Catskill  Mountains. 

'Bus  meets  all  trains. 

Liox-fiurst  and  Gottage 

Haines  Falls,  N.  Y. 
G.  A.  MARTIN,    -    Proprietor 


On  a  Commanding  Elevation  at  the  head  of  Kaaterskill  Clove 
Hot  and  cold  water  baths  and  modern  conveniences. 
Central  to  all  points.     House  bus  meets  all  trains, 


DEAK  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


New  Baltimore 


Dale   S.  Baldwin 


New  Baltimore  was  originally 
a  part  of  the  district  of  Coxsackie, 
and  it  was  not  until  1911  that  it 
was  set  apart  as  a  township.  The 
original  occupants  of  the  town  were 
Indians.  The  town  comprises  24,- 
189  acres  and  the  valuation  is  about 
an  even  million  dollars.  The  rec- 
ords of  the  town  previous  to  1854 
have  been  lost. 

The  first  settlers  were  the  Van 
Slykes,  Van  Dei  zees,  Hotalings, 
Garrets,  Millers,  Greenes,  Powells, 
Wheelers,  Smiths,  Bedells,  Searles, 
Hotalings,  Vandepoels  and  Van  Or- 
dens.  Many  of  these  were  Quakers 
and  they  set  up  a  standard  of  wor- 
ship that  still  remains,  and  the  gen- 
srations  of  the  early  family  are  among  the  first  citizens  of  New 
Baltimore.  Most  of  these  early  families  settled  in  the  district  in 
the  period  just  preceding  1800,  about  1790.  The  old  Van  Bergen 
mill  of  which  we  present  a  picture  elsewhere  -was  probably  the 
first  grist  mill  in  the  county,  and  was  erected  by  Peter  Van  Ber- 
gen, 1780. 

The  writer  landed  at  New  Baltimore  Station  and  in  com- 
pany with  mail  being  delivered  by  Uncle  Sam,  a  big  box  of  mill- 
inery and  a  very  mysterious  package  weighing  100  pounds  the 
contents  of  which  were  not  indicated  passed,  slowly  in  the  one 
horse  rig  to  the  heart  of  New  Baltimore's  great  business  center. 
We  haye  to  thank  a  number  of  people  here  for  the  information 
that  we  received.  People  of  New  Baltimore  live  long  and  well  and 
die  happy  unless  the  records  are  misleading,  From  1903  to  1914 
according  to  the  records  55  persons  died  in  that  town,  and  42  of 
the  deaths,  were  people  over  80  years  of  age.     9  were  over  90  and 

483 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


one  person  105  years  of  age.  That  was  Mary  Van  Derzee.  She 
died  in  1907,  and  was  born  in  1802,  being  without  doubt  the  old- 
est person  in  the  county.  This  entire  list  of  deaths  will  be  found 
a  little  further  on.  We  are  indebted  to  Stephen  A.  Burlingham 
for  much  of  the  information  we  received. 

Charles  Titus,  a  Hicksite  and  Quaker  preacher,  built  a  mill 
near  Medway  in  1818  and  many  other  mills  followed  for  sawing 
lumber.  Men  named  Dodge,  Coney,  Delamater  and  Van  Bergen 
built  mills. 

Formerly  a  large  amount  of  shipping  was  done  from  New 
Baltimore  village  and  it  was  not  an  unusual  sight  to  see  lines  of 
teams  and  loads  of  straw  reaching  from  the  landing  to  the  top  of 
the  hill  and  for  half  a  mile.  With  the  burning  of  the  big  store 
house  of  Andrew  Vanderpoel  this  business  was  lost. 


Nei  Baltimore  in  1915  from  River 


In  1815' Paul  Sherman  started  the  building  of  boats  for 
river  traffic  and  that  resulted  in  the  great  ship  yard  that  has  since 
been  supplying  substantial  sailboats,  tugboats,  and  larger  steam- 
boats. Around  1850  John  Burlingham,  an  uncle  of  the  inform- 
ant, and  William  Wheat  took  the  business  and  they  built  a  num- 
ber of  annex  ferry  boats  that  .were  used  in  New  York  harbor,  as 
well  as  the  first  double  deck  barges.  Then  Goldsmith  and  Teneyck 

483 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


got  the  business  and  they  let  it  run  down.  Then  J.  R.  and  H.  S. 
Baldwin  purchased  the  business  and  commenced  to  make  yessels 
that  were  staunch  in  every  way.  William  H.  Baldwin,  the  present 
proprietor  went  to  work  for  them  and  grew  up  in  the  business. He 
purchased  it  in  1879  and  has  spent  a  fortune  in  adding  every 
improvement  known  to  the  shop  builder's  art.  Great  ways,  heavy 
hoisting  and  lifting  apparatus,  steaming  apparatus,  saw  and  tram- 
ways and  material  and  tools  of  every  sort,  has  made  the  yard  per- 
fect. Forty  three  years  this  faithful  builder  of  barges,  steamboats 
and  pleasure  yachts  has  turned  the  lock  of  his  office  door. 

His  son,  Dale  S.  Baldwin,  now  supervisor  of  the  town,  is 
associated  with  him  in  the  business. 

From  the  river  New  Baltimore  well  displays  its  well  kept 
residences,  its  splendid  brick  school  building,  a  hose  hose  that  is 
a  credit  to  the  donor,  Mr.  Cornell,  after  whom  the  company  is 
named,  and  to  the  village  as  well;  a  number  of  large  hotels  of 
which  two  are  in  operation,   and  three  prosperous  churches. 

The  oldest  of  these  churches  is  the  Reformed.  This  organ- 
ization dates  to  1823,  but  the  name  of  the  first  pastor  does  not 
appear  to  be  known.  The  Rev.  Staats  Van  Santvoord  held  ser- 
vices at  New  Baltimore  and  Coeymans  in  1833.  The  Rev.  W.  R. 
Torrens  is  the  present  pastor. 

The  Baptist  church  was  organized  in  1868,  by  the  Rev. 
Foster  Hartwell  and  Rev.  A.  B.  Palmatier.  First  worship  was  in 
the  school  house  and  in  1780  a  church  costing  $4000  was  built. 
The  Rev.  G.  D.  Merry  is  the  present  pastor. 

The  Methodist  church  was  built  in  1856  and  later  on  re- 
modeled at  a  cost  of  $8000,  and  among  the  contributors  was  the 
Rev.  James  A.  H.  Cornell,  pastor  of  the  Reformed  church  who 
later  on  built  the  fine  hose  house  of  Cornell  fire  company.  The 
early  records  of  the  church  were  lost.  In  1876  John  Crawford 
was  pastor  and  the  present  minister  is  Rev.  J.  E.  Parker. 

The  Quakers  as  early  as  1803  built  a  church  at  Stanton 
Hill  and  the  Bedells  and  Halsteds  were  the  chief  backers  of  this 
organization. 

The  Rev.  Ebenezer  Wicks  started  the  Baptist  church  at 
Grape ville,  and  the  Palmers  of  that  section  were  among  its  many 
communicants. 

484 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Methodist  Church  at  Medway  was  built  in  1832.  How- 
ever there  were  no  early  records  kept.  We  are  informed  that  the 
Smiths,  Garrets,  and  Van  Derzees  were  early  and  later  supporters. 

The  old  Methodist  church  and  school  house  annex  have 
been  altered  and  John  Wagner  owns  and  occupies  the  church  prop- 
erty and  Bertha  Parsons  the  school  house. 

New  Baltimore  has  a  number  of  prosperous  social  organi- 
zations : 

Social  Friendship  Masonic  Lodge  74 1 ,  was  organized  in 
1874.  Barney  Gardenier  is  at  the  head  of  this  organization  as 
worship  master. 

The  Odd  Fellows  organization  has  discontinued. 

The  graded  school  to  which  we  referred  has  at  its  head  as 
principal  H.  B.  Ostrander,  Miss  Alice  Biglake,  intermediate,  Miss 
Alida  Mulder  primary. 

Cornell  Hose  Company  occupies  a  fine  large  building  on 
the  site  of  its  old  house  destroyed  by  fire.  William  Henry  Bald- 
win is  president  of  the  organization,  Richard  Chapman  foreman, 
William  Mortimer  secretary  and  William  R.  Gay,  sec. 

The  school  trustees  are  Dr.  G.  Waller,  Martinus  Mulder, 
and  Byron  Mansfield. 

Dale  S.  Baldwin  is  supervisor  of  the  town  and  L.  G.Nelson 
clerk. 

Social  Friendship  Lodge  No.  741 ,  Free  and  Accepted  Mas- 
ons, New  Baltimore,  was  constituted  July  9,  1874,  under  a  char- 
ter issued  June  5  previous,  with  the  following  charter  members: 
Robert  H.  Bronk,  Isaac  Burns,  James  H.  Case,  John  Colvin,  Ed- 
win S.  Colburn,  John  A.  Davis,  Dewitt  A.  Fuller,  Anthony  H. 
Holmes,  Benjamin  Hotaling,  John  Hotaling,  Jacob  B  Holmes, 
George  H.  Jackson,  L.  A.  Marshall,  James  Miller,  Stephen  Mead, 
Horace  Rennie,  George  Smith,  Stephen  Springstead.  A.V.S-  Van 
Derpoel,  A.  J.  Van  Derpoel,  Ira  Willson.  Its  past  masters  have 
been  the  following:  Anthony  Holmes,  John  Colvin,  Augustus 
Sherman,  Sam.  Colvin,  Jacob  Carthart,  Warren  Wolf,  L. Colvin, 
William  Gay,  William  Fuller,  Howard  Lomax,  Wessel  Van  Or- 
den,  Byron  Mansfield,  Martienus  Mulder,  Jacob  Van  Fleet,  Eu- 
gene Wolfe,  Barney  Gardenier.  The  present  worshipful  master  is 
Dale  S.  Baldwin.  The  membership  is  64,  and  regular  commun- 
ications are  held  on  the  first  and  third  Fridays  of  each  month, 

485 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


^raltisville 

x^  ^fex  Prattsville  was  named  after  Col. 

^f  \  Zadock  Pratt,    and    the    territory, 

something  over  1300  acres  valued  at 
$250,000  was  taken  from  the  town 
of  Windham  in  1833,  and  it  is  one 
of  the  most  picturesque  in  the 
county,  with  a  splendid  stream,  the 
Bataviakill  splitting  the  town  in 
half.  Just  below  the  beautiful  vil- 
lage of  Prattsville  is  located  the 
great  Devasego  Falls,  one  of  the 
most  notable  waterfalls  in  the  coun- 
ty, and  which  has  made  the  town 
famous  as  a  boaiding  section. 

I  WW  Prattsville  village   will  be  seen 

^^^^^^  from  the    picture  taken  in   1843  is 

Elmer  Krieger  located  in  a  fertile  valley  with  mod- 

el surroundings.  The  home  of  the 
greatest  man  that  the  country  ever  produced,  and  who  gave  to  the 
county  the  great  tanning  industry,  and  whose  lasting  monuments 
are  to  be  seen  in  the  world— wide  pictured  rocks  bearing  the 
names  of  many  of  the  Pratt  family.  [See  sketch  on  page  146.] 
Like  many  of  the  other  towns  Prattsville  had  a  greater  population 
in  1800  than  it  has  in  1915,  and  unless  all  sign  fail  the  building 
of  the  great  water  plant  which  is  to  supply  New  York  City  will  in 
the  course  of  the  next  few  years  cause  the  inundation  of  a  consid- 
erable portion  of  the  town,  and  lose  to  it  practically  all  of  the 
population  now  remaining.  Prattsville  had  1115  residents  in 
1800  and  713  according  tp  the  last  census. 

Prattsville  was  settled  by  early  comers  from  the  Schoharie 
valley,  and  on  the  valley  flats  at  Prattsville  was  fought  an  en- 
gagement of  some  importance  between  the  settlers  and  the  Tories 
and  Indians,  headed  by  a  British  officer,  named  Captain  Smith, 
who  was  shot  and.  killed  and  whose  remains  buried  near  the  creek 
were  washed  away  in  later  years  during  a  freshet.  These  early 
settlers  came  from  Germany  in  1710,  and  it  took  them.  t,w,o  years 


416 


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ft 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


to  reach  the  Hudson  river,  after  a  great  many  had  died  on  the 
way.  They  proceeded  up  the  Hudson  to  Albany  and  thence  found 
their  way  by  Indian  trail  to  the  valley  of  the  Schoharie. 

The  Laraways,  Van  Alstyns,  Van  Loans,  Deckers,  Shoe- 
makers, Derricks,  Austins,  Distins,  Atwaters,  Tompkins,  Bran- 
dows,  Mores  and  others  were  among  the  early  comers,  and  these 
families  many  of  them  are  still  in  that  section. 

The  first  supervisor  of  the  town  was  Hezekiah  Dickerman 
in  1833,  and  the  present  supervisor,  honored  year  after  year,  is 
Elmer  Krieger.  Zadock  Pratt  was  supervisor  in  1863,  and  Omar 
V.  Sage,  now  of  Catskill,  was  supervisor  in  1861. 

Prattsville  has  produced  many  men  who  have  stood  well  in 
the  history  of  the  county,  and  among  them  were  Daniel  C.  Scud- 
der,  F.  James  Fitch,  Henry  Chatfield,  Burton  G.  Morss,  Hiram 
Cronk,  Hiram  Bought  on,  and  others  whose  names  we  may  have 
omitted. 

Col.  Pratt  contributed  very  largely  the  money  that  was 
used  to  build  the  academy  at  Prattsville. 

The  first  school  was  in  log  house  near  the  Pratt  rocks. 

The  Reformed  Dutch  was  the  first  church,  and  that  was 
organized  in  1802,  with  the  Rev.  Lapaugh  as  preacher.  The  pres- 
ent church  was  erected  in  1834. 

The  Methodist  church  was  organized  in  1823  and  the  first 
church  built  iu  1834,  with  Thomas  S.  Barrett  as  preacher.  Dur- 
ham was  in  the  preaching  circuit.  Col.  Pratt  gave  most  of  the 
money  to  build  these  churches. 

The  Protestant  Episcopal  church  was  organized  in  1833, 
Prattsyille,  Windham  and  Hobart  being  the  preaching  circuit. 
Zadock  Pratt  was  a  warden  of  this  church. 

This  church  cost  about  $2000  and  Mary  E.  Pratt  gave 
$500.  The  first  president  of  Prattsville  village  was  Dr.  Thomas 
Fitch.  The  Prattsville  bank  was  organized  in  1843,  with  a  capi- 
tal stock  of  $272,266.     It  went  out  of  business  in  1852. 

488 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COtJNft. 


Prattsville  was  the  home  of  the  great  tanneries  and  Zadock 
Pratt  their  promoter,  the  town  being  at  that  time  Windham. 

The  first  tannery  however  and  a  grist  mill  and  saw  mill 
was  operated  at  Devasego  falls  by  Thomas  Bell,  who  disappeared 
from  Prattsville  and  was  captured  and  hanged  as  a  pirate.  The 
mill  property  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1825. 

The  view  which  we  present  of  Prattsville  shows  the  great 
Pratt  tannery  which  discontinued  operations  in  1845. 

Further  reference  to  this  industry  will  be  foun^  in  the 
sketch  of  the  life  of  Col.  Pratt  on  pages  146-149. 

The  first  physician  at  Prattsville  was  Dr.  Smith,  1790, 
followed  in  1800  by  Dr.  Curtis,  and  in  1825  by  Dr.  Benham,  the 
later  being  largely  responsible  for  the  arrest  and  conviction  of 
John  Kelly  who  murdered  Lucretia  Lewis  at  Prattsville,  and  who 
was  hanged  at  Catskill  in  1847 . 

Burton  G.  Morse,  next  in  line  of  Prattsville's  great  men, 
was  born  at  Windham  in  1810.  His  grandfather  Asa  Morse  had 
a  family  of  14  children,  and  the  oldest  son.  Poster,  was  the  father 
of  Burton  G.  He  had  tanneries  at  Red  Falls,  Windhand,  Ashland, 
Carbondale  and  a  grist  miii  on  White  Brook,  a  foundry  at  Red 
Falls,  and  also  a  cotton  factory.  These  buildings  cost  $20,000 
and  the  machinery  $50,000.  The  dam  which  had  a  head  of  32 
feet  cost  $6000.  He  had  11  grist  mills,  one  at  Hobart  being  twice 
burned,  his  plow  factory  was  burned,  and  in  the  great  freshet  of 
1869  he  lost  all  his  milling  property  at  Red  Falls,  Hobart,  Gilboa, 
and  Schenevus,  valued  at  $100,000.  Two  tanneries,  foundry  and 
one  grist  mill  were  burned  at  a  loss  of  153,000. 

He  was  supervisor  of  Prattsville,  1869  to  1878  and  assem- 
blyman 1876. 

Elmer  Krieger  stands  third  among  the  important  men  of 
Prattsville,  and  has  represented  that  town  in  the  board  of  super- 
visors since  1883.     See  sketch  on  page 

489 


DSJAR    OLD    GREENE    COTJNTT. 


Work  is  now  proceeding  at  Prattsville  on  the  great  dam, 
which  will  be  150  feet  high  and  wipe  out  40  large  farms  in  addi- 
tion to  the  entire  village  of  Prattsville.  The  famous  Pratt  farm 
and  its  pictured  rocks,  the  Platner  farm,  with  its  $20,000  barns, 
Sheriff  Churchill's  farm,  Sheriff  Conine's  farm,  Higgin's  farm, 
the  Hull  farm,  the  Devasego  Falls  House  and  other  big  boarding 
houses,  3  schools,  2  creameries,  7  stores,  4  churches,  3  hotels,  3 
cemeteries,  foundry,  and  100  residences  will  go  to  make  room  for 
the  great  reseryoir.  The  mountain  will  be  tunneled  to  get  the 
water  to  the  Ulster  county  water  shed.  The  work  is  estimated  to 
take  8  years. 

Aurora  Lodge  F.  &  A.  M.  was  organized  in  1827  with 
Thomas  Benham,  W.M.;  Sidney  Lovejoy,  S.  W.;  C.  K.  Benham, 
J,W.  But  its  existence  was  very  brief,  public  feeling  at  that  time 
being  too  anti-masonic,  so  that'it  did  not  outlast  the  year. 

Oasis  Lodge  No.  119,  F.  &  A.  M.  was  instituted  June  5, 
1847,  with  Cornelius  K:  Benham,  W.  M.;  Matthew  C.  Boughton, 
S.  W.  -T  Robert  Scanling,  J.'.W.  There  is  no  record  of  other  officers 
or  charter  members.  This  lodge  has  prospered.  It  occupies  its 
own  building,  where  communications  are  held  on  the  2d  and  4th 
Tuesday  of  each  month.  Its  membership  December  31,  1914, 
was  73. 

The  officers  for  1914  were:  Austin  Hummell,  W.  M.;  Ed- 
win A.  Alberti,  S.  W. ;  Willis  Lutz,  J.W.;  Dwight  Conine,  treas- 
urer, Albert  Newcomb,  secretary;  Orville  Hummel,  S.  D.;  Edwin 
Moore,  J.  D.;  Claude  White,  chaplain;  Fred.  Will,  S.  M.  C; 
Franklin  Marquit,  J.M.C. ;  James  C.  McWilliams;  marshal];  De- 
witt  Chase,  tyler. 

Its  succeeding  worshipful  masters  have  been:  C.  K.  Ben- 
ham, James  Gregory,  G.  S.  Cotton,  E.  P.  More,  A.  P.  Myers, 
Theodore  Rudolph,  Cornelius  Platner,  Wm.  F.  Fenn,  Sidney  Cro- 
well,  James  McWiHiams,  Albert  Clark,  Albert  Newcomb,  J.  H. 
Chatfield,  M.  G.  Marsh,  A.  S.  Cammer,  James  Richtmyer,  Dewitt 
Chase,  Charles  Rose,  E.  A.  Alberti,  Claud  V-  White,  Gould  Grif- 
fin, Austin  Hummel. 

490 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


"Wiivdham 

_^j    i^.  Windham  was  formerly  a  part 

of  Woodstock,  Ulster  county,  and 
is  one  of  the  most  prosperous  of  the 
mountain  towns.  It  has  many 
splendid  and  well  tilled  farms,  and 
a  great  many  prosperous  boarding 
houses.  While  there  are  few  of  the 
early  industries  that  remain  there 
are  evidences  of  thrift  everywhere. 
In  manufacturing  there  is  nothing 
left.  Farming  and  the  entainment 
of  summer  guests  who  desert  the 
city  for  the  pure  air  are  the  chief 
occupations . 

Windham  has  always  stood  at 
the  front  in  furnishing  strong  men 
who  have  occupied  high  positions 
in  state  and  county  affairs.  Wash- 
ington Hunt  and  Lucius  Robinson  of  Windham  were  both  gover- 
nor of  the  state.  Rufus  King  and  Zadock  Pratt  were  members 
of  congress,  Lyons  Tuttle,  William  Steele  and  Hon.  C.E.  Blood- 
good  were  state  senators,  and  Edward  M.  Cole  was  member  of 
assembly . 

A  great  many  of  the  prominent  men  of  Catskill,  New  York 
City  and  other  places  have  gone  out  of  Windham.  Jcsiah  Tall- 
madge  to  be  county  judge  for  along  term  of  years,  Cyrus  E.  Blood- 
good  to  be  county^ clerk,  and  a  great  many  lawyers,  among  whom 
are  Frank  H.  Osborn,  -Judge  Chase,  Leonard  B.  Cornell  and 
others. 

For  many  years.  Windham  has  been  the  temperance  strong- 
hold of  Greene  county.  Strange  to  say  the  early  industries  of 
Windham  included  a  distillery  operated  by  Bennett  Osborn  and 
another  the  property  of  William  Tuttle,  1822  to  1830.  Windham 
whiskey  was  regarded  as  better  than  £ne  Blue  Grass  kind.  The 
most  important  industry  industry  was  tanning,  and  Zadock  Pratt, 

491 


Dr.  Sidney  L.  Ford 


CHAR.    OLD    QREBlNtt    COtJNTY. 


Samuel  Reynolds,  Clark  Twist,  Friend  Holcomb,  Tertius  Graham, 
Bennett  Osborn,  Abijah  Stone,  Col.  George  Robinson  operated 
tanneries. 

Jared  Matthews  conducted  a  button  factory. 

Jared  Matthews  in  1822  manufactured  shaving  boxes  and 
later  a  carding  mill  and  saw  mill. 

Hunt  and  Matthews  operated  a  collar  factory. 

Matthews  and  Hunt  made  harness  to  supply  the  New  York 
city  trade.     William  Tuttle  ran  an  ashery  and  distillery. 

Morse  and  Newbury  manufactured  printing  presses. 

Bennett  Osborn  and  Abijah  Stone  operated  a  grist  mill. 

Bennett  Osborn  was  the  first  postmaster  at  Windham,  be- 
ing commissioned  by  Andrew  Jackson. 

The  first  settlement  was  at  Osbornville,  now  Windham, 
but  the  Osborns  are  still  there  in  force,  and  George  Osborn  at 
Brook  Lynne,  better  known  now  as  Brooklyn,  has  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  successful  boarding  house  interests  in  the  Cats- 
kills. 

Back  in  1822  Asa  Osborn  represented  the  town  as  its  sup- 
ervisor, and  Merritt  Osborn,  1847,"  Barnard  Osborn  1864,  M.  C. 
Osborn  1879  and  George  Osborn  1905,  represented  the  town  in 
the  Board  of  Supervisors. 

Noble  P.  Cowles,  John  Olney,  Erastus  Peck,  Cyrus  E. 
Bloodgood,  are  among  the  Windham  men  who  have  become  not- 
able characters  in  the  county's  history. 

There  was  Captain  Robinson  who  in  1812  volunteered  and 
his  personality  was  so  great  that  he  took  his  company  almost  to  a 
with  him. 

David  Lamoreau  settled  at  Windham  in  1817,  and  raised  a 
family  of  11  children  in  a  log  house. 

Solomon  Munson  came  to  Windham  in  1802,  and  he  was 
killed  building  a  frame  building  to  take  the  place  of  a  log  house. 

Silas  Lewis  was  the  first  of  that  family  and  he  erected  a 
grist  mill.  " 

George  Stimson  settled  in  the  Batavia  valley  in  1785. 
492 


ttDAfe    OLfo    GRHBJNii    COtJNtt. 


Eleazer  Miller,  Elias  Clark,  and  Cornelius  Fuller  were  early 
settlers,  and  the  latter  kept  an  inn,  1812.  He  had  8  sons  and  8 
daughters,  all  of  whom  lived  to  raise  families.  At  Fuller's  tav- 
ern religious  services  were  held  every  Sunday,  and  there  was 
a  pulpit  erected  in  one  of  the  rooms  for  religious  purposes.  Mr. 
Fuller  is  said  to  have  been  very  kind  and  benevolent. 

Lemuel  Hitchcock  settled  near  Big  Hollow  in  1785  and 
raised  a  family  of  10  children,  all  in  a  little  log  house. 

Abel  Holcom  from  Granby.  Ct.,  located  at  Jewett,  1820 
and  built  a  sawmill,  a  brick  yard,  a  tannery  and  established  a 
store.     Col.  Pratt  started  the  tannery  business. 

Eli  Robinson,  father  of  Governor  Robinson  built  a  log 
house  around  1800. 

Sanford  Hunt,  father  of  Governor  Hunt,  manufactured 
potash . 

Ambrose  Chapman,  1820,  started  a  chair  factory  and  made 
band  hay  rakes. 

Isaac  Payne  built  a  saw  mill,  1810,  Lemuel  Anson  started 
a  paper  mill,  1850,  Jared  Clark  built  a  saw  mill,  Roswell  Bump, 
1810  raised  a  family  of  9  boys  and  4  girls  in  a  log  house  at  Wind- 
ham. Decon  Elam  Finch  organized  the  West  Durham  Presby- 
terian church  and  brought  up  a  family  of  11  children. 

These  sturdy  pioneers  of  the  stirring  early  town  liyed  long 
and  were  happy  and  full  of  religious  zeal.  They  died  at  80  and 
90  and  raised  families  of  from  8  to  14  persons.  There  were  no 
child's  welfare  clubs,  no  eugenics,  no  great  health  boards  and 
rules  of  hygiene,  no  fly  swatters,  and  no  tabooing  of  water  cups, 
but  they  lived,  all  of  them  and  the  inference  that  health  comes 
unsought  under  the  proper  surroundings  may  be  had.  Men  work- 
ed, and  women  also.  Their  food  was  simple  and  their  hardships 
many,  and  the  secret  of  most  of  the  healthy  children  is  that  there 
were  no  nursing  bottles  and  the  mother  raised  her  offspring. 

Bennett  Osborn  had  a  grist   mill  at  Windham  in  1810,  a 

493 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


tannery  in  1823.  Henry  Osborn  later  erected  the  building  that 
became  the  Methodist  church,  and  for  a  time  ran  a  newspaper 
called  the  Centennial  1867.    Bennett  Osborn  was  postmaster. 

The  Big  Hollow  Presbyterian   church  was  started  in  1822. 
The  Windham  Presbyterian  church  was  established  in  1834. 
The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  organized  in  1843. 
The  Episcopal  Mission  in  1850. 
The  Free  Methodist  church  at  Big  Hollow  in  1871. 
The  Hensonville  Methodist  church  in  1874. 

The  Windham  Journal  was  started  in  1857  by  William  R. 
Steele.  Edward  M.  Cole,  published  the  paper  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death  in  1915. 

Windham  was  visited  by  a  most  destructive  freshet  in 
1870. 

Colonel  George  Robertson  was  one  of  the  most  prominent 
men  that  Windham  has  produced.  He  was  born  in  1805,  and 
was  one  of  a  family  of  ten  children.  His  father  was  ako  a  Col- 
onel. He  was  born  at  Troy  and  moving  to  Windham  opened' 'a 
temperance  hotel,  the  first  in  the  country.  Col.  George  Robertson 
operated  a  tannery,  and  a  saw  mill.  When  his  tannery  was  burn- 
ed in  1853,  in  the  space  of  six  days  he  performed  the  greatest 
building  feat  that  has  been  known.  Timber  was  cut  from  the 
woods,  and  a  building  40x210  and  3  stories  in  height,  main  part., 
with  addition  21x120  feet,  was  erected  and  ready  for  use.  There 
is  nothing  to  equal  this  even  today  with  greater  facilities  at  hand. 

Free  Masonry  gained  an  early  foothold  in  Windham,  where 
Revival  Lodge  No.  117,  F.  &  A.  M.  was  instituted  in  1804  by 
these  eminent  grand  lodge  officers  present:  R.  W.  Jacob  Morton, 
G.  M.;  Martin  Hoffman,  D,  G.  M. ;  C.  Colden,  S.  G.  W.;  Dan- 
iel D.  Tompkins,  grand  secretary;  Philip  S.  Van  Rensselaer,  J.G. 
W.  The  lodge  was  organized  at  the  house  of  John  Tuttle,  at 
Batavia,  and  its  first  officers  were:  Samuel  Gurin  W,  M.,  Thos. 
Benham  S.  W.,  George  Robertson  J.  W.  There  were  87  members, 
all  early  settlers  of  Windham  and  vicinity.  A  prize  possession  of 
the  lodge,  still  in  the  custody  of   Mountain  Lodge,    its  successor, 

494 


DiDAR    OLD    GREENE    COtTN't'ir. 


is  a  set  of  jewels,  regarding  which  the  record  reads: 

"Memorandum  under  date  of  April  22d,  1805.  Donation 
of  the  jewels  by  Constant  A.  Andrews  to  the  lodge.  But  if  it 
should  so  appear  that  this  lodge,  No.  117,  should  lose  its  charter 
or  warrant,  the  said  jewels,  or  the  amount  of  them,  which  is 
twenty-two  dollars,  shall  revert  back  to  the  said  Andrews  or  his 
heirs  or  assignees." 

The  charter  of  the  lodge  was  surrendered,  however,  and  on 
the  3d  of  February,  1807,  Harmony  Mark  Master  Lodge  No.  31, 
F.  &A.  M.  was  organized  with  Constant  A.  Andrews  W.  M., 
George  Stimson  S.  W.,  Thomas  Benham  J.  W.  This  probably 
existed  some  years  but  finally  went  out  of  record. 

Mountain  Lodge  No.  529,  F.  &  A.  M.  was  organized  in 
October,  1862,  and  its  charter  received  June  8,  1863.  Its  first 
officers  were:  C.  V.  Barnett  W.  M.,  Milo  Osborn  8.  W.,  A.  New 
bury  J.  W.,  B.  B.  Osborn  secretary,  J.  S.  Miller  treasurer.  There 
were  eight  charter  members.  From  this  time  regular  communi- 
cations have  been  held,  and  the  lodge- has  grown  to  a  membership 
of  108,  and  it  owns  the  building  it  occupies,  known  as  Masonic 
Hall.  The  officers  for  1914  were:  Charles  R.  Jennings  W.  M., 
Cyrus  R.  Tibbals  S.  W.,  W.  S.  Cammer  J.  W.,  Irving  Brockett 
treasurer,  Arthur  Roach  secretary,  HylieD.  RatcliffS.  D.,  Harold 
Hitchcock  J.  D.,  Lewis  Munson  S.  M.  O,  Rev.  J.  Markarian 
chaplain,  George  W.  Osborn  marshal,  Wilber  M.  Sanford,  Osweli 
R.  Coe  stewards,  Sanford  J.  Osborn  tyler,  Levi  W.  Bloodgood, 
George  R.  Winchell,  Irving  Brockett,  trustees. 


BENJAMIN  I.  TALLMADGE 


Benj.  I  Tallmadge,  born  at  New  Baltimore,  Greene  county, 
New  York,  November  1st,  1869,  the  son  of  Thomas  D.  and  Helen 
M.  Tallmadge.  Was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  New 
Baltimore  and  by  private  study  at  Albany,  Oneonta  and  Wind- 
ham. Studied  law  in  the  office  of  his  brother,  Hon.  Josiah  C. 
Tallmadge,  and  was  admitted  to  bar  February,  1893,  entered  into 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTt. 


a  co-partnership  with  his  brother  at  Windam  under  firm  name  of 
J.  C.  &  B.  I.  Tallmadge,  which  firm  existed  until  the  removal  of 
Josiah  C.  Tallmadge  to  Catskill  in  1897,  and  from  that  time  he 
has  continued  the  practice  of  law  alone  at  Windham. 


BENJAMIN  I.  TALLMADGE 
He  was  married  on  December  24th,  1895  to  Rose  B.  Gra- 
ham, the  daughter  of  Lucius  S.  Graham  of  Windham,  and  three 
children  were  born  of  this  marriage:  Dorothy  M.,  born  May  26th, 
1897,  Helen  R.,  bom  Nov.  27th,  1899  and  Marjorie  G.,  born 
June  25th,  1906.  His  wife,  Rose  B.  Tallmadge,  died  on  the  9th 
day  of  November,  1913. 

496 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


He  has  been  President  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  Wind- 
ham High  School  and  is  now  Secretary  of  that  Board ;  is  Presi- 
dent of  the  Windham  Elgin  Creamery  Company.of :  Windham,  is 
Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  Windham  Village  Water  Company, 
past  Piesident  of  Windham  Hose  Company,  Past  Master  of  Moun- 
tain Lodge  No.  529  F.  &  A.  M.,  Past  High  Priest  of  Mountain 
Chapter  No.  250,  R.  A.  M;  is  a  member  of  Rondout  Commandery 
No.  52  and  of  Cypress  temple  A.  A.  O.  M.  S. 


BURDETTE  G.l  DEWELL 

Burdette  G.  Dewell,  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Equaliza- 
tion Commissioners  of  Greene  County,  appointed  December,  1914. 
A  prominent  resident  of  Windham  and  one  of  the  Democratic 
leaders  of  that  town.  Born  at  Jewett,  Greene  County,  New  York, 
Sept.  2nd,  1874. 

Was'at.one  time  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of 
Windham  High  School,  is  a  member  of  Mountain  Lodge  No.  529, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Mountain  Chapter  No.  250  R.  A.  M.,  of  Rondout 
Commandery_No.  52,  and  of  Cypress  Temple  A.  A.  0.  M.  S. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Dewell  &  Moore,  the  propri- 
etors of  the  popular  Windham  Garage. 


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DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


SI.  Patrick's  Church,  Gatskill 

Something  oyer  thirty  years  ago  the  venerated  Father  0'- 
Driscoll  laid  down  his  burden  as  pastor  of  St.  Patrick's  Church, 
Catskill.  He  had  labored  zealously  and  well  in  guiding  the  little 
flock  entrusted  to  him  and  never  flinched  before  the  obstacles  that 
constantly  crossed  his  path. 

These  duties  were  taken  up  by  the  late  lamented  Rev  Wm. 
Finneran  who  in  frail  body  brought  an  amount  of  energy  not  of- 
ten found.  At  once  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  general  up- 
lifting of  his  people.  With  an  undaunted  purpose  in  mind,  he 
showed  them  the  necessity  of  raising  to  the  living  Grod,  a  temple 
more  worthy  of  their  Faith.  Although  there  was  only  a  small 
amount  in  the  Church  treasury,  he  laid  the  foundation  of  the  new 
St.  Patrick's  Church  and  with  unflagging  efforts  in  every  direction, 
succeeding  in  raising  the  present  structure. 

Ever  anxious  about  the  lamb3  of  the  flock,  he  spared  no 
pains  in  gathering  the  children  for  instruction  in  their  holy  re- 
ligion. And  as  religion  and  science  go  hand  in  hand,  he  never 
ceased  to  advise  the  young  to  grasp  every  opportunity  to  increase 
their  store  of  knowledge.  In  May  1890,  circumstances  led  him 
to  consider  seriously  the  idea  of  a  parochial  school.  Hitherto  he 
had  put  it  aside  as  he  dreaded  the  debt  which  such  a  step  would 
entail.  But  once  the  necessity  showed  itself,  no  difficulty  was  too 
great  to  be  surmounted.  It  did  indeed  increase  the  church  debt, 
but  the  school  was  built,.  In  September  1890,  it  was  opened  for 
the  children  of  the  parish. With  accustomed  foresight  the  reverend 
Pastor  provided  for  the  various  grades  of  pupils  and  within  a  year 
and  a  half  had  the  school'  chartered  by  the  University  of  the 
State  of  New  York. 

To  provide  for  the  course   of  study,  the   good  Father  took 

upon  himself  the  instruction   in  Latin,  made  proper  provision  for 

science  equipment  and  with  his  own  books,  formed  the  nucleus  of 

the  library.     The  first  pupil  was  graduated   with  a   State  regents 

diploma  in  1894  and  that   requirement   has  continued  the'stand- 

ard  for  graduation  until  the  present^time, 

499- 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


In  1896,  the  Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart  was  built  in  Cairo 
to  accommodate  the  summer  visitors  and  has  been  always  well 
attended  from  Catskill.  The  addition  of  the  village  of  Athens  in 
1897  required  an  assistant  priest  and  Rev.  Wm.  H.  White  ably 
aided  in  the  work  of  the  sacred  ministry. 

The  members  of  the  congregation  not  being  blessed  with 
the  goods  of  the  earth  in  abundance,  it  was  apparent  that  many 
sacrifices  must  have  been  entailed  in  supporting  their  pastor  in 
his  strenuous  labors. 

Father  Finneran  succumbed  to  an  attack  of  pneumonia  in 
April,  1900,  and  faithful  soldier  of  Christ  as  he  was,  he  calmly 
laid  aside  all  his  work  at  the  Master's  call.  His  memory  is  held 
in  reverence  by  all  who  knew  him  and  all  the  people  of  the  vill- 
age irrespective  of  religious  opinions,  mourned  his  loss. 

But  the  work  went  on  and  was  ably  taken  up  by  the  pre- 
sent Pastor,  Rev,  Wm.  P.  Fitzgerald.  Gradually  without  noise  or 
bustle  he  swiftly  lifted  each  thread  of  the  church  concerns  and  has 
since  carried  them  on  unostentaciously  but  firmly.  The  accumu- 
lated floating  debt  was  cleared  away  and  not  Withstanding  many 
dubious  headshakings,  the  school  expenses  were  promptly  met  and 
cleared.  No  less  than  his  predecessor  does  he  labor  for  results 
and  a  high  standard. 

Contenting  himself  for  several  years  with  the  poorest  parish 
house  in  the  diocese,  in  1903  Father  Fitzgerald  built  the  fine  rec- 
tory adjoining  the  Church.  Feeling  that  the  Church  property  was 
not  complete  without  a  convent,  he  was  on  the  alert  for  a  suitable 
site  or  building.  Two  years  later,  the  Olney  house  was  purchased 
and  has  since  been  the  Sister's  home. 

During  the  same  time  St.  Patrick's  Church  has  been  fres- 
coed, three  magnificent  marble  altars  have  been  set  in  place,  to- 
gether with  various  other  decorations  and  appurtenances  which  go 
to  complete  a  handsome  church  edifice. 

In  1907,  the  Papal  Delegate,  now  Cardinal  Falconio,  paid 
a  visit  to  the  Church  and  school.     The   pupils,   in  simple  regalia 

500 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


and  bearing  appropriate  banners,  formed  in  line,  met  His  Excell- 
ency and  escorted  him  to  the  Church  where  he  held  a  reception 
for  the  people.  In  no  unstinted  terms,  he  praised  the  simple  but 
beautiful  reception  and  congratulated  Father  Fitzgerald  on  his 
care  of  the  parish. 

At  the  opening  of  the  famous  "Old  Home  Week"  of  Cats- 
kill,  the  Father  Fitzgerald  had  the  beautiful  monument  to  mem- 
ory of  Father  Finneran  unveiled,  forming  a  fitting  prelude  to  the 
ensuing  week  of  exercises  commemorate  of  "other  daya.'' 

The  out-missions  have  claimed  much  time  and  attention. 
Athens  now  glories  in  having  one  of  the  best  appointed  country 
churches  in  the  state.  It  now  stands  central  in  the  village  and  is 
the  pride  of  the  Catholics  of  Athens. 

The  people  of  Cementon  have  also  built  a  commodious  base- 
ment of  concrete  which  can  be  easily  enlarged  as  soon  as  its  needs 
make  it  evident. 

The  last  two  years  have  witnessed  a  noticeable  diminution 
of  the  church  debt.  The  co-operation  of  Pastor  and  people  have 
brought  these  material  results,  but  the  great  bond  is  the  spiritual 
one  which  unites  them,  heart  and  soul  in  endeavoring  to  further 
the  interests  of  the  Divine  Master.  A  purpose  tried  in  the  furnace 
of  opposition  on  one  hand,  and  sacrifices  on  the  other  has  been 
theirs  and  they  will  hold  to  it  faithful  and  unwavering  until  call- 
ed to  lay  down  their  arms  and  receive  their  reward. 


The  Galskill  National  <©ai\k 

The  Catskill  National  Bank  is  one  of  the  oldest  banks  in 
the  United  States.  Chartered  in  1813  as  the  Catskill  Bank,  it 
entered  the  National  Bank  System  under  the  National  Bank  Act, 
as  The  Catskill  National  Bank,  and  has  steadily  gained  in  strength 
and  influence.  Through  all  the  years  of  its  existence  as  a  Bank 
it  has  proved  a  bulwark  of  security  to  its  depositors,  and  to  its 
stockholders  it  has  paid  generous  dividends  and  profits. 

The  Catskill  National  Bank  has  always  been  closely  identi- 

501 


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DHAR  OLD  GRHBNB  COUNTY. 


fied  with  the  interests  of  the  territory  served  by  it,  and  it  affords 
every  facility  and  accommodation  for  the  prompt  and  systematic 
conduct  of  business.  This  bank  is  a  member  of  the  new  Federal 
Reserve  System,  and  as  correspondent,  or  depository  there  is  no 
better,  safer,  more  satisfactory  kbank  in  this  section  today  than 
the  Catskill  National  Bank.  It  is  essentially  a  Commercial  Bank 
—  alive  to  the  requirements  and  necessities  of  its  customers  and 
their  business ,  and  accustomed  to  give  to  the  smallest  detail  that 
care  and  attention  which  should  recommend  it  to  the  small  as 
well  as  large  depositor. 

Its  present  commodious  and  beautiful  banking  room  was 
completed  and  occupied  in  1911  following  extensive  alterations  in 
the  Bank  Building,  at  which  time  new  burglar  and  fire  proof 
vaults  and  safe  Deposit  boxes  were  installed,  and  fully  equipped 
with  the  most  modern  appliances  for  safety,  which  are  claimed  to 
be  the  most  elaborate  example  of  steel  vault  construction  between 
Albany  and  New  York — and  are  absolutely  fire,  burglar  and  mob 
proof. 

Its  Presidents  have  been  since  entering  the  National  Bank 
System,  Rufus  H.  King  1865-1868,  Addison  P.  Jones  1868-1871, 
Isaac  Pruyn  1871-1903,  James  P.  Philip  1903  to  date. 

The  records  show  but  three  secretaries  to  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors viz  John  H.  Bagley  elected  July  19,  1869,  Thomas  E. 
Ferrier  elected  Jan.  12,  1876,  P.  Gardner  Coffin  elected  February 
16,  1903. 

The  present  Officers  and  Directors  are  James  P.Philip  Pres- 
ident, Judson  A.  Betts  Vice  Pres.,  P.  Gardner  Coffin  Cashier, 
John  H.  Story  Asst.  Cash.,  Omar  V.Sage,  Robert  F.  Story,  Josiah 
C  Tallmadge,  Percival  Goldin,  Samuel  C.  Hopkins,  George  W. 
Holdridge,  Herman  C.  Cowen,  Harmon  P.  Pettingill. 

The  officers  and  directors  of  The  Catskill  National  Bank 
have  always  been  men  of  influence  and  standingjin  their  commun- 
ity, and  in  them  the  depositors  of  the  bank  have  reposed  confi- 
dence, and  to  them  they  have  looked  for  advice  and  direction  in 
financial  matters. 

603 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  prosperity  of  a  bank  is  closely  allied  to  the  prosperity 
of  the  community  it  serves,  and  The  Catskill  National  Bank  which 
has  served  the  community  and  its  depositors  so  many  years  in 
loyalty  and  sincerity  has,  in  addition  to  its  honorable  record,  the 
following  guarantee  fund  to  safeguard  the  funds  of  its  depositors. 

Capital  $150,000.00 

Stockholders  Liability  150,000.00 

Surplus  and  Profits  125,000.00 


Total  $425,000.00 


JAMES  P.  PHILIP 


James  P.  Philip  was  born  in  the  Village  of  Catskill  and  is 
a  son  of  the  late  Jacob  S.  Philip  M.  D.,  the  well  beloved  Homeo- 
pathic physician  of  local  fame.  He  was  educated  at  the  Catskill 
Academy  and  graduated  from  Rutgers  College  with  honor  in  1882 
as  President  of  his  class,  receiving  an  appointment  to  Phi  Beta 
Kappa  for  scholarship  and  in  1885  his  Alma  Mater  conferred  on 
him  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts. 

He  was  admitted  to  the  New  York  bar  in  1886,  having 
pursued  his  legal  studies  at  the  Albany  Law  School  from  which  in- 
stitution he  graduated  as  President  of  the  class  of  1886. 

Mr.  Philip  began  the  practice  of  law  in  New  York  City  in 
connection  with  the  Title  Guarantee  and  Trust  Company  and 
subsequently  moved  to  the  then  City  of  Brooklyn  where  he  suc- 
cessfully continued  the.  practice  of  law  until  his  return  to  his  na- 
tive town  in  1903  when  he  assumed  the  Presidency  of  the  Cats- 
kill  National  Bank,  which  position  he  now  occupies. 

Mr.  Philip  has  never  sought  political  preferment,  although 
active  in  his  party  affiliation,  but  has  given  of  his  time  and  means 
to  advancing  and  deyeloping  the  varied  interests  of  his  Town  and 
County.  At  various  times  he  has  been  a  director  or  officer  in  The 
Catskill  Building  and  Loan  Association,  Catskill  Foundry  and 
Machine  Shop,  CatskUl  Chamber  of  Commerce,  The  Hudson  River, 


DEAR   OLD   GfcElENfi   COUNTY. 


Ice  Company,  The  Catskill  Mountain  Railway  Company,  Catskill 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  and  the  Catskill  Nationa 
Bank. 


JAMES  P.   PHILIP 

Mr.  Philip  is  a  32  degree  Mason,  a  member  of  Catskill 
Lodge  F.  &  A.  M.,  No.  468,  The  Crescent  Athletic  Club  of  Brook- 
lyn, The  Chi  Psi  Fraternity,  Long  Island  Country  Club,  The  Uni- 
yersity  Club  of  Brooklyn,  The  Universities  Club  of  London,  Eng- 
land, Catskill  Rip  Van  Winkle  Club,  President  of  the  Republican 
Club  of  Greene  County,  and  Life  Member  of  The  National  Geo- 
graphical  Society  of  Washington,  D.  C. 

Mr.  Philip  married  Sarah  Louise  Pruyn  June  15th,  1898 
and  resides  at  Catskill,  N.  Y.  and  both  he  and  Mrs.  Philip  have 
travelled  extensively. 


DEAR    0I±>    GREENE    COtJNlfr. 


ISAAC    PRUYN 

Isaac  Pruyn  was  long  identified  with  the  business  affairs  of 
Catskill.  Born  in  Kinderhook,  Columbia  County,'  November  25, 
1816,  he  graduated  at  the  Kinderhook  Academy  and  studied  law 
in  the  office  of  Judge  Julius  Wilcoxson.  After  being  admitted  to 
the  New  York  bar  he  went  to  New  York  City  and  practised  law 
with  Judge  Moore,  but  loving  nature  and[the[Hudson  River  Valley 
with  its  scenic  beauties  of  river  and  mountains  he  soon  after  re- 
moved to  Catskill  and  entered  upon  the  practise  of  his  profession 
with  the  late  John  Van  Vleck. 

Mr.  Pruyn  took  an  early  interest  in  the  business  affairs  of 
Catskill.  With  the  late  C.  L.  Beach  and  George  H.  Penfield  he 
engaged  in  the  freighting  busness  which  preceded  the  establish- 
ment of  The  Catskill  Evening  Line.  He  was  one  of  the  Directors 
of  the  Catskill  Mountain  Railway  Co.,  and  almost  every  business 
enterprise  established  in  Catskill  having  any  prospect  of  success 
was  assured  of  his  financial  support.  After  the  organization  of 
The  Catskill  National  Bank  he  became  a  stock  holder  and  in  1872 
was  elected  President,  an  office  he  continued  to  fill  without  inter- 
ruption until  the  summer  of  1903  when  his  failing  health  caused 
him  to  resign. 

For  the  young  men  he  always  had  a  kindly  feeling  as  was 
illustrated  by  his  many  donations  to  the  Drum  Corps  named  after 
him,  the  members  of  which  were  thereby  enabled  to  realize  their 
ambition. 

He  died  June  2,  1904  at  the  age  of  87  years,  survived 
by  a  daughter,  Sarah  Louise,  wife  of  James  P.  Philip,  President 
of  The  Catskill  National  Bank. 

Mr.  Pruyn  was  married  to  Mary  Wilcoxson,  a  niece  of  Ex- 
President  Martin  Van  Buren  and  daughter  of  Judge  Julius  Wil- 
coxson by  whom  he  had  five  children  and  after  her  death  he  mar- 
ried Sarah  Ann  Wilcoxson,  sister  of  his  deceased  wife. 

506 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


HERMAN  C.  COWAN 
Herman  C.  Cowan,  of  Catskill,  was  born  at  Emporia. ^Kan- 
sas. He  organized  the  Catskill  Cement  Company,  and  built  there 
an  extensive  plant  at  Cementon,  which  is. now  being  operated  as 
the  Alpha  Cement  Co.  He  has  been  actively  connected  with  many 
Catskill  interests,  being  at  the  head  of  the  Catskill  Supply  Com- 
pany, and  the  Catskill  Hardware  Company.  He  helped  to  reor- 
ganize the  Catskill  Street  Railroad,  being  president  of  the  Com- 
pany and  also  president  of  the  Rip  Van  Winkle  Club,  and  super- 
intendent of  the  Presbyterian  Sunday  School,  since  1912.  The 
Catskill  Supply  Company  built  the  Catskill-Saugertiei  state  road 
and  the  Cairo  village  state  road. 


WILLIAMS.  C.  WILEY 
William  S.  C.  Wiley  was  born  at  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  1854 
and  came  to  this  country  in  1861.  In  1887  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Catskill  as  the  head  of  the  Wiley  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany being  also  president  of  the  Aiken  Knitting  Company  of 
Philmont.  He  was  very  successful  and  was  honored  with  many 
official  positions,  serving  as  president  of  the  village,  supervisor  of 
the  town.  He  was  presidential  elector  on  the  Harrison  &  Reed 
ticket  and  also  on  the  McKinley  and  Roosevelt  ticket.  He  was 
quarter  master  general  on  Gov.  Levi  P.  Morton's  staff.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Hudson-Fulton  Committee.  Moving  to  Elmira 
in  1913  he  became  connected  with  a  knitting  company  at  that 
place.     He  has  now  returned  to  Catskill. 


SETH  T.  COLE 
Seth  T.  Cole  was  born  in  the  village  of  Catskill  on  February 
12,  1886,  and  has  resided  there  since  birth.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Catskill,  graduating  from  the  Catskill  High 
School  in  the  class  of  1901.  In  1907  he  entered  the  Albany  Law 
School  and  completed  the  course  in  that  institution  in  1908,  being 
admitted  to  the  practice  of  law  in  Novemeber,  1908. On  August  1, 
1907,  Mr.  Cole  was  appointed  to  the  position  of  stenographer  in 
the  State  Tax  Department  at  Albany  and  has  advanced  rapidly  in 
the  service  of  that  Department,  holding  at  the  present  time  the 
important  position  of  State  Mortgage  Tax  Clerk.  . 


DlSAfc   OLD   GfcBEittfc   COtJNTt. 


In  firemanic  circles  he  is  widely  known  and  has  been  high- 
ly honored.  He  is  a  member  of  Hose  Company  Number  One  of 
Catskill,  was  Secretary  of  the  Greene  County  Firemen's  Associa- 
tion for  six  years  and  President  of  the  organization  for  two  years, 
is  now  President  of  the  Hudson  Valley  Volunteer  Firemen's  Asso- 
ciation and  a  member  of  the  Law  Committee  of  the  Firemen's 
Association,  State  of  New  York. 


,   SETH  T.  COLE. 

Mr.  Cole  was  general  secretary  of  Catskill's  Old  Home  Week 
Committee  in  1908  and  general  secretary  of  the  Greene  County 
Hudson-Fulton  Celebration  in  1909. 

He  is  a  member  of  Catskill  Lodge,  No.  468,  F.  &  A.  M., 
Catskill  Chapter,  No.  285,  R.  A.  M.,  Lafayette  Commandery,  No. 
7,  K.  T.,  Cyprus  Temple.  A.  A.  0.  N.  M.  S.,  Hudson  Lodge,  No. 
787,  B.  P.  0.  E.,  Catskill  Tent,  No.  869,  K.  0.  T.  M.,  and  is 
President  of  Catskill  Circle,  No.  311,  P.  H.  C. 

In  politics  Mr.  Cole  is  a  Republican. 


„ieut.  Col.  Albert  Saulpaugh  N.G.N.Y;       Capt.  Percy  W.  Decker  N.G.N\Y 


?irst  Lieut.  Lucius  H.  Doty  N.G.N.Y.       Capt.  Daniel  J.  Cassidy  N.G.N.Y. 

All  of  Catskill. 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COTJNTT. 


FRANK  D.  OVERBAUGH 

Frank  D.  Overbaugh  of  Catskill  has  come  to  be  regarded  as 
the  man  of  Roads.  As  superintendent  of  the  town  of  Catskill  since 
1909  he  has  given  the  town  a  service  that  hitherto  was  not  known, 
and  in  addition  to  building  bridges,  and  roads  that  are  practically 
of  state  road  quality,  he  has  saved  the  town  many  thousands  of 
dollars  in  the  purchase  of  materials  and  highway  machinery.  He 
has  built  for  a  nominal  sum  the  big  tool  house  at  Cauterskill  and 
there  is  not  a  shovel  or  hoe  that  is  not  accounted  for. 

The  Overbaugh  family  was  one  of  the  first  in  this  section. 
Frank  D.  Overbaugh  traces  to  John  Peter  Overbaugh,  who  settled 
on  the  Loveridge  Patent  below  Catskill  in  the  1700's.  He  was 
born  Oct.  25,  1853  on  the  old  farm  in  the  Embocght.  His  father 
was  William  Overbaugh,  and  mother,  Ophelia  Dewey.  He  was 
married  to  Alice  J.  Fiero,  and  they  had  two  children,  Florence, 
who  married  School  Com.  Wm  N.  Anderson,  and  Susie  deceased, 
who  was  the  wife  of  Geo.  Legendre.  He  attends  the  Reformed 
Church. 

HORACE  WILLARD 

Horace  Willard  came  to  Catskill  from  Lenox,  Mass.  and 
opened  a  Jewelry  Store  where  the  present  Rectory  of  the  Dutch 
Reformed  Church  now  stands.  He  married  Susan  Sophia  Kemper 
of  Hudson  and  soon  afterwards  moved  up  Main  Street  to  the  site 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  Dr.  Honeyford,  where  he  continued 
the  jewelry  business  until  he  died .  His  son,  Charles  S.  Willard, 
bought  out  the  business  and  in  1851  moved  it  into  a  new  store 
built  by  him  on  the  adjoining  lot,  No.  380  Main  street,  where  he 
conducted  the  business  until  he  died.  From  that  time  on  the  busi- 
ness was  carried  on  by  Howard  Wilcox  until  he  died  February 
1915,  and  in  April  1915  was  taken  up  by  Prentis  W.  Hollenbeck, 
who  is  at  present  conducting  it. 

CHARLES  E.  WILLARD,  M.  D. 
Charles  E.  Willard,  M.D.,  son  of  Horace  Willard  to  whom 
previous  reference  has  been  made,  was   born  at  Catskill,    August 
14,  1846,  and  was  graduated  in  1868,  from  the  college  of  Physi- 
cians and  Surgeons  of  New  York  City.     During  most  of  the  period 

510 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


since  that  time  he  has  practiced  medicine  successfully  in  Catskill 
and  had  for  many  years  been  at  the  head  of  the  Health  Board  of 
the  town  and  at  present  is  the  state  representative  for  this  section. 
His  first  wife  was  Anna  E.  Willard  and  his  second  wife  with 
whom  he  is  living  in  the  old  homestead  on  Main  street,  Catskill, 
was  Marcia  C.  Cole,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1897.  In  1874 
he  was  elected  vestryman  of  St.  Luke's  Church,  holding  the  posi- 
tion for  many  years.  He  is  still  an  active  member  of  that  church. 

THOMAS  C.  PERRY 

This  life  sketch  of  Thomas  C.Perry  is  here  presented  for 
those  who  are  less  familiar  with  the  sterling  qualities  of  his  man- 
hood than  his  associates  and  friends  of  long  and  intimate  ac- 
quaintance. 

He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Olive,  Ulster  county,  N.  Y.  in 
1867,  where  he  acquired  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  subjects 
taught  in  the  public  schools. 

Later  his  parents  moved  to  the  town  of  Marbletown. 
While  living  in  this  town  he  not  only  gained  a  practical  knowledge 
of  agriculture,  but  the  necessity  of  individual  responsibility 
strengthened  the  springs  of  his  moral  purpose.  Consciously  or 
unconsciously  he  had  learned  that  socially  and  industrially  the 
first  duty  of  man  consists  in  making  the  most  of  himself.  With 
this  thought  supreme  and  a  desire  to  fit  himself  for  teaching,  he 
entered  Kingston  Academy  where  he  studied  for  his  chosen  pro- 
fession His  preparation  was  further  continued  in  Spencer's 
Business  College. 

Previous  to  this  he  had  been  granted  a  license  to  teach  in 
the  schools  of  New  York,  and  his  first  school  was  near  Stone 
Ridge.  He  taught  other  rural  schools,  and  later  accepted  the 
principalship  at  Tillson.  Here  he  taught  the  higher  branches  and 
supervised  the  work  in  the  grades,  resigning  at  the  end  of  the 
third  year  to  become  principal  at  Wallkill,  where  he  remained 
four  years  and  brought  the  school  to  a  high  state  of  efficiency.  In 
fact,  it  ranked  among  the  best  in  the  county,  and  from  this  school 
Mr.  Perry  turned  out  some  of  the  best  prepared  students  for  the 
higher  branches  of  learning.     He  believed  the  business  of  teaching 

511 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


to  be  a  serious  and  important  enterprise.  Serious  because  of  its 
responsibilities,  opportunties  and  obligations;!  important  because 
t.be  demand  of  the  day  is  for  teachers  disciplined  .and  equipped  to 
interpret  the  world  of  truth. 

In  1898  Mr.  Perry  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mks  Tes- 
sa Decker,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jonas  Decker,  of  Granite, 
N.  Y. 

Mr.  Perry  cherishes  a  pardonable  pride  in  being  a  descend- 
ant of  the  line  which  gave  to  our  young  nations  Commodore  Oliver 
Hazard  Perry.  By  the  prowess  of  this  heroic  naval  officer  the 
British  were  driven  from  Lake  Erie  in  1813  and  forced  to  eyacu- 
ate  Detroit.  Like  his  progenitor  he  believes  in  simplifying  his 
work  by  avoiding  waste  of  words,  waste  of  material  and  waste  of 

time. 

In  1905  Mr.  Perry  was  elected  by  the  people  of  third  com- 
missioner district  of  Ulster  county  to  the  office  of  school  commis- 
sioner. He  analyzed  conditions,  thought  out  a  plan,  studied  di- 
rections, summoned  his  abilities,  insight  and  courage.  He  gave 
hope  to  teachers,  helped  them  across  hard  places,  and  he  was  hap- 
py in  this  loving  service.  He  organized  round  table  conferences 
and  brought  prominent  educators  to  these  conferences  to  impart 
professional  impetus  and  enthusiasm.  The  teachers  of  his  district 
fully  appreciated  his  efforts.  Thoughtful  for  the  highest  personal 
welfare  not  only  of  the  teachers,  but  of  the  individual  pupils  in 
the  schools  under  his  care,  he  will  long  be  remembered  for  his 
courtesy,  his  ability  and  his  efficient  service. 

In  1912  the  board  of  school  directors  of  the  first  supervis- 
ory district  of  Greene  county,  elected  Mr.  Perry  superintendent 
of  the  schools  in  the  towns  of  Athens,  Cairo,  Catskill,  Coxsackie 
to  succeed  Randall  N.  Saunders  resigned.  His  actual  experience, 
his  thorough  knowledge  of  rural  school  problems,  his  sincerity  and 
tact  are  the  attributes  and  qualities  which  enable  him  to  super- 
vise the  schools  of  this  district  with  intelligence  and  in  the  spirit 
°f,the  leader. 

Without  domination,  the  true  leader  "gets  things  done" 
by  his  presence,  by  his  attitude,  and  by  his  unassuming  participa- 
tion. 

512 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


George  H.  Chase  is  a  na^^e 
of  the  mountain  section  of  the 
county,  born  and  reared  on  a 
farm  in    the   town  of  Jewett, 
where  the  high   altitudes   and 
surrounding   mountain    peaks 
breed  not  only   pure    air   and 
good  health  but  study  charac- 
ters and   lofty  ideals  as    well, 
and  he  is    thoroughly    repre- 
sentative of  that  section,  hav- 
in  bis  veins  the    blood  of  the 
Chase,     Baldwin      and    Pratt 
families,  the  pioneers    of  our 
mountain  settlements  and  pro- 
genitors  of    a    race    that   put 
Greene   county    on  the   map 
When  a  young    man    he  pur- 
chased the  mercantile  business 
of  the  late  Alfred  Peck  at  Jew- 
ett Heights  and  for  many  con- 
ducted this  in  connection  with 
his  summer    hotel  business  at 
that  place,  retiring   from    the 
mercantile  business  two  years   ago.     In  all  of    his  business  career 
he  maintained  a  high  standard  for  upright  methods,  and  enjoyed 
the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  who  had  dealings  with  him.  His 
location  has  been  the  center  of  life  for  the  town  and    he  the  mov- 
ing spirit  in  most  of  its   successful  enterprises.     He  is  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Jewett  Heights. 

As  a  man  of  such  prominence  in  his  section,  Mr.  Chase  was 
naturally  drafted  into  the  official  life  of  the  town,  and  he  success- 
fully served  as  town  auditor,  town  clerk  and  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  for  eight  or  ten  terms  was  supervisor  of  the  town,  thus  bring- 
ing him  to  Catskill  as  its  representative  in  the  county  legislature, 
where  he   served   with  credit  and  distinction,  thereby  gaining  a, 

513 


George  H.  Chase 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


large  experience  that  enabled  him  to  better  serve  his  constituents 
in  the  state  legislature  at  Albany, 

Mr.  Chase,  being  a  broad  minded  Republican,  has  always 
stood  loyally  by  the  principles  of  his  party,  with  the  spirit  of 
which  he  was  imbued  in  its  earliest  and  best  days,  with  a  liberal 
interpretation  of  same,  and  has  always  manfully  supported  bis 
position. 

He  was  nominated  for  the  Assembly  by  the  Republicans  of 
Greene  county  in  1913  and  was  elected,  receiving  3698  votes  to 
3282  cast  for  J.  Lewis  Patrie,  Democrat. 

He  was  re-nominated  and  re-elected  in  1914,  receiving 
3364  votes  to  2683  cast  for  Dr.  Sidney  L.  Ford,  Democrat. 

Mr.  Chase  is  a  member  of  Mountain  Lodge  No.  529,  F.  & 
A.  M.  of  Windham,  N.  Y. 


Hop-O-Nose  Mill,;Catskill,  N.  Y. 

Operated  by  the  Union  Mills  Company. 
514 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


I4st  of  Greene  Gotmty  Poslnvaislers—Apr.  1,  1013 

Acra Marion  Chadderdon 

Alsen Margaret  A.  King 

Ashland Francis  L.  Dodge 

Athens Harold  W. Every 

Big  Hollow Romaine  Low 

Brooksburg David  Davis 

Bushnellsville Barnet  Rider 

Cairo Claude  J.  Goff 

Catskill Lucius  R.   Doty 

Cementon Chris  Schlenker 

Climax Emma  V.  Jackson 

Coxsackie  Francis  Worden 

Durham A.  Z.  Smith 

East  Durham  Grace  0.  Meloy 

East  Jewett Margaret  E.  Wood  worth 

East  Windham W.  J.  Griffin 

Elka  Park P.  A.  Carr 

Freehold W.  I.  Hunt 

Gayhead G.  A.  Story 

Greenville N.  W.  Avery 

Greenville  Center C.  W.  Palmer 

Haines  Falls Herbert   O'Hara 

Halcott  Center James  M.  Moseman 

Hensonville Geo.  R.  Winchell 

Hunter Albert  Taylor 

Jewett Clifford  H.  Baldwin 

Lanesville Frank  G.  Crosby 

Leeds Frank  L.  Vedder 

Lexington Lucielle  T.  Chatfield 

New  Baltimore Piatt  S.  Wheat 

New  Baltimore  Sta Martin  M.  Clow 

Norton  Hill Peter  R.  Stevens 

Oak  Hill Ernest  E.  Ford 

Palenville Chester  J.  Hinman 

Piatt  Clove Theodore  Kessel 

515 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Prattsville James  E.  Mc  Williams 

Purling Manly  B.  Conklin 

Round  Top J.  W.  Fiero,  Jr. 

South  Cairo Ambrose  Jones 

South  Durham W.  G.Van  Orden 

Sunside Burton  A.  Synder 

Tannejsville Charles  Voss 

Urlton M.  W   King 

West  Coxsackie C.  A.  Winans 

West  Kill C.  C.  Jenning3 

Windham Keeler  M.  Cole 


Tremaine  Loud's  Flying   Ice  Boat. 


Remarkable  Ice  Craft   invention  of  Tremaine  Loud,    Catskill  Point, 

equipped  with  32  h,  p.  Chalmers  engine,    and  propeller    from    Charles  K. 

'  Hamilton's  Aeroplane,  that  was  used  in  his  trip  to  Philadelphia  from  New 

York.     Boat  built  in  Cafe  at  Loud's  Hotel.  Speed  of  boat  80  miles  per  hour. 

516 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


JOSEPH  A;  HILL 
Ooe  of  the  progressive  men  of  Oatskill,  whose  energies  and 
push  have  brought  him  to  the  front  is  Joseph  A.  Hill.  He  came 
to  Catskill  in  May  1894,  and  was  employed  in  the  jewelry  busi- 
ness, later  on  branching  out  for  himself  in  a  small  venture,  which 
under  wise  direction  has  become  one  of  the  leading  jewelry  stores 
in  this  section.  He  was  born  at  Cohoes,  N.  Y.  in  1874,  his  father, 
Joseph  Hill  coming  to  America  in  1861  from  England.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  Athabasca  Tribe  of  Red  Men,  and 
attends  the  Reformed  church.  He  was  married  June  25,  1902  to 
Sarah  W.  Mitchell,  and  they  have  one  child  Geo.  Odgen  Hill. 
His  present  store  is  in  the  Van  Gorden  building.  % 


R.  Y.  HUBBARD,  M.   D. 

There  are  few  men  in  Greene  county  who  are  better  or 
more  favorably  known  than  R.  Y.  Hubbard  of  Tannersville,  who 
is  one  of  the  young  men  who  has  pushed  his  way  to  the  front 
within  the  past  few  years.  He  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  on 
October  10,  1877,  and  graduated  from  the  Stamford  Seminary  in 
1899,  Cornell  University  in  1901,  Long  Island  College  Hospital  in 
1907,  Fitch  Military  Hospital  in  1909,  and  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  at  Hunter  village  where  he  remained  for  4  years. 
He  then  removed  to  Tannersville,  in  order  to  better  accommodate 
his  extensive  and  growing  practice,  which  covera  every  section 
within  range  of  Tannersville.  He  is  a  coroner  of  Greene  county, 
President  of  Tannersville,  health  officer,  president  of  the  fire  de- 
partment, and  getting  into  the  newspaper  field  is  vice  president  of 
the  Tannersville  Record  publishing  company.  He  occupies  a 
fine  residence  and  has  just  completed  an  office  adjoining  the  same. 
His  wife  wa3  Elizabeth  Hummell  of  Hunter  to  whom  he  was  mar- 
ried in  1907.     They  have  one  daughter,  Myrtle. 

Addenda 

Frederick  Nelson  DuBois  died  July  8,  1915. 

Ice  House  of  Jeremiah  Brooks  at  Athens  burned  Aug,  22, 

1915,  loss  $14,000. 

517 


wm§§ 


Harry  Hall,  Publisher  Recorder. 


M.  E.   Sillberstein,  Pub.  Daily  Mail. 


Frederic  E.  Craigie,  Pub.   Examiner. 


Frank  A.  Gallt,  Pub.  Enterprise. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


The  Newspaper  Field 

Greene  county  has  always  been  well  represented  in  the 
newspaper  field.  The  Catskill  Recorder  was  first  on  the  scene  in 
1792.  It  was  then  10x12  inches  in  size  and  was  called  the  Cals- 
kill  Packet.  The  Catskill  Packet  and  Western  Mail,  and  then  it 
shone  as  the  Western  Constellation,  and  in  1804  assumed  the 
name  of  Catskill  Recorder.  Since  1862  it  has  been  published  by 
representatives  of  the  Hall  family  following  the  death  of  Mr.  Hall 
in  1874;  George  S.  Stevens,  deceased,  Frazer  Hall,  deceased,  be- 
ing its  editors,  and  since  the  death  of  Frazer  C.  Hall,  Harry  Hall 
has  been  at  the  head  managing  the  paper  for  the  estate. 

Some  of  the  journalist  efforts  that  have  passed  were:  The 
American  Eagle,  1808,  The  Catskill  Emendator  1813,  The  Zectic, 
1814,  The  Greene  and  Delaware  Washingtonian,  1816,  Greene 
County  Republican  1814-16,  The  Catskill  Democrat,  both  papers 
being  absorbed  by  The  Recorder,  Prattsville  Advocate,  1846,  The 
Mountaineer,  1853,  Prattsville,  and  The  American  Eagle,  1854, 
started  at  Prattsville,  and  owned  by  Lyman  Tremaine  and  later 
by  Henry  Baker  This  sheet  also,  went  to  The  Recorder  in  1860. 
George  Mitchell  printed  the  Catskill  Journal  for  a  time.  Mr. 
Mitchell,  who  is  now  the  oldest  printer  in  the  state  setting  type, 
is  in  the  employ  of  The  Recorder. 

The  Catskill  Examiner  has  had  a  splendid  record.  Started 
as  the  Catskill  Messenger  in  1830,  by  Ira  DuBois,  continued  by 
Wm.  Bryan  and  C.  H.  Cleveland,  who  were  succeeded  by  Trow- 
bridge and  Gunn.  It  was  The  Whig  in  1849  and  Marcus  Trow- 
bridge in  1857  changed  it  to  The  Examiner.  For  a  time  after  his 
death  Mrs.  Trowbridge  was  assisted  by  Eugene  Wayne.  She  then 
associated  Frederick  E.  Craigie  with  her  in  the  business.  While 
she  lived  the  paper  was  Trowbridge  &  Craigie,  and  it  then  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Fred  E.  Craigie,  who  has  continued  the  business 
to  the  present  time,  enlarging  and  improving  the  paper,  putting 
in  new  machinery,  etc. 

The  Athens  News  was  started  by  W.  G.  Harvey  and  follow- 
ing his  death  Mrs.  Harvey  is  still  at  the  helm, 

§19 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


John  D.  Smith  started  the  Catskill  Independent  in  1879, 
as  a  Greenback  paper,  changing  later  to  the  Daily  Mail,  Republi- 
can, and  in  19  he  sold  out  to  M.  E.  Silberstein,  who  changed 
the  political  end  to  Democratic,  and  after  equipping  a  new  plant, 
his  office  was  burned  in  1913,  and  the  office  then  moved  to  its 
present  quarters  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Bridge  streets.  He 
has  increased  the  circulation  from  260  daily  to  over  2500  daily. 
Plant  modern  in  every  way. 

In  1898  The  Catskill  Enterprise  was  started  by  F.  A.  Gallt, 
the  first  paper  being  printed  on  a  hand  press  which  broke  down 
before  the  first  number  was  finished .  The  type  was  old  and  he 
had  much  trouble  with  it.  It  was  4  pages  at  first  and  later  on 
modern  equipment  was  put  in  and  the  paper  enlarged  to  8  pages. 
The  publisher  has  been  ably  assisted  by  his  sons,  William,  Robert, 
now  machine  man  at  the  Mail  office,  Frank,  Joseph  and  Ray- 
mond; also  by  his  daughter,  now  Mrs.  Fred  Field.  The  Enter- 
prise has  at  the  present  time  a  model  equipment  in  presses,  fold- 
ing machine,  electric  power,  etc. 

The  Catskill  Mountain  Zephyr  was  published  first  by  Geo. 
A.  Dykeman  as  a  summer  paper.  He  sold  out  to  M.  E.  Silber- 
stein, who  for  a  time  printed  the  Athens  Review,  for  a  couple  of 
years.  Then  the  Zephyr  passed  to  W.  N.  Coriell,  and  for  the 
past  6  years  has  been  issued  by  F.  A.  Gallt. 

The  Kingston  District  News,  started  in  1898,  had  A.  J. 
Walker,  E.  L.  Hoffecker,  and  F.  L.  Wilson  as  publishers,  Its 
office  of  publication  was  Catskill.  It  was  discontinued  several 
years  ago,  after  obtaining  a  circulation  of  2500. 

In  1878  Myron  Dings  of  Oak  Hill  started  the  Gilboa  Moni- 
tor and  after  several  years  moved  the  paper  to  Gilboa,  where  he 
sold  to  A.  J.  Shaver  and  moved  west.  Paige  T.  Hoagland  moved 
from  Jefferson,  where  he  sold  the  Jefferson  Courier  to  W.S.Jones, 
now  publisher  of  the  Minneapolis  Tribune,  and  started  the  Oak 
Hill  Record  in  1892.     His  son,  Scott  is  now  running  the  paper. 

The  Mountain  Gazette  was  published  for  a  time  at  Wind- 
ham byG.  W.  Riggs,  but  the  paper  failing  to  receive  political 
patronage  failed. 


520 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Cairo  Herald,  published  by  Geo.  W.  Squires,  established 
in  1890,  newsy  and  well  conducted.  Power  presses  and  good  plant. 

Greenville  Local,  published  by  Peter  Winne  &  Son,  estab- 
lished 1876,  by  Peter  Winne,  who  is  still  at  the  helm. 

Since  1861  Edward  M.  Cole  has  published  the  Windham 
Journal.  He  served  the  town  of  Windham  in  various  ways  politic- 
ally and  represented  the  county  in  the  assembly  in  1892.  His 
death  occurred  last  winter.  t 

The  Prattsville  News,  published  by  M.  G.  Marsh  was  start- 
ed in  1858.  For  50  years  Mr.  Marsh  has  been  at  the  head  of  the 
paper.     He  has  associated  with  him  M.  G.  Griffin. 

The  Hunter  Review  was  started  in  1883  and  is  still  pros- 
peious  with  A.  L.  Baldwin  at  the  head,  and  is  ably  assisted  by 
Mrs.  Baldwin. 

The  Tanners ville  Times  was  started  A.  G.  Powell  in  1901, 
but  he  discontinued  the  paper  and  after  a  year  or  so  the  business 
was  commenced  again  by  Mr.Disbrow,  who  has  gone  along  nicely. 

Another  paper  of  the  county  is  The  Coxsackie  Union,  pub- 
lisher, Wm.  P.  Franklin,  established  1857. 

The  Coxsackie  News  was  published  for  a  time  and  later  on 
merged  with  the  Coxsackie  Union. 

The  Evening  News  was  published  daily  by  George  Harding, 
1898,  in  the  building  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Bridge  streeb.  The 
News  soon  ceased  to  be  issued. 

Another  paper  that  was  issued  daily  by  George  L.  Gaynor 
and  Rudolph  W.  Plusch  was  The  Catskill  Press. 

The  latest  bow  in  the  newspaper  field  is  the  Tannersville 
Record,  8  pages,  neatly  printed  on  book  paper,  well  edited  and 
has  every  evidence  of  great  success.  It  is  published  by  the  Record 
Corporation,  with  Burgess  Howard  as  managing  editor. 

M.  G.  Marsh  of  Prattsville  and  William  P  Franklin  of 
Coxsackie  are  two  veteran  publishers  of  the  county,  having  been 
jn  the  business  for  50  years, 

'521 


Chas.  Ernst,  Killed  by  Joseph  Waltz 


F.   D.   Overbagh,    Sup't  Highways. 


C.O.Bickelaiann(£roted  Photographer 

A., -J 


R;  Yj  Hubbard,  Coroner  Greene  Co. 


Page  Page 

Assemblyman  Geo.  H.  Chase  . .  513    Coxsackie    441 

Assemblymen  of  Greene  County  Cholera  in  Catskill   208 

from    1803     312    Court    House 63-65 

Ashland    347    Court  Buildings,  removed 61 

Athens  350    Court  Fire  1851   62 

Abram  V.   Roraback    288    County   Jail    66 

Ashland  Collegiate  Institute   . . .   276    Day  Line  Palaces  80-81 

American  Bible  Society   '273    Dale   S.    Baldwin    283 

Baldwin    Post 341    Daughters   of  Rebecca    185 

Benjamin  DuBois  House   114    Dayton  B.  Smith   304 

B.  I.   Tallmadge    495    Destructive  Fires   236-240 

Burdette  G.  Dewell    497    Dr.    Abel    Brace     210 

Capt.  Jacob  Dunham    196-198    Dr.  F.  C.  Clarke   345 

C.  A.   Martin,    see   Hunter.  Dr.  Sidney  L.  Ford    285 

Charles  E.   Willard    510    Dr.  Wilbur  F.  Lamont   296 

Catskill  Landmarks   246      252    DuBois  House,   Cauterskill   110 

Catskill    Schools    240-246    DuBois  Generations  . .  t 117-118 

Cairo   360    Durham   449 

Capt.  Percy  W.  Decker   509    Early  Manufacturing   231 

Capt.  Daniel  J.  Cassidy   509    Early   Staging    229 

Catskill    369    Eastern    Star    184 

Catskill   1839    3    Early   Churches    275 

Catskill   1915    9    Elmer  Krieger   287 

Catskill  Bridge    97      98      100    Elmore  Mackey   290 

Catskill  Even.  Line  Steamers  .  82-85    Floyd    S.    Jones    286 

Catskill   Improvement  Assn.    . .    202    Emory  A.  Chase 4  -  141-145 

Catskill  National  Bank   501    p.  H.    Osborn,   see  courts. 

Catskill   Monday  Club    183    First  Lieut.  L.  H.  Doty 509 

Catskill  Public   Library    278    Frank  D.  Overbaugh   510 

Catskill  Savings  Bank   431    Frank  Nichols    289 

Catskill  Y.  M.  C.  A 274    Frederick  E.   Craigie    518 

Catskill  Supply  Co Advt.  Sec.    Frederick  Nelson  DuBois    

Cemetery  at  Halcott  Center    . .    345        11-12       108-112      215 

Census  Figures  of  1915    517    Frank  H.   Kortz    296 

Company  E,  Catskill    332-337    Frederick   Goslee    319 

Chronology    530-565    Geo.  B.  Van  Valkenburgh   301 

Church  Organizations   252     272    George  C.  Fox   303 

First  Church  in  New  York   . .   254    George  W.  Holdridge    432 

First  Baptist,  Catskill   270    Greene  Co.   Society 311 

German  Lutheran,  Athens   . . .   253    Greenville    454 

Gloria   Dei,   Palenville    267    Greene   Co.   "Whig    224 

Methodist,    Catskill    261    Halcott    460 

Presbyterian,    Catskill    264    Harry   Hall    518 

Reformed,    Catskill    255    Heidelberg    68-71 

St.  ..Luke's,    Catskill    258    Herman  C.  Cowan   507 

St.    Patrick's,    Catskill    269    History  Fabric    101 

Claude   Heath    318    h.  Clay  Ferris   284 

Clermont    76    H.   Leroy  Austin    203 

Colonel  Cornelius  DuBois   115   Home  for  Aged  Women  182 

Col.  Albert   Saulpaugh    509    Hollister   Post    340 

County  Jail    13   Howard   Wilcox    297 


Page  Page 

Hudson  Fulton  Celebration   . . .   480   Robert  M.   MacNaught    293 

Hunter    466    Rev.  Benjamin  DuBois   116 

Isaac  Pruyn   506    Rowena    School,    Palenville    . .    172 

Judson  A.  Betts   525    R.  W.  Renner   479 

Jacob   Fromer,    see    Hunter.  Salisbury  House   121     323 

James  P.  Philip    504    Schuneman  Parsonage,  Leeds   .   125 

Jewett  462    Steamboat  Wrecks  86-87 

J.   Henry  Deane    369    Reformed   Church,   Leeds    190 

John   DuBois    215    School  Directors,  etc 341 

Josiah  C.  Tallmadge   ...   5  -  299-300    Senator   William   P.   Fiero    162 

Judges  of  Greene  County    .    164-165    Seth  T.   Cole 507 

Judson  A.  Betts    280    Steamer  Frank    207 

John  E.  Huyck 283    St.   Patrick's  Academy   498 

Joseph    Malcolm    300    Supervisors    ....  1 6-7-8 

Josiah    C.    Tallmadge    299    Supreme  Court  Terms   . .  Advt.  Sec. 

J.  W.  Watson  Post   338-340    The    Brandows    188 

I.  Wheeler  Brandow   281-282    The  Chase  Family 138-144 

Ladies  of  the  Maccabees    185    The  Bronks  133-137 

Ladies'      Catholic      Benevolent  The  Post  Family    200 

Lewis  Hoose    320    The  Van   Schaacks    167 

Loud's  Hotel  Advt.  Sec.    The    Wilcoxs    170-171 

Lawyers  of  Greene  Co.,  see  Bar.  The   Day  Family    280 

Lexington  464    The  DuBoises  and  Overbaughs  .  108 

Madam  Jane  Dise    187    The   Gallt   Family 316 

M.  Edw.  Silberstein 327    Thomas  C.  Perry   511 

New  Baltimore 482    Thos.   Seifferth    303 

Mrs.   Joseph    Malcolm    169    Times  of  Greene  Co.  Whig 209 

Major  Jas.  Monroe  Van  Valken-  Town  Officers  1914-15  50-55 

burgh    302    Teachers   of   County    341 

Map  Loveridge  Patent   129    The   Military    328 

Masonic  History,  see  towns.  The  Big  Trout   106 

Michael  O'Hara   . . , 279    Van  Ordens  and  Overbaughs   . .   119 

Newspapers   of   County    517    Villages  1859   57-58 

Notable  Men    313-315    Villages   1915    59-60 

Notaries    1915    310    Van  Bergen   Mill    137 

New    Year's    Club    185    Van    Vechtens    ..'. 121 

Association    186    Van  Bergen  House   122-125 

Old  Posters    211-212    Van  Vechten  House    103 

Omar  V.  Sage   .' 320-323    Women  and  the  Franchise  174  -  182 

Orrin  Day   221   Walter   J.  Decker    305 

Official  List  of  Officers   49-50   William  J.  Finneran   268 

Organization  of  Towns  57   Wiley  Hose  291 

Patent  Lines   56   William   Kortz    295 

Population  of  County  60   Willis  A.  Haines    298 

Postmasters  1915    515   Wm.  A.  Bullock,  great  inventor  206 

Prattsville   486   William  B.  Martin,  see  Hunter. 

Railroads    88-93    William  S.  C.  Wiley   507 

Patrons  Hall,  Kiskatom   130    William    Smith    216 

Peter   Schutt 131   William  Joesbury   327 

Reminiscent     212    William    H.    Stewart    250-251 

Rev.  Geo.  A.  Howard  265    Windham   491 

Road   Building    107   Zadock   Pratt    146-149 


Chronological  Events 


1808      -     1913 

The  Earlier   Happenings  are  Referred  to  through  the  Book. 


CHRONOLOGY  1898. 


Warden  Sage,  of  Catskill,  made  great  repairs  to  prison  at  Sing 
Sing. 

Luke  Smith,  of  Catskill,  died  at  the  age  of  87  years. 

Theodore  Roosevelt,  hero  of  San  Juan  Hill,  visits  Catskill,  the 
occasion  being  made  a  holiday. 

Alexander  King  returns  from  Honolulu. 

Harry  Hicks,  Albert  Thompson  and  Harry  Lydecker  return  from 
Honolulu. 

Charles  W.  Webster,  of  Cairo,  in  the  fight  of  block  house  14  at 
Manila,  Philippines. 

Daniel  Meech  died  of  pneumonia  at  Catskill. 

William  Henry  Hotaling  sentenced  to  five  years  for  murder  of 
Bobbie  Walsh  at  Coxsackie. 

Lewis  Hallenbeck,  of  Coxsackie,  on  navy  furlough  presents 
Enterprise  with  relics  from  the  Spanish  battleships,  Viscya  and 
Oquendo. 

CHRONOLOGY  1899. 

Luther  Holdridge,  of  Lanesville,"  shot  four  bears  and  they  brought 
him  $35.00  each. 

A  calf  was  born  on  Dwight  McQueen's  farm  at  Hensonville  having 


DEAR  OLb  GREECE  COUNTY. 


eight  legs. 

Big  Masonic  celebration  at  Ooxsackie. 

J.  H.  Whitbeck  store  at  Coxsackie  robbed  of  $750,  safe  blown. 

St.  Patrick's  fair  netted  $1210. 

Bicycle  path  built  from   Catskill  to   Palenville.     Failure. 

203rd  regiment  mustered  out  of  service. 

Jacobs'   Bottling  Works,   Cairo,   destroyed  by  fire. 

Gatskill  cat  show  nets  Y.  M.  C.  A.  $70.00. 

Margaret  Fletcher  died  at  Catskill,  aged  99  years. 

St.  Luke's  church,  costing  $35,000,  G.  W.  Holdridge  builder, 
dedicated  June  sixth. 

Sergt.  Edgar  Johnston,  engineer,  repaired  bridge  at  Malolos, 
Philippines,  while  the  Spanish  bullets  were  flying  all  about  him. 

Theodore  Haines,  of  Catskill,  died  suddenly  after  being  injured. 

Col.  Omar  V.  Sage,  of  Catskill,  made  warden  of  house  of  refuge, 
Randall's'  Island. 

Capt.  Henry  Nicholls,  commander  of  the  monotor  Monadnock, 
TJ.  S.  N.,  Admiral  Dewey's  squadron,  died  at  Manila.  Born  in  Athens 
in  1845.     Body  shipped  to  United  States. 

Tannersville   railroad   opened   from    Otis   Junction. 

Smallpox  in  Athens  brick  yard. 

Geo.  W.  Holdridge  brought  the  old  St.  Luke's  church  for  $2700. 

Geo.  W.  Holdridge  commenced  work  on  Rowena  school  at 
Palenville,  a  $40,000  structure. 

Melvin  Wynkoop   drowned   at   Coxsackie. 

William  Bigelow,  Crawford  Owens,  William  Henzel  and  Antonio 
de  Batiste  crushed  to  death  in  cave-in  of  brick  kiln  at  Catskill. 

Jas.  Busbee  committed   suicide  at  West  Camp. 

Lewis  Hadden,  war  veteran,  died  at  Big  Hollow,  aged  65  years. 

Dominic  Crommis  drowned  at  New  Baltimore. 

Howard  Cohn  killed  by  accidental  discharge  of  gun  while  hunting 
at  South  Cairo. 

Sixteenth  Separate  Company  participated  in  Dewey  parade  at 
New  York,  Lieut.  Searles  commanding.  37,000  men  in  line.  All  the 
war  vessels  in  parade  also. 

Walter  Finch  killed  in  electric  light  station  at  Catskill. 

Mrs.  Judson  Wilcox,  aged  95  years,  fell  and  fractured  her  hip. 
Accident  resulted  in  her  death.  She  was  for  over  50  years  a  member 
of  St.  Luke's  church. 

Murder  at  Kiskatom — Elizabeth  Baer,  an  old  woman,  cut  the 
throat  of  Catherine  Wolvin,  a  helpless  invalid.  She  then  took  Paris- 
green.  Dr.  Lamont  saved  her  life.  Tried  and  convicted  of  murder 
in  the  second  degree. 

Socialists  polled  300  votes  for  A.  C.  Fancher  for  supervisor  of 
Catskill. 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNT*. 


Good   Templar   convention  at   Tanneraville. 
Fire  in  Conklin  store,  Catskill. 

Store  house  of  Catskill  &  New  York  Steamboat  company  destroy- 
ed by  fire. 

Apkes  hotel  at  Palenville  burned. 

Summit  Hill  House   barns  burned. 

Democrats  elect  ten  supervisors.  S.  B.  Sage,  assemblyman. 
Pierre  S.  Jennings  contests  the  result. 

Wiley  Hose  Co.  fair  netted  $1000. 

Hon.  J.  Leroy  Jacobs,  former  assemblyman,  dropped  dead  at 
Cairo,  aged  55  years. 

M.  L.  Newcomb  died  at  home  of  Dr.  Lamont,  Catstftll.  Former 
member  of  assembly  and  school  commissioner,  also  supervisor  from 
Windham. 

Catskill  town  audit  $5,862,  budget  $15,185. 

Mike  Madigan  crushed  to  death  in  Bridge  street  sewer,  Catskill. 
The  Rev.  William  S.  Chamberlain,  missionary  to  India,  given  purse 
of  $100  by  Reformed  church,  Catskill. 

Former  Sheriff  Peter  Magee  died  at  Athens. 

Marry  Edith  Ingersoll,  of  Catskill,  burned  to  death  at  Doane 
home. 

Conradt  Stevens  died  at  Catskill,  aged  83  years,  former  whaler. 

The  single  vote  of  the  Spanish  war  veterans  cost  Greene 
county  $1000. 

Albert  Post,  of  Lanesville,  celebrated  his  55th  anniversary  by 
shooting  his  55th  bear. 

CHRONOLOGY  1900. 

Trolley  promoted  from  Coxsackie  to  Greenville. 

Mother  Van  Cott  held  revival  at  Jefferson. 

Monument  erected  to  memory  of  Edgar  K.  Williams. 

Dewitt  Decker,  of  Prattsville  hung  himself. 

Case  Hallenbeck  of  High  Hill,  aged  80  years,  found  dead  in  bed. 

O.  T.  Humphrey,  former  Catskillian  and  member  of  assembly 
from    Greene   county,    died   at   Johnstown. 

State  Comptroller  in  his  annual  report  paid  tribute  to  Warden 
Sage,    of   Randall's   Island.     Conditions    best    ever    and   a   saving   of 
$13,000  over  his  predecessor  for  a  year's  work. 
William   T.   Conine  committed  suicide  while   deranged  at   Catskill. 

Barnet  Palmer,  83  years;  Catherine  Wolvin,  82  years;  John  Rider, 
77  years,  and  John  Saxe,  72  years,  died  at  Kiskatom. 

St.   Mary's   church   fair   at   Coxsackie   netted   $5000. 

Sidney  Crowell,  of  Catskill,  former  district  attorney,  died  from 
stroke  of  paralysis. 

Catskill  Examiner  office  and  store  of  Peary  and  Lobdell  damaged 
by  fire. 


DEAR    OLD   GREENE    coItntV. 


Mrs.  Harry  Decker,   of  Athens,  inherits  a  fortune  of  $48,000. 

Solomon  Cornwall,  died  March  22,  at  Coxsackie,  aged  94  years. 

School  moneys  for  town  of  Catskill  were   $3,165. 

George  A.  Dykeman  put  10,000  trout  in  Palenville  streams. 

Justice  Emory  A.  Chase  presided  at  Greene  county  term  of 
Supreme  court,  April  session. 

War  veteran  James  Lane  found  dead  in  bed  at  Lawrenceville. 

Oscar  Merwin,  of  Hunter,  committed  suicide,  taking  laudanum 
and  whiskey. 

The  Rev.  William  Fitzgerald  appointed  to  St.  Patrick's  church 
at  Catskill. 

Forty  priests  officiated  in  mass  for  the  Rev.  William  J.  Finnegan, 
deceased. 

John  Bassett  and  Oscar  Dederick  of  Catskill  in  the  big  fight  at 
Cebu, 

Samuel  Austin,  of  Leeds,  fined  $50  and  sent  to  the  penitentiary 
for  six  months   for  whipping  his  wife. 

Residence  of  Robert  Seaman,  Catskill,   destroyed  by  fire. 

Great  parade  in  Catskill  Memorial  Day,  occasion  of  the  unveiling 
of  the  Edgar  William's  monument.  Company  E,  Catskill  Band,  Squad 
31st  Regiment,  G.  A.  R.  Veterans,  Po'keepsie  Drum  Corps,  Citizens, 
Wileys,  Wilsons,  Osborns,  Pruyn  Drum  Corps,  three  Athens  compan- 
ies, clergymen  and  trustees  in  line.     Address  by  Rev.  R.  E.  Bell. 

L.  T.  Beach  census  enumerator  for  Catskill. 

James  McLean  died  at  Windham,  aged  89  years. 

Survey  made  for  trolley  line  from  Catskill  to  Cairo. 

Justice  Chase  presided  at  the  June  term  of  Supreme  Court. 

Frank  Norton,   Co.  H,  in  fights  against  Philippines. 

Maggie  Van  Cott  conducted  revival  at  Lebanon  Springs. 

Samuel  Mallory,  of  Catskill,  died  at  the  age  of  88  years. 

Mrs.  Robert  McGifEert  died  in  the  arms .  of  her  husband  while 
going  from  the  boat  to  the  hotel  in  Catskill. 

Douglass  B.  Thorpe,  of  Catskill,  died  at  Manorkill,  where  he  was 
visiting  his  brother. 

Greene  County  Firemen's  convention  held  at  Catskill  Labor  Day. 

$8000   pledged  towards   public   library   in  Catskill. 

Work  commenced   on   Catskill  trolley. 

Contractor  George  W.  Holdridge  commenced  work  on  Wiley 
Hose  house. 

Frank  Layman  burned  to  death  fighting  fire  at  the  Laurel  House. 

J.  F.  Gaylord,  Frazer  C.  Hall  and  Gen.  Coster  had  their  pockets 
picked  at  the  Greene  county  fair.  John  Van  Tassell  had  his  leg 
broken  in  a  horse  race. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Office  of  J.  A.  Betts  at  Catskill  damaged  by  fire. 

Sheriff  Holdridge  ran  down  three  pickpockets  who  worked  at 
Cairo  fair. 

Rowena  school  at  Palenville  dedicated. 

Greene  County  Sunday  School  association  met  at  Ashland. 

Frank  Cherowsky  and  William  Mattice  killed  at  Smiths  Landing 
while  at  work  in  an  ice  house. 

2000  people  saw  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  St.  Mary's 
church  at  Coxsackie,  a  ?25,000  structure. 

Catskill  trolley  commenced   operation   September  20th. 

General  W.  S.  C.  Wiley  elected  president  of  Republican  club  at 
Catskill. 

Supervisor  P.  Gardner  Coffin  sent  $100  to  Galveston  sufferers. 

The  Albany  Burgesses  Corps  celebrated  their  67th  'anniversary 
in  Catskill.     Company  E  paraded  with  them. 

William  Jennings  Bryan  visited  Catskill  October  29th. 

J.  C.  Tallmadge  elected  county  judge;  General  W.  S.  C.  Wiley, 
senator;  W.  W.  Rider,  assemblyman;  Cyrus  Bloodgood,  county  clerk; 
Henry  Van  Bergen,  sheriff.     McKinley  carried  county  for  president. 

Large  barn  of  Andrew  Overhaugh,  Catskill,   destroyed  by  fire. 

Roof  of  shale  brick  building  at  Catskill  collapsed  and  Erasmo 
Casseragolio  was  killed  and   others  injured. 

Elmer  Krieger  elected  chairman  of  Board  of  Supervisors. 

Company  E  paraded  at  Hudson. 

Thomas  Daglish,  of  Catskill,  died  from  an  over  dose  of  laudanum. 

Hon.  James  B.  Olney  died  at  Catskill,  aged  67  years. 

Albert  Saulpaugh,  veteran  203d  regt.,  elected  captain  of  Co.  E. 

CHRONOLOGY  1901. 

Hon.  Geo.  S.  Stevens,  assemblyman  from  Greene  county,  died  at 
nis  home  in  Catskill. 

Horace  Van  Akin  killed  by  Catskill  trolley. 

Hannah  Lynan,  aged  72  years,  burned  to  death  at  her  home  in 
Catskill. 

John  Robb,  aged  85  years,  died  at  his  home  in  Kiskatom  of 
pneumonia. 

Judge  Marcus  Beach,  a  former  Catskillian,  died  at  his  home  in 
Jersey  City,  aged  82  years. 

The  Rev.  Anna  Shaw  and  Harriet  May  Mills  lectured  in  Catskill. 

Chauncey  Richards,  of  Athens,  walked  off  the  dock  at  Catskill 
and  was  drowned. 

James  B.  Person,  of  Catskill,  found  dead  in  bed. 

Diphtheria  broke  out  in  Catskill  kindergarten,  a  number  of  deaths 
following.    Frank  H.  Russ  lost  two  children. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Co.  E  in  camp  at  Lake  Mohegan,  Capt.  Saulpaugh  in  charge. 

Arthur  M.  Terns,  of  Kiskatom,  crushed  to  death  in  an  accident 
on  the  Catskill  Mountain  railroad. 

Alvert  Van  Santvoord  president  of  the  Day  Line  and  also  inter- 
ested in  the  Catskill  Mt.  and  Otis  Rys.,  died  on  his  yacht. 

Dominic  Petrol,  employed  on  the  Webber  bridge,  Catskill  town, 
drowned  in  the  creek  at  that  place. 

Estimated  expenditures  of  Catskill  schools,  $21560. 

Myrtle  Wood,  of  Oak  Hill,  struck  by  lightning  and  killed. 

Citizens  Hose  Co.  purchase  new  mirror  parade  carriage.  Finest 
in  the  country. 

P.  N.  DuBois  presents  Catskill  with  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building. 

Clarence  Garrison,  of  Catskill,  killed  by  live  wire,  while  working 
on  the  line  near  Broad  street. 

Geo.  W.  Holdridge  gets  contract  for  public  library. 

Three  story  boarding  house  of  A.  Amman  destroyed  by  fire  at 
Catskill.    Mr.  Amman  and  wife  were  at  Valdez,  Alaska. 

Big  Firemen's  fair  at  Catskill  netted  $1200. 

Ten  Democratic  and  five  Republican  supervisors  elected.  Will- 
iam W.  Rider,  assemblyman;  Judson  A.  Betts,  county  treasurer; 
Egbert  Palmer,  district  attorney.  Hotel  license  carried  in  Catskill 
by  42  votes.  Hunter  no  license.  Supervisors  elected:  Athens — W.  C. 
Brady;  Asland — Levi  Thompkins;  Cairo — Solon  W.  Stevens;  Cats- 
kill — Charles  A.  Post;  Coxsackie — D.  Geroe  Greene;  Durham — Almerin 
Moore;  Greenville — Orrin  Stevens;  Halcott — Lemuel  Kelly;  Hunter — 
Michael  O'Hara;  Jewett — Franklin  Woodruff;  Lexington— Clarence 
Tompkins;  New  Baltimore — C.  V.  Elmendorf;  Prattsville — Elmer 
Krieger;  Windham — Osborn  Cole. 

Vincenzo  Fragola  killed  by  the  cars  at  the  West  Shore  depot. 

Abigal  Crosby,  aged  88  years,  died  at  Catskill. 

Chauncey  Smith  dropped  dead  on  Main  street,  Catskill. 

Farmers  Telephone  Co.  organized  in  Cairo. 
CHRONOLOGY  1902. 

The  Mountain  Gazette  published  at  Windham   suspended. 

Fred  Miller  found  dead  in  the  barn  at  the  Mower  House,  Cairo. 

John  Townsend,  of  Greenville  Center,  found  at  his  home  so  badly 
frozen  that  he  could  not  recover. 

In  a  Washington's  birthday  reception  at  the  Presbyterian  church 
Justice  Chase  represented  Washington  and  Judge  Tallmadge  Philip 
Schuyler.  Fifty  other  Colonial  characters  were  represented  by  Cats- 
killians,  Charles  G.  Coffin,  Judson  A.  Betts,  Clarence  Sage,  Lucius 
Doty,  Charles  A.  Elliott  and  Percy  W.  Decker  being  among  the  number. 

Hon.  John  A.  Griswold  died  at  his  home  on  William  street,  Cats- 
kil,  aged  79  years. 

Justice  Sewell  presided  at  March  term  of  Supreme.  Court, 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


High  water  on  March  1st  did  great  damage  in  Catskill. 

A  pine  tree  cut  on  the  Pratt  farm  at  Oak  Hill,  measured  18  feet 
at  the  base,  65  feet  to  the  first  limb,  175  feet  in  height  and  rings 
indicated  age  of  235  years. 

Albert  H.   Ford  kill  at  Athens  by  a  falling  derrick. 

Catskill  public  library  opened. 

Thomas  E.  Ferrier  died  at  Catskill,  aged  81  years.  Former  sup- 
ervisor and  county  treasurer. 

Joseph  Keeler  died  from  chloroform  accidentally  spilled  upon 
his  bed  during  his  sickness.     He  was  an  old  resident  of  Catskill. 

Potter  Palmer,  uncle  of  Mrs.  H.  L.  Boughton,  of  Catskill,  died  at 
Chicago,  and  remains  were  interred  at  Potters  Hollow,  his  birthplace. 
He  was  born  in  1826,  conducted  store  at  Durham,  owned  95  houses  in 
Chicago  at  time  of  great  fire  in  1870,  all  destroyed.  He  was  worth 
$25,000,000. 

Bishop  Burke  confirmed  class  of  150  at  St.  Patrick's  church  at 
Catskill. 

40,000  people  burned  to  death  in  volcano  eruption  at  St.  Pierre, 
Martinique,  greatest  disaster  of  modern  times. 

Catskill  Shale  Brick  plant  in  hands  of  receiver. 

Geo.  W.  Holdridge  given  contract  to  build  Catskill  Y.  M.  C.  A, 

Esquire  Cowles  died  suddenly  at  Durham,  aged  about  76  years. 

Judge  Sanderson  died  sitting  in  his  chair,  at  the  home  of  his 
daughter  in  Catskill.  County  judge  in  1882  and  in  1888,  defeating  M. 
B.  Mattice  each  time. 

Firemen's   convention   in   Catskill,    June   17-18.     Great   days. 

William  H.  Tolley,  of  Athens,  committed  suicide  by  hanging. 

Sherwood  Selleck  dropped  dead  in  the  Nelida  theatre  while  at- 
tending commencement   exercises. 

Catskill  firemen  returned  $500  to  board  of  trustees. 

Sherman  Sanford,  of  Greenville,  cut  his  throat  and  was  found  dead. 

Barn  of  Charles  Sherman  at  Leeds  struck  by  lightning  and 
destroyed. 

John  Allen  died  at  Acra,  aged  83  years. 

John  Eggelheimer  drowned  at  Tannersville  while  fishing. 

One  hundred  people  from  Catskill  made  pilgrimage  to  Auriesville, 
the  shrine  of  Father  Jogues,  the  martyr  of  the  Christian  faith. 

Walter  Fish  killed  by  a  fall  from  the  West  Shore  bridge. 

Barn  and  stables  of  John  Cunningham  at  Leeds  destroyed  by  fire. 

Lee  Betts,  R.  A.  Obenaus,  Van  Person,  Chief  Henry  R.  Hinman 
and  Mike  Foley  won  prizes  at  State  Firemen's  convention  at  Hudson 
and  Citizens  Hose  Co.,  of  Catskill,  a  keg  of  beer. 

Steamer  McManus,  of  Catskill  Evening  Line,  destroyed  by  fire 
at  her  dock  in  New  York. 

Tug  boat  Laurida  burned  at  Athens, 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Greene  County  Firemen's  convenion  held  at  New  Baltimore  on 
Labor  Day.     Frank  Nichols,   of  Athens,   elected  president. 

Frazer  C.  Hall,  editor  of  the  Recorder,  died  of  brain  hemmorhage. 

Teachers'  Institute  held  at  Cairo. 

Ice  house  of  Nicholas  Russell,  Catskill,  burned. 

Christ's  church,  Catskill,  repaired,  new  windows  put  in  and  new 
pipe  organ  presented  by  Helen  Mackey. 

Frank  Cariglo  was  murdered  by  Peter  Berzino  at  Coxsackie. 

William  Graff,  of  Catskill,  was  drowned  in  the  creek  while  at- 
tempting to  pull  up  the  boat  anchor. 

Charles  L.  Beach  died  at  his  home  in  Catskill.  He  was  born  in 
a  log  house  in  Lexington  in  1813.     Autobiography  on  another  page. 

Peter  Conover,  Robert  Bonner's  great  horseman,  committed  sui- 
cide in  Catskill  by  shooting  himself.     He  trained  Dexter. 

Albert  Chase,  of  Hensonville,  stricken  with  paralysis  and  died. 
Deceased  was  father  of  Judge  Chase,  of  Catskill.  He  was  84  years 
of  age.     Other  notice  elsewhere. 

Bernard  Smith  held  for  attempt  to  murder  Win,  Friend  at  Urlton. 

Marco  Luckich  ground  to  death  in  a  conveyor  at  the  Catskill 
Cement  company's  plant. 

Capt.  J.  H.  Baley,  of  Catskill,  dropped  dead  on  the  street. 
Notice  elsewhere. 

Charles  A.  Nichols  elected  assemblyman,  Orin  Q.  Flint,  school 
commissioner;  J.  B.  Longendyke,  coroner.  County  Republican  by 
about  five  hundred. 

Remains  of  Kitty  McLaughlin,  of  Catskill,  found  in  river  at  Hyde 
Park.     Her  father  was  killed  in  a  quarry,  brother  shot  at  Huntsville. 

Wardwell  Van  Bergen  shot  to  death  at  Catskill  Point  by  a  darkey 
named  Long. 

Oliver  Bourke,  of  Catskill,  died  suddenly.    Notice  elsewhere. 

Carl  Becker,   of  Alsen,   murdered   at   Saugerties. 

Justice  Herrick  presided  at  November  term  of  Supreme  Court. 

Charles  A.  Post  elected  chairman  of  Board  of  Supervisors. 

Last  of  county  bonds,  $150,000,  paid. 

Dr.  Levi  King  died  at  Cairo  at  the  age  of  90  years. 

Bernard  Smith  and  Robert  Burns  escaped  from  Catskill  jail. 

CHRONOLOGY  1903. 

George  Harding,  of  Philadelphia,  built  Hotel  Kaaterskill.  Edward 
Lampman,  of  Catskill,  contractor. 

Otis  Griffin,  of  Halcott,  plowed  up  a  gold  watch. 

Charles  G.  Coffin,  of  Catskill,  broke  leg  but  continued  to  work, 

Hattie  Borst,  of  Hunter,  obtained  a  divorce. 

I.  1$,  Baker,  of  Coxsackie,  went  into  bankruptcy. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Rural  delivery  in  Catskill  May  1st.  William  O'Brien,  Harry 
Lydecker,  David  Egnor,  Tril  Lynes  and  John  Butler,  carriers. 

Harry  Lee  coughed  up  a  four-inch  lizzard. 

Mrs.  Charles  Herdman,  of  Hunter,  died  under  an  operation. 

Philip  Smith,  of  Catskill,  veteran  of  the  Franco-Prussian  war, 
dropped  dead. 

Great  propeller  launched  from  Baldwin's  shipyard  at  New  Balti- 
more. 

Peter  Verzein  shot  and  killed  Frank  Gargolio  at  Coxsackie. 

Robert  Burns  and  John  Smith  escaped  from  Catskill  jail.  They 
hooked  the  keys  from  the  wall  by  means  of  a  long  stick.  Smith  was 
recaptured. 

Andrew  Johnson  died  at  Coxsackie. 

Maggie  Van  Cott  had  100  converts  in  a  revival  at  Charlotteville. 

Trolley  line  projected  from  Catskill  to  Cairo  and  Middleburgh. 

James  Hallenbeck  shot  a  bear  that  crossed  the  Hopkins'  place 
in  Catskill. 

Methodist  church  at  Centerville  celebrated  its  100th  anniversary. 
Mrs.  Van  Cott  assisted. 

First   Baptist   church   at   Catskill   celebrated   centennial. 

Herbert  Day  drowned  at  Coxsackie. 

Charles   H.    Cummings   started   paper   at  Palenville. 

Fred  Trumpbour,  of  Palenville,  built  electric  light  plant  at  that 
place. 

William  Steimitz  fell  off  the  high  cliff  at  the  Mountain  House 
and  escaped  alive. 

George  Williams,  of  East  Durham,  fell  heir  to  $600. 

Jacob  Fromer,  of  Tannersville  presented  the  hose  company  with 
a  lot  for  hose  house. 

Old  Maids'   convention  at  Greenville  netted  $100. 

The  Rev.  C.  G.  Hazard,  of  Catskill,  delegate  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly at  Los  Angeles,  California. 

Catskill  Foundry  and  Machine  Works  incorporated  capitol  $50,000. 

Robert  Brink,  an  inmate  of  the  Alms  House,  got  $800  back 
pension. 

James  Kiveland  drowned  at  Catskill. 

Fifty  Smiths  from  Greene  county  attended  reunion  of  five  hundred 
Smiths  at  Peapeck. 

Christ's  Presbyterian  church  at  Catskill  celebrated  centennial. 
The  Rev.  Chas.  O.  Day  preached  the  sermon. 

Lionell  R.  Long  tried  for  murder  of  Wardwell  Van  Bergen,  shot  at 
Catskill  Point  on  steamboat.  E.  Palmer  for  people,  G.  H.  Jones  for 
defendant.    Acquitted. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Samuel  Austin,  of  Catskill,  found  dead  in  creek  by  Nieland 
brothers,  fishermen. 

William  Johnston  committed  suicide. 

Boiler  exploded  at  Holcomb's  saw  mill  in  Palenville.  Great 
wreck  but  not  one  killed. 

Catskill  Y.  M.  C.  A.  dedicated  on  April  first. 

New  windows  presented  to  St.  Luke's  church. 

Mrs.  Van  Cott  conducted  revival  services  at  Ashland  and 
Westerlo. 

Jeremiah  Vosburgh,  of  Coxsackie,  found  dead  in  bed,  aged  87 
years. 

Ambrose  Greene,  of  Urlton,  aged  90  years,  found  dead  in  bed. 

Charles  Garrighan,  of  Coxsackie,  found  dead  in  bed. 

Albany  and  Catskill  Trolley  Company  organized. 

Charles  E.  Haines  committed  suicide  at  Cairo. 

John   Richards   committed   suicide   at   Purling. 

Jacob  Fromers'  horse  and  wagon  fell  into  the  clove  Canyon,  six 
feet  and  escaped  serious  injury. 

William  Ellis,  war  veteran,  aged  87  years,  found  dead  in  bed  at 
South  Cairo. 

Kingston  district  conference  of  the  Methodist  church  held  in 
Catskill. 

Catskill  town  bridge  carried  away.  Michael  Moran,  captain  of 
barge  and  William  Dwyer  drowned.  Patsey  Williams,  Fred  Bigelow 
and  Jack  McNary  carried  down  with  the  structure,  but  escaped  alive. 
The  flood  did  great  damage  throughout  the  county.  New  span  cost 
$10,000.     Ben  Plusch  built  temporary  structure. 

Windham  village  six  feet  under  water. 

Marshall  Day,  West  Athens,  dropped  dead,  aged  55  years. 

Benjamin  Brenn,  of  Catskill,  committed  suicide  in  cistern. 

Thomas  Hall  drowned  at  Four  Mile  Point. 

James  Little,  of  New  Baltimore,  sent  to  Dannemora  for  20  years 
for  rape. 

Fred  Van  Dyke  unearthed  skeleton  of  indian  on  the  Milton  Palmer 
farm,  near  the  indian  fording  place.    Skeleton  was  in  sitting  posture. 

Frank  Krom,  of  Purling  shot  when  rabbit  stepped  on  trigger  of 
his  gun  which  he  had  laid  on  the  ground. 

Hunters  with  blood  hounds  killed  a  bear  at  Hunter. 

Durham  creamery  burned.     Loss  $4000. 

George  A.  Van  Valkenburgh  died  at  Lexington,  aged  65  years. 

John  R.  Hicks,  of  Catskill,  found  dead  in  bed,  aged  79  years. 

Henry  F.  Olmstead  died  suddenly,  aged  89  years. 

Caroline  Palmer,  died  at  Greenville  from  cancer,  aged  62  years. 

P.  Clinton  Lewis,  formerly  of  Catskill,  died  at  Boston,  under  an 
operation, 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Matthew  Griffin  died  at  Griffins  Corners,  aged  93  years. 

Joseph  Keeler  died  at  Catskill  suddenly,  aged  79  years. 

Sally  Smith  died  at  Catskill,  aged  84  years. 

Mrs.  R.  H.  Van  Bergen  died  at  Coxsackie,  aged  86  years. 

Frederick  Knowles  died  at  Coxsackie,  aged  91  years. 

Steven  Bnnist,  war  veteran,  died  at  Palenvillle,  aged  79  years. 

Isaac  Van  Schaack  died  at  Coxsackie,  aged  84  years. 

Mrs.  Mary  Calhoun  died  at  Greenville,  aged  81  years. 

Daniel  T.  Lennon  died  at  Palenville,  aged  83  years. 

Sarah  M.  Fowler,  aged  80  years,  died  at  Clintondale,  mother  of 
Hon.  Frank  S.  Decker,  of  Catskill. 

Mrs.  A.  N.  Bentley,  of  Greenville,  found  dead  in  bed,  aged  82  years. 

Oscar  Edwards,  of  Catskill  found  dead  in  bed. 

Susan  Nelson  Fitchett,  formerly  of  Catskill,  died  at  Coxsackie, 
aged  92  years. 

George  Roraback,  of  Westkill,  died  suddenly,  aged  85  years. 

Joan  Christopher  Klepser,  of  Catskill,  died  at  age  of  81  years. 

Harvey  Delamater,  of  Catskill,  found  dead  in  bed. 

Romantuds  Lake,  war  veteran,  died  at  Greenville. 

Lawrence  Benton,  war  veteran,  died  at  Durham. 

Remarkable  death  record — There  were  eighteen  persons  buried 
in  Locust  cemetery  near  Norton  Hill  during  the  past  year.  There 
was  one  over  100  years  old  at  her  death,  three  between  90  and  100, 
two  between  80  and  90,  four  between  75  and  80,  two  between  60  and 
70,  two  between  50  and  60,  one  between  40  and  50,  two  between  30 
and  40,  and  one,  the  youngest,  23  years. 

CHRONOLOGY  1904. 

Boiler  exploded  in  Hop  o'  Nose  mill,  several  hurt.  Percy  Pindar, 
Charles  Kiefer,  Al  Cole,  George  and  Fred  Pfiel  and  Harold  Russ 
among  the  number. 

Mrs.  Ellen  Post,  of  Catskill,  left  $1500  to  Carnegie  library,  $1000 
to  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  the  income  of  $3000,  $1000  to  the  First  Baptist 
and  $500  to  the  Reformed  churches  of  Catskill. 

Mrs.  Van  Cott,  aged  74  years,  conducted  two  weeks'  revival  at 
Windham. 

Hudson   River   Ministerial   Association  met   at   Catskill. 

Capt.  Charles  Hallenbeck,  pilot  of  the  steamer  Katterskill,  drop- 
ped dead  in  New  York. 

Mrs.  Andrew  Moore,  aged  78  years,  burned  to  death  at  Cornwall- 
ville. 

Justice  Emory  R.  Chase  entertained  Greene  County  Bar  Assn. 

Justice  Howard  presided  at  February  term  of  Supreme  Court. 

Rev.  W.  G.  Price  opened  Business  College  at  Freehold,  also 
published  Christian  Echo.    Failures, 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Assemblyman  Charles  A.  Nichols  fathers  new  equalization  board 
law  for  Greene  county. 

Justice  Chase  elected  president  Bar  Association. 

Charles  Sickles,  aged  90  years,  died  at  Athens. 

Robert  Seaman,  formerly  of  Catskill,  died  in  New  York  at  the 
age  of  82.    InVentor  of  the  iron  clad  milk  can  and  a  millionaire. 

Happy  Jack  Kilroy  fell  from  a  piazza  at  Haines  Falls  and  was 
killed. 

James  H.  Snyder  died  at  Kiskatoni  at  the  age  of  82. 

School  money,  town  of  Catskill,  $3775. 

Lyman  Chidester  died  at  Leeds  at  the  age  of  78. 

Lake  Kiskatom  Water  Works  Company  incorporated. 

Hezekiah  Dederick,  aged  89  years,  died  at  Drummond  Falls. 

Captain  George  Edwards  died  at  his  home  in  Athens,  69  years. 

Abram  Harkness,  a  war  veteran,  who  suffered  the  horrors  of  Libby 
prison,  died  at  his  home  in  Hunter. 

Mrs.  H.  M.  Mace,  principal  of  the  Catskill  High  school,  succumbed 
to  typhoid  fever. 

Dr.  Nelson  Fanning,  of  Catskill,  fell  down  stairs  and  was  killed. 

The  steam  yacht  of  Frank  Leek  was  dynamited  at  Athens. 

Geo.  L.  Arbanasius,  paymaster  at  the  Alsen  Cement  works,  died 
as  the  result  of  blood  poisoning  from  colored  stockings. 

Robert  Conine,  of  Catskill,  was  killed  by  C.  M.  Ry.  train  at 
Catskill  Point. 

Milton  J.  Snyder,  of  Catskill,  shot  himself  in  the  Landa  woods 
and  was  missing  ten  days  when  found. 

Hon.  Isaac  Pruyn,  aged  88  years,  died  at  his  home  in  Catskill 
June  2d.  President  of  Catskill  National  bank  for  thirty-three  years. 
Practiced  law  with  John  Van  Vleck. 

Engineer  B.  E.  Conklin,  of  Catskill,  of  the  fated  steamer  Slocum, 
stuck  to  his  post  while  hundreds  were  burned  to  death. 

Cyrus  C.  Ballou,  of  Catskill,  fell  from  a  cherry  tree  and  was  killed. 

Conrad  J.  Droogan,  a  Catskill  lawyer,  found  dead  in  bed  at  the 
Smith  House. 

Addison  S.  Hayes,  of  Hensonville,  a  one-armed  veteran,  died  sud- 
denly at  that  place. 

Estimate  expense  of  Catskill  schools,  $23505. 
Frank  Lampman  drowned  in  the  creek  at  Catskill. 
Barns  on  the  Martin  Van  Sylke  place  at  Coxsackie  destroyed  by 
Are. 

Charles  Prediger,  of  Catskill,  drowned  in  creek. 

Frank  Deane  died  at  Greenville,  aged  79  years.  Father  of  Super- 
visor J.  Henry  Deane,  of  Catskill. 

Alexander  Pausley  died  at  his  home  in  Athens,  aged  71  years. 
Hudson  River  Holiness  school  opened  by  the  Rev.  W.  Albrecht 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    tiOTJNTt. 


at  Catskill  September  6th.  Dismal  failure.  Bills  still  unpaid.  For- 
mer principal  of  academy  at  Greenville. 

Harry  Overbaugh,  of  Catskill,  killed  in  a  sewer  cave-in  at  Saug- 
erties. 

Frank  Smith,  of  Athens,  drowned  in  the  river  at  Hudson. 

Victor  Brandeis  committed  suicide  at  the  Salisbury  Manor,  Leeds, 
blowing  his  head  off  with  a  shot  gun. 

James  J.  McDermott  found  dead  in  the  woods  near  Green  Lake. 

Company  C  encamped  at  Binghamton. 

Hudson  River  Baptist  Association  met  at  Catskill. 

Thomas  Reilly,  of  Coxsackie,  had  the  top  of  his  head  blown  off 
by  the  accidental  discharge  of  his  gun  while  hunting, rabbits. 

Daniel  H.  Link  saved  coupons  from  tobacco  packages  and  got  a 
$300  piano. 

William  Walters  and  wife  slashed  to  the  point  of  death  by  Jack 
and  Charles  Deer,  who  also  threw  stones  through  the  windows  and 
shot-up  the  house 

George  Proctor  killed  while  operating  a  threshing  machine  near 
Catskill.    One  foot  was  cut  off  and  he  bled  to  death. 

Charles  Truesdell,  of  Prattsville,  was  killed  by  a  companion  while 
shooting  at  a  target. 

St.  Patrick's  academy  at  Catskill  received  gold  medals  from  the 
St.  Louis  exposition  for  excellent  work  of  pupils. 

Company  E  celebrates  its  25th  anniversary  October  3rd.  Ad- 
•  dresses  were  made  by  Col.  Sage,  A.  M.  Murphy,  Senator  Bloodgood, 
Justice  Emory  A.  Chase,  Alderman  Thorpe,  Postmaster  Doty,  Judge 
Tallmadge,  Supervisor  P.  G.  Coffin,  County  Treasurer  J.  A.  Betts  and 
Dr.  Englert,  former  members,  and  by  Contractor  George  W.  Holdridge, 
who  built  the  armory. 

Last  great  races  at  the  Catskill  driving  park. 

Kingston  district  conference  held  at  Coxsackie. 

Peter  and  Fred  Cornell,  of  Catskill,  shot  71  partridge  and  33 
woodcock  on  a  hunting  trip. 

Carrie  D,  Hotchkiss,  of  Catskill  captured  a  big  owl  measuring 
24  inches. 

Republicans  swept  Greene  county.  Roosevelt  700.  William  J. 
Hughes  elected  county  treasurer. 

Justice  Kellogg  presided  over  November  term  of  Supreme  Court. 

The  Rev.  Alfred  Demarest,  former  pastor  of  Catskill  Reformed 
church,  died  suddenly  while  getting  ready  to  go  abroad. 

John  Seers,  of  Leeds,  sentenced  to  four  years  imprisonment  for 
bigamy. 

John  Ageo  killed  by  the  cars  at  Alsen. 

Lewis  Wolf,  steamboat  man,  died  suddenly  at  Athens,  aged  76 


dear  old  grEene  cotJntY. 


years.  Treasurer  Evening  Line,  president  of  Hudson  River  Ice  Co. 

County  indebtedness  reduced  to  $80,000. 

Michael   O'Hara   chairman  of  Board   of   Supervisors.     Henry   S. 
Van  Orden  supervisor  from  Catskill. 

Citizens  Hose  company's  fair  netted  $1200. 

CHRONOLOGY  1905. 

Nile  Linzey  drowned  in  the  Catskill  creek  while  skating. 

Isaac  Van  Loan  died  suddenly  at  Athens  from  paralysis. 

Annual  meeting  of  Bar  Association  at  Catskill.     Justice  Emory 
A.  Chase  presided. 

William  Brandow  died  at  South  Jewett,  aged  80  years. 

Justice  Howard  presided  at  February  term  of  Supreme  Court. 

Richard  Jones,   82  years,  and  wife,   78  years,   died  at  Greenville 
in  same  week. 

The  Newkirk  house  at  Sandy  Plains  destroyed  by  fire. 

H.  Leroy  Austin,  of  Catskill,  appointed  chief  accountant  in  comp- 
troller's office  at  Albany. 

Art  exhibition  at  Carnegie  library  at  Catskill. 

Palenville  and  Kiskatom  Telephone  Company  organized. 

Vernon  E.  Ford,  of  Catskill  died  following  an  accident  at  his  saw 
mill  in  Catskill.    His  leg  was  amputated. 

"Alone  in  London"  by  Cairo  amateurs,  netted  $250. 

St.  Patrick's  fair  at  Athens  was  a  great  success. 

Frances  Wilcox,  bTdest  teacher  in  the  county,  died  at  the  age  of 
76  years  at  Catskill. 

Jane  Johnson,  the  last  slave  in  Greene  county,  died  at  Catskill, 
having  been  a  servant  in  the  Mann  family  over  30  years. 

Three  cases  of  spotted  fever  appeared  at  Palenville.     All  three 
died. 

Catskill  fishermen  captured  many  carp  weighing  from  24  to  44 
pounds  in  the  creek. 

Charles  A.  Gumier  committed  suicide  by  jumping  into  the  river 
at  Catskill  Point. 

School  money  for  Greene  county,  $27,725. 

John  H.  Brink,  of  Haines  Falls,  killed  by  the  cars  at  Alsen. 
Thomas  F.  Botsford,  a  prominent  resident  of  Catskill,  died  suddenly. 

Frank  Knoll  elected  president  of  the  Deuter  Untersteutungsverein 
of  Catskill. 

Maggie  Van  Cott  in  great  revival  at  Jefferson,  Iowa. 

Woodbridge  King,  aged  92  years,  died  at  his  home  in  West  Athens. 

Frank   Schmidt,   of  Catskill,   champion   at   gun   practice   on  the 
battleship  Illinois. 

District  Attorney  Pierre  S.  Jennings  passed  through  successful 
appendicitis  operation. 


SflAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNtf*. 


Albert  Boshardt  drowned  at  Smith's  Landing. 

Charles  Vedder,  of  Coxsackie,  fell  overboard  and  was  drowned 
from  the  City  of  Hudson. 

Henry  S.  Mace  died  at  Catskill  at  the  age  of  89  years. 

Four  men  terribly  injured  in  a  dynamite  explosion  at  the  Cats- 
kill  Cement  works. 

Charles  Waterman  died  at  Ashland  at  the  age  of  90  years. 

Enos  V.  Smith,  of  Coxsackie,  found  dead  in  his  wagon. 

Joseph  Hertack,  of  Windham,  walked  off  the  dock  and  was  drowned 
at  Catskill.     Had  been  missing  about  ten  days  from  home. 

S.  B.  Sage  died  at  his  home  in  Catskill,  aged  68  years.  Born  in 
Prattsville  1836,  educated  there.  Assemblyman  from  Grfeene  county 
1897-8-9.    Also  under-sheriff  in  1880. 

Judge  Cochrane  presided  at  June  term  of  Supreme  Court. 

Citizens  Hose  Co.  of  Catskill  wore  new  white  suits  at  Mt.  Vernon 
and  were  headed  by  the  Astor  drum  corps  of  New  York,  35  pieces. 

Peter  Dambrowski  committed  suicide  at  the  hotel  of  A.  Allulis 
in  Catskill. 

Catskill  public  library  reports  6261  volumes. 

New  Methodist  church  at  South  Cairo  dedicated. 

Charles  E.  Smith,  of  Coxsackie,  jumped  from  his  motor  car  and 
struck  on  his  head  killing  him. 

Margaret  Herrick,  oldest  women  in  Greene  county,  died  at 
Catskill,  aged  96  years. 

Estimated  expenditures  for  Catskill  Schools,  $24,484. 

Company  E  qualified  25  men  on  the  state  rifle  range. 

John  Gill,  aged  79  years,  died  at  Athens. 

Greene  county  fiermen's  convention  held  at  Catskill  Labor  Day. 
Hensonville  band,  Hunter  band,  Hudson  band,  Catskill  band,  Pruyn 
Drum  Corps,  Hudson,  Hunter  and  Catskill  companies  represented  in 
parade.     Jacob  Promer  elected  president  of  association. 

Isaac  Spoor  died  at  West  Coxsackie,  aged  84  years. 

Emerson  Ford,  of  Durham,  James  Hughes,  of  Stuyvesant  Palls, 
and  Eugene  Wayne,  of  Catskill,  appointed  Equalization  Board  for 
Greene  County. 

POUR  DROWNED— Mary  C.  Bedell,  Jennie  L.  Bedell,  of  New 
York,  Sarah  Brown,  of  Brooklyn,  and  Margaret  McKay,  of  Coxsackie, 
drowned  at  Hudson  when  the  Powers  ran  into  the  Young  America, 
the  boat  being  sunk. 

Henry  Van  Valkenburgh,  of  Coxsackie,  was  killed  at  that  place 
by  the  cars.    He  was  driving  a  manure  spreader. 


DEAR  OLD  GREECE  COUNTY. 


Otis  Stevens  shot  Edward  Griffin  at  the  Golden  Stairs  hotel  at 
Catskill. 

Greene  County  Sunday  School  convention  held  at  Cornwallville. 

The  remains  of  William  Wilkinson,  of  Catskill,  were  taken  from 
the  river  at  Maiden.    Case  a  mystery. 

William  Wood,  of  Coxsackie,  committed  suicide  by  drowning. 

Atlantic  City  Guards  encamped  in  Catskill. 

The  Presbytery  of  Columbia  met  at  Tannersville. 

Henry  Layman,  of  Catskill,  caught  a  carp  weighing  75  pounds. 

William  Layman,  of  Catskill,  fell  from  a  ladder  at  Oak  Hill  while 
picking  apples  and  was  killed. 

Harry  E.  Norton  killed  by  a  Catskill  trolley  car. 

Daniel  Glennon,  of  Catskill,  died  at  the  age  of  93  years. 

Supervisors  Board  a  tie,  seven  Democrats,  seven  Republicans. 
Wm.  C.  Brady  elected  to  assembly.  Leslie  Tompkins  and  William 
N.  Anderson  elected  school  commissioners. 

Cairo  Electric  Light  Company  building  $80,000  plant  at  Woodstock. 

Catskill  Mountain  and  Mohawk  Valley  Railroad  incorporated. 

Justice  Hasbrouck  presided  at  November  term  of  Supreme  Court. 

Michael  O'Hara  chairman  of  Board  of  Supervisors.  George  B. 
Van  Valkenburgh  clerk. 

Greene  County  equalization,  $12,762,677. 

Morrison  Brooks,  of  Athens,  found  dead  in  bed,  aged  71  years. 

The  Supervisors  elected  are — Ashland,  Homer  E.  Tompkins,  R; 
Athens,  J.  K.  Van  Woert,  R;  Cairo,  Chas.  Jones,  D;  Catskill,  H.  S. 
Van  Orden,  R;  Coxsackie,  W.  T.  Haswell,  R;  Durham,  T.  I.  Smith,  R; 
Greenville,  Henry  Botsford,  R;  Hunter,  Renwick  Dibble,  D;  Halcott, 
L.  J.  Deamer,  D;  Jewett,  Geo.  Chase,  R;  Lexington,  Geo.  Moore,  D; 
New  Baltimore,  B.  Van  Slyke,  R;  Prattsville,  E.  Krieger,  D;  Wind- 
ham, S.  D.  Ford,  D. 

William  S.  Berrs  burned  to  death. 

Howard  Boughton,  one  of  Catskill's  foremost  citizens  died  as  he 
was  about  to  retire  for  the  night.  Born  at  Windham  1849,  came  to 
Catskill  in  1865.  Was  in  business  with  L.  R.  Doty.  Very  successful 
business  man. 

Waldo  Schmidt  found  dead  in  the  lots  near  Summit  Hill  House, 
Catskill.    He  had  been  hunting,  and  shot  himself  by  accident. 

Capt.  Geo.  R.  Benter,  formerly  of  Catskill,  died  in  >lew  York. 
Julius  Colwick,  of  Alsen,  was  buried  in  a  bin  of  cement  at  that 
place  and  killed. 

George  Trumpbour,  aged  69  years,  died  at  Palenville. 
Sally  Davis,  aged  92  years,  died  at  Oak  Hill. 

Ch    16 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNTY. 


CHRONOLOGY  1906. 

William  Ford,  of  Cairo,  enlisted  and  went  to  Philippines. 

Nelson  S.  Bloom  died  from  stroke  of  paralysis  at  Oak  Hill. 

Oscar  Greene  dropped  dead  at  Coxsackie. 

Hart  House  at  Catskill  Point  destroyed  by  fire. 

Bolivar  Newbury,  one  of  the  early  manufacturers  of  power  presses 
for  printing,  died  at  Coxsackie,  at  the  age  of  82  years. 

A  crazy  man  called  on  the  Rev.  I.  H.  Hoag,  at  Leeds,  and  an- 
nounced that  God  had  sent  him  to  kill  him.  The  pastor  side  stepped 
him,  and  the  sheriff  got  the  quarry. 

Ned  Mirles,  of  Catskill,  killed  by  the  cars  at  Alsen.  » 

Justice  Howard  presided  at  February  term  of  the  Supreme  Court. 

Greene  County  Bar  Association  met  at  the  Palmer  House,  Catskill. 
Justice  Chase  presided.  Arthur  M.  Murphy  read  paper  on  Judge  Osborn. 

Dr.  Henry  L.  Whitbeck,  a  former  resident  of  Greenville,  killed 
his  wife,  Emmaline  Haight,  of  Freehold  with  a  tack  hammer  and 
then  blew  the  top  of  his  own  head  off  with  a  rifle. 

John  Paige  died  at  the  home  of  his  daughter  in  Coxsackie  at  the 
aged  of  87  years. 

Abram  Sickles,  aged  65  years,  tried  to  cross  the  river  on  the  ice 
at  Coxsackie  and  was  drowned. 

Truman  Gillett,  a  former  Catskillian  and  private  secretary  of 
Thurlow  Weed,  died  at  his  home  in  Chicago,  aged  87  years 

David  Davis,  of  Union  Society,  died  at  the  age  of  82  years. 

John  Slattery,  a  prominent  resident  of  Athens  died  at  that  place 
following  a  stroke  of  paralysis. 

George  H.  Vedder,  of  Leeds,  a  graduate  of  Harvard  college  pub- 
lishes magazine  at  La  Hacienda. 

William  Raney  died  at  Coxsackie  of  pneumonia. 

The  Rev.  John  W.  Gorse,  aged  80  years,  died  at  Catskill. 
Tev.  Rev.  C.  G.  Hazard,  the  Rev.  E.  P.  Miller,  The  Rev.  Wm.  Fitz- 
gerald, the  Rev.  Robert  Knapp,  William  Van  Orden,  F.  S.  Lynes,  Orrin 
Day,  James  P.  Philip,  William  Palmatier  and  P.  Gardner  Coffin  com- 
mittee to  raise  funds  for  San  Francisco  earthquake  sufferers. 

Arthur  Coggswell,  of  Athens,  killed  by  the  cars. 

Antonio  Gentillio  killed  by  the  cars  at  Coxsackie. 

Ransom  Thome,  oldest  resident  or  Freehold,  died  from  heart 
trouble. 

The  Presbytery  of  Columbia  met  in  Catskill.    Large  attendance. 

Norman  Francis,  of  Oak  Hill,  found  dead  in  his  room. 

Walter  Dederick,  of  Catskill,  fell  against  buzz  saw  he  was  operat- 
ing in  lumb  camp  at  Leeds  and  had  his  leg  cut  off.    He  recovered. 

Charles  Thatcher  dropped  dead  on  Mansion  street  at  Coxsackie. 

17 


DEAR    OLD    greeiJe    COUNTY. 


Mrs.  Margaret  Ensign,  formerly  of  Coxsackie,  lost  all  her  posses- 
sions in  the  San  Francisco  disaster. 

Elder  E.  P.  Pratt,  of  Oak  Hill,  representative  to  General  Assembly 
at  Des  Moines. 

Jacob  Promer,  of  Hunter,  passed  through  serious  operation  at 
Albany  hospital. 

Amount  sent  from  Catskill  to  San  Pranscio  by  committee,  $2829; 
other  sources,  St.  Patrick's  church,  150  and  Reformed  church,  $59. 

Albert  Hoffman,  of  Coxsackie,  committe  d  suicide  by  taking 
strychnine. 

Joseph  Ostrander  ,of  Tannersville,  committed  suicide  by  taking 
arsenic. 

Charles  Young  drove  to  Oak  Hill,  tied  his  horse  and  then  went 
into  the  barn  and  cut  his  throat  with  a  jack  knife.     He  died. 

The  body  of  Joseph  Pulaski,  of  Catskill,  found  in  the  river. 

Willis  S.  Post  died  at  Palenville  at  the  age  of  71  years. 

Albert  Chase,  father  of  Justice  Emory  A  Chase,  died  at  Henson- 
ville,  aged  84  years. 

William  Garrison,  aged  77  years,  while  hunting  rats  shot  himself 
and  died  instantly. 

Buildings  of  J.  G.  Newbury  at  Coxsackie  destroyed  by  fire.  Loss 
118,000.00. 

Justice  Pitts  presided  at  June  term  of  the  Supreme  Court. 

Citizens  Hose  Company,   of  Catskill,  paraded  at  Rensselaer. 

Ninety-first  annual  meeting  of  Greene  County  Bible  Society  at 
Catskill. 

Lucius  E.  Tuttle  and  Mrs.  Tuttle  were  shot  July  4th  as  the 
closing  event  of  a  celebration.  The  shot  was  fired  by  Italians  on 
Water  street,  and  they  were  never  apprehended.  Mr.  Tuttle  died 
instantly  and  Mrs.  Tuttle  finally  recovered.  The  bullet  passed  through 
her  body. 

Company  E  spent  10  days  in  camp  at  Fleischmans. 

The  upper  town  bridge  at  Catskill  blown  up  by  dynamite. 

Hiram  Bogardus,  former  school  commissioner  of  county,  died  at 
Coxsackie,  of  gangrene.     He  was  74  years  of  age. 

Mrs.  Edgar  Poole  found  dead  in  her  home  on  Broome  street,  at 
Coxsackie. 

Clayton  Bump,  a  Catskill  veteran  of  the  Spanish  war  committed 
suicide  at  Albany,  using  gas  and  chloroform. 

Hendrick  Hudson  steamer,  of  the  Day  Line,  made  first  trip  on 
August  23rd. 

Commodore  William  B.  Nelson  died  suddenly  at  Catskill. 

Great  firemen's  celebration  at  Hunter  on  Labor  Day. 

Teachers'  Institute  held  at  Catskill.  W.  N.  Anderson  and  Leslie 
Tompkins,   commissioners. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


David  Layman  killed  at  Washburn  brick  yard  at  Catskill  by  a 
falling  derrick. 

Jacob  Fromer  elected  president  Greene  County  Firemen's  Assn. 
Barns  of  Omar  Mackey  at  Oak  Hill  destroyed  by  fire. 
Kingston  District  Conference  held  in  Catskill  Methodist  church. 
Greene   County    Sunday    School   Convention   held   at   Palenville. 
Sixty-three  schools  in  the  county. 

Alvin  Brewer  found  dead  in  bed  at  his  home  in  Catskill. 

John  Post,  of  Catskill,  celebrated  his  97th  birthday. 

Ice  house  of  New  Jersey  Company,  at  Smith's  Landing  destroyed 
by  fire. 

George  Burleigh,  a  Civil  War  veteran,  died  at  AtheriB,  at  the  age 
of  72  years. 

Steamers  Adirondack  and  Saratoga  in  collision  below  Catskill. 
Two  dead,  many  hurt. 

Kennedy  Valve  Works  at  Coxsackie,  damaged  to  extent  of  $9000 
by  fire. 

Morris  Guards  encamped  at  Catskill. 

John  W.  Rusk,  of  Haines  Falls,  invents  steam  wagon,  also  process 
of  printing  50  photographs  a  minute. 

Greene  county  gave  Hughes  for  governor  plurality  of  500.  W.  C. 
Brady  elected  member  of  assembly;  E.  A.  Gifford,  district  attorney; 
J.  C.  Tallmadge,  county  judge;  Ira  T.  Tolley  ,sup't  of  county  house, 
and  Hardy  Stewart,  sheriff. 

Henry  S.  Van  Orden  elected  chairman  and  Geo.  B.  Van  Valken- 
burgh  clerk  to  Board  of  Supervisors.  Board — Ashland,  Homer  Tomp- 
kins; Athens,  J.  K.  Van  Woert;  Cairo,  Charles  P.  Jones;  Catskill, 
Henry  S.  Van  Orden;  Coxsackie,  W.  T.  Haswell;  Durham,  T.  I.  Smith; 
Greenville,  Henry  Botsford;  Hunter,  Renwick  Dibble;  Halcott,  L.  J. 
Deamer;  Jewett,  Geo.  H.  Chase;  Lexington,  Geo.  Moore;  New  Balti- 
more, Brand  Van  Slyke;  Prattsville,  Elmer  Krieger,  and  Windham, 
Sidney  L.  Ford. 

Thomas  Brown,  aged  78  years,  a  war  veteran,  an  old  time  whaler, 
died  at  Freehold. 

Work  commenced  on  new  concrete  bridge  at  Catskill. 

Maggie  Van  Cott  held  revival  meetings  at  Pittsfield  and  Baltimore. 

J.  B.  North,  of  Tannersville,  a  brakeman,  was  killed  by  a  fall 
from  his  train. 

Company  E  entertained  Board  of  Supervisors. 

Thomas  Regan  fell  off  a  high  bank  at  Alsen  in  the  night  and 
was  killed. 

Greene  county  Board  of  Supervisors  vote  unanimously  for  state 
roads. 

CHRONOLOGY  1907. 
Edward  Butler,  of  Coxsackie,  was  murdered  on  the  road  near  Troy. 


tlEAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNTY. 


J.  T.  Henderson  died  suddenly  at  the  Smith  House,  Catskill. 

Jane  Walsh  found  dead  in  bed  at  Woodstock. 

Catskill  Trolley  Company  went  into  hands  of  a  receiver. 

Hiram  Goff,  of  Catskill,  committed  suicide  at  his  boarding  place, 
taking  carbolic  acid. 

William  H.  Denton  and  Laura  Denton,  old  people,  burned  to 
death  in  a  fire  that  destroyed  their  residence  near  Cairo. 

James  Van  Tran,  a  civil  war  veteran,  died  at  Prattsville,  from 
gangrene  in  his  foot.  He  lived  four  years  after  the  disease  set  in  and 
one  by  one  he  cut  off  his  toes  with  a  pocket  knife. 

The  Rev.  C.  G.  Hazard,  of  Catskill,  attended  the  Hague  Tribunal. 

Frank  Norton  drowned  in  the  creek  at  Catskill. 

Monroe  Truesdell,  of  Lexington,  youngest  soldier  in  federal  army, 
being  fourteen  when  he  enlisted.  He  was  a'  member  of  Warrens  and 
Sheridans  staff.  Wounded  at  Winchester.  In  lumber  business  at 
East  Jewett. 

Eleanor  C.  Heermance  endows  Hermance  Memorial  Library  at 
Coxsackie,  leaving  $60,000  for  that  purpose. 

William  G.  Plank,  Grand  Army  veteran,  of  Cairo,  passed  away, 
aged  70  years. 

Chauncey  Dixson,  of  Catskill,  rounded  out  100  years.  War  veter- 
an.   Mrs.  Dixson  died  at  the  age  of  103. 

Kate  Dunlap,  of  Windham,  tried  to  deal  in  liquors  at  that  place 
and  it  cost  her  $200  fine,  ana  not  having  the  money  she  went  to  Jail. 

Tenth  annual  convention  of  the  American  Zionists  held  at  Tan- 
nersville. 

Ribbel  Hess  drowned  in  the  river  at  Catskill. 

Robert  Scott,  of  Catskill,  a  Grany  Army  veteran,  died  at  Cairo 
at  the  age  of  87  years. 

Jacob  Makeley,  a  Cairo  farmer,  committed  suicide  by  taking 
laudinum. 

Walter  Mott,  of  Catskill,  died  of  strangulated  hernia  at  his  home 
in  that  place,  aged  76  years. 

The  new  concrete  bridge  at  Catskill  opened  with  a  celebration 
and  fireworks  in  the  evening. 

Barn  of  Burton  Van  Derzee  at  Coxsackie  destroyed  by  fire,  the 
building  being  struck  by  lightning. 

Cooper  shop  of  Howard  Carey  and  dwelling  of  Edward  Dixson  at 
West  Coxsackie  burned. 

Store  of  Nicholas  D.  Onifrio  at  Athens  destroyed  by  fire. 
success. 

Major  Leroy  Palmer,  a  Catskill  boy,  returned  to  the  Philippines. 

The  council  tree  of  the  Mohican  Indians,  located  on  the  Casper 
Hallenbeck  farm  at  Coxsackie,  struck  by  lightningand  destroyed.  It 
was  under  this  tree  that  the  Indians  met  to  sell  land  to  Jan  Bronk, 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Martee  Genisee  Van  Bergen  and  Jan  Jacobse  Hallenbeck. 

William  Curtis,  of  Kiskatom,  died  from  gas  poisoning  while  at 
work  in  a  well  at  his  place. 

Forty-ninth  annual  convention  of  the  Greene  County  Sunday 
School  Association  held  at  Catskill. 

Store  of  C.  I.  Collier,  at  Coxsackie,  partially  destroyed  by  fire. 

The  Rev.  John  B.  Thompson,  former  pastor  of  the  Catskill  Re- 
formed church  died  at  Trenton,  aged  77  years. 

The  Greene  County  Firemen's  19th  annual  convention  was  held 
at  Coxsackie. 

Hanah  Pierce  died  at  Kiskatom  at  the  age  of  95  years. 

Ford  H.  Clegg,  of  Leeds,  died  as  the  result  of  injuries  when  he 
jumped  out  of  a  window  at  his  home,  during  his  sleep. 

Annual  meeting  of  the  Greene  County  Bible  Society  held  at  the 
Reformed  church  in  Catskill. 

The  first  horseless  wagon  said  to  have  been  made  by  Peter  Van 
Hoesen,  of  Leeds,  who  lost  all  his  money  trying  to  perfect  the  machine. 

Morris  Guards  encamped  at  Catskill. 

Thomas  Whitlock,  of  Brooklyn,  in  his  92nd  year  visits  Catskill. 
A  friend  of  General  Lafayette.    Past  master  Odd  Fellows  over  53  years. 

Order  of  Forresters  organized  at  Catskill.  Angelo  Sission  first 
chief. 

Levi  M.  Francis,  a  veteran  of  the  civil  war,  suicided  at  his  home 
in  Catskill,  taking  strychnine. 

St.  Patrick's  church  at  Athens  dedicated.    Bishop  Burke  officiated. 

Thomas  Bell,  of  Catskill,  died  suddenly  at  the  age  of  81  years. 

Edward  Smith  dropped  dead  at  his  home  in  Athens. 

Mrs.  Jennie  Olm,  of  Catskill,  gets  verdict  of  $9000  for  death  of 
her  husband  who  was  killed  by  the  cars  near  Hudson. 

Ten  Democrats  and  four  Republicans  elected  supervisors.  The 
Board:  Franklin  Finch,  Ashland;  Elmore  Mackey,  Athens;  Charles 
P.  Jones,  Cairo;  Charles  A.  Post,  Catskill;  William  B.  Townsend, 
Coxsackie;  W.  S.  Borthwick,  Durham;  N.  Sanford,  Greenville;  Ren- 
wick  Bibble,  Hunter;  L.  Van  Valkenburgh,  Halcott;  Geo.  H.  Chase, 
Jewett;  V.  R.  Kirke,  Lexington;  Ezra  H.  Palmer,  New  Baltimore; 
Elmer  Krieger,  Prattsville;  Dr.  Sidney  Ford,  Windham.  Judson  A. 
Betts,  County  Treasurer.  Pierre  S.  Jennings,  District  Attorney.  Wm. 
C.  Brady,  Member  of  Assembly.     Durham  no  license  by  six  votes. 

James  B.  Mitchell,  wat  veteran  and  13  months  in  Andersonville 
prison,  fell  down  stairs  and  died  a  few  hours  later. 

Justice  Fitts  presided  over  Dcember  term  of  Supreme  Court. 

Maggie  Myers,  aged  60  years,  indicted  for  keeping  house  of  ill 
repute.     Sixty  days  in  prison. 

E.  S  Hay  dropped  dead  in  the  office  of  the  Catskill  Recorder. 

County  budget  for  the  year  $82,206. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Jeremiah  Dean  died  at  New  Baltimore.  He  was  76  years  of  age. 
Was  for  three  years  on  awhale  vessel.  In  California  during  the  gold 
excitement.    He  was  an  uncle  of  Supervisor  J.  H.  Deane,  of  Catskill. 

CHRONOLOGY  1908. 

Aaron  Wynkoop,  of  Cairo,  drowned  in  the  creek  at  South  Cairo, 
attempting  to  cross  the  stream  while  intoxicated. 

The  new  school  building  on  the  West  Side  in  Catskill  completed 
by  Contractor  Geo.  W.  Holdridge,  at  a  cost  of  about  $30,000 

Rene  Rowlinson,  of  Windham,  burned  to  death  at  the  Smith  House 
in  Catskill,  his  clothing  catching  fire  in  some  unknown  manner. 

Charles  A.  Post,  of  Catskill,  elected  chairman  of  Board  of  Super- 
visors;  George  B.  Van  Valkenburgh,  clerk. 

The  barn  of  Newton  Spoor,  at  Coxsackie,  valued  at  $3,000,  de- 
stroyed by  fire. 

Residence  of  Peter  Pitchett,  near  Coxsackie,  destroyed  by  fire. 

Supervisor  Franklin  Pinch,  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Ashland, 
passed  away  at  his  home  after  his  return  from  a  meeting  of  the 

Board  of  Supervisors.    He  was  63  years  of  age. 

Marry  E.  Garrison  found  dead  in  her  home  at  Indian  Ridge. 

Mrs.  Catherine  Goodwin,  aged  82  years,  died  at  Palenville. 

Philip  Preese,  died  at  Purling,  at  the  age  of  80  years. 

Tannersville  and  Cairo  want  county  seat  located  at  these  places. 

Judge  Clearwater  presided  at  February  term  of  Supreme  Court. 

Wilbur  Brown  died  at  Catskill,  aged  58  years. 

Tannersville  offers  to  raise  $100,000  to  have  county  buildings 
located  there. 

Trustee  Charles  A.  Elliott  offers  site  for  court  house  in  Catskill. 

Frederick  S.  Lynes,  a  prominent  Catskillian  died  at  the  age 
of  84  years.    Forty  years  sup't  of  First  Baptist  Sunday  school. 

Greene  county  Board  of  Supervisors  met  at  Catskill  and  decided 
to  locate  building  there  and  to  spend  $150,000  for  new  court  house. 
The  vote  to  locate  in  Catskill  was  11  to  3.  It  was  also  decided  to 
locate  the  buildings  on  Bridge  and  Main  streets,  and  Messrs.  Post, 
Krieger,  Dibble  and  Chase,  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  secure  plans,  etc. 

Mass  meeting  of  Citizens  of  Catskill  held  at  court  house  in  the 
matter  of  new  buildings.    New  sites  proposed. 

Estimated  that  site  of  lands  will  cost  $47,000  on  Bridge  and 
Main  streets. 

Emory  A.  Chase  re-elected  president  of  Bar  Association. 

Burton  Whitbeck  shot  and  killed  his  wife,  Maude  B.  Whitbeck 
in  front  of  their  home  at  West  Coxsackie  and  then  committed  suicide 
in  the  barn  of  his  uncle,  John  Curtin. 

The  remains  of  Fred  Brandy  were  taken  froni  the  Catskill  creek 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


below  the  bridge.     He  had  been  missing  for  six  weeks. 

Emanuel  J.  Hill,  former  resident  of  Catskill,  and  steamboat  man, 
died  in  Brooklyn  at  the  age  of  84  years. 

Philip  Spencer  fell  from  the  dock  at  the  pumping  station  in  Cats- 
kill  and  was  drowned. 

Celebration  of  Old  Home  Week  in  Catskill,  October  4-7.  Great 
parades,  carnival,  fireworks,  athletic  sports  on  race  track,  and  ball 
game  following  day.  Hon.  Wm.  P.  Piero  made  the  principal  address. 
Catskill  was  thronged  with  guests  all  the  week. 

Michael  Doherty  found  dead  in  his  home  at  Coxsackie. 

Governor  Hughes  given  a  rousing  welcome  in  Catskill. 

The  committee  passed  a  resolution  of  thanks  to  Chairman  J.  P. 
Philip  for  his  services  and  zeal  which  made  Old  Home  Week  a  great 
success. 

William  H.  Taft,  president,  carried  Greene  county  by  478;  Hughes, 
governor,  263;  Brady,  assembly,  290;  Tompkins,  commissioner,  488; 
Longendyke,  corner,  488. 

Justice  Pitts  presided  at  November  term  of  Supreme  Court. 

The  Malcolm  Mill  went  out  of  business  at  Catskill. 

District  Attorney  Pierre  S.  Jennings  had  30  cases  before  grand 
jury.  Jas.  Cartan,  of  Catskill,  held  for  attempt  to  poison  his  wife. 
Sentenced  to  18  years  imprisonment. 

Henry  Limbrick,  Catskill's  oldest  resident,  died,  aged  93  years. 

Elmer  Overbaugh,  of  Palenville,  went  after  pitch  to  make  gum 
and  did  not  return.     His  body  was  found  in  the  creek. 

Set  of  resolution  presented  to  Bank  President  J.  P.  Philip  by  Old 
Home  Week  committee.  Addresses  made  by  Rev.  Clark  Wright,  Will- 
iam E.  Thorpe,  Village  President  Charles  A.  Elliott  and  Senator 
Bloodgood. 

Shops  of  the  Catskill  Mountain  railroad  at  the  Point  destroyed 
by  fire. 

Charles  A.  Elliott  attends  session  of  Hudson  Pulton  committee 
in  New  York. 

Michael  O'Hara,  of  Tannersville,  appointed  county  superintendent 
of  highways. 

$150,000  appropriated  for  Pulton  Celebration;   $5,000  for  Catskill. 

Bonded  indebtedness  of  town  of  Catskill,  $73,500,  of  which  $42,- 
000  was  for  concrete  bridge. 

Work  commenced  on   steamer  Robert  Pulton. 

Company  E  entertained  Board  of  Supervisors. 

Prank  Packer,  of  Catskill,  successfully  treated  for  lock  jaw,  being 
first  case  on  record. 

Catskill  Civil  Organization  expended  $1072  for  the  year.  Omar 
V.  Sage  president. 

Mrs.  Mary  Griffin  burned  to  death  by  the  explosion  of  a  lamp  at 
Ashland, 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNTY. 


CHRONOLOGY  1909. 

Dominic  Sabbatani  drowned  at  Catskill  Point  New  Years  Day 
attempting  to  cross  on  the  ice. 

Charles  Paddock  found  dead  in  bed  at  his  home  in  Purling.  He 
was  78  years  of  age. 

Bank  President  J.  P.  Philip  and  wife,  of  Catskill,  leave  on  a  three- 
months'  tour  of  Europe,  January  31,  1909. 

J.  P.  Philip  and  wife  sailed  for  Egypt. 

Sarah  Timmerman  died  at  Palenville  at  the  age  of  86  years. 

John  Costigan,  aged  77  years,  dropped  dead  at  the  residence  of 
Joseph  Malcolm. 

John  Huested  died  suddenly  at  Cairo,  aged  77  years. 

Barn  of  Silas  Finch  at  Cairo  destroyed  by  fire. 

Mrs.  Willis  A.  Haines  elected  Worthy  Matron  O.  E.   Stars. 

Harry  Boyne,  of  Catskill,  received  15,000  volts  of  electricity  from 
Woodstock  high  tension  wire,  rendered  unconscious  but  recovered. 

Charles  R.  Howard,  a  prominent  resident  of  Tannersville  died  at 
that  place.     Eight  hundred  people  attended  his   funeral. 

Justice  Howard  presided  at  the  February  term  of  the  Supreme 
Court.    Eugene  Kurau,  foreman  of  grand  jury. 

Annual  banquet  of  Bar  Association  held  at  Catskill. 

Catskill  Gun  Club  held  banquet  at  Smith  House,   Catskill. 

Catskill  Masons  held  annual  banquet  at  Y.  M.  C.  A.  hall. 

Rip  Van  Winkle  Club  held  annual  banquet  at   Smith  House. 

Asbury  Ringman,  driver  on  the  Oak  Hill  stage,  was  killed  at 
Eagle  Bridge  in  a  runaway  accident.  Rig  went  off  the  bank  into  the 
creek.    Mrs.  Z.  A.  Pratt  had  hip  broken.     Three  other  people  hurt. 

A  number  of  liquor  dealers  fined  $200  each  for  violation  of  the 
tax.  law 

Annual  banquet  of  Brotherhood  of  Reformed  church  at  Catskill. 

Mass  meeting  held  at  Catskill  on  water  question.  Nothing 
settled. 

William  Hamm  killed  by  fall  at  the  ice  house  of  Smith  and 
Haines  at  Catskill. 

Maggie  Van  Cott,  aged  89  years,  closed  successful  revival  at 
Claverack,  Columbia  county. 

George  Doyle,  a  workman,  was  ground  to  death  in  a  machine  at 
the  Catskill  Cement  works. 

Corporation  counsel  Arthur  M.  Murphy  died  suddenly  from  blood 
poisoning.  A  very  successful  lawyer  and  prominent  member  of  St. 
Patrick's  church  at  Catskill. 

Citizens   Hose   Company   celebrated    40th   anniversary. 
Catskill  Millenial  Dawnists  decide  that  the  world  will  come  to 
an  end  in  1914. 

Justice  Fitts  presided  at  April  term  of  Supreme  Court 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Rip  Van  Winkle  produced  in  the  woods  at  Palenville.      A  great 
The  grand  jury  had  but  three  cases  to  consider. 
George  W.  Holdridge  appointed  receiver  of  the  Catskill  Trolley 
Company. 

Jacob  Miller,  of  Hunter,  committed  suicide  by  taking  Paris  green. 

Lydia  P.  Millard,  aged  80  years,  died  at  her  home  in  Catskill. 

Mystic  Five  basketball  team  played  59  games,  winning  33. 

The  Arch  Deaconry  of  Albany  met  at  St.  Luke's  church,  Catskill. 

Barns  and  residence  of  John  Lind  at  Sandy  Plains  destroyed  by 
fire. 

Famous  stone  house,  erected  in  1751,  on  Cauterskill  road,  torn 
down. 

Catskill  Savings  Bank's  new  home  finished  and  opined  for  busi- 
ness.    W.  I.  Jennings,   president. 

Jacob  June,  war  veteran,  aged  70  years,  died  at  Lime  Street. 

Company  E  encamped  at  Fort  Ticonderoga. 

Eddie   Shepard  thrown  from  a  horse  in  the  races  at  Cairo  and 
injured  so  badly  that  he  died. 

Sanford  Overbaugh  walked  off  the  open  end  of  the  Catskill  draw 
bridge,  escaping  with  a  broken  arm.     Town  settled  for  $250. 

G.  W.  Holdridge  awarded  contract  to  pave  Main  street  at  Cats- 
kill  for  sum  of  $10,769. 

Citizens  Hose  Company  attended  State  Firemen's  Convention  at 
Po'keepsie  and  got  a  very  raw  deal. 

The  Wiley  mill  at  Catskill  closed  on  account  of  hard  times. 

Maria  Clute  died  at  Coxsackie  at  the  age  of  86  years. 

Wilbur  Funk,   conductor  of  the  Catskill  trolley,  killed  by  a  fall 
while  boarding  his  car  at  Leeds. 
Richard  Phelan,  a  Grand  Army  veteran,  died  suddenly  at  Leeds. 

Washington  Kennedy,  a  former  resident  of  Catskill,  died  at 
Kingston  at  the  age  of  84  years. 

Joseph   Porter  hanged   himself   in   a   shed   at   Athens. 

Democrats  elect  entire  county  ticket:  J.  Lewis  Patrie,  member  of 
assembly;  Abram  Post,  sheriff;  George  B.  Van  Valkenburgh,  county 
clerk;  Ira  T.  Tolley,  superintendt.  Democratic  Supervisors:  Elmore 
Maekey,  Athens;  Charles  P.  Jones,  Cairo;  J.  Henry  Deane,  Catskill; 
Lorenzo  Van  Valkenburgh,  Halcott;  E.  B.  Goslee,  Hunter;  W.  H. 
Woodworth,  Jewett;  Herbert  Kipp,  Lexington;  H.  J.  Miller,  New  Balti- 
more; Elmer  Krieger,  Prattsville;  S.  L.  Ford,  Windham.  Republican 
Supervisors:  Frank  Dodge,  Ashland;  Dayton  B.  Smith,  Coxsackie; 
W.  S.  Borthwick,  Durham,  and  Truman  L.  Ingalls,  Greenville. 

Seven  barns  burned  in  town  of  Jewett,  incendiary.  Detectives 
employed  to  get  evidence.    Four  men  arrested.    No  one  convicted. 

William  McManus,  of  Drummond  Falls  house,  Palenville,  died 
at  the  age  of  80  years. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Charles  A.  Post,  chairman  Board  of  Supervisors,  George  B.  Van 
Valkenburgh,  clerk. 

Frank  Sanger  killed  at  Alsen  cement  works. 

West  Shore  station  at  Catskill  destroyed  by  fire. 

Catskill  Board  of  Trade  organized  December  7th. 

Catskill's  league  basketball  team,  with  Matthews,  Grobe,  Deer, 
Hallenbeck  and  Boyne,  defeated  Newburgh,  ^aterson,  Hudson,  Yon- 
kers,  Po'keepsie  and  Troy,  winning  their  first  six  games. 

Mrs.  Hannah  Osborn,  of  Windham,  fell  down  stairs  while  walking 
in  her  sleep.  She  was  88  years  of  age.  The  accident  resulted  in  her 
death.    She  was  the  mother  of  Counselor  Frank  H.  Osborn,  of  Catskill. 

CHRONOLOGY  1910. 

Board  of  Supervisors  appropriated  $35,000  for  jail,  court  house 
and  grounds. 

Ann  Overbaugh,  aged  91  years,  died  at  her  home  in  Catskill. 

Emauel  and  Carl  Nufia  burned  to  death  in.  tool  house  of  West 
Shore  railroad  at  New  Baitlmore. 

Atlas  Cement  Company's  buildings  at  Hudson  destroyed  by  fire. 
Loss  $100,000. 

Catskill  Trolley  line  sold  to  Wm.  C.  Wood  for  $33,000. 

Hotel  of  M.  P.  McCabe  burned.     Loss  $9,000. 

Harry  Holdridge,  of  Catskill,  killed  by  hte  cars  at  Alsen. 

Dr.  Sidney  L.  Ford  elected  chairman  of  Board  of  Supervisors, 
William  B.  Townsend,  clerk. 

J.  Holmes  King  committed  suicide  at  Palenville,  taking  chloroform. 

William  H.  Bogardus  commenced  action  against  Catskill  village 
for  $10,000. 

Miss  May  Hoy  voted  most  popular  young  lady  in  Catskill. 

Charles  Roorke,  of  Catskill,  smothered  in  a  bin  at  the  Alsen 
cement  works. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  P.  Philip  presented  the  Catskill  Reformed  church 
with  $500. 

William  Shryver,  son  of  William  Schryver,  of  Tannersville,  killed 
by  the  cars  at  Saugerties. 

Hotel  of  Stephen   Shufelt  burned  at  Haines  Falls. 

Hotel  of  Charles  Speenburgh  burned  at  Catskill. 
.  Harry  Van  Valkenburgh  was  killed  by  the  cars  at  West  Athens. 

Nellie  and  Lewis  Desco,  of  Catskill,  completely  recoved  from 
malformation  after  operation  made  possible  by  County  Clerk  Geo.  B. 
Van  Valkenburgh.     Both  would  have  been  cripples  for  life. 

Daniel  J.  Barnaby,  of  Coxsackie,  run  down  by  automobile  and 
killed  in  New  York  city. 

Stanley  Luciskis  murdered  at  Cementon  by  parties  unknown. 

A  million  dollar  improvement  wiped  out  by  fire  at  the  Burden  iron 
mines  opposite  Catskill. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


William  Freese  and  Elias  Lasher  elected  trustees  of  Catskill. 

Assemblyman  J.  Lewis  Patrie  gets  teachers'  pension  bill  passed. 

Dominic  Leone,  of  Cairo,  killed  while  attempting  to  get  on  train 
at  Cairo. 

Barn  of  Sylvanus  Story  at  Gayhead  struck  by  lightning  and 
destroyed. 

Hon.  O.  V.  Sage  elected  president  of  Catskill  Civic  Society. 

Justice  Le  Boeuf  presided  at  April  term  of  Supreme  court. 

Egbert  Bogart,  an  old  time  resident  of  Palenville,  died  of  cancer. 

Bank  President  J.  P.  Philip  and  wife  visited  the  West  Indies  and 
the  scene  of  the  great  disaster  at'  Martinique. 

Citizens  Hose  Co.  produced  the  Passing  Show.     Receipts  $1200. 

Contractor  Geo.  W.  Holdridge  laid  pavement  in  Main  street. 

Moses  Covel  killed  in  runaway  accident  at  Catskill. 

Mrs.  Giles  Sutton  dropped  dead  at  her  home  in  Leeds. 

Chauncey  Wolcott,  of  South  Cairo,  died  following  an  operation. 

Senator  Addison  P.  Jones  died  at  his  home  in  Catskill,  aged  87 
year.    He  started  business  in  Catskill  in  1840. 

Fred  Lewis,  of  Saugerties,  Nettie  Naylor,  Mabel  Van  Valkenburgh 
and  L.  B.  Decker,  of  Catskill,  all  badly  injured  in  automobile  accident. 
All  recovered. 

John  and  Richard  Doyle  and  Harry  Abeel  playing  with  matches 
in  a  barn  at  Saugerties  set  fire  to  the  building  and  were  burned  to 
death. 

Steamer  Po'keepsie  burned  to  the  water's  edge  at  Highland. 
Loss  $100,000. 

The  Misses  Bedell  present  Baptist  church  at  Catskill  with  $1200. 

Stephen  Edwards  drowned  in  creek  at  Catskill  while  swimming. 

Seaboard  Cement  Company  organized  with  capital  of  $7,000,000. 
Plant  not  finished  and  company  failed. 

Harold  McKenzie  pitching  for  Catskill  shut  out  Albany  Troy, 
Hudson  Fultons  and  Hudson  Professions,  two  games  1-0  and  0-0, 
thirteen  innings,  and  let  Stottville  down  with  one  run,  six  successive 
games. 

Barn  of  Charles  A.  Vedder  at  Leeds  destroyed  by  fire.    Loss  $3000. 

Joseph  Steele  fell  overboard  at  Coxsackie  with  a  bag  of  coal  and 
was  drowned. 

Residence  of  Norman  Van  Hoesen  of  Leeds  destroyed  by  fire.  He 
fell  down  stairs  with  a  lighted  lamp  which  exploded. 

Wiley  Knitting  Co.  at  Catskill,  went  into  hands  of  a  receiver. 

Residence  of  Hiram  Wilcox  on  Allen  street,  Catskill,  destroyed 
by  fire. 

H.  Leroy  Austin,  of  Catskill,  appointed  game  commissioner  of 
state.  He  thereupon  resigned  the  office  of  district  attorney  of  Greene 
county.    Orin  Q.  Flint  appointed  in  his  place. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Liquor  tax  money  from  Greene  county,   $24,847. 

Morgan  Brookfleld  killed  by  trollev  car  near   Spooky  Hollow. 

William  P.  Fiero  elected  senator;  Judson  A.  Betts,  county  treas- 
urer; J.  Lewis  Patrie,  member  of  assembly;  Howard  C.  Wilbur,  district 
attorney,  and  Sidney  L.  Ford,  coroner. 

Philip  Van  Orden  found  dead  at  his  home  in  Catskill. 

Storehouse  of  Catskill  Evening  Line  gutted  by  fire. 

Egbert  Dodge,  aged  88  years,  died  at  Ashland.  A  pioneer  of  that 
town. 

CHRONOLOGY  1911. 

Emerson  Ford,  equalization  commissioner  of  Greene  county,  died 
suddenly  at  his  home  in  Oak  Hill. 

Dr.  J.  B.  Longendyke,  coroner  of  Greene  county,  died  in  the 
hospital  at  Kingston. 

Charles  G.  Coffin,  prominent  citizen  of  Catskill  passes  away. 

The  Rev.  S.  W.  Roe  died  at  Cairo,  at  the  age  of  84  years. 

Chauncey  Dixson,  died  at  Catskill  at  the  age  of  103  years.  He 
was  born  at  Greenville  and  was  a  veteran  of  the  G.  A.  R. 

Barn   of   James   Majilton   at   Catskill   burned. 

Eugene  Campbell  frozen  to  death  near  Coxsackie. 

Catskill   Poultry  association  organized. 

Vitaliano  Trepas  tried  for  murder  of  Joseph  Genoveso  at  Alsen. 
Verdict  was  not  guilty. 

Emory  A.  Chase  re-elected  president  of  Greene  County  Bar  Assn. 

The  parsonage  of  the  Christian  church  wrecked  by  dynamite 
bomb.  House  completely  wrecked  but  every  member  of  the  pastor's 
family  escaped  injury. 

Pierre  S.  Jennings,  former  district  attorney,  died  at  the  age  of 
37  years,  death  being  due  to  consumption, 

Residence  of  B'enelon  C.  Kniffen  at  Catskill  destroyed  by  fire. 

Bank  President  J.  P.  Philip  and  wife  made  trip  to  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  visiting  the  great  volcano. 

William  B.  Mattice  died  suddenly  at  his  home  in  Catskill. 

Robert  T.  Martin,  of  Ashland,  committed  suicide.  He  placed  the 
muzzle  of  a  shot  gun  in  his  mouth  and  fired. 

John  Cornwall,  a  former  Catskill  shoe  dealer,  committed  suicide 
by  shooting  himself. 

Fred  P.  Derne  died  suddenly  at  Athens. 

The  Rev.  Acton  Civille,  of  Coeymans,  knelt  down  to  pray  and 
committed  suicide  by  shooting  while  in  that  position. 

Hanah  B.  Osborn,  mother  of  Attorney  Frank  H.  Osborn,  of  Cats- 
kill,  died  at  his  residence  in  Catskill,  at  the  age  of  89  years. 

William  J.  Reed  drowned  in  the  Catskill  creek  near  the'  West 
Shore  railroad  bridge. 

John  Hagewater  was  drowned  at  Athens. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


George  Kelk,  a  New  York  policeman,  was  struck  by  lightning  at 
South  Cairo  and  killed. 

Walter  S.  McClelland,  pastor  of  Trinity  Episcopal  church,  drowned 
at  Athens  while  canoeing. 

William  M.  Smith,  of  Catskill,  passed  away  at  the  age  of  54  years. 

Robert  Cole,  a  vaudeville  actor,  committed  suicide  in  the  creek  at 
Catskill. 

Lulu  Hover,  a  Catskill  girl,  prevented  the  Kingston  hospital  from 
burning  up,  by  closing  the  doors  and  getting  to  work  with  the  hand 
grenades. 

Joseph  Henske,  Nona  Meany  and  May  Jarvis,  city  boarders, 
drowned  at  Green  Lake,  theb  odies  being  recovered  three  days  later. 

William  Carter,  of  Catskill,  committed  suicide  by  drowning  at 
Tupper  Lake. 

Kissel  Kar  put  on  the  route  between  Leeds  and  Cairo. 

Frederick  W.  Brink,  a  former  Catskillian,  drowned  at  New  York. 

Greene  County  Firemen's  Convention  held  at  Catskill. 

Benjamin  Myers,  of  Catskill,  was  killed  by  the  cars  near  the 
West  Shore  bridge. 

Barns  of  John  E.  Overbaugh  at  Catskill  destroyed  by  fire. 

The  Rev.  William  S.  Winans  died  at  Catskill,  aged  87  years. 

Gustav  Schlenker,  of  Catskill,  killed  by  a  live  wire  near  the 
Holdridge  quarries. 

Maria  S.  Doane,  of  Catskill,  died  at  the  age  of  98  years. 

Democrats  carried  Greene  county  for  Patrie,  assembly;  Branch, 
coroner,  and  elected  eight  supervisors. 

John  "Van  Wie,  of  Athens,  killed  by  a  trolley  car  in  New  York. 

Felix  Moroffski  fell  down  stairs  at  Coxsackie  and  broke  his  neck. 

Greene  County  Bar  Association  held  banquet  at  the  Saulpaugh. 

New  York  and  Hudson  Steamboat  Co.  property  burned  in  a  $200,- 
000  fire  at  Hudson. 

Mrs.  Bert  Howard  died  at  Tannersville,  following  an  accident  in 
which  her  scalp  was  torn  off.  Seventy  operations  for  engrafting  skin 
failed  to  save  her  life. 

Last  $10,000  of  Greene  county  bonds  paid  off. 

CHRONOLOGY  1912. 

Mrs.  Chauncey  Goodwin  died  at  Palenville  at  the  age  of  84  years. 

Hiram  Case  died  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Clarence  E. 
Bloodgood,  in  Catskill,  at  the  age  of  92  years.  He  was  the  last  of  a 
family  of  fourteen  children. 

Edward  Broussau,  a  former  resident  of  Smith's  Landing,  died  at 
the  age  of  92  years. 

Residence  of  William  L.  DuBois  in  Catskill  destroyed  by  fire. 
Supervisors  for  1912-13:  H.  Clay  Ferris,  Ashland;  Elmore  Mackey, 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Athens;  Floyd  F.  Jones,  Cairo;  J.  Henry  Deane,  Catskill;  Dayton  B. 
Smith,  Coxsackie;  Almeron  Moore,  Durham;  Truman  I.  Ingalls,  Green- 
ville; Wallace  K.  Crosby,  Halcott;  Edgar  B.  Goslee,  Hunter.  Frederick 
M.  Goslee,  Jewett;  John  Kelly,  Lexington;  Henry  J.  Miller,  New  Balti- 
more; Elmer  Kreiger,  Prattsville;  and  Dr.  Sidney  L.  Ford,  Windham. 

Edward  J.  Ashley  f.aith  of  Mrs.  I.  Wheeler  Brandow,  of  Catskill, 
died  at  the  age  of  75  years.  Former  resident  of  Catskill  and  chief  of 
the  fire  department. 

Mrs.  Ezra  P.  Pratt  died  suddenly  at  Oak  Hill  at  the  age  of  79  years. 

William  H.  Hayes,  a  civil  war  veteran,  died  at  Cairo,  68  years. 

Justice  Samuel  Edwards  died  at  Hudson,  aged  72  years. 

Mary  Whiting,  aformer  resident  of  Athens,  burned  to  death  at 
Chicago.  .       i 

Eugene  Van  Loan,  a  prominent  resident  of  Athens,  died  at  the 
age  of  69  years. 

Augustus  Post  died  at  his  home  in  Catskill  at  the  age  of  81  years. 
Was  formerly  in  the  furniture  business  with  Dr.  J.  A.  Deane. 

Joe  Zebratis  drowned  in  the  river  at  Coxsackie. 

B.  F.  Bogardus,  a  Coxsackie  farmer,  hanged  himself. 

Frank  Fruger,  of  Leeds,  committed  suicide  with  a  shotgun. 

Michael  Gavigan,  of  Catskill,  suffocated  to  death  in  a  hot  house 
at  Newburgh. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Abrams,  of  Coxsackie,  aged  85  years,  burned  to  death. 

Justice  Rudd  presided  at  April  term  of  Supreme  Court. 

Henry  T.  Hotaling  died  at  Coxsackie  at  the  age  of  94  years. 

Dana  Simpson,  a  Coxsackie  farmer,  committed  suicide  by  hanging. 

William  K.  Thompson,  a  war  veteran,  died  at  his  home  in  Cats- 
kill  at  the  age  of  83  years. 

Howard  Sanderson,  formerly  of  Athens,  died  at  Milwaukee,  at 
the  age  of  76  years. 

Boarding  house  of  Joseph  Carnack,  Coxsackie,  destroyed  by  fire. 
Loss  $6,000. 

Mrs.  William  Jordan,  of  Prattsville,  dropped  dead. 

John  Rogers,  a  Catskill  farmer,  dropped  dead. 

Charles  R.  Polo  drowned  at  Green  lake. 

Farm  house  and  barn  of  Dirk  Schmidt  at  Palenville  destroyed  by 
fire. 

Body  of  Miss  Dorcas  Snodgrass  found  in  DuBois  creek  at  Catskill. 
Murder  suspected  and  an  investigation  was  made  by  District  Attorney 
Howard  C.  Wilbur. 

Residence  of  Edward  Win  at  Tannersville  burned. 

Shady  Glen  House  at  Durham  destroyed  by  fire.  85  guests  nar- 
rowly escaped  with  their  lives. 

William  G.  Alcott,  employed  on  the  steamer  Ursula,  fell  over- 
board at  Hudson  and  was  drowned. 


DEAR,  OLD    GREENE    COUNT*. 


Charles  Faubel  drowned  while  In  swimming  in  Austin's  Glen  at 
Catskill. 

The  Rev.  Frazer  Metzger,  a  former  Catskill  minister  got  big  vote 
for  governor  of  Vermont,  making  it  necessary  for  the  legislature  to 
appoint  a  governor. 

John  E.  Newkirk  dropped  dead  in  Leeds. 

John  Henderson,  aged  75,  died  at  Catskill. 

Arthur  Reed  committed  suicide  at  Haines  Falls. 

Dr.  Geo.  C.  Gulick,  former  Catskillian,  died  in  New  York  of  cancer. 

Dr.  DeSilva,  of  New  York  city,  located  in  Catskill. 

Jeremiah  M.  Day  dropped  dead  at  Green's  Lake. 

Remains  of  Robert  DuBois  found  in  Catskill  creek* 

Remains  of  Ruth  Hellmud  found  in  river  at  Coxsackie,  by  Lewis 
Vogel,  of  Catskill. 

Lyman  M.  Donald,  a  prisoner  in  the  jail  at  Schoharie,  elopefl  with 
the  daughter  of  Sheriff  Dutton,  and  was  married  to  him  by  Rev.  Kerr. 

Harriet  T.  Penfleld,  prominent  Catskillian,  died  after  brief  illness 
at  her  home  in  Catskill. 

Barn  on  the  Nelson  place  at  New  Baltimore  destroyed  by  fire. 

Ezra  P.  Pratt,  of  Oak  Hill,  dropped  dead  at  Watertown,  N.  Y., 
where  he  had  gone  to  attend  a  convention.  He  was  80  years  of  age. 
For  50  years  he  was  an  elder  of  the  Durham  Presbyterian  church. 

Senator  William  P.  Fiero  passed  away  at  his  home  in  New  York. 

Democrats  elect  Josiah  C.  Tallmadge,  judge;  J.  Lewis  Patrie, 
assemblyman;  Elmore  Mackey,  sheriff;  Geo.  B.  Van  Valkenburgh, 
county  clerk;  Ira  T.  Tolley,  county  sup't;  Dr.  Van  Hoesen,  coroner. 
Judge  Tallmadge  withwith  oppositoin.     Majorities  1,000  to  1,600. 

Catskill  Cement  Company's  plant  damaged  to  the  extent  of  $20,000 
by  Are. 

Justice  Cochrane  presided  over  November  term  of  Supreme  court. 

Wilson  for  president  carried  Greene  county  by  932  votes.  Mackey 
for  sheriff,  2960. 

Attorney  F.  H.  Osborn  won  remarkable  case  in  Supreme  Court  in 
which  it  was  shown  like  an  Argosy  story  that  defendant  had  set  fire 
to  his  boat  for  the  purpose  of  getting  insurance  money.  He  was 
against  Howard  Chipp,  of  Albany,  and  what  looked  likei  a  hopeless 
case.    He  let  the  prosecution  prove  too  much  for  their  own  welfare. 

Charles  McMenamy,  of  Catskill,  died  of  cancer. 

Charlotte  Westland,  of  Tannersville,  committed  suicide  by  jump- 
ing from  the  Manhattan  bridge  in  New  York. 

Thomas  J.  O'Hara  and  Charles  E.  Nichols  appointed  elections 
commissioners  for  Greene  county. 

Michael  Taylor,  a  boiler  maker  burned  so  badly  at  Alsen  that  he 
died. 


DEAR    OLD    GREENE    COtJNTY, 


CHRONOLOGY  1913. 

Stores  of  Lysle  Nelson  and  Stephen  Hitchcock  at  Nejw  Baltimore 
destroyed  by  fire. 

Adelbert  E.  Dunham,  of  Spruceton,  cutting  off  the  butt  of  a  tree 
that  had  blown  down  was  crushed  to  death  underneath  the  stump 
when  the  main  part  had  bejen  cut  off  and  the  stump  snapped  back 
into  the  hole  in  the  ground. 

Gilbert  Greene,  of  Hunter,  suffering  from  cancer,  hid  in  a  cave 
and  then  took  carbolic  acid,  causing  his  death. 

Charles  Smith,  of  Rouse  &  Smith,  passed  away  after  short  illness 
at  his  home  in  Catskill. 

Charles  A.  Beach,  president  C.  M.  R.  R.,  died  suddenly  of  apoplexy. 

Stephen  Vining,  an  eccentric  Windham  teamster,  found  dead  by 
the  highway. 

William  H.  Henderson,  former  trustee  of  Catskill,  died  of  blood 
poisoning  following  an  injury  to  his  little  finger. 

George  H.  Bump  found  dead  in  bed  at  his  home  in  Catskill. 

Cassius  Simpson,  of  South  Cairo,  killed  by  a  fall  from  his  wagon 
at  Leeds. 

Ice  house  and  coal  sheds  of  Raymond  Smith  at  Catskill  destroyed 
by  fire.    Loss  ?15,000. 

Judge  Chester  presided  at  February  term  of  Supreme  Court. 

Barn  and  stables  of  William  Perry  at  West  Coxsackie  destroyed 
by  fire. 

J.  A.  Betts  and  W.  W.  Rider  made  trip  to  Panama. 

The  two  sons  of  Andrew  Rosenburgh  of  Coxsackie,  were  drowned 
while  out  fishing  on  .  Snday  with  their  father. 

Athens   Knitting   Company  goes   bankrupt. 

Truman  I.  Smith  committed  suicide  at  his  home  in  Catskill. 

John  T.  Heath  passes  away  at  his  home  in  Catskill,  aged  70  years. 

Zobles  T.  Cater,  of  Catskill,  plunged  into  the  Catskill  creek  and 
saved  the  life  of  little  Jimmie  Smith. 

John  H.  Cornell  died  at  Catskill,  aged  74  years. 

Gilbert  Goes,  aged  85  years,  committed  suicide  at  Hunter,  taking 
laudanum. 

Assemblyman  Patrie  introduces  bill  to  pave  West  Main  street, 
Catskill,  which  passed  and  was  signed  by  the  governor.  Paving  laid 
by  the   Catskill  Construction  Company. 

Nathan  Richards,  of  South  Cairo,  killed  by  the  cars  at  Athens. 

Alexander  Wilbur,  prominent  Catskillian,  died  suddenly  at  the 
age  of  69  years. 

$10,000  fire  on  dock  at  Coxsackie. 

Frederick  T.  Beach  died  suddenly  at  his  home  in  Catskill. 

32 


bfeJAR    OLD    GREENE    COUNtt. 


Ashes  of  George  Howland,  of  Athens,  scattered  at  sea.  He  died 
at  Geonoa..  Worth  11,000,000. 

Patsey  Wlweke  killed  in  accident  at  the  Cementon  crossing. 

Hudson  Valley  Firemen's  Convention  held  at  Catskill.  There  were 
in  the  parade  60  fire  companies  and  brass  bands. 

Famous  old  Simmons  house  in  Jefferson  destroyed  by  fire. 

Residence  of  Oscar  Showers  at  Onteora  Park  destroyed  by  fire. 

Eoarding  house  of  F.  W.  Cole  near  Coxsackie  destroyed  by  fire. 

Big  fire  on  Main  street,  Catskill,  destroying  Horton  Brothers'  sale 
stables,  Person's  shop,  barns  of  Brandow,  Horton,  Yanonni,  Hay  and 
Linzey,  Fontnella's  house,  Tynan's  shop,  M.  B.  church  sheds,  on  July 
10th.  On  the  Sunday  morning  following  the  Boston  store  was  destroy- 
ed and  the  building  of  Amost  Post  in  which  was  the  Smith  store  and 
Daily  Mail  office,  and  the  Church  store  were  gutted  by  fira  On  Mon- 
day the  barn  of  George  Bates  on  Water  street  was  burned.  Loss 
$200,000. 

Joseph  Butler,  of  Athens,  committed  suicide  by  drowning.  Remains 
recovered  at  Catskill. 

Residence  of  Perry  Tompkins  at  Leeds  destroyed  by  fire. 

Louis  Baucusco  murdered  at  Athens.  Sheriff  Mackey  arrested 
the  murderer,  Joe  Vots. 

John  Sefers,  a  Catskill  darkey,  killed  by  the  cars  at  the  Athens 
crossing. 

Cornelius  DuBois,  war  veteran,  died,  at  Palenville. 

Residence  of  Elmer  Dederick  at  Athens  destroyed  by  fire. 

West  Shore  freight  house  at  Coxsackie,  destroyed  by  fire.  Loss 
$30,000. 

Herbert  Lanfare  drowned  in  the  river  at  Athens. 

Greene   County   Sunday   School  convention  held   at  Athens. 

B.  S.  Mulford  found  dead  in  bed  at  his  home  in  Catskill. 

Gov  William  Sulzer  impeached  by  vote  of  51  to  1. 

Bank  President  James  P.  Philip  presents  Catskill  with  park  at  the 
head  of  Main  street,  which  has  been  killed  up  by  the  village  and 
called  Pruyn  Park. 

Casper  Clough,  aged  94  years,  died  at  Coxsackie. 

Judson  A.  Betts  elected  county  treasuer;  Howard  C.  Wilbur,  dis- 
trict attorney;  George  H.  Chase,  member  of  assembly. 

Supervisors  elected — Jones,  Cairo;  Huyck,  Durham;  Smith,  Cox- 
sackie; Ferris,  Ashland,  Republicans;  Nichols,  Athens;  Deane,  Cats- 
kill;  Hoose,  Greenville;  Seifferth,  Hunter;  Baldwin,  New  Baltimore; 
Krieger,  Prattsville,  Roraback,  Lexington;  Goslee,  Jewett,  Ford,  Wind- 
ham, Democrats. 

Justice  Cochrane  presided  at  November  term  of  Supreme  Court. 

John  Rhume,  a  Coxsackie  lad,  out  hunting  skunks,  killed  when 
his  companion  accidentally  dropped  his  gun  which  went  off. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Lumber  yard  of  J.  H.  Goodwin  at  Coxsackie  destroyed  by  fire. 
liOBS  $10,000. 

Jennings  Hotel  at  Cairo  destroyed  by  fire.     Loss  $15,000. 
Nelson  murder  trial  at  Catskill  resulted  in  verdict  of  guilty. 
Joseph  Bosco  tried  for  murder.     Wm.  E.  Thorpe  for  defendant. 

CHRONOLOGY  1914. 

Henry  Dixon  killed  at  Coxsackie  by  collapse  of  shed. 

Residence  of  Mary  Phelan,  Phelan  Hall  and  residence  of  Paul 
Lynan,  at  Leeds,  burned. 

St.  Anthony's  School,  Catskill,  burned  January  14th. 

Hamilton  Smith,  of  Athens,  died  from  exposure. 

Twin  Pine  House,   Cairo,  burned.     Loss   $10,000. 

James  Ott,  of  Tannersville,  blew  his  head  off  with  gun. 

Charles  J.  Smith  crushed  to  death  on  Storm  King. 

H.  Leroy  Austin,  of  Catskill,  gets  verdict  of  ?1,700,000  for  New 
York  City  Railroad. 

Albert  Van  Hoesen,   of  Catskill,  committed  suicide. 

Several  men  killed  in  accident  at  logging  camp  at  Haines  Palls. 

Prank  Freeman,  of  Coxsackie,  drowned  while  in  swimming. 

Former  Sheriff  Hardy  Stewart  died  at  Athens. 

Abram  Lewis,  of  Catskill,  killed  by  kick  of  his  horse. 

Paul  Deyo  committed  suicide  at  Hunter. 

Cyrus  E.  Bloodgood,  former  county  clerk,  died  at  Catskill  Aug.  10. 

Floyd  Overbaugh  and  Harry  Rose  killed  in  motorcycle  accident 
at  Alsen. 

Worthy  Tolley,  of  Athens  ,shot  and  killed  Leroy  Hallenbeck.  Tried 
and  found  guilty  of  murder  in  the  first  degree.  Sentenced  to  be 
electrocuted.       Sentence  appealed. 

James  Reardon  killed  in  automobile  accident  at  Windham. 

Mrs.  Charles  Crohl  killed  in  automobile  accident  near  Catskill. 

Tony  Canape,  a  Catskill  child,  burned  to  death  while  playing  with 
matches. 

George  Mason  dropped  dead  in  Catskill. 

George  Hawver,  of  Lawr'enceville,  cut  by  buzz  saw  so  badly  that 
hf  died  a  few  days  later. 

Smith  House  badly  damaged  by  fire. 

CHRONOLOGY  1915  TO  JULY  FIRST. 

Great  revival  in  Catskill. 

Howard  Wilcox  died  suddenly  of  heart  disease. 
Peter  Welsh  died  suddenly  at  his  home  in  Catskill. 
John  D.  Smith,  former  postmaster  and  founder  of  Daily  Mail,  died 
suddenly  at  his  home  in  Catskill. 

Omar  Hotaling,  of  New  Baltimore,  murdered  at  Highland. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


Catskill  Mountain  Ry.  depot  at  Haines  Palls  destroyed  by  fire. 

Residence  of  T.  J.  Nolte  at  Cairo  destroyed  by  fire.    Loss  $7000. 

John  Black  sentenced  to  Dannemora  prison  for  the  murder  of 
Pardy  Shoemaker  at  Lexington. 

Receivers  appointed  for  Catskill  Mt.  Ry. 

Ruth  Hammer  and  Ida  Beach,  of  Catskill,  murdered  by  Henry 
Long,  of  Albany,  a  gardner  in  the  employ  of  Henry  Hansen.  He  shot 
the  girls  while  they  were  out  gathering  wild  flowers  and  then  com- 
mitted suicide. 

Residence  of  Nicholas  Worrell,  valued  at  $50,000,  burned  at 
Onteora  Park. 

Peter  Saxe,  a  war  veteran,  hung  himself  in  a  barn  near  Cairo. 

Oscar  Ford,  of  Tannersville,  committeed  suicide  by  shooting. 

Eagles  Nest,  summer  residence  of  Frederick  Buckinburger  near 
Catskill,  destroyed  by  fire. 

Nicholas  Lauria,  proprietor  of  Salisbury  House,  Catskill,  died 
suddenly. 


Michael  Cimorelli's  Motorcycle  Ice  Boat. 


The  illustration  above  shows  the  novel  and  ingenious  ice  craft 
constructed  by  Michael  Cimorelli,  the  Catskill  sporting  goods  dealer 
jn  his  repairs  department,     Craft  made  over  60  miles  per  hour. 


DEAR  OLD  GREENE  COUNTY. 


FRATERNAL  AND  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS. 

Catskill  Camp,  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

Catskill  Chamber  of  Commerce;  Hon.  Prank  S.  Decker,  president. 

Catskill  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

Catskill  Fish  and  Game  Club. 

Catskill  Gun  Club;  Wm.  Schubert,  president. 

Catskill  Hive,  Lady  Maccabees;  Commander  Mrs.  Luella  Brandow. 

Greene  County  Agricultural  Society,  of  Cairo,  organized  1819. 
Still  prosperous. 

Greene  County  Bible  Society;  organied  1815  by  Rev.  David 
Porter  of  Catskill.    Rev.  C.  G.  Hazard,  of  Catskill,  President. 

Greene  County   Sunday  School  Association;     Rev.     Maurice     R. 
Hamm,  Catskill,  president.     Organized  1883. 
Deutcher  Untersteutungs  Verein,  Catskill. 

Greene  County  Medical  Society  organized  early  in  1806,  and  has 
been  several  times  reorganized.  It  is  still  actively  engaged  in  medical 
research  and  prosperous.  Dr.  Thomas  O'Hara  Croswell  was  the  first 
president  of  the  organization.  The  present  officers  are:  Dr.  Charles 
P.  McCabe,  of  Greenville,  president;  Dr.  Geo.  L.  Branch,  of  Catskill, 
vice-president;  Dr.  C.  E.  Willard,  of  Catskill,  treasurer,  and  Dr.  Robert 
Selden,  of  Catskill,  secretary. 

Hendrick  Hudson  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  P.,  was  organized  in  1846,  at 
Catskill,  and  is  still  a  very  prosperous  organization. 

Holy  Name   Society,   St.  Patrick's  church,   Catskill. 

Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  Athabasca  Tribe,  2551,  Catskill. 

L.  C.  B.  A.  of  Catskill;  President  Mrs.  P.  Dewitt  Hitchcock. 

Protected  Home  Circle,  311;  President,  Seth  T.  Cole,  of  Catskill. 

Knights  of  Columbus,  Catskill. 

Laurel  Lodge,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  Catskill. 

Ladies'  Catholic  Benevolent  Association,   St.  Patrick's  church. 

Malaeska  Lodge,  K.  of  P.,  was  organized  in  1873  and  is  still 
prosperous. 

Onteora  Council  Royal  Arcanum;  Regent  Robert  Stewart,  Catskill. 
PrattSTille  Agricultural  Society;  organized  1882, 


Plant  of  the  Alsen  Cement  Company. 
One  of  the  largest  cement  plants  in  the  country.     Located  at  A.lsen, 
.  n  the  town  of  Catskill. 


=    L0UD'£   HOTEI^     = 

P.  Tremaine  Loud,  Proprietor 
Catskill  Landing  CATSKILL,  N.  Y. 

EUROPEAN  PLAN 


Our  new  "DAYLIGHT.  STORE,"  is  the  most  modern, 
up-to-date  Hardware  Store  along  the  Hudson  River  with  Three 
Stories  and  Basement,  designed  and  built  for  our  business,  with 
Special  equipment  throughout,  we  are  prepared  to  give  you  the 
best  possible  seryice. 

We  carry  a  very  complete  stock  of  SHELF  and  HEAVY 
HARDWARE,  BUILDERS  HARDWARE,  FARM  MACHINERY, 
HOUSE  FURNISHING  GOODS  of  all  kinds,  ROOFING,  FARM 
and  LAWN  FENCING,  TIN  WARE,  PLUMBING  SUPPLIES, 
MECHANICS  TOOLS,  PAINT  and  VARNISH,  WHITE  LEAD, 
OIL,  GLASS,  etc. 

We  are  prepared  to  furnish  estimates  for  WATER  SUPPLY 
INSTALLATION,  HEATING  SYSTEMS,  and  SANITARY 
PLUMBING. 

CATSKILL  HARDWARE  COMPANY,  INC. 

(the  store  that  saves  you  money.) 

437  Main  St.  Catskill,  N.  Y.  Telephone  24. 


We  carry  a  very  complete  stock  of  all  kind3  of  BUILDING 
MATERIAL,  LUMBER,  LATH,  SHINGLES,  BUILDERS 
HARDWARE,  PAINTS,  OIL  and  VARNISHES,  PORTLAND 
CEMENT,  LIME,  PLASTERING  MATERIALS,  PLASTER 
BOARD,  INTERIOR  TRIM,  SASH,  DOORS,  BLINDS,  etc. 

We  have  the  only  PLANING  MILL  and  DRY  KILNS  in 
Greene  County.  Kiln  Dried  Finishing  Lumber  on  hand  at  all 
times.     Fine  Hardwood  Floorings  a  Specialty. 

Estimates  furnished  for  any  kind  of  Contract  Work  at  any 
point. 

CATSKILL  SUPPLY  COMPANY. 
62  Water  St.,  Catskill,  N.  Y.  Telephone  66 s 


SUPREME  COURT  TERMS. 

GREENE  COUNTY  TRIAL  TERMS,  1915. 

Third  Monday  in  February   Chester 

Second  Monday  in  April   Hasbrouck 

Second  Monday  in  November  Cochrane 

SPECIAL  TERMS. 

First  Saturday  every  month  except  July  and  Aug.,  Kingston  Hasbrouck 
Second  Saturday  every  month  except  July  and  Aug.,  Albany  . .  Chester 
Third  Saturday  every  month  except  July  and  Aug.,  Hudson  .  Cochrane 

Fourth  Saturday  every  month  except  July  and  Aug.,  Albany Rudd 

Fourth  Saturday  of  July,  at  Albany  .*....   Hasbrouck 

Fifth  Saturday  of  January  ,at  Albany    Rudd 

Fifth  Saturday  of  May,  at  Albany   Cochrane 

Fifth  Saturday  of  July,  at  Albany  Hasbrouck 

Fifth  Saturday  of  October,  at  Albany  Chester 

Special  terms  are  open  for  ex  parte  business  at  Judge's  Chambers 
in  Albany,  Kingston  and  Hudson  whenever  a  Justice  is  present. 

Special  Terms  will  be  held  in  connection  with  Trial  Terms,  subject 
to  limitations  of  Rule  38,  but  said  limitations  do  not  apply  to  Trial 
Terms  held  in  Rensselaer  County. 

Equity  causes  may  be  noted  for  trial  in  the  county  of  their  venue 
at  any  Special  Term  held  by  a  Justice  resident  in  such  county. 


APPELLATE  DIVISION. 


First  Tuesday  of  January,  in  its  Court  Rooms  on  the  corner  of  State 

and  Chapel  streets,  in  the  City  of  Albany. 
First  Tuesday  of  March,  in  the  said  rooms  in  the  City  of  Albany. 
First  Tuesday  of  May,  in  its  said  rooms  in  the  City  of  Albany. 

Second  Tuesday  of  September,  in  Town  Hall  at  Saratoga  Springs. 
Second  Tuesday  of  November,  in  its  said  rooms  in  City  of  Albany. 


COUNTY  COURT  TERMS. 

Second  Monday  of  May  and  December,  at  2  o'clock  p.  m.,  at  the 
Court  House  in  the  "Village  of  Catskill,  N.  Y. 

Second  Tuesday  of  each  month,  except  May,  August  and  Decem- 
ber, at  10  o'clock  a.  m.  at  the  Chambers  of  the  County  Judge,  in  the 
Court  House  in  the  Village  of  Catskill  aforesaid. 

A  Trial  Jury  will  be  summoned  to  attend  the  terms  appointed  to 
be  held  on  the  second  Monday  of  May  and  the  second  Monday  of 
December  No  Grand  Jury  will  be  drawn  to  attend  any  of  the  above 
appointed  terms. 


TESTS  EVERY  HOUR 
KEEP  ALPHA  STRONG 


*VJ\    The  strength  of  Portland  Cement 
y^  depends  upon  the  quality  of  the  raw 
material,  the  formula  and  the  care 

used  in  the  making.  It  must  be  mixed  right,  ground  right, 
and  burned  right,  and  then  properly  aged  before  shipment. 
In  the  six  great  ALPHA  plants,  exactness  is  the  first  rule. 
Chemists  test  ALPHA  every  hour,  day  and  night.  They  see  that 
the  mixtures  are  alike  every  time,  meeting  the  ALPHA  formula 
founded  on  23  years'  experience.  They  reject  instantly  all  defective 
material ;  they  guard  the  strength  and  fineness  of  the  product,  and 
insure  uniformity  of  setting  time.    This  unusual  watchfulness  makes 


ALPHA 


THE  GUARANTEED 
PORTLAND 


CEMENT 


stronger,  finer,  and  more  uniform  than  cheaper 
Portland  cements.  With  ALPHA,  quality, 
not  quantity,  is  the  watchword.  ALPHA 
is  warranted  to  more  than  meet  the  United 
States  Government's  standard. 

Because   every   ounce   is  pure,  live  and 


active,  the  binding  power  of  ALPHA  is 
unusual;  it  goes  further  than  cheaper  cements 
and  hence  it  is  more  economical. 

You  may  be  offe.ed  substitutes,  but  insist 
on  ALPHA  and  be  sure.  Portland  is  the 
kind ;    ALPHA    the    name  to    remember. 


112-Page  Concrete  Farm  Book  Sent  FREE 

Tells  how  to  make  scores  of  farm  improvements  with  ALPHA,  the  Guaranteed 
Cement.  Regular  price  25  cents.  Sent  free  if  you  mention  this  puhlication 
and  tell  us  what  you  plan  to  build. 

ALPHA  PORTLAND  CEMENT  COMPANY gffS'Easton,  Pa 


SPECIFY    ALPHA    AND  BE    SU>REL 


SiHsSS 


::.