History of Columbia County, New York. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers

1878·57.3 MB·English

by  Everts & Ensign

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974.701
072
1149163
GENEAL.OGY COL-L-ECTiON
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COLUMBIA COUNTY,
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|[IIttstrations anil 1|i0gra|jliical ^kdche^
SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.
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1878.
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PRESSOFJ.B.LIPPINCOTT&CO.,PHILADELPHIA.

PEEF ACE.
1149163
Wepresenttothe publicthis historyofCohimbia County—tlieresultofmuchlaborand research—
with a feeling ofconfidence,temperedby a consciousness ofunavoidable imperfection.
To write a truthful history ofany county or section of country is never a light or an easy task;
but it becomes peculiarly onerous in the case ofa county like Columbia, whose annals extend through
more than two and a halfcenturies, and whose story must commence far back in the dimness of that
^ ancient time wlien the dusky 3Iohicans first welcomed the pale-faced voyagers from beyond the sea.
\« In such a fieldwe have not expected to achieve absolute perfection and completeness ofdetail,but
\»^v we have used our best endeavors to approximate as nearly as may be to that result. We have con-
sulted many of the best and most reliable historical works bearing upon thesubject, and have spared
no labor in gathering material from the most thoroughly informed citizens of the county; and in
these researches we have not been more anxious to collect all obtainable facts than to exclude every-
thing of doubtful authenticity.
The most difficult part of this, as of all similar works, is the obtaining of correct knowledge of
the dates of first settlements, and the names of those who made them. Accounts of these are in most
^ cases—especially in a region so anciently settled as Columbia County—transmitted through the medium
of tradition; the different statements almost invariably disagreeing in material points, and not infre-
quently being wholly irreconcilable. In these extreme cases the historian has no resource except to
give the differing accounts for what they are worth, and to submit the question to the judgment of
the public.
Another source of perplexity is found in the changes in orthography of many of the old names,
particularly those of Dutch or of Indian origin, though it is by no means uncommon in those of the
English. In old colonial records we not only find that, through the carelessness, caprice, or igno-
rance of the scribes of those days, names of persons and places are differently spelled by different
writers, but that as many as four different orthographical constructions of the same word are some-
times found in the same document; so that, in more than one instance, we have found it extremely
difficult to decide which manner was the proper one to adopt.
It seems unnecessary to say more in presentation of our work to its patrons. They will judge
^ it upon its merits,andwetrust itwill meet their approval. It has beenour design to trace in it the
progi-ess of the countyof Columbia in such a manner astoshowclearly to thereader of the present
day its gradual development from the original wilderness,and through the maturing stages of its ex-
j istence,uptoitspresent condition of enlightenmentand prosperity,and toillustrate in plain and simple
story theprivations, thevirtues, the piety, patriotism, and enterprise of her people. Howfar wehave
I
succeeded in accomplishing this purpose,the public verdict will decide.
I
PREFACE.
To thosewho have kindlygiven us their aid in the collection of material forthe work, we desire
to express our thanks; and among these we would mention in general the pastors of the churches,
the gentlemen of the Columbia County Medical Society, the editors of the differentjournals, and the
county officers. We are also under special obligations to the following gentlemen and others through-
out the county for courtesies and favors extended,and for valuable information,both oral and written:
Hon. Edwin C. Terry, Hon. Darius Peck, Stephen B. Miller, Esq., Henry Hubbel, Esq., Peter M.
Jordan, Esq., Hon. John Cadman, Hon. Sherman Van Ness, Hon. Levi F. Longley, E. C. Getty,
Esq.,William Bostwick, Esq., Hon. Cornelius H. Evans, Hon. Jacob W. Hoysradt, M. Parker Wil-
liams,Esq.,William Bryan,Esq., Hon. Theodore Miller, Hon. John C. Newkirk, Benjamin F. Deiieli,
Esq., Eobert B. Monell, Esq., Wheeler H. Clarke, Esq., F. F. Folger, Esq., C. P. Collier, Esq.,
C. C. Terry, Hudson; Charles Wild, W. H. Silvernail, Augustus Wynkoop,Wm. H. Atwood, Prof
Taylor, Kinderhook; H. W. Livingston, Mrs. Johnson, W. H. Washburne, Livingston; Edward
Kellogg, Samuel A. Curtis, Dr.M. L. Bates, Eev. Geo. W. Warner, H. Cady, Canaan; Hon. Hugh
McClellan, Geo. E. Burrows, John J. Van Valkenburgh, Wm. Thomas, David Ray, C. B. Hudson,
G.W.Lay, Horace Peaslee,Dr. J. T. Shufelt, Dr.Richard Peck, Chatham; Hampton C. Bull, Henry
A. Tilden, John Kendall, the Community of Shakers, New Lebanon; Jacob W. Rossman, Vrooman
Van Rensselaer,C. H.Stott, Stockport; Captain A.Davis,Stuyvesant; Hon. John F.Collin,Hillsdale;
Tobias Esselstyn, E. G. Studley, Nelson P. Aken, Henry P. Horton, Rev. A. Flack, G.W.Phillip,
Claverack; Wm. H. Wilson, Wm. L. Fraleigh, W. H. Rockefeller, M. Fingar, Clermont; Hon.
J. T. Hogeboom, George G. Macy, Cornelius Shufelt, Dr. P. W. Mull, Ghent.
THE PUBLISHERS.